The r/BillSimmons Podcast

#1

#118: Spreading Bill Simmons Lingo to non-Bill Fans, Russillo’s Essential Role at The Ringer, Zach Lowe’s Guest Issues, The Beauty of r/BillSimmons, and Who Wins a CR vs. Van 7-Game Series?

Welcome to Episode ! We bring on Roman from TikTok for an absolutely classic r/BS Pod. We start off with Roman’s successful tales of bringing Bill Simmons lingo to non-Bill listeners. We then discuss The Rewatchables and the hilarity of film buffs having to put up with Bill Simmons’ takes, and find new ground with the answer to the age old question of why Bill doesn’t reveal the movie until after the episode drops.We next celebrate how great Russillo is at being acontributor to The Ringer and discuss why he should stay there when his contract is up.We then hit on how much we’re loving Zach Lowe at TheRinger, but wonder why he’s not bringing on better guests, while praising the excellent and growing Lowe-Mahoney partnership.We then get meta and talk r/BillSimmons, and how beautifuland hilarious and wonky it is to share in an inside joke with thousands of other people online. Also, how much is this podcast/account, Bill Simmons Twitter andr/BillSimmons affecting Bill and Ringer content? Who of the staff is most aware and do they use it for feedback?We turn back into some deep Russillo analysis before Roman gives us a scouting report and breakdown on a CR vs. Van 7 game series, before finishing up touching on underrated Ringer 3-man weaves.Leave a 5-star review for the podcast on Apple Pods and we'll read it on the next episode, and follow Roman on TikTok @romankingbarbershop

2025-05-25•2hr 7mins

#118: Spreading Bill Simmons Lingo to non-Bill Fans, Russillo’s Essential Role at The Ringer, Zach Lowe’s Guest Issues, The Beauty of r/BillSimmons, and Who Wins a CR vs. Van 7-Game Series?

Welcome to Episode ! We bring on Roman from TikTok for an absolutely classic r/BS Pod. We start off with Roman’s successful tales of bringing Bill Simmons lingo to non-Bill listeners. We then discuss The Rewatchables and the hilarity of film buffs having to put up with Bill Simmons’ takes, and find new ground with the answer to the age old question of why Bill doesn’t reveal the movie until after the episode drops.We next celebrate how great Russillo is at being acontributor to The Ringer and discuss why he should stay there when his contract is up.We then hit on how much we’re loving Zach Lowe at TheRinger, but wonder why he’s not bringing on better guests, while praising the excellent and growing Lowe-Mahoney partnership.We then get meta and talk r/BillSimmons, and how beautifuland hilarious and wonky it is to share in an inside joke with thousands of other people online. Also, how much is this podcast/account, Bill Simmons Twitter andr/BillSimmons affecting Bill and Ringer content? Who of the staff is most aware and do they use it for feedback?We turn back into some deep Russillo analysis before Roman gives us a scouting report and breakdown on a CR vs. Van 7 game series, before finishing up touching on underrated Ringer 3-man weaves.Leave a 5-star review for the podcast on Apple Pods and we'll read it on the next episode, and follow Roman on TikTok @romankingbarbershop

2025-05-25•2hr 7mins

#1

#2

#117: Part 2 With Imperial Twilight: Bill’s Apex Mountain, How Bill Can Make it As a Hollywood Mogul, Bill Should Launch a Book Publishing Co, and Why The Ringer Should Expand Into College Basketball

Welcome to Part 2 with Imperial Twilight! We start talking Bill's next career steps - IP says Bill should livestream games similar to the ManningCast - an OG idea by Simmons himself. He could also do a tour of all 30 NBA arenas with a documentary crew following him. Ultimately Simmons needs to get the video-first Gen Z generation as fans; we’d love seeing him watch an NFL game with Cousin Sal.Next we discuss Bill’s obsession with making it in Hollywood - and IP argues that it’s not too late for Bill. His idea? Bill writes another book, launches a book publishing company with it, uses The Ringer to market books by their podcasters, and then options them to films. When Bill does this to add even further to his legacy by 2032, we’ll know the original idea came from this pod. We touch a little on Parent Corner before IP argues that Bill needs to aggressively expand The Ringer into college basketball to be the true sports media home for basketball, especially because he’s completely abandoned baseball and has invested few reosurces in football coverage.We next hit on the new NBA media deal and the future of sports rights deals - will the NBA deal age well or not? We finish up talking Bill’s Apex Mountain - when he had the most juice - before reminiscing about Grantland and talking about an interaction with a famous Grantlander.Check out Part 1 with IP here: out IP's podcast here:

2025-05-03•1hr 3mins

#117: Part 2 With Imperial Twilight: Bill’s Apex Mountain, How Bill Can Make it As a Hollywood Mogul, Bill Should Launch a Book Publishing Co, and Why The Ringer Should Expand Into College Basketball

Welcome to Part 2 with Imperial Twilight! We start talking Bill's next career steps - IP says Bill should livestream games similar to the ManningCast - an OG idea by Simmons himself. He could also do a tour of all 30 NBA arenas with a documentary crew following him. Ultimately Simmons needs to get the video-first Gen Z generation as fans; we’d love seeing him watch an NFL game with Cousin Sal.Next we discuss Bill’s obsession with making it in Hollywood - and IP argues that it’s not too late for Bill. His idea? Bill writes another book, launches a book publishing company with it, uses The Ringer to market books by their podcasters, and then options them to films. When Bill does this to add even further to his legacy by 2032, we’ll know the original idea came from this pod. We touch a little on Parent Corner before IP argues that Bill needs to aggressively expand The Ringer into college basketball to be the true sports media home for basketball, especially because he’s completely abandoned baseball and has invested few reosurces in football coverage.We next hit on the new NBA media deal and the future of sports rights deals - will the NBA deal age well or not? We finish up talking Bill’s Apex Mountain - when he had the most juice - before reminiscing about Grantland and talking about an interaction with a famous Grantlander.Check out Part 1 with IP here: out IP's podcast here:

2025-05-03•1hr 3mins

#2

#3

#116: EMERGENCY FEUDCAST — Simmons & Russillo Land Nuclear Blast on Outkick's NBA Ratings Coverage; Clay Travis & Bobby Burack Respond With Tactical Strikes of Their Own — We Assess the Feud

We have a sports media feud! We break down it all down on the show and assess who is right about NBA ratings. Enjoy!

2025-04-29•41mins

#116: EMERGENCY FEUDCAST — Simmons & Russillo Land Nuclear Blast on Outkick's NBA Ratings Coverage; Clay Travis & Bobby Burack Respond With Tactical Strikes of Their Own — We Assess the Feud

We have a sports media feud! We break down it all down on the show and assess who is right about NBA ratings. Enjoy!

2025-04-29•41mins

#3

#4

#115: Part 1 With Imperial Twilight: Did Bill Help Destroy Sportswriting? Plus, Bill's Evolution From Fan to Rich LA Insider, Why Hasn't He Been Cancelled & Challenging Russillo's Tape Grinding Claims

Welcome to Episode ! We had on fellow podcaster Imperial Twilight and went for over two hours - so like our recent two episodes, we're breaking this into two parts. We kick off Part 1 by talking about Bill's background - how much of his persona is real and how much has he exaggerated his Boston fanhood over the years? Imperial thinks Bill's everyman sports fan persona is more of a LARP than what's been let on.Next we ask whether Bill is more of a homer now than he used to be - or, is he simply a more insufferable homer now? Is Bill worse when his teams are good or bad? We discuss his strong dislike of Pete Carroll in the late-90s when Pete was actually a decent coach, and how Bill became the poster boy in the 2000s for the annoying Patriots fan. We discuss how the perception of Simmons' homerism has changed since he stopped writing.We then talk some Simmons & Russillo and challenge Ryen's tape grinding - have they discussed the new NBA trends in inbounds passes? It appears not - so how much tape is Russillo really grinding? And we wonder about Cousin Sal's humor - why is he not funny at all outside of the Simmons pod? And how was Kimmel funny on his late night show when Bill and Sal were writing bits? We also reminisce about some of Carolla's epic movie pitches including Pedof-IsleDid Bill Simmons change sports writing or did he destroy it? Imperial argues that Bill's initial foray into the medium changed sports writing and eventually destroyed it. Bill created a lot of copycats and diminished the idea that the beat writers had unique insights - and why not read a fellow fan? Imperial tells us a story of talking 3 hours with Bob Ryan and his meticulous preparation and work that went into writing about the Red Sox; could Simmons could have ever been a Bob Ryan; working sources, being on-site, talking with front offices.Next we hit on Bill's evolution over the years. Did Simmons evolve from everyday sports guy to rich guy? Was Simmons always the rich guy at heart? ...

2025-04-28•1hr 6mins

#115: Part 1 With Imperial Twilight: Did Bill Help Destroy Sportswriting? Plus, Bill's Evolution From Fan to Rich LA Insider, Why Hasn't He Been Cancelled & Challenging Russillo's Tape Grinding Claims

Welcome to Episode ! We had on fellow podcaster Imperial Twilight and went for over two hours - so like our recent two episodes, we're breaking this into two parts. We kick off Part 1 by talking about Bill's background - how much of his persona is real and how much has he exaggerated his Boston fanhood over the years? Imperial thinks Bill's everyman sports fan persona is more of a LARP than what's been let on.Next we ask whether Bill is more of a homer now than he used to be - or, is he simply a more insufferable homer now? Is Bill worse when his teams are good or bad? We discuss his strong dislike of Pete Carroll in the late-90s when Pete was actually a decent coach, and how Bill became the poster boy in the 2000s for the annoying Patriots fan. We discuss how the perception of Simmons' homerism has changed since he stopped writing.We then talk some Simmons & Russillo and challenge Ryen's tape grinding - have they discussed the new NBA trends in inbounds passes? It appears not - so how much tape is Russillo really grinding? And we wonder about Cousin Sal's humor - why is he not funny at all outside of the Simmons pod? And how was Kimmel funny on his late night show when Bill and Sal were writing bits? We also reminisce about some of Carolla's epic movie pitches including Pedof-IsleDid Bill Simmons change sports writing or did he destroy it? Imperial argues that Bill's initial foray into the medium changed sports writing and eventually destroyed it. Bill created a lot of copycats and diminished the idea that the beat writers had unique insights - and why not read a fellow fan? Imperial tells us a story of talking 3 hours with Bob Ryan and his meticulous preparation and work that went into writing about the Red Sox; could Simmons could have ever been a Bob Ryan; working sources, being on-site, talking with front offices.Next we hit on Bill's evolution over the years. Did Simmons evolve from everyday sports guy to rich guy? Was Simmons always the rich guy at heart? ...

2025-04-28•1hr 6mins

#4

#5

#114: Part 2 With David Quiñones: Bill's Best Guests, Why Russillo Likely Stays at The Ringer, Our Decades Long Bill Gripe, Rings Culture Patient Zero, and The Future Legacy of Today's Gambling Craze

Welcome to Episode ! This is part two of our excellent conversation with journalist David Quiñones.David opines on what he feels are under-appreciated guests on the BS Pod; he likes Bill with Sean Fennessey and Mallory Rubin. We then discuss how it's odd people don't mention The Ringer and Barstool in the same breath when they have overlapping audiences. We weigh the pros and cons of Russillo staying at The Ringer or leaving for Barstool - David argues that Russillo needs The Ringer more than The Ringer needs him, and identifies the drawbacks of Russillo moving to Barstool. We do a little MJ vs. LeBron debate before assessing who was patient zero for the current NBA rings culture - it wasn't LeBron or MJ, it was Wilt Chamberlain. And, Jordan was also a victim of rings culture until he won. We hit on how rings culture is very unfair to NBA players that are fun to watch and are highly skilled but "can never be the best guy on a winning team" according to Bill.David highlights his biggest gripe with Bill - his constant demand for the NBA to play less games - despite the league being more successful than ever. We finish up talking the incredible proliferation in gambling since David joined the sports media game in the mid-2000s . How much is gambling impacting ratings? How has gambling lexicon changed from being looked down upon to being accepted and now pushed. Is it sustainable? And what is Bill's role?Hope you enjoyed the two-part, nearly 3 hours of conversation with David - rate the show 5-stars and mention this episode, and we’ll read it next show.

2025-04-24•1hr 12mins

#114: Part 2 With David Quiñones: Bill's Best Guests, Why Russillo Likely Stays at The Ringer, Our Decades Long Bill Gripe, Rings Culture Patient Zero, and The Future Legacy of Today's Gambling Craze

Welcome to Episode ! This is part two of our excellent conversation with journalist David Quiñones.David opines on what he feels are under-appreciated guests on the BS Pod; he likes Bill with Sean Fennessey and Mallory Rubin. We then discuss how it's odd people don't mention The Ringer and Barstool in the same breath when they have overlapping audiences. We weigh the pros and cons of Russillo staying at The Ringer or leaving for Barstool - David argues that Russillo needs The Ringer more than The Ringer needs him, and identifies the drawbacks of Russillo moving to Barstool. We do a little MJ vs. LeBron debate before assessing who was patient zero for the current NBA rings culture - it wasn't LeBron or MJ, it was Wilt Chamberlain. And, Jordan was also a victim of rings culture until he won. We hit on how rings culture is very unfair to NBA players that are fun to watch and are highly skilled but "can never be the best guy on a winning team" according to Bill.David highlights his biggest gripe with Bill - his constant demand for the NBA to play less games - despite the league being more successful than ever. We finish up talking the incredible proliferation in gambling since David joined the sports media game in the mid-2000s . How much is gambling impacting ratings? How has gambling lexicon changed from being looked down upon to being accepted and now pushed. Is it sustainable? And what is Bill's role?Hope you enjoyed the two-part, nearly 3 hours of conversation with David - rate the show 5-stars and mention this episode, and we’ll read it next show.

2025-04-24•1hr 12mins

#5

#6

#113: Part 1 With David Quiñones: Bill's Lasting Impact on Sports Journalism, The Evolution of Player Coverage, The Generational Divide in Sports Media, and Why Does Bill Hate Mid-Tier NBA Stars?

Welcome to Episode ! We bring on David Quiñones, a Miami-based podcaster and former sportswriter at the Miami Herald. David combines a deep history with Bill Simmons with his vast experience of working in media and sports media specifically, and the result is one of the r/BS Pod's best episodes yet. We recorded for 2 hours and 45 minutes, so I split the pod into two parts - Part 2 will release later this week.In Part 1, David and I discuss his experience writing for the Miami Herald sports desk and how he was inspired by, and attempted to channel, the groundbreaking work Bill Simmons was doing at Page 2 for ESPN. David explains the internal pushback he received when pitching some of those ideas, and then discusses his time at Fusion TV, an early 2010s media startup backed by Univision and Disney.Next we dive into Bill Simmons' legacy and impact on sports journalism. Can we trace today's aggressively negative coverage of the NBA back to Bill's refreshingly honest sports takes, which spawned copycats and made everyone eventually talk like Bill to try to duplicate his success?We then hit on Bill's frustration with NBA player pods, and David identifies what changed over the years between players and journalists, as we moved away from the days when Bill's childhood hero Bob Ryan dined out with the Celtics players; now stars simply repeat PR-approved lines to the media. We next discuss the evolution of media and hit on the current leader in the clubhouse - short-form video content, on TikTok specifically. We examine The Ringer's video push of late, and assess how different generations consume media differently, and what that means for the future. Plus, is media critiquing media going to have a larger presence in the future? We finish up Part 1 with David's view of Bill's takes on the Miami sports scene, including Bill's general anti-Miami sports coverage, East Coast bias, and the odd fact that no one at The Ringer even covers Miami, the city. David discusses the quirks...

2025-04-21•1hr 33mins

#113: Part 1 With David Quiñones: Bill's Lasting Impact on Sports Journalism, The Evolution of Player Coverage, The Generational Divide in Sports Media, and Why Does Bill Hate Mid-Tier NBA Stars?

Welcome to Episode ! We bring on David Quiñones, a Miami-based podcaster and former sportswriter at the Miami Herald. David combines a deep history with Bill Simmons with his vast experience of working in media and sports media specifically, and the result is one of the r/BS Pod's best episodes yet. We recorded for 2 hours and 45 minutes, so I split the pod into two parts - Part 2 will release later this week.In Part 1, David and I discuss his experience writing for the Miami Herald sports desk and how he was inspired by, and attempted to channel, the groundbreaking work Bill Simmons was doing at Page 2 for ESPN. David explains the internal pushback he received when pitching some of those ideas, and then discusses his time at Fusion TV, an early 2010s media startup backed by Univision and Disney.Next we dive into Bill Simmons' legacy and impact on sports journalism. Can we trace today's aggressively negative coverage of the NBA back to Bill's refreshingly honest sports takes, which spawned copycats and made everyone eventually talk like Bill to try to duplicate his success?We then hit on Bill's frustration with NBA player pods, and David identifies what changed over the years between players and journalists, as we moved away from the days when Bill's childhood hero Bob Ryan dined out with the Celtics players; now stars simply repeat PR-approved lines to the media. We next discuss the evolution of media and hit on the current leader in the clubhouse - short-form video content, on TikTok specifically. We examine The Ringer's video push of late, and assess how different generations consume media differently, and what that means for the future. Plus, is media critiquing media going to have a larger presence in the future? We finish up Part 1 with David's view of Bill's takes on the Miami sports scene, including Bill's general anti-Miami sports coverage, East Coast bias, and the odd fact that no one at The Ringer even covers Miami, the city. David discusses the quirks...

2025-04-21•1hr 33mins

#6

#7

#112: Nadir Canyon Masters Pods - Has Bill Lost Touch With the Average Sports Fan? Plus, Bill's Failure to Adapt, His Lost Interviewing Skills, and Why His Hot Takes Have Gotten Much Worse

Welcome to Episode ! We bring on Mike from Twitter for a classic r/BS Pod rip. Mike and I assess the current state of Bill Simmons and his content and identify some issues that have caused us - former listeners of every one of his pods - to drop off considerably.We start with the thesis that Bill has lost touch with the average sports fan and highlight the recent Masters Pods as an example - who are those for: Bill, or his fans? We next hit on his failure to adapt in video and how him not embracing YouTube post-ESPN and instead creating a worse version of his podcast for HBO was a real sliding doors moment for his career. Then we discuss Bill's lost art of interviewing - not only is he not bringing in elite celebs anymore, but he's not bringing on up and coming talent like he did with Nathan Fielder a decade ago when Nathan For You first got going. And when he has had on the rare celeb lately, he hasn't evolved his interviewing style from the early days of podcasting.We next hit on how while we used to love Bill for his takes, they seem to have gotten outrageously hot lately, and it feels like this has coincided with him not writing and not watching as much sports. This also plays out in the drafts and games he plays on his pod, which used to feel well thought out and now he's re-drafting NBA drafts less than a year after they happened.Enjoy the show! And leave us a 5-star review on Spotify and Apple Pods - we'll read it next pod.

2025-04-17•1hr 10mins

#112: Nadir Canyon Masters Pods - Has Bill Lost Touch With the Average Sports Fan? Plus, Bill's Failure to Adapt, His Lost Interviewing Skills, and Why His Hot Takes Have Gotten Much Worse

Welcome to Episode ! We bring on Mike from Twitter for a classic r/BS Pod rip. Mike and I assess the current state of Bill Simmons and his content and identify some issues that have caused us - former listeners of every one of his pods - to drop off considerably.We start with the thesis that Bill has lost touch with the average sports fan and highlight the recent Masters Pods as an example - who are those for: Bill, or his fans? We next hit on his failure to adapt in video and how him not embracing YouTube post-ESPN and instead creating a worse version of his podcast for HBO was a real sliding doors moment for his career. Then we discuss Bill's lost art of interviewing - not only is he not bringing in elite celebs anymore, but he's not bringing on up and coming talent like he did with Nathan Fielder a decade ago when Nathan For You first got going. And when he has had on the rare celeb lately, he hasn't evolved his interviewing style from the early days of podcasting.We next hit on how while we used to love Bill for his takes, they seem to have gotten outrageously hot lately, and it feels like this has coincided with him not writing and not watching as much sports. This also plays out in the drafts and games he plays on his pod, which used to feel well thought out and now he's re-drafting NBA drafts less than a year after they happened.Enjoy the show! And leave us a 5-star review on Spotify and Apple Pods - we'll read it next pod.

2025-04-17•1hr 10mins

#7

#8

#111: Best & Worst Case Bill Simmons NBA Playoff Scenarios, More Zach Lowe to The Ringer Coverage, and NBA Twitter Stories with @HubieTalksHoops

Welcome to Episode ! We bring back @HubieTalksHoops for a wide-ranging show talking Bill Simmons, NBA, sports media and more. We first continue our ongoing coverage of Zach Lowe to The Ringer, where Hubie hits on some points we haven't discussed over the last few episodes. We also get his view on how Lowe fits with Russillo and whether Ryen will re-up or stay when his contract is up.Next we get into NBA playoff scenarios and look at the best and worst case outcomes for Bill. Obviously the Celtics and Lakers factor strongly into the discussion, and we explore just how crushing an LA win over Boston would be. But we also touch on several other outcomes where Bill could come out on top vs. taking an L were they to happen - we're loaded with potential storylines this postseason. And Hubie breaks down why he thinks the Lakers actually have a legit shot to win - music to the ears of Bill Simmons listeners. We finish up the pod talking NBA Twitter stories with Hubie, including his interactions with Woj and the rise of NBA Centel - who Hubie knew and gave advice to very early on. Hope you guys enjoy the episode, and be sure to follow @HubieTalksHoops on Twitter - and check him out on Episode 29.

2025-04-08•1hr 32mins

#111: Best & Worst Case Bill Simmons NBA Playoff Scenarios, More Zach Lowe to The Ringer Coverage, and NBA Twitter Stories with @HubieTalksHoops

Welcome to Episode ! We bring back @HubieTalksHoops for a wide-ranging show talking Bill Simmons, NBA, sports media and more. We first continue our ongoing coverage of Zach Lowe to The Ringer, where Hubie hits on some points we haven't discussed over the last few episodes. We also get his view on how Lowe fits with Russillo and whether Ryen will re-up or stay when his contract is up.Next we get into NBA playoff scenarios and look at the best and worst case outcomes for Bill. Obviously the Celtics and Lakers factor strongly into the discussion, and we explore just how crushing an LA win over Boston would be. But we also touch on several other outcomes where Bill could come out on top vs. taking an L were they to happen - we're loaded with potential storylines this postseason. And Hubie breaks down why he thinks the Lakers actually have a legit shot to win - music to the ears of Bill Simmons listeners. We finish up the pod talking NBA Twitter stories with Hubie, including his interactions with Woj and the rise of NBA Centel - who Hubie knew and gave advice to very early on. Hope you guys enjoy the episode, and be sure to follow @HubieTalksHoops on Twitter - and check him out on Episode 29.

2025-04-08•1hr 32mins

#8

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#9

#110: Lowe vs. Russillo, GM Bill vs. Content Creator Bill & Stephen A vs. LeBron; Plus, is PMT the Evolutionary BS Report & What's The Ringer's Salary Cap Strategy?

We bring back Aaron from Episode for a wide-ranging and fast-paced r/BS Pod rip hitting on Bill Simmons current events including Zach Lowe signing with The Ringer - what's the salary cap hit and will The Ringer make any moves in response? Plus, who's more valuable, Lowe or Russillo?We also hit on Pardon My Take's NFL-centric approach and recurring guests, in some ways making it the evolutionary BS Report in our view given Bill's change in style over the years. We also discuss Gruden's instant success at Barstool which has already rehabbed his image.We then get into the Stephen A vs. LeBron feud and later address Bill's unwarranted KD love. We identify ESPN's struggles during an odd time in sports media, as well as Around the Horn's issues, and the state of McAfee's show. This is a perfect blend of Simmons Universe current events mixed with sports media analysis with a fellow sports podcaster influenced by the one and only Podfather.If you like the show, check out Aaron's podcast For the Love of the Game:

2025-04-04•1hr 8mins

#110: Lowe vs. Russillo, GM Bill vs. Content Creator Bill & Stephen A vs. LeBron; Plus, is PMT the Evolutionary BS Report & What's The Ringer's Salary Cap Strategy?

We bring back Aaron from Episode for a wide-ranging and fast-paced r/BS Pod rip hitting on Bill Simmons current events including Zach Lowe signing with The Ringer - what's the salary cap hit and will The Ringer make any moves in response? Plus, who's more valuable, Lowe or Russillo?We also hit on Pardon My Take's NFL-centric approach and recurring guests, in some ways making it the evolutionary BS Report in our view given Bill's change in style over the years. We also discuss Gruden's instant success at Barstool which has already rehabbed his image.We then get into the Stephen A vs. LeBron feud and later address Bill's unwarranted KD love. We identify ESPN's struggles during an odd time in sports media, as well as Around the Horn's issues, and the state of McAfee's show. This is a perfect blend of Simmons Universe current events mixed with sports media analysis with a fellow sports podcaster influenced by the one and only Podfather.If you like the show, check out Aaron's podcast For the Love of the Game:

2025-04-04•1hr 8mins

#9

#10

#109: EMERGENCY POD — Zach Lowe Joins The Ringer

Incredible news today - Zach is back! We break it down from every angle. Enjoy!

2025-03-31•26mins

#109: EMERGENCY POD — Zach Lowe Joins The Ringer

Incredible news today - Zach is back! We break it down from every angle. Enjoy!

2025-03-31•26mins

#10

#11

#108: LeBron on McAfee Reaction: What it Means for Bill, Stephen A, ESPN, the NBA Media Landscape and LeBron's Legacy

Welcome to Episode 108! We bring on recurring guest Chenny (Episodes , , ) to break down the interview heard 'round the sports world this week: LeBron on McAfee. This had wide ranging implications on sports and sports media, and we get into everything - including LeBron's specific choice to do this on McAfee, him being as open and uncut as we've ever heard him, his ripping of NBA media, and discussion of his relationship with MJ - could this even alter the GOAT conversation? Plus we reference Simmons throughout, laughing at his dislike of player pods and wonder if he'd have preferred LeBron mention him by name rather than ignore him. If you were captivated by this interview, today's pod is must listen.Leave a 5-star review on Apple and I'll read it on the pod, and check out Chenny on Twitter and TikTok @ChennyBritt.

2025-03-28•1hr 25mins

#108: LeBron on McAfee Reaction: What it Means for Bill, Stephen A, ESPN, the NBA Media Landscape and LeBron's Legacy

Welcome to Episode 108! We bring on recurring guest Chenny (Episodes , , ) to break down the interview heard 'round the sports world this week: LeBron on McAfee. This had wide ranging implications on sports and sports media, and we get into everything - including LeBron's specific choice to do this on McAfee, him being as open and uncut as we've ever heard him, his ripping of NBA media, and discussion of his relationship with MJ - could this even alter the GOAT conversation? Plus we reference Simmons throughout, laughing at his dislike of player pods and wonder if he'd have preferred LeBron mention him by name rather than ignore him. If you were captivated by this interview, today's pod is must listen.Leave a 5-star review on Apple and I'll read it on the pod, and check out Chenny on Twitter and TikTok @ChennyBritt.

2025-03-28•1hr 25mins

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#12

#107: NBA vs. March Madness Fanhood - Why Can't We Like Both? Plus, Bill Doubling Down on NBA vs. Pardon My Take Going Broad - What's the Better Strategy? And Bill Simmons Sliding Doors Moments

Welcome to Episode 107! We bring on a frequent contributor from r/BillSimmons - he's staying anonymous - for a classic r/BS Pod rip. We haven't had one in awhile and boy it feels great to be back.We start off the show talking NBA vs. March Madness, with Bill Simmons leading the charge that you can't really enjoy both. We discuss the reasons for this increasing phenomenon, including as it relates to Simmons specifically and on a more societal level.We next hit on Pardon My Take vs. Bill Simmons. The former is much more of a broad sports how vs. Bill doubling down on only the NBA and NFL - which is the better strategy? We discuss. Plus, PMT and Le Batard can laugh at themselves, which may be gaining them more fans over Bill, who simply won't.We next hit on some Sliding Doors moments from Bill's career and talk about Bill's media hits of late (Dan Patrick and Colin Cowherd) and how those are different than his podcasts with Ringer employees. Hope you enjoy the show! Leave a 5-star review on Apple Pods and we'll read it next pod.

2025-03-25•1hr 13mins

#107: NBA vs. March Madness Fanhood - Why Can't We Like Both? Plus, Bill Doubling Down on NBA vs. Pardon My Take Going Broad - What's the Better Strategy? And Bill Simmons Sliding Doors Moments

Welcome to Episode 107! We bring on a frequent contributor from r/BillSimmons - he's staying anonymous - for a classic r/BS Pod rip. We haven't had one in awhile and boy it feels great to be back.We start off the show talking NBA vs. March Madness, with Bill Simmons leading the charge that you can't really enjoy both. We discuss the reasons for this increasing phenomenon, including as it relates to Simmons specifically and on a more societal level.We next hit on Pardon My Take vs. Bill Simmons. The former is much more of a broad sports how vs. Bill doubling down on only the NBA and NFL - which is the better strategy? We discuss. Plus, PMT and Le Batard can laugh at themselves, which may be gaining them more fans over Bill, who simply won't.We next hit on some Sliding Doors moments from Bill's career and talk about Bill's media hits of late (Dan Patrick and Colin Cowherd) and how those are different than his podcasts with Ringer employees. Hope you enjoy the show! Leave a 5-star review on Apple Pods and we'll read it next pod.

2025-03-25•1hr 13mins

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#13

#106: Why Was 'Around the Horn' Cancelled — and Why We Used to Love it

This week Around the Horn announced their last show will be May 23rd. Sports fans lit up Twitter with fond memories of growing up watching OG legends Woody Paige, Jay Mariotti, Tim Cowlishaw, J.A. Adande, Bill Plashcke, Kevin Blackistone, Jackie Mac, Bob Ryan and more banter on their screen every afternoon.In today's show, we look back at what made the show great, and also diagnose and present theories on why the show was cancelled, likely driven by generating significantly less ratings than PTI.

2025-03-06•33mins

#106: Why Was 'Around the Horn' Cancelled — and Why We Used to Love it

This week Around the Horn announced their last show will be May 23rd. Sports fans lit up Twitter with fond memories of growing up watching OG legends Woody Paige, Jay Mariotti, Tim Cowlishaw, J.A. Adande, Bill Plashcke, Kevin Blackistone, Jackie Mac, Bob Ryan and more banter on their screen every afternoon.In today's show, we look back at what made the show great, and also diagnose and present theories on why the show was cancelled, likely driven by generating significantly less ratings than PTI.

2025-03-06•33mins

#13

#14

#105: Stop Being an NBA Doomer — Ratings are Fine and the League is in Excellent Financial Shape

There's been a lot of discussion about NBA ratings this season. Given my background in sports media, I discuss why this is misguided and that the NBA is actually in excellent shape. We discuss the new TV rights deal, how the media partners make money, what variables will be needed to judge the new deal, and the advantages that the NBA brings to NBC and Amazon that the NFL and MLB do not, including far greater cultural significance. Enjoy!

2025-02-16•50mins

#105: Stop Being an NBA Doomer — Ratings are Fine and the League is in Excellent Financial Shape

There's been a lot of discussion about NBA ratings this season. Given my background in sports media, I discuss why this is misguided and that the NBA is actually in excellent shape. We discuss the new TV rights deal, how the media partners make money, what variables will be needed to judge the new deal, and the advantages that the NBA brings to NBC and Amazon that the NFL and MLB do not, including far greater cultural significance. Enjoy!

2025-02-16•50mins

#14

#15

#104: ESPN Insider Comes on to Talk Bill Simmons at Grantland and Where Bill Ranks on the ESPN Pyramid, Plus Bill Simmons Current Events — What Was That Termine & Eddie Johnson Pod??

Welcome to Episode 104! We bring on Mike (@SpringerProject) from Twitter for a classic r/BS Pod rip. We start off discussing Bill Simmons current events, with Mike actually defending the Termine & Eddie Johnson pod - wait, what?? Then we get into Mike's time at ESPN and discuss the formation of and disintegration of Grantland - this is must listen for any Grantland fans. Next we discuss where Bill ranks in the Pantheon of ESPN personalities, and we each give our all-time ranking for Bill in the ESPN Pyramid. We finish up with some r/BillSimmons discussion before predicting where Bill and his content goes from here.

2025-02-12•1hr 28mins

#104: ESPN Insider Comes on to Talk Bill Simmons at Grantland and Where Bill Ranks on the ESPN Pyramid, Plus Bill Simmons Current Events — What Was That Termine & Eddie Johnson Pod??

Welcome to Episode 104! We bring on Mike (@SpringerProject) from Twitter for a classic r/BS Pod rip. We start off discussing Bill Simmons current events, with Mike actually defending the Termine & Eddie Johnson pod - wait, what?? Then we get into Mike's time at ESPN and discuss the formation of and disintegration of Grantland - this is must listen for any Grantland fans. Next we discuss where Bill ranks in the Pantheon of ESPN personalities, and we each give our all-time ranking for Bill in the ESPN Pyramid. We finish up with some r/BillSimmons discussion before predicting where Bill and his content goes from here.

2025-02-12•1hr 28mins

#15

#16

#103: A Review of Katie Nolan's New Podcast "Casuals"

Welcome to Episode 103! We bring on previous guests Mike (Episode 73) and Chanch (Episode 98) for a 3-man weave reviewing Katie Nolan's new podcast. It's a concept we've wanted to do for awhile - a podcast reviewing another podcast - and what better show to start with than someone who goes back deep in Bill Simmons lore and, in many ways, is attempting to do an evolutionary version of The Bill Simmons Podcast. While discussing the show, we compare and contrast Katie with Bill, and discuss what we liked about Katie's pod, what she can improve, and the niche we think she needs to hit for the podcast to be successful. And as is common with The r/BillSimmons Podcast, we touch on many aspects of the sports media world including Grantland/The Ringer, Barstool, subreddits, people who are too terminally online, and a lot more. We wrap up the pod discussing some of Bill's NFL takes and laugh at how ridiculous Guess the Lines and Million Dollar Picks have become. If you like the pod, check out Mike on Twitter (@PokerPolitics) and Chanch on TikTok (@perchnches).

2025-02-07•1hr 40mins

#103: A Review of Katie Nolan's New Podcast "Casuals"

Welcome to Episode 103! We bring on previous guests Mike (Episode 73) and Chanch (Episode 98) for a 3-man weave reviewing Katie Nolan's new podcast. It's a concept we've wanted to do for awhile - a podcast reviewing another podcast - and what better show to start with than someone who goes back deep in Bill Simmons lore and, in many ways, is attempting to do an evolutionary version of The Bill Simmons Podcast. While discussing the show, we compare and contrast Katie with Bill, and discuss what we liked about Katie's pod, what she can improve, and the niche we think she needs to hit for the podcast to be successful. And as is common with The r/BillSimmons Podcast, we touch on many aspects of the sports media world including Grantland/The Ringer, Barstool, subreddits, people who are too terminally online, and a lot more. We wrap up the pod discussing some of Bill's NFL takes and laugh at how ridiculous Guess the Lines and Million Dollar Picks have become. If you like the pod, check out Mike on Twitter (@PokerPolitics) and Chanch on TikTok (@perchnches).

2025-02-07•1hr 40mins

#16

#17

#102: EMERGENCY POD — Luka Gets Traded and Bill & Russillo Record the Greatest Podcast of All-Time

Welcome to Episode 102! We bring back 3-time guests Flex and Chenny to react to the insane Luka trade and epic masterpiece from Russillo, Bill and Rob Mahoney, who recorded an emergency 3-man weave as soon as the trade happened Saturday night. We break it all down: the trade, the pod, Bill's juice, Russillo's virtuoso performance (yes, this is his Apex Mountain), Bill letting Russillo cook while bringing the best of his NBA historian mind, and commend Rob Mahoney on a job well done in the biggest moment of his career. If you're an NBA fan who listened to Bill's emergency pod, this episode's for you. Follow Flex (@flexfc) and Chenny (@ChennyBritt) on Twitter and check out their previous r/BS Pod episodes (, , )

2025-02-03•1hr 29mins

#102: EMERGENCY POD — Luka Gets Traded and Bill & Russillo Record the Greatest Podcast of All-Time

Welcome to Episode 102! We bring back 3-time guests Flex and Chenny to react to the insane Luka trade and epic masterpiece from Russillo, Bill and Rob Mahoney, who recorded an emergency 3-man weave as soon as the trade happened Saturday night. We break it all down: the trade, the pod, Bill's juice, Russillo's virtuoso performance (yes, this is his Apex Mountain), Bill letting Russillo cook while bringing the best of his NBA historian mind, and commend Rob Mahoney on a job well done in the biggest moment of his career. If you're an NBA fan who listened to Bill's emergency pod, this episode's for you. Follow Flex (@flexfc) and Chenny (@ChennyBritt) on Twitter and check out their previous r/BS Pod episodes (, , )

2025-02-03•1hr 29mins

#17

#18

#101: EMERGENCY POD — Bill Simmons to Re-Sign with Spotify; Plus, is an ESPN Reunion Coming, and is Zach Lowe Joining The Ringer?

Welcome to Episode ! The Podfather is staying at Spotify, and thus we break down all the angles. Plus, reports indicate he may work with ESPN again, and we assess whether Zach Lowe is now planning on joining The Ringer. Enjoy!

2025-01-20•42mins

#101: EMERGENCY POD — Bill Simmons to Re-Sign with Spotify; Plus, is an ESPN Reunion Coming, and is Zach Lowe Joining The Ringer?

Welcome to Episode ! The Podfather is staying at Spotify, and thus we break down all the angles. Plus, reports indicate he may work with ESPN again, and we assess whether Zach Lowe is now planning on joining The Ringer. Enjoy!

2025-01-20•42mins

#18

#19

#100: EMERGENCY POD — Big Cat Grew Up a Boston Sports Fan

Welcome to episode 100! We bring on 3-time guest Chris (Episodes 93 & 95) and first time guest Aaron (who's pod I guested on last week) to discuss, so far, the sports media story of the year: Big Cat grew up a Boston sports fan. That's right, the Pardon My Take co-host grew up right outside of Boston and only started rooting for Chicago teams after college. While this was known by some, it blew up recently with the help of Kirk Minihane, and the rest was history. We break down every angle of the story, with Aaron providing an excellent Barstool perspective being a long-time consumer of their content pre-dating Big Cat joining the company, while Chris is a Chicago fan and frequent Pardon My Take listener. We also bring Bill Simmons into the mix, including how Big Cat has failed his "rules for being a sports fan" by switching teams, made more interesting by the fact that Big Cat, in many ways, has carried the torch that Page 2 Bill Simmons lit in the early-2000s. If you like the show, follow the guys on Twitter (Chris: @CT_WIU; Aaron: @tobinology218), and check out my appearance on Aaron's podcast (For The Love of the Game) and Chris's two r/BS Pod appearances. For the Love of the Game:

2025-01-16•1hr 4mins

#100: EMERGENCY POD — Big Cat Grew Up a Boston Sports Fan

Welcome to episode 100! We bring on 3-time guest Chris (Episodes 93 & 95) and first time guest Aaron (who's pod I guested on last week) to discuss, so far, the sports media story of the year: Big Cat grew up a Boston sports fan. That's right, the Pardon My Take co-host grew up right outside of Boston and only started rooting for Chicago teams after college. While this was known by some, it blew up recently with the help of Kirk Minihane, and the rest was history. We break down every angle of the story, with Aaron providing an excellent Barstool perspective being a long-time consumer of their content pre-dating Big Cat joining the company, while Chris is a Chicago fan and frequent Pardon My Take listener. We also bring Bill Simmons into the mix, including how Big Cat has failed his "rules for being a sports fan" by switching teams, made more interesting by the fact that Big Cat, in many ways, has carried the torch that Page 2 Bill Simmons lit in the early-2000s. If you like the show, follow the guys on Twitter (Chris: @CT_WIU; Aaron: @tobinology218), and check out my appearance on Aaron's podcast (For The Love of the Game) and Chris's two r/BS Pod appearances. For the Love of the Game:

2025-01-16•1hr 4mins

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#99: Why Bill Remains So Popular Despite a Content Drop-off, is Pardon My Take the Evolutionary Page 2 Bill, Reacting to Ric Bucher's Comments, and a Theory on Why Bill's Takes Have Become So Wonky

Welcome to Episode 99! We bring on @T_sizzle71 from Twitter for a classic r/BS Pod show. We've focused on NBA ratings for the last couple episodes and had a welcome return to this podcast's roots talking all things Bill Simmons. We start off discussing our backgrounds with Bill, both finding him on ESPN.com in the early 2000s and listening to "Eye of the Sports Guy" in 2007 before it was changed to "The BS Report". Is there a Bill Simmons of 2025 and if a younger Bill came up now, would he become as popular? We next discuss the issues we're currently finding with the podcast including Guess the Lines and then compare it and the overall BS Pod to Pardon My Take - are they the true evolutionary Page 2 Bill rather than 2025 Ringer Bill Simmons? We discuss what they're doing better than Bill to make them the top sports podcast today. Next, we speculate on how Bill's audience has changed over the years - as he's lost some long-time fans, plenty keep listening out of comfort and familiarity. He also brings in new NBA and Rewatchables fans, but can the younger generations relate to him? And is he using too many Ringer people as guests? We discuss whether Bill should be doing podcast mailbags and why he probably isn't despite the fans wanting it. T then zags and defends Any Given Wednesday, after we called it the worst HBO show of all-time in our recent podcast deep dive, and so we . We next get into Bill being annoyed with many people (including myself!) who have been calling out Bill's takes - he should just embrace the fact that he gives hot takes and will be wrong often - especially because he used to rip other sports media figures back in his Digital City Boston and early ESPN days. We hit on the Ric Bucher comments and then I spring a new theory on why Bill's sports takes have gotten so wonky lately, and we finish up with a call to action for Bill to record fewer, but higher quality podcasts as his career winds down. If you like the show, leave us a 5-star review o...

2025-01-09•1hr 33mins

#99: Why Bill Remains So Popular Despite a Content Drop-off, is Pardon My Take the Evolutionary Page 2 Bill, Reacting to Ric Bucher's Comments, and a Theory on Why Bill's Takes Have Become So Wonky

Welcome to Episode 99! We bring on @T_sizzle71 from Twitter for a classic r/BS Pod show. We've focused on NBA ratings for the last couple episodes and had a welcome return to this podcast's roots talking all things Bill Simmons. We start off discussing our backgrounds with Bill, both finding him on ESPN.com in the early 2000s and listening to "Eye of the Sports Guy" in 2007 before it was changed to "The BS Report". Is there a Bill Simmons of 2025 and if a younger Bill came up now, would he become as popular? We next discuss the issues we're currently finding with the podcast including Guess the Lines and then compare it and the overall BS Pod to Pardon My Take - are they the true evolutionary Page 2 Bill rather than 2025 Ringer Bill Simmons? We discuss what they're doing better than Bill to make them the top sports podcast today. Next, we speculate on how Bill's audience has changed over the years - as he's lost some long-time fans, plenty keep listening out of comfort and familiarity. He also brings in new NBA and Rewatchables fans, but can the younger generations relate to him? And is he using too many Ringer people as guests? We discuss whether Bill should be doing podcast mailbags and why he probably isn't despite the fans wanting it. T then zags and defends Any Given Wednesday, after we called it the worst HBO show of all-time in our recent podcast deep dive, and so we . We next get into Bill being annoyed with many people (including myself!) who have been calling out Bill's takes - he should just embrace the fact that he gives hot takes and will be wrong often - especially because he used to rip other sports media figures back in his Digital City Boston and early ESPN days. We hit on the Ric Bucher comments and then I spring a new theory on why Bill's sports takes have gotten so wonky lately, and we finish up with a call to action for Bill to record fewer, but higher quality podcasts as his career winds down. If you like the show, leave us a 5-star review o...

2025-01-09•1hr 33mins

#20

#21

#98: A Foolproof Way to Lift NBA Ratings and Solve the League's Regular Season Issues; Plus, Did Zach Lowe Ruin Basketball?

Welcome to Episode 98! We bring on Chanch and Kyle from TikTok, who are brothers in real life, for another classic r/BS Pod 3-man weave. We start off talking our history with Bill Simmons (0:00-9:15) before Chanch and Kyle introduce their foolproof way to fix the NBA (9:15-58:30). They've been perfecting this idea for over a decade, which primarily involves a radical schedule change and also introduces international competition and switching up the current salary cap & max contract structures. Next we discuss Zach Lowe (58:30-1:17:15) and his impact on the NBA. The bros believe Zach and his analytics crew and fans have ruined basketball and should atone for his sins. A scorching take, for sure, but perhaps a useful alternative perspective in 2024 when NBA fans, including Bill Simmons, are watching fewer games as the sport is less aesthetically pleasing. We finish up the pod (1:17:15-end) talking more about the state of the NBA, comment on r/BillSimmons & r/NBA, and predict how people will react to the pod. If you liked the show, follow Chanch (@perchanches) and Kyle (@kartfantasysports) on TikTok and also check out @rbillsimmonspodcast where I've started to post entertaining Bill Simmons and r/BS Pod clips.

2024-12-31•1hr 43mins

#98: A Foolproof Way to Lift NBA Ratings and Solve the League's Regular Season Issues; Plus, Did Zach Lowe Ruin Basketball?

Welcome to Episode 98! We bring on Chanch and Kyle from TikTok, who are brothers in real life, for another classic r/BS Pod 3-man weave. We start off talking our history with Bill Simmons (0:00-9:15) before Chanch and Kyle introduce their foolproof way to fix the NBA (9:15-58:30). They've been perfecting this idea for over a decade, which primarily involves a radical schedule change and also introduces international competition and switching up the current salary cap & max contract structures. Next we discuss Zach Lowe (58:30-1:17:15) and his impact on the NBA. The bros believe Zach and his analytics crew and fans have ruined basketball and should atone for his sins. A scorching take, for sure, but perhaps a useful alternative perspective in 2024 when NBA fans, including Bill Simmons, are watching fewer games as the sport is less aesthetically pleasing. We finish up the pod (1:17:15-end) talking more about the state of the NBA, comment on r/BillSimmons & r/NBA, and predict how people will react to the pod. If you liked the show, follow Chanch (@perchanches) and Kyle (@kartfantasysports) on TikTok and also check out @rbillsimmonspodcast where I've started to post entertaining Bill Simmons and r/BS Pod clips.

2024-12-31•1hr 43mins

#21

#22

#97: The 3-Man Weave Returns — Why are NBA Ratings in Decline, and What Can the League Do About it?

Welcome to Episode 97, where we bring back r/BS Pod favorites JF (Episodes 71 & 83) and TikTokInvestors (Episode 27) for a classic 3-man weave. We discuss the topic that's taken over NBA Media: Why are NBA ratings down? JF & TikTok expand on a variety of reasons highlighted by the NBA Twitter community but also detail several additional reasons that we haven't seen mentioned much. Some are within the NBA's control, some aren't, but overall we agree - if this continues, it's likely that we will eventually have changes to improve the NBA product. If you liked the episode, follow JF (@Window_Cleaner) and TikTok (@TikTokInvestors) on Twitter and be sure to check out their previous r/BS Pod episodes.

2024-12-17•1hr 25mins

#97: The 3-Man Weave Returns — Why are NBA Ratings in Decline, and What Can the League Do About it?

Welcome to Episode 97, where we bring back r/BS Pod favorites JF (Episodes 71 & 83) and TikTokInvestors (Episode 27) for a classic 3-man weave. We discuss the topic that's taken over NBA Media: Why are NBA ratings down? JF & TikTok expand on a variety of reasons highlighted by the NBA Twitter community but also detail several additional reasons that we haven't seen mentioned much. Some are within the NBA's control, some aren't, but overall we agree - if this continues, it's likely that we will eventually have changes to improve the NBA product. If you liked the episode, follow JF (@Window_Cleaner) and TikTok (@TikTokInvestors) on Twitter and be sure to check out their previous r/BS Pod episodes.

2024-12-17•1hr 25mins

#22

#23

#96: Bill in Shambles as JJ Redick & the Lakers Start 3-0

We review the history of Bill Simmons and JJ Redick, dating back to 2010, that's led to Bill severely doubting the 2024 Lakers and saying JJ was a lunatic for taking the job - and why he's likely infuriated at their hot start.

2024-10-27•38mins

#96: Bill in Shambles as JJ Redick & the Lakers Start 3-0

We review the history of Bill Simmons and JJ Redick, dating back to 2010, that's led to Bill severely doubting the 2024 Lakers and saying JJ was a lunatic for taking the job - and why he's likely infuriated at their hot start.

2024-10-27•38mins

#23

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#24

#95: The Ringer's New Hires — What This Means for NFL & NBA Coverage; Do They Need Zach Lowe? Plus, Nadir Canyon Guess the Lines Needs a Format Change, and Bill Appears Ready to Re-Sign With Spotify

Welcome to Episode 95! We bring back Doug from Episode 70 and Chris from Episode 93 for a timely 3-man weave. We start off discussing the recent Ringer news: Why we like these additions, and how they should fit into and improve their NBA and NFL coverage. The Ringer's NBA roster is now robust - do they even need Zach Lowe? And how is their NFL roster with McShay added, but still missing Robert Mays and Kevin Clark - is there another move coming? We also contrast these hires by Bill with ESPN's current strategy of going all-in on hot take artists like Kendrick Perkins, and give kudos to Bill for his Podcast GM skills and updated vision for The Ringer. We also pose the question - would Ringer fans prefer these 4 additions, or Zach Lowe alone? We then segue into Guess the Lines - which we all agree is in Nadir Canyon. Can it be fixed? We break down the struggles and offer our suggestions for improvements. We think they need a format change, including cutting the recap down and bringing on guest line guessers. Also, did Bill & Sal overcorrect by making the pod more of a recap show in response to Pardon My Take's success? We close the episode discussing Bill's future - it certainly appears far more likely that he's going to stay at Spotify now. What would Bill leaving The Ringer even look like - and does Bill want that after this recent news? Probably not. Enjoy, and check out Episode 70 and 93 if you haven't listened yet for more of Doug and Chris!

2024-10-22•1hr 5mins

#95: The Ringer's New Hires — What This Means for NFL & NBA Coverage; Do They Need Zach Lowe? Plus, Nadir Canyon Guess the Lines Needs a Format Change, and Bill Appears Ready to Re-Sign With Spotify

Welcome to Episode 95! We bring back Doug from Episode 70 and Chris from Episode 93 for a timely 3-man weave. We start off discussing the recent Ringer news: Why we like these additions, and how they should fit into and improve their NBA and NFL coverage. The Ringer's NBA roster is now robust - do they even need Zach Lowe? And how is their NFL roster with McShay added, but still missing Robert Mays and Kevin Clark - is there another move coming? We also contrast these hires by Bill with ESPN's current strategy of going all-in on hot take artists like Kendrick Perkins, and give kudos to Bill for his Podcast GM skills and updated vision for The Ringer. We also pose the question - would Ringer fans prefer these 4 additions, or Zach Lowe alone? We then segue into Guess the Lines - which we all agree is in Nadir Canyon. Can it be fixed? We break down the struggles and offer our suggestions for improvements. We think they need a format change, including cutting the recap down and bringing on guest line guessers. Also, did Bill & Sal overcorrect by making the pod more of a recap show in response to Pardon My Take's success? We close the episode discussing Bill's future - it certainly appears far more likely that he's going to stay at Spotify now. What would Bill leaving The Ringer even look like - and does Bill want that after this recent news? Probably not. Enjoy, and check out Episode 70 and 93 if you haven't listened yet for more of Doug and Chris!

2024-10-22•1hr 5mins

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#25

#94: EMERGENCY POD — The Ringer Hires Todd McShay, Kirk Goldsberry and Dave Jacoby

Welcome to Episode 94! We break down The Ringer bringing on Todd McShay, Kirk Goldsberry, Dave Jacoby and Joel Anderson, including: — Why these hires make a lot of sense — What this says about the evolution of podcasting — Why Bill is more likely to re-sign with Spotify now — Why Zach Lowe is still a long shot to sign with Bill Enjoy!

2024-10-21•38mins

#94: EMERGENCY POD — The Ringer Hires Todd McShay, Kirk Goldsberry and Dave Jacoby

Welcome to Episode 94! We break down The Ringer bringing on Todd McShay, Kirk Goldsberry, Dave Jacoby and Joel Anderson, including: — Why these hires make a lot of sense — What this says about the evolution of podcasting — Why Bill is more likely to re-sign with Spotify now — Why Zach Lowe is still a long shot to sign with Bill Enjoy!

2024-10-21•38mins

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#26

#93: We Review "Mr. McMahon" — Grading the Doc, Where it Ranks on a 30 for 30 Scale, How WWE & Netflix Come Out, Should it Have Gone Harder on Vince, Bill's Doc Legacy in 2024 and Doc Winners & Losers

Welcome to Episode 93! We bring on Chris from Twitter (@tbrodude) to dive into Bill's new Vince McMahon doc on Netflix. Over the course of the show we answer several questions, including: - Our grade on an A-F scale and vs. 30 for 30s and Bill's Andre the Giant HBO doc - How various groups (hardcore fans, casuals) are viewing the doc, and who the doc was really made for - Was this a takedown of Vince? Could it have gone farther? Would Netflix/WWE have even allowed that? - How WWE and Netflix come out looking - Bill's impact on the aesthetics and production - What was Bill's objective and did he achieve it? - Why wasn't Nick Khan, WWE President and frequent BS Pod guest, mentioned once in the doc? - Was Bill accurate in his promotion of the doc - was it extremely entertaining? - How we think the doc probably changed over the years - Winners & Losers

2024-09-27•1hr 16mins

#93: We Review "Mr. McMahon" — Grading the Doc, Where it Ranks on a 30 for 30 Scale, How WWE & Netflix Come Out, Should it Have Gone Harder on Vince, Bill's Doc Legacy in 2024 and Doc Winners & Losers

Welcome to Episode 93! We bring on Chris from Twitter (@tbrodude) to dive into Bill's new Vince McMahon doc on Netflix. Over the course of the show we answer several questions, including: - Our grade on an A-F scale and vs. 30 for 30s and Bill's Andre the Giant HBO doc - How various groups (hardcore fans, casuals) are viewing the doc, and who the doc was really made for - Was this a takedown of Vince? Could it have gone farther? Would Netflix/WWE have even allowed that? - How WWE and Netflix come out looking - Bill's impact on the aesthetics and production - What was Bill's objective and did he achieve it? - Why wasn't Nick Khan, WWE President and frequent BS Pod guest, mentioned once in the doc? - Was Bill accurate in his promotion of the doc - was it extremely entertaining? - How we think the doc probably changed over the years - Winners & Losers

2024-09-27•1hr 16mins

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#92: EMERGENCY POD — Zach Lowe Fired by ESPN

Wow! Shocking news has hit the NBA. We break it all down — why was Zach fired, where will he land next, will he reunite with Bill Simmons, what this says about the current state of ESPN, and a lot more. Enjoy!

2024-09-26•29mins

#92: EMERGENCY POD — Zach Lowe Fired by ESPN

Wow! Shocking news has hit the NBA. We break it all down — why was Zach fired, where will he land next, will he reunite with Bill Simmons, what this says about the current state of ESPN, and a lot more. Enjoy!

2024-09-26•29mins

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#28

#91: The Definitive 'Any Given Wednesday' Retrospective — A Complete Breakdown of the Worst Show in HBO History

Welcome to Episode 91! We bring on Scott from Twitter (@Cap_tain_Ron) to focus all of our attention this episode on Any Given Wednesday, the short-lived, Bill Simmons-hosted, 2016 HBO sports late night show. It remains an enigma to this day given how bad it was, a shocking career failure for Bill Simmons, who came into HBO at the peak of his powers. So, we break it all down. How did this happen? Why did Bill agree to host a TV show and then seemingly have zero idea of what to do? Did any of Bill's pre-show thoughts end up playing out? Just how terrible was this show? For anyone that's ever watched and wondered "how did this get on TV, and why was it so bad?" enjoy this definitive breakdown of the worst show in HBO history. 0:00-21:30: Bill's questionable "reasons" for doing the show, HBO's misleading marketing, his (lack of) gameplan, and was Any Given Wednesday doomed from the start? 21:30-39:00: Episode 1: Charles Barkley & Ben Affleck: Shockingly terrible opening monologue was a bad omen, and the viral Affleck rant hides how weak Bill was 39:00-59:15: Episode 2: Bill Hader, Mark Cuban & Malcolm Gladwell: This episode confirms Bill is awkward on TV, the show isn’t funny and Bill isn’t a performer, and it’s a worse version of Bill's podcast with weak, not fully fleshed out columns as boring video monologues 59:15-1:13:50: Episode 3: Joe Rogan, Chris Bosh, Anthony Anderson: The show is definitively not working, and this is clearly not "The Sport of Conversation" we were promised by HBO's marketing. Bill's "genre changing idea" to have on two guests to talk one topic is the worst yet with Bosh and Anderson talking NBA and TV. And why does the show look visually terrible? 1:13:50-1:23:15 Episode 4: Aaron Rodgers: One-guest episode after a Serena Williams monologue highlights just how random Any Given Wednesday has become 1:23:15-1:42:15 Episode 5: The worst episode in the series - the Deflategate sketch with Michael Rapaport. This essentially officially kills the s...

2024-09-25•2hr 42mins

#91: The Definitive 'Any Given Wednesday' Retrospective — A Complete Breakdown of the Worst Show in HBO History

Welcome to Episode 91! We bring on Scott from Twitter (@Cap_tain_Ron) to focus all of our attention this episode on Any Given Wednesday, the short-lived, Bill Simmons-hosted, 2016 HBO sports late night show. It remains an enigma to this day given how bad it was, a shocking career failure for Bill Simmons, who came into HBO at the peak of his powers. So, we break it all down. How did this happen? Why did Bill agree to host a TV show and then seemingly have zero idea of what to do? Did any of Bill's pre-show thoughts end up playing out? Just how terrible was this show? For anyone that's ever watched and wondered "how did this get on TV, and why was it so bad?" enjoy this definitive breakdown of the worst show in HBO history. 0:00-21:30: Bill's questionable "reasons" for doing the show, HBO's misleading marketing, his (lack of) gameplan, and was Any Given Wednesday doomed from the start? 21:30-39:00: Episode 1: Charles Barkley & Ben Affleck: Shockingly terrible opening monologue was a bad omen, and the viral Affleck rant hides how weak Bill was 39:00-59:15: Episode 2: Bill Hader, Mark Cuban & Malcolm Gladwell: This episode confirms Bill is awkward on TV, the show isn’t funny and Bill isn’t a performer, and it’s a worse version of Bill's podcast with weak, not fully fleshed out columns as boring video monologues 59:15-1:13:50: Episode 3: Joe Rogan, Chris Bosh, Anthony Anderson: The show is definitively not working, and this is clearly not "The Sport of Conversation" we were promised by HBO's marketing. Bill's "genre changing idea" to have on two guests to talk one topic is the worst yet with Bosh and Anderson talking NBA and TV. And why does the show look visually terrible? 1:13:50-1:23:15 Episode 4: Aaron Rodgers: One-guest episode after a Serena Williams monologue highlights just how random Any Given Wednesday has become 1:23:15-1:42:15 Episode 5: The worst episode in the series - the Deflategate sketch with Michael Rapaport. This essentially officially kills the s...

2024-09-25•2hr 42mins

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#90: Assessing Bill's Recent NFL Takes & Guests, Simmons Free Agency Watch Heats Up, KOC to Yahoo Reaction, Kamala on the BS Pod...Trump on Russillo? Plus, our First Snake Draft of Best BS Pod Guests

Welcome to Episode 90! We bring on a new 3-man weave with Joe from Twitter and Steve Franklin (@myguysteve) who join the pod for a laugh-filled episode. We discuss Bill's recent NFL pods and guests, speculate on his next move, suggest a game changing guest for Russillo, and do our first Ringer Snake Draft, with each of us drafting a team of BS Pod podcast guests. Enjoy! (0:00-3:45) Intro & Background with Bill (3:45-18:10) Assessing Bill's NFL content & guests - Lombardi sucks, on Schrager, McShay a great addition, and is only Ruiz left now that Solak/Clark/Mays left?? (18:10-21:15) Does Bill really like the NFL more than the NBA? (21:15-37:55) Bill Simmons Free Agency Watch (37:55-40:10) Why doesn't Bill announce the Rewatchables ahead of time? (40:10-44:30) How would Kamala be on the BS Pod? Should Russillo have Trump on his pod? (44:30-48:35) KOC/Solak leaving and where are the new Ringer hires? (48:35-end) The Ringer draft: 6-round snake draft of best BS Pod guests

2024-09-17•1hr 17mins

#90: Assessing Bill's Recent NFL Takes & Guests, Simmons Free Agency Watch Heats Up, KOC to Yahoo Reaction, Kamala on the BS Pod...Trump on Russillo? Plus, our First Snake Draft of Best BS Pod Guests

Welcome to Episode 90! We bring on a new 3-man weave with Joe from Twitter and Steve Franklin (@myguysteve) who join the pod for a laugh-filled episode. We discuss Bill's recent NFL pods and guests, speculate on his next move, suggest a game changing guest for Russillo, and do our first Ringer Snake Draft, with each of us drafting a team of BS Pod podcast guests. Enjoy! (0:00-3:45) Intro & Background with Bill (3:45-18:10) Assessing Bill's NFL content & guests - Lombardi sucks, on Schrager, McShay a great addition, and is only Ruiz left now that Solak/Clark/Mays left?? (18:10-21:15) Does Bill really like the NFL more than the NBA? (21:15-37:55) Bill Simmons Free Agency Watch (37:55-40:10) Why doesn't Bill announce the Rewatchables ahead of time? (40:10-44:30) How would Kamala be on the BS Pod? Should Russillo have Trump on his pod? (44:30-48:35) KOC/Solak leaving and where are the new Ringer hires? (48:35-end) The Ringer draft: 6-round snake draft of best BS Pod guests

2024-09-17•1hr 17mins

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#89: EMERGENCY POD — Kevin O'Connor Leaves The Ringer for Yahoo Sports; Plus, Todd McShay to The Ringer?

Welcome to the latest r/BS Pod! KOC has officially left The Ringer for Yahoo Sports and we break it all down - what does it mean for him & The Ringer, why did it happen, how does it relate to Solak and others leaving and Todd McShay joining, and what's the current and future state of The Ringer? Enjoy!

2024-09-13•29mins

#89: EMERGENCY POD — Kevin O'Connor Leaves The Ringer for Yahoo Sports; Plus, Todd McShay to The Ringer?

Welcome to the latest r/BS Pod! KOC has officially left The Ringer for Yahoo Sports and we break it all down - what does it mean for him & The Ringer, why did it happen, how does it relate to Solak and others leaving and Todd McShay joining, and what's the current and future state of The Ringer? Enjoy!

2024-09-13•29mins

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#31

#88: The Evolution of Bill Simmons and Sports Media, and the State of the BS Pod & Content Creation Overall in a Sports Gambling World; Plus, Fans Want More Authenticity From Bill

Welcome to Episode 88! We bring on Nick from Twitter (@NickZararis) and a wide variety of sports media ventures for an excellent discussion on the changes of Bill Simmons and the sports media landscape over the years. Theme 1: Bill not doing the research anymore or watching the games - he was better prepared to cover the NFL and NBA as a columnist Theme 2: Bill becoming part of the story now that he's a major sports media figure - first instance of this was the Moss Vikings trade, then Goodell is a liar, and we see it all the time today Theme 3: Bill losing some of his authenticity - you're not a normal sports fan anymore given your professional success and your team's championships - and that's OK! Theme 4: The sports gambling bubble - it's funding so much content creation, which along with optimizing for algos is leading to worse content. Should creators like Bill be less aggressively touting gambling sites? If you enjoy today's show, check out Nick's other work which you can find on his Twitter.

2024-09-06•1hr 16mins

#88: The Evolution of Bill Simmons and Sports Media, and the State of the BS Pod & Content Creation Overall in a Sports Gambling World; Plus, Fans Want More Authenticity From Bill

Welcome to Episode 88! We bring on Nick from Twitter (@NickZararis) and a wide variety of sports media ventures for an excellent discussion on the changes of Bill Simmons and the sports media landscape over the years. Theme 1: Bill not doing the research anymore or watching the games - he was better prepared to cover the NFL and NBA as a columnist Theme 2: Bill becoming part of the story now that he's a major sports media figure - first instance of this was the Moss Vikings trade, then Goodell is a liar, and we see it all the time today Theme 3: Bill losing some of his authenticity - you're not a normal sports fan anymore given your professional success and your team's championships - and that's OK! Theme 4: The sports gambling bubble - it's funding so much content creation, which along with optimizing for algos is leading to worse content. Should creators like Bill be less aggressively touting gambling sites? If you enjoy today's show, check out Nick's other work which you can find on his Twitter.

2024-09-06•1hr 16mins

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#87: EMERGENCY BEEFCAST: Bill Simmons vs. Nick Wright Feud Goes Nuclear as Bill Lands Two Massive Blasts Against Nick, Who Demands a BS Pod Appearance to Defend Himself; Plus More on Bill's Next Move

Welcome to a special edition of The r/BillSimmons Podcast! We break down the fast emerging Bill Simmons vs. Nick Wright feud from all the angles. We then touch on how this relates to Bill's expiring contract and predict what Nick and Bill's next moves are. Enjoy!

2024-08-30•43mins

#87: EMERGENCY BEEFCAST: Bill Simmons vs. Nick Wright Feud Goes Nuclear as Bill Lands Two Massive Blasts Against Nick, Who Demands a BS Pod Appearance to Defend Himself; Plus More on Bill's Next Move

Welcome to a special edition of The r/BillSimmons Podcast! We break down the fast emerging Bill Simmons vs. Nick Wright feud from all the angles. We then touch on how this relates to Bill's expiring contract and predict what Nick and Bill's next moves are. Enjoy!

2024-08-30•43mins

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#86: Bill's Auction Draft Arrogance & Being Terrible at Fantasy — Does He Understand Draft Value? Plus Simmons Free Agency Watch, is Sports Media Taking More Shots at Bill & Russillo the Screenwriter?

Welcome to another edition of the evolutionary 3-man weave! We bring back prior guests Chenny (Episode , ) and Flex (, ) to react to Bill's recent Fantasy Football preview show. And per usual on the r/BS Pod, we get into a lot of other Bill, Ringer and Russillo related topics. Timestamps below: — 0:00-38:30: Reaction to Sunday's Fantasy Preview pod - Why does Bill insist on using auction values throughout the pod? Plus the ridiculous categories, and the hilarity of Bill revealing just how bad of a fantasy player he is. — 38:30-1:01:30: Why is Bill saying he likes football over basketball now? Is this true or is it because he has a new Yahoo Fantasy sponsorship? — 1:01:30-1:11:45: What's the next move for Bill? Will The Ringer exist in a year? Will it be sold to Amazon? Will Bill move to SiriusXM like Alex Cooper and Smartless or Amazon like the Kelce bros? Does Bill need The Ringer?? — 1:11:45-1:27:45: Russillo recently announced on Pardon My Take that major news for him is coming soon - what is it? New podcast deal? TV script he wrote getting picked up by a streaming service? What would a written-by-Russillo TV show look like? — 1:27:45-1:41:15: Are sports media figures more comfortable taking shots at Bill now? We're seeing a lot more today than we used to! — 1:41:15-end: Klosterman pod recap and how much did Bill really win on his 2015 Warriors bet?

2024-08-28•1hr 55mins

#86: Bill's Auction Draft Arrogance & Being Terrible at Fantasy — Does He Understand Draft Value? Plus Simmons Free Agency Watch, is Sports Media Taking More Shots at Bill & Russillo the Screenwriter?

Welcome to another edition of the evolutionary 3-man weave! We bring back prior guests Chenny (Episode , ) and Flex (, ) to react to Bill's recent Fantasy Football preview show. And per usual on the r/BS Pod, we get into a lot of other Bill, Ringer and Russillo related topics. Timestamps below: — 0:00-38:30: Reaction to Sunday's Fantasy Preview pod - Why does Bill insist on using auction values throughout the pod? Plus the ridiculous categories, and the hilarity of Bill revealing just how bad of a fantasy player he is. — 38:30-1:01:30: Why is Bill saying he likes football over basketball now? Is this true or is it because he has a new Yahoo Fantasy sponsorship? — 1:01:30-1:11:45: What's the next move for Bill? Will The Ringer exist in a year? Will it be sold to Amazon? Will Bill move to SiriusXM like Alex Cooper and Smartless or Amazon like the Kelce bros? Does Bill need The Ringer?? — 1:11:45-1:27:45: Russillo recently announced on Pardon My Take that major news for him is coming soon - what is it? New podcast deal? TV script he wrote getting picked up by a streaming service? What would a written-by-Russillo TV show look like? — 1:27:45-1:41:15: Are sports media figures more comfortable taking shots at Bill now? We're seeing a lot more today than we used to! — 1:41:15-end: Klosterman pod recap and how much did Bill really win on his 2015 Warriors bet?

2024-08-28•1hr 55mins

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#85: Bill's Miss on Bezos and the Celtics, The Origin of Bill's LeBron Hate, Documentary & Podcast Ideas for Bill, and Does Bill Like the NBA Less Than He Used To? Plus, Bill's Career Arc vs Le Batard

Welcome to the latest episode! We bring on Max from Twitter (@maxmarshall136) to discuss: — How was Bill so wrong about Bezos being interested in the Celtics? What was his true motivation? — Are the Celtics really a Tier 1 franchise like the Cowboys and Lakers? — The origin of Bill's LeBron hate going back to 2003 draft night — The Ringer's anti-Heat bias, especially KOC, Bill and Russillo — Why did Bill - creator of the Atrocious NBA GM Summit - go soft on NBA GMs? — Did Bill like the NBA more in the early 2000s than today? — What happened to classic BS Pod guests like Jalen Rose, Chad Ford, Mark Stein and Rick Bucher? — Max's ratio-ing of Michael Rapaport — Content ideas for Bill's next documentaries including more on Jordan, but with a twist — Why didn't Bill do more tie-ins with HBO, like a Sopranos Rewatchables? — What happened to the Redraftables? — Russillo and Bill's vibe is off in 2024 vs. when they started — The best 5-year plan for Bill Simmons If you like the show, follow Max on Twitter and check out his work on the Heat at

2024-08-22•1hr 36mins

#85: Bill's Miss on Bezos and the Celtics, The Origin of Bill's LeBron Hate, Documentary & Podcast Ideas for Bill, and Does Bill Like the NBA Less Than He Used To? Plus, Bill's Career Arc vs Le Batard

Welcome to the latest episode! We bring on Max from Twitter (@maxmarshall136) to discuss: — How was Bill so wrong about Bezos being interested in the Celtics? What was his true motivation? — Are the Celtics really a Tier 1 franchise like the Cowboys and Lakers? — The origin of Bill's LeBron hate going back to 2003 draft night — The Ringer's anti-Heat bias, especially KOC, Bill and Russillo — Why did Bill - creator of the Atrocious NBA GM Summit - go soft on NBA GMs? — Did Bill like the NBA more in the early 2000s than today? — What happened to classic BS Pod guests like Jalen Rose, Chad Ford, Mark Stein and Rick Bucher? — Max's ratio-ing of Michael Rapaport — Content ideas for Bill's next documentaries including more on Jordan, but with a twist — Why didn't Bill do more tie-ins with HBO, like a Sopranos Rewatchables? — What happened to the Redraftables? — Russillo and Bill's vibe is off in 2024 vs. when they started — The best 5-year plan for Bill Simmons If you like the show, follow Max on Twitter and check out his work on the Heat at

2024-08-22•1hr 36mins

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#84: Our Grantland Mount Rushmore & Favorite Forgotten BS Report Guests, The Downfall of Michael Rapaport, Bill's Terrible Fantasy Strategies & The Great Pedof-Isle & Fast & Furious Pods with Carolla

Welcome to Episode 84! We bring on a guest from Twitter - who might be the biggest Bill Simmons fan we've had on the show yet - for a rollicking look back at the history of the Bill Simmons Universe. Topics covered include: — Bill's time at ESPN The Magazine — Grantland Mount Rushmore — Looking back at our submissions to Grantland's Fantasy Football Writer contest — The downfall of Michael Rapaport — The OG Fast & Furious Rewatchables & movie pitches with Carolla — Why Bill is such a terrible fantasy football player — Favorite forgotten BS Report guests — What marked the start of Bill's decline — How r/BillSimmons has evolved over a decade This was an absolute blast - hope you enjoy!

2024-08-09•1hr 34mins

#84: Our Grantland Mount Rushmore & Favorite Forgotten BS Report Guests, The Downfall of Michael Rapaport, Bill's Terrible Fantasy Strategies & The Great Pedof-Isle & Fast & Furious Pods with Carolla

Welcome to Episode 84! We bring on a guest from Twitter - who might be the biggest Bill Simmons fan we've had on the show yet - for a rollicking look back at the history of the Bill Simmons Universe. Topics covered include: — Bill's time at ESPN The Magazine — Grantland Mount Rushmore — Looking back at our submissions to Grantland's Fantasy Football Writer contest — The downfall of Michael Rapaport — The OG Fast & Furious Rewatchables & movie pitches with Carolla — Why Bill is such a terrible fantasy football player — Favorite forgotten BS Report guests — What marked the start of Bill's decline — How r/BillSimmons has evolved over a decade This was an absolute blast - hope you enjoy!

2024-08-09•1hr 34mins

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#83: Bill's Team USA Tatum Disaster, #EmbraceDebate on the New NBA Rights Deal, Chances of Bill Getting an NBA Studio Gig, Bill's Actual Contributions to 30 for 30 & Why Did Solak Leave The Ringer?

Welcome to Episode 83! We bring back JF from for a continuation of some classic r/BS Pod topics: - Laughing at Tatum's Team USA flop; how mad is Bill? - Is the NBA rights deal going to work out for Amazon and NBC? - Will Amazon or NBC hire Bill for a studio gig? - What were Bill's actual contributions to 30 for 30? - Why did Benjamin Solak leave The Ringer and will Russillo follow him out the door? If you enjoyed the episode follow JF on Twitter @Window_Cleaner

2024-07-30•1hr 27mins

#83: Bill's Team USA Tatum Disaster, #EmbraceDebate on the New NBA Rights Deal, Chances of Bill Getting an NBA Studio Gig, Bill's Actual Contributions to 30 for 30 & Why Did Solak Leave The Ringer?

Welcome to Episode 83! We bring back JF from for a continuation of some classic r/BS Pod topics: - Laughing at Tatum's Team USA flop; how mad is Bill? - Is the NBA rights deal going to work out for Amazon and NBC? - Will Amazon or NBC hire Bill for a studio gig? - What were Bill's actual contributions to 30 for 30? - Why did Benjamin Solak leave The Ringer and will Russillo follow him out the door? If you enjoyed the episode follow JF on Twitter @Window_Cleaner

2024-07-30•1hr 27mins

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#37

#82: INSTANT REACTION — NBC Officially Confirms NBA Rights Win, Gives Package Details and Explains Their Reasoning for Massive $2.5 Billion Annual Deal

Welcome to Episode 82! Comcast, which owns NBC, held an earnings call today where they discussed the NBA deal in great detail, including what games they won, the split between NBC and Peacock, and why they believe the deal is worth the massive $2.5 Billion annual cost. I break Comcast's comments down in this instant reaction pod - enjoy!

2024-07-23•37mins

#82: INSTANT REACTION — NBC Officially Confirms NBA Rights Win, Gives Package Details and Explains Their Reasoning for Massive $2.5 Billion Annual Deal

Welcome to Episode 82! Comcast, which owns NBC, held an earnings call today where they discussed the NBA deal in great detail, including what games they won, the split between NBC and Peacock, and why they believe the deal is worth the massive $2.5 Billion annual cost. I break Comcast's comments down in this instant reaction pod - enjoy!

2024-07-23•37mins

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#38

#81: Will Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) Win NBA Rights From Amazon, Why the NBA is Smart to Try to Move on From WBD, and is WBD Really Going to Break Up? Plus, Another Dominant Netflix Earnings

Welcome to a special sports media edition of The r/BillSimmons Podcast! News just broke that WBD matched Amazon's NBA rights offer. I discuss how I see it playing out, and who will actually win the rights when it's all said and done. I also get into Bill's scoop on Matt Belloni's pod about how Amazon structured the deal to combat the WBD match provision. Next I stay on the topic of WBD - why I think it's an excellent decision for the NBA to swap them out for Amazon and NBC, and address the rumors that WBD is pursuing a split. While I don't think it'll happen, it informs us of the precarious position the company is in. I finish up with a discussion of Netflix's recent earnings and how they are completely dominating right now, and how it's unlikely to end anytime soon.

2024-07-23•39mins

#81: Will Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) Win NBA Rights From Amazon, Why the NBA is Smart to Try to Move on From WBD, and is WBD Really Going to Break Up? Plus, Another Dominant Netflix Earnings

Welcome to a special sports media edition of The r/BillSimmons Podcast! News just broke that WBD matched Amazon's NBA rights offer. I discuss how I see it playing out, and who will actually win the rights when it's all said and done. I also get into Bill's scoop on Matt Belloni's pod about how Amazon structured the deal to combat the WBD match provision. Next I stay on the topic of WBD - why I think it's an excellent decision for the NBA to swap them out for Amazon and NBC, and address the rumors that WBD is pursuing a split. While I don't think it'll happen, it informs us of the precarious position the company is in. I finish up with a discussion of Netflix's recent earnings and how they are completely dominating right now, and how it's unlikely to end anytime soon.

2024-07-23•39mins

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#80: Cranky Bill Lashes Out After Celtics Title, How Bill Would be as Celtics Owner, Bill vs. Portnoy for "The Belt" as Top Boston Sports Fan & Who Could Replace Russillo on Sunday NBA Pods (Not KOC!)

Welcome to Episode 80! We bring on Flex from Episode and Chenny from Episode - they know each other in real life - for a 3-man weave talking all things Bill, The Ringer, Russillo and more. We start out discussing the hilarity of Bill barely celebrating the Celtics win and instead immediately shifting to complaining. While we still expect him to be a homer, it was surprising hearing Bill be so angered at Tatum not getting enough respect according to him, and Bill being mad the new CBA is making is difficult for "the best starting lineup of the 21st century" to stay together for a 10-year title run. Next we talk Celtics sale, both how funny and disastrous it would be if Bill was a minority owner, and also wonder if Portnoy has solidified his claim on "The Belt" for top Boston fan vs. Bill. Simmons was not at the parade nor had any Celtics players, coaches or owners on his pod after the win - why not? Plus, Portnoy is much more suited to the new media paradigm in 2024. Next we discuss this season of Russillo-Bill pods. Was this the final season? It sounded like Bill was reminiscing last pod. And if so, who would replace Russillo? We discuss some Ringer podcasters as well as some outside the box options. We then talk The Ringer - will it survive after the initial deal contract is up - and wonder what Bill's next move is, including our thoughts on why Bill has never tried video again after the Any Given Wednesday disaster and whether he will in the future. We finish up with a preview of what content Bill will be putting out this summer. If you liked this episode, check out the guys on Episodes 79 & 75 as well!

2024-07-12•1hr 45mins

#80: Cranky Bill Lashes Out After Celtics Title, How Bill Would be as Celtics Owner, Bill vs. Portnoy for "The Belt" as Top Boston Sports Fan & Who Could Replace Russillo on Sunday NBA Pods (Not KOC!)

Welcome to Episode 80! We bring on Flex from Episode and Chenny from Episode - they know each other in real life - for a 3-man weave talking all things Bill, The Ringer, Russillo and more. We start out discussing the hilarity of Bill barely celebrating the Celtics win and instead immediately shifting to complaining. While we still expect him to be a homer, it was surprising hearing Bill be so angered at Tatum not getting enough respect according to him, and Bill being mad the new CBA is making is difficult for "the best starting lineup of the 21st century" to stay together for a 10-year title run. Next we talk Celtics sale, both how funny and disastrous it would be if Bill was a minority owner, and also wonder if Portnoy has solidified his claim on "The Belt" for top Boston fan vs. Bill. Simmons was not at the parade nor had any Celtics players, coaches or owners on his pod after the win - why not? Plus, Portnoy is much more suited to the new media paradigm in 2024. Next we discuss this season of Russillo-Bill pods. Was this the final season? It sounded like Bill was reminiscing last pod. And if so, who would replace Russillo? We discuss some Ringer podcasters as well as some outside the box options. We then talk The Ringer - will it survive after the initial deal contract is up - and wonder what Bill's next move is, including our thoughts on why Bill has never tried video again after the Any Given Wednesday disaster and whether he will in the future. We finish up with a preview of what content Bill will be putting out this summer. If you liked this episode, check out the guys on Episodes 79 & 75 as well!

2024-07-12•1hr 45mins

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#79: Reviewing Bill's 2024 Playoff Takes, Our Bill Simmons Grievances, Why Isn't Bill Satisfied With Tatum, Predicting Bill's 2024 NFL Takes, and Why Won't Bill Discuss Anything Besides the NBA & NFL?

Welcome to Episode 79! We bring on Flex from Twitter (@flexcfc) for a classic r/BS Pod rip. We first review Bill Simmons current events, including his frustration with the reaction to Tatum's playoffs. Why can't Bill be happy with the championship and why did he do a 180 on Tatum from earlier in the playoffs? We give our theories. We also weigh in on the Tatum celebration conversation. Then we predict Bill's NFL takes for this season, both preseason and once the Patriots start off poorly. Per usual, he will try to get a W either way. Next, we wonder why Bill isn't discussing anything else besides the NBA when there's a ton of other sports content going on - NHL, WNBA, Euros, Olympics and more. Not to mention baseball - given Bill wrote his first book about the Red Sox. We assess some of Bill's NBA guests like KOC and discuss how Bill isn't getting top tier Celtics guests like other NBA pods. I also discuss at the end what I would ask Bill if he invited me on the pod (purely a hypothetical - I don't expect this to happen!) If you like the show rate us 5 stars and give us a review on Apple Pods - we'll read it on the show!

2024-06-20•1hr 31mins

#79: Reviewing Bill's 2024 Playoff Takes, Our Bill Simmons Grievances, Why Isn't Bill Satisfied With Tatum, Predicting Bill's 2024 NFL Takes, and Why Won't Bill Discuss Anything Besides the NBA & NFL?

Welcome to Episode 79! We bring on Flex from Twitter (@flexcfc) for a classic r/BS Pod rip. We first review Bill Simmons current events, including his frustration with the reaction to Tatum's playoffs. Why can't Bill be happy with the championship and why did he do a 180 on Tatum from earlier in the playoffs? We give our theories. We also weigh in on the Tatum celebration conversation. Then we predict Bill's NFL takes for this season, both preseason and once the Patriots start off poorly. Per usual, he will try to get a W either way. Next, we wonder why Bill isn't discussing anything else besides the NBA when there's a ton of other sports content going on - NHL, WNBA, Euros, Olympics and more. Not to mention baseball - given Bill wrote his first book about the Red Sox. We assess some of Bill's NBA guests like KOC and discuss how Bill isn't getting top tier Celtics guests like other NBA pods. I also discuss at the end what I would ask Bill if he invited me on the pod (purely a hypothetical - I don't expect this to happen!) If you like the show rate us 5 stars and give us a review on Apple Pods - we'll read it on the show!

2024-06-20•1hr 31mins

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#78: Talking Bill Simmons at AOL's Digital City Boston in the Late-1990s With a Former Email Partner and Frequent Mailbag Contributor; Plus, Hanging Out With Bill at a Clippers Game

Welcome to Episode 78! We bring on Ty from Pyramid the Podcast (yes, inspired by Bill) to talk Bill from the early days. Ty and his group of friends in Boston first discovered and then frequently emailed Bill in the late-90s as his column was on the rise. We discuss Bill at that time and Ty notes how part of what made Bill endearing was his aggressive calling out of the Boston media. Ty tells us why Bill was such a revelation at the time. We then go through the various stages of his career, and hear a fun story about Ty hanging out with Bill at a Clippers game. We discuss how Bill, and his content, has and hasn't changed since he started so long ago. We finish up with some Bill Simmons current events before discussing Ty's "Pyramid The Podcast" inspired by Bill's love of Pyramids for rankings. If you enjoyed the show, check out Ty on his pod:

2024-06-12•1hr 7mins

#78: Talking Bill Simmons at AOL's Digital City Boston in the Late-1990s With a Former Email Partner and Frequent Mailbag Contributor; Plus, Hanging Out With Bill at a Clippers Game

Welcome to Episode 78! We bring on Ty from Pyramid the Podcast (yes, inspired by Bill) to talk Bill from the early days. Ty and his group of friends in Boston first discovered and then frequently emailed Bill in the late-90s as his column was on the rise. We discuss Bill at that time and Ty notes how part of what made Bill endearing was his aggressive calling out of the Boston media. Ty tells us why Bill was such a revelation at the time. We then go through the various stages of his career, and hear a fun story about Ty hanging out with Bill at a Clippers game. We discuss how Bill, and his content, has and hasn't changed since he started so long ago. We finish up with some Bill Simmons current events before discussing Ty's "Pyramid The Podcast" inspired by Bill's love of Pyramids for rankings. If you enjoyed the show, check out Ty on his pod:

2024-06-12•1hr 7mins

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#77: SPORTS MEDIA UPDATE: Breaking Down NBC Winning 50 Exclusive NBA Games on Peacock Annually; Plus, Predicting Where 'Inside the NBA' Will Land, and Bill Reignites His McAfee Feud

Welcome to Episode 77! The WSJ dropped a long article today revealing many more details of the upcoming NBA rights deal. For all intents and purposes and barring a hail mary by Warner Bros. Discovery, this is a done deal. In this show I assess why the Peacock exclusives are such a big deal, what this means for the future of streaming on NBC, why the NBA loves NBC (not just about the money), possible future media M&A due to this NBA deal, and I predict where Inside the NBA will land. I finish up the pod laughing about today's BS Pod episode including Bill reigniting his feud with Pat McAfee.

2024-06-05•29mins

#77: SPORTS MEDIA UPDATE: Breaking Down NBC Winning 50 Exclusive NBA Games on Peacock Annually; Plus, Predicting Where 'Inside the NBA' Will Land, and Bill Reignites His McAfee Feud

Welcome to Episode 77! The WSJ dropped a long article today revealing many more details of the upcoming NBA rights deal. For all intents and purposes and barring a hail mary by Warner Bros. Discovery, this is a done deal. In this show I assess why the Peacock exclusives are such a big deal, what this means for the future of streaming on NBC, why the NBA loves NBC (not just about the money), possible future media M&A due to this NBA deal, and I predict where Inside the NBA will land. I finish up the pod laughing about today's BS Pod episode including Bill reigniting his feud with Pat McAfee.

2024-06-05•29mins

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#76: Current State of Sports Media, Why Didn't Steph Curry Ever Hold the Belt, Can Draymond Make it on TV, Is Russillo Sick of Bill, and How Caitlin Clark is the Evolutionary Steph for Sports Media

Welcome to Episode ! Andy (@AndyKHLiu) from the Light Years pod ( comes on for a fast-moving show covering several Bill Simmons and sports media topics. We start off with Andy's background becoming a Bill Simmons fan, and reminisce about Grantland and old Bill tweets. He really used to have no filter! Since Andy is a Warriors fan we get his take on Bill's view of KD - he agrees Bill overrated him because of the BS Pod appearances. And why didn't Bill - a "Steph guy" - include him in his NBA Belt holders? We then discuss the ongoing Bill-Russillo relationship and conclude that anyone doing 2 hours of weekly pods for several years will get sick of each other. We also laugh at how Bill acts like a host when he goes on Zach Lowe's pod and how Zach must be annoyed but grits his teeth. Next we take on the Inside the NBA takes and discuss how Draymond can improve enough to be good on TV. And Andy explains why he feels the JJ-Doris booth with Mike Breen isn't working. We finish up discussing how the recent Stephen A and Pat McAfee segments on the WNBA are emblematic of sports media in 2024 and, channeling our inner Bill, where we think sports media, as well as the NBA, is going. If you enjoyed the show, follow Andy on Twitter and check out the Light Years Pod.

2024-06-04•1hr 10mins

#76: Current State of Sports Media, Why Didn't Steph Curry Ever Hold the Belt, Can Draymond Make it on TV, Is Russillo Sick of Bill, and How Caitlin Clark is the Evolutionary Steph for Sports Media

Welcome to Episode ! Andy (@AndyKHLiu) from the Light Years pod ( comes on for a fast-moving show covering several Bill Simmons and sports media topics. We start off with Andy's background becoming a Bill Simmons fan, and reminisce about Grantland and old Bill tweets. He really used to have no filter! Since Andy is a Warriors fan we get his take on Bill's view of KD - he agrees Bill overrated him because of the BS Pod appearances. And why didn't Bill - a "Steph guy" - include him in his NBA Belt holders? We then discuss the ongoing Bill-Russillo relationship and conclude that anyone doing 2 hours of weekly pods for several years will get sick of each other. We also laugh at how Bill acts like a host when he goes on Zach Lowe's pod and how Zach must be annoyed but grits his teeth. Next we take on the Inside the NBA takes and discuss how Draymond can improve enough to be good on TV. And Andy explains why he feels the JJ-Doris booth with Mike Breen isn't working. We finish up discussing how the recent Stephen A and Pat McAfee segments on the WNBA are emblematic of sports media in 2024 and, channeling our inner Bill, where we think sports media, as well as the NBA, is going. If you enjoyed the show, follow Andy on Twitter and check out the Light Years Pod.

2024-06-04•1hr 10mins

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#75: Why Bill Should Return to TV on an NBA Show, New Insight Into Russillo's Next Move, Why Bill Missed the 2020s Video Paradigm Shift, and Enjoying "Vintage Bill" When He Talks Media & Pop Culture

Welcome to Episode 75! We bring on Chenny from Twitter (@ChennyBritt) for a classic r/BS Pod episode talking Bill, Russillo, sports media and more. We start off discussing the interesting dynamic of Bill having long-time fans who know he's overreacting with extreme bias vs. the newer fans and NBA Twitter who actually take his words seriously; it's happening like never before this NBA playoffs with Bill's hilarious flip flops every podcast. We then take a look back at Bill on NBA Countdown, and think Bill could do well once again on an NBA show and that it would actually improve his takes. Next we discuss Russillo's tenure at The Ringer and assess potential next moves. Chenny brings excellent insight into the discussion on why, with Russillo's interests in screenwriting coupled with the lack of video at The Ringer, we see better homes for him going forward than his current one. Also, we assess how the Russillo-Bill pods have improved in 2024 vs 2023. Continuing on sports media, we discuss Colin Cowherd's sports media company and why what he's doing there makes more sense to us than what The Ringer's doing. Why did Bill miss the video paradigm shift after calling so many previous ones? We finish up discussing our enjoyment of Bill's pop culture takes and how we think Vintage Bill shows up in those segments as opposed to his current First Take-esque sports discussion. If you liked the show, check out Chenny on Twitter and on YouTube where he does analysis of top TV shows and movies:

2024-05-31•1hr 7mins

#75: Why Bill Should Return to TV on an NBA Show, New Insight Into Russillo's Next Move, Why Bill Missed the 2020s Video Paradigm Shift, and Enjoying "Vintage Bill" When He Talks Media & Pop Culture

Welcome to Episode 75! We bring on Chenny from Twitter (@ChennyBritt) for a classic r/BS Pod episode talking Bill, Russillo, sports media and more. We start off discussing the interesting dynamic of Bill having long-time fans who know he's overreacting with extreme bias vs. the newer fans and NBA Twitter who actually take his words seriously; it's happening like never before this NBA playoffs with Bill's hilarious flip flops every podcast. We then take a look back at Bill on NBA Countdown, and think Bill could do well once again on an NBA show and that it would actually improve his takes. Next we discuss Russillo's tenure at The Ringer and assess potential next moves. Chenny brings excellent insight into the discussion on why, with Russillo's interests in screenwriting coupled with the lack of video at The Ringer, we see better homes for him going forward than his current one. Also, we assess how the Russillo-Bill pods have improved in 2024 vs 2023. Continuing on sports media, we discuss Colin Cowherd's sports media company and why what he's doing there makes more sense to us than what The Ringer's doing. Why did Bill miss the video paradigm shift after calling so many previous ones? We finish up discussing our enjoyment of Bill's pop culture takes and how we think Vintage Bill shows up in those segments as opposed to his current First Take-esque sports discussion. If you liked the show, check out Chenny on Twitter and on YouTube where he does analysis of top TV shows and movies:

2024-05-31•1hr 7mins

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#74: Why Warner Bros. Discovery's TNT Will Lose NBA Rights to NBC and Amazon

In this episode I break down why we’re about to see such a massive shift in the NBA rights deals. I discuss: — What went wrong with the formation of TNT’s parent Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) — Why WBD’s recent financials have been disastrous — The highly negative impact of WBD signing a new NBA deal at double the cost of the previous one — Why the deal makes much more sense for NBC and Amazon — Why the NBA prefers NBC and Amazon over WBD

2024-05-19•29mins

#74: Why Warner Bros. Discovery's TNT Will Lose NBA Rights to NBC and Amazon

In this episode I break down why we’re about to see such a massive shift in the NBA rights deals. I discuss: — What went wrong with the formation of TNT’s parent Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) — Why WBD’s recent financials have been disastrous — The highly negative impact of WBD signing a new NBA deal at double the cost of the previous one — Why the deal makes much more sense for NBC and Amazon — Why the NBA prefers NBC and Amazon over WBD

2024-05-19•29mins

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#73: Bill’s Annoying Refusal to Take an L, Was 2024 Parody Hot Take Bill Inevitable, Revisiting Classic Mid-2000s Columns, and Would Bill Be as Successful if He Wasn’t the Boston Sports Guy?

Welcome to Episode 73! We bring on Mike from Twitter (@PokerPolitics) for a deeper look into the evolution of Bill Simmons, as Mike's been reading Bill since the Page 2 ESPN days in the early 2000s. First we start with Bill Simmons current events. His flip flops on the Wolves-Nuggets series have been legendary. Plus, we react to the embarrassing Justin Termine appearance defending Bill's outrageous takes. Next we go back to Mike's origins finding Bill and wonder whether he'd be as successful if he were the "Seattle Sports Guy" or the "Cleveland Sports Guy." We agree that Boston played a large role in his success. Next we revisit some classic Page 2 columns and try to get to the bottom of why Bill turned into 2024 Full Parody Hot Take Artist Bill Simmons. Was it inevitable after being in sports media for so long? Was it a conscious choice? Is he simply following the trends of what media has become these days? We finish up discussing how Bill's refusal to take an L on his takes has made his listeners more than ever root aggressively against his Boston teams. Hope you enjoyed! Thank you to Wiser Times for the intro song and Zach Blatter for the cover art.

2024-05-17•1hr 25mins

#73: Bill’s Annoying Refusal to Take an L, Was 2024 Parody Hot Take Bill Inevitable, Revisiting Classic Mid-2000s Columns, and Would Bill Be as Successful if He Wasn’t the Boston Sports Guy?

Welcome to Episode 73! We bring on Mike from Twitter (@PokerPolitics) for a deeper look into the evolution of Bill Simmons, as Mike's been reading Bill since the Page 2 ESPN days in the early 2000s. First we start with Bill Simmons current events. His flip flops on the Wolves-Nuggets series have been legendary. Plus, we react to the embarrassing Justin Termine appearance defending Bill's outrageous takes. Next we go back to Mike's origins finding Bill and wonder whether he'd be as successful if he were the "Seattle Sports Guy" or the "Cleveland Sports Guy." We agree that Boston played a large role in his success. Next we revisit some classic Page 2 columns and try to get to the bottom of why Bill turned into 2024 Full Parody Hot Take Artist Bill Simmons. Was it inevitable after being in sports media for so long? Was it a conscious choice? Is he simply following the trends of what media has become these days? We finish up discussing how Bill's refusal to take an L on his takes has made his listeners more than ever root aggressively against his Boston teams. Hope you enjoyed! Thank you to Wiser Times for the intro song and Zach Blatter for the cover art.

2024-05-17•1hr 25mins

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#72: Over-Reactionary Bill Reaches Extreme Levels, The Ringer's Missing Video Content & NHL Coverage, NBA Rights Update & Russillo Market Corrects Bill; Plus, Mount Rushmore of Post-1990 Rock Bands

Welcome to Episode 72! We bring on Wiser Times - the creator of the awesome intro song - for another classic r/BS Pod ep. First we delve into Bill Simmons current events. We're seeing previously unimagined levels of flip flopping from the Podfather, which is backfiring on him in hilarious ways. It's been very fun to see Bill's takes age poorly almost immediately this NBA postseason. Next we get into how Wiser Times found Bill, which he did through The Ringer's NBA Desktop show. Why did Bill's website essentially stop doing video for years, especially when this is *the* growth segment for younger sports and pop culture fans? We then talk NHL and The Ringer's lack of coverage, comparing it to the editorial decision to also not cover college football and basketball; Bill personally doesn't like them. Plus, why have the NHL and MLB fallen in popularity, and what can the NBA do in their new rights deal to better reach young fans? We next talk about Wiser Times' background in music, including his favorite music pods, and end up talking Red Hot Chili Peppers and their place in music history, including whether they're on the post 1990 Mount Rushmore of rock bands (and who else is on it). We finish up discussing how Russillo keeps market correcting Bill for many listeners. If you like the show, follow Wiser Times on social media and music platforms (links below) Apple Music: Spotify: Instagram: Also, thank you to Zach Blatter for the cover art

2024-05-15•1hr 17mins

#72: Over-Reactionary Bill Reaches Extreme Levels, The Ringer's Missing Video Content & NHL Coverage, NBA Rights Update & Russillo Market Corrects Bill; Plus, Mount Rushmore of Post-1990 Rock Bands

Welcome to Episode 72! We bring on Wiser Times - the creator of the awesome intro song - for another classic r/BS Pod ep. First we delve into Bill Simmons current events. We're seeing previously unimagined levels of flip flopping from the Podfather, which is backfiring on him in hilarious ways. It's been very fun to see Bill's takes age poorly almost immediately this NBA postseason. Next we get into how Wiser Times found Bill, which he did through The Ringer's NBA Desktop show. Why did Bill's website essentially stop doing video for years, especially when this is *the* growth segment for younger sports and pop culture fans? We then talk NHL and The Ringer's lack of coverage, comparing it to the editorial decision to also not cover college football and basketball; Bill personally doesn't like them. Plus, why have the NHL and MLB fallen in popularity, and what can the NBA do in their new rights deal to better reach young fans? We next talk about Wiser Times' background in music, including his favorite music pods, and end up talking Red Hot Chili Peppers and their place in music history, including whether they're on the post 1990 Mount Rushmore of rock bands (and who else is on it). We finish up discussing how Russillo keeps market correcting Bill for many listeners. If you like the show, follow Wiser Times on social media and music platforms (links below) Apple Music: Spotify: Instagram: Also, thank you to Zach Blatter for the cover art

2024-05-15•1hr 17mins

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#71: Bill's KD Bias & LeBron Hate and Why Are Titus & So Many Others Leaving The Ringer; Plus the Future of The Ringer, an r/BillSimmons Check-In & Going In-Depth on the New NBA Rights Deal

Welcome to Episode 71! We bring on JF, who reached out to me on the Bill Simmons subreddit wanting to talk Simmons, The Ringer and more. We first hit on Bill Simmons current events - it's laughable how much Bill praises and makes excuses for KD but hates on LeBron. What's the reason for this? We think it's obvious. Next we discuss why Mark Titus and others have left The Ringer - is Bill not paying people enough and not giving them creative freedom? That appears to be the case. And why is Barstool of all places better at developing talent than The Ringer? After we do a check-in on r/BillSimmons, of which JF has been a fan of for years, we finish with an in-depth discussion of the new NBA deal. Is NBC overpaying? Is Warner Bros. screwed without it? Do the economics work for Amazon? We get into all that and more. Hope you enjoy the episode! And thank you to Wiser Times for the intro music and Zach Blatter for the cover art.

2024-05-03•1hr 29mins

#71: Bill's KD Bias & LeBron Hate and Why Are Titus & So Many Others Leaving The Ringer; Plus the Future of The Ringer, an r/BillSimmons Check-In & Going In-Depth on the New NBA Rights Deal

Welcome to Episode 71! We bring on JF, who reached out to me on the Bill Simmons subreddit wanting to talk Simmons, The Ringer and more. We first hit on Bill Simmons current events - it's laughable how much Bill praises and makes excuses for KD but hates on LeBron. What's the reason for this? We think it's obvious. Next we discuss why Mark Titus and others have left The Ringer - is Bill not paying people enough and not giving them creative freedom? That appears to be the case. And why is Barstool of all places better at developing talent than The Ringer? After we do a check-in on r/BillSimmons, of which JF has been a fan of for years, we finish with an in-depth discussion of the new NBA deal. Is NBC overpaying? Is Warner Bros. screwed without it? Do the economics work for Amazon? We get into all that and more. Hope you enjoy the episode! And thank you to Wiser Times for the intro music and Zach Blatter for the cover art.

2024-05-03•1hr 29mins

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#70: Bill Simmons' Descent From Apex Mountain to Nadir Canyon; Plus Guess the Lines & Russillo Pods are Stale, Does Bill Even Like the NFL, Bill's Growing Arrogance and The Ringer's Disappointments

Welcome to Episode 70! We bring on Doug from Twitter (@dougie_fresh055) for a rollicking ride of all things Bill Simmons. We first hit on Bill Simmons current events, including what will surely be a hilariously petty response to LeBron's podcast with JJ; in fact, this likely explains the uptick in cheap shots Bill's taken at LeBron lately. Next we look back at Doug's Bill Simmons tweets starting as early as 2012. We see the highs (mailbags, NBA Draft, Grantland, Countdown, Bill & Jalen's Previews) before Bill's descent: It started with the KD pods, Bill's first shows that felt transactional rather than an earnest conversation. Then we get to JackieMac's awful pods, some of the worst NBA audio content there ever was - why did Bill think this was good radio? And finally, we get to the Ringer lackey phase - Bill can't do better than Ruiz & Solak? After our journey to Nadir Canyon, we discuss how both Guess the Lines and the Russillo NBA pods are stale - does Ryen even like doing them anymore? We think it's a Bill problem, not a Russillo issue. Part of what is plaguing Bill is his extreme arrogance, with guests not wanting to push back, afraid of offending only child Bill. We close out the pod comparing Bill to his peer group Russillo, Cowherd and Nick Wright - some of these guys are doing better than others. Hope you enjoy! And thank you to Wiser Times music for the intro song and Zach Blatter for the cover art.

2024-03-19•1hr 14mins

#70: Bill Simmons' Descent From Apex Mountain to Nadir Canyon; Plus Guess the Lines & Russillo Pods are Stale, Does Bill Even Like the NFL, Bill's Growing Arrogance and The Ringer's Disappointments

Welcome to Episode 70! We bring on Doug from Twitter (@dougie_fresh055) for a rollicking ride of all things Bill Simmons. We first hit on Bill Simmons current events, including what will surely be a hilariously petty response to LeBron's podcast with JJ; in fact, this likely explains the uptick in cheap shots Bill's taken at LeBron lately. Next we look back at Doug's Bill Simmons tweets starting as early as 2012. We see the highs (mailbags, NBA Draft, Grantland, Countdown, Bill & Jalen's Previews) before Bill's descent: It started with the KD pods, Bill's first shows that felt transactional rather than an earnest conversation. Then we get to JackieMac's awful pods, some of the worst NBA audio content there ever was - why did Bill think this was good radio? And finally, we get to the Ringer lackey phase - Bill can't do better than Ruiz & Solak? After our journey to Nadir Canyon, we discuss how both Guess the Lines and the Russillo NBA pods are stale - does Ryen even like doing them anymore? We think it's a Bill problem, not a Russillo issue. Part of what is plaguing Bill is his extreme arrogance, with guests not wanting to push back, afraid of offending only child Bill. We close out the pod comparing Bill to his peer group Russillo, Cowherd and Nick Wright - some of these guys are doing better than others. Hope you enjoy! And thank you to Wiser Times music for the intro song and Zach Blatter for the cover art.

2024-03-19•1hr 14mins

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#69: RINGER UNION UPDATE — Bill Simmons Passes the Buck

That’s right — an entire show talking Ringer Union. The BS Pod has continued to be released despite no contract after it expired, yet Bill added a disclaimer today that The Ringer is “owned, managed and operated by Spotify” - was this an attempt to pass the buck? We say yes. Bill not only has significant influence at Spotify, but he’s also Head of Podcast Monetization & Innovation! We then get into the crux of the Ringer Union issue and wonder how Bill got himself into this in the first place. Incredibly, the hold up seems to be creative rights in AI, which Bill has discussed in-depth with guests on his podcast including Derek Thompson and Matt Belloni. Why hasn’t this been solved yet? We next talk The Ringer at large and why it hasn't been successful at developing talent, before reviewing the first Ringer Union timeline and how they ultimately got a deal. You won’t want to miss this breakdown. If you liked the pod, check out Neil on Twitter: @NeilYayamanj

2024-03-05•53mins

#69: RINGER UNION UPDATE — Bill Simmons Passes the Buck

That’s right — an entire show talking Ringer Union. The BS Pod has continued to be released despite no contract after it expired, yet Bill added a disclaimer today that The Ringer is “owned, managed and operated by Spotify” - was this an attempt to pass the buck? We say yes. Bill not only has significant influence at Spotify, but he’s also Head of Podcast Monetization & Innovation! We then get into the crux of the Ringer Union issue and wonder how Bill got himself into this in the first place. Incredibly, the hold up seems to be creative rights in AI, which Bill has discussed in-depth with guests on his podcast including Derek Thompson and Matt Belloni. Why hasn’t this been solved yet? We next talk The Ringer at large and why it hasn't been successful at developing talent, before reviewing the first Ringer Union timeline and how they ultimately got a deal. You won’t want to miss this breakdown. If you liked the pod, check out Neil on Twitter: @NeilYayamanj

2024-03-05•53mins

#50

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The r/BillSimmons Podcast

Podcast Summary

#118: Spreading Bill Simmons Lingo to non-Bill Fans, Russillo’s Essential Role at The Ringer, Zach Lowe’s Guest Issues, The Beauty of r/BillSimmons, and Who Wins a CR vs. Van 7-Game Series?

#118: Spreading Bill Simmons Lingo to non-Bill Fans, Russillo’s Essential Role at The Ringer, Zach Lowe’s Guest Issues, The Beauty of r/BillSimmons, and Who Wins a CR vs. Van 7-Game Series?

#117: Part 2 With Imperial Twilight: Bill’s Apex Mountain, How Bill Can Make it As a Hollywood Mogul, Bill Should Launch a Book Publishing Co, and Why The Ringer Should Expand Into College Basketball

#117: Part 2 With Imperial Twilight: Bill’s Apex Mountain, How Bill Can Make it As a Hollywood Mogul, Bill Should Launch a Book Publishing Co, and Why The Ringer Should Expand Into College Basketball

#116: EMERGENCY FEUDCAST — Simmons & Russillo Land Nuclear Blast on Outkick's NBA Ratings Coverage; Clay Travis & Bobby Burack Respond With Tactical Strikes of Their Own — We Assess the Feud

#116: EMERGENCY FEUDCAST — Simmons & Russillo Land Nuclear Blast on Outkick's NBA Ratings Coverage; Clay Travis & Bobby Burack Respond With Tactical Strikes of Their Own — We Assess the Feud

#115: Part 1 With Imperial Twilight: Did Bill Help Destroy Sportswriting? Plus, Bill's Evolution From Fan to Rich LA Insider, Why Hasn't He Been Cancelled & Challenging Russillo's Tape Grinding Claims

#115: Part 1 With Imperial Twilight: Did Bill Help Destroy Sportswriting? Plus, Bill's Evolution From Fan to Rich LA Insider, Why Hasn't He Been Cancelled & Challenging Russillo's Tape Grinding Claims

#114: Part 2 With David Quiñones: Bill's Best Guests, Why Russillo Likely Stays at The Ringer, Our Decades Long Bill Gripe, Rings Culture Patient Zero, and The Future Legacy of Today's Gambling Craze

#114: Part 2 With David Quiñones: Bill's Best Guests, Why Russillo Likely Stays at The Ringer, Our Decades Long Bill Gripe, Rings Culture Patient Zero, and The Future Legacy of Today's Gambling Craze

#113: Part 1 With David Quiñones: Bill's Lasting Impact on Sports Journalism, The Evolution of Player Coverage, The Generational Divide in Sports Media, and Why Does Bill Hate Mid-Tier NBA Stars?

#113: Part 1 With David Quiñones: Bill's Lasting Impact on Sports Journalism, The Evolution of Player Coverage, The Generational Divide in Sports Media, and Why Does Bill Hate Mid-Tier NBA Stars?

#112: Nadir Canyon Masters Pods - Has Bill Lost Touch With the Average Sports Fan? Plus, Bill's Failure to Adapt, His Lost Interviewing Skills, and Why His Hot Takes Have Gotten Much Worse

#112: Nadir Canyon Masters Pods - Has Bill Lost Touch With the Average Sports Fan? Plus, Bill's Failure to Adapt, His Lost Interviewing Skills, and Why His Hot Takes Have Gotten Much Worse

#111: Best & Worst Case Bill Simmons NBA Playoff Scenarios, More Zach Lowe to The Ringer Coverage, and NBA Twitter Stories with @HubieTalksHoops

#111: Best & Worst Case Bill Simmons NBA Playoff Scenarios, More Zach Lowe to The Ringer Coverage, and NBA Twitter Stories with @HubieTalksHoops

Listen to your favourite podcasts.

#110: Lowe vs. Russillo, GM Bill vs. Content Creator Bill & Stephen A vs. LeBron; Plus, is PMT the Evolutionary BS Report & What's The Ringer's Salary Cap Strategy?

#110: Lowe vs. Russillo, GM Bill vs. Content Creator Bill & Stephen A vs. LeBron; Plus, is PMT the Evolutionary BS Report & What's The Ringer's Salary Cap Strategy?

#109: EMERGENCY POD — Zach Lowe Joins The Ringer

#109: EMERGENCY POD — Zach Lowe Joins The Ringer

#108: LeBron on McAfee Reaction: What it Means for Bill, Stephen A, ESPN, the NBA Media Landscape and LeBron's Legacy

#108: LeBron on McAfee Reaction: What it Means for Bill, Stephen A, ESPN, the NBA Media Landscape and LeBron's Legacy

#107: NBA vs. March Madness Fanhood - Why Can't We Like Both? Plus, Bill Doubling Down on NBA vs. Pardon My Take Going Broad - What's the Better Strategy? And Bill Simmons Sliding Doors Moments

#107: NBA vs. March Madness Fanhood - Why Can't We Like Both? Plus, Bill Doubling Down on NBA vs. Pardon My Take Going Broad - What's the Better Strategy? And Bill Simmons Sliding Doors Moments

#106: Why Was 'Around the Horn' Cancelled — and Why We Used to Love it

#106: Why Was 'Around the Horn' Cancelled — and Why We Used to Love it

#105: Stop Being an NBA Doomer — Ratings are Fine and the League is in Excellent Financial Shape

#105: Stop Being an NBA Doomer — Ratings are Fine and the League is in Excellent Financial Shape

#104: ESPN Insider Comes on to Talk Bill Simmons at Grantland and Where Bill Ranks on the ESPN Pyramid, Plus Bill Simmons Current Events — What Was That Termine & Eddie Johnson Pod??

#104: ESPN Insider Comes on to Talk Bill Simmons at Grantland and Where Bill Ranks on the ESPN Pyramid, Plus Bill Simmons Current Events — What Was That Termine & Eddie Johnson Pod??

#103: A Review of Katie Nolan's New Podcast "Casuals"

#103: A Review of Katie Nolan's New Podcast "Casuals"

#102: EMERGENCY POD — Luka Gets Traded and Bill & Russillo Record the Greatest Podcast of All-Time

#102: EMERGENCY POD — Luka Gets Traded and Bill & Russillo Record the Greatest Podcast of All-Time

#101: EMERGENCY POD — Bill Simmons to Re-Sign with Spotify; Plus, is an ESPN Reunion Coming, and is Zach Lowe Joining The Ringer?

#101: EMERGENCY POD — Bill Simmons to Re-Sign with Spotify; Plus, is an ESPN Reunion Coming, and is Zach Lowe Joining The Ringer?

#100: EMERGENCY POD — Big Cat Grew Up a Boston Sports Fan

#100: EMERGENCY POD — Big Cat Grew Up a Boston Sports Fan

#99: Why Bill Remains So Popular Despite a Content Drop-off, is Pardon My Take the Evolutionary Page 2 Bill, Reacting to Ric Bucher's Comments, and a Theory on Why Bill's Takes Have Become So Wonky

#99: Why Bill Remains So Popular Despite a Content Drop-off, is Pardon My Take the Evolutionary Page 2 Bill, Reacting to Ric Bucher's Comments, and a Theory on Why Bill's Takes Have Become So Wonky

#98: A Foolproof Way to Lift NBA Ratings and Solve the League's Regular Season Issues; Plus, Did Zach Lowe Ruin Basketball?

#98: A Foolproof Way to Lift NBA Ratings and Solve the League's Regular Season Issues; Plus, Did Zach Lowe Ruin Basketball?

#97: The 3-Man Weave Returns — Why are NBA Ratings in Decline, and What Can the League Do About it?

#97: The 3-Man Weave Returns — Why are NBA Ratings in Decline, and What Can the League Do About it?

#96: Bill in Shambles as JJ Redick & the Lakers Start 3-0

#96: Bill in Shambles as JJ Redick & the Lakers Start 3-0

Listen to your favourite podcasts.

#95: The Ringer's New Hires — What This Means for NFL & NBA Coverage; Do They Need Zach Lowe? Plus, Nadir Canyon Guess the Lines Needs a Format Change, and Bill Appears Ready to Re-Sign With Spotify

#95: The Ringer's New Hires — What This Means for NFL & NBA Coverage; Do They Need Zach Lowe? Plus, Nadir Canyon Guess the Lines Needs a Format Change, and Bill Appears Ready to Re-Sign With Spotify

#94: EMERGENCY POD — The Ringer Hires Todd McShay, Kirk Goldsberry and Dave Jacoby

#94: EMERGENCY POD — The Ringer Hires Todd McShay, Kirk Goldsberry and Dave Jacoby

#93: We Review "Mr. McMahon" — Grading the Doc, Where it Ranks on a 30 for 30 Scale, How WWE & Netflix Come Out, Should it Have Gone Harder on Vince, Bill's Doc Legacy in 2024 and Doc Winners & Losers

#93: We Review "Mr. McMahon" — Grading the Doc, Where it Ranks on a 30 for 30 Scale, How WWE & Netflix Come Out, Should it Have Gone Harder on Vince, Bill's Doc Legacy in 2024 and Doc Winners & Losers

#92: EMERGENCY POD — Zach Lowe Fired by ESPN

#92: EMERGENCY POD — Zach Lowe Fired by ESPN

#91: The Definitive 'Any Given Wednesday' Retrospective — A Complete Breakdown of the Worst Show in HBO History

#91: The Definitive 'Any Given Wednesday' Retrospective — A Complete Breakdown of the Worst Show in HBO History

#90: Assessing Bill's Recent NFL Takes & Guests, Simmons Free Agency Watch Heats Up, KOC to Yahoo Reaction, Kamala on the BS Pod...Trump on Russillo? Plus, our First Snake Draft of Best BS Pod Guests

#90: Assessing Bill's Recent NFL Takes & Guests, Simmons Free Agency Watch Heats Up, KOC to Yahoo Reaction, Kamala on the BS Pod...Trump on Russillo? Plus, our First Snake Draft of Best BS Pod Guests

#89: EMERGENCY POD — Kevin O'Connor Leaves The Ringer for Yahoo Sports; Plus, Todd McShay to The Ringer?

#89: EMERGENCY POD — Kevin O'Connor Leaves The Ringer for Yahoo Sports; Plus, Todd McShay to The Ringer?

#88: The Evolution of Bill Simmons and Sports Media, and the State of the BS Pod & Content Creation Overall in a Sports Gambling World; Plus, Fans Want More Authenticity From Bill

#88: The Evolution of Bill Simmons and Sports Media, and the State of the BS Pod & Content Creation Overall in a Sports Gambling World; Plus, Fans Want More Authenticity From Bill

#87: EMERGENCY BEEFCAST: Bill Simmons vs. Nick Wright Feud Goes Nuclear as Bill Lands Two Massive Blasts Against Nick, Who Demands a BS Pod Appearance to Defend Himself; Plus More on Bill's Next Move

#87: EMERGENCY BEEFCAST: Bill Simmons vs. Nick Wright Feud Goes Nuclear as Bill Lands Two Massive Blasts Against Nick, Who Demands a BS Pod Appearance to Defend Himself; Plus More on Bill's Next Move

#86: Bill's Auction Draft Arrogance & Being Terrible at Fantasy — Does He Understand Draft Value? Plus Simmons Free Agency Watch, is Sports Media Taking More Shots at Bill & Russillo the Screenwriter?

#86: Bill's Auction Draft Arrogance & Being Terrible at Fantasy — Does He Understand Draft Value? Plus Simmons Free Agency Watch, is Sports Media Taking More Shots at Bill & Russillo the Screenwriter?

#85: Bill's Miss on Bezos and the Celtics, The Origin of Bill's LeBron Hate, Documentary & Podcast Ideas for Bill, and Does Bill Like the NBA Less Than He Used To? Plus, Bill's Career Arc vs Le Batard

#85: Bill's Miss on Bezos and the Celtics, The Origin of Bill's LeBron Hate, Documentary & Podcast Ideas for Bill, and Does Bill Like the NBA Less Than He Used To? Plus, Bill's Career Arc vs Le Batard

#84: Our Grantland Mount Rushmore & Favorite Forgotten BS Report Guests, The Downfall of Michael Rapaport, Bill's Terrible Fantasy Strategies & The Great Pedof-Isle & Fast & Furious Pods with Carolla

#84: Our Grantland Mount Rushmore & Favorite Forgotten BS Report Guests, The Downfall of Michael Rapaport, Bill's Terrible Fantasy Strategies & The Great Pedof-Isle & Fast & Furious Pods with Carolla

#83: Bill's Team USA Tatum Disaster, #EmbraceDebate on the New NBA Rights Deal, Chances of Bill Getting an NBA Studio Gig, Bill's Actual Contributions to 30 for 30 & Why Did Solak Leave The Ringer?

#83: Bill's Team USA Tatum Disaster, #EmbraceDebate on the New NBA Rights Deal, Chances of Bill Getting an NBA Studio Gig, Bill's Actual Contributions to 30 for 30 & Why Did Solak Leave The Ringer?

#82: INSTANT REACTION — NBC Officially Confirms NBA Rights Win, Gives Package Details and Explains Their Reasoning for Massive $2.5 Billion Annual Deal

#82: INSTANT REACTION — NBC Officially Confirms NBA Rights Win, Gives Package Details and Explains Their Reasoning for Massive $2.5 Billion Annual Deal

#81: Will Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) Win NBA Rights From Amazon, Why the NBA is Smart to Try to Move on From WBD, and is WBD Really Going to Break Up? Plus, Another Dominant Netflix Earnings

#81: Will Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) Win NBA Rights From Amazon, Why the NBA is Smart to Try to Move on From WBD, and is WBD Really Going to Break Up? Plus, Another Dominant Netflix Earnings

#73: Bill’s Annoying Refusal to Take an L, Was 2024 Parody Hot Take Bill Inevitable, Revisiting Classic Mid-2000s Columns, and Would Bill Be as Successful if He Wasn’t the Boston Sports Guy?

#73: Bill’s Annoying Refusal to Take an L, Was 2024 Parody Hot Take Bill Inevitable, Revisiting Classic Mid-2000s Columns, and Would Bill Be as Successful if He Wasn’t the Boston Sports Guy?