John C. Dvorak, the iconic broadcaster and co-host of the No Agenda podcast, passed away on July 20, 2026, at the age of 80, leaving behind a legacy of sharp media critique and irreverent humor. In a special memorial episode titled "In The Mourning," released July 23, 2026, host Adam Curry dedicated Episode 1888 to his longtime partner, calling for July 20 to be recognized as a national holiday in Dvorak's honor.
Curry opened the episode alone, describing a "hole in my heart you could turn a 747 around in." He remembered Dvorak as "my friend, my business partner, my comedic counterpart, my all-time favorite broadcaster." The episode traced their nearly 19-year collaboration, which began when Curry was in London and Dvorak in San Francisco, and revisited signature bits that defined the series, including the Club 33 strip club announcer routines and Dvorak's infamous "I got ants," "fisting nuts," and mac and cheese rants.
Dvorak's widow, Mimi, revealed he died peacefully at home while watching NCIS, after asking for a spoonful of Manuka honey. She confirmed the long-running age gag that Dvorak insisted Curry expose after his death: he was six years older than the New York Times had reported. Their son Jay and daughter-in-law JC also joined the broadcast, along with longtime friends and thousands of listener-producers who flooded the show with donations and remembrances.
Guests included Will Hearst, best man at the Dvoraks' wedding, who hired Dvorak-adjacent tech writer John Markoff at the San Francisco Examiner; comedy writer Marty, who bonded with Dvorak over Jackie Vernon and Bill Dana routines; producer Dana Brunetti; and Andrew Horowitz, Dvorak's co-host on DH Unplugged since 2007. Stories ranged from a Consumer Electronics Show dinner at the Bellagio where Dvorak ordered $8,500 in wine on investors' tabs, to a young Dvorak riding a Kawasaki Triple through Tahoe snow after a B.B. King concert.
The episode also highlighted the show's value-for-value production model, with executive producer credits topping $5,000 from Dame Kathryn cryptogranny of Bangkok and hundreds of listeners contributing show-number donations of $188.88. Curry recalled their final sign-off the previous Sunday: "Okay, talk to you Thursday. Adios." The episode is available now wherever podcasts are heard, serving as a testament to Dvorak's enduring influence on media criticism and podcasting.
