It’s Been A Week 05/21/25

Today’s episode was recorded on Monday, May 19th.

Special thanks to Espresso A Mano, Pittsburgh’s finest coffee roasters and cafe, for partnering with Fly Penguins Fly podcast. Visit an Espresso A Mano location near you:
https://espressoamano.com/

Fly Penguins Fly Podcast is produced by Jeff Taylor.

Thank you for listening!! Follow the podcast on X/Twitter: @penspod
Jeff Taylor: @penspod_JT // Jordan DeFigio: @fidgenewton

LETS GO PENS.

JEFF TAYLOR + JORDAN DEFIGIO

Intro/Outro music composed and recorded by Jeff Taylor
Mark Guiliana plays drums - thanks, Mark!

Shane Taylor designed and delivered our artwork.
To hire Shane for design work: [email protected] - tell him Fly Penguins Fly sent you.

This episode includes portions of the following musical selections:
Kid Kodi by Blue Dot Sessions
In Passage by Blue Dot Sessions

Pittsburgh Penguins on NHL’s All Quarter Century Team, Sidney Crosby at the IIHF Worlds, and Winnipeg’s Cringe-y Cup Song 05/12/25

Thanks to Sidney Crosby, Nathan McKinnon - and yes: Marc Andre Fleury!! - we’ve all got some exciting Team Canada hockey action to enjoy. With the Pittsburgh Penguins, Colorado Avalanche, and Minnesota Wild all having been eliminated from contention for this season’s Stanley Cup, Team Canada’s roster at the IIHF World Championships boasts some of the NHL’s most beloved names.

In lieu of further copy on the matter, here are some time codes and topics Jeff and Jordan discussed in this episode:

02:37 - Crosby, Malkin, Fleury named to NHL’s All Quarter Century Team
08:05 - Sidney Crosby and Team Canada at the IIHF World Championships
12:11 - Marc Andre Fleury and what retirement will look like
18:38 - 2025 Stanley Cup Playoff picture and predictions
26:41 - That God awful Winnipeg Jets Stanley Cup song
28:46 - Jeff can’t with the Oilers because…
31:08 - ESPN’s “This Is Hockey” video series
33:55 - Plugging our music gigs!

Special thanks to Espresso A Mano, Pittsburgh’s finest coffee roasters and cafe, for partnering with Fly Penguins Fly podcast. Visit an Espresso A Mano location near you:
https://espressoamano.com/

Fly Penguins Fly Podcast is produced by Jeff Taylor.

Thank you for listening!! Follow the podcast on X/Twitter: @penspod
Jeff Taylor: @penspod_JT // Jordan DeFigio: @fidgenewton

LETS GO PENS.

JEFF TAYLOR + JORDAN DEFIGIO

Intro/Outro music composed and recorded by Jeff Taylor
Mark Guiliana plays drums - thanks, Mark!

Shane Taylor designed and delivered our artwork.
To hire Shane for design work: [email protected] - tell him Fly Penguins Fly sent you.

This episode includes portions of the following musical selections:
Kid Kodi by Blue Dot Sessions
Hardboil by Blue Dot Sessions

Destination And Subject: Kyle Dubas and Pittsburgh Penguins Commence Head Coach Search 05/05/25

Rick Tocchet, David Carle, and others have been widely discussed as candidates to fill the vacancy Mike Sullivan left when he departed the Steel City. Jeff Taylor and Jordan DeFigio have at least one warm-to-hot take as to who might fit the bill behind the Pittsburgh Penguins' bench, especially while the team undergoes its nearly inevitable transitionary period.

Sidney Crosby's agent, Pat Brisson told Pierre LeBrun this weekend that his client would be traveling to Sweden to participate in the IIHF Men's World Championships. What's more, Crosby's longtime teammate and dear friend Marc André Fleury will be making the trip as well, representing Team Canada alongside his old captain.

Sid won't be Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia's sole ambassador in the tournament, though. Nathan McKinnon, newly unoccupied as his Avalanche were eliminated from contention in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, will dress beside Crosby and Fleury in Canada's locker room.

WARNING This episode contains samples of Dr. Claw's voice. He's really scary. Ok, you've been warned.

Special thanks to Espresso A Mano, Pittsburgh’s finest coffee roasters and cafe, for partnering with Fly Penguins Fly podcast. Visit an Espresso A Mano location near you:
https://espressoamano.com/

Fly Penguins Fly Podcast is produced by Jeff Taylor.

Thank you for listening!! Follow the podcast on X/Twitter: @penspod
Jeff Taylor: @penspod_JT // Jordan DeFigio: @fidgenewton

LETS GO PENS.

JEFF TAYLOR + JORDAN DEFIGIO

Intro/Outro music composed and recorded by Jeff Taylor
Mark Guiliana plays drums - thanks, Mark!

Shane Taylor designed and delivered our artwork.
To hire Shane for design work: [email protected] - tell him Fly Penguins Fly sent you.

This episode includes portions of the following musical selections:
Kid Kodi by Blue Dot Sessions
Hardboil by Blue Dot Sessions

Irish Goodbye: Mike Sullivan and Pittsburgh Penguins Part Ways 04/29/25

You knew it was around the corner, but you still didn’t see it coming: Mike Sullivan, two-time Stanley Cup-winning head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins is between jobs and the Pens are without a coach. Jordan DeFigio and Jeff Taylor offer their impressions and reactions to this massive news.

Thanks to Espresso A Mano, Pittsburgh’s finest coffee roasters and cafe, for partnering with Fly Penguins Fly podcast. Visit an Espresso A Mano location near you:
https://espressoamano.com/

Fly Penguins Fly Podcast is produced by Jeff Taylor.

Thank you for listening!! Follow the podcast on X/Twitter: @penspod
Jeff Taylor: @penspod_JT // Jordan DeFigio: @fidgenewton

LETS GO PENS.

JEFF TAYLOR + JORDAN DEFIGIO

Intro/Outro music composed and recorded by Jeff Taylor
Mark Guiliana plays drums - thanks, Mark!

Shane Taylor designed and delivered our artwork.
To hire Shane for design work: [email protected] - tell him Fly Penguins Fly sent you.

This episode includes portions of the following musical selections:
Kid Kodi by Blue Dot Sessions

Bittersweet Ending 04/21/25

Jeff Taylor and Jordan DeFigio convene for a season’s-end chat, at the tail end of the Penguins’ 24-25 campaign. A resounding victory over Alex Ovechkin and the first place Capitals is bittersweet on the tongue, as the Pens best the Caps in game 82.

Also in this episode: Joining Jeff for a lo-fi, impromptu interview recording here is Mike Kirkpatrick of Sreamin Yeti Designs. Visit Mike’s IG page to check out his amazing graphic design work, including his original take on what eventually became the official logo of the NHL’s 32nd franchise, the Seattle Kraken.

Mike Kirkpatrick’s Screamin Yeti Designs:
https://www.instagram.com/explore/locations/1012703238/screaminyeti-designs/

Thanks to Espresso A Mano, Pittsburgh’s finest coffee roasters and cafe, for partnering with Fly Penguins Fly podcast. Visit an Espresso A Mano location near you:
https://espressoamano.com/

Fly Penguins Fly Podcast is produced by Jeff Taylor.

Thank you for listening!! Follow the podcast on X/Twitter: @penspod
Jeff Taylor: @penspod_JT // Jordan DeFigio: @fidgenewton

LETS GO PENS.

JEFF TAYLOR + JORDAN DEFIGIO

Intro/Outro music composed and recorded by Jeff Taylor
Mark Guiliana plays drums - thanks, Mark!

Shane Taylor designed and delivered our artwork.
To hire Shane for design work: [email protected] - tell him Fly Penguins Fly sent you.

This episode includes portions of the following musical selections:
Kid Kodi by Blue Dot Sessions
Hardboil by Blue Dot Sessions
In Passage by Blue Dot Sessions

Bagpipes ft. Rob Rossi of The Athletic 04/16/25

Rob Rossi, Pittsburgh Penguins beat writer and current senior staffer with The Athletic joins Jeff Taylor and Jordan DeFigio to share his vivid, heartfelt recollections of former Penguins general manager, the late Ray Shero.

Thanks to Espresso A Mano, Pittsburgh’s finest coffee roasters and cafe, for partnering with Fly Penguins Fly podcast. Visit an Espresso A Mano location near you:
https://espressoamano.com/

Fly Penguins Fly Podcast is produced by Jeff Taylor.

Thank you for listening!! Follow the podcast on X/Twitter: @penspod
Jeff Taylor: @penspod_JT // Jordan DeFigio: @fidgenewton

LETS GO PENS.

JEFF TAYLOR + JORDAN DEFIGIO

Intro/Outro music composed and recorded by Jeff Taylor
Mark Guiliana plays drums - thanks, Mark!

Shane Taylor designed and delivered our artwork.
To hire Shane for design work: [email protected] - tell him Fly Penguins Fly sent you.

This episode includes portions of the following musical selections:
Kid Kodi by Blue Dot Sessions

Pittsburgh Penguins: End Of The Road 04/11/25

Heading into Newark, NJ for the final road game of their 2024-2025 campaign, the Pittsburgh Penguins will look to upset a very fast, very playoffs-bound Devils team. Even without star forward Jack Hughes the Devils have yet again managed to punch their ticket to Lord Stanley’s fabled dance.

Our hearts go out to the family of former Penguins GM, the late Ray Shero. Rest In Peace, Ray.

Thanks to Espresso A Mano, Pittsburgh’s finest coffee roasters and cafe, for partnering with Fly Penguins Fly podcast. Visit an Espresso A Mano location near you:
https://espressoamano.com/

Fly Penguins Fly Podcast is produced by Jeff Taylor.

Thank you for listening!! Follow the podcast on X/Twitter: @penspod
Jeff Taylor: @penspod_JT // Jordan DeFigio: @fidgenewton

LETS GO PENS.

JEFF TAYLOR + JORDAN DEFIGIO

Intro/Outro music composed and recorded by Jeff Taylor
Mark Guiliana plays drums - thanks, Mark!

Shane Taylor designed and delivered our artwork.
To hire Shane for design work: [email protected] - tell him Fly Penguins Fly sent you.

This episode includes portions of the following musical selections:
Kid Kodi by Blue Dot Sessions

Meaningful Hockey 04/07/25

The Pittsburgh Penguins have officially been eliminated from contention in the race to qualify for the 2024-2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. And with less than a handful of regular season games remaining on their schedule, the Penguins are at home tonight for the back half of a home-and-home matchup against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Jeff and Jordan convene remotely for today’s episode - doing their very best to keep their respective spiritual trains on their metaphorical tracks - as we all get ready for another Penguins-less NHL postseason.

Thanks to Espresso A Mano, Pittsburgh’s finest coffee roasters and cafe, for partnering with Fly Penguins Fly podcast. Visit an Espresso A Mano location near you:
https://espressoamano.com/

Fly Penguins Fly Podcast is produced by Jeff Taylor.

Thank you for listening!! Follow the podcast on X/Twitter: @penspod
Jeff Taylor: @penspod_JT // Jordan DeFigio: @fidgenewton

LETS GO PENS.

JEFF TAYLOR + JORDAN DEFIGIO

Intro/Outro music composed and recorded by Jeff Taylor
Mark Guiliana plays drums - thanks, Mark!

Shane Taylor designed and delivered our artwork.
To hire Shane for design work: [email protected] - tell him Fly Penguins Fly sent you.

This episode includes portions of the following musical selections:
Kid Kodi by Blue Dot Sessions

Future Marker: Our 250th Episode featuring The Athletic’s Josh Yohe 04/03/25

Dear Listeners,

It’s hard to believe we’ve made it to our 250th episode.

We’re joined today by The Athletic’s Josh Yohe, Pittsburgh Penguins beat reporter and one of our first proper guests. Josh is a fine example of someone who’s become a good friend and a generous collaborator in this unrivaled U.S. hockey town.

I started Fly Penguins Fly Podcast in the attic of the old Jersey City where I lived, along with my wife leading up to when we moved to Pittsburgh.

I still get a thrill out of creating and posting each episode, especially at this time when the Pittsburgh Penguins are rebuilding, in preparation for what - hopefully - will be an exciting, successful new era of hockey in the Steel City.

Thanks for listening, stay tuned as we continue to cover this hallowed franchise.

All my best,
Jeff Taylor
Producer and Co-Host
Fly Penguins Fly Podcast

Link to heartwarming clip of known St. Louis Blues fan, Laila Anderson scoring her first-ever goal in organized hockey:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C3vviSwunpd/?igsh=MW05ZHp2ejZmMzhoZQ==

Thanks to Espresso A Mano, Pittsburgh’s finest coffee roasters and cafe, for partnering with Fly Penguins Fly podcast. Visit an Espresso A Mano location near you:
https://espressoamano.com/

Fly Penguins Fly Podcast is produced by Jeff Taylor.

Thank you for listening!! Follow the podcast on X/Twitter: @penspod
Jeff Taylor: @penspod_JT // Jordan DeFigio: @fidgenewton

LETS GO PENS.

JEFF TAYLOR + JORDAN DEFIGIO

Intro/Outro music composed and recorded by Jeff Taylor
Mark Guiliana plays drums - thanks, Mark!

Shane Taylor designed and delivered our artwork.
To hire Shane for design work: [email protected] - tell him Fly Penguins Fly sent you.

This episode includes portions of the following musical selections:
Kid Kodi by Blue Dot Sessions
Hardboil by Blue Dot Sessions

Flying So Low(Fi) 04/01/25

With Jordan otherwise occupied and Jeff busy on a work trip, today’s offering is truly a solo dispatch, cobbled together from iPhone recordings and found musical pieces from old episodes. In short, a humbling final push to the big 250th episode, featuring Josh Yohe and coming at you tomorrow from the studio.

Disclaimer: The audio quality of the majority of this episode is pretty darned poor. Traveling for work meant no way to get into an isolated space, so Jeff recorded this one (literally) out in the streets of Jersey City.

Thanks to Espresso A Mano, Pittsburgh’s finest coffee roasters and cafe, for partnering with Fly Penguins Fly podcast. Visit an Espresso A Mano location near you:
https://espressoamano.com/

Fly Penguins Fly Podcast is produced by Jeff Taylor.

Thank you for listening!! Follow the podcast on X/Twitter: @penspod
Jeff Taylor: @penspod_JT // Jordan DeFigio: @fidgenewton

LETS GO PENS.

JEFF TAYLOR + JORDAN DEFIGIO

Intro/Outro music composed and recorded by Jeff Taylor
Mark Guiliana plays drums - thanks, Mark!

Shane Taylor designed and delivered our artwork.
To hire Shane for design work: [email protected] - tell him Fly Penguins Fly sent you.

This episode includes portions of the following musical selections:
Kid Kodi by Blue Dot Sessions
In Passage by Blue Dot Sessions