Author Steve Almond shows Marc that writers can be just as tortured and self-doubting as comedians. The two of them discuss the highs and lows of a writer’s creative process. Plus, Marc finds out he has a new disorder and he gets a very adult phone call from an old friend. This episode is sponsored by Adam & Eve and Audible.
Dominik October 27, 2011 at 4:51 am
Can you link to that pamphlet about compensatory narcissistic personality disorder somehow?
Justin October 27, 2011 at 7:45 am
I really shouldn’t make negative posts but wow did I ever dislike this guy. A highly advanced know-it-all college kid who still wants to argue for his important bands, thinks Wall Street is the problem but the difference is he can do so in a very articulate way.
Anyways, even still, thanks for another WTF podcast for sure!
RadioNed October 27, 2011 at 9:08 am
Another Top 5 WTF of 2011.
thanks again for doin’ the heavy work, Marc !
btw - happy Birthday, Steve!
Gregory October 27, 2011 at 9:21 am
Wall Street isn’t the problem, Justin? What is? Wasting too much money on bullshit like hospitals and teachers?
Sean October 27, 2011 at 9:54 am
Fuck that pamphlet. Lame people love to label winners as crazy.Say it to yourself audibly,” I`m Marc Maron ,bitch!”
Pierre October 27, 2011 at 10:01 am
Excellent discussion Marc! It was nice back and forth and discussion of ideas. Keep it going.
Steve Hatchett October 27, 2011 at 10:34 am
Dug the podcast but Steve Almond could not be more wrong. Not everyone hates themselves. Not everyone is looking for truth or authenticity. A lot of people don’t care about those things. And that is good because most people have to get out bed in the morning and go to work. But, hey, fight the good fight. Knock yourself out. I’m enjoying the conversation.
jimjim October 27, 2011 at 10:44 am
hey Marc, great episode! this is the type of WTF i connect to the most. thanks marc
Rev. Mike October 27, 2011 at 1:09 pm
Marc, absolutely loved this one, definitely made up for the Carrot Top episode (not your fault). I am really looking for some Carrot Top follow up without his sycophant around. I think CT could be a Joe Rogan type situation. He was full of shit.
Jon October 27, 2011 at 1:34 pm
This is the only WTF I’ve ever stopped listening to before it finished. I could not have disliked Steve Almond more.
Gregory October 27, 2011 at 1:44 pm
Amy Schumer was worse.
Greg October 27, 2011 at 2:32 pm
Amazing episode. It’s great to hear a truthful/honest conversation about life.
Crate&Trauma; October 27, 2011 at 4:33 pm
Great talk, how have not heard of this guy before? I’m going to go pick up his books today.
Bob October 27, 2011 at 4:52 pm
Steve Almond was not for me. Marc, please try to get some more guests with energy, spice for life and passion. Guys like Steve do not make you better.
Johnny B October 27, 2011 at 7:05 pm
deep stuff…. verbalized a lot of what I’m thinking about the culture right now
Six Dixon October 27, 2011 at 7:58 pm
This guy came across as overly mopey and more than a little bit pretentious. I usually don’t like to call things pretentious because I find it to be a cheap and largely meaningless criticism, but when he is talking about how our species is “doomed” because of a lack of authenticity, I find myself unable to find an another adjective better suited.
Not my cup of tea. Looking forward to the next episode.
DA October 28, 2011 at 12:18 am
Agreed—Shumer was the worst. Her boyfriend’s ep is nearly as bad.
Maron, c’mon dude, kings of leon? You’re that guy? Bah. Love your show
always
Joe Tily October 28, 2011 at 4:15 am
Loved this episode. A great conversation, i found it really interesting. As a big book hoarder myself i strongly agree - Fuck Kindle . . . !!
Drew October 28, 2011 at 9:28 am
That is the most accurate description of Palm Desert I’ve ever heard.
Dustin October 28, 2011 at 10:16 am
I’m just happy that I came to the comments and was able to see that I wasn’t the only one who thought this guy was a complete blow hard. First of all I love when writers blame the culture for their shit book sales, because god knows with that big brain he’s got it couldn’t be anything else. I listened to the entire episode, loved it as always. Doesn’t mean I’m going to like every guest.
vadgeman October 28, 2011 at 11:58 am
Glad this episode brought the headiness, especially after Buress and the ‘Top’s vacuousness. Marc, you’re at your best when conversing with another smart person.
Beelzebud October 28, 2011 at 12:10 pm
I found this episode to be really tedious, even when I was in agreement with what was being said.
Liam October 28, 2011 at 2:02 pm
This guy was a bit self-righteous but articulate and intelligent, which made for an enjoyable podcast. The intelligent person’s burden is the search for meaning. Most people never feel the need to look beyond the search to satisfy the ego. Just walk around a beach town/concert/night club/Vegas/mall/etc.
Diane October 28, 2011 at 5:00 pm
That was incredibly depressing. The only reason I listed to the entire podcast was because I like listening to Marc. It sounded like one more intellectual whining about how hard things are and other people who aren’t as academically intelligent as he is.
I do have to disagree about bound books vs. eBooks. After I got my eReader I started reading twice as much as I did before because I can put a library in my purse and read anywhere. It’s also a lot easier and often times less expensive to obtain the books. It also means that I can own hundreds of books that I wouldn’t otherwise have the space to keep.
Lee October 28, 2011 at 7:25 pm
As a graduate of the UC Riverside Palm Desert MFA who got his skin the night of Steve’s commencement address, I will confirm that it was a great speech - funny, heartfelt and honest. That said, his “how to write good porn” lecture/practicum was a lot more fun, and quite instructive as to the sexual leanings of the faculty, many of whom shared their work with the group. Now cheer the fuck up, Steve.
Another Justin October 28, 2011 at 8:33 pm
Marc, listen to King of Leon all you want to.
sweetjimmyt October 29, 2011 at 3:33 am
Jesus! Almond is the worst. If I was forced to have a dinner conversation with this guy, I would have to buy nicer clothes, cause this guy travels in more affluent circles than I do. but still, I looked up his name, and this review caught my interest. I not only enjoyed Foer’s book, but, talk about sour grapes.. Steve has the nerve to write a book called “Rock ‘n Roll Will Save Your Life,” and then coyly shrug off having not read “Life” by Richards!?! Every idiot rocker I know has read this library book on a plane. Monetize this.. monetize that.. What an asshole
KingKongKnightmare October 29, 2011 at 11:52 pm
Hey Marc you hear Patrice dog you on Jay Mohr’s podcast?
Justin October 30, 2011 at 6:26 pm
Hey KingKongKnightmare, did you hear Patrice is in dire circumstance in a hospital after suffering a debilitating stroke?
I could never pretend to speak for Marc but I think it would be safe to say, no matter how those two clashed, I suggest Maron is the last person interested in a ‘flame war’ and the first person visiting Patrice in the hospital right now.
KingKongKnightmare October 31, 2011 at 12:59 am
Hey Justin, why don’t you shut your fucking mouth because I don’t remember asking you a goddamn thing.
Karen October 31, 2011 at 3:26 am
I like how he says the garage is nice smelling, when Maron said earlier it smelled like cat urine. Ha ha.
Frank October 31, 2011 at 10:50 am
The Rolling Stones suck. Their music sucks. Perry Como, now that’s the ticket. Yea, Perry Como.
Frank October 31, 2011 at 11:19 am
Reality shows suck. Almond spent 10 minutes articulating that simple fact. Reality shows are in no way even close to how normal people really act. They are so fake, so contrived. I’m liking this Almond character more and more as the interview progresses. I mean he’s no Perry Como, but still.
Frank October 31, 2011 at 11:40 am
Okay, I listened to the entire interview. I will sum it all up in one sentence. Here it is—-> Life’s a bitch and then you die.
Catseye October 31, 2011 at 1:27 pm
Never heard of this Almond guy, he’s not funny, or interesting, why was he on the show? What a pretentious know-it-all!
Patrick October 31, 2011 at 3:14 pm
THIS WAS THE BEST
George October 31, 2011 at 3:22 pm
MARK.
As a creative person myself (maybe many of the above are not creatives, god bless em), this was single handedly the most powerful episode of WTF I have heard. And I have listened to every single episode. including diStefano, CK, ... all of em. This is the first show that sent an electric charge up my spine that I am still running off of.
I’m glad your show is enjoyed by all kinds of people but am shocked so many would take the time to complain about a free thing. hahah
Great show, I commend both of you.
Cara November 01, 2011 at 10:51 am
I loved Steve Almond, I had never heard of him before this podcast and now he has a new reader. I wish I could attract a guy like him I seem to only get the “the man show” type ass.
GM November 01, 2011 at 1:30 pm
Loved this episode. I find often that my favorite episodes seem to be with guests I’ve never heard of.
Jade November 02, 2011 at 1:48 am
For the people hating on Steve, I’m not sure if you’ve ever been depressed or if you can tap into that feeling, but with those feelings of loathing come rationalizations about the state of the world and the way in which it is aligned against you. And just because you exaggerate and dwell on these aspects doesn’t make them incorrect, per se (though it certainly it doesn’t make them 100% true). But it’s the way, often, that smart people deal with that level of stagnation and dejection, and this paranoia and depression frequently has hidden in it great insight. A grown up version of a high-school diary if you will - self indulgent, but incredibly perceptive in the right way, and right context.
Anyway, maybe I am reliving my own self-indulgent, sorrowful and heady spaces of self thought, but I thought steve almond was brilliant, depressing, funny and passionate. This interview totally sounded like a song i loved when i was 16, and was happy to listen to again, if that makes any sense.
Anyway, thanks again for an engaging interview, and a space to place my thoughts for an hour or so.
Jason November 02, 2011 at 11:23 am
This is one of my favorite episodes. Weird that so many people were put off by it. If depression turns you off I guess you didnt like the Todd Hansen episode either. If heady intellectualism turns you off, I guess you youre not a fan of Louis CK. I mean sure he’s funnier than Almond (who isnt), but it seems to me theyd agree on a lot of things. The internet is weird.
Lisa M. November 03, 2011 at 7:03 pm
Loved this conversation. Another favorite WTF!
bryontreece November 04, 2011 at 9:04 am
Who is the music artist that Almond told Marc to check out? Can’t scroll through the ep to find that spot right now, but want to listen to some of the guy here at work. Thanks in advance for any help. And great ep Marc. Thanks!
bryontreece November 04, 2011 at 10:10 am
Got it….Ike Reilly.
bryontreece November 04, 2011 at 12:03 pm
More like Yikes Reilly….horrible recommendation. Just my opinion, of course; was hoping for something much more interesting.
Sam November 05, 2011 at 8:17 pm
what is the song at 8:52?
John November 07, 2011 at 3:57 am
Books are boring, but authors are interesting, to a point. 2/3 through this one and I’m bailing out. Both these guys are bleeding heart liberals, bleh. I thought the show wasn’t going to get political. These 2 guys have become what they hate. They are no better than the “right wing” folks that constantly bash the “left wing nutjobs”. Oh well, lost me for today. I’m gonna go listen to Adam Corrola. Mahalo!
Jay November 09, 2011 at 10:16 pm
One of my favorites of the whole year (after Iris Bahr). Great back and forth and tremendous insight. I felt like Steve was such an open book that it made the interview just flow without having to pry. Bonus is all the great music Steve has on his web site. Spent the night sampling tunes instead of studying vapor pressures and solubility of volatile anesthetic agents.
cnou November 23, 2011 at 10:41 pm
marc you’d better shit your pants next time you sip that coffee! come on now!wood pelelt raw materials
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sdfy4f February 09, 2012 at 11:16 pm
Dug the podcast but Steve Almond could not be more wrong. Not everyone hates themselves. Not everyone is looking for truth sometinghwhatis jh somethinghow df forumlogs
or authenticity. A lot of people don’t care about those things. And that is good because most people have to get out bed in the morning and go to work. But, hey, fight the good fight. Knock yourself out. I’m enjoying the conversation.
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