Awful Announcing Podcast

Latest Episodes:

AA Podcast Episode 49 - Todd Fuhrman of "Lock it In" & "Bet the Board" Dec 12, 2019

Show notes

3:30 - On him being "Most Likely to Be a Bookie" for his high school yearbook superlative/first interest in sports wagering
6:04 - On choosing the career of an oddsmaker and whether he ever wanted to be a professional better
8:40 - First eye opening experience of working in and for a sportsbook
10:38 - What happens when a sportsbook has a bad day
11:57 - Does he remember the first bet he ever placed in Las Vegas?
12:50 - When he wanted to get out of oddsmaking and into content creation & media
15:33 - What were the conversations like surrounding sports betting in media 10 years ago vs now?
17:21 - How he met Payne, started the "Bet the Board" Podcast and what their ultimate goal is
19:53 - How they can appeal to casual betters, new betters and experts
21:38 - His initial reaction to PASPA being overturned and what the snowball effect might look like
23:35 - The day to day notes of "Lock it In" and what the reaction has been thus far
26:36 - What does he think the biggest misconception in sports wagering
28:12 - How does he anticipate the leagues & media companies changing in-game sports wagering coverage (if its legalized across the country)
30:48 - A guide to terminology and rapid fire advice on wading into the sports betting world

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Awful Announcing Podcast Episode 48 - Colleen Wolfe of NFL Network Nov 21, 2019

Show notes

On this week's edition of the podcast, host Ben Heisler was joined by NFL Network's Colleen Wolfe.
4:20 - Her love for rescuing animals, despite being allergic to them
6:00 - Her rescue pet story gone wrong
7:56 - Family dynamic as a kid in Philadelphia / were they all sports fans?
10:10 - Her mom is a hot take artist
11:22 - Going from a potential art major to communications
14:56 - Her start in radio at WIP in Philadelphia
18:21 - How radio allowed her to have many opportunities and have fun in sports
20:50 - Why she believes there's not more women in sports radio
24:10 - Tough conversations she had with producers/management
27:05 - Being a "one-person band" in TV and doing everything on the fly
29:30 - How she was super close to quitting TV before the NFL Network gig came along
34:15 - When did she finally feel comfortable in her role at NFL Network?
39:00 - An inside look into the postgame show from the crazy ending to Browns/Steelers (the Myles Garrett incident)
47:15 - Stories from the travels with the Thursday Night crew of Michael Irvin, Steve Smith & Joe Thomas

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Awful Announcing Podcast Episode 47 - Candace Parker Oct 23, 2019

Show notes

2:08 - Her dominant High School championship performance against Ben's HS team
3:05 - Where her love of basketball first began
4:50 - How her and her dad were part of the "positionless basketball movement" early on in her life
6:00 - On all the challenging coaches that impacted her life/career
7:10 - Toughest player/competitor on the court she's ever faced
9:18 - Could the NBA learn or grow from anything the WNBA has been doing (or vice versa)
12:55 - Could she see herself running an organization or coaching after her playing career is over?
14:11 - On how she was approached by Turner to be an analyst
15:29 - Early influences in her media career and who helped her along the way
16:20 - Her new podcast with Kristen Ledlow
17:48 - Does she feel a connection to Zion Williamson as two highly touted prospects coming into college/pros
19:40 - Which team does she always have to tune in to watch?
21:05 - Any potential surprise teams this year?
22:55 - Any chance the Bulls could be a playoff team this year/Zach LaVine primed for a huge year

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Awful Announcing Podcast Episode 46 - Greg Amsinger of MLB Network Sep 25, 2019

Show notes

2:20 - On his 11 years at MLB Network
3:00 - What changed in his life early on that made him want to pursue this as a career
4:40 - Growing up with seven siblings
6:30 - How acting class were monumental for his career growth
8:10 - Why he needs to be reactive to be successful and how that's different than "not preparing"
12:00 - When he knew he could be more reactionary and not relying on notes/scripts etc
14:30 - On handling Producers not liking that he shares his opinions and not just "tees up analysts"
15:40 - Did he ever want to do radio or be a talk show host?
17:00 - His love for radio
17:50 - On working with Adam Zucker, Michelle Beadle & Kathryn Tappen back in the day at CSTV
19:20 - His relationship with the other analysts at MLB Network, notably Harold Reynolds
21:20 - What would he like to do that he hasn't done at the network yet?
23:00 - Why people continue to fight the changes and adaptations that baseball is looking to make
27:00 - "Dead Brain Heavers"
29:45 - Would MLB consider changing where and how they hold the MLB Draft?
33:00 - Mike Shannon stories
35:00 - How does he avoid/stay off social media with his job?

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

AA NFL Opening Weekend Roundtable + Mike Pereira Sep 05, 2019

Show notes

ROUNDTABLE (PART 1)
2:00 - Thoughts on the updated ESPN MNF Booth
6:20 - Are we likely to see more "hot take" style analysts on broadcasts in an "embrace debate" society?
8:40 - Tony Romo entering Year 3... is he likely to take more criticism after these last few years?
11:10 - Would they be interested in moving some analysts around to different pairings to try and make it a little fresh in the booth?
12:05 - How much longer is Dick Stockton going to hang around at FOX
13:30 - FOX's new College Football Pregame Show and its new time
18:50 - What role will FS1 play in all this?
20:40 - Favorite/under-the-radar pairings that more people should know about?
23:45 - CFB 150 and the impact it will have on this season
MIKE PEREIRA (PART 2)
27:30 - Helping couples fill out a prenup agreement ahead of football season
29:20 - Does he remember the first game he ever officiated?
31:02 - What was his first "Welcome to the NFL" moment?
32:15 - 10 seasons at FOX, what did he think the position would be and how has it evolved?
35:00 - His perspective on the new pass interference review rules
37:20 - What does a typical week look like for an NFL referee: from the moment the game ends to when the next game begins
39:21 - Which former (or current) NFL referee would he most enjoy having a few drinks and grabbing some wings with?

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Awful Announcing Podcast: Jason Benetti Sep 03, 2019

Show notes

4:30 - Calling an Electrician Championship on ESPN 8 the Ocho this year
7:20 - When he learned that broadcasts could and should be fun
9:28 - Where did his love of sports first come from?
10:20 - How growing up in Chicago in the Michael Jordan era helped make sports part of the every day conversation
12:15 - The value of doing radio early in his life (high school)
13:20 - The impact of early feedback
14:10 - How he responded to the competitive atmosphere and nature at Syracuse
16:10 - Does he regret setting the tone for much of the competitive, aggressive environment
18:42 - What did he want to do when he left college
20:50 - On learning to do TV and deal with the challenges of it for the first time late in his career
25:00 - Did he ever want to be a radio talk show host
28:50 - On the possibility he could return home to the White Sox for his dream job
33:31 - Early broadcaster influences
39:10 - On the pace of baseball & college football and what can be done to fix it (if anything at all)
42:10 - Why do people and viewers get upset when changes happen in baseball?
45:51 - On being a part of the Statcast broadcast and going through trying to make it interesting and unique to traditional baseball viewers
49:45 - His "celebrity" weekend in Anaheim with Bill Walton, Mike Schur, and Mike O'Brien
55:00 - Pizza in a bag and fun times in New York
56:45 - His work and videos for the Cerebral Palsy Foundation

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Awful Announcing Podcast Episode 43 - Matthew Berry Aug 12, 2019

Show notes

4:48 - The challenges and exciting things that come with putting out a 28 hour fantasy football marathon
5:33 - Keeping content fresh vs allowing newcomers to get the core information they need
7:53 - How he's done all 28 hours the last three years
9:30 - What does he remember about the first fantasy team/league he was in?
12:20 - When did his first break come when he was working in show business in LA?
17:42 - The fleeting nature of the TV/movie industry - How unhappy he was late in his show business career
21:30 - When the moment came to him that he wanted to leave show business
26:00 - Why people have a hard time leaving an industry they think they're supposed to be in...
27:00 - Did he have any idea the "fantasy sports revolution" was coming?
31:00 - What ultimately led him to ESPN after starting his own websites and developing a major following
32:30 - The transition from writing to more on-air work and if there were difficulties that came with it
36:00 - Learning the mechanics of TV and finding a dynamic that works
37:50 - How his research process has changed throughout the years
43:20 - How often does gambling/Vegas play a role in his fantasy research
44:17 - Is he a daily fantasy fan as well as the new spinoffs of traditional fantasy football etc...
47:40 - Stories of when he's given great or terrible fantasy advice to high profile celebrities

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Awful Announcing Podcast Episode 42 - Mina Kimes Aug 05, 2019

Show notes

4:20 - Is her next opportunity to be a Head Coach in the NFL now that she's working with Sean McVay
5:35 - How the idea of being a booth analyst didn't really occur to her and how that changed
6:50 - Who were/are NFL analysts & color commentators she's enjoyed viewing/listening to
8:30 - The best way to incorporate more and new information into broadcasts
10:34 - When she knew she first wanted to become a writer
11:15 - Was the transition from the business world of journalism into sports an intimidating one
12:09 - Who helped in the initial transition? Who was in her corner from the beginning
13:05 - Was there a concern that transitioning into sports would ruin her ability to be a fan
14:35 - Balancing the joy of football with the on and off the field issues the sport provides
16:35 - Would football consider a more transparent approach when it comes to injuries/health issues
17:25 - Her takeaways from her profiles of Aaron Rodgers and Baker Mayfield - represent different times of players
19:20 - Do we expect the QB position and personality of that position change in this new generation
20:24 - How she came up with the voice for her dog Lenny on her podcast
21:40 - What's something about the Miami Clevelander studios we wouldn't expect
22:15 - Her viral reaction to Shohei Ohtani signing with the Mariners
23:20 - Her strangest etch-a-sketch
24:00 - Fan of The Bachelorette finale?
25:02 - Any other impressions besides "DMX"
25:35 - Is Pablo Torre as good of a karaoke singer as he claims to be?
26:10 - Who is a non-obvious Super Bowl contender for 2019

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

AA Podcast Episode 41 - Mike Florio Jul 29, 2019

Show notes

2:53 - How he became a Vikings fan growing up in Steelers country
6:40 - Growing up in Wheeling, West Virginia and the impact WTBS had on him as a sports fan
8:50 - When did he take to the NFL away from baseball?
10:11 - How he "stumbled" into his first NFL writing job
13:16 - Did he have ownership stake in the first NFL company he worked for? And how did that lead to a quick stop at ESPN?
14:35 - How his legal degree and career in law has been essential in his work
17:10 - What he considers his most important or memorable work in 18+ years of running Pro Football Talk
19:30 - How does ownership/partnership work with NBC/NBC Sports
20:31 - What would entice him to go out on his own and move away from NBC
21:20 - Al Michaels' career + Can he confirm that he's never eaten a vegetable?
22:52 - Is there a great future NFL analyst none of us are talking about yet?
24:00 - What does he look for in a good in-game analyst
26:20 - What would it take for the NFL and Players to avoid a labor dispute in 2021
28:05 - Are NFL owners actually seriously considering an 18 game schedule with players sitting out two games?
29:40 - Would the NFL/Roger Goodell ever consider transparency when it comes to dealing with player safety information
33:21 - Who's the white whale of guests for PFT Live / Who would he most like to talk to?

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

AA Podcast Episode 40 - Jay Bilas Jun 26, 2019

Show notes

4:42 - His basketball camp wrapping up and if they've had to change their approach with how basketball has changed
7:40 - When did he first start to play and then grow to love basketball?
9:55 - Did basketball ever come easy to him?
11:20 - Life as a Duke player vs life as a Duke Coach (both under Coach K)
14:00 - What was Jay Bilas outside of basketball like?
16:45 - Did he think he'd be a full-time coach and pursue it as a career once he started in 1990?
18:42 - Was there any anxiety in becoming a basketball analyst? (Two-part answer)
21:28 - If there was a moment where he finally felt comfortable knowing he could be good at this job
24:10 - Understanding how to be a good analyst for television - perception of his role as an analyst/commentator
28:00 - On the realization of "you can't please everybody" and having fun with social media trolls
29:15 - Reminiscing over the 2015 Elite 8 broadcast between Arizona and Illinois
33:30 - When did the Young Jeezy daily lyric tweets start to become really popular?
35:35 - The impact of the California bill that would allow college athletes to be compensated for their own name/image/likeness and the NCAA's fight against it
39:14 - Will there ever be a time where the NCAA stops this fight and hypocrisy against student athletes?
45:24 - Would he like to see the "draft process" go away, since it doesn't allow rookies to decide where they'd like to play?
45:43 - Prouder moment: 94 feet with his son, or his son being featured on "Bad Beats" with SVP?

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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