Poker In The Ears

James and Joe try to keep the waffle to a minimum this week, to allow more airtime for their loquacious guest: UK pro Sam Grafton. He's a big part of the latest episode of Shark Cage, so the boys break down the show with Sam, and get his insights into what's good for poker/bad for poker (yes, it's another random game designed and executed by Joe Stapleton). There's also a recap of Joe's trip to Scotland for a comedy charity poker gig (apparently, that's now a thing), including a lesson in how NOT to book a first class train ticket. Plus, Dale Buchanan from Northern Ireland demonstrates his knowledge of Metallica in this week's edition of 'Superfan vs Stapes'. #EPTNotLive

Joe is back in London (James explains why), and talks about the “joys” of staying in an Airbnb apartment. He re-lives his recent stand-up gig in NYC, and justifies his decision to write personal replies to the 400+ people who wished him a happy birthday on social media. There's a review of the latest 'Shark Cage' show, including a 'Too Hot for TV' out-take, and an interview with the winner of Heat 2, Maria Ho. In 'Adventures in Online Poker', Joe raves about working with Celina Lin on the WCOOP Main Event final table stream, while James tries to convince everyone he wasn't trolling in the Twitch chat. A technical problem during the 'Let's Go into the Lobby' segment prompts an emergency call to the IT Support team. And Rob Hawkes joins the boys from Australia, hoping to win a Step C ticket and a T-shirt in 'Superfan vs Stapes'. #EPTNotLive

Before listening to this week's podcast, please spare a thought for Joe. Constant time zone hopping is getting the better of him. He isn't sure what time it is, what day of the week it is, or what country he's in. But he's managed to cobble together a show, featuring Sara Chafak: Miss Finland 2012, and star of one of the most watched poker hands of all time. She joins the boys to talk about the latest episode of 'Shark Cage', and some of the random stuff she's recently posted on the Internet. James and Joe also deal with some 'Social Media Beefs' (now with added cow sounds), and recap a couple of charity poker events: one in NYC, the other at the awesome Hippodrome in London. There's a preview of the forthcoming UKIPT Super Series, and Common Cents tournament festival. And Pedro Almeida is on the line from Canada, hoping to win prizes in a sharkery-cagery themed edition of 'Superfan vs Stapes'. #EPTNotLive

It's a bumper edition of the show (translation: James and Joe spend a lot of time at the start waffling about 'Casablanca', 'The West Wing' and 'Battlestar Galactica'). James recaps his recent trip to Peralada for a celebrity poker shoot, which means Joe has to listen enviously to stories involving Neymar Jr, 'Star Wars' actor John Boyega and model Sara Sampaio, and endure a prolonged rant about the hassles associated with renting a car in Spain. There's some WCOOP chat in 'Adventures in Online Poker', with Joe explaining the “technical issues” that hampered his recent Twitch streams. The boys break down the latest episode of 'Shark Cage' with special guest George Danzer. And Xavi from Barcelona displays his knowledge of the New England Patriots in this week's edition of 'Superfan vs Stapes'. #EPTNotLive

Joe is still in the US, and reveals he recently ventured beyond the New Jersey borders to explore the state of Wisconsin. And that means he's created a quiz for James about “America's Dairyland.” While clearing out the social media (and real life) mailbox, James is able to allay Joe's fears about receiving a wolf's head in the post. Talking of scary predators, Shark Cage is back on TV, so the boys review the first episode, and talk about what's in store for the rest of the season. Joe also unveils his innovative/childish (delete as appropriate) plans for an alternative form of poker commentary, and James explains why he's heading back to Barcelona so soon after the record-breaking EPT festival. Plus, there's a mystery Superfan battling against Stapes for fortune and glory. #EPTNotLive

It's a truly international podcast: James is in London, Joe is in New Jersey, special guest Chance Kornuth is in Greece (on his honeymoon!) and Superfan Keith Woodward is in Connecticut. The boys kick off the show by emptying the social media mailbox, and James raises his concerns about a serious Bond-related calendar conflict (the HOLPOPE is activated in a desperate attempt to get EPT Malta rescheduled). Chance Kornuth takes time away from his month-long “wedding vacation” to re-live the PCA 2015 Main Event final table and talk about the latest TV highlights show. There's also the chance to hear a Joe Stapleton one-liner that was deemed 'Too Hot for TV'. While discussing the schedule for PCA 2016, the guys find it necessary to “Activate the HOLPOPE” again. And again. And again. And this week's instalment of 'Superfan vs Stapes' involves an #EPTNotLive-themed quotation competition.

James and Joe are back from their brief, but intense trip to Barcelona. They look back at the opening leg of Season 12: a record-breaking festival, with the biggest Main Event in EPT history. There's a review of the penultimate PCA 2015 TV show, which features more words of wisdom from Maurice Hawkins (the American William Kassouf). Maurice joins the boys on air, re-living some of his emotional highs and lows from the PCA, including THAT spat with Shyam Srinivasan. You can also hear the trailer for his forthcoming film, 'Hawk Like a Man'. Plus, there's a treat in store for fans of 80s cinema, as John Berry competes in a movie quotation contest in this week's edition of 'Superfan vs Stapes'. #EPTNotLive

While James and Joe prepare to bring you live action from the EPT 12 Barcelona Main Event on PokerStars.tv, enjoy an hour of “highlights” from their first 15 podcasts. This special edition of the show features Daniel Negreanu talking about his deep run in the WSOP Main Event, Liv Boeree (and her mum Elaine) overhearing the tale of Joe's sex dream, Jason Mercier failing dismally at a very simple word game, Theo Jorgensen's jogging machine prop bet, Ike Haxton's Ilari Sahamies anecdote, and Superfan Andy Gibbons challenging the master. Plus, there's a commercial for an event in Toronto that's already taken place, and two adverts for soundtrack albums that don't exist!

Before they disappear to Spain for the first stop of EPT Season 12, James and Joe bring you 'The Barcelona Preview Show'. It's a slightly misleading monicker, as they spend more time talking about James's fan edit of 'Superman II' than the EPT festival, but there is a rundown of key events on the schedule, a reminder of the dates for #EPTLive (26th-30th August), and an interview with Fatima Moreira de Melo from Team PokerStars Pro. That's right. Fatima is on the podcast. Cue a plethora of profanity! Plus, the boys review the PCA Main Event Bubble show, read some of your suggestions for “sportifying” poker, and give Peter Blow the opportunity to 'Carry on Qualifying' in 'Superfan vs Stapes'. The next NEW episode of #EPTNotLive will be a post-Barcelona special on Friday 4th September.

It's our first Transatlantic show. James is in London. Joe is in Jersey City. They're united by cutting-edge technology and a super-fast Internet connection. What could possibly go wrong? This week, the boys reflect on their trip to Toronto for Daniel Negreanu's Summer Party (there's plenty of love for the city's poker fans and supersize nachos). Chris Moneymaker comes on the podcast to talk about his appearance in the latest PCA TV show. Plus, he's forced to play a round of his least favourite game, 'Is That Your Real Name?' We discover if ice hockey really is Jake Feskanin's specialist subject, as he competes for a T-shirt in 'Superfan vs Stapes'. Oh, and there are three moments of genuinely appalling rapping. Want to appear on the show? Let us know! #EPTNotLive

We're back! The boys talk about their summer break, and Joe tells a couple of tragi-comic tales relating to his move back to the USA. Daniel Negreanu is the special guest on this week's podcast, discussing his deep run in the World Series of Poker Main Event, the forthcoming documentary 'KidPoker' and his summer party in Toronto (which James and Joe are hosting). There's a review of the latest TV show – yes, poker is back on the telly – and it's revealed which scene from the PCA 2015 Super High Roller final table was considered 'Too Hot for TV'. Plus, there's 'Star Trek' geekery aplenty, as Krishnan Sirinivasan takes on the master in 'Superfan vs Stapes'. #EPTNotLive

Ahead of their five-week summer break, James and Joe review the just-released EPT Grand Final Super High Roller highlights show. There's more 'Adventures in Online Poker' as the boys play the best bits from the latest 'High Stapes Poker' Twitch stream. Joe recounts his weekend of hell at a music festival (involving geographical confusion, unhelpful car hire firms/hotel chains, and a great deal of rain and mud). And Seppo Perälä – better known as Don Patmat – is the contestant in 'Superfan vs Stapes'. #EPTNotLive returns on July 30th.

The boys look ahead to their forthcoming trip to Toronto for Daniel Negreanu's Summer Party, and Joe has a special message for the Canadian poker community. There's more Twitch chat, as another episode of 'High Stapes Poker' is put under the microscope. James and Joe to talk Twitch, and re-live his days marketing video games. Joe recounts his recent journey to the Black Country for a fan-hosted comedy gig. And, talking of fans, Andy Gibbons avoids revealing 'Game of Thrones' spoilers as he competes for prizes in 'Superman vs Stapes'. Oh, and the PokerStars toilets come up in conversation. Again.

It's a Twitch special this week, as Joe gets some streaming tips from the ultimate caster: Jason Somerville. The boys talk about a couple of controversies at the World Series of Poker, and “Activate the HOLPOPE!” to get the expert opinion of Neil Johnson (Head of Live Operations, PokerStars Europe). There's the result of James's 'Star Wars' contest, another amusing Kamal Choraria anecdote, a rather maudlin instalment of 'Adventures in Online Poker', and Glenn Webber from Canada tries to dispel the myth that “Nobody remembers second place” in 'Superfan vs Stapes'.

Despite the lack of a new TV episode or recent live event, James and Joe manage to find enough stuff to talk about to fill an 81-minute podcast! They look back at the 2015 Spring Championship of Online Poker, and speak to the man who dominated the series: Jason Mercier from Team PokerStars Pro. Joe tells tales from a high stakes poker player's wedding in Italy, while James indulges in some extreme 'Star Wars' geekery. And Simon Baker (not 'The Mentalist') competes for a Step C ticket and a T-shirt in 'Superfan vs Stapes'. If you'd like to apply to be on the show, or enter James's nerdy 'Star Wars' contest, tag your tweets #EPTNotLive.

James and Joe deal with some unfinished business from last week, including a couple of leftover Monaco anecdotes. One of them involves stomach muscles. The other, condoms. Jake Cody joins the boys to talk about this week's TV show: the EPT 11 London final table. Jake discusses shooting the epic pre-titles sequence, and his sensational fold against Kevin Killeen. Joe recounts his recent trip to Brighton, which involved a comedy gig, a pub poker game and a near miss! Finally, Ed Killworth is tested on his knowledge of EPT champs in 'Superfan vs Stapes'.

The boys are back from the EPT Grand Final. Joe has some stories to tell, and a few of them don't involve women! Johnny Lodden is this week's guest; he talks to James and Joe about THAT fold at the Monaco final table (and Joe forces him to play a game designed to ensure he never gets over it). There's a review of the latest EPT London TV show, Joe's 'Adventures in Online Poker' in the first two SCOOP events, and Nick Vazquez takes on the master in 'Superfan vs Stapes'.

Joe and James look ahead to their two-week trip to Monaco, go behind-the-scenes at the PokerStars toilets, and are mildly disturbed by Daniel Negreanu's "streaming" on Twitch. They also reflect on Willie Tann's words of wisdom in the latest EPT TV show (now with added pan flute!), chat to Marc-Andre Ladouceur about the guy who stalled on the bubble in the London Main Event, and give Marshall Yoo from Pennsylvania a chance to win a prize in 'Superfan vs Stapes'. Remember: no episodes during the EPT Grand Final; please watch #EPTLive from Thursday 30th April - Friday 8th May.

This week... Joe shares the details of a dirty dream he had about Liv Boeree, but James has a surprise up his sleeve for his co-host. Theo Jorgensen from Team Pro talks about his starring role in the EPT London TV shows, recounts a ridiculous prop bet, and is tested on his knowledge of his two favourite films. Plus, Varun Nitish from India gets a shot at glory in 'Superfan vs Stapes'. Want to be on the show? Tweet your Superfan application! #EPTNotLive

James and Joe look back at the first ever EPT Malta festival, including a frank discussion of Joe's toilet troubles, and a chat with local boy Ike Haxton (featuring a cameo appearance from the builder next door). The guys also re-live the highs and lows of the recent EPT Barcelona TV shows, including an 'Andre Lettau Supercut', and they give listener Dana Craven a chance to win a prize in 'Superfan vs Stapes'.