Episodes

  • The Matt Jones Podcast is proud to host KSR's resident thespian, Steve Zahn. An actor whose career has spanned decades in Hollywood explained what drives him and why he will never leave Kentucky. A hilarious guest, you'll enjoy hearing his thoughts on Kentucky football and his acting career, such as... 
    Getting offered a part vs. auditioning for a part. 

    Fans of a Diary of a Wimpy Kid have grown up.

    That time Zahn almost died while making That Thing You Do.

    Steve's start in soaps and his breakthrough in Reality Bites.

    The difference between working on a big budget movie and an indie flick. 

    Driving through the night in Mississippi.  

    You don't always want TV pilots to get picked up. 

    Few people are easier to work with than Adam Sandler. 

    A history enthusiast, Steve is a friend of the Perryville Battlefield. 



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  • Are you ready for some football? The NFL season kicks off Thursday nighty when the defending Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs host the Houston Texans. To prepare you for the 2020 season, Matt is joined by his former Sunday NFL Countdown co-hosts Geoff Schwartz and Myron Medcalf to break down all 32 NFL teams ahead to what will be a season unlike any other. Highlights:
    Why won't people come around on Lamar Jackson? 

    Can Cam Newton work in New England? 

    How the absence of the preseason hurt rookies like Lynn Bowden. 

    Early expectations for Joe Burrow. 

    The Steelers are a dark horse team to win the AFC. 

    Will Tennessee Titan Up and take the South? 

    "Jacksonville is basically a Big 12 team this year." 

    Which QB's brother always picks him to be the preseason MVP? 

    Will the Day Prescott contract talk affect the Cowboys?

    The Washington Football Team is a disaster. 

    What Jameis Winston in Tampa Bay tells us about Tom Brady's upcoming season.



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  • Matt Jones is joined by Rick Sanders, a former Kentucky State Police Commissioner and current Police Chief in Jeffersontown, to discuss recent events from the perspective of a 40-plus-year veteran in law enforcement.Among the topics? Controversial videos involving police officers, the national spotlight of certain cases, ongoing protests, and much more. Highlights:
    What is it like to be in law enforcement in recent months and beyond?

    Sanders' opinions on high-profile cases such as George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, among others

    Seeing controversial videos involving police officers through the eyes of a Police Chief and former State Police Commissioner

    Is life more difficult now as an officer? 

    "Of 10 million arrests made every year, less than four percent result in use of force."

    Does Sanders believe it is too difficult to fire bad officers?

    Why geography is important to consider when looking at arrest numbers

    Cases of "bad policing" by "bad policemen"

    Thoughts on no-knock warrants

    Details on body cameras and why they're essential for accountability purposes

    Sanders' genuine thoughts on protesting



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  • The Matt Jones Podcast welcomes on Charles Booker, Kentucky’s youngest Black state lawmaker - a current legislator in the Kentucky House of Representatives, and a recent candidate in the Democratic Party’s primary for the 2020 U.S. Senate race - to discuss his decision to run for office, his narrow loss to Amy McGrath, his quick rise in the political world, among other topics.
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  • The Matt Jones Podcast welcomes on Bobby Bones, a national radio personality and two-time NYT best seller, to discuss life as a prominent radio host in Nashville, incorporating politics into shows, and being a fan of the Arkansas Razorbacks, among other topics
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  • The Big Blue Nation's favorite voice in all of broadcasting has taken his talents to The Matt Jones Podcast. Tom Hart from the SEC Network has an extended conversation with KSR's fearless leader, discussing topics like...-- Hart's broadcasting mantra is the exact opposite of a "broadcast puker."-- What he learned about the BBN in the Bahamas. -- The art of Hart's UK in-game references. -- What it was like to call Kentucky's streak-snapping win over Florida. -- Why Hart is optimistic about college football this fall. -- "Mark Stoops is the most underrated coach in the SEC and maybe all of college football."

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  • The Matt Jones Podcast welcomes on Joe Sonka, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist for the Courier-Journal, to break down the recent protests in Louisville and this week's Senate race.Highlights:
    Recent criticism of Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer coming from both sides of the aisle

    The latest in the Breonna Taylor case

    Will the officers involved be charged?

    If not, will another run of protests and/or riots come to fruition?

    Andy Beshear's response to COVID-19 and public support 

    Breaking down the candidates of Kentucky's Senate race

    Charles Booker's quick rise in support

    Does Matt regret not running?

    Who will win on Tuesday? 



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  • The Matt Jones Podcast welcomes on Steve Romines, a longtime lawyer, legal expert, and friend of KSR, to break down all the legal implications of the last three weeks of protest and his analysis of the Breonna Taylor and David McAtee cases.Highlights:
    What it's like to watch the ongoing protests through the eyes of an attorney

    The lasting implications of police brutality

    Why do black Americans and the poor get "screwed" in the criminal justice system?

    Explaining the ins and outs of the Breonna Taylor case

    How Romines would charge the officers in the case as a prosecutor

    The presence of good and bad apples on the police force

    As a lawyer, what was Romines' reaction to the George Floyd video?

    Representing the family of David McAtee

    What happened the night McAtee was killed?

    What policies would Romines put in place?



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  • Welcome to the Kentucky football edition of The Matt Jones Podcast. Up first, Matt is joined by Kentucky defensive end Josh Paschal who details the Wildcats' return to campus and the events of last week's Black Lives Matter protest. Randall Cobb described how Mark Stoops' actions that day earned his respect as the UK great reflects on changes in the conversation on race around the NFL over the last four years. Highlights:  -- The lengthy process of preparing for a workout at the football facility. -- Landon Young's message to Paschal after the BLM march. -- How cancer changed Paschal. -- Paschal previews the 2020 season, from Terry Wilson to Bossman Fat.  -- Cobb's review of Lynn Bowden's quarterback play. -- Working with Deshaun Watson and how veteran receivers can fill the void left by DeAndre Hopkins. -- How Randall Cobb helped Matt get his ESPN Radio job. 

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  • PAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWLThe Mouth of the South is on The Matt Jones Podcast. Paul Finebaum, the star of the SEC Network, joins one of his regular fill-ins to talk about college football's return from the coronavirus pandemic. Highlights: -- Finebaum wasn't always the beloved voice of the SEC.-- How Finebaum carefully navigated sports and politics on-air early in the pandemic.-- Will college football commissioners and schools act in unison upon return?-- Cultural and social differences in how people view the pandemic. -- Paul is encouraged by how college student-athletes are using their voice. -- A roller coaster of reactions to Dabo's extended video "explanation."-- Why does Kentucky get no respect? 

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  • The Matt Jones Podcast welcomes on ESPN staff writer and radio personality Myron Medcalf to break down recent events in Minneapolis, the latest in the world of college basketball, and when we could see a return to actionHighlights:
    Stories of co-hosting ESPN Radio's Countdown to Kickoff together during the NFL season

    Medcalf's early start covering Kentucky basketball, specifically during the 2014-15 season

    Karl-Anthony Towns' air shots

    Living in Minneapolis during the George Floyd protests

    What did the national reports miss during it all? 

    What are they saying about defunding the police?

    Will Minnesota become the political battleground of America for the next several months? 

    Dan Orlovsky's growth as an NFL analyst at ESPN

    Bringing personality into radio

    Colin Kaepernick's impact and whether or not he's on an NFL roster this season

    Medcalf's thoughts on John Calipari and his impact on and off the floor

    How serious will the G League be about signing elite high school talent moving forward?

    Will the college basketball season start on time? 



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  • The Matt Jones Podcast welcomes on Ryan McGee, ESPN senior writer and co-host of the Marty & McGee podcast, to break down the latest in the world of college football and when we could see a return to action. Highlights:
    Is there more of a push to start college football than other sports? 

    The outside forces at schools making things complicated

    The decision to bring fans back and who will be making that call

    Will we see a fan uproar about who can come to games and where they sit?

    The passing of Tennessee football legend Johnny Majors

    Does Ryan agree with Matt's take that Tennessee and Nebraska are the two schools that have fallen off the most, historically speaking?

    Why is NASCAR not as popular as it once was?

    Southern accents in the media



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  • As protests continue across the country, The Matt Jones Podcast welcomes on Dr. Ricky Jones, a Courier-Journal columnist, host of The Ricky Jones Show and chair of the University of Louisville's Department of Pan-African Studies. Ricky provides perspective on race relations in Louisville and throughout America that you will not be able to find anywhere else. Highlights:-- Are these protests just a fad?-- Colin Kaepernick ended up on the right side of history.-- White supremacy isn't just people marching around in hoods.-- Ricky's reaction to the video of George Floyd's death.-- The positive consequences from good cops holding bad cops accountable.-- There are similarities in groupthink with fraternity hazing and within police forces.-- Does the packaging of arguments and points matter?-- Democrats "treat black people like booty calls."

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  • *WARNING: The episode contains explicit language.*The Matt Jones Podcast welcomes one of ESPN's brightest young stars. Mina Kimes does a little bit of everything for the four-letter network. She is a regular on Around the Horn and Highly Questionable and hosts two podcasts, ESPN Dailyand the NFL-centric Mina Kimes Show. She discussed her rise through the ranks and the recent comments from Drew Brees and Vic Fangio that reflect how far "the center has moved" on race relations in sports. Highlights:  -- How does one transition from investigating hedge funds into NFL analysis? -- The economics of race relations have changed the tone from pro sports owners and corporations.  -- What happens when someone you admire in sports disagrees with your beliefs?  -- The lost art of nuance on social media. -- Mina describes the thrill of being the NFL's first female color analyst. -- Training for sports media jobs you've never done before. -- Sal Pal!

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  • The Matt Jones Podcast has relaunched in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. The opening week continues with another one of Matt's longtime friends, Gregg Doyel. The former CBS Sports writer and current columnist for the Indianapolis Star discussed how he's evolved as a writer through his own personal growth. Highlights:-- Is Gregg now a homer?-- Worry no-more worksheets.-- Is empathy for everyone a noble characteristic?-- Doyel's relationship with the late Tyler Trent.-- How does one transition from tearjerkers to the Colts' QB competition?-- Why is Indiana perpetually terrible at basketball?

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  • The Matt Jones Podcast keeps on rolling through the coronavirus pandemic as one of Matt's longtime friends, Bomani Jones, joins the program. The ESPN television and radio personality provides a perspective on sports and culture you can't find anywhere else. Matt and Bomani answer a few important and pertinent questions, like...-- Can pro athletes publicly avoid talking politics? -- Is Dennis Rodman interesting? -- Should the NBA play out the end of the season or just start over in the fall?  -- Is baseball dead?  -- What went wrong with the NBA, Daryl Morey and China?-- Did Biden make a misstep on The Breakfast Club? -- Why is Bomani pessimistic for the return of football? 

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  • The Matt Jones Podcast is back. To kick off another round of podcasts, Matt Jones invites his old buddy Tony Vanetti onto a Zoom conversation to talk about what's happened since coronavirus shut down the world. He also asked Tony to look at his butt. Just another normal day at Kentucky Sports Radio. Highlights:-- Have our brains been changed by cell phones?-- Some things could change for the better after the COVID-19 pandemic.-- Loneliness during the coronavirus quarantine.-- Two things the pandemic has confirmed to Vanetti about America.-- Jody Demling's battle with COVID-19.-- The most interesting stat on people's behavior during the coronavirus quarantine.-- What will America look like at the end of August? 

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  • It's been a wild week for Matt Jones. Taken off the radio after an FEC complaint was filed by Mitch McConnell's people, the man behind KSR took a few days away before getting back in front of a microphone. Matt explains exactly what happened, what was going through his mind at the time and much more during a delightful discussion with his friend, Steve Romines. Highlights:-- Did anyone ever believe Kentucky was going to beat Tennessee? — Why Tennessee fans are worse than Louisville fans. — There are two parts to McConnell’s complaint and one is nonsense. — #FreeMattJones — When Matt is making his decision.— That time Romines worked for Mitch McConnell in D.C.— A Big Thank You

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  • Matt Jones dusted off the old podcast equipment to sit down with his good friend Tony Vanetti for an hour-long conversation about his chaotic summer. As Matt approaches his deadline to decide if he will run for Senate in the 2020 election, he shares what has gone into the decision-making process and why it has been the most stressful month of his life. Highlights:-- Matt is officially smitten.-- "Don't send that Tweet."-- When Matt learned Amy McGrath was running for Senate.-- "Very few people actually have to fight Darth Vader."-- The tumultuous day Matt was taken off of Hey Kentucky.-- Why no matter what he decides, there will be regrets.54wmynjs

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  • Surprise! Another episode of the Matt Jones Podcast is here!

    This time, Matt and Drew break down Kentucky's upcoming trip to the Bahamas, the roster, and fun stories from their last trip to Atlantis in 2014.

    Here's a breakdown of everything discussed:

    3:30 - Bahamas overview

    -Why the Bahamas trip is so crucial for this team’s development (looking back to what 2014 trip did for them)

    -Stories from the last Bahamas trip: What sights do they expect to see on and off the court

    -Describing the Atlantis resort

    9:10-40:00 - What they've heard about the team, roster breakdown

    Returnees:

    PJ Washington— “most anticipated return since the Twins”
    Quade Green— Improved shooter
    Nick Richards— Drew’s take on why he could play more than people expect; his way to play is defense
    Jemarl Baker— issues with spelling of his name

    Newcomers

    Reid Travis— “toughness we haven’t had since Julius Randle” “we haven’t had an old dude in a while”
    Keldon Johnson— his shooting has been a surprise; where he ranks among UK trash talkers
    EJ Montgomery— he’s a superstar, he’s playing
    How to figure out the frontcourt rotation
    Ashton Hagans— Matt thinks he will be the starting PG

    he runs 1000 mph… he’s like a headless chicken
    How long can a chicken live with his head cut off? (they pull out the Google machine)


    Immanuel Quickley— he’s in Karl Towns conversation for good kids

    Drew’s fun Quickley fact and led to us learning about Matt’s system for sending out Christmas greetings


    Tyler Herro— do they like his confidence?

    why Kentucky fans have been waiting for his arrival
    he could be most athletic dude on the team along with Keldon Johnson
    amount of calls to Matt’s show he should play more
    Will he meet fan’s expectations?



    Matt’s take on the two highest draft picks on the team

    Are the guys now leaning towards being fans of Tom Crean? Who to hate among coaches in the league now?

    40:15 - What do they know about the opponents in the Bahamas?

    easiest and toughest opponents based on their little knowledge
    they work on converting centimeters to inches
    Do they expect them to win them all?
    It will be the most chest hair we’ve ever seen Kentucky play
    They expect these to be better teams than 2014-15 faced

    48:15 - Advice to those traveling to the Bahamas

    Expensive and bring some cash $$$
    More crazy stories from the last Bahamas trip:
    Fashion problems the last time they traveled to the Bahamas
    Matt and Drew tell about their crazy adventure leaving a game last trip when the final bus left them behind
    Drew’s $25 ride home
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