Peanuts, Popcorn & Crackerjacks
Peanuts, Popcorn & Crackerjacks is a baseball and entertainment industry podcast hosted by Jeff Santo, a writer/director and son of Hall of Fame baseball player, Ron Santo.
Episodes
Jeff interviews Jimmy Bank, the former traveling secretary for the Chicago Cubs, Milwaukee Brewers, and the Oakland A’s, who has so many stories he could write a book. He talks about how he became the youngest in his position in MLB history and his wonderful relationship with Ron Santo. Then Jeff crackerjack calls Arthur Pullano for some wild stories about growing up with the Santo family.
In this episode, Jeff speaks with Hall of Fame pitcher Fergie Jenkins about his incredible career, his time with the Cubs, and that 1969 team. Then Jeff crackerjack calls his nephew Spencer Brown, who’s studying Sports Business at the University of Oklahoma.
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In this episode, Jeff and Christie discuss their top five favorite baseball films. Jeff interviews independent studio mogul Ira Deutchman (A Woman Under the Influence, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Sex Lies and Videotape, Hoop Dreams). They discuss Ira’s enduring career, distributing This Old Cub, and some insightful advice for today’s indie filmmakers. Then Jeff Crackerjack calls his friend and music vide...
In this episode, Jeff interviews center fielder Bobby Dernier about the incredible 1984 Cubs team and its success, which took Chicago by storm. Then Jeff crackerjack calls Gino’s East LA owner Dan Michaels.
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In this episode, Jeff and Christie talk about luck. Jeff interviews Dodger/Cub Nate Oliver about that Cubs 1969 team, singing Pennant Fever, and the Koufax no-hitter in ’65. Then Jeff crackerjack calls Joey Hickman, son of Cubs slugger Jim Hickman.
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Jeff and Christie discuss regret. The earnest Barry Rozner talks about how he went from a vender to an award-winning sports journalist, his relationship with Ron Santo, writing Ron’s Hall of Fame speech, and more. Then Jeff crackerjack calls his nephew, Sam Brown.
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In this episode, Jeff talks with the masterful biographer/reporter Ron Rapoport about his book on Ernie Banks and that Cubs 1969 team. Then Jeff crackerjack calls his childhood friend and armchair GM, Peter Nestos, to discuss the Cubs’ upcoming season.
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In the last episode of the season, Jeff continues his conversation with Peter Conti, discussing documentaries, novels, teaching, and how hard it is in Hollywood to get projects going. Then, dear friend Dan Foley gets the crackerjack call, who began the artistic journey with Jeff, collaborating on the play The 25th Man, which premiered at the Remains Theatre in Chicago in 1992.
In this episode, Jeff and Christie exchange views about friendship and life as you age. Then Jeff sits down with author Peter Conti to talk about his #1 Amazon best-selling book Gringo, baseball, and Peter’s new marriage. Then Jeff crackerjack calls his childhood friend Jim McCauley, and they discuss their friendship, growing up in Glenview, and being children of divorce.
In this episode, Jeff and Christie talk about the baseball season. Louis Lombardi talks about being raised by three women, raising his daughter, and the current state of Hollywood and the actor's strike. Then Jeff crackerjack calls former Cubs’ Director of Baseball Operations Scott Nelson and discusses his unique path to his dream job working for the Cubs.
In this episode, actor Louis Lombardi, from The Sopranos and 24 fame, tells his incredible story of growing up on the streets in the Bronx and becoming an actor. Then Jeff crackerjack calls his God-sister Sherry Matarrese for a trip down memory lane.
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In this episode, Jeff and Christie discuss their motorcycle accident and Christie's injury. Then Tommy John gets into the nitty-gritty of his historical surgery that has saved careers—the injury, the surgery, and the rehab. The crackerjack call is to Jeff's friend Pete Hartmann, a left-handed pitcher who's dedicated his life to the game and shares his insight on today's youth.
In this episode, Jeff speaks with the remarkable pitcher Tommy John. They discuss why he hasn't yet been voted into baseball's Hall of Fame, his academic and athletic roots in Indiana, and the best pitching lesson he’s ever learned. Then Jeff crackerjack calls Joe Amalfitano to talk about Joe’s cross-town friendship with Tommy.
We do a switcheroo in this episode; Christie hosts and interviews Jeff, who reveals more about his big league childhood, following in his father's footsteps, his dad's diabetes, his leap into the film business, and This Old Cub.
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In this episode, Randy tells a story showing Ron Santo’s competitiveness, talks about his late wife Betty, the Don Young game, and explains how and why he invented the fantasy camps. Then Jeff crackerjack calls his brother Ronnie for a deep dive into their childhood. To close it out, Jeff reads a poem he wrote titled Me & My Brother.
Jeff talks with the legendary catcher Randy Hundley about his new book Ironman, his one-handed catching style that changed the game of baseball, and his relationship with Leo Durocher. Then Jeff crackerjack calls Randy's son, All-Star catcher Todd Hundley, for an inside look at Todd's journey to the big leagues.
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In this episode, Don Kessinger discusses his thoughts on Leo Durocher, getting traded, how he became a player-manager, and the notorious Disco Demolition Night at Comiskey Park. Then Jeff crackerjack calls his friend and producer of This Old Cub, Billy Pullano, and they talk about Ron Santo Pizzeria and Ron’s home run during the moon landing.
In this episode: Jeff and Christie tell the story of how they met. Jeff talks with another Cubs legend Don Kessinger who opens up about his athletic beginnings, meeting his wife, and his impression of Ron Santo. Then Jeff crackerjack calls the ultimate baseball mom, Don’s wife, Carolyn Kessinger.
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In this episode, Joel Murray talks about working on Joe Mantegna's "Bleacher Bums," playing softball in a celebrity game at the Field of Dreams, this SAG-AFTRA strike, the Cubs' victory in 2016 and the Cubs' current season, and Jeff and Joel joke around about doing a hunger-strike outside Warner Bros. Then Jeff crackerjack calls his friend and former babysitter Linda Matarrese Momii w...
Baseball and entertainment podcast with extraordinary guests and surprises, hosted by Jeff Santo, a writer/director and son of Hall of Fame baseball player Ron Santo.
Thanks for listening! Please follow and share. If you enjoy what you hear and would like to support us and receive exclusive content, please visit our Patreon page. Email questions to Jeff at jeff.ppcpodcast@gmail.com.
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