The Ariel Helwani Show

The prolific Action Bronson joins the show this week! He’s an MMA superfan and one of Ariel's favorite entertainers, and he stops by to talk about the creative process behind his new album, Cocodrillo Turbo. He also talks about his favorite locations to perform, how losing over 150 pounds has made him better on stage, his pro wrestling fandom, AEW’s Hook using one of his songs as his entrance music, hanging out with Alexander Volkanovski, Nathan Diaz's holdup with the UFC, his thoughts on the greatest diss track of all-time, and much more. You can follow Action on Twitter @ActionBronson and Instagram @bambambaklava.Action Bronson is a New York-born rapper, actor, and entertainer. His new album, Cocodrillo Turbo, drops on April 29. For more information, please visit actionbronson.com.For more episodes of The Ariel Helwani Show, please follow the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or on Ariel's YouTube channel.Theme music: "Frantic" by The Lovely Feathers

Ariel's favorite fitness instructor joins the show! After Ariel thanks her for helping him figure out life last year, Lovewell tells Ariel all about her wide-ranging career, which has taken her to the big stage alongside the megastars of the music industry, boutique fitness studios in New York City, the gardens of Martha's Vineyard, and now to one of the world's leading health and fitness companies, Peloton. In this conversation, Lovewell discusses the role of therapy in helping her improve at her job, the beauty of the collective shared struggle in her classes, and if she expected Peloton to reach the levels of success that it has. Plus, she goes behind the scenes of her life, telling Ariel what it was like growing up in a low-income family in ritzy Martha's Vineyard (16:20), her parents' divorce, a devastating loss she suffered in her mid-20s (45:38), and much, much, more.You can follow Emma on Twitter and Instagram @emmalovewell. To learn more about her, please visit livelearnlovewell.com.Emma Lovewell is a cycling instructor for Peloton, an American exercise and media company that helps people live their best lives. A renaissance woman, Lovewell came to Peloton after several years as a touring professional dancer, where she performed alongside the likes of Drake and The Rolling Stones. Her love for music shines through during her classes, where she offers motivation and positive thoughts to all that participate in her rides.For more episodes of The Ariel Helwani Show, please follow the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or on Ariel's YouTube channel.Theme music: "Frantic" by The Lovely Feathers

One of the nation's top NFL reporters joins Ariel for a conversation about Glazer's public struggles with mental health issues, which he refers to as "the gray." Glazer tells Ariel why he decided to start speaking out about his struggles, how he hid his crippling anxiety for years, how his worst experiences have paved the way for the life he lives now, and so much more. Plus, he tells Ariel why he started training MMA, his relationships with Chuck Liddell and Randy Couture, and about his new book, Unbreakable: How I Turned My Depression and Anxiety into Motivation and You Can Too.You can follow Jay on Twitter and Instagram @JayGlazer.Jay Glazer is an NFL insider for FOX Sports and is one of the stars of the award-winning studio show FOX NFL Sunday. He is also the co-founder of Merging Vets and Players (MVP), an organization that trains combat veterans to reach their highest levels of performance after serving in the armed forces, as well as co-founder of the Unbreakable Performance Center.Glazer's new book -- which features a foreword from Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson -- is available now.For more episodes of The Ariel Helwani Show, please follow the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or on Ariel's YouTube channel.Theme music: "Frantic" by The Lovely Feathers

Before heading off to Dallas to cover WrestleMania for BT Sport, Ariel catches up with professional wrestling journalist John Pollock. The two old friends preview pro wrestling's biggest event by discussing topics like Ronda Rousey's relationship with the fan base, if Cody Rhodes will square off against Seth Rollins like everyone expects, and Pat McAfee's highly-anticipated return to the ring. Plus, the guys also talk about their favorite WrestleMania matches of all time, as well as MJF's upcoming free agency in 2024.You can follow Pollock on Twitter and Instagram @iamjohnpollock.John Pollock is Canadian professional wrestling and MMA journalist. He's the co-founder of PostWrestling.com, a news site that covers all the biggest stories in the crazy world that is professional wrestling. For more episodes of The Ariel Helwani Show, please follow the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or on Ariel's YouTube channel.Theme music: "Frantic" by The Lovely Feathers

Maxwell Jacob Friedman, one of the biggest stars in pro wrestling, joins Ariel to discuss his young -- but very successful -- career. MJF tells Ariel when he first developed an interest in pro wrestling and then discusses his journey to AEW, if he thought AEW would be a formidable competitor to WWE when the promotion first launched, and what AEW is doing so well right now. He also discusses his influence, getting rejected by WWE early on and his appearance as a child on “Rosie.” Plus, he talks about his upcoming free agency in 2024, his love for the business side of pro wrestling, how long he hopes to pursue this career, and much more.You can follow MJF on Twitter and Instagram @The_MJF.Maxwell Jacob Friedman is an American professional wrestler who currently wrestles for All Elite Wrestling, the top competitor to WWE. At just 26 years old, MJF is considered to be one of the biggest stars in not just AEW, but all of professional wrestling.For more episodes of The Ariel Helwani Show, please follow the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or on Ariel's YouTube channel.Theme music: "Frantic" by The Lovely Feathers

One of Ariel's best Hollywood friends joins the show this week to discuss Astin's acclaimed acting and singing career. The Pitch Perfect star tells Ariel what it was like growing up as a guy in musical theater, and also about his first big break. Then, Astin tells a great story about how he was selected for Pitch Perfect, why the movie franchise took off, and his well-documented relationship with then-co-star Anna Camp. They also discuss stories about his burgeoning solo music career, upcoming roles, and how he was nearly cast in an NBA show and a documentary about former UFC champion Chris Weidman.You can follow Astin on Instagram and Twitter @skylarastin.Skylar Astin is a New York-born actor, singer, and songwriter. His first big role was as Georg in the Broadway show Spring Awakening. He then earned a role as Jesse in cult favorite Pitch Perfect, which catapulted him into the national spotlight. Since the 2012 hit, Astin has appeared in 21 & Over, Pitch Perfect 2, and Zoe's Extraordinary Playlist, among others. He's also set to play a role in the upcoming 18th season of the award-winning TV show Grey's Anatomy. On top of that, he recently announced he'll star alongside Geena Davis in the pilot of a CBS show.For more episodes of The Ariel Helwani Show, please follow the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or on Ariel's YouTube channel.Theme music: "Frantic" by The Lovely Feathers

The prolific sportswriter joins the show to discuss his illustrious writing career. Pearlman tells Ariel about the moment he knew he wanted to be a journalist and the 1999 incident that helped take his writing career to new heights while he was at Sports Illustrated. Then, Pearlman talks about his transition to writing books, the art of biography writing, how many more books he hopes to write, what still motivates him, and the surprising answer to what he hopes his legacy is.Jeff Pearlman is an American sportswriter. A former senior writer for the prestigious Sports Illustrated, Pearlman is most known for his work as an author. He has written nine books, six of which have appeared on The New York Times' bestseller list. One of his books, Showtime, has recently been made into a docuseries which is airing now on HBO. It's titled Winning Time, and it focuses on the unforgettable 1980s Los Angeles Lakers.Pearlman is also the co-host of the Two Writers Slinging Yang podcast and the writer behind one of Ariel's favorite Substack pages.For more episodes of The Ariel Helwani Show, please follow the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or on Ariel's YouTube channel.Theme music: "Frantic" by The Lovely Feathers

One of America's favorite sports broadcasters joins Ariel to talk about his 27-year run at ESPN, which concluded in spring 2021. The guys discuss Mayne's political commentary on social media and how ESPN executives felt about it, as well as Mayne's bold decision to enter into contract negotiations without an agent (15:52). Plus, he tells Ariel whether he still watches SportsCenter, if he holds any resentment toward ESPN for asking him to take a paycut, if the highlight show will ever make a comeback, his 2016 interview with Conor McGregor (29:22), his relationship with Packers QB Aaron Rodgers (34:26), and his work with Run Freely, a charitable organization that provides financial support to veterans.Kenny Mayne is an American sports broadcasting legend. During his 27-year run at ESPN, Mayne entered American households as the host of SportsCenter and as the star of many unforgettable "This is SportsCenter" commercials. He also contributed to off-the-beaten-path stories, most notably in horse racing, motorsports, among many others.You can follow Kenny on Twitter @kenny_mayne and Instagram @mayne.kenny.For more episodes of The Ariel Helwani Show, please follow the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or on Ariel's YouTube channel.Theme music: "Frantic" by The Lovely Feathers

One of Canada's sports broadcasting legends joins the show to talk about his legendary career, telling Ariel stories about his iconic SportsCentre show on TSN and his relationship with his then-co-host, Jay Onrait. Plus, the guys discuss O'Toole's decision to leave TSN for the new FS1 in 2013, why he wasn't happy at FOX, his eventual return to TSN, moving from Toronto to Los Angeles, an online battle with Katie Nolan, and some of the demons he's battled since leaving TSN again last year.Dan O'Toole is a Canadian broadcaster known mostly for his role alongside Jay Onrait on TSN's SportsCentre in the early 2000s, a show whose popularity rivaled that of Dan Patrick and Keith Olbermann in the United States. After enjoying many years of success at TSN and FS1, O'Toole left TSN (again) in 2021 and is now the host of the podcast, Boomsies! with Dan O'Toole.You can follow Dan on Twitter and Instagram @dangotoole.Today's episode is also brought to you by ExpressVPN. Visit ExpressVPN.com/HELWANI right now to arm yourself with an extra 3 months of ExpressVPN for free.For more episodes of The Ariel Helwani Show, please follow the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or on Ariel's YouTube channel.Theme music: "Frantic" by The Lovely Feathers

One of Ariel's favorite Hollywood personalities (and teenage crushes) joins Ariel for an extensive conversation. The two discuss a number of topics. like Burke's Jewish roots, the importance of mindfulness and mental health, her exit from Dancing with the Stars in 2013, if she regrets posing for Playboy, her eight engagements, and advice she'd give to her younger self. Oh, and some CRAZY love stories that you have to hear to believe.Brooke Burke is a businesswoman, TV host, mother, and health and fitness guru. After rising to prominence on E!'s Wild On! and several other TV shows, Burke parlayed her success into hosting Dancing with the Stars from 2010-13. Since then, she's founded Brooke Burke Body, a home workout fitness app, among other projects.You can follow Brooke on Twitter and Instagram @brookeburke.Today's episode is also brought to you by ExpressVPN. Visit ExpressVPN.com/HELWANI right now to arm yourself with an extra 3 months of ExpressVPN for free.For more episodes of The Ariel Helwani Show, please follow the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or on Ariel's YouTube channel.Theme music: "Frantic" by The Lovely Feathers

In a wide-ranging conversation about his INSANE life, Steve-O tells Ariel about his journey from clown school to the big screen. The guys discuss many things, like how a college breakup led to his daredevil career, using his body for medical testing, his relationship with Johnny Knoxville, how the idea for Jackass came to fruition, the intervention that turned his life around, his 14-year sobriety, the closest he's ever felt to death, and so much more.Steve-O is a widely celebrated actor, comedian, author, podcaster, and stuntman. Known most for his work on the early 2000s popular TV show Jackass, Steve-O is also a massive MMA fan. His YouTube channel has 6 million subscribers and he also hosts the podcast, Wild Ride! with Steve-O. In 2011, he co-wrote Professional Idiot: A Memoir, which provides a deeply intimate look into Steve-O's life.His new movie, Jackass Forever, is available in theaters now. You can follow Steve-O on Twitter and Instagram @steveo.Today's episode is also brought to you by ExpressVPN. Visit ExpressVPN.com/HELWANI right now to arm yourself with an extra 3 months of ExpressVPN for free.For more episodes of The Ariel Helwani Show, please follow the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or on Ariel's YouTube channel.Theme music: "Frantic" by The Lovely Feathers

One of Ariel's childhood heroes joins the show for a wide-ranging discussion about his new book, The Last Enforcer, and many other topics, like Oakley's relationships with Michael Jordan and Patrick Ewing, memories of playing for the '90s Knicks, his trade to the Toronto Raptors, the infamous 2017 incident with James Dolan at Madison Square Garden, the current state of the Knicks, and who Oakley would like to fight in a celebrity boxing match!Charles Oakley played 19 seasons in the NBA, suiting up for the Knicks, Raptors, Wizards, Bulls, and Rockets during his illustrious career. He's most known for his 10 seasons in New York, where alongside Ewing, John Starks and, for a period, legendary coach Pat Riley, he helped the Knicks become one of the most popular teams in the league. He is also the founder of The Charles Oakley Foundation, which focuses on helping serve underprivileged communities.You can follow Oakley on Twitter @CharlesOakley34. His new book, The Last Enforcer, is available now.We're brought to you by BetterHelp. Join over 1 million people who have taken charge of their mental health and get 10% off your first month by visiting our link at BetterHelp.com/AHS.Today's episode is also brought to you by ExpressVPN. Visit ExpressVPN.com/HELWANI right now to arm yourself with an extra 3 months of ExpressVPN for free.For more episodes of The Ariel Helwani Show, please follow the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or on Ariel's YouTube channel.Theme music: "Frantic" by The Lovely Feathers

One of the most celebrated names in Hollywood joins Ariel for a conversation about his busy career before the guys talk about Lopez' high school wrestling days, the recently revamped Saved by the Bell on Peacock, things he hasn't accomplished yet, how he tries to stay neutral in political debates, how he's navigated his career during the pandemic, and much more.Mario Lopez is an American actor, producer, talk show host, and entertainer. Known most for his role as A.C. Slater on the '80s hit sitcom Saved by the Bell, Lopez has also appeared on hit TV shows like Dancing with the Stars and Pacific Blue, as well as movies like Colors and Eastside. Lopez currently hosts Access Hollywood and Access Daily, and co-hosts the 3 Knockdown Rule podcast, as well as the nationally-syndicated radio show On with Mario Lopez.You can follow Lopez on Twitter @mariolopezviva and Instagram @mariolopez.We're brought to you by BetterHelp. Join over 1 million people who have taken charge of their mental health and get 10% off your first month by visiting our link at BetterHelp.com/AHS.Today's episode is also brought to you by ExpressVPN. Visit EXPRESSVPN.COM/HELWANI right now to arm yourself with an extra 3 months of ExpressVPN for free.For more episodes of The Ariel Helwani Show, please follow the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite podcast app.Theme music: "Frantic" by The Lovely Feathers

One of the best pitchers in baseball joins Ariel for an honest conversation about many subjects, like Snell's love of MMA, why he feels the need to give back to the community, and his Twitch channel. Plus, Snell opens up about his infamous May 2020 comments in the early stages of the pandemic (21:42), MLB's current lockout (26:30), the controversial decision to pull him from Game 6 of the 2020 World Series, baseball's unwritten rules, and much, much more.Blake Snell is a pitcher for the San Diego Padres. The 29-year-old left-hander is entering his seventh season in the big leagues and his second in San Diego. He spent five seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays, winning the 2018 AL Cy Young Award after boasting an astounding 21-5 record and 1.89 ERA. Snell helped lead Tampa Bay to the World Series in 2020, where the Rays fell to the Los Angeles Dodgers in six games.You can follow Blake on Twitter, Instagram, and Twitch @SnellZilla4.We're brought to you by BetterHelp. Join over 1 million people who have taken charge of their mental health and get 10% off your first month by visiting our link at BetterHelp.com/AHS. Today's episode is also brought to you by ExpressVPN. Visit EXPRESSVPN.COM/HELWANI right now to arm yourself with an extra 3 months of ExpressVPN for free.For more episodes of The Ariel Helwani Show, please follow the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite podcast app.Theme music: "Frantic" by The Lovely Feathers

One of the most respected voices in sports media joins Ariel for an open and honest conversation (and I'm glad we're having it). The two friends discuss Le Batard's new outlook on life thanks to the founding of his new company, Meadowlark Media, and his relatively new marriage. He also discusses the separation of his personal and professional lives, why he's happier than he's ever been and the importance of therapy in his life. Then, the guys trade stories about their respective times at ESPN, with "El Bastardo" Le Batard opening up about his exit from ESPN, and if he ever regrets joining the company in the first place (33:20).Dan Le Batard is one of the most celebrated sports media personalities of the 21st century. Before founding Meadowlark Media in early 2021, LeBatard spent a decade at ESPN hosting The Dan LeBatard Show w/ Stugotz and Highly Questionable. Prior to joining ESPN, LeBatard wrote for The Miami Herald in his beloved home city of Miami.You can follow Dan on Twitter and Instagram @LeBatardShow.We're brought to you by BetterHelp. Join over 1 million people who have taken charge of their mental health and get 10% off your first month by visiting our link at BetterHelp.com/AHS. For more episodes of The Ariel Helwani Show, please follow the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite podcast app.Theme music: "Frantic" by The Lovely Feathers

The prolific Michelle Beadle joins the show for a wide-ranging discussion about her life during and after her 8+ years at ESPN. Among many subjects, Beadle opens up about her unceremonious exit from the company, her infamous comment about not watching football, behind-the-scenes drama and much more. Plus, she talks about her solo international travels, how she landed her new gig covering the San Antonio Spurs, and an exclusive scoop! Michelle Beadle is a sports media personality currently covering the San Antonio Spurs. She also hosts the What Did I Miss? podcast with The Athletic. Formerly of ESPN and NBC, Beadle has hosted high-profile shows like Get Up!, NBA Countdown, SportsNation and more.You can follow Michelle on Twitter @MichelleDBeadle and Instagram @michelle.beadle.Today's episode is brought to you by Pristine Auction, the most trusted auction site for sports memorabilia and collectibles. Use the registration code "HELWANI' for $10 off your first purchase TODAY.We're also brought to you by BetterHelp. Join over 1 million people who have taken charge of their mental health and get 10% off your first month by visiting our link at BetterHelp.com/AHS. For more episodes of The Ariel Helwani Show, please follow the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite podcast app.To get more from Ariel, subscribe to his YouTube channel, read his writing on Substack, watch his work for BT Sport, and follow The MMA Hour or The Ringer MMA Show.Theme music: "Frantic" by The Lovely Feathers

The greatest surfer of all-time joins the show for a wide-ranging conversation, beginning with his MMA fandom and an online battle with Paulo Costa a few years ago. Then, Slater opens up about the dangers of surfing and why he doesn't fear death like most people do (27:18) and why sharks don't worry him too much. Plus, he reveals to Ariel how much longer he plans on surfing (45:08) and also talks about his controversial decision to not get the COVID-19 vaccine and failing to qualify for the Olympics this past summer. Lastly, Slater discusses his role on Baywatch in the mid-1990s (59:44) and the relationship with Pamela Anderson that ensued a few years later. Kelly Slater is widely considered to be the greatest surfer of all-time. The winner of 11 World Championships, he is both the youngest and oldest surfer to ever win a WSL title. At age 49, Slater still competes at a world-class level.You can follow Kelly on Twitter and Instagram @kellyslater.Today's episode is brought to you by Manscaped! Get 20% off plus FREE shipping today by using the code "HELWANI" when you visit this link: manscaped.com/helwani.We're also brought to you by Pristine Auction, the most trusted auction site for sports memorabilia and collectibles. Use the registration code "HELWANI' for $10 off your first purchase TODAY.For more episodes of The Ariel Helwani Show, please follow the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite podcast app.To get more from Ariel, subscribe to his YouTube channel, read his writing on Substack, watch his work for BT Sport, and follow The MMA Hour or The Ringer MMA Show.Theme music: "Frantic" by The Lovely Feathers

On today's episode, the famous actor and pro wrestling superfan joins Ariel to talk about his time working for WWE over a decade ago. Then, the guys discuss differences between WWE and AEW, his time training in Albuquerque, NM, his movie plans for 2022 (47:30) and his 20-year marriage to actress Sarah Michelle Gellar (57:05). Also, Prinze Jr. reveals his plans to get back into the wrestling business in a big way next year. Make sure to listen to the very end to witness a special bonding moment between the guys! Freddie Prinze Jr. is an American film and TV actor, writer and producer. He is also the host of WWFreddie - Wrestling with Freddie, a pro wrestling podcast. He has starred in “I Know What You Did Last Summer,” “She’s All That,” “Scooby-Doo,” and much more.You can follow Freddie on Twitter @RealFJR and on Instagram @realfreddieprinze.Today's episode is brought to you by Manscaped! Get 20% off plus FREE shipping today by using the code "HELWANI" when you visit this link: manscaped.com/helwani.For more episodes of The Ariel Helwani Show, please follow the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite podcast app.To get more from Ariel, subscribe to his YouTube channel, read his writing on Substack, watch his work for BT Sport, and follow The MMA Hour or The Ringer MMA Show.Theme music: "Frantic" by The Lovely Feathers

In this special Wednesday edition of the show, Ariel talks to former NFL linebacker AJ Hawk about his post-football career as a broadcaster and as co-host of The Pat McAfee Show. In this wide-ranging conversation, Hawk discusses his relationship with former teammate Aaron Rodgers (18:57), how the NFL treats its players upon retirement (53:30), his love of MMA and his own fighting experiences, why he says yes to everything and why he and his wife got engaged after only four months of dating. Plus, Hawk gives Ariel some workout advice!AJ Hawk played 11 seasons in the NFL, spending nine of them with the Green Bay Packers. The Packers selected Hawk No. 5 overall out of Ohio State in the 2006 NFL Draft, eventually winning the Super Bowl with Green Bay in 2011. After walking away from football in 2016, Hawk has been an analyst for Fox Sports, hosted The HawkCast and has become a regular fixture on The Pat McAfee Show.You can follow AJ on Twitter and Instagram @OfficialAJHawk. Today's episode is brought to you by Manscaped! Get 20% off plus FREE shipping today by using the code "HELWANI" when you visit this link: manscaped.com/helwani.For more episodes of The Ariel Helwani Show, please follow the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or your favorite podcast app.To get more from Ariel, subscribe to his YouTube channel, read his writing on Substack, watch his work for BT Sport, and follow The MMA Hour or The Ringer MMA Show.Theme music: "Frantic" by The Lovely Feathers

The world-renowned adult entertainer joins Ariel for an honest and open conversation about her career. She tells Ariel why left nursing to pursue performing, how her family and friends feel about her field of work, and how she separates her work from her personal life. Plus, she discusses the biggest misconceptions about her industry and why she loves MMA so much.Kendra Lust is widely considered to be one of the top performers in adult entertainment. A huge MMA fan, she also co-hosts the Beauty & The Beast podcast alongside UFC fighter Julian Marquez.You can follow Kendra on Twitter and Instagram @kendralust, as well as her podcast's YouTube channel.For more episodes of The Ariel Helwani Show, please follow the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite podcast app.To get more from Ariel, subscribe to his YouTube channel, read his writing on Substack, watch his work for BT Sport, and follow The MMA Hour or The Ringer MMA Show.Theme music: "Frantic" by The Lovely Feathers

The Formula 1 superstar joins Ariel to talk about Ricciardo's Bills fandom and obsession with watching the UFC, among many other things. Then, the guys discuss Ricciardo's illustrious motor racing career, where Ricciardo opens up about his rise in popularity, if he has any regrets, his decision to change teams again in 2020, the importance of putting yourself first, dealing with critics and much, much more.Daniel Ricciardo is one of the top Formula 1 drivers in the world. The 32-year-old Australian-born racer has won eight Grand Prix in his career, the most recent one coming in Italy this past September. Ricciardo gained even more fame in 2019 with the release of the popular Netflix series, Drive to Survive, a docuseries that took viewers behind the scenes of life as a Formula 1 driver.You can follow Daniel on Twitter and Instagram @danielricciardo, where he has a combined 8.2M followers. For more episodes of The Ariel Helwani Show, please follow the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or your favorite podcast app.To get more from Ariel, subscribe to his YouTube channel, read his writing on Substack, watch his work for BT Sport, and follow The MMA Hour or The Ringer MMA Show.Theme music: "Frantic" by The Lovely Feathers

One of Ariel's favorite sportswriters joins the show to tell the story of his media journey, which began when he covered the elite New York City high school basketball scene. Then, Isola discusses landing a gig with The New York Daily News and the magic of covering those '90s Knicks teams. Plus, he tells Ariel how his relationship with the Knicks eventually soured (39:17), why it's harder for reporters to fairly cover the NBA today (55:32), and much more.Frank Isola is an American sportswriter who covered the New York Knicks for The New York Daily News from 1995-2017. He then wrote about the Knicks for The Athletic. Today, he co-hosts a SiriusXM radio show, serves as a Nets studio analyst for YES Network, and is also a regular contributor to ESPN's "Around the Horn" and "Pardon the Interruption." He is also the author of the 1999 book, "Just Ballin': The Chaotic Rise of the New York Knicks."You can follow Frank on Twitter and Instagram @TheFrankIsola.For more episodes of The Ariel Helwani Show, please follow the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or your favorite podcast app.To get more from Ariel, subscribe to his YouTube channel, read his writing on Substack, watch his work for BT Sport, and follow The MMA Hour or The Ringer MMA Show.Theme music: "Frantic" by The Lovely Feathers

The New York-born actor joins Ariel for a wide-ranging conversation, beginning with a discussion about Rapaport's role in the 1995 film Higher Learning, where he portrayed a Neo-Nazi. The guys also discuss Rapaport's Knicks fandom and why he's decided to publicly criticize the team he loves so much. Plus, Rapaport opens up about his beef with Kevin Durant (31:42), why he started speaking out about politics on social media, what he still hopes to accomplish in his career (49:46), and the tragedy that rocked the movie industry last week.Michael Rapaport is an American actor, comedian, podcaster, and fantasy football guru. He has appeared in more than 60 films (Deep Blue Sea, Dr. Doolittle 2, etc.), several TV shows (Friends, Atypical, etc.) and has also directed an award-winning documentary.You can follow Michael on Instagram @michaelrapaport. He also hosts the I Am Rapaport: Stereo Podcast and will continue a comedy tour next month. For more details, please visit michaelrapaportcomedy.com.For more episodes of The Ariel Helwani Show, please follow the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite podcast app.To get more from Ariel, subscribe to his YouTube channel, read his writing on Substack, watch his work for BT Sport, and follow The MMA Hour or The Ringer MMA Show.Theme music: "Frantic" by The Lovely Feathers

The world-renowned Canadian-born broadcaster joins Ariel to discuss why, after eight years, she decided to leave WWE in 2020 (5:41). Plus, she talks about her short-lived acting career (26:42), how she met her husband (current AEW star Jon Moxley), if she plans on joining AEW (57:52) and how difficult it was to work for WWE at times.Renee Paquette (formerly known as Renee Young) is a Canadian-American broadcaster. Before spending eight years with WWE, she worked for The Score and BiteTV in Canada. She left WWE last summer and now focuses on her podcast, weekly radio show with Miesha Tate, and her four-month-old baby.You can follow Renee on Instagram @reneepaquette, check out her new book Messy in the Kitchen and listen to her podcast Oral Sessions wherever you get your shows.For more episodes of The Ariel Helwani Show, please follow the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite podcast app.To get more from Ariel, subscribe to his YouTube channel, read his writing on Substack, watch his work for BT Sport, and follow The MMA Hour or The Ringer MMA Show.Theme music: "Frantic" by The Lovely Feathers

One of the best American tennis players of the last 20 years joins Ariel for a candid conversation about the Netflix documentary, "Untold: Breaking Point," which chronicles Fish's battles with mental health, which unexpectedly led Fish to pull out of an important 2012 U.S. Open match against Roger Federer. Fish tells Ariel about his toughest days, how he pulled himself out of the darkness, the importance of family and friends during tough times, why he doesn't judge anybody anymore, why more male athletes need to speak out on mental health issues, and so much more.Once ranking in the top 10 worldwide, Fish's career highlights include quarter finals appearances in the 2007 Australian Open, 2008 U.S. Open, and 2011 Wimbledon Championships, as well as a silver medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics. Fish now serves as the captain of America's Davis Cup team, appears in celebrity golf tournaments and even practices mixed martial arts.You can follow Mardy on Twitter @mardyfish, visit his web site mardytennis.com, and check out "Untold: Breaking Point" on Netflix to learn more about him.For more episodes of The Ariel Helwani Show, please follow the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your shows. To get more from Ariel, subscribe to his YouTube channel, read his writing on Substack, watch his work for BT Sport and follow The MMA Hour or The Ringer MMA Show.Theme music: "Frantic" by The Lovely Feathers

Ariel's favorite sports journalist joins the show to talk about his untraditional path into the business and how that path eventually took him to Muhammad Ali's house, telling Ariel a bone-chilling story you have to hear (32:43). Plus, Brunt discusses the state of the newspaper business (19:51), why he's never had a social media account (26:56), the biggest regrets from his legendary career and if he thinks baseball will ever return to Montreal (hint: his answer gets Ariel very excited.)Currently a drive-time radio host and commentator for Rogers Sportsnet, Stephen Brunt is a staple of Canadian sports journalism. He spent nearly 30 years at The Globe and Mail, one of the most reputable papers in all of Canada. He is the author of over 13 books and is widely considered to be the voice of Canadian sports.You can follow Brunt...nowhere. He doesn't believe he needs social media to do his job.For more episodes of The Ariel Helwani Show, please follow the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your shows. To get more from Ariel, subscribe to his YouTube channel, read his writing on Substack, watch his work for BT Sport and follow The MMA Hour or The Ringer MMA Show.Theme music: "Frantic" by The Lovely Feathers

Heelwani's biggest enemy joins Ariel to put their feud aside to discuss real life matters, such as McAfee's childhood dreams of getting rich (10:18), how he created the "dumbest life of all-time" and what it was like playing alongside Peyton Manning with the Indianapolis Colts (22:25). Later on, the guys also talk about the 2010 arrest that turned McAfee's life around (28:10), his time with Barstool Sports, his rocky relationship with ESPN, Aaron Rodgers' regular appearances on his show and SO much more.Pat McAfee is the host of "The Pat McAfee Show," a popular daily sports YouTube show that also airs on SiriusXM. He spent eight seasons as a punter for the Indianapolis Colts, retiring in 2017 to pursue a media career that's taken him to Barstool Sports, ESPN and the world of professional wrestling.You can follow Pat on Twitter and Instagram @PatMcAfeeShow. For more episodes of The Ariel Helwani Show, please follow the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your shows. To get more from Ariel, subscribe to his YouTube channel, read his writing on Substack, watch his work for BT Sport and follow The MMA Hour or The Ringer MMA Show.Theme music: "Frantic" by The Lovely Feathers

On the first episode of The Ariel Helwani Show, new WWE champion Big E joins Ariel to talk about the mental health struggles he dealt with as a kid, the benefits of meditation and the challenges he still faces today as one of the faces of WWE. Plus, he offers some advice to Ariel and anyone else who's struggling with their mental health (39:10).Ettore Ewen, also known as Big E, is the current WWE champion. He is also the co-host of The New Day podcast. You can follow him on Instagram @WWEBigE.For more episodes of The Ariel Helwani Show, please follow the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your shows. To get more from Ariel, subscribe to his YouTube channel, read his writing on Substack, watch his work for BT Sport and follow The MMA Hour or The Ringer MMA Show.Theme music: "Frantic" by The Lovely Feathers

Hello friends! It's Ariel Helwani back in your lives. On this episode, I introduce my new podcast where I'll talk to big names inside and outside of the sports world.I've always wanted to do something like this, and I hope you follow along the journey with me. Follow the show wherever you get your podcasts and on my YouTube channel.