The Press Box

Latest Episodes:

The Cringey MSNBC Rebrand, Gavin Newsom’s Twitter Account, and the Death of the Longform Podcast Aug 19, 2025

Show notes

Hello, media consumers! Bryan and David discuss the end of summer and showing pop culture treasures from their youth to their children. Then they tackle the headlines, starting with the MSNBC rebrand (8:30), before talking about a Rolling Stone article about the death of the narrative podcast (26:28). Then in the notebook dump, they talk about what’s been going on with Gavin Newsom’s Twitter account (40:20), the UFC deal (46:49), sheep puns, and David guesses the strained pun headline of the week.

Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker
Producer: Isaiah Blakely
Additional Music: Epidemic Sound, Anna Landström, Anna Dager, and Hanna Ekström

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The Travis Kelce-Taylor Swift Show, Jimmy Pitaro’s ESPN, and the Worst Question Asked at the White House Aug 14, 2025

Show notes

Hello media consumers! It’s a Monday show on a Thursday! Bryan fills David in on his Connecticut hotdog tour earlier this week (0:16), before discussing Taylor Swift’s appearance on Travis and Jason Kelce’s ‘New Heights’ podcast, and a few thoughts on Monday’s Jimmy Pitaro interview (11:23). Then they run through the Overworked Twitter Joke of the Week, two new entries of Worst Question Ever Asked at the White House, rumors of Howard Stern and SirusXM parting ways, Oklahoma selling ‘postgame media access’ to fans, and loads more (38:20)!

Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker

Producer: Kyle Crichton

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25 for 25: Jimmy Pitaro on ESPN's NFL and WWE Deals, Pat McAfee, and the State of the Company in 2025 Aug 11, 2025

Show notes

Hello, media consumers! Bryan heads to the ESPN HQ in Bristol, Connecticut, to sit down with ESPN's chairman, Jimmy Pitaro. They discuss the highly anticipated launch of ESPN's direct-to-consumer app, the massive deals ESPN made with the NFL and WWE, hiring talent vs. developing talent, preparing for ESPN's first Super Bowl, the state of ESPN in 2025, and more.

Host: Bryan Curtis
Guest: Jimmy Pitaro
Producer: Kyle Crichton

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A Readout on ESPN’s Deals With the NFL and WWE. Plus: NBA Mouthpiece Summer and the New York Post Comes to L.A. Aug 07, 2025

Show notes

Hello, media consumers! Bryan and Joel start the show with J-School, discussing the new threats to the Voting Rights Act of 1965 as well as the ongoing Texas redistricting fight (01:43). Next, they dive into some headlines, starting with the deals made by ESPN this week. First, they go through all the details from the ESPN-NFL deal, including what properties ESPN acquired from the NFL, and they debate whether Donald Trump will try to interfere (13:40). After, they break down the WWE’s deal with ESPN, who acquired the rights to air all of WWE’s live premium events starting in 2026 (30:30). They then move on to how Shams Charania has affected the NBA media since Woj retired and LeBron James's dwindling power in the news cycle (35:27). Lastly, Bryan and Joel discuss the New York Post’s announcement that a sister publication will be coming out west (45:28).

Hosts: Bryan Curtis and Joel Anderson
Producer: Jessie Lopez

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Who Won the ESPN-NFL Deal? Plus, the WaPo Exodus Continues and a Report From SummerSlam Aug 04, 2025

Show notes

Hello, media consumers! Bryan and Davis recount their trip to Part 2 of SummerSlam last night (0:20) before tackling some headlines, including ESPN and NFL moving forward with their proposed blockbuster media deal, more heavy hitters leaving The Washington Post, and an upcoming Kamala Harris book (22:00). They also discuss Bryan's brief time in used-book heaven at the Brattle Book Shop in Boston, and offer a remembrance of his Uncle Rod (44:15).

Plus, the Overworked Twitter Joke of the Week and David Shoemaker Guesses the Strained-Pun Headline!

Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker
Producer: Kyle Crichton

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The Fall of Shannon Sharpe, the End of Sports and Late-Night TV, and the 2025 Media Diet With Bomani Jones Jul 31, 2025

Show notes

Hello, media consumers! Joel Anderson is joined by Bomani Jones to discuss a few media headlines, including ESPN's decision to part ways with Shannon Sharpe and the serious gambling allegations against Gilbert Arenas (4:09), before they look at the future (or lack thereof) of sports television, being a generalist vs. a specialist in 2025, the rise of "grifter content," and more (24:50). Finally, Joels closes the show with a lightning round of questions for Bomani (52:42).

Host: Joel Anderson
Guest: Bomani Jones
Producer: Kyle Crichton

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Hulk Hogan Vs. Gawker, Bill Belichick Fever, and the New Washington Post Exodus Jul 28, 2025

Show notes

Hello, media consumers! Bryan and David cover some headlines, including the approval of the Paramount-SkyDance merger, a discouraging new study about google searches and AI, Bill Belichick rapidly approaching his first game as a college head coach, the WaPo exodus (cont.), and more (9:45), Then, they discuss the wide-ranging obituaries of the late Hulk Hogan, "obit wars" whenever a complex figure passes away, and Hulk Hogan vs. Gawker in the early 2010s (27:15).

Plus, an addition to the "Only in Journalism" vocabulary list, and David Shoemaker Guesses the Strained Pun Headline

'The Mortal Hulk Hogan' by David Shoemaker

Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker
Producer: Kyle Crichton

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The ESPN-NFL Wedding, Hunter Biden Speaks, and Pat McAfee’s Apology Jul 24, 2025

Show notes

Hello, media consumers! Bryan and Joel start the show with J-School, reexamining Zach Baron's interview on profile writing, before discussing the news of Hulk Hogan's death at the age of 71 (1:03). Next, they run through some headlines, including the possible marriage of ESPN and the NFL, what exactly is going on regarding the Epstein files, and Hunter Biden's three-plus-hour-long interview with Channel 5's Andrew Callaghan (14:07). Finally, they discuss Pat McAfee's belated apology and Jon Stewart's reaction to Paramount dropping 'The Late Show' (53:21) before making some weekend recommendations.

Hosts: Bryan Curtis and Joel Anderson
Producer: Kyle Crichton

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Headline Catch-Up: Colbert Is Canceled, NPR and PBS Are Defunded and FS1's Barstool Shake-Up. Plus, 25 for 25: NYT's David Marchese on the Future of Interviewing Jul 21, 2025

Show notes

Hello, media consumers! Bryan and David discuss dueling theories on why Paramount decided to cancel 'The Late Show With Stephen Colbert,' NPR and PBS losing federal funding, The Wall Street Journal's Trump/Epstein scoop, and FS1's shake-up that leaves Joy Taylor out and 'Barstool Sports' in (8:42). Then, Bryan is joined by David Marchese of The New York Times to discuss his extensive history of interviewing, his preparation process, the future of the format, how podcasts changed his approach to conducting interviews, and stories from some of his favorite subjects, including Norm Macdonald, Nicolas Cage, and more (41:48). Finally, stick around for David Shoemaker Guesses the Strained Pun Headline (1:28:50).

Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker
Guest: David Marchese
Producer: Kyle Crichton

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25 for 25: The Future of Celebrity Profiles With GQ’s Zach Baron Jul 17, 2025

Show notes

Hello, media consumers! Bryan is joined by GQ’s Zach Baron to discuss every aspect of celebrity profiling: how they are “brokered”; the process of interviewing; some of his past subjects, including Martin Scorsese, Brendan Fraser, and Tilda Swinton; and more. Then Bryan asks the following question: “Is the celebrity profile dead or dying?”

Host: Bryan Curtis
Guest: Zach Baron
Producer: Kyle Crichton

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