Beers, Business, and Balls

While Matt Batten aspired to be a pro baseball player, many were still shocked to see him make his MLB debut in the summer of 2022.  Now two years in to his MLB service, Batten put together a strong finish to his 2023 campaign as a utility infielder for the San Diego Padres.  Matt joins the show to take us through his journey of youth baseball to the pros - from repping Shelton, Connecticut in the 2008 Little League World Series, to setting the all-time hits record at Quinnipiac University.  We discuss the grind of the minor leagues, playing for 7 different MiLB teams through 7 seasons, and finally earning the call to the bigs.  We also discuss some of the advice and lessons learned from his teammates Manny Machado, Xander Bogaerts, and Juan Soto.

In a little reverse action today, we start with the Balls segment, discussing all the crazy times in the football world with both the Patriots and the Giants on the struggle bus.  Are the Giants better off for winning the games they have in recent weeks? Are the Patriots going to have any glimmer of hope for the future as the tank continues to manifest?  We discuss the ESPN Bet initiative coming to life and what it could mean for journalism.  Meanwhile, in business, Tree House Brewing Company is under major fire after a minority shareholder sued the two founders; how will this affect their product and their lovable nature?  Jake reviews Smile My Guy by Bronx Brewery, and Will reviews Lion's Fountain Pilsner from the best college bar on the face of the earth in Florence, Italy.

This episode is brought to you by DraftKings. The DraftKings Sportsbook – Boston’s hometown Sportsbook is LIVE right here in Mass! Bet on all your favorite sports from the comfort of your own home. Don’t bet with some out-of-town sportsbook, BET LOCAL with DraftKings! Plus, ALL new customers who sign up for DraftKings Sportsbook TODAY using code BBB will receive up to ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in BONUS bets! Soon you’ll be able to bet on money lines, spreads, props, and more with one of America’s top-rated Sportsbooks – DraftKings Sportsbook!Download the DraftKings Sportsbook app NOW! Sign up with code BBB to get up to ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in BONUS bets to use once mobile sports betting hits Massachusetts. Only at DraftKings Sportsbook with code BBB! 

We’re proud to present Manscaped as our partner! What guy wouldn’t want The Right Tools for The Job?! Head over to manscaped.com/house, or use the code HOUSE at checkout for 20% off AND free shipping on your order. Thanks for listening! Remember to hit the follow button on Spotify, and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. Join the conversation on Twitter and Instagram. Check out house-enterprise.com for all of our content.

From 'Coach in the Car' to recurring guest, we bring back friend of the program, Pat Skerry! Coach gives us an update from Towson, and we discuss the front loaded non-conference schedule that the Tigers have. We chat about some key players, and a matchup upcoming against our Bryant Bulldogs that will take place at UBS. We close out with Skerry's philanthropic efforts.

This episode is brought to you by DraftKings. The DraftKings Sportsbook – Boston’s hometown Sportsbook is LIVE right here in Mass! Bet on all your favorite sports from the comfort of your own home. Don’t bet with some out-of-town sportsbook, BET LOCAL with DraftKings! Plus, ALL new customers who sign up for DraftKings Sportsbook TODAY using code BBB will receive up to ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in BONUS bets! Soon you’ll be able to bet on money lines, spreads, props, and more with one of America’s top-rated Sportsbooks – DraftKings Sportsbook!Download the DraftKings Sportsbook app NOW! Sign up with code BBB to get up to ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in BONUS bets to use once mobile sports betting hits Massachusetts. Only at DraftKings Sportsbook with code BBB! 

We’re proud to present Manscaped as our partner! What guy wouldn’t want The Right Tools for The Job?! Head over to manscaped.com/house, or use the code HOUSE at checkout for 20% off AND free shipping on your order. Thanks for listening! Remember to hit the follow button on Spotify, and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. Join the conversation on Twitter and Instagram. Check out house-enterprise.com for all of our content.

From Ivy Leagues to the Big Leagues, we're joined by MLB Veteran, World Series Champion, and Team Israel Catcher - Ryan Lavarnway! We discuss his career from college through the majors. His time in Boston, bouncing around, representing Israel in the WBC's, and the lessons he learned along the way. And finally, we dive into his broadcasting, public speaking, and writing career. 

This episode is brought to you by DraftKings. The DraftKings Sportsbook – Boston’s hometown Sportsbook is LIVE right here in Mass! Bet on all your favorite sports from the comfort of your own home. Don’t bet with some out-of-town sportsbook, BET LOCAL with DraftKings! Plus, ALL new customers who sign up for DraftKings Sportsbook TODAY using code BBB will receive up to ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in BONUS bets! Soon you’ll be able to bet on money lines, spreads, props, and more with one of America’s top-rated Sportsbooks – DraftKings Sportsbook!Download the DraftKings Sportsbook app NOW! Sign up with code BBB to get up to ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in BONUS bets to use once mobile sports betting hits Massachusetts. Only at DraftKings Sportsbook with code BBB! 

We’re proud to present Manscaped as our partner! What guy wouldn’t want The Right Tools for The Job?! Head over to manscaped.com/house, or use the code HOUSE at checkout for 20% off AND free shipping on your order. Thanks for listening! Remember to hit the follow button on Spotify, and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. Join the conversation on Twitter and Instagram. Check out house-enterprise.com for all of our content.

You know it's that time of year again when the House Crew gets together at Madison Square Garden to kick off the season of College Hoops. We're just under two weeks away, and we made the venture to the Big Apple to chat with players and coaches from the Big East. Catch our conversations with Villanova's Kyle Neptune and Justin Moore, new Friar head coach Kim English, and many more!

This episode is brought to you by DraftKings. The DraftKings Sportsbook – Boston’s hometown Sportsbook is LIVE right here in Mass! Bet on all your favorite sports from the comfort of your own home. Don’t bet with some out-of-town sportsbook, BET LOCAL with DraftKings! Plus, ALL new customers who sign up for DraftKings Sportsbook TODAY using code BBB will receive up to ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in BONUS bets! Soon you’ll be able to bet on money lines, spreads, props, and more with one of America’s top-rated Sportsbooks – DraftKings Sportsbook!Download the DraftKings Sportsbook app NOW! Sign up with code BBB to get up to ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in BONUS bets to use once mobile sports betting hits Massachusetts. Only at DraftKings Sportsbook with code BBB! 

We’re proud to present Manscaped as our partner! What guy wouldn’t want The Right Tools for The Job?! Head over to manscaped.com/house, or use the code HOUSE at checkout for 20% off AND free shipping on your order. Thanks for listening! Remember to hit the follow button on Spotify, and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. Join the conversation on Twitter and Instagram. Check out house-enterprise.com for all of our content.

Not many guests have been bestowed the BBB Pod's highest honor, but this week Con Spiracy joins the show to claim his rightfully-earned Hall of Fame plaque.  We're in the thick of spooky season, and 2023 was one of the spookiest to date.  With UFO sightings and aliens abound, there was plenty that we had our eyes on this year.  We discuss the congressional hearings over the summer relating to UFO's - with Pentagon reports that the USA is receiving "dozens of UFO reports per month," what's up with the uptick this year?  We walk through some of the claims made by former Air Force intel officer David Grusch, who alleged that the USA is covering up UFO claims and harming those who come forward.  We discuss the possibilities of some major aircraft manufacturers experimenting with extra-terrestrial technologies, and the thought of some countries weaponizing them.  Con also takes us through the alien hoax in Mexico a few months ago, in which hoaxer Jaime Maussan claimed to have found 'non-human' bodies - we go over how this could discredit the UFO movement. Finally, we discuss the Natalee Holloway case - Joran van der Sloot finally admitted he killed Holloway in 2005 after denying it for years, attempting to extort the Holloway family for money in return for the location of the body.

This episode is brought to you by DraftKings. The DraftKings Sportsbook – Boston’s hometown Sportsbook is LIVE right here in Mass! Bet on all your favorite sports from the comfort of your own home. Don’t bet with some out-of-town sportsbook, BET LOCAL with DraftKings! Plus, ALL new customers who sign up for DraftKings Sportsbook TODAY using code BBB will receive up to ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in BONUS bets! Soon you’ll be able to bet on money lines, spreads, props, and more with one of America’s top-rated Sportsbooks – DraftKings Sportsbook!Download the DraftKings Sportsbook app NOW! Sign up with code BBB to get up to ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in BONUS bets to use once mobile sports betting hits Massachusetts. Only at DraftKings Sportsbook with code BBB! 

We’re proud to present Manscaped as our partner! What guy wouldn’t want The Right Tools for The Job?! Head over to manscaped.com/house, or use the code HOUSE at checkout for 20% off AND free shipping on your order. Thanks for listening! Remember to hit the follow button on Spotify, and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. Join the conversation on Twitter and Instagram. Check out house-enterprise.com for all of our content.

The founder of the brewery that coined the regionally-renowned Captain’s Daughter, Alan Brinton of Grey Sail Brewing joins the show this week!  Alan takes us through his journeys as one of the founders of a top-tier Rhode Island brewery, located in Westerly near Misquamicut Beach.  Alan and his wife always wanted to start a brewery, but life got in the way - he takes us through the moment they decided to take the plunge in 2011.  We dive into the space that Grey Sail is located - a former macaroni factory just miles away from Taylor Swift’s summer home - and explore the “nautical” theme of many of their selections.  We discuss the lineup of beers, the story of creating IPA Captain’s Daughter, and the birth of their sister company, South County Distillers.

This episode is brought to you by DraftKings. The DraftKings Sportsbook – Boston’s hometown Sportsbook is LIVE right here in Mass! Bet on all your favorite sports from the comfort of your own home. Don’t bet with some out-of-town sportsbook, BET LOCAL with DraftKings! Plus, ALL new customers who sign up for DraftKings Sportsbook TODAY using code BBB will receive up to ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in BONUS bets! Soon you’ll be able to bet on money lines, spreads, props, and more with one of America’s top-rated Sportsbooks – DraftKings Sportsbook!Download the DraftKings Sportsbook app NOW! Sign up with code BBB to get up to ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in BONUS bets to use once mobile sports betting hits Massachusetts. Only at DraftKings Sportsbook with code BBB! 

We’re proud to present Manscaped as our partner! What guy wouldn’t want The Right Tools for The Job?! Head over to manscaped.com/house, or use the code HOUSE at checkout for 20% off AND free shipping on your order. Thanks for listening! Remember to hit the follow button on Spotify, and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. Join the conversation on Twitter and Instagram. Check out house-enterprise.com for all of our content.

The coveted Crushie Collab pod is here!  We bring on other winners in the Best Craft Beer-Related Podcast category to chat about all-things beer in this special episode. First, it's Mark DeNote, whose love for craft beer not only inspired him to become the host of the BeerWise podcast, but also a two-time author of books on Florida Craft Beer.  Mark shares his stories of getting into craft beer, seeing first-hand the rise in Tampa and the surrounding areas.  Mark takes us through the boom in Florida, the soaring popularity of Cigar City and Funky Buddha, and what makes the FL beer landscape so unique.   In a similar manner, Jeremy Storton has loved beer all his life, and expresses it all in conversations on the Good Beer Matters podcast.  Jeremy worked in hospitality for many years, in high-end restaurant and local brewery environments, and decided to take his love for the industry to the next level with an Advanced Cicerone certification.  We discuss some of his favorite guests and who the "white whales" on his shortlist are.

This episode is brought to you by DraftKings. The DraftKings Sportsbook – Boston’s hometown Sportsbook is LIVE right here in Mass! Bet on all your favorite sports from the comfort of your own home. Don’t bet with some out-of-town sportsbook, BET LOCAL with DraftKings! Plus, ALL new customers who sign up for DraftKings Sportsbook TODAY using code BBB will receive up to ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in BONUS bets! Soon you’ll be able to bet on money lines, spreads, props, and more with one of America’s top-rated Sportsbooks – DraftKings Sportsbook!Download the DraftKings Sportsbook app NOW! Sign up with code BBB to get up to ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in BONUS bets to use once mobile sports betting hits Massachusetts. Only at DraftKings Sportsbook with code BBB! 

We’re proud to present Manscaped as our partner! What guy wouldn’t want The Right Tools for The Job?! Head over to manscaped.com/house, or use the code HOUSE at checkout for 20% off AND free shipping on your order. Thanks for listening! Remember to hit the follow button on Spotify, and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. Join the conversation on Twitter and Instagram. Check out house-enterprise.com for all of our content.

You may have seen him getting praised by America's Got Talent judges on cable TV, or comparing the lyrics of "W.A.P." to "Baby It's Cold Outside" on TikTok, or donning a Providence or URI shirt on stage at a New York City comedy club.  Either way, you definitely know Tom Cotter.  In an exclusive interview with BBB's first ever comedian guest, Tom Cotter has us laughing like we've never done before on the show.  Tom takes us back to his days growing up in Providence, discovering his love for comedy at Denison University, and making it a full-time career.  As the first comedian ever to reach the finals of NBC's America's Got Talent, Tom's career rapidly took off - he collaborated with Jay Leno, Howard Stern, and other well-known comedians, as well as participating in an AGT Judge Roast of the late Joan Rivers.  We discuss what it takes to be a comedian in today's world and turning the "brand" of a comedian into a business.

BEERS: Will is fresh-off two beer festivals and has plenty of new beers to share with us, but one stood out as unique from Brew at the Zoo.  Japas Cervejaria, a Brazilian brewery founded by women of Japanese descent, created "Matsurika," a pilsner backed with tea and jasmine petals.  One of the more floral beers we've rated on the show, Matsurika scored high, especially considering its unique background.  Jake is almost wrapped up with the review of his Western tour, finishing us off with another baseball beer from Petco Park in San Diego.  Ballast Point, one of the more well-known breweries from Southern California, gave us "Swingin' Friar Ale," a crushable toast to the Padres with 100% Simcoe hops - a true home run for casual beers to drink at the ballpark.

BUSINESS: Apple has finally launched their iPhone 15 and a host of new products, but it comes with a big caveat - the new Apple products will switch over to USB-C charging, a departure from the Lightning technology that they invented years ago.  Will this help or hurt Apple, and will consumers rush to get new products given this new development?  We spend far too much time debating if we're brainwashed by Apple, and sucked in by their interest-free loans and Apple Card.

BALLS:  Week 1 of the NFL came and went, and without a doubt, the biggest storyline has been Aaron Rodgers tearing his Achilles tendon on the fourth play of his first game as a New York Jet.  What will the Jets do without him, and will we ever see him on the football field again?  What veteran quarterbacks could we seen on the field in place of Rodgers?  We go over some of the performances that we found impressive from Week 1, and give some bold predictions for next week.

This episode is brought to you by DraftKings. The DraftKings Sportsbook – Boston’s hometown Sportsbook is LIVE right here in Mass! Bet on all your favorite sports from the comfort of your own home. Don’t bet with some out-of-town sportsbook, BET LOCAL with DraftKings! Plus, ALL new customers who sign up for DraftKings Sportsbook TODAY using code BBB will receive up to ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in BONUS bets! Soon you’ll be able to bet on money lines, spreads, props, and more with one of America’s top-rated Sportsbooks – DraftKings Sportsbook!Download the DraftKings Sportsbook app NOW! Sign up with code BBB to get up to ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in BONUS bets to use once mobile sports betting hits Massachusetts. Only at DraftKings Sportsbook with code BBB! 

We’re proud to present Manscaped as our partner! What guy wouldn’t want The Right Tools for The Job?! Head over to manscaped.com/house, or use the code HOUSE at checkout for 20% off AND free shipping on your order. Thanks for listening! Remember to hit the follow button on Spotify, and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. Join the conversation on Twitter and Instagram. Check out house-enterprise.com for all of our content.

It’s time for our season kickoff edition of Writer’s Room! We get the football guys back on for one of our favorite segments, but this time it’s during our annual Fantasy Draft.  To kick things off, an A-Lister guest selects our draft order - Chris Hansen from To Catch A Predator lays down the law and gives us our draft order.  We discuss a bunch of the NFL’s storylines this year - do the Chiefs have enough in the tank to run it back? Is Anthony Richardson the real deal? Can RB’s make a statement this year or is all the criticism deserved? After the draft we close out with some predictions for the year ahead.

This episode is brought to you by DraftKings. The DraftKings Sportsbook – Boston’s hometown Sportsbook is LIVE right here in Mass! Bet on all your favorite sports from the comfort of your own home. Don’t bet with some out-of-town sportsbook, BET LOCAL with DraftKings! Plus, ALL new customers who sign up for DraftKings Sportsbook TODAY using code BBB will receive up to ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in BONUS bets! Soon you’ll be able to bet on money lines, spreads, props, and more with one of America’s top-rated Sportsbooks – DraftKings Sportsbook!Download the DraftKings Sportsbook app NOW! Sign up with code BBB to get up to ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in BONUS bets to use once mobile sports betting hits Massachusetts. Only at DraftKings Sportsbook with code BBB!

We’re proud to present Manscaped as our partner! What guy wouldn’t want The Right Tools for The Job?! Head over to manscaped.com/house, or use the code HOUSE at checkout for 20% off AND free shipping on your order. Thanks for listening! Remember to hit the follow button on Spotify, and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. Join the conversation on Twitter and Instagram. Check out house-enterprise.com for all of our content.