August 12, 2025 • 6 mins
Johnny Mac dives into the sudden wave of Marc Maron hype on Threads and beyond — and why it’s funny people act like he just arrived after 16 years of podcasting and decades of stand-up. From his HBO special’s Theo Von bit to his not-so-subtle Rogan critiques, Maron’s sparking a comedy culture war… but Johnny’s here to remind you this “new” Marc Maron has been here all along.
Become a premium subscriber! (no ads and no feed drops). For Apple users, hit the banner on your Apple podcasts app which says UNINTERRUPTED LISTENING. You also get 25+ other series from comedy to paranormal, royals, romance, trivia, politics, movies, music, murder, sports, travel, religion, spirituality, celebrity gossip and feuds, consisting of THOUSANDS OF SHOWS AD-FREE! (it’s only $4.99 a month with a free-trial month) PLUS, subscribers get offers like early show releases and subscriber-only shows. Go to Caloroga.com for all our shows!
Contact John at john@thesharkdeck dot com
John’s free substack about the media: Media Thoughts is mcdpod.substack.com
Also follow the companion piece dailycomedynews.substack.com
DCN on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@dailycomedynews
https://linktr.ee/dailycomedynews
You can also support the show at www.buymeacoffee.com/dailycomedynews
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/daily-comedy-news-with-johnny-mac--4522158/support.
Become a premium subscriber! (no ads). For Apple users, hit the banner on your Apple podcasts app which says UNINTERRUPTED LISTENING and the bonus “DCN8” show.
You also get 25+ other series (it’s only $4.99 a month with a free-trial month)
Contact John at john@thesharkdeck dot com
Media Thoughts is mcdpod.substack.com
dailycomedynews.substack.com
DCN on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@dailycomedynews
https://linktr.ee/dailycomedynews
www.buymeacoffee.com/dailycomedynews
Become a premium subscriber! (no ads and no feed drops). For Apple users, hit the banner on your Apple podcasts app which says UNINTERRUPTED LISTENING. You also get 25+ other series from comedy to paranormal, royals, romance, trivia, politics, movies, music, murder, sports, travel, religion, spirituality, celebrity gossip and feuds, consisting of THOUSANDS OF SHOWS AD-FREE! (it’s only $4.99 a month with a free-trial month) PLUS, subscribers get offers like early show releases and subscriber-only shows. Go to Caloroga.com for all our shows!
Contact John at john@thesharkdeck dot com
John’s free substack about the media: Media Thoughts is mcdpod.substack.com
Also follow the companion piece dailycomedynews.substack.com
DCN on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@dailycomedynews
https://linktr.ee/dailycomedynews
You can also support the show at www.buymeacoffee.com/dailycomedynews
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/daily-comedy-news-with-johnny-mac--4522158/support.
Become a premium subscriber! (no ads). For Apple users, hit the banner on your Apple podcasts app which says UNINTERRUPTED LISTENING and the bonus “DCN8” show.
You also get 25+ other series (it’s only $4.99 a month with a free-trial month)
Contact John at john@thesharkdeck dot com
Media Thoughts is mcdpod.substack.com
dailycomedynews.substack.com
DCN on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@dailycomedynews
https://linktr.ee/dailycomedynews
www.buymeacoffee.com/dailycomedynews
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
Kalaroga Shark Media.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Hey the Aaron Johnny Mack with another commentary episode. I'm
not gonna start doing this every day. I just had
two things on my mind yesterday afternoon. I dropped one
about Howard Stern. Today is about Mark Maren and I've
become just fascinated on comedy threads. It's like people discovered
Mark Maron exists. He's the talk of Threads. You know,
he's been around. He's had a podcast for sixteen years.
(00:32):
You could have listened. One of the interesting side effects
of all this says people are rallying behind Mark Maren.
I keep seeing tweets like this one. You like Mark Maron,
now good, It's deserved, but rewatch them. Jen Kirkman, she
was basically blackballed for saying the same stuff over the years.
Another one, Mark Maron is great for calling out Edge Lord's,
but Jen Kirkman deserves way more credit. I mean fine.
(00:55):
I know personally, I did a Jen Kirkman c K
story once and she blocked me. So I don't know
w come out. Bell has a substack. He wrote, there's
a new comedy sheriff in town. If you're a comic,
Mark Maron needs to know if you've been in the
vicinity of Donald Trump love it. Bell writes about the
bit from Maren's current special about if Theovonne had hitler
(01:16):
On as a guest. I don't know if you've seen
the special yet. It is fantastic. Bell writes, that's what
I thought. This is it the resistance against fascist comedy
finally goes mainstream. And it's true. I've seen other like
minded comics aka comics with minds celebrate Maren's bit about THEO.
As I type this, Mark Maren is a trending topic
on threads. Yes he is, he has been. Let me
(01:37):
just see what's going on right now. I'm gonna just
search Mark Maron and see what people are saying here
in top all right, just to bring this all together.
And again, no script today, I'm just talking off the
top of my head. Somebody named Sean Ryan Shark came
at Jen Kirkman and wrote, thrilled you could make one
of the most important moments in social media history about yourself,
whoever you are. Jen Kirkman wrote back, yes on my page,
(01:57):
what a sin, sir. Please go back to your male
lonely epidemic. You do not have the critical thinking skills
for my post. Mark is a friend of mine and
he would agree with me not you enjoy your weekend,
whoever you are. Apparently my post is doing well where
I wrote It's a shame Mark Maron only started podcasting
last week. People seem to like what the guy has
to say. If you're on threads, I'm at Daily Comedy News,
(02:18):
Jen Kirkman again. Sorry, I'm all over the place again.
No script today? Was I blackballed? I don't want to
spread false things. Maybe definitely harassed into PTSD better now
and I've learned how to talk stuff online and make
it fun. I honestly think I was mostly just ignored.
But I do think Mark makes a bigger impact because
he's more in the clubs with those guys. I always
avoided them, so no one wants to hear from the
chick who never occupied the same literal space. Mark Maron
(02:40):
has a pretty big podcast and he's out promoting a
product on HBO. That's why people are paying attention. Sean
of Killy Posts. Mark Marin is arguably the inventor of
comedian interview podcast and the dude going scorched earth on
a lot of the people he influenced, but who've used
the medium in the worst hackish way on the way
out is kind of awesome. Jennifer right, smart man is right.
(03:00):
Comedy used to be observational, introspective, and rooted in real emotion,
bringing relatability and catharsis to the masses. Now it's protein shakes,
peacocking and prepubescent punchlines for clicks. Alice Waterland, comedian posted,
don't get me wrong, I'm glad Mark is doing his
thing with an A, but being vocal about this stuff
has probably negatively affected my career and has certainly affected
(03:20):
my mental health. And now everyone is having a much
needed conversation we've been begging you to have because he
brought it up. It's the way it works. I wouldn't
change a thing I ever said or did anyway. W
camal Bell posts Maren has specifically chosen comedy podcasts that
are friendly with the Trumpedians. He then plays a clip
from Bad Friends. I played that same clip on the
main show the other day, but since I have it here,
(03:42):
I will play it. He's talking about somebody in Austin.
Some people think it's Joe Rogan.
Speaker 3 (03:47):
As he's running half the planet out of Texas.
Speaker 1 (03:50):
Yeah, he's got a tight hold on the enlightened me, said.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
Dude, Maren's disdain.
Speaker 3 (03:59):
It's not a it's reasonable criticism, reasonable criticism. Ye, what
do you think the Austin shelf life is going to be? Well,
you don't know, Like I think that it's so effectively
tribalized at this point it really comes down to material
I mean, at what point, like, at what point it's
like whatever they represented in terms of policy, and it's
(04:19):
not a stretch.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
It's like they won trans people are frightened. They have
no ability to get healthcare anymore, and they're afraid of
being alive and have no freedom left. So that's done.
When do you stop with the jokes unless you're a
hack bell?
Speaker 2 (04:35):
Right, So, I'm old enough to remember the East Coast
Rappers versus West Coast Rappers beef of the nineties. This
feels like that, you know, I think he just kind
of nailed it. Comedy comes in all forms, and some
people like Maren, some people like Rogan. I like both.
I'm also a free thinker. I listen to things and
I go, huh interesting, where I go that's stupid? And
I decide for myself personally, I thought Mark Marin Special
(04:58):
was really funny. I thought the theo Vaughn Bitt was
really good. As I've talked about guys like Andrew Schultz
being like, I can't believe Trump lied. Yeah you think.
I mean, I know, I'm supposed to go down in
the middle myself and you're not. At l and A.
People want to hear Schultz say that. I'm just like, really, dude,
Bell writes, Maren is the perfect person to take on
the Trump Medians and the entire Rogan sphere. No one
(05:21):
can question Mark's comedy bonafides. He started a stand up
career in the late eighties and he take no prisoners
comedy scene of Boston. If Mark Maron wants to be
the sheriff of America's twenty twenty five comedy scene, then
we're lucky to have him. That's it, no real conclusion.
I'm just fascinated by everyone just being like, oh, this
Mark Myron guy has a lot to say, you think,
uh yeah, And you know, Mark's wonderful. I'm going to
(05:42):
miss his podcast. I'd love to get him as a
guest someday that I have no chance right now. If
he's doing the top shelves. But maybe you know, in
eighteen months after he's been on a little while and
he's doing something quiet, or maybe get down a movie
junket or something. I would love to talk to him
just in general what I would I didn't want to
talk comedy with him. I've listened to him. I speak
on his own podcast about living in Queens. That's what
(06:04):
I want to talk to him about. I did throw
deep one day. I have an old email from my days.
It's sirious, and I just was like, hey, gonna take
a shot here. I did not hear back. All right,
that's a little extra commentary for today. Back in the
Morning with a normal episode.
Kalaroga Shark Media.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Hey the Aaron Johnny Mack with another commentary episode. I'm
not gonna start doing this every day. I just had
two things on my mind yesterday afternoon. I dropped one
about Howard Stern. Today is about Mark Maren and I've
become just fascinated on comedy threads. It's like people discovered
Mark Maron exists. He's the talk of Threads. You know,
he's been around. He's had a podcast for sixteen years.
(00:32):
You could have listened. One of the interesting side effects
of all this says people are rallying behind Mark Maren.
I keep seeing tweets like this one. You like Mark Maron,
now good, It's deserved, but rewatch them. Jen Kirkman, she
was basically blackballed for saying the same stuff over the years.
Another one, Mark Maron is great for calling out Edge Lord's,
but Jen Kirkman deserves way more credit. I mean fine.
(00:55):
I know personally, I did a Jen Kirkman c K
story once and she blocked me. So I don't know
w come out. Bell has a substack. He wrote, there's
a new comedy sheriff in town. If you're a comic,
Mark Maron needs to know if you've been in the
vicinity of Donald Trump love it. Bell writes about the
bit from Maren's current special about if Theovonne had hitler
(01:16):
On as a guest. I don't know if you've seen
the special yet. It is fantastic. Bell writes, that's what
I thought. This is it the resistance against fascist comedy
finally goes mainstream. And it's true. I've seen other like
minded comics aka comics with minds celebrate Maren's bit about THEO.
As I type this, Mark Maren is a trending topic
on threads. Yes he is, he has been. Let me
(01:37):
just see what's going on right now. I'm gonna just
search Mark Maron and see what people are saying here
in top all right, just to bring this all together.
And again, no script today, I'm just talking off the
top of my head. Somebody named Sean Ryan Shark came
at Jen Kirkman and wrote, thrilled you could make one
of the most important moments in social media history about yourself,
whoever you are. Jen Kirkman wrote back, yes on my page,
(01:57):
what a sin, sir. Please go back to your male
lonely epidemic. You do not have the critical thinking skills
for my post. Mark is a friend of mine and
he would agree with me not you enjoy your weekend,
whoever you are. Apparently my post is doing well where
I wrote It's a shame Mark Maron only started podcasting
last week. People seem to like what the guy has
to say. If you're on threads, I'm at Daily Comedy News,
(02:18):
Jen Kirkman again. Sorry, I'm all over the place again.
No script today? Was I blackballed? I don't want to
spread false things. Maybe definitely harassed into PTSD better now
and I've learned how to talk stuff online and make
it fun. I honestly think I was mostly just ignored.
But I do think Mark makes a bigger impact because
he's more in the clubs with those guys. I always
avoided them, so no one wants to hear from the
chick who never occupied the same literal space. Mark Maron
(02:40):
has a pretty big podcast and he's out promoting a
product on HBO. That's why people are paying attention. Sean
of Killy Posts. Mark Marin is arguably the inventor of
comedian interview podcast and the dude going scorched earth on
a lot of the people he influenced, but who've used
the medium in the worst hackish way on the way
out is kind of awesome. Jennifer right, smart man is right.
(03:00):
Comedy used to be observational, introspective, and rooted in real emotion,
bringing relatability and catharsis to the masses. Now it's protein shakes,
peacocking and prepubescent punchlines for clicks. Alice Waterland, comedian posted,
don't get me wrong, I'm glad Mark is doing his
thing with an A, but being vocal about this stuff
has probably negatively affected my career and has certainly affected
(03:20):
my mental health. And now everyone is having a much
needed conversation we've been begging you to have because he
brought it up. It's the way it works. I wouldn't
change a thing I ever said or did anyway. W
camal Bell posts Maren has specifically chosen comedy podcasts that
are friendly with the Trumpedians. He then plays a clip
from Bad Friends. I played that same clip on the
main show the other day, but since I have it here,
(03:42):
I will play it. He's talking about somebody in Austin.
Some people think it's Joe Rogan.
Speaker 3 (03:47):
As he's running half the planet out of Texas.
Speaker 1 (03:50):
Yeah, he's got a tight hold on the enlightened me, said.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
Dude, Maren's disdain.
Speaker 3 (03:59):
It's not a it's reasonable criticism, reasonable criticism. Ye, what
do you think the Austin shelf life is going to be? Well,
you don't know, Like I think that it's so effectively
tribalized at this point it really comes down to material
I mean, at what point, like, at what point it's
like whatever they represented in terms of policy, and it's
(04:19):
not a stretch.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
It's like they won trans people are frightened. They have
no ability to get healthcare anymore, and they're afraid of
being alive and have no freedom left. So that's done.
When do you stop with the jokes unless you're a
hack bell?
Speaker 2 (04:35):
Right, So, I'm old enough to remember the East Coast
Rappers versus West Coast Rappers beef of the nineties. This
feels like that, you know, I think he just kind
of nailed it. Comedy comes in all forms, and some
people like Maren, some people like Rogan. I like both.
I'm also a free thinker. I listen to things and
I go, huh interesting, where I go that's stupid? And
I decide for myself personally, I thought Mark Marin Special
(04:58):
was really funny. I thought the theo Vaughn Bitt was
really good. As I've talked about guys like Andrew Schultz
being like, I can't believe Trump lied. Yeah you think.
I mean, I know, I'm supposed to go down in
the middle myself and you're not. At l and A.
People want to hear Schultz say that. I'm just like, really, dude,
Bell writes, Maren is the perfect person to take on
the Trump Medians and the entire Rogan sphere. No one
(05:21):
can question Mark's comedy bonafides. He started a stand up
career in the late eighties and he take no prisoners
comedy scene of Boston. If Mark Maron wants to be
the sheriff of America's twenty twenty five comedy scene, then
we're lucky to have him. That's it, no real conclusion.
I'm just fascinated by everyone just being like, oh, this
Mark Myron guy has a lot to say, you think,
uh yeah, And you know, Mark's wonderful. I'm going to
(05:42):
miss his podcast. I'd love to get him as a
guest someday that I have no chance right now. If
he's doing the top shelves. But maybe you know, in
eighteen months after he's been on a little while and
he's doing something quiet, or maybe get down a movie
junket or something. I would love to talk to him
just in general what I would I didn't want to
talk comedy with him. I've listened to him. I speak
on his own podcast about living in Queens. That's what
(06:04):
I want to talk to him about. I did throw
deep one day. I have an old email from my days.
It's sirious, and I just was like, hey, gonna take
a shot here. I did not hear back. All right,
that's a little extra commentary for today. Back in the
Morning with a normal episode.
Popular Podcasts
Law & Order: Criminal Justice System - Season 1 & Season 2
Season Two Out Now! Law & Order: Criminal Justice System tells the real stories behind the landmark cases that have shaped how the most dangerous and influential criminals in America are prosecuted. In its second season, the series tackles the threat of terrorism in the United States. From the rise of extremist political groups in the 60s to domestic lone wolves in the modern day, we explore how organizations like the FBI and Joint Terrorism Take Force have evolved to fight back against a multitude of terrorist threats.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal
Gregg Rosenthal and a rotating crew of elite NFL Media co-hosts, including Patrick Claybon, Colleen Wolfe, Steve Wyche, Nick Shook and Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic get you caught up daily on all the NFL news and analysis you need to be smarter and funnier than your friends.