House of Strauss

Sharing the pod I did with the TECH BROS over at Monitoring the Situation. Tried to give some sense of what we discuss over here at HoS, plus engage in the discourse of the day. Topics covered include: * How sports shape the future of X/Twitter * Caitlin Clark, the WNBA, and the business of controversy .* Nike, ideology, and shareholder value* The fragmentation of internet culture* Erik Torenberg’s controversial, “Right-wing memes are displacing African-American Vernacular English as the most dynamic source of linguistic innovation” comment 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.comHouse of Glass is here to discuss an especially fertile week in sports media. Ryan Glasspiegel of Front Office Sports DARED DISAGREE with a few of my takes on Vrabel-Russini. We found considerably more agreement as we shifted to NBA television discussion, as per usual. Topics!* Mike Vrabel-Dianna Russini scandal and press conferences* What are the chances Vrabel actually gets fired by the Patriots?* Whether Patriots knew about relationship pre-hire* Russini’s career fallout and future prospects* How the New York Post coverage (story on Vrabel’s wife) went too far* Steve Kerr’s contract options (coaching vs. broadcasting)* Kerr’s TV analyst potential at ESPN/NBC* NBA playoff ratings trends and measurement disputes* Nielsen vs. streaming metrics fragmentation

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.houseofstrauss.comTrying something new and curious what you all think. Instead of separating this week’s articles into their own narrations, I combined them all into one narration. It’s an audio compilation of the following: Eagles Fan Shows the Flaw in NFL BroadcastingUBS Report: NBA Decline Hurt NikeNBA’s Solution is More in Stakes Than StyleLaMelo Ball is an Idiot and a SavantThe WNBA Wants Attention—Just Not This Kind

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.houseofstrauss.comHonestly, this was one of the most enjoyable podcasts for me. I credit the WNBA, everyone’s favorite league, and also give thanks to the incomparable Wos. We had a great time cathartically venting on what’s unsaid about recent NFL media and WNBA “coupling” scandals. Topics! Include!* WNBA romance frenzy: Fudd-Bueckers #1 picks dating? Team hides dynamics amid HR risks, media gatekeeps.* Have two NBA players ever “dated”? What would we guess?* Russini Talk: Sex between media and sports stars is often incidental * Teammate hookups convo: WNBA’s open lesbian ties baffle coverage norms.* Bueckers as Caitlin Clark counter in WNBA culture* Sophie Cunningham’s MAGA hints* Insider sleaze exposed: Woj/Shams/Schefter all flatter sources* Is Adrian Wojnarowski struggling in Olean, New York because he’s anti Trump?* Is it bad that an MLB broadcaster used AI for questions?* LeBron James and Memphis

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.houseofstrauss.comSpike Eskin got into it with Sopan Deb of the New York Times and became a character in my article on UBS blaming the NBA for Nike woes. We podcasted about this subject, Diana Russini resigning from the Athletic, and the playoff outcome that would best help the NBA. Topics! Include!* NBA popularity decline: Discussing why Finals viewership is the real NBA popularity indicator, and UBS report linking it to Nike’s struggles.* Sopan Deb’s tweet skepticism: Critique of the NYT writer’s demand for “concrete evidence” of crisis despite revenue claims, arguing data like ratings won’t sway entrenched views.* Load management and 65-game rule defense* Star power deficit: Casual fans name only aging stars (LeBron, Steph); current top players lack youth appeal or relatability, hurting Nike sales and broad interest.* Media defensiveness/politics: NBA coverage mirrors politics—denial of decline tied to anti-conservative pushback; OutKick overstates “woke” label post-2020.* Playoff hopes: Spurs-Thunder rivalry, Luka redemption arc, or Wemby breakout could help, but his height/French persona limits mass appeal vs. relatable stars.* Diana Russini scandal: Defending her reporting skill (e.g., accurate AJ Brown rumors matched by Schefter/Rapoport) amid Vrabel photos; industry favors relationships, not just ethics.* Donate to Spike’s great cause: The 2026 Walk for Paws

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.houseofstrauss.comOur guy Tom Haberstroh is here to discuss an article of his that sent shockwaves throughout the NBA. What’s going on with this “alarming data” that suggests stars are increasingly prone to miss national TV games? We talk about that and much more. Topics! Include!* Record star injuries explode with 1,400+ games missed (up from 892 two years ago); stars like Lillard, Hal…

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.houseofstrauss.comThe greatest sports media podcast in all the land returns as Ryan and I get into some NBA heavy chatter, with a side of Roger Goodell’s Rooney rule defense. Enjoy!Topics include but aren’t limited to…* LeBron James’ likability in a golf video with Bob Does Sports and potential post-retirement renaissance.* Luka Dončić’s MVP case, improved conditioning, defense critiques, and discourse around Rachel Nichols.* Evolution of NBA MVP criteria from team success to individual stats, referencing Westbrook and Jokić.* Jaden Ivey’s release by the Chicago Bulls after erratic live streams criticizing NBA Pride events.* Conservative misinterpretations of NBA “wokeness” on Pride Month and player deference in the league.* Rising manic episodes among athletes on social media, linked to meds, weed, porn, and live streaming.* Puka Nacua’s rehab stint, potentially anti-Semitic remarks, and his elite performance despite issues.* Roger Goodell’s defense of the NFL’s Rooney Rule amid Florida AG’s legality challenge under Trump admin.* LeBron’s blunt quote dismissing playing for the Memphis Grizzlies and debates on small-market NBA viability.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.houseofstrauss.comKyle Porter from Normal Sport is a thoughtful commentator who thinks about a lot more than just the sport he covers. So I wanted to press him on this topic, plus a few others: Is golf, with the PGA Tour now led by a former NFL exec, about to truly take off and conquer the culture? We get into the sport’s eccentricities and current moment. Topics include…* Post-Tiger Woods stars: Debate on who has “juice” in golf, including Scottie Scheffler’s dominance, recent struggles, and potential as the next face of the sport.* Golf’s niche status: Analysis of golf remaining mostly niche amid declining monoculture, contrasted with strong participation growth post-COVID and viewer overlap with players.* NBA-golf parallels: Connections between waning NBA regular season interest and rising personal golf fandom, including entrepreneurial YouTube golf content.* Family and aging into golf: How mid-life dads (around age 40) increasingly play golf with kids due to modern parenting trends, unlike past generations.* Player personalities: Comparisons of “boring” narratives around Scheffler, Rickie Fowler, Steph Curry, and Mike Trout; Scheffler’s media interactions and focus.* Golf’s watchability: Why golf suits casual viewing (especially with kids), constant action without stoppages, and unique moments like shots hitting birds.* Broadcasting challenges: Importance of shot selection, pace (e.g., pitch clock analogies), and simplifying stats like strokes gained for fans.* Skill breakdowns: Tiger Woods’ elite iron play and lag putting; Scheffler’s mid-round adjustments, course discipline, and avoiding risky shots.* Equipment and distance: Debates on tech advances (e.g., TrackMan aiding young players like Spieth), gear’s role in driving distance, and need for pro-level limits.* Rory McIlroy’s appeal: His humanity, vulnerability, and post-Masters career arc as the most relatable superstar, with older players sustaining power.

Some of you have asked where I am on politics these days, so my best friend and occasional main antagonist decided to objectively gauge it. In this episode, Matt and I go through every question of the famous Political Compass Test, reasoning out where we fall on the spectrum. Will WOKE MATT pull me towards his way of thinking? Listen and find out. For a taste of the questions we’re answering, see below: House of Strauss is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Thanks for reading House of Strauss! This post is public so feel free to share it. 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.comOur man Ryan Glasspiegel of Front Office Sports is here to discuss how Ross Barkan and others are joining his MLB > NBA bandwagon. Is it true? What are the numbers to support the idea that MLB has surpassed the NBA? Topics! Include!* World Baseball Classic Buzz: Is our media rooting against us?* Rob Manfred’s Reforms* One fascinating theory on why March Madness is fading from culture* Why did the PGA Tour outlast Liv Golf?* The strange bedfellows in Iran War media coverage* JD Vance getting surpassed by Marco Rubio as next president on Kalshi?

I visited the friendly confines of Basketball Illuminati, only to be at a severe rhetorical disadvantage versus Amin Elhassan. He was strongly anti Luke Kornet’s criticism of now cancelled Magic City Night, and argued that case with energy. I was more understanding of Kornet’s position, but wasn’t inclined to vigorously defend it. Still a great talk that included, but wasn’t limited to, Adrian Wojnarowski’s troubles in college basketball, and Pablo Torre vs. Adam Silver. Enjoy!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.comIt’s a convoluted world out there and I trust Stratechery’s Andrew Sharp to help us navigate it. In this podcast we humble former NBA media types dared entered the fraught topics of Anthropic vs. Trump, world affairs, reason for America’s Israel alliance, the Iran war, and always, fixing the NBA. Enjoy!

This audio article is up. Happy Friday, folks. 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.comAuthor, filmmaker and ardent basketball fan Sherman Alexie joins me to discuss one of my favorite topics: The 1990s. Though, to be honest, we stray from that subject and get into others subjects of interest. Such as! * Rob Mahoney thinks “Smells Like Teen Spirit” is bad. Fair?* Smells Like Teen Spirit changed everything* What was the last great movie?* Why, exactly, Toby Keith’s “Courtesy of the Red White and Blue” became a hit again two decades later* The cognitive dissonance for White Liberals seeing people who look and talk like them having different politics* McDonald’s as blue collar space* Sherman could plausibly be from half the world* I’m mesmerized by how different the Canadians are* Sports media’s been socially pressured into softness* The laudable grandiosity of Timothée Chalamet* The theory behind YouTube athletic stars * Is more fictional content political or are we just more sensitive to political messages?* Who are the ALL TIME “Pretendian” actors

Mike Pesca wrote a fine piece for the Free Press on how oddly not controversial the supposedly very controversial Eileen Gu is. She’s from the United States, but competes for China, and yet receives…mostly glowing mainstream American coverage? What’s with that? And beyond Gu, what’s the elite American consensus on China? But before the topics are introduced…Per the new Substack/Polymarket partnership, I’m posting an Eileen Gu involved competition. As someone incapable of accurately pricing Winter Olympics events, I’m interested in whether bettors reflect Gu’s true odds for winning the Ski Halfpipe. As of this writing, Polymarket has her favored to triumph. Fame halo effect, or accurate probability? And onto the Pesca pod topics…* Would we bet that Chuck Klosterman has a secret North Dakota accent?* Eileen Gu is certainly beautiful, but does she also look a little terrifying? * Is the lack of elite anger towards China rooted in corporate considerations?* America is less patriotic now, especially among the young. Bad thing?* Is the United States the best country?* Per the Jeremy Carl congressional dustup, is there such a thing as White American culture? * Stuffwhitepeoplelike was a great website* Is there such a thing as a “white guy basketball assist”? * Is it plausible that Spike Lee’s All-Star Game Palestine outfit had nothing to do with Deni Avdija? 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.comThis pod was so hot, so provocative, that our man Ryan Glasspiegel was worried about career consequences. Personally, I believe we were just being reasonable about potentially fraught topics, such as…* Not everyone loved Ryan’s reporting on the viewership drop during Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime performance * Was the bigNBC viewership falloff another “Bud Light” style boycott, or simply lack of American median fan connection with the artist? * Who SHOULD the halftime show artist be next Super Bowl?* More people are criticizing Adam Silver these days* A solution to the NBA All-Star game* A solution to NBA tanking* Artists are dropping Casey Wasserman due to Epstein files revelations. But what’s the specific allegation against him? * I think there’s less to the Epstein story than Ryan thinks

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.houseofstrauss.comFirst of all, congratulations to our SportsPredict Super Bowl winners SFZevi, Nathan Shea and Peter V. I had fun competing against all of you this NFL season, even though I reliably fell short of prize territory. But before we completely say goodbye to football, I present this look back at the game/season with John Middlekauff, absolute contest BEAST for The Volume network. Of course, we got off topic into issues of interest, as tends to happen. Subjects include!* How much is Michael MacDonald worth on the open market?* Why are NFL coaches paid so low relative to impact? * Why does nepotism work better in the NFL than the NBA?* Should NBA GMs make more than NBA coaches? * James Pearce Jr., coming off a 10.5 sack rookie season for the Atlanta Falcons, has been arrested and the details are horrific. How would you assess the pick and process if you’re the new GM of the team?* NFL media seems happier than NBA media. Why?* Is the NBA past its peak? * John’s boss Colin Cowherd famously warned against hiring golfers. Does golf nut Middlekauff still find time to play rounds? * Can Scottie Scheffler reach a higher echelon of fame?* Why are pitchers better than hitters at golf?* Is there a big market to watch non golf athletes compete playing golf?

As I told Chuck Klosterman, I planned to do a pod on his Football book with non sports fan Rob Henderson. So what did our favorite sports agnostic intellectual think of such a deep dive into America’s favorite game? Topics! Include!* When one’s job is a bigger marker of identity than one’s race* Is the NFL a more positive racial story than what gets relayed in media?* Why did conservative media know football was coming back during Covid?* Most retired NFL players have painful daily injuries. Most of the injured have no regrets* How does NFL culture deal with certain positions being higher/lower Wonderlic?* Libs are fine with young women doing Only Fans; Cons are fine with young NFL players damaging their brains* Rob Henderson is fascinated by the gender implications of how the WNBA reacted to Caitlin Clark* Why are NBA teammates rarely friends?* Rob is interested in why soccer is an elite sport in America but working class sport elsewhere* Rob and I both loved one particular passage in Klosterman’s book about how his dad reacted to Doug Flutie’s miracle play 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

I highly recommend Football, Chuck Klosterman’s latest book. In this podcast, we discuss his trenchant and personal exploration of the sport, along with the following topics…* Are we primarily writers or podcasters?* Many believe that young people are correct about the future, but few think they were smarter as young people* Will opinions change less often now that we are publicly anchored to opinions?* Would Chuck lie if his privacy was violated to procure damning information?* Why do we want coaches to be scary assholes? * Chuck asks me if I scream at my kids* Why Mike Holmgren screamed at Andy Reid* The media driven ego battle between Bill Belichick and Tom Brady* Why television dominates our sports memories for games we saw in person* Do we want football to stay American?* Has history forgotten Roger Staubach?* Chuck has been a closeted Dallas Cowboys fanHouse 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.comGreat conversation with Mike Pesca in which I, unfortunately, regressed to my old ways of pronouncing Chuck Klosterman’s name incorrectly. This is possibly our most controversial and free associative podcast yet. * Was Alec Baldwin’s best Trump imitation actually Jack Donaghy?* “Seinfeld sucks and isn’t funny”?* Mike disagrees with certain Minnesota ICE takes from my podcast with Kat Rosenfield * Berkeley made me biased against protestors* We discuss Brian Phillips’ belief that Trump era chaos is all a devious strategy* The oddness of initially not knowing whether the 2nd Alex Pretti video was AI* Should the new Pretti vs. police video have any influence on how one feels about the possibly unrelated deadly encounter 11 days later? * We aren’t conquering Canada and also, adding Alberta would look so stupid on the map* Mike weighs in on whether the NFL should All 22 itself* Most people agree that a man’s morality shouldn’t influence his NFL Hall of Fame case, but nobody will make the Hall of Fame case for serial rapist Darren Sharper* Is Robert Saleh good or just good at playing the media game?

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.houseofstrauss.comKat Rosenfield has, as she often does, written brilliantly of late. I especially enjoyed her nuanced takes on the Minnesota shootings. We discussed intrusive thoughts on recent political events, millennials seeking meaning, the adultery based cancellation of Jay Asher, and whether James Franco was morally wrong to LARP as a college student so as to pick up college women. A great pod imo.

The House of Strauss SportsPredict playoff contest continues, so make some picks for this weekend. For the championship round, the prize is a $500 DICK’S gift certificate, plus, of course, bragging rights. So join in.In this episode our friend Tyler Dunne from Go Long is here to discuss NFL. We also get a Glasspiegel cameo at the start of this episode which is, admittedly, HEAVY FOOTBALL. Topics!* Why was the Sean McDermott firing controversial?* Why did Ryan Glasspiegel want Matt LeFleur FIRED?* Are young defensive coaches the next wave? * Tyler’s take on that whole Jaguars journalism controversy * Is football great because it’s hidden from us?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.comFirst, congratulations to Kevin Turner for winning NFL Playoffs Week 1 of our Sports Predict contest. He receives a $250 Ticketmaster prize, and I have it on good authority that there’s more money to be won (by Kevin or whoever) this week. I’d encourage all of you to join for the Divisional Round and beyond, given that the contest is free of charge and it’s a lot of fun. This podcast was initiated by our man Tom Haberstroh breaking a story on a drastic dive in NBA offense, attributed by many in the league to a sudden secret shift in referee practice. What’s going on with this? Why is it happening?Many a great topic in this discussion, such as: * Is Rich Paul correct to lobby for Austin Reaves getting traded? * Is it close minded to say an out of shape Luka can’t be the best player on a title team? * Is it crazy to consider dealing Luka instead of Reaves?* Is Deni Avdija getting unfairly accused of being a foul grifter?* My dislike of the great (and necessary) Victor Wembanyama* Is a substation is getting 49ers injured. Enjoy!

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.houseofstrauss.comI spent much of Monday listening to Spike on the WIP livestream as Philly digested the Eagles playoff loss to the 49ers. What I encountered did not necessarily fit Philadelphia’s reputation for brutality but it did validate its stereotype for sports passion. I was spellbound and needed to converse with Mr. Eskin. In this pod, Spike Eskin and I discuss the Eagles disaster, head coach Nick Sirianni as Tim Robinson character, the media controversy stemming from that nice Jacksonville reporter’s question of Liam Coen, and, of course, LeBron James’ commemorative 23 jersey patch. Enjoy!

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.houseofstrauss.comWARNING: This is an NFL heavy House of Strauss podcast.DOUBLE WARNING: You should really join the free of charge HoS Sports Predict NFL Playoffs Contest. You can win $1000 in prizes based on making NFL predictions with no money risked. So, Dieter and I believe the overachieving 49ers have finally arrived at an impasse. We discuss this, my fraught parasocial relationship with Kyle Shanahan, whether Robert Saleh is a FRAUD, plus sports uniforms aesthetics. Oh, and of course I defend Brock Purdy in advance of a game where he might not produce great results. Enjoy!

The NFL Playoffs, With a Scoreboard That Actually MattersIn this pod, I discuss an exciting reveal: The official NFL Playoffs House of Strauss contest! Beyond the contest, Sports Predict co-founder Steve Kuhn and I also get into our nerdy NFL strategy obsessions and whether the league is starting to mirror the “mixed strategy” approach that took the poker world by storm. But, once again, ladies and gentlemen, we’ve an NFL Playoffs SportsPredict.com contest for all of you. It’s all upside, no downside. We are doing sports prediction, not gambling addiction. Okay, it’s a little addictive. But I digress. The point is you just have to make picks, with no capital risked. Come one, come all, see if you can predict your way to some generous prizes. From Sports Predict: The NFL postseason strips things down. Fewer games, tighter decisions, less margin for error. If you want to know how good your reads actually are, this is the moment.HoS is running a dedicated NFL postseason prediction challenge. Each playoff game comes with ten prediction markets. You can answer as many or as few as you want. There’s no penalty for skipping, and scoring is based purely on accuracy.There are two ways to compete.Predictions across all rounds count toward an overall postseason leaderboard, while each playoff round also has its own standalone competition. You can jump in late and still win a round.The prize structure follows that format: a $1,000 prize for the overall postseason champion, plus additional prizes for Wild Card weekend, the Divisional round, the Conference Championships, and the Super Bowl.It’s a straightforward way to engage the playoffs without betting mechanics, just decision-making under pressure.Link to the Event: https://play.sportspredict.com/LobbyDetails?id=f067dad7-cff5-46c4-8680-92faea924561&eventId=95c1be3f-7927-4a9f-8f0b-2bdc6259caf2Thanks to everyone who joined in on the Sports Predict contests this season and look forward to playing you over these next few weeks. It salves my negativity over the hyper injured 49ers attempt at a playoff run. 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.comCongrats to ZigZag for again winning a SportsPredict NFL Week. The prize is a 30 minute phone conversation with yours truly, and I’m happy to re-up on that. In the spirit of NFL content, this week’s pod is with the ever granular Dieter Kurtenbach of the Dieter and Hutch YouTube channel. The overarching topic is an exploration of a) Why the 49ers went from analyzed to ignored by national media and b) How NFL national media arrives at its collective takes. Topics include but aren’t limited to…* National NFL games dictate a TON of NFL media takery * Football games should only be played in domes? * Jon Gruden’s big secret on what makes plays work* A smidge of Wemby slander* An insane aspect of a Brock Purdy interception the Monday Night Football TV broadcast didn’t show you* The suddenly surging 49ers are being ignored? * The Rams are the top team. One guy insists they have a fatal flaw?* Dieter tries and fails to sell me on getting into the San Jose Sharks* Interceptions are overrated* Is Jalen Hurts protecting his rep by avoiding INTs?

I was touched by your responses to this article and apologize if I’ve yet to get back to you. Here is the audio, in the meantime. 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.comOur guy Spike has been at ground zero of the Great Jalen Hurts Debate, which might be coming to a head following an astounding Eagles collapse in Dallas. We discuss this, plus many other subjects. Topics include…* Dumb NFL narratives* Jalen Hurts’ teammates don’t like him* Remember when Rush Limbaugh got fired by ESPN for race-ing the Donovan McNabb debate?* Film geeks too often blame coaches* Jalen Hurts’ golden moment that immediately went away* Am I correct that Draymond Green has annoyed people into underrating him?* Twitter shows what country you’re in now. An aspect of this saddened Spike* Did Tom Brady really come close to dropping the n-bomb?* Spike reacts to my pod reacting to Pablo Torre’s pod

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.houseofstrauss.comThe Peach Fish is back, for a very special episode. The great Mike Pesca and I have a bunch of thoughts regarding a Pablo Torre podcast about the activist Riley Gaines that kicked up much dust online. We also discuss how Sally Jenkins might save college sports. Enjoy!

Here’s the audio for the YouTube show with Wos on, primarily, what we glean from Steph Curry’s DIVORCE…from Under Armour. Like, subscribe, listen…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

First of all, congrats to Tom P for winning our NFL picks contest for Week 10. His reward is what many would regard as a punishment: A 30 minute phone conversation with me. Hit me up at [email protected] if you wish to collect. My conversational shortcomings aside, it’s been great speaking with subscribers who’ve won so far. Getting to know you through these weekly NFL competitions has been edifying. Starting this week, we’re making prizes more tangible by adding $100 Ticketmaster gift cards for weekly winners, and the prizes will grow as the crowd does. So if you’ve enjoyed playing, invite your friends to join the HoS NFL and NBA lobbies and let’s make this community even bigger.Perhaps Tom P and I will discuss this latest podcast with top level NBA reporter Yaron Weitzman, author of A Hollywood Ending. Yaron’s new book on the awkward/sordid LeBron Laker Era has my total recommendation. For a sense of how hot the material is, the Lakers preemptively threatened to sue over the contents, alleging that the author’s description of now former owner Jeanie Buss was “misogynistic.” My contention is that Magic Johnson comes off far worse in the book than Jeanie, a topic we get into in this episode. Enjoy…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

We eagerly await Anthony Mayes’ return from honeymoon for our regular pods, but I was able to do the live YouTube show with 2Way. This was a good one with Ryan Glasspiegel on MLB vs. NBA, Sydney Sweeney vs. GQ journalist, and whatever this week in culture/politics means going forward. Enjoy + like/subscribe…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

Sharing the audio from the great YouTube live show with Amin (Like and Subscribe!). There will be a Substack pod gap this week, because Producer Anthony Mayes is on his honeymoon. Congrats to Mayes, we’ll be back at it soon, and the next 10 days or so should be more devoted to writing. 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.comGreat House of Strauss friend Bomani Jones joins the show to discuss his perspective on the NBA’s gamble scandal, the predicament of modern leagues and how complicity impacts us media types. Topics include!Is it weird that the Portland Trailblazers haven’t had a press conference about this? * Why the conflict of interest with media and sports betting isn’t JUST about the money* Weirdly, sports gambling isn’t THAT much of the sports league revenue pie* Would Adam Silver redo his infamous 2014 sports gambling New York Times Op Ed * Good risk calculators can’t understand bad risk calculators * Does the public care at all about these scandals? Or does the media just pretend scandal away? * Why isn’t sports betting a right/left issue?* Are we no longer able to be scandalized? * Does Bomani Jones feel swindled by NBC not having Michael Jordan in studio?* Did the leagues NEED to do sports gambling?* Did the sports media NEED to do sports gambling?

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.houseofstrauss.com2Way founder Mark Halperin was a big time journalist in network television media, originally making a name for himself covering the Bill Clinton campaign. The Game Change co-author is now a YouTube success, having produced what was, in my opinion, the best coverage of the 2024 election. I know of no other person better positioned to comment on what’s happened in political media, with a 30K foot vantage. And so I asked him a range of stupid questions, mostly under the banner of, “What the hell is going on?” Topics include but aren’t limited to!* When did the Media drift into party advocacy?* The lasting impact of the 2016 election on media* What killed the earnest practice of “both sidesism”?* Were you nervous on Election Day?* Two entertainment ecosystems, boomer and everyone else* Did the Media used to be better?* Are conservatives more open to debate right now?* News as act of curation (Twitter can spotlight racialized police killings, or it can spotlight immigrant crime)* Graham Platner’s bad week and the new skeletons in candidate closets* What do you make of the male flight from the Democratic Party?* What do you make of potential senior flight from the Republican Party?* What do you make of the No Kings protests?* Why is traditional media still hard to crack for Republicans?

I was talking to The Fifth Column co-host Kmele just as the big NBA gambling/poker scandal broke, and he had questions. So we decided to do a short podcast where Kmele, who’s a huge NBA fan, quizzed me about what the hell is going on with the state of the NBA and this persistent sort of scandal sports writ large is facing. Topics include…* Why would anyone place a bet on Terry Rozier?* How much gambling money is in the NBA and NBA media?* Why is LeBron James getting brought up?* Why we think LeBron is probably innocent here* What the hell is Chauncey Billups involved in?* Political component to Trump’s FBI going after the NBA? * Does the public care? 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

Members of the House of Strauss community are, as noted, invited to do our NBA season over/unders contest over at Sports Predict. Personally, I am agonizing over the Warriors and their O/U of 46.5. We discuss this in the pod with Steve, plus other NBA trend subjects. Topics include…* Shoutout to Sid Kali for winning last week in NFL picks. Email me at [email protected] if you wish to collect a prize* What’s my overall strategy for making NBA picks now that I’m not deep in the weeds?* Steve is trying to break the NBA with an idea that, in my opinion, broke the MLB* The Rockets’ style is gaining traction, but is it good for the sport? * That Houston Rockets O/U* I have a non analytical reason to love the Orlando Magic OVER* Steve and I disagree on the Lakers* Is weather is a HUGE underrated influence on quarterback performance?Oh, and again, details for entering the contest: The NBA Smart Predictor ChallengeThink you’ve got one of the sharpest NBA minds around?Here’s your chance to prove it — and maybe pocket up to $1,000 while doing what you already love: thinking deeply about basketball.How It WorksThis is the Season Win Totals Challenge — a simple but revealing test of who really understands the league.You’ll see the projected win totals for all 30 NBA teams for the 2025–26 season.Your job: for each team, pick Over or Under. Before the first game begins of the season begins. That’s it.Scoring• Winner: Whoever gets the most correct picks.• Tie-breaker: If multiple people nail the same number of teams, we go to total net wins differential — meaning how right you were and by how much. It’s a clean way to separate luck from skill. 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.comI’ve known Matt Bilinsky for years, knew he had an audience, but didn’t quite understand how big a deal he’d become. Today Matt schools me on how he blew up in the Instagram sphere, but this isn’t the meat of our conversation. Instead, I’m asking this newcomer to right-coded media spaces to explain how and why the Online Right went crazy over Israel/Jews. Yes, to repeat, the conversation touches on Israel, which is a topic I’m wary of for reasons discussed on the pod. Topics include but aren’t limited to…* JEWS* Instagram was jock power invented by nerds* You succeed in the mediums that fit you best* Matt rebuts idea that Twitter monetization is to blame for rise in antisemitism* What motivates Tucker Carlson and Candace Owens? * Why Trump’s victory led some on the right to turn towards Israel* How big is the red shift among Jews* The right’s crackup over Israel/Jews is CRAZY* The appeal of conspiracy theories * Why I think I never got invited back on Megyn Kelly’s show

I don’t think there’s anyone out there quite like Jordan Rogers, so I had to pod with him. The man went from recovering heroin addict to successful sports marketing executive at Nike, and now he’s in the media space, spilling industry secrets. We could have podcasted on these topics for many hours, and perhaps will do so in the future. Topics include but aren’t limited to…* Jordan’s insider perspective on my Nike’s End of Men* “It’s not the consumer who decides. It’s the shareholder who decides”* “Undecided Whale” explains Bad Bunny doing the Super Bowl halftime show* When internal ideology gets in the way of the business* Why Jordan thinks men should work in a female dominated marketing space* What I learned from the women in my industry* Is there an upside to “Enragement is Engagement”? * Why the Kobe 4 is one of history’s most important athletic shoes* Why the successful signature athlete is an impossible feat* If A’Ja Wilson can’t move units now…* How Nike botched the Caitlin Clark moment* The devaluing of “signature athlete”* The awkwardness of corporations marketing a female athlete’s looks* Did Nike actually botch the Steph Curry situation? 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.comKyle Porter, ever thoughtful proprietor of the wonderful golf newsletter Normal Sport, stops by to answer my DUMB golf questions. Topics include but aren’t limited to…* Is golf the most alien of major sports?* Why do Euros CRUSH Americans in the Ryder Cup? * It’s not about wanting it more. It’s that those who want it more prepare more* Are American golf fans…bad? * Is there a political component to recent American fan bad behavior?* Why do pro golfers trend conservative?* What’s with country clubs being SO expensive?* Why isn’t Scottie Scheffler getting sold to us better?* Do we want athletes as ambivalent about success as Scheffler?

Audio version of this post is up.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

Congrats to Mr. ZigZag for winning our NFL Week 4 contest on sportspredict.com. What’s his prize? Well, should he choose to accept it, it’s a 30 minute phone conversation with yours truly. That’s right. You win a week, we talk on the phone, about whatever you’d like. So ZigZag and future Week winners: Email me at [email protected] if this prize is appealing, though I completely understand if it is not. This week’s pod with Steve was a fascinating look at how this season’s NFL kickoff change has turbocharged the value of a select few kickers. Are these unsung peripheral performers actually now among the sport’s most valuable players? Could such a thing be true? We get into that, plus secrets behind my unsustainably high SMART score, the “Death of Expertise,” and whether the ability to predict truly equals expertise. Enjoy!Oh and I should mention that we’ll be discussing some of these topics and more on the BCC Chat. 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.comAmin has been hysterical in his commentary role for these Pablo Finds Out episodes on BallmerGate. With a brand new one out on Clippers Media Day, we had to discuss. Topics include but not limited to…* Amin haunts my grieving dog death process * Jim Rome went into Old Jim mode ripping Ballmer* Why can’t the Clippers just explain why they’re innocent?* Uncle Dennis, the scapegoat* Did we think Kawhi knew?* Why couldn’t journalists within the NBA have been the ones to report this story out?* Why is Pablo rubbing some media people the wrong way?* Does the reality even matter anymore on whether Ballmer is guilty? * Amin and I tackle David Cross ripping fellow comedians for doing the The Riyadh Comedy Festival* Would Amin and I do the Riyadh Comedy Festival

Thought this was a good YouTube live with the Glasspiegel (uploaded for you to the HoS audio feed). But then again I am biased. Topics include…* Kimmel Kontinues (with Sinclair allowing him back on the air)* Disney’s rock and a hard place* Brendan Carr really botched it* Is Trump’s battle for network media…irrelevant? * Can the boomers be propagandized in either direction by traditional TV?* Are there…too many athlete podcasts?!* Caitlin Clark’s Nike models….don’t exactly look like Caitlin Clark?* Roger Goodell denies Tom Brady’s conflict of interestHouse 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

Shana Tova to those taking the day and to those working. Congrats to Tom P for winning this week. Email me at [email protected] to collect a free subscription for one year. In this version of NFL Market Inefficiencies, Steve and I address my unsustainably high NFL picks SMART score. The nation wants to know: What’s my secret? We also get into whether it’s easier to gamble on prop bets versus game outcomes, explain a revolutionary new kickoff invented by the Rams, and get into whether punting strategy should be informed by how aggressive the opponent is. Enjoy…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.comSubscriber CJ sent me the following email:Good Evening Ethan,I’ve got a potential podcast suggestion given current events: Rob HendersonCancel culture reversalCensorship and self censorship changesVibe shiftSpeech and debate on campusesYoung menAlso Rob met and recorded a never (or likely never) to release podcast with Charlie Kirk before his passing. Might would have some insights or thoughts to share regarding him.Just a thought, I’ve enjoyed y’all’s conversations in the past and think it could be a good chat that has some new and revisited topics with updated lenses.I’m nothing if not sensitive to subscribers, so I reached out right away to the great Rob Henderson. Our conversation mirrors that topic list and it is a good one. Thank you, CJ.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.houseofstrauss.comFOOTBALL AMERICA! host Dave Dameshek has long had his own idiosyncratic voice and style. He’s got a unique Pittsburgh flair, not that Blue Collar Steel Town would embrace having flair. He’s also, above all, a fantastically authoritative arbiter. And so I invited Dave on to “arbit” on a range of topics including but not limited to…* What’s America’s Mount Rushmore of regional accents? * Which American accent would you want your hypothetical wife to have?* We want Southern accents in pilots?* Dave Portnoy as Michigan homer on Fox? Fair or foul?* The problem with athlete broadcasters * Great pro athlete, bad broadcaster? * Moralizing sports terms like “Don’t get pass happy!”* Domes for NFL teams, yay or nay?* Can tiny Floyd Mayweather be the GOAT fighter if so many could kick his ass?* Ban the tush push? * Field goals are too easy (unless you’re Jake Moody)House of Strauss is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support

Loving the NFL tournament we’re doing at SportsPredict.com, headed up by Steve Kuhn (even if Brandon Aubrey’s leg kicked away my dreams). Given that Steve’s got an incredible mind for market inefficiencies, I want him here, regularly, to tell us what everyone else is missing about America’s favorite sport. Join up still to test out how you fare against myself and Steve, a guy who ran a $14 billion hedge fund. To enter the House of Strauss Lobby, password is HOS.In this pod we discussed, among other matters…* What’s the effect of the new NFL kickoff rules that Donald Trump hates?* My “I don’t know anything and neither do YOU” picks strategy* The impact of kickoff rules on 4th down decision making* Onside kicks used to be MONEY* Minnesota did a CRAZY white flag punt* Should a coach employ trick plays based on randomness?* What trends are we seeing early?* House of Strauss subscribers and Chat BCC participants are really…SMART? * Micah Parsons’ successful impact in Green Bay* Why does Kyle Shanahan want a predictable running back over a talented running back?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.comYa, I think you have an idea of what we’re going to discuss. And it’s one of my favorite conversations yet.