WTF with Marc Maron: Episode 1684 – Matt Groening

Date: October 6, 2025
Guest: Matt Groening (Creator of The Simpsons, Futurama, Disenchantment)
Host: Marc Maron

Episode Overview

In one of the final interviews recorded in his iconic garage, Marc Maron welcomes Matt Groening—the legendary creator of The Simpsons, Futurama, and Disenchantment. Their sprawling, candid conversation traces Groening’s creative influences, his path from Portland to LA, the origins of The Simpsons, his passions for underground comics and unusual music, and how shows like The Simpsons became cultural institutions and writer workshops. The episode is loaded with never-before-shared stories, personal reflections, and reflections on the meaning of subversive art in a shifting America.

Key Themes and Discussion Highlights

1. The Origins of Homer Simpson

[08:15] Matt Groening reveals for the first time the original inspiration for Homer Simpson:

“It was from a 1982 documentary on PBS… about a guy who had a Shakey’s Pizza franchise. And… I thought, this is a man, a sweet man who’s getting kicked in the ass by life. I want to write about that. And that’s where Homer came from.”
— Matt Groening [09:01]
Marc reacts:
“That’s the big news on this episode.” — Marc Maron [09:19]

2. Empathy, Documentaries, and the State of American Discourse

[09:32] Groening recommends the HBO documentary Which Way Home, describing it as the most heartbreaking thing he’s seen and a remedy to the “empathy deficit.”
Discussion pivots to how propaganda and the narrowing of media have eroded empathy and made dialogue more difficult, especially intergenerationally (e.g., Trumpism, Fox News).
Groening:

“It doesn’t even get acknowledged. The things to be empathetic about... Everything is so narrow, and everything is replaced by the next thing.”
— Matt Groening [10:23]

3. Influences: Growing Up in Portland and Counterculture

[11:27] Groening tells stories from 1960s Portland:
- Being usher at a Billy Graham revival, sneaking away to discover the Psychedelic Shop, seeing a Grateful Dead poster, and buying his first records.
- His parents’ progressive streak and their magazine subscriptions exposed him to political and psychedelic ideas early.
[19:09] Many Simpsons street names and characters named after real places and people from Portland (e.g., Lovejoy, Reverend Lovejoy; Kearney, etc.).
Matt’s father:
- Canadian-born, grew up a Mennonite, teacher, and WWII B-17 bomber pilot—a rich, complex figure who influenced Matt’s worldview.

4. Underground Comics, Zines, and Artistic Rebellion

[28:27] Groening discusses being raised surrounded by cartooning books (Punch, Saturday Evening Post), underground comics like Crumb, and imitating Dr. Seuss and Peanuts as a child.
[31:01] The origins of Life in Hell (his breakthrough zine):

“I hated [LA] so much… I made my own little magazine, my own little zine called Life in Hell. And it was all about Los Angeles and living here and how much I hated it… Most humor has hostility in it, but you can’t be so blatant with it. You gotta lure people in.”
— Matt Groening [31:01]
Life in Hell became popular after Matt shifted from “ranting” to making protagonist Binky a victim—people love an underdog.

5. Music Obsession and Punk Scene

[39:02] Marc and Matt list favorite “weird” musicians: The Residents, Frank Zappa, Captain Beefheart, Bonzo Dog Band, avant-garde classical composers (John Cage, Terry Riley, etc.).
[42:38] Groening lands a job at Licorice Pizza (record shop) during punk’s LA explosion and distributed Life in Hell there.
Decision to avoid drug use heavily influenced by Zappa's anti-drug stance.

6. The Break: From 'Life in Hell' to Hollywood

[44:35] Success of Love is Hell and Work is Hell attracted Art Spiegelman, who introduced him to Pantheon Books and mainstreamed his work.
[49:16] Polly Platt buys a Groening piece for James L. Brooks, leading to a life-changing meeting (after Matt walks to Paramount because his car was towed).
[51:05] In 1987, Fox asks for short cartoons for The Tracey Ullman Show. He resists giving up Life in Hell rights, so invents The Simpsons in the waiting room.

7. The Simpsons: Conception and Philosophy

Groening based Bart on a blend of his brother Mark, himself, and his mischievous childhood friend Joe (“the kid with the finger up his butt”).
[51:51]

“The most memorable cartoon characters you can identify in silhouette… that’s what I try to do.”
— Matt Groening [51:51]
Inspiration for Bart visually drawn in part from a Diane Arbus photo that led the boy in the photo to write Groening a letter (53:05).

8. Creative Process, Influences, and Writer Culture

Simpsons' early days: Studio (Klasky Csupo), casting (Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith), and the chaos/limits of network TV—censorship stories (“Bart cannot hold a shotgun up to the Easter Bunny and say, in five minutes…”).
National Lampoon, Mad Magazine, Monty Python, underground comics like Zap comics cited as crucial influences for both Matt and the comedic culture that shaped The Simpsons.
[64:08] Groening credits Sam Simon’s talent-spotting for assembling a legendary writers' room (e.g., Conan O’Brien, Greg Daniels, Dana Gould, John Schwartzwelder).
“It provided a space for them to really take it out there … with a cartoon, I mean, you can literally do anything with jokes.”
— Marc Maron [65:13]

9. The Art of Subversion and Longevity

Groening on the show's attitude:

“What’s at the heart of what the Simpsons has become is there’s a healthy amount of fuck you in it.”
— Marc Maron [26:04]
On blending emotion and rebellion:

“[Simpsons’ mission was] to make people forget they’re watching a cartoon, to go for moments of real emotion. We know it’s going to be cartoony, but let’s go for real, real emotion.”
— Matt Groening [58:03]
Admits maintaining originality with 800 episodes is “impossible”—but values that it’s still not a “ghost ship” (show running on inertia).

10. Family and Personal Life

[67:31] Matt is a father of ten (with two women), including two sets of twins and children ranging from adult to toddlers; describes his daily “line up for school” tradition; emphasizes making time for family.
Funny cat stories: Purina Cat Chow wanted his obese rescue cat Frosty as a “before” ad model.

11. Reflections on Creation, Legacy, and Moving On

[72:16] Groening draws a parallel to Maron's pending end of the podcast: after 32 years, ending Life in Hell was a relief, not a loss.
Advice on quitting and creative transitions:

“Don’t be afraid. It’s gonna be great. You can honestly do it again.”
— Matt Groening [72:28]

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

Origin of Homer:
“That’s where Homer came from.”
— Matt Groening [09:01]
On empathy:
“I think it would change people’s minds who have no empathy for immigrants if they could see this documentary.”
— Matt Groening [09:54]
On anti-hero artistry:
“Most humor has hostility in it, but you can’t be so blatant with it. You gotta lure people in.”
— Matt Groening [31:01]
On Mad Magazine writers:
“He’s the best drawer in the business… I think [Eric Gonies] is the top, yes.”
— Matt Groening [63:46]
On writer development in TV:
“It provided a space for them to really take it out there… with a cartoon, I mean, you can literally do anything with jokes.”
— Marc Maron [65:13]
On ending projects:
“To not have that one extra deadline. … Don’t be afraid. It’s gonna be great. You can honestly do it again.”
— Matt Groening [72:18, 72:28]

Memorable Anecdotes

Matt drew The Simpsons characters in a Fox waiting room minutes before their pitch meeting, intentionally using human figures to avoid losing rights to his animals from Life in Hell ([51:13]).
Buying his first Zappa album at a grocery store record bin ([24:00]).
The real-life inspiration behind many Simpsons names—drawn from friends, family, and Portland locales.
How Bart’s look is partly inspired by a Diane Arbus photo—Matt later receives a letter from the grown-up boy from the photo ([52:38]).
Cat “Frosty” becoming a dieting icon in a Purina Cat Chow ad, but only as the “before” model ([70:57]).

Takeaways for Listeners

The episode is a treasure trove of creative origin stories, the alchemy of influences that birthed a cultural juggernaut, and a meditation on how subversive art and emotional sincerity can populate even the brightest, zaniest animated worlds.
Groening’s candidness offers insight not only into his work, but into the driving obsessions, anxieties, and relationships behind truly long-lasting creative projects.

Timestamps for Key Segments

[08:15] Origin of Homer Simpson
[09:32] Which Way Home doc & empathy in media
[17:36] Matt’s father as cartoonist and influence
[19:09] Portland street names as Simpsons characters
[24:00] Zappa and music obsession
[28:27] Underground comics, Crumb, early influences
[31:01] Life in Hell zine and comic strip journey
[39:02] Musical weirdos and avant-garde influences
[46:45] LA punk scene, Gary Panter, and comic community
[51:05] The Simpsons created in a Fox waiting room
[53:05] Diane Arbus story and Bart’s look
[58:03] Brooks’ vision for Simpsons: emotional resonance
[64:08] Building the legendary Simpsons writing staff
[67:31] Matt’s family life and his 10 children
[70:57] Cat story and Purina Cat Chow ad
[72:16] Quitting lifelong projects and creative renewal advice

Tone & Language

Conversational, intimate, irreverent; both Groening and Maron blend humor, candor, and a certain sentimental, late-career wisdom.
Deeply personal reflections sit right alongside pop culture minutiae and comic-nerd glee.

Perfect for fans of The Simpsons, animation history, and anyone interested in the intersections of American pop culture, rebellion, and creative durability.

WTF with Marc Maron: Episode 1684 – Matt Groening

Date: October 6, 2025
Guest: Matt Groening (Creator of The Simpsons, Futurama, Disenchantment)
Host: Marc Maron

Episode Overview

Key Themes and Discussion Highlights

1. The Origins of Homer Simpson

[08:15] Matt Groening reveals for the first time the original inspiration for Homer Simpson:

“It was from a 1982 documentary on PBS… about a guy who had a Shakey’s Pizza franchise. And… I thought, this is a man, a sweet man who’s getting kicked in the ass by life. I want to write about that. And that’s where Homer came from.”
— Matt Groening [09:01]
Marc reacts:
“That’s the big news on this episode.” — Marc Maron [09:19]

2. Empathy, Documentaries, and the State of American Discourse

[09:32] Groening recommends the HBO documentary Which Way Home, describing it as the most heartbreaking thing he’s seen and a remedy to the “empathy deficit.”
Discussion pivots to how propaganda and the narrowing of media have eroded empathy and made dialogue more difficult, especially intergenerationally (e.g., Trumpism, Fox News).
Groening:

“It doesn’t even get acknowledged. The things to be empathetic about... Everything is so narrow, and everything is replaced by the next thing.”
— Matt Groening [10:23]

3. Influences: Growing Up in Portland and Counterculture

[11:27] Groening tells stories from 1960s Portland:
- Being usher at a Billy Graham revival, sneaking away to discover the Psychedelic Shop, seeing a Grateful Dead poster, and buying his first records.
- His parents’ progressive streak and their magazine subscriptions exposed him to political and psychedelic ideas early.
[19:09] Many Simpsons street names and characters named after real places and people from Portland (e.g., Lovejoy, Reverend Lovejoy; Kearney, etc.).
Matt’s father:
- Canadian-born, grew up a Mennonite, teacher, and WWII B-17 bomber pilot—a rich, complex figure who influenced Matt’s worldview.

4. Underground Comics, Zines, and Artistic Rebellion

[28:27] Groening discusses being raised surrounded by cartooning books (Punch, Saturday Evening Post), underground comics like Crumb, and imitating Dr. Seuss and Peanuts as a child.
[31:01] The origins of Life in Hell (his breakthrough zine):

“I hated [LA] so much… I made my own little magazine, my own little zine called Life in Hell. And it was all about Los Angeles and living here and how much I hated it… Most humor has hostility in it, but you can’t be so blatant with it. You gotta lure people in.”
— Matt Groening [31:01]
Life in Hell became popular after Matt shifted from “ranting” to making protagonist Binky a victim—people love an underdog.

5. Music Obsession and Punk Scene

[39:02] Marc and Matt list favorite “weird” musicians: The Residents, Frank Zappa, Captain Beefheart, Bonzo Dog Band, avant-garde classical composers (John Cage, Terry Riley, etc.).
[42:38] Groening lands a job at Licorice Pizza (record shop) during punk’s LA explosion and distributed Life in Hell there.
Decision to avoid drug use heavily influenced by Zappa's anti-drug stance.

6. The Break: From 'Life in Hell' to Hollywood

[44:35] Success of Love is Hell and Work is Hell attracted Art Spiegelman, who introduced him to Pantheon Books and mainstreamed his work.
[49:16] Polly Platt buys a Groening piece for James L. Brooks, leading to a life-changing meeting (after Matt walks to Paramount because his car was towed).
[51:05] In 1987, Fox asks for short cartoons for The Tracey Ullman Show. He resists giving up Life in Hell rights, so invents The Simpsons in the waiting room.

7. The Simpsons: Conception and Philosophy

Groening based Bart on a blend of his brother Mark, himself, and his mischievous childhood friend Joe (“the kid with the finger up his butt”).
[51:51]

“The most memorable cartoon characters you can identify in silhouette… that’s what I try to do.”
— Matt Groening [51:51]
Inspiration for Bart visually drawn in part from a Diane Arbus photo that led the boy in the photo to write Groening a letter (53:05).

8. Creative Process, Influences, and Writer Culture

Simpsons' early days: Studio (Klasky Csupo), casting (Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith), and the chaos/limits of network TV—censorship stories (“Bart cannot hold a shotgun up to the Easter Bunny and say, in five minutes…”).
National Lampoon, Mad Magazine, Monty Python, underground comics like Zap comics cited as crucial influences for both Matt and the comedic culture that shaped The Simpsons.
[64:08] Groening credits Sam Simon’s talent-spotting for assembling a legendary writers' room (e.g., Conan O’Brien, Greg Daniels, Dana Gould, John Schwartzwelder).
“It provided a space for them to really take it out there … with a cartoon, I mean, you can literally do anything with jokes.”
— Marc Maron [65:13]

9. The Art of Subversion and Longevity

Groening on the show's attitude:

“What’s at the heart of what the Simpsons has become is there’s a healthy amount of fuck you in it.”
— Marc Maron [26:04]
On blending emotion and rebellion:

“[Simpsons’ mission was] to make people forget they’re watching a cartoon, to go for moments of real emotion. We know it’s going to be cartoony, but let’s go for real, real emotion.”
— Matt Groening [58:03]
Admits maintaining originality with 800 episodes is “impossible”—but values that it’s still not a “ghost ship” (show running on inertia).

10. Family and Personal Life

[67:31] Matt is a father of ten (with two women), including two sets of twins and children ranging from adult to toddlers; describes his daily “line up for school” tradition; emphasizes making time for family.
Funny cat stories: Purina Cat Chow wanted his obese rescue cat Frosty as a “before” ad model.

11. Reflections on Creation, Legacy, and Moving On

[72:16] Groening draws a parallel to Maron's pending end of the podcast: after 32 years, ending Life in Hell was a relief, not a loss.
Advice on quitting and creative transitions:

“Don’t be afraid. It’s gonna be great. You can honestly do it again.”
— Matt Groening [72:28]

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

Origin of Homer:
“That’s where Homer came from.”
— Matt Groening [09:01]
On empathy:
“I think it would change people’s minds who have no empathy for immigrants if they could see this documentary.”
— Matt Groening [09:54]
On anti-hero artistry:
“Most humor has hostility in it, but you can’t be so blatant with it. You gotta lure people in.”
— Matt Groening [31:01]
On Mad Magazine writers:
“He’s the best drawer in the business… I think [Eric Gonies] is the top, yes.”
— Matt Groening [63:46]
On writer development in TV:
“It provided a space for them to really take it out there… with a cartoon, I mean, you can literally do anything with jokes.”
— Marc Maron [65:13]
On ending projects:
“To not have that one extra deadline. … Don’t be afraid. It’s gonna be great. You can honestly do it again.”
— Matt Groening [72:18, 72:28]

Memorable Anecdotes

Matt drew The Simpsons characters in a Fox waiting room minutes before their pitch meeting, intentionally using human figures to avoid losing rights to his animals from Life in Hell ([51:13]).
Buying his first Zappa album at a grocery store record bin ([24:00]).
The real-life inspiration behind many Simpsons names—drawn from friends, family, and Portland locales.
How Bart’s look is partly inspired by a Diane Arbus photo—Matt later receives a letter from the grown-up boy from the photo ([52:38]).
Cat “Frosty” becoming a dieting icon in a Purina Cat Chow ad, but only as the “before” model ([70:57]).

Takeaways for Listeners

The episode is a treasure trove of creative origin stories, the alchemy of influences that birthed a cultural juggernaut, and a meditation on how subversive art and emotional sincerity can populate even the brightest, zaniest animated worlds.
Groening’s candidness offers insight not only into his work, but into the driving obsessions, anxieties, and relationships behind truly long-lasting creative projects.

Timestamps for Key Segments

[08:15] Origin of Homer Simpson
[09:32] Which Way Home doc & empathy in media
[17:36] Matt’s father as cartoonist and influence
[19:09] Portland street names as Simpsons characters
[24:00] Zappa and music obsession
[28:27] Underground comics, Crumb, early influences
[31:01] Life in Hell zine and comic strip journey
[39:02] Musical weirdos and avant-garde influences
[46:45] LA punk scene, Gary Panter, and comic community
[51:05] The Simpsons created in a Fox waiting room
[53:05] Diane Arbus story and Bart’s look
[58:03] Brooks’ vision for Simpsons: emotional resonance
[64:08] Building the legendary Simpsons writing staff
[67:31] Matt’s family life and his 10 children
[70:57] Cat story and Purina Cat Chow ad
[72:16] Quitting lifelong projects and creative renewal advice

Tone & Language

Conversational, intimate, irreverent; both Groening and Maron blend humor, candor, and a certain sentimental, late-career wisdom.
Deeply personal reflections sit right alongside pop culture minutiae and comic-nerd glee.

Perfect for fans of The Simpsons, animation history, and anyone interested in the intersections of American pop culture, rebellion, and creative durability.

Episode 1684 - Matt Groening

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Summary

WTF with Marc Maron: Episode 1684 – Matt Groening

Episode Overview

Key Themes and Discussion Highlights

1. The Origins of Homer Simpson

2. Empathy, Documentaries, and the State of American Discourse

3. Influences: Growing Up in Portland and Counterculture

4. Underground Comics, Zines, and Artistic Rebellion

5. Music Obsession and Punk Scene

6. The Break: From 'Life in Hell' to Hollywood

7. The Simpsons: Conception and Philosophy

8. Creative Process, Influences, and Writer Culture

9. The Art of Subversion and Longevity

10. Family and Personal Life

11. Reflections on Creation, Legacy, and Moving On

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

Memorable Anecdotes

Takeaways for Listeners

Timestamps for Key Segments

Tone & Language

Summary

WTF with Marc Maron: Episode 1684 – Matt Groening

Episode Overview

Key Themes and Discussion Highlights

1. The Origins of Homer Simpson

2. Empathy, Documentaries, and the State of American Discourse

3. Influences: Growing Up in Portland and Counterculture

4. Underground Comics, Zines, and Artistic Rebellion

5. Music Obsession and Punk Scene

6. The Break: From 'Life in Hell' to Hollywood

7. The Simpsons: Conception and Philosophy

8. Creative Process, Influences, and Writer Culture

9. The Art of Subversion and Longevity

10. Family and Personal Life

11. Reflections on Creation, Legacy, and Moving On

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

Memorable Anecdotes

Takeaways for Listeners

Timestamps for Key Segments

Tone & Language