Best Dysfunctional Crew Podcasts (2025)

1
Predicting the Week 7 NFL Headlines 31:36

Play Pause

1d ago31:36

31:36

Sheil and Field Yates from ESPN take a look at the weekend slate and use their expert analysis to determine which players, coaches, and teams will have the media buzzing after the final whistle is blown in Week 7. (00:00) Predicting the Week 7 NFL headlines (2:50) Indianapolis Colts vs. Los Angeles Chargers (8:14) Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Detroit L…

1
Get Serious! Bills' Struggles, Steelers as a Contender, Bears' Playoff Chances, and More. 28:43

3d ago28:43

28:43

Sheil and Mike Sando from The Athletic take a look at the results from the first six weeks of the season and talk about whether the trends they’re seeing are indicative of the actual state of particular NFL teams, or are simply anomalies within the course of a long NFL season. (00:00) Which do we take more seriously? (2:03) The Eagles or the Bills'…

1
MVP Tiers: The Long Shots, Sleepers, and Favorites After Week 6 31:50

3d ago31:50

31:50

Sheil and The Ringer’s own Diante Lee employ a tier system to analyze and debate who should be the frontrunners for MVP after six weeks of NFL action. (00:00) The MVP Tiers Breakdown (2:10) Tier 3: The Long Shots (9:54) Tier 2: You Have My Attention (19:34) Tier 1: The Favorites (27:08) The Hurry Up: More Dolphins dysfunction The Ringer is committe…

1
Useful Fitness Standards w/ Dr. Mike Lane, Anders Varner, Doug Larson, and Coach Travis Mash #819 54:43

2d ago54:43

54:43

In this episode, the team breaks down what it means to build and maintain essential fitness, the baseline level of strength, endurance, and resilience every person should strive for. They discuss how to train efficiently using the minimum effective dose, balancing work, family, and recovery while still progressing. The conversation covers the princ…

1
Redrafting the 2024 NFL QB Class | Ringer NFL 31:56

5d ago31:56

31:56

Sheil and Dave Dameshek from the Football America! show get together to take a look at seven of the top quarterbacks taken in the 2024 NFL draft and rank them according to their current levels of success. (00:00) Redrafting the 2024 QB class (1:58) Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, and Caleb Williams (14:37) Spencer Rattler, J.J. McCarthy, Michael Penix,…

1
Super Bowl Tiers: Which Teams Are Actual Contenders After Week 6? 31:51

6d ago31:51

31:51

Sheil scans the league after all of the Week 6 Sunday action and shares which teams he thinks have all the elements necessary to go to the Super Bowl, and which fan bases are already looking forward to next season. (00:00) Super Bowl tiers breakdown (3:18) Tier 5: It’s not happening (4:11) Tier 4: Playoffs? Maybe. Super Bowl? No. (6:16) Tier 3: The…

1
Predicting the Week 6 NFL Headlines 30:36

9d ago30:36

30:36

Sheil and Seth Walder from ESPN check the pulse of the NFL to discern what all the pundits will be buzzing about after the final whistle is blown on the Week 6 action. (00:00) Predicting the Week 6 NFL headlines (2:20) Sam Darnold enters the MVP conversation (6:35) The Ben Johnson offense has arrived (13:46) The Chiefs are still the team to beat (1…

1
The NFL's Four Worst Coaching Performances Through Week 5 31:53

10d ago31:53

31:53

Sheil is joined by Patrick Daugherty from NBC Sports to talk about some of the NFL head coaches who have yet to establish winning cultures for their respective franchises in 2025. (00:00) The worst coaching performances through week 5 (2:02) Brian Callahan (7:30) Pete Carroll (13:33) Aaron Glenn (19:10) Jonathan Gannon (25:13) Honorable mentions (2…

1
What Does the Joe Flacco Trade Tell Us About the Bengals and Browns? 31:41

11d ago31:41

31:41

Sheil and The Ringer’s own Steven Ruiz get together to share their instant reactions and analysis on a big trade that saw the Cleveland Browns send QB Joe Flacco to the Cincinnati Bengals. (00:00) The Joe Flacco trade (2:02) What does this trade mean in the short term for the Browns? (7:39) What does this trade mean in the short term for the Bengal…

1
Addiction, Recovery and Building a Life of Value w/ Tim Riley, Anders Varner, Doug Larson, and Travis Mash #818 51:13

11d ago51:13

51:13

1
The NFL's 5 Best Ceiling-Raising Coaches Through Week 5 30:47

12d ago30:47

30:47

By The Ringer

1
Week 5 in the NFL: Drake Maye's Moment, No More Unbeatens, and Bummed-Out Bottom Dwellers 30:58

13d ago30:58

30:58

By The Ringer

1
The Three Players Who Will Define Week 5 31:52

16d ago31:52

31:52

Nate Tice from Yahoo Sports and the Football 301 podcast joins Sheil to discuss some of the NFL players around the league with the most compelling narratives heading into the Week 5 slate. (00:00) Intro/cold open (3:13) Drake Maye (9:54) Sam Darnold (17:33) Trevor Lawrence (23:30) The Hurry Up: Ringer 107 The Ringer is committed to responsible gami…

1
Stats That Matter After the First Month of the NFL Season 32:51

17d ago32:51

32:51

The Ringer’s own Austin Gayle joins Sheil to analyze and discuss some very telling statistics that paint a picture of where some teams are after four weeks of NFL action: (00:00) Intro/cold open (1:54) Joe Flacco (8:44) Ashton Jeanty (16:45) Aaron Rodgers (21:41) Saquon Barkley (27:05) The Hurry Up: Sean McVay’s offensive scheme 15% off $15+ on NFL…

1
We're Cooked: A One-Month NFL Misery Index 30:23

18d ago30:23

30:23

Dan Hanzus from the Heed the Call NFL Podcast stops by the pod to talk with Sheil about some of the teams around the league that have had particularly dismal Septembers and look like they might not be capable of righting the ship before January. (00:00) Intro/cold open (2:20) New York Jets (9:19) Cincinnati Bengals (14:38) Baltimore Ravens (19:35) …

1
Melanoma, Jungle Gyms, and Strength Tech w/ Anders Varner, Doug Larson, and Travis Mash #817 48:11

18d ago48:11

48:11

In today’s episode of Barbell Shrugged, Anders, Doug, and Travis dive into Coach Travis’ recent melanoma diagnosis, how he found out about it, and his recent surgery to eliminate it. We also dive into Anders’ quest to build a gym in the middle of the woods where he plans on lifting giant trees and the latest in strength tech with Travis Mash. Work …

1
Inside the Jerry Jones Media Bubble: Is He Winning or Losing the Narrative in Dallas? 28:41

19d ago28:41

28:41

Bryan Curtis from The Ringer’s Press Box podcast joins Sheil to share his experiences in the Jerry World media scrum while covering the epic Cowboys-Packers tie on Sunday. They then shine a light on the billionaire owner’s mercurial relationship with the media, both locally and nationally. For more reporting on Bryan’s sojourn into the belly of the…

1
The Packers Are on Fraud Watch, and Who Will Surprise in the AFC? 31:33

20d ago31:33

31:33

The Ringer’s Diante Lee joins Sheil after the grueling Packers-Cowboys tie on ‘Sunday Night Football’ to discuss some of the emerging storylines from Week 4‘s NFL action and debate whether any of them have any real potency. (00:00) Intro/cold open (2:26) Packers are on fraud watch (9:27) AFC is rife for a surprise contender (15:03) Ravens are still…

1
Mike Macdonald Needs to Trust Sam Darnold More, With Jacson Bevens 32:27

23d ago32:27

32:27

Jacson Bevens from Cigar Thoughts joins Sheil on the pod to break down and analyze the Seattle Seahawks’ thrilling victory over the Arizona Cardinals on ‘Thursday Night Football.’ (00:00) Intro/cold open (2:33) Mike Macdonald's trust in Sam Darnold (7:05) Sam Darnold is actually good! (13:42) Expectations for the Seahawks (17:17) Jaxon Smith-Njigba…

1
Most Disappointing Teams Through Week 3, With Dan Pizzuta 31:24

24d ago31:24

31:24

Dan Pizzuta from Snaps & Stats joins Sheil on the pod to talk about a few of the teams in the NFL that have yet to live up to their preseason hype in 2025. (00:00) Intro/cold open (2:11) Houston Texans (10:50) Las Vegas Raiders (17:39) Denver Broncos (25:41) The Hurry-Up: Seahawks offense on the rise The Ringer is committed to responsible gaming. P…

1
Brian Daboll Needs to Hit a Bull's-Eye With Jaxson Dart, With Pat Daugherty 29:18

25d ago29:18

29:18

Sheil is joined by Pat Daugherty from NBC Sports to discuss the news of the Giants benching Russell Wilson for Jaxson Dart, and what it means for both QBs and HC Brian Daboll going forward. (00:00) Intro/cold open (2:38) How did the Giants get here? (6:09) What to expect from Jaxson Dart (10:57) Scenario 1: Dart is a revelation (13:40) Scenario 2: …

1
Four Levers of Physiological Flexibility w/ Dr. Michael T. Nelson, Anders Varner, Doug Larson, and Travis Mash #816 54:14

25d ago54:14

54:14

Dr. Mike T. Nelson has spent 18 years of his life learning how the human body works, specifically focusing on how to properly condition it to burn fat and become stronger, more flexible, and healthier. He’s has a PhD in Exercise Physiology, a BA in Natural Science, and an MS in Biomechanics. He’s an adjunct professor and a member of the American Co…

1
Dan Campbell Isn't Concerned With Your Lions Coordinator Questions, With Diante Lee 32:31

26d ago32:31

32:31

The Ringer’s Diante Lee joins Sheil to discuss, debate, and analyze the Detroit Lions' impressive victory over the Baltimore Ravens in a ‘Monday Night Football’ classic. (00:00) Intro/cold open (2:28) Detroit Lions make a statement win (9:32) Dan Campbell’s influence / The fourth-down play (15:59) Lions' defensive game plan (20:45) Where do the Rav…

1
NFC Madness: What We Learned About Contenders in Week 3, With Ted Nguyen 32:11

27d ago32:11

32:11

Sheil is joined by Ted Nguyen from The Athletic to analyze how some of the hot-button teams in the NFC fared in Sunday’s action and talk about whether any of them revealed fatal flaws that may cause concern for their fan bases going forward. (00:00) Intro/cold open (2:15) Sean McVay is too conservative (9:40) The Eagles offense is too conservative …

1
Week 3 Backup QB Rankings With Steven Ruiz 31:56

30d ago31:56

31:56

The Ringer’s own Steven Ruiz joins Sheil on the pod to offer his expert analysis on some of the second-string quarterbacks who will be stepping out from behind the clipboards and strapping on their helmets for their respective teams this Sunday. (00:00) Intro/cold open (2:26) Mac Jones (6:49) Jake Browning (11:59) Carson Wentz (17:55) Marcus Mariot…

1
Do We Believe in the Colts, Chargers, or Bucs? With Mike Sando. 30:56

1M ago30:56

30:56

Mike Sando from The Athletic joins the pod to examine Daniel Jones’s resurgence, the L.A. Chargers’ hot streak, and Tampa Bay’s impressive performances, and talk with Sheil about whether the good vibes will be sustainable through the rest of the 2025 season. (00:00) Intro/cold open (3:06) Do You Believe in the Indianapolis Colts? (11:34) Do You Bel…

1
Hope or Dysfunction? New-Look Bears Off to a Rocky Start, With Tyler Dunne. 30:29

1M ago30:29

30:29

Founder of the Go Long Substack and podcast Tyler Dunne stops by the show to talk with Sheil about the Chicago Bears' curiously slow start to the 2025 season after an offseason of media-heightened expectations. (00:00) Intro/cold open (3:25) What’s wrong with the new-look Bears? (6:53) Did the Bears organization fail Caleb Williams? (13:24) Ben Joh…

1
Four Pillars of Anti-Aging w/ Blair LaCorte, Anders Varner, Doug Larson, and Travis Mash #815 58:03

1M ago58:03

58:03

Blair LaCorte is the Vice Chair of the Board of Directors at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging—the world’s first biomedical research institution dedicated solely to understanding aging and age-related diseases, and the largest independent scientific institute in the Bay Area. A seasoned leader and strategist, Blair has a track record of tran…

1
Bengals to Blame for Joe Burrow’s Injury Woes? It’s Complicated, With Ben Baby 30:50

1M ago30:50

30:50

Sheil is joined by Ben Baby from ESPN to dive deep into the Joe Burrow injury timeline and talk about what the Cincinnati Bengals can do to keep their ship afloat until the QB's return at the end of the season. (0:00) Intro/cold open (2:50) Joe Burrow’s Injury Timeline (5:11) Are the Bengals to Blame? (11:40) Joe Burrow’s Play Style (14:45) Is Joe …

1
0-2? Yes. But Don't Bury the Chiefs Just Yet, With Nora Princiotti 29:32

1M ago29:32

29:32

Sheil and The Ringer’s own Nora Princiotti get together to talk about how concerned we should be with the Chiefs’ rough first couple of weeks of the 2025 season, and break down the silver linings that should see them right the ship going forward. (0:00) Intro/cold open (2:14) What is the panic level in Kansas City? (7:05) How many ways can the Chie…

1
Micah Parsons Has Made the Packers the NFC's Team to Beat, With JP Acosta 31:59

1M ago31:59

31:59

Sheil and JP Acosta from SB Nation get together to share their instant reactions to the Green Bay Packers’ dominating win over the Washington Commanders on ‘Monday Night Football’ (0:00) Intro/cold open (2:27) Micah Parsons Changes the Way we look at the Packers (6:52) The Packers impressive defense (9:12) Is Matt LeFleur properly rated? (14:05) Jo…

1
The Week 2 NFL Storylines That Actually Matter, With Lindsay Jones 31:53

1M ago31:53

31:53

Lindsay Jones from The Ringer joins the pod to talk about some of the teams and upcoming games that have especially intriguing implications as we enter our second week of NFL action. (0:00) Intro/cold open (2:45) Are the Raiders the feel-good team of 2025? (7:34) The Harbaugh-Carroll rivalry (9:39) Is there something wrong with the Seahawks' makeov…

1
The Giants Need to Get Serious and Start Jaxson Dart, With John Jastremski 30:30

1M ago30:30

30:30

John Jastremski from the Ringer Gambling Show and New York, New York podcasts stops by to talk with Sheil about the bad vibes surrounding the Giants’ QB situation and whether we should now consider them on equal footing with their perennially struggling Big Apple counterparts, the Jets. (0:00) Intro/cold open (2:44) Who’s calling the shots in NY? (…

1
The Path to IFBB Pro w/ Aaron Starker, Anders Varner, Doug Larson, and Travis Mash #814 55:17

1M ago55:17

55:17

Aaron Straker is a N.A.S.N. Licensed Primary Sports Nutritionist. He prefers a pragmatic approach to nutrition that focuses on simple food selection, the importance of nutrient density, and the importance of objectivity in dieting and reporting. Today on Barbell Shrugged we dive into Straker’s path to becoming and IFBB Pro. From injury, setbacks, d…

1
New Bears Look a Lot Like the Old Bears, With Josh Norris 30:42

1M ago30:42

30:42

Josh Norris from Underdog Fantasy gets together with Sheil to analyze the Minnesota Vikings’ comeback win against the Chicago Bears on ‘Monday Night Football’. They begin by breaking down why Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson fell short of expectations, before heaping praise on QB J.J. McCarthy’s in-game turnaround and the Vikings' stellar coaching in…

1
The Ravens and Bills Deliver an Instant Classic, With Mallory Rubin 31:53

1M ago31:53

31:53

Sheil and The Ringer’s own Mallory Rubin convene after a thrilling ‘Sunday Night Football’ game that saw the Buffalo Bills erase a 15-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat the Baltimore Ravens. They detail the reasons the Ravens fell short, discuss what they’re looking forward to from both teams for the rest of season, and debate whether Lamar Jac…

1
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly from Cowboys-Eagles With Diante Lee 31:46

1M ago31:46

31:46

Sheil and The Ringer’s Diante Lee get together to share their instant reaction to the Eagles' win over the Cowboys on opening night of the 2025 NFL season. Sheil’s Big Takeaway Diante’s Big Takeaway Concerns With Eagles Defense The Jalen Carter Spit Sheil ends the pod with this week's picks for the Ringer 107 competition. The Ringer is committed to…

1
Physiology Friday: [Brain Health] Science and Strategies for Optimizing Brain Health w/ Dan Garner, Anders Varner, Doug Larson, and Coach Travis Mash 49:24

1M ago49:24

49:24

In today’s episode of Barbell Shrugged, we'll be discussing the various factors that impact brain health and exploring strategies for optimizing brain function. First, we'll be discussing the impact of exercise on brain health. Research has shown that regular exercise can help to improve brain function, enhance cognitive performance, and even reduc…

1
Why Week 1 Really Matters With Andrew Whitworth 35:26

1M ago35:26

35:26

Former All-Pro tackle and co-host of the Fitz & Whit podcast, Andrew Whitworth, joins the show to talk about his favorite Week 1 matchups, and debate Sheil on what he thinks the big headlines will be next Monday. Games discussed include: Lions vs. Packers Seahawks vs. 49ers Bills vs. Ravens Vikings vs. Bears Sheil ends the pod with a look ahead to …

1
QBs Most Likely to Get Benched in 2025 With Steven Ruiz 32:29

2M ago32:29

32:29

Sheil is joined by The Ringer’s own Steven Ruiz to talk about some of the quarterbacks around the league who are starting for their respective teams in Week 1 but are likely on a fast track to holding a clipboard on the sideline. This includes: Daniel Jones Russell Wilson Justin Fields Joe Flacco Sam Darnold Sheil then ends the pod with an examinat…

1
How to Eliminate Back Pain w/ Dr. Melissa Capurro, Anders Varner, Doug Larson, and Travis Mash #813 49:13

2M ago49:13

49:13

Melissa is a performance physical therapist and is heavily involved in the CrossFit space as a healthcare provider, as well as an athlete. Melissa grew up in the Metropolitan New York area, but now resides in the Tampa Bay area. Upon graduating from PT school, Melissa started working in an outpatient orthopedic physical therapy practice, but was un…

1
Bold Predictions for the 2025 NFL Season 30:51

2M ago30:51

30:51

Sheil returns to unleash his hottest predictions for what he thinks will happen to some of the players, coaches, and teams around the league that are flying under the radar as we head toward kickoff. Bold prediction no. 1: Chiefs will not play in the championship round Bold prediction no. 2: Seahawks will have the best defense in the NFL Bold predi…

1
Kapadia Court Decides This Season’s Breakout QB With Shawn Syed 29:57

2M ago29:57

29:57

Shawn Syed from SumerSports stops by the pod to make his case for some of the sneaky-good QBs around the league who are poised to make the leap in 2025, including: Drake Maye Bryce Young Trevor Lawrence Brock Purdy Caleb Williams Michael Penix Jr. J.J. McCarthy C. J. Stroud The honorable Judge Kapadia then makes his ruling on which of Shawn's clien…

1
Physiology Friday: [Blood Work] High Performance Blood Chemistry w/ Dan Garner, Anders Varner, and Doug Larson 47:51

2M ago47:51

47:51

In today’s episode of Barbell Shrugged Dan Garner dives into how you can start to analyze your yearly bloodwork for performance. Standard blood tests can be ordered around the globe, in every country, and are the gold standard for understanding basic health. The normal reference ranges, however, are not giving you the answers you are looking for wh…

1
Micah Parsons Is a Packer, and Jerry Jones May Have Lost Cowboys Fans Forever 31:15

2M ago31:15

31:15

Sheil is joined by The Ringer’s own Diante Lee to share their instant reaction to the shocking blockbuster trade that sent star edge rusher Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers. They analyze the details of the trade, shine a light on how this benefits the Packers, and debate where Jerry Jones and the Cowboys go from here. The Ringer is committed …

1
An Early Look at the 2026 NFL Draft QB Sweepstakes With Fran Duffy 29:40

2M ago29:40

29:40

Sheil is joined by Fran Duffy from AllCity Network to talk about some of the biggest 2026 NFL draft prospects heading into college football season, with special attention on the exciting QB class. Players evaluated include: Arch Manning Garrett Nussmeier LaNorris Sellers Cade Klubnik Drew Allar Keldric Faulk Sheil ends the pod with his analysis of …

1
How Many Teams Could Actually Win the Super Bowl? 31:54

2M ago31:54

31:54

Sheil Kapadia breaks down all 32 NFL teams through his patented tier system and uses it to produce his Super Bowl champion pick for the 2025-26 season. Tier 5 Tier 4 Tier 3 Tier 2 Tier 1 Sheil's Super Bowl winner He ends the pod by sharing his thoughts on Spencer Rattler and the state of the New Orleans Saints QB room. The Ringer is committed to re…

1
Hard Truths from a Lifetime of Training w/ Bryan Boorstein, Anders Varner, Doug Larson, and Travis Mash #812 59:48

2M ago59:48

59:48

Bryan Boorstein has 24 years of training and over 13 years of coaching experience. A 3-time CrossFit Regional athlete and CrossFit Games coach, Bryan holds a Bachelor of Science from JMU (2006) and certifications in CrossFit L-2 and Mobility. As the owner and founder of Evolved Training Systems and Paragon Training Methods, he’s a trusted name in f…

1
Favorite Over/Under Win Totals With Anthony Dabbundo 36:37

2M ago36:37

36:37

Sheil and The Ringer’s own Anthony Dabbundo take a look at the 2025 NFL schedule and share takes on some of the most polarizing over/under team win totals going around the horn, including the lines for: Washington Commanders Pittsburgh Steelers Green Bay Packers Tennessee Titans Las Vegas Raiders Sheil then ends the pod with his reaction to the big…

1
NFL Hipster Takes I Can Get Behind With Ben Solak 39:34

2M ago39:34

39:34

Sheil is joined by Ringer alum Ben Solak from ESPN to analyze and debate some of the team and player takes that are being propagated by the most educated football literati as we head toward the season kickoff, including: There’s still hope for Justin Fields The Ravens will get over the hump Justin Herbert is a top-five QB The official hipster team …