Shows
The r/BillSimmons Podcast#120: A Simmons/Russillo/Lowe Podcast Breakdown — Did the Big 3 Live Up to the Hype? Plus, a Deep Dive Into Chuck Klosterman's Latest BS Pod Appearance — Including His Wonky AI TakesWelcome to episode #120! We bring back the Chanch brothers from Episode #98 for another 3-man weave breaking down the recent Big 3 Simmons/Russillo/Lowe pod. Then we dive into Chuck Klosterman's latest appearance on the BS Pod and discus his wonky AI takes. Enjoy!Check out Kyle's fantasy league idea here: https://clubhousefantasysports.io2025-06-261h 12The r/BillSimmons Podcast#119: 4-Man Panel Breaks Down the Bill Simmons-Pablo Torre Feud & Podcast, and What it Means for Bill and the Future of Sports MediaWelcome to Episode #119! We bring on returning guests Roman, Chris and Chenny for a rare 4-man panel to cover every angle of the Bill Simmons-Pablo Torre story. We discuss the origin of the feud, what we liked about Pablo calling out Bill several times, why we think Bill did the pod given he clearly hadn’t listened to Pablo’s shows, Bill’s hypocrisy on Pablo making this a story when Bill makes anything a story, whether Bill considers the pod a success, and we wonder if Bill will do more "sports media beef" content like this (Nick W...2025-06-111h 26The r/BillSimmons Podcast#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 #118! 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...2025-05-252h 07The r/BillSimmons Podcast#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 BasketballWelcome 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 ide...2025-05-031h 03The r/BillSimmons Podcast#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 ClaimsWelcome to Episode #115! 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...2025-04-291h 06The r/BillSimmons Podcast#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 #113! 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 c...2025-04-221h 33The r/BillSimmons Podcast#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 WorseWelcome to Episode #112! 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...2025-04-171h 10The r/BillSimmons Podcast#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 #100 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...2025-04-041h 08The r/BillSimmons Podcast#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 MomentsWelcome 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...2025-03-251h 13The r/BillSimmons Podcast#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...2025-02-121h 28The r/BillSimmons Podcast#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...2025-02-071h 40The r/BillSimmons Podcast#102: EMERGENCY POD — Luka Gets Traded and Bill & Russillo Record the Greatest Podcast of All-TimeWelcome 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...2025-02-031h 29The r/BillSimmons Podcast#100: EMERGENCY POD — Big Cat Grew Up a Boston Sports FanWelcome 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...2025-01-171h 04The r/BillSimmons Podcast#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 WonkyWelcome 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...2025-01-091h 33The r/BillSimmons Podcast#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...2024-12-311h 43The r/BillSimmons Podcast#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 SpotifyWelcome 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...2024-10-221h 05The r/BillSimmons Podcast#91: The Definitive 'Any Given Wednesday' Retrospective — A Complete Breakdown of the Worst Show in HBO HistoryWelcome 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...2024-09-252h 42The r/BillSimmons Podcast#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 GuestsWelcome 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, #EmbraceDebate on Schrager, McShay a great addition, and is only Ruiz left now that Solak...2024-09-171h 17The r/BillSimmons Podcast#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 MoveWelcome 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!2024-08-3043 minThe r/BillSimmons Podcast#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 #75, #80) and Flex (#79, #80) 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 foot...2024-08-281h 55The r/BillSimmons Podcast#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 BatardWelcome 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 20...2024-08-221h 36
Marvel Fandom Podcast by Puny PodDisney Earnings Call with r/BillSimmons PodcastComing hot off the presses for y'all we have a Monthly Bugle Special Report! Disney recently hosted its Q3 FY24 Earnings Call and it had some interesting results. To discuss it and break it all down we are joined by Tribe from the r/BillSimmons Podcast. Beyond just the earnings that were announced during the call we get into the streaming industry and the entertainment industry at large. We discuss how Disney including Marvel, Disney Parks and its other brands fit into its grander picture.Here are some more places you can find Tribe:Twitter...2024-08-1358 minThe r/BillSimmons Podcast#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 CarollaWelcome 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 forgo...2024-08-091h 34The r/BillSimmons Podcast#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 EarningsWelcome 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...2024-07-2339 minThe r/BillSimmons Podcast#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 GameWelcome 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...2024-06-121h 07The r/BillSimmons Podcast#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 CultureWelcome 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...2024-05-311h 07The r/BillSimmons Podcast#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...2024-05-171h 25The r/BillSimmons Podcast#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 BandsWelcome 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...2024-05-151h 17The r/BillSimmons Podcast#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 DealWelcome 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...2024-05-031h 29The r/BillSimmons Podcast#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 DisappointmentsWelcome 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...2024-03-191h 14The r/BillSimmons Podcast#69: RINGER UNION UPDATE — Bill Simmons Passes the BuckThat’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 creativ...2024-03-0553 minThe r/BillSimmons Podcast#68: The 3-Man Weave is Back! r/BS Pod OGs Bob & Pop Talk Derek Thompson on the BS Pod, How Russillo Acts on PMT vs. the BS Pod, McAfee vs. Simmons and Doc's Media Tour; Plus an r/BillSimmons Check-InWelcome to another episode! We bring back r/BS Pod OGs Pop & Bob — these guys have been here from the beginning. We haven't done a 3-man weave since late October, so we needed to get another evolutionary Ric Bucher, Steiny Mo and BS Report-era Bill Simmons 3-man weave episode out with so much going on in BS Land.
We start with how we're holding up during this BS Pod break (some Russillo, Bill on another pod) before talking Derek Thompson's last appearance. In the spirit of Derek we do a little social commentary for where everything's going in...2024-02-231h 24The r/BillSimmons Podcast#67: Assessing The Ringer & Bill Simmons's Video Progress in 2024 — The Next Needed Improvement is Social Media; Plus, Bill Simmons Current Events & More NBA Rights Deal DiscussionWelcome to Episode 67! We bring back fan favorite Zach (@_zachblatter) from Episode 55 for a return visit to The Ringer & Bill Simmons' video, social media and growth strategies. Zach (Brand Manager at The Strickland) is highly experienced in the field as anyone who listened to #55 can attest to and once again brings a variety of excellent ideas to the pod.
We first discuss The Ringer's video progress in 2024. In Episode 55 Zach highlighted The Ringer's lack of focus on video, especially short-form, and thus we begin by evaluating Bill's new YouTube Shorts content and strategy. Bill also just last...2024-02-211h 43The r/BillSimmons Podcast#66: Mark Titus & Bill's Falling Out, McAfee vs. Simmons Update, Behind the Scenes of the DC Live Rewatchables, Guess the Lines History & Looking Back at Bill's Baseball Book 'Now I Can Die in Peace'Welcome to a jam packed episode with Jake from Twitter (@DeAnime69)! We start off with Bill Simmons current events. Mark Titus recently spoke not so glowingly about Bill on a podcast, so we discuss their falling out - Bill used to refer to Mark as his "illegitimate son" - as well as Titus' career progression to date, including some drawbacks of being at Barstool, and why he and Tate ultimately parted ways.
Next we get further into the Simmons vs. McAfee feud, with excellent context from Jake who has been listening to both guys for several years...2024-02-182h 01The r/BillSimmons Podcast#65: EMERGENCY BEEFCAST: Pat McAfee Fires Back at Bill Simmons & Lands Nuclear Blast — It's Officially a Feud!Bill Simmons has been chirping at Pat McAfee for months. A few weeks back Bill ripped off a lengthy impression making in fun of McAfee on his show. This closely followed Bill & Cousin Sal's buddy Jimmy Kimmel being miffed at McAfee guest Aaron Rodgers.
McAfee waited a month, but today landed what I consider a nuclear blast on Simmons - audio included in the first two minutes of the pod.
In today's episode I break down the origins of the beef, why this was such an epic killshot by Pat, why Bill Simmons is finding...2024-02-1242 minThe r/BillSimmons Podcast#64: Spotify Expert Breaks Down Their Music Business & Podcasting Venture, Reviews The Ringer's Contributions & the Implications of Joe Rogan's New Deal, Plus His Prediction of Bill Simmons' Next MoveWelcome to Episode 64! We bring on Brett (@CCM_Brett) from the Chit Chat Stocks Podcast (@chitchatstocks) for a deep dive into Spotify. The company's been in the news lately following a robust earnings report celebrated by Wall Street and their new deal with Joe Rogan, where he will still be with Spotify, but non-exclusive to their platform.
On the pod we discuss 1) Why investors liked the recent earnings report, 2) Why does Spotify's music business keep growing so quickly, 3) Why Spotify got into podcasting, 4) How The Ringer helped their podcasting plans, 5) The implications of Joe Rogan's new deal...2024-02-091h 32The r/BillSimmons PodcastEpisode 63: Joe Rogan Re-Ups at Spotify & Now Will be Non-Exclusive — What Does it Mean for Bill Simmons, The Ringer, Spotify and the Future of Audio; Plus, Larry David Pod RecapWelcome to Episode 63! We had massive news last week with Joe Rogan re-upping his Spotify deal, but with major changes to his initial contract. We bring back Neil from Episode 62 to break it all down.
First, this deal is much different than Joe's previous deal, as he's going non-exclusive and Spotify will help with ads and distribution, including on YouTube. The contract is also structured as a lower guaranteed payout with revenue sharing, and Spotify aims to do this with all their top podcast deals.
Thus, what does this mean for Bill Simmons' future? We...2024-02-061h 31The r/BillSimmons PodcastEpisode 62: From Bill to Shill Simmons — One Fan’s Journey Through the Stages of BS Pod Listening, and the Making and Breaking of a Pod Friendship (Pod-ship); Plus, Why Did Bill Abandon Baseball?Welcome to Episode 62! We bring on Neil from Twitter (@NeilYayamanj) to discuss his journey of Bill Simmons fanhood over the last several years. This is the spiritual sequel to the fan favorite 4-hour Epic, Definitive Bill Simmons Retrospective, this time exploring in depth the period of Bill Simmons from 2017-2024.
We kick off the pod talking about Neil's introduction to Bill and how he immediately took to him as he was yearning for sports talk. Bill mixed in other qualitative features that made him a great listen and hang, and Neil earnestly began his Podcast friendship or "...2024-01-291h 53The r/BillSimmons PodcastEpisode 61: Bill's Fascination With Pre-Game Shows, the Downfall of The Rewatchables, Are Bill's NFL or NBA Takes Worse, and KD Isn't a Pantheon Guy According to The Book of BasketballWelcome to Episode 61! We bring on Henry from Twitter for a classic r/BS Pod episode. After discussing our backgrounds with Bill, we hit on several topics:
— Why does he focus so much on announcers & pre-game shows?
— What's worse these days, his NFL takes or NBA takes?
— Ringer employees: Who is good, who isn't?
— Downfall of The Rewatchables
— His overall hypocrisy
We also discuss Bill's KD takes, and use Bill's own The Book of Basketball to show how 2024 Bill Simmons is massively overrating KD based on 2010 Bill Simmons' P...2024-01-241h 40The r/BillSimmons PodcastEpisode 60: 'Disaster' Peacock Game Was a Massive Success for NBC & the NFLWe break down the much maligned Peacock game! Enjoy
— 23 Million viewers much better than predictions
— Financials mean it was a great buy by NBC
— There will be a bidding war for next year's game(s)
— NBA on NBC/Peacock now close to locked in2024-01-1539 minThe r/BillSimmons PodcastEpisode 59: Quit Whining About the Peacock Game — It's An Incredible Move by NBC & Makes Significant Strategic Sense for the NFL Long-TermWelcome to Episode 59! The Peacock game is all the rage with wild takes left and right all week.
As someone that works in sports media, I had to break it down. This is an EXCELLENT move for Peacock, and makes a ton of strategic sense for the NFL long-term. I go through the streaming and media landscape in 2024 to explain why.
Thank you to @_zachblatter for the podcast art and @WiserTimesmusic for the intro song2024-01-1336 minThe r/BillSimmons PodcastEpisode 58: Founder of 'New Grantland' Comes on to Discuss the Evolving Media Landscape, What Made Grantland so Great, The Ringer vs. Grantland, Bill's Writing Evolution & What's New at New GrantlandWelcome to Episode 58! We bring on Bridger, the founder and editor in chief of New Grantland. That's right - a website dedicated to continuing the legacy and spirit of the epic Bill Simmons led ESPN project in the early 2010s.
We start off discussing what we both loved about Grantland, and why it truly was a once in a generation publication and also the last of its kind in the internet era. Also, why hasn't Bill done the same with The Ringer?
We then discuss the evolution of sports media and reference one of Bridger's...2024-01-121h 08The r/BillSimmons PodcastEpisode 57: McAfee vs. Norby Part II — Pat Attains Resounding VictoryPat McAfee called out his boss and the #3 executive at ESPN by name on Friday's show.
He not only didn't get suspended, but was back on ESPN on Monday doubling down, talking up his relationships with Bob Iger and ESPN's CEO and #2 exec, having on top ESPN talent from the national championship game set, and being front and center for College GameDay.
At least for now, McAfee has achieved a resounding victory.
We also dive into the history of Norby Williamson and how his strategic leaking has been an open secret for years.2024-01-0940 minThe r/BillSimmons PodcastEpisode 56: EMERGENCY POD — Pat McAfee Accuses ESPN's Norby Williamson of Sabotaging His ShowWe have a special emergency podcast for a fast developing massive sports media story. We start with why Pat McAfee is at ESPN in the first place; ESPN is experiencing quickly declining profits and felt the need to take a high risk (and potential high reward) move.
Next we discuss who Norby Williamson is (one of the most powerful people at ESPN) and his alleged use of strategic leaking to sports media reporters to gain power.
We then assess the current state of play for why Pat believes Norby is sabotaging his show, and what...2024-01-0630 minThe r/BillSimmons Podcast#55: Bill's Place in the Sports Media Landscape in 2023, and Why Hasn't The Ringer Embraced Proven Growth Tactics? Plus, How Do Younger Fans Consume Sports Today & Instant Reaction to the Knicks TradeWelcome to Episode 55! We bring on Zach (@_zachblatter on Twitter) from The Strickland (@TheStrickland), a Knicks-focused podcast, to talk Bill, Russillo, sports media, podcasts and more.
The timing for this pod couldn't have been better given the RJ Barrett trade, so Zach gives his initial reaction and we discuss takes from Bill and KOC on the news.
Next we get into Zach's background with Bill, being a relatively new fan, and how Russillo has market corrected Bill for him, like many of our guests - including Ryen's Life Advice, the evolutionary Page 2 Simmons mailbag.
2023-12-311h 57The r/BillSimmons PodcastEpisode 54: How Bill Simmons Became What He Once Hated, Parallels Between Bill & Dave Matthews Band, Where Have Bill's Interviewing Skills Gone and Why Hasn't Bill Developed More Talent at The Ringer?Welcome to Episode 54! We bring on Richie from Twitter for a wide ranging conversation on Bill Simmons and the state of the BS Pod & The Ringer.
Richie is a Simmons fan from the Page 2 days that recently started listening to the show again and has noticed a major drop on Bill's fastball. What was the reason for the decline? We discuss how Bill became what he used to rail against in the mid-90s - an older, past his prime media member mailing it in.
Next we discuss the absurdity of Bill's "it's not open...2023-12-191h 31The r/BillSimmons PodcastEpisode 53: Sports Media Update — Amazon in Talks to Invest in Bally's Regional Sports NetworksThe Wall Street Journal just broke the news that Amazon is in discussions to invest in Diamond Sports, the owner of Bally's Sports Networks. This could have a major impact on the future of sports rights and specifically NBA rights.
In this episode I discuss why Diamond Sports has performed so poorly and had to go bankrupt, what the leagues are looking to get from the bankruptcy, what Amazon is looking to do with an investment, the different motivations of the creditors, and how this might change the NBA rights deal negotiations.2023-12-1831 minThe r/BillSimmons PodcastEpisode 52: Bill Needs a Sabbatical to Refuel His Creative Juices; Russillo Keeps Ascending, Why the JJ Beef, and What’s Bill’s Next Move After This Contract? Plus, the First r/BS Pod Parent CornerThat's right — a four and a half hour podcast. Call the r/BS Pod the evolutionary JRE. We bring back Smug (@SmugFecundity on Twitter) for his 3rd appearance, after the legendary Epic, Definitive 4-Hour Bill Simmons Career Retrospective (Episode 25), the most popular r/BS Pod episode (1100 listens) besides the Harry & Meghan reaction pod that got picked up by UK media.
For the first part of the pod we talk Bill Simmons current events: Why has the BS Pod gone downhill of late, does Bill need a refresh to bring back his creative juices, why Russillo keeps ascending, an...2023-12-154h 25The r/BillSimmons PodcastEpisode 51: Media Update — Disney Licenses Content to Netflix & NBA Rights Deal Speculation Heats UpWelcome to Episode 51! In today's show I break down two hot media stories. Why is Disney licensing content to Netflix, and what does it mean for the Streaming Wars? What are experts now saying about the NBA's upcoming media deal? And how do they relate to one another? We break it down.
This is a must listen for those who follow streaming and sports media closely.2023-12-1231 minThe r/BillSimmons PodcastEpisode 50: EMERGENCY POD — Bill Simmons Lashes Out at JJ RedickWe have podcasting beef! Bill Simmons called out JJ Redick for comments JJ made about his time at The Ringer and we had to react.
We go through the backstory of Bill and JJ's business relationship, previous comments JJ has made about The Ringer, the relative success of each podcaster's video efforts, and close with some broad thoughts about Bill and Spotify's podcasting strategy.
Hope you enjoy!2023-12-0646 minThe r/BillSimmons PodcastEpisode 49: A Wild Week of BS — The Rubin Disaster, Guess the Lines Hits Nadir Canyon, and a Wonky Rewatchables; Plus a Fresh Look at The Book of Basketball, and Bill's Best & Worst Takes of 2023Welcome to Episode 49! We bring on Chance from Twitter for a wide-ranging conversation about Bill Simmons following one of the wonkiest BS Pod weeks in history.
We start off talking Michael Rubin's appearance, which went over like a chainsaw in the jacuzzi; is he the most hated guest in BS Pod history? Most say yes. We also pull a Russillo-esque zag and explain where our views differed from the common reaction.
Next we tackle this week's Guess the Lines - was this Nadir Canyon for the segment? Most agree it's gone downhill but there were...2023-12-012h 15The r/BillSimmons PodcastEpisode 48: Analyzing the Decline of Bill's NFL Coverage; Plus, a State of the Bill Simmons Subreddit, Why Doesn't Bill Reveal Rewatchables Ahead of Time, and How Bill is So Similar to Michael ScottWe bring on Alex from Twitter (@AlexxLawson) for an excellent conversation on a variety of Bill Simmons related topics.
First, we assess Bill's NFL content and agree that yes, it's fallen off. Why has it, and what can be done about it? What were the better days like?
Next we talk how Bill's pod is today for NBA casuals - do we need as intense of NBA discussion as we have now? Why does Bill insist on the hamster wheel content?
We then transition to some Bill Simmons subreddit talk. What's the current...2023-11-211h 58The r/BillSimmons PodcastEpisode 47: Bill Simmons Was Right — Netflix Had an Incredible 2023Some BS Pod listeners didn't agree with Bill and Matt Belloni that Netflix had an incredible 2023. I contend that Bill and Matt were right, and explain why, giving detail on the streaming industry and competitors including Max, Disney, Paramount & NBC. If you like streaming and media discussions, give this a listen.2023-11-1830 minThe r/BillSimmons PodcastEpisode 46: Looking Back at Bill's Most Hilarious Takes of Late, When Did Bill's Descent From Apex Mountain Start, and How His Increased Boston Homerism & NBA Focus Has Changed the PodWelcome to Episode 46! I bring on Steve from Twitter (@ssabb05) for a fun and lively discussion of Bill's career.
When and why did Bill start falling off? We investigate and Steve introduces a new theory. We examine how his increased Boston homerism and focus on the NBA has been affecting the pod negatively for long-time fans.
We then look back and have some laughs at some of Bill's most hilarious takes of late, and discuss how much better the BS Pod is when listened to as a comedy pod rather than a straight sports news...2023-11-141h 23The r/BillSimmons PodcastEpisode 45: Gladwell Pod Review & The BS Pod Gets Market Corrected; Plus, Did Bill's KD Pods Blackball Him? Why Did Bill do a 180 on Analytics? And What Would Happen if Simmons & Portnoy Did a Pod?Welcome to Episode 45! Michael from Twitter, a fellow Page 2 Bill stan, joins the show to talk all things Bill Simmons and the BS Pod.
We first review the recent Gladwell pod - these are really going to happen quarterly now? Oh no. Next Michael reveals the Russillo Pod has market corrected the BS Pod for him, and we talk how other podcasters are eclipsing Bill, especially if you're not NBA obsessed.
Next we talk how LA Pop Culture Guy doesn't have celebrities on, and - has KD blackballed him with NBA players?
We...2023-11-111h 54The r/BillSimmons PodcastEpisode 44: What Will the Next NBA Rights Deal Look Like? Examining ESPN's Recently Released Financials & Various Reports Indicating NBA Interest from Amazon, Apple, Netflix and NBCIn today's show we examine 3 key recent stories that imply the next NBA rights deal will look much different than today's:
1) ESPN's financials were finally released - and they're not good!
2) The Wall Street Journal reported ESPN & TNT are looking to cut back, while Amazon and Apple are ready for a package
3) CNBC reported that Netflix, famously anti-sports to date, may be interested
In addition, we discuss why it's not likely we're getting an "all in one" NBA package anytime soon.
Cheers!2023-11-0535 minThe r/BillSimmons PodcastEpisode 43: The 3-Man Weave Returns to Talk State of the BS Pod, Has Russillo Market Corrected Bill, Why is Bill Going on a Media Tour & Highlights From Those Pods, and Reviewing Bill's 2023 NFL PicksWelcome to the latest episode. We bring back Pop and Bob from r/BillSimmons for another evolutionary Steiny Mo and Bucher 3-man weave.
First we discuss the state of the BS Pod - is it in its Nadir Canyon or not? We each have different views. Then we discuss whether Russillo has market corrected Simmons, and with at least one of us, he has. Next we talk Bill's reaction to the Dame trade and Giannis extension, and Bucks fans reaction to Bill.
We then ask why Bill is going on a recent media tour...2023-10-261h 08The r/BillSimmons PodcastEpisode 42: Finding Career Inspiration From Bill Simmons, Why The Ringer Fantasy Football Show is So Good, Bill's Wonky Fantasy Strategies, and The r/BS Pod Tries Guessing the Lines for The First TimeWelcome to the latest episode! We bring on Wolf of @WOLF_Financial on Twitter to talk Simmons, The Ringer, fantasy football and more.
We start with his love of the BS Pod and how Bill actually provided inspiration for his current career. Next we hit on several Ringer pods and Wolf explains why he's a big fan of The Ringer's fantasy football show. Then we channel our inner Cousin Sal and Bill and guess the lines on air before wrapping up with an overview of what Wolf does and some stock market talk.
If you...2023-09-301h 18The r/BillSimmons PodcastEpisode 41: INSTANT REACTION — Dolphins Beat the Pats, Bill Simmons in ShamblesCelebrating Miami’s win, a joyous time for Bill Simmons listeners worldwide2023-09-1818 minThe r/BillSimmons PodcastEpisode 40: Sports Media Roundup — Disney/Charter Dispute & Impact on Upcoming NBA Deal, Why Mina Kimes Makes Sense at ESPN Over The Ringer, and Spotify's Podcasting Troubles While Bill's on the RiseWelcome to Episode 40! We break down the top sports media stories of the past two weeks. Bill has been talking the Disney/Charter dispute a lot on the pod, so we go further in-depth on the story, including what it means for the upcoming NBA deal. We also talk Mina Kimes' new ESPN contract and why it made sense over The Ringer, and assess the health of Spotify's podcasting business, plus Bill being on the rise at the company.
Follow the show and leave us a five star review and we'll read it on the next pod...2023-09-1631 minThe r/BillSimmons Podcast#39: What’s Wrong With the Ewing Theory, Responding to Gladwell’s Scorching Hot Youth Sports Takes, The J-Law Rewatchables, and Fact Checking Bill’s Claim that Magic Getting AIDS Hurt His Love LifeWelcome to Episode 39! We bring on CJ from Twitter for a wide-ranging discussion of all things Bill Simmons with a fan from the early ESPN Page 2 days.
We first hit on CJ’s issue with the Ewing Theory, and discuss why it should actually be called the Bledsoe Theory (shoutout r/BillSimmons). Next we get a different perspective from Bill’s on the impact of Magic Johnson getting AIDS - it was probably Bill’s nonstop Celtics talk that wasn’t getting him laid.
We then respond to Gladwell’s youth sports takes. CJ has 3 kids each in youth sports, an...2023-09-131h 54
The r/BillSimmons PodcastEpisode 39: Tribe Responds to the HatersI respond to the uproar in r/BillSimmons caused by some of my Twitter jokes, and over the course of the pod give some history of Bill, the sub, and his NFL watching. Enjoy!2023-09-0935 minThe r/BillSimmons PodcastEpisode 38: Gambling Expert Jeffrey Hooks From The Let it Ride Podcast Comes on to Assess Bill’s 2023 NFL Takes, Explain Why Bill’s Been Doing Teasers All Wrong, and Gives Out His Week 1 PlaysWelcome to the latest show! We bring on a gambling expert to assess Bill’s 2023 NFL takes. Are the Steelers actually this good? Will the Jets miss the playoffs? How insane is Bill’s Patriots prediction? We go over it all. Then we run through the NFC, including who’s right in the Sal vs. Bill Vikings vs. Packers debate (hint: neither). And, is there any reason at all to think there’s Ewing Theory potential with the Packers? Plus, what Bill’s missing with his 49ers love?
After going through both leagues and talking Su...2023-09-071h 03The r/BillSimmons PodcastEpisode 37: Full Parody Bill Simmons Vortex Swallows Up Michael Lombardi in Incredible Trey Lance Trade SegmentInstant reaction pod to an absolutely insane Trey Lance trade segment on today’s BS Pod - enjoy!2023-08-2808 minThe r/BillSimmons PodcastEpisode 36: Ringer Conspiracy Theories, Podcast Mob Families, Why Bill is a Bad CEO and is He Discriminating Against Hot Women? Plus, the Proper Way to Listen to Bill and What Makes for a Good PodcastWelcome to Episode 36! We bring on Tommy Danger from Twitter for a wild ride of an episode (@teedeeheehee)
First we discuss Tommy's background with Bill and reactions to the latest podcast. What's the proper way to listen to Bill Simmons in 2023? It certainly isn't taking him seriously.
Next we talk Ringer Conspiracy Theories. Is KOC secretly anti-woke? Who does Tommy think "isn't real" at The Ringer like the airplane lady? And is Bill against hiring attractive women? We investigate.
Next we talk podcasting (yes, on a podcast) - what makes for a good...2023-08-243h 28The r/BillSimmons PodcastEpisode 35: Bill’s BS Pod Return Goes Over Like a Chainsaw in the Bathtub; Listeners Must Embrace Full Parody Nadir Canyon Bill Simmons’ Expiring Contract in Keep Cashin’ Dem Checks ModeBill's back! We recap the latest pod, which got mixed reviews in the subreddit and on Twitter. Why didn't some people enjoy it? We investigate.
Meanwhile, we loved Bill's return, and it's because we've fully embraced what he's become in 2023. It could be an epic Guess The Lines season if Bill has to come to grips with the Pats finishing last in the AFC East.2023-08-2124 minThe r/BillSimmons PodcastEpisode 34: Russillo-Simmons NBA Pod Season Review, Ringer March Madness Bracket Takeaways, Latest BS Pods Discussion, Plus r/BS Pod's First Mailbag Sets an O/U on Bill's Lifetime Sexual PartnersWelcome to Episode 34! We bring on OG pod guests BobWeir and Popinjay from r/BillSimmons for a classic three-man weave.
We start off with a season review of the Russillo-Bill pods, and speculate on their future. Who could replace Russillo as Bill's go-to NBA guy?
Next we discuss the results of the Ringer March Madness bracket. Chris Ryan beat Bill...wait, what?? We debate who should've won in the Russillo-House matchup and give our favorite upsets.
Then we hit on Bill's most recent pods during his break before jumping into our mailbag. What...2023-08-171h 36The r/BillSimmons PodcastEpisode 33: Disney Earnings Reaction — What it Means for the Future of ESPN and NBA RightsWelcome to Episode 33! Disney reported earnings today and we break it down from the perspective of what it means for ESPN:
— How were ESPN earnings specifically and Disney earnings overall
— What kind of strategic partnerships could ESPN strike
— Discussion of Penn National deal
— What this means for the next NBA rights deal
Hope you enjoy the show! Rate us 5-stars, follow us on Apple Pods & Spotify and follow us on Twitter @rBillSimmonsPod
2023-08-1035 minThe r/BillSimmons PodcastEpisode 32: Penn National Ditches Barstool for ESPN and Divests it to Dave Portnoy for $0Welcome to Episode 32! We have instant reaction to a wild flurry of sports gambling news. Penn National, which owned 100% of Barstool, entered into a 10-year, $2 Billion sports gambling alliance with ESPN. At the same time, they dropped Barstool and divested it to Dave Portnoy for free, except for the right to 50% of the proceeds of the next sale.
We look back at the original Penn-Barstool deal in 2020 and break down why this happened, why now, Portnoy's total return, winners and losers, the outlook for Barstool, where Portnoy stands now vs. Bill Simmons and Clay...2023-08-0935 minThe r/BillSimmons PodcastEpisode 31: Bill “Pink Hat” Simmons Jumps On (and back off) the Red Sox Bandwagon, Plus A Look Back at Bill’s Most Infamous Red Sox Takes From Twitter & His Sox Book, With Fitz From Pod on LansdowneWelome to the latest episode! Bill Simmons has been tweeting about the Red Sox recently for the first time since April, so we had to bring on some Boston baseball & Bill fans to talk about it. Fitz (@FitzyMoPena on Twitter) from Pod On Lansdowne (https://linktr.ee/PodOnLansdowne) answered the call, and we have a lot of fun discussing baseball and Bill.
We start off with a state of the Red Sox and Bill’s current fanhood (it's not a re-apex) and then discuss some of Bill’s takes on ownership, the GM, the Betts trade, and more. We then...2023-08-041h 48The r/BillSimmons PodcastEpisode 30: @abolishcxps Comes on to Reveal Her Worst Bill Simmons-Themed DM Slide-Ins, Plus Reacting to Bill's Mid-2000s Takes on Women and an Investigation Into How Exactly Bill "Pulled the Goalie"Welcome to Episode 30! We bring on Dhvani from Twitter (@abolishcxps) to discuss all things Bill Simmons from a perspective we don’t usually get - the female one.
We first touch on her background with Bill, including the meaning behind saying she's "the Bill Simmons of Austin." We also discuss the hilarity that ensued from changing her name to "Bill Simmons" on Instagram.
Next we go through several examples of Bill Simmons-related DMs she's gotten - yes, the 86 Celtics are involved. We also discover a wonky r/BillSimmons Podcast-related DM...2023-08-031h 10The r/BillSimmons PodcastEpisode 29: @HubieTalksHoops Comes on to Chat Bill's Impact on NBA Discourse: "Everyone on NBA Twitter is a Mini-Bill Simmons"; Plus, Rating NBA Podcasters and the Art of Twitter ComedyWelcome to Episode 29! We bring on NBA Twitter legend @HubieTalksHoops for a wide ranging discussion on Bill, the NBA, comedy in 2023 and more.
We start off with Hubie's history with Simmons and then dive into how he started his account, including inspiration from Bill who was the first to "throw on his Hubie Brown wig." We then talk NBA and Ringer podcasters, and Hubie offers his support for KOC and Big Wos.
Then we discuss Bill's influence on NBA discourse - "everyone is a mini-Bill Simmons now" - and...2023-07-311h 40The r/BillSimmons PodcastEpisode 28: EMERGENCY POD — ESPN in Talks With NBA & NFL to be Minority InvestorsWe react to breaking news! We discuss why ESPN is considering this, what benefit it would have for the leagues, and look at similar structures from Fanatics and Regional Sports Networks.2023-07-2119 minThe r/BillSimmons PodcastEpisode 27: Stephen A’s Enjoyable BS Pod, and is KOC Underrated, and CR Overrated? Plus, How to Fix ESPN’s NBA Coverage, and A Look Back at Crazy Pandemic Era Financial Markets, With @TikTokInvestorsWelcome to the latest episode! We bring on guest and long-time Bill fan @TikTokInvestors (TTI) from Twitter.
We start talking the recent Stephen A BS pod. We both really enjoyed the chemistry and mutual respect he and Bill had for eachother. They meshed well, similar to Bill with Windy and Zach Lowe - we both prefer those combos over Bill & Russillo. We then discuss how KOC might actually be underrated now given his consistent content yet increasing dislike. We also wonder what whatever happened to the original BS Report 3-man weave; where are Steiny M...2023-07-212h 11The r/BillSimmons PodcastEpisode 26: Discussing Chuck Klosterman’s Recent BS Pod Appearance and Introducing “ReListenables” — Featuring Bill & Chuck’s Infamous 2009 BS Report Debate on Newspapers and UnionsWelcome to the latest show! We bring on Richard from Episode 18, Kevin from Episode 25 and new guest Johnny for a Chuck Klosterman double feature.
We first discuss the recent Klosterman episode. Was Chuck messing with Bill or does he really believe in “unreal” people? We debate Bill’s “podcasting is replacing books” idea and laugh about Bill continuing to believe in ghosts. We go inside the mind and personality of Chuck, including a look back at his books and HYPERthetical cards. Plus, would Bill ever let Chuck write a biography about him? And do these guys...2023-07-191h 34The r/BillSimmons PodcastEpisode 25: The Definitive, Epic 4-Hour Bill Simmons Career RetrospectiveWelcome to the latest episode! We channeled our inner Bill Simmons and recorded a 30 for 30-esque, Book of Basketball Podcast-like, career retrospective of Bill Simmons. In this show we go through it all:
— Bill starting out writing in college, his early disillusionment with the Boston newspaper scene, and the absolute grind he was on for several years before he made it to ESPN; and the Sports Gal signed up for this?
— Bill's early success at Page 2, his quick pivot to briefly writing for Jimmy Kimmel, then finding his groove again and creating the most famous spor...2023-07-173h 54The r/BillSimmons PodcastEpisode 24: EMERGENCY POD — ESPN Fires Jalen Rose & Jeff Van GundyWelcome — what a news drop! We examine why ESPN's looking to aggressively cut costs with these firings, what did Jalen in and what's next for him (including a potential Bill reunion), why JJ & RJ should replace Van Gundy and Jackson (a subpar duo), who else is at risk at ESPN, if this means NBC or Apple/Amazon win NBA rights, and predict the future NBA Countdown team, which may include Doc Rivers.2023-06-3024 minThe r/BillSimmons PodcastEpisode 23: Behind the Scenes of the Russillo Live Show With an Attendee! Including Q&A That Was Cut From Russillo's PodWelcome to Episode 23! We reached out on Twitter for an attendee of the Russillo Live Show to come on, and Twitter delivered! We have our guest take us through the show: The pre-show, the vibe of the attendees, the make-up of the crowd, Russillo's interaction with both the crowd and then CP3, and more. We also hear about Q&A that was cut from the Live Show Podcast audio. Russillo fans won't want to miss this.
Then we discuss Russillo and Bill, and our guest offers a more positive view on Russillo than some of our recent...2023-06-221h 06The r/BillSimmons PodcastEp 22: The Evolutionary Klosterman & Simmons — Grantland, Breaking Bad, Best/Worst Ages to Experience a Pandemic, Changes in How We Consume Media, Role of Tech in Society; Plus Harry & Meghan Check-InWelcome to Episode 22! We bring on Michael from Twitter for a wide ranging conversation that (we hope) channels the vibe from our favorite Bill & Chuck pods.
We start on Bill Simmons current events, and give our takes on Bill having a worldwide moment with his Prince Harry & Meghan comments. We also examine how Simmons timed his Spotify sale perfectly, and wonder what he actually does there as an executive (if anything at all).
We then dive into Michael’s background with Bill, and examine two Grantland articles (Bill on T...2023-06-202h 44The r/BillSimmons PodcastEpisode 21: Bill Simmons Calls Prince Harry & Meghan "F--king Grifters" After Zoom Call Gone Wrong; The Internet Worldwide Rejoices!Welcome to Episode 21! Bill Simmons has taken the internet by storm today with his comments about Prince Harry.
We introduce who Bill Simmons is and how he came to fame, go through his career and legacy, discuss how he ended up at Spotify, provide context for his Zoom call to help Prince Harry, and theorize why he probably strongly dislikes him.
For anyone who loves Bill's comments but doesn't know who Bill is, this is for you! And for Bill Simmons fans, you'll have fun looking back at Bill's career and trajectory to top Spotify...2023-06-1718 minThe r/BillSimmons PodcastEpisode 20: Russillo Psychoanalysis From a Fellow UVM Grad, Why The Ringer’s “Content Economy” Pop Culture Coverage Doesn’t Compare to Grantland, and Portnoy vs. Simmons Dueling BanjosWelcome to Episode 20! We bring on Dylan from Twitter (@WhiskeyCokeNoice). He reached out to us wanting to give his take on Russillo, being a fellow University of Vermont grad. We explore a bit of Russillo’s origins and wonder why he chose UVM given his interests.
Next we continue this pod’s coverage of The Ringer vs. Grantland. Is Bill really a good judge of talent? Perhaps not - his “coaching tree” looks a little bare. We also hit on how Grantland’s pop culture coverage felt more meaningful yet also broad, whereas The Ringer see...2023-06-0858 minThe r/BillSimmons PodcastEpisode 19: A Truly Sad Day for Bill Simmons, Plus the 2005 Page 2 ReReadablesWelcome to Episode 19! It's a glorious time for Bill Simmons listeners worldwide after the Celtics Game 7 loss, and we had to celebrate with a new show.
In the first part of the episode, we bring on returning guest RockNRoll (Celtics fan) and new guest Tom (Lakers fan) to talk Game 7, Bill's reaction, the reaction to Bill's reaction including how he's an infamous meme now, and how much we enjoyed the Bill-Bill's dad pod. We also discuss whether it's a re-apex of sorts for Simmons becoming the face of Celtics fanhood. (0:00-1:02:15)
2023-05-312h 39The r/BillSimmons PodcastEpisode 18: Derek Thompson's Hype Cycles Become a New BS Pod Staple (to Laugh At), Gladwell's Fall and Why He's No Longer On the BS Pod, Best Klosterman & Simmons Pod Moments, and Haralabob HumbledWelcome to Episode 18! We bring on Richard (@richard_normal) from Twitter, often seen tweeting the most absurd and hilarious soundbites from Bill's latest podcasts.
We start the show talking Derek Thompson's most recent appearance on the BS Pod. After hyping up crypto, NFTs and the Metaverse in 2021, Derek has now shifted to AI, which probably marks peak AI hype cycle. We discuss how Derek is the perfect guest for Bill and his never-ending interest in "where things are going."
Though, we question how Derek became the evolutionary/millennial Gladwell...2023-05-251h 54The r/BillSimmons PodcastEpisode 17: Cham-PainIn a melancholy NBA episode, Jokers and Pop go through the autopsy of their beloved Sixers and Warriors 2nd round demise. While one looks at the positives of the Warriors Dynasty (sorry Bill, it is one), the other looks at a dark and dire situation with the Sixers future. Plus, brief conference finals picks.2023-05-191h 12The r/BillSimmons PodcastEpisode 16: Wait, What? Russillo's Vibe is Ruining the Ryen-Bill PodsWelcome to Episode 16! We bring on RockNRolla to the show. He's a long-time Simmons fan from the early 2000s. We come out hot discussing Russillo - what's wrong with his vibe? The man is taking the NBA way too seriously. In fact, Russillo to NBA Tape Study is akin to Simmons to Million Dollar Picks. We then discuss Simmons through the years, the evolution of his Guess the Lines podcast, and question his content choices around the NBA. You don't want to miss this one!2023-05-1636 minThe r/BillSimmons PodcastEpisode 15: Bill's Career Through the Years, His Legacy on Sports Gambling and Documentaries, The Ringer vs. Grantland, and Why Bill's Patient Zero for 2023 Sports Discourse — With a Long-Time FanWelcome to Episode 15! We are back with another banger show. We bring on one of the co-hosts of "THE BUM ANKLES: Minnesota Sports/Culture Podcast" who happens to be a long-time Simmons fan. We discuss the Grantland days, Bill's legacy on sports media - including gambling, why he's Patient Zero for hot take culture, how he changed documentaries for good with 30 for 30, why The Ringer has been such a disappointment vs. Grantland, and a lot more. This is must-listen for long-time Simmons fans. Enjoy!2023-05-091h 32The r/BillSimmons PodcastEpisode 14: EMERGENCY POD. Rock Hard James Harden steals game 1 for Philly.Jokers has an emergency solo pod where he breaks down the sixers stealing game 1 against the Celtics minus Joel Embiid. He also discusses game 7 of Warriors-Kings and whether Boston can solve the 76ers enigma.2023-05-0228 minThe r/BillSimmons PodcastEpisode 13: NBA Playoffs Edition — Round 1 Post-Mortems, Round 2 Previews, and Is Bill's Worst-Case Scenario Closer to Reality?Welcome to Episode 13! We bring back the OG crew of Tribe, Jokers and Pop for a classic three-man weave. This show is all about the NBA playoffs. We start with the East, where we still can’t believe Bill’s epic Zombie Heat take came true, and discuss Giannis and the Bucks performance. Next we dive into the Celtics-Hawks series - Atlanta ultimately lost, but Trae made Bill sweat there for a little bit. Philly fan Jokers sets the table for the Celtics-76ers series and the crew gives their series winner picks.
We then...2023-04-291h 49The r/BillSimmons PodcastEpisode 12: EMERGENCY POD — Trae and the Hawks Beat Bill's Celtics in Epic Fashion!Welcome to Episode 12! We are back with another instant reaction pod following a glorious Hawks comeback in the 4th quarter in Boston. Trae Young hit huge 3s en route to scoring the final 14 Hawks points. We discuss what this means for the series and predict Bill's takes on the next pod - will he blame Tatum at all? Is there a "who's the alpha?" situation developing with Brown and Tatum? Will Bill call for Mazzulla to be fired? Plus, we jump around to the other NBA playoff series and predict series winners.2023-04-2638 minThe r/BillSimmons PodcastEpisode 11: EMERGENCY PODCAST - ZOMBIE HEAT! Plus, Did Bill Call Neighborhood Watch?We react to the epic Jimmy Buckets game, how Bill absolutely nailed “Zombie Heat”, the tremendous r/BillSimmons reaction, and finish up discussing if Bill really did call neighborhood watch like one Twitter user stated.2023-04-2541 minThe r/BillSimmons PodcastEpisode 10: U/tommydonny Joins the Show to Talk Bill and the BS Pod Over the Years, the Decline of Ryen-Bill Pods, Why Stat Nerds Are Ruining the NBA, and a Recent Sub FeudWelcome to the latest episode! We bring on u/tommydonny from the sub to get his take on a variety of Bill Simmons, BS Pod and r/BillSimmons topics:
How did Tommy first find Bill and what does he think of current Bill vs prime Bill?
His view on why the Russillo pods have gone down in quality lately
What was the tipping point for when Bill’s pods started seeing a decline?
His take on Haralabos pre and post Mavs
His recent sub feud
Hope you enjoy the show, and message us if you'd like to co...2023-04-211h 03The r/BillSimmons PodcastEpisode 9: Mark Cuban is Extremely Overrated, a Half-Baked Half-Baked BS Pod (and Wonky Masters Pod Recycling), What's the Worst Possible Playoff Outcome for Bill, and #EmbraceDebate on ChatGPTWelcome to The r/BillSimmons Podcast! In this episode we start off talking how overrated Mark Cuban is. He's had almost no business success for two decades now, and the Mavs organization is starting to see similar results. Next, we review some of Bill's recent podcasts, including a very weak half-baked showing with Wildes and a bizarre week of Masters content. We then have a subreddit check-in where we discuss the BobWeir vs DaleCooperKupp ChatGPT debate and explain why BobWeir and Jokers have been banned from reddit. We finish off the show talking worst possible NBA playoff outcomes for...2023-04-131h 17The r/BillSimmons PodcastEpisode 8: The Jokers R Wild Basketball PodcastRecently banned redditor Jokers is joined by Popinjay to discuss the 2022-23 Regular Season, hand out awards, and give a round 1 playoff preview.2023-04-121h 22
The r/BillSimmons PodcastEpisode 7: Bill Hooks Himself up to the Rejuvenation Machine with Ben & Matt; What Was Damon's Apex Mountain? Plus, Are Russillo/Bill NBA Pods Getting Stale, and Page 2 WNBA ReReadablesWelcome to Episode 7! Bill had one of his best pods in years this week with the Ben Affleck and Matt Damon three-man weave. We discuss the pod, why we think it worked so well, and end up discussing the careers of both actors - who's on top now, what was Damon's Apex Mountain and did Damon have a disappointing career? Next we discuss how universally hated the recent Russillo pod was - is the sub turning on these episodes? Are the guys just bored? And how do basketball fans only hate on March Madness? We finish up discussing Bill's...2023-03-2353 minThe r/BillSimmons PodcastEpisode 6: EMERGENCY POD - Announcing Our Feud With TrillBroDudeWelcome to Episode 6 - we are hot after Sixers podcaster TrillBroDude has started using ReReadables on his show without any attribution to The r/BillSimmons Podcast! We've been posting ReReadables in the sub and on Twitter for months now. We have a variety of ideas on how TrillBroDude can make this right. We also finish with some more current r/BillSimmons events discussion.2023-03-1726 minThe r/BillSimmons PodcastEpisode V: Tate Frazier Strikes Back; Plus Mina at Yale, Bill's Page 2 Horniness and a Debate on the MVP DebateWelcome to Episode 5! We're back with a classic 3-man weave. We start on the incredible find of the Mina Kimes at Yale article - with that and Ryen's high school yearbook, is r/BillSimmons having a moment? We then examine how that article along with Bill's Page 2 columns provide a fun and wonky time capsule into the mid-2000s, also proven by the interest in the ReReadables on the sub. People are shocked at how sex-obsessed Bill was, though that was somewhat a product of the times, as was the countdown clock for major female celebs reaching 18.
2023-03-171h 12The r/BillSimmons PodcastEpisode 4: State of the Sub - Does it Need Moderation? Plus, Russillo Strawman Inception, NBA Ratings are Healthy, is "Promiscuous Businessman Bill" Aiming to Join Apple, and #EmbraceDebate on RihannaWelcome to Episode 4! We start off with a discussion on the state of r/BillSimmons. What is causing the increase in posts on the sub discussing the sub itself, including certain sub "characters", rather than Bill or the podcast? We provide our theories, and debate whether the sub needs additional moderation and what that could look like (0:00-24:00).
Next we discuss NBA Ratings guy and opine on how, contrary to those posts, the NBA is actually in a pretty good spot when compared to non-NFL sports and media (24:00-30:00). Then we comment on the...2023-02-161h 14The r/BillSimmons PodcastEpisode 3: EMERGENCY PODCAST - Where's Bill?Bill hasn't released* a podcast in several days. Three members of the Bill Simmons subreddit channel their inner Conspiracy Bill and discuss what could be behind the silence.
*7/9ths of the way through the recording Bill finally dropped a pod - hear our live reaction!2023-02-0333 minThe r/BillSimmons PodcastEpisode 2: Eshwary Joins the Show to Discuss Being a Bill Simmons Fan in Ireland & His Takes on Russillo, KOC and CR, Plus A Book of Basketball Review and How Bill Would Do as an NBA GMWelcome to Episode 2 of The r/BillSimmons Podcast! In today's show we bring on r/BillSimmons contributor Eshwary (https://www.reddit.com/user/Eshwary/), who is joining us all the way from Ireland. We discuss how he became a Bill Simmons fan in Ireland, and what the general NBA fanhood scene is like over there (0:00-7:30). Next we get his take on The Ringer's NBA personalities, and what he thinks of Zach Lowe and KOC (7:30-14:30).
Next we discuss Ryen Russillo in depth - does the subreddit have him figured out or not? And...2023-02-021h 02The r/BillSimmons PodcastEpisode 1: The r/BillSimmons Fantasy League Recap, What We're Enjoying in the Sub Lately, and Our Superflex League Draft AnalysisWelcome to The r/BillSimmons Podcast! In our first episode, we start by discussing this past season's inaugural r/BillSimmons fantasy football league: How it came together, our enjoyment of the Superflex format, various chaos that ensued, who won, and a lot more. We had a blast doing the league this season and are going to run it back in 2023 (0:00-32:00).
Next we discuss current events on the sub. Each co-host shares what they've been enjoying in the subreddit lately, including how r/BillSimmons now views Bill (32:00-44:30), the fun ongoing sub series like Millennial Rewatchables, That...2023-01-252h 06