WTF with Marc Maron Podcast Episode 1681 - Jimmy Pardo
Sep 25, 2025
In this conversation, Jimmy Pardo, a pioneering stand-up comedian and podcaster known for 'Never Not Funny', reveals his journey through the podcasting landscape that began nearly two decades ago. He reflects on his early inspiration to Marc Maron, the struggles of competing in a booming medium, and the emotional toll of feeling overlooked. They discuss aging, the importance of creative integrity in comedy, and adapting to changes in their art. Pardo also opens up about his personal battles with hearing loss and the joys of mentoring his son in comedy.
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How Never Not Funny Began
- Jimmy Pardo recounts starting Never Not Funny with Matt Belknap while between TV jobs and not knowing what they were doing.
- They launched in 2006, found an audience quickly, and used the show to express themselves without network control.
The Risky Paywall Bet
- Pardo explains his paywall decision in 2008 as a gamble: charge or quit if it failed.
- The paywall bought him stability early, allowing him to buy a house and pay staff.
Tradeoff Between Money And Visibility
- Going behind a paywall gave early financial security but limited visibility during the 2009 comedy podcast boom.
- Pardo later added a free weekly episode to grow while keeping subscriber content.