All The Smoke

Gary Vaynerchuk rolled through the All the Smoke studio and it was clear from the jump: Gary knows ball. We got into his maniacal Knicks fandom, the business of basketball, and the one trait he believes is the key to success in anything he does. We also picked Gary's brain on the sports card industry, why he believes in the future of pickleball, and what he'd tell Wemby right now if he was in his corner. This might be one of the most game-filled episodes we've ever dropped. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hall of Famer Carmelo Anthony joins ATS Unplugged for an in-depth conversation on basketball’s new era. Melo breaks down why Victor Wembanyama is unlike anything the NBA has ever seen, why the New York Knicks have a real shot at the Finals, and what it was like watching Kiyan battle through a tough freshman season at Syracuse University. He also opens up on: Kobe Bryant and the 2009 Western Conference Finals Why today’s players don’t master the mid-range anymore The NBA stars he’d love to train Wemby’s mentality and mindset NIL chaos and the future of college basketball What separates elite scorers from everybody else See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Darren Waller pulls up to All The Smoke and holds nothing back. From the chair in Miami where Mike McDaniel got fired 90 minutes after their exit meeting, to the parking lot in Baltimore where a fentanyl-laced Percocet nearly ended his life, the All-Pro tight end walks Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson through the highs, lows, and the resurrection in between. Now 9 years sober and weighing his next NFL move, Waller is more open than he's ever been. He breaks down the cold business of the league, the Toradol and painkiller culture that swallowed teammates like Lorenzo "Zoe" Taliaferro, the wild drug-test tricks players used to beat the system, and the John Harbaugh rookie-meeting moment that hit him in the heart. Waller also opens up on stocking shelves at Sprouts for $11 an hour before becoming one of the highest-paid tight ends in NFL history, his Harlem jazz bloodline tied to Fats Waller, and the brotherhood he's built with Max Crosby through recovery. Plus: a live Baron Davis FaceTime cameo after Darren drops his new song named after the We Believe Warriors legend, his all-time offensive starting five, smartest defender he ever faced (Vontaze Burfict), the hardest hit he ever took, and what he wants out of free agency this offseason. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Matt sits down with one of baseball's most remarkable figures — Dusty Baker. A 19-year career as a player, one of the greatest managerial runs in the sport's history, and a front-row seat to some of the most defining moments in baseball history. Dusty opens up about breaking into professional baseball in the Deep South in 1968, navigating sundown laws as a young Black man in the minor leagues, and what it was really like to come of age during one of the most turbulent eras in American history. He shares what it meant to be taken under the wing of legends, like Hank Aaron and Satchel Paige, and how those early experiences shaped the way he led clubhouses for decades. He also gets into managing Barry Bonds through one of the greatest offensive seasons in baseball history,, the infamous Bartman game in Chicago, inheriting the Houston Astros in the middle of a scandal, and finally winning it all at 73 years old — becoming the oldest manager in history to win a World Series. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The NBA Playoffs have been wild! To break it all down, you already know we had to bring back our guy Mad Max. Matt and Max discuss the Lakers' impending offseason, Wemby's ejection, and the criticism Jaylen Brown has been drawing. We also break down the Wizards winning the lottery, potential Giannis destinations, and why KD should stay in Houston. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Samiel "Blacc Sam" Asghedom sits down with Matt & Stack to talk about pushing Nipsey Hussle's legacy forward. From humble beginnings in the streets to building one of hip hop's most respected brands, Sam gets into the opening of Nipsey Hussle Square, the future of the Marathon brand, and the highly anticipated Nipsey docuseries and Prolific music project dropping soon. Bino Rideaux also pulls up to share what he's been working on and what it was really like creating with Nip. This one is heavy. Game, love, and real talk about a legend who never stopped building. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stephen Jackson sits down 1-on-1 with his real brother 2 Chainz for a wide-ranging Unplugged conversation covering hip-hop, fatherhood, basketball, and legacy. 2 Chainz opens up about his new memoir The Voice in Your Head Is God, finding hidden money and letters his late father left behind, and being a special guest on Lil Wayne's 20-year Carter Class of Tour this summer. He drops nostalgia on Duffel Bag Boyz with Wayne, pays homage to Dolla, and previews his upcoming album Players Only Live Once (POLO) featuring Mary J. Blige, Big Sean, Macy Gray, and T.I. 2 Chainz also goes deep on his son Halo's NBA mindset, the recent scouting trip to Kansas with the Hawks ownership to see AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson, and why he believes the Spurs are winning the whole thing this year. Plus: Hawks first-round playoff exit to the Knicks, Mike Brown's defensive blueprint, the future of the Celtics and Rockets, his Atlanta club Candyland, and a passionate defense of KD's decision to protect his Achilles. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II sat down with Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson ahead of his Netflix debut in Man on Fire, where he steps into the iconic role made famous by Denzel Washington. Yahya breaks down what it takes to fill those shoes, shares stories about Keanu Reeves, Michael Bay, Lisa Bonet, and gives his take on the future of Hollywood. And when we found out he hooped in high school? You already know we had to go there. Real ones know what to expect from ALL THE SMOKE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Matt Barnes sits down with World Series champion and 13-year MLB veteran Nick Swisher for an unfiltered conversation. From the Oakland A's locker room to the darkest year of his career to winning it all in pinstripes, Swish holds absolutely nothing back. They get into Jason Giambi's infamous team motto, Barry Zito's off-the-field life, and what it felt like to win a World Series with the New York Yankees after hitting rock bottom in 2008. Plus — the real talk on A-Rod, Derek Jeter, Robinson Cano, the death of Oakland baseball, the Dodgers dynasty, and why the Yankees are built different. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Eight rings. 32 years. The man who saw every Kobe Bryant practice and game finally sits down. Former Los Angeles Lakers head athletic trainer Gary Vitti opens up on November 7, 1991, the day he realized Magic Johnson was HIV positive before anyone told him. He also revisits the 1985 Memorial Day Massacre in Boston, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s accountability speech, and why HBO’s Winning Time got Jerry West and Dr. Jerry Buss wrong. He breaks down Pat Riley’s famous “12 + 2 + 1” inner circle and why Kareem still has the strongest GOAT case. Then come the Shaq stories: police academy frisking that broke Vitti’s pelvis, wild locker-room pranks, Kobe getting waterboarded by Navy SEALs, the Sacramento suppository moment, Kobe’s Achilles tear, the “F*ck Paul Pierce” walk back to the bench, and the instant Vanessa arrived and the Black Mamba became dad again. This is 32 years of Lakers history told by the one man who was there for all of it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The hardest question we ask on ALL THE SMOKE: Rank MJ, Kobe, and LeBron. It's a question guests fear answering but everyone comes with a different take. We put together a compilation of 20 guests giving their answer and it is fascinating how everyone looks at it from a different perspective. We talked to people who have played against all three and even some who never played in the NBA to see how they view the most debated topic in basketball. What is your ranking? Let us know in the comments! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We officially welcome Michael Irvin to the ALL THE SMOKE family on the latest episode of Unplugged! The Playmaker and Vernon Maxwell join Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson for a loaded conversation on running Texas from Houston to Dallas, legendary '90s nightlife, football culture, and life after the game. Also on the episode: GOAT wide receiver debates, the rise and downfall of "The White House," Mike Vrabel, Shedeur Sanders, Adam Sandler's advice, his new Netflix show, and why Michael still goes to confession every week. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jalen Duren joins ATS Unplugged with Stephen Jackson and Vernon Maxwell to talk Detroit’s Bad Boy revival, the Pistons’ physical identity, and why this young group feels different. He also opens up about betting on himself after turning down an extension, the summer ahead, Isaiah Stewart, Cade Cunningham, Philly roots, and Detroit practices that sound like real smoke. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The first cannabis executive to grace the cover of Forbes pulls up on ALL THE SMOKE. Berner is impossible to put in a box: rapper, entrepreneur, and one of the most innovative minds in the game. From building Cookies with $19k from his mother's inheritance to battling cancer to his next chapter in film, he's always moving. Hear how he spent over $20 million in legal fees fighting for his brand, why he turned down Diddy trying to buy into Cookies, and what's next. This one will have you ready to get up and build something. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Howard Bryant, one of the most respected baseball writers alive, joins Matt in a special conversation on Jackie Robinson Day. Howard breaks down why Black players disappeared from MLB , what it was really like covering the steroid era, and why he believes baseball is at a crossroads right now. Plus, he breaks down his new book King of Pawns, the untold story of Jackie Robinson and Paul Robeson. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

CM Punk pulls up to ALL THE SMOKE Unplugged ahead of WrestleMania 42 and gets real about Roman Reigns, Pipe Bomb 2.0, Pat McAfee, Chicago, WWE politics, his 10-year hiatus, AJ Lee, Money in the Bank 2011, John Cena, writing for Marvel, and what’s still left to accomplish in his legendary career. The WWE World Heavyweight Champion also opens up on main-eventing WrestleMania back-to-back years, why the business feels different now, the pressure of carrying the company, and how he still approaches the game at 47. Tap in for one of CM Punk’s most honest long-form interviews yet. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Matt Barnes sits down with businessman, philanthropist, and California gubernatorial candidate Tom Steyer to break down the largest state in the nation, and discuss his vision for California's future. They cover the housing crisis, a $22 billion corporate real estate tax loophole that's been quietly sitting on the books for decades, and what Steyer would do on day one in office. He also gets into what he thinks the Democratic Party is getting wrong, and why he says fellow billionaires will hate his policies. They also touch on billionaire-elites buying media entities, AI data centers being built in low-income communities, and the Warriors. As we approach the Midterm Elections, The Smoke Signal will be bringing prominent voices to the table to have honest conversations about where the country is and where it needs to go. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Matt & Stak sat down with one of the Bay Area's most underrated rap legends: Richie Rich. He saw how the industry moved and stepped back from the mainstream while others didn't make it out. Expect crazy Tupac & Biggie stories, how Snoop's 213 was inspired by Rich's 415, and the untold story of how he landed on the Luniz classic "I Got 5 On It." Now building his coffee brand The Rolling Bean Coffee, Rich is proof the game never stops. All game, all real, only on ALL THE SMOKE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Newly minted hall-of-famer CC Sabathia pulls up for his second appearence on All the Smoke. CC gets into everything, most notably his legendary Yankees tenure; from A-Rod recruiting him, Cashman closing the deal, the Astros rivalry, and the current Aaron Judge-era. On Ohtani, CC is all-in: "Ohtani is the greatest baseball player to ever live." Plus, the WBC's rise to must-watch TV, how the Commissioner's office is finally putting players in the room, and what the CAP program is doing to bring legends back to the game. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ahead of Netflix’s Untold: Jail Blazers (premiering April 14), Rasheed Wallace, Damon Stoudamire, and Bonzi Wells join All The Smoke Unplugged to finally tell their side of one of the most misunderstood eras in NBA history. They revisit the loaded Trail Blazers rosters that nearly broke through, the heartbreak of coming up short against the Lakers and Spurs, Damon’s unforgettable first practice in Portland, brutal first-team vs. second-team battles, Scottie Pippen’s arrival, Arvydas Sabonis stories, locker room culture, and why those teams believed they should have won a championship. From the origins of the “Jail Blazers” label to the media narratives that followed those Portland teams for years, the guys reflect on how that era was framed, what the public never heard, and why this documentary matters now. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.