poker in the ears

With one week to go until their live show at The Hippodrome in London, James and Joe preview #PITE300 and celebrate the success of a couple of their friends at last month's #GlobalPokerAwards. They're joined by Marle Spragg – winner of Best X/Twitter Personality – and Francine Watson, Associate Director, Creative and Content at PokerStars. Francine collected the award for Best Live Stream on behalf of the entire production team. She's worked on the EPT TV shows and webcasts since the very beginning and now execs all the content produced by Stars (including this podcast). Finally, Martin Reis from Switzerland competes for a Bronze #PowerPass in 'Superfan vs Stapes' answering questions about 'The Peanut Butter Falcon'. Please follow/subscribe to #PITE and join our community on Discord (psta.rs/Discord).

Following a big weekend, which saw UK poker legend Barny Boatman take down the #EPTParis Main Event and the PokerStars live stream production team triumph at the #GlobalPokerAwards, James and Joe look back on a successful start to the European Poker Tour's 2024 season and highlight some of the key winners at the GPI's awards ceremony in Vegas. Please excuse our hosts for being a bit under the weather, as they're joined by the EPT's newest, and oldest ever champion. Barny reflects on his achievement, revisits the hero call that earned him the chip lead, and reacts to the messages of support he's received from the poker community and the mainstream media coverage of his victory. Plus, Peter Hartmann from Germany picks 'We Are Marshall' as his specialist subject and competes for prizes in 'Superfan vs Stapes'. Please follow/subscribe to #PITE and join our community on Discord (psta.rs/Discord).

There's less than a month to go until #PITE300: James and Joe's live show at The Hippodrome in London. Listen to this episode to find out how to secure your seats and hear a few headline details about the event. Meanwhile, with #EPTParis getting underway, the guys look ahead to the 2024 European Poker Tour season, and speak to the most recent EPT champion, Padraig O'Neill, who won #EPTPrague just before Christmas for more than €1m. Plus, your responses to Joe's lottery scratch card dilemma, and Finnish Superfan Santeri Ylisela competes for a Bronze #PowerPass. Please follow/subscribe to #PITE and join our community on Discord (psta.rs/Discord).

James and Joe are reeling from what might be the worst poker scene ever filmed (and that's saying something), having watched 'The Good Ship Murder'. They review the poker-themed episode of this British TV series and ask poker pro and coach Jonathan Little to analyse the Hold'em hands. Jonathan also talks about his success in last week's PokerGO Cup and reflects on some of his recent social media "interactions.” The hosts move on to discuss other TV shows and movies they've consumed and announce the date for #PITE300, their next live show at The Hippodrome Casino in London (more details to follow in the coming weeks). Meanwhile, Discord reacts to Sandy's degeneracy at #EPTPrague, and there's a new dilemma for the podcast community to chew on (psta.rs/Discord). Finally, Jodieann Winter returns to #PITE, competing for two Bronze Power Passes in 'Superfan vs Stapes'. The subject of the quiz? 'The Good Ship Murder' of course!

Welcome to #PITE 2024! On their first podcast of the year, James and Joe recap some of the big poker headlines of the last six weeks. From the good – the Global Poker Award nominations – to the bad – accusations of super users and bots on other sites. As far as PokerStars is concerned, the Sunday Million 18th Anniversary has been announced and the new revamped Rewards program is live. The hosts are joined by two Stars execs, Ashley Chase, Associate Director of CRM and Loyalty, and Chris Straghalis, Director of Online Poker Experience, to discuss what's changed and why, and how the poker community has reacted. Meanwhile, Joe reveals how Sandy the Degenerate descended to new levels of Sandy-ness at #EPTPrague. And James Harpin from the UK competes for a Bronze #PowerPass, answering questions about 'The Simpsons' in 'Superfan vs Stapes'. Please follow/subscribe to the show and join our community on Discord (psta.rs/Discord).

In their final episode of 2023, James and Joe look ahead to the last European Poker Tour event of the year: #EPTPrague. They run through the live streaming schedule (six days of coverage on the PokerStars Twitch and YouTube channels) and catch up with 2016 Main Event champion Jasper Meijer van Putten. The second guest of the week is mindset coach Elliot Roe, who discusses his new book 'A-Game Poker'. Plus, Joe talks about being auctioned off at a charity tournament, and Ed Nice from the UK hopes to be rewarded for watching the terrible movie 'Champagne and Bullets' as he takes part in 'Superfan vs Stapes'. Please follow/subscribe to #PITE and join our community on Discord (psta.rs/Discord). The podcast returns in February 2024.

James and Joe are still recovering from Vegas (and a large Thanksgiving meal), but have had a bit of time to relax, watch movies…and read a book! Yes, on this week's podcast, they delve into 'The Truth Detective' by Alex O'Brien. Alex is a science writer and poker enthusiast. She talks about the idea behind her book, subtitled 'A Poker Player's Guide to a Complex World', and the work that went into it, and also discusses her passion for poker and commitment to challenging misconceptions about the game. Finally, William Hunter from Jersey competes for a #PowerPass in 'Superfan vs Stapes', answering questions about the 2001 version of 'Ocean's Eleven'. Please follow/subscribe to #PITE and join our community on Discord (psta.rs/Discord).

Welcome to the Vegas afterparty! James and Joe have finally left the poker capital of the world (after 18 days) and recap what happened in the last week of their trip, in the run up to, and during the Las Vegas Grand Prix. The guys are joined by a Formula 1 expert – Tom Bellingham from the P1 podcast – to recap the race and talk about his Grand Tauro experience and the special charity poker events hosted by PokerStars and Oracle Red Bull Racing. Plus, Dutch poker pro Mark Roovers takes on Joe in 'Superfan vs Stapes', answering questions about the movie 'The Big Short'. Please follow/subscribe to #PITE and join our community on Discord (psta.rs/Discord).

James and Joe are roughly mid-way through their Las Vegas adventure, with the Big Game on Tour in the can and #NAPTLasVegas in the books. They discuss what happened behind-the-scenes while filming the Big Game and casting the Loose Cannons and celebrate the successful return of the North American Poker Tour. Plus, there's the chance to hear from two NAPT champions: Main Event winner Sami Bechahed and High Roller champ Sam Laskowitz. The hosts also talk about their 12-hour trip to Bakersfield in a private jet, as focus switches to F1 week and the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Finally, Iwan Struggles from Sheffield in the UK chooses the TV show 'Community' as his specialist subject in 'Superfan vs Stapes'. Please subscribe to #PITE and join our community on Discord (psta.rs/Discord).

James and Joe are heading to Vegas for the first North American Poker Tour event in more than a decade, plus the F1 Grand Prix! They discuss the #NAPTLasVegas live streaming schedule (three days of cards-up coverage on the PokerStars Twitch and YouTube channels) and look ahead to the return of the Big Game. The guys are joined on the podcast by actor and high stakes regular Arden Cho, who's among the players taking a seat in this $100/$200 cash game. While talking to Arden, James and Joe reveal a few other names from the Big Game on Tour line-up and confirm who'll be joining them at Resorts World to help cast the Loose Cannons. Finally, My Nguyen from Canada competes for a Power Pass, answering questions about the poker movie 'Molly's Game' in 'Superfan vs Stapes'. Please subscribe to #PITE and join our community on Discord (psta.rs/Discord).

With the first ever #EPTCyprus in the books, James and Joe recap their trip to Kyrenia and speak to Main Event champ Gilles Simon. In an extended interview, he talks about his poker journey, from streamer, to Platinum Pass winner, to professional player to besting a field of more than 1,300 to become a European Poker Tour champion. Plus, the guys look ahead to #NAPTLasVegas and the return of the Big Game…on Tour, with details of the qualification path and selection process for Loose Cannons. No 'Superfan vs Stapes' this week. But if you'd like to apply to be a Superfan, or just want to comment on the podcast, please check out the #PITE channels on the PokerStars Discord server (psta.rs/Discord).

James and Joe are making their first ever trip to Cyprus for the penultimate event of the 2023 European Poker Tour season. They provide details of the streaming schedule (October 18-22 on the PokerStars Twitch and YouTube channels) and the accompanying Mini EPT online series. Plus, the guys are joined by Super High Roller regular Daniel Dvoress, who's spent his fair share of time at the Merit Royal Diamond Hotel Casino and Spa, playing Triton tournaments, so is ideally placed to talk about the venue and preview #EPTCyprus. Finally, remember Wouter Beltz from the #EPTBarcelona live stream? Well, he's on the podcast, answering questions about the Christopher Nolan movie 'Tenet' in 'Superfan vs Stapes'. Please subscribe to #PITE and join our community on Discord (psta.rs/Discord).

James and Joe draw a line under the 2023 World Championship of Online Poker, with #WCOOP Correspondent Howard Swains providing the final facts and figures. Plus, this week's special guest is Benny 'RunGodlike' Glaser who claimed an unprecedented seven trophies during the series and now has the highest number of WCOOP wins (and overall COOP titles). But did he manage to secure that coveted Player of the Series accolade? Finally, Scottish listener Peter Kelly challenges Joe on 'Raiders of the Lost Ark' trivia in 'Superfan vs Stapes', with a Bronze Power Pass and #PITE merch on the line. Please subscribe to the podcast and join our community on Discord (psta.rs/Discord).

Big things are happening in the USA. The inaugural #NACOOP has been a huge success. Maria Konnikova, author of 'The Biggest Bluff', is returning as an ambassador. The North American Poker Tour is coming back after more than a decade. So, James and Joe bring Steve Preiss, VP of PokerStars North America, onto the podcast to talk about what players can expect at #NAPTLasVegas (November 4-12 at Resorts World Las Vegas), his plans and ideas for the coming months, and the prospect of more states and provinces regulating online poker. Plus, as the 2023 World Championship of Online Poker enters the home straight, #WCOOP Correspondent Howard Swains provides a summary of the latest headlines (spoiler alert: Benny Glaser continues to dominate the agenda). And London taxi driver Mark Johnston is not giving away his shot. He competes for a Bronze Power Pass, answering questions about the musical 'Hamilton' in 'Superfan vs Stapes'. Please subscribe to #PITE and join our community on Discord (psta.rs/Discord).

For their latest Poker Movie Monday (recorded on a Wednesday, released on a Thursday), James and Joe discuss 'The Adults', starring former #PITE guest Michael Cera. They talk to the film's writer-director Dustin Defa about the importance of poker to the story and the challenges that come with staging and shooting Hold'em scenes. Meanwhile, as the 2023 World Championship of Online Poker continues, #WCOOP Correspondent Howard Swains delivers the latest stats and headlines. And then there's Jack Sinclair. He may be a former World Series of Poker Europe Main Event winner, but can he get the better of Joe in 'Superfan vs Stapes'? Please subscribe to the podcast and join our community on Discord (psta.rs/Discord).

James and Joe have a lot to get through in this extended episode of the podcast. In addition to recapping #EPTBarcelona, and speaking to Main Event champion Simon Wiciak, Joe talks about a "lively” comedy night in west London and hosting a charity event in Las Vegas, while James discusses his trip to #UKIPTBrighton and celebrates Spraggy's success beside the seaside. Plus, the guys highlight the abundance of live poker to watch, with the EPT TV shows airing in the US and Canada and the PokerStars Mystery Cash Challenge being released on YouTube. And, with the 2023 World Championship of Online Poker now underway, there's an early update from #WCOOP Correspondent Howard Swains. Finally, Dennis Girton from Ohio competes for #PITE merch in a 'Psych'-themed edition of 'Superfan vs Stapes'. Please subscribe to the show and join our community on Discord (psta.rs/Discord).

James and Joe are about to head to Spain for the next stop on the European Poker Tour. That means it's time for the #EPTBarcelona Preview Show! They run through the streaming schedule – eight days of cards-up coverage on the PokerStars Twitch and YouTube channels, starting Sunday August 27 – and speak to Brazilian pro Fabiano Kovalski, who's enjoyed a lot of success at Casino Barcelona in recent years, including a fourth place finish in the 2022 Main Event. Plus, the guys are joined by Michigan-based streamer Daniel Schill (aka: DrDadPoker), as he answers questions about the movie 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall' in 'Superfan vs Stapes'. #PITE returns in mid-September. In the meantime, please subscribe to the podcast and join our community on Discord (psta.rs/Discord).

James and Joe are back from their break, ready to reveal what happened in Las Vegas this summer. Both played the World Series of Poker Main Event for the first time, with different expectations and experiences. Spoiler alert: neither of the guys made the money, but they're joined by a player who did cash in the tournament. Nate Silver, the statistician and writer, best known for analysing polling data and forecasting election results, talks about his deep run, and how it feels to make the top 100 in the biggest #WSOP Main Event of all time. Plus, Ross Lambert from the UK competes for a Bronze Power Pass and some #PITE merch, answering questions about the movie 'Rush' in 'Superfan vs Stapes'. Please subscribe to the podcast and join our community on Discord (psta.rs/Discord).

In this summer special (recorded a few weeks ago), James and Joe look at two "iconic” poker movies. They revisit 'Lucky You' (first reviewed in Episode 103) in the company of one of the film's consultants and stars: tournament director Matt Savage. Plus, the guys discuss Michael Flatley's 'Blackbird', an incredibly awful vanity project that features one of the most hilarious Hold'em scenes in cinema history. 'Blackbird' is also the subject of 'Superfan vs Stapes', as Andre Nazar returns to the podcast for his shot at redemption. #PITE returns from its summer break on Thursday August 17. In the meantime, please join our community on Discord (psta.rs/Discord).

James and Joe are both preparing to travel to Vegas to play the $10k World Series of Poker Main Event. James is excited. Joe is incredibly stressed. So, they enlist the services of legendary broadcaster Lon McEachern – the voice of the #WSOP for more than two decades – to provide a pep talk and some useful hints, tips and life hacks. The guys also talk about the new #PowerPath on PokerStars, and give loyal listener Jon Laight the chance to win a Bronze Power Pass in 'Superfan vs Stapes'. The next episode of the podcast will be a summer special, released in mid-July. In the meantime, please join the #PITE community on Discord (psta.rs/Discord).