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The Ringer’s Bryan Curtis, David Shoemaker and Joel Anderson catch you up on the biggest media stories, from sports to politics and everything in between.
1243 Episodes
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Welcome to the February Issue. Bryan is joined by Amanda Dobbins to answer the question: Why is everyone still so interested in the Kennedys? They begin by talking about ‘Love Story,’ the newest series by Ryan Murphy about John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette (8:00). They talk about the Kennedy nostalgia and how they thought the cast performed as the Kennedys. Then they talk about people or events that kept the Kennedy fame going (20:45). They discuss the family's public social life, movies and TV shows about them, George magazine, and more. Later they get into how the Kennedy family story was carried on after JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette died (55:24). They talk about all the secondary accounts that were written about the family, as well as other family members' failed political careers, then wrap up with discussion of current Kennedys in the political sphere, Jack Schlossberg, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Host: Bryan Curtis
Guest: Amanda Dobbins
Producers: Bruce Baldwin, Isaiah Blakely, and Jacob Cornett
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Bryan, David, and Joel are back together for February’s editorial meeting! They first discuss how they’re going to watch Trump’s State of the Union (9:03). Then they move on to some news items from the Olympics, starting with Kash Patel partying with the men’s USA hockey team (18:16). They also talk about Mike Tirico’s coverage at the Olympics (28:21). They talk about more bad news at CBS News (34:39), the newest Savannah Guthrie video (41:16), and the infamous photo of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor (45:08). They wrap up with a couple of reader questions (50:09), and Joel pays homage to a past coworker (54:38).
Hosts: Bryan Curtis, David Shoemaker, and Joel AndersonProducers: Isaiah Blakely and Bruce Baldwin
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Today, Bryan and Joel come together to discuss the legacy of Reverend Jesse Jackson, who passed away this week at age 84, and Joel's written piece on the reverend (00:54). The guys continue that conversation by telling the story of a reporter revealing something Reverend Jackson said to him on background (16:25) and how that reflects on modern journalism (27:13). Next, Bryan and Joel give an update on The Atlantic’s measles story and how it has been represented (35:36). After that, the guys talk about the latest in the James Talarico–Stephen Colbert censorship story (42:00) before ending the show with a discussion about Mick Cronin’s outburst at a reporter following UCLA’s loss to Michigan State (50:44).
Hosts: Bryan Curtis and Joel Anderson
Producers: Isaiah Blakely and Bruce Baldwin
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Bryan and David are here and they start with a story out of Cleveland about a student turning down a job because of their use of AI. They discuss whether there are acceptable ways to use AI in journalism. After that they talk about Barack Obama's podcast interview where he mentions that aliens exist (14:35). Then they discuss some news from CBS. Anderson Cooper leaving CBS News’ ‘60 minutes’ and Stephen Colbert’s late-night show not being able to air an interview with James Talarico (22:32). They also talk about how to cover Stephen A. Smith’s potential presidential campaign (27:07). Lastly they discuss a creative nonfiction story in The Atlantic (40:43) about measles and the death of Robert Duvall (54:27).
Also David Shoemaker guesses the Strained Pun Headline of the Week.
Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David ShoemakerProducers: Bruce Baldwin and Isaiah Blakely
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2Bryan and Joel are back, and they start by talking about the national story of Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance (1:04). Then we get Joel’s thoughts on the Winter Olympics (13:50). They also give their final Super Bowl thoughts (26:15), and they talk through some ideas for how to fix the NBA (32:55). Then they are joined by Logan Murdock ahead of All-Star Weekend to hear his locker-room stories covering the Golden State Warriors (41:24).
Hosts: Bryan Curtis and Joel AndersonGuest: Logan MurdockProducers: Bruce Baldwin, Isaiah Blakely, and Jamie Yukich
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Hello, media consumers! Bryan and David are here and they start by discussing the end of the Will Lewis era at The Washington Post. Then, they recap everything about the Super Bowl (23:08), including if there were any memorable moments in the game, the halftime shows, the commercials, and the commentary. Then, Bryan talks to Jason Zengerle about his new biography about Tucker Carlson (47:23). They talk about Carlson as a magazine writer, how he made the switch to TV, his change of approach during Trump’s second term and much more.
Plus, the Overworked Twitter Joke of the Week, and David Shoemaker Guesses the Strained-Pun Headline!
Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David ShoemakerGuest: Jason ZengerleProducers: Isaiah Blakely and Bruce Baldwin
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Hello, media consumers! Bryan is joined by The Bulwark’s Tim Miller to discuss myriad topics across the political landscape. They discuss how Donald Trump’s second term has gone compared to Tim's expectations (12:35), whether there are any candidates for President that have been impressive (34:28), and why Jeff Bezos still owns the Washington Post (53:37). Later on, they talk about what Tim misses about working in politics (1:05:02), which candidate he's worked with that would’ve been the best President (1:08:14), and much more.
Host: Bryan CurtisGuest: Tim MillerProducers: Isaiah Blakely, Bruce Baldwin, and Jamie Yukich
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Hello, media consumers! Bryan and Joel discuss the layoffs at The Washington Post this week (00:43), whether there's any reason for people to continue subscribing to the Post (12:07), and when does The Washington Post stop being The Washington Post of old (22:46). They continue by talking about what Jeff Bezos has to gain from continuing to own the newspaper (28:21), before diving into the NFL-ESPN deal (34:53). After that, Bryan and Joel analyze Don Lemon’s arrest (42:46) and contemplate whether it concerns them as journalists (44:56). The show rounds out with a look at Tina Brown’s appearance in the Epstein files (54:50), and what's happening in the James Talarico-influencer story (59:28).
All that and more, here on The Press Box.
Hosts: Bryan Curtis and Joel Anderson
Producers: Isaiah Blakely and Bruce Baldwin
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Hello, media consumers. Bryan and David are here to discuss the news of mass layoffs at The Washington Post. They talk about losing your job in media in 2026 (1:47); how The Washington Post, specifically the sports section, got here; and how it could have been saved (9:30). They wrap up with a few other notes and thoughts from this major shake-up in the media landscape (34:18).
Check out Bryan’s piece on the Washington Post layoffs here.
Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David ShoemakerProducers: Isaiah Blakely and Bruce Baldwin
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Hello, media consumers! It’s Super Bowl media week, and Bryan is joined by Danny Heifetz and Danny Kelly of The Ringer Fantasy Football Show to discuss the biggest story lines heading into this Seahawks-Patriots Super Bowl. They start by talking about the Seattle-related story lines (14:24) and follow that up with the story lines from New England’s side (32:42). They wrap up by discussing Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth’s first Super Bowl together (40:27), Bad Bunny’s halftime show (46:42), and advice for journalists in Santa Clara this week (51:40).
Host: Bryan CurtisGuests: Danny Heifetz and Danny KellyProducers: Isaiah Blakely, Bruce Baldwin, and Sarah Reddy
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Hello, media consumers! Welcome to the January Issue. This month, Bryan and David come together to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Truman Capote’s ‘In Cold Blood’ being published by Random House. This episode is broken into four chapters, just like the non-fiction novel. Bryan and David start Chapter 1 by discussing Truman Capote himself, and how he was the podcast guest before there were podcast guests (03:20). They have a conversation about who is comparable to Capote in the modern age (09:09), why non-fiction with the style of fiction hits the reader the way it does (17:22), and why Capote wanted to combine these styles (21:04). In Chapter 2, the guys dive into the relationship between Capote and the killers of the Clutter family (26:41), Capote’s journalistic good luck (31:54), and his interviewing techniques (37:21). In Chapter 3, Bryan and David talk about what they made of ‘In Cold Blood’ after re-reading it (1:01:51), Truman Capote’s fabulism (1:05:48), and whether ‘In Cold Blood’ would have been as successful if Capote had said it was almost all true (1:12:14). In Chapter 4, Bryan and David take a look at the impact ‘In Cold Blood’ has had on the media (1:14:43). They discuss ‘In Cold Blood’ being the invention of true crime (1:16:06), and what the heirs of the book are (1:22:32). The January Issue ends with Bryan and David recommending other books you might like if you enjoyed reading ‘In Cold Blood’ (1:30:27). All that and more, here on The Press Box.
Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker
Guests: Chip McGrath and Gerald Clarke
Producers: Isaiah Blakely and Bruce Baldwin
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Hello, media consumers! Bryan and Joel are joined today for a bonus episode by Maryland Gov. Wes Moore. The governor discusses his feelings on ICE and the shooting of Alex Pretti (02:31), whether Kristi Noem should resign as head of Homeland Security (05:43), and how Democrats can convince voters of their plan on immigration (08:49). The interview continues with a conversation about Jay-Z songs and lyrics (13:30), today’s political climate (21:19), and whether Gov. Moore is running for president in 2028 (23:49). The show ends with some talk about Gov. Moore’s college football career (30:09), and if it was time for John Harbaugh to go (34:05). All that and more, here on The Press Box.
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Hello, media consumers! Today on The Press Box, we have a special episode! Bryan and Joel are joined in studio by The Ringer’s own Van Lathan to create a 2028 Democratic Nominee depth chart. The guys go through a list of potential candidates for the 2028 Democratic nomination for President, discussing the outlook and viability of each person. The list spans all the way from frontrunners like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Gavin Newsom, to long shots like John Stewart. The show wraps up with Van ranking them in order of who he thinks will win the nomination as of today.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (2:26)
Gavin Newsom (7:20)
Pete Buttigieg (16:12)
Josh Shapiro (17:42)
Kamala Harris (20:48)
Tim Walz (25:46)
Stephen A. Smith (26:27)
Mark Cuban (28:03)
JB Pritzker (32:08)
Rahm Emmanuel (33:53)
Bernie Sanders (35:54)
Joe Biden (37:00)
Wes Moore (37:35)
Corey Booker (39:21)
Michele Obama (40:40)
Ruben Gallego (44:43)
Mark Kelly (45:45)
Bob Iger (47:47)
Gretchen Whitmer (48:41)
James Talarico (49:26)
Andy Beshear (53:29)
Liz Cheney (1:03:33)
John Fetterman (1:03:56
Tech Mogul/Pop Culture Persona TBD (1:04:02)
Jon Stewart (1:04:24)
Hunter Biden (1:09:36)
Putting the Candidates in Order (1:10:40)
Jasmine Crockett (1:11:53)
Ro Khanna (1:12:51)
Hosts: Bryan Curtis and Joel Anderson
Guest: Van Lathan
Producer: Bruce Baldwin
Additional Production Support: Conor Nevins, Ben Cruz, Chris Thomas
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Hello, media consumers! Bryan, David, and Joel come together on today’s episode for a three-man weave. The guys start by discussing the shooting of Alex Pretti (01:58), the way the Trump administration has tried to spin the story (10:04), and the way the Minnesota Star Tribune has covered these events (29:50). After that, Bryan, Joel, and David give their thoughts on the rumored shuttering of the Washington Post sports desk (33:33), alongside other rumored layoffs that could affect half of the company's newsroom. The show ends with a new edition of Our Disillusioned Listeners, where Bryan, David, and Joel answer questions from you, the listeners (51:58).
Plus, David and Joel Guess the Strained-Pun Headline!
Hosts: Bryan Curtis, David Shoemaker, Joel Anderson
Producer: Bruce Baldwin
Social: Isaiah Blakely
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Hello, media consumers! On today’s episode, Bryan interviews Senator Mark Kelly (D-Arizona). Their conversation starts with his thoughts on Trump’s attempts to acquire Greenland (01:21), what he thinks is driving Trump’s foreign policy in his second term (03:18), and the purpose of the video he and other Congress members released about ignoring illegal military orders (07:19). Next, Bryan and Senator Kelly discuss how it feels to be 15 years removed from the horrific shooting of his wife, former House Representative Gabby Giffords (D-Arizona) (15:31), before diving into his thoughts on Trump’s actions in and against Venezuela (17:33). After that, they talk about his experiences as a fighter pilot in Iraq (27:16), whether Democrats were prepared for Trump 2.0 (33:23), and immigration (40:18). Lastly, Bryan asks Senator Kelly if he is running for President in 2028 (48:22), before ending with some classic Ringer pop culture questions (52:02). All that and more, here on The Press Box.
Host: Bryan Curtis
Guest: Senator Mark Kelly
Producer: Bruce Baldwin
Additional Production Support: Ben Cruz, Conor Nevins, and Chris Thomas
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Hello, media consumers! Bryan and Joel come together in person to discuss Trump's Greenland crisis (02:10). The guys listen to President Trump’s comments on Greenland (04:09), Iceland (05:30), and NATO (07:47), examining why Trump is doing what he's doing and whether it is simpler than people thought (12:49). Next, Bryan and Joel discuss Bari Weiss’s attempts at damage control following the airing of the spiked '60 Minutes' CECOT piece and the New Yorker profile on her (19:06). After that, the guys dive into some football audio (29:43), including sounds from the national football championship postgame festivities (36:55). Finally, the show wraps up with a discussion about former sideline reporter Michele Tafoya’s newly announced U.S. Senate campaign (43:31). All that and more, here on The Press Box.
Hosts: Bryan Curtis and Joel Anderson
Producer: Bruce Baldwin
Additional Production Support: Ben Cruz, Conor Nevins, and Sarah Reddy
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Hello, media consumers! Bryan and David discuss everything coming out of CBS News, including The New Yorker’s profile on Bari Weiss, Trump’s remarks to Tony Dokoupil, and the spiked '60 Minutes' segment finally making it to air (00:27). Next, the guys listen to some football audio from the College Football Playoff national championship (08:48) before checking in to see how Tony Romo did in the announcer booth this weekend (22:26). After that, The Ringer’s own Lindsay Jones joins the show to discuss her experience covering the postgame happenings after the Denver Broncos beat the Buffalo Bills (24:40). Lastly, The New Yorker’s Susan Glasser joins the show to discuss year one of Trump 2.0 (48:25), whether popularity matters to Trump (57:42), and whether Trump has changed the way news is reported (1:13:20).
Plus, the Overworked Twitter Joke of the Week, and David Shoemaker Guesses the Strained-Pun Headline!
Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker
Guests: Susan Glasser and Lindsay Jones
Producer: Bruce Baldwin
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Hello, media consumers! Bryan and Joel discuss the FBI raid of a Washington Post reporter that resulted in her laptop and phone being seized (01:08), and how journalists need to protect their information under Trump 2.0. Then, Joel gets a chance to give his take on the Lynn Jones–Jacksonville Jaguars press conference saga, including what journalists need to do coming out of this situation (14:07). Next, Bryan and Joel dive into some football notes, including a conundrum surrounding Carson Beck (26:01), Michael Irvin’s new podcast with Netflix (29:59), and Tony Romo’s partial explanation for his poor performance this weekend (32:42). Lastly, the show ends with Joel interviewing CNN’s Abby Phillip about her book on Rev. Jesse Jackson (38:04), her transition from reporter to anchor (57:15), and the future of cable news (1:09:58). All that and more, here on the Press Box.
Hosts: Bryan Curtis and Joel Anderson
Guest: Abby Phillip
Producer: Bruce Baldwin
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Hello, media consumers! Bryan and David discuss the controversy coming out of Jacksonville Jaguars coach Liam Coen’s press conference following their elimination from the playoffs (10:28). They acknowledge both sides of this conversation, examine the reactions from beat writers, and break down what role humanity plays in a postgame press conference (20:32). Next, the guys dive into audio from this past weekend’s NFL wild-card playoff games, including what Tony Romo did wrong (35:06) and what Tom Brady did right (45:29). The show wraps up with a look at the new publication raiding the L.A. Times (57:31), and a quick look at Trump’s interactions with the media lately (1:02:40).
Plus, the Overworked Twitter Joke of the Week, and David Shoemaker Guesses the Strained-Pun Headline!
Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker
Producer: Bruce Baldwin
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Hello, media consumers! Bryan and Joel start the show with Part 2 of their analysis of Tony Dokoupil’s first week as the CBS Evening News host (01:02). They dive into the technical difficulties, the quality of the writing, and one thing Bryan and Joel think he did well this week. Next, the guys discuss the death of a Pittsburgh newspaper, and what this means for local news (25:49). After that, Bryan and Joel have a conversation about how to be a successful sports columnist in today’s media age (33:09). The show ends with an interview with ESPN’s Joe Buck, where he talks about his black eye (46:00), his father Jack Buck (49:36), announcing with Troy Aikman (1:00:04), and so much more, here on the Press Box.
Hosts: Bryan Curtis and Joel Anderson
Guest: Joe Buck
Producer: Bruce Baldwin
Additional Production Support: Ben Cruz
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Really good episode. Great interview with MS Rahim
I have enjoyed your work for a while, Mr Anderson. Great interview of Bomani Jones. Thank you both for letting us hear more on some of the behind the scenes stuff in media. May you guys continue to have success.
sure this one will have some hard hitting questions
Can we have The Krakauer Perspective on every week?
How do I find this podcast????
is this replacing jam session? I love jam session
Stop this....!! She is feminist and aarogant.
Solid group of people but a pain to get subscribed to 4+ podcast with different topics when you only wanted one or two of them
We need Zach Lowe!!