Get 'Em Next Year: The Heart & Soul of Philly Sports

Ladies, Gents, and everyone in between, I AM SO. SO. SO. TIRED. FanExpo weekend was a blast! All in all, nearly 200 of you came out to see me and my friends (old and new) talk about subjects we're incredibly passionate about. A huge thanks to every single person who agreed to be on these panels, too: I'm sure between the Everything is Awesome feed and this feed, I'll have plenty of heartfelt thanks for these folks, but know I'm truly appreciative of your time and that you came out to play.

Anyway, MARK OFF ROUND 2. What does JJ, Chris, and JLB have in store for you this month? Well, the boys are back in the squared circle with another chaotic dive into the world of pro wrestling. They kick things off honoring hardcore icon Sabu, then break down WWE’s latest round of releases before hitting the Backlash fallout: Jacob Fatu wrecks shop, Lyra pins Becky clean, and Cena somehow survives Orton (again?).

But are they seeing the cracks in Big Match John’s legacy—or is it just smoke and mirrors? They also preview AEW’s Double or Nothing bangers (Ospreay vs. Hangman, Mone vs. Hayter), look ahead to the chaos of both Money in the Bank matches, and ask: what’s really next for Cena and that belt?

You can support Get ’Em Next Year by following us on social media: @getemnextyear on Facebook, Twitter, BlueSky, YouTube, Twitch, TikTok, and @getemnextyearpod on Instagram and Threads. Join our Discord at bit.ly/genydiscord. You can also give us a 5-star Apple Podcasts review, a shoutout to a friend, some love on social media, or purchase some We’ll Get ’Em Next Year merch at getemnextyear.com/shop.

Get ’Em Next Year is produced by Starbird Media and edited by Kevin M. Gallagher, Jr. Music for the show comes from The Philadelphia Way by Mega Ran. The We’ll Get ’Em Next Year logo is by Kevin M. Gallagher, Jr. For advertising rates, guest inquiries, or press coverage, email us at [email protected].

Please consider supporting The HEADstrong Foundation (https://headstrong.org). They are based out of the Philadelphia area and are minutes from the University of Pennsylvania Hospital. They assist families who are dealing with cancer, from meals to travel and housing. I've been working with them for nearly 9 years now, and they are good people.

The release schedule of our live show from FanExpo and the panel Kev ran for Everything is Awesome has changed slightly, but don't worry! We should have that sweet, sweet content for you soon! Mark your calendars! FanExpo returns to Philly May 29th through May 31st 2026!

I can't believe I'm going to say this, but the NBA Lottery Draft was actually kind of fun to watch. Definitely more fun than that boxing match I watched a few months ago. I'm curious if it's because the 76ers, a team I actually don't care much for, had a stake in it?

ANYWAY, it's Fan Expo week! This means I'm running around frantically preparing for one of my two favorite pop culture events of the year, which happen right here in Philadelphia. While I have a wee bit less to do this year, there is still PLENTY to figure out. Like running a couple of panels! We talk about it in the show, but for those that jump into the note narrative—hey... I like that. Did we just coin a name for our little world within the world? Right, Fan Expo—for those that follow along in the show notes, here is the official schedule as of TODAY.

Saturday, May 17th at 12 PM: This is Heavy: 40 Years of Back to the Future in Theater 4 (Room 125)

Not GENY related, but I'm hosting it! I'll be joined by the crew over at I Like to Movie Movie to discuss one of the greatest movies of all time, Back to the Future, and celebrate that this year marks 40 years of Marty and Doc's time-traveling adventures.

Saturday, May 17th at 5 PM: Go Birds: How a Fandom Unites a City... and Beyond! in Creator HQ (Room 119AB)

I've partnered with GENY to bring this panel to life at Fan Expo Philadelphia 2025 and am over the moon about the panelists we've got for this one. JJ joins me, but then we've also got Craig Liggeons (Comic Book Gurus) and the Devan Kaney (WIP, Eagles Sideline, Fox29)!

Sunday, May 18th at 1:15 PM (hey, uh, producer Rachel... why didn't you correct JJ on air??): Get 'Em Next Year: Heartbreak in Fandom in Workshops (Room 123)

We take the show LIVE for the very first time! JJ is cooking this one up, but know that this is an opportunity not to be missed. I can't believe we're allowing Charley Lancaster to have a microphone LIVE without the ability to edit him.

Come find us at the Tellest table in Artist Alley, aisle 1200 (table 1205 specifically)

Mike DeAngelo has given us a portion of his table to hang out at so we can talk with you, the people! And so we can also sell you our wares! We're debuting our first shirt under a new model: The Kevin Gallagher. You know that shirt is Kelly green and is about the birds... in fact, it simply says Go Birds with a little something extra to make this a Fan Expo Philadelphia 2025 exclusive!

You can support Get ’Em Next Year by following us on social media: @getemnextyear on Facebook, Twitter, BlueSky, YouTube, Twitch, TikTok, and @getemnextyearpod on Instagram and Threads. Join our Discord at bit.ly/genydiscord. You can also give us a 5-star Apple Podcasts review, a shoutout to a friend, some love on social media, or purchase some We’ll Get ’Em Next Year merch at getemnextyear.com/shop.

Get ’Em Next Year is produced by Starbird Media and edited by Kevin M. Gallagher, Jr. Music for the show comes from The Philadelphia Way by Mega Ran. The We’ll Get ’Em Next Year logo is by Kevin M. Gallagher, Jr. For advertising rates, guest inquiries, or press coverage, email us at [email protected].

Please consider supporting The HEADstrong Foundation (https://headstrong.org). They are based out of the Philadelphia area and are minutes from the University of Pennsylvania Hospital. They assist families who are dealing with cancer, from meals to travel and housing. I've been working with them for nearly 9 years now, and they are good people.

JJ admits to watching the Philadelphia Union and having a good time, so tune into the whole episode for some good times.

THE CHAIN FOOD RESTAURANT SNAKE DRAFT IS HERE.

Hi, Kev here. One would think I would be super into this one, being that fat kid I am... heck, I thought so too! However, as I started doing my research for this one, I realized that if any one of these places disappeared and I had to just eat at local joints, I'd be fine with it. I don't think there's one that I would miss to the point of caring.

Anyway, JJ and I saw Dogma Monday night with a LIVE introduction and post-screening Q&A with Kevin Smith. This was the fifth time or so I've seen Kev live, and it was, as usual, a religious experience. Even more so with the screening of Dogma, which was the first time I've seen this flick on the big screen. It's definitely one of his best films and in my personal top 3 favorite Kevin Smith movies. Do yourself a favor and go see it on the big screen on June 5th.

I tell that micro story because it left me feeling inspired. I hope that it starts to show here, but it's got me jazzed to get back to some of my other projects that I'm incredibly passionate about. Do yourself a favor, kids, do the thing. Even if it's just a tiny step, do it. We're only on this ball of dirt for a microsecond, so make it worth while.

You can support Get ’Em Next Year by following us on social media: @getemnextyear on Facebook, Twitter, BlueSky, YouTube, Twitch, TikTok, and @getemnextyearpod on Instagram and Threads. Join our Discord at bit.ly/genydiscord. You can also give us a 5-star Apple Podcasts review, a shoutout to a friend, some love on social media, or purchase some We’ll Get ’Em Next Year merch at getemnextyear.com/shop.

Get ’Em Next Year is produced by Starbird Media and edited by Kevin M. Gallagher, Jr. Music for the show comes from The Philadelphia Way by Mega Ran. The We’ll Get ’Em Next Year logo is by Kevin M. Gallagher, Jr. For advertising rates, guest inquiries, or press coverage, email us at [email protected].

Please consider supporting The HEADstrong Foundation (https://headstrong.org). They are based out of the Philadelphia area and are minutes from the University of Pennsylvania Hospital. They assist families who are dealing with cancer, from meals to travel and housing. I've been working with them for nearly 9 years now, and they are good people.

I get it... It's a bad take for the Mayor of Levittown to pick Sheetz in this snake draft. Don't get me wrong, Wawa is my go-to. I'm there nearly every day. But when I'm traveling to Western Pennsylvania (or anywhere that I know a Sheetz may be in), I look forward to Wawa's cousin. It's 2025, if Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart can make amends, we can accept that Wawa and Sheetz are the two best convenience stores to get a hoagie, soft pretzel, and a coffee while filling up your tank.

I wrote some banger show notes but then accidentally clicked out of the window, which closed it, and didn't save my work.

Webby Award-winning stuff. And it's gone. We're all worse for it, too.

Anyway, the gist was to come see us at FanExpo Philly May 16th through the 18th, but with some grade A flair. Details are in the actual show, we discuss, I'll get it on the site too.

JJ starts by himself, Kev joins shortly thereafter, and Charley Lancaster discovers proper set lighting by accident.

Phillies, Eagles, and some dead air during a game that you can swim in. Enjoy it.

You can support Get ’Em Next Year by following us on social media: @getemnextyear on Facebook, Twitter, BlueSky, YouTube, Twitch, TikTok, and @getemnextyearpod on Instagram and Threads. Join our Discord at bit.ly/genydiscord. You can also give us a 5-star Apple Podcasts review, a shoutout to a friend, some love on social media, or purchase some We’ll Get ’Em Next Year merch at getemnextyear.com/shop.

Get ’Em Next Year is produced by Starbird Media and edited by Kevin M. Gallagher, Jr. Music for the show comes from The Philadelphia Way by Mega Ran. The We’ll Get ’Em Next Year logo is by Kevin M. Gallagher, Jr. For advertising rates, guest inquiries, or press coverage, email us at [email protected].

Please consider supporting The HEADstrong Foundation (https://headstrong.org). They are based out of the Philadelphia area and are minutes from the University of Pennsylvania Hospital. They assist families who are dealing with cancer, from meals to travel and housing. I've been working with them for nearly 9 years now, and they are good people.

When I don't win my Webby this year, we'll all know why. THIS was the moment. THIS is a butterfly effect moment that will know no bounds. Probably leads to the end of the world TBH.

So, I was dealing with literal shit when I should have been editing and getting this up for y'all. My 13-year-old son, Trey, did something great: he cleaned our downstairs bathroom with minimal complaining. It was the first time I had him do the entire thing. Well, it turns out we both had a learning lesson. For me, it was be explicit in how to dispose of cleaning materials such as paper towels.

For him, it was not to flush paper towels down the toilet.

Anyway, when JJ sat down to mediate this conversation with Chris and JLB, he had no idea that he stumbled onto some gold. We talked, and we may have something here; hence, a new theme song.

"What's the actual episode about Kev?"

I don't know, press play and find out! Joking... post WrestleMania and the thoughts of a couple of marks and a casual.

You can support Get ’Em Next Year by following us on social media: @getemnextyear on Facebook, Twitter, BlueSky, YouTube, Twitch, TikTok, and @getemnextyearpod on Instagram and Threads. Join our Discord at bit.ly/genydiscord. You can also give us a 5-star Apple Podcasts review, a shoutout to a friend, some love on social media, or purchase some We’ll Get ’Em Next Year merch at getemnextyear.com/shop.

Get ’Em Next Year is produced by Starbird Media and edited by Kevin M. Gallagher, Jr. Music for the show comes from The Philadelphia Way by Mega Ran. The We’ll Get ’Em Next Year logo is by Kevin M. Gallagher, Jr. For advertising rates, guest inquiries, or press coverage, email us at [email protected].

Please consider supporting The HEADstrong Foundation (https://headstrong.org). They are based out of the Philadelphia area and are minutes from the University of Pennsylvania Hospital. They assist families who are dealing with cancer, from meals to travel and housing. I've been working with them for nearly 9 years now, and they are good people.

What do you think? Do we have something here with a couple of marks mouthing off? Let us know!

Blame traffic on the Pennsylvania Turnpike for this going up a little late. It was crazy, almost as crazy as this episode!

Tyles' power was out, so it was just JJ, the GENY World Champion Kev, and Bobby Prime Time to start talking about the Phillies' heartbreak of the week.

Charlie Lancaster joins us from 2006... maybe 2008, and jumps in on the Eagles draft discussion.

Kev here... I'm going to level with you, Lancaster was really in 2008. His audio dropped from the recording, but we didn't realize it for about 10 minutes. If you have a flux capacitor, please send it to Lancaster in 2008. He'll be in K Lot.

After fixing the timey wimey issues, the guys are restocked with beer and get into the show's meat: TV Show Snake Draft. Enjoy!

COME OUT AND SEE US LIVE IN PERSON! We're going to FAN Expo Philadelphia, May 16th through the 18th! We have panels scheduled throughout the weekend and may have a few swag items for sale.

You can support Get ’Em Next Year by following us on social media: @getemnextyear on Facebook, Twitter, BlueSky, YouTube, Twitch, TikTok, and @getemnextyearpod on Instagram and Threads. Join our Discord at bit.ly/genydiscord. You can also give us a 5-star Apple Podcasts review, a shoutout to a friend, some love on social media, or purchase some We’ll Get ’Em Next Year merch at getemnextyear.com/shop.

Get ’Em Next Year is produced by Starbird Media and edited by Kevin M. Gallagher, Jr. Music for the show comes from The Philadelphia Way by Mega Ran. The We’ll Get ’Em Next Year logo is by Kevin M. Gallagher, Jr. For advertising rates, guest inquiries, or press coverage, email us at [email protected].

Please consider supporting The HEADstrong Foundation (https://headstrong.org). They are based out of the Philadelphia area and are minutes from the University of Pennsylvania Hospital. They assist families who are dealing with cancer, from meals to travel and housing. I've been working with them for nearly 9 years now, and they are good people.

Any West Coasters that listen to the show, don't @ me about the traffic. The 405 sucks, I know. So does the PA Turnpike.

As you heard at the very start of this episode, before it started properly, I wasn't able to make this recording at the last minute. That said, you're in for a banger.

Tyles jumped on after going to the Phillies game to join in on the conversation with JJ and two special guests for this wrestling-themed episode. That's right–it's WrestleMania season and WrestleMania 41 is this weekend.

Returning to the show is Chris (aka The Show, just not to the guy writing these notes) and, for the first time, JLB straight from Montreal to bring some of the smartest takes wrestling fans have.

And of course, A SNAKE DRAFT. The Mount Rushmore of WrestleMania matches.

Don't worry, there is plenty of Philly Sports talk too, but WrestleMania only comes once a year. Well, 2 nights a year, I guess. Whatever, hit the music.

You can support Get ’Em Next Year by following us on social media: @getemnextyear on Facebook, Twitter, BlueSky, YouTube, Twitch, TikTok, and @getemnextyearpod on Instagram and Threads. Join our Discord at bit.ly/genydiscord. You can also give us a 5-star Apple Podcasts review, a shoutout to a friend, some love on social media, or purchase some We’ll Get ’Em Next Year merch at getemnextyear.com/shop.

Get ’Em Next Year is produced by Starbird Media and edited by Kevin M. Gallagher, Jr. Music for the show comes from The Philadelphia Way by Mega Ran. The We’ll Get ’Em Next Year logo is by Kevin M. Gallagher, Jr. For advertising rates, guest inquiries, or press coverage, email us at [email protected].

Please consider supporting The HEADstrong Foundation (https://headstrong.org). They are based out of the Philadelphia area and are minutes from the University of Pennsylvania Hospital. They assist families who are dealing with cancer, from meals to travel and housing. I've been working with them for nearly 9 years now, and they are good people.

Seriously, I apologize for not showing up to this one, guys–with it going long, I was trying to make it for some part of this, but life just got in the way (worst adaptation of Maclom's quote ever).

Get ‘Em Next Year goes Prime Time with the debut of Tyles' #1 fan, Bobby Prime Time, appearing on this week’s episode! JJ discusses his time in Montreal, and Kev declares he found the best cheesesteak in the Poconos. 

In Philly Sports, JJ and Tyles discuss which NHL teams that will no longer exist in the future will end up winning the Stanley Cup before the Flyers, and what pick the Sixers are destined to get in their quest for the tank. When BPT and Kev join, the group chats about how the Phillies are doing and how much they’ve matured (well, most of them) before jumping into the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Goedert situation.

JJ poses the question: “What is your favorite sports movie?” which leads into A SNAKE DRAFT–cue the music!

Picking eight movies, the group, including an auto draft for Charley Lancaster, picks their favorite movies/most rewatchable movies from a set of genres.

You can support Get ’Em Next Year by following us on social media: @getemnextyear on Facebook, Twitter, BlueSky, YouTube, Twitch, TikTok, and @getemnextyearpod on Instagram and Threads. Join our Discord at bit.ly/genydiscord. You can also give us a 5-star Apple Podcasts review, a shoutout to a friend, some love on social media, or purchase some We’ll Get ’Em Next Year merch at getemnextyear.com/shop.

Get ’Em Next Year is produced by Starbird Media and edited by Kevin M. Gallagher, Jr. Music for the show comes from The Philadelphia Way by Mega Ran. The We’ll Get ’Em Next Year logo is by Kevin M. Gallagher, Jr. For advertising rates, guest inquiries, or press coverage, email us at [email protected].

Please consider supporting The HEADstrong Foundation (https://headstrong.org). They are based out of the Philadelphia area and are minutes from the University of Pennsylvania Hospital. They assist families who are dealing with cancer, from meals to travel and housing. I've been working with them for nearly 9 years now, and they are good people.

Hey... Kev here, breaking the fourth wall in the show notes yet again, can you believe that Tyles has never seen Back to the Future or Die Hard?? Y'all gave me shit for not seeing Rocky until 4 months ago!

JJ and Tyles are LIVE from JJ's car, en route to a Phillies game, to talk about their hot takes on coffee at Citizens Bank Park, alcoholic drinks at baseball stadiums, and some of the new food offerings at the Bank.

More, too, but no spoilers. Mainly because I (Kev) was in a bit of a funk the day I was supposed to edit this, and I wanted to get it up sooner rather than later!

You can support Get ’Em Next Year by following us on social media: @getemnextyear on Facebook, Twitter, BlueSky, YouTube, Twitch, TikTok, and @getemnextyearpod on Instagram and Threads. Join our Discord at bit.ly/genydiscord. You can also give us a 5-star Apple Podcasts review, a shoutout to a friend, some love on social media, or purchase some We’ll Get ’Em Next Year merch at getemnextyear.com/shop.

Get ’Em Next Year is produced by Starbird Media and edited by Kevin M. Gallagher, Jr. Music for the show comes from The Philadelphia Way by Mega Ran. The We’ll Get ’Em Next Year logo is by Kevin M. Gallagher, Jr. For advertising rates, guest inquiries, or press coverage, email us at [email protected].

Please consider supporting The HEADstrong Foundation (https://headstrong.org). They are based out of the Philadelphia area and are minutes from the University of Pennsylvania Hospital. They assist families who are dealing with cancer, from meals to travel and housing. I've been working with them for nearly 9 years now, and they are good people.

I'm really excited about trying some of this fancy Phillies coffee, how about you?

JJ and Tyles kick things off in the kitchen, discussing whether fudge deserves its own brick-and-mortar building outside the boardwalk. (Editor's Note: Fudge is elite.) Cooking with GENY continues as the two discuss making homemade chocolate-covered strawberries, wire racks, and poppers.

Jumping to Philly sports, the two discuss The Philadelphia Tank. Master Phil'ly-Wan Sixobi is an expert in The Process, while Padawan Flywalker tries to learn its ways.

As the tanking duo moves on to the Phillies and this week's mailbag question, Kev hops on just in time to answer part of the mailbag. As of the recording, the Phillies are 3-1, and as of this posting, they are 4-1. And the Phillies are simply on brand: elite pitching and struggling to find hits at the right time (last night's game, which aired after we recorded, is a great sign they're heading in the right direction though).

Finally, The 215 Definitive Cheesesteak. We've moved it to the podcast because, well, it was a lofty goal to get all four of us to eat 16 cheesesteaks on camera and have it edited up in only 2 months. Lessons learned for the next YouTube project.

You can support Get ’Em Next Year by following us on social media: @getemnextyear on Facebook, Twitter, BlueSky, YouTube, Twitch, TikTok, and @getemnextyearpod on Instagram and Threads. Join our Discord at bit.ly/genydiscord. You can also give us a 5-star Apple Podcasts review, a shoutout to a friend, some love on social media, or purchase some We’ll Get ’Em Next Year merch at getemnextyear.com/shop.

Get ’Em Next Year is produced by Starbird Media and edited by Kevin M. Gallagher, Jr. Music for the show comes from The Philadelphia Way by Mega Ran. The We’ll Get ’Em Next Year logo is by Kevin M. Gallagher, Jr. For advertising rates, guest inquiries, or press coverage, email us at [email protected].

Please consider supporting The HEADstrong Foundation (https://headstrong.org). They are based out of the Philadelphia area and are minutes from the University of Pennsylvania Hospital. They assist families who are dealing with cancer, from meals to travel and housing. I've been working with them for nearly 9 years now, and they are good people.

While we weren't allowed to talk about the Philadelphia Union on the show because they lost to Miami, JJ can't stop me (Kev) from writing about it here at the end of the show notes! Despite that loss, the Union looked good against one of the top teams in the league. it's a good sign that this club is moving in the right direction. DOOP.