Peanuts, Popcorn & Crackerjacks

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.

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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. 

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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.  

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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. 

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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. 

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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. 

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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 whose family took Ron in...

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.

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Before Jeff interviews the funny Joel Murray, Jeff and Christie discuss the Hall of Fame and what it all means. Then Joel talks about his transition from football into the theater, his father’s early passing, going to Cub games and eating Ron Santo Pizza, his path to show business, his new show Heels, and so much more. Plus, Jeff crackerjack calls Rick Pullano, whose family was very close to the Santo family growing up. 

In this episode, Billy Williams talks about growing up in Whistler, Alabama, family, almost wanting to leave baseball because of segregation, and why there are fewer black players in today's game. Also, Jeff crackerjack calls Ed Lynch (former Cubs GM), and they talk about his career and baseball today, and Ed tells a funny story involving Tricky Dick. 

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Hall of Famer sweet-swinging Billy Williams talks about his journey to the big leagues, his time with Ron Santo in the minor leagues, their parallel careers that made MLB history, the 1969 season that should have been, and more. Then Jeff again, crackerjack calls his mom, Judy, and they discuss a hilarious story about Billy Williams and a wild goose.  

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Mark DeCarlo breaks down today's Hollywood system that's starving the middle-class actor, discusses the future of the business, and tells Jeff about meeting his favorite cub, Ron Santo. And Jeff crackerjack calls Carmen Fanzone, who backed up his dad at third base in the early seventies, and they discuss a very special moment for Eddie Vedder. 

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The talented Mark DeCarlo talks about his unique Hollywood career that spans over three decades, and Mark and Jeff argue over Jeff's tired legs and unwillingness to fill in for Mark's thinly rostered softball team. Then Jeff crackerjacks Marc Brady, a long-time tv sports producer for the Chicago Cubs, Blackhawks, and Bulls. 

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Listen to Part 2 of Pete LaCock! In this episode, Jeff and Pete talk baseball, the game today vs. when Pete played, and hear why Pete retired from playing in the MLB early at 28. Then Jeff crackerjack calls Jimmy Boudreau, who won a College World Series with ASU and was the youngest son of Hall of Famer Lou Boudreau.

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This episode is chock full of sons from famous fathers. Jeff talks with the gifted Pete LaCock about his Hollywood roots being the son of Peter Marshall, and about getting drafted to the Cubs as the #1 pick while surfing the coast of California. After, Jeff crackerjack calls Joey Banks, son of Cubs Hall of Famer Ernie Banks. 

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