Jeff and Jason are back with a loaded one: Jeff finally buys a 3D printer (and gets grilled by FOJ AI on whether 3D-printed food is real), the guys debate what they'd print first (Connie's Pizza deep dish vs. a chocolate dessert), and then it's straight into a brutal Bears training camp injury report - Coby Bryant, Luther Burden, Cam Lewis, Kyler Gordon, Shemar Turner and more. They break down Caleb Williams' bargain rookie contract next to Patrick Mahomes' record extension, and dig into the NFL Hall of Fame ballot (Torry Holt, Eli Manning vs. Ben Roethlisberger, Bill Belichick, and more). Then things get musical: a Michael Jackson documentary sparks a Beatles vs. MJ vs. Elvis album-sales debate, Jeff shares his AI music project's very modest streaming numbers, and the two argue about whether AI-made music can really be "art" before trading industrial/EDM recommendations. Plus: Jeff's John Mulaney show in Asheville, a great jukebox-prank story, and a Cubs/White Sox playoff race check-in. FOJ AI closes things out with a self-graded performance review.

00:00 - Intro & Chicago sports optimism

01:12 - Trivia: Jeff's mystery gadget reveal (3D printer!)

05:53 - From pagers to 3D printers: a tech nostalgia detour

09:46 - FOJ AI: Is 3D-printed food real?

10:49 - Trivia: What food would you 3D print? (Connie's Pizza deep dish vs. dessert)

14:13 - Bears training camp injury report

17:45 - Why are so many Bears getting hurt?

19:56 - Raiders' Kirk Cousins vs. Maxx Crosby scuffle

21:39 - Full NFL injury report rundown

22:41 - Bears season predictions: how much does Caleb play Saturday?

24:27 - Bears QB depth chart & backup battle

24:42 - Offensive line contracts: Darnell Wright's record deal

26:23 - Caleb Williams' rookie contract bargain

27:57 - Patrick Mahomes' massive extension breakdown

36:47 - Hall of Fame Game recap & preseason talk

37:34 - 2025 Hall of Fame class: Brees, Fitzgerald, Kuechly, Vinatieri, Craig

39:00 - 2026 first-year Hall of Fame candidates debate

40:04 - Returning HOF candidates: Torry Holt, Eli Manning vs. Ben Roethlisberger, Belichick

44:42 - FOJ AI picks its Hall of Famer

45:14 - Michael Jackson documentary & the Beatles vs. MJ debate

52:08 - Top 25 best-selling music artists of all time (trivia)

56:47 - Jeff's AI music project, Stead States, streaming stats

1:00:00 - Is AI music art? The great debate

1:03:41 - AI as a creative collaborator for musicians

1:07:11 - Music recommendations: Prodigy, Nine Inch Nails, Boys Noize

1:14:17 - John Mulaney live in Asheville

1:16:12 - The Wild Onion jukebox prank story

1:18:37 - Cubs & White Sox playoff race update

1:20:00 - Could Chicago see a Cubs-Sox World Series?

1:22:47 - Jeff's Chicago trip, conference talk & Bears week one

1:26:12 - FOJ AI's final grade and last word

Friends of Jeff, FOJ podcast, Chicago sports podcast, Chicago Bears, Bears training camp, Bears injury report, Coby Bryant injury, Kyler Gordon, Luther Burden injury, Cam Lewis, Shemar Turner, Caleb Williams contract, Caleb Williams Bears, Darnell Wright contract, Patrick Mahomes contract, NFL Hall of Fame 2026, Torry Holt Hall of Fame, Eli Manning Hall of Fame, Ben Roethlisberger, Bill Belichick Hall of Fame, Pro Football Hall of Fame Game, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Cubs Sox playoff race, 3D printing, Bambu Lab 3D printer, Connie's Pizza, Beatles vs Michael Jackson, best selling music artists of all time, AI music debate, Nine Inch Nails, Boys Noize, Nine Inch Noise album, Prodigy Firestarter, John Mulaney Asheville, FOJ AI, Jeff and Jason podcast

Jeff and Jason kick off episode 80 by debuting FOJ's brand-new AI co-host — built on ElevenLabs, Claude, Groq, and Maneku — and immediately put it to work fact-checking their Chicago Bears trivia. From there it's a loaded show: Coby Bryant's training camp knee injury, Caleb Williams' Madden NFL 27 rating and NFL Top 100 ranking, Patrick Kane's emotional return to the Blackhawks alongside the Bowen Byram trade, and LeBron James' rumored move to Philadelphia. The guys dig deep into the MLB trade deadline (Cubs land Kevin Gausman and Clay Holmes, Dodgers grab Tarik Skubal) and spend a big chunk of the show debating whether baseball needs a salary cap and floor before the CBA expires this year. Jeff recaps a minor league night with the Asheville Tourists, Jason relives the original 1996 Lollapalooza in Pecatonica, Illinois (and nearly beaning a cop with garbage), and both compare notes on this year's Lollapalooza in Grant Park. Plus: Jeff's new Rivian R2, the end of the road for his Polestar 3, and upcoming travel plans.

0:00 - Intro: Jason's AC is broken, Chicago heat wave

1:36 - Debuting FOJ's new AI co-host

4:01 - Bears jersey #80 trivia (Curtis Conway, Earl Bennett, Qadir Ismail)

5:56 - Bears training camp: Coby Bryant's knee injury

10:04 - Caleb Williams' offseason look & Ben Johnson's praise

11:22 - Bears preseason opener vs. Cleveland & ticket prices

13:58 - Bears camp buzz: offense vs. defense

15:41 - Caleb Williams' Madden NFL 27 ratings breakdown

17:09 - NFL Top 100: Caleb Williams & Montez Sweat

20:41 - Aaron Donald, Deebo Samuel's 49ers return, Ricky Pearsall injury

22:29 - Blackhawks: Patrick Kane's return & the Bowen Byram trade

26:46 - LeBron James to Philadelphia rumors

29:53 - NBA championship odds

31:06 - FOJ AI's gambling-advice disclaimer bit

31:34 - Behind the scenes of the AI co-host setup

35:41 - MLB trade deadline: Cubs and Dodgers make moves

40:34 - Should baseball have a salary cap?

50:10 - White Sox's surprise season & MLB payroll gaps

59:12 - Salary floor debate, minor league pay, relegation idea

1:09:12 - Chicago soccer note & Derrick Rose/Bulls talk

1:12:05 - Jeff's trip to see the Asheville Tourists

1:20:07 - Flashback: 1996 Lollapalooza in Pecatonica

1:25:10 - Jason & Michelle at Lollapalooza 2026

1:44:29 - Jason's son's travel ball update

1:44:59 - Jeff's new Rivian R2

1:51:10 - Saying goodbye to the Polestar 3

1:55:19 - Jeff's conference recap & upcoming travel plans

2:00:33 - FOJ AI wraps up the episode

2:11:01 - Sign-off

Chicago Bears, Coby Bryant injury, Caleb Williams, Ben Johnson Bears, Chicago Blackhawks, Patrick Kane, Bowen Byram, Connor Bedard, Chicago Cubs, MLB trade deadline 2026, Kevin Gausman, Clay Holmes, Tarik Skubal, Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago White Sox, MLB salary cap, LeBron James 76ers, Chicago Bulls, Derrick Rose, Lollapalooza 2026, Lollapalooza 1996, Rivian R2, Polestar 3, Asheville Tourists, minor league baseball, AI co-host podcast, Chicago sports podcast, Friends of Jeff podcast, FOJ AI

Jeff and Jason are back for FOJ 79. Jeff recaps a fireside chat in Raleigh and previews MC'ing his first full-day conference in New York City, plus a rough night out when a brand-new Asheville Chinese restaurant completely fell apart on a takeout order. Jason tells the story of the century: filling in as a player-coach in his over-30 baseball league, he goes 1-for-1 with a two-run double, a stolen base, and a run scored — his first hit in 35 years — all sandwiched between a chaotic Friday and Saturday at his day job. He also gets into some frustrating drama from a separate travel baseball tryout situation. From there the guys dig into Chicago sports: Bulls rookie Caleb Wilson's monster NBA Summer League debut, the ongoing LeBron James free agency mystery, Connor Bedard's new contract extension and Patrick Kane return rumors for the Blackhawks, Bears training camp and preseason schedule, the quiet Bears stadium situation, and a full breakdown of ESPN's NFL QB rankings with a deep dive on where Caleb Williams stacks up. They close out with an extended World Cup recap — Spain's dominant win over Argentina in the final, Mbappé's record-setting tournament, a wild and star-studded halftime show, and a very awkward moment involving Donald Trump and the trophy photo.

00:00 - Intro, Jeff's Raleigh trip and fireside chat

02:07 - Jeff preps to MC his first full conference in NYC

04:09 - Pepper's paw injury scare

06:03 - The Majestic Chinese restaurant disaster in Asheville

15:58 - Chili's backup plan and the chips/salsa debate

18:50 - Jason's brutal Friday/Saturday at work (food distribution chaos)

21:44 - Jason's baseball team is short players before game time

24:28 - Jason's fielding error at first base

26:29 - Jason's two-run double and stolen base

30:34 - Team wins 19-0, Jason's post-game high

34:26 - League standings and next game

41:09 - The guy who sprinted in for one inning story

42:11 - Travel baseball tryout drama and awkward encounter

49:28 - Wrapping up the baseball story

50:36 - The weird Timothée Chalamet Kalshi commercial

51:54 - Bringing Phil back on for a Vikings QB debate

52:18 - Bears training camp and preseason schedule

55:50 - Bears stadium situation still quiet

57:33 - NBA Summer League: Caleb Wilson's huge debut

1:03:09 - LeBron James free agency limbo

1:05:40 - Connor Bedard's shoulder injury and contract extension

1:08:24 - Patrick Kane return rumors for the Blackhawks

1:10:47 - Debating Chicago's best sports team right now

1:16:47 - ESPN's NFL QB rankings breakdown

1:24:51 - ESPN's Bears power ranking and roster outlook

1:31:19 - World Cup final recap: Spain dominates Argentina

1:36:13 - The bizarre World Cup halftime show

1:38:32 - Trump's awkward moment at the trophy ceremony

1:41:04 - Previewing the 2030 World Cup

1:45:38 - Soccer flopping and diving needs a fix

1:48:33 - Heart rate check and wrap-up

1:51:55 - Outro

FOJ podcast, Friends of Jeff, Jeff Steadman, Jason, Chicago sports podcast, Chicago Bears, Caleb Williams, Bears training camp 2026, NFL QB rankings, Dak Prescott, Justin Herbert, Chicago Bulls, Caleb Wilson NBA summer league, Chicago Blackhawks, Connor Bedard contract extension, Patrick Kane Blackhawks rumors, Chris Chelios, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Cubs, LeBron James free agency, World Cup final 2026, Spain vs Argentina, Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi, World Cup halftime show, Donald Trump World Cup, travel baseball drama, adult rec league baseball, Asheville restaurants, Kalshi commercial, Timothee Chalamet

Jeff and Jason are back for episode 78! This week: a crash course in gigabytes vs. terabytes vs. petabytes and why MFA might save your bank account, a deep dive on 1985 Bears legend Keith Van Horn, Jason's wild 1-0 sandlot-style adult league all-star game at Petrovsky Park (plus a Chicago PD softball connection), travel-team tryout drama that nearly caused a youth baseball turf war, a White Sox and Cubs midseason report card, real talk on MLB's looming CBA and salary cap fight, a $12-beer night at the ballpark, Argentina's stunning World Cup comeback and the USA's rough exit to Belgium, Jeff's Rivian R2 test drive and EV charging breakdown, a Chicago food tour (Portillo's, Pequod's, Budlong, MAAX hot pot), a Fourth of July fireworks neighbor feud, and this week's FOJ Listener of the Week: one very opinionated three-year-old.

Chapters:00:00 Intro - Gigabytes, Terabytes & Petabytes07:02 Jeff's Security Corner: MFA Matters07:23 FOJ #78: Bears Edition - Keith Van Horn09:29 Baseball Update: All-Star Tourney at Petrovsky Park21:53 Travel Team Tryout Drama & Roster Battles34:06 Next Year: Joshua Takes Over as Manager38:00 MLB Midseason Report: Sox, Cubs & All-Star Snubs42:03 MLB Labor Talks: Salary Caps & CBA Fears47:53 White Sox Game Day: Attendance Up, Beers Way Up51:43 World Cup Recap: Argentina's Comeback & USA's Exit1:04:12 World Cup Elite Eight Preview1:07:30 Jeff's Chicago Trip: Portillo's, Pequod's & Hot Pot1:09:00 Family Update: The Brothers in Chicago1:10:12 Driving the All-New Rivian R21:20:26 Fireworks Fallout & FOJ Listener of the Week1:29:53 Dog Talk & Wrap-Up

Keywords: FOJ podcast, Friends of Jeff, Chicago sports podcast, Chicago Bears, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Cubs, MLB midseason report, MLB CBA salary cap, World Cup 2026, Argentina World Cup, USA soccer World Cup, Rivian R2 review, EV charging guide, youth travel baseball, adult league baseball, Chicago food, Portillo's, Pequod's Pizza, hot pot Chicago, sports and lifestyle podcast

Jeff and Jason reunite after a three-week gap with a genuinely loaded episode. Jeff recaps his exhausting week at a major industry conference in Vegas — the nonstop networking, speaking sessions, and what it's like to be recognized everywhere you go. From there: the Knicks' title and what's next for LeBron at 41, Victor Wembanyama's rise as the NBA's new face, the Bulls going full rebuild with picks Caleb Wilson and Dailyn Swain plus a new GM and head coach Tiago Splitter, the Blackhawks trading the #4 pick for defenseman Bowen Byram while Connor Bedard awaits a new deal, the World Cup (Team USA rolling, Messi breaking records at 39, Europeans discovering ranch dressing), Bears stadium odds shifting toward Illinois, Caleb Williams' failed "Iceman" trademark, ESPN's NFL skill position rankings, a Reddit deep dive on lyric vocabulary with Patti Smith at #1, the Bills erasing OJ Simpson from their new stadium and the Hall of Fame morality debate that follows, the surprising White Sox surge, Jacob Misiorowski's 105 mph heater, and two guys slowly falling apart physically.

00:00 - Intro / Jeff's Vegas Conference Week00:34 - NBA Wrapup: Wembanyama, Knicks Win, LeBron at 4100:45 - Chicago Bulls Full Rebuild: Draft, New GM, Tiago Splitter00:52 - Who Replaces Stacey King on Bulls Broadcasts?00:53 - World Cup: Team USA, Messi's Record, Ranch Dressing Goes Viral01:07 - Bears Stadium Odds and Caleb Williams' Nickname Drama01:13 - ESPN NFL Skill Position Rankings: Bears at 1501:26 - Blackhawks Trade #4 Pick for Bowen Byram; Bedard Contract Looms01:32 - Lyric Vocabulary Rankings: Patti Smith #1, Jason Derulo Edges Taylor Swift01:41 - NFL Morality Debate: OJ, the Bills, Ray Lewis, and the Hall of Fame01:57 - White Sox Surge: 22-1 Blowout and Renewed Fan Interest01:59 - Jacob Misiorowski's 105 MPH Heater and the Hardest Thing in Sports02:02 - Getting Old Sucks: Dead Arms, Torn Calves, and Charley Horses

FOJ, Friends of Jeff, FOJ podcast, Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls NBA Draft, World Cup 2026 Team USA, LeBron James retirement, Victor Wembanyama, Knicks NBA champions, Jacob Misiorowski White Sox, OJ Simpson Bills stadium, NFL Hall of Fame morality, Blackhawks Bowen Byram trade, Connor Bedard, Stacey King replacement, Patti Smith lyrics vocabulary, Tiago Splitter Bulls coach, Bears stadium Illinois, Caleb Williams nickname, sports podcast Chicago

Jeff and Jason are back after two weeks off with a packed episode. Jeff officially closes the book on his Polestar 3 saga — it's being surrendered Thursday — and reveals his next move: a first-model-year Rivian R2. He also recaps a Milwaukee work trip featuring Portillo's, Korean hot pot BBQ, and a strong opinion on neck pillow etiquette. Sports take over from there: the Bears' potential move to Hammond, Indiana gets a deep debate; Caleb Williams' Iceman nickname faces a trademark battle and the guys brainstorm AI-generated replacements; the Vegas-Carolina double-OT Stanley Cup thriller gets broken down; the Knicks' historic playoff run and Wembanyama are dissected; and the guys pay tribute to the late Stacey King. Jason previews his College World Series trip to Omaha with his 14U team, delivers a quick Cubs and Sox update, and closes out with a legendary barehanded catch story from his high school days.

0:00 - Intro & Episode 76: The Mongo shoutout

1:27 - New listener alert: Chad finally tunes in

4:44 - The neck pillow debate (you're probably wearing it wrong)

7:16 - Portillo's in Milwaukee & Korean hot pot BBQ breakdown

12:49 - The Polestar 3 saga: Jeff surrenders the car

14:58 - What's next: Jeff eyes the Rivian R2

31:43 - Bears stadium debate: Is Hammond, Indiana really happening?

58:16 - Caleb Williams' Iceman nickname & Madden 26 cover

1:04:20 - Chuck Liddell complicates the Iceman trademark situation

1:10:00 - Stanley Cup: Vegas vs. Carolina double-OT thriller

1:24:32 - NBA Finals: Knicks' historic run & Wembanyama debate

1:30:43 - RIP Stacey King: Remembering the Bulls' beloved broadcaster

1:33:40 - Jason heads to the College World Series in Omaha

1:36:33 - Cubs & Sox near .500 + men's league baseball update

1:39:25 - Legendary barehanded catch stories to close it out

FOJ podcast, Friends of Jeff, Chicago Bears stadium Hammond Indiana, Bears move to Indiana, Caleb Williams Iceman nickname, Caleb Williams Madden 26, Polestar 3, Rivian R2, Portillos Milwaukee, Korean hot pot BBQ, K-POT, Stanley Cup playoffs Vegas Golden Knights Carolina Hurricanes, NBA Finals 2025 Knicks Spurs, Victor Wembanyama, Jalen Brunson, Stacey King death, College World Series Omaha, Chicago Cubs 2025, Chicago White Sox 2025, Bears new stadium, Kevin Warren, FOJ 76

Jeff and Jason are back for episode 75 and they've got a full plate. Jeff just returned from Berlin for his annual industry conference and breaks down the trip — from jet-lagged Five Guys runs to a Michelin-rated dinner he'd rather forget, a five-mile walking tour past the Brandenburg Gate, and some sharp observations about EVs, car culture, and the surprising absence of dealership stickers on German vehicles. The guys also riff on European wages, the rising cost of living in the US, and whether America could ever get its act together on a wage floor.

Back stateside, Jason recounts a spicy Memorial Day weekend parking lot standoff with an oversized F-150 and reflects on how much less patient he's become with age. Jeff's dealing with a recurring calf injury from the Berlin walking tour, and both hosts bond over the general misery of getting older.

On the sports front, the guys dig into the wild quirks of the 2026 NFL schedule — including the 49ers traveling 38,000 miles, Wednesday Night Football debuts, the Jaguars hosting two London home games, the Bears earning five primetime slots, and the Arizona Cardinals being underdogs in all 17 games. They also check in on the NBA playoffs with the Knicks rolling at 11-0 and OKC and San Antonio knotted at 2-2.

To close things out: a Gallup poll reveals 72% of Americans would rather live next to a nuclear plant than a data center, and Jason's son Jeremy officially flies the nest. Congrats to Jeremy and Morgan — FOJ Listeners of the Week!

TIMESTAMPS:0:00 - Bears Jersey #75: The History (or Lack Thereof)2:28 - FOJ Podcast Stats: Vietnam and Denmark Are Listening5:36 - Memorial Day & 30 Years Since Bradley Nowell Passed7:40 - Jeff's Berlin Trip: Flights, Five Guys & Conference Life12:21 - The Michelin Dinner He'd Rather Forget30:00 - European Wages vs. US Cost of Living49:00 - Jason's Parking Lot F-150 Showdown55:22 - Getting Old: Torn Calves & Baseball Tournament Pain1:03:14 - 2026 NFL Schedule Quirks Breakdown1:11:37 - NBA Playoffs: Knicks Undefeated, OKC-Spurs Tied1:12:55 - Data Centers vs. Nuclear Plants: The Gallup Poll1:19:50 - Cubs Skid, Sox Hanging In & Jeremy Moves Out

KEYWORDS:FOJ podcast, Friends of Jeff, Jeff and Jason podcast, Berlin travel 2026, Michelin restaurant Berlin, Five Guys Berlin, NFL 2026 schedule, 49ers Australia game, Wednesday Night Football, Bears primetime games, Jacksonville Jaguars London, Arizona Cardinals underdogs, NBA playoffs 2026, New York Knicks undefeated, OKC Thunder Spurs, data centers noise pollution, data center vs nuclear plant poll, minimum wage debate, cost of living USA, getting older humor, Memorial Day podcast, Bradley Nowell Sublime anniversary, parking lot road rage, Cheetos debate, College World Series Omaha

Jeff and Jason are back for FOJ 74 — dedicated to Bears Hall of Fame offensive tackle Jimbo Covert, the man who wore #74. The guys kick things off with the shortest NFL career in recent memory (RIP the Squirrel White era), dive deep into Bears retired jerseys, and somehow end up down a Rod "He Hate Me" Smart rabbit hole. Jay's Wide World of Sports covers a hot Cubs squad, a White Sox glow-up, NBA playoff action, the NBA Draft Lottery (Bulls land #4!), and Blackhawks rebuild news. Jeff recommends Letterkenny, previews his upcoming trip to Berlin, and drops a fun fact about why the Berlin Wall really fell. Then things get emotional — Jason's son wraps up his college baseball career. To close it out, Jeff recaps a legendary dinner at Salt Steakhouse in New Jersey, complete with a $400 tomahawk steak and the best mashed potatoes of his life.

00:00 - Intro & Episode Numbering Drama02:00 - Jim Covert, #74, and the NFL Draft07:30 - Squirrel White Retires After One Rookie Mini Camp12:00 - Bears Retired Jerseys Deep Dive19:00 - Rod "He Hate Me" Smart & The XFL25:00 - Jay's Wide World of Sports: Cubs, White Sox & MLB Standings30:00 - NBA Playoffs: Knicks, Wembanyama Ejection, Cavs/Pistons32:30 - NBA Draft Lottery: Bulls Get the #4 Pick38:00 - Blackhawks Update: NHL Draft & Roman Kancerov43:30 - Letterkenny Recommendation46:00 - Which Major Sport Would You Kill Off?52:00 - Jeff's Berlin Trip Preview1:02:00 - The Real Reason the Berlin Wall Fell1:07:00 - Man in the High Castle Review1:13:00 - Jason's Son's Final College Baseball Game1:18:00 - Buffalo Wild Wings Gets One Right (Bradley, IL)1:19:30 - Salt Steakhouse NJ: The $400 Tomahawk & Epic Dinner1:32:00 - Delta Airlines Rant

FOJ, Friends of Jeff, FOJ podcast, Chicago Bears, Jim Covert, Squirrel White, NFL rookie minicamp, Bears retired jerseys, Rod Smart He Hate Me, XFL, Chicago Cubs winning streak, White Sox 2025, MLB standings, NBA playoffs, Knicks, Wembanyama ejection, NBA draft lottery, Chicago Bulls, Cam Boozer, Blackhawks rebuild, Roman Kancerov KHL, Letterkenny, Berlin travel, Berlin Wall history, Man in the High Castle, college baseball, Buffalo Wild Wings, Salt Steakhouse New Jersey, tomahawk steak, sports podcast, sports and food podcast

Jeff and Jason are back after a brief hiatus — Jason's been riding out a nasty head cold, but he's at 90% and ready to roll. The guys dig deep into the Chicago Bears' 2025 NFL Draft, debating grades, missed opportunities on the defensive line, and whether this team is built to outscore everyone or just hoping for the best. They also hit the broader draft landscape, from Jeremiah Love going third overall to the Cardinals, to Arch Manning's future, to Cam Mendoza heading to Las Vegas. Then it's a full pivot to NFL player representation by state (Louisiana dominates, Vermont has zero), cost of living comparisons, a fascinating NIH study linking dark humor to intelligence, a rabbit hole on stand-up comedy legends, and finally — the dogs. Always the dogs.

TIMESTAMPS:0:00 - Intro & Jason's head cold recovery3:10 - Bears 2025 NFL Draft grades (B to B+)7:45 - Defensive line neglect — only one edge rusher in 35 new players14:20 - Bears offense: replacing DJ Moore, Caleb's next step20:00 - Jeremiah Love #3 overall, Cardinals, Arch Manning talk25:30 - Cam Mendoza, Raiders, and Kirk Cousins as mentor29:00 - Russell Wilson to CBS? Romo, Aikman, Tomlin at NBC33:15 - Mike Vrabel and Diana Russini situation37:40 - NFL players per million by state — Louisiana leads, Vermont has zero44:00 - Cost of living by state: Hawaii, Oklahoma, Texas, Illinois48:30 - Dark humor and intelligence: NIH study breakdown52:00 - Anthony Jeselnik, Jimmy Carr, Ricky Gervais, George Carlin57:15 - Whose Line Is It Anyway & Robin Williams memories1:01:00 - Kevin Hart's NBC sports show1:04:30 - Dog updates: Pepper, Archie, Duncan's cancer surgery, and Tux the tackler1:10:00 - Travel plans: Jersey, Berlin, Milwaukee, Chicago

KEYWORDS:Friends of Jeff podcast, FOJ 73, Chicago Bears NFL Draft 2025, Bears draft grade, Bears defensive line, Caleb Williams, NFL Draft analysis, Jeremiah Love Cardinals, Arch Manning NFL, Cam Mendoza Raiders, Kirk Cousins, Russell Wilson CBS, Mike Vrabel Diana Russini, NFL players by state, Louisiana NFL players, Vermont NFL, cost of living by state, dark humor intelligence study, NIH humor study, Anthony Jeselnik, Jimmy Carr, Ricky Gervais, Whose Line Is It Anyway, Robin Williams, Kevin Hart NBC sports, dog stories, sports podcast, NFL offseason

Jeff and Jason are back for episode 72, opening with the legacy of the number itself — The Fridge — and a riff on how NFL players have physically evolved over the decades. Jeff's morning starts with full rabbit nest carnage courtesy of the dogs, while Jason's dealing with birds actively constructing a nest inside his porch. From there: a rant on LinkedIn etiquette, a big tournament win for Jason's youth baseball team, and a full Chicago sports roundup — Bulls firing their GM, Bears draft countdown, and White Sox pitching prospect Noah Schultz making a chaotic but promising MLB debut. Jeff floats the idea of Bears coach Ben Johnson running every Chicago franchise simultaneously. The guys also break down Powerball going international, warn of the Kardashian Curse on Caleb Williams after his Coachella sighting with Kendall Jenner, react to a survey claiming 31% of people would date their pets, recap the Artemis mission (including Trump's awkward astronaut phone call), swap sci-fi movie recs, debate skydiving, and dig into the 2025 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame class — including Jason's suspiciously encyclopedic knowledge of New Edition. 

0:00 - The Fridge: Refrigerator Perry and how athletes have physically evolved 

4:00 - Rabbit nest carnage and birds invading Jason's porch

9:15 - LinkedIn is not Facebook: A social media PSA 

12:00 - Jason's youth baseball team wins their first tournament

19:00 - Chicago sports: Bears draft hype, Bulls fire their GM 

24:00 - The Ben Johnson Plan: One coach to rule all Chicago sports 

27:45 - Noah Schultz's MLB debut: Big arm, rough first inning 

34:30 - Ichiro's statue needs some structural attention 

35:45 - Powerball goes international (and the states that refuse to play) 

42:30 - Caleb Williams spotted with Kendall Jenner: Kardashian Curse invoked 

45:50 - 31% of people would date their pet if given the chance 

52:45 - Artemis mission recap and Trump's awkward call to astronauts in space 

1:05:30 - Movie recs: Interstellar, Project Hail Mary, Gravity, The Martian

 1:09:40 - Skydiving debate: Fear of heights, family pressure, and hard no's 

1:15:00 - Rock Hall 2025: Iron Maiden, Wu-Tang, Oasis, Billy Idol and more 

1:21:00 - New Edition: The original boy band blueprint

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