After 16 years and more than 1,600 episodes, Marc Maron announced that his famous “WTF With Marc Maron” podcast was going off the air.
But only after interviewing former President Barack Obama.
Maron’s 1,686th and final episode of his long-running podcast officially came to a close this morning, with Obama being his final interview.
Obama, who famously appeared on Maron’s show 10 years ago, was dubiously described by Maron him as the perfect person to help him bring his longstanding show to a close.
However, Maron also teased that Obama was brought on the show to discuss the frightening world we live in — in an apparent dig at President Donald Trump.
“I do a lot of talking about how I feel about the world, both interior and exterior; micro, macro; what’s going on in me, how am I reacting to what’s going on in the world. And it became clear that the guest we needed to have was singular. In that he could address the importance of this being our final episode, but also address how we move through the world we’re living in, as frightening as it is, with what’s happening. And how do we do it with some grace, and perhaps some hope and some focus, and really call what’s going on what it is. And that guest is President Barack Obama,” said Maron in his show’s final introduction.
Obama first visited Maron’s Los Angeles garage studio while still in office a decade ago during his first appearance on the show.
However, for the final episode brought Maron, who is a stand-up comic and actor, to his Washington office for the last interview.
Obama asked the initial questions.
“How are you feeling about this whole thing?,” he said, “transition, moving on from this thing that has been one of the defining parts of your career and your life?”
“I feel OK,” Maron answered. “I feel like I’m sort of ready for the break, but there is sort of a fear there, of what do I do now? I’m busy. But, not unlike your job … I’ve got a lot of people who over the last 16 years have grown to rely on me.”
Maron laughed as he acknowledged he was comparing his podcasting gig to the presidency.
“I think it’s pretty similar,” Obama said.
Maron then asked Obama for advice on moving on from your life’s biggest job.
“You’ve still got a couple of chapters left,” Obama said.
“Don’t rush into what the next thing is. Take a beat. Take some satisfaction looking backwards.”
“I think we’re going to be OK,” Obama said. “I think part of the reason you had such a big fan base during this 16-year run is there was a core decency to you and the conversations that you had.”
Maron avoided sentimental farewell talk during the episode — he got that out of the way on Thursday in his penultimate episode, where talked directly and emotionally to his listeners.
“I’m grateful to have been part of your lives,” he said. “We’ve been through a lot of stuff together. A lot of breakups. Death. Cats. The world.”
Take a listen —
More than a decade ago, I sat down with @MarcMaron in his garage to tape something new called a podcast. This time, he came to me to record his last episode.
We talked about the power of conviction, decency in an age of division, and the true story of America. I’ll miss Marc’s… pic.twitter.com/kM3sAgtjF0
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) October 13, 2025
Maron’s podcast began in 2009 as a place where he worked out his issues with other stand-up comedians in the garage of his home that he dubbed “The Cat Ranch.”
Maron’s cats were always an essential part of the show. His final words on Monday’s episode were tributes to the ones who had died.
“Cat angels everywhere,” he said.
For most of its years the show has opened with a fan-composed rock ‘n’ roll theme song that opens with an audio sample of Maron in his small role in the film “Almost Famous” shouting, “Lock the gates!” The song is named for one of Maron’s common phrases, “Are We Doing This?” Another such phrase, “Are we good?” was often his last question to guests and is the title of a new documentary on him.
“WTF” became a media mainstay where authors, artists, musicians, Hollywood stars and political leaders would give him their backstory.
Barack Obama’s wife, Michelle, co-hosts a podcast with her brother, Craig Robinson, called “IMO.”