The Press Box

The Ringer

  • 1 hour 11 minutes
    Conan and the Oscars, Trump and Zelensky, and More WaPo-Bezos Fallout



    Hello, media consumers! Bryan and David kick off recapping the Oscars, including Conan O’Brien’s performance as host (0:34).

    Then they discuss the following stories from Washington:

    • Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky meeting in the Oval Office (18:39)
    • Finally having the Jefferey Epstein files (33:20)
    • The Washington Post losing over 75,000 subscribers (41:23)

    Then in the ‘Notebook Dump’, they discuss Jimmy Johnson’s retirement from television (52:37) and former Biden officials' explanation of the 2024 election (58:09).

    Plus, the Overworked Twitter Joke of the Week and David Shoemaker Guesses the Strained-Pun Headline.

    Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker

    Producer: Brian H. Waters


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    3 March 2025, 8:32 pm
  • 1 hour 21 minutes
    Jeff Bezos Vs. The Washington Post, When NFL Insiders Attack, and the Remaking of MSNBC


    Hello, media consumers! Bryan and Joel fire up the mics to close out the week here at 'The Press Box.' Joel takes you to “J-school,” where he talks to Bryan about his media diet, Stephen A. Smith's presidential bid, and his return to D.C. (1:22).

    Then they get into the following headlines:

    • Jeff Bezos’s extreme opinion section makeover (19:24)
    • When NFL insiders attack: the battle between Ian Rapoport and Jordan Schultz (47:14)
    • A new book on Joe Biden (53:55)
    • Joy Reid out and the remaking of MSNBC (57:16)
    • Curt Menefee interviews New York Mayor Eric Adams (1:00:42)

    Hosts: Bryan Curtis and Joel Anderson

    Producer: Brian H. Waters

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    27 February 2025, 9:21 pm
  • 58 minutes 33 seconds
    The Trump Dump Theory of News, Stephen A. for President, and an ‘Only in Journalism’ All-Timer


    Hello, media consumers! Bryan and David kick off the week by discussing the massive amount of news coming from Donald Trump and how people outside of news are trying to process it (0:30).

    Then they discuss the following topics this week:

     Stephen A. Smith’s odds to be president (12:23)

     The AP getting banned for not using the term ‘Gulf of America’ (32:38)

     A new press box rule clarification (42:27)

     Remembering Dimitri Sotis (44:16)

    Plus, the Overworked Twitter Joke of the Week and David Shoemaker Guesses the Strained-Pun Headline.

    Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker

    Producer: Brian H. Waters

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    25 February 2025, 5:36 pm
  • 1 hour 26 minutes
    '25 for 25': Nick Wright on the Future of Sports Debate


    Hello, media consumers! Bryan and Joel kick off their new podcast series, '25 for 25'. They welcome Fox Sports 1’s Nick Wright, and he discusses the following:

    • His thoughts as the Chiefs were losing the Super Bowl (5:25)
    • Why the Chiefs are the villains (12:56)
    • Why he decided to start his career in sports radio (20:00)
    • The biggest difference between TV and radio (40:00)
    • Linear television vs. streaming (1:01:10)
    • Quick takes on current TV hosts (1:09:34)

    Hosts: Bryan Curtis and Joel Anderson

    Guest: Nick Wright

    Producer: Brian H. Waters

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    18 February 2025, 8:00 am
  • 1 hour 14 minutes
    Trump Presses the Press, Luka Doncic and the Fans, and Introducing ‘25 for 25’



    Hello, media consumers! Bryan and Joel kick off the show with this week’s class in J-School. Joel discusses Bryan’s appearance on ‘The Bill Simmons Podcast’ in which they talked about whether or not Patrick Mahomes will reach another Super Bowl (1:26). Then he gets into the Jalen Hurts media tour that Hurts himself appears disinterested in, John Rocker vs. Patrick Mahomes Sr., and Kendrick Lamar’s performance. (7:49). Then they go over the following headlines:

    • Donald Trump’s full court press on the media (20:18)
    • Luka Doncic’s fans are still upset (45:48)
    • Jeffrey Toobin joins the New York Times (59:01)
    • Journalism advice from a basketball coach (1:00:35)

    They conclude the show by introducing a new bonus podcast series called ‘25 for 25’ (1:04:35).

    Hosts: Bryan Curtis and Joel Anderson

    Producer: Brian H. Waters


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    13 February 2025, 9:50 pm
  • 1 hour 6 minutes
    The Best Super Bowl Review in the Business, the Trump-Politico Gambit, and the Death of the Book Blurb


    Hello, media consumers! Bryan and David are here to review the Super Bowl, where the Eagles dethroned the mighty Chiefs. The best review features the following:

    • The amount of money Fox spent (0:40)
    • Tom Brady’s best game of the year (13:32)
    • Kevin Burkhardt’s grade after his second Super Bowl (28:28)
    • Fox’s broadcast production magic (33:04)
    • The pivot of the game (35:40)

    Later, in the Notebook Dump, they discuss the following:

    • Donald Trump is canceling his subscriptions to Politico Pro (45:15)
    • Hubie Brown’s final sign-off (48:25)
    • The death of the book blurb (50:12)

    Plus, the Overworked Twitter Joke of the Week and David Shoemaker Guesses the Strained-Pun Headline.

    Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker

    Producer: Brian H. Waters


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    10 February 2025, 10:14 pm
  • 1 hour 29 minutes
    Super Bowl Stories From New Orleans, a Farewell to Hubie Brown, and Eagles Talk With CNN’s Kasie Hunt

    Hello, media consumers! Bryan and Joel kick off the show with this week’s class in J-School. Joel discusses some of the highlights from Bryan’s interview with Chris Berman (1:45). Then Bryan shares some of the best stories from radio row (15:59). Then they get into some more headlines, including:

    • Donald Trump being the first sitting president to attend the Super Bowl (25:20)
    • The Dallas fan base's feelings after Luka Doncic was traded to the Lakers (29:25)
    • Hubie Brown’s farewell tour (39:40)
    • Stephen A. Smith’s potential presidential bid (59:08)

    And as they get ready for Sunday’s big game, they welcome CNN anchor and Eagles superfan Kasie Hunt, who discusses her excitement for Super Bowl LIX. She discusses the following about her fandom:

    • Her worst experience as an Eagles fan (1:03:32)
    • The secret society of Eagles fans in Washington (1:08:23)
    • Rapid-fire questions, including her favorite Eagles player, who she considers to be their biggest rival, and more (16:48)

    Hosts: Bryan Curtis and Joel Anderson

    Guest: Kasie Hunt

    Producer: Brian H. Waters

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    7 February 2025, 12:15 am
  • 1 hour 12 minutes
    Chris Berman on Covering Super Bowls, ESPN’s Three Eras, and the Origin Story of ‘NFL Primetime’

    Hello, media consumers! Bryan has a special bonus episode for you. He caught up with one of ESPN’s originals, Chris Berman, in New Orleans. They sit down and discuss the following:

    • What Chris Berman’s Super Bowl week is like (2:12)
    • When ESPN asked him to stop using nicknames (14:34)
    • The original idea for ‘NFL Primetime’ (23:33)
    • Turning down NBC (36:14)
    • The three eras of ESPN (53:08)

    And then Bryan closes out the show with a fun lightning round where Berman talks about his favorite anchors to work with, getting a Super Bowl ring from the San Francisco 49ers, what he would have done if he wasn’t a sports anchor, and more (58:27).

    Host: Bryan Curtis

    Guest: Chris Berman

    Producer: Brian H. Waters

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    6 February 2025, 3:53 am
  • 53 minutes 57 seconds
    The WTF Luka Scoop, Super Bowl Scenes From New Orleans, and Trump’s Pentagon Switcheroo

    Hello, media consumers! Bryan and David kick off the week by discussing the chaos surrounding the reporting on the blockbuster trade involving the Dallas Mavericks' decision to send Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis (0:30). Then Bryan, who is in New Orleans, shares the current temperature of radio row (19:16).

    Later, in the Notebook Dump, they discuss the following:

    • Reports that Chuck Todd is leaving NBC (38:30)
    • The new media switcheroo (42:16)

    In the Hall of Departed Journalists, they reflect on the life of Jules Feiffer (48:55). Plus, Bryan shares an update on his movie career (0:00).Finally, the Overworked Twitter Joke of the Week and David Shoemaker Guesses the Strained-Pun Headline.

    Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker

    Producers: Brian H. Waters and Carlos Chiriboga

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    3 February 2025, 9:22 pm
  • 1 hour 13 minutes
    New Media Invades the White House, Chiefs Conspiracy Theories, and When Ex-Quarterbacks Attack


    Hello, media consumers! Bryan and Joel fire up the mics to close out the week here at The Press Box. Joel takes you to “J-School,” where he discusses Donald Trump’s first press briefing since returning to the White House, the tragic plane crash in Washington, and giving props to The New Yorker, and he revisits an interview he had with the late Cedric Benson (1:53).

    Then they get into the following headlines:

    • The White House embracing new media (14:45)
    • Whether the Chiefs really are the villains (23:00)
    • Ryan Fitzpatrick with an edition of ‘when ex-quarterbacks attack’ (37:25)
    • Paul Krugman’s exit from The New York Times (47:037)
    • Nick Saban on the media (59:24)

    Hosts: Bryan Curtis and Joel Anderson

    Producer: Brian H. Waters


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    30 January 2025, 10:52 pm
  • 1 hour 2 minutes
    The CBS Disaster and NFL Sound, The New Yorker Turns 100, and More Tales of Journalistic Failure


    Hello, media consumers! Bryan and David kick off the week by discussing The New Yorker turning 100 and what it has been throughout time (0:00). Then they get into the sounds of the NFL playoffs:

    • Strangest moment from the Eagles-Commanders … from the referee (32:00)
    • Tom Brady on his future in the broadcast booth (40:34)
    • The CBS disaster with the phantom flag in the Bills-Chiefs game (44:12)

    Then in the Notebook Dump they follow up Thursday’s episode of how failed profiles came apart with a couple of stories from listeners (50:32).

    Plus, the Overworked Twitter Joke of the Week and David Shoemaker Guesses the Strained-Pun Headline.

    Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker

    Producer: Brian H. Waters


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    27 January 2025, 9:21 pm
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