In June 2015, Marc Maron's "WTF" podcast achieved a landmark moment when President Barack Obama visited Maron's Highland Park home and recorded an interview in his 165-square-foot garage.1 The White House had reached out to Maron months earlier, but he initially didn't believe it would happen.2 The hour-long conversation, released as Episode 613, covered personal topics including college, fitting in, race relations, gun violence, fatherhood, and overcoming fear.34

The event transformed Maron's modest garage into a presidential venue, complete with Secret Service agents, snipers on neighboring roofs, and LAPD officers securing the perimeter.25 Obama's visit represented a strategic communications choice, similar to his appearances on Zach Galifianakis' "Between Two Ferns" and Jimmy Fallon's shows, allowing him to connect with audiences in a more relaxed setting.1 Maron later described the experience as "overwhelming and beautiful," noting how the president's charisma immediately put him at ease despite his nervousness.26 The episode was presented without commercial interruption and became one of the podcast's most significant moments.4

The April 26, 2010 interview with Robin Williams (Episode 67) stands as one of the most significant moments in "WTF" history, later inducted into the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."12 Recorded at Williams' home in Tiburon rather than Maron's garage, the candid conversation revealed a vulnerable side of the comedic legend rarely seen in public appearances. Williams spoke openly about his struggles with alcoholism, depression, and even contemplated suicide in a disturbing yet brilliant improvised dialogue with his "conscience."23

Following Williams' death by suicide on August 11, 2014, Maron reposted the original conversation with new segments describing how profoundly the episode had shaped the entire podcast and impacted his personal life.3 The interview's significance was further explored in a 2018 episode featuring New York Times culture reporter Dave Itzkoff, who had been working on Williams' biography.45 The episode's raw authenticity exemplified Maron's ability to create a space where comedians could speak honestly about their craft and personal demons, helping establish "WTF" as more than just another comedy podcast.

"WTF with Marc Maron" launched on September 1, 2009, following the cancellation of Maron's Air America radio program "Breakroom Live with Maron & Seder."12 In its early days, Maron secretly recorded episodes using Air America's studios without permission, retaining his building keycard after being let go.1 The podcast's title comes from the internet slang abbreviation for "What the fuck?" and each episode opens with Maron's line from the film Almost Famous: "Lock the gates!"1

After moving from New York to California, Maron began recording most episodes in his Los Angeles garage, nicknamed "the Cat Ranch."1 The show evolved from primarily featuring comedians discussing their careers to hosting a diverse range of guests including actors, musicians, directors, and political figures.3 With nearly 2,000 episodes over its 16-year run, "WTF" has been credited with helping to pioneer and popularize the podcast format that has since become a booming industry.45 The show's intimate, conversational style and Maron's skill at drawing out revealing discussions from his guests established a template that countless podcasts would later follow.