If we had to put together a list of founding fathers of the podcasting medium, comedian Marc Maron would be right on top. “When we first started, there were no podcasts,” he said at the beginning of his WTF with Marc Maron episode featuring John Mulaney that released in June. “Now there’s nothing but podcasts.” At the beginning of the episode Maron announced that long-running show would come to an end this year. After 16 years, over 1600 episodes and countless gripping conversations, Maron is bowing out of the oversaturated podcasting arena with one final episode on 13 October, ushering in the end of an era.

Maron embarked on this journey in 2009 when he was coming out of an ugly divorce. He sank his Mondays and Thursdays into this project, delivering two episodes every week for a decade-and-a-half. His curiosity in other humans, his ability to be vulnerable and his penchant for healthy debate and rational thought were the reasons this podcast became a sleeper hit.

Across his podcasting career, Maron has hosted politicians, comedians, actors, activists and professionals from all walks of life. It might be a little daunting to dive into this vast expanse of knowledge and understandably so. But we’re stepping in to make just a little easier for you. Here are 10 quintessential episodes of WTF with Marc Maron that everyone needs to listen to.

Robin Williams (#67)

Before his passing, Robin Williams sat down with Maron for a deeply human conversation—part hilarious, part heartbreaking—about addiction, self-doubt and the need to keep creating. The episode was later inducted into the National Recording Registry at the Library of Congress which is a list of sound recordings that “are culturally, historically or aesthetically significant, and inform or reflect life in the United States.”

Lynn Shelton (#627)

Maron’s conversation with indie filmmaker Lynn Shelton is the first time he met his future partner, who stayed with him until her untimely demise in 2020. Tender, funny, and quietly devastating in hindsight, the two talk about creativity, late bloomers and finding your voice after years of doubt. There’s warmth and laughter throughout—the kind that only happens between two people who truly see each other. Listening now, it feels like a time capsule of love and grief.

Norm Macdonald (#219)

Maron and comedy legend Norm Macdonald go toe-to-toe in this part interview, part philosophical standoff. Macdonald swerves between deadpan jokes and oddly profound takes on death, faith and comedy itself. You’re never sure if he’s kidding or confessing, and that’s exactly the point. A masterclass in misdirection, straight from one of comedy’s most enigmatic minds.

Jane Goodall (#1271)

Maron sits down with the legendary primatologist and anthropologist Jane Goodall for a conversation that’s calm, curious and quietly awe-inspiring. They talk about her early years in the jungle, what animals can teach us about empathy, and why she still has hope for humanity. It’s less an interview and more a gentle reminder of how wonder and purpose can coexist.

Quentin Tarantino (#1239)

Quentin Tarantino comes in and locks into a fast, fiery conversation that swings from movie geekery to childhood memories to the madness of making Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Tarantino riffs like only he can—passionate, obsessive and a little unhinged—while Maron digs into what drives his chaos. It’s cinema talk at its most electric.

Paul McCartney (#948)

Paul McCartney’s WTF with Marc Maron episode is part rock history, part life lesson. They talk Beatles beginnings, creative chemistry, and learning to let go of ego. The music legend’s charm is effortless, Maron’s awe is palpable—it’s two worlds meeting over the shared language of music and memory. Maron telling McCartney “I’m a John guy” is one of my favourite moments.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus (#700, Pt.1)

Maron and Julia Louis-Dreyfus have a free-flowing conversation about comedy, ambition and surviving the highs and lows of showbiz. She’s sharp, grounded, and disarmingly honest about carving out a career beyond Seinfeld. It’s a masterclass in grace, grit and knowing exactly who you are. Needless to say, but there’s obviously no dearth of laughs.

Barack Obama (#613)

This episode can be considered the watershed moment. Podcasting had reached its peak, pulling the United States’ 44th President into an LA garage to talk leadership and legacy. Obama also let’s his guard down, letting us in on the personal side of the presidency—the doubts, the sacrifices and the unexpected moments of humour. And at the end of it all, the secret service swoops in to escort him out, Maron said in the follow up episode.

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Paul Thomas Anderson (#565)

The duo talk filmmaking, obsession and the delicate chaos behind movies like Phantom Thread and Boogie Nights. PTA’s insights are precise yet playful, making it a must-listen for cinephiles and casual fans alike. He opens up about his creative process, the risks of storytelling and how collaboration shapes his vision. It’s a rare, unfiltered peek into the mind of one of cinema’s most distinctive voices.

Conan O’Brien (#163)

Maron and Conan O’Brien have a hilariously unfiltered conversation that swings between absurd stories and surprisingly heartfelt moments. They dive into late-night chaos, the evolution of comedy and the strange life of being “Conan” in the public eye. Behind the jokes, the late-night superstar reflects on ambition, failure and the joys of keeping creativity alive.

This episode is available behind a paywall here.