With the Grammy Awards airing this Sunday, we dive into one of our favorite themes — legendary snubs. This episode explores how awards don’t always line up with legacy, impact, or long-term cultural influence.

We open with a crossover snub from the sports world, reacting to the surprising Hall of Fame first-ballot omission of a six-time Super Bowl–winning head coach and what analysts say may be behind the decision. We discuss how voter psychology, timing, and narrative can shape recognition — and how sometimes a snub actually strengthens a legacy through added debate and visibility.

From there, we shift into a deep-dive Grammy Awards monologue — covering the origins of the Grammys, how the awards evolved over time, how voting trends have changed across eras and genres, and why certain artists and styles historically struggled to get top-category recognition.

We break down the concept of the “career snub” vs the “moment snub,” and what separates popularity, innovation, and industry validation.

The episode includes:

• Snub theory and award politics
• Grammy history and category evolution
• Debate over voter bias and genre recognition
• A heated co-host argument over questionable Mount Rushmore selections
• Predictions for this year’s Album of the Year winner
• Hall of Fame finalist predictions and storyline implications

As always, expect debate, hot takes, friendly fire, and legacy arguments that will absolutely age well — or terribly.

New episodes weekly.

Special Guest: Jim Mintz

This week on The Mount Rushmore Show, we welcome back a special guest — the second Mintz cousin and Mike’s brother, Jim Mintz — for one of our most ambitious episodes yet: The Mount Rushmore of Matt Damon & Ben Affleck Movies.

Inspired by the recent release of their new Netflix action thriller The Rip, we dive deep into one of the most fascinating and enduring bromances in Hollywood history.

Opening Thoughts on The Rip

We kick things off with a quick review of The Rip, discussing why Netflix-style action movies aren’t always must-watches — but how pairing two legitimate movie stars like Damon and Affleck instantly raises the floor. We talk about chemistry, twists, expectations, and yes… some elite beard analysis.

The Origin Story

From growing up together around Boston to grinding their way through early roles in Field of Dreams, School Ties, Kevin Smith’s indie run, and unforgettable supporting turns, we trace how two childhood friends navigated Hollywood long before superstardom.

Good Will Hunting and the Career Split

We unpack the seismic impact of Good Will Hunting — the writing Oscars, the cultural moment, and how it launched two very different but equally compelling career arcs:

• Damon’s rise as a global movie star and prestige actor
• Affleck’s winding road through highs, lows, tabloid noise, and eventual reinvention

Redemption, Reinvention, and Respect

We explore Affleck’s unlikely second act as a director, the public perception shift that followed, and how both men continued to support one another in an industry that often destroys long-term relationships.

This ended up being the hardest Mount Rushmore we’ve ever built.

Key Movie Debates & Deep Dives

Without spoiling selections, we debate and analyze:

• Cult favorites vs. legacy films
• Underrated performances
• Movies that aged better than expected
• Films that quietly shaped culture more than box office numbers suggest

We also get into spirited disagreements over comedy performances, crime classics, and the danger of unfair comparisons between great films.

Looking Ahead: The Future Is Still Bright

We close by discussing why Damon and Affleck may be entering the most interesting phase of their careers yet — from creative control through their production company, to Netflix partnerships, to their upcoming collaboration in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey.

After 30+ years, countless movies, and more than a few reinventions, we ask the big question:

How did these two not only survive Hollywood — but win it?

🎙️ Subscribe, rate, and review 📺 Watch on YouTube 🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts

It’s the loudest time of the year — not a holiday, not a gimmick, but the moment when riffs matter, tempos explode, and thrash metal reigns supreme. The amps are cranked, the pits are imaginary (or very real), the denim and leather are worn thin, and four bands still stand above the rest.

In this episode, we carve out our Mount Rushmore of Thrash Metal Albums, focusing on the best four albums from the Big 4 icons — Metallica, Megadeth, Anthrax, and Slayer. These aren’t just records; they’re cultural weapons. The albums that defined the sound, set the bar, and reshaped heavy metal forever.

We kick things off by tracing the rise of thrash metal — the collision of punk aggression and metal precision — and how the Big 4 each took that blueprint and twisted it into something unmistakably their own. Speed, politics, technicality, humor, brutality — all forged in a brief, explosive window that changed music history.

Along the way, we debate:

What actually makes a thrash album essential

Whether influence matters more than musicianship

How production, songwriting, and attitude define longevity

And why some albums feel immortal while others feel trapped in their era

From razor-sharp riff clinics to raw, feral energy, we break down why these specific albums rise above stacked discographies — and why cutting any of them sparks controversy.

As always, the Mount Rushmore format delivers strong opinions, passionate pushback, deep cuts, and the kind of arguments that only metal fans can have — loud, nerdy, and absolutely correct (until proven otherwise).

Whether you’re blasting this in the car, lifting heavy things, or revisiting the records that made you fall in love with metal in the first place, this episode is a tribute to speed, precision, and controlled chaos.

Crank it up, throw the horns, and thanks for listening. 🤘

This week’s episode is all football — and for good reason.

With the College Football Playoff in full swing, NFL Wild Card Weekend delivering instant classics, and Black Monday detonating the coaching carousel, the guys break down one of the most chaotic weeks in recent football memory before diving into a Mount Rushmore topic that perfectly captures the moment.

We open with reactions to the College Football Playoff, including the unlikely Miami vs. Indiana matchup. Miami’s path to the playoff raised eyebrows, while Indiana’s dominance over traditional college football powerhouses has forced everyone to take notice.

From there, we recap an unforgettable NFL Wild Card slate:

• The Panthers pushing the Rams to the brink in a nail-biter many didn’t see coming
• The Bears’ stunning comeback against the Packers, highlighted by a defining fourth-quarter moment for rookie quarterback Caleb Williams

That Bears win also spotlights the immediate impact of a first-year head coach thriving under pressure, setting up a larger conversation about coaching success — and how quickly it can vanish.

The episode then shifts to Black Monday and the coaching carousel, questioning why teams continue to move on from proven winners. We discuss:

• The growing trend of short leashes for head coaches
• The role of ownership, roster construction, and quarterback decisions
• Whether coaching success is more about timing, alignment, or luck
• Why the NFL truly lives up to its reputation as “Not For Long”

This week’s Mount Rushmore explores one central question: What does it take for an accomplished, winning head coach to still get fired?

We close the episode with:

• Predictions on where several top coaching candidates may land next
• A look at whether legendary figures could return for one final chapter
• Wild Card weekend predictions and Super Bowl matchup picks

It’s a wide-ranging football conversation that blends history, hot-seat pressure, and the brutal reality of coaching at the highest level.

🎙️ Subscribe, rate, and review

📺 Watch on YouTube

It’s the most wonderful time of the year — not Christmas morning, but the week of Christmas. The lights are glowing, the anticipation is high, shopping is (mostly) done, the eggnog is flowing, and holiday music is blasting everywhere you go.

In this episode, we dive into our Mount Rushmore of Holiday Songs — the tracks that instantly put us in the spirit of the season, transport us back to simpler times, and unlock that nostalgic, feel-good holiday energy we all chase every December.

We start by breaking down the origins of holiday music and how it evolved from traditional carols into cultural staples tied to movies, memories, and generations. We discuss what makes certain holiday songs endlessly replayable, why nostalgia plays such a powerful role, and how some tracks become timeless while others fade away.

From soulful classics to novelty chaos, we debate:

• What actually qualifies as a holiday song
• Why some songs feel warm and authentic while others feel engineered
• The role of overplay, cultural impact, and generational attachment
• And whether holiday music is about tradition, emotion, or pure vibes

As always, the Mount Rushmore format sparks strong opinions, pushback, laughs, and a little holiday controversy.

Whether you’re driving around looking at lights, wrapping last-minute gifts, or just trying to hold onto the joy before the December 26th crash hits — this episode is your soundtrack.

Happy holidays, enjoy whatever puts you in that feel-good place, and thanks for listening.

🎙️ Mount Rushmore Show – The Heisman Trophy Episode

Fresh off last night’s dramatic Heisman Trophy ceremony, we dive headfirst into one of the most debated awards in all of sports.

This year’s race came down to the wire, with Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza taking home the trophy in a tight finish that had fans arguing until the final vote. We break down what made this Heisman race so compelling, why the margin felt razor-thin, and how history may look back on the finalists very differently with time.

Before getting into the Heisman itself, we shine a spotlight on one of college football’s most meaningful traditions — the Commander-in-Chief Trophy game. Navy’s thrilling win over Army capped a historic 10-win season and secured the rivalry trophy, with a chance to reach 11 wins in the Liberty Bowl. As an Annapolis native who grew up around the Naval Academy, Joe shares firsthand insight into why this Navy team felt different and how their quarterback helped modernize an offense that had long been defined by the triple option.

From there, we zoom out and explore the history and evolution of the Heisman Trophy — from its original intention of honoring the most “outstanding” player in college football to what it has become today: a subjective, narrative-driven award shaped by campaigning, signature moments, and a massive voting pool with loose criteria. We discuss why the Heisman feels closer to winning an Oscar than an undisputed MVP, and how hindsight plays a huge role in how we judge winners and snubs years later.

That sets the stage for today’s two Mount Rushmore topics:

• One focused on legendary players who never managed to bring home the Heisman despite incredible careers
• The other centered on Heisman winners whose success didn’t fully translate at the next level

We debate criteria, expectations, context, and how difficult it is to project college dominance into professional success. Along the way, we touch on fame, pressure, system fit, and how quickly narratives can flip once players leave Saturdays behind.

We close by looking ahead — what the future might hold for this year’s Heisman winner, how runner-up narratives can fuel careers, and why college football history often looks very different in hindsight.

Plenty of strong opinions. Plenty of disagreement. And plenty of reasons this award will always spark debate.

🎄 The Mount Rushmore of Holiday Movies 🎄 This week we’re joined by a long-awaited guest — Mike’s brother, Jim Mintz — plus a surprise late-entry appearance by Jim’s grandson Gabe, making this a full-family holiday showdown.

We kick things off by diving into why the holidays feel nostalgic, chaotic, and magical all at once — and why no time of year pairs better with comfort-food cinema. Then we get into the good stuff: each of us selecting our 4-film Mount Rushmore, debating releases from classics to comedies, animation to chaos, wholesome to wildly inappropriate. Picks range across Christmas, Hanukkah, New Years, and more — but you’ll have to listen to hear what made each list. 👀

Of course, no holiday movie episode is complete without the heavy hitters — including the eternal, fiery, friendship-threatening question:

Is Die Hard a Christmas movie? (Let’s just say… things were said.)

We cover everything from nostalgia vs quality, rewatchability vs new releases, when it’s acceptable to start watching holiday movies, and why some films earn yearly rotation while others get tossed like stale fruitcake.

Holiday feelings, movie debates, heated opinions, controversial takes — and plenty of laughs.

🎅 Grab a blanket, get cozy, cue the lights… It’s Mount Rushmore time.

PISODE NOTES — Mount Rushmore of Video Games

This week we take it back — way back — to the golden era of GameStop runs, memory cards, split-screen trash talk, and staying up way too late when we had school the next day.

Following last week's Thanksgiving Food Mount Rushmore, we open with a recap of our holiday plates and then move right into the sensory overload of Black Friday — inbox explosions, online deal chaos, and the nostalgia of walking through a packed mall like it was 2005 again.

That trip to GameStop? It sent us down a memory rabbit hole.

We realized how fast video games have evolved — from PlayStation 2 and Xbox 360 to the endless combinations of consoles today — and how the games we grew up on shaped entire eras of childhood, friendship, and identity.

In today’s episode we discuss:

🎮 Black Friday then vs now — from camping outside stores to one-click shopping 🎮 Why malls today unexpectedly feel nostalgic instead of chaotic 🎮 Our GameStop realization of how outdated we really are 🎮 The video game eras that raised us — and still live in our brains rent free 🎮 The four titles we believe deserve to be carved into gaming’s Mount Rushmore

We go deep into history, stories, evolution, controversy, and cultural impact — along with our own memories of button-mashing battles and hours lost to one more game.

No spoilers here — you’ll have to listen for our official picks. 👀

LISTENER QUESTION:

What four video games would you put on the Mount Rushmore of gaming?

Drop your list in our reviews or tag us on social — and send this episode to a friend who shared a controller with you growing up.

Mount Rushmore of Thanksgiving Food

Episode Release: The Weekend Before Thanksgiving

In this special Thanksgiving episode, Joe and Mike dive into the heart of the holiday—how it started, how it became the cultural giant it is today, and why we continue celebrating it with the exact same foods every single year.

We break down the evolution from early harvest feasts to Lincoln’s national holiday proclamation, the rise of modern traditions like football and parades, and the massive growth of Friendsgiving as a laid-back millennial twist on the classic family meal.

Then the guys explore a spicy theory: Is Thanksgiving food… overrated? If the dishes were truly elite, would we really eat them only once a year? Joe argues that maybe the holiday should be a potluck of everyone’s favorite foods.

They discuss a cultural movement to liberate Thanksgiving cuisine, but ultimately stay true to the theme of the show: building a Mount Rushmore of the foods traditionally found on the Thanksgiving table.

The episode wraps with gratitude for the listeners, the show, and the holiday season. Wishing everyone a reflective, fun, indulgent Thanksgiving with family or friends.

We have some heated debates in this one so would love to hear who you agree with and what foods would be carved on your mount rushmore.

Don't forget to share if you want to help start the cultural movement towards a Thanksgiving Potluck Utopia!

With the brand-new five-part Apple TV+ docuseries on the life and career of Martin Scorsese now streaming, we’re diving deep into the filmography of one of the greatest directors of all time.

From his early days in Little Italy to his decades-long collaborations with Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio, Scorsese has not only defined an era of cinema — he’s outlasted it. While most of his contemporaries have faded, he continues to evolve, connect with new audiences, and deliver movies that feel timeless and modern all at once.

We discuss:

🎬 What to expect from the new Apple TV+ docuseries

📽️ How Scorsese redefined mob movies, storytelling, and pacing

🧠 His unique ability to stay relevant across five decades 🤝 The creative partnerships that shaped his career

🎭 His underrated performances and cameos

💡 The themes that tie his entire body of work together

Then, we each build our Mount Rushmore — our four definitive Scorsese movies — and debate which ones best capture his genius, range, and influence on culture.

Whether you’re a lifelong fan or just discovering his work, this episode celebrates the relentless creativity of a filmmaker still at the top of his game.