Chirping Zebras

With Geno on vacation, Mark is joined by Comedian Paul Nardizzi and they have quite the discussion about the World Cup, comedy, and everything Boston sports. What happens when two comedians chop it up, a whole ton of laughs that's what.

Paul is not only one of the top comedians out of Boston, he is also a writer, actor and sports fanatic. Check out Paul's sitcom, ConTEMPt on his TikTok @paulnardizzi and go see him live. He is hilarious. Go to paulnardizzicomedian.com for more info.

🔥 BIG LOVE TO OUR SPONSOR

Couldn’t do this without the beauties who keep the wheels turning.

Support our sponsor thats support the show — that’s just good locker-room etiquette.

🦓 Referees Crease

Recruiting, developing, and advancing the next generation of hockey officials.

If you wear stripes — you belong here.

🎙️ Huge thanks to AOA Studios

For rolling with us and capturing the boys chirpin’ it up.

CHIRPING ZEBRAS MERCH

Look good. Chirp better.

👉 https://chirpingzebras.com/shop/

🌐 EVERYTHING CHIRPING ZEBRAS

Episodes, clips, merch, socials — all in one barn.

👉 https://chirpingzebras.com/

📺 Full episode out now wherever you get your podcasts.

Hit subscribe, drop a comment, and let it rip

If you are in the mood for some real talk about hockey tournaments, refereeing, trips to Vegas and the World Cup Final, this is the episode for you. Mark and Geno chop it up about all that and more. And Geno discovered sound effects on Riverside. Geno really likes sound effects.

🔥 BIG LOVE TO OUR SPONSOR
Couldn’t do this without the beauties who keep the wheels turning.
Support our sponsor thats support the show — that’s just good locker-room etiquette.

🦓 Referees Crease
Recruiting, developing, and advancing the next generation of hockey officials.
If you wear stripes — you belong here.
🎙️ Huge thanks to AOA Studios
For rolling with us and capturing the boys chirpin’ it up.

CHIRPING ZEBRAS MERCH

Look good. Chirp better.
👉 https://chirpingzebras.com/shop/
🌐 EVERYTHING CHIRPING ZEBRAS
Episodes, clips, merch, socials — all in one barn.
👉 https://chirpingzebras.com/
📺 Full episode out now wherever you get your podcasts.
Hit subscribe, drop a comment, and let it rip

This episode has a ton to unpack. The boys come out of the gate talking refereeing clinics, the NHL draft, and the moves the Boston Bruins made this past week. And just when you thought that was a lot, the boys bring on comedian PJ Thibodeau, a CZP favorite, to talk about the Celtics trade of Jaylen Brown and the World Cup. Not only is PJ a top headlining comic, he is also a basketball and soccer expert.

In true Chirping Zebras fashion the episode goes off the rails when Geno shares what his favorite pickup line was back in the day. This was so funny Riles snorted. Yeah that funny. Don't leave this one early or you'll miss a whole lot of hilarity.

Shout out to Iliac Golf for sending us a custom CZP head cover. Check them out.

The Tartan Army from Scotland has been partying their way through Boston and Miami. Riles met some of the crew at his show last Saturday night. After some singing with the lads they agreed to join us Zebras on the pod. If you are a fan of soccer and the World Cup, love the Scottish accent, and like to laugh, this is the episode for you.

In a beach bar north of Miami, Allan MacDonald and the boys talked about the Tartan Army's trip to Boston, the World Cup, futball's GOAT, their favorite stadiums and much more. Oh yeah, there was singing. Can't spend time with lads from Scotland without some singing.

No Scotland, No Party.

The Zebras rolled back into Granite Links Golf Club for the Tee Off For Heroes celebrity golf tournament to benefit the Warrior For Life Fund. This episode is absolutely loaded with big names with big stories.

On this episode 1980 Olympic Gold Medalist Mike Eruzione stopped in and talked hockey and golf. Greg Hill from The Greg Hill Show on WEEI had some laughs with the boys and highlighted The Greg Hill Foundation, that was involved with the big golf ball drop at the end of the day. Also joining the Zebras was Hockey Hall of Famer Joey Mullin, who won 3 Stanley Cups. Boston Bruins radio color commentator Bob Beers gave his thoughts on the current Bruins and next season. Granite Links golf pro Nick Tedeschi talked about the 3 nine hole courses they have at the club and what its like to host TOFH for a great day of gold. Boston comedy legend Steve Sweeney jumped in to provide some comic relief and we finished up with Boston Bruins Foundation president Bob "Swoop" Sweeney.

Go to warriorforlifefund.org for more information on this incredible organization that helps current and retired Navy Seals and their families along with Gold Star families.

Big stick taps to Kevin Mason of Marina Bay Management for setting the boys up at Granite Links, and to retired seal Captain Ryan Croley who help establish the Warrior For Life Fund. Also a shout out to Boston Bruins Alumni president Frank Simonetti for his continued support of CZP.

If you have never played Granite Links you should. It is an awesome course run by awesome people.

Naoko Funayama, a sportscaster who has covered multiple sporting events including four Olympic Games, joined the boys for talk about hockey, refereeing and her travels around the globe covering sporting events.

Naoko has worked for NBC Sports, NESN, the New England Revolution and is currently working as a reporter for the Snow League, a professional snowboarding and free skiing league. She had a lot of questions for Geno and Mark about refereeing and what it takes to be a hockey referee. Naoko also talked about her career path and the four Olympics she covered. She covered the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics, delayed to 2021 due to covid. The 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. The 2024 Paris Summer Olympics and the 2026 Milan Winter Olympics.

Naoko is a true professional journalist who grilled the boys for information about hockey and officiating. It was more Naoko's podcast than the Zebras. Sit back enjoy a sportscaster that has been around the world.

Strap in because the boys are joined by three time Stanley Cup winner Jordan Nolan, who happens to also be on the hit show Shoresy. We talk about his career in the NHL, being on the show and everything in between.

Ryan McDonell, aka Michaels from Shoresy, joins the boys for a full-blown hockey culture heater.

This week on Chirping Zebras, Ryan McDonell hops in with Mark Riley, Geno Binda, and Josh Dolan to talk all things hockey — from life around the rink, officiating stories, acting gigs, Boston hockey chaos, and the kind of behind-the-scenes moments you only get when you’ve lived inside the game.

Ryan has worn a bunch of different buckets over the years — referee, actor, hockey guy, storyteller — and the boys get into how all those worlds collide. We’re talking locker room laughs, fan culture, old-school hockey memories, the evolution of sports media, and why this game still has a way of bringing absolute beauties together.

If you love hockey, chirps, Boston sports culture, refs catching strays, and stories from guys who’ve been around the game, this one’s for you.

Pull up a stall, tape the twig, and enjoy the ride.

Sam Hiller hops on the pod to talk Olympic-level officiating, women’s hockey, the PWHL, Milan, firefighting, and what it’s really like being the one everyone yells at. Absolute wagon of an episode.

Boys are absolutely BUZZIN’ this episode—grab a cold one and settle in. We’re talkin’ full-blown playoff chaos, and yeah… the intensity is already through the roof. The hits are heavier, the chirps are nastier, and every shift feels like someone’s about to lose a tooth or a series.

We dive headfirst into the Bruins—what’s working, what’s got fans pacing like lunatics, and whether this squad’s got that legit “we’re not messin’ around” playoff gear. Are they built for a run or are we gonna need a couple more “big boy” performances?

Then we get into that Ducks OT goal… absolute filth. The kind of greasy, dirty, blink-and-you-miss-it finish that makes you spill your drink and yell at nobody in your living room. That’s playoff-style hockey right there, even if it’s coming from a team that said “yeah, we’re still here, pal.”

AND—because it wouldn’t be hockey without it—we’re callin’ out the officials. Not just the show, but the NCAA stripes too. Let’s just say… consistency is not their strong suit. Boys break down some calls (and non-calls) that’ll have you questioning if the refs are watching the same game as the rest of us.

On a real one, we also shine a light on the first-ever Kevin Stevens Recovery Cup—an unreal event with a bigger purpose. Hockey community showing up in a major way, supporting recovery, second chances, and proving this game’s got heart way beyond the rink. Absolute respect.

It’s laughs, it’s takes, it’s a little bit of “what are we doin’ here?” and a whole lotta playoff energy.

Strap in. It’s only getting louder from here.