PODCAST · sports
Once Upon A Dribble
by Josh Medeiros & Calvan Johnson
Once Upon A Dribble is a podcast all about the history of the NBA, and how the modern game came to be.Join your hosts Josh Medeiros and Calvan Johnson as they take you on the NBA time machine to look back on the most noteworthy events in basketball history
Episodes
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OUD Notebook #4: When does an NBA "Superteam" actually work?
What actually makes an NBA “superteam” work?I go through decades of NBA history to find out, from Wilt, West and Baylor's Lakers to the '83 Sixers, Jordan's Bulls, the 2004 Lakers, Big Three Celtics, Heatles, KD Warriors and Brooklyn Nets.Along the way, Ichallenge what “superteam” even means.…
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Episode #45: The Draft Bust Multiverse with KSL Sports Chandler Holt
What if some of the NBA’s biggest draft busts actually worked out? Chandler Holt who covers the Utah Jazz on KSL Sports joins us to revisit the hype behind Olowokandi, Beasley, Fultz, Okafor, Thabeet and Pervis Ellison. We look at what scouts saw, what went wrong, and what their best-case careers...
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Episode #44: Every NBA Franchise's "Mount Rushmore" - Western Conference - Part 2
The ultimate WESTERN Conference ballot is officially locked in for this final part of our 2 part series. In this episode, we go team-by-team through all 15 Western Conference franchises to carve their 4 ultimate icons into stone. We jump from icons like LA and Golden State to the conundrums of...
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Episode #43: Every NBA Franchise's "Mount Rushmore" - Eastern Conference - Part 1
The ultimate Eastern Conference ballot is officially locked in. In this episode, we go team-by-team through all 15 Eastern Conference franchises to carve their 4 ultimate icons into stone. From the historic dynasties of Boston and Chicago to the modern identity crises of Charlotte and Orlando, we...
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Episode #42: The NBA Since 2010: Player Empowerment, Ring Culture & the LeBron Era (w/ Claire de Lune)
The NBA has changed dramatically over the last 15 years. Not just on the court, but in the way fans consume the league, how media covers it, and how players shape their own careers. Joining us is Guardian writer and All-NBA voter Claire de Lune to discuss the evolution of the modern NBA through…
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OUD Notebook #3: We Don’t Actually Agree on What MVP Means
Every NBA fan has an MVP definition in their head and what usually ends up happening is they're all different. Is the MVP about team success? Raw production? Efficiency? Narrative? In this micro episode, I break down why modern MVP debates feel so messy and why we may not even be arguing the same...
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Episode #41: Tracking the NBA's "Best Player in the World" Since 1991 | ft. Sam Quinn, NBA Reporter at CBS Sports
Who was the best player in the world each year in the NBA? In this episode of Once Upon a Dribble, Josh is joined by CBS Sports writer Sam Quinn to explore a fun historical thought experiment: the unofficial “Best Player in the World Championship Belt.” Instead of ranking players all-time, we…
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OUD Notebook #2: The 2011 NBA MVP Race Revisited
Once Upon a Dribble — 2011 NBA MVP Revisited (Notebook episodes are short 15-30 minute solo entries where I give quick hitter context, insight and narrative to various NBA topics) Was Derrick Rose the right MVP in 2011? In this episode, we revisit one of the most debated MVP races of the modern...
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OUD Notebook #1 - The Rise, Fall, and Refinement of Heliocentric Offense - From Wilt to Magic to LeBron to Jokic... and Everyone In Between
Once Upon a Dribble — What does “heliocentric” actually mean? (Notebook episodes are short 15-30 minute solo entries where I give quick hitter context, insight and narrative to various NBA topics) It’s not just ball dominance. It’s not just usage. And it’s definitely not new. In this Once Upon a...
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Bonus Series! Conference Finals MVPs: Part 10 - Western Conference 2010-21, the Warriors Dynastic Run, San Antonio's Brilliance, OKC's Dynamos Fall Short, Kobe's Last Run, LeBron Out West and MORE!
Today we finish with part 10 of a 10-part series at Once Upon a Dribble! During the 2022 playoffs the NBA began awarding MVP awards to the best performing player of each conference finals: the Larry Bird Eastern Conference Finals Most Valuable Player Award and the Magic Johnson Western Conference...
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Episode #40: Mr. 51st, the Human Highlight Film, Dominique WIlkins
When you really break it down, the whole history of the NBA is still a relatively short amount of time. At 79 years old, there are still many people around who have a living memory of the first NBA season. The league celebrated 50 years in 1996, with a special reveal of the top 50 players of...
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Episode #39: No Country for Old Jazzmen - The Highs and Lows of the Stockton and Malone Utah Jazz
On April 19, 2020, ESPN and Netflix released a landmark documentary series that was over two decades in the making, chronicling a behind the scenes look at the supremacy of Michael Jordan’s last years in Chicago. As Americans and people all across the globe were settling into an entirely new life...
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Bonus Series! Conference Finals MVPs: Part 9 - Eastern Conference 2010-21, King James Reigns From South Beach to Cleveland, Kawhi's Terminator Run, PG 13's Pacers, the Boston Jay's Breakout and MORE!
Today we continue in part 9 of a 10-part series at Once Upon a Dribble! During the 2022 playoffs the NBA began awarding MVP awards to the best performing player of each conference finals: the Larry Bird Eastern Conference Finals Most Valuable Player Award and the Magic Johnson Western Conference...
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Episode #38: "I'm Going To Take My Talents To South Beach", the LeBron Heat Years
(04:48) What led to the Decision? The Breaking Point in Cleveland (26:00) The Villain Season - 2010-11 (53:48) Redemption, "It's About Damn Time" - 2011-12(01:10:54) Supernova, Back-To-Back - 2012-13 (01:32:00) The Burnout - 2013-14 July 8th, 2010. A 25-year-old phenom sat across from Jim Gray……
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Episode #37: Wilt's Big Breakthrough - The 1966-67 Philadelphia 76ers
(04:50) Background on basketball in Philadelphia and on Wilt (23:18) Let's meet the 1966-67 Sixers and look at their regular season (46:05) The Sixers finally overcome Boston (55:05) The 1967 Finals When it comes to the NBA’s all-time greatest players, few can match the raw statistical dominance…
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Bonus Series! Conference Finals MVPs: Part 8 - Western Conference 2000-09, the Laker Renaissance, the Spurs Dynasty Looms Large, Dirk Makes Some Noise, The 7 Seconds or Less Suns and MORE!
Today we continue in part 8 of a 10-part series at Once Upon a Dribble! During the 2022 playoffs the NBA began awarding MVP awards to the best performing player of each conference finals: the Larry Bird Eastern Conference Finals Most Valuable Player Award and the Magic Johnson Western Conference...
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Episode #36: Family Matters - PART 2 of 2: A Deep Dive on T-Mac, Tracy McGrady
In a lot of ways, an NBA locker room is like a family. With all the good times, and the bad times, the brotherhood, and the infighting, family is the perfect metaphor. But the family dynamic in the NBA often extends to actual family, over 10% of the 4500 players to have ever played in the NBA are...
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Episode #35: Family Matters - PART 1 of 2: A Deep Dive on Air Canada, Vince Carter
In a lot of ways, an NBA locker room is like a family. With all the good times, and the bad times, the brotherhood, and the infighting, family is the perfect metaphor. But the family dynamic in the NBA often extends to actual family, over 10% of the 4500 players to have ever played in the NBA are...
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Episode #34: "It's Just A Phase, Mom", the History of the Charlotte Bobcats!
Remember that time, like, that 10-season span when the Charlotte Bobcats were an NBA basketball team? Us too, but barely. Josh and Calvan did a DEEP dive into the interesting, awkward, yet always entertaining history of the Charlotte Bobcats. Join them in the NBA time machine as they talk about…
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Bonus Series! Conference Finals MVPs: Part 7 - Eastern Conference 2000-09, Detroit RunsThe East, The King Arrives, Wade and the Heat Catch Fire, Kidd's Nets Go Back to Back and MORE!
Today we continue in part 7 of a 10-part series at Once Upon a Dribble! During the 2022 playoffs the NBA began awarding MVP awards to the best performing player of each conference finals: the Larry Bird Eastern Conference Finals Most Valuable Player Award and the Magic Johnson Western Conference...
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Episode #33: An Exercise in Futility, the LONGEST Postseason Droughts for EVERY NBA Franchise, Part 2: Northwest, Southwest and Central Divisions
Every NBA team at some point in their history has hit a drought so to say. A drought from success that keeps them out of the postseason picture. It can be injuries, poor coaching, bad management, whiffed draft picks or a combination of it all. In this segment Josh and Calvan look at EVERY NBA...
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Episode #32: An Exercise in Futility, the LONGEST Postseason Droughts for EVERY NBA Franchise, Part 1: Atlantic, Pacific and Southeast Divisions
Every NBA team at some point in their history has hit a drought so to say. A drought from success that keeps them out of the postseason picture. It can be injuries, poor coaching, bad management, whiffed draft picks or a combination of it all. In this segment Josh and Calvan look at EVERY NBA...
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Episode #31: The Miracle at Motown - The Story of the 2004 Pistons
If there is a Mount Rushmore for NBA teams that feel like symbolic soulmates for their city, then the 2004 Detroit Pistons are on it. This team represented the Motor City in every sense of the word. Everyone played a part, constantly being calibrated and re-calibrated toward something greater.…
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Episode #30: Houston, We Have A Big 3 - Charles Barkley's Time As A Rocket
After back-to-back championships, the Rockets were suddenly trending in the wrong direction after a turbulent 1996 season. Charles Barkley, over in Phoenix, had grown impatient in the Valley of the Sun. The stars aligned for both parties in the summer of 1996 when the Rockets made a blockbuster...
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Bonus Series! Conference Finals MVPs: Part 6 - Western Conference 1990-99, Hakeem's Dream Comes True, Utah's Rocky Mountain Reign, a Renaissance in Portland, a Dynasty Looms in San Antonio and More!
Today we continue in part 6 of a 10-part series at Once Upon a Dribble! During the 2022 playoffs the NBA began awarding MVP awards to the best performing player of each conference finals: the Larry Bird Eastern Conference Finals Most Valuable Player Award and the Magic Johnson Western Conference...
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Episode #29: Long Live The Logo - A Jerry West Tribute
Jerry West, who was selected to the Basketball Hall of Fame multiple times in a storied career as a player and executive and whose silhouette is considered to be the basis of the NBA logo, passed away earlier this month. Few people have ever seen the game as clearly — from so many angles and…
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Episode #28: Phil Jackson - The Zen Master
Phil Jackson is the most successful coach in NBA history, the owner of 11 rings, and the architect of some of the most iconic basketball moments of all time. From his roots in small town North Dakota, to Chicago, Los Angeles, and even the Big Apple, his career in basketball has taken him all over...
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Episode #27: "Never-Star", the Story of Some of the Best Players to Never Make the All-Star Team!
The first ever NBA All-Star game was played on March 2, 1951. Since that time, 454 players have played in that game. Thousands of other NBA players have never played in the game. In today's episode of Once Upon A Dribble, Josh and Calvan go over four of the most baffling All-Star game snubs....
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Episode #26: Thunder Boomin', The Story of the 2010s OKC Thunder
The Thunder were the Warriors before the Warriors. Well, except for the titles. Young, homegrown talent emerges as a dominant force in the league, consistently vying for the NBA championship. This straightforward strategy, exemplified by the successes of Oklahoma City and Golden State in the…
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Episode #25: The Rise, Fall and Triumph of Greg Oden
It’s easy to look back now and wonder how Oden ever could have been selected ahead of a superstar like Kevin Durant. After all, KD had averaged 25.8 points and 11.1 rebounds a game as a lanky freshman at Texas, leading the Big 12 in both categories, as well as blocks. Durant was a sure thing…
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Episode #24: Top of the Pack, the Story of the 2004 Timberwolves
In 2023-24, the Minnesota Timberwolves are seeing a resurgence as one of the premier teams in the league as we head towards the 2024 NBA playoffs. How far do you have to go back to find the last Timberwolves playoff run? 20 years in fact. 2004 is the last time the Wolves won a playoff series. In...
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Bonus Series! Conference Finals MVPs: Part 5 - Eastern Conference 1990-99, Jordan and the Bulls Take the World by Storm, Finals in the Big Apple, Miller Time in Indy, the Shaq/Penny Magic and More!
Today we continue in part 5 of a 10-part series at Once Upon a Dribble! During the 2022 playoffs the NBA began awarding MVP awards to the best performing player of each conference finals: the Larry Bird Eastern Conference Finals Most Valuable Player Award and the Magic Johnson Western Conference...
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Episode #23: Big Apple NBA Finals, the Story of the Cinderella 1999 New York Knicks
We are going back to the year of 1999. Picture this: the New York Knicks, one of the most iconic brands in sports, a team that defied the odds, embraced the role of Cinderella, is etching their names in basketball immortality amidst age, lockouts, injury and more. But as the saying goes, heroes...
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Bonus Episode! Hoops on the Holidays: A Brief History of the NBA on Christmas!
NBA Christmas day games have been an annual tradition since the league's second season in 1947. Let’s take a step in the NBA time machine and look at some of the best moments in NBA Yuletide Lore.
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Episode #22: The Evolution of the 3-Point Shot: From Rare Commodity to the Lethal Weapon of Today!
In 1987 Michael Jordan averaged 37.1 points per game. In 2006 Kobe Bryant put up 35.5 points per game. And in 2019 James Harden lit up the stat sheets to the tune of 36.1 points per game. These three marks rank as the best individual scoring seasons of the modern era And how those 3 prolific...
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Episode #21: Blood In The Water, some of the GREATEST Elimination and Close-Out Games Ever
Being a team leader during the regular season and playoffs is vital to a team’s success and a chance at a championship. Normally, there are 1 or 2 guys who step up when their team needs it the most to go get themselves a clutch basket or completely take over on the offensive end. There are also…
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Bonus Series! Conference Finals MVPs: Part 4 - Western Conference 1980-89, It's SHOWTIME in LA as the Lakers Dominate the West, Hakeem's Rockets Have Their Moment and the Weirdest WCF EVER in 1981!
Today we continue in part 4 of a 10-part series at Once Upon a Dribble! During the 2022 playoffs the NBA began awarding MVP awards to the best performing player of each conference finals: the Larry Bird Eastern Conference Finals Most Valuable Player Award and the Magic Johnson Western Conference...
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Bonus Episode! 2023-24 NBA Season Preview Part 2: Calvan takes us through the WILD, WILD West!
Here we are! The 2023-24 NBA season will be here before you know it. Opening night is just around the corner, it's time to prepare for what should be another season of intense competition. There are plenty of storylines to follow and Calvan takes you through the wild, wild West for what promises…
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Bonus Episode! 2023-24 NBA Season Preview Part 1: Josh DIVES into the Eastern Conference!
Here we are! The 2023-24 NBA season will be here before you know it. Opening night is just around the corner, it's time to prepare for what should be another season of intense competition. There are plenty of storylines to follow and Josh takes you along the East coast to keep an eye out for what...
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Episode #20: KD K.O. and the Story of the Warriors vs Thunder in the 2016 Western Conference Finals
We all remember the memes. “Golden State blew a 3-1 lead”. The unfortunate demise of the NBA’s record-breaking 73-win team that failed to win a ring. While we remember the astonishing efforts of LeBron James to bring a championship to Cleveland against impossible odds, we often overlook the…
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Episode #19: The Unbelievable Story of Larry Legend: A Larry Bird Deep Dive
He’s regarded as one of the top 10 basketball players of all-time, maybe even top 5, and the story of his rise from relative obscurity to Boston Celtic legend is one of the most unlikely of all-time.The story of Larry Legend is one that Celtic fans have passed down through multiple generations.…
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Bonus Series! Conference Finals MVPs: Part 3 - Eastern Conference 1980-89, Bird's Celtics Run the Decade, Liberty Rings in Philly, The 'Bad Boys' Pistons, the Bucks Can't Break Through and MJ Up Next!
Today we continue in part 3 of a 10-part series at Once Upon a Dribble! During the 2022 playoffs the NBA began awarding MVP awards to the best performing player of each conference finals: the Larry Bird Eastern Conference Finals Most Valuable Player Award and the Magic Johnson Western Conference...
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Random Game Rewind Micro Episode #2: Minnesota Timberwolves vs Cleveland Cavaliers, 2018
An 82-game regular season has been the norm in the NBA for the better part of 5 decades now. In a regular season where action takes place every night, even the most dramatic of moments can be fleeting, especially in today’s age of social media where it’s all about clicks and impressions before…
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Episode #18: Southwest Scramble: Hakeem vs Chuck, the Epic Showdowns From 1994 and 1995
Hakeem Olajuwon and Charles Barkley are widely known as two of the game's greatest players. Both have incredibly unique and fascinating stories of how they triumphed all odds to make it to the pro ranks and scale the NBA hierarchy until twice in the mid 1990s their teams met as they were at the...
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Random Game Rewind Micro Episode #1: Utah Jazz vs Chicago Bulls, 1992
In today's micro episode of Once Upon a Dribble (@OnceDribble), Calvan (@CJRealHoops1) begins a new mini-series: Random Game Rewind. January 2nd, 1992, was a freezing cold day in Salt Lake City, Utah. But the NBA action in the newly built Delta Center was as hot as can be, as the World champion...
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Bonus Episode! Analyzing the Top 10 Picks of the 2010 NBA Draft
Join Josh as he takes a look at the top 10 picks of the 2010 NBA draft class and deems if the pick was a "hit" or a "miss" for the team that drafted them. Do you agree or disagree? Give us your thoughts!
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Episode #17: From Lob City to Sob City, the Story of the 2012-17 Los Angeles Clippers
At the end of the 1983-84 NBA season, the owner of the San Diego Clippers made the bold decision to move the franchise 120 miles north up the California coast to the city of Los Angeles. While it can be argued if an attempt to share the City of Angels with the NBA’s hallmark franchise was or was...
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Episode #16: 2022-23 NBA Season Recap-a-plooza!
Join Calvan and Josh as they review their predictions for the 2023 NBA season by looking at how some of the big teams fared this year. Calvan and Josh review their win, playoff and award predictions and see how close they actually were to how things played out!
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Episode #15: "Now and Then": Analyzing the Bad Boy Pistons, Twin Tower Spurs and the Shaq-Penny Magic in Today's Game!
The NBA was founded on June 6, 1946. In the 77 years since, we’ve seen dynasties rise up and then crumble apart, and superstars ascend and then fade away. Throughout that time, there have been several transcendent moments and quintessential teams that have shaped the history of basketball as we...
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Bonus Series! Conference Finals MVPs: Part 2 - Western Conference 1971-79, Kareem's Early Career Dominance, the West/Wilt Lakers, Rick Barry's Legendary Tantrum, the Sonics' Reign and more!
Today we embark on part 2 of a brand new, 10-part series at Once Upon a Dribble! During the 2022 playoffs the NBA began awarding MVP awards to the best performing player of each conference finals: the Larry Bird Eastern Conference Finals Most Valuable Player Award and the Magic Johnson Western...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Once Upon A Dribble is a podcast all about the history of the NBA, and how the modern game came to be.Join your hosts Josh Medeiros and Calvan Johnson as they take you on the NBA time machine to look back on the most noteworthy events in basketball history
HOSTED BY
Josh Medeiros & Calvan Johnson
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Once Upon A Dribble have?
Once Upon A Dribble currently has 53 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Once Upon A Dribble about?
Once Upon A Dribble is a podcast all about the history of the NBA, and how the modern game came to be.Join your hosts Josh Medeiros and Calvan Johnson as they take you on the NBA time machine to look back on the most noteworthy events in basketball history
How often does Once Upon A Dribble release new episodes?
Once Upon A Dribble has 53 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Once Upon A Dribble?
You can listen to Once Upon A Dribble on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Once Upon A Dribble?
Once Upon A Dribble is created and hosted by Josh Medeiros & Calvan Johnson.
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