Patriots legend and 3x Super Bowl champion Willie McGinest joins Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson for an unforgettable conversation spanning NFL dynasties, West Coast culture, and untold locker room stories.

Willie reveals the REAL reason Bill Belichick chose Tom Brady over $100 million man Drew Bledsoe—including Belichick's "cold speech" to the team that shocked everyone. He breaks down what made the Patriots different, and shares wild stories about Mike Vrabel being an "asshole" teammate who researched opponents' personal lives to trash talk.

Beyond football, Willie takes us inside Death Row Records when his former high school classmate Snoop Dogg signed, describes being in Dr. Dre's studio sessions hearing unreleased music, shares his firsthand experience of the LA Riots and the unity that followed, and gets emotional recalling his relationship with the late Junior Seau.

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Super Bowl Champion Keyshawn Johnson joins Matt Barnes on All The Smoke Unplugged to share the untold story of how he found out Fox Sports fired everyone, and what really happened behind the scenes at FS1.

The former #1 overall NFL Draft pick breaks down his Super Bowl XXXVII experience with the Buccaneers, shares hilarious stories about Jon Gruden, and reveals how Bill Parcells "saved him from working at UPS."

Plus, he gives his prediction, explains why Sam Darnold's journey vindicates what he told the Jets years ago, and goes in on the Raiders' #1 pick decision.

Keyshawn calls coaches "coyotes" over the Brandon Aiyuk $27M situation, evaluates Shedeur Sanders' rookie season, and shares his thoughts on LeBron's future with the Lakers.

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Melvin Gregg's journey from Vine star to Hollywood actor has given creators the blueprint for turning social media fame into a thriving career. Best known for his breakout role as Manboy on Snowfall, Gregg opens up about the financial sacrifices he made while on the show and shares behind-the-scenes stories about working with the legendary John Singleton. He also breaks down the difference between social media fame and acting fame, offers advice for content creators looking to transition into entertainment, and exposes the shady tactics platforms use to manipulate creator reach. Plus, Melvin reveals his unexpected passion for gardening and landscaping. And of course, Stak shoots his shot for an acting role yet again. Your time will come, Stak.

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Mad Max is back and he's not holding back.

 Max unleashes on the Bucks' disrespectful treatment of Giannis, shares hilarious behind-the-scenes stories about Chris Webber crashing at his spot in Sacramento, and breaking down why the Kings franchise continues to disappoint Matt's hometown.

Then, NFL legend Jake Plummer and former Broncos WR Nate Jackson join to discuss the Patriots' Super Bowl run, the 49ers' bizarre injury epidemic conspiracy, and what it takes to survive championship-level football.

From NBA trade deadline chaos to NFL playoff intensity, this episode brings unfiltered smoke from legends who've lived it.

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Nobody is using their platform to educate, challenge, and inspire quite like Vic Mensa. From viral orange-tree monologues to fearless conversations about politics, identity, and culture, Vic joins ALL THE SMOKE for one of our most wide-ranging and thought-provoking interviews yet. Vic breaks down how he uses social media as a tool for activism, the realities of Venezuelan immigration in Chicago, and how redlining and systemic violence continue to shape the city. He reflects on growing up biracial, his powerful ayahuasca experience, and the role music plays in influencing today’s youth. We also dive deep into Chicago’s legendary music scene, including unforgettable stories about coming up with Chance The Rapper, being in the room while Kanye West recorded “30 Hours,” and the moment Vic’s own career began to take off. Plus, he talks acting on The Chi, sheds light on today’s activists making a real difference, and shares what it was like filming Still With Smoke entirely on an iPhone in Senegal. This one is equal parts history lesson, cultural deep dive, and raw personal reflection.

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Jay Bilas and Seth Greenberg join Matt Barnes for a deep, unfiltered conversation on what’s actually broken in college basketball.

From NIL and the transfer portal to year-to-year free agency and growing age gaps, Bilas and Greenberg explain why the NCAA is purposefully struggling to keep up, and what that means for the future of the sport.

Later, the conversation shifts to the generational 2026 NBA Draft class, including Jay’s thoughts on Darryn Peterson’s Kobe Bryant comparisons, AJ Dybantsa, and Cam Boozer.

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NBA super-agent Rich Paul is stepping into a new lane, and it’s turning heads across the league.

Matt Barnes reacts to Rich Paul’s recent "Game Over" podcast comments and explains why publicly discussing player movement, trades, and locker-room dynamics can have serious ripple effects inside NBA organizations, ESPECIALLY when stars like LeBron James and the Lakers are involved.

Plus, Matt reacts to the Jimmy Butler injury and its consequences for the Golden State Warriors. I

s this transparency fans want... or is Rich Paul playing with fire in a profession built on trust and relationships?

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In this powerful episode, Matt Barnes sits down with Senator Raphael Warnock for an unfiltered conversation about faith, politics, and the America’s division in dark times. Warnock speaks on Renee Good, community resistance, and why hope requires action and not hashtags. He calls out the weaponization of Christianity, breaks down the real stakes around healthcare and choice, and explains how culture and sports can shift political power. This is an urgent and honest dialogue about using your voice, protecting your neighbors, and showing up for the next generation.

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Ben Affleck joins Matt and Stak for a wide-ranging conversation about creativity, control, and staying grounded in an industry that rarely allows for it. He talks about building Artists Equity with Matt Damon, why ownership matters more to him now than ever, and how their friendship has survived fame, failure, and everything in between. B

en reflects on choosing when to step in front of the camera and when to stay behind it, why he’s never felt the pull of social media, and what it takes to be comfortable being misunderstood. He also shares stories from directing Air, working closely with Michael Jordan, and the sports movie he still hopes to make one day.

The conversation moves through defining moments like Good Will Hunting and The Town, lessons learned from Rob Reiner, handling paparazzi at the height of fame, and his respect for filmmakers like Ryan Coogler. Ben also gives his honest take on artificial intelligence in entertainment and what to look out for in his new Netflix film, The Rip.

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Fred VanVleet pulls up to ALL THE SMOKE Unplugged and keeps it 💯

From Kevin Durant’s viral moment to the REAL version of Dillon Brooks, Fred sounds off on everything fans don’t get to hear: ACL rehab, mental battles, grief, veteran leadership, and why today’s NBA is missing something real.

PLUS: Coach Ime Udoka’s leadership (“Popovich energy”)

Why the NBA needs vets more than ever

His most infamous ejection and the real-life context behind it

Quick hitters: toughest covers, MJ/Kobe/Bron, road trip cities & more

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