Dan Bernstein Unfiltered — Episode Summary

A Visit with Terry Boers

Podcast: Dan Bernstein Unfiltered
Date: September 3, 2025
Host: Dan Bernstein (A), with Executive Producer Matt Abbatacola (C)
Guest: Terry Boers (B), legendary Chicago radio host and writer

Episode Overview

This special guest episode reunites the iconic voices behind Chicago’s legendary sports radio, as Dan Bernstein and Matt Abbatacola welcome their longtime partner, Terry Boers. The conversation blends nostalgia with candor, touching on Terry’s health struggles, retirement life, the glory days at WSCR ("The Score"), the evolution of sports radio, personal reflections, and the state of the world at large. Through wit, humor, and honesty, the episode serves as both a heartfelt tribute to a broadcasting institution and a meditation on change, legacy, and what endures.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Catching Up with Terry: Health, Retirement, and Daily Life

• Terry's Current Life:
  • Terry describes a quieter life post-retirement, filled with reading, puzzles, workouts, trips to doctors, and not much sports watching anymore.
  • He laughs about his famous oversized TV remote and jokes that "getting older isn't for the weak."
• Health Struggles:
  • Candid discussion of ongoing health battles, particularly liver disease and weight fluctuations due to medical treatments.
  • Notable quote:

    “Fighting a liver that’s acting up and is goofy...is time consuming, it's awful. And I got to watch what I do when I leave the house.” — Terry Boers (04:13)

  • Terry is not currently a candidate for a transplant but remains determined to "keep fighting."
• Aging Reflections:
  • Offers humor and realism about aging:

    “Where you’re at your age, just stop, don’t go any older because it doesn’t get any better.” — Terry Boers (02:55)

• Hobbies & Changing Enjoyments:
  • No longer bets on harness racing or finds gambling appealing:

    “Gambling doesn’t appeal to me. Horses doesn’t appeal to me. So I don’t do any of it.” — Terry Boers (08:07)

  • Reading remains a joy, humorously claiming he still likes his own sportswriting "better than any of them." (03:21)

2. Reminiscing About the Score: Camaraderie, Creativity & Culture

• Unexpected Broadcasting Career:
  • Boers reflects on the surprising journey from print journalism into radio, never having planned on hosting:

    “It was so unsuspected that that's the direction I would take...I had not thought about doing that.” — Terry Boers (10:15)

• Camaraderie & Teamwork:
  • Celebrates the deep bonds with Dan, Matt, Jason Goff, Chris Tannehill, Scott Sher, and others.
  • Emphasis on the culture of inclusivity:

    “If you’re good, I’ll give you air...I thought the show belonged to all of us.” — Dan Bernstein/Terry Boers (20:26–21:12) “Nobody’s ego got in the way… the guys that worked behind were just as important to me.” — Terry Boers (22:19)

  • Happy memories of tavern tours, inside jokes, and segment traditions like "Who Ya Crappin’" (30:02)
• FCC Restrictions and Swearing:
  • The necessity to censor themselves sparked creativity:

    “You were one of the great swearers...the forced creativity... was probably a blessing...” — Dan Bernstein (13:11) “I enjoy sitting around thinking about things to say to people.” — Terry Boers (15:01)

Notable Anecdotal Highlights:

• “Uncle Tilty” & “Nolo Cornholo” stories, showcasing the show's sharp (and sometimes controversial) humor (16:45–17:51).
• Recounting how their show would have been a “scandal” by modern standards (15:21).

3. On Legacy, Influence & The Listener Community

• Legacy & Impact:
  • Bernstein explicitly acknowledges Boers' DNA in the current podcast’s approach:

    “Your legacy is alive and well here...as long as this show exists, it should give you...however we define immortality, there is some of it that is here.” — Dan Bernstein (60:38)

  • Matt Abbatacola calls Terry “the common thread through everything that was good” at The Score (63:09)
• Boers’ Modesty & Reflections:
  • Terry downplays individual credit, expressing gratitude for a collaborative environment.
  • Touching on the cyclical nature of recognition:

    “You can walk around your neighborhood and people are like, ‘hey, you’re that guy that hosted that radio show.’ What I think...is the number of people who are still connected to you...” — Dan Bernstein (57:23)

4. On the State of Sports, Bears, and Chicago Radio

• Modern Bears & New Regimes:
  • Skepticism about each new coach, especially referencing the "last clown they had."

    “He was unqualified to coach the job… I’ve never seen anything like that guy.” — Terry Boers (33:48) “Bears games look like Bears games...make Bears games look like regular football.” — Dan Bernstein (32:32)

• Sports Fandom Changing:
  • Terry admits he mostly reads about sports but doesn't invest emotionally or as a spectator anymore
• Role of Producers and On-Air Talent:
  • The Score’s culture set itself apart by treating producers as equal creative contributors:

5. Social Media and Public Life

• Quitting Twitter:
  • Terry left social media and Bernstein wishes he’d done the same sooner:

    “That was in your wisdom. In your wisdom. I should have followed you.” — Dan Bernstein (27:10) “If you wanted to criticize us, we didn’t—I didn’t—back down from it...” — Terry Boers (28:04)

• On Fame & Impermanence:
  • Nobody in his new neighborhood recognizes his media career, which he both welcomes and finds amusing (13:08–13:11)

6. Reflections on Life, Aging, and the World

• World Events & Grandparent Perspective:
  • Bernstein prompts a discussion about generational anxieties:

    “What is just the state of the world...especially thinking about your grandkids?” — Dan Bernstein (43:26)

  • Boers acknowledges fear but remains optimistic:

    “I think our nature is still decent. I really do." — Terry Boers (47:10) "There are plenty of good people still left everywhere." — Terry Boers (47:44)

  • Both agree cynicism is a risk, but “appealing to the better angels of our nature” remains essential (46:24–47:04)
• Personal Lessons:
  • When asked what he wishes he’d learned younger:

    "Probably not to spend so much money on cars…" — Terry Boers (51:11)

  • Reiterates the value of self-awareness, kindness, and not “nosing in enough to get yourself in another war.” (57:21)

7. Closing Thoughts & Emotional Wrap-Up

• Defining Legacy & Friendship:
  • Bernstein: “Every day that we’re doing this show...there’s a lot of you in it and always will be...” (68:57)
  • Boers: “You mean the world to me. Thank you very much for having me, and hopefully we’ll do it again soon.” (70:38)

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• “Fighting a liver that’s acting up…and is goofy…is time consuming, it's awful.” — Terry Boers (04:13)
• “It was so unsuspected that that's the direction I would take… I had not thought about doing that.” — Terry Boers (10:15)
• “I enjoy sitting around thinking about things to say to people.” — Terry Boers (15:01)
• “You were one of the great swearers… the forced creativity… was probably a blessing…” — Dan Bernstein (13:11)
• “If you’re good, I’ll give you air…” — Dan Bernstein (20:26)
• “Your legacy is alive and well here... There is some of it that is here. I want you to know that.” — Dan Bernstein (60:38)
• "The common thread...was you. You were the heart and soul of everything that we did that was good at the Score." — Matt Abbatacola (63:09)
• “I think our nature is still decent. I really do.” — Terry Boers (47:10)
• “Appealing to the better angels of our nature is still something we can do.” — Dan Bernstein (47:04)
• “You mean the world to me. Thank you very much for having me, and hopefully we’ll do it again soon.” — Terry Boers (70:38)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• 00:44–04:13 — Catching up with Terry: Health and life update
• 10:15–13:08 — ‘Score’ memories and reflecting on unexpected radio career
• 13:11–18:49 — Creativity under FCC constraints, signature show anecdotes
• 20:26–23:02 — Team culture and role of producers in The Score's success
• 32:32–35:19 — Bears, skepticism about Chicago sports futures
• 43:26–47:44 — On state of the world, legacy, generational anxieties, and hope
• 51:11–52:04 — Lessons learned with age
• 57:23–63:09 — Legacy, listener community, emotional accolades
• 68:57–70:57 — Closing gratitude and mutual respect

Tone and Style

True to the title, the exchange is unfiltered, sharp, affectionate, and frequently irreverent—marked by Chicago wit and brutally honest reflection. The camaraderie and mutual respect is palpable, with open acknowledgement of both triumphs and foibles. For long-time listeners, this episode feels like welcoming back old friends; for newcomers, it’s a master class in sports radio’s golden age and its lasting impact.

For Listeners

Whether you have followed The Score for decades or are new to Dan Bernstein Unfiltered, this episode offers not just memories but lessons on resilience, teamwork, humility, and hope—delivered with the humor and candor that made Boers, Bernstein, and their partners essential voices in Chicago sports and beyond.