Gary and Shannon

Gary and Shannon close out the show with What’s Happening, running through the day’s biggest and strangest headlines before Michael and Shannon reflect on Michael’s final day filling in as the so-called responsible adult in the room. The conversation drifts into stories about missing three legged pets, rescuing cats, and the realities of pet ownership.
The hour also includes a #TrueCrimeTuesday discussion centered on the Netflix documentary Evil Influencer, an update from Gary’s Giants fantasy camp, and a standout moment as Board Wizard Elmer debuts his new guided meditation project with a live sample on air. Follow Elmer on Instagram at @h13lmer and find his meditation content on YouTube at @MeditateWithElmer.

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It is a Gary-free show as Michael Monks steps into the co host chair, though Shannon is not exactly ready to give up control. Shannon kicks things off fresh off a red eye from New England, breaking down the Chargers loss, the slow death of hope, and the moment realism finally set in after covering the game and racing back just in time for the show.
Shannon and Michael are then joined by NewsNation National Security Correspondent Lt. Gen. Richard Newton to break down rising tensions with Iran and whether the United States is headed toward deeper involvement.
The hour shifts to Gary’s absence at baseball fantasy camp and Shannon’s rare history of missing work, including her Y2K era story, before the conversation widens to prediction markets. From Polymarket to Kalshi, Shannon and Michael unpack why betting on outcomes has exploded across politics, sports, and entertainment, including why odds were displayed during the Golden Globes and what that says about how much people want a stake in the outcome.

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Shannon and Michael open the hour reacting to Mayor Bass’s appearance on MSNBC, breaking down how she is leaning into attacking President Trump as a political strategy and what that could mean as she looks toward reelection. They dig into how wildfire anger may shape the race and whether Spencer Pratt can move past his reality TV image to be taken seriously as a mayoral candidate.
The conversation then shifts to prediction markets like Polymarket and Kalshi, especially after the Golden Globes leaned fully into displaying betting odds despite limited regulation and several predictions falling flat. Shannon and Michael explain why this new world of betting looks nothing like the old local bookie model.
The hour wraps with a sharp discussion about a controversial moment during a Jacksonville Jaguars post-game press conference. Shannon calls out a reporter whose fandom appeared to bleed into her questioning, while Michael explains why access and credibility matter and why being a fan is not the job when you hold a credential.

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Shannon and Michael open the hour with #SwampWatch, breaking down the DOJ’s decision to open an investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and why it matters.
From there, the conversation takes a sharp turn as Shannon issues a warning to deli's everywhere after enduring a painfully dry sandwich in New England, arguing that there is no excuse for skimping on condiments.
As the lack of sleep catches up, the hour leans into travel chaos. Shannon and Michael break down the etiquette mistakes that make solo travelers dread flying with couples, from shared space to in flight coordination. Michael explains why his Nintendo Switch is his go to survival tool while traveling.
The hour wraps with updates on iHeart app technical issues, a strange mystery involving a missing dog named Oreo in the building, and the moment the app finally comes back online so listeners can catch anything they missed on the podcast.

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Shannon and Michael close out the show with #WhatsHappening, running through the most talked about stories of the day, including Nikki Glaser’s return as Golden Globes host, a Riverside billboard hijacked with pro ICE messaging, and a Home Alone actor landing in headlines for the wrong reasons, which sparks a brief but memorable detour into prostitution laws.
Then it is time for the #GaSFantasy4Play Recap, as they break down all the Wild Card Weekend madness. From Gary’s dog Peter’s picks to the Panthers earning weakest link status, they react to the chaos so far, preview Steelers versus Texans, and revisit the Chargers’ brutal elimination that Shannon calls the worst way to lose.
The hour shifts gears as Shannon and Michael revisit an earlier conversation about wake-up times and whether getting up at 5am is actually healthy if you are not wired for mornings. They debate why some CEOs and elite athletes swear by it and whether drinking water before coffee really makes a difference.
They wrap the show with some positive iHeart app updates, sleep deprivation fallout, post flight hygiene confessions, Michael declaring himself a sniffer, and one last strange SoCal story to send you into the weekend.

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Gary and Shannon kick off the Weekend Fix for 2026 by wandering into one of the most revealing topics there is: gambling habits. From betting on global politics and prediction markets to casino floors, penny slots, craps tables, and the thrill of chasing that one unforgettable win, they unpack why gambling hits people differently and why it is easier than ever to do it nonstop from your phone.

Along the way, the conversation turns personal with stories about lucky streaks, near misses, Vegas myths, and the moment you convince yourself you have cracked the code. They also explore how gambling addiction mirrors other forms of addiction and why the chase is often more powerful than the payout.

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Gary kicks off a solo Friday with overdue good news, California is officially drought-free for the first time in 25 years, but questions the record low snowfall totals.

He then breaks down the growing controversy over federal immigration-related shootings in Minneapolis and Portland, where recent use of force incidents by ICE and Border Patrol have sparked public outcry and complicated jurisdictional questions about who’s leading the investigations amid conflicting claims. 

NewsNation National Security Contributor Lt. Gen. Richard Newton joins to discuss the seizure of a fifth Venezuelan oil tanker and what it signals for global security and energy tensions.

Plus, a story first heard on The Gary and Shannon Show: NASA is moving forward with a rescue mission to bring astronauts home due to an undisclosed medical issue.

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Gary opens with the powerful Santa Ana winds moving through Southern California, why fire risk may be lower than expected, and what radiation fog is, and why it matters.

He then breaks down the accelerating media shift toward YouTube, explaining how younger audiences are consuming content, why even Netflix is now airing iHeartMedia podcasts, and how every platform is chasing the same viewers.

The hour continues with a look at Governor Gavin Newsom’s growing national profile, improving favorability numbers, and why California’s image, and “California Derangement Syndrome” — remains a major hurdle outside the state.

Gary wraps with the rise and decline of Sweetgreen, once a cultural status symbol now struggling as consumer tastes change.

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Gary opens #SwampWatch with breaking news from Minneapolis as new video surfaces in a deadly crash, identifying the officer involved and fueling escalating protests.

He then turns to Hollywood’s shifting standards after Julia Roberts says Pretty Woman wouldn’t be made today, debating with Board Wizard Elmer whether classic films still hold up in a modern era.

The hour wraps with the weekly Entertainment Report with Heather Brooker, covering celebrities’ Letterboxd habits, public judgment of personal viewing choices, and early Golden Globe buzz — including box office standouts and whether any movie has ever made Gary cry.

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Gary wraps up the show with a jam-packed final hour starting with What’s Happening, breaking down the most talked about and unexpected stories making headlines today.
Then it is time for Gas Fantasy 4 Play, this week’s Pick 6 edition. Gary, Shannon, Board Wizard Elmer, and producer Matt make their NFL Wild Card round picks, with a special assist from Gary’s dog Peter. You can see Peter’s picks over on Instagram at @GaryAndShannon.
The hour closes with Gary taking on a solo What You Learned via listener talk-backs and then the Nine News Nuggets You Need to Know, featuring stories you did not hear anywhere else this week, including the headline that says it all. A naked mermaid attacking a deputy.

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