The Press Box

2,904
Sports #115

The Ringer’s Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker catch you up on the biggest media stories, from sports to politics and everything in between. 

Recent Episodes
  • Sports Media’s Familial Obsession, a Fascinating John Fetterman Profile, and Cold-Calling the President
    May 5, 2025 – 01:28:24
  • The Bill Belichick Interview Heard Round the World, Plus: Mike Tirico on a Horse Named "Journalism"
    May 1, 2025 – 01:22:14
  • A Deluge of Shedeur Sanders NFL Draft Takes. Plus: Kara Voght on the Embattled White House Correspondents' Dinner.
    Apr 28, 2025 – 01:08:17
  • How the Shannon Sharpe Lawsuit Is Being Covered. Plus, the NFL Draft Media Economy.
    Apr 24, 2025 – 01:06:24
  • 25 for 25: Chris Ryan on the Birth, Death, and Rebirth of Blogging
    Apr 21, 2025 – 52:51
  • Lee Corso’s Legendary 'College GameDay' Run. Plus: The White House's Attack on the Associated Press.
    Apr 17, 2025 – 01:01:00
  • Rory McIlroy’s Long-Awaited Masters Win, the Barstool Apology Tour, and the Nico Iamaleava Saga
    Apr 14, 2025 – 56:49
  • 25 for 25: The New York Times’ Jamelle Bouie on the Future of the Opinion Columnist
    Apr 10, 2025 – 01:27:20
  • Catching up on the Atlantic Mega-Scoop and Stephen A. vs. LeBron. Plus: Bryan’s Southwest Travelogue.
    Apr 7, 2025 – 01:06:45
  • Josh Levin and Stefan Fatsis on Launching the Sports Gabfest, the Benefit of Mutually Reinforcing Weirdo Tendencies, and Why They Hate the Hall of Fame
    Apr 3, 2025 – 01:33:52
  • 25 for 25 Industry in Memoriam: Remembering the Publications Lost in the 21st Century
    Mar 31, 2025 – 02:00:45
  • Van Lathan on What Makes a Good Political Pundit, How TMZ Shaped Him and His Career, and a Very Special Request for Hillary Clinton and His Mom.
    Mar 27, 2025 – 01:34:25
  • Graydon Carter on ‘Vanity Fair,’ ‘Spy,’ and the Glorious Excess of the Magazine Era
    Mar 24, 2025 – 52:25
  • A Contentious White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner, Jackie Robinson and the Defense Department, and a Buyout Bloodbath in Chicago
    Mar 20, 2025 – 01:16:17
  • John Feinstein and March Madness, News From The New Yorker, and Gutting the Voice of America
    Mar 17, 2025 – 52:13
  • The Horrors of NFL Free Agency, Michelle Obama and Gavin Newsom Pivot to Podcasts, and Remembering John Feinstein
    Mar 13, 2025 – 01:12:11
  • Four NBA Media Meltdowns, Oscar Season for Democrats, and a Great Editor’s ‘Only in Journalism’
    Mar 10, 2025 – 01:03:18
  • The Curious Case of Shedeur Sanders, the L.A. Times’ Broken Bias Meter, and Farewell to ‘Around the Horn’
    Mar 7, 2025 – 01:20:15
  • Conan and the Oscars, Trump and Zelensky, and More WaPo-Bezos Fallout
    Mar 3, 2025 – 01:11:43
  • Jeff Bezos Vs. The Washington Post, When NFL Insiders Attack, and the Remaking of MSNBC
    Feb 27, 2025 – 01:21:21
  • The Trump Dump Theory of News, Stephen A. for President, and an ‘Only in Journalism’ All-Timer
    Feb 25, 2025 – 58:33
  • '25 for 25': Nick Wright on the Future of Sports Debate
    Feb 18, 2025 – 01:26:45
  • Trump Presses the Press, Luka Doncic and the Fans, and Introducing ‘25 for 25’
    Feb 13, 2025 – 01:14:17
  • The Best Super Bowl Review in the Business, the Trump-Politico Gambit, and the Death of the Book Blurb
    Feb 10, 2025 – 01:06:01
  • Super Bowl Stories From New Orleans, a Farewell to Hubie Brown, and Eagles Talk With CNN’s Kasie Hunt
    Feb 7, 2025 – 01:29:04
  • Chris Berman on Covering Super Bowls, ESPN’s Three Eras, and the Origin Story of ‘NFL Primetime’
    Feb 6, 2025 – 01:12:18
  • The WTF Luka Scoop, Super Bowl Scenes From New Orleans, and Trump’s Pentagon Switcheroo
    Feb 3, 2025 – 53:57
  • New Media Invades the White House, Chiefs Conspiracy Theories, and When Ex-Quarterbacks Attack
    Jan 30, 2025 – 01:13:00
  • The CBS Disaster and NFL Sound, The New Yorker Turns 100, and More Tales of Journalistic Failure
    Jan 27, 2025 – 01:02:29
  • White House Media Wellness Check, the New NBA Announcers, and a Report From the Press Box in Atlanta
    Jan 23, 2025 – 01:04:53
  • NFL Playoff Sound, Trump’s Inauguration, and Covering the National Title Game in Atlanta
    Jan 20, 2025 – 01:07:44
  • ESPN's Rece Davis on Year One of the College Football Playoff, Lobbying the Committee on TV, and the True Story of LANK
    Jan 19, 2025 – 54:55
  • The Cowboys Coaching Content Machine, More on Big Cat, and Zuck’s Inauguration Plan
    Jan 16, 2025 – 01:14:28
  • More Notes on the L.A. Fires, the Tom Brady One-and-Done Theory, and Sounds From the NFL Playoffs
    Jan 13, 2025 – 01:00:24
  • Night of the L.A. Fires, The Washington Post Vs. The Atlantic, and How to Cover Trump: Part 2
    Jan 9, 2025 – 01:03:45
  • The Washington Post Blues, the FS1 Lawsuit, and a Ringside Report From 'Raw' on Netflix
    Jan 7, 2025 – 52:17
  • Paul Levesque on WWE’s Netflix Debut, How Streaming Will Change Wrestling, and the End of the 10:59 Problem
    Jan 6, 2025 – 56:46
  • ESPN Does Journalism (of a Sort), Last Year’s Media Screw-Ups, and a Report From the Rose Bowl Press Box
    Jan 2, 2025 – 01:02:45
  • ESPN's College Football War, the Year of the Media Bro, and One Last Jolabokaflod Gift
    Dec 30, 2024 – 01:11:33
  • Netflix Comes for the NFL, the Argument About the College Football Playoff, and a Very Merry Jolabokaflod
    Dec 23, 2024 – 58:25
  • The Year in ESPN, the Washington Post's Editor Search, and the NBA Ratings Puzzle
    Dec 19, 2024 – 01:09:39
  • The Media Makes Amends With Donald Trump, NFL Audio, and an Icelandic Christmas Tradition
    Dec 16, 2024 – 48:57
  • Covering the NYC Suspect, Bill Belichick’s TV Rehab Flopped, and the New Woj Bomb
    Dec 12, 2024 – 01:14:59
  • Pete Hegseth's Trial by TV, Why College Football Wasn't Ruined, and the Story That Inspired ‘National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation’
    Dec 9, 2024 – 01:01:27
  • Joel’s Opening Thoughts, College Football’s Playoff Endgame, and a New Theory About Trump’s Media Advantage
    Dec 6, 2024 – 01:08:05
  • Kamala Harris’s Campaign Has No Regrets, How We Consume News Now, and a Report From the Cowboys-Giants Game
    Dec 2, 2024 – 01:02:15
  • Interviewing O.J., Covering the Olympic Bombing, and Hosting 'SportsCenter' in Its Golden Age With Fox's Chris Myers
    Nov 27, 2024 – 59:29
  • Cormac McCarthy’s Muse, How to Trick an NFL Insider, and Why People Are Tuning Out the News
    Nov 25, 2024 – 01:00:45
  • The Joe and Mika Crisis, an ‘Around the Horn’ Funeral, and Watching College Football in 2024
    Nov 22, 2024 – 01:03:26
  • ‘Inside the NBA’ Lives, the Tyson-Paul Fiasco, and Life on Bluesky
    Nov 18, 2024 – 51:02
Recent Reviews
  • Raj Fan
    Phony phone call
    Love the show. You guys whiffed on the Sanders phony phone call. A 12 year old doing this I can see. A 21 year old is a grown adult who should read the room. Please do better.
  • bgq69
    The Most out of touch people Ive ever heard
    And they don’t even realize it, so cloaked in their own indignant sense of moral superiority. Love how after the election Bryan Curtis pivoted to make sure he had a token black guy join. Why not just wear a sign Bryan that says “look how tolerant I am”…. Perfect example of why they’ll never win another election again 😂😂 And I’m TOTALLY HERE FOR IT. Love laughing at this frigging weirdos man😂. Talk about anyone that’s not them like they’re studying animals or something. Whole ringer group is cursed with this. Undoubtedly cause their love of Jimmy Kimmel or something 😂😂
  • connorb99
    Joel Anderson
    This podcast has always disagreed with my politics, which is fine. But politics discussion got so much more dismissive to opposing views with Joel Anderson. I’m going to be switching to a once a week listener.
  • BigGoudaLTC
    Pretty good
    I’ll re-subscribe when Curtis has better co-hosts.
  • 47869231278945673
    Love the addition of Joel Anderson
    Great show that only got better with the addition of Joel.
  • Sir Loafensworth
    Top 5 pod for me
    Revised my review to say people who don’t like Joel lack depth
  • Jimmy Nintendo
    JOEL
    Missouri City shoutout
  • Kobused
    Eliminate the Thursday show
    Joel Anderson’s opinion on Jalen Hurts’ media response was discouraging. Minutes after the win, i heard ‘God is greater than the highs and lows’ which is the most thoughtful and genuine response possible. If only you two hacks could expand past your narrow conversations with other hacks you would also have the world at your feet. Unsubscribe
  • Greekish7
    Please stop jostling the mic
    I like these guys a lot but one of them spends the entirety of every episode monkeying with his microphone. It adds a constant random background bass noise and once you recognize it the podcast is a difficult listen.
  • JD040800
    Bryan/David Episodes
    The Bryan/David Monday episodes are a fantastic listen. The chemistry is unmatched. Unfortunately, the Thursday episodes are mediocre.
  • mrclaytonx
    They lost it
    Used to be the best pod, now just two guys talking about what they read and tweeted on X. 👎👎👎
  • C0M0
    Nix the opening with Joel
    I don’t mind Joel but him getting the stage at the beginning of his appearances feels forced, and just rehashing things from days ago that were already discussed. That segment should be 3 minutes max.
  • Jazzdelmar
    Who’s this Joel guy?
    This new guy Joel is terrible. Brings nothing. Boring voice, predictable takes.
  • LongTFirstT
    David We Dont Need Your “Uhuh”s
    I have other thoughts but using my space to reach David Shoemaker and let him know adding his “Uhuh”s and “Yes”s don’t add anything to the pod and they drive me (and a lot of the commenters below) nuts.
  • Rich F 🇺🇸in🇧🇪
    Uh hm
    Guys please stop the annoying un hm’s for the love of all things holy.
  • Sesdjsjds
    The Press Box
    I am a big fan of Bryan Curtis. Adding Joel Anderson to the podcast was a terrific move. He is thoughtful and opinionated and not afraid to disagree with Bryan which makes an already enjoyable podcast even better now.
  • bjk795
    Weird Show
    In some ways I enjoy this show when they stick to media analysis but when they get political their bias shows with their passive aggressive comments and chuckles. Also the half this pod is Curtis opining and the other guy going “mhmm”. Just a weird dynamic.
  • Brendanorthite
    Joel Anderson
    Made my post-election day. Great get for Press Box. Glad he will be a regular host.
  • Msw5045
    Need more pushback in interviews
    Is Herndon fully aware of the medias culpability in fascisms rise?
  • Big Fan Stan
    GMFB
    Could you please post the whole interview with the Good Morning Football crew? Golden content wasted on a short segment. I would listen to an hour plus of that!
  • RCG80
    David please…
    You don’t have to say “uh huh” “ok” “sure” “yeah” etc to every single statement Brian says. Otherwise, solid podcast.
  • TimLush11
    Press Box 4 life
    Love Bomani! Jim Cornette eats at Golden Corral! This show is better than USWA at the Louisville Gardens brother 💪
  • Mad Anthony Wayne
    Yay for Bryan, but…
    Take a page from the Harris-Trump debate and mute David’s mic when Bryan is talking. The interjections of “yeah” and other affirming noises every other sentence make this an unnecessarily grating listen.
  • Player 83957
    Shoemaker PLEASE Stop Saying “Yea”
    Anytime Brian is talking, Shoemaker interrupts every sentence by just saying “yes” or “uh-huh.” It’s the most frustrating thing ever and makes this unlistenable. I really want to add this to my rotation but it pisses me off so much
  • Surfer Rex
    Good interviews
    Minus one star for the licking of Bill Simmons boots.
  • garryffff
    Shoemaker?
    Love Curtis.Shoemaker seems to be an expert on WWE. And…? He is horrible.Good to play with high school friends.
  • KTP1024
    Must listen each week
    Always a smart and entertaining listen
  • SportsCrazyGirl
    Favorite Podcast
    This is my favorite podcast. Good conversation. Great content. I usually listen when walking. Sometimes I start laughing out loud. Other walkers wonder if I’m crazy!!
  • 80'sVillager
    Hey Dopes!
    Electability??? No the election won’t come down to 1000 people in Pennsylvania. Biden won Pennsylvania by 81,000 votes. Despite you two dopes saying Biden should drop out in 2020 before South Carolina he got 81 million votes beating Trump by 7 million on his way to flipping five states plus Nebraska CD2. He has proven he is America’s best bet to beat Trump. Whitmer? Newsome? Please! Maybe one can be Kamala’s running mate in 2028.
  • …….:;:\|\.,!’
    Yikes!
    Lack of insights…but pro hamas? What is this?
  • asgrehbdheh
    Bill Walton
    Bill Walton on David Halberstam and his book the Breaks of the Game is one of the best podcasts I’ve ever heard. I didn’t fully appreciate Bill’s storytelling ability after hearing him call games but that was amazing. Makes me want to read the book and then listen to this one back.
  • nilbogpilgrim
    Smug Personified
    Curtis owns one of the more distinctly unpleasant laughs in podcasting. He opines in his faux-humble Texas drawl about the lunacy of the world all while contributing nothing of substance of originality. His take on the meme culture around the pop-tart and mayonnaise bowl games signifying blind allegiance to brands was laughably out of touch and frankly idiotic. People enjoy the patent absurdity of the marketing—they aren’t mindless sheep as much as your journalistic credentials will have you believe you’re elevated high above the rabble of rubes. At least make-a-wish shoemaker didn’t taint this latest pod with his mealymouthed milquetoast contributions. If you’re gonna be smug at least have some dickish charm.
  • J triple J
    ??????
    Are we reading the same Washington Post? Twitter fights, and article ratios each time their “columnist “ pens anything. But let’s keep wondering why they are losing money. Just my 0.02
  • Reviewer797979
    Review
    Love when Jason Gay is on the show. He and Bryan have excellent chemistry.
  • raydonovan13
    Solid but
    The co-host literally says “mmhmm” every 5 seconds and it’s incredibly annoying, actually makes it hard to listen to
  • Yck1000
    Press Box in the Best
    The absolute best podcast on media. I love the jokes, interviews, and analysis. All around a great listen!
  • Will Tuc
    Great Podcast
    Great podcast! One I look forward to each week. One minor complaint. Please consider removing the sounds that are behind Bryan Curtis’s voice on Weekend Headlines. Adds no value and makes it almost unlistenable.
  • Admiral Anonymous
    Reporters
    If the reporters caught the additional media out there, they’d realize Coach Prime stated him and that reporter have some history. When they lose, Werner can have his say. However, it doesn’t have to be now, at least for Prime.
  • Slam Malone
    A refreshing take
    So many similar takes and dialogue on podcasts lately. Refreshing study on current culture and media with a high sports IQ. Appreciate it!
  • Lanashe
    High quality pod
    Brian and David put on a high quality and unique pod. I think Brian’s interviews are second to none, they feel tremendously well-prepared and they put the guest in a good position to say something substantive without putting them on the spot. I think it is clear that the guys lean towards the dems and away from the gop, BUT, I think they make that clear enough throughout the years. As a result you have sufficient transparency with them and that’s all I really ask for - it’s on us to be educated listeners. The Benjy Sarlin pod on the first republican debate helped me better understand the candidates and primary dynamics without being overly “political” - I look forward to The Press Box helping us process how the next year is going to go down!
  • Josh Pichon
    Love the pod
    But can y’all listen to the pod before you put it out. All the ringer pods jump around. I’m not an audio engineer or anything but seems like a problem that can be fixed.
  • Liteninquik
    All of it
    Sports, entertainment, news, politics … This is the BEST media-industrial-complex podcast out there. Knowledgeable, easy-to-listen-to hosts who comment with authority about all things press-related while keeping things in perspective.
  • TheMatrix
    TDS
    It's in overdrive at the ringer apparently. If only the media covered career politicians with the same non-objectivity and censorship.
  • chadwhickmc
    Political
    Like the banter, sick of the politics
  • Brad in 619
    Media? No. Sports? No.
    Political podcast where they both agree all the time, YES!
  • ThisNicknameisnotTaken14
    Great Pod
    This is one of my favorite podcasts, mainly because David and Brian seem so at ease with each other. And Brian’s recent interviews with celebs in the sports and media worlds have been fantastic. One quibble, though Brian: how could you interview Uncle Verne for an hour and NOT ask about the Laetner shot?
  • NBA Money Maker
    One of my favorite pods
    Great mix of industry talk and friendly banter
  • Danny, Danny Boy!
    Only Ringer show better than Bill’s
    Curtis and Shoemaker have such a rapport. My favorite Ringer show
  • TToddIV
    Pods for Pod’s Sake
    Bryan’s interview style is claaassic, aspiring journalists get your notepads ready!
  • NYC22spl
    Promising podcast
    Smart show, enjoy the hosts, but liberal to a fault. In the recent “Stleter” podcast, going on about how FOX bended to Trump’s will, implying this was singularly awful. But it’s basically what MSNBC, CNN, etc do for Biden - the Hunter Biden story, CBS News recently pulling a story about US arms not making to frontline in Ukraine. Fox is the other side of same coin. Network/cable news overall deserves equally harsh criticism.
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