John C. Dvorak, the iconic tech journalist and longtime co-host of the No Agenda Show, passed away on July 20, 2026, at the age of 80. His death was confirmed on the podcast's episode 1888, titled "In The Mourning," released July 23, 2026. Host Adam Curry opened the broadcast alone, calling for July 20 to be recognized as a national holiday in Dvorak's honor, and was joined throughout by Dvorak's widow Mimi, sons Jay and JC, and a host of longtime friends and listener-producers.
The episode, which runs over two hours, weaves personal tributes with the show's trademark format of media deconstruction and humor. Curry traces the origins of the podcast nearly 19 years ago, when he was in London and Dvorak in San Francisco, revisiting signature bits that defined the series, including the Club 33 strip club announcer routines, Dvorak's infamous "I got ants" and "fisting nuts" rants, and his encyclopedic wine knowledge. Curry's opening monologue set the emotional tone: "Family, today I have a hole in my heart you could turn a 747 around in," he said, describing Dvorak as "my friend, my business partner, my comedic counterpart, my all-time favorite broadcaster."
Mimi Dvorak revealed that her husband died peacefully at home while watching NCIS, after asking for a spoonful of Manuka honey. She also 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. Guests included Will Hearst, who was best man at the Dvoraks' wedding and hired 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.
Listener response was overwhelming: executive producer credits topped $5,000 from Dame Kathryn cryptogranny of Bangkok, with hundreds of contributors making show-number donations of $188.88. The episode is available now wherever podcasts are heard. The No Agenda Show, a long-running, listener-supported podcast known for its skeptical media deconstruction and value-for-value production model, continues under Curry's stewardship. This memorial episode underscores the deep bond between the co-hosts and the community they built, highlighting Dvorak's enduring impact on tech journalism and podcasting.
