The Press Box

Latest Episodes:

The Trump Dump Theory of News, Stephen A. for President, and an ‘Only in Journalism’ All-Timer Feb 25, 2025

Show notes

Hello, media consumers! Bryan and David kick off the week by discussing the massive amount of news coming from Donald Trump and how people outside of news are trying to process it (0:30).

Then they discuss the following topics this week:

Stephen A. Smith’s odds to be president (12:23)

The AP getting banned for not using the term ‘Gulf of America’ (32:38)

A new press box rule clarification (42:27)

Remembering Dimitri Sotis (44:16)

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

Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker

Producer: Brian H. Waters

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'25 for 25': Nick Wright on the Future of Sports Debate Feb 18, 2025

Show notes

Hello, media consumers! Bryan and Joel kick off their new podcast series, '25 for 25'. They welcome Fox Sports 1’s Nick Wright, and he discusses the following:

His thoughts as the Chiefs were losing the Super Bowl (5:25)
Why the Chiefs are the villains (12:56)
Why he decided to start his career in sports radio (20:00)
The biggest difference between TV and radio (40:00)
Linear television vs. streaming (1:01:10)
Quick takes on current TV hosts (1:09:34)

Hosts: Bryan Curtis and Joel Anderson

Guest: Nick Wright

Producer: Brian H. Waters

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Trump Presses the Press, Luka Doncic and the Fans, and Introducing ‘25 for 25’ Feb 13, 2025

Show notes

Hello, media consumers! Bryan and Joel kick off the show with this week’s class in J-School. Joel discusses Bryan’s appearance on ‘The Bill Simmons Podcast’ in which they talked about whether or not Patrick Mahomes will reach another Super Bowl (1:26). Then he gets into the Jalen Hurts media tour that Hurts himself appears disinterested in, John Rocker vs. Patrick Mahomes Sr., and Kendrick Lamar’s performance. (7:49). Then they go over the following headlines:

Donald Trump’s full court press on the media (20:18)
Luka Doncic’s fans are still upset (45:48)
Jeffrey Toobin joins the New York Times (59:01)
Journalism advice from a basketball coach (1:00:35)

They conclude the show by introducing a new bonus podcast series called ‘25 for 25’ (1:04:35).

Hosts: Bryan Curtis and Joel Anderson

Producer: Brian H. Waters

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The Best Super Bowl Review in the Business, the Trump-Politico Gambit, and the Death of the Book Blurb Feb 10, 2025

Show notes

Hello, media consumers! Bryan and David are here to review the Super Bowl, where the Eagles dethroned the mighty Chiefs. The best review features the following:

The amount of money Fox spent (0:40)
Tom Brady’s best game of the year (13:32)
Kevin Burkhardt’s grade after his second Super Bowl (28:28)
Fox’s broadcast production magic (33:04)
The pivot of the game (35:40)

Later, in the Notebook Dump, they discuss the following:

Donald Trump is canceling his subscriptions to Politico Pro (45:15)
Hubie Brown’s final sign-off (48:25)
The death of the book blurb (50:12)

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

Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker

Producer: Brian H. Waters

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Super Bowl Stories From New Orleans, a Farewell to Hubie Brown, and Eagles Talk With CNN’s Kasie Hunt Feb 07, 2025

Show notes

Hello, media consumers! Bryan and Joel kick off the show with this week’s class in J-School. Joel discusses some of the highlights from Bryan’s interview with Chris Berman (1:45). Then Bryan shares some of the best stories from radio row (15:59). Then they get into some more headlines, including:

Donald Trump being the first sitting president to attend the Super Bowl (25:20)
The Dallas fan base's feelings after Luka Doncic was traded to the Lakers (29:25)
Hubie Brown’s farewell tour (39:40)
Stephen A. Smith’s potential presidential bid (59:08)

And as they get ready for Sunday’s big game, they welcome CNN anchor and Eagles superfan Kasie Hunt, who discusses her excitement for Super Bowl LIX. She discusses the following about her fandom:

Her worst experience as an Eagles fan (1:03:32)
The secret society of Eagles fans in Washington (1:08:23)
Rapid-fire questions, including her favorite Eagles player, who she considers to be their biggest rival, and more (16:48)

Hosts: Bryan Curtis and Joel Anderson

Guest: Kasie Hunt

Producer: Brian H. Waters

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Chris Berman on Covering Super Bowls, ESPN’s Three Eras, and the Origin Story of ‘NFL Primetime’ Feb 06, 2025

Show notes

Hello, media consumers! Bryan has a special bonus episode for you. He caught up with one of ESPN’s originals, Chris Berman, in New Orleans. They sit down and discuss the following:

What Chris Berman’s Super Bowl week is like (2:12)
When ESPN asked him to stop using nicknames (14:34)
The original idea for ‘NFL Primetime’ (23:33)
Turning down NBC (36:14)
The three eras of ESPN (53:08)

And then Bryan closes out the show with a fun lightning round where Berman talks about his favorite anchors to work with, getting a Super Bowl ring from the San Francisco 49ers, what he would have done if he wasn’t a sports anchor, and more (58:27).

Host: Bryan Curtis

Guest: Chris Berman

Producer: Brian H. Waters

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The WTF Luka Scoop, Super Bowl Scenes From New Orleans, and Trump’s Pentagon Switcheroo Feb 03, 2025

Show notes

Hello, media consumers! Bryan and David kick off the week by discussing the chaos surrounding the reporting on the blockbuster trade involving the Dallas Mavericks' decision to send Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis (0:30). Then Bryan, who is in New Orleans, shares the current temperature of radio row (19:16).

Later, in the Notebook Dump, they discuss the following:

Reports that Chuck Todd is leaving NBC (38:30)
The new media switcheroo (42:16)

In the Hall of Departed Journalists, they reflect on the life of Jules Feiffer (48:55). Plus, Bryan shares an update on his movie career (0:00).Finally, the Overworked Twitter Joke of the Week and David Shoemaker Guesses the Strained-Pun Headline.

Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker

Producers: Brian H. Waters and Carlos Chiriboga

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New Media Invades the White House, Chiefs Conspiracy Theories, and When Ex-Quarterbacks Attack Jan 30, 2025

Show notes

Hello, media consumers! Bryan and Joel fire up the mics to close out the week here at The Press Box. Joel takes you to “J-School,” where he discusses Donald Trump’s first press briefing since returning to the White House, the tragic plane crash in Washington, and giving props to The New Yorker, and he revisits an interview he had with the late Cedric Benson (1:53).

Then they get into the following headlines:

The White House embracing new media (14:45)
Whether the Chiefs really are the villains (23:00)
Ryan Fitzpatrick with an edition of ‘when ex-quarterbacks attack’ (37:25)
Paul Krugman’s exit from The New York Times (47:037)
Nick Saban on the media (59:24)

Hosts: Bryan Curtis and Joel Anderson

Producer: Brian H. Waters

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The CBS Disaster and NFL Sound, The New Yorker Turns 100, and More Tales of Journalistic Failure Jan 27, 2025

Show notes

Hello, media consumers! Bryan and David kick off the week by discussing The New Yorker turning 100 and what it has been throughout time (0:00). Then they get into the sounds of the NFL playoffs:

Strangest moment from the Eagles-Commanders … from the referee (32:00)
Tom Brady on his future in the broadcast booth (40:34)
The CBS disaster with the phantom flag in the Bills-Chiefs game (44:12)

Then in the Notebook Dump they follow up Thursday’s episode of how failed profiles came apart with a couple of stories from listeners (50:32).

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

Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker

Producer: Brian H. Waters

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White House Media Wellness Check, the New NBA Announcers, and a Report From the Press Box in Atlanta Jan 23, 2025

Show notes

Hello, media consumers! Bryan opens the show to share some notes from the press box of the national championship game with David (1:01). Then, they discuss notes and sounds from the game, including Donald Trump’s message at halftime and Kirk Herbstreit’s emotional reaction to his Ohio State Buckeyes winning it all (11:30). Later, they get into what journalists are facing covering Donald Trump's second presidency (23:21) and the new NBA announcers for NBC and Amazon (37:35).Then, in the Notebook Dump, they discuss the appetite for profiles and movies that were never published (44:11).In the hall of departed journalists, they reflect on the life of Jules Feiffer (48:55).

And Bryan shares an update on his movie career .Plus, the Overworked Twitter Joke of the Week and David Shoemaker Guesses the Strained-Pun Headline.

Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker

Producer: Brian H. Waters

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