Former President Barack Obama returned to Marc Maron’s podcast for the comedian’s final episode on Monday, using the conversation as a platform to discuss the state of the country, leadership, and a topic close to his heart: treating trans youth with decency.
The appearance on “WTF With Marc Maron” marked a reunion nearly a decade after Obama first visited Maron’s Los Angeles garage studio while still in office. This time, the discussion took place in Obama’s Washington, D.C., office and focused on what the former president described as the enduring importance of character.
Character, Community, and the Next Generation
“I do think that part of what our conversation needs to be more about, and it used to come out of the church or the stories we told our kids, was this sense of ‘you know what, character matters, honesty matters, community and family and loyalty and kindness matters,’” Obama told Maron.
The former president framed these principles as part of the broader political project: reaffirming core values while navigating a changing world. “I actually had some pretty old-fashioned values even if I had progressive or newfangled ideas,” he said.
Obama connected these ideas directly to supporting trans children, emphasizing empathy over judgment. “If I talked about trans issues, I wasn’t talking down to people and saying ‘oh, you’re a bigot,’” he said. “I’d say, ‘You know what, it’s tough enough being a teenager, let’s treat all kids decently.’ Why would we want to see kids bullied or shamed? Why would we want to do that? What if it was our kid?”
A Call for Respectful Dialogue
Throughout the hour-long conversation, Obama stressed that strong principles do not require condescension. Criticizing some liberal messaging as “holier-than-thou,” he urged people to remain true to convictions while acknowledging life’s complexity.
“You can’t constantly lecture people without acknowledging that you’ve got some blind spots too, and that life’s messy,” Obama said. “Saying, ‘I’ve got some core convictions, but maybe I’m wrong on this’ is not weakness, it’s part of being decent and honest.”
Maron’s Farewell and Lasting Lessons
The episode offered Maron a chance to reflect on a career spanning 16 years and over 1,600 episodes. With Obama’s guidance, he discussed the value of taking a beat between chapters of life, celebrating decency, and remembering that kindness to others, especially vulnerable children, is a mark of character.
By blending humor, political insight, and a message of empathy, Obama’s final appearance on “WTF” served as both a farewell to a pioneering podcast and a reminder of the enduring importance of teaching the next generation to treat all people with dignity.
