I was sitting in my car on my lunch break, listening to a podcast as I often do. Suddenly, one of the hosts announced that John C. Dvorak had passed away. I couldn’t believe it. I was shocked.
If you aren’t aware of who he is, please look up his work. John was a fantastic author, podcaster, and overall entertainer who had been in the game for decades. Like many, I first became aware of him while watching the podcast This Week in Tech. John was a recurring guest who was known for his humor and, some might say, negative takes. He really resonated with me and the way I view the world. Eventually, he was booted off that show, and I followed him to another show where he was a host: No Agenda. Truly the best podcast in the world.
So what happened? He had just had successful heart surgery a while back and was back on the air doing what he and his co-host, Adam Curry, do best: deconstructing the news. All seemed well until it wasn’t. There were complications, and last weekend he was suddenly gone.
I had been listening to the No Agenda podcast on and off for the last ten years. The two of them became like friends I visited every week. When life got busy, maybe I would skip some episodes here and there, but they were always there when I came back, like nothing had changed. Though now, I suppose things certainly have.
These kinds of events always make you think about life and how quickly it can end. What am I doing with the time I have on this earth? I have so many dreams and projects that I’ve just left sitting on the shelf, doing nothing with them, putting them off for one excuse or another. So here I am, trying to hold back tears for a man I never met, writing my thoughts, and I hope to do more of it going forward. I also want to get back to making videos and recording podcasts. Maybe I will. Maybe I won’t. I don’t know. What I do know is this: spend time with your friends and family. Do something today that you’ve been putting off. Live life. You never know what’s just around the corner.
Rest in peace, John. We have truly lost one of the greats. Thank you for all the laughs.
(A moment from the show that went on to inspire one of my favorite jingles)
