Marc Maron’s top-ranked comedy podcast WTF is the ideal platform for his stream-of-consciousness style. The show combines Maron’s audible internal monologue and unscripted conversation with guests such as Robin Williams, Sarah Silverman, Paul F. Thompkins, and Janeane Garofalo.
Suite 101 recently talked with Maron about WTF, the connection between the podcast and his 25-year standup career.
WTF Podcast Brings Maron New Fans
How is WTF impacting your stand-up career?
It seems to be getting people to the clubs, and it’s starting to generate some attention. As opposed to a career goal, the fact that it’s resonating with so many people is gratifying.
People are coming out, and they’re very dedicated to the podcast. They come out to the [stand-up] shows, they donate money after the show, and they send me a lot of feedback. So, if that’s a career thing, then, yeah, that’s great.
WTF Podcast Free to Download
WTF is frequently in the top downloads of all genres on iTunes, and often hits #1 among comedy podcasts. Now that you’ve achieved success with WTF, do you plan to begin charging for it?
We don’t want to close the door to anyone. So, we’re using the sort of NPR model, where you can donate whatever you want. If you donate $10 a month, you get a t-shirt; with a bigger donation, you get a couple of t-shirts and CDs. And we have some sponsors, but as a business, it’s still in its early stages. But there’s no plan to close down the [free] podcast.
We are going to be making special shows available for purchase in the near future. But the premium will only be episodic. We’re not going to stop what we’re doing; we’re just going to make some other stuff available for pay.
Creating Stand-Up Material On WTF
Do you use the podcast as a place to workshop material for the stage?
It was never the intention, but because of my freedom of mind while doing the podcast, when ideas unfold to me, I would be stupid not to try to build them into stage pieces. The difference is that when I’m working in my garage [recording the podcast], I’m talking to a single person. And, I’m not filtering anything, wondering whether it’s going to get a laugh, or whether or not it’s right for a comedy club.
The discussions on the podcast have a broader emotional range, and don’t necessarily need to be funny all the time. So, if it gets to the stage, it’s because I like the idea and the through line of it. It’s a really different way of presenting material, [but] the podcast is putting me in a position to continue to talk and think and generate.
Maron Interviews Comic Peers
Maron is doing more than benefiting his own career through WTF. Find out why Maron is giving back to his peers (like Robin Williams), and how podcasting is like the Wild West.
--
Read about Marc Maron's opening night at The Purple Onion in San Francisco.
Christine E. Taylor - Christine E. Taylor is a freelance writer based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Christine is currently writing a series of articles ...
Join the Conversation