Life Outside Poker is a podcast for PokerNews hosted by Connor Richards that seeks to pull back the curtain on poker players and allow viewers and listeners to get to know them on a personal level.

In the 26th episode, Connor speaks with chess streamer and GGPoker ambassador Alexandra Botez about learning chess and poker from her dad, getting into streaming at Stanford, dealing with online trolls, creating content with her sister Andrea Botez and the similarities between chess and poker.

Botez also talked about winning $456,900 in the legendary 2022 Hustler Casino Live Creator Game that included Phil Hellmuth, Mr. Beast and Ninja, as well as signing on as a GGPoker ambassador and securing a career-high cash at World Series of Poker (WSOP) Paradise.

This interview was filmed at WSOP Paradise in the Bahamas in December 2024.

The Life Outside Poker podcast is available on major streaming platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud and iHeartRadio. You can also watch the interview with Alexandra Botez by heading to the PokerNews YouTube channel.

Be sure to follow Alexandra Botez and Connor Richards on X.

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Timestamps TIME TOPIC 0:00 Intro 0:43 Learning chess from her dad 2:52 Studying international relations at Stanford 3:08 Chess streaming 5:50 Similarities between chess and poker 7:17 Getting into poker 8:34 Winning half a million in HCL creator game 9:39 Different poker experiences 11:22 Playing chess at WSOP Paradise 12:32 Queen's Gambit 13:57 Women in chess 16:33 Dealing with trolls 16:54 WSOP Paradise 19:18 Book recommendation 19:46 Advice for younger self 20:01 Favorite life lesson from poker

Life Outside Poker is a podcast for PokerNews hosted by Connor Richards that seeks to pull back the curtain on poker players and allow viewers and listeners to get to know them on a personal level.

In the 25th episode, Connor speaks with embattled poker pro Brad Booth about learning poker from his grandfather, climbing up stakes in Canada, living at the Bellagio and playing in Bobby's Room, bluffing Phil Ivey and getting cheated on Ultimate Bet.

Booth, who the poker community hasn't heard from for several years, opened up about his absence and going missing in 2020, as well as his gambling addiction and various poker debts to players like Doug Polk that he says he plans to make right.

"I got caught up in all of it and all I can try and do is make right now," he told PokerNews of his poker debts.

The Life Outside Poker podcast is available on major streaming platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud and iHeartRadio. You can also watch the interview with Brad Booth by heading to the PokerNews YouTube channel.

Timestamps TIME TOPIC 0:00 Intro 1:46 Discovering poker as a kid 3:11 Poker in Canada 5:08 Living at Bellagio/Bobby's Room 10:15 Bluffing Ivey on High Stakes Poker 19:15 Getting cheated on Ultimate Bet 20:05 Doug Polk debt 29:04 Where has Brad been past decade 31:39 Going missing in 2020 36:20 Return to poker 37:52 Plans to move up to high stakes? 41:33 Inspiration in life 43:01 Advice for younger self 43:53 Favorite life lesson from poker

Life Outside Poker is a podcast for PokerNews hosted by Connor Richards that seeks to pull back the curtain on poker players and allow viewers and listeners to get to know them on a personal level.

In the 24th episode, Connor speaks with high-stakes pro and poker coach Phil Galfond about growing up in Maryland, getting into poker with Andrew Robl, playing with Phil Ivey and Doyle Brunson, building a slide between his two New York City penthouses and being married to fellow high-stakes poker player Farah Galfond, who was the first Life Outside Poker guest in March 2024.

Galfond also talked about specializing in Pot-Limit Omaha (PLO), Black Friday, losing $10 million running Run It Once Poker, poker coaching, how bots and real-time assistance (RTA) are impacting online poker, his new "Galfond" documentary, the recently launched BetRivers Poker and his epic comeback against "Venividi1993" in the Galfond Challenge.

This interview was filmed in Galfond's home in Las Vegas in December 2024.

The Life Outside Poker podcast is available on major streaming platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud and iHeartRadio. You can also watch the interview with Phil Galfond by heading to the PokerNews YouTube channel.

Be sure to follow Phil Galfond and Connor Richards on X.

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Timestamps TIME TOPIC 0:00 Intro 1:09 Growing up in Maryland 2:33 Andrew Robl 4:55 Jason Koon 5:35 Pot-Limit Omaha 7:47 Best PLO players 9:15 Poker strategy 11:04 Phil Ivey story 11:42 NYC penthouse slide 14:24 Black Friday 18:04 Run It Once & losing $10 million 21:58 BetRivers Poker 25:37 RTA/bots in online poker 31:07 BetRivers expanding beyond Pennsylvania 32:34 Content creation 38:36 Playing with Doyle Brunson 42:13 Galfond Challenge 44:05 Comeback against Venividi1993 53:35 Farah Galfond's poker journey 57:37 Book recommendation 58:16 Advice for younger self 59:21 Favorite life lesson from poker

Life Outside Poker is a podcast for PokerNews hosted by Connor Richards that seeks to pull back the curtain on poker players and allow viewers and listeners to get to know them on a personal level.

In the 23rd episode, Connor speaks with Hollywood producer and 2006 Main Event champion Jamie Gold about growing up in New York City, learning poker from his parents and grandparents, playing poker with Doyle Brunson, Phil Ivey and Johnny Chan in the 1990s, the early days of televised poker and his memorable 2006 Main Event run.

Gold also talked about his charity poker events that have raised more than a half-billion dollars for various causes, the future of poker content and what poker players can expect from GGPoker's $500 million purchase of the World Series of Poker.

This interview was filmed at WSOP Paradise in the Bahamas in December 2024.

The Life Outside Poker podcast is available on major streaming platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud and iHeartRadio. You can also watch the interview with Jamie Gold by heading to the PokerNews YouTube channel.

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Timestamps TIME TOPIC 0:00 Intro 0:46 Growing up in New York City 2:25 Playing w/ Ivey & Brunson in the 90s 5:50 Poker players becoming celebrities 9:09 Early TV poker days 17:10 Poker broadcasting & paywalls 19:51 Future of poker content 23:43 Favorite life lesson from poker 24:07 Golden days of poker 25:15 Characters & stories in poker 30:25 Upcoming poker projects 32:26 Charity poker events 44:31 Book recommendation 45:35 WSOP Paradise 49:55 Advice for younger self

Life Outside Poker is a podcast for PokerNews hosted by Connor Richards that seeks to pull back the curtain on poker players and allow viewers and listeners to get to know them on a personal level.

In the 22nd episode, Connor speaks with poker coach Jonathan Little about the early days of online poker, Magic the Gathering, dealing with downswings, winning the 2007 WPT Mirage Poker Showdown and 2008 WPT Mashantucket Championship, recent victories in the PokerGO Studio and balancing poker and family.

Little also talked about running PokerCoaching.com, the qualities of a good poker coach and mentoring high-stakes pro Justin Saliba.

This interview was filmed at the PokerStars North American Poker Tour (NAPT) festival at Resorts World Las Vegas.

The Life Outside Poker podcast is available on major streaming platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud and iHeartRadio. You can also watch the interview with Jonathan Little by heading to the PokerNews YouTube channel.

Be sure to follow Jonathan Little and Connor Richards on X.

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Timestamps TIME TOPIC 0:00 Intro 1:05 Getting into poker 4:45 Playing online w/ Shannon Shorr 7:14 Building a bankroll & early downswings 10:50 07-08 WPT run 15:33 Poker coaching 19:23 Other poker coaches 20:25 Mentoring Justin Saliba 25:44 NAPT Las Vegas 28:55 Balancing poker and family 30:30 Poker Hall of Fame 31:41 Book recommendation 33:32 Advice for younger self 35:05 Favorite life lesson from poker

Life Outside Poker is a new podcast for PokerNews hosted by Connor Richards that seeks to pull back the curtain on poker players and allow viewers and listeners to get to know them on a personal level.

In the 21st episode, Connor speaks with Survivor legend Boston Rob, aka Rob Mariano, about growing up near Fenway Park, learning poker at the age of 6, studying psychology at Boston University, applying for Survivor and winning Season 22, his recent appearance on Deal or No Deal Island and filming an upcoming season of The Traitors.

Boston Rob also revealed a story about Costa Rican authorities raiding a mansion known to host high-stakes poker games during a 2006 filming that included Daniel Negreanu, Josh Arieh, David Williams, Michael Mizrachi and actress Cheryl Hines.

"Calvin had a big party at the house, and they came in guns drawn," he said. "And we were fine, but we all had to stay at the party until they checked our passports and everything. I think it was a little bit of a shakedown. But we had a good weekend."

This interview was filmed at the PokerStars North American Poker Tour (NAPT) festival at Resorts World Las Vegas.

The Life Outside Poker podcast is available on major streaming platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud and iHeartRadio. You can also watch the interview with Boston Rob by heading to the PokerNews YouTube channel.

Be sure to follow Boston Rob and Connor Richards on X.

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Time Stamps TIME TOPIC 0:00 Intro 0:49 Growing up in Boston 2:12 Studying psychology at Boston University 5:25 Learning poker at age 6 7:18 Poker game raided by Costa Rican Federales 8:54 Balancing skill & luck 10:34 Playing poker with celebrities 13:34 RunGood Poker Series 15:51 Boston Rob cook book 19:07 Survivor & reality TV 25:34 Other poker players on Survivor 26:12 Deal of No Deal Island 30:26 Traitors 33:50 NAPT Las Vegas 34:49 Book recommendation 36:08 Advice for younger self 36:54 Favorite life lesson from poker

Life Outside Poker is a new podcast for PokerNews hosted by Connor Richards that seeks to pull back the curtain on poker players and allow viewers and listeners to get to know them on a personal level.

In the 20th episode, Connor speaks with PokerNews Podcast co-host and Game of Gold contestant Kyna England about the Chicago poker scene, going to the same high school as director John Hughes, winning 2021 MSPT Player of the Year, going to Korea for Game of Gold, podcasting, and being a part of Team Hot Dog with Jamie Kerstetter.

England also talked about her victory in the 2023 NAPT Women's Event and going to London for the upcoming PokerStars Women's Winter Festival.

This interview was filmed at the PokerStars North American Poker Tour (NAPT) festival at Resorts World Las Vegas.

The Life Outside Poker podcast is available on major streaming platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud and iHeartRadio. You can also watch the interview with Kyna England by heading to the PokerNews YouTube channel.

Be sure to follow Kyna England and Connor Richards on X.

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Time Stamps TIME TOPIC 0:00 Intro 0:45 Chicago poker 3:15 Same high school as John Hughes 5:56 Chicago poker vs Vegas poker 10:20 Winning 2021 MSPT POY 12:25 Playing Venetian $5k 16:37 Best MSPT grinders 19:09 Team Hot Dog 20:10 Women in Poker Hall of Fame nominees 22:05 Kristen Foxen Main bust out hand 23:34 Game of Gold 28:14 Yoh Viral Game of Gold story 30:52 PokerNews Podcast 34:01 NAPT Las Vegas 34:48 Winning 2023 NAPT Women's Event 37:08 Women's Winter Festival in London 39:22 Book recommendations 41:02 Advice for younger self 41:32 Favorite life lesson from poker

Life Outside Poker is a new podcast for PokerNews hosted by Connor Richards that seeks to pull back the curtain on poker players and allow viewers and listeners to get to know them on a personal level.

In the 19th episode, Connor speaks with former poker pro Eugene Katchalov, one of Ukraine's all-time money leaders who fled the country in 2022 after Russia's invasion and has since returned with his family to the war-torn region.

Katchalov, a former PokerStars ambassador, talked about growing up in New York City, his poker glory days and 2007 Doyle Brunson Five Diamond World Poker Classic victory for $2.5 million, returning to Ukraine and misconceptions about the longstanding conflict with Russia. He also discussed his venture into esports and new plans to get back into poker with a project aimed at leveling the playing field between pros and recreationals.

The Life Outside Poker podcast is available on major streaming platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud and iHeartRadio. You can also watch the interview with Eugene Katchalov by heading to the PokerNews YouTube channel.

Be sure to follow Eugene Katchalov and Connor Richards on X.

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Time Stamps TIME TOPIC 0:00 Intro 1:08 Returning to Ukraine 5:30 Breakdown of Ukraine-Russia conflict 10:09 Growing up in Brooklyn 12:03 How poker has changed 16:20 Black Friday 17:28 E-Sports 21:32 Return to poker? 23:24 Problems with poker today 27:24 Online poker 32:08 Book recommendation 34:24 Advice for younger self 33:16 Favorite life lesson from poker 37:15 What makes you hopeful?

Life Outside Poker is a new podcast for PokerNews hosted by Connor Richards that seeks to pull back the curtain on poker players and allow viewers and listeners to get to know them on a personal level.

In the 18th episode, Connor speaks with author and psychologist Maria Konnikova about her family leaving Russia to come to the US, writing her first story in kindergarten, being mentored by Steven Pinker at Harvard, meeting Erik Seidel for the first time and her 2020 bestseller The Biggest Bluff that explored her poker journey.

Konnikova, a PokerStars ambassador, also talked about her research for an upcoming book into cheating in poker and other games, as well as game integrity rule changes implemented at EPT Barcelona that Konnikova said needed to go even further.

"I think what PokerStars has done is amazing. I think you need to go a step further and not have any electronics anywhere on the table. Like, I think phones need to be on the floor, in your bag."

"I would actually also ban sunglasses because ... there's so much technology that (that can enable cheating)."

This interview was filmed in Spain during the 2024 PokerStars EPT Barcelona festival at Casino Barcelona.

The Life Outside Poker podcast is available on major streaming platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify and iHeartRadio. You can also watch the interview with Maria Konnikova by heading to the PokerNews YouTube channel.

Be sure to follow Maria Konnikova and Connor Richards on X.

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Time Stamps TIME TOPIC 0:00 Intro 1:09 EPT Barcelona 20th anniversary 2:35 Parents leaving Russia 6:25 Writing 10:27 First story 14:36 Mastermind: How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes 18:44 Being mentored by Steven Pinker 25:37 The Biggest Bluff 27:34 First time meeting Erik Seidel 31:55 New cheating methods in poker 36:22 Should sunglasses be banned? 39:46 Upcoming book on cheating in games 40:57 Being a PokerStars ambassador 44:53 Women in poker 47:16 Risky Business podcast w/ Nate Silver 52:07 Book recommendation 52:37 What makes you hopeful? 54:49 Advice for younger self 56:05 Favorite life lesson from poker

Life Outside Poker is a new podcast for PokerNews hosted by Connor Richards that seeks to pull back the curtain on poker players and allow viewers and listeners to get to know them on a personal level.

In the 17th episode, Connor speaks with Scottish poker pro and Triple Crown winner Niall Farrell about studying law, winning the Triple Crown in less than three years, "Firaldo After Dark" streams during lockdown and a new BBC documentary The Four Rules of the Poker Kings that follows Farrell's poker journey.

"Firaldo" also breaks down an iconic hand he played in the 2017 WSOP Europe Main Event that resulted in him getting Maria Ho to fold a set.

This interview was filmed in Barcelona during the 2024 PokerStars EPT Barcelona festival at Casino Barcelona.

The Life Outside Poker podcast is available on major streaming platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify and iHeartRadio. You can also watch the interview with Niall Farrell by heading to the PokerNews YouTube channel.

Be sure to follow Niall Farrell and Connor Richards on X.

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Time Stamps TIME TOPIC 0:00 Intro 0:48 Getting into poker 2:07 Law degree 6:45 First live cash 8:06 Achieving Triple Crown in under three years 12:56 Getting Maria Ho to fold top set 24:06 Ambassadorships 25:29 "After dark" streams during lockdown 27:30 Sports betting 29:44 The Four Rules of the Poker Kings BBC documentary 35:26 Mainstream press for documentary 39:18 Book recommendations 40:12 What makes you hopeful? 41:09 Advice for younger self 42:02 Favorite life lesson from poker