Best Pop Cruz Podcasts (2024)

1
Book Club: "Small Things Like These," by Claire Keegan 51:41

1h ago51:41

51:41

Clare Keegan's slim 2021 novella about one Irishman's crisis of conscience during the Christmas season, which was shortlisted for the Booker Prize, has also been adapted into a film starring Cillian Murphy. In this week’s episode, MJ Franklin discusses the book with his colleagues Joumana Khatib, Lauren Christensen, and Elizabeth Egan. Keegan's boo…

1
Ep. 179 Lord of the Cup 1:26:12

2h ago1:26:12

1:26:12

This week we're joined by Drew Mitchell, and after our NFL rundown, we talk NBA Cup and the new All-Star format for this coming year. We also discuss the changing ratings, and what the league is doing to counter the drop.By Pops & Shots Podcast

1
EP. 528: 🔴 Anik & Florian MMA Topics with Ray Longo + UFC Tampa Recap + Fan Questions + UFC 311 1:21:09

10h ago1:21:09

1:21:09

Anik & Florian are welcoming the Anik & Florian family to their Christmas Party as the UFC schedule has come to a yule-tide close. We recap the #UFCTampa event from last weekend that had the boys staying up well into the “oh holy night” before talking to RPL and answer some burning questions like: 🗣️ Was Buckley vs Covington stopped early? 🗣️ Does …

1
Our Book Critics On Their Year in Reading 31:39

7d ago31:39

31:39

Dwight Garner, Jennifer Szalai and Alexandra Jacobs — staff critics for The New York Times Book Review — join host Gilbert Cruz to look back on highlights from their year in books. Books discussed: "Intermezzo," by Sally Rooney "All Fours," by Miranda July "You Dreamed of Empires," by Álvaro Enrigue "When the Clock Broke," by John Ganz "Radiant: Th…

1
Ep. 178 Devil Magic 1:05:41

5d ago1:05:41

1:05:41

It's the end of the Fantasy football regular season, and the Nation of Domination did not disappoint. After we give our NFL rundown, we cover all of the fantasy movement and upsets, followed by a quick update on the NBA standing as they are now.By Pops & Shots Podcast

1
EP. 527: 🔴 UFC 310 Recap with Ray Longo + Pantoja Wins, DJ Next? + Shavkat's Dub + Full Card Breakdown + UFC Tampa Picks with Brian Petrie 2:12:58

7d ago2:12:58

2:12:58

🔴 UFC 310 Recap with Ray Longo + Pantoja Wins, DJ Next? + Shavkat's Dub + UFC Tampa Picks | A&F.527 Anik & Florian are ready to recap the last PPV of the year as UFC 310 went down last weekend. The boys break down the event like only they can before being joined by head coach Ray Longo who had a front row seat to all the action. 🗣️ Is Demetrious Jo…

1
Book Club: Dolly Alderton's 'Good Material' (Rerun) 46:41

14d ago46:41

46:41

Following our Top 10 Books of 2024 episode, we are re-running our book club discussion about one of the novels on our year-end list: "Good Material." How to explain the British writer Dolly Alderton to an American audience? It might be best to let her work speak for itself — it certainly does! — but Alderton is such a cultural phenomenon in her nat…

1
Ep. 177 Rivalry Week 1:15:14

13d ago1:15:14

1:15:14

It's rivalry week, and we're here to talk about it! But first, we do our NFL rundown, followed by our Nation of Domination playoff picture update. We also give an update on the NBA, and how the Rockets and Spurs are fairing so far this season. Finally, we are talking fights better than the Tyson v Paul fight, because it was rivalry week in college …

1
The 10 Best Books of 2024 1:18:44

13d ago1:18:44

1:18:44

Don't let anyone tell you differently — end of year list time is a wonderful time, indeed. And, as we do every December, we are ready to discuss the 10 best books of the year. Host Gilbert Cruz gathers the editors of the New York Times Book Review to discuss the most exciting fiction and nonfiction of the year. The New York Times Book Review's Top …

1
EP. 526: 🔴 UFC 310 Preview with Anik & Florian + Ray Longo on Chris Weidman + Conor McGregor News 1:53:53

15d ago1:53:53

1:53:53

🔴 UFC 310 Preview with Anik & Florian + Ray Longo on Chris Weidman + Conor McGregor News | A&F.526 Anik & Florian are ready to roll as UFC 310 fight week beckons and the last PPV of the year is on the cusp of culmination. The boys have no shortage of UFC news to discuss after Petr Yan’s performance at UFC Macau and a slew of other news including Co…

1
Book Club: 'James,' by Percival Everett (Rerun) 45:32

21d ago45:32

45:32

The broad outlines of "James" will be immediately familiar to anyone with even a basic knowledge of American literature: A boy named Huckleberry Finn and an enslaved man named Jim are fleeing down the Mississippi River together, each in search of his own kind of freedom. But where Mark Twain’s “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” treated Jim as a secon…

1
Ep. 176 Karma/Space City or Area 51? 1:46:06

20d ago1:46:06

1:46:06

This week, we cover our usual NFL rundown, as well as Gabriel responding to last weeks episode. We have our Nation update, as well as weekly pick 'ems, then move on to NBA coverage as the Rockets and Spurs are moving up in the rankings. We finish the week with our top 5 Thanksgiving sides and desserts. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!…

1
Book Club: Gabriel Garcia Marquez's "One Hundred Years of Solitude" 41:09

28d ago41:09

41:09

It begins with one of the most iconic lines in literature: “Many years later, as he faced the firing squad, Colonel Aureliano Buendía was to remember that distant afternoon when his father took him to discover ice.” “One Hundred Years of Solitude,” Gabriel García Márquez’s magical realist parable of imperialism in Latin America, is a tale of family…

1
Ep. 175 Accountability 1:46:10

29d ago1:46:10

1:46:10

This week, we're joined by a very familiar voice making a comeback to talk Texans vs Cowboys. We do a speed run of NFL coverage and move to some NBA news involving the possible All-Star format changing, as well as the show Inside the NBA being moved to ESPN/ABC. We also buffer for a bit, as we cover the Paul vs Tyson fight over the weekend.…

1
EP. 525: 🔴 UFC 309 Recap with Ray Longo - GOAT Jon Jones & DO BRONX + UFC Macau Picks & Is Aspinall or Pereira Next? 1:48:16

30d ago1:48:16

1:48:16

Anik & Florian are ready to rock later in the week as we are STILL buzzing over the massive #UFC309 PPV from last weekend. We talk all things Jon Jones, the retirement of Stipe Miocic, the barn burner of a bout with Charles Oliveira and Michael Chandler and all things MMA. Then, we grab Ray Longo for his thoughts and behind the scenes information o…

1
Patrick Radden Keefe on Taking "Say Nothing" From Book to Show 44:07

1M ago44:07

44:07

As part of The New York Times Book Review's project on the 100 Best Books published since the year 2000, Nick Hornby called "Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland" one of the "greatest literary achievements of the 21st century." The author Patrick Radden Keefe joins host Gilbert Cruz to talk about his book, which has no…

1
Ep. 174 Get Your Sh*t Together 2:01:21

1M ago2:01:21

2:01:21

This week, we have our usual NFL coverage, including Cee Dee Lamb and the need for curtains at AT&T Stadium. The Nation of Domination sees a second upset in 3 weeks, as the Goon of the Year race gets closer. We have some big NBA scoring performances from Giannis, KAT and Wemby. We finally have an update on Spurs coach Gregg Popovich's health, as we…

1
EP. 524: 🔴 LIVE UFC 309: JONES vs MIOCIC PREVIEW with Aiemann Zahabi, Ray Longo & Dr. June Chin from Leafwell 2:18:58

1M ago2:18:58

2:18:58

WE ARE LIVE to talk about the long-awaited clash between Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic as we get you ready for #UFC 09 going down this weekend at Madison Square Garden. BUT FIRST, what PPV week isn’t complete without talking to our friend Ray Longo about the state of MMA and his excitement headed into Chris Weidman’s fight this weekend. THEN, we catch…

1
What It's Like to Write a New John le Carré Novel 38:15

1M ago38:15

38:15

The works of John le Carré, who died in 2020, are among the most beloved thrillers of all time. For some, books like "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy," "A Perfect Spy" and "The Spy Who Came in From the Cold" are simply among their favorite works of literature ever. So it was a perilous task that author Nick Harkaway, one of le Carré sons, set out for …

1
EP. 523: 🔴 UFC News + Sayif Saud on Moreno Win + Ray Longo on Jones vs Miocic & Weidman + UFC Vegas 100 Picks for Magny vs Prates 1:34:27

1M ago1:34:27

1:34:27

Anik & Florian arrive later in the week but with the same piss & vinegar you come to expect from the bad boys of MMA podcasting. (Not sure anyone calls us that) We hit you right off the top with Raymond Peter Longo as we talk UFC 309 which features Long Island’s own Chris Weidman on the card as well as Jones vs Miocic headlining. THEN, we talk to “…

1
Ep. 173 Prayers For Pop 1:14:02

1M ago1:14:02

1:14:02

This week, we cover all the NFL trades in our weekly rundown, as well as a football crossover with The Simpsons. We have movement in the Nation of Domination, as well as in our Pick 'ems standings. We also update our NBA news, and give Presidential Election updates.By Pops & Shots Podcast

1
Sally Rooney's "Intermezzo": Our Book Club Conversation 38:55

2M ago38:55

38:55

Sally Rooney is a writer people talk about. Since her first novel, “Conversations With Friends,” was published in 2017, Rooney has been hailed as a defining voice of the millennial generation because of her ability to capture the particular angst and confusion of young love, friendship and coming-of-age in our fraught digital era. “Intermezzo,” her…

1
Ep. 172 We Need A Statue 1:27:37

2M ago1:27:37

1:27:37

This week, we cover all the NFL news including the king of the crab legs Jameis Winston toppling a top AFC team, season ending injuries and trades as well as NoD and pick ems updates. Our NBA coverage has begun as the Spurs and Rockets have already had two matchups early in the year. Additionally we discuss the thought process behind the downright …

1
EP. 522: 🔴 LIVE UFC 308 RECAP with Paul Felder & Ray Longo + Ilia Topuria & Khamzat Chimaev's Stardom & UFC Edmonton Picks 2:01:25

2M ago2:01:25

2:01:25

🔴 LIVE UFC 308 RECAP with Paul Felder & Ray Longo + Topuria Stardom & UFC Picks | A&F.522 WE ARE LIVE to talk about the epic #UFC308 card that went down last weekend with special guest Paul “Iron Lung” Felder alongside Anik & Florian. PLUS, we got Raymond Peter Longo on the event, how high Topuria’s ceiling is, and what’s next for the winners. THEN…

1
Two Horror Authors on the Scary Books You Should Be Reading 52:49

2M ago52:49

52:49

Halloween is just around the corner, so we turned to two great horror authors — Joe Hill and Stephen Graham Jones — for their recommendations of books to read this season. Books discussed: "Mean Spirited," by Nick Roberts "Maeve Fly," by CJ Leede "Come Closer," by Sara Gran "It," by Stephen King "Experimental Film," by Gemma Files "A Head Full of G…

1
EP. 521: UFC 308: Topuria vs. Holloway Breakdown & Picks with Brian Petrie + Bets To Make! 43:23

2M ago43:23

43:23

UFC 308: Topuria vs. Holloway Breakdown & Picks with Jon Anik & Kenny Florian | A&F.521 Anik & Florian are READY TO ROCK from Abu Dhabi as #UFC308 gets ready for an early 2pm PPV start time on Saturday…BUT FIRST, we call upon “BIG GUN” Brian Petrie to break down the card with us. Insight on the top fights of the night, picks, leans, and of course, …

1
Ep. 171 Shake On It 1:50:54

2M ago1:50:54

1:50:54

This week, we cover the plethora of NFL injuries, as well as the return of some familiar faces to the field. We update the Nation of Domination scores for week 7, as well as the standings for our Pick 'ems competition. We return to the NBA as the season kicks off this week, as well as congratulate the WNBA champion Liberty. We finish off with an in…

1
EP. 520: 🔴 LIVE UFC 308 Preview with Daniel Cormier, Dan Ige, Eric Nicksick, & Ray Longo 1:30:05

2M ago1:30:05

1:30:05

🔴 LIVE UFC 308 Preview with Daniel Cormier, Dan Ige, Eric Nicksick, & Ray Longo | A&F.520 WE ARE LIVE to discuss all the latest UFC news and notes with some LEGENDS of the fight game as Daniel Cormier, Dan Ige, Eric Nicksick and of-course, Raymond Peter Longo, drop by to talk UFC 308 going down this weekend. EP. 520 — Check out our Anik & Florian M…

1
The Ezra Klein Show: Salman Rushdie 1:00:53

2M ago1:00:53

1:00:53

Salman Rushdie's "Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder," has been nominated in the nonfiction category as part of this year's National Book Awards, which will take place in mid-November. This week, we are running Rushdie's conversation with Ezra Klein from earlier this year. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everythi…

1
Ep. 170 EZ City Limits 1:15:50

2M ago1:15:50

1:15:50

This week, Mikki of MikkiMania joins Tom as we have our weekly NFL rundown and Nation of Domination standings, as we discuss all the moving pieces traded in the league this week. We also recap Tom's ACL weekend experience, while trying to keep up with both NFL as well as the Red River Rivalry. We finish the show with a special guest interview with …

1
EP. 519: 🔴 Dominick Cruz + UFC Recap + UFC 310 News + UFC Vegas 99 Bets & Ray Longo 1:59:26

2M ago1:59:26

1:59:26

WE ARE LIVE to discuss all the latest UFC news and notes, maybe some BKFC action in there somewhere, and of course, the best UFC picks free content can buy in “The Main-Event Challenge” PLUS, we got the legendary Dominick Cruz scheduled to join us along with Raymond Peter Longo as Jon Anik & Kenny Florian bring you up to speed in MMA to kick off th…

1
EP. 518: 🔴 UFC Vegas 98 Breakdown + Royval vs Taira UFC Bets + MMA News with Anik & Florian 45:35

2M ago45:35

45:35

Anik & Florian are BACK having recovered from the late night last weekend to bring you the very best analysis in the MMA game as we look ahead at #UFCVegas98 featuring Brandon Royval vs Tatsuro Taira in the main-event. We call upon show handicapper Brian Petrie of the @MMATakesPodcast to drop his best bets going into the weekend on the DK Sportsboo…

1
Stanley Tucci on His Year in Eating and a Look at the National Book Awards 46:35

2M ago46:35

46:35

The actor-director-producer Stanley Tucci is also, famously, an avid eater, who has explored his enthusiasm for food through his travel show “Searching for Italy” and through two books: “Taste,” in 2021, and now a food diary, “What I Ate in One Year." In this week’s episode, Tucci discusses his new book with host Gilbert Cruz and talks about bad me…

1
Ep. 169 2 Nice 2 Furious 1:17:16

2M ago1:17:16

1:17:16

On our one hundred and 69th (nice) episode, we cover NFL news from past and present players fighting on and off the field. NoD and Pick 'ems updates for the season, as well as some history in the NBA preseason. We also say goodbye, to a voice of our childhood as we prepare for a possible guest "on the next episode of Pops and Shots Podcast"…

1
EP. 517: 🔴 LIVE UFC 307 RECAP AFTER PPV WITH JON ANIK & KENNY FLORIAN + Anik's Shoes STOLEN & RECOVERED! 1:05:38

2M ago1:05:38

1:05:38

🔴 LIVE UFC 307 RECAP AFTER PPV WITH JON ANIK & KENNY FLORIAN | A&F.517 WE ARE LIVE (ALMOST) IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING #UFC307 TONIGHT (MORNING) AFTER THE PPV! + Anik's Shoes STOLEN & RECOVERED! Tune-in to get Anik & Florian’s unfiltered thoughts on UFC 307 and all the action. EP. 517 — Check out our Anik & Florian Merch on jonanik.com ON TODAY'S SHOW -…

1
Jean Hanff Korelitz on "The Sequel" 38:35

3M ago38:35

38:35

In 2021, the novelist Jean Hanff Korelitz had a hit with “The Plot,” a book that was partly a mystery, partly a thriller and entirely a delicious sendup of the publishing industry. It told the tale of a once-promising writer, Jacob, who steals somebody else’s story idea and reaches undreamed-of levels of success before things go very badly for him.…

1
Ep. 168 It Comes For Us All (Pause) 1:26:51

3M ago1:26:51

1:26:51

This week, we have our weekly NFL and NoD rundowns that might see Devante Adams finding a new home. Speaking of trades we got one in the NBA featuring KAT and Julius Randle switching spots with some picks and Derrick Rose calling it a career. Some Netflix news in the world of entertainment and There's an unusual amount of RIPs in this one but we're…

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EP. 516: 🔴 UFC 307 Breakdown with Anik & Florian + Ray Longo on France & Merab + Betting Preview 1:40:06

3M ago1:40:06

1:40:06

UFC Fight Night: Moicano v. Saint Denis recap; other MMA news & notes; Conor McGregor comments on Belal Muhammad; Diego Lopes tabbed back-up fighter for UFC 308 FTW title fight in Abu Dhabi; Pennington comments on training for Kayla Harrison situation. #UFC307 Breakdown and Full Betting Preview for @Draftkings / DK SPORTSBOOK. EP. 516 — Check out o…

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