Marc Maron, an actor, comedian, and pioneering figure in the podcasting world, has announced that his acclaimed podcast, "WTF with Marc Maron," will conclude later this year. The decision to end the influential show, which has been a staple for nearly 16 years, was made mutually with his longtime producer, Brendan McDonald. Maron cited burnout and a shared sense of satisfaction with their extensive body of work as the primary reasons for stepping away. The news was first shared by Maron with guest John Mulaney on the podcast's Monday episode, with the final episode anticipated in the fall.

"WTF with Marc Maron" launched in September 2009, at a time when podcasting was still a nascent medium. It quickly rose to prominence, helping to define the interview podcast genre and becoming one of the most influential shows in podcasting history. Maron recalled its humble beginnings in his garage: "This started, you know, the old garage… just no one knew what a podcast was. I was coming out of a horrendous divorce. I was wanting to figure out how to continue living my life." Over its run of more than 1,600 episodes, Maron hosted a diverse array of high-profile guests, including former US President Barack Obama, David Letterman, Keith Richards, and Carol Burnett. A particularly notable achievement was the episode featuring Robin Williams, which became the first one-on-one podcast episode to be inducted into America’s National Recording Registry.

Explaining the decision, Maron stated, "We have put up a new show every Monday and Thursday for almost 16 years, and we're tired. We're burnt out. And we are utterly satisfied with the work we've done." He emphasized that the realization to conclude the podcast was a joint one with McDonald: "It was not some kind of difficult decision, necessarily. Neither me nor Brendan, who are the only people in charge of this operation on every level… we both realized together that we were done." Maron also reflected on the natural cycle of projects, noting, "It's OK to end things. It's OK to try to start some other chapter in your life."

Throughout its nearly 16-year tenure, "WTF" has been a remarkably consistent two-man operation. Maron recorded interviews in his garage studio, while McDonald handled production from Brooklyn. This lean setup allowed them to maintain complete creative independence and deliver new episodes unfailingly every Monday and Thursday. The podcast is set to celebrate its 16th anniversary on September 1st before its final episodes air.

While the show is winding down, Maron assured listeners that new episodes will continue to be released through the fall. He expressed an intention to "feature as many people on as possible" during these final months, including guests who might wish to appear knowing it's the "home stretch." Maron also clarified that ending "WTF" does not necessarily signify his retirement from podcasting or similar interview formats entirely. "This doesn’t mean I’m never going to do something like this again," he said, "But for now, we’re just wrapping things up."

Maron underscored the importance of concluding the podcast on their own terms, a principle that has guided the show since its inception. "We started the show on our terms, we grew it on our terms, and we’ll end it on our terms," he affirmed. The decision to conclude "WTF" comes even as the podcast industry itself experiences significant growth, with market research firm Mordor Intelligence valuing it at over $30 billion in 2025, highlighting the significant impact and legacy of shows like Maron's within this expanding landscape.