It’s no secret that I was a pretty avid listener to the Marc Maron podcast, WTF. That alone, in this climate, can be a polarizing statement… He’s liberal. But he’s also a guy who has interviewed a lot of people I revered over the years. Especially comedians. My brother Don and I watched every “Rodney Dangerfield’s Young Comedians Special” that HBO produced when we were kids. Maron was a budding comedian during that time, and I swear he was on the same wavelength as me on who is funny.
Over the past few years, I have waited patiently on Mondays and Thursdays for his next guest. They have been everyone from a Western Kentucky folk rocker like SG Goodman, cult guitarist Adrian Belew, founding member of the Band, Robbie Robertson, and tons of others. A lot of Directors and actors sat down with him in the last year as his acting career has taken off.
Almost every episode starts with Marc’s personal monologue. It’s a really weird thing. When you listen to someone twice a week tell you about their life… It gradually becomes visceral as they share more and more details. It takes up space in your head. For better or worse, I suppose. I empathized with situations he was having with his cats… Parents… and the sudden death of his partner, Lynn. As I write this, I imagine my behavior is a lot like those soap opera-loving moms we used to make fun of when I was a kid. (I have lots of thoughts about contrived narratives and leading audiences. Where do I post that? Do you care?)
I was pretty hooked. Honestly, I didn’t listen to every episode. I love Christopher Guest, but I only got halfway through his interview. (Ironicly, his wife’s ep was brilliant and I listened twice). But I listened to a lot of them over the past five years. I was a regular.
Maron announced he was ending the show earlier in the year… And when he dropped the date for early October, I thought, “That will take forever to get here”. Well, it’s come and gone… And I have been a little lost since.
Not in a bad way… But I am definitely fine-tuning my daily routines since his exit.
This is all going to seem bizarre coming from a “podcaster”. I stopped listening to podcasts since WTF stopped.
I have a few shows in common rotation when it comes to podcasts. Bill Burr, Conan O’Brien, Joe Rogan, Scott Galloway, Jonah Goldberg, and Bill Maher are a fair list of my go-tos. One thing you will notice with this list is a complete lack of polarizing commentary either way. Sure, they all drift back and forth, but I think they are all fairly independent thinkers. I honestly thought that was better for my psyche, and I feel like that keeps me on my moral high horse when the far edges of both parties are battling for a victory in this odd American culture war. I’ll just sit over here, listen to moderates slam both sides, and stay outside the fray.
That has worked for me for years.
When Maron went off the air on the final show… I pulled into work, shut the car off, and didn’t think much about it. That night, since there was no other “half” to listen to, I put on some music for the drive from Pekin to Tremont. The next morning… What do I listen to? Not motivated by any of the podcasts I listed above, I went back to music.
I have not listened to a podcast since October 13th.
As I wrote that, it sounded idiotic. It hasn’t even been a month! Who cares?!?! I get it. It may not seem like a very long time… But this has been an interruption.
I do not walk around with voices that are not mine whispering in my ears. You have no idea how many hours a week I spent listening to other people’s commentary on “you know what this world needs”. It’s literally self-inflicted brainwashing.
Fortunately, we never subscribed to cable or satellite TV. (I mean EVER! Angela, I have never had paid TV since we were married in 1995. A friend mentioned the flight shutdowns last night, and Angela had no idea what they were talking about! LOL. I love that.) We seldom talk about politics, and news has never been a topic of conversation in this house. Watching, commenting, and posting my views on the news has never been a “hobby”.
There is so much going on in your own house, town, county, and state that you can personally help with. IMO, I do not need the concerns of others pouring into my brain on a very personal basis. Would you listen to someone talk to you face-to-face for three hours about UFOs? No, but if, Rogan has one of his wide-ranging zeitgeist guests on… Guess what, I will let fill the voids of my brain with all kinds of unvetted information. Seriously. Opinions of others, rolling in with no gatekeeper.
I used to laugh that England had a very strict Equal Time rule for their media. But, you know what? They might have it figured out. But, in an age of media on demand, broadcast rules of old media no longer hold any value. If I don’t like what you are telling me… I will tune in and subscribe to the person who agrees with me.
That’s frighteningly more brainwashing.
Self-inflicted.
Related, but pushing the boundaries of where this post began… I’ve been witness to 4 couples calling it quits. What’s up with the failing personal relationships because of differing political views? As someone who has had the displeasure of being at a bedside in hospice… I can tell you that no politicians or party chairs will be at your bedside comforting you. (more ironic statements from the guy who has been both) It will be family and some close friends. As you exit this world, your political affiliation will have done nothing but been a tool to build walls from those who love you.
Unless you have lots of time and money to dedicate to your cause, choosing politics over family is “life” wasted.
Things you can do that will keep you involved. Vote. Listen to everyone. Crazy uncles, grandparents, and college students equally. Contribute. Volunteer. When the time comes to vote again, be critical.
Life for me post Maron? Honestly, I am enjoying this silence. I miss Scott Galloway’s “Office Hours,” and lately he is talking a lot about mentoring and helping young men. It’s timely, and I like the direction he is going. But, consuming this “material” cannot be something that I just “listen to”. You have to do something if you feel it’s worthy of taking up your free time.
I need more of that… Free time.
But first…
Italy.
Sorry… As much as I want to do everything and be everyone to everybody… I still live in a bit of a “Summer got screwed and I refuse to let an opportunity pass” world right now. Therefore, I feel justified in being selfish.