Throwbacks with Matt Leinart & Jerry Ferrara
Episode: 2025 Year End Award Show
Date: December 23, 2025
Hosts: Matt Leinart & Jerry Ferrara
Guest Contributor: Annie Agar
Episode Overview
On this festive year-end episode, Matt and Jerry recap the biggest, wildest, and most memorable moments from sports and pop culture in 2025. With their signature blend of nostalgia, humor, and real-life stories, they hand out their personal awards—from best games, viral sports moments, and under-the-radar MVPs, to TV binges and even their favorite kids’ shows. The episode is capped by a competitive round of holiday trivia (with Annie Agar aboard), family traditions talk, and a surprise guest appearance by Matt’s wife, Josie.
Main Themes & Purpose
- Reflecting on the most unforgettable sports and entertainment happenings of 2025.
- Personal awards and recognitions, both serious and lighthearted.
- Exploration of sports fandom, fatherhood, and family holiday traditions.
- Organic, fun-filled banter reminiscent of two old friends hanging out.
Key Segments and Discussion Points
2025’s Best Games (02:37–05:12)
- Matt’s pick: Dodgers’ Game 7 World Series win over Toronto.
- “It was just like, like you know, Toronto didn’t have all the stuff…but it just came down to basic fundamental. It came down to defensive plays…it’s just one of the best baseball games ever played.” (03:41, Matt)
- Jerry’s pick: Knicks’ back-to-back comebacks against Boston in the NBA playoffs, lead by Mikal Bridges.
- “You could pick either game...for Knicks fans it’s like, of course Boston’s up by 20, we knew we were going to lose these. I paused the game to put Jacob to bed…and then I started getting notifications...something’s happening.” (04:10, Jerry)
Athlete Who Dominated the Timeline (05:15–09:14)
- Jerry: Shador Sanders (Cleveland Browns QB)
- “Pretty much since February...Shador Sanders, pretty much since February was being talked about on my timeline.” (05:29, Jerry)
- Draft questions, playing time, speculation on Browns’ future quarterback decisions.
- Matt: Travis Kelce (Kansas City Chiefs)
- “He hasn’t let any of this fame and on a whole nother level, a stratosphere level with [Taylor Swift] like, change who he is. He’s a great dude...I have a feeling he’s done.” (07:45, Matt)
- Discussion of the Chiefs’ aging core and Mahomes’ long-term future with Kansas City, shifting NFL powerhouses.
2025 Viral and Chaotic Sports Moments (18:22–22:29)
- Jerry: Stephen A. Smith and LeBron James’ heated public exchange.
- “We just never see that…Never do these two people cross paths. And it’s for public display. And we kind of saw it.” (19:10, Jerry)
- Matt: Personal brushes with the media; the infamous “hot tub” photo leak.
- “The first picture that ever went viral of me, right? The whole hot tub thing, that dude… I would beat his ass if I saw him.” (20:53, Matt)
Moment of the Year / Wendy’s Fresh Take (13:04–18:22)
- Jerry: Rory McIlroy finally winning the Grand Slam at Augusta.
- “For him to take on all that pressure and win in Augusta with the world watching…that was my moment.” (14:37, Jerry)
- Matt: Four Nations Face-Off tournament in the NHL.
- “It was like Olympic style…all the stars played in this and it was meaningful. That’s why we love, like, the Olympics, right?” (16:13, Matt)
- “It was awesome, dude. It was just like, holy shit.” (17:02, Matt)
- Both reflect on how these moments are driving change in other sports’ showcase events, e.g., NBA stars vs. the World coming up.
Crossroads—MVP Outside the Headlines (23:23–28:22)
- Matt’s “MVP”: Timothée Chalamet
- “I mean, this kid is on a mission right now, dude…he’s just oozing that it factor. Even though we see him all the time in public and we’re like, cool. He still has the aura, you know what I mean?” (23:27, Matt; 25:58, Matt)
- Jerry: Chalamet’s knack for mixing sports fandom and Hollywood stardom, and his competitive, open approach versus DiCaprio’s more mysterious path.
Binge-Watching & TV Faves (28:22–32:13)
- Matt: Yellowstone and Landman – the Taylor Sheridan universe.
- “Yellowstone is absolutely one of the best shows I’ve ever watched...Landman because Billy Bob Thorne is so good in the show.” (29:28, Matt; 29:46, Matt)
- Jerry: I Love LA (HBO).
- “I judge how good a show is now by…are we awake past 10 o’ clock watching?...I ripped through 'em and now I have to wait till Sunday night.” (31:05, Jerry)
- Brief foray into ranch life dreams and family preferences.
Parenting, Kids’ Shows & Holiday Traditions (35:03–43:57)
- Kids’ Show Favorites:
- Matt’s family: Ben and Cam (YouTube), Toy Story, Cars. Excited for Toy Story 5.
- Jerry’s: Bluey—“It’s a fun show, and they're quick episodes.” (37:26, Jerry)
- Holiday Traditions:
- Annie Agar shares her family’s Christmas Eve auction for gifts, blending elements from “Survivor” and classic games like euchre.
- “We all had fake money and...you had to bid on each auction package…my brother got a can of sardines.” (39:07, Annie Agar)
- Discussion of wrapping vs. unwrapping traditions, who gifts are “from” (Santa vs. parents), and family dynamics.
- Annie Agar shares her family’s Christmas Eve auction for gifts, blending elements from “Survivor” and classic games like euchre.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “I mean, this kid is on a mission right now, dude.” (23:27, Matt on Chalamet)
- “You would maybe make the Leo [DiCaprio] comp, right? But with Chalamet… it’s kind of the opposite. [He’s] very public, outwardly saying, I want to be one of the best to ever do it.” (24:15, Jerry)
- “For them to win [the World Series] that way was incredible. So that would be my best game. And it was just like it was filled with every moment as well.” (03:41, Matt)
- “Never do these two people cross paths. And it’s for public display. And we kind of saw it.” (19:10, Jerry on Stephen A. & LeBron)
- "That would be the moment...it was so cool." (17:02, Matt on the NHL’s Four Nations Face Off)
- “The first picture that ever went viral of me, right? The whole hot tub thing...I would beat his ass if I saw him.” (20:53, Matt)
- “I’m all a part of [the] Taylor [Sheridan] universe.” (29:46, Matt)
- “It's more than movies for me, Jerry. Yeah, when I'm scrolling movies, I'm like, hey, let's throw Toy Story on...and they're like, dad, we've seen it 50 times.” (36:06, Matt)
Pop Culture, Parenting Philosophies & Family Appearances (55:00+)
- Philosophical debate: Should all kids’ gifts be from Santa, or do parents deserve credit?
- Josie (Matt’s wife) explains her family’s “all gifts from Santa—nothing wrapped” tradition, and the joy of seeing everything displayed.
- “How magical to come downstairs and, like, all of a sudden there's, like, a dollhouse...the kitchen…all set.” (58:15, Josie)
- Annie, Matt, Jerry, and Josie offer genuine, sometimes hilariously honest reflections on the logistics, joy, and stress of Christmas for parents.
Holiday Trivia with Annie Agar (51:43–54:46)
- Christmas-themed questions: Santa’s reindeer, Whoville, what makes Frosty come alive (his hat!), and rapid-fire ID of Billy Bob Thornton and Tim Allen.
- Jerry finally gets a trivia win, breaking Matt's dominant streak.
- “I’ve never seen someone who’s getting their ass kicked so much be so excited about winning...” (54:57, Matt)
Timestamps for Select Segments
- Best Sports Game of 2025: 02:37–05:12
- Athlete Who Dominated the Timeline: 05:15–09:14
- Moment/Viral Moment of the Year: 13:04–18:22
- NHL Four Nations Face-Off Recap: 15:42–18:22
- Under-the-Radar MVP (Timothée Chalamet): 23:23–28:22
- TV Binge Recommendations: 28:22–32:13
- Parenting & Kids Shows Talk: 35:03–37:38
- Holiday Family Traditions & Gift Wrapping: 38:16–43:57; 57:03–59:03
- Annie Agar Holiday Trivia Segment: 51:43–54:46
- Conclusion & Guest Appearance from Josie: 57:01–61:30
Tone & Language
Conversational, self-deprecating, warm, and playful. The hosts blend sports knowledge, pop culture savvy, and relatable dad/husband/friend humor. Family dynamics, fan experiences, and inside-baseball (and basketball, and football) details are shared with authenticity and heart.
For Listeners
This episode is a mix of sports year-in-review, casual awards show, dad-life confessional, and a family holiday special—funny, insightful, and full of moments you’ll want to repeat at your own gatherings. Perfect to catch up on sports’ biggest stories of 2025 and ring in the holidays Throwbacks-style.
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