Best Klosterman Podcasts (2025)

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An NBA Holiday Mailbag and the Jokic Scare With Rob Mahoney 1:28:49

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42m ago1:28:49

1:28:49

The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Rob Mahoney to discuss Jokic’s injury, the Clippers’ resurgence, and more before jumping into an NBA mailbag to answer some questions (3:15). Host: Bill Simmons Guest: Rob Mahoney Producers: Chia Hao Tat, Isaiah Blakely, and Eduardo Ocampo This episode is sponsored by State Farm®. Don’t settle for just any ins…

1
Michelle Buteau: An Achievable Beyonce 48:56

8m ago48:56

48:56

Michelle Buteau explains why she is the "achievable Beyonce" for government workers and how her history editing grim news footage at WNBC led her to a record-breaking comedy career. Her new special, A Beautiful Mind, marks her as the first woman of color to headline Radio City Music Hall—a feat she attributes to the same grit that carried her throu…

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T.J. Miller: You'll Do Better in Toledo 49:28

6m ago49:28

49:28

Actor and comedian T.J. Miller explains why a traumatic brain injury is his improvisational "cheat code"—and how a 2010 surgery for an arteriovenous malformation (AVM) in his right frontal lobe fueled a career of manic chaos. Miller discusses the "invisible disability" of brain surgery and the high-stakes gamble of a 10% fatality rate. Along the wa…

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A Crazy 49ers Win, Baltimore’s Alive, Week 18 Stakes, and Guess the Lines With Cousin Sal 1:51:59

2d ago1:51:59

1:51:59

The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal right after the 49ers take down the Bears on Sunday night to recap Week 17 of the NFL season (2:35). Then, they guess the lines for Week 18 before ending with Parent Corner (01:03:09). Host: Bill Simmons Guest: Cousin Sal Producers: Chia Hao Tat and Eduardo Ocampo Learn more at https://linkedin.com/…

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Sarah Silverman & Kyle Kinane: Comedy, Cancel Culture, and Conspiracies 36:16

4d ago36:16

36:16

Mike unlocks two interviews from the vault featuring comics who navigate the cultural minefield with very different styles. First, Sarah Silverman discusses her evolution from "arrogant ignoramus" character comedy to earnest podcasting, reflecting on her blackface controversy, her embrace of the "Bernie bro" label, and why she believes being wrong …

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Alex Edelman: "The Hardest Thing to Talk About in a Joke is Israel." 57:48

4d ago57:48

57:48

In this special holiday week episode, Mike sits down with comedian Alex Edelman, fresh off a Tony Award for his show Just For Us and a spot on the Time 100 list. They discuss the "liquid dynamics" of a Comedy Cellar audience, the art of bombing while testing new material, and why jokes about the Israel-Gaza conflict are the hardest tightrope in com…

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Roy Wood Jr.: "People Just Want to Feel Good." 1:02:19

5d ago1:02:19

1:02:19

In this special Christmas Day edition, Mike gives the gift of Roy Wood Jr., a comedian who embodies the "profundities in punchlines" ethos. Wood joins to discuss his CNN show Have I Got News for You, his upbringing as the son of a pioneering radio journalist, and the central thesis of his comedy: that in a fractured world, people prioritize dopamin…

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Django Gold: The Comedian Who Wants to Dim Your Shine 58:21

6d ago58:21

58:21

In a special Christmas Eve edition, Mike brings you a "gift" from the comedy vault: an interview with the brilliantly off-kilter Django Gold. A veteran of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and The Onion, Gold discusses his YouTube special Bag of Tricks and his commitment to playing a paranoid, morose character on stage—a persona he claims is "clos…

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Most Surprising NBA Player Leaps With Tim Legler, Plus NFL Holiday Picks With Joe House 2:13:33

8d ago2:13:33

2:13:33

The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Tim Legler to check in on teams around the NBA before discussing the players that are better than you think, how the Celtics are similar to last season's Pacers, and more (3:17). Then, Joe House joins to make their Ringer 107 picks for the week (01:37:03). Host: Bill Simmons Guests: Tim Legler and Joe House Pr…

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Thomas Chatterton Williams: Why the Summer of 2020 Wasn't Inevitable 39:31

1d ago39:31

39:31

Thomas Chatterton Williams joins to discuss his new book, The Summer of Our Discontent: The Age of Certainty and the Demise of Discourse. He argues that the racial reckoning of 2020 was not an inevitable tide of history but a perfect storm of pandemic isolation, polarizing politics, and institutional failure. TCW dissects how mainstream institution…

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Quico Toro: "Charlatans Burrow Into Your Life and Don't Leave." 36:32

8d ago36:32

36:32

Quico Toro joins to discuss Charlatans: How Grifters, Swindlers, and Hucksters Bamboozle the Media, the Markets, and the Masses, distinguishing the "parasitic" nature of the charlatan from the hit-and-run tactics of the scammer. He traces the lineage of the grift from the official alchemists of 16th-century Venice to the upsell tactics of Trump Uni…

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The Pats Grow Up, Nobody Believes in the Jags, the Bears are a Sports Movie, and Guess the Lines With Cousin Sal 1:43:17

9d ago1:43:17

1:43:17

The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal right after Drake Maye and the Patriots take down the Ravens to recap Week 16 of the NFL season (2:15). Then, they Guess the Lines for Week 17 and react to the Anthony Joshua vs. Jake Paul fight before ending with Parent Corner (58:31). Host: Bill Simmons Guest: Cousin Sal Producers: Chia Hao Tat an…

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Rob Reiner: "I Just Viewed My Child in Pain" 35:02

5d ago35:02

35:02

In light of the recent tragedy, Mike unlocks a 2016 interview with the late Rob Reiner. It is a conversation that now plays differently: Reiner discusses his film Being Charlie, which was written by his son Nick Reiner—the man now arrested in connection with his death. Mike reflects on the director's legacy, the eerie prescience of their discussion…

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Jay Jurden: High Profundities Per Minute 51:47

11d ago51:47

51:47

Comedian Jay Jurden explains why nine years of theater training is his "superpower" on the stand-up stage—and why he treats every punchline like a line of dialogue rather than a personal diary entry. His new special, Yes Ma'am, argues that physical specificity (from "rolling a wheelchair into affordable housing" to Marjorie Taylor Greene's hooves) …

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A Seahawks-Rams WTF Classic, an NBA Six-Pack, and Week 16 NFL Picks With Peter Schrager 1:23:58

12d ago1:23:58

1:23:58

The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Peter Schrager to react to the wild 'TNF' game between the Seahawks and Rams that went to OT before making their Ringer 107 picks for the week (2:00). Then, Bill cracks open a six-pack of buzz-worthy NBA topics including the Clippers, the Christmas matchups, and more! (58:14) Host: Bill Simmons Guest: Peter Sc…

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Nicholas Wright: When Ancient Brains Meet Modern War 41:30

13d ago41:30

41:30

Neuroscientist Nicholas Wright explains why big powers "lose" wars they dominate on the kill ratio—and why counterinsurgencies (Vietnam, Afghanistan, maybe Iraq) reliably punish the side with less at stake. His new book, Warhead: How the Brain Shapes War and War Shapes the Brain, argues that identity, surprise, and revenge are ancient brain feature…

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James Clyburn: "The World Would Much Rather See a Sermon Than Hear One." 42:29

13d ago42:29

42:29

Clyburn discusses The First Eight: A Personal History of the Pioneering Black Congressmen Who Shaped a Nation, explaining how Reconstruction-era Black lawmakers navigated power, compromise, and backlash—and why their choices still resonate. He reflects on faith as action, not rhetoric, and on history as a guide rather than a museum piece. Plus: Mar…

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A Knicks Title, "Whaddya Do?" NBA Teams, the QB Pyramid, and a CFB Playoff Primer With Zach Lowe and Todd McShay 1:51:59

14d ago1:51:59

1:51:59

The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Zach Lowe to react to the Knicks winning the NBA Cup against the Spurs (3:02). Then, they discuss the "Whaddya do?" NBA teams around the league (27:27). Finally, Todd McShay joins to break down Bill’s NFL QB pyramid before discussing the teams that need a QB in the draft and much more (01:04:54). Host: Bill Si…

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Mikhail Zygar: From Glasnost Whiplash to Social-Media Smog 41:26

15d ago41:26

41:26

Russian journalist in exile Mikhail Zygar traces an information system so sealed even Gorbachev couldn't get the facts in The Dark Side of the Earth: Russia's Short-Lived Victory Over Totalitarianism. He draws a straight psychological line from late-Soviet overload to our current tech-firehose, arguing humans don't change much; institutions do (and…

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Chris Dalla Riva: "Billboard's become a Christmas chart." 39:42

15d ago39:42

39:42

Data journalist Chris Dalla Riva brings charts, facts, and plenty of fight to Uncharted Territory: What Numbers Tell Us About the Biggest Hit Songs and Ourselves, a tour through every Billboard Hot 100 #1 and the strange incentives that pick our "popular." They debate whether streaming makes the charts more accurate or just more boring—why Christma…

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Oh No Mahomes, Burrow’s Funk, Old Man Rivers, Denver’s Hot Streak, and Guess the Lines With Cousin Sal 1:45:31

16d ago1:45:31

1:45:31

The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal right after the Vikings take down the Cowboys to recap an eventful Week 15 (6:40). Then, they guess the lines for Week 16 before ending with Parent Corner (01:07:56). Host: Bill Simmons Guest: Cousin Sal Producers: Chia Hao Tat and Jessie Lopez Michelob ULTRA Courtside could get you closer to the ga…

1
Finding the Next Terry Gross with Daniel Oppenheimer 40:22

18d ago40:22

40:22

In this special Saturday edition, Mike sits down with Daniel Oppenheimer of Eminent Americans to tackle a high-stakes question: Who is worthy of the Fresh Air throne? They dissect the craft of interviewing, critique the "unprepared celebrity" podcast trend, and evaluate potential successors ranging from Colin McEnroe to Jon Ronson. Produced by Core…

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Shadi Hamid: The Left Should Learn to Love American Power 42:52

19d ago42:52

42:52

Shadi Hamid joins to discuss his new book, The Case for American Power, arguing that progressives' retreat from global engagement is a mistake. He contends that while the Left often views U.S. hegemony as intrinsically immoral—citing the legacy of Iraq and the tragedy in Gaza—the alternative of withdrawal often leads to greater atrocities, such as …

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The Fall of the Chiefs (Maybe), SGA Superstar Tips, the Wildes-Greeny Feud, and Week 15 Picks 2:05:43

19d ago2:05:43

2:05:43

The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Nick Wright to discuss SGA’s greatness and whether anybody can stop OKC this season (2:56). Then, they talk about the struggling Chiefs, Lamar Jackson, and more! (37:39). Finally, Joe House joins to make their Ringer 107 picks for the week (01:20:22). Host: Bill Simmons Guests: Nick Wright and Joe House Produc…

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Not Even Mad: Anthony Weiner & John Ketcham 1:03:30

14d ago1:03:30

1:03:30

Anthony Weiner and John Ketcham break down a Congress being flayed by its own fringes, where the "crazies" sometimes deliver the sharpest institutional critiques. They then assess Pete Hegseth and the possible release video of a lethal Caribbean boat strike, the challenges reshaping New York politics, and what it really means to govern a city you o…

1
Holiday Suicides: Is That BS? with Sadie Dingfelder 27:42

15d ago27:42

27:42

Holiday dread is real enough—fraught family gatherings, forced merriment, and the persistent myth that December is the peak month for suicide. In truth, it's the lowest month for suicides, even as the season brings elevated risks of car crashes, cardiac emergencies, and alcohol-related ER visits. Sadie Dingfelder joins for an Is That Bulls**t? to e…

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Mark Rowlands on Memory and the Stories We Tell Ourselves 26:16

16d ago26:16

26:16

The philosopher discusses The Book of Memory: How We Become Who We Are, exploring how recollection constructs identity, coherence, and the personas we inhabit. He explains why memory is less an archive than an act of ongoing authorship, shaped by emotion, imagination, and the stories we rehearse. The conversation traces the boundary between what we…

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An NBA Power Poll, the Surprise Celtics, the Queen Conundrum, and Fake Trades Galore With Rob Mahoney 1:45:26

22d ago1:45:26

1:45:26

The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Rob Mahoney to discuss all the NBA teams in a power poll before talking about their favorite TV shows of the year (2:54). Host: Bill Simmons Guest: Rob Mahoney Producers: Chia Hao Tat and Eduardo Ocampo Get Gameday Deals all season long only on Uber Eats. Order Now. This episode is sponsored by State Farm®. Do…

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Daniel Zoughbie: The Mightiest Turns an Enemy into a Friend 34:27

23d ago34:27

34:27

Daniel Zoughbie discusses Kicking the Hornet's Nest: U.S. Foreign Policy in the Middle East from Truman to Trump, arguing that Truman's one-sided recognition of Israel and decades of U.S. overreliance on defense distorted the region's trajectory. He traces missed off-ramps from Oslo to the Olmert–Abbas talks, explaining why partition remains the on…

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The Chiefs Are Done, Pittsburgh Hates Us, Lamar Is Missing, Guess the Lines, and Some NBA Stuff With Cousin Sal 1:48:47

23d ago1:48:47

1:48:47

The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal right after the Texans take down the Chiefs to discuss the Chiefs’ slim playoff chances, and to recap Week 14 of the NFL season (3:34). Then, they guess the lines for Week 15 before ending with Parent Corner (57:36). Host: Bill Simmons Guest: Cousin Sal Producers: Chia Hao Tat and Eduardo Ocampo Mic…

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Mike Pesca on the Vig, the Fix, and the John Goodman Thumb 33:43

25d ago33:43

33:43

On this Saturday edition, Mike Pesca joins the cast of Nobody Listens to Paula Poundstone to explain the dopamine minefield of modern sports betting. He walks Paula and Adam Felber through the mechanics of the "vig," the absurdity of Cleveland pitchers throwing balls into the dirt to cover prop bets, and the time NBA legend Chauncey Billups unwitti…

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Funny You Should Mention: Mohanad Elshieky 1:03:08

20d ago1:03:08

1:03:08

Mohanad Elshieky joins Funny You Should Mention with stories that make Benghazi feel less like a political Rorschach test and more like the small town where he learned comedy by roasting his siblings and dodging unlicensed militias. He walks us through the dictatorship-era silence around politics, the sudden rise of ISIS-adjacent checkpoints, and t…

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An NBA Six-Pack, Netflix’s WBD Pursuit, NFL Picks, and John Cena Finally Stops By, With Joe House and Matt Belloni 3:27:58

26d ago3:27:58

3:27:58

The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Joe House to crack open a six-pack of NBA opinions before making their Ringer 107 picks (5:01). Then, Matt Belloni joins to talk about the impending Warner Bros. Discovery sale (01:08:26). Finally, John Cena joins the show to discuss his decision to walk away from WWE, getting his first drink with The Undertak…

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TJ Raphael on the Liberty Godparent Trap and the Cost of Coercion 37:17

27d ago37:17

37:17

TJ Raphael, host of the series Liberty Lost, joins Mike to investigate the "Liberty Godparent Home"—a facility on Liberty University's campus where pregnant teens were allegedly pressured into adoption under the guise of spiritual redemption—and discuss why the financial incentives of the "adoption industrial complex" often cause the promise of ope…

1
Rachel McCarthy James on Axe Murder, Salad Spinners, and the Hat-Brim Line 37:25

28d ago37:25

37:25

True crime historian Rachel McCarthy James joins to talk about Whack Job: A History of Axe Murder, tracing humanity's relationship between axe and skull, where questions about Axe-related word play are axed and answered. Then the show pivots to how algorithms elevate the most loathed spokespeople on every hot-button issue, from Riley Gaines to Jasm…

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Giannis Trade Advice, Duncan Vs. Kobe, Ohtani Vs. the Babe, the Frugal-ish Yankees, and Life After ‘First Take’ With Max Kellerman 2:36:36

29d ago2:36:36

2:36:36

The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Max Kellerman to talk about the struggling Clippers and Anthony Davis (3:20). Then, they give Giannis trade advice before discussing the topics Max just missed talking about (40:33). Finally, they talk about life after ‘First Take’, boxing, and much more! (01:51:13). Host: Bill Simmons Guest: Max Kellerman Pro…

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Daniel Brook & Brandy Schillace: The Sex Expert Who Scared Hitler 32:11

29d ago32:11

32:11

Daniel Brook and Brandy Schillace trace the life and legacy of Magnus Hirschfeld, the so-called "Einstein of Sex," from his pioneering Institute for Sexual Science to the Nazis parading his severed likeness at the 1933 book burning. They dig into the longer prehistory of Weimar queer politics and antisemitism, discussing how obsessions with masculi…

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Murdaugh Showrunner Michael D. Fuller: Power Metastasizes 42:01

30d ago42:01

42:01

Michael D. Fuller joins to talk about Hulu's Murdaugh: Death in the Family. The conversation digs into what scripted drama can do that true-crime podcasts and prosecutors can't, especially around messy motives and family dynamics that don't fit a neat trial narrative. Plus, an opening segment on Trump's "don't give up the ship" blowup, congressiona…