The Press Box

The Ringer

The Ringer’s Bryan Curtis, David Shoemaker and Joel Anderson catch you up on the biggest media stories, from sports to politics and everything in between.

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1,299 episodes
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Episodes1299

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Oct 31, 2022 · 1 hr 1 min
The Midterms Are Here, Elon Musk and Twitter, and NFL Insider Trade Inflation
One week until the midterm elections, Bryan and David discuss signs that we have entered the late stage of the election cycle while discussing ad campaigns, reevaluating Senate races, and touching on Beto O’Rourke’s position in his state race (3:24). Later, they revisit Twitter underneath Elon Musk and touch on his recent response to Hillary Clinton, weigh in on the potential for misinformation, and discuss the amount one would have to pay for a verified Twitter account (23:40). Then, they discuss Ian Eagle’s new role next year calling the NCAA Final Four (35:24), before then addressing NFL insider trader inflation (43:35). Plus, the Overworked Twitter Joke of the Week and David Shoemaker Guesses the Strained Pun Headline. Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker Associate Producer: Erika Cervantes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Oct 28, 2022 · 38 min
Perry Bacon Jr. on the Midterm Countdown, Twitter Under Elon Musk, and How to Save Local News
Bryan is joined by Washington Post columnist Perry Bacon Jr. to discuss the upcoming midterm elections as well as recent media news. They begin by addressing the unified story represented by these elections, discuss which senate race has been of peak interest, and weigh in on whether the democrats are “screwing this up.” Later, they touch on how Twitter may or may not change under the ownership of Elon Musk, and then Bacon shares his three-step plan to save local news. Host: Bryan Curtis Guest: Perry Bacon Jr. Associate Producer: Erika Cervantes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Oct 24, 2022 · 57 min
Big Senate Races, the TB12 Primary, and a First Look at Ben Smith’s Semafor
In preparation for the midterm elections, Bryan and David check in on three of the biggest Senate races around the country, starting with Pennsylvania’s race between John Fetterman and Mehmet Oz, Ohio’s race between Tim Ryan and JD Vance, and Georgia’s race between Senator Raphael Warnock and Herschel Walker (7:46), before then addressing the embattled former prime minister Liz Truss (30:28). Later, they dive into the new media site Semafor that provides readers with “redefined news,” and attempt to decipher who the site is for (36:02). Plus, the Overworked Twitter Joke of the Week, and David Shoemaker Guesses the Strained-Pun Headline. Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker Associate Producer: Erika Cervantes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Oct 20, 2022 · 34 min
The Draymond Green Doc and the Future of “New Media” With Wosny Lambre
Bryan is joined by Wos to break down Draymond Green’s short doc, in which he addresses the recent altercation between himself and teammate Jordan Poole, before weighing in on player-driven media and its effect on the fan base. Host: Bryan Curtis Guest: Wosny Lambre Associate Producer: Erika Cervantes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Oct 17, 2022 · 57 min
Charles Barkley's New Deal, Baseball Playoff Ads, and Covering Political Losers
Bryan and David kick things off by discussing the news of Charles Barkley’s new 10-year deal with TNT worth over $100 million (0:22). Then, they touch on Bob Costas's return to broadcasting and his ad reads integrated into the telecast (9:21), before weighing in on Annie Karnie’s short essay in Vogue reflecting on her time covering politicians who never won (24:03). Later, they are joined by ESPN writer Ryan O’Hanlon to discuss his new book, ‘Net Gains.’ They dive into how the soccer compares to other American sports, discuss why soccer is difficult to quantify, and address how one writes a book tackling the analytics (34:31). Plus, the Overworked Twitter Joke of the Week and David Shoemaker Guesses the Strained-Pun Headline. Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker Guest: Ryan O'Hanlon Associate Producer: Erika Cervantes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Oct 13, 2022 · 39 min
Rebecca Traister on John Fetterman, His Recovery From a Stroke, and the Media
Bryan is joined by New York magazine writer Rebecca Traister to dive into John Fetterman’s Senate race in Pennsylvania after experiencing a stroke. They break down the health condition of Fetterman, discuss how he's recovering, talk through his status in the current Senate race, and weigh in on a journalist’s responsibility when covering the health of a politician and/or a public figure. Host: Bryan Curtis Guest: Rebecca Traister Associate Producer: Erika Cervantes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Oct 11, 2022 · 1 hr 6 min
The Athletic-New York Times Marriage, Nikki Finke, and Late Night in Peril
Bryan and David break down the merger between The Athletic and The New York Times. They discuss the policies and standards enforced for both outlets, the evolution of the sports section at the Times, and the importance of finding identity (6:26). Later, they say goodbye to reporter Nikki Finke (34:06) before switching gears and diving into the transition of the late-night show from cable, with figures such as James Corden and Trevor Noah leaving their respective shows (48:16). Plus, the Overworked Twitter Joke of the Week and David Shoemaker Guesses the Strained-Pun Headline. Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker Associate Producer: Erika Cervantes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Oct 7, 2022 · 29 min
Covering Herschel Walker's Senate Campaign With Greg Bluestein
Bryan is joined by journalist and author Greg Bluestein of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution to discuss covering Herschel Walker’s Senate campaign. They begin by addressing recent accusations claiming he paid for a woman’s abortion back in 2009, touch on his response to the claims as well as his son’s response on Twitter, and break down how this might affect the Senate race in the coming weeks. Host: Bryan Curtis Guest: Greg Bluestein Associate Producer: Erika Cervantes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Oct 3, 2022 · 1 hr 6 min
Maggie Haberman’s Book Arrives, Covering a Concussion, and Shane Bacon on LIV Golf’s TV Deal
Bryan and David address the highly anticipated Maggie Haberman book ‘Confidence Man: The Making of Donald Trump and the Breaking of America.’ They discuss scoops within the book, Haberman’s relationship with Trump, and what this type of reporting reveals about media access (00:38). They then switch gears and weigh in on the reporting surrounding Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa before touching on the Aaron Judge cut-ins that caused a media frenzy (20:34). Later, Shane Bacon from the Golf Channel joins Bryan to talk about LIV Golf’s television deal with Fox Sports and his new children’s book, ‘The Golfer’s Zoo’ (37:10). Plus, the Overworked Twitter Joke of the Week and David Shoemaker Guesses the Strained-Pun Headline. Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker Guest: Shane Bacon Associate Producer: Erika Cervantes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Sep 28, 2022 · 1 hr 7 min
Charley Steiner on Calling Baseball, Memories of ESPN, Press Room Scuffles, and More
Bryan is joined by Dodgers play-by-play announcer Charley Steiner to discuss his time working in media. They begin by reflecting on his start with the Yankees and receiving his “Yankee tattoo,” calling the Aaron Boone home run, and comparing his time with the Yankees to his time with the Dodgers. Later, they highlight key moments from Steiner’s career, from a Wimbledon press room scuffle to calling the Dodgers' 2020 World Series championship, and all the moments in between. Host: Bryan Curtis Guest: Charley Steiner Associate Producer: Erika Cervantes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Sep 26, 2022 · 50 min
How the Ime Udoka Story Was Reported
Bryan and David discuss the news that Boston Celtics head coach Ime Udoka has been suspended following allegations about a relationship with a female member of the team’s staff. They dive into the chain of events since the news broke, talk through the details (or lack thereof), and ask critical questions about the allegations and how they're being reported (0:30). Later, they pay respects to New York Times watchdog Allan Siegal and touch on the new media era, with a focus on MLB home run chases (30:06). Plus, the Overworked Twitter Joke of the Week and David Shoemaker Guesses the Strained-Pun Headline. Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker Associate Producer: Erika Cervantes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Sep 23, 2022 · 32 min
Pedro Martínez on Home Run Chases, Doing TV, Mets Joy, and Red Sox Sadness.
Bryan is joined by Hall of Famer and MLB Network analyst Pedro Martínez to talk about all things baseball. They discuss Aaron Judge’s current pursuit of Roger Maris's AL home run record, Pedro’s feelings about the Mets versus the Red Sox, as well as his unexpected post-baseball TV career. Host: Bryan Curtis Guest: Pedro Martinez Producer: Devon Manze Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Sep 20, 2022 · 51 min
Gabe Debenedetti on ‘The Long Alliance’
Bryan and David look back at 'Thursday Night Football' on Amazon Prime, President Biden on ‘60 Minutes,’ and more (02:00). Later, the guys sit down with New York Magazine’s Gabe Debenedetti to discuss his book ‘The Long Alliance: The Imperfect Union of Joe Biden and Barack Obama,’ the relationship between Biden and Obama, and media coverage of Biden's presidency in comparison to the previous two (23:00). Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker Guest: Gabe Debenedetti Associate Producer: Jonathan Kermah Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Sep 14, 2022 · 49 min
ESPN's Dan Orlovsky on Calling Games, Watching Tape, and Being a Sports Dad
Bryan is joined by ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky to talk about his career—from playing 12 seasons in the NFL to tweeting about games, to appearing weekly on 'Get Up,' 'SportsCenter,' 'First Take' and other ESPN television and radio shows. They discuss Orlovsky's transition from quarterback to analyst, his approach to breaking down plays for viewers, as well as his opinion on youth sports as a father of four. Host: Bryan Curtis Guest: Dan Orlovsky Producer: Devon Manze Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Sep 12, 2022 · 46 min
Five Ways to Cover the Death of Queen Elizabeth II
Bryan and David look back at the week of media coverage in reaction to the passing of Queen Elizabeth II (07:00). Later, Bryan dives into what goes on in the NFL press room on opening weekend, and more (25:00). Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker Associate Producer: Jonathan Kermah Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Sep 7, 2022 · 51 min
Fox's Kevin Burkhardt on Calling Games, Selling Cars, and Learning Via 'Tecmo Bowl'
Bryan is joined by Fox sportscaster Kevin Burkhardt to talk through his career, from announcing high school games to working at daytime stations, to eventually working for WCBS and WFAN. They discuss Burkhardt’s hiatus from broadcasting and the transition back into announcing, covering a variety of sports, and later weigh in on his new role as lead NFL play-by-play announcer at Fox. Host: Bryan Curtis Guest: Kevin Burkhardt Associate Producer: Erika Cervantes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Sep 6, 2022 · 1 hr 2 min
The Twitter Edit Button, Chuck Todd, and The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue
Bryan and David weigh in on the new edit feature on Twitter (4:41) and then break down NBC’s ‘Meet the Press’ ratings and the future of Chuck Todd (11:49). Later, The Athletic's Jourdan Rodrigue joins to discuss the infamous fight that broke out at the Rams-Bengals joint practice, touch on the return of open locker rooms, and reminisce about covering a super bowl (31:59). Plus, the Overworked Twitter Joke of the Week and David Shoemaker Guesses the Strained-Pun Headline. Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker Guest: Jourdan Rodrigue Associate Producer: Erika Cervantes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Sep 1, 2022 · 37 min
The Washington Post’s Sally Jenkins on Column Writing, Her Dad, and Serena Williams
Bryan is joined by The Washington Post’s Sally Jenkins to discuss her career in writing. They touch on her Washington Post sports column, winning the Dan Jenkins Medal for Excellence in Sportswriting lifetime achievement award, and covering Serena Williams’s last U.S. Open. Host: Bryan Curtis Guest: Sally Jenkins Producer: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Aug 29, 2022 · 50 min
Is the Streaming Era Heaven or Hell for Sports Fans? Plus, Amazon’s First Thursday NFL Broadcast.
Bryan and David weigh in on Alex Kirshner’s story in The Atlantic that discusses the in-between sports fans are faced with when choosing how and where to watch their favorite teams (8:01). Later, they highlight Amazon’s first Thursday NFL broadcast that featured an interesting pre-show, graphics, and a new broadcasting team (27:35), before wrapping things up by discussing what’s next for the PGA Tour (37:36). Plus, the Overworked Twitter Joke of the Week and David Shoemaker Guesses the Strained-Pun Headline. Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker Associate Producer: Erika Cervantes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Aug 26, 2022 · 41 min
John Jastremski on WFAN, Working the Overnight Shift, and Radio vs. Podcasting
Bryan is joined by The Ringer’s John Jastremski to discuss his career in radio. They reflect on Jastremski’s start working the overnight shift at WFAN, discuss the dynamic of covering all New York teams, and touch on the differences between radio and podcasting. Host: Bryan Curtis Guest: John Jastremski Associate Producer: Erika Cervantes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices