James and Joe discuss #DisasterNight on Twitch, explaining what went wrong with the freeroll, and what they’re doing to make things right. They also run through this week’s poker headlines, which include results for Chris Moneymaker and an altruistic Lex Veldhuis fan, and break down the three #PCA2018 Super High Roller TV shows (available to watch at YouTube.com/PokerStars). They boys are joined by Chris Kruk, a Canadian player who features in the first two episodes, and inspired Joe’s latest meme: “You got Krukked!” There’s new info on the #PokerInTheEars Freeoll League, including the all-important Star Code for Game 2 (which WILL work). And Kevin McDonnell from Dublin answers questions about the Kevin Bacon classic ‘Footloose’ in ‘Superfan vs Stapes’. Please don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe to the podcast.

Poker in the Ears

Episode 131 – 11/10/2018 – Christopher Kruk

Off the back of their first Monday-night stream, James and Joe run through the latest poker headlines before welcoming Arlie Shaban to the show. The former ‘Big Brother Canada’ contestant, best known for his 125-day and 43-hour Twitch marathons, is currently undergoing the ’12 Labours of Arlie’, and uses the podcast to “tell the world about his deeds,” and share his life story. The boys also have details of Week 2 of the #PokerInTheEars Freeroll League, awarding two Platinum Passes (worth $30k each), and their next evening of Home Games (Monday 8th October, 19:30 BST at twitch.tv/pokerstars). Finally, Jason from New Jersey tries to outsmart Joe at ‘Big Lebowski’ trivia in this week’s edition of ‘Superfan vs Stapes’. Please don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe to the podcast.

Episode 130 – 04/10/2018 – Arlie Shaban

There’s a full recap of the recent Moneymaker PSPC Tour event in LA, where Joe drank a lot of shots, and lost a lot of money to Chris Moneymaker. This week’s guest is Lex Veldhuis, aka the “Mr Disaster of Poker” on Twitch (it’s a long story). In an extended interview, Lex discusses the success of his recent WCOOP streams, and talks openly about the highs and lows of 2018: building a huge following on Twitch, while also enduring numerous losing sessions at the tables. James and Joe look ahead to their forthcoming series of Monday night streams, with details of the first week of the #PokerInTheEars Freeroll League, awarding TWO Platinum Passes (worth $30k each). Finally, Scott Samarel from New York is tested on his knowledge of ‘Better Call Saul’ in ‘Superfan vs Stapes’. Please don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe to the podcast.

Episode 129 – 27/09/2018 – Lex Veldhuis

James and Joe kick off the show with the final results and stats from #WCOOP2018, and discuss the recent controversy surrounding William Kassouf. But, for the most part, it’s another #PlatinumPass themed episode, with an update on the number of #PSPC packages awarded so far, plus an interview with Platinum Pass winner Jennifer Carter from Canada. The boys also have ALL the details on the #PokerInTheEars Freeroll League – running from 1st October to 19th November, and streamed live at twitch.tv/pokerstars – which will award TWO Platinum Passes (worth $30k each) to podcast listeners. Finally, James Satchell from the UK goes up against Joe in a ‘Team America: World Police’ quiz in ‘Superfan vs Stapes’. Please don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe to the podcast.

Episode 128 – 20/09/2018 – Platinum Pass winner Jennifer Carter

James and Joe are back from Barcelona! Before looking back at the biggest EPT of all time, the boys run through the poker news headlines, including the latest from #WCOOP2018. They talk to Jason Somerville about his long-awaited return to Twitch for the World Championship of Online Poker, and look ahead to Run It Up Reno in October. After a full #EPTBarcelona report – including some epic food-related fails – there are details of the forthcoming #PokerInTheEars #PlatinumPass promotion, as James and Joe reveal how they’re planning to award TWO $30k #PSPC packages to podcast listeners. Plus, Justin Stahley from London competes for prizes by answering questions about ‘Planes, Trains and Automobiles’ in ‘Superfan vs Stapes’. Please don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe to the podcast.

Episode 127 – 13/09/2018 – Jason Somerville

It’s the Barcelona preview show! James and Joe look ahead to five days of European Poker Tour coverage with co-commentator Fintan Hand. They run through the #PokerStarsTV streaming schedule, and their plans for freerolls and #PlatinumPass giveaways. Plus, Fintan is tested on his knowledge of the city of Barcelona in one of Joe’s trademark terrible quizzes. The boys also respond to some of your tweets (#PokerInTheEars), reveal details of the next $500 podcast freeroll, and give UK player Mike Constantine the chance to win a #WCOOP2018 ticket in an ‘Everest’-themed edition of ‘Superfan vs Stapes’. Please don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe to the podcast. Then, join James and Joe on Twitch and YouTube from Wednesday 29th August – Sunday 2nd September 2018 for the #EPTBarcelona Main Event.

Episode 126 – 23/08/2018 – Fintan Hand

James and Joe are back from their ridiculously over-long summer break, and they’re already bringing out the big guns: special guest star Daniel Negreanu joins the boys to recap the key event of the summer, the World Series of Poker. Other news stories discussed on this week’s podcast include the technical issues faced by PokerStars in recent days, the 2018 WCOOP schedule, and the launch of the Moneymaker Tour in Sacramento. There are details of the next #PokerInTheEars $500 freeroll. And the subject of the ‘Superfan vs Stapes’ quiz is one of Joe’s favourite movies, ‘Swingers’, as American poker fan Brian Siegel competes for some PokerStars merch. Please don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe to the podcast.

Episode 125 – 16/08/2018 – Daniel Negreanu

It’s the “season finale!” Ahead of their eight-week summer break, James and Joe review a couple of gambling-themed movies: the most recent Star Wars adventure, ‘Solo’, and the 1974 James Caan classic ‘The Gambler’. They also catch up with the newest member of Team PokerStars Pro, Muskan Sethi, and find out what she’s been up to since qualifying for ‘Shark Cage’ four years ago. Joe drops a LOT of names, as he recounts playing in some recent LA poker games. And loyal listener Colin Bradley tries to win an #EPTBarcelona satellite ticket by answering questions about ‘The Gambler’ in ‘Superfan vs Stapes’. Please don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe to the podcast. #PokerInTheEars returns on Thursday 16th August 2018.

Episode 124 – 14/06/2018 – Muskan Sethi, Solo: A Star Wars Story & The Gambler

There’s a #PlatinumPass theme to this week’s podcast, as James talks through his attempt at winning a $30k PokerStars Players No Limit Hold’em Championship package at the London MEGASTACK at The Hippodrome (resulting in an unfortunate forfeit involving Chris Moneymaker and peanut butter). Plus, there are interviews with two recent Platinum Pass winners: Toin Voncken, who took down the #PokerStarsTV freeroll during #EPTMonteCarlo, and Mike Page, the #NJSCOOP Main Event champion. The boys also have details of their next $500 freeroll, and Chris Unsworth from Norwich in the UK competes for an #EPTBarcelona satellite ticket in a ‘Fugitive’-themed edition of ‘Superfan vs Stapes’. Please don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe to #PokerInTheEars.

Episode 123 – 07/06/2018 – Platinum Pass winners Toin Voncken & Mike Page

James and Joe run through the latest poker headlines, including Chris Ferguson’s “apology” video, Darren Elias’s record-breaking fourth WPT win, the start of the WSOP, and positive changes for PokerStars players in Southern Europe. They also FINALLY speak to Alex Foxen, the college athlete turned poker pro, who’s currently ranked in the GPI top 5, following a string of huge results in the first half of 2018. James talks Showtime Hold’em, and recaps the highlights from the recent Twitch special (including Randy Lew’s mischievous chuckle), and Joe reveals his thoughts on ‘One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest’, as he prepares to take on Peder Grennes from Norway in this week’s edition of ‘Superfan vs Stapes’. Plus, there are details of the next $500 #PokerInTheEars freeroll, and a reminder of how you can win a PokerStars swag bag! Please don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe to the podcast.

Episode 122 – 31/05/2018 – Alex Foxen

On this week’s podcast: Joe talks about getting schooled by Doug Polk, James prepares to be schooled by the entire Team Pro roster (watch him attempt to play Showtime Hold’em on twitch.tv/pokerstars on Sunday May 27th at 4pm BST), and special guest star Benjamin Spragg relives his #SCOOP2018 experience, including his merciless trolling by the PokerStars Blog team. Spraggy also competes in a round of ‘SCOOP Leaderboard or Amateur Porn Uploader’. Plus, there are some key SCOOP stats, details of the forthcoming London MEGASTACK at The Hippodrome and the next $500 #PokerInTheEars freeroll, and Steven Poletti from Sydney answers questions about a #PokerStarsTV classic, ‘The Big Game’, in ‘Superfan vs Stapes’. Please don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe to the show.

Episode 121 – 24/05/2018 – Benjamin ‘Spraggy’ Spragg

James and Joe are back for a five-week run of podcasts, and kick off this “mini series” with a recap of their recent trip to Monaco, including their epic trolling of fellow #PokerStarsTV commentator Fintan Hand. They speak to businessman Alireza Fatehi, who made deep runs in the Super High Roller and Main Event at #EPTMonteCarlo, and recently featured in the #CashChallenge TV shows (available to watch at youtube.com/pokerstars). The boys also run through the latest #SCOOP2018 headlines, and look ahead to the final weekend of the series. Plus, there are details of the next $500 #PokerInTheEars freeroll. And Rob Tebbutt from the UK tries to get his score up to 11 in a ‘Spinal Tap’ themed edition of ‘Superfan vs Stapes’. Please don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe to the podcast.

Episode 120 – 17/05/2018 – Alireza Fatehi

It’s the Monaco preview show, as James and Joe prepare for a week of live streaming from #EPTMonteCarlo. They’ve got details of the broadcast schedule, freerolls, #PlatinumPass giveaway, and guest commentators. In fact, one of the pros who’ll be joining the boys behind the mic is this week’s guest: Maria Ho provides a live tournament/weather update from the French Riviera, and competes in a round of ‘Know Your Co-Host’. There’s also info on the next $500 freeroll. Plus, last year’s Monte Carlo Quali-FIRE, Robert Pankowski, returns to the show to take on Joe at ‘Black Mirror’ trivia in ‘Superfan vs Stapes’. Please watch #PokerStarsTV (at youtube.com/pokerstars or twitch.tv/pokerstars) from 28th April – 4th May. And please don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe to the podcast. #PokerInTheEars returns on Thursday 17th May.

Episode 119 – 26/04/2018 – Maria Ho

James and Joe are back after a three-week break, which means there’s plenty to talk about, including the recent #EPTSochi live stream, which had its highlights (Appendix Guy) and lowlights (Igor Kurganov’s pathetic attempts at performing the ‘Chop Pot’ song). Meanwhile, Joe tells some behind-the-scenes tales from his new TV show, including the story of ‘The Spaghetti Sauce Incident’! The boys also discuss the amazing achievement of the Staples brothers, and check in with Jaime, now that the #UltimateSweat is receiving mainstream media attention, and has resulted in a NEW year-long bet. There are details of the #SundayMillion 12th Anniversary: Take 2 and the next $500 #PokerInTheEars freeroll. Plus, Jordan Cameron from Montreal answers questions about the comedy classic ‘Caddyshack’ in this week’s edition of ‘Superfan vs Stapes’. Please don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe to the podcast.

Episode 118 – 19/04/2018 – Jaime Staples

Yes, there are more apology kittens on this week’s podcast, due to more freeroll problems! But James is (reasonably) certain that the next game will run smoothly. Listen carefully for the details. The boys look ahead to five days of live streaming from #EPTSochi (Sunday 25th – Thursday 29th March at YouTube.com/PokerStars). There’s info on the broadcast times, freerolls, and some interesting changes to the Main Event. This week’s guest is Richard Orford, a recent newcomer to the #PokerStarsTV commentary team, who talks about his TV career and love of poker, and takes on James at movie trivia in one of Joe’s trademark stupid quizzes. Plus, #PlatinumPass winner Mikolaj Syp gets the chance to win MORE prizes in ‘Superfan vs Stapes’. Please don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe to the podcast. The next episode of #PokerInTheEars will be released on Thursday 19th April.

Episode 117 – 22/03/2018 – Richard Orford

Every week, the hosts of PokerStars TV (James Hartigan and Joe Stapleton) bring you a behind-the-scenes look at what it’s like being two regular folks on the international poker circuit. Told from the perspective of a cranky British dad (Hartigan) and an undateable American bachelor (Stapes), Poker in the Ears is a mostly uncensored take on the world of professional poker. The hosts also regularly call in favours, in the form of guest spots from their big-shot celebrity poker-playing friends. And they routinely hold on-air competitions, providing chances for listeners to join them on tour.

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Poker in the Ears

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