The Chicago Smokehouse
John Howell and Rick Telander share a cigar and conversations and insightful analysis of the stories shaping headlines today Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
July 3, 2025 • 37 mins
What happens when a major newspaper accidentally publishes AI-generated nonsense? Big John Howell and Rick Telander dig into the Chicago Sun-Times’ recent “Heat Index” fiasco, where fake book blurbs created by AI made it to print—and readers noticed. From newsroom cost-cutting and the future of journalism to AI writing sports columns, war strategy, and even architecture, this episode is a deep (and often hilarious) dive into what h...
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June 17, 2025 • 89 mins
John Howell and Rick Telander along with John Dempsey take a deep dive into Telander's iconic book Heaven Is a Playground—from its origins in a 1973 Sports Illustrated article to its 1991 film adaptation. They explore the lives of Brooklyn streetball legends, the challenges of writing with heart and honesty, and the poetic power of basketball. Plus, a few sharp jabs, a couple of cigars, and a cameo from President Obama’s bookshelf....
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June 9, 2025 • 29 mins
John Howell and Rick Telander are joined by veteran broadcaster John Dempsey for a vermin-infested edition of The Chicago Smokehouse. What starts as a simple houseguest anecdote morphs into a whirlwind conversation about mice, rats, movies, plagues, breeding cycles, and the shocking realization that “Ben” was a love ballad... for a rodent. It's informative, hilarious, and slightly unsettling—like Willard. Except with cigars.
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May 12, 2025 • 46 mins
John Howell and Rick Telander relive John’s glory days behind the plate—most notably, tagging out former Packers nose tackle John Jurkovic at a charity softball game. The conversation shifts from cigars and sports nostalgia to Bill Belichick’s eyebrow-raising relationship with a 24-year-old “muse” and the public spectacle it has become. Along the way, the duo riff on Yoko Ono, tortured genius, self-defense kicks, and why some basem...
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April 28, 2025 • 41 mins
John Howell and Rick Telander light up cigars and dive into a lively conversation about The Beatles, Buck Owens, and the musicians who shaped their lives. Along the way, John shares the story of the time he told a record label to pass on a young Taylor Swift—something he now calls “the dumbest thing ever.” From musical legends to yodeling news anchors, it’s a smoke-filled trip down memory lane with plenty of laughs along the way.
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April 21, 2025 • 25 mins
John Howell and Rick Telander dive into the history of the Great Chicago Fire, using Scott Berg’s new book to explore how the disaster shaped the city’s power structure and modern identity. They compare 19th-century fires to today’s climate-driven infernos—including John’s personal account of losing his home in Pacific Palisades. With references to Peshtigo, Paradise, and pop culture classics like Backdraft, this episode explores t...
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April 14, 2025 • 17 mins
A Canada goose has taken up residence in the Wrigley Field bleachers, sparking debate between John Howell and Rick Telander over whether the bird should stay or go. The two light up cigars and swap stories about wildlife encounters—from backyard raccoons to six-foot iguanas—as they ponder the line between conservation and practicality. Along the way, they veer into gene-edited dire wolves, Civil War statues, and the proper use of t...
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April 7, 2025 • 35 mins
There’s something comforting about lighting up a cigar and talking politics, sports, and the decline of the American empire from the cozy haze of The Chicago Smokehouse. This week, as we puffed on a (possibly illegal) Cuban Cohiba and discussed everything from press box etiquette to presidential posturing, one thing became abundantly clear: whether it’s taxes, tariffs, or the return of Erik the Red, the smoke is getting thicker.
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March 31, 2025 • 25 mins
This week on The Chicago Smokehouse, John Howell and Rick Telander dive into the billion-dollar business of college athletics—and the increasingly blurry line between amateurism and professionalism.
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March 24, 2025 • 42 mins
Big John Howell and Rick Telander light up cigars—and history—as they crack open one of the wildest sports stories of the 20th century: the short-lived, long-mythologized United States Football League (USFL). With the help of Jeff Pearlman’s book Football for a Buck: The Crazy Rise and Crazier Demise of the USFL, the conversation goes far beyond X’s and O’s, veering into locker rooms, courtrooms, and even the White House.
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March 20, 2025 • 34 mins
After nearly three decades as one of Chicago’s most distinctive voices in sports journalism, Rick Telander is moving on from the Chicago Sun-Times. The longtime columnist and Sportswriters Hall of Fame member announced that he has accepted a buyout from the newspaper. The episode, co-hosted with self-described “almost broadcast legend” John Howell, was equal parts reflection, frustration, and humor—an impromptu farewell from one of...
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March 17, 2025 • 22 mins
Sports writer John Feinstein has passed away at 69. Rick Telander shares personal anecdotes and insights about Feinstein's impact on sports journalism, his relationships with notable figures like Bobby Knight, and the art of storytelling in sports writing. The discussion also touches on the evolution of journalism, the importance of rooting for the underdog, and the personal reflections that arise from the loss of a colleague.
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March 17, 2025 • 45 mins
Rick Telander shares his experiences with Mike Ditka, reflecting on their collaboration for the book 'In Life, First You Kick Ass.' The discussion covers personal anecdotes, the legacy of the 1985 Bears, and the intense culture of football during that era. Telander provides insights into Ditka's personality, the challenges of writing the book, and the impact of injuries on players. The conversation also touches on the evolution of ...
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March 17, 2025 • 30 mins
John Howell and Rick Talender delve into the world of sports journalism, the evolution of sports talk radio, and Talender's personal journey from being drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs to becoming a prolific author. They discuss the dynamics of coaching, the legacy of the Chiefs, and the representation of race in football, all while reflecting on the lessons learned from Talender's memoir, 'Like a Rose.'
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March 16, 2025 • 1 min
Some conversations feel like a front-row seat to history. Others feel like stepping into a smoke-filled backroom where legends swap stories over a cigar. When John Howell sits down with Chicago Sun-Times sports columnist and author Rick Telander, you get both.
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