Carmen and Jurko

Latest Episodes:

9/2 9AM: Jesse Rogers on Cubs Bullpen Leaks Sep 02, 2026

Show notes

Shea Norling sits in for Carmen alongside Jurko as the guys open the show by previewing their Hot Wings Challenge in honor of Caleb Williams appearing on Hot Ones. They revisit Ryan Poles’ comments on Kyler Gordon and debate whether the Bears can count on him at all this season. Jesse Rogers joins to discuss the Cubs’ bullpen meltdown, why holding off Philadelphia for the top wild-card spot matters more than chasing Milwaukee, and how the White Sox continue to hold serve in the AL Central. Jesse also weighs in on Tommy Pham returning to the White Sox and previews his upcoming conversation with Nico Hoerner. The hour wraps with Bears-Panthers Week 1 talk, the surprisingly high point total and a name-pronunciation detour around Travis Etienne.

9/1 11AM: Tom Thayer on Kyler Gordon Concern Sep 01, 2026

Show notes

Shea Norling sits in for Carmen alongside Jurko as Tom Thayer joins to react to Ryan Poles’ unusually honest comments about Kyler Gordon’s rehab. Thayer explains why the Bears’ locker room will know whether a player is giving everything to get back, and he also breaks down the revamped defensive line, Gervon Dexter trade and nickel corner options. Shea and Jurko continue the Kyler Gordon conversation by asking if he is on “Derrick Rose Protocol” and whether the Bears can count on him at all this season. The Brunch Rush hits the Red Sox radio team ripping Jazz Chisholm, ESPN’s top 100 NFL players, Tommy Pham returning to the White Sox, Lori Loughlin returning to Instagram and Kyle Tucker’s fall-off with the Dodgers. The show wraps with Shea’s 10 p.m. softball complaint.

9/1 10AM: Ryan Poles on Kyler Gordon & Bears Cuts Sep 01, 2026

Show notes

Shea Norling sits in for Carmen alongside Jurko as the hour opens with Big Rig Ron backing Shea after the earlier PCA debate. The List of Lists lands on Centers, leading to picks like Shaquille O’Neal, Jonathan Toews, the United Center, center field, Cinnabon centers and the center of a Tootsie Pop. The guys also take listener calls on Oreo centers, the Playboy centerfold, shopping centers and plenty of other creative center picks. Ryan Poles then meets the media at Halas Hall and addresses the Bears’ roster, including the Gervon Dexter trade, Kiran Amegadjie being waived, Ozzy Trapilo’s progress and the team’s defensive line depth. The hour closes with Shea and Jurko reacting to Poles’ unusually direct comments about Kyler Gordon’s rehab and the uncertainty around when, or if, he will play for the Bears this season.

9/1 9AM: Cubs Hammer Brewers With Nine Homers... Is It a Division Race Yet? Sep 01, 2026

Show notes

Shea Norling sits in for Carmen alongside Jurko as the guys react to the Cubs crushing the Brewers 17-3 behind a nine-homer night at Wrigley Field. Jack McGrath believes the Cubs still have a chance to make the NL Central race interesting, but Shea and Jurko are more focused on whether Chicago can build momentum for October. The guys take calls on the division race, the Cubs’ postseason path and whether Milwaukee should have been able to save its bullpen by using a position player in a blowout. They also revisit Shea’s old PCA/Javy Báez comparison as Pete Crow-Armstrong continues one of the best individual seasons in recent Chicago sports history. The hour closes with Jurko reacting to the Bears trading Gervon Dexter and explaining why Jordan Vandenberg may be a better fit for Dennis Allen’s attacking defensive line.

8/31 11AM: Bears Still Have Plenty to Prove Aug 31, 2026

Show notes

Jack McGrath and Peggy Kaczynski close the show by reacting to ESPN’s NFL power rankings and debating why the Packers are still getting more national respect than the Bears. The guys discuss Green Bay, Detroit and Minnesota while comparing Jordan Love to Jay Cutler and explaining why Caleb Williams could pass Love this season. The Brunch Rush hits the White Sox’s historic turnaround, PCA’s MVP push, Ozzy Trapilo’s injury timeline and Aaron Donald returning to the Rams. Peggy also gets into trouble during a studio-chair mystery, bringing Danny Zederman into the room and turning the show briefly into “Christian radio.” The hour wraps with more Bears talk, including whether Chicago’s roster questions are still keeping the national media from fully buying in.

8/31 10AM: Courtney Cronin on Bears Roster Cuts Aug 31, 2026

Show notes

Jack McGrath and Peggy Kaczynski are in for Carmen and Jurko as Courtney Cronin joins to break down the Bears’ roster cuts and what Xavion Thomas showed in the preseason finale. Courtney discusses Thomas’ 97-yard touchdown, the waived vs. released distinction, Sivan Ahmed, Hayden Large, Ruben Hyppolite, Jack Sanborn and the team’s defensive line questions after the Gervon Dexter trade. She also explains why Jordan Vandenberg and Jamree Kromah could have real roles for the Bears despite being young developmental pieces. The List of Lists turns into Most Punchable Faces, with the crew and callers naming everyone from Aaron Rodgers and Brian Kelly to Meghan Markle, Jake Paul, Ryan Pace and Cap. The hour wraps with Players of the Weekend, including Xavion Thomas, PCA’s MVP push, Max Scherzer and Scottie Scheffler.

8/31 9AM: Bagent, Bears Cuts and PCA’s MVP Push Aug 31, 2026

Show notes

Jack McGrath and Peggy Kaczynski are in for Carmen and Jurko on Bears Victory Monday after Tyson Bagent, Xavion Thomas and the Bears offense put on a show in the final preseason game. The guys react to the Bears’ roster cuts, including Kiran Amegadjie and Ruben Hyppolite, and discuss what those misses say about Ryan Poles’ developmental draft picks. They also break down the Gervon Dexter trade, Jordan Vandenberg’s rise and whether Tyson Bagent could eventually carry real trade value. The baseball conversation centers on PCA’s incredible weekend, his MVP lead over Shohei Ohtani and the Cubs’ pitching concerns entering a massive Brewers series. The hour closes with wedding dilemma as CKatt wonders how much planning a groomsman should do when the best man is not pulling his weight.

8/28 11AM: Jason McKie on Bears Roster-Bubble Pressure Aug 28, 2026

Show notes

Carmen and Jurko are joined by Jason McKie to preview the Bears’ final preseason game against the Titans and discuss what roster-bubble players are facing before cutdown day. McKie explains why special teams can decide jobs, how young players need to handle pressure, and why self-inflicted mistakes remain the Bears’ biggest concern. The guys also talk through Bears injuries, Ben Johnson’s focus on available players and what matters most before Week 1. Jurko’s Keys shifts to fantasy football draft strategy, including running back value, waiting on quarterbacks and staying sober during drafts. The Brunch Rush hits Ryan Fitzpatrick on Deshaun Watson, Chris Sale’s dominant outing, Matt Shaw returning, Caleb Williams’ preseason status and Carm’s celebrity umpire prep.

8/28 10AM: Chicago is Baseball City USA + List of Lists: War Movies Aug 28, 2026

Show notes

Carmen and Jurko open the hour with the White Sox trying to hold off the Guardians in the AL Central, though Carm is anxious about how shaky the starting pitching has been in August. The guys also hit the Cubs’ hot offense, PCA’s MVP-level season and MLB.com naming the White Sox rise and PCA’s breakout as two of the biggest stories in baseball. The List of Lists lands on war movies, leading to picks like Saving Private Ryan, Schindler’s List, Inglourious Basterds, Braveheart, Apocalypse Now, Tropic Thunder and more. Callers add a flood of options, including Full Metal Jacket, Platoon, Glory, Black Hawk Down, Stripes and Good Morning, Vietnam. Mike North joins for his bonus play and gives out the Yankees and Padres before the guys close with more calls on Bears-Packers stakes and baseball stats.

8/28 9AM: Saleh Comps Caleb to Russell Wilson - Would You Take That Career? Aug 28, 2026

Show notes

It’s Dr. Pepper Bears Friday, and Carmen and Jurko get set for Bears-Titans while reacting to Robert Saleh calling Xavier Woods’ hit on Wan’Dale Robinson cheap. The bigger Bears conversation comes from Saleh comparing Caleb Williams to a young Russell Wilson, which sends the guys into a debate over what Bears fans should actually hope Caleb becomes. Carm argues fans should gladly take a Russell Wilson-style 10-year run, while Jurko helps compare Wilson, Joe Flacco, Jay Cutler, Philip Rivers and other quarterback baselines. Callers jump in on Caleb’s ceiling, Super Bowl expectations and whether Russell Wilson belongs in the Hall of Fame. The hour also includes Al Michaels getting annoyed with virtual measurements, White Sox and Cubs weekend setup, and an escaped lioness story from Indiana.

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