Episodes
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With the Detroit Lions trouncing everyone in their path, David and Marshall try to unravel the mystery of James Houston (01:50), who set records as a rookie but since then seems to have lost his ability. We also entertain David's conspiracy theory (11:23): that contrary to what ESPN and other media outlets have reported, Aiden Hutchinson actually has no chance of playing in this year's Super Bowl. Theme music: Mr. Jukes and Barney Artist, "Blowin Steam (Open Up Your Mind)"
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David and Marshall talk before and (16:31) after the Detroit Lions' dismantling of the Dallas Cowboys on the road, in a vivid display of the effects enduring decades of losing can have on our psyches. Theme music: Mr. Jukes and Barney Artist, "Blowin Steam (Open Up Your Mind)"
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Missing episodes?
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Special guest Tyler Dunne of Go Long joins us to discuss his riveting article "The Full Monty," which chronicles the incredible litany of trials and tribulations that supremely hard-nosed Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery has endured—and continues to endure—off the field. Theme music: Mr. Jukes and Barney Artist, "Blowin Steam (Open Up Your Mind)"
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David and Marshall share an insightful Tyler Dunne article from Go Long ("Ass-Kicking Origins: Why the Detroit Lions Are Built for 2024 Football") to explain why they weren't the least bit worried about the Lions going into the Arizona Cardinals game. Theme music: Mr. Jukes and Barney Artist, "Blowin Steam (Open Up Your Mind)"
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Author Bill Morris joins us to discuss The Lions Finally Roar, his chronicle of the Detroit Lions's organizational dysfunction and dramatic turnaround.
(02:40) The time David kind of met William Clay Ford (05:08) The urine-soaked legacy of the Silverdome (07:49) How Bill’s father was almost the general manager of the Lions—and why that epitomizes the organization’s struggles (13:44) The reversal of fortune that coincided with Sheila Ford Hamp’s backing of coach Dan Campbell and GM Brad Holmes in 2022 (15:27) Dissecting the team’s culture of failure (17:26) Why Ford kept former general manager Russ Thomas in a position of power for so long (22:26) How the Lions ruined former coach Bobby Ross (26:28) Differing perspectives on last year’s playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers (27:42) What it's like in metro Detroit on the eve of this highly anticipated new season (29:09) Why Barry Sanders simply handed the ball to the officials after a touchdown (30:08) The worst Lions loss Marshall ever saw—and what Sheila Ford Hamp did about it (31:35) The uncomfortable design history of the RenCen (35:38) The post-retirement signing bonus controversies of Barry Sanders and Calvin Johnson (38:34) The moment we knew the Lions would lose the NFC championship against the 49ers (40:59) The organizational disasters that ended the Lions’s 1950s championship run (44:09) The phenomenon known as ‘Lions-free’ (45:17) What rooting for the team again is like for us nowPost-interview, (49:03), we share what we would have said if someone had asked us to be general manager of the Lions.
Theme music: Mr. Jukes and Barney Artist, "Blowin Steam (Open Up Your Mind)
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We document the unimaginable: a meaningless Detroit Lions preseason finale that a) was sold out—even for standing-room-only!—and b) featured a crowd so loud they actually affected the outcome of the game. Then:
(10:10) Did David invent the phrase "going sideways?" Did Marshall invent The Floor is Lava? And the essential quality of bringing yourself present to the moment (16:08) Why MTV's The Real World was must-watch TV (19:56) Parental GPS-tracking interrupts our recording; Marshall recognizes the obscure Meg Ryan 'meet-cute' the situation resembles (24:44) David wants to know: is the Sports Illustrated jinx a thing? (28:50) The real benefit of having been right about these LionsTheme music: Mr. Jukes and Barney Artist, "Blowin Steam (Open Up Your Mind)"
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David and Marshall discuss:
David's observations of his son's band-camp dance this week—and our own nerve-wracking high-school experiences calling girls we liked; who's playing—and who should be playing—John Madden in the upcoming biopic on his life (08:33); who wins the daily practice battle between superstars Penei Sewell and Aiden Hutchinson (16:51) and why; do you make room on your 53-man roster for a player who's quiet in practice, but shows up big-time on game days? (22:47) is David a human AI? (27:11)Theme music: Mr. Jukes and Barney Artist, "Blowin Steam (Open Up Your Mind)"
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Inspired by the Detroit Lions' reinvention many of us believed would never happen, David and Marshall discuss and debate other successful—and unsuccessful—reinventions in our lifetimes, in entertainment, business and (20:38) sports. Theme music: Mr. Jukes and Barney Artist, "Blowin Steam (Open Up Your Mind)"
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David and Marshall discuss what the preseason really means, flash back to when the most popular person in Detroit was our backup quarterback (06:17), and wonder if backup QBs get practice reps with the first-team offense (08:00). Then we ask: when, if ever, should an NFL player choose going down or running out of bounds, versus fighting for an extra yard and risking injury (12:33)? Theme music: Mr. Jukes and Barney Artist, "Blowin Steam (Open Up Your Mind)"
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Part 2 of 2. David wonders if our phones are listening to us, tells Marshall how to make their bedroom bats more effective against intruders (07:59), and has an intense reaction to a comment Dan Campbell made to Sports Illustrated (11:38). Theme music: Mr. Jukes and Barney Artist, "Blowin Steam (Open Up Your Mind)"
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Part 1 of 2. David and Marshall try to solve a dead-rabbits mystery before they discuss second chances: will the Detroit Lions become only the third NFL team in the last 30 years to lose a conference championship, and come back the next season to win it (18:34)? And…what about second chances in love (29:54)? Theme music: Mr. Jukes and Barney Artist, "Blowin Steam (Open Up Your Mind)"
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Part 3 of 3. Heather joins for a fascinating 'offseason' (translation: about our friendship, not football) episode.
Last time, David was rocked when Heather said the phrase "okay, great!" David shares what that moment was like for him (01:17); then Heather explains what was actually going on for her when she said it. Also last episode, when Marshall went inside to get Heather, David speculated about what the two were saying to each other; Heather and Marshall reveal what they were actually saying to each other (12:54).In short: you'll get to see the stories we tell ourselves, and how both a) saying those stories out loud, and also b) responding to the stories with absolute honesty, can create real and deep trust and eliminate misunderstandings. Okay? Great!
Theme music: Mr. Jukes and Barney Artist, "Blowin Steam (Open Up Your Mind"
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Pt. 2 of 3. David and Marshall discuss:
What David said to that know-it-all neighbor about his perennials (01:30) Do Black people need sunscreen? (04:01)Then Heather joins us to resolve hurt feelings from the last time we were at David's house (08:35).
Theme music: Mr. Jukes and Barney Artist, "Blowin Steam (Open Up Your Mind)"
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Part 1 of 3. On Father's Day, David and Marshall intend to record an episode on the Lions and reinvention, but this time we get lost in the weeds (pun intended) breaking down Marshall's experience mowing his first-ever lawn earlier this week.
Also discussed:
the transformative power of making your bed; movies that hinge on a 'deadman's brake;' the joys—and occasional letdowns—of slowing things down.Theme music: Mr. Jukes and Barney Artist, "Blowin Steam (Open Up Your Mind)"
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Football is essentially over until training camp. But our ongoing conversation continues, without football this week.
We started this season of SHIT2GRIT revisiting the violent tale of Cam Sutton, which apparently occurred when he was dealing with a failed relationship. We've also been talking about all the factors that go into giving a player a 'max' contract, and the lack of coaching players get about turning it off after they've been coached a lifetime to play violently.
Those three takes are the subjects of these three outtakes from conversations past.
In the first (01:45), David and Marshall, after an a '80s and '90s pop-music duets convo, discuss the merits of alluding to violence in movies rather than showing it. Then Heather joins us (19:48) to contemplate the consequences of normalizing violence in children, and the importance of maintaining connection to one's own voice as a child facing violent punishments. We conclude (31:07) with Heather shedding light on what happens to a platonic relationship when one person tries to take it further.Theme music: Mr. Jukes and Barney Artist, "Blowin Steam (Open Up Your Mind)"
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Part 3 of 3. Brad Holmes has a proven track record as a GM in every area but one: re-signing his own draft picks. Holmes just gave cornerstone deals to three players: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Penei Sewell and Jared Goff. From Marshall’s perspective, all three cornerstones are not on equal footing. From David’s perspective, Holmes had no choice.
That subject ties our last few episodes together. We recall a multitude of famous figures who’ve had unexpected trajectories in their careers and lives, and ask if there are any true predictors of a person’s future trajectory. We also champion the necessity of direct communication during the heat of battle, and wonder how important communication skills are in determining long-term success.
We also ponder:
Does it matter if someone is just having a bad day? (28:44) Does everyone deserve a second chance? And what if they squander it?Stay tuned after the outro music (45:54), as David waxes passionate on the bizarre name of the episode—cracking Marshall up in the process. Theme music: Mr. Jukes and Barney Artist, "Blowin Steam (Open Up Your Mind)"
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Pt. 2 of 3. David sends Marshall an Instagram video of two football players, one expressing frustration with the other's on-field communication. It launches us into a discussion about the nature of communication in high-pressure situations in professional sports.
What's the impact of ego on your ability to listen? Is insensitivity always obvious? Is what we're hearing passion or aggression?Marshall emphasizes the importance of recognizing red flags and troubling patterns, while David considers the possibility of coaching and growth. Theme music: Mr. Jukes and Barney Artist, "Blowin Steam (Open Up Your Mind)" | Instagram post: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C7CZGTtRXWZ/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet
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Part 1 of 3. On our way to a conversation about Brad Holmes, David and Marshall get sidetracked. We reflect on:
our 50th episode; what got Marshall into podcasting and into football; David recalls a phrase from last week that bothered David but resonated for Marshall; what bothered us both about Barry Sanders; an Instagram video about body language and making mistakesIn Part 2, we discuss Brad Holmes having to go all in on something he's never done before: re-sign his own draft picks | Theme music: Mr. Jukes and Barney Artist, "Blowin Steam (Open Up Your Mind)
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Part 2 of 2. Chris Perfett of the late Pride of Detroit PODcast finishes his breakdown of the Detroit Lions' 2024 draft. Chris also discusses game theory, his relationship with sports, and what the PODcast journey has meant to him.
Afterwards, David and Marshall debrief how stressful it was keeping up with Perfett's untouchable knowledge base while dealing with David's dying phone, and chat about sushi bars, Seinfeld and the agony of waiting for the 2024 Lions season to start.
(02:00) "Of the three other draft picks, what stands out to you?" (14:38) "Everyone's jumping on this bandwagon now" (22:46) "Could you tell that the Campbell/Holmes regime was different?" (24:07) "The mic is yours…what else do you want to say?" (29:06) "That was quite an experience"Our thanks again to Chris Perfett for his time, honesty and insights | Theme music: Mr. Jukes and Barney Artist, "Blowin Steam (Open Up Your Mind)"
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Part 1 of 2. David and Marshall are thrilled to have Chris Perfett, creator and host of the now-defunct Pride of Detroit PODcast, join us to break down the Lions' draft. Covered on Part 1: the draft in the D; Terrion Arnold; Ennis Rakestraw Jr.; the Lions's cornerbacks room; man-mountain Giovanni Manu.
(02:48) "We've suddenly become legit" (08:47) "Guess who's here, David?" (17:30) "Can we start in?"P.S.: Here are all the Seinfeld references:
that lost Seinfeld script "These pretzels are making me thirsty" Kramer in the dojoTheme music: Mr. Jukes and Barney Artist, "Blowin Steam (Open Up Your Mind)"
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