Veteran technology journalist and podcast host John C. Dvorak died on Monday, July 20, 2026, at the age of 80. Dvorak, a longtime columnist for PC Magazine and co-host of The No Agenda Show, passed away peacefully at home with his wife, Mimi, by his side.
The news of Dvorak’s passing was first shared via the social media handles of The No Agenda Show. While an initial post on X listed his age as 74, a subsequent newsletter edition clarified that his own hardware finally gave out at age 80. This discrepancy aligned with a long-standing joke within the show’s community; Mimi Dvorak later confirmed that her husband was actually six years older than the New York Times had reported.
The Final Moments and a Memorial Tribute
Dvorak’s death was sudden but peaceful. According to his widow, Mimi, he passed away while watching NCIS and critiquing the show’s acting and storyline, shortly after requesting a spoonful of Manuka honey.
On July 23, 2026, co-host Adam Curry aired a memorial episode of the No Agenda Show titled In The Mourning
(Episode 1888). During the tribute, Curry described Dvorak as his business partner, my comedic counterpart, my all-time favorite broadcaster
, and emotionally noted that he now had a hole in my heart you could turn a 747 around in
.
The memorial featured family members, including sons Jay and JC, and friends like Will Hearst and producer Dana Brunetti. The episode revisited the podcast’s origins from nearly 19 years ago and shared personal anecdotes, such as a Consumer Electronics Show dinner at the Bellagio where Dvorak ordered $8,500 in wine on investors’ tabs.
A Career Defined by Controversy and Prediction
Dvorak established himself as a pioneer of technology reporting in the 1980s and 1990s. A UC Berkeley graduate with a B.A. in History and a minor in Chemistry, he began his writing career in the wine industry before shifting to tech. He became a widely recognized voice through an Talking Biz News and wrote for other major outlets including InfoWorld, MarketWatch, Forbes, and Barron’s.
He was known for a provocative style that prioritized reader engagement. One former colleague noted that Dvorak’s syndicated columns in the ’80s often sparked contentious arguments among both staff and readers. This penchant for contrarianism extended to his predictions; he famously spent decades predicting the catastrophic demise of nearly every major technological innovation.
Beyond print, Dvorak’s footprint in the industry was broad. He was part of the startup team at CNET Networks and hosted NPR’s Technically Speaking. In 1991, he co-developed a game titled Dvorak on Typing
, a wry reference to the Dvorak keyboard layout.
The No Agenda Legacy and Value-for-Value Model
In 2007, Dvorak began co-hosting The No Agenda Show with Adam Curry. The podcast became a vehicle for skeptical media deconstruction and is noted for its value-for-value production model, where listeners support the show directly.
The show’s community has demonstrated significant financial support for the project. This includes executive producer credits exceeding $5,000 from Dame Kathryn cryptogranny of Bangkok, as well as hundreds of listeners who contributed donations of $188.88, matching specific show numbers.
For many, Dvorak was the entry point into the podcasting world. One fan shared that it was JCD that brought me into No Agenda
, noting that the podcast became a saving grace
during a period of recovery from multiple retinal surgeries.
Public and Private Identity
While the public knew Dvorak as a sharp-tongued pundit, those close to him described a different man. A tribute shared by Slashdot noted that he was a devoted father and proud grandfather, defined by strong convictions, his exceptionally sharp wit, and an enduring curiosity about the world around him
.
This duality—the professional provocateur and the private family man—is a recurring theme in the condolences pouring in on social media. On Thursday evening, JCD
began trending as thousands of followers posted tributes describing him as witty, intelligent, forward thinking, innovative, kind
.
The Future of No Agenda
Despite the loss of its co-host, the No Agenda newsletter has confirmed that the show will continue. To honor his legacy, the production is inviting donations from its listener base.
Dvorak’s passing marks the end of a specific era of tech journalism—one where the columnist acted as a high-profile gatekeeper and contrarian. By transitioning from the pages of PC Magazine to a listener-supported podcast, Dvorak effectively mirrored the industry’s own shift from centralized editorial authority to the decentralized, direct-to-audience model that now defines modern digital media.
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