Overview

• The final episode was released Monday, Oct. 13, with Obama revealed on drop and recorded in his Washington, D.C., office as episode No. 1,686.
• Obama said democratic norms and institutional guardrails have been deliberately weakened and called on people and organizations to take a stand.
• He pressed universities, law firms and companies not to capitulate to White House demands, even if doing so carries financial or reputational costs.
• Offering personal counsel to the host, Obama told Maron he has “a couple of chapters left” and advised him to “take a beat” before choosing what comes next.
• Maron had announced the show’s end in June citing burnout and satisfaction, delivered an emotional solo goodbye on Oct. 9, and closed a run that helped legitimize podcasting after Obama’s landmark 2015 garage interview.