House of Strauss

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

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.houseofstrauss.comWhen Tim Kawakami and I get together, we’re going to talk sports media. Considering that Tim just recently left the Athletic, where used to be my boss, and joined the ambitious SF Standard, we’ve got much to discuss. Also, for those who like Niners talk, we’ve got a whole lot of it in the back half of this pod. My teaser is that Tim dispels a commonly believed false notion or two. Enjoy!

Nate Jones, an NBA agent and footwear entrepreneur at Move Insoles, discusses the dramatic ousting of Nike's CEO. He explores how Nike modernized but lost touch with its core customers, sparking lessons on corporate priorities. The conversation draws parallels to Disney's recent struggles, questioning the trade-off between creativity and efficiency. Jones also critiques Nike's missed marketing opportunities and evaluates the evolving dynamics of basketball branding, particularly with rising talents like Caitlin Clark at the forefront.

In this episode, Saagar Enjeti, a YouTube superstar known for his unique take on content trends, dives into his philosophy against advertising. He discusses the thrilling potential of legacy media's decline and how it empowers new platforms. Saagar explores the ethical challenges of maintaining independence in media, emphasizing the need for integrity. The conversation also touches on the evolving nature of political discourse, fan engagement in sports, and the impact of social media on public perception. Get ready for a thought-provoking ride!

Had a fantastic time catching up with our friend Moynihan, co-host of The Fifth Column and all around podcasting force at The Free Press. This podcast is roughly two hours, one of which we’re making free. For whatever reason, we found the World War 2 revisionism controversy of Daryl Cooper on Tucker Carlson to be a fruitful subject. Why did the political horseshoe arrive at trashing Winston Churchill? Topics include but aren’t limited to…* Today’s protestors are physically weak compared to the high T 60’s protestors * How television shook up America in the 1960s* Jonestown* The Martyr Made Hitler vs. Churchill imbroglio* The “theyification” of Tucker Carlson* Can a “founding myth” be mostly real? * We’ve exited peak “wokeness.” Is that simply the result of Elon Musk buying Twitter?* What are the free speech implications of American culture getting shifted by one guy’s impact on one social media platform?* Can Michael draw a line between his old shop Vice collapsing and Republicans doing better with young males?* Jesse Jackson 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

Neil Paine, a prominent figure in sports analytics, dives into the interplay between sports and politics, questioning whether public interest in politics is waning. He touches on the intriguing concept of backup quarterbacks and how they captivate fans, while exploring the 'shadow value' some players contribute beyond stats. Paine also examines the impact of aging on athletes like Aaron Rodgers and discusses the resurgence of baseball through stars like Judge and Ohtani, making for a thought-provoking and enjoyable conversation.

Ryan Glasspiegel, a savvy media commentator, dives into the intersection of sports and politics. He debates whether politics played a role in Sam Ponder's firing from ESPN and defends Pat McAfee against criticism. Glasspiegel explores the nuances of presidential betting odds and critiques the current political landscape, asserting it's more about vibes than substance. Other intriguing discussions include perspectives on Tim Walz and skepticism about Caleb Williams amid overwhelming hype. Get ready for sharp insights and lively conversation!

Warren Sharp, an expert in NFL data and trends, dives into the analytical shifts within football’s most scrutinized league. He discusses how NFL teams are missing opportunities reminiscent of the early Moneyball era and questions why scoring appears to be declining in a so-called pass-friendly game. The conversation explores evolving offensive strategies, the balance of analytics with coaching instincts, and how defensive innovations are reshaping the NFL landscape. Sharp also highlights critical quarterback dynamics, offering insights into upcoming strategies.