Episodes

Oct 13

For the final episode of WTF, Marc travels to Washington, DC for another conversation with the most significant guest in the show’s history. Former President Barack Obama welcomes Marc into his office to speak about the legacy of the podcast, the need for human connection, and the reason for optimism in the face of challenging times. Also, President Obama grants Marc’s specific request to help bring some closure to the past sixteen years of WTF. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 9

Only one episode of WTF remains after this one and it will not be recorded in the garage. So with this being the final WTF episode taking place in Marc’s sacred space, it’s only appropriate that he close things out himself, directly addressing everyone who’s been on this ride with him for the past sixteen years. This show started with Marc on a microphone, first in a radio studio, then at the Cat Ranch in Highland Park, as well as many remote locations all over the world, before winding up in this garage where Marc turns that microphone on one last time. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 6

Matt Groening discovered the things that helped shape his artistic sensibility when he was 12 years old: psychedelia, the Grateful Dead, Catch-22, and of course cartooning. Matt explains to Marc how the road to creating The Simpsons started in Portland, Oregon and had stops in New York City, Los Angeles, the Licorice Pizza record store, the LA Reader and the office of James L. Brooks. They also talk about The Simpsons becoming a breeding ground for comedy writing talent and Matt reveals, for the first time, who was the real inspiration for Homer Simpson. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 2

Despite having close relationships with innumerable people in the entertainment industry, Mark Flanagan is aware that a lot of people don’t know much about him, even his first name. They just know him as Flanagan, owner and programmer of the LA nightclub Largo. Flanny talks with Marc about his family’s escape from Northern Ireland during The Troubles and his obsession with music that brought him to Largo in the early ‘90s, eventually owning the club where he could showcase the people he most admired in music and comedy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 29

Judd Apatow was an early fan of WTF and a perennial supporter of the show throughout its run. So when he asked Marc if he could be a guest one more time for an episode where he plays his favorite moments, of course the answer was yes. And because Marc’s general practice is to never listen to the episodes, he is hearing most of these clips for the first time and reacting to them accordingly. It’s a unique look at the history of the show, curated by a self-described “comedy nerd” and longtime WTFer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 25

When WTF started in 2009, Never Not Funny was already there. Jimmy Pardo has been in the podcast game for almost 20 years and was a direct inspiration for Marc back when he wanted to start one of his own. Jimmy and Marc talk about being there in the early days of the medium, how they each learned how to make podcasting work as a business, why Jimmy held onto some bitterness through the years, and how they’ve each come to let go of the things that used to bother them. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 22

Whether Christopher Guest is creating characters, writing scripted comedy or doing long form improv, it’s all music to him. Christopher talks with Marc about his musical background, jazz clubs, the British comedy revue Beyond the Fringe, the National Lampoon, Lily Tomlin and other building blocks that paved the way for his work on This is Spinal Tap, Waiting for Guffman, Best in Show, A Mighty Wind and more. They also talk about Christopher’s longtime collaborations with Michael McKean and Eugene Levy, as well as his daily routine involving guitars, newspapers and fly fishing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 18

Tracy Letts and Marc have remained friends since meeting each other when Tracy was first on the show in 2018. Now, with Marc wrapping up the podcast, Tracy returns to the garage for a talk about the importance of art, self-expression, and taking inspiration where you can get it. Tracy also investigates Marc’s reasoning for ending the show and he recounts his experience being back home in Oklahoma while making Sterlin Harjo’s new show, The Lowdown. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 15

Jamie Lee Curtis has a career in show business spanning nearly 50 years, but she’s currently having the most creatively fulfilling time of her life. Not only is she just a few years removed from winning an Oscar for Everything Everywhere All At Once and then an Emmy for The Bear, she’s also putting her energy into production and development, whether it’s Freakier Friday or the upcoming Patricia Cornwell crime drama Scarpetta or the new film The Lost Bus. Jamie Lee and Marc talk about her very hazy memories of youth, her sobriety, her dislike of rehearsals, and the reason she never reads the comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 11

Tom Scharpling is celebrating the 25th year of his beloved comedy playground, The Best Show, which was one of the foundational inspirations for WTF back when it launched in 2009. Since then, Tom became a fan of WTF, a frequent guest, and a personal friend of Marc’s. Tom and Marc meet up for one final garage chat, reflecting on their respective achievements and looking toward the future of podcasting, as well as their places in it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 8

Mark Hamill gets that you probably know more about Star Wars than he does and he’s ok with that. In fact, he’s so ok with where he’s at in his career, he’s really not worried about what comes next. Mark talks with Marc about his early days on soap operas, the faith he had in Star Wars being a big hit while they were making it, the casting troubles he came up against in Hollywood that made him seek work on Broadway, and the voiceover acting that changed his career. They also talk about his connection to Late Night with David Letterman and his recent work in two Stephen King adaptations, The Life of Chuck and The Long Walk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 4

Some of Spike Lee’s most indelible hallmarks, including a story set in New York City, a morality struggle, and a lead performance by Denzel Washington, are on display in his new film Highest 2 Lowest. Spike and Marc talk about this latest undertaking, as well as Spike’s affinity for being a teacher, his documentary work, Marc’s love of Bamboozled, the ever-evolving nature of New York, and of course Spike’s famous double dolly shots. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 1

Despite his two previous appearances on WTF, Tim Heidecker was not someone Marc felt truly comfortable around. In fact, Marc was intimidated by Tim. But as they’ve gotten older and connected over common interests, both Tim and Marc can now fully enjoy each other’s company. Meeting in the garage one more time, they talk about their shared pursuit of playing more live music on stage, their insecurities that crop up when making movies, and their lamentations about the regression of comedy and why they are compelled to take swings at the culprits of this reactionary culture. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 28

Regina King’s depth and range as an actor won her dozens of awards and allows her to choose projects best suited for her. Regina and Marc talk about her early sitcom days on 227, her breakthrough performances in films like Boyz n the Hood and Jerry Maguire, her acclaimed turns in If Beale Street Could Talk and Shirley, her work as a director, and her latest role in Darren Aronofsky’s Caught Stealing. Regina also explains why she launched a brand of wine to honor her son. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 25

Jeremy Allen White played such a believable Bruce Springsteen in the movie Deliver Me From Nowhere that Marc, who was also in the film, can recall times on the set when Bruce couldn’t tell the difference between recordings of himself and recordings of Jeremy. But for Jeremy, that’s all part of the process of finding his focus, something he’s tried to do since he was a kid taking dance classes and playing sports. Jeremy and Marc also talk about Shameless, The Bear, The Iron Claw, panic attacks, and getting your life under control. Click here to submit a question for an upcoming Ask Marc Anything episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 21

In a world of influencers and content creators, Peter Conheim represents an age of culture jamming and social disruption. Influenced by bands like Can and art collectives like The Residents, Peter talks with Marc about embracing the idea of doing art anonymously, which included his time with the experimental band Negativland. Peter also explains his fascination with audio production and editing, his passion for film curation and remastering, and his work on the new Devo documentary. Click here to submit a question for an upcoming Ask Marc Anything episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 18

The last time Ben Stiller was on WTF, it was more than 15 years ago and it was a really big deal for an upstart podcast done out of a small garage to have a global movie star and film director as a guest. Now Ben and Marc reflect on the passage of time, Ben's choices of projects since 2010, and the responsibility he feels as one of the people at the helm of Severance. They also talk about Owen Wilson, Ben's latest Oscar bit, the state of comedy movies, and the documentary Ben is making about his parents. Click here to submit a question for an upcoming Ask Marc Anything episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 14

After recently releasing her memoir, The Harder I Fight the More I Love You, and finishing her eighth studio album, the upcoming Neon Grey Midnight Green, Neko Case is drawing a lot of conclusions. She tells Marc that animals and nature are more consistent and reliable than people, that she’s at peace with knowing her parents didn’t want her, and that she’s more comfortable choosing her own family. Neko and Marc also talk about her songwriting process, her pro wrestler great-aunt, and The New Pornographers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 11

Bowen Yang never thinks he’s ready for any of the opportunities he gets, including being a guest on WTF for this episode. After a discussion on who gets more nervous before interviews, Marc or the guest, Bowen explains where this lifelong anxiety and insecurity comes from, and a lot of it is rooted in the gay conversion therapy he had to undergo as a teen. They also talk about the vibe of Saturday Night Live during this second Trump administration and the pressures that come with being the gay Asian SNL cast member. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 7

Multi-time WTF guest and veteran of standup comedy specials Jim Gaffigan is the perfect person to talk with Marc right after a screening of Marc’s new HBO special, Marc Maron: Panicked. They examine the work that goes into the building of a standup special, how they both evolved as live performers since their early days, and the uncertain future of the live comedy special. This conversation was recorded at The 92nd Street Y, New York, as part of their Craig Newmark Civic Life Series. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 4

Questlove was drumming for his dad’s band by the time he was 12. Since then, he founded a prolific hip-hop band with his high school classmate, became a chronicler of popular music history, came into his own as a documentary filmmaker, and more. So why does he still feel insecure about being an artist? Questlove talks with Marc about the origins of The Roots, the decision to become a late night house band, winning an Oscar right after the infamous slap, and why he had an underlying motivation for making his recent documentary about Sly Stone. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 31

To an outsider, it seems like quite a leap to go from Nora Lum, classical and jazz trumpet player from Queens, to Awkwafina, rapper, comedian and global movie star. But for Nora, it all feels like a direct extension of the life lived by an artist mother she hardly knew. She talks with Marc about rebuilding the memories of her mom, who died when Nora was only four years old. They also compare notes on Queens apartment living, their mutual aversion to joy, and their feelings about being part of an animated film franchise, as they’re both in the midst of a press tour for The Bad Guys 2. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 28

As one of the members of the last generation who grew up without the internet, Ari Aster’s movies all deal with the ways our minds are shaped and influenced by forces outside of ourselves. Ari talks with Marc about how he uses the genre trappings of horror, farcical comedy and the American Western to explore themes of trauma, nostalgia, anxiety and humanity in his films Hereditary, Midsommar, Beau is Afraid and his latest one, Eddington. They also talk about his poet mom, his jazz drummer dad, and why Albert Brooks is one of his biggest influences. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 24

It’s about time Jackson Galaxy and Marc met each other. Listeners have recommended Jackson to Marc as a cat behavior expert who can offer helpful advice about Marc’s ongoing cat problems. But it turns out they have a lot more in common than just cats: Youthful rock and roll aspirations, addictive personalities, sober living, and an interest in animal welfare. Jackson tells Marc how he found a new direction in his life that turned him into a cat expert and Marc gets some tips on how to deal with his cat’s aggressive behavior. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 21

For anyone who knew Sarah Sherman’s act before she got hired for Saturday Night Live, her new gig might have come as a surprise. Rooted in the Chicago DIY scene, she performed as Sarah Squirm, with a unique ability to make her audiences do just that. But Sarah tells Marc that despite all the meat and viscera in her act, she was always a straight-up comedy person at heart, growing up on Long Island with an affinity for Fran Drescher and a love of Three Amigos. They talk about her show Helltrap Nightmare, how Eric Andre changed her life, and how she adjusted to SNL. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 17

Jena Friedman shares a lot of Marc’s concerns about doing politically relevant comedy during historically scary times. She felt the risk of it first-hand during a recent border crossing from Canada. Jena talks with Marc about how her comedy always stemmed from an activist impulse, how this benefitted her when she became a field producer for The Daily Show, and how that experience was invaluable when she was hired to work on Borat 2, for which she received an Oscar nomination. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 14

Leanne Morgan was a late bloomer in comedy but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t in her heart for a long time. Despite a life in Tennessee filled with tobacco farms and door-to-door jewelry sales, a trip to The Comedy Store in the early ‘90s left Leanne with no doubt as to what she wanted to do with her life. Leanne talks with Marc about her several false starts in show business and how she was worried she would have to give up the comedy dream until social media and Netflix changed everything for her. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 10

Dustin Chafin's path to comedy went from a Texas trailer park to a Mormon conversion before winding up in New York where he almost met a tragic end. That's also where he met Marc and a young Nate Bargatze, who got his first stage time thanks to Dustin, a break that Nate did not forget. Dustin and Marc catch up on each other's lives after a nearly 20 year gap. Plus, Marc talks with AEW's Darby Allin who just got back from the tippy top of the world, having climbed Mount Everest. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 7

Alexander Skarsgård decided acting wasn't for him at age 13 and he went in a completely different direction with his life. But after time in the Swedish Navy and a false start at university in England, he couldn't fight the pull of acting. Alexander talks with Marc about his career-making roles in Generation Kill and True Blood, the difficulty of making The Northman, the ease of making Big Little Lies, and why he loves doing offbeat comedy, whether it's something goofy like Zoolander, pitch black like Succession, or sci-fi satire like his new series Murderbot. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 3

Chad Kassem was a Louisiana kid running afoul of the law, caught in a spiral of substance abuse and arrests. Thankfully, as he puts it, music is a hell of a natural drug. In his 20s, Chad became obsessed with audio and his new mission was to save the world from bad sounding records. Chad talks with Marc about how he started Acoustic Sounds, which serves as a mastering lab, a pressing plant, a record label and more, all in pursuit of making records that sound better than the originals. Chad explains his uncompromising process that turned his Kansas operation into one of the biggest players in the vinyl record business. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 30

Mariska Hargitay says the new documentary she made began as a search for the mother she never knew. But as she pursued it, she wound up coming to a new understanding of her own truth. Mariska and Marc talk about My Mom Jayne, the HBO doc about her mother Jayne Mansfield, who died in a car accident when Mariska was only three. Mariska explains why she kept her mother’s story at arm’s length through most of her life, even as she carved her own path of success in Hollywood, and how she ultimately embraced the revelations about her parents. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 26

Many years after a life-changing one-on-one conversation between Rich Aronovitch and Marc in Queens, New York, Rich and Marc are sitting down once again. This time they’re talking about Rich’s new comedy special, his family’s immigrant journey that landed them in New Orleans, Rich’s first experience on the stage under the name Smooth Daddy Johnson, and why Rich went to jail for letting the air out of a police officer’s tires. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 23

Jordan Klepper and his Daily Show colleagues find themselves in the position of calling fascism out for what it is while also still finding comedy in an increasingly unstable world. But one way Jordan deals with the firehose of information is by going out into the field, like he did for his most recent special report, MAGA: The Next Generation. Jordan and Marc talk about his findings, but they get into his upbringing in Kalamazoo, his transition from math major to improv comic, and the understanding of show business he learned from family cousin Tim Allen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 19

Megan Stalter sees her comedic persona as a representation of both supreme confidence and a nervous breakdown simultaneously. It’s a demeanor that served her well, whether on the improv stages in Chicago or on her breakout Instagram videos or as the scene-stealing Kayla on Hacks or in her own Netflix series Too Much. Megan and Marc talk about how her comedy chops took shape, her upbringing in the Pentecostal Church, and her identity as both queer and Christian. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 16

Cristin Milioti’s portrayal of the ruthless Sofia Falcone in The Penguin might seem like a departure for her. But Cristin tells Marc her goal has always been to avoid being pigeonholed. Also, the tone of The Penguin is so theatrical and operatic that Cristin fit right in as someone who, in her words, was saved by theater kids in high school. They also talk about her run on Broadway in Once, the fear she had while making The Wolf of Wall Street, and the heartbreak of having an entire two-season series, Made for Love, deleted from existence. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 12

Perhaps a reason there’s always tension between Mike Birbiglia and Marc is they have a lot in common. That’s also probably the reason that, despite this tension, Mike has made multiple trips to the garage. This time, Mike and Marc talk about the job of making people laugh about things that make them sad or angry, the benefits and risks of centering your comedy around your personal life, and how they’ve both made peace with their doctor dads, with Mike dealing with it in his new Netflix special, The Good Life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 9

Seth Meyers doesn’t get out to LA very often, but when he does he’s able to visit longtime friends, go on other late night shows, and head over to the garage to talk with Marc. This time they get into how Late Night is helping Seth process what’s going on in the world even has he helps viewer do the same. They also talk about SNL 50, including Seth’s interaction with Keith Richards and why Eddie Murphy and Will Ferrell are the greatest. Then they spend the rest of the time fanboying about Nathan Fielder and Tim Robinson. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 5

Josh Homme manifested an 18-year-old dream to perform a Queens of the Stone Age concert in the Catacombs of Paris. Josh tells Marc why it was such a meaningful undertaking two years after he survived a bout with cancer. They also talk about his collaborations and friendship with Iggy Pop, the 2015 terrorist attack during an Eagles of Death Metal concert, and the difference between giving up and giving in. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 2

John Mulaney has been through a lot since the last time he was on the show, so it’s nice he can identify the present as, in his words, a happy time that he can appreciate. John offers Marc his reflections on the first run of his Netflix talk show Everybody’s Live, reflections on his sobriety five years after everything fell apart, and reflections on the history of WTF, a show he was listening to right from the beginning. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 29

Scott Frank is one of Hollywood’s most prolific screenwriters but he still has perpetual anxiety about his job security. Scott and Marc talk about the impulse that keeps him grinding away, whether he’s working on original screenplays, rewrites, or his limited series like Godless, The Queen’s Gambit and his new Netflix show Department Q. They also talk about Scott’s mentors, his influences, and the construction of his most well known screenplays, like Get Shorty, Out of Sight, Minority Report, and Logan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 26

Nick Kroll was one of the first dozen guests on WTF and in the nearly sixteen years of his life since then, loved ones have been lost, babies have been welcomed to the world, and Nick can now see things about himself that he couldn’t identify before. Nick and Marc talk about those changes, as well as the artwork of his wife Lily Kwong, the trip to Italy he made for his new movie I Don’t Understand You, and the fulfillment of creating eight seasons of Big Mouth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 22

Peter Wolf didn’t want to write the typical rock and roll memoir filled with lurid tales and score settling. Instead he wanted to write a collection of short stories that stem from his serendipitous encounters with everyone from Marilyn Monroe to David Lynch. Peter tells Marc how he wrestled with his own memories to write the book, how he drew from his friendships with Bob Dylan, Muddy Waters and John Lee Hooker, and how he got right with the topics he wanted to avoid, namely his time with The J. Geils Band and his marriage to Faye Dunaway. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 19

Sarah Silverman and Marc go back more than 30 years and although they know a lot about each other from the past, they can both acknowledge that they haven’t stopped growing and learning and changing right up to the present. Sarah and Marc talk about making peace with the signs of aging, including hearing loss, and how an embrace of closure helped her deal with the loss of her father and stepmother, which is the center of her new Netflix special, PostMortem. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 15

Carol Leifer has been a standup comic for almost 50 years, but the knowledge she can impart from her lifetime of experience isn’t limited to the standup stage. That’s why Carol co-wrote the new book How to Write a Funny Speech, applying the building blocks of comedy to weddings, graduations and anywhere else one might speak in public. Carol and Marc talk about how to be funny at a memorial, her experience writing for the recent Oscars, and how she’s tapped into the current zeitgeist thanks to her teenage son. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 12

When Bridget Everett was growing up in Kansas, the question “How are you feeling?” was not often asked. That’s part of the reason why Bridget embraced singing and making music as her primary way to connect with people. She tells Marc how this led to the development of her live cabaret shows which got her noticed by Michael Patrick King, Amy Schumer, and eventually HBO. They also talk about how Bridget’s acclaimed and beloved show Somebody Somewhere taught her how to face grief and live with it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 8

Singer-songwriter Samantha Crain wasn’t sure if she’d ever be able to make music again after a car accident left her without the ability to play instruments or physically write songs. Samantha talks with Marc about her recovery and how her physical improvement coincided with the evolution of her artistic confidence. Samantha also explains her family’s storied history of powerlifting, the influence of Jason Molina, and why she feels it’s important to write and perform songs in the Choctaw language. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 5

While he was once known for all manner of comedy involving animals, both alive and dead, Tom Green’s relationship with the animal kingdom is now much more traditional, as he spends some of his time doing farm work on a remote plot of unspoiled land in Canada. Tom talks with Marc about why he made the big change in his life, which is documented in the new Prime Video series Tom Green Country. They also talk about their respective pioneer work in the early days of streaming video and podcasting. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 1

David Harbour and Marc met in the garage seven years ago at the height of Stranger Things and the beginning of a new phase in David’s career. Now with the Marvel movie Thunderbolts coming out, David and Marc have both had surprising success in their careers, which leaves them both searching for things they can’t quite pin down. They’ll try to help each other out, while also discussing meditation, mortality, and the future of art and entertainment in a world of shorter attention spans. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 28

David Cronenberg starts making each new film of his as though he’s making a movie for the first time. Marc sees connective tissue through all of David’s work, consisting of “the meat, the machine, mutations of desire, and pain.” David and Marc explore these ideas in specific films, including Scanners, The Brood, The Fly, Naked Lunch, Crash, Cosmopolis, and Maps to the Stars, as well as David’s latest film The Shrouds, which he considers to be a discussion with his audience about grief. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 24

Jessica Kirson was a guest on WTF six years ago, when she talked with Marc about her start in comedy and her personal background. This time, she came back just to hang out and have some laughs. And for Marc at this exact moment in time, it was much needed and greatly appreciated. They talk about Jessica’s new special, I’m the Man, their experiences with crying, the never-ending fight against embarrassment, the many similarities from their New Jersey upbringings, and whatever else they’re thinking about during the hour. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 21

Comedian Liza Treyger is frequently mystified by human behavior. Why are people so mean when leaving internet comments? Why do adults continuously repeat the patterns of children? Why are friendships so hard to maintain later in life? She asks these questions as a sociology major but also as a comic, and was recently able to explore these ideas in her first Netflix special. Liza and Marc talk about these issues, as well as Liza’s path to comedy, which included many crash courses she didn’t anticipate. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 17

Jillian Bell’s history of anxiety goes back to when she was a baby and would hold her breath until she passed out. But she didn’t let panic attacks stand in the way of her dream to get hired at SNL or her desire to become a working comedic actor. And as Jillian tells Marc, she definitely wasn’t going to let anything stop her from becoming a director, which she did with her first film, Summer of 69. They also talk about the great experience they shared while making Lynn Shelton’s Sword of Trust. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 14

As a writer and director, Ryan Coogler is drawn to stories about identity. He made Fruitvale Station to confront his own thoughts and fears about being a Black man in America. He made Creed as an extension of the dynamic he has with his dad. He made Black Panther while conscious of the impact it would have on a global community. Ryan and Marc talk about these films as well as Ryan's latest movie Sinners, which also explores Ryan's preferred topic of identity, but this time through the lens of Delta Blues, doppelgangers, and vampires. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 10

By all accounts, Gavin Matts has carved a successful path for himself as a comedian, actor and writer at the young age of 30. But he can’t shake the feeling that he came into show business at the tail end and he’s mourning the possibilities that no longer seem as attainable as they once were. Gavin and Marc talk about the changes in the world of comedy, the struggles of local comedy clubs, and the rise of arena shows. Gavin also explains how he was influenced by the pace of comedians like Todd Barry, Hannibal Buress and Chelsea Peretti, and why, in the end, he probably should have been a fisherman. Learn more about our sponsor NOCD by going here - https://learn.nocd.com/wtf Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 7

Peter Weller knows that most people think of him as RoboCop. But he also knows that when they approach him to talk about RoboCop, it’s his opportunity to talk to them about art, jazz, theater and many other areas that are not merely hobbies for him, but actual artistic pursuits. Peter tells Marc why he got his Ph.D. in Italian Renaissance Art History and how his jazz trumpet playing in college stuck with him his whole life, leading him to a friendship with Miles Davis. They also talk about the necessity of art during times of political upheaval and revolution. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 3

When Lynne Margulies was 25 years old, she met Andy Kaufman on the set of the film My Breakfast with Blassie. Two years later, just shortly before he died, Andy made Lynne promise she would keep his work alive. With the release of the new documentary Thank You Very Much, Lynne talks with Marc about fulfilling that promise over the decades by showcasing Andy’s comedy and also allowing the myths about him to persist. They also talk about Andy’s inspirations and why professional wrestling was a foundational part of his personality. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 31

Delroy Lindo can take pride in many accomplishments - his family, his career, his educational - while being aware that he’s still in the process of finding himself. Delroy and Marc, despite their differences, find it easy to relate to each other over that lifelong journey of self-discovery, which for Delroy included the decision to go back to school later in life after his film career already took off. He also explains to Marc how acting saved his life, from the Christmas pageant he was in at age five all the way up through his latest film, Sinners. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 27

Some comedians think of comedy as a higher calling, but Modi Rosenfeld knows exactly where the call came from. He points to a story of two comedians in the Talmud, men who gave cheer to those who were depressed and who made peace between those who were at war. Modi and Marc talk about this lofty purpose and how comedy is rooted in not only Jewish scripture but in the patter of the Yiddish language. Modi also explains how doing comedy shows on Zoom during Covid changed the entire trajectory of his life and career. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 24

Nick Thune is a comic Marc is always happy to welcome back on the show. But this time, it’s very fortunate that Nick is able to join Marc in the garage at all because there was a time in which he spiraled into alcoholism and almost didn’t survive. With a new comedy special released and his sobriety holding strong, Nick tells Marc what happened since the last time they talked, how he struggled with daily blackouts, hospital stays, and the dissolution of his marriage, and how he was helped into rehab and got the support he needed to rebuild. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 20

Unlike many comedian guests on WTF, Chris Fleming had a lot of support and encouragement from his family when it came to pursuing a career in comedy. In fact, it was his mother who got him started at open mics. Chris talks with Marc about how he embraces being both inclusive and avant-garde, building a loyal audience but also being accessible to newcomers, and using the stage to create characters, like his popular suburban mother Gayle, while also giving plenty of space to telling jokes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 17

Jane Marie’s early life in Michigan didn’t necessarily put her on the glide path to the future world of podcasting, but an internship at This American Life gave her a crash course in the type of journalism that allowed her to create The Dream podcast. Jane talks with Marc about the subject matter of The Dream’s past seasons, including pyramid schemes, the wellness industry, and life coaching, and why these topics are truly representative of modern day America. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 13

When Mike Elias wanted to learn the guitar, his dad told him he had to teach himself. Mike took that rule and ran with it for the rest of his life, teaching himself everything from sewing to metal fabrication to fashion design, which he deployed when he founded Ship John Leather and Canvas in Portland, Oregon, and created one of the most sought after garments in the world, the Wills Jacket. Mike tells Marc about growing up oyster fishing and hunting in New Jersey, why he wound up making clothing, and the violent attack that changed his life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 10

W. Kamau Bell and Marc are similar comedians in that neither of them will ignore the current political environment in their acts. Kamau and Marc talk about how that’s shaping up today versus how it was during the first Trump administration and what they each feel about the balance between civic responsibility and entertainment. They also talk about Kamau’s decision to play the Kennedy Center despite the Trump takeover, his five year break from comedy, and what happened after he released his documentary about Bill Cosby. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 6

Prolific singer-songwriter Will Oldham has been able to maintain what Marc calls “a haunting and elated tone” over the course of his career, whether in his collaborations with other artists or under the name Bonnie “Prince” Billy. Will talks with Marc about how his music stems from the example of his artist mother, records checked out of the library, and his Kentucky roots. They also talk about his recent album The Purple Bird as well as Will’s acting career, which launched when he was a teenager and John Sayles cast him in the film Matewan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 3

Don Johnson’s life took him far from where he thought it was going growing up in Missouri and Kansas. But at this point, he’s confident that nearly everything he knows in life he learned from the women in it. Don talks with Marc about his wild days in San Francisco and LA, how he handled his sudden fame from Miami Vice, his friendship with Hunter S. Thompson, his career all the way up through his current show Doctor Odyssey, and his hard-fought journey toward enlightenment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 27

When Chris Hayes was last on the show almost ten years ago, it was a much different world. Barack Obama had just recently been in the garage and Donald Trump had just declared his candidacy for President. Making sense of that changing world is what Chris does nightly on MSNBC, but he’s also written a new book about our changing brains. Chris and Marc talk about that book, The Sirens’ Call, and our rapidly evolving relationships with attention, information, media and our phones. Click here to submit a question for an upcoming Ask Marc Anything bonus episode on The Full Maron. Learn more about our sponsor NOCD by going here - https://learn.nocd.com/wtf Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 24

As someone from a working class Ohio family, Carrie Coon didn’t think much about acting as a plausible career path. But her post-college work in regional theater led her to Steppenwolf in Chicago, which in turn led her to Broadway, and ultimately to a Hollywood career. Carrie and Marc talk about her first movie being being a baptism by David Fincher’s unique fire, meeting her husband Tracy Letts, learning that acting is not pretending, and spending six months in Thailand for the new season of The White Lotus. Click here to submit a question for an upcoming Ask Marc Anything bonus episode on The Full Maron. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 20

Mo Amer was new to America when he was nine years old and his brother took him to see his first standup show. From that point on, he knew what he wanted to do with his life. Then at age 17, he took advice that helped him map out his entire career. Mo talks with Marc about his love for Houston, its diversity, and its comedy scene. He also explains how he’s honoring his family and his Palestinian heritage in his Netflix series Mo and why the show had to be told from his personal perspective. Click here to submit a question for an upcoming Ask Marc Anything bonus episode on The Full Maron. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 17

Brady Corbet spent years in front of the camera until he resigned from the job of actor. The new career he took up, that of filmmaker, has led to ten Oscar nominations for his newest movie The Brutalist. Brady talks with Marc about what made him devote eight years of his life to this epic exploration of the male ego. They also talk about the economics of being an independent filmmaker, the balance between being a collaborator and an auteur, and Brady's conflicted feelings about the creative process. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 13

James Mangold writes and directs films across multiple genres, but the one style he uses as a prism for so much of his work is the American Western. James and Marc talk about how A Complete Unknown fits into the Western mold and why the placement of the camera was of utmost importance in telling this specific story about Bob Dylan. James also explains his directorial strategy and how it factored into the making of his films like Heavy, Walk the Line, 3:10 to Yuma and Ford v Ferrari. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 10

Ariana Grande can link one song to her entire life as a performer, from her childhood days singing for her grandpa to her life as a global pop superstar to her performance as Galinda in Wicked. That song is Over the Rainbow. Ariana talks with Marc about the constant presence of music in her life, how she developed her songwriting process, why she sought out a vocal coach for Wicked, how she protects her mental health in an emotionally demanding business, and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 6

Demi Moore has been a searcher since she was a kid, with intense interest throughout her life in things like spiritualism, psychology and, of course, acting. Demi talks with Marc about how she never stopped searching for herself, from her difficult upbringing through her entry into Hollywood and even during the peak of her global fame, and how this journey of self-discovery dovetailed with her Oscar-nominated performance as Elisabeth Sparkle in The Substance. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 3

Ke Huy Quan’s remarkable Hollywood story continues to add more storybook chapters. From coming to America as a refugee to his global stardom as a child actor to leaving acting behind for several decades to a comeback that earned him an Oscar. Now he follows that up with his name above the title of a new action comedy, Love Hurts. Ke tells Marc how all of these memories play out for him and how the vivid recent ones illuminate older memories such as fleeing Vietnam, reuniting with his family in LA, and his dejection when he couldn’t see a way to get back into acting. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 30

Noah Wyle spent 11 seasons in a fictional medical environment on the show ER. So what made him want to return to a trauma ward setting for his new series The Pitt? Noah tells Marc the reason, which had a lot to do with what he heard from real doctors, as well as why it’s meaningful for him, as a third generation Los Angeleno, to shoot the show in LA. They also talk about Noah’s compulsion to amass memorabilia and arcane collections and whether it counts as hoarding. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 27

A lot of people know Erin Brockovich’s story thanks to the movie based on her legal work in a groundwater contamination case. But the story that really guided her life is one central to her Kansas roots: The Wizard of Oz. Recorded while the worst of the LA wildfires were still raging, Erin talked with Marc about the lessons she took not just from fantasy stories but from the reality of communities that turned hopelessness into action and from the clarity that can emerge in moments of crisis. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 23

Sophie Buddle is living in LA and doing comedy all around the United States, but since she spent most of her life in Canada, she’s in a unique vantage point to give Marc the lowdown about the country to the north that he might one day call home. Sophie and Marc also talk about go bags, crisis management, work visas, crowd work, monologue writing, and tall poppy syndrome. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 20

Bill Burr is trying to put things to bed. Whether it’s the anger he’s held onto throughout his life, or the sadness from he’s uncovered from his childhood, or even his old tensions with Marc, Bill’s been working to move on from the past. Bill and Marc talk about reaching the age where it’s time to put up or shut up, staying calm during chaotic moments, and taking stock of losing many of their peers. They also discuss Bill’s upcoming Hulu special and his Broadway debut in Glengarry Glen Ross. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 16

After evacuating her home and consoling family members who lost their house in the LA fires, comedian Mo Welch acknowledges that she’s visiting Marc’s garage while still somewhere on the trauma spectrum. But she’s not a stranger to that spectrum, nor to processing it, having just made a standup special that’s also a documentary about meeting her estranged father. Mo and Marc talk about her childhood instability and the comedy path that was her salvation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 13

Richard Gadd created the Netflix series Baby Reindeer as a way to work through traumatic events in his life that were hard to process. But it became equally difficult to process the runaway success of the show and the impact it had on his life. Richard talks with Marc about how his early days doing standup in the UK and writing stage shows for himself were underscored by a lack of boundaries and a feeling that something was missing inside of him. He also explains why his follow-up to Baby Reindeer is a personal gamble. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 9

Mike Leigh’s films are known for their observant depictions of the working class, their tragicomic tones, and their improvisational construction. But there are some misconceptions about his work that Mike would like to clear up. He does so while talking with Marc about his life-changing introduction to foreign films, his method of collaboration with his actors, the difference between realism and naturalism, and some details about the making of Secrets and Lies, Vera Drake, Topsy-Turvy, Naked and his new film Hard Truths. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 6

Adrien Brody does a lot of research for his roles, but his performance in the new movie The Brutalist was shaped largely by his family’s immigrant experience and it aligned with his desire to play characters who are outsiders. Adrien also talks with Marc about becoming the youngest winner of the Best Actor Oscar for The Pianist and how it was a little too much to take. But on the flip side, he explains why he revels in the joy and camaraderie of making Wes Anderson’s films. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 2

Marc’s been answering listener questions on the Fulll Maron bonus feed for two and a half years. This is a collection of Marc’s answers from across the first 18 installments of the Ask Marc Anything bonus series. It’s like Marc is the guest and the listeners are interviewing him. He gets into questions about Adam Sandler, Taylor Swift, Jon Stewart, the lost David Fincher episode, other interview podcasts, Cheech & Chong, standup lingo, sandwiches, sobriety, relapsing, and more. Click here to watch the video Marc mentions in the episode, featuring John Montagna creating the WTF theme song. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 30, 2024

Ron Livingston just came over to chat. While most people come to the garage with something to promote, Marc and Ron were happy to be two guys getting to know each other on the microphones with no other agenda. Although Marc already learned some things about Ron from his wife, Rosemarie Dewitt, Ron shared his own stories about growing up in Iowa, how the trajectory of his Swingers character was not far from the truth, how Office Space slowly became a beloved classic, and how Sex and the City burnished his wardrobe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 26, 2024

Marc presents a special compilation of mini-series created for The Full Maron feed on WTF+ called WTF Origins. In this series of recordings from the past year, Marc and WTF producer Brendan McDonald talk about pivotal moments that were important in the creation of WTF, including Marc's days at Luna Lounge in the '90s, The Marc Maron Show in Los Angeles, Break Room Live with Sam Seder, and the decisions made in the sink-or-swim early days of the podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 23, 2024

Bruce Vilanch is best known for his time as the head writer of the Oscars, but he is actually a vestige of a fabled era of show business. Bruce talks with Marc about how he went from being a child actor to working at newspapers to writing jokes for Bette Midler. His skill at writing in other people’s voices led him to countless jobs as a joke-writer-for-hire, doing punch up for famous comedians like Lily Tomlin, George Carlin, Joan Rivers and others, as well as for many beloved and detested TV variety shows. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 19, 2024

Filmmaker Justin Kurzel is drawn to stories about outlaws and outsiders. Growing up in South Australia and living in Tasmania, he’s seen the fragile nature of small communities and the people who can prompt societal upheaval. Justin talks with Marc about his new and very relevant film The Order and why Justin was compelled to cast Marc as an assassinated radio host. They also talk about Justin’s other films, including one that the Prime Minister of Australia said shouldn’t be made. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 16, 2024

Bobbi Althoff’s podcast success story is much different than Marc’s podcast success story. In fact, the concept of a podcast is very different than when WTF got started. Bobbi explains how she grew up in a chaotic environment where money was hard to come by and, after becoming a mom in her early 20s, she found viral fame by sheer force of will, as well as a guest appearance by Drake. They also talk about the grind of the content creation machine, the mental health drain of social media, and fame being an economic engine. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 12, 2024

When Marc first met Andy Blitz during the rise of the alt-comedy scene in New York City, Andy still thought show business was magical. And why wouldn’t he? As he tells Marc, he was a kid who grew up in the rough East Village of the 1970s and found himself dealing with depression and panic attacks in college. Andy talks about how his days at Luna Lounge paved the way for his job as a writer and sketch performer on Conan, and how that in turn opened doors for writing on shows like Human Giant, Review and Master of None. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 9, 2024

Not too many guests come into the garage and tell Marc he changed their lives forever. In fact, Jesse Eisenberg might be the only one. Jesse and Marc go over that formative moment and what it says about both of them. Jesse also talks about being terrified as a child, growing into an adult who identifies with bleakness, and turning some of his life experiences into the new film A Real Pain, which he wrote, directed and stars in alongside Kieran Culkin. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 5, 2024

Dwight Yoakam is a multi-platinum recording artist with many number one albums and singles, as well as multiple Grammy wins. But despite all his accomplishments as a musician, including his new album Brighter Days, Dwight is just as comfortable being a music historian. Dwight helps Marc chart the movement of country music to California, with Americana music of the mid-20th Century blending with rock and punk to create a unique sound that Dwight was a distinct part of. They talk all about The Byrds, Creedence, The Blasters and many more, in addition to Dwight’s new adventures as a first-time dad. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 2, 2024

Filmmaker Luca Guadagnino is attracted to the ways in which we’re all imperfect beings. That explains why a clash of personalities is central to so many of his movies, including A Bigger Splash, Suspiria and Challengers. Marc and Luca talk about those films as well as his new one, Queer, which is based on source material by someone who remains a fascination to both of them: William S. Burroughs. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 28, 2024

Steve Furey’s path to comedy started with youth football. Once he realized he wasn’t great at football, he started selling drugs. Once he realized he wasn’t good at selling drugs, he started comedy. In between there were stories of border crossings, smuggling in Tijuana, gunpoint robberies in Stockton, Kansas overdoses and more. And then there were early standup gigs that, as both Steve and Marc confirm, could wind up being scarier than dealing drugs. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 25, 2024

Anthony Jeselnik is back in the garage more than 13 years since the last time he and Marc talked on the mics. With many career successes and some failures in the rearview, Anthony talks with Marc about where he sees himself in the landscape of comedy today, as he releases his latest Netflix special and while both of them spend a lot of time thinking about the current perception of standup comedy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 21, 2024

Rosemarie DeWitt never really thought she would become an actor because she felt like no one was betting on her. In fact, later in life her father said, “I can’t believe that you’re successful.” Marc finds out what drove Rosemarie away from those low expectations and into a prominent career with credits like Rachel Getting Married, Mad Men, Little Fires Everywhere and the new film Out of My Mind. They also talk about why horror movies, like Smile 2, are fun to make and how the two of them share a bond due to their deep connections with Lynn Shelton. Click here to submit a question for an upcoming Ask Marc Anything episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 18, 2024

Cynthia Erivo has some tips for Marc on how to get more out of his time on set. For example, she always makes sure to get her steps in. So when you see her playing Elphaba in Wicked, she’s wearing her fitness watch under her witch costume. Cynthia and Marc share their thoughts about the vulnerability of singing, with Cynthia having studied the psychology of music before becoming an award-winning stage performer. They also compare notes on Aretha Franklin from their respective projects about the Queen of Soul. Click here to submit a question for an upcoming Ask Marc Anything episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 14, 2024

Josh Brolin is a natural guest to return to the garage for a second chat because he and Marc relate on many levels. They both find themselves chasing addictions even when they’re sober. They’re both constantly looking for ways to connect with people. And they both just encountered an intense journey for emotional truth. Marc through his recent acting, Josh through the writing of his new memoir, From Under a Truck, which he calls the most humbling experience of his life. Click here to submit a question for an upcoming Ask Marc Anything episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 11, 2024

Jessica Lange admits she’s always drawn to the darkness and madness of her characters, whether it’s Frances Farmer or Blanche DuBois or her most recent performance as The Great Lillian Hall, which dealt with the trifecta of grief, loss and loneliness. Jessica and Marc talk about how she enjoys plumbing the depths of emotion, but also enjoyed a life that’s taken her all over the world, a career that started in the palm of King Kong, and a body of work that includes Tootsie, All That Jazz, American Horror Story and more. Click here to submit a question for an upcoming Ask Marc Anything episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 7, 2024

Robby Hoffman knows she comes in too hot. But that kind of in-your-face enthusiasm helped her go from being one of ten kids in a Hasidic Jewish family to a burgeoning standup comic and television writer. Robby tells Marc about the challenges of her upbringing, including the socially hazardous way she was publicly outed as a teen. They also talk about her love of Uniqlo, Egg McMuffins, and her writing breakthrough on the children’s show Odd Squad. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 4, 2024

Mo Mandel would like you to enjoy his new comedy special, see him perform live and, if you’re a studio executive, greenlight one of his scripts. But Mo also wants to make sure he doesn’t become too successful, otherwise he’ll lose the sweet deal of essentially being a stay-at-home dad. Mo tells Marc about adapting to his OCD, giving up on self-improvement, and getting sober at the same time he was hosting a show called Barmageddon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 31, 2024

Filmmaker Billy Corben got an early taste of show business as an aspiring child actor. That aborted career path eventually turned into a new vocation as a maker of documentary films, including celebrated projects like Cocaine Cowboys and The U. Billy and Marc talk about the persistent connection to Florida in Billy’s work and how his latest film, From Russia with Lev, is both a cautionary tale about the dangers of a Trump Administration and a meditation on the quintessential Florida Man. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 28, 2024

The world learned who Robert Patrick was when he showed up as the T-1000 in Terminator 2, but prior to that break out, Robert saw himself as a failed athlete and alcoholic who was lucky to get a chance at success with this acting thing. Robert tells Marc how his personal struggles continued after T2, how being cast in The X-Files and The Sopranos turned things around for him, and how he’s now challenging himself in more productive ways. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 24, 2024

Keith Urban may seem like an outsider who conquered Nashville, but as he tells Marc, he was an outsider in his home country, too. Coming from what he calls an oddball family in Australia who owned American cars and played American country music, Keith’s journey to international superstardom was not without its roadblocks, some due to the industry, some self-inflicted. Keith also talks with Marc about his eleventh studio album, High, and how he didn’t realize it was so personal until the songs were coming out of him. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 21, 2024

Many films in the career of Robert Zemeckis, including his new one called Here, involve some form of time travel. As Robert explains to Marc, nothing does time travel better than movies. Robert talks with Marc about becoming a filmmaker thanks to Jerry Lewis, his partnership with Steven Spielberg, his collaborations with Tom Hanks, and the making of his beloved films like Back to the Future, Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, Forrest Gump and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 17, 2024

Al Pacino created indelible memories for generations of moviegoers. But while he was writing his own memoir, Sonny Boy, Al kept coming back to mental scenes of his days in the South Bronx, running around the streets with friends, enjoying the small things in life. Al talks with Marc about his growth as an actor from the stage to the screen, his formative friendship with acting teacher Charlie Laughton, and his career realization that he can only perform in something he relates to. They also go deep into Al’s performances in The Godfather, Dog Day Afternoon, and Scarface. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 14, 2024

Joe Boyd is part of the music industry in so many ways, as a producer, label founder and more, that his new memoir And The Roots of Rhythm Remain also serves as a history of global music, a political roadmap of popular music trends, and an education in traditional music forms. Joe talks with Marc about music as a way of piercing the past, including his own place in moments like Dylan going electric at Newport, Woodstock, and the beginnings of artists like Pink Floyd and Nick Drake. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 10, 2024

Langston Kerman named his new Netflix comedy special Bad Poetry, harkening back to his time as a high school teacher. But as someone with an MFA in poetry, Langston knows enough about the dividing line between the bad and the good in both poetry and comedy, two things which are forever connected in his life. Langston and Marc talk about his days as a teacher, as well as his time in Boston, his trip to China with students, the best comedy clubs in America, and why John Mulaney directed his special. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 7, 2024

Sebastian Stan believes creativity is the best therapy. So even when he's playing an unappealing person, like Jeff Gillooly in I, Tonya or Donald Trump in the new film The Apprentice, Sebastian knows there's always something to learn about humanity through his performances. Sebastian talks with Marc about fleeing from his home country of Romania at a young age, learning from master filmmakers like Jonathan Demme, seeking out unique material like the film A Different Man, and finding out that his portrayal of Bucky Barnes in the Marvel franchise has helped people through tough times. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 3, 2024

Connie Chung’s consummate professionalism and journalistic rigor worked against her as she put together her new memoir. Her impulse is to report the facts, but her editors told her she needed to include other things this time, like feelings and emotion. But as Marc finds out, Connie was able to thoroughly explore not only her past, but her family, her husband Maury Povich, and the world-changing news stories she covered as a reporter and later co-anchor of the CBS Evening News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 30, 2024

It’s all a combination of old and new for Kaitlin Olson. She’s just finishing up shooting the first season of her ABC detective series High Potential and is now about to begin shooting the seventeenth season of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Kaitlin and Marc talk about the show that changed her life, not only because of the steady work it provided but because it’s also where she started a family. They also talk about her teenage head injury, the Pacific Northwest, therapy, the Groundlings, and her recurring role on Hacks. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 26, 2024

Kathleen Hanna’s life and career exist at the nexus of punk rock, outsider art, photography and feminism. Now that she’s been able to put it all into her memoir, Rebel Girl, Kathleen talks with Marc about her upbringing in the Pacific Northwest, the music scene in Olympia, Washington, her time fronting the bands Bikini Kill and Le Tigre, her solo projects, her activism, and much more. She also explains the underground riot grrrl movement and the space it created for women in rock music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 23, 2024

Marvel fans around the world know Elizabeth Olsen as The Scarlet Witch, but Elizabeth says she has a different alter ego inside of her— that of an elderly New Yorker living on her own in the big city. Elizabeth talks with Marc about this fantasy and how it has something to do with a lifelong desire to avoid the trappings of fame. They also talk about Elizabeth becoming a Dead Head for her latest film, His Three Daughters, and how the two of them have a lot in common when it comes to food and health concerns. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 19, 2024

As a kid, Jason Ritter felt a lot of pressure as the son of a beloved actor who audiences felt like they knew personally. He didn’t feel pressure from his parents, but rather pressure from the world, believing he had to live up to being John Ritter’s son. Jason talks with Marc about how that insecurity, as well as his struggle to find his own identity, led directly to an acting career but also caused him mask his emotions with alcohol. They also talk about the limits of research, Matlock, and Jason’s wife Melanie Lynskey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 16, 2024

While putting together his new memoir, Eric Roberts developed a fuller understanding of his life as an actor. As someone whose parents did not help him establish a sense of self, his journey through various roles and personality types was part of figuring out who he was. Eric and Marc compare notes on revelations about parents and Eric looks back on some of the roles that made him who he is, including his most recent performance in The Righteous Gemstones which is his favorite of his career. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 12, 2024

Hundreds of WTF guests have show business origin stories, but nobody has one like comedian Ali Macofsky, whose impulsive phone call to Ryan Seacrest live on the radio when she was seven years old got the ball rolling on her career. Ali tells Marc about this event and all the other spontaneous decisions in her early life that led to a failed audition for Hannah Montana, solitary trips to The Laugh Factory, teenage alcoholism, and eventual sobriety. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 9, 2024

She may have won an Oscar for her first film role, but Lupita Nyong’o spent the early part of her life hiding her desire to be an actor. Lupita tells Marc about growing up under autocratic rule, living in a country where creative voices were suppressed, and learning how to speak out even when it’s risky. Lupita also explains why she followed up 12 Years a Slave with Star Wars and how A Quiet Place: Day One helped cure her fear of cats. (Check out Lupita’s new podcast Mind Your Own, launching September 19, and her new animated film The Wild Robot, in theaters September 27.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 5, 2024

It took Chris Robinson a long time to accept being a rock and roll frontman. Even at the height of The Black Crowes’ success, he just thought they were just a group of dudes from Atlanta playing roots music. Now reunited with the band and touring again after releasing their ninth album, Chris tells Marc why it took time and perspective to realize he liked being the guy on lead vocals. Chris also tells Marc about the influence of bands like The Faces and Humble Pie, how he was discouraged from being a singer when he was a kid, and how he healed the rift with his brother and bandmate Rich. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 2, 2024

Drew Lynch never planned on being a comedian. But his pursuit of an acting career got derailed by a traumatic brain injury that left him with a stutter and no career prospects. Drew tells Marc the reason he decided to get on stage and put together a standup act, a decision that made him a finalist on America’s Got Talent and helped him land a recurring guest stint on Marc’s IFC series. Drew also talks about his self-consciousness over his early breaks in comedy and why humility has become a necessary ingredient in his life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 29, 2024

When the topic of past guests comes up, Marc often mentions Brendon Walsh, a comedian who was on several early WTF episodes as well as Marc’s IFC sitcom. Diving into a full conversation more than a decade since he was last in the garage, Brendon tells Marc about the changes in his life since then, including the break he took from comedy, the tragic death of his podcast co-host, the mistakes he’s come to terms with, and why he currently hosts The World Record podcast with his wife. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 26, 2024

Greg Fitzsimmons returns to WTF after a 13 year absence, but his dynamic with Marc remains the same as it was when they were comics starting out in Boston almost four decades ago. With a new comedy special out, Greg talks with Marc about his unhealthy relationship with worry, how he broke the self-destructive cycles of his family, and how his relationship with Marc evolved from trying to get in a fistfight with him backstage to reminiscing about their road stories and hard-earned victories. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 22, 2024

Over the past four years, Paul W. Downs has been one of the people responsible for constructing the ongoing story of a lifer standup comic on the show Hacks. Paul talks with Marc about how his comedy background is very different from the fictional Deborah Vance, with his training at the UCB Theater, his days at the vanguard of internet video comedy, and his entry into the world of Broad City. They also talk about embarrassment, becoming less odd with age, and the current crisis in comedy development. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 19, 2024

Michael Rooker is known for playing a variety of menacing and intense characters. But menace was something he was always good at, as the protective older brother of six sisters. And intensity is often something people misread because he’s hard of hearing. Michael talks with Marc about growing up in Alabama with no electricity or running water, his bus driver’s outfit helping him land Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, his epic Eight Men Out casting story, his embrace of the comic book world by way of Guardians of the Galaxy, and his Horizon reunion with JFK co-star Kevin Costner. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 15, 2024

Blair Socci comes from an athletic family with a hardened ancestral backstory involving throat slashing and exile. But despite her exterior toughness, Blair spent her youth enjoying poetry, journaling and creative writing. If she hadn't caught the comedy bug, she intended to become a novelist. Blair and Marc talk about her volleyball prowess, how athletics prepared her for comedy, and why she recently felt the need to abandon her anti-social media stance. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 12, 2024

When Moon Zappa was on the show back in 2013, she and Marc started dating shortly thereafter. Now that Moon has just written her memoir, Earth to Moon, she and Marc sit down for their first real conversation since their abrupt breakup. Moon talks about the forensic investigation she did of her life, the emotional damage she took from her mother, the pressure of carrying Frank Zappa’s legacy, and the realization that her upbringing was quite sheltered despite her family’s very public image. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 8, 2024

When Marc saw Beth Stelling’s Netflix special, he knew there was something he found familiar. It turns out they both have a similar process of making comedy out of trauma. Beth talks with Marc about the childhood event that informed most of the way she addresses difficult subjects in her act and how speaking up about an abusive relationship led to a backlash that left her reeling. They also talk about life in Ohio and what it was like to film a comedy special in her hometown. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 5, 2024

One of the reasons singer-songwriter Jimmie Dale Gilmore didn’t get a solo record deal until he was in his 40s is because he took an extended time away from music to live in a spiritual community. Jimmie and Marc talk about the search for enlightenment in the midst of being a trendsetter for Americana music. They also talk about Jimmie’s band The Flatlanders, Texas barbecue, hearing loss, Willie Nelson, and Jimmie’s recent collaborations with Dave Alvin from The Blasters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 1, 2024

Moving from place to place throughout her childhood was difficult on Anna Akana, but it was growing up alongside the internet that really changed her life. Anna tells Marc how her career as a comedian and actor got going when she turned to YouTube after dealing with the lack of Asian representation in traditional media. Anna also explains how she became a mental health advocate due to her sister’s tragic death and why she decided to go back to comedy as a way to explore sensitive issues. Content warning: This conversation contains discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know are struggling and need support, call 988 from any phone to speak with someone at the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 29, 2024

For Wolfgang Van Halen, learning the drums, guitar and bass came easier than learning to deal with the trolling and resentment he faced for being the son of Eddie Van Halen. Wolfgang tells Marc how touring as part of Van Halen taught him what to avoid in his career and helped him gain perspective on the type of music he wanted to make on his own. They also talk about the universal experience of grief and how Wolfgang has been able to move forward after the devastating loss of his dad. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 25, 2024

When two comics are on tour together, one of the best places to get to know each other is in a car while driving between gigs. Clare O’Kane and Marc didn’t have much history together before Clare started opening for Marc, so they recorded their drive from Cleveland to Detroit and talked about their shared experiences with depression, shaving their heads, ailing parents, dreaming of being an artist, and growing into themselves, as well as Clare’s time writing for SpongeBob and SNL. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 22, 2024

Shalom Auslander gave voice to something Marc was thinking for most of his life: That he’s been living in a world of Feh. What that Yiddish word means and why Shalom believes it’s an organizing idea that’s been forced on human beings, particularly Jews, for thousands of years is the subject of Shalom’s new book. Shalom and Marc talk about breaking the cycle of Feh, how Shalom did so by completely breaking away from his family, and why the nonstop news cycle is one of the biggest causes of collective misery. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 19, 2024

First, hear Marc's 2014 conversation with Bob Newhart from Bob's home in Bel-Air. Then, a follow-up conversation from 2018 where Marc and Bob talked on the phone. Bob Newhart died on July 18, 2024, at age 94. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 18, 2024

It’s been a long time since Dan St. Germain had his first big gig as an opener with Marc in Sacramento. As the years have gone by, Dan took a few breaks from standup, worked as a writer on several TV series, dealt with the heartbreak of a declining parent, and struggled with sobriety. Dan tells Marc how he managed to pull things together, get clean and self-release his latest comedy special. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 15, 2024

Despite Phish’s enormous following, frontman Trey Anastasio still sees himself as an outsider. Trey talks with Marc about his earliest influences, which were not jam bands, but groups like the Jackson 5 and musicals from Broadway. They also talk about the pressure Phish encountered after Jerry Garcia died, how the party scene surrounding the band spiraled out of control, and how Trey’s deep connection with his bandmates served him well when he was at his lowest point. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 11, 2024

Clarence Maclin was uniquely suited to make his film debut in the new movie Sing Sing, starring alongside Colman Domingo. That’s because the film is based on a real life group of incarcerated men at Sing Sing prison and Clarence plays a fictionalized version of himself. Clarence talks with Marc about how a theater program run by an organization called Rehabilitation Through the Arts turned around his life on the inside and helped him find who he needed to be when he got on the outside. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 8, 2024

Stavros Halkias titled his Netflix special Fat Rascal in part because he doesn’t know any other reality than a life with addictive food issues. Marc is no stranger to addiction or food-based trauma, so he can relate. But both Stavros and Marc can also still get really excited talking about Greek food and their love of diners. Stavros explains the food connection with his heritage, the formative moments of his life in Baltimore’s Greektown, and how he shares an unpleasant connection with Marc’s past in Astoria, Queens. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 4, 2024

Julianne Nicholson came over to the garage at the right time. With Marc deep in the middle of an acting job, it was helpful for both his curiosity and his confidence to talk to an expert actor like Julianne who is so versatile in all her performances, from movies like Black Mass to her Emmy-winning performance in Mare of Easttown. Julianne and Marc talk about their shared Boston connections, taking on heavy roles, and Julianne’s tender new film Janet Planet. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 1, 2024

When Paul Scheer was on WTF back in 2010, he spoke about things in his past that he never before spoke about publicly. That conversation with Marc started Paul on a journey of self-discovery that continued as he built a family, grew his career and dealt with the relationships in his life that had deeply unresolved issues. All of this culminated in the writing of his new book, Joyful Recollections of Trauma. Paul and Marc also talk about some of the other traumatic events in the book, most of which involve Paul’s embarrassing encounters with older celebrities. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 27, 2024

Gareth Reynolds was struggling in show business as a comic, a writer, an actor, you name it. But not unlike Marc, he finally broke through when he started hosting a podcast along with fellow comic Dave Anthony, The Dollop, where Dave tells stories from history that Gareth knows nothing about. Gareth and Marc talk about what led to the creation of that show ten years ago, as well as Gareth’s years before, growing up in Milwaukee to British parents but absorbing a thoroughly Midwestern personality. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 24, 2024

Jewel Kilcher left her troubled home life in Alaska as a teenager, hitchhiking her way across the country and living in her car before becoming a music superstar known globally by her first name. Jewel talks with Marc about how she used creativity to overcome anxiety, how Bob Dylan factored into her breakthrough, and how she feared becoming a statistic when she was offered her first record deal. They also talk about her new art exhibit at Crystal Bridges Museum and the mental health programs she started for at-risk youth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 20, 2024

As bassist and lyricist for Black Sabbath, Geezer Butler has a lifetime of rock and roll stories to tell. From the band’s working class roots in Birmingham to their early days as a traditional blues band to their transformation into the quintessential heavy metal group, Geezer tells Marc how he brought it all together with Ozzy Osbourne, Bill Ward and Tony Iommi, how it eventually fell apart, and how they picked up the pieces. They also talk about Frank Zappa, the Beatles, and the true meaning of Iron Man. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 17, 2024

Jude Law and Marc made a movie together but they never actually got to meet during it. They remedy that at the production offices of Jude’s latest project, as he sits down with Marc to talk about the elasticity of time, having a runaway imagination, the traveling life of an actor, and Michael Caine. They also talk about the preparation Jude puts into his portrayal of historical characters, including his recent turn as Henry VIII in Firebrand. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 13, 2024

Comedian Ali Siddiq draws from his life experiences to create his comedy shows. Now in the midst of a four part comedy special called The Domino Effect, Ali is exploring everything from his tough upbringing to his time spent in prison to the early comedic stylings he displayed while working at the Sunglass Hut. Marc and Ali compare notes on their storytelling styles and share an appreciation of the power in sitting down while performing standup. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 10, 2024

Ed O’Neill’s his early days working in an Ohio steel mill and contemplating a potential career hustling for mobsters didn’t seem like a path to Hollywood. Nor did his days playing football and coming up short during NFL tryouts. But his working class Irish background wound up making Ed the perfect portrayer of Al Bundy, a performance partially based on his own uncle. Ed talks with Marc about everything that led up to Married… with Children and Modern Family, and why he was determined to say no to the new FX on Hulu limited series Clipped, right up until he said yes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 6, 2024

Larry David says he regrets saying yes to everything right after he agrees to do it. But it’s too late to back out of the garage now, so he’ll try to convince Marc that he actually has a much better disposition than the Larry David character on Curb Your Enthusiasm. Larry talks with Marc about his early days at Catch a Rising Star, how he found his familiar character while working on Joy Behar’s Lifetime show, his fights with network executives, and the origin stories of Seinfeld and Curb. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 3, 2024

After twenty-four years and twelve seasons as Susie Greene on Curb Your Enthusiasm, Susie Essman’s life has become strangers seeing her on the street and asking her to curse them out. Susie tells Marc the ins and outs of making Curb and why so many people have trouble separating the characters from the people who play them. They also talk about Larry David, doctor fathers, making depressed parents laugh, her new History of Curb Your Enthusiasm podcast, and why Susie is glad to be done with standup. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 30, 2024

Despite a family name that goes back to the dawn of Hollywood, Tony Goldwyn’s father did not want him to get into the family business. It took Tony achieving his own success and landing a lead role in the movie Ghost for his father to accept this career path. Tony tells Marc the hardscrabble immigrant story of his grandfather, the man who became Samuel Goldwyn, before sharing his own ups and downs in the business and why he moved from acting into directing. They also talk about his new movie Ezra and how both Bill Burr and Robert DeNiro helped in the evolution of the film. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 27, 2024

There was a time when Molly Ringwald knew she had to get out of America for a while so she didn’t have to be That Girl anymore. Now, with a career that includes being a jazz singer, a novelist, and a translator of French literature, Molly is much more than That Girl. Molly and Marc talk about her early days on The Facts of Life, her global stardom in the John Hughes movies, and her current day projects, including the recent season of Feud: Capote vs The Swans. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 23, 2024

In a role reversal for WTF guests, Steph Tolev thought Marc didn’t like her. And as Marc usually finds out when he assumes another comedian dislikes him, Steph discovered that Marc is actually totally intrigued by who she is and interested in how she developed her unique comedic style. So Steph explains that it has a lot to do with Canada, highland dancing, sketch comedy, spite, pissing off the wrong people, farting, and Bill Burr, roughly in that order. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 20, 2024

Daniel Stern made a radical decision in show business after achieving success and financial independence: He decided to stop. After culture-defining projects like Home Alone, The Wonder Years, City Slickers and more, Daniel tells Marc why he decided to devote more time to his family, farming, sculpture and public service, all based on the example set by his co-star Jack Palance. Daniel also explains why he wrote a memoir despite having no interest in selling it or making money off it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 16, 2024

When Marc saw Billy Strings play live on stage at Willie Nelson’s birthday show, he watched a born performer make bluegrass music vital to a modern audience. Billy talks with Marc about his joy of guitar playing as an adolescent in Michigan, how his family helped shape his musical sensibilities, and how substance abuse in and around his life worked hard to crush his dreams. Now invested more in playing than in partying, Billy also talks about the music he loves and the musical heroes he’s been honored to meet. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 13, 2024

Before discovering comedy, A. Whitney Brown dropped out of the eighth grade, bounced around reform schools, had a criminal record, and spent time in jail. Now, after a career that saw him do standup on Carson, write for SNL during its late-‘80s renaissance, and help launch The Daily Show, Whitney says he’s happy to be out of show business. Marc caught up with Whitney at his home in Austin, Texas to talk about his life, his leisure and Mark Twain. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 9, 2024

Joe Mande’s past appearances on WTF involve him being a sort of merry comic prankster, like back in the heyday of Twitter when he was trolling politicians and corporate brands on a daily basis. But in today’s polarized social environment, Joe and Marc talk about how tricky it is to be a modern day troublemaker. They also discuss their shared love of Michael Clayton, courtside basketball, and Joe’s hand in the making of the show Hacks. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 6, 2024

Chris Pine is in the position to offer Marc some advice. As the first-time director of the new movie Poolman, Chris gives Marc practical tips as Marc entertains the possibility of directing a film. But Chris also provides Marc with some insight into why people like them still feel a need to keep going despite their clear measurements of success. They also talk about Star Trek, Hell or High Water, Chris’s dad Robert Pine, Denzel Washington and the eclipse that was happening during this conversation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 2, 2024

Before Tiffany Haddish rocketed to stardom with Girls Trip, she saw Marc at the back entrance of The Comedy Store and told him that she was going to be on his podcast one day. Today is that day. Tiffany and Marc talk about who she was in those days before worldwide fame, how she came up in the foster care system, how she found her voice at comedy camp, and how she wound up navigating the new world of being a major celebrity. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 29, 2024

While watching Neal Brennan’s new Netflix special, Crazy Good, Marc learned new things about Neal despite knowing each other for 30 years. They sit down to figure out how things have changed for them, whether they are truly feeling better in their lives, and why they are still pursuing some version of success they can’t quite pinpoint. Neal also shares some insight he received directly from Bono that might answer some of their questions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 25, 2024

Nearly 30 years ago in the alt-comedy scene of New York City, Marc crossed paths with an evangelical country singer named Tammy Faye Starlite. She’s the alter ego of lifelong New Yorker Tammy Lang, who stormed the city’s cabarets and clubs with her own form of performance art and musicality. Tammy and Marc reminisce about the days at places like Luna Lounge, the creation of the Tammy Faye Starlight character, and why she started performing as real singers, like Marianne Faithfull and Nico. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 22, 2024

Paula Pell is often celebrated as one of the funniest people alive by some of the other funniest people alive. The world is finally getting to see what they mean thanks to Paula’s standout role on Girls5eva, but for years she was comedy’s best kept secret, writing legendary SNL sketches, doing punch-up and script doctoring for major movies, and contributing to hit sitcoms and award shows. Paula tells Marc why it took her a long time to feel comfortable being in the spotlight as a performer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 18, 2024

When Marc asked Jimmy Carr to be a guest on WTF years ago, Jimmy admits he wasn’t ready for it. He was already an established comedian at the time, but he felt like Public Jimmy was one thing and Private Jimmy was another. Now years later, Jimmy believes that age and experience have allowed him to get out of his comedy comfort zone and explore more personal truths, as he does in this talk with Marc and in his new Netflix special, Natural Born Killer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 15, 2024

When Malcolm McDowell left behind Liverpool to pursue acting in London, he didn’t imagine it would be the start of 60 years as a performer. Malcolm talks with Marc about his extraordinary career, including his work with Stanley Kubrick on A Clockwork Orange, the pornographic fate of Caligula, and stories about Lawrence Olivier, Alan Bates, Peter Sellers, Robert Altman, Mick Jagger and more. Malcolm also explains why he fell hard for Newfoundland while making the series Son of a Critch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 11, 2024

Alex Edelman is the kind of comic who makes Marc immediately anxious. But it’s quickly apparent that Marc is reacting to the fact that he sees so much of himself in Alex. They’re both still dealing with complex feelings about their Jewish identities. They both paid their comedy dues doing road gigs in Boston. They both experiment with long-form storytelling, wondering if they’re doing one-man shows or standup, or if there’s a difference. They hash all this out as they discuss Alex’s new HBO special, Just For Us. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 8, 2024

Carol Burnett turns 91 later this month and is still going strong with a featured role in the new series Palm Royale. But Carol is quick to remind Marc that the great success she achieved happened in part due to the kindness of strangers. Carol and Marc talk about the mysterious benefactors who helped her get to New York where she found success on the stage, then on television, and then with her own variety show. They also talk about her friendship with Lucille Ball, collaborating with Julie Andrews, and the closeness of The Carol Burnett Show cast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 4, 2024

Standup comedy transformed Dina Hashem’s life. So why is she at a point, right after releasing her acclaimed first special, where she cares less about standup than ever before? Dina talks with Marc about her isolated upbringing in New Jersey, her revelatory first time doing comedy, and why she has a hard time recognizing herself in her own special. Dina also talks about drumming, skateboarding, and writing for The Daily Show. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 1, 2024

Celebrated singer-songwriter and guitarist Alejandro Escovedo made one of Marc’s favorite albums, the 1992 solo record Gravity. But the raw, intimate poetry of that album came from a real place of grief and anguish in Alejandro’s life. They talk about what led up to that point, including his early bands The Nuns, Rank and File, and True Believers, and the rocky road afterward when Alejandro’s health took a turn for the worse. They also discuss his new album, Echo Dancing, and why he chose to reinterpret his own work. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 28, 2024

David Krumholtz lives and breathes Hollywood because, according to him, he has no other choice. The prolific character actor got what he considers a once in a lifetime break at age 13, so he needed to honor whatever fates gave him that opportunity by devoting himself entirely to acting. David talks with Marc about what he’s learned from co-stars like Judd Hirsch and Alan Arkin as well as directors like Christopher Nolan and the Coen Brothers, and he also reflects on his leading man status in the new film Lousy Carter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 25, 2024

Tig Notaro’s new comedy special is called “Hello, Again” which serves as a reintroduction of sorts, considering how much has changed in Tig’s life over the years. Tig explains to Marc how her previous tough, no-nonsense demeanor gave way to a different side after surviving cancer and falling in love. They talk about how Tig’s relationship developed with her wife Stephanie and why, after being pushed to the brink by illness, she just wants to raise her family and do work that’s important to her. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 21, 2024

This is Eddie Pepitone’s 25th appearance on WTF, by far the most appearances on the show for anyone other than Marc. And yet Eddie and Marc have never had a full length one-on-one talk in the garage. They attempt to do so in this episode, despite of Eddie’s aversion to linear logic and his aggressive style of comedic free association. Will they stay on track? Will they be able to follow through on at least one thought? Find out as they also try to come up with a central concept for Eddie’s upcoming comedy special. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 18, 2024

Dave Attell and Marc have known each other for 35 years but really only converse at length on this podcast. Back on WTF after 14 years, Dave explains why he’s still on the road all the time as he gets set to premiere his new Netflix special, Hot Cross Buns. Dave and Marc also marvel at the current comedy boom in comparison to some of the down times they’ve lived through and they both share notes on what it’s like to be sons taking care of elderly parents. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 14, 2024

When Todd Glass was on WTF back in 2012, he decided to do something that changed his entire life. Now, twelve years later, Todd is looking to change the way he does comedy for the rest of his career. Todd tells Marc about his new stage show, The Event of a Lifetime, why he wants to do it forever, and the challenges he’s facing while putting it on its feet. They also talk about the state of comedy today, the benefits of tour buses, and hugging. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 11, 2024

Sonic Youth founding member Thurston Moore is not just an influential figure in the evolution of Noise Rock and the no-wave art scene. He’s a chronicler of subversive music and other forms of artistic expression, as detailed in his memoir Sonic Life. Thurston talks with Marc about living on the Lower East Side in the ‘70s and ‘80s and the people who were part of the scene, including Patti Smith, The Ramones and Thurston’s future bandmate and wife Kim Gordon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 7, 2024

Rory Scovel is back in the garage, fresh off premiering a new standup special on Max that Marc found extremely funny. Now at a point in his life where his smack in the middle between feeling young and feeling old, Rory talks with Marc veteran comic to veteran comic about their philosophies on building a comedy hour, riffing, flying by the seat of their pants, re-doing older material, getting jokes from other comics and the intent behind filthy jokes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 6, 2024

Hear Marc’s conversations with past WTF guests who are nominated for Oscars this year: Paul Giamatti, Cillian Murphy, Jeffrey Wright, Annette Bening, Jodie Foster, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, America Ferrera, Mark Ruffalo, Yorgos Lanthimos, Noah Baumbach, Greta Gerwig, Rodrigo Prieto, Lily Gladstone, and Robbie Robertson. This episode is sponsored by Acorns . Notices: Paid non-client endorsement. May not be representative of all clients. Tier one compensation provided. Compensation provides an incentive to positively promote Acorns. View important disclosures at acorns.com/WTF. Investing involves risk, including the loss of principal. Please consider your objectives, risk tolerance, and Acorns’ fees before investing. Acorns Advisers, LLC (“Acorns”) is an SEC-registered investment adviser. Brokerage services are provided to clients of Acorns by Acorns Securities, LLC. Member FINRA/SIPC. For more information visit Acorns.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 4, 2024

Ben Mendelsohn is a prolific actor with a dynamic range, and yet most of his training came from watching movies as a young kid in Australia and learning from the stars he saw on screen. Ben and Marc talk about their shared love of AC/DC, the social gravity of Australia, and the enjoyment of doing nothing. They also dive into some of Ben’s notable roles in Animal Kingdom, Babyteeth and his portrayal of Christian Dior in the series The New Look. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 29, 2024

Mae Martin is Canadian, has a background in sketch comedy, spent a lot of time doing standup in England, and is non-binary. And yet, despite a life that couldn’t seem more different than Marc’s, the two of them have a surprising amount in common. Mae and Marc share stories on their struggles with addiction and compare notes on how they work through their vulnerabilities on stage. Also, Marc pays tribute to one of his comedy heroes and inspirations, Richard Lewis. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 29, 2024

Richard Lewis was a comedy hero and inspiration to Marc. They spent their first extended time together in 2011 for this conversation about Richard's life and career. Richard died on February 27, 2024 at age 76. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 26, 2024

Lily Gladstone knows that people project all manner of emotions and intentions onto her when she gives a performance. Lily and Marc talk about why that happens, including the reaction to her Oscar-nominated performance in Killers of the Flower Moon. They also talk about the time Lily was thinking about giving up acting just as Kelly Reichardt cast her in Certain Women, why it was so important for her to play an incarcerated mother on Reservation Dogs, and why she believes every role she takes becomes an Indigenous role, regardless of the original intent. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 22, 2024

Rodrigo Prieto is the cinematographer of two of last year's most celebrated films: Barbie and Killers of the Flower Moon, for which he is Oscar-nominated. Rodrigo talks with Marc about finding the right look for multiple Martin Scorsese movies as well as his strategy for achieving what Greta Gerwig called "artificial authenticity." They also talk about Rodrigo's work with Spike Lee, Alejandro González Iñárritu, Ang Lee, Julie Taymor, Oliver Stone, Cameron Crowe, Pedro Almodóvar, and Ben Affleck, his visual contributions to films like Babel, Frida, Brokeback Mountain, and Argo, as well as his own film which he just directed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 21, 2024

America Ferrera didn't expect that her performance in Barbie would lead to an Oscar nomination but few things in life have gone in a straight line for the daughter of working class immigrants from Honduras. America and Marc talk about how she encountered stereotypical typecasting even at a young age but saw that her work was making a tangible difference in how people saw themselves on the screen. They also talk about how America satisfied her desire for a career in international relations, her feelings about being part of cultural conversations dictated by others, and that Barbie monologue. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 19, 2024

Before Mark Ruffalo became the Hulk, he deeply understood what it felt like to be two people in the same skin. A high school wrestler and a member of the drama club, a surfer and a punk rocker, a person with a family history of bipolarity. Mark and Marc talk about how he used this duality in many of his roles, including his Oscar-nominated turn in Poor Things. They also talk about his recent testimony to Congress, his fear of doing SNL, and the terrifying health scare that turned his life upside down just as his career was taking off. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 15, 2024

Da’Vine Joy Randolph is in the midst of the highly competitive Hollywood award season, but the competitive fire always burns strong within her. From high school basketball to her time on a track scholarship to her foray into opera to the theater program at Yale, Da’Vine is always aiming for the top spot. She talks with Marc about nailing her Boston accent for The Holdovers, the reason she stopped singing, and the opportunities she’s making for herself in light of all the award talk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 12, 2024

Ed Zwick’s career as a director, writer and producer in Hollywood lends itself to the full memoir treatment, complete with stories about stars behaving badly and development disasters. But Ed’s new book also serves as a guide to mentorship in a business where every bit of help counts. Ed and Marc discuss some of his most successful productions, like Glory, The Last Samurai and thirtysomething, as well as some of the lumps he took along the way. Plus, Marc pays tribute to the late Mojo Nixon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 8, 2024

John Oliver is one of those people who just gets Marc. It’s not surprising, considering John has become one of the sharpest observers of the American way of life. Back in the garage after almost twelve years, John talks with Marc about having what he calls a functional version of a nervous breakdown during the pandemic, finding hope in a painting of rat erotica, and the process of putting together Last Week Tonight as it returns for its eleventh season. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 5, 2024

Laurie Kilmartin can make comedy out of the darkest situations in her life, from her father’s hospice care to her mother dying of Covid to being targeted by Fox News and the right wing for making an abortion joke. The latter became the foundation for her latest special, Cis Woke Grief Slut, and Laurie talks with Marc about how comedy can survive information bubbles and the lack of a shared national dialogue. They also talk about getting to a point in their lives where it’s time to let things go. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 3, 2024

Marc's 2014 conversation with Wayne Kramer, co-founder of the legendary rock group MC5, covering the ‘60s, jazz, Iggy Pop, the White Panther Party, prison, drugs and more. Wayne died on February 2, 2024 at age 75. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 1, 2024

In the thirteen years since Bobby Lee was last on WTF, he and Marc have grown to like each other more and more. For one thing, Marc taught Bobby how to tell time. But aside from that, they’ve shared a lot together as two veteran comics regularly working the same clubs, dealing with sobriety, and coming to terms with the changes around them. Marc and Bobby compare notes on relationships, podcasts, grudges, and having happiness for the success of their peers. To an extent. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 29, 2024

Jon Cryer has been in show business for most of his life and has seen the changes, both rapid and gradual, within the industry. Jon talks with Marc about his early stage work, his breakthrough in film with Pretty in Pink, and his great success on network TV, which he just returned to with the new sitcom Extended Family. They also talk about the wild ride shared by anyone who was in the orbit of his former co-star, Charlie Sheen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 25, 2024

Moshe Kasher already wrote a memoir about his years as a teenage substance abuser growing up in an orthodox Jewish family with two deaf parents. Now Moshe’s back to talk with Marc about his second memoir, Subculture Vulture, which deals with how he put his life together since those teen years, including getting sober, embracing rave culture, finding standup comedy, becoming a husband and father, and the identity crisis along the way. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 22, 2024

Jacqueline Novak’s new Netflix standup special is a rite of passage story about a girl finding her way into womanhood. Kind of. For Marc, it was refreshing to watch something so frank, filthy and fun. For Jacqueline, it was an honest expression of what she finds funny, not a statement or provocation. Marc and Jacqueline talk about intentions and reactions in comedy, their approaches to making a special, and how depression factors into the creative output of a comic. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 18, 2024

It’s the return of two past WTF guests who have lots of stories and common experiences to share with Marc. First, Hollywood’s everyman Ed Begley Jr. is back for the first time in a decade, fresh off writing his new memoir, To the Temple of Tranquility… And Step On It! Then Marc talks with Jonah Ray Rodrigues, who spent years crossing paths with Marc in the standup and podcasting worlds. Jonah explains why he gave up standup, started bartending, and dove into collaborative projects like the new movie, Destroy All Neighbors. Click here to submit your question for the next Ask Marc Anything bonus episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 15, 2024

Billie Joe Armstrong and Green Day are heading out on a global tour as they celebrate the 30th anniversary of their breakout album Dookie, the 20th anniversary of American Idiot, and the release of their new album Saviors. Through it all, Billie Joe has tried to keep a healthy distance from fame while fronting one of the biggest bands of all time. Billie Joe and Marc talk about melodies, power pop, R.E.M., the Bay, his bandmates, and how he’s still learning songs on YouTube. Click here to submit your question for the next Ask Marc Anything bonus episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 11, 2024

The last time Greta Gerwig was on WTF, she had just directed her first solo feature, the independent film Lady Bird. Now she returns after directing and co-writing the biggest movie of 2023, Barbie. Greta talks with Marc about everything that went into making it, including the costumes, the production design, the performances, the comedy, the music and the personal vision she set out to communicate within the contours of a $140 million summer blockbuster. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 8, 2024

Joel Edgerton’s decision to start a filmmaking collective with his brother and friends in Australia is the foundation for his career and an ideal representation of the collaborative process. Joel talks with Marc about the allure of menace, which he infuses into the films he’s directed like The Gift and Boy Erased, as well as his performances in movies like Black Mass, Animal Kingdom and The Stranger. Joel also explains the revelation that occurred to him on his latest film, The Boys in the Boat, which made him understand why we all love an underdog story. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 4, 2024

Paul Giamatti and Marc have so many similar interests - amassing books, admiring marginal geniuses, taking jobs out of panic, reassessing classic movies, watching old late night talk show clips, wanting to be the guy in the coffee shop, the origins of conspiracies - that their conversation is a fitting representation of 1500 episodes of WTF. Paul also talks about the weirdest movie he made and goes into detail about his recent performance in The Holdovers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 1, 2024

For New Year’s Day, Marc introduces you to The Friday Show, a weekly episode available to Full Maron subscribers, hosted by WTF producer Brendan McDonald and Kris Lo Presto, a friend of theirs from back in the Air America Radio days. You’ll hear Marc, Brendan and Kris discuss the movie Air, a conversation with film critic Matt Singer about Siskel & Ebert, a celebration of the 30th anniversary of the film The Fugitive, and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 28, 2023

Matt B. Davis is unique among WTF guests in that he did comedy for more than a decade, got out of the business and never wanted back in. Matt and Marc talk about how they got to know each other as comics, how they've helped each other in sobriety, and how Matt found a second career within the obstacle racing community. But then the conversation hits an obstacle of its own, as both Matt and Marc try to deal with a roadblock that's interfering with their friendship. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 25, 2023

For Christmas Day, Marc presents a special collection of exclusive segments that were published this past year on the Full Maron bonus feed as part of the Marc on Movies series. First, a conversation with WTF producer Brendan McDonald about the films of Martin Scorsese. Then, Marc’s girlfriend Kit tries to walk him through the puzzles and mysteries of David Lynch’s Mulholland Drive. Finally, another talk between Marc and Brendan about the Sidney Lumet masterpiece Dog Day Afternoon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 21, 2023

Growing up in Ghana, director Blitz Bazawule relied on three things to transport him to other worlds: movies, American hip-hop, and his grandmother’s stories. Blitz tells Marc how he combined all three in his work as a director, how his style of visual poetry attracted the attention of Beyoncé, and how he suddenly found himself at the helm of his first major studio film, the musical version of The Color Purple. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 18, 2023

Tammy Pescatelli and Marc were recently on the same show, performing for thousands in a basketball arena. Now in the garage, Tammy and Marc talk about their lives in comedy, which both of them spent earning their stripes on the road, putting in time at The Comedy Store, hosting daily radio shows, and headlining their own shows. But Tammy had to build it all back up after everything came to a halt due to one joke. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 14, 2023

As one of country music’s most prolific singer-songwriters, Rodney Crowell talks with Marc about the art of songwriting, his evolution as a performer, and his collaborations with everyone from Emmylou Harris to Waylon Jennings to Rosanne Cash to Jeff Tweedy, who just produced Rodney’s latest album, The Chicago Sessions. Also, John Doe from the band X returns to the show to talk about his lead role in the new film D.O.A. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 11, 2023

Peter Sarsgaard is always a memorable presence on screen and on stage. But in his latest role, he’s playing a man losing his memory at an early age. Marc and Peter talk about how life leads to inevitable encounters with dementia and mental trauma, and how depictions in art help us respond to them. They also talk about Peter’s relationship with sports, his collaborations with his wife, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and why he’s forever linked with John Malkovich. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 7, 2023

Taylor Williamson’s obsession with comedy led him to club gigs as a teenager and national press coverage praising “the 19-year-old’s cerebral wit.” But Taylor tells Marc he was ready to give up on his dreams after a few years of the comedy grind. They talk about how America’s Got Talent was his salvation, what he learned after a decade of projects that almost got off the ground, and why he taped his new special at The Comedy Store, a place he views with equal parts gratitude and resentment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 4, 2023

Kate Simon’s love of photography started with a Polaroid camera and her talents put her right in the middle of the art and music scenes in London and New York City in the 1970s and ’80s. Kate and Marc talk about her notable subjects like Iggy Pop, Patti Smith, Andy Warhol, William S. Burroughs, The Clash, David Bowie and Led Zeppelin. But Kate explains why, out of all the artists she encountered, Bob Marley was the most unforgettable, which she documents in her book Rebel Music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 30, 2023

Jesse David Fox thinks comedy is serious business. As the comedy reporter at Vulture, he’s been writing about it for more than a decade. Now Jesse is attempting to explain the role of comedy in our ever-evolving culture in his newly published Comedy Book. Marc, as you may imagine, has some thoughts. Jesse and Marc talk about standup as an art form, the meaning of edginess, the melding of comedy with tragedy and grief, and the reason Maria Bamford is their favorite comedian working today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 27, 2023

A conversation more than a dozen years in the making, Albert Brooks finally agreed to sit down with Marc overlooking the Pacific Ocean at The Georgian Hotel in Santa Monica. After recently going over parts of his life and career in a documentary directed by his friend Rob Reiner, Albert fills in the gaps with Marc, talking about his early days doing bits for radio stations and television variety shows, his standup sets in LA clubs, and his first writing gigs. There are also lots of stories along the way about folks like Jack Benny, Garry Shandling, George Burns, Paul Lynde and Albert’s mom. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 23, 2023

When Marc was living in Highland Park, he found out something interesting about his neighborhood optometrist. Not only was this man an eye doctor, he was an accomplished jazz trumpeter. Marc welcomes Dr. Elliott Caine to the garage to find out how a Midwestern Jewish kid stayed on parallel tracks throughout his life, one fulfilling a career pursuit, one fulfilling his musical passion. Also, Marc delivers his annual Thanksgiving pep talk from Florida. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 20, 2023

Taika Waititi has his hands in dozens of projects at any given time, but he says the connective thread of all his work is that he’s still trying to impress his deceased father. Taika and Marc discuss the core of grief in all of Taika’s films and television shows, including the Thor movies, JoJo Rabbit, What We Do in the Shadows, Reservation Dogs and his most recent film Next Goal Wins. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 16, 2023

Fisher Stevens left a lasting impression on Marc in the early ‘80s when Fisher was in Brighton Beach Memoirs on Broadway. Since then, Fisher’s career has taken him from acting to directing to making documentary films, winning an Oscar for The Cove. Fisher talks with Marc about landing himself in director’s jail, what drove him toward making docs, how working with the United Nations led to his role on Succession, and why he needed a different set of tools to make the Beckham docuseries for Netflix. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 13, 2023

Chef José Andrés could have been best known as the owner of some of the most celebrated restaurants in the world. But now he is arguably more well known as someone who feeds people around the world in their times of greatest need. José talks with Marc about the reason he founded World Central Kitchen, how the organization went from providing food relief in disaster areas to operating in active war zones, and how the chaos of restaurants prepared the chef and his team for the unpredictable nature of relief work. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 9, 2023

Before he was Laraaji, Edward Larry Gordon was a gig musician with a background in composition, an aspiring actor, a standup comic and a person interested in the metaphysical. Then one day he pawned his guitar for an autoharp and changed not only his life but the genre of ambient music. Laraaji talks with Marc about his lifelong experimentation with instruments, his collaboration with Brian Eno, and his ongoing practice of laughter meditation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 6, 2023

While John Wilson spends his time filming everything around him, one question he’s constantly asking is whether he should be filming everything around him all the time. John talks with Marc about how his lifelong fascination with film combined with his terrible experiences in reality television led to an embrace of the documentary medium. They talk about the creation of his show, How To with John Wilson, and how it became a way for him to process emotionally difficult things in his life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 2, 2023

Lou Adler’s career in the music industry is one of the most accomplished in history, writing and producing hit songs and albums for the likes of Jan and Dean, Sam Cooke, the Mamas and the Papas, Carole King and many more. But he also was a producer of films like The Rocky Horror Picture Show and the director of Cheech and Chong’s Up In Smoke. On top of all that, he opened The Roxy Theater on the Sunset Strip, the club that launched many careers, which Lou talks about with Marc on the occasion of The Roxy’s 50th anniversary. This episode is sponsored by Keeps . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 30, 2023

Nearly fifteen years ago, Dan Soder and Marc were talking at a comedy club right after they were both fired from their respective radio gigs. Marc responded to that moment by launching this podcast while Dan committed himself to standup, which led back to radio with his show The Bonfire and to acting gigs on shows like Billions. Dan also tells Marc how his early life hardened him to adversity, losing his father and sister to tragic circumstances, and how he learned how to explain most of life thanks to pro wrestling. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 26, 2023

Jennette McCurdy turned the pain of her abusive upbringing and the resentment she had toward her show business career into the blockbuster memoir I’m Glad My Mom Died. More than a year after its release, Jennette talks with Marc about the perspective she gained now that her story is out in the world, how she separates her Nickelodeon past with her self-actualized present, and how she’s looking to continue giving voice to sensitive topics, like with her new podcast Hard Feelings. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 23, 2023

Joan Baez is in the midst of examining her life as the subject of a new documentary, Joan Baez: I Am a Noise. Among the many revelations is that, at a very young age, she gravitated toward sad music. What she learned early on was to embrace the music of struggle as a way to rise above the sadness. Joan talks with Marc about the emergence of the folk scene in Cambridge and Boston, how her deeply ingrained pacifism shaped her activism, and how she put in the work to rebuild her relationship with her son. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 19, 2023

It’s another comic double-header with two of Marc’s favorites. Doug Stanhope is back to talk about his new movie The Road Dog, which prompts memories from Doug and Marc about their days doing road gigs when they were just starting out. Also, comedian Louis Katz uses the occasion of his new standup special, Present/Tense, to show how his thought process works, as it swings from the logic of strip clubs to the dangers of global conspiracies within 20 minutes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 16, 2023

Fans know Judas Priest frontman Rob Halford as the Metal God. But he says there’s one guy called Rob Halford and another guy called The Metal God. Now, at 72 years old, Rob is embracing a life where those two personas are separate but the same. Rob talks with Marc about the perspective he’s gained after writing two books about his life and the self-awareness that comes with age. They discuss his coming out story, the court case that saw Judas Priest on the front lines of a First Amendment battle, and the origins of heavy metal. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 12, 2023

Arnold Schwarzenegger likes to focus on life’s victories. That makes for an interesting contrast with Marc, a self-described “obstacle guy.” Arnold and Marc find that their differing approaches to taking on the world make for good conversation about generational change, political awakenings and being useful, which is the subject of Arnold’s new book. They also discuss bodybuilding, James Cameron’s vegan advice, and Arnold’s rivalry-slash-friendship with Sylvester Stallone. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 9, 2023

Tom Papa’s last trip to the garage was mostly about his comedy past, reflecting on how he and Marc got to where they are in their chosen profession. This time, Tom and Marc are thinking mostly about their futures, how they’re navigating the comedy world at their ages and success levels while staring at a not-too-distant time when the stage light goes out for good. Just two comedians discussing meaning, maturity, mysticism and maintaining the funny. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 5, 2023

Larry Charles always knew he liked comedy but he also knew he liked being a button-pusher. Those preferences are on display in his writing for Seinfeld, his work on Curb Your Enthusiasm, and his direction of movies like Borat, Bruno, and his latest film Dicks: The Musical. Larry and Marc talk about comedy’s role in the world as a display of defiant humanity, their shared appreciation of John Waters, and Larry’s filmmaking experience with Bob Dylan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 2, 2023

Les Claypool is the first guest who flew himself to his WTF interview. Whether he’s studying aviation, perfecting fly fishing or starting another band, the Primus founder and bass virtuoso is always doing new things to stave off boredom. Les and Marc talk about his origins, Tom Waits, Adrian Belew, South Park, Sean Ono Lennon, and the Fearless Flying Frog Brigade. Les also mentions that one of his favorite guitar players is the genre-hopping Marc Ribot. So the two Marcs sit down in the garage to talk about classical guitar, being at Woodstock, jazz influences, and Tom Waits again. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 28, 2023

LeVar Burton was on track to join the priesthood early in life. But that actually turned out to be the fast track to acting and by age 19 he was starring in one of the most watched television programs of all time. LeVar and Marc talk about what he learned while making Roots, why he wanted to be on Star Trek more than any other job, and how it feels to have people coming up to him every day of his life to saying “you taught me to read” thanks to Reading Rainbow. Submit a question here for next week's Ask Marc Anything bonus episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 25, 2023

Chevy Chase plays a pivotal role in the history of American comedy, from his work on the National Lampoon Radio Hour to being the breakout star of Saturday Night Live’s first season to his hit comedy films like Caddyshack and Vacation. Chevy talks with Marc about some of the roads he didn’t take, like staying in a band with his friends Walter and Donald who founded Steely Dan, or staying on SNL past the first season instead of leaving for LA. They also talk about Chevy’s perspective on his short-lived talk show and his relationships with some of the people he’s worked with over the years. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 21, 2023

Aparna Nancherla says the self-fulfilling prophecy of imposter syndrome is convincing yourself you don’t belong and acting in a way to prove yourself right. It’s something she’s dealt with no matter what level of success she’s achieved in standup, writing and acting, and something she’s worked to overcome. Aparna and Marc talk about feeling like an outsider even while compiling a list of accomplishments, struggles with performance anxiety, and the persistent question, “What’s the point of anything?” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 18, 2023

When Gary Gulman was on WTF in 2013, he and Marc talked about Gary’s mental health in relation to his comedy. Since that time, Gary has dealt with severe bouts of depression and integrated it into his act, specifically in his 2019 HBO special The Great Depresh. Now, with Gary putting a lot of his thoughts on the pages of his first book, he and Marc revisit the ideas they previously had about comedy and how those perceptions changed as they’ve realized comedy can be a tool to help people feel less alone. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 14, 2023

Hannah Einbinder was a fan of WTF as a teenager and drew inspiration from Marc’s conversations with comedians while she considered pursuing a career as one herself. Hannah and Marc talk about her multi-generational Los Angeles family, whose businesses included cattle ranching, brothels and, in the case of her mom Laraine Newman, performing on Saturday Night Live. They also talk about Hannah’s experience making Hacks with Jean Smart, wanting to be like Rachel Maddow, and her time as a cheerleader. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 11, 2023

Naomi Klein was faced with a rather common problem. She was consistently mistaken for someone else. But because Naomi is one of our most perceptive and astute social critics, she was able to to turn that case of mistaken identity into an examination of the many public threats pervading society and how they’re connected by the deliberate blurring of reality and identity. Naomi and Marc talk about all the research and conclusions of her new book, Doppelgänger: A Trip Into The Mirror World. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 7, 2023

Bernie Taupin is a songwriter responsible for many of the most beloved songs ever recorded. But he actually thinks of himself as a cinematographer, taking what he sees in life and turning those mental snapshots into fantastical stories. Bernie and Marc talk about the origins of his more than 50-years-long partnership with Elton John, his friendship with Alice Cooper, the influence of The Band, and the timelessness of his songs. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 4, 2023

Michael Symon’s food journey has taken many unexpected turns, from revitalizing the Cleveland restaurant scene to changing his own diet after being diagnosed with autoimmune disorders to being at the ground floor of the Food Network phenomenon. Michael and Marc talk about home cooking, fermenting, hyper-local BBQ and the perfect egg. Plus, old friend Todd Barry stops by to talk about his new standup special. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 31, 2023

Jeff Sharlet is a reporter Marc turned to regularly during his days as a radio host to help explain the role of religion in American culture and politics. Jeff’s decades on the religion beat put him in a unique position to decode our modern social divisions, a journey he chronicled in his new book The Undertow. Now, as Marc increasingly seeks to understand the oncoming threat of fascism, he once again tuns to Jeff, whose vantage point while writing the book revealed the stark, unflinching reality of America’s present and future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 28, 2023

Maria Bamford is not only one of Marc’s favorite comics, she’s one of Marc’s favorite people to talk with, as evidenced by her six appearances on WTF. Now, more than 13 years after their groundbreaking, highly confessional first episode, recorded as they drove down the California coast, Marc and Maria catch up on their mental health outlooks, particularly after Maria just chronicled her lifelong journey in the new memoir, Sure, I’ll Join Your Cult. The two friends and colleagues compare notes on where they’ve been, how they got here and how they’re doing with this life thing anyway. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 24, 2023

Andrew Leland started having trouble seeing when he was in high school. He learned about his degenerative condition that would slowly render him blind over the course of his life. Now, two decades into his career as a writer, editor and lecturer, Andrew continues to lose his vision and adapt to a world that has a very binary view of blindness. Andrew and Marc talk about technological advancements that help with loss of sight, the complicated emotional response to blindness, and the different factions within the blind community promoting conflicting agendas. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 21, 2023

Amanda Seales was on the show Insecure, but only when she had an actual crisis of confidence did she feel like she could get control of her life and career. Amanda and Marc find out they have a lot of similar hang-ups and philosophies about creativity, despite their very different backgrounds. They talk about Amanda's comedy being rooted in her time with Def Poetry Jam, her life as Amanda Diva, her music, her studies of hip-hop, her first comedy special and why she centered her new special, In Amanda We Trust, on civic engagement. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 17, 2023

Nimesh Patel got advice from his comedy hero Chris Rock that comics need to get personal in order to become universal. After that, Nimesh was able to take his background as a first generation Indian-American whose dad owned a liquor store, a med-school drop out, a cancer survivor with a Jewish wife, and turn it all into an act that works on equally well on stage as it does on TikTok. Nimesh also tells Marc about the time he resisted becoming a pawn in the culture war after a college performance that went wrong. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 14, 2023

Jessica Chastain is one of our most celebrated actors, with a recent Oscar win, a Tony-nominated Broadway run, and a highly praised performance as Tammy Wynette opposite Michael Shannon’s George Jones. As Jessica tells Marc, she’s always been a sensitive person and ever since she was the shy kid in high school, she learned to channel that sensitivity into performance. They also talk about how she owes a lot of her career evolution to Robin Williams and Al Pacino. This interview was recorded on June 14, before the SAG-AFTRA strike. Click here for Charity Navigator’s list of Hawaii Wildfire Relief organizations . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 10, 2023

Adam Conover felt out of place in a family of scientists, but his decision to pursue a philosophy degree actually played into three major aspects of his adult life: Standup comedy, his educational television shows Adam Ruins Everything and The G Word, and civic engagement. Adam talks with Marc about what led him to comedy, why he made TV shows that helped explain the world, and what it's like on the front lines of the WGA strike as part of union leadership. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 7, 2023

Alex Winter was an actor for much of his young life until he realized it wasn’t his preferred way to tell stories. Now, the man many people knew as one half of Bill and Ted is an accomplished documentary filmmaker. Alex talks with Marc about his new film The YouTube Effect, as well as his other work on the growth of online communities and his doc about Frank Zappa. They also question whether show business as we knew it is finished and examine how Keanu Reeves handles his global superstardom with grace. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 3, 2023

Gary Mule Deer's career has spanned more than 60 years, but he's got enough in it to fill at least 600. Gary tells Marc how a guy from South Dakota who stumbled into his first performing gigs by happenstance wound up as a touring musician with bands like the Beach Boys, a popular standup comic in clubs around the country, and a variety TV regular with more than 350 guest shots on everything from Carson to Letterman to Hee Haw. Gary also explains how his career bottomed out with bordellos, drugs, and gambling, and found salvation in golf, Johnny Mathis, and the Grand Ole Opry. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 31, 2023

Melissa Villaseñor spent six seasons on Saturday Night Live and left her mark with a wide array of impressions. It was a road to success she might not have taken had she not gone to The Laugh Factory Comedy Camp when she was fifteen. Melissa and Marc talk about her early days performing and how she reluctantly auditioned for America's Got Talent, a gig that allowed her to quit her job at Forever 21 and pursue a life in comedy. They also talk about Melissa's music, her art, and her inspirations like Maria Bamford and Shel Silverstein. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 27, 2023

George Schlatter's lifetime in show business encompasses way more than Marc could cover during George's last appearance on WTF. Now that the Laugh-In creator has published his memoir, Still Laughing: A Life in Comedy, he has a lot more stories at the ready. George tells Marc about his time with Sammy Davis, Jr., Don Rickles, Lucille Ball, Frank Sinatra, Goldie Hawn, Tiny Tim and more. They also talk about George's stint managing the nightclub Ciro's, which later became The Comedy Store. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 24, 2023

There's a reason Jim Gaffigan is back for his seventh appearance on the show. No matter how much older they get, no matter how much has changed in their lives, Marc and Jim remain two comics who are still figuring out life and having a good time talking about it. With the release of his tenth comedy special, Dark Pale, Jim and Marc talk about the way they're still confounded by their fellow humans on a daily basis and how they're trying to come to grips with that puzzlement as they both get on in their years. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 20, 2023

Michael Rowe and Marc knew each other decades ago from the comedy club scene, but Mike says there was a specific moment when standup left his body for good. He tells Marc how his love of joke writing gave him entry into the world of comedy and then gave him a fulfilling career as a writer that outlasted his time on stage. Mike recounts a life changing phone call from Rodney Dangerfield, his friendship with Andy Kaufman, his X-rated encounter with Milton Berle, and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 17, 2023

Cillian Murphy knew he wanted to become an actor when he saw A Clockwork Orange. Not the Kubrick film, but an avant-garde theatrical production in a nightclub. From there he left his dreams of being a musician behind and began his acting journey. Cillian tells Marc the lessons he learned from directors like Ken Loach and Christopher Nolan, with whom he’s collaborated on six films. They also talk about Peaky Blinders, 28 Days Later, and trying on the Batman suit. This interview was recorded on June 27, 2023. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 13, 2023

Sarah Tiana and Marc are very much co-workers. They see each other at “the office” regularly but they’ve never had an extended period of time to get to know each other. Sarah and Marc get to sit down and compare notes on their experiences at The Comedy Store, both when they started out and how things are now, and Sarah tells Marc about her background doing comedy in war zones. They also talk about Disneyland, doormen and David Spade. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 10, 2023

Lukas Nelson doesn’t fear any comparisons with his father, Willie, because his dad taught him by example to do what you love with all your heart. And Lukas loves making music. Lukas talks with Marc about songwriting, the evolution of country, Jimi Hendrix, Neil Young, Gordon Lightfoot, Kris Kristofferson, hip hop, his new album, and the fortunate set of circumstances that led him to work on the film A Star is Born and write songs for its best-selling soundtrack. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 6, 2023

Joanna Gleason lives in a vibrant community of artistic people. In a way, it's what she's always known, growing up surrounded by the community of her father, Monty Hall, in the early days of television. Joanna and Marc talk about parents not having the ending you hope, making art that gives them the ending they deserve, and more art that allows you to process the grief. They also talk about her breakthrough performance in Into The Woods, the very show business way she fell in love with her husband, Chris Sarandon, and making her directorial debut with The Grotto. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 3, 2023

Marc admits to a certain amount of conspiracy-driven paranoia when he was younger, which gives him a unique vantage point to observe the conspiracy theories shaking our culture. Conspiracy scholar Robert Guffey joins Marc to talk about the origins of modern conspiracy theories. What is the Illuminati? Why is Freemasonry central to so many conspiracies? How do cultural icons like Rudyard Kipling, John Huston and Steven Spielberg factor into the spread of conspiracy thinking? And how did Qanon grab hold of the fevered conspiratorial mind? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 29, 2023

A bike accident and a cracked bone delayed Clifton Collins Jr.’s appearance in the garage, but now he’s all healed up and ready to go. Clifton talks with Marc about his extensive career, including films like Traffic, Capote and Nightmare Alley, and his family’s cultural legacy stemming from the Mexican carpa scene to Vaudeville to the Hollywood studio system. Clifton also explains why the film Jockey is so personal to him and how Samuel L. Jackson became a friend and mentor. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 28, 2023

The Full Maron is our WTF+ subscription tier that gives you weekly bonus episodes. It's now a year old, so that means there's 52 weeks of bonus episodes waiting for you in the archive. To give you a sense of what's in store for subscribers, we've put together a selection of Full Maron highlights, including answers from an Ask Marc Anything episode, a post-show chat with Jeremy Strong, Marc's immediate reaction right after Ice Cube left the garage, never-before-heard standup from Marc's set at Town Hall, Marc and Kit talking movies, and an excerpt from The Friday Show, our weekly end of the week hang-out. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 26, 2023

Kyle Kinane is a comedian Marc enjoys so much, he had him on multiple early episodes of WTF. But at some point, Kyle felt he hit a wall in show business, feeling weary from the demands of constant pitches and the necessities of self-promotion. Kyle returns to the garage to tell Marc where he went, why he lived in a van for a while, and how he wanted to approach making new comedy, including his new special Shocks and Struts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 22, 2023

Comedian Tom Dreesen was hanging out with Marc in The Comedy Store parking lot, telling stories of show business and organized crime. Marc had such a good time listening to Tom’s stories, he invited him back on the show to share some of them with WTF listeners. Tom talks about his early days working in mob-run clubs, touring with Sammy Davis, Jr., and an epic tale of Frank Sinatra saving Johnny Carson from certain death at the hands of Crazy Joe Gallo. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 19, 2023

Ben Kingsley believes his job is to reflect truth and in order to do that he keeps many voices in his heart and mind. Those voices include Steven Spielberg, Otto Frank, Elie Wiesel, Rajmohan Gandhi, and others who gave him gifts of wisdom and encouragement as he performed some of his most memorable roles. Sir Ben also talks with Marc about how his science eduction informs his acting, how Shakespeare’s writing is a map of truth, and how he transformed into Salvador Dalí in his most recent film. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 15, 2023

Felicia Michaels and Marc started at The Comedy Store around the same time. They got to see the ‘80s comedy boom begin at the club level. They got to see Sam Kinison at his funniest and also his most difficult. And they got to see each other at times in their lives when they were both figuring out who they were. Felicia tells Marc what she learned about herself in those days, why she quit comedy to become a professional photographer, and why she made the decision to come back, not only to standup in general, but to The Comedy Store. Submit a question here for next week's Ask Marc Anything bonus episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 12, 2023

In 2019, Ramy Youssef surprised Hollywood by coming out of nowhere to win the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a TV Comedy. Now, after three seasons of Ramy on Hulu, he talks with Marc about using his relationship with faith and culture to make comedy and explore the Muslim-American experience. They also talk about the inspiration he took from Jenny Slate, the mentorship he took from Mark Curry, and the path he took from stand-up to his own show. Submit a question here for next week's Ask Marc Anything bonus episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 8, 2023

Jeff Stilson only had two goals as a comedian: Get on Johnny Carson and write for David Letterman. After he accomplished both things, he developed a reputation as a top shelf writer for talk shows, sitcoms, award shows and other comedians. Jeff talks with Marc about his work with people like Chris Rock, Tracy Morgan, George Lopez, Ellen DeGeneres and more, as well as his experience writing for venerable institutions like the Academy Awards. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 5, 2023

Anthony Ramos was ready to give up on acting but seeing the musical In The Heights on Broadway gave him hope. Eventually he wound up playing the lead role in the film version of that very show. Anthony talks with Marc about his journey from housing projects to performing arts school to stage, film and the recording studio, with a baseball detour along the way. They also talk about making The Bad Guys, getting in on the ground floor of Hamilton, and Anthony’s foray into blockbusters with Transformers: Rise of the Beasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 1, 2023

William Shatner has lived long and continues to prosper. At 92 years old, he has dozens of projects in the works, including the Fox reality show Stars on Mars, a new watch he designed, two documentaries, and his annual charity horse show. But he’s also able to look back with clarity and appreciation on an acting career that started at age six and all the amazing paths his life has taken since. Bill and Marc talk about Canada, Broadway, the Golden Age of Television, Star Trek, and the profound experience Bill had when he traveled to outer space. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 29, 2023

Vir Das doesn’t worry about fitting in. He was born in India, grew up in Nigeria, went to school in America, lived and worked in Europe, and now lives back in his country of origin. Vir talks with Marc about wanting his comedy and acting to appeal to a global community, a goal that was met with some resistance in 2021 when he performed a monologue called “Two Indias” in Washington, DC. They talk about the fallout from that performance, the right wing push in India, and Vir’s experience in Bollywood films. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 25, 2023

Amy Sherman-Palladino says working on a TV show takes over your whole life. This is why Amy went from being a hired gun on sitcoms that made her miserable to her own creatively fulfilling shows like Gilmore Girls, Bunheads and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Amy and Marc talk about her father’s comedy background, her early job at The Comedy Store, the lessons she learned from Roseanne, and the adjustments made when she found out this would be the final season of Mrs. Maisel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 22, 2023

Smokey Robinson just released his 26th studio album, but he’s been writing songs since the age of six. Smokey talks with Marc about his lifelong friendships with Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross and Berry Gordy, the formation of The Miracles, the rise of Motown Records, the process of writing songs for other artists, creating The Tears of a Clown with Stevie Wonder, the brilliance of Marvin Gaye, and the five year period Smokey felt his life was out of control. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 18, 2023

For Warren Zanes, music has been a salvation. In his troubled teen years, his brother put him in the band The Del Fuegos. Then music was the conduit to his PhD. And now, after a lifetime of seeing himself as just another guy without a father, Warren’s music biographies have helped him feel at home with other lost people. Warren and Marc talk about explaining life through music, writing about Tom Petty, and Warren’s new book Deliver Me from Nowhere: The Making of Bruce Springsteen’s Nebraska. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 15, 2023

Paul Schrader’s upbringing was steeped in the contradictions of religion, which helped him explore the contradictory characters in his screenplays, like Travis Bickle, Jake LaMotta and the protagonists of his recent films, First Reformed, The Card Counter and Master Gardener. Paul talks with Marc about his early career as a film critic, his rejection of Hollywood filmmaking, his experience directing Richard Pryor, and the sibling dynamic he brought to Raging Bull. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 11, 2023

Ice Cube never stopped thinking about making music, from the moment he started writing raps in typewriting class to sitting in his recording studio today making a new album. But he never expected his life to take a parallel track when John Singleton sought him out for Boyz N The Hood. Cube and Marc talk about how his two successful careers took shape and how he’s now branching out into a third with his sports league Big3. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 8, 2023

Rachel Weisz and her collaborators totally knocked Marc for a loop with the new series Dead Ringers, a show that’s still haunting him long after he watched it. Rachel and Marc talk about her dual performance as twin doctors, as well as her work with Yorgos Lanthimos, how Denis Leary was an influence on her as a young performer, and her time at Cambridge. They also compare notes on their shared love of Lou Reed and cats. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 4, 2023

When comedian Shane Mauss was on the show in 2016, he and Marc talked about the new trajectory in his life that involved psychedelic studies. A year later, he lost his mind doing lots of hands-on experiments in that field of study. As Shane gets his standup act back on its feet, he tells Marc about the Roger Waters concert that landed him in a psych ward, the ways people get mentally exploited by motivational hucksters, and how he’s trying to strike a balance between opening his mind and letting his brain fall out. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 1, 2023

Tituss Burgess was in the movie Respect alongside Marc, playing gospel singer James Cleveland. But it was Tituss’s own original gospel recordings that provided Marc with a fuller understanding of the Real Tituss. Tituss talks with Marc about finally being seen as the Real Tituss, thanks to his work in season two of Schmigadoon! and his writing of the new musical The Preacher’s Wife. They also talk about faith, self-acceptance, forgiveness and seeing the light. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 27, 2023

Both David Mandel and Marc were obsessed with the early years of Saturday Night Live, in large part because of a book they both had. It was the 1977 SNL Script Book and it actually set David on a path to become a writer for that very show. David tells Marc about his “wonderful and awful” time there, followed by genre-defining work on Seinfeld, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Veep and the new limited series White House Plumbers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 24, 2023

J. Smith-Cameron gets just as surprised while watching Succession as you do. With all the footage they shoot, she’s never sure exactly how any given episode is going to turn out, as she waits to see what will or won’t make the cut. Jean and Marc get into all the details about the show, like how Gerri was supposed to be a man, what her husband Kenneth Lonergan thinks of it, and how her New York theater background meshes nicely with a cast full of stage actors. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 20, 2023

As the daughter of Jill Clayburgh and playwright David Rabe, Lily Rabe felt a lot of pressure not to become an actor, believing she had to stake out her own artistic ground. But while dance was her passion, her acting talents were undeniable. Lily tells Marc what it was like to get her big break doing Shakespeare with Al Pacino at the same time her family was dealing with personal tragedy. They also talk about her recent string of miniseries, including The Undoing, The Underground Railroad, and Love & Death. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 19, 2023

From February 2013, Marc talks with comedian Darryl Lenox about the struggles he faced throughout his life and how he overcame the challenges in front of him. Darryl died on April 16, 2023. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 17, 2023

The last time Ray Romano was on the podcast, he was making the show Men of a Certain Age. Now Ray and Marc are both men of a certain age with a lot of the same concerns about their health and well-being at this point in their lives. They also followed a similar trajectory from standup comedy to dramatic acting and they’re now competing with each other for the same type of roles. They talk about taking risks, Robert DeNiro, and Somewhere in Queens, the new movie Ray co-wrote, directed and stars in. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 13, 2023

It's a series of firsts for Alex Borstein: The release of her first comedy special, her first podcast interview done during a power outage, and her first time meeting Marc, despite co-starring with him in The Bad Guys. Alex and Marc talk about Chicago, pizza, therapists, X-rated chocolates, Family Guy, Gilmore Girls, and the high-wire balancing act of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel as it begins its fifth and final season. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 10, 2023

Three episodes into the Netflix series Beef, Steven Yeun's character is emotionally overwhelmed in a Korean church. As the former leader of a praise band and the son of devout immigrant parents, it isn't surprising Steven was able to hit the right note. Steven and Marc talk about his upbringing in Michigan, his time in Chicago doing Second City improv, his encounters with cultural gatekeeping, his liberating role on The Walking Dead, his Oscar nomination for Minari and much more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 6, 2023

Kelly Reichardt’s latest movie Showing Up is about the life of artists, but Kelly had no experience with art while growing up in a Miami law enforcement family other than crime scene photos. Kelly talks to Marc about the moment that opened her eyes to artistic expression and how a lonely night in Boston watching the snow fall convinced her to start making movies. They also go through all her films and gush over Altman’s McCabe and Mrs. Miller. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 3, 2023

Brooke Shields is able to look back critically on the toxic culture and misogynistic power structure that pervaded her early career while remaining grateful for the life she lived and the person she became. Marc talks with Brooke about her journey from modeling to acting to motherhood, as explored in the new documentary Pretty Baby. They also delve into the complicated relationship Brooke had with her own mother and what Brooke is hoping to impart to her own teen daughters today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 30, 2023

Cathy Ladman just made her tenth appearance on The Tonight Show, a milestone in a career that started back when Johnny Carson was the host. But something she dealt with throughout that career was an ongoing battle with an eating disorder. Cathy tells Marc how she avoided talking about it in her comedy until now, with a new stage show that centers on her fight with anorexia. They also talk about growing up in a bowling alley, her sitcom writing, and her first serious boyfriend, Jerry Seinfeld. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 27, 2023

Karina Longworth grew up in Los Angeles and was fascinated by the haunted memories of Old Hollywood. Later in life, her writing and research led her to creating the podcast that explores these forgotten stories, You Must Remember This. Karina and Marc talk about Kenneth Anger’s Hollywood Babylon, what the history of show business reveals about our current moment, and what exactly is the state of the broader cultural conversation these days. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 23, 2023

Nick Youssef found himself on the receiving end of anti-Arab hate when he took the standup stage shortly after 9/11, right at the start of his comedy career. It was that moment when Nick knew he was never going to let anyone get the better of him on the comedy stage ever again. Marc talks with Nick about how the shy son of Lebanese immigrants became a battle-hardened comic who just produced and released his first comedy special. Please click here to take our audience survey . It’s our best way to get to know our listeners! Click here to Ask Marc Anything and Marc might answer your question in WTF+ bonus content. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 20, 2023

Laurie Anderson says she never made art to express herself, she didn’t care about having a “style,” and she sure didn’t think about building a “brand.” Laurie and Marc talk about her time in New York City as part of a booming art scene, her days hanging with Andy Kaufman, and her many musical collaborations. They also discuss Laurie’s role as the steward of Lou Reed’s legacy, including the new book she helped edit of Lou’s writing on Tai Chi. Please click here to take our audience survey . It’s our best way to get to know our listeners! Click here to Ask Marc Anything and Marc might answer your question in WTF+ bonus content. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 16, 2023

First up in this two-for-one episode, Marc talks with comedian Ashely Barnhill, who used to work for WTF while she was building her comedy career. Suddenly, a tragic accident had her fighting for her life. They talk about Ashley’s road back. Next, director Jason Woliner returns to talk about his 10-year-long project, Paul T. Goldman. Marc tries to find out what Jason was getting at with this reality-bending series and whether there were any lasting repercussions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 13, 2023

O’Shea Jackson Jr. grew up around music with Ice Cube as a father. But it was a school teacher who set his mind toward making movies. O’Shea and Marc talk about the idea of Ice Cube versus the reality of Ice Cube as a dad and now as a grandfather. They also talk about the two-year process he went through to win the part in Straight Outta Compton, the Twitter coincidence with Aubrey Plaza that opened acting doors for him, and what it felt like to tell Obi-Wan Kenobi that his next job was Cocaine Bear. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 10, 2023

A special compilation of this year's Oscar nominees talking about their nominated works. Hear excerpts from Marc's interviews with Michelle Yeoh, Daniels, Brendan Fraser, Hong Chau, Austin Butler, Andrea Riseborough, Sarah Polley, Todd Field, Rian Johnson, Judd Hirsch and Tony Kushner. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 9, 2023

Bobby Farrelly knows he was lucky to grow up in small town Rhode Island, which was, in his words, marinating in characters. Bobby and his brother Peter were able to take those real life characters and put them into screenplays that became some of the biggest comedy films of all time. Bobby and Marc talk about the origins of Dumb and Dumber, Kingpin, There’s Something About Mary and more, as well as Bobby’s new movie with Woody Harrelson, Champions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 6, 2023

Ronny Chieng has been in America for less than a decade and he’s cementing himself as a prolific force in comedy. With two Netflix specials, a regular spot on The Daily Show, and multiple roles in high profile films already under his belt, Ronny is living a comedian’s dream. He tells Marc how he went from law school in Australia to doing regular comedy work and how a festival encounter with Trevor Noah changed everything. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 2, 2023

Hong Chau owes her acting career to social anxiety and a fear of performing in public. It was the desire to overcome those obstacles that led her to improv and acting classes. Hong and Marc talk about the dangerous journey her family undertook to get from Vietnam to America, her upbringing in New Orleans, the controversy around her performance in Downsizing, and her Oscar nominated performance in The Whale. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 27, 2023

Austin Butler devoted the past four years of his life to Elvis, the last year of which has been spent promoting and talking about Elvis. So it’s a little bit of a break for him to talk with Marc about his cowboy heritage, being a shy kid, becoming a regular of Nickelodeon and Disney Channel shows, finding his calling on the stage, learning from Denzel Washington, and cracking up at Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio on the set of Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood. And yeah, they talk about the Elvis accent, too. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 23, 2023

Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert share a first name, a passion for filmmaking and now awards for Best Director. But the duo known as Daniels have backgrounds that are as divergent as the multiverse they invented for Everything Everywhere All At Once. They talk to Marc about their distinctions, such as growing up with undiagnosed ADHD versus being an academic overachiever, one being influenced by Rian Johnson's Brick, the other an acolyte of Tim & Eric, and various embarrassing moments of their youth that helped define their work. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 20, 2023

Michelle Yeoh travels through the multiverse in Everything Everywhere All At Once. But when she was growing up in Malaysia, there was a universe where she continued her dance training and opened her own dance school. That all came to an end with an injury but it opened the door to another universe where she became a martial arts film star. Michelle and Marc talk about Yes, Madam!, Police Story 3: Supercop, Jackie Chan, James Bond, Crazy Rich Asians, Quentin Tarantino, and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 16, 2023

Tim Blake Nelson always impresses Marc with his acting and, since the last time he was on the show, he’s made more stuff Marc loved, like Old Henry and Nightmare Alley. But now Tim has also impressed Marc as a novelist. His first novel, City of Blows, is in the tradition of classic Hollywood fiction. Tim tells Marc how his own experiences as an actor fed the book’s morality tale and how he found inspiration in the old stories of Hollywood past. Click here to Ask Marc Anything and Marc might answer your question in WTF+ bonus content. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 13, 2023

Most people know Marc Summers as the host of Double Dare on Nickelodeon and Unwrapped on Food Network. But his background makes him an ideal WTF guest. A Jewish kid from the Midwest who wanted to get into show business, Marc tried his hand at being a DJ, a magician, a comic, and eventually became a regular at The Comedy Store. Once Marc found success, he had to overcome numerous personal setbacks and health challenges. Marc and Marc talk about it all, including his new podcast Marc Summers Unwraps. Click here to Ask Marc Anything and Marc might answer your question in WTF+ bonus content. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 9, 2023

As documented in the Wrestling With Marc series on The Full Maron, Marc undergoes a full immersion into the world of professional wrestling when his producer Brendan suggests Marc explore something totally new to him. With help from All Elite Wrestling, Marc learns the ropes and everything in between. Featuring talks with wrestling legend Chris Jericho (9:20), AEW owner Tony Khan (59:40), returning WTF guest Colt Cabana (1:33:30), referee Bryce Remsberg (1:37:35), AEW World Champion Maxwell Jacob Friedman (1:45:40), and the Mad King Eddie Kingston (2:01:25). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 6, 2023

Wayne Brady is making himself happy again when he’s performing. He makes other people happy hosting Let’s Make a Deal and being part of Whose Line Is It Anyway?, but only in recent years does Wayne feel like he’s combatting his depression and anxiety in a way that lets him enjoy his job. Wayne and Marc talk about the roots of those issues, as well as his early life in Orlando, playing Goofy and Tigger at Disney World, and that Chappelle’s Show sketch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 2, 2023

Dave Franco is a successful actor but that doesn’t mean he was full of confidence when he began directing his first feature. Dave tells Marc how he overcame the fear of the unknown once he stepped on set to call action for the first time. They also talk about how the timing of the pandemic worked out for the release of that film, The Rental, and how his latest film, Somebody I Used to Know, started as a script he wrote with his wife, Alison Brie, during quarantine. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 30, 2023

Radhika Jones just celebrated her fifth year as Editor-in-Chief of Vanity Fair and, as far as Marc is concerned, she plays a major role on the front lines of the American culture war. Radhika tells Marc why she remains optimistic about our current cultural moment, why print is not yet dead, and how a magazine like Vanity Fair can modernize and evolve in order to better represent our current times. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 26, 2023

Brendan Fraser is receiving awards and accolades for his performance in The Whale but his reasons for taking on the role go much deeper than wanting to earn well-deserved praise. Brendan and Marc talk about the many layers of pain, trauma and redemption that went into creating the performance, much of which was informed by experiences throughout Brendan’s own life. They also compare notes on their shared love of Canada. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 23, 2023

Sarah Polley has a lot to say about memory, narratives and the stories we tell. That’s because she believes they’re all fluid, which creates a sort of moving target for a writer and director of films, as she is. Sarah and Marc talk about how this is represented in Sarah’s movies like Away from Her and her latest, Women Talking, and why she made a documentary about a particularly fraught and deceptive narrative from her own family. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 19, 2023

Octavia Spencer’s career started behind the scenes, as she worked in casting departments on film sets. Director Joel Schumacher said she should read for the role of Sandra Bullock’s nurse in A Time To Kill and set her on a path that would eventually culminate fifteen years later with an Academy Award. Octavia and Marc talk about how she’s had to resist typecasting, how she conquered stage fright, and how her childhood love of police procedurals is now her life, as she kicks off the third season of the crime drama Truth Be Told. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 16, 2023

Todd Field toyed with many pursuits before he ever directed a film. First there was close-up magic. Then he went to school on a music scholarship. He also hoped to become a baseball player, working as a batboy for a minor league team. He helped invent Big League Chew. Then he became an actor and worked with Stanley Kubrick and Tom Cruise, who both offered Todd support as he made his first movie. Todd and Marc talk about the decisions that led him to each of his three films: In the Bedroom, Little Children, and Tár. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 12, 2023

Andrea Riseborough can't lie. She's terrible at it. But she believes that trait helps her as an actor because there's no hiding her emotions. Marc can attest to this, having acted opposite Andrea in To Leslie, but she's been at it since she was nine years old doing David Mamet plays with other kids. Marc and Andrea talk about her background in theater, how Mike Leigh gave her a charmed entry into film, and how she's personally confronting the current challenges of film creation and distribution. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 9, 2023

Katt Williams is a one-of-a-kind comic performer, so it’s only natural he should have a one-of-a-kind backstory. Katt tells Marc about his travels as a teenager, trying to make it on his own in Florida, then in Haiti, then around the country in all 50 states as a door to door salesman. Katt recalls the days he was opening for comedians like Jeff Foxworthy and Dan Whitney, before he became Larry the Cable Guy, and he talks about some of his surprising inspirations, from Jack London to Don Knotts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 5, 2023

Colin Hanks knows there are public perceptions of him that are tricky to navigate. For one, the man known as America’s Dad is his actual dad. There’s also the fact that people have a hard time seeing him in roles other than The Nice Guy. And then there’s the way people still think of him as a young man even as he enters middle age with children of his own. Colin and Marc talk about the mindset he’s had to put in place to feel at ease with himself, much of which he had to absorb as he processed the loss of his mother. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 2, 2023

Ben Foster was 14 years old and when he had what he calls a breakdown. Ben had a moment while acting where he completely lost himself and he needed to get back to that place at all costs. Marc talks with Ben about how he chased that feeling from the set of a Disney Channel sitcom into dramatic work in movies like Hell or High Water and Kill Your Darlings, where his commitment to the role is never in question. They also get into his two most recent performances in The Survivor and Emancipation, where he felt a deep responsibility in depicting both the victim and perpetrator of human atrocities. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 29, 2022

Guitarist and singer-songwriter Eric McFadden is a blast from Marc's past. They knew each other when they were teenagers growing up in Albuquerque, fostering their creative passions in art studios, record stores and guitar shops around town. After coming in brief contact with each other throughout the years, Eric and Marc finally sit down in the garage to talk about what happened when Eric left New Mexico, how he wound up working with George Clinton, Bernie Worrell, Eric Burdon from The Animals and others, as well as launching his own solo career. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 26, 2022

Courtney Love is finishing up her first record in more than a decade while she lives in London, perhaps permanently. Courtney fled LA because, as she tells Marc, she needed to get out of the “overculture.” It’s one of many realizations Courtney came upon in recent years, after a lifetime of ups and downs, peace and chaos, fame and infamy. Courtney takes Marc along for the journey as they sip tea in a London hotel. Click here to Ask Marc Anything and Marc might answer your question in WTF+ bonus content. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 22, 2022

Writer-director Scott Cooper says the best thing to came out of his acting career was the friendship he struck up with Robert Duvall. At Robert’s suggestion, Scott started writing his own films, including one he sent to Jeff Bridges. And because Jeff Bridges agreed to make the film, Scott began his career as a director. Scott and Marc talk about that film, Crazy Heart, as well as Out of the Furnace, Black Mass, Hostiles, Antlers, and Scott’s latest mystery film about Edgar Allan Poe, The Pale Blue Eye. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 19, 2022

Rian Johnson revived the mystery genre with his movie Knives Out and now he’s seeing what other places he can take it, both with the sequel Glass Onion and his new detective series Poker Face. But that’s the kind of filmmaker Rian is. As he tells Marc, Rian enjoys hopping genres, whether it’s a noir takeoff like Brick, a time travel riff like Looper, or the metatextual Star Wars mythology he explored in The Last Jedi. They also talk about Rian’s direction of two classic Breaking Bad episodes. Click here to Ask Marc Anything and Marc might answer your question in WTF+ bonus content. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 15, 2022

James Austin Johnson figured out at a very young age that he could do impressions. When he got older and started doing comedy, he wanted to figure out a way to do them that didn’t feel like a Las Vegas lounge act. Now, as the preeminent Trump mimic and SNL’s resident impressionist, James tells Marc how he figured out how to hone in on the people he was imitating and how Covid isolation led to his Trump breakthrough. They also talk about James’s early years as a child actor in conservative Christian media productions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 12, 2022

Comedian Tommy Tiernan knows a fellow traveler when he sees one. Ever since he saw Marc perform, he recognized a kinship, which is something Marc notices himself when he’s in Tommy’s home country of Ireland. Tommy and Marc talk about the shared outlook of Irish and Jewish comedians, as well as why they both feel like they’re hooked on doing standup at this point in their lives, why they’re both no good at having fun, and why Bob Dylan remains such an inspiration to Tommy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 8, 2022

Elvis Mitchell waited his entire life to make the new documentary Is That Black Enough For You?!? As a film critic, professor, chronicler of the entertainment business on his show The Treatment and, most importantly, a lifelong movie fan, everything prepared Elvis to write and direct an examination of Black Cinema, particularly the revolutionary films and artists from the 1970s. Elvis takes Marc through the entire journey, with plenty of stops along the way to talk about their favorite movies and performers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 5, 2022

It’s the holidays, which means Clea DuVall’s movie the Happiest Season is once again part of a new tradition for people everywhere. That’s still taking time to sink in for Clea because it’s a film she wrote and directed that deals with a personal struggle she didn’t even make public until a few years ago. Clea talks with Marc about how she dealt with coming out in her personal life but staying closeted in her professional life. They also talk about her new series High School, based on the memoir of Tegan and Sara. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 1, 2022

Filmmaker James Gray had crisis of confidence after watching a rough cut of his first movie, Little Odessa. Now that he’s made his most personal film yet, Armageddon Time, James and Marc talk about what it took to rebuild his confidence over 25 years, survive fights with Harvey Weinstein, and brave a film shoot in the Amazon that almost killed him. They also talk about Ad Astra, The Beatles, The Stones, Jaws, Apocalypse Now, and Fred Trump. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 28, 2022

Rob Delaney says the last time he was on the show, he didn’t have two coins to rub together. After that, he started a family, moved to London, created the hit show Catastrophe and saw his career take off. Then unfathomable tragedy struck with the illness and death of his youngest son. Rob talks with Marc about picking up the pieces and putting his thoughts into a new memoir, A Heart That Works. Also, Marc spends some time with his friend Sam Lipsyte to talk about Sam’s new novel, No One Left To Come Looking For You. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 24, 2022

Live from The Bloomsbury Theatre in London, Marc welcomes comedian and writer David Baddiel to the stage. In light of David’s new book and accompanying documentary, Jews Don’t Count, Marc and David talk about what it’s like to make sure they’re both publicly counted as notable Jewish entertainers. They discuss the recent rise in antisemitism, the ways in which it gets overlooked in the culture and what can be done about it. Marc and David also make sure to spend some time on English breakfasts, Catholicism, and being cat guys. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 21, 2022

Writer-director Robert Siegel wanted to explore a career in either comedy or journalism. It turns out he got to do both as Editor-in-Chief of The Onion. But while The Onion was mostly comedy tinged with tragedy, Robert tells Marc how he wanted to flip that dynamic once he started writing screenplays. They talk about how the stories he told in The Wrestler, Big Fan, The Founder, Pam and Tommy, and now Welcome to Chippendales all begin with a very specific type of great American tragic hero. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 17, 2022

When Marc reads the works of author and screenwriter Bruce Wagner, he starts to question reality. Bruce’s depictions of Hollywood personalities and show business darkness cut close to the bone and leave Marc trying to make sense of the life he chose. Bruce and Marc talk about where it all comes from, starting with his upbringing in the heart of Old Hollywood. Bruce also explains why being a victim of identity theft helped him write his new novel, ROAR, and why he decided to release his previous book, The Marvel Universe, into the public domain. Click here to Ask Marc Anything and Marc might answer your question in WTF+ bonus content. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 14, 2022

American Beauty completely changed Wes Bentley’s life and is still doing so today, considering he got his current role in Yellowstone because of his performance as Ricky Fitts. But the sudden exposure to fame started Wes down a path of drug addiction that nearly ended his career and could have ended his life. Wes tells Marc about growing up in Arkansas as the son of two ministers, turning down Spider-Man, bottoming out in Argentina, cleaning up and getting a second chance. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 13, 2022

From November 2012, Marc talks with Budd Friedman, the man behind the comedy club boom in America. Budd died on November 12, 2022 at the age of 90. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 11, 2022

Marc revisits his 2011 interview with comedian Gallagher, recorded in Portland, Oregon on January 27, 2011. Their conversation about comedy, language and cultural tolerance led to Gallagher walking out on the interview, the first and only time that happened on WTF. Leo Gallagher died on November 11, 2022. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 10, 2022

Quinta Brunson didn’t pave the traditional path to a hit network sitcom. In fact, she paved a path that didn’t really exist. Quinta and Marc talk about how she was one of the first people on Instagram to hit it big with the comedy she was making on there, which led to jobs at BuzzFeed and YouTube, acting gigs, and ultimately the chance to create Abbott Elementary. They also talk about her upbringing as a Jehovah’s Witness, the job she had to give up because of Covid, and why it’s so important to get the look of Abbott Elementary right. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 7, 2022

Elizabeth Banks says she’s the kind of person who likes to get ‘A’s on tests. And in show business, directing feature films for Hollywood studios is the ultimate test. Elizabeth and Marc talk about how her imposter syndrome faded over the past few years and how Elizabeth feels like she’s acing the test as she finishes up her third film as director. They also talk about the uncomfortable timeliness of her new movie, Call Jane, and why she jumped at the chance to host the game show Press Your Luck. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 3, 2022

Chris Redd knows what it’s like to have dreams and then watch them shift in the face of reality. It happened first with the dream of being a rapper, but then Chris realized he had a knack for this comedy thing. Now, as he departs SNL and releases his first HBO standup special, Chris and Marc talk about how your dreams further shift once you’ve had some success in life. Chris also tells Marc how he overcame his stutter, how he turned a corner in his struggle with anxiety, and how he’s adjusting to having money after growing up without any. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 31, 2022

Veep creator Armando Iannucci knows his job as a purveyor of political satire becomes more difficult as politicians become more absurd and cartoonish. In fact, just hours before recording this episode, the Prime Minister of the U.K. resigned after a tumultuous six weeks on the job. Armando and Marc talk about the unfolding news and also get into Armando’s career in comedy, including his early radio work, creating Alan Partridge, taking on U.S. politics, The Death of Stalin, and his latest show Avenue 5. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 27, 2022

Ron Carter is one of the architects of modern jazz. The Guinness Book of World Records cites him as the most recorded bassist in history and his influence has stretched well beyond jazz to a host of musical genres and styles. Marc talks with Ron about the dichotomies of his career, being a session musician and a band leader, a teacher and an eternal student, a maestro in concert halls and a regular in nightclubs. Ron explains how his output is all part of a responsibility he accepted long ago, one that continues today as he carries the flag of jazz throughout the world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 24, 2022

Jeremy Strong can’t help being honest. His honesty around his job as an actor is what leads to magazine profiles where he’s portrayed as “intense” and “serious.” His honesty also allows him to admit that he was afraid to do this interview. Marc embraces both that honesty and that fear in this conversation with Jeremy about acting, Succession, finding joy, being an empty vessel, being in service to others, Daniel Day-Lewis, Al Pacino and the new film Armageddon Time. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 20, 2022

Henry Louis Gates, Jr. believes we must understand who we were in order to understand who we are. That goes for individuals, which is at the core of his PBS series Finding Your Roots, as well as society, which is the reason he made the new documentary series Making Black America. Marc talks with Professor Gates about the foundation of America, the progress that’s been made, and the inequality that remains, as well as the professor’s own unique upbringing that informs a lot of his thinking. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 17, 2022

Everyone knows Ralph Macchio as Daniel LaRusso from The Karate Kid. In fact, so many people know him as Daniel LaRusso, he wrote a book about spending his life as that character. Ralph and Marc talk about his memoir Waxing On: The Karate Kid and Me, and delve into his life before the headband, as he worked with Francis Ford Coppola on The Outsiders, acted opposite Robert De Niro on stage, and tried to make sense of everything when superstardom hit. They also get into the protectiveness Ralph felt about the franchise when he was approached with the idea to revisit the character for Cobra Kai. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 13, 2022

Béla Fleck is more than a virtuoso banjo player. He’s also a banjo missionary, an evangelist for an instrument he feels is often misunderstood and pigeonholed. Béla talks with Marc about how he wanted to move banjo music away from negative stereotypes and open audiences up to its world music roots, its classical applications, and of course its bluegrass heart. Also, Marc talks with director Michael Morris about the new movie To Leslie starring Andrea Riseborough and, oh yeah, Marc Maron. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 10, 2022

Zahn McClarnon’s early experiences with reservation life helped him add some personal touches as a cast member of Reservation Dogs. But it was actually his experience with the musical Jesus Christ Superstar that got him into acting in the first place. Zahn and Marc talk about their shared love of working with Sterlin Harjo on Reservation Dogs and why it’s a history-making show. They also talk about Zahn’s struggles with drugs earlier in his life and how he actually used psychedelics to help kick heroin. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 6, 2022

Jann Wenner’s life as the co-founder and publisher of Rolling Stone Magazine has been chronicled in other books, but Jann says he needed to write a memoir to declare what his generation actually stood for. Jann and Marc talk about the importance of San Francisco as the birthplace of not only the magazine but of ’60s culture in general. Jann explains why the Altamont Free Concert was a turning point for Rolling Stone, what happened in the cocaine-fueled days when the magazine moved to New York, and how close Almost Famous was to reality. Click here to Ask Marc Anything and Marc might answer your question in WTF+ bonus content. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 3, 2022

Writer-director Tony Gilroy is the man behind one of Marc’s favorite movies of all time, Michael Clayton. They get into everything it took to get that movie made and its surprising legacy. But the rest of Tony’s career and the curvy path his life took to get there are equally fascinating. Tony tells Marc about his dogged attempt to start a music career, how he transitioned into screenwriting, the joys of writing for the Devil, and how he came to embrace Star Wars with his new series Andor. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 29, 2022

Abigail Disney feels the burden of her last name, particularly due to the practices of the global company that was founded by her grandfather Roy and grand uncle Walt. Marc talks with Abigail about her social awakening earlier in life and her current roles as an activist, philanthropist and filmmaker. They also discuss her new documentary, The American Dream and Other Fairy Tales, about the unequal economy as exemplified by the corporation that bears her name. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 26, 2022

Multiple generations of audiences love Sigourney Weaver, whether it’s because of Ghostbusters or Avatar or Working Girl or the Alien franchise or all of the above. But Sigourney tells Marc she never imagined having a film career and in fact resisted it for a long time, preferring instead to work primarily in theater. And now, with movies like The Good House, Call Jane, Master Gardener and the Avatar sequel all releasing in theaters this Fall, Sigourney talks about how she’s never felt more comfortable working in film than she does now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 22, 2022

Sam Rockwell and Marc have talked with each other a lot since Sam was last on the show. Granted, during a lot of those conversations they were pretending to be a wolf and a snake, respectively. The Bad Guys co-stars embrace their human sides for this talk where they go over Sam’s journey to his Oscar win, the broadway production of American Buffalo with Sam and Laurence Fishburne, and the accent work Sam had to do for his new movie See How They Run. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 19, 2022

Adrian Belew’s career in music was influenced by many and has influenced many more. As a completely self-taught guitarist, Adrian absorbed as much music as possible on the way to establishing his own sound and style. After getting his big break with Frank Zappa, Adrian went on to collaborate with David Bowie, Talking Heads, and Nine Inch Nails, just to name a few, and recorded 25 solo albums. Marc talks with Adrian about his amazingly prolific career, including his time with Robert Fripp and King Crimson. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 15, 2022

Since the last time he was on WTF, Bradley Whitford spent a lot of time listening to the show while taking walks. So he’s primed and ready to take his ongoing one-sided conversation with Marc back to the garage and turn it into a dialogue. Bradley and Marc talk about aging, Quakerism, having grown children, their changing perceptions about acting, and Gene Hackman. Also, as the fifth season of The Handmaid’s Tale gets underway, they confront the ongoing threats to democracy that make the show’s narrative too close to reality. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 12, 2022

Documentary filmmaker Brett Morgen likes to go into the deep end with his films. He never wants to repeat himself, or repeat any other docs for that matter. He wants his films to be an experiential, subjective expression, not a declaration of truth. All of this makes Brett an ideal director to tackle a subject like David Bowie, which he does in his new film Moonage Daydream. Brett and Marc discuss his work on other docs about Robert Evans, Kurt Cobain, Jane Goodall and O.J. Simpson, and Brett details the near-death experience that made him see the Bowie project differently. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 8, 2022

Singer-songwriter Sharon Van Etten creates personal, deeply felt songs that also provide her with relief. Sharon talks with Marc about her stream of consciousness writing style and how it helps her process the difficult parts of her life. They also get into how Sharon’s new album emerged from pandemic isolation, how hard it was to tour in the Era of Covid, how her friendship with collaborator Angel Olsen got started, and why she continues to study psychology in the pursuit of a degree. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 5, 2022

Al Ruddy's life as a producer taught him one major lesson: The making of every movie is itself worthy of a movie. That's why there's a limited series called The Offer about Al's experiences making The Godfather. Al tells Marc about the colorful encounters from his decades-long career in show business, including his work with Robert Mitchum, Burt Reynolds, Robert Evans, Marlon Brando and Clint Eastwood. Al also explains why he decided to make The Longest Yard instead of The Godfather Part II and he goes into the details behind one of his most embarrassing productions, the boxing kangaroo movie Matilda. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 1, 2022

Whitney Cummings left the garage twelve years ago after a conversation with Marc and couldn’t shake something he said to her. It bothered her for years until she finally decided to own it and turn it into the name of her new standup special. Whitney and Marc hash out what happened during that initial WTF episode and get into all the things that have transpired since, including where they’re both at with their lives and comedy today. They also talk about horses, codependency, crying and TikTok. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 29, 2022

Simu Liu is now an entrenched member of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, thanks to his portrayal of superhero Shang Chi. But Simu has his own origin story worthy of a comic book arc. Simu tells Marc how he left China at four years old and was raised by studious parents in Canada.. Only after losing his accounting job did Simu begin a secret life as an actor, an identity he kept hidden from his family until he could no longer fly under the radar. They also talk about Simu’s breakthrough in Kim’s Convenience, improving the representation of Asians in North American media, and the responsibility of being an Asian American superhero. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 25, 2022

Singer-songwriter S.G. Goodman creates songs about complex people and conflicting ideas. She sings about complications that are close to her heart because she has lived them. Raised on a farm in rural Western Kentucky, growing up with a strong Christian background, reconciling the basis of her faith with her emerging understanding of philosophy, S.G. has plenty of stories she can tell through song. Marc talks with S.G. about farm life, being traumatized by corn, her OCD diagnosis, and her pandemic pen pal, Paul Schrader. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 22, 2022

Andrew Garfield was terrified of being Spider-Man. As a 27-year-old who was not yet known to the world, he knew his life would immediately change once he became that beloved character. Andrew tells Marc what he did to protect himself at that time, which included going back to his theater roots and heading to Broadway. Andrew also talks about life since his mother's death, why he considers Ryan Gosling to be one of his inspirations, and why he's been on a spiritual journey with recent projects, including his performance in Under the Banner of Heaven. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 18, 2022

Jerrod Carmichael has been busy since the last time he talked with Marc in the garage. He directed his first movie, On The Count Of Three. He put out his third standup special, Rothaniel, and hosted SNL, getting Emmy nominations for both. He also came out as gay. Jerrod talks with Marc about how terrified he was about coming out and how he faced his fear on stage as he incorporated it into his act. They also talk about Jerrod’s realization of the social responsibility in his work now and how his desire to subvert expectations keeps him going. Click here to Ask Marc Anything and Marc might answer your question in WTF+ bonus content. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 15, 2022

Christina Ricci grew up around enough chaos to make her want constant control. Which is why the show Yellowjackets is such a different experience for her. As Christina tells Marc, she decided to surrender knowing anything about the direction of the show and its characters, and that lack of control is infused in her performance as Misty Quigley. They also talk about what Christina learned from Cher while making her first film, the much-loved movie she can’t stand watching herself in, and her long-time-coming partnership with Juliette Lewis. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 11, 2022

Patton Oswalt returns to the garage more than a decade since his last appearance, but he and Marc have so much shared history that it’s always easy to pick up right where they left off. Patton and Marc talk about their memories of the San Francisco comedy scene, their encounters with Bill Hicks, their professional triumphs and their personal tragedies. They also discuss Patton’s latest projects including his comic book, Minor Threats, and his new film, I Love My Dad. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 8, 2022

Journalist Sam Quinones blew Marc’s mind six years ago with his book Dreamland: The True Tale of America’s Opiate Epidemic. More recently, he devoted his research and reporting to understanding how America got caught in the clutches of newer, more addictive, and more lethal synthetic drugs. Sam’s latest book is The Least of Us: True Tales of America and Hope in the Time of Fentanyl and Meth. Sam talks with Marc about how these drugs work over the brain, how they’re getting into the country, and how they have exacerbated America’s homelessness crisis. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 4, 2022

Comedian James Acaster caught Marc’s attention when he released four hour-long Netflix standup specials simultaneously. But in watching the specials, Marc quickly recognized a likeminded comic with a compulsion to express himself. James and Marc sit down in a Montreal hotel room as the Just For Laughs Festival churns around them and try to figure out why they get so down on themselves while doing an art form that they supposedly love. They also compare notes on the tribal divisions in comedy both in the States and in the UK. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 1, 2022

Neil Gaiman’s writing - from The Sandman to American Gods to Good Omens to hundreds of comics, novels and screenplays - uses fantasy to help explain modern reality. Marc talks with Neil about how his early work sidestepped the pre-adolescent male power fantasies of most contemporary comic books and helped connect with a broad and enduring fanbase. They also talk about the new adaptation of The Sandman for Netflix and why Neil believes his past experiences in TV led him to make the ideal filmed version of his work. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 28, 2022

Comedian Zainab Johnson can survive anything in the comedy world after she survived growing up with twelve siblings in a New York City apartment, substitute teaching in juvenile detention centers, and being hit by a truck in an accident that altered the course of her life. Zainab also tells Marc how comics like Keith Robinson, Ian Edwards and Jimmy Schubert were instrumental in her development on the standup stage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 25, 2022

Talking Heads and The Modern Lovers are two of the most influential bands of the ’70s and many would argue two of the best bands ever. And Jerry Harrison was in them both. Jerry and Marc talk about the blending of modern art and rock music that both of those bands helped pioneer and the environment in New York City that allowed groups like The Velvet Underground, Blondie, and The Ramones to thrive. They also get into the tensions behind the scenes with the Talking Heads members and Jerry’s rekindled friendship with Modern Lovers frontman Jonathan Richman. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 21, 2022

Nikki Glaser returns to the show because Marc finds her so easy to talk with, probably because they share so many similarities. They have kindred stand-up processes, they both get stressed out by writing, they have lifelong issues with food and eating, and they’re both still trying to figure out all that sex stuff. Marc and Nikki talk about all of that, as well as Nikki’s new HBO stand-up special, the places in the world they’re considering moving to, and whether it’s healthy to know anything about Pete Davidson and Kim Kardashian’s love life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 18, 2022

When Michael Mann talks with Marc about his 1995 crime epic Heat, he has such command of the deep backstory and destinies of all the film’s characters, it seems like he has a whole Heat Universe in his head. Which is one reason he wrote the new expanded story Heat 2: A Novel. But Marc finds out that Michael does this type of extensive research and world-building for all his films, and they talk about everything from Thief to The Last of the Mohicans to The Insider to Ali to Collateral to Miami Vice and so much more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 14, 2022

Orny Adams says that being a comedian is the one thing he knows he’s good at. He also says that being in the documentary Comedian is something that will weigh on him for the rest of his life. Orny talks with Marc about how that documentary largely colored perceptions of him, why Jerry Seinfeld chose him for it in the first place, how his comedy suffered as a result, and how it ultimately led to a surprising career detour with the series Teen Wolf. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 11, 2022

Comedian and writer Naomi Ekperigin is a cheerful person who also finds herself paralyzed with rage. It’s a balancing act she has to manage, just like she balanced her time in writers’ rooms with getting on stage night after night to work on her standup. Naomi and Marc talk about her family in Nigeria, working for the National Theater for the Deaf, editing an art magazine, and her time working on shows like Broad City, Difficult People and Good News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 7, 2022

Jerry Stahl is one of Marc’s best friends. But sometimes you have no idea your best friend lived in a cave at one point. And that’s why you sit down with him in the garage. Jerry talks with Marc about his years of troubled behavior which led to a life threatening illness and doctors telling him he only had a year to live. Marc also finds out more about Jerry’s life as a writer, from his days working for porno magazines to his celebrated books like Permanent Midnight and his new book Nein, Nein, Nein! about self-discovery on a tour of concentration camps. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 4, 2022

Jason Kander was a rising star in national politics. In fact, he was staging a run for the Presidency and got the thumbs up from none other than Barack Obama himself. Then the roof caved in. Jason tells Marc why he needed to put everything on hold in order to treat his PTSD, something he’d been suffering since serving in Afghanistan eleven years earlier, but also something he wouldn’t allow himself to confront for more than a decade. Jason’s new book is Invisible Storm: A Soldier’s Memoir of Politics and PTSD. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 30, 2022

Singer-songwriter Laura Veirs has something to prove with her latest album, Found Light. After divorce ended her 20-years-long collaborative relationship with her producer husband, Laura not only needed to prove she could create a new album independently, but she needed to be sure of who she was in the world going forward. Laura and Marc talk about love and loss and the power of therapeutic mushrooms. They also talk about how Laura suffers from imposter syndrome when she’s around her other collaborators, k.d. lang and Neko Case. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 27, 2022

Comedian Atsuko Okatsuka has familiarity with garages. But unlike Marc, she didn’t start a podcast in one. She lived in one with her mother and grandmother for seven years, as three generations of immigrant women dealt with cramped quarters, eating disorders and schizophrenia. Atsuko tells Marc how she was unaware as a young girl that her trip from Japan to America was going to become permanent and how her discovery of standup comedy helped her find her voice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 23, 2022

Dana Gould is in his 40th year of doing standup. He and Marc talk about what they’ve learned in their decades of comedy, how they came to accept their limitations, and how they see themselves in today’s standup environment. Dana also explains why he went back on stage after years of giving it up to work on The Simpsons, why he feels that progress in comedy means knowing when you were wrong, and why he always goes back to George Carlin. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 20, 2022

Kate Berlant’s comedy defies easy categorization. That’s okay with Kate, who thinks people use a lot of empty terms to pin down comedy. Kate and Marc talk about how growing up in the art world helped Kate take a different approach when she got on the comedy stage as a teenager. They also talk about Kate’s sketch work with fellow comedian John Early, the inspiration she took from the late Brody Stevens, and why her Bo Burnham-directed comedy special remains in limbo. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 16, 2022

When Jen Statsky and her collaborators were creating the show Hacks, they knew they needed to nail the portrayal of life in standup comedy because comics will quickly know if they got it wrong. Marc talks with Jen about how they did, indeed, nail it. They also talk about her work at The Onion and on shows like Parks and Rec, The Good Place, Broad City and Lady Dynamite. Plus, Jen and Marc talk about stuffing your feelings, getting better at acknowledging them, and understanding why growing up in Boston might lead you to ignoring them. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 13, 2022

Marc has a very direct question for his old friend Greg Proops: “Did we lose?” In the fight for the heart and soul of comedy, there is real uncertainty about the current trajectory. What legacy did the alternative comedy movement leave, if any? Did the Obama years create a false sense of security for popular comedians that made them drop the ball? Will a there be a counterforce to the dominant strain of reactionary backlash comedy? Marc and Greg interrogate these questions and their own roles in the past three decades of comedy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 9, 2022

For a while, Lara Beitz could only get on stage to do comedy if she was hammered. She'd drink to feel less nervous but then there wasn't a time when she didn't feel nervous, so she was just always drinking. Lara and Marc talk about their shared experiences with addiction and recovery as they were developing their voices as comedians. Lara also looks back on an upbringing that was clouded by the specter of alcoholism and how she had to come to terms with it later in life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 6, 2022

Oscar and Emmy-winning visual effects artist Phil Tippett is responsible for some of the most memorable effects in movies history, like the alien chess match in Star Wars, the giant robot walkers in The Empire Strikes Back, the ED-209 in RoboCop and more. And because his work is almost always rooted in stop-motion animation, Phil tends to be meticulous. It's why, as he tells Marc, he started his first film 30 years ago and it's only complete now. They talk about the creation of this movie, Mad God, and how it drove Phil to the brink. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 2, 2022

Jesus Trejo knows he put in the work to become a paid regular at The Comedy Store, spending years doing open mic spots and performing at 1am for a handful of people. Not to mention paying his dues unclogging toilets at the club and putting up Mitzi Shore's Christmas tree. But even with all of that behind him, Jesus still breaks out in a sweat when he tells Marc about those times he completely bombed as he was trying to learn the ropes. Jesus also tells Marc about being a caregiver for both his parents and what gave him the courage to work that real life scenario into his act. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 30, 2022

Rosie Perez initially thought success would paper over her trauma. But the emotional ramifications from the abuse she went through as a child were never going to stay hidden for long. Rosie and Marc talk about how acting is still risky for her but now she has tools to help work through the high-wire act of tapping into dark places. They also talk about her friendship with Spike Lee, her reasons for working a lot, and her two current series, The Flight Attendant and Now & Then. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 27, 2022

From 2018, Ray Liotta talks with Marc about getting his start in soap operas, the debt he owes to Melanie Griffith, and the emotional filming of Goodfellas. Ray died on May 26, 2022 at age 67. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 26, 2022

Joey Camen left a dysfunctional home in Detroit as a teenager and, thanks to an ad he saw in a Playboy, knew exactly where he needed to go. He went straight to the brand new club on the Sunset Strip, The Comedy Store, and quickly became one of the club's first regulars. Joey and Marc talk about those early days of the Store, living in fear of Mitzi, and becoming friends with the likes of Paul Mooney and Richard Pryor before falling under the tutelage of legendary voice actor Daws Butler. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 23, 2022

This is an episode about history. Collective history and personal history. Marc finds himself in Washington, DC on the latest leg of his standup tour, a place imbued with symbolism, both for what we want it to be, but also what we really are. And it's where Marc's college roommate lives. First, Marc reckons with a history of injustice at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture with curator Dr. Dwandalyn Reece. Then Marc tries to piece together his own past with his old roommate, Lance Mion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 19, 2022

Michael Che wanted out his life on the Lower East Side, but his initial path was not comedy. It was painting and fine art. Michael tells Marc how he became enamored with standup while living in his brother's basement, how he came to love the grind of building an act, and how he puts everything he's learned into his sketch show, That Damn Michael Che. They also talk about the growing pains of doing Weekend Update on SNL and why hosting award shows isn't all it's cracked up to be. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 16, 2022

Sandra Oh spent much of her career believing certain opportunities weren't going to come her way because they're just not afforded to Asian actors. Sandra and Marc talk about what she found in herself to overcome that sense of externally imposed limitations and how she built a body of work including Grey's Anatomy, Sideways, Killing Eve and The Chair. Sandra also explains how she's drawing inspiration from John C. Reilly in this next phase of her life as an actor. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 12, 2022

The Doobie Brothers is a band with almost twenty official members throughout its five decades of existence. But Tom Johnston and Pat Simmons have been playing guitar and performing vocals for the band since Day One. Tom and Pat talk with Marc about how their family-like band has grown and evolved throughout the years, particularly during iterations with members like Jeff “Skunk” Baxter and Michael McDonald. Also, during his time in Tulsa, Marc pays a visit to the new Bob Dylan Center and talks with its director, Steven Jenkins. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 9, 2022

Marc remembers the life and comedy of Dan Vitale, a comedian whose raw and unapologetically personal style of stand-up was a big influence on a young Marc Maron. Marc talks about how his perception of what it meant to be a stand-up comic changed while watching Dan, how their talk in 2014 exemplified WTF, and how the connection they maintained in the following years helped Marc through the darkness. Marc also shares the entirety of Dan's episode from March 2014. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 5, 2022

Nicole Holofcener has trouble breathing. She finds herself holding her breath for too long, which could be a result of allergies or a byproduct of sleep apnea. But it's also an apt metaphor for the life of an independent filmmaker. Nicole and Marc talk about what it takes to make films with small budgets, casting conundrums, and deeply personal subject matter. They discuss the films she wrote and directed like Walking and Talking, Lovely and Amazing, and Enough Said, as well as her contributions to The Last Duel and her reasons for continuing to work on episodic television shows. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 2, 2022

Tony Hawk walked into Marc's garage on a broken leg, the result of a recent skateboarding trick gone wrong. It's everything about Tony that's on display in the new documentary Tony Hawk: Until The Wheels Fall Off, distilled down to one cracked femur. Tony and Marc talk about why it's so hard to stop doing what you love, the fear of being seen as washed up, and the feeling of being a kid and finding something that you know you want to do for the rest of your life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 28, 2022

It's normal for everyone to call Troy Andrews by his stage name, Trombone Shorty, because he's been playing the trombone since he was a tiny, four-year-old boy. Troy and Marc talk about the musical culture of New Orleans, growing up in the Treme, touring with Lenny Kravitz right out of high school, becoming the frontman of his own band, making the trombone a featured instrument, creating a musical education academy, and recording his new album, Lifted, which is inspired by his mother. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 25, 2022

Vanessa Bayer knows her comedic talent comes from a decidedly unfunny place. Vanessa's teenage cancer diagnosis focused her comedy skills, which in turn allowed her to help people process, understand and laugh at horrible things. Vanessa and Marc talk about how her natural optimism guided her through this health crisis and also put her in a great headspace for the Saturday Night Live audition process. Vanessa also explains why she incorporated her real life medical history into her new comedy series, I Love That For You. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 21, 2022

Children's book author Aaron Blabey can measure success by the more than 30 million books he's sold. But that success was a long time coming and in many ways felt like it was never in reach. Aaron tells Marc how the popular art and culture coming from outside Australia made him feel dissatisfied with his own life, how his excursions into acting and painting left him empty, and how he accidentally fulfilled all his creative impulses when he came up with The Bad Guys books. They also talk about The Bad Guys movie and what it was like to have Marc playing one of his characters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 18, 2022

Robert Eggers was never into Vikings or hand-to-hand combat or macho stuff. And yet he just made the Viking movie to end all Viking movies, filled with brutal violence and macho posturing. But as he tells Marc, making The Northman was all in the service of his quest to transmit the sublime. Robert and Marc talk the meticulous attention to detail he brings to his films, how he's fascinated by the search for belief amidst ritual and fantasy, and how he grew up loving comic books but would now rather make movies like The Witch and The Lighthouse than a superhero story. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 14, 2022

The guiding philosophy in the life of Harvey Fierstein is simple: Say yes. As he put together his new memoir, I Was Better Last Night, it was clear to Harvey his extraordinary life relied on saying yes to opportunities, yes to activism, and yes to his own self worth. Harvey and Marc talk about the challenges of dealing with the past in memoir writing, the importance of telling the stories of gay culture in the '60s and '70s, and the evolving understanding of gender and identity. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 13, 2022

From 2012, Gilbert Gottfried talks to Marc about his comedy peers, his one-year stint on SNL, the times his jokes got him in trouble, and more. Gilbert died on April 12, 2022, at age 67. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 11, 2022

Bonnie Raitt doesn't feel the need to slow down. With the release of her 18th studio album and the start of an eight-month world tour, the prolific singer-songwriter knows what it's like to make the most of your opportunities. Bonnie talks with Marc about growing up in a musical home, falling into the Laurel Canyon music scene, struggling with substance abuse, getting sober in her late-30s and having her first hit album in her 40s. They also talk about Bonnie's continuing work with James Taylor, Jackson Browne, Mavis Staples and Lucinda Williams. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 7, 2022

Zazie Beetz and Marc were in three things together - Joker, the Netflix series Easy, and the new animated film The Bad Guys - but they're only now meeting each other for real. That makes for a good opportunity to interrogate their respective anxiety issues and compare their coping strategies. Zazie and Marc also talk about her German heritage, why she's not an LA person, and how she sees her work on Atlanta as being part of an overall reflection of Donald Glover's real life story. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 4, 2022

Comedian Adam Ray was a high school athlete, a musical theater performer, and an acting student with his eyes on Hollywood. But one thing he never could shake was the feeling of being an overweight kid when he was younger. Adam and Marc talk about how doing comedy helps keep feelings of insecurity at bay and why the two of them struggled to get over their fears of being on stage. Adam also talks about playing Jay Leno on Pam and Tommy, Vince McMahon on Young Rock, and Wolverine at the Universal Studios theme park. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 31, 2022

Comedian Guy Torry spent 13 years creating and running the most famous all-black comedy night in America at The Comedy Store. And now Guy just spent another 13 years making a documentary about that influential weekly comedy show, Phat Tuesdays. Guy and Marc talk about the limited opportunities for Black comedians in mainstream clubs and how the racially divided climate of 1990s Los Angeles highlighted the need to fill a comedy void. Guy explains the importance of comedian Robin Harris in mentoring young comedians and how comics like Martin Lawrence, Bernie Mac and others thrived in the new environment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 28, 2022

The Red Hot Chili Peppers have been around for almost 40 years and Flea has been there for every minute of it. He and Marc talk about Flea's jazz-based upbringing that made him the bassist he is today, the various incarnations of the band, and the current reunion with multi-time bandmate John Frusciante for their new album, Unlimited Love. Flea also talks about the heartbreak of losing the Chili Pepper's founding guitarist Hillel Slovak to drug addiction and the demons the rest of the band have fought to overcome. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 24, 2022

Sam Jay has a lot of irons in the fire. She's on the comedy series Bust Down, she has her own HBO late night show Pause, and she never stops doing standup. Sam tells Marc that standup is the one thing that's guided her through it all, whether it was getting through tough personal times when she was younger or when she was hired as a writer on SNL with no formal writing experience. It's always been standup that served as her North Star, which she now uses as a way to communicate across generational and racial divides. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 21, 2022

Jeff Foxworthy still cringes when he knows other comics are watching his work. That persistent insecurity and the desire to always stay funny is why Jeff has a new Netflix special and a whole new act. Jeff talks with Marc about the drive that made him quit his job at IBM to try and get on Johnny Carson. They also talk about how he formed the Blue Collar Comedy Tour and how he feels about being known for his “You Might Be A Redneck” hook even though it hasn't been part of his act for 20 years. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 17, 2022

Ariana DeBose knows there was no way for her to prepare for what's happening right now. There's no instruction booklet for being a professional dancer at age 18 and suddenly becoming an Academy Award-nominated actress. Ariana and Marc talk about how getting voted off So You Think You Can Dance changed her life and how she checked herself by watching The Devil Wears Prada. Ariana also goes into the details of making West Side Story, including her collaborations with Steven Spielberg, Tony Kushner and Rita Moreno. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 14, 2022

It's been almost seven years since Marc smoked a cigarette with Keith Richards in a radio studio in New York City. Since then, Keith gave up smoking, continued to tour with the Rolling Stones, released multiple new albums including a blues record, and is now re-issuing his solo album Main Offender. Marc and Keith catch up on all of that and also talk about the passing of Keith's friend and bandmate Charlie Watts. Also, Marc revisits his full conversation with Keith from 2015. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 10, 2022

Mike O'Brien has the distinction of being responsible for Marc Maron crossing over into the world of improv. With a background in the Chicago improv and sketch scene and seven seasons writing for Saturday Night Live, Lynn Shelton approached Mike to help create a movie that would be entirely improvised by the cast. That movie was Sword of Trust starring Marc Maron. Mike and Marc talk about the making of the film, Mike's comedy background, and the fan movement that gave Mike's TV show, A.P. Bio, a new life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 7, 2022

Not many people know Marc the way Caroline Rhea does. They have a history that runs through the many different stages of each of their lives and careers. Caroline and Marc sit down for a conversation about confronting the past, learning from failure, and reckoning with the fact that their work now resonates with multiple generations of fans. They're also able to compare notes on their experiences in comedy, such as which clubs are actually the good ones and what missed opportunities were better left unaccomplished. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 3, 2022

Mira Sorvino has a lot of talents beyond acting. She speaks Mandarin Chinese, she dances ballet, she plays guitar. But acting is what Mira believes she was born to do. And then for almost 20 years, she was prevented from doing it on her own terms because of a powerful man and a complicit industry. Mira and Marc talk about how she went from winning an Oscar to being put on a Hollywood blacklist by Harvey Weinstein and how she didn't learn the truth until 17 years later. They also talk about her career renaissance, including her scene-stealing turn on the new series Shining Vale. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 28, 2022

Sam Elliott plays a lot of tough guys - cowboys, bikers, soldiers - who can (and often do) beat people up. But in reality, Sam says the only guy he beats up is himself. Sam and Marc talk about how he came to terms with some of the things in his life that were really doing a number on him, like how his father never approved of his life as an actor. They also talk about some of his most popular roles, like The Stranger in The Big Lebowski, Bobby in A Star Is Born, and his new addition to the Yellowstone franchise, Shea on 1883. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 25, 2022

From 2013, Sally Kellerman talks with Marc about being his TV mom, embracing Hot Lips, and working with Robert Altman, Marlon Brando, Rodney Dangerfield and more. Sally died on February 24, 2022 at age 84. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 24, 2022

W. Kamau Bell has talked with Marc before about his life, his comedy and his thoughts about the world. But this time there's a single topic that needs to be addressed: Bill Cosby. Kamau tells Marc why he decided to make the documentary series We Need To Talk About Cosby, the obstacles he encountered in getting it made, the comedians who wouldn't talk to him, and the backlash he's received for making the doc. Kamau also explains what happened when Cosby was released from prison while they were still shooting. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 23, 2022

From 2014, Marc talks with John Szeles, better known as The Amazing Johnathan, about his life doing comedy and magic, often at the same time. John died on February 22, 2022 at age 63 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 23, 2022

From 2017, Marc talks with Mark Lanegan, the former frontman of Screaming Trees, about the '90s grunge scene and his collaborations with various artists. Mark died on February 22, 2022 at age 57. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 21, 2022

Andy Garcia says it's surreal to look back on his early life as a shy Cuban exile who was idolizing famous actors and filmmakers, only to be reminiscing now about the work he's done with Sean Connery, Al Pacino, Robert DeNiro and so many others. Andy and Marc talk about his years in LA with no acting work, his improv group at The Comedy Store, and how he was supposed to play the henchman in The Untouchables. They also talk about Andy being part of The Godfather films, with the original being the movie that made Andy want to become an actor in the first place. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 17, 2022

Roy Wood Jr can't be angry on stage. He wants to be angry. But he believes his face is too round to be angry. Now, whenever Roy wants to say something mean in his act, he knows he has to smile while he does it. Roy tells Marc how he learned to navigate the way audiences perceive him while doing the Southern standup circuit and honing his skills on The Daily Show. He also explains how doing the show Finding Your Roots upended what he thought was the truth of his life story and prompted him to undertake a personal journey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 14, 2022

Ana Gasteyer learned a major life lesson from Will Ferrell and it has nothing to do with their time together on Saturday Night Live. It was about making choices, square dancing and knowing how to have fun. Ana and Marc talk about how much fun she's had in her life and career, including her time in the Groundlings, her work on Broadway and her roles in ensemble comedies like her new series American Auto. She also talks about the circle of friends she still keeps from her time on SNL and the bond she has with cast members whenever she meets them. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 14, 2022

From 2014, Marc talks with filmmaker Ivan Reitman about his career, his movies and his relationship with his writer-director son, Jason. Ivan died on February 12, 2022 at age 75. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 10, 2022

Chris Spencer is the kind of guy the White House calls when they need a show business favor. How did he become so connected? In Chris's words, Black Hollywood is a small place. Chris talks with Marc about how his early comedy career paved the way for a big break as a late night talk show host. But when that opportunity fizzled from the start, Chris had to figure out how to redirect his talents. That new approach led to a lot of comedy writing and directing his first feature film with Kevin Hart, Wesley Snipes and Tiffany Haddish. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 7, 2022

Judd Hirsch is interested in the pursuit of truth. That's why he loved math as a student, that's why he got a physics degree, and that's why he has a civil engineering background. But he also learned to apply the pursuit of truth to his acting. Judd tells Marc why he always insists on conveying the truth about his characters, down to changing the characters' names if they don't feel right. They talk about his roles in Taxi, Ordinary People, Uncut Gems and as Marc's dad on the show Maron, and how he uncovered the truth in all of those instances. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 3, 2022

Sam Richardson thinks desperation is the key to comedy. His characters from shows like Detroiters and I Think You Should Leave are a testament to that philosophy. Sam and Marc talk about his childhood being split between the United States and Ghana, his days performing on cruise ships for Second City, and his friendship with Tim Robinson, which began with Tim as Sam's improv teacher. Sam also explains how his role as Richard Splett on Veep went from a one-episode guest shot to a series regular who winds up becoming the President. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 31, 2022

Tony Kushner is one of the most important American playwrights of the past 50 years who is now a creative partner of one of the most important American filmmakers of the last 50 years. Tony talks with Marc about working with Steven Spielberg on Munich, Lincoln and the new adaptation of West Side Story. They also discuss the history of Jews in the Louisiana lumber industry, the pivotal moment of Angels in America that came to him in a dream, and the play he saw when he was six that made him want to be a part of the theater community. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 27, 2022

Film critic Dana Stevens took her love for Silent Movie Era star Buster Keaton and told the story of the 20th century film industry as it evolved alongside Buster's own life. Marc talks with Dana about her new book, Camera Man, which is not just a biography of Keaton. It's a look at the politics of film, the beginning of the studio system, the start of film criticism, the rise and fall of early movie stars, and how America dealt with the seismic change that was ushered in by this new art form. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 24, 2022

Peter Dinklage spent a good portion of his life trying to come to terms with ambition. It's something he's had an adversarial relationship with, going back to the days when he started a theater company that mounted no productions. But Peter tells Marc how he got more comfortable with having an acting career and how he learned to embrace mainstream success, whether it was from his star turn in The Station Agent or his work on Game of Thones or his latest film, the new adaptation of Cyrano. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 21, 2022

Hear Marc's two conversations with comedian and actor Louie Anderson from June 2016 and April 2018. Louie died on January 21, 2022 at age 68. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 20, 2022

John Mellencamp considers his whole career to be a total fluke. Maybe that's because he never planned for anything in his life and just let the chips fall where they may. As he releases his twenty-fifth studio album, Strictly A One-Eyed Jack, John tells Marc what he learned opening for The Kinks, why he had to take the name Johnny Cougar, why he still hasn't written something that makes him proud, and why David Letterman's mom attributed Dave's career to John. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 17, 2022

Nicole Byer hosts the hit shows Nailed It! and Wipeout, is working on her new standup hour, hosts four different podcasts and is starring in the new primetime NBC series Grand Crew. But she still had time to join Marc in the garage so they can try to figure out why they both have such a hard time with physical affection. They also talk about Nicole's days as an endearingly bad waitress, how she coped with losing both of her parents at a young age, and what few things she actually knows how to bake. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 13, 2022

Drew Michael wants his comedy to feel different. He wants the audience to have a unique experience. This mindset actually reminds Marc of his own style of comedy, as well as a few other iconoclastic stand-ups who used their time on stage to get laughs but also get to the bottom of life's problems. Drew and Marc talk about the combustible nature of experimental comedy, specifically Drew's new special Red Blue Green. They also talk about how Drew's childhood hearing loss shaped his life and made comedy a viable way for him to be understood. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 10, 2022

Javier Bardem finds lots of inspiration in his native Spain: the art, the creativity, the history, the ham. Marc talks with Javier about the importance of being raised in a creative family, including his uncle who fought the fascists through his films and his mother who was his greatest teacher. They also talk about some of Javier's most memorable performances in films like No Country for Old Men, Before Night Falls and his recent portrayal of Desi Arnaz in Being the Ricardos. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 10, 2022

Marc pays tribute to comedian Bob Saget and revisits his three WTF appearances from September 2010, April 2014 and November 2017. Bob died on January 9, 2022 at age 65. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 7, 2022

From 2015, Marc talks with director Peter Bogdanovich about his life as a filmmaker, his days in the theater and his friendship with Orson Welles. Peter died on January 6, 2022 at age 82. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 6, 2022

Most people who know David Manheim don't know him as David Manheim. To fans of the Dopey podcast, he's just Dave (no last name given), a recovering drug addict who built a tight-knit digital community around addiction, recovery and being human. David talks with Marc about how his career in show business fizzled out as addiction took hold of his life and how starting a podcast with a friend he met in recovery was his salvation. They also talk about Dave's other life at Katz's Deli and they get into the important hierarchy of deli meats. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 3, 2022

Recently, Marc talked with television historian David Bianculli about The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour and the important place it holds in American culture. Talking with Tom and Dick Smothers themselves, Marc finds that the brothers are as surprised as anyone that they left such an indelible mark. Starting with an act that grew out of the folk music scene, Tom and Dick talk about the evolution of their variety show, how they wound up locking horns with the network that ultimately fired them, and why they're getting back on stage after 12 years of retirement. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 30, 2021

When Rory Cochrane started acting, he knew he didn't want to be a movie star. He wanted to be a freight train that keeps on moving. Rory tells Marc about the practices and measures he put in place to attain his goal of career longevity and artistic satisfaction. They also talk about why it's important for him to work on productions where the crew is treated well, why he asked to leave CSI: Miami when it was still the biggest show on TV, and what led to some of his pivotal career moments in movies like Dazed and Confused, Black Mass, and Argo. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 27, 2021

Aida Rodriguez wanted her first HBO special to be more than a comedy show. She wanted to depict the parts of her past that are foundational to her comedy. So that's why she filmed a short documentary about her visits to Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, as she reunited with the father she hadn't seen in 40 years. Marc and Aida talk about how she got comedy material out of a life story that included being kidnapped twice, finding herself raising her children without a home, and breaking into the business later in life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 23, 2021

Guillermo del Toro believes in one universal truth: We all get to a moment in our lives when we see ourselves for who we really are. That belief not only guides his own life, it guides the characters through his many films. Guillermo and Marc talk about how he takes on the dark forces of the world in his movies, including his latest, Nightmare Alley. They also discuss his friendship with fellow Oscar-winning directors Alejandro González Iñárritu and Alfonso Cuarón, his expansive collection of oddities, and his strong identification with outsider characters and monsters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 20, 2021

Despite multiple Oscars and billions of dollars in box office returns, Peter Jackson still has the same interests he had when he was 10 years old: First World War airplanes, monster movies, using his Super 8 camera, and The Beatles. Peter tells Marc what it was like to be entrusted with more than 60 hours of Beatles footage to make the new documentary Get Back, why he was filled with dread when he started the project, and why he was surprised by what he found when he went through the footage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 16, 2021

At one point, Chan Marshall was in a band called Cat Power. But it's appropriate for someone like Chan, who had to be self-reliant almost from birth, that she'd adopt the name as her own once the band dissolved. Chan and Marc talk about her rebirth as Cat Power, the Atlanta music scene in the early ‘90s, carrying trauma throughout her life, and finding out that making music grounded her in something real for the first time. They also focus on her eclectic collections of cover songs as she prepares to release another album of them. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 13, 2021

Halle Berry wasn't supposed to be in the movie Bruised. And she definitely wasn't supposed to direct the movie Bruised. Then she wound up being in it and directing it, but no one wanted to take a chance on it. Now it's such a hit for Netflix that they've signed her to a multi-picture deal. Halle tells Marc what it took to get to this place in her life and career, transcending her childhood of abuse to create a portfolio of performances where she breathes life into broken people. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 9, 2021

Still only in his early 30s, Jesse Plemons has already delivered a laundry list of indelible performances in everything from Breaking Bad to Friday Night Lights to Black Mass, working with directors like Paul Thomas Anderson, Martin Scorsese and now Jane Campion in The Power of the Dog. Jesse tells Marc how a humble kid from Central Texas cultivated an acting career that would be the envy of any performer. They also talk about what it's like for Jesse to act opposite his wife, Kirsten Dunst. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 6, 2021

Jennifer Hudson didn't start singing with her eyes open until she was 19 years old. That's not a metaphor. Jennifer tells Marc how she was so afraid to sing in public, the only way she could do it was by closing her eyes. They talk about what it was like to finally feel brave enough to open them and the doors that also opened up when she did. Jennifer explains the centrality of church in her life, how faith helped guide her through unspeakable tragedy, and why she got Aretha Franklin's blessing to portray her in the movie Respect. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 2, 2021

Benedict Cumberbatch is a busy man. When he's not holding the Marvel Universe together as Doctor Strange or making prestige dramas with celebrated directors, he's flying between the U.S. and the U.K. to raise a family. Benedict and Marc talk about his latest projects, The Electrical Life of Louis Wain and Jane Campion's The Power of The Dog, as well as his early life as the child of two working actors. Plus a lot of talk about cats. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 29, 2021

Bill Pullman's upbringing in rural Western New York prepared him for a multifaceted life, since he always had to keep his options open. So aside from being an actor, Bill's also been a theater teacher, a rancher, a fruit grower, even a traveling Shakespeare performer in Montana. Bill and Marc talk about how he incorporated dream analysis into his performances in both David Lynch's Lost Highway and his current show The Sinner, why Spaceballs was actually a great crash course in movie acting, and what's the root cause of the timeless Pullman-Paxton confusion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 25, 2021

WTF takes over the historic Paris Theater in New York City for the first live audience episode of the show in more than six years. Marc is joined by film critic and historian Jason Bailey, author of the new book Fun City Cinema. They get into what the movies tell us about New York and what New York tells us about ourselves. Marc and Jason go over this history of movie making in NYC, including a deep dive into The Taking of Pelham 123 from Jason's Fun City Cinema podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 22, 2021

Ridley Scott has a secret weapon as a filmmaker and it probably has a lot to do with his career longevity and versatility. As a young boy, he would draw everything, and to this day he still storyboards every one of his films with his own drawings. That helps him deliver the finished product efficiently, often under schedule and under budget. Marc talks with Ridley about how he worked his craft on films like Blade Runner, Thelma and Louise, Black Hawk Down, Gladiator, American Gangster, and his two most recent films, The Last Duel and House of Gucci. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 18, 2021

Kenneth Branagh had a lot on his mind when making the movie Belfast, a film based on his own childhood. He thought mostly about loss. Loss of family, loss of where you come from, loss of innocence. As Kenneth tells Marc, he's been thinking about loss a lot lately and figuring out how to strike a balance between heartbreaking and heartwarming. Marc and Kenneth also talk about the importance of visiting the graves of people you admire, what discovering Shakespeare did for Kenneth at a young age, why he might be ready to play King Lear, and why he worries about something actors call The Bleed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 15, 2021

George Clooney is 60. Which means, much like Marc, he's always reminding himself that he doesn't know how much time he has left. George tells Marc how this mindset affects all his decisions, whether it's the projects he takes on, the causes he fights for, or the time he frees up to spend with his children. They also discuss George's directorial work, including his latest film The Tender Bar, his introduction to show business by his father and his Aunt Rosemary, and his thoughts on avoiding further tragic accidents involving guns on movie sets. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 11, 2021

Marc is trying to get to the bottom of something. What does it really mean to be 'canceled' in comedy? Is it something comedians have always worried about? What does actual censorship in comedy look like? And who or what is traditionally responsible for censoring the comedy world? Marc talks to comedy historian Kliph Nesteroff and Smothers Brothers biographer David Bianculli about the history of comedians complaining they “can't say anything anymore” and what it looks like when they actually do get canceled for speaking their minds. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 8, 2021

The challenges of standup comedy were nothing compared to the obstacles Felipe Esparza faced throughout his childhood. His family was caught crossing the border and sent back to Mexico. When he finally made it to America, he found himself living with an abusive father in a Los Angeles neighborhood being decimated by crack and PCP. And as Felipe tells Marc, even when he was getting good standup gigs, he couldn't escape his past. They also talk about Felipe's vegan journey, the big comedy lesson he learned from the library, and the difference between doing his act in English and in Spanish. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 4, 2021

How did Bob Spitz become the preeminent biographer of the most important and influential names in rock and roll? Before he wrote the definitive narratives of Bob Dylan, The Beatles and now Led Zeppelin, Bob was a business manager who was there for the discovery of Bruce Springsteen and flew around the globe with Elton John. Bob tells Marc how he merged his experience in the business with an investigative approach to these music biographies and then extended it to other subjects like Woodstock, European cooking, Julia Child and Ronald Reagan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 1, 2021

Being from Queens is as much a part of Ricky Velez's personality as his humor, his dyslexia and his depression. Ricky tells Marc how he put it all together when he started doing standup in New York City as a teenager, which eventually led to collaborating with Judd Apatow, who produced Ricky's new HBO special. They also talk about Ricky's friendship with Pete Davidson, his failed attempt to join the Coast Guard, and how a TV segment with Bill Nye led to an internet nightmare. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 28, 2021

Jennifer Lee Pryor was there for Richard Pryor's highest highs and his lowest lows. She experienced so much with Richard that she married him twice. Jennifer and Marc talk about the brilliant, complicated, visionary, frustrating man that was Richard Pryor and how Jennifer became the guardian of his legacy, culminating with a new career-spanning box set. They also talk about Jennifer's time as a ‘70s wild child, making her way through show biz on both coasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 25, 2021

Hasan Minhaj took the pressures put on him to become a lawyer and channeled them into the ambition necessary to start a standup career, become a Daily Show correspondent, host his own show (Patriot Act), get cast on a prestige drama (The Morning Show), and have a future in comedy as bright as anyone in his peer group. Marc and Hasan break down the roots of that ambition, how it differs between different generations of comedians, and whether or not there's a correlation between comedy and entrepreneurship. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 21, 2021

David Chang wouldn't have opened his first restaurant if he wasn't depressed. Now, with his Momofuku empire that brings joy to foodies everywhere, David still finds himself struggling to find joy. Marc talks with David about their shared demons and what steps they each take to overcome them, in particular creating boundaries, being less angry, and working to correct past mistakes. They also talk about David's new show The Next Thing You Eat, his friendship with Anthony Bourdain, and his life as a new dad. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 18, 2021

Jane Goodall has hope. Yes, even in these times. That doesn't mean the good doctor looks at the world with rose-colored glasses. It means she knows hope is a necessary part of our survival as a species. Marc talks with Dr. Goodall about The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for Trying Times and finds out what inspires her these days. They also talk about her famous primate research that changed the way we humans understand ourselves, her work to spread environmental equity, and her thoughts on Bigfoot. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 14, 2021

As Connor Roy on Succession, Alan Ruck finally has the kind of role he's been waiting to get for more than 30 years. And as Alan tells Marc, some of those years weren't very fun. There was the time after playing Cameron in Ferris Bueller's Day Off when he could only get work in a Sears warehouse. Or the time before making Speed when he left acting and started tending bar. And then the time when he got sick while shooting Spin City and almost died. At least there were some Star Trek conventions sprinkled in the mix. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 11, 2021

Taraji P. Henson says all her f***s are behind her now. But after three decades in show business, Taraji admits she only feels freedom from her f***s because of her openness around mental health. Taraji and Marc talk about the importance of coping with mental illness, as well as Taraji's work to encourage mental health awareness in the Black community. They also talk about her landmark performances, from Baby Boy to Empire to Hidden Figures, and how she dealt with getting pushed out of roles after being told that “Black doesn't sell.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 7, 2021

Kelefa Sanneh has been writing about music for his entire career. Drawing on his experience as the music critic at The New York Times, a staff writer for The New Yorker, and a lifelong music obsessive, Kelefa took a detailed look at how music unites and divides us with his new opus, Major Labels: A History of Popular Music in Seven Genres. Marc and Kelefa talk about their own personal musical journeys, how genres are comparable to communities, and how identities can be established and shaped by the music we love. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 4, 2021

American audiences fell in love with Julie Delpy as the romantic French traveler Celine in Before Sunrise and its two sequels. But Julie didn't have an equal love affair with the making of Hollywood films. She tells Marc that she was always happier as a writer and director, and her ongoing fight against institutional biases and sexism left her more than a little frustrated. With her new comedy series on Netflix, On The Verge, Julie is creating an unfortunately rare depiction of women in their 40s and 50s. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 30, 2021

Rosebud Baker knows all about the fine line between sadness and funny. She's learned how to get laughs out of the tragedy that befell her family, her alcohol addiction, her co-dependent and abusive relationships, and her grandfather, who happened to be one of the most powerful people in the world. Marc and Rosebud also talk about how she found stability in her life and how she's going about rebuilding her standup act after turning out her first special. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 27, 2021

Even when he was a kid, B.J. Novak wanted to achieve greatness. His hard work and ambition brought him to Harvard, to the Lampoon, to doing standup, to getting on The Office, to writing a massively successful children's book, to directing movies and creating the new anthology series The Premise. But one thing remained elusive: B.J. couldn't really understand why Marc Maron seemed to dislike him so much. It's a mystery Marc himself wasn't sure he could solve. Until now, in the garage, face to face. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 23, 2021

Franklin Leonard helped change the way movies get made in Hollywood. It's not what he expected as a young Black math wiz growing up in Georgia. But after a love affair with movies that started at Kim's Video in New York City, Franklin established The Black List, a tool that became one of the hottest commodities in show business and opened doors for people who weren't getting a shot. Franklin and Marc talk about how The Black List movies made millions, how it pushed back on conventional wisdom, and how Franklin is still paving a way for undiscovered talent. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 20, 2021

No one is harder on David Chase than David Chase. Even after a successful career as a screenwriter, show creator and director, after changing the face of television with The Sopranos, after putting HBO on the map as the home for prestige drama, David is still beating himself up over things that happened, things that didn't, and things that could have been. Marc talks with David about New Jersey, The Rockford Files, his early fear of directing actors, The Sopranos' ending, and going back to those characters with The Many Saints of Newark. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 16, 2021

Melanie Vesey has a dividing line in her life: Before and after she got shot. The before part includes being a Juilliard and Alvin Ailey trained dancer, a Stella Adler trained actor, a party girl, a person in recovery, and a co-dependent who sought chaotic relationships. The after part includes deep trauma, a crumbling career, motherhood, and a rebirth involving comedy, acting and starting her own business. It's also when she met Marc, who helps walk Melanie through the whole story. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 14, 2021

From October 2011, Marc's revelatory conversation with Norm Macdonald about life, comedy, gambling, death and Rodney. Norm died on September 14, 2021 at age 61. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 13, 2021

Tim Reid's life changed on a New Year's Eve in the 1960s when he lucked his way into a club to see a hot young comedian. That club was Mister Kelly's, that comedian was Richard Pryor and nothing has been the same for Tim since. Tim tells Marc about his segregated upbringing, how he and Tom Dressen created the first interracial comedy team, how he got out of comedy and into acting with roles like Venus Fly Trap on WKRP in Cincinnati, and why he's currently spending a lot of his time on historical preservation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 9, 2021

Steve Buscemi has covered a lot of ground in New York City: standup comedy, experimental theater, independent film, even firefighting. Marc talks with Steve about his career beginnings and some of his most memorable roles. They also talk about his time as a New York City firefighter, how he joined his old Engine Company after 9/11 to aid in the recovery operation at Ground Zero, and how he's working to keep attention on the continuing health needs of firefighters with the new documentary Dust: The Lingering Legacy of 9/11. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 7, 2021

Marc revisits his conversation from earlier this year with actor Michael K. Williams. Michael died at age 54 on September 6, 2021. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 6, 2021

Sasheer Zamata doesn't have a ton of free time. She's on the Hulu series Woke, the ABC sitcom Home Economics, a voice actor, a standup, a podcast host and an ambassador for the ACLU. This all happened in the wake of her departure from Saturday Night Live, which started with a very rare public audition process that put her immediately in the spotlight. Sasheer talks with Marc about having the courage to walk away, how she and Nicole Byer are actual best friends, as the title of their podcast says, and what it means that she was “friends with Pluto” during her time working at Disney World. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 4, 2021

From 2015, Marc talks with actor Ed Asner about his legendary career, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, the time he played Marc's dad, and more. Ed died on August 29, 2021 at age 91. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 2, 2021

When Zoe Lister-Jones found herself dealing with the anxiety and uncertainty we all encountered during the pandemic, she made a movie about the end of the world. Marc talks with Zoe about how she often finds herself channeling her fears into her work, including a filmography which she calls a direct investigation of lifelong codependency. They talk about Zoe's start in acting, growing up with artists, and her experience jumping into studio filmmaking with The Craft remake. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 30, 2021

Billie Jean King is forever remembered as the winner of the Battle of the Sexes, but the battles she fought for equal pay and non-discrimination are still reverberating today. Billie talks with Marc about her realization at 12 years old that she needed to fight for equality, her founding of the Women's Tennis Association, and her advice for today's players. They also talk about the mental and emotional toll of sports for all athletes, which were compounded for Billie as she struggled with her sexuality and suffered from an eating disorder. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 26, 2021

Ever since Marc and Kimmy Gatewood said goodbye to each other and their fellow castmates on the set of GLOW, the world has been in a constant state of flux. Marc and Kimmy spend some time catching up and dive into the details of Kimmy's experience directing her first feature film, Good On Paper. They also talk about Kimmy's improv history, her studies of Samuel Beckett, her partnership with Rebekka Johnson, and their early days of podcasting as The Apple Sisters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 23, 2021

Barry Jenkins is grateful that he's been able to harness the tools of filmmaking in order to tell the stories of his ancestors. Barry and Marc get into all the details of making the ten-part series The Underground Railroad and how Barry differentiates between the projects he's made with his head and the ones he's made with his gut. The also talk about Moonlight, bringing James Baldwin's words to the screen, and why it was important to have an on-set counselor for this recent undertaking. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 19, 2021

When Liesl Tommy got hired as a first-time feature film director to make the new Aretha Franklin movie Respect, she knew there were 100 reasons why she couldn't screw it up. Marc and Liesl talk about their experience making the film together and Liesl explains how she's no stranger to uphill battles. From growing up under apartheid in South Africa to being an outsider as an immigrant in America to making her way around the world as a theater director, Liesl's path to Respect is anything but a traditional Hollywood story. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 16, 2021

Marlon Wayans and Marc spent their time on the set of the movie Respect cracking each other up and that dynamic continues in the garage. It's a situation that's familiar to Marlon, growing up with nine funny siblings and hanging around legendary comedians since he was a kid. Marlon also talks about accessing his serious side in films like Requiem for a Dream and harnessing the grief over his mother's death when he got back on the stand-up stage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 12, 2021

Sterlin Harjo is relishing the opportunity to depict Native lives and stories on mainstream television with his new FX comedy series Reservation Dogs. But it's not like entertainment industry was a wide open door for Indigenous filmmakers like himself. Sterlin tells Marc about the DIY beginnings of his film career, the formation of his sketch group The 1491s, his friendship with Taika Waititi, and why he feels he's standing on the shoulders of artists like Charlie Hill, Gary Farmer, Wes Studi and others. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 9, 2021

Tom McCarthy approaches his films like a journalist, even when he's creating a work of fiction. Just as a reporter discovers facts about their stories, Tom's years of research help him unearth truths about the characters he's creating. Tom and Marc talk about how this played out in the process of making movies like Stillwater, Spotlight and The Station Agent. They also talk about how Tom's devout Catholic parents reacted to him making a movie about the deep rot within the church. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 5, 2021

Marc is concerned about the erosion of critical thinking as a broad part of American society. So who better to talk criticism than a person who makes his living doing just that? A.O. Scott brings his expertise as the film and culture critic for the New York Times to this conversation about how we need to be in dialogue with culture and art amidst increasing polarization and the oppressive power of the algorithm. They talk about movies, books, comedy, comic books and all the things we benefit from looking at with a critical eye. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 2, 2021

Joseph Gordon-Levitt's long career in show business has left him with a keen sense of the problems caused by the constant bombardment of media and technology in our lives. Joseph tells Marc how he was able to channel some of his anxieties about how we're navigating the modern world in his new series Mr. Corman. They also talk about his life in New Zealand, growing up on the screen, and why he hopes his company HitRECord can take the edge off social media. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 29, 2021

Lindsey Buckingham wasn't going to let anything - from the pandemic to major heart surgery - stand in the way of finishing his new self-titled solo album. But it was in part his work on the album and the planning of a live tour that led to Lindsey being ousted from Fleetwood Mac after nearly 45 years. Lindsey and Marc talk about being part of the band's most successful lineup, his evolving relationships with his bandmates, and the creative goals he continues to work toward in his solo career. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 26, 2021

Matt Damon's continuing presence and popularity in American films can be summed up in four words: He loves to act. Matt tells Marc how he made the most out of working with icons like Clint Eastwood, Francis Ford Coppola, Steven Spielberg, Jack Nicholson, Denzel Washington and many more. He also talks about teaming back up with Ben Affleck for their first screenplay since Good Will Hunting and making his latest film, Stillwater, with Tom McCarthy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 22, 2021

Sovereign Syre and Marc have been friends for several years, sharing career paths in comedy, podcasting and writing. Now, as she ventures for the first time into the fraught process of pitching and selling a television pilot, Sovereign and Marc talk about her life leading up to this moment: Her painfully shy early years, her turbulent home life, her academic exceptionalism, her years lost to drug addiction, her entry into the world of adult entertainment, and the leap of faith she took to exit that world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 19, 2021

Rick Rubin's love of music led him to help popularize hip-hop, rejuvenate artists' careers, and leave his mark on literally thousands of popular songs. But there was a point in his youth where Rick put music aside and focused on something else: Comedy. Rick talks with Marc about being a self-described hardcore comedy nerd and how that informs his process with the artists he produces. They also talk about Johnny Cash, Rick's love of pro wrestling, and his interviews with Paul on “McCartney 3, 2, 1.”. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 15, 2021

Comedian Rick Ingraham is a Comedy Store institution. But he's also the last of a system that was in place going back to the ‘70s, where young comics were baptized and raised in the rites and rituals of the Store. Rick and Marc compare their early careers trying to break into the business and become a club regular. Rick also recalls some of his memorable moments in the different eras of the Store, from when he was touring with Andrew Dice Clay to when he was breaking up fights between Joe Rogan and Carlos Mencia. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 12, 2021

LCD Soundsystem is one of the hippest, most beloved bands of the early 21st century, but its frontman says he's spent a lifetime being uncool and no fun. James Murphy talks with Marc about the personal and global tragedies that precipitated the founding of the band, the character traits he had to come to terms with in order to lead the band, and what he's still trying to figure out about the band today. They also talk about his aborted collaboration with David Bowie and what that taught James about himself. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 8, 2021

John Swab could have been a real world version of the characters from his films who are casualties of addiction and criminality. But his desire to create art and his natural talents won out and set him on the road to recovery. John tells Marc how he channeled his experiences into his films Run with the Hunted and Body Brokers while remaining a true independent filmmaker. They also talk about John's life in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the influence of Larry Clark, and their shared love of Sam Peckinpah. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 5, 2021

There are Hollywood tough guys and then there's Danny Trejo. No need to front when you've lived a life of crime, drugs, and prison as explicitly as Danny has. But as his new memoir highlights, Danny went from being a criminal and a drug addict to a ubiquitous actor and an inspirational force in his community. Danny and Marc talk about family secrets, toxic masculinity, Charles Manson, and tacos. And Danny's son Gilbert joins in to explain how their personal struggles became intertwined. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 1, 2021

There's a reason Steven Soderbergh's movies are always so unlike whatever movies he's made before. He tells Marc his goal is to take things that have worked in other contexts and turn them into something that doesn't feel like anything else. They talk about how this pertains to Steven's movies like No Sudden Move, Behind the Candelabra and the Ocean's Trilogy. They also discuss making movies on the iPhone, why his retirement didn't stick, and how Contagion holds up against the real thing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 28, 2021

The pandemic forced a lot of changes on all of us, but for Quentin Tarantino, he was already undergoing a huge change right as the pandemic started: He became a first-time father. Now with the release of his first novel, the famed director talks with Marc about the shifting perspectives and priorities that come with getting older. They also talk about the death of Old Hollywood, the Manson family, and why he wouldn't use the name Tarantino if he had to start all over again. Plus, Tom Scharpling finally gives Marc what he wants in Get to Know Tom. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 24, 2021

If he hadn't been getting laughs as a high school basketball coach, Erik Griffin may never have gone back to comedy. He tells Marc the story of his comedy beginnings, his self-imposed exile, and his stand-up revival that got him back in the game. Erik and Marc also discuss the current environment at The Comedy Store, as everyone tries to find their footing in the aftermath of the pandemic. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 21, 2021

Ellen Burstyn doesn't stop working. She's an Emmy, Oscar, and Tony winner with iconic performances in everything from The Last Picture Show and Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore to The Exorcist and Requiem for a Dream, but as Ellen tells Marc, stopping acting just isn't in the cards. They talk about the sea changes in Hollywood, her collaborations with dynamic creators like Martin Scorsese and Jackie Gleason, and her lead role in the new movie Queen Bees. Plus, Tom Scharpling is back so you can Get To Know Tom. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 17, 2021

David Hidalgo has been making music and touring the world with his bandmates in Los Lobos for almost 50 years. From their start playing in schools, in restaurants and at weddings to their crossover into the LA music scene, David tells Marc how Los Lobos became a quintessential American rock band, with influences and techniques as diverse as Los Angeles itself. They also talk about the new Los Lobos album, Native Sons, which pays tribute to other LA-based artists. Plus, Tom Scharpling stops by so you can get to know him better. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 14, 2021

Anthony Carrigan set out to become an actor despite growing up with alopecia, an autoimmune disease that causes hair loss. When he finally went completely bald while on a major network TV show, people in the business told him his career was over. Anthony talks to Marc about how that made him want to succeed even more, how he channeled his anger into his performance on the show Gotham, and how he broke through in a big way playing NoHo Hank on HBO's Barry. They also talk about his role in the new movie Fatherhood and how it's nice to just play normal dudes now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 10, 2021

Jackson Browne is one of the most prolific singer-songwriters in modern music. He talks to Marc about how a lot of his aptitude comes from his enjoyment of being a solitary player. But that doesn't mean Jackson doesn't have stories about his career collaborations. He does, going back to Nico and the Velvet Underground all the way up to his upcoming tour with James Taylor. Jackson also talks to Marc about his new album Downhill from Everywhere and what it has to do with the Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 7, 2021

Helen Hunt: Oscar winner, Emmy winner, filmmaker, mother, and self-proclaimed “worst celebrity in the world.” Helen sits down with Marc to talk about how, despite her many accomplishments, she was able to block out the spotlight of fame, through her own choices as well as decisions imposed upon her by the industry. They also talk about Helen's memories of working with Jack Nicholson, how Paul Reiser sold her on doing Mad About You, and how she craves being part of diverse projects like her new show Blindspotting. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 3, 2021

Danny Elfman did not set out to become one of the most prolific film composers in history. He was a distractible kid who couldn't focus on much of anything except music, loved jazz, loved Stravinsky, taught himself how to read, write and play music, and found himself as the frontman for the band Oingo Boingo for 16 years. But everything changed when a fan named Tim Burton came to Danny and asked if he would score a movie called Pee-Wee's Big Adventure. Danny and Marc talk about all of it, including Batman, The Nightmare Before Christmas, The Simpsons and his new solo album, which is his first in 37 years. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 31, 2021

William Zabka spent the ‘80s playing a variety of bullies all seemingly modeled after his star-making performance in his first movie, The Karate Kid. But by the time he was in Back to School, William grew tired of playing the same jerk again and again. He tells Marc how he expanded his life beyond the typecasting, through music, through family, through world travel, through the arduous mounting of an Oscar-nominated short. And now, with Cobra Kai, it's all come full circle, as William finally gets the chance to explore the depth and pathos of the bully who started it all, Johnny Lawrence. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 27, 2021

Andrew Santino and Marc didn't know much about each other, aside from both being Comedy Store regulars and comedians from different ends of a generational divide. But in this conversation, they discover the similar paths they both paved in comedy, starting out with no money and no connections, finding themselves unhappy with their early work, and preferring the life of a lone wolf to the life in a pack. Andrew also talks about being a Comedy Store comic starring in a fictional show about the early days of The Comedy Store. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 24, 2021

Whether he was getting booked on The Tonight Show or becoming the first standup to have a hit sitcom based on his act or finding success as a professional poker player, Gabe Kaplan says it all happened in spite of his lack of ambition. Gabe tells Marc how he really wanted to become a professional baseball player, how his athleticism served him well in Battle of the Network Stars, and how his initial years in standup were spent opening for strippers and bellydancers. They also talk about the making of Welcome Back, Kotter and how playing Las Vegas got Gabe into poker. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 20, 2021

Rickie Lee Jones is, first and foremost, a storyteller. She realized at a young age that she could process her feelings and tell her own story through the fiction of songs. As she tells Marc, that same impulse prompted her to write a memoir in which she could present her life story through the narrative of her extended family of vaudevillians. Rickie Lee and Marc also talk about her formative and tumultuous relationship with Tom Waits and why it's hard for her to reminisce about her early albums and the hits that made her a star. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 17, 2021

American audiences know Eric Bana from his complex performances in movies like Munich, Black Hawk Down and Ang Lee's Hulk. But in his native Australia, Eric got his start doing standup and sketch comedy. Eric and Marc share their respective experiences of the Australian comedy scene and Eric explains how his gift for mimicry and impressions helped him transition from sketch to dramatic acting. They also talk about Eric's new movie The Dry, why the demise of movie theaters is greatly exaggerated, and why Australian actors are rarely allowed to play Australians. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 13, 2021

Kristin Hersh needs to make music. Whether it's with her bands Throwing Muses and 50FOOTWAVE or in her solo albums, making music is a compulsion. But she only recently figured out that music was her way of managing trauma. Kristin tells Marc about a life changing car accident, her dissociative disorder, PTSD, “switching,” and how processing all of this helped her understand the music she'd been hearing in her head all her life. They also talk about her new book, Seeing Sideways, which deals with Kristin raising four children on a tour bus. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 10, 2021

Steve Miller didn't expect to become a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer with hit songs that stand the test of time, like The Joker and Fly Like An Eagle. He was just a kid from Wisconsin who loved the Blues and wound up with teachers like T-Bone Walker and his godfather Les Paul. Steve tells Marc how he got his first breaks in clubs run by the Chicago Mafia, how he learned an important lesson from Paul McCartney, and how he discovered a lost 1977 concert performance which he's finally releasing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 6, 2021

Mark Normand is relieved to get back to the comedy clubs after a year of doing outdoor shows and other compromised sets during the pandemic. But Mark never considered stopping because comedy is something he has to do. Maybe it goes back to growing up feeling like an outsider in his own family of overachievers, or maybe it's how he coped with childhood anxieties like bedwetting, or maybe it has to do with being a victim of crime at several points in his life. He tries to get to the bottom of it with Marc while they also reminisce about the New York comedy scene and the fight-or-flight impulses they have as comedians. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 3, 2021

Nancy Wilson is one of the world's great guitarists, a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, and creator, along with her sister Ann, of one of the great American rock bands, Heart. But after more than 40 years in the business, she's finally releasing her first solo album. Nancy tells Marc what led up to it, from opening for big rock acts to writing massive radio hits to headlining giant arena rock shows all over the world. Nancy explains how things got messy within Heart when romantic relationships cropped up and she details how they were able to navigate the cocaine-fueled ‘80s to score some of their biggest hits ever. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 29, 2021

Robert Smigel became best known for having a foul-mouthed dog puppet on his hand, but the truth is he's a defining force in popular comedy for the past 35 years. Robert tells Marc how he was on the path to becoming a dentist until a stand-up comedy competition changed his life. From there it was on to SNL where he forged relationships with people like Conan O'Brien and Adam Sandler, collaborating over the next decade to change the comedy landscape. Robert also explains the origin of Triumph and why he's gone back to puppets with his new show Let's Get Real. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 26, 2021

Richard Kind knows his face is memorable, but he still thinks he uses it too much. He knows his characters often exude warmth and joy, even though he is personally powered by dread and anxiety. He wants to be more like George Bailey, but worries he's closer to Willy Loman. Maybe this is why Richard and Marc connect so easily. They also talk about Richard being a part of the Coen Brothers' legacy, his friendship with George Clooney, and how he did most of his acting training in front of the camera. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 22, 2021

On the day this episode is released, John Waters is celebrating his 75th birthday. But he's still doing the same things that brought him cultural notoriety when he started making movies in the ‘60s: Celebrating filth, fighting censorship, and breaking any rule you can think up. John and Marc talk about those early movies like Pink Flamingos, as well as John's relationship with Divine. John also tells Marc why Hairspray was the most transgressive movie he ever made, why he prays to Pasolini, and what is the only thing he regrets in his life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 19, 2021

Tom Jones doesn't feel like resting on his laurels. He tells Marc there's one main reason he's going strong, recording new music and performing live at the age of 80: Because he still has a point to prove. Tom and Marc talk about his big hits like It's Not Unusual, Delilah, and What's New Pussycat?, how he learned to belt them out by listening to gospel music, and the secret weapon he calls The Push. They also discuss his friendship with Elvis, his musical heroes, and his new album Surrounded by Time. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 15, 2021

Yo-Yo Ma remembers a moment in his childhood where it all began to make sense. As a seven-year-old prodigy, he was playing cello in front of an audience that included two U.S. Presidents. But it was an act of kindness and respect from the actor Danny Kaye that helped Yo-Yo look at the world in a different way. He also tells Marc how he found the meaning of art and culture in the Kalahari, why he developed a friendship with Mr. Rogers, and why he chose the title “Beginner's Mind” for his new musical narrative project for Audible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 12, 2021

Sally Struthers is thinking a lot about the passage of time these days. For one, this year is the 50th anniversary of All In The Family premiering on CBS. She's also thinking that so many people she worked with in movies like Five Easy Pieces and The Getaway are no longer with us. And she's thinking about how all this downtime from the pandemic is keeping her from doing what she loves: touring the country in stage productions. Sally talks with Marc about how time catches up with all of us, but also how she can look back fondly and with gratitude on what has passed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 8, 2021

Katey Sagal is known by the public in ways she doesn't see herself. She's known as an actor, but always thought of herself primarily as a singer. She's known as a seminal comedic TV character, even though she didn't think of herself as funny. She's defined by brash, confrontational roles, but sees herself as reserved, even shy. Katey and Marc talk about these contradictions and how they played out in public - on Married... with Children, Sons of Anarchy, her new show Rebel - and in private - in relationships, career stall-outs and struggles with substance abuse. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 5, 2021

Marc only knew Hunter Biden from what he saw in the news. He never heard him speak, he had no sense of who he really was, and he wasn't sure he cared much about the troubled son of a President. Then he read Hunter Biden's book. The sad, tragic, honest, disturbing and concerning story at the heart of the real Hunter Biden made Marc want to talk with him, face to face. Hunter and Marc have a conversation about grief, desperation, tragedy, trouble and deep drug addiction. It ends up in a good place, but that place is fragile. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 1, 2021

Daniel Kaluuya doesn't want to stop the journey. Getting nominated for Oscars, winning a Golden Globe, hosting Saturday Night Live. These are moments within the journey, but he doesn't want any of them to feel bigger than the journey itself. Daniel and Marc talk about this life perspective, how he draws a lot of it from his family in London and Uganda, and how he incorporated it into his portrayal of Black Panther Chairman Fred Hampton in Judas and the Black Messiah. They also talk about Sicario, Get Out and his improv days. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 29, 2021

Writer-director Azazel Jacobs was born into the world of experimental film. But it was a combination of comic books, old radio shows, Mad Magazine and The Clash that helped him develop the sensibility he would later put on screen. Aza tells Marc how his parents passed along a love of art and a compulsion to create, why he believes the name they chose for him limited his professional options, and how he found out a world existed between Hollywood and the kind of films his father made. They also talk about Aza's latest film, French Exit. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 25, 2021

Eddie Huang has been fighting for things his whole life. Whether fighting for respect from a culture that is unwelcoming, or fighting for normalcy amidst a chaotic upbringing, or fighting for approval from his immigrant parents, all his achievements came with a cost. Now, with the first movie he wrote and directed under his belt, Eddie tells Marc why the film Boogie represents a collection of everything he's had to fight for. They also talk about his struggles with having his memoir Fresh Off The Boat adapted for TV and why Lynn Shelton was integral to him becoming a director. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 22, 2021

Christopher Lloyd has a career spanning more than 60 years on stage, TV and film. But Marc was enamored with stories about the first movie Christopher ever made, One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest. Christopher tells Marc about the unique audition process, how they slept overnight in the institution, what it was like working with his idol at the time, Jack Nicholson, and more. They also talk about the first movie Christopher almost made, shooting lots of guns in the new movie Nobody, and what he considers to be the true legacy of Back to the Future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 18, 2021

Serj Tankian from System of a Down says he is dedicated to the truth in a very naive way. That basic need to tell the truth and be honest with himself comes through in his art, his activism and his personal life, all of which are depicted in the new documentary Truth to Power. Serj and Marc talk about how so much of Serj's life has been dedicated to telling the story of the Armenian genocide and how that mission informs his activism around the struggles in present day Armenia, as well as other human rights efforts around the world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 15, 2021

Laraine Newman titled her memoir May You Live in Interesting Times, a phrase many people believe to be a curse. But Laraine thinks it's an appropriate framework for her life and career. She tells Marc what it was like to be a part of culture-changing comedy institutions as a founding member of both The Groundlings and Saturday Night Live. They also talk about her prolific career as a voiceover artist in animation which also began on serendipitous terms. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 11, 2021

Hugh Grant thinks he's only getting better as an actor now. The work he's done for the past few years feels real to him, as opposed to felling like he was faking it when he made all those romantic comedies. Hugh and Marc talk about that realization and what happened in his life to make him finally feel less insecure as an actor. They also discuss his early comedy troupe, his recent habit of playing scoundrels and villains, and his mission to push back against the violating behavior of the British tabloids. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 8, 2021

In order for Eddie Murphy to become “Eddie Murphy” he had to become a comedian. Eddie tells Marc, comic-to-comic, what it was like being a Black teenager on Long Island building a standup act fueled by impressions and inspired by Richard Pryor. And now, with fatherhood at the center of his life, Eddie explains why he wants to bookend his career by going back on stage. Eddie also talks about the real reason he exploded on the movie scene, why he stopped doing standup before he turned 30, and why it was finally the right time to make Coming 2 America. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 4, 2021

Jake Gyllenhaal knows he has a great job as a celebrated film actor. But the thing that brings him true joy is bursting into song as part of a stage musical. Jake talks with Marc about his love of theater, which ended up landing him three Tony Award nominations this year, one for acting and two for producing. They also get into why Broadway needs to evolve when it returns, why Jake was in awe of Heath Ledger, and why he was completely surprised by Marc after this episode started. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 1, 2021

Tim Allen has embodied enough different personas - Tim Taylor, Mike Baxter, Buzz Lightyear, Santa Claus - that he often doesn't know which guy he actually is. But at least he's no longer the directionless young man who made bad choices and ran afoul of the law. Tim tells Marc how he cleaned up his act and made it as a club comic before breaking out with one of the most popular sitcoms in network history. They also talk about how Tim's emotions are running high as Last Man Standing comes to an end and why his new competition show, Assembly Required, is surprisingly out of his comfort zone. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 25, 2021

Michael K. Williams knows that a lot of people consider his character, Omar Little, to be the best character on The Wire. But he has a different opinion about the show's best character. Michael tells Marc about how he brought his struggles as an addict to his performance, how he relapsed while making the show, and how the cast gave him the support he needed to get clean. They also talk about Michael's scar and how it helped him land his first acting job, why he loves Rachael Ray so much, and why his role in the movie Body Brokers was so personal to him. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 22, 2021

Melissa Leo's acting style is a combination of gut instincts and a compulsive need to ask questions. It's a style that already earned her an Oscar and continual employment, but also keeps her from falling into the trap of business-as-usual. Melissa and Marc talk about her performances in movies like Frozen River The Fighter and the new film Body Brokers, how she played a character not unlike Mitzi Shore for the series I'm Dying Up Here, and what is the one type of part she refuses to play, even though she gets offers to play it over and over again. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 18, 2021

Sam Neill never had any ambitions as an actor, which is not true about his ambitions as a wine maker. Speaking to Marc from one of his vineyards in New Zealand, Sam talks about how he's still striving to make the greatest bottle of wine as he lives a sort of double-life as a very familiar face on screens big and small. They also discuss Sam's ideal music festival, their shared love of Randy Newman, the therapeutic reason Sam started acting in the first place, his new movie Rams, and his own ram named Jeff Goldblum. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 15, 2021

Jodie Foster came out on the other side of being a child actor as a two-time Oscar winner, a celebrated director, a producer and someone who is content with her life. She tells Marc how she did it, which has a lot to do with her mother and establishing boundaries. They also talk about how Taxi Driver changed her conception of acting, the great lesson she learned playing Nell, why she loves David Fincher, and why she maintains strong relationships with a lot of her co-workers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 11, 2021

Mark Harris is a writer, journalist, critic and lover of film, which is why Marc wanted to talk with him. After months of at-home movie watching, Marc is convinced that artistic appreciation and critical thinking around film is more important than ever. Mark Harris has devoted a large chunk of his life to doing that kind of work, including his books on Hollywood after World War II, filmmaking in the late 1960s, and his new biography about Mike Nichols. They also talk about censorship fights, pandemic award shows and being married to Tony Kushner. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 8, 2021

Salma Hayek says she survived in Hollywood because she didn't let anger get the better of her. And she'd have good reasons to be angry, facing a barrage of sexism, discrimination, typecasting, and a general dismissiveness of her talent. Salma and Marc talk about how she stood up for herself, particularly when making the film Frida, and why Salma believes the gender imbalance in the industry is changing. They also talk about her new movie Bliss which depicts a false reality that feels uncomfortably relevant. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 4, 2021

Stanley Tucci is fortunate that he broke into the mainstream with his movie Big Night because it combined two of the things he loves the most: acting and food. Stanley talks with Marc about the comfort he gets from cooking and the satisfaction he gets from a good performance. They discuss his extensive career, including The Devil Wears Prada, Spotlight, Murder One, and his new film Supernova, in which his longtime friendship with Colin Firth paid off. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 1, 2021

David Duchovny knows you know him from The X-Files. He knows you know him from Californication. But that's not going to stop him from wanting to be taken seriously as a novelist and a recording artist. David and Marc talk about his multifaceted career, his early academic pursuits, and The X-Files episode that gave him the foundation for his latest book, Truly Like Lightning. David also explains how he became friends with Garry Shandling and why they maintained such a strong connection. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 28, 2021

Not unlike a lot of comedians, Marc's relationship with Rick Glassman started out with an apology. But that apology led to both of them liking each other more than they expected. Rick explains how a recent diagnosis has given him more self-awareness and prompted him to reassess the boundaries in his life. And Marc is able to relate to Rick's desire to start doing comedy as a way to control the laughter coming at you. They also talk about Rick's time on the show Undateable and his own podcast, Take Your Shoes Off, which is more than a name, it's a way of life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 25, 2021

For a guy who's been working at the top of the comedy scene since the 1970s, George Wallace has held a lot of other identities too. He was a computer engineer, a rag salesmen, an ad executive, and a real estate investor. Even within the comedy world, George kept an eclectic profile, working with musical acts like Tom Jones, operating a Vegas showcase for himself, and finding newfound popularity with his Twitter feed. George also tells Marc about his enduring friendship with Jerry Seinfeld. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 23, 2021

From 2013, Marc talks with talk show icon Larry King about his start in the business, how he got over being nervous on the mic, and the interview subjects who left the biggest impression on him. Larry died on January 23, 2021 at age 87. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 21, 2021

When Marc first met Andy Zaltzman, Andy was in his element at the Edinburgh Fringe. They talk about why the festival circuit was important for Andy and other comics working their way up in the UK. They also talk about Andy's podcast The Bugle, which he started with John Oliver, his new career paths as a cricket statistician and a quiz show host, and the strange confluence of Covid and Brexit. Plus Marc and Andy consider what the world will be like when they can return to standup. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 18, 2021

There's a good chance Daniel Lanois is responsible for some of your favorite music ever and it's all thanks to a penny whistle he bought with his allowance when he was growing up in Canada. Daniel tells Marc about his time working with Gospel choirs and doing experimental music with Brian Eno which led to him producing some of the biggest albums of all time, like U2's The Joshua Tree and Peter Gabriel's So. They also talk about Daniel's work with Bob Dylan, Robbie Robertson, Neil Young and more, as well as his solo work and his uncompromising personal standards. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.