The Bill Simmons Podcast

HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons sits down with his dad live from Augusta to talk about his lifelong dream of going to the Masters (5:11) and other news from the sports world (10:30). Then, Bill sits down with the "Mayor of Hollywood," a.k.a. Jeff Goldblum, to talk Steelers vs. Patriots (37:48), to play the IMDb Game (47:01), and to compare stories from fatherhood (88:31). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Chris Ryan and Kevin O’Connor to discuss the upcoming NBA playoffs (2:31), conspiracies surrounding Kawhi Leonard (5:04), and Bill’s disinterest in anything the Spurs are doing (21:03). Then, JackO comes through to discuss the Yankees, Red Sox, and more in the return of the MLB season (56:59); UConn women’s basketball losing to Notre Dame (01:11:37); and their favorite memories from this year’s NCAA men’s March Madness (01:16:10). You can find the official Ringer web store here: http://bit.ly/ringershop Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons and Kevin Durant dive right back into the mailbag to discuss the Warriors' best game this season (5:00), Klay Thompson stories (13:00), the "take" era of sports media (28:00), Durant's three-on-three dream team (40:00), LaVar Ball (46:00), basketball bloggers (56:00), and NBA free agency this summer (1:01:00). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by self-proclaimed "Basketball Guru" Kevin Durant to discuss the distance between players and fans (5:00), growing the game of basketball (11:00), Twitter's impact on the NBA (19:00), the desire to master basketball (25:00), the All-NBA team (30:00), the revamped NBA All-Star Game (34:00), the Rookie of the Year race (41:00), the LeBron partnership (48:00), and the start to another KD mailbag (53:00). You can find the official Ringer web store here: http://bit.ly/ringershop  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Al Pacino and Barry Levinson to discuss how the two get along so well (14:45), their new film ‘Paterno’ (19:00), and what they expect the reaction to the film will be (27:20). Then, Bill debunks a ‘Heat’ conspiracy theory (41:20) and Al talks about how Francis Ford Coppola saved his job (48:30), when John Cazale realized Meryl Streep was the greatest actor alive (56:00) and the impact Marlon Brando had on him (59:00). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by ‘Billions’ co-creator Brian Koppelman to discuss the rewatchability of ‘Rounders’ (05:30), which ‘Billions’ character gets mentioned the most in real life (13:45), the show resonating with rappers and NBA players (1:04:00), and finding a way to make it entertaining without being campy (1:11:15). Then they discuss HBO’s upcoming documentary ‘Andre the Giant’ (1:24:50). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Michael and Martellus Bennett as they discuss why NBA players are more outspoken than NFL players (10:04), what Tom Brady is like as a teammate (34:32), how it feels to get the sudden call that you're being traded (53:02), what they want their legacies to be (56:57), and how elitism keeps change from happening in the NFL (1:16:51). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Ryen Russillo to discuss the Trail Blazers's quest to conquer the Western Conference (03:45), the baggage that could hold back the Rockets (24:00), the Russell Westbrook conundrum (38:00), the insignificance of the triple-double (48:30), the Rookie of the Year race between Ben Simmons and Donovan Mitchell (50:45), Brad Stevens and the struggling Celtics (57:45), the Boston sports radio scene (01:09:45), and ranking UMBC's win over Virginia among the greatest upsets of all time (01:19:00). Read "Four Big Questions for the Thunder" by Kevin O'Connor here: https://t.co/jIxZTu6PCO Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Chuck Klosterman to discuss the present and future state of college basketball and how it affects the NBA (03:00) and to debate the potential of the internet forcing today’s youth to grow up faster (15:00). Then they debate how much of an obligation you have to be plugged into society (30:00) before airing their frustrations with awards shows (57:30). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Kevin Clark to discuss Kirk Cousins's massive contract (03:00), the new-look 49ers (13:00), and more impactful free-agency moves (20:00). Then, Bill's dad calls in to talk about trusting in the Patriots' process (31:00) and his frustrating Celtics (42:30). Finally, Kevin O'Connor joins the show to discuss the benefits of tanking (50:30) and to talk about All-NBA predictions, so far (01:14:00). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined live in Austin by Bill Hader to discuss his new HBO comedy, 'Barry', some of his best stories from working on 'South Park,' and the state of satire in the world today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by two-time NBA champion Chris Bosh to discuss the conspiracy behind the 2008 Olympics leading to LeBron's "Decision" (8:00), Bosh's blood clot issue (24:00), Vince Carter's natural talent (38:00), Jalen Rose as a teammate (52:00), and NBA title contenders this season (1:02:00). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by two-time NBA champion Chris Bosh to discuss the rebound leading to Ray Allen's iconic shot in the 2013 Finals (6:00), the difficulty of completing a three-peat (18:00), the first season in Miami with LeBron (31:00), and the peak of the Miami Heat during the LeBron-Wade-Bosh era (40:00). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Jimmy Kimmel and Cousin Sal to discuss Bill's reason for missing Jimmy's post-Oscars party (6:00), the odds on Jimmy's monologue jokes (12:00), President Donald Trump's tweet about ratings (22:00), Jimmy's growing profile in the political space (32:00), Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty's return (43:00), a special edition of "Parent Corner" (50:00), the Mount Rushmore of late-night guests (55:00), and what's next for Jimmy (1:05:00). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by BuzzFeed senior writer Charlie Warzel to discuss the information war on the internet (6:00), the power of conspiracies (17:00), the idea of internet vigilantes (22:00), translating computer crimes into movies (38:00), misusing the internet (52:00), and the power of Twitter (1:02:00). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by The Ringer's Mark Titus and Tate Frazier to discuss Arizona head coach Sean Miller versus ESPN (6:00), ways to fix the collegiate basketball system (14:00), potential top-five NBA draft picks (28:00), Anthony Davis's dominance (40:00), and Oden vs. Durant (46:00). Then, The Ringer's Kevin Clark calls in from Indianapolis to discuss the NFL combine (55:00) and the Browns' best draft options (1:02:00). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Ringer staffer Kevin O'Connor to discuss who the NBA MVP is as things stand right now (6:00), the pace of the Pelicans (13:00), LeBron vs. Giannis (20:00), takeaways from the Sloan Conference (25:00), Brandon Ingram vs. Ben Simmons (38:00), Kawhi Leonard's trade value (46:00), and the top 2018 NBA draft prospects (1:01:00). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by The Ringer's David Shoemaker to discuss the WWE TV rights (6:00), UFC vs. WWE on Fox (13:00), Ronda Rousey's character in the WWE universe (27:00), and HBO's 'Andre the Giant' documentary (40:00). Then, Ringer editor-in-chief Sean Fennessey and New York Times critic-at-large Wesley Morris join to re-rank the 2013 Oscars (50:00) and review where the Academy went right and wrong five years ago. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons calls up Joe House to discuss the need for the definitive Michael Jordan documentary (06:30), how every MJ game was "must-see TV" (19:00), the trouble with comparing him to LeBron (26:00), the Kawhi Leonard mystery (41:30), and tweaking the playoff format (45:00). Then JackO gets on the line to talk about Johnny Weir's style (54:15), Canada's performance in the Winter Olympics (56:00), Tonya Harding's undeserved redemption (01:04:30), and their favorite moments of the Olympics (01:05:00). Read Bill's article, "How LeBron Can Finish His Fairy Tale Better Than MJ," here: https://t.co/dze1usPJ0m Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons and Cousin Sal dish out potentially problematic parenting advice and share stories from their time as dads in the second part of this series. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices