RIP JCD
I discovered the No Agenda podcast on February 26, 2017. I know the date, because I heard the segment where they described the selection process for the previous episodes’ listener (nay producers) cover art submissions, and I immediately began submitting. That episode hit so many notes for me I had to kick in.
I knew of Adam Curry from introducing me to DEVO when I was 8 years old on MTV and John C Dvorak from shows I flipped to accidentally while looking to watch Morgan Webb talk about video games I had no intention of playing on Tech TV, but would not have expect the media deconstructive forces unleashed by their combining their powers. They were documenting the things that had gotten me quizzical looks for pointing out to people since the second Gulf War: media outlets intentionally miscontextualizing, distracting, and lying about ever topic they covered. And they were having a great time doing it (John and Adam, not the media… they seem miserable) and peppering in screaming goat noises. I found my show and could go on about it for pages. This gallery of pieces I made for the show is a good summation.
When compiling my ten year collection of comics in 2020, after a few years into crushing show art, if I do say, I’d gotten to know JCD a bit outside of the show, through emails and Twitter DMs, and knew from his ongoing art critiques that he got me and could write a killer blurb for the back of the book.
Within a few hours of sending him a link to the pdf, John came back with a blurb that made me blush.
"… one of the most creative and inventive humorists of the era…" from a guy that hangs out with hundred-millionaire cartoonists?!? I wondered if he exaggerated a little… (good place for an m-dash, if AI hadn’t made them uncool) but I couldn't wait to print those suckers and be able to print and share John’s words.
Fast forward several hundred episodes to episode 1771 where John reveals his philosophy on blurbing books. “if someone asked me for a blurb for their book I don't care how crappy the book is, I'll give them a blurb.”
John has repeated his approach to blurbs, adopted from Alan Watts, on several shows since then and every time, I laugh out loud. This didn't make his endorsement any less meaningful. If anything, I treasure it more. A classic JCD punchline that took a few years to land, immortalized on my BOOK. “a collection that should be on everyone’s bookshelf and is great for the coffee table for sure!” (John would have wanted a link to the book.)
<— The cover art for episode 1249 that John asked me to sign and send him for display in his fabled studio.
No Agenda producers generally recognized John's mind for technology, air pollution, wine, vocabulary, car-kits, vinegar, news paper delivery, media deconstruction, cheesecake, burn creams, leather care and cleaning products... but I think artistically-inclined producers will especially recognize the mind he had for art and comedy.
John understood the tools, the methods, and always offered stingingly helpful criticisms. My game was elevated every time I got to work with him on a Substack illustration.
Oligarchstronauts hitting some reentry turbulence John’s article about SPACE JERKS. —>
I learned of John’s passing on June 22, 2026 in a text from a friend in Boston who I met through the show. “RIP John C”. Nate is a wizard prone to stream of consciousness style text storms and John sounded great three days ago, so I hoped I was missing some context. I went to Adam’s Twitter account. I saw some remembrances, but there were conflicting birth years. It could still be a bit… but alas. Turns out the New York Times got John’s age wrong 25 years and he went with.
I want to send my love and condolences to Adam, John's family and dinner-at-the-house-kind of friends, but also to the veterans of the No Agenda show-art golden era (before AI took our jobs), my friends Darren O, Nick the Rat, Roundy, Tante Neal, Kenny-Ben, Mountain Jay, Net Ned, and many more. I'd even hug the non-cybernetic human half of Comic Strip Blogger right now if I could.
I have an email reply to John in drafts I wanted to tighten up before sending, because I can be a rambler, which, if you read this far— an email about human cloning with clips! Which I'll probably hang on to.
I haven’t missed a show in the 9 years since I discovered No Agenda. 3 hours on Sunday, 3 hours on Thursday. John felt like family. Though I don’t hear from anyone in my family that many hours a week. My days will never be the same without John's voice.
Thank you and farewell to the great JCD.
