With the release of The Smashing Machine, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is showing a side of himself the world has never seen — vulnerable, raw, and dramatically transformed. In this episode, we dive into why now is the perfect moment for The Rock to reinvent himself, how critics are reacting to his performance, and what this means for his career moving forward.

We walk through his remarkable evolution — from his electrifying rise in WWE, to his early action roles, to shedding “The Rock” name for more heartfelt performances, and eventually returning to blockbuster dominance. Now, nearly three decades later, he’s stepping into the most ambitious chapter of his career — one that has critics talking Oscar buzz and fans seeing him in a brand-new light.

Plus, we look back at the key milestones that shaped his journey, how each era of his career built on the last, and what makes his transformation in The Smashing Machine feel like both a comeback and a breakthrough.

From eyebrow-raising charisma to emotional depth — this is the Mount Rushmore of The Rock.

🎧 Listen for:

• Why The Smashing Machine might redefine Dwayne Johnson’s legacy
• How his career has come full circle — from muscle to method
• The pivotal moments that reshaped his path
• What to expect from his next chapter, including a new dramatic project with Martin Scorsese

This week’s episode of The Mount Rushmore Show is dedicated to one movie star while honoring the passing of another. The inspiration comes from the recent loss of the legendary Robert Redford — one of the last true Hollywood icons. Redford’s career embodied the golden age of movie stardom: selective roles, an air of mystique, and the ability to balance box office success with prestige drama. With his passing, we felt it was the perfect moment to turn our spotlight on Leonardo DiCaprio — perhaps the closest modern heir to that classic brand of movie stardom.

We kick off by previewing One Battle After Another, DiCaprio’s first collaboration with Paul Thomas Anderson. Early buzz points to a sprawling, ambitious war epic featuring a powerhouse cast — Benicio Del Toro, Sean Penn — and the highest budget of PTA’s career. Critics are already raving about Leo’s layered performance, setting the stage for another highlight in his incredible filmography.

From there, we retrace Leo’s remarkable career arc:

• The early years: child actor breaking through with What’s Eating Gilbert Grape
• Box office heartthrob: global superstardom with Titanic
• Prestige transformation: Scorsese collaborations, awards recognition, and risk-taking roles
• Today: an ultra-selective star who embodies mystique in an oversharing era

Then, it’s time to carve our Mount Rushmore of DiCaprio films:

For each, we dive into where Leo was in his career at the time, how the film performed, the impact on his trajectory, and some behind-the-scenes fun facts.

Finally, we close with a nod to DiCaprio’s place in the pantheon of movie stars. Just like Redford, he’s become a legend whose best work may still be ahead.

🎧 Tune in for a deep dive into one of the greatest actors of our time — and a reflection on what it means to be a true movie star.

College football is back, and with it comes one of the sport’s most fascinating modern storylines: the transfer portal. What used to be about school loyalty, tradition, and waiting your turn has transformed into a new era where players can change programs overnight, cash in on NIL deals, and completely alter the national picture.

In this episode, we take a deep dive into how the transfer portal has evolved — from the “hush hush” days of under-the-table deals to today’s wide-open marketplace. We explore how these changes have impacted recruiting, coaching, and roster building, and what it all means for the future of the NCAA as it navigates the wild west of NIL and transfer rules.

Then, we carve out our Mount Rushmore of college football transfers — the players whose moves didn’t just change their own careers, but shifted the sport itself. We break down their recruiting stories, what happened at their first school, why they transferred, and how their new chapter redefined their legacy.

Finally, we close with a discussion on why this new era, while controversial for traditionalists, may actually be the best thing to happen to college football — creating parity, empowering players, and giving fans fresh storylines every single season.

Football is back, and so are we. The 2025 NFL season has officially kicked off, and to celebrate, we’re turning up the heat with one of our favorite traditions: carving out a Mount Rushmore of the boldest predictions for the year ahead.

From surprise playoff teams to unexpected busts, shocking coach firings to breakout stars, the NFL is a breeding ground for hot takes. Analysts and fans alike throw out wild predictions every September — some turn into pure genius, while others crash and burn by Week 3. That’s the fun of it.

On this week’s episode of The Mount Rushmore Show, we’re taking all that preseason energy, speculation, and hype, and chiseling it down to our four boldest calls for 2025. These aren’t your safe, middle-of-the-road predictions. These are the kind of takes that will get you arguing with your buddies, texting your group chat, and maybe even bookmarking receipts to pull back up in December.

If you love the NFL, bold predictions, and a little chaos with your football talk, this is the episode for you.

This week on The Mount Rushmore Show, we kick things off with our predictions for the upcoming NFL season—sharing what we expect from our favorite teams before shifting gears to the legends of the past.

We’re joined by our first-ever guest, Nick Ocasio, host of the First & 30 Podcast, who brings his expertise and Cowboys perspective to the table. Mike lays out his all-time Miami Dolphins Mount Rushmore, Nick breaks down his all-time Dallas Cowboys greats, and Joe delivers his all-time Washington Redskins icons.

From preseason hopes to franchise-defining players, we cover it all—combining present-day outlooks with the stories, highlights, and legacies of the greatest names in football history.

In this episode of The Mount Rushmore Show, we break down the Mount Rushmore of Sports Documentaries, inspired by the brand-new Netflix series America’s Team on the Jerry Jones-era Dallas Cowboys. I share my review of the first six episodes and why it feels like the Cowboys’ version of The Last Dance.

We explore why sports documentaries captivate us as a culture, how they’ve evolved from early films to ESPN’s 30 for 30 era and today’s streaming hits, and the criteria for making our Mount Rushmore.

Finally, we look ahead at what’s next for sports documentaries, including the highly anticipated The Heart of Black Mamba. Then stay tuned at the end for a trailer before the release of the upcoming sports documentary produced by Mike Mintz himself, The Kid in the Cowtown, about one of the biggest boxing matches that took place in one of the unlikeliest of places.

In this episode of The Mount Rushmore Show, we break down the Mount Rushmore of Sports Documentaries, inspired by the brand-new Netflix series America’s Team on the Jerry Jones-era Dallas Cowboys. I share my review of the first six episodes and why it feels like the Cowboys’ version of The Last Dance.

We explore why sports documentaries captivate us as a culture, how they’ve evolved from early films to ESPN’s 30 for 30 era and today’s streaming hits, and the criteria for making our Mount Rushmore.

Finally, we look ahead at what’s next for sports documentaries, including the highly anticipated The Heart of Black Mamba. Then stay tuned at the end for a trailer before the release of the upcoming sports documentary produced by Mike Mintz himself, The Kid in the Cowtown, about one of the biggest boxing matches that took place in one of the unlikeliest of places.

Sequels get a bad rap — cash grabs, recycled jokes, and failed attempts to recapture the magic of the original. But every now and then, the follow-up not only works…it becomes legendary.

This week, we build our Mount Rushmore of Movie Sequels, breaking down why these four films nailed it where so many others fail. Plus, an honorable mention to a movie which many call one of the greatest films of all time — though it’s a bit too slow for my personal rewatch list.

We’ll dive into why these follow-ups worked, how they stacked up against their originals, and what the future holds for Hollywood’s nostalgia machine.

Mount Rushmore of Wrestlers (In Honor of Hulk Hogan)

This week, we honor the late Hulk Hogan — a controversial figure but a true titan of wrestling history — by building our Mount Rushmore of wrestlers. We kick things off with a look at Hogan’s legacy, then rewind through the evolution of wrestling: from the territorial days and Vince McMahon’s empire to the Monday Night Wars and beyond.

We talk kayfabe, culture, and the Netflix docuseries WWE: Unreal, then dive into our personal picks for the Mount Rushmore of wrestlers

Expect big moments, big finishers, and even bigger personalities.

Who’s on your wrestling Mount Rushmore?

With the release of Happy Gilmore 2, it’s time to celebrate one of comedy’s most iconic figures — Adam Sandler. From oversized basketball shorts to Oscar-worthy performances, Sandler has carved out a unique place in Hollywood history.

In this episode, we:

• Break down Sandler’s career timeline from SNL to Netflix king
• Reflect on his cultural legacy as the most relatable movie star
• Review Happy Gilmore 2 and discuss its impact on streaming vs. theaters
• Build our definitive Mount Rushmore of Adam Sandler films

Plus: Behind-the-scenes fun facts, what each film did for his career, and why Sandler deserves his flowers now more than ever.

Whether you’re a diehard fan or just here for the Bob Barker jokes — this one’s for you.

Listen now and stream Happy Gilmore 2 on Netflix after.