2026-03-10- KSR - Hour 1

Summary

KSR – Hour 1 – March 10, 2026

Podcast: Kentucky Sports Radio (KSR) – iHeartPodcasts and Sports Talk 790 (WKRD-AM)
Hosts: Matt Jones, Shannon, Ryan Lemond, Drew Franklin
Main Theme: Kentucky Basketball SEC Tournament Preview & Optimism Amidst Adversity

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Episode Overview

This hour of KSR centers on Kentucky basketball’s unusually early placement in the SEC Tournament, team prospects, roster construction, fan expectations, and the infamous "Nashville curse." The crew mixes analysis and nostalgia with candid fan frustration, rallying listeners toward cautious optimism as postseason play looms.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Kentucky’s Early SEC Tournament Debut

• Unprecedented Placement: UK is playing on the tournament’s opening day for the first time since 1979, a consequence of a difficult season.
• Team & Fan Reaction:
  • Embarrassment & Motivation
    • Ryan: “It’s very embarrassing when you look at the brackets and right there in the top left corner, the first team you see is Kentucky playing the first game on Wednesday. To me that just kind of stings and hurts a little bit.” (03:57)
  • Matt & Drew’s Perspective:
    • Drew: “It is outrageous that we're the first game, that is embarrassing...But I'm not going to take that energy into Bridgestone Arena.” (04:38)
    • Matt: “But it's here and so now they need to win.” (04:09)
  • Mark Pope’s Mindset:
    • Quoting UK’s coach: “They are going down there to win five in five.” (04:18)
    • The crew is skeptical about winning five straight but hopes for building momentum.

2. NCAA Tournament Implications & Importance of First Game

• Seeding Impact:
  • Matt notes, “If they were to win two and lose to Florida, they might even go back up to a six seed…what you can't do is take a loss to LSU because you might end up in that 8, 9 game and stare a one seed in the face.” (05:16)
  • The urgency to beat LSU and Missouri is highlighted as crucial.

3. Tournament Nostalgia & Kentucky’s Recent Decline

• SEC Tournament Memories:
  • Matt reminisces about classic moments, including John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins’ heroics, Winion going 7/7 from three, and forgotten feats like Corey Sears’ behind-the-back pass:

    “There aren’t many [memorable] since 2020...I’m hoping we get one or two of those memories this weekend because we really haven’t had any memory in the sec tournament since 2020.” (07:00)

  • Recent Results & Fan Sentiment:
    • Ryan and Drew lament losing six of eight SEC tourney games and fan expectations for results.

4. The “Nashville Curse” & Needed Positive Energy

• Dismal Track Record Since COVID:
  • Matt: “We've been awful in Nashville every time we've gone there for anything. It is time to break the Nashville curse.” (16:03)
• Sage Ritual Joke:
  • Matt & Ryan have running banter about burning sage to break the curse:

    Matt: “We will burn the sage…start in Bowling Green tomorrow and then burn it…the rest of it in Nashville. Is that a deal?” (16:18–16:29)

• Optimism as a Choice:
  • Matt: “We have had plenty of time this year to be bummed...But you got three weeks...where you could turn your entire season around. You could even make an argument you turn the entire narrative of Mark Pope around...what other choice do we have?” (13:00–14:00)

5. Fan Travel & Attendance Expectations

• Attendance for First Game:
  • Shannon predicts a record for the most attended first game, but Drew thinks his circle and many fans are staying away until Thursday. (11:01–11:54)
  • General admission tickets are notably affordable (~$10), while resale prices for some sections are unusually high ($59). (35:02)
• Show Logistics:
  • KSR show will run 9–11am on game days to accommodate fans and coverage. (12:16)

6. Notable Kentucky NBA Alumni – Shea Gilgeous-Alexander’s Historic Feat

• Record-Setting Performance:
  • Matt: “Shea Gilgis Alexander broke the all-time NBA record for most 20-point games in a row. It was held by Wilt Chamberlain…126 in a row.” (24:21)
• Best UK NBA Player Debate:
  • Drew: “I think in a few months he's going to have his second MVP trophy in his second NBA ring. And he's still young, which is outrageous.” (25:03)
  • Matt ranks Issel, Anthony Davis, and now Shea as top UK NBA pros, arguing Shea could soon be #1. (25:21–25:56)

7. Roster Construction Critique – Transfers & Team-Building Philosophy

• Caller Jason’s Roster Comparison:
  • Highlights that last year’s transfers were major contributors elsewhere, while this year’s guys were more role players.
• Matt’s Analysis:

  “In the first year, Pope tried to find a bunch of guys who could score and play his system. Then in the second year, he tried to adjust it to the realities of defense in the SEC, and it didn’t work…you still gotta have dudes to put it in the basket.” (27:16–28:09)

• Drew on Overcorrection:
  • “He overcorrected a little too much with the defense...and I also think he put way too much faith in some guys to make a jump. And then they didn’t.” (28:09–28:35)

8. New GM/Analytics Position at UK – Mark Pope’s Comments

• Job Opening Controversy:
  • Pope describes:

    “We need somebody that can model for us 24/7...do salary cap models, win share models, do comparison research...just get as deep in the details of managing the roster construction as we can.” (30:00)

  • Shannon: “So we need a GM or a model. I’m not sure which one we need.” (30:17)
  • Drew: “If that's what you’re bringing to the job interview, I could see why people would be like…what am I doing? I’m a GM. I’m here to find players and pay them, not look at spreadsheets 24/7.” (31:35)
  • Much of the crew suspects Pope’s vision is more ‘analytics specialist’ than true “GM.”

9. Tournament Practice Scheduling Controversy

• Kentucky Declines Arena Practice:
  • Drew expresses concern that UK is the only team not practicing on the Bridgestone Arena court:

    “Because last time we were there, we went down 19 to 2...I was a little surprised.” (37:13)

  • Pope’s explanation: He wants to mimic the team's usual pre-game routine for maximum comfort and has analytics to back it up. (37:28–37:46)

10. Recruitment & Transfer Portal Rumors

• Caller Questions: Speculation over a potential GM candidate (an ex-UK assistant now NBA scout—Matt says not current), and Tyron Stokes, the #1 high school prospect, possibly reconsidering UK (Matt: “If the number one prospect wants you, you take him. You work out the relationship later.” (39:19–39:54))
• Shannon’s Point: “He needs a big home run recruit, really needs anybody right now. But, I mean, if you can get the number one guy, you get them.” (39:48)

11. Fun and Off-Topic Moments

• Nashville “Sage Cleansing” Ritual: Banter about burning sage to break the city’s “curse.” (16:03–16:35)
• Matt Buys a House:
  • Extended joking around Matt’s adulthood and plans for furnishing his new house (furniture, pool party, “dumping” old furniture for strangers). (47:44–51:36)
  • Ryan: “You’re growing up right in front of our eyes.” (47:44)
  • Shannon: “You don’t even know how to swim while you have a pool.” (51:45)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On SEC Placement:
  • Ryan: “It's very embarrassing...just kind of stings and hurts a little bit.” (03:57)
• On Fan Mood:
  • Matt: “The gloom and doom, Ryan, like the gloom and doom...But this is the most exciting month of the year. Do we not have any positive energy in us?” (07:55)
• Breaking the Nashville Curse:
  • Matt: “It is time to break the Nashville curse.” (16:03)
• On Shea Gilgeous-Alexander's NBA Ascendance:
  • Matt: “Shea Gilgis Alexander broke the all-time NBA record for most 20-point games in a row. It was held by Wilt Chamberlain.” (24:21)
  • Drew: “I think in a few months he's going to have his second MVP trophy in his second NBA ring.” (25:03)
• Analytics Position Controversy:
  • Pope: “We need somebody that can model for us 24/7…do salary cap models…do win share models.” (30:00)
  • Shannon: “So we need a GM or a model. I'm not sure which one we need.” (30:17)
• On Matt's Furniture Disposal:
  • Shannon: "You're the big dumper."
    Matt: "I am the best dumper." (51:11–51:16)
• On Hope for a Turnaround:
  • Matt: “You got three weeks…where you could turn your entire season around. You could even make an argument you turn the entire narrative of Mark Pope around.” (13:00–14:00)

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Timestamps for Major Segments

• [02:53] Show opens: SEC Tournament preview, fan and host reactions
• [07:00] Reminiscing SEC tournament Kentucky highlights
• [16:03] “Nashville Curse” discussion, sage ritual
• [24:20] SGA’s NBA record, best UK NBA player debate
• [27:06] Caller: Roster construction critique, analytical pivot
• [30:00] Pope on new “modeling” analytics hire, debate over GM duties
• [35:02] Caller on SEC tournament ticket prices, Cam Williams injury update
• [37:13] UK declines arena practice, hosts' concerns vs. analytics
• [39:19] Rumors: Tyron Stokes recruitment, potential GMs
• [47:44] Matt buys a house, jokes about furnishing and “adulting”
• [51:11] Matt’s furniture “dumping,” pool party plans

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Tone & Style

• Candid & Self-Deprecating: The crew oscillates between optimism, frustration, and tongue-in-cheek humor—a hallmark of KSR.
• Blend of Analysis & Banter: Genuine statistical insights interspersed with personal stories, inside jokes, and light roasting of each other and callers.
• Fan-Focused: Emphasis on collective experience, travel, and Kentucky’s passionate culture.

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For Listeners: Key Takeaways

• UK faces SEC tournament adversity but has a path for redemption.
• Mark Pope’s approach (both with transfers and analytics) is facing scrutiny, but the postseason offers hopes of a turnaround.
• Nostalgia for Kentucky’s SEC dominance is strong, but the call is for renewed positive energy.
• The episode features a classic mix of sports intelligence and family-style banter, making it both informative and engaging for Kentucky basketball fans.

Transcript

[iHeartRadio Announcer]

Next Monday, our 2026 iHeart Podcast Awards are happening live at south by Southwest.

[Podcast Host 1]

This is the biggest night in podcasting.

[iHeartRadio Announcer]

We'll honor the very best in podcasting from the past year and celebrate the most innovative talent and creators in the industry.

[Matt Jones]

And the winner is.

[iHeartRadio Announcer]

Creativity, knowledge and Passion will all be on full display.

[Podcast Host 2]

Thank you so much iheartradio. Thank you to all the other nominees. You guys are awesome.

[iHeartRadio Announcer]

Watch Live next Monday at 8pm Eastern, 5pm Pacific [e-mail] or the Veeps app.

[Matt Jones]

I actually drive better when I'm high.

[Ryan Lemond]

It heightens my senses, calms me down.

[Matt Jones]

If anything, I'm more careful.

[Ryan Lemond]

Honestly, it just helps me focus. That's probably what the driver who killed a four year old told himself and

[Matt Jones]

now he's in prison.

[Ryan Lemond]

You see, no matter what you tell yourself, if you feel different, you drive different. So if you're high, just don't drive. Brought to you by NHTSA and the

[Jay Shetty]

AD Council the human body is a

[Podcast Host 2]

beautiful machine and keeping it running means understanding how it actually works. Which is why this Podcast Will Kill youl is doing a multi part series on sleep. What it's for, why our bodies don't follow neat rules, and why modern life is not helping. When you consider what we know about sleep in humans, there's one rule that comes out we are predictably unpredictable sleepers. We'll continue exploring how the body works with a multi part series on digestive function. So listen to our newest series which runs January 20 through February 17 with new episodes every Tuesday from the Exactly Right Network. Listen to this podcast will kill you on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Danielle Robay]

Hi, I'm Danielle Robay, host of Bookmarked the podcast by Reese's Book Club. And this week we are talking about a monster. Or maybe the woman who refused to be one. I'm sitting down with Maggie Gyllenhaal to unpack her new film the Bride. And trust me, this isn't your grandmother's Bride of Frankenstein.

[Podcast Host 2]

What I was more interested in was the monstrousness inside of each of us. You can spend your life running from those things or you can turn around and shake hands with them.

[Danielle Robay]

Listen to Bookmarked the Reese's Book Club podcast on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts from

[Matt Jones]

Netflix and Hulu Comedy Off Broadway in Lexington welcomes Ashley Gavin. February 27th and 28th. Then from TV and the Movies, he's one of the kings of comedy catch DL Hughley March 6th through the 8th. And from the Nate Land PodC and the Grand Ole Opry, don't miss Aaron Weber March 12th through the 14th. For tickets to all Comedy Off Broadway shows, call 859-271-JOKE or visit comedyoff broadway.com comedyoff broadway.

[Shannon]

This is Kentucky Sports Radio presented by Stockton Mortgage. Now here's Matt Jones.

[Matt Jones]

Welcome everyone. It is Kentucky Sports Radio Tuesday, March 10th. I am Matt Jones. Shannon and I are in Louisville. Ryan and are in Lexington and you can give us a shout. It is one of those days where I can see the phone line so I can put you on Clark's Puppet shop phone line. 859-280-2287. The text machine a Vision Auto Glass 772-774-5254. In this edition, sponsored by the TJ Smith Law Office. If you call TJ he'll make them pay. It is the day before the SEC tournament. One of my favorite events of the year begins in Nashville and for the very first time, it begins with Kentucky in the opening game. Kentucky has not played on the opening day of the SEC tournament since 1979, but they will do it tomorrow against South Carolina to start the whole thing off, Ryan and Drew in Lexington. It is not something we're used to to playing at one o' clock on Wednesday, but we are and, and just got to hope we definitely get a victory. Right.

[Ryan Lemond]

I gotta admit, it's very embarrassing when you look at the brackets and right there in the top left corner, the first team you see is Kentucky playing the first game on Wednesday. To me that just kind of stings and hurts a little bit.

[Matt Jones]

Well, it, but it's here and so now they need to win. Mark Pope said yesterday that they are going down there to win five and five. That was his, his phrase. Can they drew any confidence you could win five and five?

[Podcast Host 1]

No. But I will say, and I think it stinks as much as anyone, I'm sad once I get in the state of Tennessee. I'm leaving all this negativity back. I'm excited for the team.

[Matt Jones]

Okay.

[Podcast Host 1]

Well, no, I'm still going to complain today and I complained a lot Sunday. It is outrageous that we're the first game that is embarrassing. I even wrote that it's gross. But I'm not going to take that energy into Bridgestone Arena. But at the same time, I, I just don't see a world where they went five street or even four straight.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, I mean, I look, it'll be very, very difficult to do that if not impossible. But I also, I do think, you know, I think Kentucky can easily win to get to the game on Friday. Play Florida, you've got a third chance at it if you win. And you know the. For their NCAA bracket, Joe Lenardi said yesterday, if they were to win two and lose to Florida, they might even go back up to a six seed. So that's good. What you can't do is take a loss to lsu because if you do, you might end up in that eight, nine game and stare in a one seed in the face in the second round if you were to get there. So I think the LSU game and even the Missouri game, I mean, I think there's some pressure on Kentucky to win a couple games. I got excited though this morning because Daniel Hager, who works for on 3 used to does stuff for KSR. He put together a 30 minute package of the most exciting Kentucky highlights of the SEC tournament in history. And I watched about half of them this morning and I'm gonna watch the other half this afternoon. I highly recommend it. Now you could get nostalgic and go, man, we haven't had some of that because I will tell you, there aren't many Ryan since 2020. Not surprising, most of them are before 2020. But man, I was just sitting there watching and, and, and he starts it with the, maybe the most famous which is the Wall and Cousins 1. But there are things I'd forgotten like Winion going 7 for 7 from 3 against Alabama.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah, right.

[Matt Jones]

How about, how about Steve Masiello hitting back to back threes against Arkansas to finish a game?

[Ryan Lemond]

Don't remember that one.

[Matt Jones]

How about Patrick Sparks throwing a pass between his legs against Tennessee, a bounce pass. Do you remember that one?

[Ryan Lemond]

Don't remember that one either.

[Matt Jones]

How about Corey Sears on a fast break going behind the back to Gerald Fitch for a dunk?

[Ryan Lemond]

Come on. That had to be AI. Corey Sears behind the back.

[Matt Jones]

Corey Sears behind the back. It's the only living proof that Corey Sears played at Kentucky, I think is that clip. So there were. It's a, it's very exciting. I, it's, it's on Daniel Hager's Twitter. But I'm hoping, Ryan, that we get one or two of those memories this weekend because we really haven't had any memory in the sec tournament since 2020.

[Ryan Lemond]

And we all know remember what happened when, when Cal's last game against Texas A and M and he's walking off the floor and that's fan is leaning over the rail screaming at him is this the gold standard. Cal, is this the gold standard? Because it used to be. That was our tournament. We owned it. We went down there, we took over the town and then we cut down the nets when it was over. That was what Kentucky basketball was all about. And I missed those days.

[Podcast Host 1]

We've lost six out of eight games in the sec.

[Matt Jones]

That's what I was going to say. So what have we won last year? Last year we beat Oklahoma.

[Podcast Host 1]

Yes.

[Shannon]

And then that was a last second shot to do that though.

[Matt Jones]

That was exciting.

[Podcast Host 1]

And then we turned around and lost by 30.

[Matt Jones]

Okay, everybody let. Okay, I'm serious now. I'm decreeing we can have these conversations. But the gloom and doom, Ryan, like the gloom and doom. It is what it is at this point. Right? I mean we can't like. I, I, I, I am just as frustrated about all this as anybody else. But this is the most exciting month of the year. Do we not have any positive energy in us?

[Podcast Host 1]

I'm already packed and excited. I thought we were listing how bad the last few years.

[Matt Jones]

That's not what I was talking about. I talked about how exciting these highlights

[Podcast Host 1]

were, didn't I thought we just said we won last year. We beat Oklahoma, but then we lost about 30.

[Matt Jones]

I'm happy I thought I didn't say it.

[Podcast Host 1]

Well, I mean that that happened. I'm trying to paint the excitement because it's been so bad lately. Carry on. My bad.

[Shannon]

So the, it is the reality.

[Podcast Host 1]

We did lose by 30. I mean that happened.

[Matt Jones]

I know, but you can't say it and then go. I thought somebody said it. You're the one that said it away. Had the shot last year. I'm trying to think what's the other game we've won since COVID We won.

[Podcast Host 1]

We won the first one in Tampa

[Matt Jones]

and then before we lost to Tennessee and then he went home to see his dogs. That's right. We won that. I don't. That was Vandy. I think we beat you, Shannon.

[Shannon]

You beat me.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. Because you all were like up 20 in that game. And then we came at the game, I think. Yeah. Scotty Pippen had a crazy good game and we came back and won. So I'd like to see us. Can we match our last six years win total with two wins? Drew, I think we get to.

[Podcast Host 1]

I think we just run into a buzzsaw on Friday. That's just. I don't care if you think Kentucky has turned a corner and they're a great team to, to win three straight with Florida being the third. Just waiting for You, I think, is a tough challenge, but I, I feel good about getting two on Wednesday and Thursday.

[Matt Jones]

Lsu of course, had a big lead on us earlier this year. I think that would be the disaster if you found a way to lose that game. Shannon, how do we feel, or, excuse me, Ryan, how do we feel about lsu?

[Ryan Lemond]

I'm a little scared just because we all watched that game. They jumped out on U.S. 19 point. We had to have a miracle shot by Malachi to win that game. But here's my positivity. We get down there, you get the buzz. The big Blue nation rolls in, you get a little buzz and you get a little excitement. Then you win one game, do our big show on Thursday morning, more excitement when that second game. Then you get a party Thursday night, going to Friday. Everybody's excited and feeling a little optimistic because you're riding that big blue wave high. That's my optimism for it.

[Matt Jones]

So I wonder how many people are going tomorrow. That's because most people usually make the decision to make the trip sometime during the day Wednesday or early Thursday. How many people do we think will be going to that game tomorrow? Like do. Well, I mean, LSU will have no fans there. So will we. Will it be a crowd there tomorrow, do you all think?

[Shannon]

I think it's going to set the record for the most attended first game of the SEC tournament in history.

[Matt Jones]

Well, that one year they remember, they opened it up free and it was packed. It was packed. That, that was the one year in Nashville they just had it be free and it was packed. It was like people just like, oh, we can go somewhere, let's just walk in there.

[Shannon]

That was the night game, though.

[Matt Jones]

It was a night game for the

[Shannon]

first game for an 11:30 Central Time start. Usually there's, you know, only the vendors and the guys sweeping the floors in there.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, I mean, last year was the first time they did that. I don't even think we went last year. So this will be, this will be. I mean, we're not even going to be down there yet. So, Drew, what do you think we're going to have fan wise?

[Podcast Host 1]

I think the. Oddly, the upper level general mission will

[Matt Jones]

be pretty full because it's $10. Right.

[Podcast Host 1]

But then the people that bought the lowers may not be there yet.

[Matt Jones]

Interesting for me, I usually know a

[Podcast Host 1]

billion people going to this. I've been getting mostly no's and the handful of people I know that are going aren't going for the game. They're going Wednesday night and hoping we're in it Thursday. Now that's just my circle. I mean, you know, I don't, I can't speak for the fan base, but I'm expecting record low turnouts, at least of what I'm used to seeing.

[Matt Jones]

Well, I don't know what it's going to be like Wednesday. I do think if they get to Thursday because, because it's looked all year like we might play on Thursday. I do think you'll get a lot of Kentucky fans there Thursday. You know, our show will be at Tin Roof on Thursday and so I hope everybody plans to come here. Here's the show schedule tomorrow and Thursday, because the game is at 12:30. Our show ends at 11. So what we're going to do is we're going to combine KSR and the pre show into one show from 9 to 11. So KSR tomorrow will actually start at 9am Go 9 to 11, and then it will go into the official show at noon. So. And that's what we'll also do at Tin Roof on Thursday. So we'll actually be going very early on Thursday morning. So I look, I hope we have a lot of people there. For me, this is how I'm approaching SEC tournament and for that matter, the NCAA Tournament. We have had plenty of time this year to be bummed. Plenty of time. I've been as bummed as anybody. But you got three weeks, really this week and the first couple weeks of the NCAA tournament where you could turn your entire season around. You could even make an argument. You, you turn the entire narrative of Mark Pope around. Ryan, I'm going to spend the next three weeks rooting for that because to some extent, what other choice do we have? We don't really have any other choice. So why not try to enjoy it and hope it works out?

[Ryan Lemond]

And we've seen it happen before. You keep, you know, we talk about the 2014 team, even the 2011 team kind of struggled through the SEC season and then caught fire in March. I mean, it could still happen.

[Matt Jones]

The 2011 team went and I. Did they win the SEC tournament? I think they did.

[Ryan Lemond]

I think they did.

[Podcast Host 1]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

And the 2014 team went and got to the finals and lost when James Young slipped against Florida. Yes.

[Ryan Lemond]

Right.

[Matt Jones]

But that was a Florida team we didn't think we'd have any chance of beating.

[Podcast Host 1]

No.

[Matt Jones]

And they played him right down to the final play and lost. That was in Atlanta, I believe. So. You know, I don't know that that's going to happen, but it might. And so kind of that, Drew, is how I'm, how my Mindset is going.

[Podcast Host 1]

Yep. And again, I feel pretty confident about Wednesday and Thursday. And, you know, we want more, but that can still be fun, winning those games. We just need to flip the switch on Nashville. That city has been cursed. So if we can get a couple and you get to that Florida game, well, at least have the excitement of playing the SEC champ and taking that shot, and then we'll see what happens. But one game at a time, and hopefully it goes well.

[Matt Jones]

I do wonder if Shannon, you know, we were there when Covid, like, kind of officially broke, right? I still remember we were sitting in that suite watching, you know, two random

[Shannon]

teams play, and then you go, did you see this? Tom Hanks as Tom Hanks.

[Matt Jones]

I remember Tom Hanks has Covid within, like, 30 minutes. Tom Hanks has Covid. They canceled that Oklahoma City game because of Rudy Gobert.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yes.

[Matt Jones]

Right. And then Trump closed the airspace around the country. Like, you couldn't fly in and out.

[Shannon]

It felt like that night, the world was ending.

[Matt Jones]

It did. In, like, 30 minutes.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

It felt like the entire world was ending. And then, since then, Drew's right. We've been awful in Nashville every time we've gone there for anything. It is time to break the Nashville curse.

[Shannon]

Ryan, do you still have the stage?

[Ryan Lemond]

I go see. We've got some sage. We can get out and burn it.

[Matt Jones]

Do you want to bring the sage?

[Ryan Lemond]

I'll bring it if we're going to burn it and burn this sage.

[Matt Jones]

You got wet, though.

[Ryan Lemond]

That wouldn't. That stayed in Seattle. Yeah, that. Flower pot.

[Shannon]

Flower pot.

[Matt Jones]

All right, so we will burn the sage. Well, we'll start in Bowling Green tomorrow and then burn it. The rest of it in Nashville. Is that a deal?

[Ryan Lemond]

Perfect.

[Shannon]

You should just roll the window down and just go down the highway.

[Matt Jones]

Go down the highway with sage

[Shannon]

out the window.

[Matt Jones]

859280, 2287. Open the phones. You all. We're going to. This is kind of a ask anything or say anything Tuesday as we get ready for the weekend. It is, you know, it's a chance to salvage the season, and it's also a chance to sort of salvage the narrative. And what is happening with the phones, Shannon?

[Shannon]

Yeah, people call on, then they hang up immediately.

[Matt Jones]

Why are they all hanging up? Do they get scared?

[Shannon]

I don't know.

[Matt Jones]

If you're gonna call, don't be scared.

[Shannon]

If you're scared, go to church.

[Matt Jones]

That's exactly right. Will Stein told us that yesterday. If you're scared, go to church. We've had, like, four people call. Shannon puts them on hold, then they hang up. Yep, we'll tell them to stop. We'll take a break. Be right back.

[iHeartRadio Announcer]

KSR next Monday, our 2026 iHeart podcast awards are happening live at south by Southwest.

[Podcast Host 1]

This is the biggest night in podcasting.

[iHeartRadio Announcer]

We'll honor the very best in podcasting from the past year and celebrate the most innovative talent and creators in the industry.

[Matt Jones]

And the winner is.

[iHeartRadio Announcer]

Creativity, knowledge and passion will all be on full display.

[Podcast Host 2]

Thank you so much iheartradio. Thank you to all the other nominees. You guys are awesome.

[iHeartRadio Announcer]

Watch live next Monday at 8pm Eastern, 5pm Pacific [e-mail] or the Veeps app.

[Jay Shetty]

Hey, I'm Jay Shetty, host of the On Purpose podcast. My latest episode is with Hilary Duff, singer, actress and multi platinum artist. Hilary opens up about complicated family dynamics, motherhood and releasing our first record in over 10 years. We talk about what it's taken to grow up in the entertainment industry and stay grounded through every chapter. It's a raw and honest conversation about identity, evolution and building a life that truly matters.

[Danielle Robay]

You desire in family. Like this picture. And that's not reality. A lot of the times for people my sister and I don't speak. It's definitely a very painful part of my life and I hope it's not forever, but it's for right now.

[Jay Shetty]

Listen to On Purpose with Jay Shetty on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Danielle Robay]

Hi, I'm Danielle Robe, host of Bookmarked the podcast by Reese's Book Club. And this week we are talking about a monster, or maybe the woman who refused to be one. I'm sitting down with Maggie Gyllenhaal to unpack her new film the Bride. And trust me, this isn't your grandmother's Bride of Frankenstein. It's darker, smarter, sexier, a full reimagining of what happens when the monster gets

[Podcast Host 2]

a voice of her own. What I was more interested in was the monstrousness inside of each of us. You can spend your life running from those things or you can turn around and shake hands with them. If I'm honest about that and I tell my story about monsters, really dealing in something truthful, and I do it in a way that's popping, that's hot, that's like getting on a roller coaster. Will people respond?

[Danielle Robay]

Listen to Bookmarked the Reese's Book Club podcast on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Matt Jones]

I went and sat on the little ottoman in front of him. Hi, dad. And just when I said that, my mom comes out of the kitchen and she says, I have some cookies and milk. This is badass, convict, Right? Just finished five years. I'm going to have cookies and milk at mall.

[Podcast Host 1]

Yeah.

[Ryan Lemond]

On the Cine show podcast, each episode invites you into a raw, unfiltered conversations about recovery, resilience and redemption. On a recent episode, I sit down with actor cultural icon Danny Trail. Talk about addiction, transformation and the power of second chances. The entire season two is now available to binge, featuring powerful conversations with the guests like Tiffany Adish, Johnny Knoxville, and more.

[Matt Jones]

I'm an alcoholic, and without this program, I'm gonna die.

[Ryan Lemond]

Open your free iHeartRadio app, search the Cino show and listen now.

[Matt Jones]

Welcome back. We are. It's Kentucky Sports Radio. It looks like there also could be a problem technological wise, Shannon, which is not all normal. No way.

[Shannon]

That's never happened.

[Ryan Lemond]

Not at I heart. Come on, man.

[Matt Jones]

It looks like lines 2, 5, and 6.

[Shannon]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

Will just hang up on people.

[Shannon]

Right?

[Matt Jones]

1, 3, and 4.

[Shannon]

There it goes.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. It's like literally. All right, so. So just put Drew on the phone really quick on line two. All right.

[Shannon]

There you go.

[Matt Jones]

All right. Drew, are you there? Drew?

[Caller]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

All right, I want you to start talking and let's see if it hangs up on you. Go ahead. Yep, there it goes.

[Shannon]

It hung up on it. Yep.

[Matt Jones]

How do we have these problems? This. Our tech is like Kentucky's SEC tournament performance.

[Shannon]

It really is. It's unpredictable.

[Matt Jones]

All right, well, we have three people who it hasn't hung up on, so we'll do them.

[Shannon]

I'm not even going to answer these.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, don't answer them. Cause they're just going to end up.

[Ryan Lemond]

Here comes Gus.

[Matt Jones]

All right. Hopefully Gus will get. We'll fix it. One person writes, matt, we are going because we pay so much for the SEC tournament. But I've never been excited about it less. I'm hoping I get down there and feel the energy. I mean, you will. There is a sense in which there is energy that happens as soon as you get down there. And I do think that'll be good. One person writes, Matt, we've gone 13 straight years. It's not even so much the way we play. It's just now Nashville is so expensive. Drew, that is. Although I will tell you, I looked at price when. When my group decided to go. I think it's actually much cheaper for this than it's been the last four or five years because I think they just overbuilt everything. Do you agree?

[Podcast Host 1]

Yeah. They've added certainly going back to when it first got to Nashville. There's so many more hotels. Also think you know there's teams are better but like with Kentucky fans we kind of knew every Friday one o' clock that's our game. I think might might not be as booking things as early as it has in the past because especially this year a lot of teams didn't have a clue where they'd be until the last moment. So some stuff was still open and maybe people decided not to even go.

[Matt Jones]

This probably will Ryan be the return of a bajillion Arkansas fans going you know like they they used to do that for years and then they kind of stopped and I and they're good and they've been good all year whereas that last time they kind of weren't. I think you're going to see a ton of hogs people down there.

[Ryan Lemond]

You know I hadn't thought about that but that's a good call because they're there. I've always felt like they were the second best SEC fan base to travel to the question and so now that they're kind of rolling again Cal's got them going. I bet you're right. I thought there will be a big crowd of Arkansas fans.

[Matt Jones]

All right. Well hopefully this starts working. We have Gus Allen online too. That hangs up on him then we're

[Shannon]

testing it with Gus.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. 859-280-2287 I want to note something from yesterday. Did any anyone but me watch the Oklahoma the Thunder versus Nuggets.

[Podcast Host 1]

I didn't see the Sports center highlights but didn't see it live.

[Matt Jones]

I watched it live. Shea Alexander and Jokic was an amazing battle. Like if you like basketball both. I mean obviously Shea played for us but Yokich and Shay are so much fun to watch and they just went back and forth and back and forth. Shea hit two threes down the stretch to win which were crazy shots. But in the process Shea Gilgis Alexander broke the all time NBA record for most 20 point games in a row. It was held by Wilt Chamberlain.

[Ryan Lemond]

Golly.

[Matt Jones]

And Shea has scored 126 in a row. 20 point games. 126 in a row.

[Ryan Lemond]

It blows my mind to hear that. That's crazy.

[Matt Jones]

That's crazy. And he's our guy. And he didn't start when he first got here because of quad A Green.

[Ryan Lemond]

He kind of became a star here at the SEC tournament. Didn't he win the SEC tournament mvp?

[Matt Jones]

He did. He started he started being good in SEC play and then he was the SEC Tournament mvp. But Drew, is he going to finish his career the best Kentucky NBA player of all time?

[Podcast Host 1]

Yes. Because I think in a few months he's going to have his second MVP trophy in his second NBA ring. And he's still young, which is outrageous. And we know that team is probably not done. So yeah, I mean, we think of Anthony Davis. Unfortunately, injuries got him. I think Shay's on a fast track to be that guy.

[Matt Jones]

I mean, if you're ranking the best NBA players at Kentucky today, Issel is one, AD is two. But I think even today Ryan Shea is three. And I think in two years he's going to be one.

[Ryan Lemond]

I'm trying to think of guys nobody's ever obviously won an mvp, but some all star guys and Rondo's got a ring.

[Matt Jones]

But on the level of Issel Davis or Shay.

[Podcast Host 1]

Yeah, I agree.

[Ryan Lemond]

Max Vernon and Rex are probably in the top 10.

[Podcast Host 1]

Sean had a good run.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, but I mean Shay's the mvp.

[Podcast Host 1]

That's.

[Ryan Lemond]

I know it.

[Matt Jones]

Shay is. If Shea stopped his career today, I think he's probably number three and he's going to be number one. And in the I. Kentucky fans when he was here would just have never fathomed that could be true.

[Ryan Lemond]

Can Cal just kind of took him as a late addition, just as the backup point guard. Like not really was enough. No fanfare about the guy or anything.

[Matt Jones]

He wasn't even a McDonald's all American in that time that everyone we had was. He was not. And he's going to end up being the best player to ever play here in the NBA. Jason, go ahead. Jason.

[Caller]

Good morning, guys. Thanks for.

[Matt Jones]

Good morning.

[Caller]

Jason Wade, I hope you're doing well. I am wondering what you guys think about roster construction last year versus this year. It seems like last year all of the guys were kind of the man where they came from. You know, Amari was three time conference defensive player of the year, first team all conference. Butler was a Final four hero. Jackson Robinson was an NBA prospect. And it kind of feels like all the guys we took this year were the sixth, seventh or eighth men on their team, you know.

[Jay Shetty]

No.

[Caller]

No offense to Zell, he played great. No offense to Mo, he's played great the last month. But other SEC schools kind of just let those guys go. So not sure.

[Matt Jones]

Well, they didn't let him go. They wanted to keep them. They wanted to keep them. But I do think you're. You're right. I think the big. The way I would Articulate it is. In the first year, Pope tried to find a bunch of guys who could score and play what he thought his system was. And then in the second year, he tried to adjust it to the realities of defense in the sec, and it didn't work. I mean, it didn't work. It turns out that when you get a bunch of guys who in theory are there for defense and hustle or whatever, you still got to have dudes to put it in the basket. And. And I appreciate the call. I think that was the thing to me, Drew, is he adjusted because of how bad Alabama beat us last year in every game. And in adjusting for Alabama, we ended up making ourselves susceptible to be beaten by everybody.

[Podcast Host 1]

Yeah, he overcorrected a little too much with the defense, especially Diabate, who I love. But at the four, with the way Pope plays, they need a shooter there. And even though Diabate nailed that three against Florida, we know he's. It's not exactly his.

[Matt Jones]

That was amazing. Three to it. Like, it was. It was like it almost died in the basket, but. Yeah, go ahead.

[Podcast Host 1]

I almost died when he was shooting it. Then it went in. That was one of those no, no, no yeses. But I also think he put way too much faith in some guys to make a jump. And then they didn't make a jump.

[Matt Jones]

And then they didn't. They didn't. It'll be interesting to see now what way does he go this time? Because it'll be, you know, which way are you going to go? We hope the phone lines will work. It's hard to know, Shannon.

[Shannon]

Probably not.

[Matt Jones]

We'll take a break. Be right back.

[Ryan Lemond]

KSI, call me

[Podcast Host 2]

TJ Smith, personal injury attorney.

[Matt Jones]

Call tj. He'll make him pay.

[Shannon]

Now more of Kentucky Sports Radio presented by Stockton Mortgage. Here's Matt Jones.

[Matt Jones]

All right, we. Let's do a couple things here. First of all, is Mark Pope having a press conference right now at this moment? Okay. Because there's some quotes coming out and we should talk about. First of all, we. I mentioned last week they had posted a job opening on the website for UK Athletics that made it look like it might be a gm. But then the more you looked at looked like it probably wasn't a gm. So at his press conference. Shannon, I want you to do Mark Pope speak here. Okay. Yeah, I'm going to read you. He was asked about the job opening and here's what he said. We need somebody that can model for us 247 that can do salary cap models, that can do win share models. That can do comparison research in terms of us trying to have some just get as deep in the details of managing the roster construction as we can. It's important to have somebody that literally 24 hours a day, seven days a week is going to be just, you know, war gaming and modeling. Modeling over and over and over again.

[Shannon]

So we need a GM or a model. I'm not sure which one we need.

[Matt Jones]

I don't think that sounds like a gm. That sounds like a computer nerd. Right.

[Ryan Lemond]

Somebody's gonna run the numbers and do the.

[Matt Jones]

Somebody that can model. He uses the word model four times.

[Shannon]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

So this goes with. I had a conversation yesterday with someone that has talked to him about the job over the last little while. And they said to me that at the time, they kind of thought Pope really wasn't looking for a gm. He was looking for basically someone to do exactly what he's saying right here. Run models. Basically looking for an analytics person, not a gm.

[Shannon]

I thought he was the analytics person.

[Matt Jones]

Well, no, he's got people to do it. But I think he needs a GM to essentially a lot pick the players. Not to run models. But it sounds like to me, if you just read that quote, he's not looking for a gm. He's looking for a science person, Drew to give him data and then he's going to do it.

[Podcast Host 1]

Yeah. The word is he's already had some conversations looking for a gm. And those guys either. Whichever side, it didn't work out. But if that's what you're bringing to the job interview, I could see why people would be like, what? What in the world? What am I doing? I'm a gm. I'm here to find players and pay them, not look at spreadsheets 24 7.

[Matt Jones]

Do you think he just doesn't want to call it a gm? Is there like a stubborn streak of. I'm not going to call it that.

[Ryan Lemond]

But why would he have it? I mean, that's the trend that is modern basketball. I think he would embrace it.

[Matt Jones]

Salary cap models, wind share models, comparison research. I mean, that puts. That's the dorkiest sounding.

[Shannon]

Is that going to make you win basketball games?

[Matt Jones]

I don't know.

[Shannon]

How about we get some players?

[Matt Jones]

Well, I mean, okay, I'm not like. I don't. I don't know. It's. Why can't he just call it a gm? Does he just not want to call it a gm?

[Podcast Host 1]

I guess this is me just guessing. He seems might be a guy likes to have a little bit control. We know some People like that and maybe just doesn't want the optics of I am handing off part of this job that I've wanted forever to someone else when the people before me never handed it off. Now times are different and it's okay to hand it off, but I think maybe in his brain he might not see it that way. And then I also worry. I brought this up before Pitino fired his gm, like, two months ago.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host 1]

And we all know how he leans on Patino.

[Matt Jones]

But if you believe what people have said, the agents and stuff, part of Pope's weakness is like dealing with the agents and all of that. Do you think this person who's good at models is going to be good at that?

[Ryan Lemond]

That the GM hat? Yeah, maybe it is some analytics, but it's also dealing with the right.

[Matt Jones]

Like, it's also dealing with people right now. Duke announces this morning Caleb Foster, their point guard, is out with a broken foot. That's huge for them. Duke was my. Duke was going to be my pick to win a national championship. And now I don't think you can pick that if they've lost their point guard. I think you have to say, you know, they. They're still good, but I think now without. I mean, he was there, what, second or third best player there. I don't think you can pick them to win the title now, Drew, Right?

[Podcast Host 1]

No, not with that. I mean, as good as Boozer is, I think that's a too big of a hit. With as good as Michigan, Arizona, Florida, other contenders up there with them, they're

[Matt Jones]

still going to be really good. And I think they're still probably one of the best five teams, but I don't think you can pick them to win a title without him. So that's a big deal. That's now a couple teams that had a chance to win the title that have lost their guy. JT Toppin for Texas Tech. I don't think Carolina was going to win the title, but Caleb Wilson was, you know, they were. He was good. And now this guy, basically three of the top 15 teams have now lost a player that I think is huge.

[Ryan Lemond]

Does little Boozer now become their point guard?

[Matt Jones]

Probably, but he's a. He's a drop off.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

You're basically gonna see Cam Boozer just go crazy the whole tournament. Which he can, though. He's really, really good. All right, so we still only have three lines at work. We'll try those. Taylor, Go ahead, Taylor.

[Caller]

Yeah, Matt. So two things. Comment. It may be the most expensive resale value of a First session of SEC tournament.

[Matt Jones]

What is the reason? What does the resale market look like?

[Caller]

The cheapest tickets I saw in game time were $59 for section 301.

[Matt Jones]

Okay, well, maybe there'll be more people there than we realize. Or it might be a lot of people who bought them. Assuming Kentucky fans will buy them up and they won't. We'll have to wait and see. But that's a good sign in terms of people being there.

[Caller]

Certainly. Question in Mark Pope last night, make some comments about Cam practicing again. What are your thoughts? Do you think that there's a chance he's available on Wednesday and I'll hang up and listen.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. So Cam Williams is practicing with the team. I again, this was on his radio show. I kind of heard it drew as if he might play this week. Did you?

[Podcast Host 1]

It sounded optimistic. I mean, I'd be very impressed how that could happen because he didn't even start running.

[Matt Jones]

Really.

[Podcast Host 1]

It sounds so just recently. But if he could get in and just give you a few minutes to spell someone. I don't expect him to come in and, you know, win MVP or anything crazy. But I mean, if he could just

[Matt Jones]

give some minutes, he'd be a huge impact. Huge impact. Cause if you. If somebody shuts down Chandler now, you can stick him in there and have him get minutes. So if he's going to play, I do Ryan feel better? I don't think it fundamentally changes the team's flaws, but I do think it makes them see. I do think it makes them better.

[Ryan Lemond]

It does kind of sound like that they. They want to maybe play him.

[Podcast Host 1]

Just.

[Ryan Lemond]

Just baby steps. Just play him a little bit early on. And maybe that way when they get to the NCAA tournament next week, he might be able to put in more time. But not just as a shooter, but just as a defender, too. On the wing, in the perimeter. He ended up. He was one of our best defenders when he. Before he got hurt.

[Podcast Host 1]

Can I bring up one practice concern?

[Matt Jones]

Yes.

[Podcast Host 1]

I don't want to be negative, but this actually bothered me yesterday and I think Pope answered for it. Today the schedule comes out. We get from media. It's like this big pamphlet and Kentucky is the only team not practicing in Bridgestone. It has the practice schedule.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, I think that's important. So if you play on the first day, the SEC lets you do practice in the arena. And seven of the eight teams said they were going to do it, but one said no, and that was Kentucky. We are not practicing in the arena. So that bothered you. Why did it bother you?

[Podcast Host 1]

Because last time we were there, we went down 19 to 2. So I just figured of all the teams that should prep, maybe it's not a big deal, but I was just. When that schedule came out and had every team, I was a little surprised.

[Matt Jones]

So what did he say today?

[Podcast Host 1]

Tyler just texted me because it's all going on. It says we want to reproduce the schedule of the day as best we could. So we couldn't do that with our slotted time there. It also recreates our normal. Normal travel schedule. So we're trying to have our day before the game is close to proximity

[Shannon]

analytics.

[Podcast Host 1]

But I would prefer. I'm not an act. Maybe they went by 50. I would hope they'd get shots up

[Shannon]

in Bridgestone numbers schedule the same. Go to bed at the same time every night, wake up the same time every morning. That's what the analytics say.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah. The schedule has worked out so well for him this year already. Yeah.

[Podcast Host 1]

And we're being positive. I'm not trying to be negative, but when that schedule. But when I saw that you are. It had seven of eight teams and I was like, is this a typo? Like, where's the Kentucky practice?

[Matt Jones]

Kentucky did refuse to do it. We're the only team that.

[Podcast Host 1]

But that was his reasoning. I'm just.

[Matt Jones]

That's.

[Podcast Host 1]

That's got my antennas.

[Matt Jones]

Kevin, Go ahead, Kevin.

[Caller]

Speaking of the. Of the gm, there was a rumor it's Tick Tock guy. But he's a. He is a. His whole channel is Kentucky.

[Matt Jones]

It's not that one guy, though. That's always just stirring stuff. Right?

[Caller]

He is annoying. I don't know.

[Matt Jones]

Is he the. See that I'm talking about? Is he the African American kid that just stares in the camera and says we stink?

[Caller]

No.

[Matt Jones]

Okay. All right. That guy. Don't ever listen to that guy. But somebody else. Go ahead.

[Caller]

So he can't. He said there was a rumor that UK is looking at a gm. The guy was. The guy was on a previous coaching staff at Kentucky. He's in the NBA now. He's in it like in. You know, like a. He's used to be a scalp.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, I know who they're talking about. I know who they're talking about. And I don't think that. That as of today, that's not who they're looking at.

[Caller]

Okay. All right. And then what do you guys think about the rumors that Tyron Stokes is heated up again with uk?

[Matt Jones]

Well, I mean, that. I don't know. I mean that. It sounds like. I mean, he did an interview where he said, I like Kansas better, but I'll go to Kentucky if it doesn't work out. As I've said, I'm okay being the rebound.

[Ryan Lemond]

You know, if the number one prospect.

[Matt Jones]

Number one prospect wants you, you take him. You take him and then you. You work out the relationship later. Shannon, like, yeah, Yeah.

[Shannon]

I mean, he needs to prove that he can get one of these guys.

[Matt Jones]

Right.

[Shannon]

He needs a big home run recruit, really needs anybody right now. But, I mean, if you can get the number one guy, you get them. You.

[Matt Jones]

And chances are everyone listening. Your wife would have rather gone out with Brad Pitt, but they got you,

[Shannon]

which is Ryan's lookalike.

[Ryan Lemond]

I hear that all the time.

[Matt Jones]

So, you know, if she could have had Brad Pitt, she would have done that. But it did. She ended up with you. But that doesn't mean you don't have a great life. I did have say. Someone say to me that they didn't think Drew my relationship analogies to basketball were very good. You try, though. Yeah, that's.

[Podcast Host 1]

Sometimes they're stretched a little bit.

[Matt Jones]

I think it's pretty good to think

[Shannon]

that you're second or third choice to Brad Pitt. I guess.

[Matt Jones]

I guess in this analogy, Kansas is Brad Pitt.

[Shannon]

Yeah. Well, who are we, Steve?

[Matt Jones]

We're George Clooney. We're all saving for something. But what if you save for something? The number four at UK Credit Union, we want you to get to your saving goals faster. So if you have a high yield savings account, you can get rates as high as 4% APY on balances up to $25,000. That's pretty good. Plus, there's no minimum, no monthly service charge and no restrictions. Open a high yield savings account and start earning up to 4% APY today. At UK Federal Credit Union, we're not just for some, we're for all y'.

[Podcast Host 1]

All.

[Matt Jones]

APY's annual percentage year, yield minimum, thousand open the account, membership eligibility required. It is UK Credit Union. We'll take a break and be right back. We'll answer the phone calls on the lines that work and we'll probably hear from more from Pope, who's talking. It's KSR.

[iHeartRadio Announcer]

Next Monday, our 2026 iHeart podcast awards are happening live in south by Southwest.

[Podcast Host 1]

This is the biggest night in podcasting.

[iHeartRadio Announcer]

We'll honor the very best in podcasting from the past year and celebrate the most innovative talent and creators in the industry.

[Matt Jones]

And the winner is.

[iHeartRadio Announcer]

Creativity, knowledge and passion will all be on full display.

[Podcast Host 2]

Thank you so much. Iheartradio. Thank you to all the other nominees, you guys are awesome.

[iHeartRadio Announcer]

Watch live next Monday at 8pm Eastern, 5pm Pacific [e-mail] or the Veeps app.

[Jay Shetty]

Hey, I'm Jay Shetty, host of the On Purpose podcast. My latest episode is with Hilary Duff, singer, actress and multi platinum artist. Hillary opens up about complicated family dynamics, motherhood, and releasing her first record in over 10 years. We talk about what it's taken to grow up in the entertainment industry and stay grounded through every chapter. It's a raw and honest conversation about identity, evolution, and building a life that truly, truly matters.

[Danielle Robay]

You desire in family, like this picture and that's not reality. A lot of the times for people my sister and I don't speak. It's definitely a very painful part of my life and I hope it's not forever, but it's for right now, listen

[Jay Shetty]

to On Purpose with Jay Shetty on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

[Danielle Robay]

Hi, I'm Danielle Robay, host of Bookmarked the podcast by Reese's Book Club. And this week we are talking about a monster, or maybe the woman who refused to be one. I'm sitting down with Maggie Gyllenhaal to unpack her new film the Bride. And trust me, this isn't your grandmother's Bride of Frankenstein. It's darker, smarter, sexier, a full reimagining of what happens when the monster gets

[Podcast Host 2]

a voice of her own. What I was more interested in was the monstrousness inside of each of us. You can spend your life running from those things or you can turn around and shake hands with them. If I'm honest about that, and I tell my story about monsters really dealing in something truthful. And I do it in a way that's pop, that's hot. That's like getting on a roller coaster. Will people respond?

[Danielle Robay]

Listen to bookmarked the Reese's Book Club podcast. On the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Matt Jones]

I went and sat on the little ottoman in front of him. Hi, dad. And just when I said that, my mom comes out of the kitchen. She says, I have some cookies and milk. This is badass. Convict me just finished five years. I'm gonna have cookies and milk at mom.

[Podcast Host 1]

Yeah.

[Ryan Lemond]

On the Ceno show podcast, each episode invites you into a raw, unfiltered conversations about recovery, resilience and redemption. On a recent episode, I sit down with actor cultural icon Danny Trail talk about addiction, transformation and the power of second chances. The entire season two is now available to binge, featuring powerful conversations with the guests like Tiffany, Adish, Johnny Knoxville and more.

[Matt Jones]

I'm an alcoholic and without this program, I'm a die.

[Ryan Lemond]

Open your free iHeartRadio app, search the Cino show and listen now.

[Matt Jones]

Welcome back tech esports radio. 859-280-2287. Text machine. 772-774-5254. I forgot. Shane. Remember we had the random text on the text machine say Bill Self was going to retire. Do you remember that?

[Shannon]

Yeah, I do remember that. Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

We're gonna see if they're right. It would be as first reported on the KSR text machine. But it that. Let me just say this about the KSR text machine. It gets every story, okay? It had the Mitch retirement story. I found out Mitch was retiring from the text machine and I put the post up on KS board. Ryan. It was everything comes first from the text machine. You all collectively have more scoop than any person individually. Now you have to filter through the fact that sometimes people say things that are not correct.

[Ryan Lemond]

Right.

[Matt Jones]

But I've kind of learned how to figure it out if you're right or not. And the text machine gets all. The text machine is the one, remember, that broke it to me that the Padres manager, remember when I brought the Padres manager story came from the text machine.

[Ryan Lemond]

What a bizarre incident that was.

[Matt Jones]

So maybe if Bill Self retires drew another text machine success, which could indirectly get Stokes here.

[Podcast Host 1]

And it could have all started with a text at Paul Miller. Bill self was asked about his retirement this weekend. He said as long as he feels okay, he'll keep doing it.

[Matt Jones]

But it was okay. Yeah.

[Podcast Host 1]

Who knows how he'll feel?

[Matt Jones]

Do we know?

[Shannon]

I think he feels bad. He's been really grumpy lately. He got thrown out of a game last week.

[Matt Jones]

Yes, probably. By the way, I yesterday, Ryan brought up Boone's butcher shop. Turns out they do still run ads with us.

[Ryan Lemond]

How about that? So they've got to be your long

[Matt Jones]

run in the Louisville market, but they do run it so solid.

[Ryan Lemond]

Chopped. Get your meat chopped.

[Matt Jones]

That's right. Boone's butcher Shop.

[Ryan Lemond]

Boone's.

[Shannon]

Boone's butcher Shop.

[Matt Jones]

Yesterday, on my Twitter feed, all anyone was talking about Drew was that Travis Kelsey's mom is remodeling her house. What?

[Podcast Host 1]

I saw that, too. TMZ had a graphic that says donna Kelsey, home renovation.

[Matt Jones]

Donna Kelsey is renovating her house. That's how you know you're famous when your mom can renovate their house. Shannon. And that's what people talk about.

[Shannon]

Why does it. Why are we. Why is anybody talking about.

[Matt Jones]

People were into it.

[Shannon]

Who cares about her house?

[Ryan Lemond]

I think Taylor Swift effect.

[Matt Jones]

I think people like her and they want to know what she does to her house.

[Shannon]

I like you too, but if you renovate your house, I wouldn't care.

[Matt Jones]

Well, I am going to be renovating my house.

[Shannon]

You can't renovate a house that you rent.

[Matt Jones]

No, but I'm. I. I'm under contract now to buy.

[Podcast Host 1]

He's in.

[Shannon]

Wow.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yay. He's growing up right in front of our eyes.

[Matt Jones]

Breaking news with Ryan Lemon, the realtor.

[Shannon]

Wow. You're under contract.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. So I guess it's not, you know, I don't know. It's under contract.

[Shannon]

That's a. That's a big deal.

[Ryan Lemond]

Got your home inspection today.

[Matt Jones]

Home inspection today.

[Shannon]

What's your first renovation gonna be?

[Matt Jones]

Buying furniture.

[Shannon]

Well, that's not renovation.

[Caller]

Really.

[Matt Jones]

I have to furnish the whole house. Yeah. And I don't know how to do it. I'm gonna have to hire, like, a designer. I don't know. Who does that?

[Shannon]

There you go.

[Matt Jones]

Who does that?

[Shannon]

Somebody listening.

[Matt Jones]

Well, somebody listening. I'm sure does, but how do I decide who to pick? I don't know.

[Ryan Lemond]

You're gonna have a shoe room. A room for all your shoes.

[Matt Jones]

I mean, the house exists. It's just. I have nothing to put in it because the stuff I have. Shannon, I can't. I have, like, two things that are worth keeping.

[Shannon]

So you're not gonna move any of your stuff.

[Matt Jones]

I'm gonna take that really nice desk I have in my house shelf. I'm gonna take the bookshelves, but probably gonna get a new bed.

[Shannon]

Leave that nasty refrigerator there.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Shannon]

I mean, get food in there.

[Matt Jones]

Most of the stuff is stuff I've had for 15 or 20 years. It's just time to grow up, right?

[Shannon]

Yes.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Ryan Lemond]

Wow. Who are you and what happened to Matt Jones?

[Matt Jones]

I've been keeping all the shoes.

[Shannon]

Well, sure, Your hoodies.

[Matt Jones]

But, I mean, I have to. This is candles. This is a decent sized house. I have to figure I gotta put stuff in it.

[Podcast Host 1]

You're going to need a lawnmower, tools.

[Matt Jones]

I'm not.

[Shannon]

Hey, how about you put a family in it?

[Matt Jones]

I think first a couch.

[Podcast Host 1]

Can't make a family without a bed.

[Matt Jones]

Then we'll go to fam. But I don't know who designs houses like interior. I mean, I have the house, but the interior of it.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yeah. There are companies that can help you if you want to.

[Matt Jones]

But how do you pick who to

[Shannon]

do you look at their Google reviews.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, but I don't slide people. People, they pay people, right?

[Shannon]

Well, probably some of them.

[Matt Jones]

I need somebody who understands my style.

[Podcast Host 1]

What type of style are you?

[Matt Jones]

I don't know. I need somebody to pick my style.

[Shannon]

Are you more modern? Are you?

[Matt Jones]

I think I want to go more modern. This house, temporary. This house is contemporary and modern. I have a pool. Don't know what to do with that.

[Shannon]

Have a pool party.

[Matt Jones]

Oh, I'm not having. We're having a pool party. Yeah, yeah, we're having a pool.

[Shannon]

Ryan grill out and burn your house down now.

[Matt Jones]

Ryan's not going to get to touch. Touch any of that.

[Shannon]

You're not going to touch the stove.

[Matt Jones]

I'll use P Rats to do my electronics.

[Shannon]

Dude. I mean, the unlimited amount of endorsement opportunities you have here is incredible.

[Matt Jones]

That's true. Because I have nothing.

[Shannon]

Exactly.

[Matt Jones]

Except shoes and hoodies. Because. Yeah, I'm not taking any of my stuff. Pretty much. I probably have a big yard sale one day.

[Shannon]

Yeah, let us go rummaging through your apartment.

[Matt Jones]

No, no, no. I mean, I give stuff. I put pieces of my house outside. There are people all over the city who don't even know they've got stuff. Like, I just. I'll walk down the street, like a block down the street and leave a table.

[Shannon]

I've got Matt.

[Podcast Host 1]

I think that's just. Literally they don't know.

[Matt Jones]

They just know they have a table.

[Shannon]

That's called dumping. Yeah, that's highly illegal.

[Matt Jones]

But people take it.

[Shannon]

Yeah, but you can't just dump your couch outside, people.

[Matt Jones]

It's usually gone within 20 minutes.

[Ryan Lemond]

Yep. They'll refinish it and they'll sell it, make a profit.

[Matt Jones]

People come. Like, if you put stuff outside your house, people will take it within minutes.

[Shannon]

You're the big dumper.

[Matt Jones]

I am the best dumper.

[Shannon]

Who knew that you were just.

[Matt Jones]

I think I told you. I saw a man, a homeless man wearing some of my shoes recently that I just put out and I. I thought that actually. Well, it was nice. He had like. They were nice shoes.

[Shannon]

Was he out there on the corner eating on your table?

[Matt Jones]

No, I'm just saying, like, I just have to start again.

[Shannon]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

And I don't really know how to do it, but we will have a pool party and. Yeah. So me and Donna Kelsey are in the same spot.

[Shannon]

You don't even know how to swim while you have a pool.

[Matt Jones]

I'm going to learn.

[Shannon]

This is great.

[Matt Jones]

We'll be right back. Our number two KSR

[iHeartRadio Announcer]

next Monday. Our 2026 iHeart podcast awards are happening live at south by Southwest.

[Podcast Host 1]

This is the biggest night in podcasting.

[iHeartRadio Announcer]

Will honor the very best in podcasting from the past year and celebrate the most innovative talent and creators in the industry.

[Matt Jones]

And the winner is.

[iHeartRadio Announcer]

Creativity, knowledge and Passion will all be on full display.

[Podcast Host 2]

Thank you so much iheartradio. Thank you to all the other nominees. You guys are awesome.

[iHeartRadio Announcer]

Watch live next Monday at 8pm Eastern, 5pm Pacific [e-mail] or the Veeps app.

[Ryan Lemond]

I actually drop better when I'm high. It heightens my senses, calms me down.

[Matt Jones]

If anything, I'm more careful.

[Ryan Lemond]

Honestly, it just helps me focus. That's probably what the driver who killed a four year old told himself. And now he's in prison. You see, no matter what you tell yourself, if you feel different, you drive different. So if you're high, just don't drive. Brought to you by NHTSA and the

[Jay Shetty]

AD Council the human body is a

[Podcast Host 2]

beautiful machine and keeping it running means understanding how it actually works. Which is why this Podcast Will Kill youl is doing a multi part series on sleep. What it's for, why our bodies don't follow neat rules, and why modern life is not helping. When you consider what we know about sleep in humans, there's one rule that comes out we are predictably unpredictable sleepers. We'll continue exploring how the body works with a multi part series on digestive function. So listen to our new newest series which runs January 20 through February 17 with new episodes every Tuesday from the Exactly Right Network. Listen to this podcast will kill you on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Danielle Robay]

Hi, I'm Danielle Robay, host of Bookmarked the podcast by Reese's Book Club. And this week we are talking about a monster. Or maybe the woman who refused to be one. I'm sitting down with Maggie Gyllenhaal to unpack her new film the Bride. And trust me, this, this isn't your grandmother's Bride of Frankenstein.

[Podcast Host 2]

What I was more interested in was the monstrousness inside of each of us. You can spend your life running from those things or you can turn around and shake hands with them.

[Danielle Robay]

Listen to Bookmarked the Reese's Book Club podcast on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.