Trash.

Hello, Folks!

I hope the Thanksgiving went as well as it could. Hell, I hope it went well. I know, I know. Let’s not go crazy. Mine was pleasant. I went where there were many Buddhists. Very level. Plant-based ice cream.

In the spirit of the season, or in spirit of being a decent human, a friend of ours needs a little help. Barry Crimmins is a great comic and someone we've enjoyed having on this show. I did an episode with him back in 2013 and then he was back on with Bobcat Goldthwait in 2015. And if you saw the documentary that Bob made about him, Call Me Lucky, you know that Barry's been a tireless advocate on behalf of victims of sexual abuse. We found out that Barry's wife Helen - who is an artist in her own right, a great photographer - is in the middle of a cancer fight and the cost of treatment has become overwhelming. The co-pays alone are just staggering. It's really heavy what they're both going through, and with all the help Barry has given to people in his life as an advocate and human rights activist, we figured we can help lift Barry and Helen up right now. 

If you go to Barry's twitter page, you'll see the pinned tweet has a link to Helen's GoFundMe account. Or it's right here if you just click.

Someday we can hope to live in a country where they actually fix healthcare so that no one can ever be driven into financial peril because they got sick. But until that time, we're going to have to help each other. So, let's help Barry and Helen out.

Moving has been hectic primarily because I am moving fairly close by so I’m doing the multiple car trips with random shit thrown in the car style of moving. It’s a scattered and impulsive way to do it. I don’t have a huge house so my thinking was, "There isn’t that much stuff how hard could it be?" Well, it’s as if all my little shit and things and stuff and knick knacks are multiplying. There seems to be no end to it and I haven’t even begun the garage yet. I do think this way of doing it is a reasonable way to make a transition from someplace that has a lot of emotions and baggage to be left behind. My house is like an emotional sarcophagus housing the pain of years of failure. It turned out okay but there is a lot to grieve and reflect on so it's nice to have the time. 

I’m having a hard time throwing stuff away. Little knick knacks everywhere. There are these old, tiny plastic Chinatown Buddhas I’ve has for 20 years. They are all faded and weird looking. I can’t throw them away because I don’t know if I’m allowed to throw Buddhas away. I’m not a Buddhist but still I don’t need to provoke and negative Karma by making a garbage Buddha. I bet if you found a Buddha in the trash it would make all the other trash seem pleasant. Level. As it is supposed to be. There is trash and there is not trash but it all ends up kind of trash.

I moved the cats and that was kind of heartbreaking. That was like the moment it became very real. I’ve been in that house with Monkey and LaFonda for 13 years. When I took them out I felt myself projecting my sadness onto them and it really hit me. They are doing fine adjusting. I don't know about me. It was astounding I got them all pretty quickly.

Today I talk to Rob Huebel. Funny fella. I had a good time. On Thursday I talk to Sam Beam who is ‘Iron and Wine.’ Fun talk. Laid back Southern fella. I like his music. Also, my buddy Bob Saget stops by. 

Enjoy! 

Boomer lives!

Love,

Maron

Enjoy.

Hey, Folks. 
 
I’m going to keep it short and sweet. Try to have a happy Thanksgiving. Enjoy your family. Enjoy your food. Enjoy your friends. Play with a dog. Reflect.
 
Great shows this week. Today, I talk with the hilarious Christina Pazsitzky. On Thursday, one of my guitar heroes, Jimmie Vaughan joins me and I also have a talk with Kasper Collin, the director of the documentary I Called Him Morgan, along with musician Bennie Maupin.

Enjoy! 

Boomer lives!

Love,

Maron

Not the Place.

Okay, Folks.

Everyone ok? I am not great.

I’ve spent that last few days processing the events involving my friend Louis CK. He did some bad, selfish, hurtful, traumatizing, insensitive, creepy, sexual things to some women and now he is facing the consequences. His friends and family and people who worked with and for him are dealing with the consequences. The victims are living with the consequences of his actions and have been for years. It’s awful all around.

I talk about it on today’s show. That is where I chose to process my thoughts and feelings. Those of you who listen to the show know that. There was pressure in the immediate aftermath of the New York Times article and Louis’s admission of guilt for everyone who knows Louis to react and comment immediately, in any way possible. On Twitter, now means now and if you don’t do something now you are an apologist or complicit or someone who doesn’t care. I have posted very little on Twitter in the last year. I promote the shows, my book, I answer some questions about mundane stuff occasionally but I have been pretty detached from it mostly. It’s been great. It’s a time suck clusterfuck that can turn into a pile on of garbage and anger in minutes. It is nowhere to discuss nuanced issues or to process complicated feelings. I felt pressured. I had to say something as a placeholder while I processed my own feelings around it. I tweeted this:

‘I've been friends with Louis CK for a long time. I read the article and none of it is good. I'll have more to say about it on my own show and not a shitty platform like Twitter.’

The shit storm was fast and furious. It ran the gamut: I was being condescending to the free platform where victims' voices can be heard because of my privilege, or I was using my friends demise and the pain of the victims to promote my show so I could profit from it, or I used harsher language abut Twitter than I did about sexual misconduct. And on and on. Pile on. Which illustrated to me exactly why I didn’t address the situation candidly there. Not the place. No way. The odd thing was all I wanted to do was tell my listeners that I would deal with it on my show where I deal with everything in the time and space and flow that I want to. That was it. I watched three sentences just conveying very basic and simple information be deconstructed and weaponized every possible way. So, fuck Twitter. That is why I just use it to promote the show, promote the book, live dates and occasionally answer mundane questions. That’s it.

Also, Buster came back. After two days on the lamb he just stuck his head in the garage when I was talking to Darren Aronofsky. Maybe Darren summoned him somehow. I don’t know. I’m happy to have him back even though every time he leaves I have to let him go in my mind.

Today on the show I talk to Kim Deal from The Pixies and The Breeders about music and life and Ohio. On Thursday, I talk to Lawrence O’Donnell about Boston, politics, his life and his new book. Great talks.

Enjoy! 

Boomer lives!

Love,

Maron

He Didn't Remember.

Hi, People. 

How’s it going? I hope you are okay. Grim time. Darkness and violence. Be aware of the macro, engage and do what you do. Appreciate the micro, your life. It’s what you have.

Quick reminder that Brendan and I will be in Seattle this Saturday, November 11th. We'll be at Third Place Books in Seward Park doing a talk, taking your questions, and signing copies of Waiting For The Punch. See you there. I’m going to eat some fish there too. Probably at Jack's in Pike Place Market. Maybe some cioppino. The micro.

I did a benefit the other night for the International Myeloma Foundation. Ray Romano has been hosting it for 11 years. He started it after Peter Boyle died of Multiple Myeloma. I was happy to be asked to do it. I like watching from the wings. I love that view. I watched Ray open the show. Then me and Ray pulled some stool into the side aisle of the audience and watched Hannibal Buress and Rachel Feinstein and some of Nikki Glaser. Everyone did great. 

Before the show I went backstage to the green room and when I walked in, there was just Fred Willard sitting by himself in a very bright blue suit. I said, "Wow, crazy party in here." He said, "I invited a lot of people." Fred is funny. Then Robert Klein came in. I don’t have a great history with him. Apparently, that is one-sided because he didn’t seem to recall ever meeting me. Which we had. Back in ‘95ish he climbed on stage and started improvising with me. He didn’t like what I had said about computer nerds and he decided to set me straight. I didn’t ask for that. It wasn’t an honor. It was annoying, really. I said some shit about him the following week at the same place. It got back to him. I apologized. Blah blah. Something always rubbed me the wrong way about him. None of that mattered. He didn’t remember. I was mostly over it. Years later I interviewed him at Air America. He didn’t remember that either.

He and Fred Willard were in Second City together. He sat down next to Fred. I was next to the two of them. It’s interesting to watch two guys with a long history in general, and with each other, interact when they haven’t seen each other in while. They basically challenged each other to remember things about their lives. And they went way back with the memories. I thought it would be a good bit. I jotted it down in my notebook. Klein blurted, "What are you writing?" Like I was taking private notes about their conversation. "Joke idea," I said. "Oh, you still do that," he said. "That’s great."

When I got off stage after I did very well he was in the wings waiting to go on, fidgety, darty. He said, "Very irreverent." I don’t think he meant it as a compliment. I said, "Thanks. Great crowd." He’s just who he is. Didn’t matter. I stood in the wings and watched Robert Klein be Robert Klein for a few minutes. Then I left.

Today I have a lovely chat with Jenna Fisher. She has a book coming out. On Thursday, I talk to the amazing and unique John Dwyer. He’s had a helluva journey in the music.

Enjoy!

Boomer lives!

Love,

Maron

Meaning is Hard to Come By.

People! 

The air in LA is toxic today. I read it was worse than Bejing. I’ve been to Bejing and it was like breathing evaporated garbage. I have a headache and my lungs ache. Great. The future is bright.

I’m writing this Sunday night and I just got back from Santa Monica where Brendan and I did a book talk. Well, its more like a WTF talk. We talk about what we do. If you haven’t seen us do our thing you should come out. We’re doing one more scheduled show in Seattle at Third Place Books in Seward Park on Saturday, Nov. 11 at 7PM. Come out if you can. I’m excited to be up there and to eat fish.

The crowd was great in Santa Monica tonight. I really like seeing everyone. Makes me feel like my life’s work means something. Meaning is hard to come by in these dark times where things seem pointless in relation to what seems like inevitable doom. But even saying that needs to be pushed back against. The human spirit must transcend and there is only one way for that to happen and that is to let it transcend and not be devastated.

It’s work. I’m not a spiritual person and I don't believe I could be one, but I have my moments. I cry during songs sometimes when I sing with them. I was listening to Alison Kraus and Gillian Welch do their version of ‘I’ll Fly Away’ and I came very close to letting Jesus into my heart. Then I realized I was just moved by the spiritual poetry of the song and their amazing voices and harmonies and I just let the tears come. I listened to it twice through, sang with it, had the feelings, cried, felt the catharsis and got out of my car and into my life. It was enough to touch the human spirit and let that into my heart. I don’t even know what Jesus was doing hanging around in my car. He got out too. I said, "Sorry! You tried." He shrugged, walked off and said, "I’m around." I said, "I get it."

Today I talk to comedian Joy Behar about her journey to The View and stand up and other stuff. On Thursday I talk to the great unsung blues hero John Hammond. Love that guy. Great talks.

Enjoy! 

Boomer lives!

Love,

Maron

The Boots.

Hola, Peoples!

How’s things by you? Things are okay here. I’m looking outside as I type this and nothing is on fire, as far as I can see…but they’re probably coming.

A reminder to all of you in Los Angeles! We are doing our only LA book talk and signing this Sunday, October 29th at 7pm.That's it. One night only, at the Ann and Jerry Moss Theatre at the Herb Alpert Educational Village in Santa Monica.

If you haven't seen me and Brendan do our thing, you will enjoy it. We'll talk about Waiting for the Punch, but we also talk about behind-the-scenes stuff from the podcast, some secrets that you don't know about, we take questions from the audience, and we'll sign your stuff.  Bring your copy of Waiting for the Punch if you already have one, or you can get one with your ticket. 

Go here to get tickets or go to the tour page of wtfpod.com. 

Also, Brian R. Jones has a new batch of cat mugs. If you want to get a cat mug just like the ones I give to my guests, go to BrianRJones.com to get yours. They go on sale today at 12 noon Eastern, 9am Pacific. And they always go fast. 

This last week had been busy. I’m getting back into the groove of shooting GLOW. We finish up the first episode today and head into the second on Tuesday. The stories are good. I have some new shirts but my jeans and boots will be the same. I guess the idea is that if it isn’t broken, why fuck with it? I’m good with one pair of jeans for three months. That’s what I do anyway. As for the boots, they had them made because the originals fucked with my feet but they liked the shape so much they brought the guy who made the cowboy boots for Deadwood in to make them for me. They’re nice and soft and just right. I was thinking about maybe getting back into cowboy boots. I remember there was a time when I burned through a few pairs of Tony Lamas back in the day. I must’ve been in my late teens/early twenties. I don’t think I can pull them off now. I don’t think it’s necessary. I’m not even sure my work boot obsession is necessary. What is necessary? I might need the work boots though. I don’t what’s coming down the pike.

Shit, now I’m thinking about shoes. I went through a pretty heavy Clarks Desert Boots thing for years. Black Desert Boots. I even sent a pair to the one place that Clarks approved for resoling Wallabees and Desert Boots with that one-inch thick snot-like compound sole goo. They were never the same. That’s where I learned to rotate boots if you want them to last. I guess this was about boots today. Fuck it.

Today I talk to Willem Dafoe about Willem Dafoe stuff and the amazing new film ‘The Florida Project.’ Interesting guy. I think he got a little snippy with me at some point. On Thursday, I talk to Lizzie Goodman about her book, ‘Meet Me in the Bathroom.’ Good talks.

Enjoy! 

Boomer lives!

Love,

Maron

The Discomfort.

People!

How’s the end of the world going for everyone? I’m okay. 
 
I was just up in Northern Cali and the wildfires are obviously devastating and awful. My heart goes out to anyone who lost homes, people, pets, cars, just awful and terrifying. The air in San Francisco was thick with smoke and the stink of burning everything. I really hope they get them under control soon. 
 
Brendan and I did our comedy team act at the Alamo Drafthouse New Mission theater last Friday. It’s always great to see the fans come out and hang a bit. It was good talk. The sound was rough and I personally think the chairs were too comfortable. I don’t like working movie theaters. Those seats are designed for passive engagement. Our voice was coming out of the surround sound system so most people could hear us talking into the mic then, a split second later, hear it come out of the speakers. It was hard to adjust, but we managed. I didn’t snap or lose my shit. It was close. Felt like I was tripping. I feel that way always in SF. Untethered. Tweaked. 
 
We sold a lot of books at both live events. I’m glad it’s getting out there. 
 
I have to put on my Sam pants today and I think they will be too tight. I’m so fucking uncomfortable. Is it worth it to get off nicotine if I'm going to put on weight? The worst. Hate feeling chubby. Now I have to start shooting the new season of GLOW and in my mind (and pants) Sam is a little chunkier. Marc doesn’t like being chunky but I imagine Sam doesn’t really give a fuck. That will be the challenge of my acting this season. Not giving a fuck that Marc feels porky and Sam doesn’t care. I’ll use it. Thrive on the energy, the discomfort. Looking forward to getting back into the show, just not the pants. I tried to stay good and lose some weight before shooting so I had room to gain a few crafty/catering pounds but that didn’t fucking happen. I quit the shit and my metabolism got all sluggish because I’m not jacking it up and I got the middle doughy part going on. Fuck me. Fuck it. Fat. 
 
Today I talk to the amazing Tracy Ullman about her show on HBO and her life. On Thursday Egyptian comic and dissident Bassem Youssef talks about his experiences creating Egypt's version of The Daily Show and then being forced to flee the country. 

Enjoy! 

Boomer lives!

Love,

Maron

Focus on Doing Good Things.

Hey, Folks!

So much horror and sadness has happened since the last time I wrote one of these updates its baffling and terrifying. That is the age we live in. Baffling and terrifying. The pace of it. The persistence of it. Remember, that’s the plan. Stay checked in but keep some space for yourself to stay sane. I will keep talking to you and talking to people. Try to keep it human, keep it near the heart.

Man, this drinking tea thing and no nicotine or coffee has slowed things down. Made me think about life. What makes it worth living and what to do with it. Some things are out of our control, most things. Some things aren’t. I guess we should focus on doing good things with those things.

Maybe I have to start drinking coffee again.
Thank you to everyone who pre-ordered Waiting for the Punch: Words to Live by from the WTF Podcast. As you'll see when you get it, the book is dedicated to you, our listeners, and that's really true. We wouldn't have done it if you hadn't stuck with us for eight years. If you haven't preordered a copy, it comes out tomorrow, October 10th, and you can get it anywhere you get books. Or you can still go to marcmaronbook.com and order it there. 

Some other things you might want to know. I'll be doing an AMA on Reddit tomorrow at 12:30 PM Eastern. So, go to Reddit and ask me some stuff. 

Tomorrow night, I'll be at the Union Square Barnes and Noble in New York City, along with Brendan McDonald. We'll do a little talk, take some questions and sign some books. That's at 7PM.

On Wednesday night, I'll be on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

And on Friday, Brendan and I will be at the Alamo Drafthouse in San Francisco for a talk, Q & A and signing. Go to Litquake.org for tickets to that.  

Again, thanks for all your support with the book. It's been almost three years to get to this point, and we're excited for you all to read it. 
Today I have two separate conversations with the Brothers Bridges, Beau and Jeff. I thought it was only right to post them together. On Thursday, I have a pre-accident talk with Marilyn Manson. I don’t know if he’s doing the tour he mentioned. I hope he’s all right.

Enjoy! 

Boomer lives!

Love,

Maron

A Huge Fan.

How’s it going, Folks?

Firstly! We're a week and a day away from when Waiting for the Punch comes out. It's exciting. Brendan and I want to thank everyone who has already preordered the book. We can't wait for you to read it. And if you haven't preordered the book yet, but you've been listening to me talk about it for the past few months, and you've been thinking that you might get it, if you're a longtime fan of this show and want a great representation of what we do here, or if you're a new listener and you want to get an idea of what's been happening in this garage for the last eight years, if you have any inkling of getting the book, do us a favor ad preorder it now. 

This is actually a big week for the book and preorders mean a lot in the publishing industry. It really helps stores decide whether they are going to order more copies of the book, which is a huge deal. So, if you're planning on getting a copy - for yourself or as a gift - go do it now at marcmaronbook.com. And you can still upload your preorder receipt to enter the sweepstakes to win a Casper mattress or a luggage set from Away. 

I’m a little premature on this but it just happened so I want to talk about it. On Friday night, I went to see John Hammond, Jr. play at McCabe’s Guitar Shop in Santa Monica. I don’t know if I have really talked about John much but I am a huge fan of the way he plays and sings. He’s a deep, astounding performer and a real blues purist. 

I guess I should tell you now. I talked to him in the garage last week and it was one of those talks where I think it was clear I was a huge fan. It won’t be up for a while but I loved it. 

I hadn’t seen him perform in years. I think the first record of his that blew me away was ‘Mileage.’ It’s just him and a guitar and a harmonica going at it. The truth of it is, he’s been putting out records and performing for over 50 years and I bet many of you don’t know who he is. He has like 30 records out. He’s been around since the mid-sixties and came up playing real blues during the folk era in Greenwich Village. He’s primarily a solo performer but he did some records with bands here and there throughout his career. If you want to check him out, listen to any record between ’64 and ’70 to get a foundation. Country Blues, So Many Roads and Source Point are good ones. Check out the line up on So Many Roads too. Amazing. 

Anyway, I went to see him and he blew my mind. He blows my mind when I just listen to him too. He channels the real shit somehow. It’s astounding. He just sat on a stool with his harp holder hanging around his neck, alternating between an acoustic and a National steel resonator guitar and just laid down some deep true blues. 

I don’t see many acoustic shows. Actually, I don’t go to many shows at all. But just an artist wrenching feeling out of a guitar and harmonica is so human, so organic somehow. I really don’t know how he goes so deep. I talked to him in the garage and hung out with him and his wife before the show and he couldn’t be a nicer guy. He did not seem haunted but anything but man, when he starts singing and playing, it is the real deal. Deep, sad lonesome longing blues goods. Maybe when you hear the talk you can figure out where it comes from. I just felt honored to be there talking and watching him. It’s just me and room full of people a decade or two older than me. They may actually know what’s best.

Today I talk to screen legend Elliott Gould about his experience in show business. It was cool to talk to him. On Thursday, we have a special show for you. There is no audio book of Waiting for the Punch, but we're going to take the entire first section of the book and turn it into a podcast for you. So that will be a little unique peak at the book on Thursday. 

 Enjoy! 

Boomer lives!

Love,

Maron

I Got Choked Up.

Hey, Folks!

How are you? Enjoying the ride? Careening. That’s the political momentum that we are living through. Careening. Terrifying all the time. The guy at the controls of the ride is enjoying pushing the capacity of the equipment and making people nauseous and scared. Some people still seem to be excited and enjoying themselves. They might be morons.

Couple of things. I'm excited to tell you that we're setting up some live events for the release of Waiting for the Punch: Words to Live by from the WTF Podcast. New York City! I will be at theBarnes and Noble at Union Square, Tuesday evening, October 10th at 7pm. That's the day the book comes out. So, come by, hear me and Brendan do our thing, get a signed copy of the book. It'll be great. Then, San Francisco! Come see us as part of LitQuake. We'll be at the New Mission Alamo Drafthouse. Same deal: We'll talk, we'll answer questions, we'll sign books. Go toLitquake.org for tickets to that one. 

These are fun events for me and Brendan to do. We like talking to the fans of the show and answering their questions and it seems fun for people to see our dynamic which is the dynamic that drives this show. Me in front of the mic and Brendan behind the scenes. Well, now he’s out in front of the mic too. Always exciting.

So, I was invited to a screening of three episodes of the new season of Joe Swanberg’s ‘Easy.’ I am featured in an episode reprising the character I played in an episode of the last season. The way Joe works is completely improvisational. So, much of the story and narrative points are generated day of and many come from my personal experience. I was working opposite Michaela Watkins, who I love, and we got into some heavy stuff. Improvising. She plays my first ex-wife who I hurt badly when I left her and then wrote about it all in a graphic novel. I know those who know me can hear some similarities. I won’t deny that. But the wild card is what Michaela brought to the table from her life and experience and how we move through the scenes emotionally. She is brilliant and I got choked up watching the stuff. I know that sounds odd but it happened. It’s not narcissistic, sometimes I just don’t quite connect to my feelings until I’m fictionalizing them and I can watch it happen. I know that’s not something everyone can do but I’m grateful I can because I can honestly say I think it’s over. I think I may finally have some closure over all that crazy emotional injury I have and that I caused through my two marriages. I just felt it in a moment. Contrition. Like I hadn’t before. I don’t know if other people watching the scenes unfold will have similar feelings. I did though and It was heavy. All the episodes I saw were good. I think it’s going to be a good season.

Today I have a somewhat heavy but fun talk with Pete Davidson. On Thursday, I talk to Tom Colicchio the chef. That was fun. Good talks.
 

Enjoy! 

Boomer lives!

Love,

Maron

My Favorite Song Ever.

People!

What’s up? Are we living it? Yes. What is it?

First off, the release of ‘Waiting for the Punch’ is one month away - October 10th. So, go preorder your copy now at wtfpod.com or marcmaronbook.com, and upload your receipt on the preorder page to get a bookplate signed by me. I’m signing bookplates all day long. I don’t want any remainders. The book is great. I’m not just saying that.

Also, thanks again for all the positive feedback for my Netflix special ‘Too Real.’ Again, I’m real proud of it and I’m glad people are digging it. I’m happy so much of the feedback is about the structure and attention to the craft of standup. I’ve been doing this a long, long time. I’m happy that it shows, finally. Kept it tight.

Okay, a cool thing happened. I’m wary to share things sometimes because I don’t want you to get the impression that I’m too happy. I am not. Unfortunately, happiness doesn’t seem to be contingent on good things happening or things working out or accomplishments. It is elusive when your brain sees it as the opposition. That said I had a cool thing happen. 

If you are a regular around here you know that I’m a big Randy Newman fan and I had an amazing talk with him on the show. As I said on the show, I kind of wanted to hang out with him more. Well, his manager reached out and invited me to a benefit show that he was performing on for the Silverlake Music Conservatory. Then it turns out that me and Sarah would be sitting at his table too. I knew nothing about it. All I knew was I was going to see Randy perform. The Red Hot Chili Peppers and Anderson Paak were on the show as well. Had to look up Anderson. 

The day before the show event I get a call from Flea. It’s his event. He started the conservatory and his host, Magic Johnson, bailed. So, naturally the first call would be me. Makes perfect sense. Oddly, he had no idea that I was going to be there anyway. I didn’t really want to work because that would mean dread would sink in and I have to host the thing. But I did it for the kids AND I would get to bring Randy up. I did okay. Got some laughs. I was probably a little too dark for the event but fuck it I was there to help out. 

Long story shorter here—the Peppers were great. They sang with kids from the school. I had never seen them. PowerfuI. I brought Randy up after them. It was just him at a piano doing some of his classics. It was amazing. The weird combination of the biting wit and beauty of the songs mixed with his natural vulnerability of just being up there alone and his age and gravitas was just perfect to me. Then, he played ‘Guilty’ because I had requested it and it was mind blowing. A few tears came out. They do any time I listen to that song. It’s like my favorite song ever.

Ken Burns is a genius filmmaker. His new doc is The Vietnam War and it is devastating, eye-opening and brain changing. It is its own event for sure. It should be a requirement for all Americans to watch it. In many ways, we are still living in the America that specific war unleashed. Today I talk to Ken and his co-director Lynn Novick about making the massive ten-part masterpiece. On Thursday, the amazing Kathy Bates talks to me about her life and career. Intense person. Great talks.
 

Enjoy! 

Boomer lives!

Love,

Maron

Real Hot.

Hey, Folks!

Right out of the gate I should tell you that my new Netflix Special ‘Marc Maron: Too Real’ premiers tomorrow, Tuesday, September 5th! I think I was funny and it looks fucking great. Check it out. Queue it up. Do what you have to do.

I just got back from a party at Jeff Ross’s house. He’s lives up in the hills and when I was driving back it started to pour for a few minutes and I was just hoping it was long enough to put out the fires that are eating up the hills of Burbank and Glendale. Every day it’s hard for my brain to pass up the opportunity to connect the apocalyptic dots and feel like we are full on in it to end it. Floods, fires, the unleashing of nuclear devastations, etc. 

The weird thing is I kind of like it when it gets real hot. I can rephrase that. Real dry hot. Humidity can go fuck itself. There’s something about dry heat that is mind altering for me. Granted, as you know, I don’t do any drugs or elixirs and now I’m off the nicotine and coffee caffeine so I’m pretty planted in the real when I’m not falling down a hole inside my head. To walk out into 104 degree temperature and feel the water in my body actually start to burn out of me and not even collect on my skin because it evaporates is the beginning of the buzz. That weird feeling of lightheadedness and the heated atmospheric weight of the air crushing down on me and literally baking my body is kind of relaxing for a bit. As soon as I’m about to pass out—back into the AC. I’m just trying to find a positive spin and a little hope for species adaptation in these end times. For those of us who don’t believe in some sort of savior driven evacuation of the planet to the eternal happy place, we have to gird up the loins of our minds and prepare for the worst of what those who want it to end one way or the other are doing.

I’m focusing on gut flora. Trying to get the bacterial blossoms in my lower guts leveled and sated and healthy. Between coffee and nicotine, I don’t think they’ve had a good go of it. So, I’m trying to get them buttressed and populated. Eating the krauts and kimchi. Shooting back some probiotic sour milk tasting things that boast like 45 billion of the little guys that I’m supposed to host and feed. I was told that they need prebiotic stuff to eat which is like cold cooked yams, jicama and asparagus. So, I'm eating that. Apparently unrefined sugars get the bad bugs going. Trying to stay away from those. Just trying to get the guys in the gut balanced because that is the operational source and core of the vessel apparently. I did just eat a hearty slice of oven baked mac and cheese at Jeff’s. Hopefully there was something for all my bugs.

Today I talk to Warren Hutcherson. We started together as comics and he’s gone on to work as writer for many shows. I always like his jokes. We haven’t talked in years. On Thursday Lorde and I talk about Peter Green, Paul Simon, Phil Collins, pop music and keeping it sad. Great talks.

Enjoy!

Boomer lives!

Love,

Maron

Some Relief.

Hey, People.

I’ll keep it brief. It’s hard to be too glib or self-involved or detached knowing that we are losing an American city and there are thousands of people whose lives have been devastated in hours. Houston is underwater. It’s an awful catastrophe and my heart goes out to everyone who is dealing with that as their present situation. It’s just horrifying.

Find out what you can do to help and stay vigilant about what this implies on a cultural level, political level and survival of the species level.

Almost everything on every level seems to be at a breaking point if not already broken. I will try to keep providing some relief the best way I know how--talking about my own bullshit and to other people about theirs.

Today I have a very engaged talk with actor Jay Baruchel. Sharp kid. Great actor. Decent human. On Thursday, I talk to one the most amazing drummers in the world Steve Jordan. We talk jazz and Stones and Letterman and Lee Morgan. Good talks!

Enjoy!

Boomer lives!

Love,

Maron

Push Back.

Damn, People. 

The army of unfuckable hate nerds has, at least partially, been radicalized by American white nationalist terrorist organizations and we have a president who refuses to condemn Nazis outright for fear of alienating a good portion of his base. Good times, America. End times, American-style. Tragic disaster of a situation. National fucking emergency. We’ll get through it, right? Fight the good fight, right?

I guess there’s some solace in that these groups look a ragtag travelling circus of angry teenage boys, old racists and militia doofuses. I think I actually saw some homemade wooden shields, Darth Vader helmets and a couple light sabers. Misguided, alienated boys. I guess that's the fodder of every army. There was loss of life and it is sad. It’s important to remember that this is a minority and we have to stand up to the hate nationally and in our own lives. This shit infuses the culture in weird ways like a virus that brings out the worst in some relatively good people. There’s a difference between having differing opinions and seemingly encouraging a permissive environment for evil ideas, hate and violence. Sure, you can say we have freedom of speech but when you do shit that is fucked up there needs to be consequences. We can all agree on that and push back whenever we see it.

 How will authoritarianism evolve here? By people not thinking it’s happening or by not paying attention and thinking it doesn’t really affect or change their lives. This shit affects everyone, even if you are sleeping, literally or metaphorically. And it's happening. 
 
On a lighter note, I think America will be the best damn authoritarian country in the world because when Americans set their minds to something they can do anything and be great! Relax. Joke. 
 
It was sadly perfectly timed that I’m posting a talk I had with Kareem Abdul Jabbar today. We talked a few weeks ago but his comments about white supremacy were prescient and necessary to hear today after this embarrassing tragedy of a weekend. On Thursday, I talk to Jennifer Jason Leigh about a lot of things but she’s in this new movie called ‘Good Time’ which is menacingly good. 

Enjoy! 

Boomer lives!

Love,

Maron

A New Coin.

Okay, People!

I’m having a window of caffeinated sanity and peace of mind. It will pass. Let’s seize it.

I always forget that during this time of year I get more nuts than usual. I get squirrelly. I get more uncomfortable in my own skin than usual. I get the deep soul itch. I get angry from the inside. Then, I realize, this week is my sober anniversary. It’s wild how consistent and true it is that as one approaches the marker the brain revolts from the dark place a bit. It wants to take you back, take you down. Get you on its level.

I had a dream a few days ago. That was the tipper. That was when I realized what was happening. In the dream, I was just sitting at a bar. I was a well-worn bar. The kind that real drinkers drink at. I was with Dean Delray for some reason. It’s odd because he doesn’t drink either. All I really remember about the dream was that I was ordering another Jack and Coke and I was smoking cigarettes, Marlboro Reds, like I used to when I was a kid. That’s all that really happened in the dream. Just me waiting for another drink and feeling my lungs. When you smoke a lot there a specific feeling in your lungs that is kind of always there. It’s a wet ache. You feel it when you breathe. I remember feeling that and I remember knowing I was drinking and was no longer sober and I remember wondering whether or not I would cop to it. When I woke up I felt relieved but it felt too real. Then I realized all this stuff was happening because I was approaching another year marker of my sobriety.

If I don’t spin out and wind up in a hotel room in Desert Hot Springs on a meth and vodka tear I will have 18 years sober on August 9th. Right in time for a new coin. I just lost my old one. Happens. Fell out of my shorts pocket I think. I thought it was a sign and now I think it was just a sign to make room for the new one. I go in and out on the coins. Some years I don’t have them and I don’t really care but now I kind of like them. They represent a serious chunk of time. I hope Sarah the painter gets me another one. I didn’t tell her I lost this one. It’s not accurate anymore anyway. Maybe someone will find it and get started towards that 17-year marker.

I am maintaining some sanity during my downtime summer. I tend to get a little OCD-ish when I have a lot of time. I think it makes me feel better. With the world coming unhinged and the country in turmoil sometimes it’s good to go through that box of wires and cords. You know all those cords that come with equipment that you don’t even know what they are for. You assume someone does or that you will learn what they are for but that fades and they go in the box. Some of the wires are outdated and useless but they’ve never been used so you better save them. I got them all organized and I have the box ready to go. Where? I don’t know. I hate to throw them away. Giving them to Goodwill seems stupid. That’s just what needy people need is unusable cords and wires for unknown equipment. Maybe I’ll just put them on the street in the box and write ‘Free Wires and Cords’ on it. Then I’ll be checking to see if anyone is taking them. I should throw them away or maybe just leave them in the box on my deck until they eventually find their way back into the garage and I go through it again next year the week of my 19th year sober. I can only hope.

Today I talk to the very smart and amusing Lucas Brothers. I had a great time with them. On Thursday, I talk to Canadian comic Mike MacDonald, not the other one from Boston. It’s a harrowing story but he’s still alive, man.
Enjoy! 

Boomer lives!

Love,

Maron

Amplify It.

Hi, Folks.

How are you holding up? 
 
I’m okay. I’ve been doing more comedy than I thought I would this summer. I guess that’s really what I do. I did three spots at The Comedy Store on Saturday. Stacking them up like it’s a night in NYC back in the day. 
 
I spend a lot of time tooling around the house doing random shit in between checking the news and managing panic. OCD-like behavior and comedy seem to keep me sane and connected to my life and not my mind which is on fire much of the time. Oh, and Sarah the painter does her part to keep me present and connected too. Though I really try not to lean too hard on her but maybe I should. There’s a fine line between draining someone with your needs and actually being there for each other. I guess it’s only a fine line for the drainer. Me. The drainee just gets exhausted. She’s really good at managing her resources and me. It's better I fester about cleaning a chair or going through a box of wires than starting shit with her for NO reason. In other words, the chair is clean, the wires are separated and organized, and Sarah still likes me. Summer. 
 
My right eye is fucked up. That’s another thing I do when I make a little time for myself. Zero in on everything that is going on in my body and amplify it. See, I know how to have a good time. I’m not sure what is going on and I don’t like it. There are many precedents in my life for feeling shitty for no clear reason. I did go see my trumpet-playing hard bop optometrist, Dr. Elliot Caine. He flipped the glass in the hanging, numbered mask and got me dilated and looked into the goo in my orbs and checked me for the Glaucoma while talking jazz the whole time. It was eye-opening. My prescription changed a bit. Of course, right after I just got new lenses and new frames but maybe that will resolve the issue. More new lenses. The nausea, lightheadedness and dizzy feeling. If not, time to make the rounds. I’m so glad I have good insurance. Everyone should feel that. It’s nice to know that you can go to a doctor when you need to. 
 
I have to think that with the free time in this particular era, stress is a factor to my queasiness. I talked to former Vice President Al Gore for today's show about the slow cooking of the planet and the repercussions of using the atmosphere as a vapor sewer. It’s some hard truth. And it is truth. I really don’t understand the ignorant pushback against climate science other than that some people are so greedy and entrenched in a fossil fuel paradigm that they are willing to hedge their bets to hold power and money. Much of that money they invest in brainwashing angry people into thinking climate change is bullshit. I guess they are afraid of renewable energy because it is hard to commodify the sun and wind. All you can do is harness them and that’s not good enough. Fuckers. 
 
So, Al Gore today and Thursday I talk to Rory Scovel. He’s a very funny guy and he lives down the street from me now. I do a short chat with Maz Jobrani as well. 

Enjoy! 

Boomer lives!

Love,

Maron

An American Genius.

Okay, People!

How is it for you? Are you keeping a balance? Are you compartmentalizing the terror and dread, doing what you can, appreciating life in the midst of the blight? Hope so.

I know it’s hard. Hope is elusive but it does make being engaged in the real deal more urgent.

None of us know what this perfect storm of fascist Christian ideologues, billionaire libertarian psychopaths, their legislative minions and their brainwashed foot soldiers will achieve but they’ve all been working on it for years and we shouldn’t be that surprised. The goal is for Capitalism to consume and neuter democracy in the name of money for the moneyed and in the name of liberty for unenlightened. The fact that a man-child prince of chaos and maniacal insecurity helms this overheated vessel is a minute-to-minute cause for panic. It’s hard to manage. 

Comedy is booming. The economy is good. In America, when in fear, we turn to fun stuff with desperation and craven hunger. See, there's a balance. That’s how the system works. Extreme capitalism.

By the way, thanks to everyone who has preordered WAITING FOR THE PUNCH: Words to Live By from the WTF Podcast. Whenever you preorder the book, you can submit your proof of purchase for an exclusive bookplate, signed by me. Check it out here. 

On the "engaging with life and appreciating what I have" front I talked to one of my heroes this week. Randy Newman is an American genius. I think I was in junior high when someone turned me on to his albums ‘Good Old Boys’ and ‘Sail Away.’ Some kid had gotten hip to them by his hippie dad and they made their way down the time pike and blew my mind for good: his voice, his deep-rooted, elevated piano, his respect for the American song book and his deceptively cutting lyrics. Scathing lyrical satire. Perfect balance. The dark stuff. The real funny that makes you think.

I had been trying to talk to him for a few years and with the release of this new record ‘Dark Matter’ it happened. I listened to his first five records on a loop for weeks leading up to the talk and I realized I had always been listening to them and I still am. When I was in college Randy used to appear on Letterman’s show frequently and I loved it and made point not to miss his appearances. He always appeared defeated and sharp and his wit was what was saving him it seemed.

When we talked I tried to keep my fanboy-ness in check and just really talk to a man whose brain I have loved for years in a genuine way. It was a true honor and pleasure. So much so that I did something I’ve never done before. The day after we talked I reached out to his management and told them that if Randy every gets bored or has some time on his hands I’m available to hang out any time if I’m in town. Lunch, coffee, whatever. They were polite and told me they’d get the message to him but I felt dumb and I don’t imagine it will happen. So, I’m happy we had the talk and that you can listen in.

On Thursday, I have an amazing talk with David Alan Grier. So much I didn’t know and couldn’t know really. Smart, talented, funny man.

Enjoy! 

Boomer lives!

Love,

Maron

Faulty Equipment.

Hello, Friends.

It’s hot. Some days I don’t know if I’m dying or sick or exhausted or it's just hot. Well, two of those are inevitable.

I’m taking it easy this summer but I really don’t know how to take it easy. Physically I seem to be doing less but mentally I’m on fire. I thought that with some success a bit of my insanity would be relieved. Some of it has been but some of it is just as active and intact as always, like a bad gear and a faulty gasket. It is outdated, limited equipment that only does one thing at one speed but is so deep in the engine it is intrinsic to all the other parts that have been updated and replaced. I have to get in there, update that machinery or install some kind of separate bypass box. The problem with the old parts is that they seem to be fueled by panic and negativity and they are feeling like that are being phased out so they are overworking now. It’s annoying and it's fucking up the engine a bit. I’m aware of it and I’m going to the mechanic.

One of the ways the faulty equipment seeks to stabilize the engine is to keep everything the same. The same patterns, same ticks, same self-regulation. It doesn’t adapt to new things or want to introduce new fuel into the system. I have never felt more compelled to take in new things and to pursue things I am interested in and push my creativity in a different direction. If I don’t do that, what’s the point of anything? Engaging is what life is. I engage with people all the time and it has definitely expanded my emotional capacity, my intellectual capacity, my knowledge, and diminished my negative and false assumptions constantly. It’s good. Shaking up that system, getting to some truth. I need context. Life context, other than just being alive and moving through the day-to-day. Need some meaning. I get it sometimes.

I talked to David Remnick who is the editor of The New Yorker. That magazine is a context and it is a noble context. Journalism, poetry, humor, theater, film, music, literature, visual arts. It’s like an applied liberal arts education every week. It is the context for a rich life of the mind and heart. It is something I aspire to. Because of my inability to compartmentalize and because of my outdated engine parts I can get hung up on one thing, one story, one piece of journalism and it will just seize up the machine which will then just spin in the mud of panic and negativity and make everything else seem pointless when it is exactly those other things that are the life preserver. We need to take them in and also create them. I know I’ve talked about this before. The human spirit, resistance, anger, pursuit of truth and justice need to be balanced with seeing the progress in good things in life and art. See, just writing that shows that I clearly know where the torque knob is on the old parts and I can adjust it. Maybe, I can get it working for me and not against me. Maybe I can torque it into a new place.

Today I talk to the amazing Edie Falco about her legendary roles and her life. As I said, I talk to The New Yorker’s David Remnick on Thursday.

Enjoy! 

Boomer lives!

Love,

Maron