The Press Box

Bryan and David are back and kicking off the new year with Ben Smith’s announcement that he is leaving The New York Times for a global media startup (0:22). Then they transition to the first anniversary of the January siege of the Capitol by discussing Evan Osnos’s New Yorker profile of radio host Dan Bongino (9:24). Then they touch on Ken Rosenthal’s comments that lost him a gig with the MLB Network (23:11) and the unfortunate release of a People magazine issue that highlights the great (and recently departed) Betty White’s 100th birthday (35:10). Plus, the Overworked Twitter Joke of the Week and David Shoemaker Guesses the Strained-Pun Headline. Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David ShoemakerAssociate Producer: Erika Cervantes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Bryan is joined by The Wall Street Journal's Jason Gay to remember legendary football coach, sportscaster, and businessman John Madden. They reflect on the games Madden called, how he influenced television, and discuss all that he added to the sport of football. Host: Bryan CurtisGuest: Jason GayAssociate Producer: Erika Cervantes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Bryan is joined by journalist J.R. Moehringer to discuss his career working at The New York Times and Los Angeles Times before then discussing his memoir ‘The Tender Bar.’ They touch on details of the memoir including Moehringer’s reason for writing the book, the significance of the bar Publicans, and how it was received by the individuals featured.Host: Bryan CurtisGuest: J.R. Moehringer Associate Producer: Erika Cervantes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Bryan and David touch on the news that The New York Times might be buying The Athletic. They discuss the potential deal and what place The Athletic could have at the Times (1:19). Then they hand out 2021 Year in Media awards for Image of the Year, Sports Media Story of the Year, Disgraceful Exit of the Year, and more (15:21)! Plus, the Overworked Twitter Joke of the Week and David Shoemaker Guesses the Strained-Pun Headline. Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David ShoemakerAssociate Producer: Erika Cervantes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Bryan is joined by Slate’s Joel Anderson to discuss his career, from starting at TCU to working at BuzzFeed News to covering college football at ESPN and eventually finding himself at Slate working on his podcast, ‘Slow Burn.’ They touch on the differences between print and podcasts, talk through reporting longform stories, and dive into the details of the newest season of his show, ‘Slow Burn: The L.A. Riots.’Host: Bryan CurtisGuest: Joel AndersonAssociate Producer: Erika Cervantes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Bryan and David start by talking about Pat McAfee’s new $120 million deal with FanDuel (3:26). Then they discuss Chris Wallace leaving Fox News for CNN (21:10). Then they wrap up by talking about Dave Campbell’s Texas Football magazine, '80s and '90s commercial fiction power rankings, plus David Shoemaker Guesses the Strained-Pun Headline.Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David ShoemakerProduction Assistant: Isaiah Blakely Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Bryan and David react to the news that Chris Cuomo was fired by CNN and then discuss actions leading up to the decision and what this means for the organization (3:30). Later, they weigh in on the conversation presented by Priya Krishna’s New York Times article, “Who Owns a Recipe? A Plagiarism Claim Has Cookbook Authors Asking," and talk about the concept of recipe plagiarism (25:27). Plus, the Overworked Twitter Joke of the Week and David Shoemaker Guesses the Strained-Pun Headline. Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David ShoemakerAssociate Producer: Erika Cervantes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Bryan is joined by The Washington Post’s Dan Diamond to discuss covering COVID-19. Diamond shares his experience becoming a journalist, reflects on the COVID-19 coverage since the beginning of the pandemic, and touches on the new COVID-19 variant, omicron, and the difference in coverage under Trump vs. Biden.Host: Bryan CurtisGuest: Dan DiamondAssociate Producer: Erika Cervantes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Bryan and David break down news that Twitter CEO and cofounder Jack Dorsey has resigned. They discuss how Dorsey handled past incidents of misinformation circulating on Twitter, where Twitter ranks next to competitor Facebook, and how this news could affect the media landscape (4:48). Then, they weigh in on the rapidly evolving news about the new coronavirus variant, omicron, and talk through how it’s being reported (21:26). Plus, the Overworked Twitter Joke of the Week and David Shoemaker Guesses the Strained-Pun Headline. Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David ShoemakerAssociate Producer: Erika Cervantes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Bryan is joined by author and cartoonist Jeff Kinney to discuss his career and book series 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid.’ They touch on how Kinney got a book deal at Comic-Con, how he utilizes systematic inventive thinking to help his writing process, how he balances both jokes and big ideas throughout his books, and what it’s like going on book tours for children.Host: Bryan CurtisGuest: Jeff KinneyAssociate Producer: Erika CervantesProduction Assistant: Jonathan Kermah Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices