The Ryen Russillo Show (Barstool Sports)

Episode: Friday Feedback, Plus Thor Bjornsson Talks Lifting, His Hoops Career & Game of Thrones!

Date: February 19, 2026
Host: Ryen Russillo
Guests: Ceruti, Kyle, Tom, Kevin, Special Guest: Hafthor "Thor" Bjornsson

Episode Overview

This episode of The Ryen Russillo Show is split into two main sections:

• The first half is a classic Friday Feedback with Ryen, Ceruti, Kyle, and Tom fielding listener questions about podcast behind-the-scenes, sports topics, pop culture, workplace dynamics, and hypothetical debates.
• The second half features an in-depth interview with Thor Bjornsson—former World's Strongest Man and “The Mountain” from Game of Thrones—where he discusses his Icelandic roots, transition from basketball to strongman, career highlights, the Enhanced Games (performance-enhancing drug-allowed competition), and his iconic GoT role.

The tone is irreverently insightful—a blend of locker-room banter, genuine life advice, inside-sports analysis, and a unique celebrity guest interview.

Friday Feedback: Key Topics and Discussion Points

1. What Do the Pod Team Members Actually Do?

[04:02 - 07:18]

• Listener Question: How is the show a full-time job for the whole crew?
• Ceruti (Tom):
  • Spends more time on long-term show planning and content strategy than at previous jobs.
  • Handles segment planning, some guest booking (despite having bookers), monitors other podcasts for comparison, and works on sales/sponsorship elements like Netflix placement and visibility.
    • "A lot of the things that I feel like I used to do took me away from the thing that I wanted to do most or I needed to do the most was like worry about Ryan's show and making the show better." (04:19)
  • Appreciate having specialized help now (shoutouts to Tom - video, and Kevin - social).
• Kyle:
  • Formerly juggled three to six shows at once; now focuses on audio engineering.
  • Used to handle video, social media, and more; happier with leaner, more focused role now.
    • "I used to be the video guy and the social guy and now I'm the audio guy and I work with the video guy and the social guy." (06:40)
• Russillo:
  • Adds that the “value” is different now—focus on quality rather than quantity of output.

2. "Female" vs. "Woman" Debate

[07:34 - 12:35]

• Explores why some listeners object to the term "female(s)" versus "woman/women".
• Ryen: Acknowledges the nuance and intent behind language use, especially when generalizing about groups.
  • "Using female as a noun can sound overly biological, like you're describing a specimen or an animal... basic decency." (07:54)
  • "Men give each other shit all the time...it never stops." (09:00)
• Ceruti: It can feel uncomfortably formal or harsh to refer to a woman as “female”.
• Kyle: Observes regional/cultural differences but agrees that context matters.
• Banter about how there still isn't a casual, universally accepted equivalent to “dude” for women.

3. NBA & Sports Talk: Futures and Summer Plans

[15:47 - 17:17]; [52:05 - 56:52]

• Discussion about potentially expanding coverage to other sports (soccer, tennis, more MMA and F1).
  • "I don't feel comfortable if I'm not watching the sport regularly. I don't like doing topics that I don't know anything about." – Russillo (16:31)
• Teases plans for World Cup coverage, including drafts, team-choosing segments, and listener involvement.

4. Pop Culture & Succession Comparisons

[32:32 - 38:15]

• Team debate: Which Succession character are each of them?
  • Russillo: Sees himself as Conor Roy or possibly Logan—values independence, history, slightly libertarian.
  • Kyle: Can't escape the "Greg" allegory.
  • Ceruti: Teased as potentially “Tom” or “Jerry.”
• Tangent about how TV shows (Succession, Sopranos) handle family dynamics and writing conventions.

5. Behind-the-Scenes Stories & Podcast Evolution

[41:21 - 44:06]

• Story about “Wargon”, a behind-the-scenes producer, and how his goodbye was edited out of the podcast after the Barstool move—Russillo found this unnecessarily cold.
  • "Cutting out our Oregon goodbye was entirely pointless and kind of nasty, to be honest with you." (42:02)
• Reflections on leaving the previous company, maintaining professionalism, and keeping transitions positive for the audience.

6. Bowling Alleys Are Underrated

[44:40 - 47:55]

• Bowling is praised as a sober-friendly group activity—a “bowling phase” is universal for friend groups.
  • "Bowling's a good activity. And one guy kind of took it too seriously. Bought shoes, bought his own ball... and then everybody scared everyone off." – Tom (45:54)

7. Show's Abrupt Endings (Listener Observation)

[49:27 - 51:36]

• Listener notes Russillo's abrupt episode sign-offs.
• Team confirms it's due to Russillo’s ingrained “radio clock” from his ESPN days—prefers to end short than drag on.
  • "Honestly, a lot of podcasters... this has been done for 12 minutes and it's been done. It's over." (51:04)

Special Guest Segment: Thor Bjornsson (The Mountain, Strongman Legend)

[56:52 - 81:10]

Childhood and Icelandic Roots

[57:09 - 58:29]

• Grew up on a farm in Iceland; peaceful, tight-knit community.
• Values Iceland's tranquility and lack of celebrity drama.
  • "It has grown a lot over...the last two, three decades. Growing up in Iceland was amazing. I had a very normal childhood...just running around in the nature, in the fields." – Thor (57:40)

Athletic Beginnings: Basketball Aspirations

[60:23 - 62:11]

• Played center for Iceland’s junior national teams, dreamed of the NBA.
  • "I've always been an athlete my whole life...that was definitely on my mind, becoming a professional basketball player." – Thor (61:13)
• Idolized Michael Jordan, Kobe, LeBron, and Shaq.

Transition to Strength Sports

[62:11 - 65:27]

• Injury shifted focus to lifting; early passion for muscle and physique.
• Quickly excelled in powerlifting, then strongman competitions.
• Legendary rock-carrying event: broke Icelandic record in his first comp, hooked ever since.

Strength, Genetics, and Training Insights

[65:37 - 67:37]

• Genetics a major factor, but technique and body-type also crucial; some events felt “natural.”
• Reveals early struggles with static lifts (like deadlift, squat), but now holds the world deadlift record.

Enhanced Games: Pushing Human Limits

[67:41 - 71:28]

• Excited to compete at the Enhanced Games (Las Vegas, May 24)—a new, openly enhanced athlete sports event spotlighting human boundaries.
• Praises the emphasis on athlete health/screening.
• Still chasing unfulfilled potential: "I don't think I really peaked yet...I feel there's more there." (69:37)

Rivalries & Athlete Respect

[71:28 - 73:08]

• On Mitch Hooper’s trash talk: No hate, but wants everyone to know—Hooper has never beaten him at deadlift.
  • "Let's make one thing clear...he's never won me in that event ever in his life." (72:10)

Game of Thrones: Origin & Iconic Moments

[73:08 - 79:56]

• How he landed the GoT role: luck, timing, seizing opportunity, and sheer physical presence. No prior acting experience.
• Fighting Pedro Pascal (Oberyn): "I was fucking shitting my pants...there are all these fucking actors watching, there are cameras everywhere...I cannot fuck up." (78:17)
• Memorable for the skull-crushing scene; audience reactions often polarized.
  • "Life can take you down very easily. If you think that you have everything and you think that you're too good… life can take it down, bomb and throw you on the floor easily. So stay grounded, guys." (80:09)

Closing: Advice to Listeners

• Perseverance and seizing opportunities: "As long as you put in the work and you're consistent, opportunities will come. You just have to be ready to take them." (77:21)
• Shares favorite training/life lessons; encourages humility.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Men give each other shit all the time... It never stops.” – Russillo on why intent matters in language (09:00)
• “Cutting out our Oregon goodbye was entirely pointless and kind of nasty, to be honest with you…” – Russillo on being edited during company transition (42:02)
• "I was fucking shitting my pants...there are all these fucking actors watching, there are cameras everywhere...I cannot fuck up." – Thor Bjornsson on his Game of Thrones debut (78:17)
• "Let's make one thing clear...he's never won me in that event ever in his life." – Thor on Mitch Hooper and the Enhanced Games (72:10)
• “Honestly, a lot of podcasters...this has been done for 12 minutes, and it's been done. It's over.” – Russillo on knowing when to end the show (51:04)
• "Life can take you down very easily...if you think that you have everything and you think that you're too good...life can take it down, bomb and throw you on the floor easily. So stay grounded, guys.” – Thor (80:09)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Crew Job Descriptions: 04:02 – 07:18
• “Female” vs. “Woman” Language: 07:34 – 12:35
• Succession Character Debate: 32:32 – 38:15
• Story on Podcast Producer Wargon: 41:21 – 44:06
• Bowling Alley Is Underrated: 44:40 – 47:55
• Russillo on Abrupt Endings: 49:27 – 51:36

Thor Bjornsson Interview

• Iceland Upbringing: 57:09 – 58:29
• Basketball Background: 60:23 – 62:11
• Strongman & Records: 62:11 – 67:37
• Enhanced Games Discussion: 67:41 – 71:28
• GoT Casting & Filming: 73:08 – 79:56
• Parting Wisdom: 80:09 – 80:34

Final Thoughts

This episode blends classic Friday Feedback’s unique mix of insightful advice, in-jokes, and real talk with an unexpectedly deep and humble interview with Thor Bjornsson. Listeners get a peek behind the podcast curtain, learn about Icelandic culture, the nuances of language, and how one of the world’s most famous strongmen manages ambition, humility, and fandom.

Recommended For:
Anyone who loves behind-the-scenes sports podcasting, honest workplace banter, pop culture rabbit holes, and inspirational stories from world-class athletes and actors.

[End of summary]