Sports

Rushmore Podcast

Legends join Ari Emanuel and Ben Persky to debate the ultimate Mount Rushmore of any topic.

rushmorepodcast.substack.com

Latest Episodes:

Shaq & Kevin Durant: The War Over The Ultimate Starting 5 Nov 03, 2026

Show notes

What happens when two of the most dominant scorers in basketball history sit down to build their ultimate starting lineups?

Total chaos.

On Season 2, Episode 3 of The Rushmore Podcast, Shaquille O’Neal and Kevin Durant join Ari Emanuel and Ben Persky to draft, trade, and defend their definitive all-time starting fives.

From immediate blockbuster trades to heated arguments over whether Steph Curry is a true point guard, this conversation cuts through modern analytics to reveal how all-time greats actually evaluate the game.

Inside the episode:

* Modern Spacing Debate: Would Shaq score 70 a night in today’s NBA, or would he hate the perimeter volume?

* Coaching Systems: Why Shaq believes Phil Jackson’s triangle offense wouldn’t survive today, and how Steve Kerr adapted it into Golden State’s random basketball.

* The Blockbuster Trade: Shaq swaps Hakeem Olajuwon for himself to complete KD’s all-time 6’10” roster.

* Pat Riley Lore: Shaq exposes the Heat’s brutal body fat tests and the personal exemption he demanded before getting traded.

* The Point Guard War: Shaq’s controversial take on Steph Curry and why Tim Duncan and Giannis are barred from the big man category.

* 1996 Bulls Retrospective: Ari Emanuel confronts Shaq on getting swept by Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen.

* The Height Myth: KD reveals what happened when he stood next to Hakeem Olajuwon in real life.

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Watch the full live episode above, or stream on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rushmorepodcast.substack.com

Jerry Seinfeld & Larry David On The 4 Episodes That Defined Television Oct 27, 2026

Show notes

When NBC tested the original pilot for The Seinfeld Chronicles, network executives circulated an internal research memo stating that “no segment of the audience was eager to watch the show again.”

Nine seasons and 180 episodes later, it became the most influential sitcom in television history.

In Season 2, Episode 2 of The Rushmore Podcast, Ari Emanuel and Ben Persky sit down live with co-creators Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David to settle the four most iconic, structurally perfect episodes in the history of the show.

A quick word from our partners:

* Lovable: If you can describe it, you can build it. Lovable designs, builds, and iterates software with you in plain language—no coding required. We used it to build our own site at rushmorepodcast.com. Start building your vision today at lovable.com.

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Inside the conversation:

* Why Larry David kept the premise for “The Contest” hidden in his notebook for two years.

* The real-life dinner date that spawned “The Puffy Shirt” and the “Low Talker.”

* The midnight rewrite hours before filming that saved “The Marine Biologist.”

* The executive meeting where Larry David walked into the studio parking lot and quit.

Watch the full live episode above, or stream on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rushmorepodcast.substack.com

Roger Goodell & Pat McAfee Debate The Greatest NFL Comeback Ever Oct 20, 2026

Show notes

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Pat McAfee sit down with Ari Emanuel and Ben Persky to build the definitive Mount Rushmore of Greatest NFL Comebacks.

There are only four spots on the mountain. From Tom Brady erasing a 28-3 deficit in Super Bowl LI to Frank Reich’s 32-point comeback against the Houston Oilers, the Minnesota Miracle, and Damar Hamlin’s miraculous return to football, the panel debates which four moments stand above the rest.

Along the way, Roger Goodell reveals what it was like facing a hostile Indianapolis Colts locker room before the 2011 lockout, his secret basement CBA sessions with Jeff Saturday, and why he refused security orders to leave his seat during the Minnesota Miracle. Pat McAfee breaks down his high school kicking origin story, Peyton Manning’s neck injury, and the time he checked into a rogue fake punt against the Dallas Cowboys.

SPONSORS:

• DraftKings: New DraftKings customers, Sign up with code RUSHMOREPOD, spend just $5, and get $200 in rewards within 21 days, includes all markets. Terms at https://dkng.co/offer.

• ZipRecruiter: 4 out of 5 employers who post on ZipRecruiter get a quality candidate within the first day. Try it FOR FREE at https://ZipRecruiter.com/RUSHMORE.

CHAPTERS:

00:00 The Pat McAfee Football Origin07:21 Roger Goodell Walks Into the Lion’s Den!13:40 28-3 The Greatest Comeback in Super Bowl History!15:40 Andrew Luck’s Unbelievable 38-10 Playoff Miracle!17:46 The Game That Created Steel City’s Iconic Song!20:06 Damar Hamlin’s Impossible 7-Month Comeback22:16 The INSANE Comeback You Forgot Existed!24:05 Beating 0.6% WIN Probability for NFL History26:11 10 Seconds Left and Zero Hope!28:58 Peyton Manning Breaks an Impossible Defense!34:44 Joe Burrow’s Iceman Run to the Super Bowl!38:18 Pat Saw Peyton’s Neck Stems & Panicked!40:07 Pat McAfee vs The Dallas Cowboys46:07 The Definitive Comeback Rushmore!46:30 Ranking the Best Football Songs!48:50 The Greatest Football Movies Ever Made!

STREAM AND SUBSCRIBE:

• YouTube: Watch full episodes in 4K at youtube.com/@therushmorepodcast

• Spotify & Apple Podcasts: Stream full video and audio on demand.

• Substack: Receive every episode, breakdown, and discussion directly at rushmorepodcast.substack.com.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rushmorepodcast.substack.com

The Rushmore Podcast Season 2 Official Trailer: The Mountain Returns Oct 13, 2026

Show notes

Over the past year, the most influential figures in sports, comedy, music, fashion, and business sat down to answer one impossible question: Who belongs on the ultimate Mount Rushmore of culture—and who gets left off?

From Tom Brady to Shaq, Kevin Durant, Dana White, Jerry Seinfeld, and Anna Wintour drawing lines in the sand, Season 1 set the foundation. Season 2 raises the stakes significantly.

New full-length episodes premiere every Tuesday starting October 20th.

Follow The Rushmore Podcast across all platforms:

• Substack: Receive every episode, breakdown, and discussion directly

• Spotify & Apple Podcasts: Stream full video and audio on demand

• YouTube: Watch full episodes in 4K with visual debates

Join the debate and build your mountain: rushmorepodcast.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rushmorepodcast.substack.com

Maria Sharapova & John McEnroe Build the Rushmore of Female Tennis Players Jul 23, 2026

Show notes

Welcome to the Rushmore Podcast, where legends join Ari Emanuel and Ben Persky to debate the ultimate Mount Rushmore of any topic. Tennis icons Maria Sharapova and John McEnroe come together to build the Mount Rushmore of female tennis players. Serena Williams delivers an unmatched serve and competitive fire. Steffi Graf achieves a golden slam and athletic perfection. Martina Navratilova claims 18 singles majors while Billie Jean King reshapes sports culture. Maria shares her personal memories of getting dominated by Monica Seles at 16. John argues for the pioneers who shaped the sport. The hosts, Ari and Ben, add their own lists. After a tense tiebreaker between Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova, a definitive final four emerges.Special thanks to Maria Sharapova & John McEnroe for joining our greatest female tennis players episode.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rushmorepodcast.substack.com

Dana White & Max Kellerman Build the Rushmore of Middleweight Boxers May 13, 2026

Show notes

Welcome to the Rushmore Podcast, where legends join Ari Emanuel and Ben Persky to debate the ultimate Mount Rushmore of any topic. Two of the most passionate minds in combat sports, UFC president and CEO, Dana White, and boxing analyst, Max Kellerman, sit down to build the Mount Rushmore of middleweight boxing. From the mythical Harry Greb who fought 250 times before age 32, much of it with one eye to the sublime Sugar Ray Robinson, from the warrior Marvin Hagler to the unbeaten champion Carlos Monzon, this debate covers a century of fighting greatness. Dana champions the modern legends he grew up on. Max argues for the forgotten giants of the 1910s and 1920s. The hosts weigh in with their own lists. The result is a furious, informed, and deeply respectful argument about who truly rules the 160‑pound division.Special thanks to Dana White & Max Kellerman for joining our Middleweight Boxing episode

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rushmorepodcast.substack.com

Anna Wintour & Andrew Bolton Build the Mount Rushmore of Fashion Designers May 13, 2026

Show notes

Welcome to the Rushmore Podcast, where legends join Ari Emanuel and Ben Persky to debate the ultimate Mount Rushmore of any topic.Two of the most influential figures in fashion, Anna Wintour and Andrew Bolton, sit down to build the Mount Rushmore of the greatest fashion designers. The result is a masterclass in style, history, and artistic vision. Andrew champions the pioneers who changed construction and silhouette. Anna counters with the rule‑breakers who redefined what a designer could be. Ari Emanuel and Ben Persky add their own picks, and the debate turns to legacy, influence, and cultural impact. Who deserves the final four spots?Special thanks to Andrew Bolton & Anna Wintour for joining our designers episode.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rushmorepodcast.substack.com

Ken Burns & Walter Isaacson Build The Mount Rushmore of US Non-Presidents May 13, 2026

Show notes

Welcome to the Rushmore Podcast, where legends join Ari Emanuel and Ben Persky to debate the ultimate Mount Rushmore of any topic. Two of America's greatest historians, Ken Burns and Walter Isaacson, sit down to build the Mount Rushmore of U.S. non‑presidents from 1900 - present. The result is a breathtaking conversation about the inventors, artists, activists, and innovators who truly shaped modern America. Walter champions the giants of science and technology: Louis Armstrong, Philo Farnsworth, John Mauchly, and Steve Jobs. Ken counters with moral and cultural titans: Louis Armstrong, Eleanor Roosevelt, Martin Luther King Jr., and Henrietta Lacks. From the improvisational genius of jazz to the immortal HeLa cells, from the Marshall Plan to the iPhone, this debate explores who actually changed the way we live, think, and see ourselves. Four brilliant lists. One unforgettable Rushmore.Special thanks to KenBurns & Walter Isaacson for joining our Non‑Presidents (1900s‑Present) episode.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rushmorepodcast.substack.com

Lou Adler Builds the Mount Rushmore of 1970s Bands and Artists May 13, 2026

Show notes

Welcome to the Rushmore Podcast, where legends join Ari Emanuel and Ben Persky to debate the ultimate Mount Rushmore of any topic. Music pioneer Lou Adler, film and record producer and co-owner of the Roxy Theatre, joins the Rushmore podcast to tackle an impossible task: building the Mount Rushmore of the greatest bands and artists from the 1970s. With hosts Ben and Ari, Lou makes his case for Bob Marley, Marvin Gaye, Carole King, and David Bowie. The debate that follows is chaotic, passionate, and hilarious—featuring Wings, Queen, ABBA, Bruce Springsteen, Black Sabbath, the Sex Pistols, and the Ramones. After intense deliberation, the final four are locked in.Special thanks to Lou Adler for joining our Bands of the 70s episode.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rushmorepodcast.substack.com

Shaquille O'Neal & Reggie Miller Debate The Mount Rushmore of NBA Point Guards May 13, 2026

Show notes

Welcome to the Rushmore Podcast, where legends join Ari Emanuel and Ben Persky to debate the ultimate Mount Rushmore of any topic. Reggie Miller and Shaquille O'Neal, two Hall of Fame legends with four championship rings between them, sit down to settle the ultimate playground debate: who are the four greatest point guards of all time? Stephen Curry, Isiah Thomas, Allen Iverson, Kyrie Irving, John Stockton, Tony Parker, Jason "White Chocolate" Williams, and even Bob Cousy all enter the conversation. The arguments get heated, the criteria get tossed around, and Shaq even threatens to eat a Tide Pod. From championships to handles to cultural impact, this is a point guard battle for the ages. Four lists. One winner. Final Rushmore revealed.Special thanks to Reggie Miller and Shaquille O'Neal for joining our greatest point guards episode.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rushmorepodcast.substack.com

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