29 Comments
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Joe's avatar

I loved the Glasspiegal ones.

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JW's avatar

I was thinking recently about how much I missed the "Callin" shows with Ryan. I think the two of them work much better in that more casual kind of environment.

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Jay Ratkowski's avatar

I wish I had someone who could give me feedback about my job the way Spike does about yours.

Ethan - If you haven’t, listen to a couple episodes of Decoder. Nilay does a 2-3 minute intro to the interview guest (it is 50% too long in cases of more notable people, but generally good). But the structure of the interview is usually good.

There are 3-5 questions that appear on every episode about company structure and growth plans. The rest is a mix of questions about things the host finds interesting and “tell me more about that” questions.

Point being, it’s built where like half the interview is off script.

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Chris Petiti's avatar

the podcasts with regular guests are definitely a fun listen. But please continue to to interview new/different guests as well! I find these to be the most fascinating; they provide me with new authors to read, intriguing ideas to ponder, and lingering questions to wrestle with.

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John Kane's avatar

Absolutely. I don't have the reticence that Spike gets when he sees Rogan with an unknown guest. When I download an episode of HOS, I have a lot of confidence that the conversation is going to be outstanding with just about anyone.

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Francis Fe's avatar

Agreed. My most enduring podcasts are the “interview an expert in an unusual field,” type, something like Conversations with Tyler. But I love the chemistry he has with the NBA Blog Boys. A mix, please.

It would be cool to know the guests in advance. I read the Sarah Hepola book because Ethan mentioned it offhandedly and it was tremendous, and now I am eager for the pod. Idk if the Book Group style works but I enjoy when I have the chance to familiarize myself with the work first.

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Francis Fe's avatar

And this episode was top tier, btw.

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PW's avatar

Two things can be true: yes, the Bucks season was a failure and both the question and Giannis' answer were awesome because it provided insight into his character and the way he views the game/life. It's immaterial as to whether Giannis was right or wrong and/or if you agree with him; it was good content which is all journalism should be judged on.

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PW's avatar

Just because 70% of the populace holds a certain view doesn't mean it's right or good.

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User's avatar
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Apr 28, 2023
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PW's avatar

The 70% thing is a common refrain from Ethan that I've heard him make multiple times. He's never explicitly said what he's referring to but, if I had to guess, I'd say it's an issue of civil rights and using the "majority rule" in regards to issues like that isn't how things like that should work.

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Ethan Strauss's avatar

A specific example is the Lia Thomas situation.

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PW's avatar

Yeah, that's what I figured...

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Andrew's avatar

I would assume 70/30 to lia Thomas situation, is 70% of the country don’t care or don’t even know who she is

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Apr 28, 2023
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PW's avatar

How do you think abolishing slavery, desegregating schools, or recognizing same-sex marriages would've gone had they been left up for the hoi polloi to vote on?

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Apr 28, 2023Edited
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PW's avatar

You're right... hindsight is doing a lot of work in my examples. I'd like to think I would've been on the right side of history in those instances but, based on the odds, there's a good chance I wouldn't have been. Life is tough and there are no right answers other than following your convictions/values while also being open to considering the other side.

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Spike Eskin's avatar

Would jump in here and say in a functioning society the 30% would eventually prevail by convincing enough people over time. It does not seem like we are capable because of the pressures people have on them to maintain their position publicly. The world is weird.

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Chris's avatar

Don't get the JJ hate when he's responding to bombastic SAS's opinions like Kawhi needing to be forced into retirement and the opining about playing through injuries.

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Joshua Pressman Jacobs's avatar

This was a fantastic Pod, Ethan!

Considering you had Spike on for feedback, if I could offer a gentle suggestion as well; When Spike asks "Can I continue with my next tangent" instead of interjecting with a long (not-funny...sorry) comment about why it's okay, just say "By all means!" or "Go right ahead!".

For the most part on this pod, y'all were cruising down the highway beautifully at 74 MPH in a 65 MPH zone, and there were maybe one or two obvious times you had an unforced error. Otherwise, it was EXCELLENT!

As for the JJ Reddick take!

If anything JJ is a smart dude. I do not think he is deliberately being the Heel on "First Take". But, I also think he is deliberately staking out a different POV to generate interesting discussion and debate. If that makes him a Heel, I don't think he gives an eff.

Also, JJ gets to escape his 'persona non-grata' of 1st take, and be an actual chill, engaged, highly curious human being on his super popular podcast. So, he has an outlet, where he doesn't' always have to be a dick. And besides, JJ was an "Uber-Villain" playing at Duke. Stephen A, ain't gotta rattle his cage, nor is any of the viewers/listeners who cast stones at him, either.

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Teutonia World's avatar

1. The return of Jurassic Park content!

2. It's pronounced Eric Name, he's an outstanding writer you should have my guy on.

3. Yes, obviously the Bucks season was a failure, it's one of the biggest failures in the history of sports and I'm still not ready to talk about it, Bucks Twitter remains in shambles but because our Unicorn Champion handled the presser so poorly we now have to pretend as if he's teaching us a valuable lesson about life.

4. Got a big smile out of the reference to my anti-Nick Wright post

5. Honestly, I don't think you should want to get any better as a podcaster. Your writing is very good and insightful and that's a medium where you can use precision to tackle tough and interesting topics. But when you are being loose and funny with Wos or whoever on a pod, that's a medium where you get to be likable and funny and self-deprecating.

For example: "Group Economics passes the ball to Freedom, alley oop to Love Us" is a hilarious aside in a funny pod with two guys you're comfortable with as everyone laughs and interrupts each other and changes the subject. This makes us like you, or at the very least enjoy the conversation.

Now imagine you doing the same bit by yourself in the professional Cowherd manner, or even the Clay Travis manner. All the same takes now seem scolding or racist or....dog whistley or...something.

Your strategy in my opinion should be: Pulitzer articles, loose stream of consciousness pods.

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Andrew's avatar

LeBron clearly better than MJ lol

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Daniel Harriman's avatar

I’m so glad I had the time to listen to this in full today - two smart guys talking about multiple subjects in which I’m interested...favorite quote: “the only people who say LeBron James is better than Michael Jordan either weren’t alive when Jordan played or are lying to you.” Thanks, Ethan.

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PW's avatar

I'm a Jordan guy but I think the best way to parse the two is that Jordan had the best peak and LeBron had the best career.

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Paul's avatar

You've taken his advice to podcast with regular guests (your friends/long-time professional contacts) instead of strangers. I think it's helping, curious to see what he recommends here.

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Jason's avatar

What were the pods with Glasspiegal if not ‘regular podcasts with a friend?’

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Paul's avatar

Yes, they were the first instance of Ethan doing those. Spike's advice was for him to do more of those with a cast of regulars, rather than random guests.

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Apr 28, 2023
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Joshua Pressman Jacobs's avatar

What's the story with this? Why hasn't he been on lately?

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Apr 28, 2023
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Ethan Strauss's avatar

Love it when my No. 1 Chef Subscriber comments. Hit me with the email.

I usually go with grilling it because it keeps the house cleaner, but I have a gas grill so the sear is whatever.

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Apr 28, 2023
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Michael Feng's avatar

Shannon Sharpe wanting to pouring honey on Lebron is a lot of appreciation 🚰

https://twitter.com/lakeshowyo/status/1652384780930125824?s=46&t=jSfBMoM2wdQ9HjUKH3arMA

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