This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.houseofstrauss.comNon sports media edition, because a) I’m morbidly captivated by the Healthcare CEO assassination fallout and b) Any excuse to host Sarah Haider is a good one. Beyond being intelligent and brave, Sarah has some personally informed thoughts about ayahuasca, a topic of the moment given certain rumors about the CEO killer. Conversation includes but is not limited to…* High status people celebrating the murder of CEO Brian Thompson? * It’s underrated how frequently high functioning people lose their minds* Did ayahuasca compel Sarah to quit her own podcast? * If ayahuasca kills motivation, then why did Sarah do it? * Does living under threat of assassination, as Sarah might, inform perspective?* Are we completely honest in our public transmissions? * Are we more honest in real life or as writers/podcasters? * Why don’t professors, whose system saddles young people in debt, see themselves as oppressors? * What do we think of the politically minded tech libertarian types?

In an engaging conversation, Tom Tolbert, a beloved Bay Area sports radio host and former NBA player, reflects on his journey through basketball and radio. He shares nostalgic tales of college basketball’s competitive spirit, revealing how athletes often carry the weight of their losses. The discussion ventures into the tense dynamics of the Lakers during his career, touching on Kobe Bryant's insights and camaraderie with Shaquille O'Neal. Tolbert's light-hearted approach to serious topics like risk and connection in radio keeps the conversation lively and relatable.

Andrew Sharp, an insightful NBA/Tech/China podcaster, dives into a variety of thought-provoking topics. He evaluates BlueSky’s potential amidst the social media landscape shift. The conversation highlights Netflix’s questionable approach to live events and its impact on sports media. They tackle the NBA's paradox of rising revenues against declining viewership, discussing how fan engagement could be compromised. Lastly, they explore the nostalgia of 'Inside the NBA' moving to ESPN and assess the evolving humor around Charles Barkley's remarks.

Great podcast, if we do say so ourselves…* Did Ryan lose his life savings betting Kamala Harris on Kalshi? * The French polymarket whale who bet on Trump using the “neighbor method”* Has the election inspired a vibe shift in sports media?* The Ben Strauss argument that FS1 is more woke than ESPN* The “Democrats need a Joe Rogan” trope* Is the “Dem-friendly Rogan Bill Simmons”? * Is Shannon Sharpe the Dem-friendly Rogan? * The sports journo exodus to BlueSky and why it won’t work* I don’t think the shift to the right among Zoomers has much to do with “incels” * Inflation or culture war: What settled the election? House of Strauss is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.houseofstrauss.com/subscribe

Nick Wright, a sharp sports analyst known for his bold commentary, dives deep into the intersection of sports and culture. He scrutinizes the Kansas City Chiefs' success, debating whether analytics have shifted the value of winning. Nick also reflects on the impact of differing political beliefs within sports fandom. The conversation shifts to the NBA's evolving landscape, critiquing fan engagement and advocating for reforms. Additionally, he discusses the dynamics of sports media, focusing on how host relationships can make or break a show's success.

Joining the discussion is Ross Barkan, a New York politics expert and contributor to various publications. He provides insights on Trump's recent victory and its implications for the Democratic Party. They explore the challenges the Democrats face in light of shifting voter demographics and the need for strategic reassessment. The conversation also touches on the complexities of rural voter engagement, unexpected political alliances, and the evolving narrative influenced by figures like Trump and Obama, all while drawing parallels with sports fandom.

Eric Rubin is a seasoned professional sports gambler who delves into the captivating yet troubling world of sports betting. He reveals the tricks that apps use to lure users and discusses how limiting winners hampers long-term success. Rubin candidly critiques tout scams and youth-targeted betting ads. The conversation touches on the potential for game rigging and contrasts social with anti-social gambling. He even explores opportunities in betting on the 2024 election, highlighting the intricate dynamics of both sports and political betting.

In addition to being co-host of the Light Years podcast, Saam is tasked with running Creator Growth at Playback, an interactive sports streamer app. This means that a lot of this millennial’s waking hours are spent on trying to figure out the sports viewership habits of Zoomers. This is the foundation of our conversation in this pod: What’s up with young people? What programs are they gravitating to and why? And are their habits upending traditional notions of what “mainstream” media even is? But first, true to Bay Area form, we start with expressing our annoyance at the conventional takes of Purdy-hating, “NFL Film Watchers.” Topics include…* “Film Watchers” don’t have an edge on the data* Is NFL Twitter worse for the fake smart takes than NBA Twitter* How the beat writer has to pretend to not care if the team loses * Ya, I cared when the Warriors lost* My regret over my ESPN the Magazine Draymond “hit piece”* How ESPN cut the Nike loses Steph Curry article from the Magazine* Will Compton farting at the Washington Post over his Bussin’ with the Boys Trump interview * Legacy media trying to recap these Trump and Harris Youtube show interviews* The filming over everything makes athletes more paranoid in the locker room now.House of Strauss is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.houseofstrauss.com/subscribe

My live video with Chris Best is available here as well, so it seems. Great talk, enjoyed being the one who answers the Qs this time. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.houseofstrauss.com/subscribe

Your guy Big Wos is back, with candid takes on the state of NBA media. This was a great conversation wherein we discussed the following:* A variety of ESPN NBA moves (Woj leaving, Lowe ousted, Shams hired)* Shams on First Take shows why we didn’t really need Woj anymore * Why does ESPN value news breaking so much!* I can now freely say that Brian Windhorst is great* The friendly fire of an ESPN article attacking ESPN host Kendrick Perkins over his NIL business * Is Perkins’ business sleazier than SOP for college education loans?* Will we see more Matthew Sluka situations where players simply quit over NIL issues?House of Strauss is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.houseofstrauss.com/subscribe