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Chicago’s Fiery Past, Present, and Future
25:50|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 the destructive power—and strange allure—of fire through history, memory, and lived experience.
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Goose on the Loose: Wrigley Field’s Unexpected Mascot Sparks Debate
17:38|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 the word "ask."Smoke-Filled Rooms and Tariff Tantrums
35:31|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.Amateurs No More: College Sports, Cash, and the End of Illusions
25:02|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.Blitzed by Ambition: Donald Trump's Role in the Demise of the USFL
42:42|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.Rick Telander Says Goodbye to the Sun-Times—but Not to the Storytelling
34:57|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 the city’s most revered writers who insists he’s not fading away, just turning the page.Remembering John Feinstein
22:17|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.