WTF with Marc Maron Podcast

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.

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.

A collection of comedian Jim Gaffigan's WTF segments from deep in the archives: From Episode 9, Jim and his wife Jeannie joins Marc in first days of WTF (0:00); from Episode 136, Marc talks with Jim backstage at the Eugene Mirman Comedy Festival in Brooklyn (28:30); from Episode 270, Marc gives Jim a call in advance of his new special (38:07); and from Episode 543, Jim stops by the garage to talk about his book, Food: A Love Story (50:34).

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.

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.

First, Brendan provides some details from on the ground of Marc's recent press tour. Then, some discussion about Ari Aster's interview and Marc's mood turnaround in his monologue. Finally, Brendan and Kris try to answer a difficult question: Do good movie remakes actually exist?Click here to send us your suggestions, comments and topics.

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.

This month's Producer Cuts include: Marc trying to play a Taylor Swift song (0:00); Rich Aronovitch and Marc's affinity for the comic Mark Cohen (2:33); Marc realizing something about his dad's personality (5:33); the latest troubles with Charlie the Cat (9:31); confrontational situations with other comics (13:32); Marc's eyes are causing problems (20:11); and Ari Aster talks French New Wave with Marc (23:09).

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.