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Episode 90: Crazy Mike

He's polarizing and he knows it. From HU Limit Holdem on a Navy ship to Heads Up Limit Holdem slot machines in Vegas, to learning mixed game poker at $300/$600 stakes. Mike's poker life has been a heads up session vs anyone that stands in his way. And he's here to tell his story.

Enjoy this conversation with a 1 of a kind man.

Show Notes

• 00:00 Who is Crazy Mike?
• 06:59 The Origin Story
• 11:25 Poker in the Navy
• 19:08 Childhood Gaming & Finding Poker
• 21:39 Bankroll Management & Heads Up Slot Machines
• 27:18 Vegas Dating Scene
• 30:29 Learning Mixed Games at 300/600 stakes?!
• 33:29 The Mixed Game World is Small
• 39:10 Why Private Games Exist
• 48:00 Mike Learning His Power
• 56:20 Georges vs Toms
• 58:52 Games of the Future
• 1:06:03 How to Get Into Mike’s Game

Table 1 Links

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Art's Links:

• Learn to Beat Slots (Seriously) at SlotMaps: https://slotmaps.com
• Run your own poker game at PokerHQ.io: https://pokerhq.io
• https://x.com/ArtParmann

Justin's Links:

• https://x.com/justinyoung07
• Phenom Poker Code: JYPOKER

Adam Hendrix just final tabled the WSOP Main Event for $1.9 million… but his story goes way deeper than one summer heater.

He joins @ArtParmann & @JustinYoung07 for a hilarious, insightful, and surprisingly emotional episode covering his epic run to the 2025 WSOP Main Event final table. From icy bachelor parties to underground cowboy home games, Elvis prop bets, and deep dives into high-stakes PLO — this one has everything.

🎮 Play with us Online: https://play.phenompoker.com/register?r=Table1

🎁 We’re giving away $175 per week in August! Details → https://table1.vegas/rake

🃏 Coming to Vegas? Play LIVE with us: https://table1.vegas

You’ll hear:

• 🃏 The humble start — from Pink Hat poker games with Grandma to sketchy basements with cowboy hats
• 🌍 What it’s like going to high school in Egypt and moving to Vegas during COVID
• 💸 The real grind behind taking shots in high rollers, the PLO circuit, and the 50K
• 🧠 Why he delayed going pro, how he explained poker to his parents, and the bankroll target he set before quitting
• 👑 His full breakdown of the 2025 WSOP Main Event run

Plus:

• Getting sick during the Rio Legionnaires disease summer
• The psychology of spewing a $100 last-longer
• Why Planet Hollywood is still his favorite place to play (Hint: It’s the misery)
• Coaching, bankroll, mindset, and more

• 📸 Instagram: @IcemanHrix
• 🐦 Twitter: @AdamHendrix10
• 🧠 Coaching: PokerCoaching.com

• 🎮 Online: https://play.phenompoker.com/register?r=Table1
• 🃏 Live Games: https://table1.vegas

• Twitter / X
• Instagram
• TikTok
• YouTube

• 🧠 Beat slots: SlotMaps.com
• 🏠 Run your home game: PokerHQ.io
• Twitter/X

• Twitter/X
• Play on Phenom

#poker #wsop #wsop2025 #vegas #podcast

In back-to-back years, Matt Affleck was chip leader deep in the WSOP Main Event.
In 2010, with 15 players left and ~40% of the chips in play, he got it in with aces vs. jacks against Jonathan Duhamel… and watched the river end his dream on ESPN.

The image of him walking out — water bottle flying, pain on his face — became one of poker’s most replayed clips.
This is the story before and after that moment.

🎮 From a $480K SCOOP win in college to a high school where seven classmates became million-dollar poker winners.
🃏 The truth about back-to-back Main Event deep runs — including the hand.
🌎 Life after ESPN heartbreak: live cash grinds, world travel, and becoming one of poker’s top coaches.

If you only know Matt Affleck from that river card, you don’t know the full story.

• 0:00 – Intro
• 11:30 – Early poker life: high school full of future pros, online beginnings, first big wins
• 24:01 – Qualifying for majors & discovering the thrill of international travel
• 41:32 – Revisiting Main Event heartbreak & the story behind the famous hand
• 45:04 – Legendary Seattle cash games & their colorful personalities
• 47:05 – Moving for poker & adapting to new scenes
• 51:46 – COVID poker boom, coaching surge, and changes in approach

• Email: [email protected]
• MattAffleck.com
• PokerCoaching.com
• @mcmattopoker

• Play with us Online
• Play with us at Table 1
• August $175/week giveaway

• Twitter
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Aaron Mermelstein won a $50K online poker prize at age 15... and never saw a dollar of it.

In this week’s Table 1 Podcast, Merms opens up about everything — and we mean everything in a rare interview. From sneaking onto Party Poker as a teenager to going broke after discovering Vegas table games, it’s a rollercoaster of ambition, pain, and absurd poker highs and lows.

Show Notes:
00:00 Video Games To The Varkonyi Effect
03:18 Freeroll to Bankroll
07:10 Finding Table Games
11:57 Working vs Going Pro at Poker
19:12 The $100 Date
23:13 NY Poker Games & Backing Deals Gone Right
29:08 The Borgata WPT & Tourney Breaks
37:58 Post WPT Tourney Circuit
39:38 The Home Game Scene
44:34 Poker: The Great Equalizer
46:36 COVID & Game Running
49:45 Miami Life & The M Casino
48:42 Chip On The Shoulder High Roller
1:02:21 WSOP Main Event Run
1:10:38 Post Main Event & The Future!

Table 1 Links:
Play with Us In Vegas: https://table1.vegas
Play with us Online: https://play.phenompoker.com/register?r=Table1
Follow us on X: https://x.com/table1vegas
Follow us on Instagram: https://x.com/table1vegas
Watch us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@UCCXgQ2MnNidaOP-9PPTG6Sg
Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3fkMXT5gsZxgHuDBxUcY59

Art's Links:
Learn to Beat Slots (Seriously) at SlotMaps: https://slotmaps.com
Run your own poker game at PokerHQ.io: https://pokerhq.io
https://x.com/ArtParmann

Justin's Links:
https://x.com/justinyoung07

The More Rake Is Better Giveaway: https://table1.vegas/rake
Play with us at Table 1: https://table1.vegas

Imagine this:

You’ve got $1,400 to your name. Twins on the way. You’re not a household name. And you’re trying to make it in the most brutal game on earth: tournament poker.

Most people fold. Jesse Lonis didn’t.

In this episode of the Table 1 Podcast, Jesse drops a heater of a story. It's got all the hits:

• 🧓 Poker tips from Grandma
• 🏀 Streetball mindset from the Bronx
• 💔 Getting kicked out of college
• 💰 Turning $1,400 into $250K when everything was on the line
• 🍼 Becoming a dad of twins and leveling up instantly

Oh — and $21M in live earnings later, he’s still real, raw, and building his brand without faking a damn thing.

This episode is grit + heart + humor in podcast form. You’ll walk away inspired, entertained, and probably Googling “Vanilla Gorilla Poker” just to see him in action.

👇 Hit play. You won’t regret it.

Show Notes

• 0:00 – Poker Needs More Characters
• 5:00 – Upbringing: From Alaska to Upstate NY
• 10:00 – Basketball in the Bronx, Getting Jumped in College
• 15:00 – Turning Stone Poker Loop
• 20:00 – Limit Hold'em Rescue Mission
• 25:00 – First Tournament Spark
• 30:00 – $1,400 to $250K with Twins on the Way
• 35:00 – WSOP Breakout Year
• 40:00 – First High Roller, First Backer
• 45:00 – $1.6M Makeup, $5M Heater
• 50:00 – Crushing Live Poker with Intuition
• 55:00 – Social Media Strategy & Brand Building
• 1:00:00 – GPI POY, Travel, & Family Balance
• 1:05:00 – Managing Variance with a Backer
• 1:10:00 – WSOP High Roller Swings
• 1:15:00 – Dangerous at 25/50 PLO Online
• 1:20:00 – Building a Brand Without Being Fake
• 1:25:00 – Family Life, Future Plans & Closing Thoughts

Jesse's Links:
https://x.com/JesseLonis
https://www.instagram.com/jesselonis
https://www.youtube.com/@JesseLonis

Table 1 Links:
https://table1.vegas
https://x.com/table1vegas
https://instagram.com/table1vegas

WSOP is over, but that doesn't mean the action stops at Table 1! Catch up with Art, Justin and get to know our special guests Paul Gunness & Jason Zipfel to talk about High Stakes Summer, our summer vlog. Haven't seen it? Watch it here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZdHHoUOK4gscENtoJO11AWuNyH1ElUe8&si=_B8J5B2tE7RoPL71Want to play online with Justin & Art? Find us on Phenom Poker. Use our link and you could win $100. Plus sometimes we do random giveaways to people we've referred. Sign up here: https://play.phenompoker.com/register?r=Table1Got the taste for high stakes? Play with us at Table 1! ➡️ https://table1.vegasFollow Paul: https://x.com/mrpaulgunnesshttps://www.instagram.com/mr.paulgunnessFollow Jason:https://www.instagram.com/jason_zipfe1Follow Art:https://x.com/artparmannFollow Justin:https://x.com/JustinYoung07Table 1 Links:https://table1.vegashttps://x.com/table1vegashttps://instagram.com/table1vegas

This isn’t just a poker story. It’s about second chances, addiction and recovery, underground private games, running a secret sports betting syndicate, and how Greg reinvented himself (and his obsession) into a growing sports card empire: Savage Breakers Club.

▶️ Topics Include:

• Early poker days and the Full Tilt era
• How he played 2 million hands of $1/$2 for Supernova Elite
• Struggles with addiction and getting sober at Aria
• The truth behind his 2012 WSOP heater
• Why private games dried up after his win
• Running a 45-person sports betting operation
• Launching a booming live-streaming card break business
• Why he drinks almond milk on stream (yes, really)

👀 Whether you’re a poker player, entrepreneur, or just love comeback stories — this is one you won’t forget.

Show Notes:

• 0:00 – The Milkman enters
• 3:30 – The “Glory Days” of online poker
• 7:15 – Building a bankroll with 2 million hands of $1/$2
• 10:00 – Dropping out, getting sober, and climbing back
• 14:50 – Blackout nights, Bobby’s Room, and rock bottom
• 20:05 – Getting clean (again) and making a run at WSOP 2012
• 24:44 – Winning the Main Event… 7 months sober
• 28:10 – Private games and why success can lock you out
• 34:50 – Running a secret 45-person sports betting syndicate
• 40:20 – From poker to pack breaks: building Savage Breakers Club
• 48:00 – The origin of “The Milkman” nickname
• 51:30 – What poker taught him about business
• 56:00 – Is the Main Event win still paying off?
• 59:10 – Advice to young grinders (and card flippers)

Greg's Links:
Follow Savage Breakers Club: https://www.whatnot.com/s/ZGMOx9Cr

Table 1's Links:

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Matt Salsberg isn’t your typical poker pro.

He wrote on Weeds. Sold scripts to Showtime, HBO, Amazon. Created a sitcom with Lee Majors. But just as it was about to take off… Hollywood did what Hollywood does.

Then came cancer. Then came the comeback.

This episode is a masterclass in storytelling, reinvention, and chasing edge — from scriptwriting rooms to final tables. Matt shares how he went from ghostwriting for Curb Your Enthusiasm to battling colon cancer and finishing 70th in the Main Event — all while pitching shows that networks weren’t ready for (but should’ve been).

🧠 If you’re into storytelling, poker, Hollywood drama, or what it means to take a shot when everything’s stacked against you… you’ll love this one.

• 00:00 🎬 Intro & First Impressions
• 02:00 🃏 Hollywood Meets Poker
• 10:00 🧠 A Life of Obsession
• 20:00 ✍️ Breaking Into TV
• 30:00 📺 The One That Got Away
• 45:00 ♠️ The Poker Arc Begins
• 55:00 💔 Dreams, Rejection & Redemption
• 1:10:00 🩺 Cancer, Chaos & Survival
• 1:30:00 🔁 Coming Back to Life
• 1:45:00 🎯 The Final Chapter (For Now)

https://x.com/msalsberg

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https://instagram.com/table1vegas
https://table1.vegas
https://youtube.com/@table1vegas

https://x.com/justinyoung07

https://x.com/artparmann

It's hard enough to survive in the gambling world. But to survive for as many decades as Steve has is nothing short of incredible. He's seen it all. From Stu Unger beating his local gin club up at 13 years old.There's no way we got to all of the stories but we sure hit the highlight reel. Enjoy Episode 82 - Steve Zolotow (The Bald Eagle)------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Like poker?Play with us online at Phenom Poker: https://joinphenompoker.comOr play with us in person at Table 1: https://table1.vegasSubscribe to the Table 1 newsletter. High Stakes Vegas. In Your Inbox. Https://Table1.beehiiv.com------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------📌 Timestamps: (Coming soon. Sorry it's WSOP and we're slow.)

In this special episode of Table One Podcast, Chris Brewer joins hosts Justin Young and Art Parmann to share his incredible journey from elite collegiate runner to high-stakes poker champion. Chris provides fascinating insights into the mental game of poker, revealing the highs and lows of competing at the top levels, including dealing with brutal downswings and capturing WSOP glory.

From hilarious anecdotes at Commerce Casino to strategic breakdowns of his WSOP bracelet wins, Chris offers a unique glimpse into the thrilling world of high-stakes poker.

📌 Timestamps:

• 0:20 – Intro & Chris Brewer's WSOP draft picks
• 3:59 – Transition from elite running to poker
• 8:12 – Early days in poker and college home games
• 15:37 – Moving up stakes and struggles at Oceans 11
• 20:05 – Importance of friendships in poker
• 22:17 – High-stakes games at Commerce Casino
• 29:04 – Funniest low-stakes poker story
• 31:27 – Massive upswing and "Live at the Bike"
• 37:43 – High-stakes tournament swings and staking dynamics
• 47:47 – Emotional challenges of high-stakes poker
• 53:03 – Financial insights and relationships with backers
• 1:00:05 – Winning the WSOP $250k High Roller bracelet
• 1:11:28 – Winning the WSOP 10k Single Draw bracelet unexpectedly
• 1:14:46 – Plans for upcoming WSOP season
• 1:17:00 – Chris Brewer's involvement with Poker Coaching

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