Joe Armacost, affectionately known to many as “Producer Joe” from The Dan Bongino Show, passed away on Saturday, July 19, following a battle with ALS. He was a beloved figure in conservative radio and podcasting, with a career spanning decades and a legacy of nearly 3,000 episodes produced.
His passing was announced Monday morning by WCBM host Sean Casey during Morning Drive With Casey & Elliot.
“A bright light was extinguished when Joe Armacost passed,” Casey said. “He had been staying with his good friend Tommy Levin during his struggle, and Tommy told me, ‘The Colonel has left the building,’ referencing one of Joe’s unforgettable on-air characters.”
Though Armacost had been privately battling symptoms for over a year, his diagnosis of ALS was only recently confirmed after a visit to Johns Hopkins. He had been living in Florida following the conclusion of The Dan Bongino Show, which ended after host Dan Bongino accepted President Donald Trump’s offer to serve as Deputy Director of the FBI.
“Joe, Rest peacefully with The Lord,” Bongino wrote in a heartfelt message posted to X. The two shared a close professional bond, having built one of the most popular conservative podcasts in the country. Armacost’s mix of sharp production, humor, and timing helped define the tone and rhythm of the show.
Tributes have poured in from across the media landscape. The Constitution Project, a family friend, remembered him not just for his media work but for his humor and heart.
“Joe was an incredible guy who shared the stage in a rock band with my dad back in the day. His great sense of humor and staunch conservative values made him unforgettable,” they wrote on X.
Fans and colleagues alike remember his hilarious characters like “The 7-11 Guy” and “The Colonel,” both staples of Bongino’s early podcasting years. Before rising to national prominence, Armacost honed his craft at WCBM, the conservative AM station in Baltimore where his distinct voice and presence first resonated with local audiences.
A memorial service is expected, though details have yet to be announced. Armacost leaves behind family, friends, and countless listeners who viewed him not just as a producer, but as a personality in his own right — one who brought laughter, insight, and authenticity to every show he touched.
