Best American Masters | PBS Podcasts (2025)

1
The Cloudy Future of 'Inside the NBA,' Gavin Newsom Could Run for President Like Marshawn Lynch, and More Tortured Acronyms 58:17

Play Pause

19m ago58:17

58:17

Hello, media consumers! Bryan and David share some notes from Lee Corso's emotional 'College GameDay' sign-off and a new edition of "Manning face" (0:20), before they react to some sounds from the weekend in college football, including Florida State's upset win over Alabama and Bill Belichick and UNC's blowout loss to TCU. They also get into Charle…

1
Doris Burke's Demotion, a Massive College Football TV Preview, and Adam Friedland's Star Turn 1:07:14

6d ago1:07:14

1:07:14

Hello, media consumers! Bryan and Joel begin today’s show with J-School, talking about Cam Newton’s new expanded role at ESPN and some criticisms of the Cowboys documentary. Then they dive into the headlines, discussing Doris Burke’s demotion at ESPN (13:58), a mega college football TV preview (21:51), and much more. Hosts: Bryan Curtis and Joel An…

1
Ohio State and Barstool, the Great Film Critic Shortage, and the MS NOW Acronym Challenge. Plus: Michael M. Grynbaum on the Past and Future of Condé Nast. 1:25:52

8d ago1:25:52

1:25:52

Hello, media consumers! Bryan and David open up the show by talking about Rich Eisen’s return to the 'SportsCenter' desk. Then they discuss a report that Dave Portnoy was banned from Ohio Stadium (6:17) and talk about the state of local film critics (16:50). They also check in on their MS NOW challenge (31:28) and run through the Overworked Twitter…

1
How Natasha Rothwell’s Life Brought Her to “The White Lotus” 33:40

8d ago33:40

33:40

Actress Natasha Rothwell returns as Belinda in The White Lotus Season 3, a role that’s earned her two Emmy nominations and cemented her status as the show’s moral center. In this episode, Rothwell shares how she connects to Belinda’s journey of self-discovery and how she collaborated with creator Mike White to bring greater nuance to the character.…

1
The Legend of Lee Corso, the Man Who Created "GameDay," with ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit 1:04:01

9d ago1:04:01

1:04:01

Hello, media consumers! Ahead of Lee Corso's final appearance on College Gameday, Bryan and Joel briefly talk about the history of College Gameday and what has made Corso such a special figure for almost 40 years. Then, Bryan is joined by Kirk Herbstreit to talk about how he got on College Gameday, what his relationship with Corso has been like ove…

1
The Dallas Cowboys, the Netflix Doc, and Jerry Jones With Ed Werder 1:25:58

12d ago1:25:58

1:25:58

Hello, media consumers! Bryan and Joel start this Dallas Cowboys–centric show with their thoughts on Netflix’s ‘America’s Team’ documentary. They reminisce about the ’90s era of football and the media landscape then, discuss people’s affection for the Cowboys, and talk about why the documentary works. Next, Bryan and Joel welcome longtime reporter …

1
The Cringey MSNBC Rebrand, Gavin Newsom’s Twitter Account, and the Death of the Longform Podcast 1:05:56

15d ago1:05:56

1:05:56

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…

1
Daniel Dae Kim Leads Spy Drama and Fights for Industry Change 21:48

19d ago21:48

21:48

Actor Daniel Dae Kim is no stranger to breaking barriers. From his groundbreaking role on Lost, to his Tony-nominated turn in Yellow Face, Kim continues to affirm his title as one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people. With his new show, Butterfly, he steps into the spotlight as the leading man of a high-stakes international spy thriller. …

1
The Travis Kelce-Taylor Swift Show, Jimmy Pitaro’s ESPN, and the Worst Question Asked at the White House 57:12

20d ago57:12

57:12

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 …

1
25 for 25: Jimmy Pitaro on ESPN's NFL and WWE Deals, Pat McAfee, and the State of the Company in 2025 52:59

23d ago52:59

52:59

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 20…

1
A Readout on ESPN’s Deals With the NFL and WWE. Plus: NBA Mouthpiece Summer and the New York Post Comes to L.A. 57:06

27d ago57:06

57:06

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 …

1
Who Won the ESPN-NFL Deal? Plus, the WaPo Exodus Continues and a Report From SummerSlam 1:01:19

30d ago1:01:19

1:01:19

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 use…

1
The Fall of Shannon Sharpe, the End of Sports and Late-Night TV, and the 2025 Media Diet With Bomani Jones 1:03:41

1M ago1:03:41

1:03:41

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 …

1
Hulk Hogan Vs. Gawker, Bill Belichick Fever, and the New Washington Post Exodus 54:32

1M ago54:32

54:32

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 …

1
The ESPN-NFL Wedding, Hunter Biden Speaks, and Pat McAfee’s Apology 1:13:43

1M ago1:13:43

1:13:43

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 Hu…

1
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 1:33:29

1M ago1:33:29

1:33:29

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…

1
25 for 25: The Future of Celebrity Profiles With GQ’s Zach Baron 1:03:12

2M ago1:03:12

1:03:12

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: Br…

1
25 for 25: The Future of Physical Media With Sean Fennessey 1:00:31

2M ago1:00:31

1:00:31

Hello, media consumers! Bryan is joined by Sean Fennessey to discuss the future of owning physical media! (3:30) Magazines (17:55) Blu-Rays and DVDs (25:32) Books (34:47) Newspapers (50:11) CDs and vinyl Host: Bryan Curtis Guest: Sean Fennessey Producer: Kyle Crichton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices…

1
The Floods in Texas 43:05

2M ago43:05

43:05

Bryan and Joel discuss the Texas flash floods, how the story hits them as parents and Texans, the slow trickle of information, defensive posturing from Texas leadership, misinformation gaining traction online, and more. Host: Bryan Curtis and Joel Anderson Producer: Kyle Crichton Texas Deserves Far Better Than This by Joel Anderson Learn more about…

1
The Times’ Mamdani Story, David Foster Wallace Revisited, and Josh Dawsey on the 2024 Election 1:25:51

2M ago1:25:51

1:25:51

Hello media consumers! Bryan and David discuss the NYT's story on Zohran Mamdani and what the point was of running their "scoop" obtained in a hack of Columbia University records, new info on the Epstein files reports there are in fact no files, and new contenders for "Worst Question Ever Asked at the White House" (7:15), before revisiting David Fo…

1
Paramount Bends the Knee, the Great Gavin Newsom Debate, and the End of Netflix Announcer Sharing. Plus, Matthew Lee on Covering the Diddy Trial From the Southern District of New York Courthouse. 1:25:15

2M ago1:25:15

1:25:15

Hello, media consumers! Bryan and Joel present both sides of an argument around Gavin Newsom's lawsuit against Fox News (1:29), reporters live tweeting Wednesday night's congressional session, Netflix's NFL announcer problem, and Paramount becoming the latest media company to settle a lawsuit with Donald Trump (21:53). Next, Joel is joined by Matth…

1
Anna Wintour (Sort of) Leaves Vogue, the NYT's Top 100 Movies List, and the Bezos Nuptials 1:04:24

2M ago1:04:24

1:04:24

Hello, media consumers! Bryan and David reunite to discuss coverage of Jeff Bezos's wedding and The Washington Post's puzzling new feature (0:42), before they parse through reports about Anna Wintour (sort of) leaving her position at Vogue and the masterly, divisive NYT "100 Best Movies of the 21st Century" list (10:01). They also talk about Gavin …

1
Zohran’s New York Shocker, NBA Draft Audio, and What Is a "Hit Piece" in 2025? Plus, 25 for 25: Heather Cox Richardson on Trump and Iran. 1:28:26

2M ago1:28:26

1:28:26

Hello, media consumers! Bryan and Joel discuss some awkward NBA draft coverage, the NYC Democratic mayoral primary, and what constitutes a hit piece (10:57). Then, in another edition of 25 for 25, Bryan is joined by historian Heather Cox Richardson to talk about Donald Trump's fervent attempts at creating a narrative around the USA's air strikes on…

1
Phil Rosenthal’s Secret Recipe: Good Food and a Laugh 22:54

2M ago22:54

22:54

Writer, producer and host Phil Rosenthal makes television for the whole family. First, he created the Emmy Award-winning sitcom classic, Everybody Loves Raymond. Now he has taken his vision to food and travel with Somebody Feed Phil. Through his global travels - to places as close to home as Las Vegas, Nevada, and as far away as Sydney, Australia -…

1
Trump’s Iran Rollout, Game 7’s Injury TV, and Andrew Schulz vs. The New York Times 1:16:25

2M ago1:16:25

1:16:25

Hello, media consumers! Joel (in for David) and Bryan put a wrap on ESPN's presentation of the NBA Finals (0:41), before discussing the Trump administration's press tour after carrying out air strikes on Iranian nuclear sites (18:00), some puzzling New York City mayoral primary coverage, Andrew Schulz's thought-provoking conversation with the NYT a…

1
Tucker Carlson Vs. Ted Cruz, the Finals Goes 7, and the Media A-Team 1:26:55

2M ago1:26:55

1:26:55

Hello, media consumers! On this Friday edition of the show, Bryan helps Joel wrestle with a question: "Should I subscribe to The Washington Post if it is my local paper?" (1:41). They then tackle some headlines, including the ambiguity of the USA's involvement with the Israel–Iran War and Tucker Carlson's instantly viral interview with Ted Cruz (17…

1
Solidarity With Stephen A., The Washington Post’s Latest Reboot, and Gustavo Arellano on Covering the L.A. Protests 55:38

3M ago55:38

55:38

Hello, media consumers! Bryan and David discuss another Washington Post "reboot," this time for its opinion section (0:41). They go on to offer some low-hanging fruit for ESPN's lackluster NBA Finals coverage and discuss Stephen A. Smith, who was seen playing solitaire during Game 4; a noticeable shift in the norms of Washington, D.C., reporting; a…

1
L.A. Protests and the NBA’s Storytelling Problem. Plus: Logan Murdock on Gen Z Hoopers. 1:18:34

3M ago1:18:34

1:18:34

Hello, media consumers! Bryan and Joel tackle some leftover 'The Simpsons' vs. 'The Cosby Show' thoughts in today's J-School (0:47), before they are joined by Logan Murdock to discuss The Athletic's anonymous players survey, why the NBA keeps finding itself in the crosshairs of criticism, and ESPN's biggest mistake while broadcasting the Finals. Th…

1
Trump-Musk Fallout and ESPN's Finals Coverage. Plus: Alan Siegel on 'The Simpsons.' 1:06:23

3M ago1:06:23

1:06:23

Hello, media consumers! Bryan and David parse through the very public Donald Trump–Elon Musk breakup (0:41) before sharing some notes on Games 1 and 2 of the NBA Finals; Warner Bros. Discovery, which is splitting into two companies; ABC's Terry Moran's suspension; and a hefty edition of "sliding doors" metaphors (15:28). Finally, The Ringer's Alan …

1
Tunde Adebimpe Channels His DIY Roots Into Raw Solo Debut 37:28

3M ago37:28

37:28

TV on the Radio co-founder Tunde Adebimpe is a force of positivity. In the face of unimaginable loss, Adebimpe has channeled his grief into Thee Black Boltz, an upbeat, high-energy solo debut. You might know Tunde Adebimpe from TV on the Radio, the band whose era-defining hits like “Wolf Like Me” helped shape the 2000s New York indie scene. Or you’…

1
25 for 25: Noah Eagle. Plus, NBA Finals Notes, and WaPo Becomes HuffPo. 1:32:18

3M ago1:32:18

1:32:18

Hello, media consumers! Bryan and Joel discuss some NBA Finals thoughts, Oklahoma City as a host city, reports of Doris Burke's uncertain future in ESPN's broadcast booth, Cam'ron the journalist, and more (2:47). Then they discuss The Washington Post's puzzling new strategy and Pablo Torre's Bill Belichick–Jordon Hudson investigation (30:05). Then …

1
Farewell to the NBA On TNT. Plus: Mark Kriegel on Mike Tyson and the Future of Sports Biographies. 1:49:20

3M ago1:49:20

1:49:20

Hello media consumers! This week, Bryan and David discuss a bevy of “now they tell us” stories, some from the NBA and some from Washington (1:00), before coining a new segment called the “Pulled Punch Effect” (26:00). Then, they share a few more listener-submitted “sliding doors” metaphors (30:00), before Bryan is joined by Mark Kriegel to discuss …

1
The Democrats Are (Still) Looking for the Left’s Joe Rogan. Plus: Texas Barbecue Rankings! 59:47

3M ago59:47

59:47

Hello, media consumers! Bryan and Joel return on this Thursday edition of the podcast to discuss the Democrats’ deliberate investment in building a liberal infrastructure of influencers, podcasters, and new media (23:00). Then, they discuss the state of podcast interviews and whether or not listeners are making distinctions between the kinds of sho…

1
The Reign of the Three-Man Booth, Why ‘Mission: Impossible’ Is Getting a Pass, and More Sliding Doors Metaphors 52:50

3M ago52:50

52:50

Hello, media consumers! Bryan and David come to you on this Press Box Monday (Tuesday) edition with some thoughts on the NBA’s gradual acceptance of the three-man announcer booth (1:30), Elon Musk’s media blitz (13:00), the coverage and criticism of the latest installment in the ‘Mission: Impossible’ franchise (24:00), more sliding doors metaphors …

1
George C. Wolfe on Desperation and Desire in His “Gypsy” 25:43

3M ago25:43

25:43

For Tony-winning playwright and theater director George C. Wolfe, the “landscape of America is rich and complicated and messy.” He takes the greatest joy in putting that messiness on the Broadway stage. This time, he’s directing the Broadway revival of “Gypsy,” widely considered the best of the Golden Age musicals. Alongside the show’s lead actor A…

1
Tyrese Haliburton Goes Full Reggie Miller. Plus: A Final Farewell to ‘Around the Horn.’ 56:31

3M ago56:31

56:31

Hello, media consumers! Bryan and Joel are back on this Press Box Thursday Edition to discuss peak sports media beef (2:00), Reggie Miller’s unique perspective on the Eastern Conference finals and Tyrese Haliburton’s choke sign (17:00), and Draymond Green being added to ‘Inside the NBA’ for the ECF (23:00). Then, they discuss another wave of pieces…

1
How Sports Ate TV. Plus: Journalism’s Triumphant Return! 51:30

4M ago51:30

51:30

Hello, media consumers! On this Press Box Monday edition, Bryan and David discuss Journalism, the official horse of The Press Box, winning the Preakness (1:00) before discussing the end of TNT’s era of broadcasting the NBA and what they’ll miss most about it (6:00). Then, they discuss the career of legendary WWE announcer Jim Ross after learning ab…

1
The Tell-All Book Haunting Washington. Plus: Can Podcasts Become the New Magazines? 1:16:23

4M ago1:16:23

1:16:23

Hello, media consumers! This week, Bryan and Joel go to J-School to discuss the reactions to and coverage of the Jayson Tatum injury (1:00). Then, they digest the various news ripples that have come from excerpts of ‘Original Sin,’ Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson’s book about Joe Biden’s decision to run for reelection (10:00). Next, they react to a r…

1
An American Pope Media Frenzy, Jayson Tatum Take-a-Palooza, and the Reemergence of Joe Biden 59:41

4M ago59:41

59:41

Hello, media consumers! Bryan and David are back on this Monday edition to talk about the election of a new Pope and the media frenzy it spawned (1:00), the week of Jayson Tatum takes (8:00), NBC’s plans for the future of its basketball coverage, including Michael Jordan (17:00), and new media ventures being unable to come up with compelling names …

1
25 for 25: Brian Windhorst on the Future of NBA Reporting 1:18:54

4M ago1:18:54

1:18:54

Hello media consumers! This week, please enjoy a little J-School (1:00) before Bryan and Joel are joined by ESPN basketball reporter Brian Windhorst to talk about his path to ESPN and whether it’s replicable, the place good reporting has in our modern media ecosystem, the dreaded aggregators, Gregg Popovich stories, and what direction he sees the f…