Poker In The Ears

James and Joe run through the latest poker headlines, including Chris Ferguson’s “apology” video, Darren Elias’s record-breaking fourth WPT win, the start of the WSOP, and positive changes for PokerStars players in Southern Europe. They also FINALLY speak to Alex Foxen, the college athlete turned poker pro, who’s currently ranked in the GPI top 5, following a string of huge results in the first half of 2018. James talks Showtime Hold’em, and recaps the highlights from the recent Twitch special (including Randy Lew’s mischievous chuckle), and Joe reveals his thoughts on ‘One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest’, as he prepares to take on Peder Grennes from Norway in this week’s edition of ‘Superfan vs Stapes’. Plus, there are details of the next $500 #PokerInTheEars freeroll, and a reminder of how you can win a PokerStars swag bag! Please don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe to the podcast.

On this week’s podcast: Joe talks about getting schooled by Doug Polk, James prepares to be schooled by the entire Team Pro roster (watch him attempt to play Showtime Hold’em on twitch.tv/pokerstars on Sunday May 27th at 4pm BST), and special guest star Benjamin Spragg relives his #SCOOP2018 experience, including his merciless trolling by the PokerStars Blog team. Spraggy also competes in a round of ‘SCOOP Leaderboard or Amateur Porn Uploader’. Plus, there are some key SCOOP stats, details of the forthcoming London MEGASTACK at The Hippodrome and the next $500 #PokerInTheEars freeroll, and Steven Poletti from Sydney answers questions about a #PokerStarsTV classic, ‘The Big Game’, in ‘Superfan vs Stapes’. Please don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe to the show.

James and Joe are back for a five-week run of podcasts, and kick off this “mini series” with a recap of their recent trip to Monaco, including their epic trolling of fellow #PokerStarsTV commentator Fintan Hand. They speak to businessman Alireza Fatehi, who made deep runs in the Super High Roller and Main Event at #EPTMonteCarlo, and recently featured in the #CashChallenge TV shows (available to watch at youtube.com/pokerstars). The boys also run through the latest #SCOOP2018 headlines, and look ahead to the final weekend of the series. Plus, there are details of the next $500 #PokerInTheEars freeroll. And Rob Tebbutt from the UK tries to get his score up to 11 in a ‘Spinal Tap’ themed edition of ‘Superfan vs Stapes’. Please don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe to the podcast.

It’s the Monaco preview show, as James and Joe prepare for a week of live streaming from #EPTMonteCarlo. They’ve got details of the broadcast schedule, freerolls, #PlatinumPass giveaway, and guest commentators. In fact, one of the pros who’ll be joining the boys behind the mic is this week’s guest: Maria Ho provides a live tournament/weather update from the French Riviera, and competes in a round of ‘Know Your Co-Host’. There’s also info on the next $500 freeroll. Plus, last year’s Monte Carlo Quali-FIRE, Robert Pankowski, returns to the show to take on Joe at ‘Black Mirror’ trivia in ‘Superfan vs Stapes’. Please watch #PokerStarsTV (at youtube.com/pokerstars or twitch.tv/pokerstars) from 28th April – 4th May. And please don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe to the podcast. #PokerInTheEars returns on Thursday 17th May.

James and Joe are back after a three-week break, which means there’s plenty to talk about, including the recent #EPTSochi live stream, which had its highlights (Appendix Guy) and lowlights (Igor Kurganov’s pathetic attempts at performing the ‘Chop Pot’ song). Meanwhile, Joe tells some behind-the-scenes tales from his new TV show, including the story of ‘The Spaghetti Sauce Incident’! The boys also discuss the amazing achievement of the Staples brothers, and check in with Jaime, now that the #UltimateSweat is receiving mainstream media attention, and has resulted in a NEW year-long bet. There are details of the #SundayMillion 12th Anniversary: Take 2 and the next $500 #PokerInTheEars freeroll. Plus, Jordan Cameron from Montreal answers questions about the comedy classic ‘Caddyshack’ in this week’s edition of ‘Superfan vs Stapes’. Please don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe to the podcast.

Yes, there are more apology kittens on this week’s podcast, due to more freeroll problems! But James is (reasonably) certain that the next game will run smoothly. Listen carefully for the details. The boys look ahead to five days of live streaming from #EPTSochi (Sunday 25th – Thursday 29th March at YouTube.com/PokerStars). There’s info on the broadcast times, freerolls, and some interesting changes to the Main Event. This week’s guest is Richard Orford, a recent newcomer to the #PokerStarsTV commentary team, who talks about his TV career and love of poker, and takes on James at movie trivia in one of Joe’s trademark stupid quizzes. Plus, #PlatinumPass winner Mikolaj Syp gets the chance to win MORE prizes in ‘Superfan vs Stapes’. Please don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe to the podcast. The next episode of #PokerInTheEars will be released on Thursday 19th April.

This week’s podcast starts with a basket of apology kittens for everyone who was unable to play Sunday’s #PokerInTheEars freeroll due to an unfortunate scheduling error. But James and Joe reveal how they’re going to make it up to the fans with the next TWO freerolls (#PlayOnPokerStars). There’s more chat about the #CashChallenge (currently airing on Channel 4 in the UK and Ireland, and available to watch in the rest of the world at PokerStars.tv), as the boys analyse recent episodes with special guest Jake Cody. And Phil Raisor from the US answers questions about the 1993 Western ‘Tombstone’ in this week’s edition of ‘Superfan vs Stapes’. Please don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe to the podcast.

The boys run through the latest poker headlines, including last weekend’s plethora of #PlatinumPass winners, and the engagement of Celina Lin and Randy Lew. They were hoping to catch up with LAPC High Roller champ Alex Foxen, but calendar conflicts/confusion resulted in the cancellation of the interview (James is blaming Joe). Instead, enjoy re-living Joe’s pain and suffering, as he recaps his adventures at The Hippodrome playing in the London MEGASTACK. Plus, there are details of the next #PokerInTheEars freeroll, and Rob Vernon answers questions about ‘Pulp Fiction’, as he competes for a satellite ticket and a chip set in ‘Superfan vs Stapes’. Please don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe to the podcast.

Joe regales James with stories from last week’s American Poker Awards, including his strategy for selecting a date, and how he believes the entire poker community conspired to shut him out of the ceremony. Literally. The boys run through some of the winners from the major categories, and speak to poker pro and commentator Nick Schulman, who was crowned Broadcaster of the Year. There are details of the next #PokerInTheEars freeroll, and Joe has a rant at Michael Nadasdy from the UK for selecting ‘The Cannonball Run’ as his ‘Superfan vs Stapes’ specialist subject. Please don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe to the podcast.

James and Joe talk about their exploits playing #PUBG as an inept duo, before breaking down more episodes of the #CashChallenge (currently airing on Channel 4 in the UK and Ireland, and available to watch in the rest of the world at PokerStars.tv). They’re joined by Sam Grafton, who viewers have witnessed being put through the ringer by Alireza Fatehi in the last couple of weeks. There are details of the next $500 #PokerInTheEars freeroll, and Chris Gumprich from Canada completes classic ‘Airplane!’ quotations, as he takes on Joe in this week’s edition of ‘Superfan vs Stapes’. Please don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe to the podcast.

This week’s podcast is all about Platinum Passes, as James and Joe look ahead to the first ever PokerStars Players No Limit Hold’em Championship in the Bahamas, and profile some of the players who’ve already secured $30k packages to the event. Among the early #PlatinumPass winners is Fintan Gavin – a former EPT runner-up, UKIPT champion and two-time MEGASTACK winner. Fintan joins the boys to talk about his poker journey, his achievements in the game, and how he’s planning to prepare for the #PSPC. Plus, there’s info about future Platinum Pass opportunities, details of the next #PokerInTheEars freeroll, and a ‘Goonies’ quiz, as Andy Foord from Canada competes for a chip set and tournament ticket in ‘Superfan vs Stapes’. Please don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe to the podcast.

It’s a special TV and movie-themed episode of the podcast, as James and Joe run through all the stuff they’ve watched in recent months, including Super Bowl LII. There’s an in-depth review of ‘Molly’s Game’, Aaron Sorkin’s biopic of the Olympic-class skier who ran one of the world’s most exclusive high stakes poker games, starring Jessica Chastain and Idris Elba. Plus, the boys finally give their thoughts on ‘Star Wars VIII: The Last Jedi’. (WARNING: Spoilers!) There’s more ‘Star Wars’ geekery in ‘Superfan vs Stapes’, as Chris Sanderson from the UK answers questions about the original 1977 film. And listen out for details of this week’s $500 freeroll on PokerStars. Please don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe to #PokerInTheEars.

James and Joe run through the latest poker headlines – including the result of the #PSFLondon Main Event and a major online score for Dominik Nitsche – before turning their attention to the #CashChallenge TV shows (currently airing on Channel 4 in the UK and Ireland, and available to watch in the rest of the world at PokerStars.tv). The boys break down the first four episodes with Charlie Carrel, who talks about his experience playing in the Monte Carlo cash game, and gives his thoughts on THAT hand between Kevin Hart and Mila the Challenger. There are details of this week’s $500 freeroll, and Chad McVean from Canada answers questions about the GPL in ‘Superfan vs Stapes’. Please don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe to #PokerInTheEars.

After yet another unscheduled break (further apologies), the boys are back with their first episode of 2018, and a renewed commitment to make the podcast a weekly affair! James and Joe discuss how #PCA2018 has occupied their lives for the last few weeks. They recap the event, with the assistance of Lex Veldhuis from Team Pro Online, who joined the commentary team for the epic #PokerStarsTV live stream from the Bahamas. There are also details of the first $500 #PokerInTheEars freeroll, and Jack Scullion from Cornwall in the UK competes for a satellite ticket and mini chip set in ‘Superfan vs Stapes’. Please don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe to the show.

After an unscheduled one-month break (apologies), the boys are back. James and Joe are at #PSCPrague, with fellow #PokerStarsTV hosts Griffin Benger and Jaime Staples. They talk about some recent developments in the poker world – including plans for the #PCA2018 live stream (eight consecutive days of cards-up coverage), the launch of the PokerStars Players No Limit Hold’em Championship, and the return of the European Poker Tour! Plus, there’s a summary of what’s happened so far in Prague, including a chop pot that everyone loved, but no-one spotted, and an incident-filled trip to see the new ‘Star Wars’ movie. Talking of ‘Star Wars’, Khaled Ali answers questions about ‘Return of the Jedi’ in this week’s edition of ‘Superfan vs Stapes’. Please don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe to #PokerInTheEars.

In the last seven days, James survived surgery and Joe coped with cupping, so the boys are on hand to break down hands from the latest episode of #PSCMonteCarlo (now available to watch at channel4.com/poker in the UK & Ireland, and on PokerStars.tv in the rest of the world). They also discuss the book ‘He Played For His Wife And Other Stories’, a collection of poker-themed tales from writers such as Jennifer Tilly, James McManus and Patrick Marber. Barny Boatman also contributed a story, and is this week’s guest. He talks about writing ‘Drawing Dead’, and his long, distinguished career as a poker player and ambassador. Finally, regular #PokerStarsTV viewer James Martin (aka: Undersea Monkey) competes for prizes by answering questions about ‘The West Wing’ in ‘Superfan vs Stapes’. Please don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe to #PokerInTheEars.

James and Joe discuss the latest episode of #PSCMonteCarlo (now available to watch at channel4.com/poker in the UK & Ireland, and on PokerStars.tv in the rest of the world). This week’s guest is Celina Lin, who played on the feature table on Day 3 of the Monte Carlo Main Event, alongside Daniel Negreanu, ElkY and Hossein Ensan. Celina shares her memories of that day, including her thoughts on her bust-out hand. She also talks about her latest personal injury, which resulted from an unusual early-evening desire for a kebab, following a visit to the Palace of Versailles! Finally, the boys are joined on-air by Harry Mansell, who takes on Joe at ‘Gladiator’ trivia in ‘Superfan vs Stapes’. Please don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe to #PokerInTheEars.

James and Joe have two TV shows to recap on this week’s podcast – the first two episodes of the #PSCMonteCarlo Main Event (now available to watch at channel4.com/poker in the UK & Ireland, and on PokerStars.tv in the rest of the world). They talk to Robert Pankowski, the online qualifier who featured in both shows. He relives his Monte Carlo experience and reveals what he did with his €10,000 score. In ‘Adventures in Online Poker’, the boys discuss Power Up, the new poker variant with game-changing powers. Expect some hot takes and top tips! Plus, there’s a really geeky ‘Jaws’-themed quiz, as David Nicholls from Devon competes for a #PSCPrague satellite ticket in ‘Superfan vs Stapes’. Please don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe to #PokerInTheEars.

Joe has decreed that this episode is a ‘Halloween Special’. Why? Jennifer Tilly – star of horror classics like ‘Bride of Chucky’ and ‘Seed of Chucky’ – is this week’s special guest. Jen is an Oscar nominee and WSOP bracelet winner. She talks movies and poker, including her memories of playing in televised events in Europe during the boom years. Meanwhile, the boys celebrate THEIR return to TV (#PSCMonteCarlo is currently airing on Channel 4 in the UK & Ireland, and is available to watch on #PokerStarsTV in the rest of the world). And Kate Bell from Madrid answers questions about the Mike Myers movie ‘So I Married an Axe Murderer’ in ‘Superfan vs Stapes’. Want to come on the show and win prizes? Hit us up: #PokerInTheEars. Oh yeah, and please make sure you rate, review and subscribe to the podcast!

In this special episode, James and Joe look back at two of the worst poker movies of all time, which also happen to be two of the worst Hollywood productions of the late-2000s. They conduct comprehensive, retrospective reviews of ‘Lucky You’ (2007) and ‘Deal’ (2008), analysing the appalling poker, mediocre writing and questionable acting. Loyal listener Gareth Taylor also made the mistake of watching one of these films, but at least he stands the chance of winning a $109 #PCA2018 satellite ticket in ‘Superfan vs Stapes’. Please don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review our podcast. #PokerInTheEars