The show early on was often about Maron talking through his beefs with fellow comedians, but it soon stood out and became a widely heard and medium-defining show with its thoughtful, probing longform interviews of cultural figures.
It became a key stop on press tours for authors, actors and musicians and reached a peak when then- President Barack Obama visited Maron’s makeshift Los Angeles garage studio for an episode in 2015.
Maron used a simple interview style to get guests to share stories they’d rarely told elsewhere. Seeking to know the biggest influences on their lives and careers, Maron would ask, “Who are your guys?”
Other memorable episodes include a 2010 personal and emotional interview with Robin Williams that was re-posted and widely listened to after Williams’ death in 2014. The episode earned a place in the National Recording Registry at the Library of Congress.
Maron kept doing standup specials and expanded his acting career while the show aired, including a three-season run on the Netflix series GLOW.