The Chicago Smokehouse

Previewing the Bears and Rams in the NFL Playoffs

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 17:21:46 GMT

Big John Howell and Rick Telander break down the Bears’ cold-weather showdown with the Rams, from Caleb Williams’ late-game magic to the realities of facing a veteran like Matthew Stafford at Soldier Field. They dig into what makes this Bears team so dangerous in the fourth quarter, the matchups that could decide the game, and why fans have learned not to turn it off early. The conversation then shifts to college football, where Indiana’s improbable run sparks a candid discussion about NIL money, the transfer portal, and the new pro reality of the sport.

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Riding the Rails with Rick Telander

Wed, 26 Nov 2025 02:50:40 GMT

Finally the true story of why Rick Telander rode freight trains across the American West as a young man. From hobo camps and mountain tunnels to Anaïs Nin and the search for literary freedom, Telander unpacks the dangers, romance, and philosophy behind a life spent chasing experience. It’s a remarkable look at youth, risk, and an America where a person could still disappear—at least for a little while.

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Don’t Go Downstairs: Sports, Scandals, and the Return of the Mob Mindset

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 03:23:38 GMT

John Howell and Rick Telander dive into the NBA’s latest gambling scandal and what it says about the new marriage between sports and betting. From Chauncey Billups’ alleged mob ties to Rick’s real-life brush with Chicago’s Outfit, the conversation connects modern vice with old-school corruption

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The Shocking (But Not Surprising) Ryder Cup Fans

Sun, 12 Oct 2025 01:33:26 GMT

John Howell and Rick Telander tackle the chaos at this year’s Ryder Cup and what it says about America’s growing lack of civility. From beer-throwing fans to belligerent politics, they connect the dots between golf’s decline in decorum and the country’s broader cultural coarsening. It’s part sports talk, part social commentary, and all classic Smokehouse.

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Remembering Ryne Sandberg

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 01:54:41 GMT

Big John Howell and Rick Telander remember Cubs legend Ryne Sandberg, from the magic of the 1984 “Sandberg Game” to his quiet dignity on and off the field. They share personal stories, reflections from teammates and broadcasters, and even a final voicemail that reveals Sandberg’s grace in the face of illness. A tribute to Ryno as both a Hall of Famer and a genuinely good man.

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The "How to Do a Podcast Podcast"

Sun, 21 Sep 2025 03:51:52 GMT

John Howell and Rick Telander turn the mic on their producer, Keith Conrad, for a conversation about the nuts and bolts of podcasting. From publishing schedules and YouTube discoverability to viral gimmicks and old radio war stories, nothing is off the table. It’s equal parts practical advice and good-natured banter about what it takes to stand out in a crowded media landscape.

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The Mascot Distraction: Smoke, Fire, and Trump’s Culture War Playbook

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 03:20:58 GMT

John Howell and Rick Telander dive into the controversy over Trump’s push to revive racist team names like the Redskins and Indians. They explore how the former president weaponizes nostalgia and grievance to distract and divide, all while Telander shares personal stories—from interviewing Trump in 1986 to a touching tribute to his late dog. It’s a candid, wide-ranging conversation about sports, politics, culture, and the cost of not evolving.

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Sammy, Steroids, and Saying Goodbye

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 03:42:46 GMT

Big John Howell and Rick Telander dive into baseball’s most controversial era, reflecting on Sammy Sosa’s return to Wrigley Field and the lasting impact of steroids on the game. They revisit the infamous Lee Elia rant, Hall of Fame ethics, and the blurred line between performance and integrity. The episode ends on a heartfelt note as Rick shares a moving tribute to his late dog, Bear Bear.

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Pete Rose, Perfectionism, and the Price of Redemption

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 02:05:30 GMT

Pete Rose, baseball’s all-time hits leader, was banned for gambling—but now, posthumously, Major League Baseball has finally lifted the ban. In this episode, Big John Howell and Rick Telander revisit Rose’s complicated legacy, from his obsessive drive to win to his long-delayed confession. Along the way, they dive into the ethics of gambling, steroids, and what it really takes to be a legend.

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Fake Stories, Real Rants, and the Rise of the Machines

Fri, 04 Jul 2025 02:25:00 GMT

What happens when a major newspaper accidentally publishes AI-generated nonsense? Big John Howell and Rick Telander dig into the Chicago Sun-Times’ recent “Heat Index” fiasco, where fake book blurbs created by AI made it to print—and readers noticed. From newsroom cost-cutting and the future of journalism to AI writing sports columns, war strategy, and even architecture, this episode is a deep (and often hilarious) dive into what happens when machines take the wheel.

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Heaven Is a Playground—The Book, the Movie, and the Memories

Tue, 17 Jun 2025 23:24:10 GMT

John Howell and Rick Telander along with John Dempsey take a deep dive into Telander's iconic book Heaven Is a Playground—from its origins in a 1973 Sports Illustrated article to its 1991 film adaptation. They explore the lives of Brooklyn streetball legends, the challenges of writing with heart and honesty, and the poetic power of basketball. Plus, a few sharp jabs, a couple of cigars, and a cameo from President Obama’s bookshelf.

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Of Mice, Men, and Michael Jackson (with John Dempsey)

Mon, 09 Jun 2025 05:01:00 GMT

John Howell and Rick Telander are joined by veteran broadcaster John Dempsey for a vermin-infested edition of The Chicago Smokehouse. What starts as a simple houseguest anecdote morphs into a whirlwind conversation about mice, rats, movies, plagues, breeding cycles, and the shocking realization that “Ben” was a love ballad... for a rodent. It's informative, hilarious, and slightly unsettling—like Willard. Except with cigars.

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Blocking Jurko, Smoking Cubans, and Belichick’s Mermaid Muse

Mon, 12 May 2025 05:01:00 GMT

John Howell and Rick Telander relive John’s glory days behind the plate—most notably, tagging out former Packers nose tackle John Jurkovic at a charity softball game. The conversation shifts from cigars and sports nostalgia to Bill Belichick’s eyebrow-raising relationship with a 24-year-old “muse” and the public spectacle it has become. Along the way, the duo riff on Yoko Ono, tortured genius, self-defense kicks, and why some basements just have better acoustics.

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Punch Cigars, Beatles Obsessions, and the Time John Howell Passed on Taylor Swift

Mon, 28 Apr 2025 05:01:00 GMT

John Howell and Rick Telander light up cigars and dive into a lively conversation about The Beatles, Buck Owens, and the musicians who shaped their lives. Along the way, John shares the story of the time he told a record label to pass on a young Taylor Swift—something he now calls “the dumbest thing ever.” From musical legends to yodeling news anchors, it’s a smoke-filled trip down memory lane with plenty of laughs along the way.

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Chicago’s Fiery Past, Present, and Future

Mon, 21 Apr 2025 05:01:00 GMT

John Howell and Rick Telander dive into the history of the Great Chicago Fire, using Scott Berg’s new book to explore how the disaster shaped the city’s power structure and modern identity. They compare 19th-century fires to today’s climate-driven infernos—including John’s personal account of losing his home in Pacific Palisades. With references to Peshtigo, Paradise, and pop culture classics like Backdraft, this episode explores the destructive power—and strange allure—of fire through history, memory, and lived experience.

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Goose on the Loose: Wrigley Field’s Unexpected Mascot Sparks Debate

Mon, 14 Apr 2025 05:01:00 GMT

A Canada goose has taken up residence in the Wrigley Field bleachers, sparking debate between John Howell and Rick Telander over whether the bird should stay or go. The two light up cigars and swap stories about wildlife encounters—from backyard raccoons to six-foot iguanas—as they ponder the line between conservation and practicality. Along the way, they veer into gene-edited dire wolves, Civil War statues, and the proper use of the word "ask."

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Smoke-Filled Rooms and Tariff Tantrums

Mon, 07 Apr 2025 05:01:00 GMT

There’s something comforting about lighting up a cigar and talking politics, sports, and the decline of the American empire from the cozy haze of The Chicago Smokehouse. This week, as we puffed on a (possibly illegal) Cuban Cohiba and discussed everything from press box etiquette to presidential posturing, one thing became abundantly clear: whether it’s taxes, tariffs, or the return of Erik the Red, the smoke is getting thicker.

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Amateurs No More: College Sports, Cash, and the End of Illusions

Mon, 31 Mar 2025 05:01:00 GMT

This week on The Chicago Smokehouse, John Howell and Rick Telander dive into the billion-dollar business of college athletics—and the increasingly blurry line between amateurism and professionalism.

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Blitzed by Ambition: Donald Trump's Role in the Demise of the USFL

Mon, 24 Mar 2025 05:01:00 GMT

Big John Howell and Rick Telander light up cigars—and history—as they crack open one of the wildest sports stories of the 20th century: the short-lived, long-mythologized United States Football League (USFL). With the help of Jeff Pearlman’s book Football for a Buck: The Crazy Rise and Crazier Demise of the USFL, the conversation goes far beyond X’s and O’s, veering into locker rooms, courtrooms, and even the White House.

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Rick Telander Says Goodbye to the Sun-Times—but Not to the Storytelling

Fri, 21 Mar 2025 02:58:25 GMT

After nearly three decades as one of Chicago’s most distinctive voices in sports journalism, Rick Telander is moving on from the Chicago Sun-Times. The longtime columnist and Sportswriters Hall of Fame member announced that he has accepted a buyout from the newspaper. The episode, co-hosted with self-described “almost broadcast legend” John Howell, was equal parts reflection, frustration, and humor—an impromptu farewell from one of the city’s most revered writers who insists he’s not fading away, just turning the page.

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Remembering John Feinstein

Mon, 17 Mar 2025 12:40:13 GMT

Sports writer John Feinstein has passed away at 69. Rick Telander shares personal anecdotes and insights about Feinstein's impact on sports journalism, his relationships with notable figures like Bobby Knight, and the art of storytelling in sports writing. The discussion also touches on the evolution of journalism, the importance of rooting for the underdog, and the personal reflections that arise from the loss of a colleague.

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Mike Ditka, the 1985 Bears, and Football’s Toughest Era

Mon, 17 Mar 2025 12:39:58 GMT

Rick Telander shares his experiences with Mike Ditka, reflecting on their collaboration for the book 'In Life, First You Kick Ass.' The discussion covers personal anecdotes, the legacy of the 1985 Bears, and the intense culture of football during that era. Telander provides insights into Ditka's personality, the challenges of writing the book, and the impact of injuries on players. The conversation also touches on the evolution of football culture and the lessons learned from Ditka's life and career.

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Sportswriting, the NFL, and Life’s Crossroads

Mon, 17 Mar 2025 12:39:27 GMT

John Howell and Rick Talender delve into the world of sports journalism, the evolution of sports talk radio, and Talender's personal journey from being drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs to becoming a prolific author. They discuss the dynamics of coaching, the legacy of the Chiefs, and the representation of race in football, all while reflecting on the lessons learned from Talender's memoir, 'Like a Rose.'

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Introducing the Chicago Smokehouse with Big John Howell and Rick Telander

Sun, 16 Mar 2025 04:29:48 GMT

Some conversations feel like a front-row seat to history. Others feel like stepping into a smoke-filled backroom where legends swap stories over a cigar. When John Howell sits down with Chicago Sun-Times sports columnist and author Rick Telander, you get both.

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