Table 1 Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Rivered for millions (on TV). Still shipping. Matt Affleck’s operating system. Aug 09, 2025

Show notes

In back-to-back years, Matt Affleck was chip leader deep in the WSOP Main Event.
In 2010, with 15 players left and ~40% of the chips in play, he got it in with aces vs. jacks against Jonathan Duhamel… and watched the river end his dream on ESPN.

The image of him walking out — water bottle flying, pain on his face — became one of poker’s most replayed clips.
This is the story before and after that moment.

🎮 From a $480K SCOOP win in college to a high school where seven classmates became million-dollar poker winners.
🃏 The truth about back-to-back Main Event deep runs — including the hand.
🌎 Life after ESPN heartbreak: live cash grinds, world travel, and becoming one of poker’s top coaches.

If you only know Matt Affleck from that river card, you don’t know the full story.

Show Notes

Matt’s Links

Email: AffleckCoaching@gmail.com
MattAffleck.com
PokerCoaching.com
@mcmattopoker

Table 1 Links

He Paid $200k In Vegas Tuition...Was It Worth It For Aaron Mermelstein? Aug 02, 2025

Show notes

The More Rake Is Better Giveaway at Phenom Poker: https://table1.vegas/rake
Play with us in Vegas at Table 1: https://table1.vegas

Aaron Mermelstein won a $50K online poker prize at age 15... and never saw a dollar of it.

In this week’s Table 1 Podcast, Merms opens up about everything — and we mean everything in a rare interview. From sneaking onto Party Poker as a teenager to going broke after discovering Vegas table games, it’s a rollercoaster of ambition, pain, and absurd poker highs and lows.

Show Notes:
00:00 Video Games To The Varkonyi Effect
03:18 Freeroll to Bankroll
07:10 Finding Table Games
11:57 Working vs Going Pro at Poker
19:12 The $100 Date
23:13 NY Poker Games & Backing Deals Gone Right
29:08 The Borgata WPT & Tourney Breaks
37:58 Post WPT Tourney Circuit
39:38 The Home Game Scene
44:34 Poker: The Great Equalizer
46:36 COVID & Game Running
49:45 Miami Life & The M Casino
48:42 Chip On The Shoulder High Roller
1:02:21 WSOP Main Event Run
1:10:38 Post Main Event & The Future!

Table 1 Links:
Play with Us In Vegas: https://table1.vegas
Play with us Online: https://play.phenompoker.com/register?r=Table1
Follow us on X: https://x.com/table1vegas
Follow us on Instagram: https://x.com/table1vegas
Watch us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@UCCXgQ2MnNidaOP-9PPTG6Sg
Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3fkMXT5gsZxgHuDBxUcY59

Art's Links:
Learn to Beat Slots (Seriously) at SlotMaps: https://slotmaps.com
Run your own poker game at PokerHQ.io: https://pokerhq.io
https://x.com/ArtParmann

Justin's Links:
https://x.com/justinyoung07

From Broke In The Bronx To High Roller Beast 🦍 Jesse Lonis Tells All! Jul 26, 2025

Show notes

The More Rake Is Better Giveaway: https://table1.vegas/rake
Play with us at Table 1: https://table1.vegas

Imagine this:

You’ve got $1,400 to your name. Twins on the way. You’re not a household name. And you’re trying to make it in the most brutal game on earth: tournament poker.

Most people fold. Jesse Lonis didn’t.

In this episode of the Table 1 Podcast, Jesse drops a heater of a story. It's got all the hits:

🧓 Poker tips from Grandma
🏀 Streetball mindset from the Bronx
💔 Getting kicked out of college
💰 Turning $1,400 into $250K when everything was on the line
🍼 Becoming a dad of twins and leveling up instantly

Oh — and $21M in live earnings later, he’s still real, raw, and building his brand without faking a damn thing.

This episode is grit + heart + humor in podcast form. You’ll walk away inspired, entertained, and probably Googling “Vanilla Gorilla Poker” just to see him in action.

👇 Hit play. You won’t regret it.

Show Notes

0:00 – Poker Needs More Characters
5:00 – Upbringing: From Alaska to Upstate NY
10:00 – Basketball in the Bronx, Getting Jumped in College
15:00 – Turning Stone Poker Loop
20:00 – Limit Hold'em Rescue Mission
25:00 – First Tournament Spark
30:00 – $1,400 to $250K with Twins on the Way
35:00 – WSOP Breakout Year
40:00 – First High Roller, First Backer
45:00 – $1.6M Makeup, $5M Heater
50:00 – Crushing Live Poker with Intuition
55:00 – Social Media Strategy & Brand Building
1:00:00 – GPI POY, Travel, & Family Balance
1:05:00 – Managing Variance with a Backer
1:10:00 – WSOP High Roller Swings
1:15:00 – Dangerous at 25/50 PLO Online
1:20:00 – Building a Brand Without Being Fake
1:25:00 – Family Life, Future Plans & Closing Thoughts

Jesse's Links:
https://x.com/JesseLonis
https://www.instagram.com/jesselonis
https://www.youtube.com/@JesseLonis

Table 1 Links:
https://table1.vegas
https://x.com/table1vegas
https://instagram.com/table1vegas

The Main Event: After The Final Hand. WSOP Summer Recap From Table 1. 6-Figure Scores & Deep Runs! Jul 13, 2025

Show notes

WSOP is over, but that doesn't mean the action stops at Table 1! Catch up with Art, Justin and get to know our special guests Paul Gunness & Jason Zipfel to talk about High Stakes Summer, our summer vlog. Haven't seen it? Watch it here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZdHHoUOK4gscENtoJO11AWuNyH1ElUe8&si=_B8J5B2tE7RoPL71Want to play online with Justin & Art? Find us on Phenom Poker. Use our link and you could win $100. Plus sometimes we do random giveaways to people we've referred. Sign up here: https://play.phenompoker.com/register?r=Table1Got the taste for high stakes? Play with us at Table 1! ➡️ https://table1.vegasFollow Paul: https://x.com/mrpaulgunnesshttps://www.instagram.com/mr.paulgunnessFollow Jason:https://www.instagram.com/jason_zipfe1Follow Art:https://x.com/artparmannFollow Justin:https://x.com/JustinYoung07Table 1 Links:https://table1.vegashttps://x.com/table1vegashttps://instagram.com/table1vegas

He Won $8M Playing Poker. Then Things Got Interesting. Greg Merson Tells All. Jun 28, 2025

Show notes

This isn’t just a poker story. It’s about second chances, addiction and recovery, underground private games, running a secret sports betting syndicate, and how Greg reinvented himself (and his obsession) into a growing sports card empire: Savage Breakers Club.

▶️ Topics Include:

Early poker days and the Full Tilt era
How he played 2 million hands of $1/$2 for Supernova Elite
Struggles with addiction and getting sober at Aria
The truth behind his 2012 WSOP heater
Why private games dried up after his win
Running a 45-person sports betting operation
Launching a booming live-streaming card break business
Why he drinks almond milk on stream (yes, really)

👀 Whether you’re a poker player, entrepreneur, or just love comeback stories — this is one you won’t forget.

Show Notes:

0:00 – The Milkman enters
3:30 – The “Glory Days” of online poker
7:15 – Building a bankroll with 2 million hands of $1/$2
10:00 – Dropping out, getting sober, and climbing back
14:50 – Blackout nights, Bobby’s Room, and rock bottom
20:05 – Getting clean (again) and making a run at WSOP 2012
24:44 – Winning the Main Event… 7 months sober
28:10 – Private games and why success can lock you out
34:50 – Running a secret 45-person sports betting syndicate
40:20 – From poker to pack breaks: building Savage Breakers Club
48:00 – The origin of “The Milkman” nickname
51:30 – What poker taught him about business
56:00 – Is the Main Event win still paying off?
59:10 – Advice to young grinders (and card flippers)

Greg's Links:
Follow Savage Breakers Club: https://www.whatnot.com/s/ZGMOx9Cr

Table 1's Links:

Play in Vegas with us: https://table1.vegas
Play online with us: https://joinphenompoker.com
Follow us on:
- X: https://x.com/table1vegas
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/table1vegas
- YouTube: https://youtube.com/@Table1vegas

From Hollywood to High Stakes. The Wild Life of Matt Salsberg Jun 21, 2025

Show notes

Episode 83 - Matt Salsberg🎬 From Hit TV Shows to High Stakes Poker: The Story of 2012 WPT Player of the Year Matt Salsberg

Play with us on Phenom Poker: https://play.phenompoker.com/register?r=Table1

Play with us at Table 1: https://table1.vegas

Matt Salsberg isn’t your typical poker pro.

He wrote on Weeds. Sold scripts to Showtime, HBO, Amazon. Created a sitcom with Lee Majors. But just as it was about to take off… Hollywood did what Hollywood does.

Then came cancer. Then came the comeback.

This episode is a masterclass in storytelling, reinvention, and chasing edge — from scriptwriting rooms to final tables. Matt shares how he went from ghostwriting for Curb Your Enthusiasm to battling colon cancer and finishing 70th in the Main Event — all while pitching shows that networks weren’t ready for (but should’ve been).

🧠 If you’re into storytelling, poker, Hollywood drama, or what it means to take a shot when everything’s stacked against you… you’ll love this one.

Show Notes:

00:00 🎬 Intro & First Impressions
02:00 🃏 Hollywood Meets Poker
10:00 🧠 A Life of Obsession
20:00 ✍️ Breaking Into TV
30:00 📺 The One That Got Away
45:00 ♠️ The Poker Arc Begins
55:00 💔 Dreams, Rejection & Redemption
1:10:00 🩺 Cancer, Chaos & Survival
1:30:00 🔁 Coming Back to Life
1:45:00 🎯 The Final Chapter (For Now)

Follow Matt:

https://x.com/msalsberg

Follow Table 1:

https://x.com/table1vegas
https://instagram.com/table1vegas
https://table1.vegas
https://youtube.com/@table1vegas

Follow Justin:

https://x.com/justinyoung07

Follow Art:

https://x.com/artparmann

Steve Zolotow On A Life Of Poker, Gambling & Battles With The Government Jun 15, 2025

Show notes

It's hard enough to survive in the gambling world. But to survive for as many decades as Steve has is nothing short of incredible. He's seen it all. From Stu Unger beating his local gin club up at 13 years old.There's no way we got to all of the stories but we sure hit the highlight reel. Enjoy Episode 82 - Steve Zolotow (The Bald Eagle)------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Like poker?Play with us online at Phenom Poker: https://joinphenompoker.comOr play with us in person at Table 1: https://table1.vegasSubscribe to the Table 1 newsletter. High Stakes Vegas. In Your Inbox. Https://Table1.beehiiv.com------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------📌 Timestamps: (Coming soon. Sorry it's WSOP and we're slow.)

Surviving Poker's Brutal Swings: Chris Brewer's High-Stakes Reality Jun 07, 2025

Show notes

In this special episode of Table One Podcast, Chris Brewer joins hosts Justin Young and Art Parmann to share his incredible journey from elite collegiate runner to high-stakes poker champion. Chris provides fascinating insights into the mental game of poker, revealing the highs and lows of competing at the top levels, including dealing with brutal downswings and capturing WSOP glory.

From hilarious anecdotes at Commerce Casino to strategic breakdowns of his WSOP bracelet wins, Chris offers a unique glimpse into the thrilling world of high-stakes poker.

📌 Timestamps:

0:20 – Intro & Chris Brewer's WSOP draft picks
3:59 – Transition from elite running to poker
8:12 – Early days in poker and college home games
15:37 – Moving up stakes and struggles at Oceans 11
20:05 – Importance of friendships in poker
22:17 – High-stakes games at Commerce Casino
29:04 – Funniest low-stakes poker story
31:27 – Massive upswing and "Live at the Bike"
37:43 – High-stakes tournament swings and staking dynamics
47:47 – Emotional challenges of high-stakes poker
53:03 – Financial insights and relationships with backers
1:00:05 – Winning the WSOP $250k High Roller bracelet
1:11:28 – Winning the WSOP 10k Single Draw bracelet unexpectedly
1:14:46 – Plans for upcoming WSOP season
1:17:00 – Chris Brewer's involvement with Poker Coaching

♠️ Like poker?
Play with us online at Phenom Poker

Or play with us in person at Table 1
Subscribe to the Table 1 newsletter. High Stakes Vegas. In Your Inbox.
https://table1.beehiiv.com

The Most Painful Golf Bet Ever: Ben Lamb's $67,000 Hole-in-One, WSOP Main Event FTs & So Much More. May 31, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of the Table One Podcast, legendary poker pro Ben Lamb joins Justin Young and Art Parman to reveal some of his wildest gambling stories. From a seemingly innocent flip that netted him $50,000 betting only $100 at a time, to accidentally mixing a $25,000 bottle of Macallan with Coke, Ben holds nothing back. Plus, relive the epic story of the $67,000 hole-in-one golf bet that left everyone stunned.Episode 80: Ben LambJoin us for a fun, casual, and insightful conversation that captures the high-stakes thrills and hilarious mishaps from one of poker's best.Don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell for more episodes!#Poker #BenLamb #HighStakes #TableOnePodcast------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Like poker?Play with us online at Phenom Poker: https://joinphenompoker.comOr play with us in person at Table 1: https://table1.vegasSubscribe to the Table 1 newsletter. High Stakes Vegas. In Your Inbox. Https://Table1.beehiiv.com------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Ben's Links: https://Yeet.comhttps://x.com/BenbaLamb------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Subscribe for more behind-the-scenes stories from the biggest names in poker and gambling.New episodes every week from Table 1 Podcasthttps://table1.vegasFollow us on Instagram: Instagram.com/table1vegasFollow us on Twitter: x.com/table1vegas#BenLamb #WSOP #PokerLegends #HighStakesPoker #Table1Podcast #GamblingStories

The Poker Legend Who Vanished: Huck Seed’s Wild Life After Winning It All. Is He Back??? May 24, 2025

Show notes

🎙️ What happened to Huck Seed?

After winning the 1996 WSOP Main Event and locking up millions, Huck Seed became a poker legend… and then seemingly disappeared.

In this episode of the Table 1 Podcast, we sit down with the man himself to unpack the insane highs, brutal lows, and prop bets that defined his life after winning it all.