Best Gut Check Press Podcasts (2025)

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Anna Wintour (Sort of) Leaves Vogue, the NYT's Top 100 Movies List, and the Bezos Nuptials 1:06:24

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21h ago1:06:24

1:06:24

Hello, media consumers! Bryan and David reunite to discuss coverage of Jeff Bezos's wedding and The Washington Post's puzzling new feature (0:42), before they parse through reports about Anna Wintour (sort of) leaving her position at Vogue and the masterly, divisive NYT "100 Best Movies of the 21st Century" list (10:01). They also talk about Gavin …

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Zohran’s New York Shocker, NBA Draft Audio, and What Is a "Hit Piece" in 2025? Plus, 25 for 25: Heather Cox Richardson on Trump and Iran. 1:30:26

5d ago1:30:26

1:30:26

Hello, media consumers! Bryan and Joel discuss some awkward NBA draft coverage, the NYC Democratic mayoral primary, and what constitutes a hit piece (10:57). Then, in another edition of 25 for 25, Bryan is joined by historian Heather Cox Richardson to talk about Donald Trump's fervent attempts at creating a narrative around the USA's air strikes on…

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Trump’s Iran Rollout, Game 7’s Injury TV, and Andrew Schulz vs. The New York Times 1:18:25

8d ago1:18:25

1:18:25

Hello, media consumers! Joel (in for David) and Bryan put a wrap on ESPN's presentation of the NBA Finals (0:41), before discussing the Trump administration's press tour after carrying out air strikes on Iranian nuclear sites (18:00), some puzzling New York City mayoral primary coverage, Andrew Schulz's thought-provoking conversation with the NYT a…

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Tucker Carlson Vs. Ted Cruz, the Finals Goes 7, and the Media A-Team 1:28:55

11d ago1:28:55

1:28:55

Hello, media consumers! On this Friday edition of the show, Bryan helps Joel wrestle with a question: "Should I subscribe to The Washington Post if it is my local paper?" (1:41). They then tackle some headlines, including the ambiguity of the USA's involvement with the Israel–Iran War and Tucker Carlson's instantly viral interview with Ted Cruz (17…

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Solidarity With Stephen A., The Washington Post’s Latest Reboot, and Gustavo Arellano on Covering the L.A. Protests 57:38

15d ago57:38

57:38

Hello, media consumers! Bryan and David discuss another Washington Post "reboot," this time for its opinion section (0:41). They go on to offer some low-hanging fruit for ESPN's lackluster NBA Finals coverage and discuss Stephen A. Smith, who was seen playing solitaire during Game 4; a noticeable shift in the norms of Washington, D.C., reporting; a…

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L.A. Protests and the NBA’s Storytelling Problem. Plus: Logan Murdock on Gen Z Hoopers. 1:17:34

19d ago1:17:34

1:17:34

Hello, media consumers! Bryan and Joel tackle some leftover 'The Simpsons' vs. 'The Cosby Show' thoughts in today's J-School (0:47), before they are joined by Logan Murdock to discuss The Athletic's anonymous players survey, why the NBA keeps finding itself in the crosshairs of criticism, and ESPN's biggest mistake while broadcasting the Finals. Th…

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#250 | Three Kinds of Glum 58:05

21d ago58:05

58:05

In this milestone episode: The most annoying type of TPR, the need for dirtbags, the fall of Michael Tait, RIP George WendtBy Ted Kluck and Zachary Bartels

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Trump-Musk Fallout and ESPN's Finals Coverage. Plus: Alan Siegel on 'The Simpsons.' 1:08:23

22d ago1:08:23

1:08:23

Hello, media consumers! Bryan and David parse through the very public Donald Trump–Elon Musk breakup (0:41) before sharing some notes on Games 1 and 2 of the NBA Finals; Warner Bros. Discovery, which is splitting into two companies; ABC's Terry Moran's suspension; and a hefty edition of "sliding doors" metaphors (15:28). Finally, The Ringer's Alan …

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25 for 25: Noah Eagle. Plus, NBA Finals Notes, and WaPo Becomes HuffPo. 1:34:18

26d ago1:34:18

1:34:18

Hello, media consumers! Bryan and Joel discuss some NBA Finals thoughts, Oklahoma City as a host city, reports of Doris Burke's uncertain future in ESPN's broadcast booth, Cam'ron the journalist, and more (2:47). Then they discuss The Washington Post's puzzling new strategy and Pablo Torre's Bill Belichick–Jordon Hudson investigation (30:05). Then …

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#249 | Performative Backpack Swinging 1:04:23

28d ago1:04:23

1:04:23

If you're gonna be a film school hipster, you gotta be tiny, and other observations from evangelical conferences. (Also, bonus content from Nicky Blaine's: the Mystery of the Missing Lanyard)By Ted Kluck and Zachary Bartels

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Farewell to the NBA On TNT. Plus: Mark Kriegel on Mike Tyson and the Future of Sports Biographies. 1:51:20

29d ago1:51:20

1:51:20

Hello media consumers! This week, Bryan and David discuss a bevy of “now they tell us” stories, some from the NBA and some from Washington (1:00), before coining a new segment called the “Pulled Punch Effect” (26:00). Then, they share a few more listener-submitted “sliding doors” metaphors (30:00), before Bryan is joined by Mark Kriegel to discuss …

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The Democrats Are (Still) Looking for the Left’s Joe Rogan. Plus: Texas Barbecue Rankings! 1:01:47

1M ago1:01:47

1:01:47

Hello, media consumers! Bryan and Joel return on this Thursday edition of the podcast to discuss the Democrats’ deliberate investment in building a liberal infrastructure of influencers, podcasters, and new media (23:00). Then, they discuss the state of podcast interviews and whether or not listeners are making distinctions between the kinds of sho…

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The Reign of the Three-Man Booth, Why ‘Mission: Impossible’ Is Getting a Pass, and More Sliding Doors Metaphors 53:50

1M ago53:50

53:50

Hello, media consumers! Bryan and David come to you on this Press Box Monday (Tuesday) edition with some thoughts on the NBA’s gradual acceptance of the three-man announcer booth (1:30), Elon Musk’s media blitz (13:00), the coverage and criticism of the latest installment in the ‘Mission: Impossible’ franchise (24:00), more sliding doors metaphors …

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#248 | Smart Toddler 49:03

1M ago49:03

49:03

This week: Picking a new pope, Ted's flammable regalia, phones are small/big/annoying, old guys going liberalBy Ted Kluck and Zachary Bartels

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Tyrese Haliburton Goes Full Reggie Miller. Plus: A Final Farewell to ‘Around the Horn.’ 58:31

1M ago58:31

58:31

Hello, media consumers! Bryan and Joel are back on this Press Box Thursday Edition to discuss peak sports media beef (2:00), Reggie Miller’s unique perspective on the Eastern Conference finals and Tyrese Haliburton’s choke sign (17:00), and Draymond Green being added to ‘Inside the NBA’ for the ECF (23:00). Then, they discuss another wave of pieces…

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How Sports Ate TV. Plus: Journalism’s Triumphant Return! 53:30

1M ago53:30

53:30

Hello, media consumers! On this Press Box Monday edition, Bryan and David discuss Journalism, the official horse of The Press Box, winning the Preakness (1:00) before discussing the end of TNT’s era of broadcasting the NBA and what they’ll miss most about it (6:00). Then, they discuss the career of legendary WWE announcer Jim Ross after learning ab…

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The Tell-All Book Haunting Washington. Plus: Can Podcasts Become the New Magazines? 1:18:23

2M ago1:18:23

1:18:23

Hello, media consumers! This week, Bryan and Joel go to J-School to discuss the reactions to and coverage of the Jayson Tatum injury (1:00). Then, they digest the various news ripples that have come from excerpts of ‘Original Sin,’ Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson’s book about Joe Biden’s decision to run for reelection (10:00). Next, they react to a r…

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An American Pope Media Frenzy, Jayson Tatum Take-a-Palooza, and the Reemergence of Joe Biden 1:01:41

2M ago1:01:41

1:01:41

Hello, media consumers! Bryan and David are back on this Monday edition to talk about the election of a new Pope and the media frenzy it spawned (1:00), the week of Jayson Tatum takes (8:00), NBC’s plans for the future of its basketball coverage, including Michael Jordan (17:00), and new media ventures being unable to come up with compelling names …

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25 for 25: Brian Windhorst on the Future of NBA Reporting 1:20:54

2M ago1:20:54

1:20:54

Hello media consumers! This week, please enjoy a little J-School (1:00) before Bryan and Joel are joined by ESPN basketball reporter Brian Windhorst to talk about his path to ESPN and whether it’s replicable, the place good reporting has in our modern media ecosystem, the dreaded aggregators, Gregg Popovich stories, and what direction he sees the f…

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Sports Media’s Familial Obsession, a Fascinating John Fetterman Profile, and Cold-Calling the President 1:28:24

2M ago1:28:24

1:28:24

Hello, media consumers! Bryan and David are here this Monday to discuss sports media’s evolving coverage of athletes’ families and significant others after recent stories about Bill Belichick, Jax Ulbrich, and John Haliburton (1:00). Then, they run through a handful of bite-size topics, including a new entry in the running for worst question ever a…

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The Bill Belichick Interview Heard Round the World, Plus: Mike Tirico on a Horse Named "Journalism" 1:22:14

2M ago1:22:14

1:22:14

Hello media consumers! On this Press Box Thursday edition, Bryan and Joel dig deeper into the strange Bill Belichick CBS news interview that recently went viral after Jordon Hudson, his girlfriend, interrupted the interview multiple times (1:00). Then, they discuss the fallout and media fervor from the Jax Ulbrich–Shedeur Sanders NFL draft prank ca…

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#247 | Dead-Eyed Dignity 46:09

2M ago46:09

46:09

This week: Locating our promise, archiving friendships, rediscovering PalmerBy Ted Kluck and Zachary Bartels

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A Deluge of Shedeur Sanders NFL Draft Takes. Plus: Kara Voght on the Embattled White House Correspondents' Dinner. 1:08:17

2M ago1:08:17

1:08:17

Hello media consumers! Bryan and David are back to opine on the overwhelming amount of content that has come from Shedeur Sanders sliding in the NFL draft (1:00), including a bizarre story line about the son of the Atlanta Falcons’ defensive coordinator prank-calling Sanders (22:00). Then, they run through a handful of smaller stories from the week…

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How the Shannon Sharpe Lawsuit Is Being Covered. Plus, the NFL Draft Media Economy. 1:06:24

2M ago1:06:24

1:06:24

Hello, media consumers! On this Press Box Thursday, Bryan and Joel discuss the Shannon Sharpe lawsuit, Stephen A. Smith’s role in negotiating ESPN’s public response to it, and how the rest of the media world has reacted to this news (10:00). Then, they assess new entries in the “worst question asked at the White House” genre (32:00) and talk about …

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25 for 25: Chris Ryan on the Birth, Death, and Rebirth of Blogging 52:51

2M ago52:51

52:51

Hello, media consumers! In our latest 25 for 25 installment, Bryan is joined by Ringer superstar Chris Ryan to discuss his come up in the mid-2000s blog world, how it set up the rest of his career and changed media forever, where the energy of blogging was dispersed, and whether there will be a revival of blogging. Host: Bryan Curtis Guest: Chris R…

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Lee Corso’s Legendary 'College GameDay' Run. Plus: The White House's Attack on the Associated Press. 1:01:00

2M ago1:01:00

1:01:00

Hello, media consumers! This Press Box Thursday edition includes a J-School on bylines, steak sauce, and nonprofit media (1:00). Then, Bryan and Joel dig into Lee Corso’s retirement from 'College GameDay' (20:00), Trump’s attempt to prevent the AP from covering the White House (33:00), and Nico Harrison’s bizarre closed-door press conference (40:00…

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Rory McIlroy’s Long-Awaited Masters Win, the Barstool Apology Tour, and the Nico Iamaleava Saga 56:49

3M ago56:49

56:49

Hello, media consumers! This week, Bryan and David discuss the intense back and forth of Rory McIlroy’s first win at Augusta National (1:00), before running through a number of short items, including: The faux reluctant update about Stephen A. Smith’s presidential campaign (17:50) The bevy of Barstool personalities releasing apologies for their dis…

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25 for 25: The New York Times’ Jamelle Bouie on the Future of the Opinion Columnist 1:27:20

3M ago1:27:20

1:27:20

Hello, media consumers! This week, Bryan and Joel are joined by Jamelle Bouie, opinion columnist at the New York Times, to discuss a number of timely media topics before backtracking and talking through Bouie’s career, writing an opinion column in this era of the internet, the relationship between his TikTok and his journalistic work, and more. Hos…

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#246 | The Hard Data Podcast 31:56

3M ago31:56

31:56

This week: Breakfast is the most important meal of the day; are there even young people?By Ted Kluck and Zachary Bartels

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Catching up on the Atlantic Mega-Scoop and Stephen A. vs. LeBron. Plus: Bryan’s Southwest Travelogue. 1:06:45

3M ago1:06:45

1:06:45

Hello, media consumers! Bryan and David discuss the highlights, lowlights, and books bought during Bryan’s family vacation across the American Southwest (1:30). Then, they dig deep into three stories that Bryan missed while he was out: Jeffrey Goldberg’s Signal scoop of the Trump administration’s war plans (15:00) The latest chapter of the LeBron v…

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Josh Levin and Stefan Fatsis on Launching the Sports Gabfest, the Benefit of Mutually Reinforcing Weirdo Tendencies, and Why They Hate the Hall of Fame 1:33:52

3M ago1:33:52

1:33:52

Hello, media consumers! Bryan is still out on vacation, but Joel is here with two former colleagues, Josh Levin and Stefan Fatsis. They kick off the show by discussing the first time Joel joined them on a podcast (0:44). Then they discuss the following: ‘Hang Up and Listen,’ a sports show that was produced by a non-sports publication (14:00) The re…

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#245 | Dinklage 56:00

3M ago56:00

56:00

Forgiveness, Snow White stuff, AI upscaling old shows, Secret City Drawing, A fantastic new gameBy Ted Kluck and Zachary Bartels

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25 for 25 Industry in Memoriam: Remembering the Publications Lost in the 21st Century 2:00:45

3M ago2:00:45

2:00:45

Hello, media consumers! Bryan and Joel are back with the second edition of The Press Box's 25 for 25. Today, they look back at the publications lost in the 21st century—including ESPN the Magazine, Gawker, and many others—and ask: What do we lose when a media company disappears? And how should we remember them, if at all? Hosts: Bryan Curtis and Jo…

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Van Lathan on What Makes a Good Political Pundit, How TMZ Shaped Him and His Career, and a Very Special Request for Hillary Clinton and His Mom. 1:34:25

3M ago1:34:25

1:34:25

Hello, media consumers! While Bryan is on vacation, Joel is in the driver’s seat and he welcomes in The Ringer’s own, Van Lathan (3:10). They kick off the show by discussing their paths to today’s episode then talk about the following: How Van prepares for his CNN appearances (6:56) Stephen A. Smith as a presidential candidate (17:52) Who will be t…

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Graydon Carter on ‘Vanity Fair,’ ‘Spy,’ and the Glorious Excess of the Magazine Era 52:25

3M ago52:25

52:25

Bryan kicks off the week with a conversation with Graydon Carter, who comes on to discuss ‘Spy Magazine’ going to ‘Vanity Fair’ and more. They discuss the following: The idea behind 'Spy Magazine' (2:46) Who took the stories the hardest from 'Spy' (9:57) His perception of Donald Trump (10:36) If Spy could have worked in the early 2000s (13:20) Bein…

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#244 | Prime Richard Rohr? 45:12

3M ago45:12

45:12

This week: Ted steps in the ring with a former world champ; Evangelical Smackdown ReduxBy Ted Kluck and Zachary Bartels

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A Contentious White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner, Jackie Robinson and the Defense Department, and a Buyout Bloodbath in Chicago 1:16:17

3M ago1:16:17

1:16:17

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 whether or not there is a diet for Kanye West content, Collin Morikawa’s comments on mainstream coverage, and getting off the Feinstein train. Joel closes the segment with a brief tribute to his uncle…

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John Feinstein and March Madness, News From The New Yorker, and Gutting the Voice of America 52:13

4M ago52:13

52:13

Hello, media consumers! Bryan and David kick off the week by discussing Donald Trump’s dismantlement of the U.S. Agency for Global Media, which oversees the Voice of America (0:45). Then they get into the Old Guy’s Still Got It Segment with sounds from Rick Pitino (8:40), Tom Izzo (10:30), and Dick Vitale (14:20). Afterward they discuss Michael Wil…

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The Horrors of NFL Free Agency, Michelle Obama and Gavin Newsom Pivot to Podcasts, and Remembering John Feinstein 1:12:11

4M ago1:12:11

1:12:11

Hello media consumers! "Bryan and Joel kick off the show with J-School during which they discuss Monday’s topics, including Stephen A. Smith vs. Tim Walz for the 2028 democratic nominee, sources calling after a Kendrick Perkins story, and more (1:24) They then get into the following headlines: Reflecting on John Feinstein’s legacy including his boo…

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Four NBA Media Meltdowns, Oscar Season for Democrats, and a Great Editor’s ‘Only in Journalism’ 1:03:18

4M ago1:03:18

1:03:18

Tim Walz is making the media rounds, leading The Ringer’s Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker to ask whether the Minnesota governor or Stephen A. Smith is more likely to run for president in 2028 (00:00). Then, the guys get into a series of media meltdowns, including the ongoing beef between Stephen A. and LeBron James (13:00), Charles Barkley vs. Ken…

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#243 | Enough Jokes. 46:16

4M ago46:16

46:16

Zach and Ted are the opposite of disappointed, discussing series finales, good and bad.By Ted Kluck and Zachary Bartels

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The Curious Case of Shedeur Sanders, the L.A. Times’ Broken Bias Meter, and Farewell to ‘Around the Horn’ 1:20:15

4M ago1:20:15

1:20:15

Hello, media consumers! Bryan and Joel return to discuss the State of the Union address (2:04). Then, they break down the press surrounding NFL draft prospect Shedeur Sanders and the Bias Meter (21:40). They close by remembering 'Around The Horn' and FiveThirtyEight (56:43). Hosts: Bryan Curtis and Joel Anderson Producer: Stefan Anderson Learn more…