Pablo Torre Finds Out

The Athletic
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Apr 8, 2025 • 43min

A New Roadmap for Actual Human Connection, with Roy Wood Jr.

The promise of the internet has failed us. Our politics are breaking us. But the sports world, even in a state of group-hate, provides lessons for a fundamental human need that is currently all too absent: connection. Roy Wood Jr., one of the most prolific road comics in our country, has a million miles of experience at kicking the tires on The Real America. And his rules of the road will surprise you, because they exist less with Obama at the batting cage and somewhere more between Ted Cruz on the sidelines...and the porn gun range. Also: NASCAR, Mr. Wizard, and Sammy Sosa.• Watch Roy Wood's new special, "Lonely Flowers"https://www.hulu.com/movie/0bdefff9-def5-4e22-96d9-94fd899f0f83 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Apr 4, 2025 • 50min

We Fact-Checked Stephen A.'s LeBron and Kobe Story — and Polled 1,000+ Voters on His Presidential Campaign

Did LeBron attend Kobe's memorial in 2020? Pablo reports on claims renewed by Stephen A. Smith. And should Stephen A. actually run in 2028? We commissioned Rasmussen Reports to conduct a legitimate political survey, then presented the results to Wyatt Cenac and Tim Miller.• See the full results of the exclusive PTFO/Rasmussen poll https://www.rasmussenreports.com/• Subscribe to Wyatt Cenac's newsletterhttps://wyattcenac.substack.com/• Subscribe to The Bulwark Podcast with Tim Millerhttps://www.thebulwark.com/s/bulwarkpodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Apr 3, 2025 • 49min

The Sporting Class: How the NBA's Masters of the Universe Box Each Other Out

Franchise valuations are going up, up, up — and the first $10 billion team can't be far away. But inside the owners' meetings, though, generational warfare is underway: Can A-Rod snag the Timberwolves from the iron grip of an 83-year-old billionaire? Will the Celtics make private equity sexy? And how long until every NBA game is on national TV? Pablo Torre & The Expiring Assets (aka John Skipper and David Samson with a cold) are back to appraise Gollum's ring and stare into James Dolan's all-seeing Eye of Seventh Avenue.• Previously: How the Billion-Dollar War to Own the Timberwolves Went Nuclearhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmOkcQwZ-s8• Subscribe to Nothing Personal with David Samsonhttps://www.youtube.com/@NPDS Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Apr 1, 2025 • 44min

Brilliant Disguise: How to Find Your Voice, with Hank Azaria

Hank Azaria created more than 100 voices for The Simpsons, including Moe the Bartender, Chief Wiggum and (formerly) Apu. So why is the single most talented voice actor of his generation, at 60 years old, suddenly the lead singer of a Springsteen tribute band? Because — in recovery from the fear that helped originate his superpower, the failure that forced him to embrace "character acting," the cancellation that became a case study, and the threat of A.I. — he was overtaken by Bruce Juice. And today, inside PTFO's studio, he takes the stage.• Catch Hank Azaria and the EZ Street Band on Tourhttps://www.ezstreetnyc.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Mar 28, 2025 • 50min

Share & Grill & Tell with Mike Golic Jr. and Mina Kimes

Did the late George Foreman's merchandising millions almost go to Chuck Norris instead? What aren't influencers selling to men these days? And is this season of The White Lotus actually good? (Spoiler alert for later in this episode: If you've seen through Episode 6, you're good.) And more from Pablo's trip to L.A.: the neck hammock, erect rods, and OnlyEyes. Further content:George Foreman Turned a Home Grill Into a Culinary Heavyweight (Kim Severson)https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/22/dining/george-foreman-grill.htmlIt's Bait (Rebecca Jennings)https://www.vulture.com/article/ashton-hall-morning-routine.htmlLet's Talk About the [Spoiler Alert] on The White Lotus, with Help From Some Experts (Eliana Dockterman)https://time.com/7269550/the-white-lotus-incest-lochlan-saxon/Subscribe to The Mina Kimes Show (featuring Lenny) podcasthttps://www.youtube.com/@minakimes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Mar 27, 2025 • 49min

The Fax and the Furious: How One Screeching Machine Upended Sports — and Society as We Knew It

Thirty years ago this month, Michael Jordan shocked the world with a two-word transmission: "I'm back." But the rise and fall of this especially nostalgic technology is inextricably hard-wired to the sports world, from frantic prodigies to foul-mouthed coaches and fans glued to FaxCam. Pablo communes with a relic between himself and J.A. Adande — the Hall-of-Fame sportswriter and long-suffering fax-sender — for a jam session on innovation and increasingly epic fails that plunges PTFO into the literal depths of modern communication. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Mar 25, 2025 • 41min

How John Green Turned Celebrity into Obsessive Optimism

"The Fault in Our Stars" is one of the bestselling novels of the century. Why did its author just devote five years of his life to a staggering work of non-fiction about... tuberculosis? Because John Green became a super-fan of fourth-tier English football. He employed FIFA and Belichick-level tactics to build a compassionate community on YouTube. He understood the difference between enough and more than enough. And he never forgot to be awesome.• Order "Everything Is Tuberculosis"https://everythingistb.com/• Subscribe to John Green's YouTube channelhttps://www.youtube.com/vlogbrothers• Subscribe to Henry Reider's YouTube channelhttps://www.youtube.com/@Tuberculosis-l1jSurvivorHenry Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Mar 21, 2025 • 48min

The Sporting Class: We're Gonna Need a Bigger Bracket

John Skipper, who is not on this season of The White Lotus, goes behind the scenes of his failed bid for "the evil empire" to steal the rights to March Madness. David Samson, who is trying very hard not to sneeze, takes on the haters of the MLB's money-printing series in Japan. And, yes: Pablo is more valuable than a test pattern.Subscribe to Nothing Personal with David Samsonhttps://davidsamsonpodcast.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Mar 20, 2025 • 44min

Share & Cinderella & Tell with Lucy Rohden and Rodger Sherman

What would you do if you got hit by a stomach bug while driving a Nissan Sentra? Are UNC grads actually bigger a$$holes than Duke fans? Should you pick your bracket solely based on mascots? And how would you create the ultimate sports bubble? Plus: Chihuahua Guy, Lady Cocks, Gentleman Zips, @RamsesBalls, fate, destiny, peace accords and snitching on Hawkeye Elvis.• Subscribe to the Read Rodge newsletter:https://rodgersherman.substack.com/• Watch "Off-Rohding" with Lucy Rohden:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbPIlsADdT0&list=PLRsPi_fqIjreCx526Na0R_JI7xxO6rfML Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Mar 18, 2025 • 43min

The Earth Supremacist Party: Why Mars Sucks and the GOAT Planet Needs Us, with Dr. Kate Marvel

We live in America-first times. But what if we applied that instinct to a pro-Earth party? On a break from NASA's office above the Seinfeld diner, a leading scientist visits Pablo to power-rank the human viability of our solar system — and get excited about being part of the solution... instead of Elon Musk's vision of discount Bladerunner on Mars. Plus: Pablo's recruiting trip to SpaceX, why weather should be optional, The Independence Day Solution, witchcraft, livestock burps and life on a giant fart moon.• Pre-order: "Human Nature: Nine Ways to Feel About Our Changing Planet"https://www.harpercollins.com/products/human-nature-kate-marvel?variant=43110377324578• Previously: How to Re-Make the Climate-Change Horror Movie as a Rom-Comhttps://www.pablo.show/p/make-climate-change-a-rom-com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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