← The Herd with Colin Cowherd
The Herd with Colin Cowherd
3 & Out - AFC and NFC Championship REACTION, McCarthy to the Steelers, What's going on in Cleveland
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John Middlekoff
This is an iHeart podcast.
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John Paulk
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John Middlekoff
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Mike De La Rocha
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John Middlekoff
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Mike De La Rocha
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John Middlekoff
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Mike De La Rocha
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Joel (How to Money)
Hey, it's Joel and Matt from how to Money. If your New Year's resolution is to finally get your finances in shape, we've got your back prices, they're still high and the economy is all over the place. But 2026 is the year for you to get intentional and make real progress.
- [00:50]
Matt (How to Money)
That's right. Yeah. Each week we break down what's happening with your money, the most important issues to focus on, and the small moves that make a big difference. Kick off the year with confidence. Listen to how to Money on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [01:06]
John Paulk
I'm John Palk. For years I was the poster boy of the conversion therapy movement. The ex gay who married an ex lesbian and traveled the world telling my story of how I changed my sexuality from gay to straight. You might have heard my story, but you've never heard the real story. John has never been anything but gay, but he really tried hard not to be. Listen to Atonement, the John Paulk story on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [01:39]
Questlove
Hello, hello all my people. What's up? It's Questlove. Recently I had the opportunity to sit down with the one and only A dollar AP Rocky. He reflects on his journey from Harlem roots to global icon status and discovering the hip hop origin of of his name.
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ASAP Rocky
The ledge was on the tv. Rakim had the bucket hat, Kango joint on. Pops was like, that's Rakim. That's who you named after. I just was like, damn, that got swag.
- [02:05]
Questlove
But listen to the Questlove show on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast or wherever you get your podcast. The volume.
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John Middlekoff
Foreign. What is going on everybody? How are we doing? John Middelkoff three and out Podcast Just watched a lot of football. Seattle beats the Rams. The New England Patriots beat the Denver Broncos, and Levi's little rematch of 10 plus years ago when Malcolm Butler who Get ready because in two weeks Radio row Malcolm Butler might have more sponsorship dollars attached to his name doing the rounds than like Dan Marino meets John Elway. Everyone's going to want to talk to that guy because we got this rematch, Drake May taking on Sam Darnold. So we'll talk about these two games. I'll react to what we just witnessed. And then earlier today I recorded some stuff on McCarthy on the Cleveland Brown search, on Josh Allen being a part of the coaching search for the Bills. So we'll do some of that as well. And then we'll have a bunch of mailbags this week at John Middlecoft. Fire in those dms. Get your questions answered here on the show. I went on with Colin as well. So you can go check out that podcast Any other Obviously we're this this podcast is on Netflix. So go make sure if you want to watch the video any video of any of our podcasts, check it out on Netflix. And if you listen on Collins feed, make sure you subscribe to Spotify, make sure you subscribe to Apple. Wherever you listen to podcasts, we got you covered. Just type in three and out. We'll be all this week. We'll have a bunch of shows next week. I'm going to the super bowl. At least not the game though. The last time the game was actually in the Levi Stadium I attended when the Denver Broncos beat the Carolina Panthers. But I'm going Tuesday, Thursday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. Because we always do a Volume party and it's good to see people you work with when you kind of have this job that's a lot of people are working all over the country. It's not like an office job. So it's good to see people also our partners, people we're in business with. So I I really enjoy I've been to the Volume party now like four or five years in a row. But I'm also going our friends at Omaha, they said hey John Orphean Theater Tuesday night Joe Montana, Ronnie Lott, John Taylor, it's going to be moderated by Chris Berman. Are going to have a night of champions and they're going to relive one of the greatest seasons of all time. 1989 San Francisco 49ers I'm surely talk a bunch of other football. Do you want it? I'm like heck yeah, I want it. Well, obviously we got a lot of 49er fans and people, Bay Area people. If you're a Patriot fan or you're a Seattle fan, you're in town during the week and you want to go watch Joe Montana hang Out with Chris Berman. Don't blame you. I'm doing it. Producer Jackson's coming with me. Night of Champions. Once in a lifetime conversation. Legendary stories. Get in. Tickets are available now@broadway sf.com and if you're there, say hi, because I'm going to be there. I'm excited. Haven't seen Joe Montana. Ran into him one time close to Market street in the city and started talking to him and I. One tip I always have. Whenever you meet someone really, really famous, the easiest way to get a conversation, if you know their children's name, ask him a question. If I ever ran into Tiger woods, the first thing I would ask them is, how's Charlie playing? I ran into Joe Montana, his son Nick. At the time, I think it just transferred. He was playing quarterback at Tulane. I asked him about his son. Joe Montana just looked at me and started talking. And about five, six minutes later, we're just talking college football about his son. His wife Jennifer, screams, joe, we're leaving. And she yanked him away. Joe couldn't have been any cooler. Tip for advice, anyone? You ever meet someone really, really famous? Easiest way to start the conversation, Ask them about their children. Works every time. I promise you that. Now, obviously, you got to know who their children are or they have children, but if they do and, you know, use that line, it works. So let's just dive into what we just witnessed. The Seattle Seahawks beat the LA Rams. And a couple things jump out to me. Sam Darnold was a really polarizing player, even during this season, because people kept saying, wait till the big games. Last year he threw 35 touchdowns. Yet in the biggest moments for the number one seed on the line, Sunday Night Football against the Lions and then the playoff game against the Rams, he was horrendous. And then this year, he's humming along, Seattle's kicking ass. Then all of a sudden, they play the Rams the first time and he throws like 10 interceptions. People like, see, then he's playing the Rams again. Does not play well, throws a couple picks, does not look good until the end of the game. And then the end of the game happens, and Seattle never looks back. They go on to start rattling off wins. Carolina, 49ers, 49ers again, and then tonight. But the difference was tonight, in the biggest game of his life. Anytime you play in a conference championship game, even if you're Brady, Manning, Favre, it's going to be one of the biggest games you will ever play. He threw for 346 yards and three touchdowns. And I watched The Dolphins press conference earlier this week and Eric John Sullivan is their new GM's name. He was hired by the Green Bay packers in the early 2000s. And someone in the media asked him, you've been a part of the packers who you've never seen down quarterback play, is there any secret to the sauce of your guys ability to find quarterbacks? And he gave a pretty good answer because he said, well, it's actually the most dependent position of any other. You need people to block for you, you need people to get open for you. If you hand the ball off, you need that guy to gain yards, make guys miss break tackles, and then you need a guy on the sideline telling you what plays to call. Now obviously there are things that you can control, but when you think about it, the quarterback, unless you're like Peyton Manning and you can just call your own offense. Most quarterbacks are very dependent on their coaches and obviously their teammates. And for a long time Sam Darnold had shitty versions all around him at all these positions. And over the last couple years, Kevin started with Kyle Shanahan when he believed him as a backup, and then Kevin o' Connell resurrected his career on the field. And then Sam Darnold tonight validated it all because Matt Stafford is an interesting player, right? For over a decade no one argued about Matt Stafford's talent. But it's like, is he any good looking? He's on the Lions. They never win. It's like, well, yeah, they never win because they're the fucking Lions. Look who's coaching him beside Calvin Johnson. Look who he's playing with. That is one of the most poorly run franchises in all of American sports. And they were up until Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes got there. And then Matt Stafford got to go to Sean McVay. Probably one day will be in the hall of Fame as a coach. And now we think of him as going to win the MVP this year. A guy that won a Super bowl, the guy who's just an elite player. You watch him. Nice. One of the great quarterbacks of his generation completely changed the narrative when he got with people that know what they were doing. I say this all the time about my career. Getting with Colin is the most important thing that has ever happened to me since I've been in the radio podcast space because of what he brought to me. From a credibility standpoint, a distribution standpoint, a sales standpoint, things that I can't really control slash do, definitely when it comes to a distribution standpoint, I'm now on Netflix. I go up on his podcast feed. I couldn't have done that if I tried by myself. Most human beings are dependent on others and I'd argue no position on the field is more than the quarterback. So when I look at Sam Darnold tonight, the way he played in that moment, think about last week. Now, the 49ers are not this version. The team that was coming in the playoffs are clearly not as good as the Rams. But they won a game 41 to 6 where he threw for 130 yards, he had 12 completions and they blew out their opponent. Well, tonight that wasn't on the table. They could not afford to have a game where he wasn't potent with his arm. But not just with his arm. And I told Coward this on our podcast earlier tonight that you've seen in the playoffs. Let's use C.J. stroud. A couple weeks ago he made decisions with the ball that crippled his team, that hurt his defense, that hurt his the momentum of the game and basically put them in a position where they could not win. Because when there was no play to be made, you are better off just hitting the ground and taking a six yard sack. Then you are trying to do some hero ball, jump in the air, get sacked, fling it and throw a pick six. And there were a couple times tonight because in the Shanahan Kubiak offense, which they might as well be cousins, and Clint Kubiak, who's the OC for Seattle, who feels like he might be the next coach of the Raiders, kind of looks like his dad Gary right now. But when they run that boot play action play, your back is to the defense on the backside. And if either the defensive end doesn't bite or they send a blitzer on that side, the play is completely fucked up. It easily becomes the worst play in football. When you naked bootleg into pressure that you don't see coming because you're not looking, it's not your fault. It's no one's fault. It's just a play call. When it works, it's stealing candy from a baby. When it doesn't, it looks like a batter striking out on three straight pitches without swinging the bat. And on that play you have a split second when you turn and there's a guy in your face, you can try to make some miraculous decision. And I do believe that the old Sam Darnold might have done that. And usually that leads to disaster. Ask Jared Stidham. Earlier today, Sam Darnold just hit the ground multiple times. He had three sacks today. He lost 25 yards. So on average he's losing over eight yards a sack. I thought they were all smart sacks because you can turn in a sack into a turnover really, really quick. And I think the guy that we saw last year against the Lions, against the Rams, hell, even earlier this season, tried to play hero ball tonight. Not only did he not try to play hero ball, he's like, I'm going to dominate this game. And he made play after play after play with his arm. And to me he's the best example in recent memory. Because even if we argued how good Stafford was, we all agreed he was really good. People did not think that about Sam Darnold. Hell, even last year, most people thought that was a one year wonder. How do you think the Minnesota Vikings feel right now? Who would you rather have, Sam Darnold or the hope and the prayer that JG McCarthy turns into a functional player? I think we all know the answer to that. So in the playoffs, sometimes if your defense is dominant enough, you don't have to do as a quarterback. You can just ride shotgun. Which is all the Texans wanted C.J. stroud to do, which historically is all Trent Dilfer and Brad Johnson here or there, maybe throw a touchdown, but for the most part manage the game. Do not turn the ball over. Sam the night played like a star. That had to be one of the best. If you factor in the moment, that's the most important and best game he's ever played. He looks spectacular. The offensive coordinator Clint Kubiak was in his bag. Play calls were mainly all working. Jackson Smith is just an elite player. Kenneth Walker has been fantastic. Cooper cup came through in a big moment. As someone, as I've aged, have has tried to not hold grudges and not let you know, anger toward other people because I, you know, you think he got screwed or whatever, you know, play into your daily life or human beings. I can't imagine the joy Cooper cup felt when he scored that touchdown. Kasan McVeigh was right when he cut Cooper cup and went to devonte Adam Devonte Adams a better player. You and I would have made that move as well. Cooper cup, if he could remove himself from the situation, would agree with you. He knows football. But it's him, he's the player. So I don't blame him for thinking like that's a dumb move tonight, has to feel pretty good. Made two huge plays, obviously the big touchdown and beat Sean McVeigh or was a part of the team that beat him and he gets to go to the Super Bowl. So I think when you look at Seattle from a defensive standpoint, their special teams are so good, they tackle so well. Even the night. They clearly, for a dominant defense, have no answer for Puka Nukua. He had 160 plus yards tonight. He had 220 the last time they played him. It's like they can't stop that guy. And devonte being playing in this game, he didn't play in the last game, made two or three huge catches. He had the big touchdown. He had a couple big plays down the sideline. Even the one play, Brady's like, well, he's got inside leverage, yet devonte stems him out and gets it back. That's. He's like, I would teach my wide receivers to just loop around him. He's like, but devonte so quick, it didn't even matter. And that's why Devontae's, you know, borderline hall of Fame player. So I think when you watch that game tonight, it was elite coaching elite players and it was just going to come down to a mistake or two. And there were two major mistakes. One, I understand the letter of the law and taunting is a point of emphasis in the NFL. This is not Little League. And on third and 12 in the second half of a game, when you were up 31 to 20 and you make an enormous play, did you take it a little too far? You. Yes. Do you throw a penalty when the guy's screaming at the other team? Basically, I got you like, what are we doing this, this isn't peewee football. And then the next play, obviously Stafford goes right at him and scores a touchdown. But the defining play I thought of the game and really the defining unit of the Rams, I don't think is their offense. It was. They have historically bad special teams play. And I think it's easy. And I'm guilty of this is blaming special teams coaches. Right. Sean McVay literally did. He fired the guy in the middle of the season. I'd argue no unit and no position, no group is less dependent on the actual specialty or the coach than special teams. The offensive and defensive lines. Those coaches impact those units greatly. The coordinators on both sides, offense or defense, the scheme, make or break the special teams coach has nothing to do with the punter or the kicker. Absolutely zero. And at the end of the day, the coverage units are pretty dependent. Who's on that unit, AKA how good is your depth, which the Rams over the last several years, because of some picks, they're not as deep as, let's say Seattle. But I would argue the details and importance of that unit are actually more on the head coach than they are on the coordinator. Because if the head coach emphasizes it and holds that unit to the same standard of his baby, Sean McVeigh offense, a lot of these other coaches defense, it's not going to be that bad. It might not be great because you don't control if your kicker's making or missing kicks. He does your punter, if he sucks like you just got to cut him, you're not going to like change his mechanics. And your returners are dependent on who the GM is signed or drafted. But you can't convince me that Sean McVeigh takes special teams seriously because they fucking suck. And it has been atrocious in every instance imaginable. From block field goals to block punts, to drop punts, to missed tackles, you name has been one thing after another that would never in a million years be tolerated on the offensive or defensive side of the ball. For Sean, who's typically the best on special teams? Defensive coaches. Because what do they emphasize the details of tackling. Who doesn't care about tackle offensive coaches. For a long time, Kyle Shanahan special teams were a joke. You know why doesn't emphasize it. So you can fire and hire the coaches all you want. You can cut and draft kickers and punters. And if you get the right kicker, a Justin Tucker, Adam Vinatieri, they're going to make a bunch of kicks. If you get the right punter or Shane Lechler or whoever, your units, the Seattle punter, you're going to look pretty good. But when it comes to the details of kickoff units and punt return coverage units, to me that falls on the head coach. And tonight the drop punt, I just think it's been one thing after another. And you can't convince me that Sean McVay takes that seriously enough. And I think in his heart of hearts, if we were having a cocktail, he'd have to admit it. He doesn't. And it showed. And it was cost him seven points tonight and it's cost him all season long. It cost him the number one seed. And this is not basketball or baseball, where if you have don't have home court or home field advantage in one of those sports, you're still going to get home games. If I split in the first two games, World War I 1, I'm coming back. Home football, you get one shot, you get one freaking game. And tonight, that game being in Seattle, not in la is the difference of the noise, the Intensity, it changes the game. And it made this path for the Rams so much harder because they had to go back to back games on the road in Chicago and then on the road in Seattle where you can't even hear yourself think. And to me, it gets back to special teams because special teams cost him. In the last game against Seattle when Rasheed, when Raheed Shahid, he didn't just score a punt return. I don't think there was anyone within 10 yards of him the entire punt return in that regular season game. It has to be, and I bet he'd be the first to admit this, the easiest punt return he's probably had since high school. It was, it was like, where are all the players? They were nowhere to be found. Literally. The next day, Sean McVeigh fired a special teams court coordinator. But I think of all the offensive and defensive coordinators, easy to blame them. The scheme, the play calling and the decisions to blitz, to call runs or passes is very evident. Special teams coordinator, I'm sorry, that is as much, if not more on the head coach. So Sean McVeigh, who's had an excellent season, he had the top offense. He's a great offensive coach. What he's done with Puka, Nakua and Devonte and Stafford has been amazing to watch. But the special teams is on his watch. It just is. He's the head coach, not the offensive coordinator and it was simply an embarrassment. So congrats to Seattle Seahawks who are going back there. They're probably my initial pick to win. If Sam Darnold is going to play well, they're not going to lose to the Patriots. To me, the Patriots chance is for Sam Donald not to play well and their defense is going to have to be fantastic. Today's show is brought to you by our new presenting sponsor, Hard Rock bet, Florida's sportsbook. The Big Game matchup is set and I can't wait to see Seattle take on New England. Hard Rock BET has all the different ways you can get in on Sunday's action here in a couple weeks. Here's what I'm liking right now. Think I'm going to lean Seattle kind of big. I think that pass rush is going to overwhelm the offensive line. Want to check some touchdown parlays? I think Darnold's going to keep humming. So if you haven't signed up yet, there's never been a better time. This week they are launching some brand new offers for new customers. Plus, Hard Rock is kicking off with $7 million big game bonus parlay available to all users. So if you're in Florida Jersey, the Big Game Energy doesn't just live exclusively on the app. Head to a Hard Rock Casino property for drawings, giveaways, all the excitement leading to kickoff. That's Hard Rock Bet. Download the Hard Rock Bet app today and make your first deposit payable and bonus bets. Not a cash offer. Offered by Seminole Tribe of Florida in Florida. Offered by Seminole hard Rock Digital LLC in all other states. You must be 21 plus and physically present in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee and Virginia. To play. Terms and conditions apply. Concerned about gambling in Florida? Call 1-833-PLAY-WISE in Indiana. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-9 with it gambling problem call 1-800-GAMBLER Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee.
- [23:23]
Matt (How to Money)
Virginia, New Year New goals and in this economy, a better money plan is more necessary than ever. I am Matt and I'm Joel. We are from how to Money Podcast, and every week we help you to spend smarter, save more, and make sense of what's going on out there.
- [23:38]
Joel (How to Money)
If you want 2026 to be the year you finally feel in control of your money, we're here to give you the tools and advice to help you make it happen. Listen to how to Money on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [23:52]
John Paulk
I'm John Palk. For years, I was the poster boy of the conversion therapy movement, the ex gay who married an ex lesbian and traveled the world telling my story of how I changed my sexuality from gay to straight. Once upon a time I was on 60 Minutes, Oprah, the front cover of Newsweek, and you might have heard my story, but you've never heard the real story. So join me as I peel back the layers and expose what happened to me in the midst of of conversion therapy to shine a light on what the ex gay movement does to people and the pain it continues to cause.
- [24:33]
John Middlekoff
I had lost £150 because if I.
- [24:35]
John Paulk
Couldn'T control my sexuality, I was going to control my weight.
- [24:38]
John Middlekoff
It sounded like, and this is the word I used, occult.
- [24:43]
John Paulk
And as I look too at the harm I did from within, listen to Atonement, the John Paul story on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [25:00]
Questlove
Hey, what's up y'?
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Joel (How to Money)
All?
- [25:01]
Questlove
This is Questlove. Recently, I had the opportunity to sit down with ASAP Rocky ahead of his album release, Don't Be Dumb. He reflects on his journey from his Harlem roots to global icon status, discovering the hip hop origin of his name.
- [25:14]
ASAP Rocky
The ledge was on the tv. Rakim had the bucket hat Kangol joint on. My pops was like, that's Rakim. That's who you nameked after. I just was like, damn, that got swag.
- [25:26]
Questlove
Rocky offers a window into not only a boundary breaking artist, but as a man committed to fusing creative ideas, community and remaining unapologetically himself. Have you ever gotten roasted for any of your outfits? For sure.
- [25:39]
ASAP Rocky
Some people don't be getting the vision. Look, they could roast me, they could cook me, they could deep fry me, they could saute whatever they want. There's nobody with my fashion sense and my taste is impeccable. I'm just like, I impress myself a lot.
- [25:55]
Questlove
It's an amazing conversation, one you definitely don't want to miss. So listen to the Questlove show on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.
- [26:08]
Mike De La Rocha
Every January, we're encouraged to start over. But what if this year is about slowing down and learning how to understand ourselves more deeply? What if this year is about giving ourselves permission to feel what we've been holding and knowing that it's okay to ask for help? I'm Mike De la Rocha, host of Sacred Lessons. This is a podcast for men navigating stress, emotional health, fatherhood, identity, and the unspoken pressures we're taught to carry alone. We talk honestly about mental health, about healing generational wounds, and about learning how to show up with more presence and care. If you want a healthier relationship with yourself and the people you love, then Sacred Lessons is the podcast for you. Listen to Sacred Lessons with Mike Dollarochi on America's number one podcast network, iHeart. Follow Sacred Lessons with Mike De La Rocha and start listening on the free iHeartRadio app today.
- [27:15]
John Middlekoff
Now, speaking of that game one, it's kind of crazy. We got Vrabel versus Mike. We have a defensive super bowl, but the super bowl over the last five years, Andy Reid, Sirianni to it's just been offensive. I mean, it's been Andy Reid five or six years. Up until this year, the year it wasn't him, it was Zach Taylor, Sirianni's, Kyle Shanahan's, Bruce Arian, Sirianni again, it's been just offensive guys. Now it's two defensive guys who shocker special teams, take it very seriously. What? Because what do defensive guys, whether you're a player like Vrabel or a young coach, you spend time on that unit, you don't Just overlook it and think about running go routes and, and post routes and in double moves you factor in and you value the coverage teams. And the Patriots probably more than any team in recent memory are just overachievers because if you think about it, the last all the Chiefs teams, the Joe Burrow team, those Eagles teams like there have been a teams with a ton of talent, guys in the prime of their career that. I'm sorry, I just don't view the Patriots quite like that. I view the Patriots as a coaching, high level coaching operation. And today is a great example of dumb in a game like that, you know, to me you could like the special teams play like it was just a bunch of high level plays offensive and defensively. In that Seattle Rams game the weather wasn't a huge factor. I mean it was cold but there was no water, there was no crazy winds. It was just like you got to execute at high level in a snow game like that in a game in the, in the low 20s, high teens. And then once the blizzard hits, dumb is going to lose more than great's going to win. And to me, Sean Payton, I've said forever, if you don't kick a field goal in a 00 game in the first half, you're a fucking idiot. I don't care what the spreadsheet says. There's no way you can justify not taking the points when the score is 00. But all these coaches do it. Led by Ben Johnson, Dan Campbell, Sean Payton. I don't understand it. When your backup quarterbacks in the game and you are dominating the Patriots and you have a chance, I get, it's fourth and one, you know, deep in the red zone, you have a chance to kick a chip shop field goal. Because once you get past like 40 yards in the wind and the snow, you never know as we saw in the second half. But he was going to let's gonna hit that field goal. You're up 10 nothing with your backup quarterback dominating the game against second year quarterback who in the course of his life hasn't played in that many big games as a rookie played in zero big games. This year he's played in a lot, but this is his first year playing in big games. He's on the road in crazy temperatures, in crazy conditions. You have a chance to go up multiple scores. On top of that your backup quarterback. This isn't like a Daniel Jones or Mac Jones or some of these guys that have been starters that have played. This guy has no reps for years. He's never been A full time starter, you get to go pedal to the metal. This is not Drew Brees or even Bo Nix. Where I would kind of understand it, I would disagree with it. But I was like, okay, I get the logic. Your backup quarterback and then you put the ball in his hands and then. Listen, I, I understand Sean Payton's hurting after the game. He's with Evan Washburn talking about the game. He kind of like, just at least have the understanding that you screwed that play up and say, this one's on me. I should have gone back. Because when the weather turned and even if I, you know, you look at the weather pregame, it didn't look like it was going to be a crazy blizzard. So once the second half, it probably got way worse than any of them knew it was going to get. But once it got like that, that became the decision of the game. And a lot of times decisions are determined in the second half and we don't spend much time talking about the first or early second quarter. But in a game like that, where the second quarter was completely moot and it was just punt, punt, punt, miss, field goal, punt, punt, punt, miss, field goal, punt, that's all it was. You'd watch the game, you had no clue where the ball was. I was like, I don't even know what yard line was. Jim Nance would get on the mic and be like, honestly guys, I could try to tell you, but I don't even know. No one knew because Sean Payton, who taught Dan Campbell is always, it's, it's egregious. These games, especially in a freezing cold temperature, was never going to be with a backup quarterback. You ain't scoring 28 points, 10 points, a really, really big deal. And he went for it and it changed the game. And then a couple a series later, Stidham makes a backup quarterback type play. It should have been a touchdown on the fumble, but they blew the whistle and I think the next player, two plays later, they scored a touchdown. So it's like, ball don't lie. They deserved it. And all of a sudden, Instead of being 10, nothing at 7, 7 and then 1 second half starts and the weather gets weird. Like this game's a joke and you never felt like anyone was going to score. So I just think that Mike Vrabel, I just, there has to be some sort of thought process when you're in these situations to go, why are we going for it right here? Because I want to keep the momentum of this drive. The point of the whole sport is to have more points than your opponent when the clock strikes double zero. And I do think when you look at defensive coaches, Mike McDonald went for it less on fourth down than any coach in the league. And Mike Vrabel, who, like, I, I view Mike Vrabel as like a total alpha. Got balls. As a former player who's played in some of these crazy games, like, he was being pretty conservative. What did he do in the second half? Ran the ball for like over 100 yards. I forget exactly how many carries, but it was just carry after carry after carry. Drake May a bunch of runs like, we're not going to do anything dumb here. And Sean Payton, once your backup quarterback, which is no one's fault, free deal, you're just at a huge, huge disadvantage. And that play of going for it ends up costing him the game. There's no way around it. And typically, and I do this for a living now, for a long time reacting the games, you don't spend that much time in game reactions. I definitely don't, obviously, if you're a coach or whatever the next day with your team. But the way we discuss, the way fans discuss, the way podcasts discuss, it's a lot of. We talk about the second half yet the first half and that play, I thought, define the game. Two plays by Stidham. I don't put that on Stidham. There was nowhere for him to go with the ball. But that fourth down call and then the fumble he had was. Were the two defining moments of the game. And the Denver Broncos, who were the one seed, which is not going to be easy to be the one seed every freaking year. It's a huge, huge advantage to get games at home loose when they would have had a chance in a situation with the backup quarterback to go to the Super Bowl. Now, I'm not saying they would have won, but, and I think we all win as fans, that the Patriots won that game and not the Denver Broncos because they might have lost by 20 points with Jared Stidham against Seattle. But still, if I'm a Bronco fan, that's not the point. Like, how does that happen? It's a Ben Johnson, Dan Campbell thing. Like, can we just start using our brains? Can you just use your brain? My dad used to say that to me because I used to do some dumb shit. I was. I made bad decisions for, like, first 30 years of my life. Not crazy bad decisions, but one that would piss your parents off, especially when I was growing up in my teens. Use your head like, you know the difference between right and Wrong. These coaches know the difference. I'm not even arguing with the mathematicians in most of these spots. But you can't convince me in a 00 game or a game where you're up 7 to nothing that the field goal is not the right play in that moment because it 100% is. Especially if you factor in the variable of the weather. Even if the crazy blizzard had never come, just with that weather alone in your defense is dominating. They're going to be at such a big disadvantage. So it's like I think that loss falls much more on Sean Payton. Just like the Sean McVay thing. I understand his offense was great, but holy moly, his special teams, like you're the head coach, you're the boss. And I just think sometimes these decisions are just head scratching. They really are. And now the Patriots, I'm not bothered because I didn't hate the Patriots. I really liked Brady as a player. I love Belichick, I loved Edelman, I loved, you know, McCourty and Hightower. I loved everything they stood for. How smart they were, how buttoned up they were, how clutch they were. I had a lot of admiration for kind of their just operation. So I'm not as big of a Patriot hater though there are a lot of them that exist and you look up if you're a Bills fan. You are going to root so hard for Seattle that the New England Patriots and listen, they have the easiest schedule during the season. Then they played Jim Harbaugh and Justin Herbert, the best defense in the league and had to go on the road of a against in a blizzard against the number one seed. I get they had their backup quarterback but still you got to give, you got to tip your hat to them. And they also beat Josh Allen during the regular season. It's like the Patriots did what they had to do and now they're in the, now they're in the super bowl with even though they're a clear underdog 60 minutes one game. Drake may plays well. The weather probably be nice in Levi's in a couple of weeks. You fucking win the game. If you run the ball well and kind of just slow down the game and have a good defensive game plan against Sam Darnold. It's a winnable game. I can't imagine if I was a Bills fan, just the thought of the Patriots and Robert Kraft up there with his little letterman jacket and his 28 year old girlfriend sitting standing next to Mike Vrabel at his waistline, smiling, holding that Lombardi. I would puke I really would. And it's on the table. This is a team that I just can't get over this. They're back. I thought they were going to be good. I picked them to make the playoffs. But the New England Patriots are in the Super Bowl. That's. That's insane. Their offensive line stinks. Will Campbell can't block anybody. This is going to be a tough matchup for him. We'll get into that later. But congrats to Mike Vrabel. Took a team. He'd be the first player and coach to win Super Bowls with the same team. Be a remarkable accomplishment. Three Super Bowls as a player, win one as a coach, man. So we will dive into a lot of the super bowl. That game. Anyone that watched the on Netflix, that. That dude Alex climbed that building in. In Tokyo was. It's one of the craziest things I've ever watched. I didn't watch it live. I saw a bunch of people. So then I went back. I kind of fast forward through. I wasn't gonna watch an hour and a half climb the building, but I would just go to different spots. I mean, it's. It's one of the most incredible accomplishments I've ever seen. And the difficulty of it, that's what trying to get a yard or a first down in that weather was like the. The equivalent of that guy scaling some of these areas of that building. I think the building was like 1700ft. That some of the visuals of the camera were just insane. But every time he would just grip, you're like, this is. This is crazy. What if this guy fell? He doesn't have a parachute. He doesn't have a rope. He would just fall to his death and we would all witness it and it would be a viral moment for the rest of my life. And you're just watching this games like I've watched a decent amount of snow games. I don't feel I've ever seen anything quite. With the wind, the snow, the difficulty of offensive football, quite like I'm watching right now. And to win that game, it feels like you win multiple games. Like Mike vrabel and Josh McDaniel's got to be in Drake. May. We just won that game. Yeah, you won. It feels like you just want a group of playoff games. So congrats to the Patriots, congrats to Seattle. Kind of bittersweet that the playoffs are over. Now we're onto the super bowl again. We got to really enjoy the next couple weeks of super bowl content because then we don't have a game for a long, long time. And unless you want to see Scotty Scheffler win every week, which that might happen, there's not much going on. You know, pitchers and catchers report here a couple weeks if that gets your, you know, gears flowing. Doesn't do much for me. But let's enjoy football while we have it. Let's, let's dive into Mike McCarthy.
- [40:11]
Matt (How to Money)
New Year, new goals, and in this economy, a better money plan is more necessary than ever. I am Matt.
- [40:18]
Joel (How to Money)
And I'm Joel.
- [40:19]
Matt (How to Money)
We are from the how to Money podcast. And every week we help you to spe smarter, save more, and make sense of what's going on out there.
- [40:26]
Joel (How to Money)
If you want 2026 to be the year you finally feel in control of your money, we're here to give you the tools and advice to help you make it happen. Listen to how to Money on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [40:39]
John Paulk
I'm John Palk. For years, I was the poster boy of the conversion therapy movement. The ex gay who married an ex lesbian and traveled the world, telling my story of how I changed my sexuality from gay to straight. Once upon a time I was on 60 Minutes, Oprah, the front cover of Newsweek, and you might have heard my story, but you've never heard the real story. So join me as I peel back the layers and expose what happened to me in the midst of conversion therapy to shine a light on what the X Game movement does to people and the pain it continues to cause.
- [41:20]
John Middlekoff
I had lost £150 because if I.
- [41:23]
John Paulk
Couldn'T control my sexuality, I was going to control my weight.
- [41:26]
John Middlekoff
It sounded like, and this is the word I used, a cult.
- [41:30]
John Paulk
And as I look too at the harm I did from within. Listen to Atonement, the John Paulk story on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [41:48]
Questlove
Hey, what's up y'? All? This is Questlove. Recently, I had the opportunity to sit down with ASAP Rocky ahead of his album release, don't be Dumb. He reflects on his journey from his Harlem roots to global icon status, discovering the hip hop origin of his name.
- [42:01]
ASAP Rocky
The ledge was on the tv. Rakim had the bucket hat. Kango join him. Like, that's Rakim. That's who you named after. I just was like, damn, that got swag.
- [42:13]
Questlove
Rocky offers a window into not only a boundary breaking artist, but as a man committed to fusing creative ideas, community, and remaining unapologetically himself. Have you ever gotten roasted for any of your outfits, for sure.
- [42:26]
ASAP Rocky
Some people don't be getting the vision. Look, they could roast me, they could cook me, they could deep fry me, they can saute whatever they want. Nobody with my fashion sense and my taste is impeccable. I'm just like, I impress myself a lot.
- [42:43]
Questlove
It's an amazing conversation, one you definitely don't want to miss. So listen to the Questlove show on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.
- [42:55]
Mike De La Rocha
A new year doesn't mean erasing who you were. It means honoring what you've survived and choosing how you want to grow. It means giving ourselves permission to feel what we've been holding and knowing that it's okay to ask for help. I'm Mike De la Rocha, host of Sacred Lessons. This podcast is a space for men to talk openly about mental health, grief, relationships, and the patterns we inherit but don't have to repeat. Here, we slow down. We listen. We learn how vulnerability becomes strength and how healing happens in community, not in isolation. If you're ready to let go of what no longer serves you and step into the year with clarity, compassion, and purpose, Sacred Lessons is your companion on your healing journey. Listen to Sacred Lessons with Mike Delarocha on America's number one podcast network, iHeart. Follow Sacred Lessons with Mike Delarocha and start listening on the free I Heart Rate radio app today.
- [44:02]
John Middlekoff
Okay, I'm recording this part before the games, so if, if anything changes after the fact, you can't hold me to it. But I, I, I definitely wanted to hit on some things that happened over the last course of the, I don't know, three or four days. I haven't recorded since Thursday afternoon. So Friday, Saturday we had a lot going on. And I want to start with the news of Mike McCarthy being the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers. And I saw a lot of reaction on the social channels of shock and awe. Can't believe this. Didn't see this coming. You didn't. Did you hear the owner? When? The day after or two days after Mike Tomlin stepped down. We will not rebuild. We do not plan on throwing a year away. So the situation historically especially I can't speak to definitely Chuck Noel, but even cow or I was, I think I was 8 or 9 years old when he was hired. But when Mike Tomlin was hired, the previous three years, 15 and one conference championship game, 11 and five Super bowl champions. The previous year was 8 and 8. But the team was equipped with a lot of young players and obviously a Quarterback and they took a chance on a young coach, which clearly was the right decision. A couple years later, they are super bowl champions. But this team and that team, not many similarities. Again, when the owner says, essentially this is not some of these teams in this league that are going to nuke their operation. We'll get into Miami here in a second. Cleveland has done in the past, happens in the NBA and Major League Baseball all the time. We are not throwing a season away. It's why I think a lot of fans over the course of the last definitely 10 years since they won a playoff game. But the last several years were like, I can't watch this Steeler thing anymore. The owners weren't unhappy. They were glad that they were competitive. They were cool with making the playoffs every year. They would rather do that at 9 and 8 or 10 and 7 and get curb stomped in the first round, then win three games and throw away a season. Literally. The people that own the franchise told you that. So hiring Mike McCarthy, who has a very similar kind of record to a couple guys that we hold high regard, right? Tomlin's got a Super Bowl, John Harbaugh's got a Super Bowl. Harbaugh had every team in the league, teams with coaches calling him. You had Tomlin, if he was in the situation like John Harbaugh, quote unquote, available, it would be the same thing. Yet we look at Mike McCarthy like the Village idiot, right? We, we just do, fair or not. So when people, when he gets hired, everyone goes, what the right? I mean, it wasn't that long ago, his three year stretch in Dallas of his five years, they won the division twice, hosted two playoff games, now didn't have any playoff success, right? And you look at Tomlin, not any playoff success. Now the difference is his quarterback situation. McCarthy had Dak, which very, very fair to be critical of the McCarthy, you know, run in Dallas in terms of the playoffs, but in regular season, like you can't dispute, he is much more equipped next year in the next couple years than the unknown of these coordinators. But they weren't going to do the unknown of these coordinators because one, this class, there aren't any Ben Johnson out there. And two, the owner wants to try to win nine or 10 games next year. And Mike McCarthy solidifies the ability to coach the quarterback. They don't have one, but at least in their mind he can call the plays in an offensive oriented league and help us build up and find a quarterback. But that's where I would pump the brakes because again, I Was not shocked when they hired Mike McCarthy because the owner clearly wanted to compete, which I disagree. I would nuke this bad boy. I would blow this, you know what up. But they will not. That is not the Steeler way. So it turns out the standard is the standard. It's kind of bs. The standard in Pittsburgh now is just clawing your way to a, a first round exit. But. But like the expectation is to make the playoffs. Anything less than that is a failure. Which in a weird way I, I can respect. Right? But here's the thing with Mike McCarthy. This quarterback guru obviously has a lot of success coaching Aaron Rodgers. Coaching Dak Prescott. Knows how to call the offense. No one can argue that. Here's the problem. When he got hired by the Green Bay packers, they had two quarterbacks on the roster, both hall of Famers, one Brett Favre. And the previous year they had drafted Aaron Rodgers. Here's the thing. Mike McCarthy was the offensive coordinator for the Niners who famously chose Alex Smith over Aaron Rodgers. Now, only he and a couple people inside really know how much juice he had in that decision. Doesn't feel like he was anti that decision. And then when he got hired with the Cowboys, they already had Dak Prescott, who was in the prime of his career. So, like this Mike McCarthy being able to just find guys out of thin air, I don't know if I would go that far. And that is what the Pittsburgh Steelers and the situation they're going to be in because Aaron Rodgers, whether he agrees to come back or not, kind of a moot point. He's 42 years old. They're going to have to find somebody capable. And he's led a pretty charmed life of inheriting Aaron Rodgers, who was already on the roster and obviously Dak Prescott, hell, you could say Aaron Rodgers, best case scenario. And he deserves credit. I'm not trying to act like he didn't influence their play and play a big role. But my point is, is finding the guy like we all know we can coach him. I. I could give Mike McCarthy tomorrow. Jared Goff, Josh Allen, you know, any top 15 quarterback. Brock Purdy, you name it. Sam Darnold. And he would be competitive. But they don't have that guy. So how do they find the guy? That, that would. That's the thing that I would wonder the most. Now, I think for Mike McCarthy personally, this has to be pretty incredible. You know, when you see like Tom Brady's and Leonardo DiCaprio's and these guys that only date supermodels, like, they don't even know what an 8 looks like. They wouldn't even give her the time of day. That's kind of the Football Life Mike McCarthy's led as a head coach. He has coached two of the most iconic franchises in the history of sports worldwide in the Green Bay packers and the Dallas Cowboys. He won a Super Bowl. He coached Aaron Rodgers and then the Dallas Cowboy thing, while a little weird, still got to be the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys on a team for several years. It was good. Like, it doesn't get that much better. You see some of these guys, like Liam Cohen looks like a star head coach coaching the Jags. Jonathan Gannon got a shot. He was coaching the Cardinals. Mike McCarthy, Packers, Cowboys. And then he just happens to be from Pittsburgh. Probably the most consistent franchise beside the Packers. But they didn't have a downturn, kind of like the Packers. For 50 years they've been winning. He gets hired by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Now, this is not the Tomlin entry point in the mid 2000s. This is not a great entry point. And people have DM me like middle coff, you've been critical of this job. I have never disputed the gravitas of being the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers. The amount of fans they have in America worldwide. They are a powerhouse. They are a job that you would want to coach. In terms of the franchise matters, I, I will never argue that. But in terms of the entry point of front office, I don't think is that great. I'm sorry. I just judge them by their moves and two, by people in the NFL that mainly on good playoff teams, some of them still playing, a lot of them with rings say like a lot of clowns in that operation. So that has not been the case historically. Right now I got the front office red flag and obviously from a roster standpoint, it's just a lot of old players now you can move on, but you still got to replace them. It's like, well, we can move on from this guy and that guy. Okay, how are you going to find your next TJ Watt when you're literally trying to find a quarterback? So you got this DK Metcalf, you're just going to cut him. You just waste the second round pick, which I wouldn't blame you. But like this, this roster situation for McCarthy, a lot of question marks, a lot of question marks when the expectation is to win or else. Because part of the reason Tomlin just kept keeping his job year after year after year after year, it turns out, because he never lost, right? They Were not mad at nine and 10 wins. They were happy with it. That is their standard. Which is fair. Which is fair. So this McCarthy thing, taking a lot of people for a loop and surprising people. I, I just don't. You must not have been paying attention to when art Rooney, the 17th or whatever his name is spoke because he told you we do not take years off. Another story from the weekend that really made me laugh is the Cleveland Browns who are forcing their coaches to take personality test, which honestly is not that weird. I think a lot of big time jobs, including the NFL force players to take personality tests. But here was the thing that jumped out to me. They had homework and they had to write essays and I, I googled this and I wasn't able to get to the bottom. But I would guess that Andrew Barry, who is the GM of the Cleveland Browns and his brother who worked on Wall street forever and is now working for Howie Roseman, I think essentially is, is like number two were raised by educators wouldn't shock me at all. Both Ivy League guys, clearly very intellectually I would call smart. Right? But the way they look, the lens in which they look through life is based on an academic background and forcing coaches one, it's just clown activity. There's no way around it. This is a verbal communication job. Be like, hey John, we want you to be a podcaster or radio host, but we need you to write a two page essay. Well, what does that have to do with the job that I'm going to take on? Because even as a coach, what are you ever writing? You are verbalizing to the, to the media, to the press, to your team. Obviously you have to have IQ and EQ, but you're not writing essays. And I'd argue in 2026 and I grew up in a world where you had to learn cursive and write a bunch of essays and have your teacher mark it all up with a red pen. Has that ever been less relevant? I'm not saying you don't need to learn and read and write, but in terms of like what you had to do in high school and college, in terms of essays for most of these professions, pretty irrelevant in this modern day society. And I would say in the coaching profession, not relevant at all. And if you need, whenever you see these releases, well, the agents/chat GPT are doing that now. So I, I think that Barry and the mindset of judging what I'm looking for is coming through a lens that isn't that relevant to what you're looking for. Here's the other problem. No one else is asking you to do this. So when you are an organization around the league that is a laughingstock viewed as a joke, it's hard for you to throw curveballs that other organizations simply are not doing and then have anyone with any credibility take you seriously. And I'm not talking about some guy talking into a microphone or fans at home talking to their buddies making. I'm talking about the candidates that you're trying to hire. There's a reason that this job, which should have more juice, let's say than the Cardinals, who are by far the worst job on the market and seems like no one wants to touch it with a 10 foot pole, should have people like at least interested because they do have some core pieces. They got multiple first round picks. But then I view the way that you view this operation, it's unlike all these other places that are winning. You think the Pittsburgh Steelers made Mike McCarthy write him a two page essay? Of course not. Do you think the Baltimore Ravens made Jesse Minter do that? Of course not. Do you think this happens anywhere else in terms of writing an essay and doing homework? You should have done homework when you go to the interview. Welcome to life. So when I view the Cleveland Browns, who get made fun of because sometimes there's pushback, it's like we're just the. It's easy to kick us when we're down. No, you bring this upon yourself and I think there's this like merging of this academic mindset that doesn't really mix here in the football world. And I can't even imagine what people all around the league are saying about the situation because when that went viral, when Palisaro said it on NFL Network, I'm sorry, a lot of people are like, what? What did they just say? People that at least didn't know it because people that have already done it have probably let it be known like this is what's going on there. So I just, there's a reason you lose and these situations are reflections of you guys have no fucking clue what you're doing. A couple more things. The Bills involving Josh Allen in their coaching search, which I understand you want him to have a rapport understanding and feel like he is a business partner in this venture. Because he is. When you're in business with Mahomes, when you're in business with Josh Allen, like this is not the NBA where LeBron just wants to bend you over and screw you at any moment in terms of he's going to do 100% always what he wants to do. You got to draft my son. You don't have a choice. And you see that article coming out, you're like, God, this has got to be a pain in the ass. It's great when he's in the prime of his career, not in the prime of his career. This sucks being in business, but if you want to be in business, this is how we operate. That's not the case. Like Patrick Mahomes, great business partner, Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, great business partners, right? The NFL, most of these guys, the high level quarterbacks, great to be in Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, it's incredible to be in business with them, right? So when you look at the Buffalo Bills, involving them, I understand the only risk I see is, what if he wants you to do something that you don't want to do? Like that is the risk of involving a player in your coaching search, that if he goes, I think we should hire X and you want to hire Y, does that create some sort of tension in the building and it's avoidable? And Bushade said this about Lamar Jackson, like, yeah, he has influence. He just doesn't have the power, you know, and there's a fine line. And what if Lamar Jackson, they already hired Jesse Minter.
- [58:18]
Joel (How to Money)
But.
- [58:18]
John Middlekoff
But I think the Josh Allen thing, like Philip Rivers, like, sign me up for that. That would be sick. How awesome would it be for Philip Rivers to coach a game in Pavs? Like, what's he doing? He's coaching a game. Football. But yeah, he's the backup quarterback. So if Josh were to go down, he would just go in and then he would call his own place. I've said this forever about the Rivers, the breezes, Peyton Manning, Brady. These guys could do any role if they wanted to. Like, you don't think they could be a head coach. You don't think some of these guys we see become head coaches that are basically gym teachers? Those guys couldn't pull off? Are you out of your mind? Philip Rivers could be a head coach tomorrow. Would there be a learning curve? Of course. But like, what has he not seen from guys getting in trouble, draft picks, failures, the wiring of guys? He could do it. I actually think he could seamlessly do it. I hope they hire him, though I doubt they do. But sign me up for that. And honestly, I want player coach. I want him to coach a game in pads, in his football pants, in his shoulder pads, helmet on the side. And if Josh, like rolled an ankle, he just runs in. Tell me, who wouldn't be excited for that? Moment, not me. I'm in. My guess would be Brian Dabel is the coach and that's who Josh Allen wants if that's the case. But who knows? Maybe him and Philip Rivers I don't know about their personal relationship with. What if he's like, I want Philip Rivers and they're like, yeah, that's kind of crazy. But why not? Who enjoys football whether you're a Bills fans or not. If I told you they hired Philip Rivers tomorrow, wouldn't especially like, no one can argue what he just did. Coming back and playing and his understanding of the game. Having not played for five years. Obviously there's a physical element of playing. There's not in coaching, but once you watch that, you're like, this guy is a coach. I mean, he literally isn't in high school, but just like his whole thing. Same with Peyton Manning. Like they did not have big arms so they had to out think you. They had to go into games like they are Sean McVeigh or Kyle Shanahan. They just happened to be on the field, but their arms. Philip Rivers arm has been weak since he was like 30 years old, right? His arm was a little stronger probably when he was younger, but it's not great. Same with Drew Brees. Drew Brees never had a big arm. He had to out. Thank you. So that would be awesome. And last but not least, New year.
- [60:39]
Matt (How to Money)
New goals, and in this economy, a better money plan is more necessary than ever. I am Matt.
- [60:45]
Joel (How to Money)
And I'm Joel.
- [60:46]
Matt (How to Money)
We are from the how to Money podcast. And every week we help you to spend smarter, save more, and make sense of what's going on out there.
- [60:52]
Joel (How to Money)
If you want 2026 to be the year you finally feel in control of your money, we're here to give you the tools and advice to help you make it happen. Listen to how to Money on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [61:06]
John Paulk
I'm John Palk. For years, I was the poster boy of the conversion therapy movement. The ex gay who married an ex lesbian and traveled the world telling my story of how I changed my sexuality from gay to straight. Once upon a time, I was on 60 Minutes, Oprah, the front cover of Newsweek, and you might have heard my story, but you've never heard the real story. So join me as I peel back the layers and expose what happened to me in the midst of conversion therapy to shine a light on what the ex game movement does to people and the pain it continues to cause.
- [61:47]
John Middlekoff
I had lost 150 pounds. Because if I couldn't control my sexuality.
- [61:51]
John Paulk
I was going to control my weight. It sounded like, and this is the.
- [61:55]
John Middlekoff
Word I used to.
- [61:57]
John Paulk
And as I look too at the harm I did from within. Listen to Atonement, the John Paul story on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [62:14]
Questlove
Hey, what's up y'?
- [62:15]
John Middlekoff
All?
- [62:15]
Questlove
This is Questlove. Recently I had the opportunity to sit down with ASAP Rocky ahead of his album release, Don't Be Dumb. He reflects on his journey from his Harlem roots to global icon status, discovering the hip hop origin of his name.
- [62:28]
ASAP Rocky
The ledge was on the tv. Rakim had the bucket hat. Kango joint on. Pops was like, that's Rakim. That's who you nameked after. I just was like, damn, that got swag.
- [62:40]
Questlove
Rocky offers a window into not only a boundary breaking artist, but as a man committed to fusing creative ideas, community and radio and remaining unapologetically himself. Have you ever gotten roasted for any of your outfits? For sure.
- [62:53]
ASAP Rocky
Some people don't be getting the vision. Look, they could roast me, they could cook me, they could deep fry me, they could saute whatever they want. It's nobody with my fashion sense and my taste is impeccable. I'm just like, I impress myself a lot.
- [63:09]
Questlove
It's an amazing conversation, one you definitely don't want to miss. So listen to the Questlove show on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.
- [63:22]
Mike De La Rocha
A new year doesn't mean erasing who you were. It means honoring what you've survived and choosing how you want to grow. It means giving ourselves permission to feel what we've been holding and knowing that it's okay to ask for help. I'm Mike De La Rocha, host of Sarah Sacred Lessons. This podcast is a space for men to talk openly about mental health, grief, relationships, and the patterns we inherit but don't have to repeat here. We slow down. We listen. We learn how vulnerability becomes strength and how healing happens in community, not in isolation. If you're ready to let go of what no longer serves you and step into to the year with clarity, compassion and purpose. Sacred Lessons is your companion on your healing journey. Listen to Sacred Lessons with Mike Delarocha on America's number one podcast network, I Heart. Follow Sacred Lessons with Mike De La Rocha and start listening on the free I Heart Radio app. Today.
- [64:29]
John Middlekoff
I watched the press conference for the Miami Dolphins and they essentially did the opposite of what the Pittsburgh Steelers did. They understand like it's time to throw some grenades on this roster. Let's blow this, you know what up. And my big takeaway from watching these two guys which kind of look similar, they both look like, I don't know, 5, 11 to 6 foot white guys, pretty low body fat, drink a lot of coffee and just pretty smart guys. Like both their press conferences. A lot of you guys have hit me in the dms like when you become a father and this is definitely true of someone that lost their dad, things trigger you to make you emotional. Both of them started crying about their families. And I'm watching the thing on my phone on the StairMaster at the gym and I'm just crying my eyes out and people are walking by probably thinking like, what is wrong with this guy? I'm like, just watch the Miami Dolphins press conference here. Halfley's talking about his dad who passed away. It's just. It hit me. I didn't say that, but a couple people just. I'm like wiping my, my eyes with the towel. I give the Miami Dolphins credit that it feels like they hired pretty sharp guys. Obviously Eric, John Sullivan that we're not sure that Steven Ross knew his name. Older guy, lot going on. Don't totally blame him. Kind of a weird name too. He said, just call me Sully. Hire the guy from the Green Bay packers, which totally understand that they have a pretty good track record. The guys worked there for like almost 25 years and Halfley has kind of been a shooting star now for a while. So get rid of tua. Bottom out. Like if you are okay with bottoming out, hiring young people and taking a chance is okay, right? The Rams, their expectation, they got good immediately with Sean McVeigh, but they were okay with like taking a step back to take a couple steps forward. Pittsburgh Steelers were not. The Miami Dolphins are. It's also a very tough job in Miami, one I've said forever. The culture of the city is hard to overcome. All the players have never been richer. The city doesn't sleep. It's just there's a ton of different shit to get into. This is not like, oh, the guys play in New York City. They don't live in New York City. LA, the bar shut down in California at like 11 o' clock most days. So it's like, what are you even going to do? Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Green Bay, some of these smaller cities, there's none of them do Pittsburgh. There probably is never been there. No shot at Pittsburgh. I was trying to say Green Bay and Buffalo, but it's a huge Disadvantage in Miami. It just did in this modern day society. And you got Josh Allen and you got the New England Patriots who might, may have, might not have won again. Recording this part before the games need to finish so I can go watch them. But you got an uphill battle. Luckily you got the Jets. No excuse to lose to them. But I am really excited to watch these guys because you watch these guys talk football. Clearly the GM who's had a right hand, been Gudiken's right hand man now for years and mentored under Ted Thompson for a long time. And Halfley who is just extremely well respected around football and just kind of comes off like a grinder. I mean, the dude slept under his desk for a couple years when he was young. He gave pretty good advice. When they asked him about that situation, he's like, listen, I put all my chips in the middle of the table. I was a guy that. And he even said a lot of people I went to college with were working in New York City, crushing it. My first job was paying me $2,500. And I can relate to that a little bit. Like when I got in football at Fresno State, I made a scholarship check. When the Eagles hired me, I think I made 25k, no bennies. I mean, I just. You're just kind of living day to day and you're all your chips are in the middle of the table on the situation. Right. A lot of these jobs I had friends that, you know, worked in finance, worked in tech, even their entry level jobs, you know, pay a lot of money. And also like the hours, even if quote unquote are crazy, they ain't football. You see Mike McDonald? So he sees his son Jack, great name by the way. 30 minutes to an hour a week like this is not a normal profession. And he wasn't asking for sympathy. It just comes with the territory. But happily, put all his chips in the middle of the table and 20 years later, he's the head coach in the NFL.
- [68:39]
Questlove
The volume.
- [68:43]
Joel (How to Money)
Hey, it's Joel and Matt from how to Money. If your New Year's resolution is to finally get your finances in shape, we've got your back prices, they're still high, and the economy is all over the place. But 2026 is the year for you to get intentional and make real progress.
- [68:59]
Matt (How to Money)
That's right, yeah. Each week we break down what's happening with your money, the most important issues to focus on, and the small moves that make a big difference. Kick off the year with confidence. Listen to how to Money on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [69:15]
John Paulk
I'm John Paulk. For years, I was the poster boy of the conversion therapy movement. The ex gay who married an ex lesbian and traveled the world telling my story of how I changed my sexuality from gay to straight. You might have heard my story, but you've never heard the real story. John has never been anything but gay, but he really tried hard not to be. Listen to Atonement, the John Paulk story on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [69:48]
John Middlekoff
This season on Dear Chelsea, with me, Chelsea Handler. We've got some incredible guests like Kumail Nanjiani. Let's start with your cat. How is she? She is not with us anymore. Great, great, great. Way to start. Maybe you will cry. Ross Matthews. You know what kids always say to me? Are you a boy or a girl? Oh, my God. All the time. I know. So I try to butch it up for kids so they're not confused. Yeah, but you're butching it up is basically like an angry woman. Doris Day, right? No, I turn into Bea Arthur. Listen to these episodes of Dear Chelsea on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [70:24]
Questlove
Hello. Hello, all my people. What's up? It's Questlove. Recently, I had the opportunity to sit down with the one and only ASAP Rocky. He reflects on his journey from Harlem roots to global icon status and discovering the hip hop origin of his name.
- [70:38]
ASAP Rocky
The ledge was on the tv. Rakim had the bucket hat Kangol joint on. My pops was like, that's Rakim. That's who you named after. I just was like, damn, that got swag.
- [70:50]
Questlove
But listen to the Questlove show on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.
- [70:58]
John Middlekoff
This is an iHeart podcast.
- [71:00]
John Paulk
Guaranteed Human.