The r/BillSimmons Podcast

#139: Is the Re-Apex Over? Plus, Re-Assessing Who Won the Simmons/Russillo Break-up 27.05.2026 1ώ 15λ

Welcome to Episode #139! We bring back Chris for his 5th appearance (#93, #95, #100, #130). Last November we discussed who was winning the break-up; we update our thoughts after Russillo's recent ascension and Bill's lackluster content of late - is the re-apex officially over?We get into the issues with Zach Lowe Sunday nights - and address whether the hate has been too intense or fully warranted - and wonder whether basketball discourse in general is reaching a logical endpoint.We finish with a ruling on the break-up to date, including recent developments (Russillo's Barstool week and screenwriting comments) and what we’ll be looking for to make a final judgement once it's been a year since Russillo left.

#138: Why Hasn't Anyone Covered the Russini Scandal? A Deep Dive Into the Evolution of Sports Media 15.05.2026 1ώ 21λ

Welcome to Episode 138! We bring on returning guest Mike (Episode #112) to get to the bottom of why there's been almost no coverage of the Dianna Russini scandal by sports media. We go through the evolution of the medium: TV and ESPN's early days, athletes gaining more control over the narrative, the insider economy, and ultimately conclude with a) why the story hasn’t been covered and b) if this will be a reckoning or continued drift. Of course, along the way the Podfather features prominently throughout our conversation. Enjoy!

#137: The Chanch Bros Return for a Victory Lap on Zach Lowe and the NBA's Issues; Why is the League Becoming Less Cool? Plus, Klosterman-Simmons Pods in Nadir Canyon 05.05.2026 1ώ 39λ

Chanch and Kyle (Episodes #98 and #120) return to the pod after calling their shot in 2024 on listeners turning against Zach Lowe and coming to the realization that the NBA has serious issues including style of play and the regular season schedule. We also discuss how the NBA is losing its coolness factor and how that shares similarities to rap music. We then finish up the pod explaining why Chuck Klosterman has lost his fastball.If you liked the show, check out Kyle on TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@smilingstrange) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/smiling_strange) as well as his podcast (https://www.buzzsprout.com/2573404) and Chanch on Twitter (https://x.com/perchanches).

#136: Russillo vs. Lowe NBA Sundays — Why Do We Already Miss Ryen & How to Fix Lowe & Bill; Plus, Bill's Unique Cultural Critique Methods, Re-Apex Content Strategy Shift & Ringer Talent Assessments 25.02.2026 2ώ 10λ

Welcome to Episode #136! We bring on Matt from Twitter for an in-depth conversation on all things Bill Simmons. First, we discuss the topic of the year so far: Russillo vs. Lowe NBA Sundays. The listeners already miss Ryen and prefer him over Zach; we get into why we think that is, and propose potential fixes to the current Sunday iteration of Lowe & Bill. We also check-in with Russillo at Barstool.Next we get into Bill's desire to be a cultural commentator without taking as much risk as he used to - Bill often comes in late to the discourse but wants to be known as the guy with an original take, which he did more of back in the day. During his re-apex he's been taking more risks, which we've enjoyed, and we assess his content shift from Grantland to early Ringer and now post-Russillo.Next we hit on several Ringer personalities including House, Sal, Matt Belloni, Muhammed Kellerman & Rich Paul, Derek Thompson, the pop culture crew of CR/Fennessey/Joanna/Mallory and give our takes on since-departed KOC. We finish up talking ideas for Bill's future content. Enjoy!

#135: Analyzing The Ringer's Move to Netflix 30.01.2026 1ώ 39λ

Welcome to Episode #135! We bring on Josh from Twitter (@joshjurnovoy) for an insightful look into The Ringer moving their video podcasts from YouTube to Netflix. We discuss the business case from both Netflix and The Ringer's perspective, assess the technical aspects of these video pods now being on the streaming service, and contemplate what, creatively, makes for an elite (and not so great) video podcast. We then hit on a variety of Ringer and non-Ringer shows (yes, we talk Russillo) for what we like and dislike about their presentation.If you like the pod, check out Josh's movie podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-rewind/id1399890948

#134: "Number 16, Limitless" — The Bill Simmons Re-Apex 16.01.2026 1ώ 40λ

We bring on recurring guests Roman (#118, #119) and Ben (#133) for a 3-man weave celebrating Bill Simmons' re-apex. Enjoy!

#133: Max Kellerman Pod Reaction; Is Bill Re-Apexing Post Russillo? Plus, a Ringer NBA Pod Idea and What Makes a Great BS Pod Guest 06.12.2025 1ώ 4λ

Welcome to Episode #133! We bring on Benjamin and first react to Max Kellerman's appearance on the BS Pod - what made Max so good, and more broadly, what makes for a great BS Pod guest? We then talk about Bill's improved content since Russillo left - did he hook himself up to the Rejuvenation Machine? After chatting some Russillo, Benjamin gives his take on the missing element of Ringer NBA pods. We finish up talking The Ringer's changing place in the sports and pop culture landscape.Check out Benjamin's site at section220.com

#132: EMERGENCY POD — Netflix Wins the Warner Bros. Auction 05.12.2025 19λ

Welcome to the latest episode! Netflix has agreed to buy Warner Bros. - we break it all down! Enjoy

#131: Who Will Buy Warner Bros. — Netflix, Paramount or NBC? 23.11.2025 34λ

Welcome to Episode #131! In today's pod I break down the state of play of the Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) sale process. Why are they looking to be sold, which company that submitted bids (Paramount, Netflix, NBC) has the best chance of winning, why is each company interested in buying WBD, and will WBD even sell itself or proceed with their planned split of the Cable TV and Streaming & Studio businesses? Enjoy!

#130: Russillo vs. Simmons: Who Won the Break-Up? 11.11.2025 1ώ 10λ

Welcome to Episode #130! We bring on recurring guest Chris (#93, #95, #100) to cover all the angles of Ryen Russillo leaving Bill Simmons & The Ringer.We first hit on what we think Russillo should do at Barstool, including utilizing the talent there and adding some variety into his show; so far we're modestly disappointed he seems to be doing the exact same podcast. What will his new company look like - will he hire people and develop more talent?We next get into which side needed eachother more and which side has more to prove. Can Russillo truly be a #1 guy? How much was his weekly Bill podcast contributing to his popularity? How does Bill replace Russillo, especially on Sunday nights? Can Bill use Russillo's cap space to better fill out The Ringer's depth?We next give our theories on why Russillo left: was it money, IP, Zach Lowe, or Ryen getting tired of Bill? And was the split acrimonious? Why haven’t either of them mentioned it yet; when's the next time (if ever) they'll pod together? Was Ryen leaving more of a Bill or Spotify decision?We finish up assessing how, in the future, we'll judge which side truly won the break-up. Enjoy!

#129: Reviewing NBC & Amazon's NBA Coverage; Plus, a Russillo Update, Bill's Weak NBA Gambling Scandal Response, and Big Picture NYC Live Show Takeaways 05.11.2025 1ώ 18λ

Welcome to Episode #129! We bring back Gracie (#121) to discuss an entertaining variety of r/BS Pod topics. First, we assess how NBC & Amazon are doing so far covering the NBA. We break down their studio shows, presentation and announcers, and contrast it with ESPN, who has been putting out a terrible NBA product for decades now. Plus, how is Inside the NBA doing on ESPN, and are they finally improving their own NBA coverage? (0:00-40:45)Next, we hit on the latest in Russillo world. What do we make of Russillo potentially pairing up with SVP for the 5pm Around the Horn slot - did he make the right call going to Barstool? We also break down his first podcast episode; can we expect more funny shots at Bill like his 2026 NBA Re-Draft comment? Plus, is the Rich Paul & Max Kellerman pod really the replacement for Ryen. We aren't enthused. (40:45-57:45)We then hit on Bill's weak reaction to the NBA Gambling Scandal - while we're not asking for a return to fiery mid-2000s Bill railing against the establishment, he certainly could've done more than essentially brushing it off as nothing. (57:45-1:03:00)We finish up with Gracie telling us about her experience attending the recent Big Picture live show, before getting into Bill's One Battle After Another takes and The Big Picture's coverage of the movie, including their episode with Van. (1:03:00-end) Enjoy!

#128: Ceruti & Nephew Kyle Leave With Russillo; Plus, the Downfall of the BS Pod 14.10.2025 1ώ 8λ

Welcome to Episode 128! We bring on Evan to discuss a wide variety of Bill Simmons topics, starting with the shocking news of the day - Sir Rudy & Nephew Kyle are joining Russillo's new venture. We then hit on why we think Bill's pod has declined significantly, including the guest list, Guess the Lines issues and too much gambling talk. We next compare and contrast Bill's career with Russillo's and Cowherd's, and preview how Russillo will do at Barstool. We then hit on the bizarre and sad decline of ESPN, before highlighting The Ringer's hits and misses. Enjoy!

#127: The Rewatchables Deep Dive, Plus a Russillo Fake Movie Pitch 29.09.2025 1ώ 35λ

Welcome to Episode #127! We bring back recurring guest Imperial Twilight (#115 & #117) for a deep analysis into The Rewatchables podcast. Imperial's been on a Rewatchables kick over the last few months and shares his thoughts on a variety of topics, including:How Rewatchables Bill is the old, Page 2-esque Bill we all lovedThe negatives of 2025 Bill on sports don't show up on RewatchablesAssessing what CR & Sean, Mallory, and Van & Wes bring to the showThe comedy of how Bill acts/talks differently when he has on non-CR & Sean guestsWhat movies they should do, and why Bill hasn't done them yetLaughing at an outrageous mid-2000s Heat take by Bill Then, at 1:10:25 we unveil a Ryen Russillo Fake Movie Pitch that should go down as a Top 7 Top 3, Pantheon-level r/BS Pod moment. Enjoy!

#126: The Decline of Guess the Lines, Bill's Hiring Decisions & Bill's Jimmy Kimmel Response 19.09.2025 56λ

Welcome to Episode 126! We bring on Andy (@adplacksports) for a classic r/BS Pod show. We start off talking Guess the Lines - why has it dropped off so much, and is it redeemable? We assess what made the show great and how it lost its luster.We then hit on Bill as Ringer GM and discuss the current Ringer roster including strengths and weaknesses. We finish up the show predicting what Bill will (or won't!) say about the recent Jimmy Kimmel news. Enjoy!

#125: EMERGENCY POD — Ryen Russillo Leaves The Ringer for Barstool 28.08.2025 30λ

Ryen Russillo is leaving The Ringer to form an independent digital media company which will sign a multi-year partnership with Barstool and receive investments from Barstool and Dave Portnoy. We break down this sports media news of the century - enjoy!

#124: The Case for Russillo to Barstool; Plus, Why ESPN's New Streaming App is Doomed 25.08.2025 1ώ 15λ

Welcome to Episode #124! We bring on recurring guest and sports media specialist JF for a highly informative show on the r/BS Pod topic of the day (Russillo's free agency) and the hottest non-Russillo sports media story (ESPN's Direct to Consumer app launching).To start off the pod, JF makes the case that Barstool should be even odds with The Ringer to nab Russillo, a contrast to some of our recent r/BS Pod discussions. JF argues that Russillo is both a better cultural and financial fit at Barstool. We explore some content Russillo could generate at Barstool while also discussing why Barstool's financial model and less stringent IP demands could be of interest to Ryen. We also hit on why The Volume, and their ability to offer Russillo equity, may be more in play than some are thinking. Plus, we get into podcasteconomics, contrasting The Ringer vs. Barstool, and JF questions a few moves Bill is making with some Ringer shows.After we finish up with Russillo, we talk ESPN's new streaming app. For $30, you can now buy all of ESPN standalone, instead of only being able to access the network via a cable TV bundle like YouTube TV. Will this be a success? We don't think so. And, we admonish ESPN for squandering a decade where they've developed no talent and continued putting together weak studio shows - there's no creative vision at the network. We finish up the pod going more in-depth on cable TV andESPN economics, and why the network developed such hubris while diminishing their brand.

#123: A Ryen Russillo Deep Dive, Plus Future of Sports Media Talk 06.08.2025 1ώ 20λ

We bring on Russillo expert Mason for a highly detailed look at everything Ryen Russillo: his time at ESPN, the art of a Russillo take, the beauty of Life Advice, whether his contract being up is causing tension with Bill, and, of course, where he'll land next. We finish up talking future of sports media. Enjoy!

#122: The Ryen Russillo Free Agency Special 20.07.2025 1ώ 10λ

Welcome to the latest r/BS Pod! We bring on two returning guests for a 3-man weave covering every angle of Ryen Russillo's looming free agency. Enjoy!

#121: Assessing the Perk/Simmons Beef — Who Won? Plus, ESPN's Terrible NBA Coverage, The Big Picture vs. Rewatchables, Russillo's Next Landing Spot, and the Barstool to Ringer Listener Pipeline 01.07.2025 1ώ 14λ

Welcome to Episode #121! We bring on Gracie from Twitter for a classic r/BS Pod ep, starting off with the Perk-Simmons beef. Bill launched some aggressive takes against Big Perk, who came firing back with a long monologue of his own including going into Bill's WNBA archives - we assess who won the feud.Next we hit on ESPN's horrific NBA coverage - Perk included - and wonder why they've struggled so much to create a good NBA product. We discuss why the RJ/Doris/Breen booth isn't working and predict that the Amazon and NBA broadcasts will easily surpass ESPN's. Plus, will ESPN ruin Inside the NBA?We celebrate Zach Lowe's return to podcasting, and discuss which we prefer between Lowe and Russillo. With Russillo's contract up soon, we break down where he might go - and if he stays with The Ringer, is there anything he could be doing differently to improve his content? We also agree Rob Mahoney has been stepping up lately.We then hit on some Ringer pop culture pods including The Big Picture, which is a favorite of Gracie's. We compare that pod to The Rewatchables; each have their own strengths. And we again contemplate why they don't release the Rewatchables movie ahead of time. We also give some love to The Town and Belloni's appearances on Bill's pod.We finish up talking Gracie's evolution from being a major Barstool listener to now consuming much more Ringer content, and also discuss how she got blocked by Buster Olney.If you liked the episode leave a 5-star review on Apple Pods and we'll read it next show!

#120: A Simmons/Russillo/Lowe Podcast Breakdown — Did the Big 3 Live Up to the Hype? Plus, a Deep Dive Into Chuck Klosterman's Latest BS Pod Appearance — Including His Wonky AI Takes 26.06.2025 1ώ 12λ

Welcome to episode #120! We bring back the Chanch brothers from Episode #98 for another 3-man weave breaking down the recent Big 3 Simmons/Russillo/Lowe pod. Then we dive into Chuck Klosterman's latest appearance on the BS Pod and discus his wonky AI takes. Enjoy!Check out Kyle's fantasy league idea here: https://clubhousefantasysports.io