The Philadelphia Flyers didn't just win hockey games in the 1970s — they changed the sport, the city, and the culture around them. In this episode, we dig into the rise, reign, and mythology of the "Broad Street Bullies," the decade-long era (1971–1981) when the Flyers transformed themselves from an NHL expansion afterthought into the toughest, most polarizing, and most beloved champions in league history.

To unpack how a group of gritty, bruising, blue-collar players became civic folk heroes, we sit down with long-time Philadelphia Inquirer sportswriter Sam Carchidi and screenwriter/film director Jeff Hare — whose new book "Bullies: Catching Up with the Hound, the Hammer, and the Stanley Cup Champion Philadelphia Flyers," moves beyond the highlight reels and historic penalty minutes to reveal the human stories inside the chaos — the humor, the fearlessness, the insecurities, and the emotional glue that bound this unlikely team together.

Carchidi and Hare take us behind the curtain of the Flyers' rise: Bobby Clarke's galvanizing leadership, Bernie Parent's brilliance, and the intimidating presence of Dave "The Hammer" Schultz and the enforcer corps that made Philadelphia both feared and admired. But they also illuminate something deeper — why these players resonated so intensely with a city hungry for identity and pride, and how the team's swagger helped reshape the NHL itself.

From untold anecdotes to new reflections on how the Bullies view their legacy today, this conversation reframes one of hockey's most iconic eras. Whether you grew up worshipping the orange and black or are discovering the Bullies for the first time, this episode uncovers the heart behind the havoc — and why the legend still looms so large.

PLUS: Your chance to win a copy of "Bullies" via our Flyers trivia contest!

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