Pretty Big News
37 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 2 years ago - ★★★★★ - 79 ratingsHey, welcome to Pretty Big News - a podcast where Matt Castello and Blake Jamieson talk to compelling people from all types of industries: artists, athletes, writers, journalists, comedians, and many more.
The goal of the podcast is to dive deep into our guest's passions and to learn their story - whatever it might be.
We have a Patreon page, where we will offer exclusive behind-the-scenes footage and much more. We will also be sending some very cool stuff out to those who sign up for our Patreon.
Check out our Patreon for the show: https://www.patreon.com/PrettyBigNews
And follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/PrettyBigNews
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Episodes
Episode 26: Bobby Valentine - Former MLB Player & Manager, Candidate for Mayor of Stamford, CT
October 15, 2021 15:00 - 26 minutes - 48.1 MBOn episode 26 of Pretty Big News, Matt Castello interviews Bobby Valentine. Bobby is a former MLB player and manager and is currently running to be the mayor of Stamford, Connecticut. Matt asked Bobby about the mayoral race, his thoughts on Blake Jamieson's Project70 card that features him, collecting cards, what it was like managing the Mets after 9/11, and much more! Follow Bobby on Twitter: https://twitter.com/BobbyValentine And check out his website: https://www.bobbyvalentine.com/ Supp...
Episode 25: Ken Karl - Artist
September 17, 2021 16:45 - 52 minutes - 95.7 MBOn episode 25 of Pretty Big News, Matt Castello interviews Ken Karl. Ken is a talented sports artist, based in Missouri. Matt asked Ken about attending The National, coaching his kids in sports and the youth sports industrial complex, starting his art business, completing his first NFT project (81.Gallery), working with Topps, and much more! Check out Ken's website: https://www.kenkarlsportsart.com/ Follow Ken on Twitter: https://twitter.com/kenkarl01 And on IG: https://www.instagram.com/ken_...
Episode 24: Donny B - CardArt Ambassador, Comedian, Podcaster, Hobby Enthusiast and All-Around Good Guy
August 19, 2021 19:45 - 2 hours - 234 MBOn episode 24 of Pretty Big News, Matt Castello interviews Donovan Lopez a.k.a. Donny B. Donny is a card artist, comedian and podcaster, and one of the best ambassadors for card art in the hobby. Matt asked Donny about the National and his experience in Chicago, the podcast that he started - Outside the Wax - with Kard Killer and Peter Packman, his first time doing standup, his collection of comedy cards, how collecting has helped his sobriety, card art, and much more! Follow Donny on IG: htt...
Episode 23: Andrea Williams - Journalist and author of Baseball's Leading Lady
June 08, 2021 16:45 - 43 minutes - 79.4 MBOn episode 23 of Pretty Big News, Matt Castello interviews Andrea Williams. Andrea is a journalist and the author of Baseball's Leading Lady: Effa Manley and the Rise and Fall of the Negro Leagues. Matt asked Andrea about working at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, Branch Rickey not compensating the Kansas City Monarchs for Jackie Robinson's contract, what Effa might have thought about MLB's decision to recognize stats from the Negro Leagues, the writing process, and much more! Follow Andre...
Episode 22: Ruppert Jones - Former MLB player and author of #NeverGiveUp: A Memoir of Baseball and Traumatic Brain Injury
May 13, 2021 22:00 - 1 hour - 149 MBOn episode 22 of Pretty Big News, Matt Castello interviews Ruppert Jones. Ruppert played in Major League baseball for 12 years, made two All-Star teams, and won a World Series with the Tigers in 1984. In 1980, while playing for the Yankees, Ruppert suffered a traumatic brain injury that went undiagnosed for 30 years. Ruppert recently wrote a book, #NeverGiveUp: A Memoir of Baseball and Traumatic Brain Injury, which is available exclusively on Amazon.com. Matt and Ruppert discussed Ruppert's b...
Episode 21: Bill Nowlin - Author, SABR director, and co-founder of Rounder Records
February 25, 2021 22:30 - 1 hour - 130 MBOn episode 21 of Pretty Big News, Matt Castello interviews Bill Nowlin. Bill is a director at SABR, has authored and edited dozens of books about baseball, and was one of the co-founders of Rounder Records. Matt and Bill talked about a ton of topics, including two books, Baseball's Biggest Blowout Games and Working a "Perfect Game", some upcoming projects Bill has in the works at SABR, his passion for the Red Sox, some of the artists he worked with at Rounder Records, including Alison Krauss ...
Episode 20: Slade Heathcott - Co-founder of More Than Baseball
February 06, 2021 15:30 - 1 hour - 120 MBOn episode 20 of Pretty Big News, Matt Castello interviews Slade Heathcott. The Yankees drafted Slade in the first round of the 2009 draft and he made his MLB debut in 2015. He currently works as director of operations for More Than Baseball, a nonprofit, which he co-founded. Matt and Slade talked about a bunch of things, including More Than Baseball, Slade's career, what inspires Slade to do the work he does, Slade's favorite MLB teammate, and more. Follow Slade on Twitter: https://twitter.c...
Episode 19: Larry Lester - Author, Historian, and Speaker
December 02, 2020 15:45 - 53 minutes - 97.2 MBOn episode 19 of Pretty Big News, Matt Castello interviews Larry Lester. Larry is an author, historian, and speaker. He was co-founder of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, and served as its Research Director and Treasurer for five years. Matt asked Larry about his work looking for and discovering box scores from Negro Leagues games, what is stopping MLB from recognizing stats from the Negro Leagues among the official major leagues, his greatest accomplishments, the legendary S...
Episode 18: Kelsey Caine - Comedian
November 19, 2020 22:00 - 1 hour - 149 MBOn episode 18 of Pretty Big News, Matt Castello interviews Kelsey Caine. Kelsey is a NYC-based comedian and writer, who is working on a book of essays. Matt asked Kelsey about a ton of topics, including: entering a Beauty Pageant (and writing about it for the New York Times), the comedy scene in Austin and New York, how dyslexia affects her comedy and writing, going viral for her Louie parody video, her Penis CK character, her favorite comedians, and much more! Content warning: There is discu...
Episode 17: Mike Rosenbaum of MLB.com & MLB Pipeline
November 13, 2020 15:30 - 1 hour - 194 MBOn episode 17 of Pretty Big News, Matt Castello interviews Mike Rosenbaum. Mike is a writer for MLB.com and MLB Pipeline and Matt and Mike previously worked together at MLB Pipeline. Matt asked Mike about him and his wife, Julia, having their first child during a pandemic and the challenges there, his journey from playing baseball at Grinnell College to writing about professionally, some of baseball's top prospects and his thoughts on them, what this year has been like for a prospects writer ...
Episode 17: Mike Rosenbaum -Writer at MLB.com & MLB Pipeline
November 13, 2020 14:30 - 1 hour - 194 MBOn episode 17 of Pretty Big News, Matt Castello interviews Mike Rosenbaum. Mike is a writer for MLB.com and MLB Pipeline and Matt and Mike previously worked together at MLB Pipeline. Matt asked Mike about him and his wife, Julia, having their first child during a pandemic and the challenges there, his journey from playing baseball at Grinnell College to writing about professionally, some of baseball's top prospects and his thoughts on them, what this year has been like for a prospects writer ...
Episode 16: Efdot - Artist, Muralist, and Illustrator
November 06, 2020 15:15 - 51 minutes - 95 MBOn episode 16 of Pretty Big News, Matt Castello interviews Efdot. Efdot is an artist, muralist, and illustrator, and also hosts a podcast called Extra Paint. Matt and Efdot spoke on Monday night (Nov. 2nd) and talked about how they were feeling with election results looming, Efdot's optimism and where it comes from, his Griffey Jr. card, how his Patreon has changed over the past few months, his Project 2020 "Blob" companion cards, his favorite Project 2020 Easter Egg, and much more! Follow Ef...
Episode 15: Sydney Battle - Comedian, Writer & Actor
November 05, 2020 13:00 - 1 hour - 150 MBOn episode 15 of Pretty Big News, Matt Castello interviews Sydney Battle. Sydney is an actor, writer, and comedian. Matt asked Sydney about writing for the 2020 Emmy Awards (while moving across the country), going viral on Twitter and what comes with it, if she prefers standup or improv, some of her favorite comedians today, her favorite movies of all-time, what advice she would give to her younger self, and more! Follow Sydney on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SydneyBattle And on IG: https://w...
Bonus Episode 2 - Preview (Full episode on Patreon)
October 31, 2020 02:45 - 1 minute - 2.05 MBOn the second Bonus episode of Pretty Big News, Matt and Blake talk about a bunch of different things, including the Topps event at the MLB store in NY, meeting Gregory Siff in person, and much more. To listen to the full episode, join PBN's Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PrettyBigNews Support this podcast
Episode 14: Sean Gibson - Executive Director of The Josh Gibson Foundation
October 30, 2020 01:00 - 53 minutes - 97.2 MBOn episode 14 of Pretty Big News, Matt Castello interviews Sean Gibson. Sean is the executive director of The Josh Gibson Foundation. Matt asked Sean spoke about a host of subjects, including if he was surprised that Kenesaw Landis' name was removed from the MVP trophy and why Sean feels that baseball's MVP award should be named after his great-grandfather, the work that The Josh Gibson Foundation does, his grandfather and great-grandfather, what baseball can do to make the sport a more equit...
Episode 14: Sean Gibson - Executive Directory of The Josh Gibson Foundation
October 30, 2020 01:00 - 53 minutes - 97.2 MBOn episode 14 of Pretty Big News, Matt Castello interviews Sean Gibson. Sean is the executive director of The Josh Gibson Foundation. Matt asked Sean spoke about a host of subjects, including if he was surprised that Kenesaw Landis' name was removed from the MVP trophy and why Sean feels that baseball's MVP award should be named after his great-grandfather, the work that The Josh Gibson Foundation does, his grandfather and great-grandfather, what baseball can do to make the sport a more equit...
Episode 13: Jason Belmonte - World's No. 1 Bowler
October 27, 2020 19:30 - 1 hour - 117 MBOn episode 13 of Pretty Big News, Matt Castello interviews Jason Belmonte, the world's top-ranked bowler. Matt and Jason spoke about a bunch of topics, including how professional bowling differs from throwing at your neighborhood bowling alley, the mental side of the game, Jason getting fired by his dad, the most memorable shot of his career, his goals in the sport, the greatest risk he's taken, and more! Follow Jason on Twitter: https://twitter.com/JBelmo To learn more about Jason, check out...
Episode 12: Mirin Fader - Bleacher Report staff writer
October 22, 2020 16:45 - 1 hour - 146 MBOn episode 12 of Pretty Big News, Matt Castello talks to Bleacher Report's Mirin Fader. Mirin, an exceptionally talented journalist, has written some incredible (and award-winning) sports feature stories and is currently working on her first book. Matt asks Mirin about her favorite lede, what is was like to travel to Lithuania alone to profile LaMelo Ball, the best advice she's received from Jeff Pearlman, finding joy in her work, the most difficult story she has reported, what it's like to p...
Episode 11: Adam Lefkoe of Bleacher Report & TNT
October 14, 2020 22:30 - 1 hour - 116 MBOn episode 11 of Pretty Big News, Matt Castello interviews Adam Lefkoe of Bleacher Report and Turner Sports. Adam is the host of Inside the NBA on Tuesdays on TNT and hosts The Lefkoe Show on Bleacher Report. Matt and Adam spoke about a number of topics, including: speaking out about what's going on in the world, Adam's career, how Adam is able to build chemistry with co-hosts and guests so quickly, the NBA playoffs, cards, and much more. Follow Adam on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AdamLefkoe...
Episode 11: Adam Lefkoe - Bleacher Report & TNT
October 14, 2020 21:30 - 1 hour - 116 MBOn episode 11 of Pretty Big News, Matt Castello interviews Adam Lefkoe of Bleacher Report and Turner Sports. Adam is the host of Inside the NBA on Tuesdays on TNT and hosts The Lefkoe Show on Bleacher Report. Matt and Adam spoke about a number of topics, including: speaking out about what's going on in the world, Adam's career, how Adam is able to build chemistry with co-hosts and guests so quickly, the NBA playoffs, cards, and much more. Follow Adam on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AdamLefkoe...
Episode 11: Adam Lefkoe
October 14, 2020 21:30 - 1 hour - 116 MBOn episode 11 of Pretty Big News, Matt Castello interviews Adam Lefkoe of Bleacher Report and Turner Sports. Adam is the host of Inside the NBA on Tuesdays on TNT and hosts The Lefkoe Show on Bleacher Report. Matt and Adam spoke about a number of topics, including: speaking out about what's going on in the world, Adam's career, how Adam is able to build chemistry with co-hosts and guests so quickly, the NBA playoffs, cards, and much more. Follow Adam on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AdamLefkoe...
Episode 10: Jeff Pearlman - NYT best-selling author and journalist
October 09, 2020 19:30 - 39 minutes - 73.1 MBOn episode 10 of Pretty Big News, Matt Castello interviews author and journalist Jeff Pearlman. Jeff is the New York Times best-selling author of nine books. His most recent book is Three-Ring Circus: How Kobe, Shaq, Phil and the Crazy Years of the Lakers Dynasty. Jeff also hosts a podcast called Two Writers Slinging Yang, which features conversations with different writers. Matt and Jeff spoke about Jeff's new book and how it differed from his first Lakers book, Showtime, what it's like prom...
Episode 9: Mark Simon of Sports Info Solutions + The Journalism Salute
October 05, 2020 20:45 - 53 minutes - 98 MBOn episode 9 of Pretty Big News, Matt Castello interviews Mark Simon. Mark joined Sports Info Solutions after working for ESPN for nearly 16 years in a number of different positions. Matt and Mark spoke about Mark's journalism career, including how he landed at ESPN (shout-out to Jayson Stark), the Sports Info Solutions Baseball Podcast, a podcast he recently started called The Journalism Salute, the book he wrote, "The Yankees Index: Every Number Tells A Story", and more! Follow Mark on Twit...
Episode 9: Mark Simon - Sports Info Solutions + The Journalism Salute
October 05, 2020 19:45 - 53 minutes - 98 MBOn episode 9 of Pretty Big News, Matt Castello interviews Mark Simon. Mark joined Sports Info Solutions after working for ESPN for nearly 16 years in a number of different positions. Matt and Mark spoke about Mark's journalism career, including how he landed at ESPN (shout-out to Jayson Stark), the Sports Info Solutions Baseball Podcast, a podcast he recently started called The Journalism Salute, the book he wrote, "The Yankees Index: Every Number Tells A Story", and more! Follow Mark on Twit...
Bonus Episode 1 - Preview (Full episode on Patreon)
October 04, 2020 20:15 - 5 minutes - 10.3 MBOn the the very first Bonus episode of Pretty Big News, Matt and Blake talk about a bunch of different things, including the fundraiser for the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, Project 2020, the greatest risk Blake has ever taken, and much more. The first few minutes of the bonus episode are publicly available. To listen to the rest of the episode - when Matt throws Blake some curveballs - join the Patreon for PBN. Link to the Pretty Big News Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PrettyBigNews Link ...
Episode 8: Talking WNBA with Matt Ellentuck
October 02, 2020 21:15 - 53 minutes - 98.8 MBOn episode 8 of Pretty Big News, Matt Castello interviews journalist Matt Ellentuck. Matt previously covered basketball for SB Nation, has written about the WNBA for The New York Times, and is currently writing about women's basketball on a fantastic newsletter called Here's Basketball, which you should definitely subscribe to. Matt and Matt spoke about a number of WNBA-related topics, including: the greatest Terp of all time, Alyssa Thomas, Game 5 of the Sun vs. the Aces, the WNBA finals a...
Episode 8: Basketball writer Matt Ellentuck
October 02, 2020 20:15 - 53 minutes - 98.8 MBOn episode 8 of Pretty Big News, Matt Castello interviews journalist Matt Ellentuck. Matt previously covered basketball for SB Nation, has written about the WNBA for The New York Times, and is currently writing about women's basketball on a fantastic newsletter called Here's Basketball, which you should definitely subscribe to. Matt and Matt spoke about a number of WNBA-related topics, including: the greatest Terp of all time, Alyssa Thomas, Game 5 of the Sun vs. the Aces, the WNBA finals a...
Episode 7: Jen Ramos of Baseball Prospectus
September 29, 2020 21:45 - 1 hour - 157 MBOn episode 7 of Pretty Big News, Matt interviews journalist Jen Ramos. Jen does research and development for Baseball Prospectus and also writes about prospects. Check out their work for BP here: https://www.baseballprospectus.com/author/jen_mac-ramos/ Matt and Jen spoke about a number of different topics, including how they became a baseball fan, their experience working as the first openly non-binary executive in pro sports, covering the game as a non-binary person, how MLB treats the LGBTQ...
Episode 7: Jen Ramos - Baseball Prospectus
September 29, 2020 20:45 - 1 hour - 157 MBOn episode 7 of Pretty Big News, Matt interviews journalist Jen Ramos. Jen does research and development for Baseball Prospectus and also writes about prospects. Check out their work for BP here: https://www.baseballprospectus.com/author/jen_mac-ramos/ Matt and Jen spoke about a number of different topics, including how they became a baseball fan, their experience working as the first openly non-binary executive in pro sports, covering the game as a non-binary person, how MLB treats the LGBTQ...
Episode 6: Scott Rogowsky - aka the Quiz Daddy
September 25, 2020 01:00 - 52 minutes - 95.5 MBOn episode 6 of Pretty Big News, Matt interviews comedian Scott Rogowsky. Scott was the host of HQ Trivia and the baseball show, ChangeUp, which was on DAZN, and is currently helping Homage and Topps promote their Wax Pack Wednesday t-shirts. In addition, Scott has been selling vintage clothes and sports gear and donating the money to various charities. Matt and Scott spoke about 9/11 (they recorded the episode on Sept. 11, 2020), comedy, how HQ changed Scott's life, working at DAZN, sports c...
Episode 5: Tyson Beck - Project 2020, Tatum, Kuzma, Kobe & more
September 21, 2020 20:30 - 1 hour - 173 MBOn episode 5 of Pretty Big News, Matt and Blake talk to artist Tyson Beck. Tyson is one of the 20 artists working on Topps' Project 2020 and he is coming out with his own line of cards, which is truly a game changer for the hobby. His first two cards, "F*CK THE BOTS" and a collaboration with Jayson Tatum, sold out extremely quickly, and his third card in the series, a card featuring Kyle Kuzma, comes out later today. We talked Project 2020, his line of cards and how much he poured into them,...
Epsiode 4: Artist Lauren Taylor
September 15, 2020 21:30 - 1 hour - 217 MBOn this episode of Pretty Big News, Matt Castello talks to artist Lauren Taylor, an artist who is licensed with MLB, MLBPA, and the Baseball Hall of Fame. Lauren and Matt talk about baseball, art, and they delve into the details concerning an injury Lauren suffered while playing softball and the effect its had on her life. Matt and Lauren also discuss mental health and their own personal experiences with depression. Check out Lauren's work here: https://laurentaylorillustrations.com/ And here...
Episode 4: Artist Lauren Taylor
September 15, 2020 21:30 - 1 hour - 217 MBOn this episode of Pretty Big News, Matt Castello talks to artist Lauren Taylor, an artist who is licensed with MLB, MLBPA, and the Baseball Hall of Fame. Lauren and Matt talk about baseball, art, and they delve into the details concerning an injury Lauren suffered while playing softball and the effect its had on her life. Matt and Lauren also discuss mental health and their own personal experiences with depression. Check out Lauren's work here: https://laurentaylorillustrations.com/ And here...
Episode 3: Micah Johnson - from MLB to full-time artist
September 06, 2020 13:00 - 53 minutes - 98.7 MBOn this episode of Pretty Big News, Matt and Blake talk to former MLB player Micah Johnson about his transition from professional athlete to artist, how he rediscovered his passion for art, the toughest pitcher he faced in the big leagues, and much more! Check out Micah's art here: https://www.artangels.net/ And follow Micah on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/Micah_Johnson3 Support this podcast
Episode 2: Jim Callis of MLB Pipeline & MLB.com
August 31, 2020 15:00 - 1 hour - 130 MBOn episode 2 of Pretty Big News, Matt Castello talks to Jim Callis. Jim, a senior writer at MLB Pipeline and MLB.com, is one of the most knowledgeable baseball reporters in the business. Matt asks Jim about his favorite event to cover, his path from college at the University of Georgia to Baseball America to MLB.com, his biggest prospect crush ever, some of the best young players in baseball, the time he nailed the first 18 picks of a mock draft, and much more. Support this podcast
Episode 2: Jim Callis - Senior Writer at MLB Pipeline & MLB.com
August 31, 2020 14:00 - 1 hour - 130 MBOn episode 2 of Pretty Big News, Matt Castello talks to Jim Callis. Jim, a senior writer at MLB Pipeline and MLB.com, is one of the most knowledgeable baseball reporters in the business. Matt asks Jim about his favorite event to cover, his path from college at the University of Georgia to Baseball America to MLB.com, his biggest prospect crush ever, some of the best young players in baseball, the time he nailed the first 18 picks of a mock draft, and much more. Support this podcast
Episode 1: Matt interviews Blake Jamieson
August 26, 2020 19:15 - 49 minutes - 67.8 MBIn the first episode of Pretty Big News, Matt Castello talks to artist Blake Jamieson about a host of topics, including: CardArt, Project 2020, a "party-throwing" business he started in college, the power of positive thinking, and more. Support this podcast