World Series or Bust(er)

Is This A Great Game, Or What?

#Sports #Comedy #Baseball #Jeff Kurkjian #Tim Kurkjian #Kurkjian

43:08

"But it makes a lot of sense especially when you think about how traditional healers and shamans have worked, they haven't felt that separation from nature like Western medics do. And so to rely on the knowledge of other species actually makes a lot of sense. It's probably a lot more than we know at the moment." - Jaap de Roode Jaap de Roode is a biology professor at Emory University, and he is the author of an astonishing new book called Doctors by Nature How Ants, Apes, and Other Animals Heal Themselves . I say astonishing because I had no idea about so much of what he explores in his book. It never occured to me to consider that other species use medicine and have been healing themselves forever. Jaap tells stories of animals across nature, from bumblebees to chimpanzees, how they use plants and natural substances to treat infections, to ward off parasites, to self-medicate. There's so much that we have learned from them, and there's so much more that we still can.…

about a year ago 1:10:05

MP3•Episode home

Tim Kurkjian even blesses us with another goofy “Best of All-Tim” and our friends at Strat-O-Matic help us settle the debate, Yankees or Dodgers! You can use GREATGAME20 at checkout for new customers at Strat-O-Matic.com for 20% off all baseball products!

Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights.

Joy Pop Productions LLC

50 episodes

World Series or Bust(er)

Is This A Great Game, Or What?

published about a year ago

MP3•Episode home

Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights.

Joy Pop Productions LLC

50 episodes

#Sports #Comedy #Baseball #Jeff Kurkjian #Tim Kurkjian #Kurkjian

All episodes

1
Wacky Weekend, Dallas Braden Our Wacky/Wonderful Guest 1:09:56

7 hours ago1:09:56

1:09:56

We've got a real treat for you today. Our guest, Dallas Braden, kept us entertained and also made us cry. He gave us great perspective on how Athletics fans are feeling right now. Plus he revisited his days working with Tim at ESPN including the very last game he broadcasted with the company that may or may not have led to him no longer working there. The first weekend of the season was unbelievable, and that's not hyperbole. There were SO many things that happened for the very first time in baseball history that it was hard for Tim to get it all out in this episode. Quirkjians are back with some funny things we bet you didn't notice. Tim comes up with a Team Tim to flatter our guest. And finally, a Phil Nierko story on this date that will make you love the game even more. Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights. Joy Pop Productions LLC…

1
Say Hey, Opening Day 33:36

4 days ago33:36

33:36

Welcome to the first Friday episode of the REGULAR season and boy are we glad to be here with you. Tim Kurkjian, the Hall of Fame baseball writer, with his son, Jeff, have immediate reactions to the first games on Opening Day. The best part? These stats and fun facts you aren't getting anywhere else. One player continues an insane Opening Day streak. A New York Yankee FIRST that has never happened on Opening Day for the storied franchise. And, a pitching line that will scratch your head. We also continue "From Ozzie To Orel" with numbers three and four. Plus, Tim gives us the greatest Cincinnati Reds player of all time! Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights. Joy Pop Productions LLC…

1
Adam (Dunn) and (Opening Day) Eve 1:13:50

7 days ago1:13:50

1:13:50

Join Tim Kurkjian and his son Jeff for an exciting take on baseball in 2025. Each week, this father-son podcast will talk baseball in a way you just aren't hearing on other shows. With laughter, light and love, this podcast is certain to be a baseball fan favorite. Opening Day 2025 is upon us so we are joined by Adam Dunn who shares an incredible Opening Day record. Also, Tim breaks down some incredible stories from Opening Day's past. Jeff breaks down new stadium food additions for the season. Adam Dunn makes us laugh with hilarious memories from his Opening Day's and from his long tenured career. Don't miss when he calls out Jeff Francoeur, former guest on the show, for something they would do as opponents! Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights. Joy Pop Productions LLC…

1
Where March Madness Meets MLB 35:32

11 days ago35:32

35:32

Welcome to our first official FRIDAY episode of "Is This A Great Game, Or What?" We recap (briefly) the Tokyo Series. We dive straight into March Madness with Team Tim March Madness Edition, this one was real creative. A Kurkjian Quandary about Japan vs. Major League Baseball will have your head scratching. Ozzie To Orel begins as Tim Kurkjian outlines the greatest player to wear number one and number two of all time. There might be some debate on #2. Finally, we introduce a new segment that we want YOU to be a part of. If you love this game, tell us why in a 15-30 second voice memo and end with "My name is _______, and I am a Seamhead!" Email your entry to Jeff@GreatGameorWhat.com Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights. Joy Pop Productions LLC…

1
Opening Day: Shohei, Yoshi, Shota, Roki & Eduardo 1:10:13

14 days ago1:10:13

1:10:13

We are joined by Eduardo Perez, per tradition, for our first regular season episode of the 2025 season. He played in Japan during his career and has such an interesting perspective during his time there. He also tells us about wanting to pluck something off of President Barack Obama, the time his mom yelled at him during a game and the impact Pete Rose had on his career. We recorded this episode on St. Patrick's Day, so Tim came up with his Team Tim of St. Patrick's Day players. Jeff explains to his dad what Grillz are (this is a tough convo). And finally, we celebrate being TWO episodes a week. Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights. Joy Pop Productions LLC…

1
Keith Hernandez, Fellow Strat-O-Matic Hall of Famer 1:08:17

28 days ago1:08:17

1:08:17

Keith Hernandez joins us as a member of the Strat-O-Matic Hall of Fame. Oh yeah, and he was a really REALLY good MLB player as well. He makes it onto a special "Best of All-Tim" team that we hear about. Tim Kurkjian was just inducted into the Strat-O-Matic Hall of Fame, and we hear his best stories of the game. Trout, Ohtani and more updates from Kurkjian from Spring Training. Plus a huge announcement about the future of this podcast (don't worry, it's REALLY good news). Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights. Joy Pop Productions LLC…

1
Maddon Love With Baseball 1:12:26

6 weeks ago1:12:26

1:12:26

SPRING TRAINING IS HERE! What an exciting time for baseball fans, Joe Maddon joins us this week to share his favorite Spring Training stories. He also talks about that amazing 2016 curse-breaking season with the Chicago Cubs. Tim Kurkjian takes us down memory lane of his favorite Spring Training memories from covering 45 years of it all. We want to thank everyone for listening. Excited to announce that starting March 18th, we will be BACK to once a week officially kicking off our regular season then. Follow us for fun videos @GreatGameOrWhat on all socials and watch exclusive clips on our YouTube page as well! Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights. Joy Pop Productions LLC…

1
Football & Phil Nevin 58:26

8 weeks ago58:26

58:26

How fitting? With the 2025 Super Bowl coming up this week, Tim and Jeff Kurkjian bring you a football packed episode that is perfect for all baseball fans. Our guest is Phil Nevin, who was a college football and baseball player and a long-time MLB player. He later became a coach and then a Major League manager of a team that had both Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout. We asked him about that. We also delve into the nuances of football with the former kicker. And we discussed the amazing crossover that happens between football and baseball when it comes to these incredible athletes. Make sure to follow us on Instagram , @GreatGameOrWhat and sign up for our newsletter at GreatGameOrWhat.com . Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights. Joy Pop Productions LLC…

1
Three New MLB Hall Of Famers For 2025 39:22

10 weeks ago39:22

39:22

We took this time to chat about the careers of Ichiro Suzuki, C.C. Sabathia and Billy Wagner and tell some stories that only Tim Kurkjian would know about these players. They will be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in July of 2025. Plus, we opened another deck of cards live on the show, chatted about an app Tim finally downloaded (he might be the last to do so) and debated whether or not you should wear shoes in your house! A friendly reminder that our first regular season episode will start on March 18th, we will be returning to weekly episodes (releasing on Tuesdays) at that point. We are really looking forward to you joining us for another great season. In the meantime, let's get social! We are always posting on our Facebook and Instagram accounts, you can follow us @GreatGameOrWhat. Plus, check out our website to join our email list! Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights. Joy Pop Productions LLC…

1
Coaches! Key To The Best Game, Live From ABCA 2025 59:44

12 weeks ago59:44

59:44

Big shoutout and thanks to our friends at GameChanger for having us in their incredible booth, along with Mevo who provided a couple extra cameras! We discuss some of Tim's favorite coach stories. We were joined by the head coach of Catholic University's baseball team, Ross Natoli. He carries a special place in the Kurkjian family that you will learn about. It's an amazing atmosphere at the ABCA, hoping to be back there next year! To all new people to the podcast, WELCOME TO OUR FAMILY! Share the show with someone who loves baseball too. Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights. Joy Pop Productions LLC…

1
Holiday Special From Tim & Jeff 27:58

14 weeks ago27:58

27:58

We discuss the unfortunate passing of a MLB Hall of Famer and the impact he made on this great game. Filming from Tim's office in Maryland, a special guest joined us on the couch for the entire episode. We opened up cards for "It's In The Cards," still looking for a debut patch in our Topps deck. We also hear a Best Of All-Tim team all about Christmas. Jeff quizzes Tim on pop culture happenings of 2024. Happy Holidays from Tim and Jeff Kurkjian of "Is This A Great Game, Or What?" Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights. Joy Pop Productions LLC…

1
The Best Of The Great Game 2024 1:12:15

16 weeks ago1:12:15

1:12:15

We have been looking forward to releasing this episode all year long. Our Best Of 2024 Episode features one highlight moment from every single interview we did this season. But we aren't just looking back, we also talk offseason. The biggest signing without a doubt is Juan Soto to the New York Mets. Tim Kurkjian's reaction along with a hilarious moment he shared surrounding it at the grocery store. Plus we get great stories from Tim about the two newest members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights. Joy Pop Productions LLC…

1
MLB Awards Reactions Plus Tim Kurkjian, The Movie Star 41:05

18 weeks ago41:05

41:05

This week, Tim and Jeff recap the awards winners in Major League Baseball. We also bring back "It's In The Cards" in search of the Paul Skenes Debut Patch rookie card. You can actually watch us open the deck on our YouTube page linked below. And we get (even though it's November) This Day In Baseball History. We also welcomed in Jodi Michelle Cutler who asked Tim to star in her movie, "Rally Caps." She is the co-author of the book and now producer of the movie that features a small cameo from our Hall of Famer! Stream the movie now on Peacock. Great for the whole family, perfect to keep up your baseball fix in the offseason. Listen to us during the offseason every other Tuesday. Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights. Joy Pop Productions LLC…

1
Offseason, What Do We Do Now? 12:16

20 weeks ago12:16

12:16

Thank you for a great first regular and postseason of "Is This A Great Game, Or What?" But now, the question so many have asked us, what's going to happen during the offseason? Well, have no fear, Tim and Jeff are here. Moving to every two weeks during the offseason but still keeping you smiling and laughing (we like to hope). Don't forget, special contest going on, the first 50 new followers to @GreatGameOrWhat on Instagram will win a signed baseball card from Tim and Jeff. Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights. Joy Pop Productions LLC…

1
A Bow For Baseball 54:48

21 weeks ago54:48

54:48

We put a "bow" on this baseball season with our final episode of the regular season. Don't you worry, big news, we are BACK for another season and will be checking in periodically during the offseason, we aren't going anywhere. A big shoutout to our friends at The Shirley Povich Center For Sports Journalism for hosting us at University of Maryland's Philip Merrill College of Journalism . This week's guest is TIM KURKJIAN! We allowed the students the opportunity to ask us questions that they've always wanted to ask this Hall of Fame baseball writer. We wrap up the 2024 baseball season, celebrating the good and the bad. Tim gives us an "All Presidents" Best of All Tim team in spirit of the election. Last but certainly not least, we look back at what a fun first season of "Is This A Great Game, Or What?" Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights. Joy Pop Productions LLC…

Is This A Great Game, Or What?

1
World Series Win and Ross 1:11:58

22 weeks ago1:11:58

1:11:58

David Ross is our guest this week who knows a thing or two about stepping up big in a World Series. He won with both the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs. The former player and former manager turned broadcaster has a bevy of amazing sports stories. We also break down the first couple games of this VERY exciting World Series, it has not disappointed. Plus, thanks to Strat-O-Matic, we figured out who would do better, a team of all Aaron Judges or all Shohei Ohtanis! And we also pay our respects to a legend of the game. Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights. Joy Pop Productions LLC…

Is This A Great Game, Or What?

1
World Series or Bust(er) 1:10:05

23 weeks ago1:10:05

1:10:05

Buster Olney is our amazing guest who hosts his own podcast. “Baseball Tonight with Buster Olney,” wherever you are listening right now. We talk about his growing up a Dodger fan and a cow-milker! Plus we get his take on the two remaining teams vying to win it all. Tim Kurkjian even blesses us with another goofy “Best of All-Tim” and our friends at Strat-O-Matic help us settle the debate, Yankees or Dodgers! You can use GREATGAME20 at checkout for new customers at Strat-O-Matic.com for 20% off all baseball products! Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights. Joy Pop Productions LLC…

Is This A Great Game, Or What?

1
A Bobby Valentine To Baseball 1:04:09

24 weeks ago1:04:09

1:04:09

Can't ask for a better guest other than Bobby Valentine. He was drafted by the Dodgers as a player, played and managed the New York Mets and also managed in Japan. We talk Shohei, we talk potential Subway Series (the last of which he managed) and share laughs over both Tim and Bobby's early years in baseball. The four remaining teams have got us all excited for a potential World Series matchup. We hear about the Best of All Tim team that involves only guests of our show (and boy is it a great list). We get the help of our friends at Strat-O-Matic to simulate just how good Japanese players are. Finally, we hear about what Eddy Perez and Tim will be doing in New York! Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights. Joy Pop Productions LLC…

Is This A Great Game, Or What?

1
Playoff Baseball and Benetti 1:12:11

25 weeks ago1:12:11

1:12:11

Jason Benetti is the play-by-play for the Detroit Tigers television broadcast. He has extensive knowledge of just how this team came back to even make it to October. Plus, he does some great impressions along with hilarious shared stories calling games with Tim. We highlight one player from each of the remaining playoff teams. We celebrate a manager getting back into baseball (a former guest on this show). We also simulated the rest of the playoffs and the winner is a team honestly not many have picked! Thanks for listening! Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights. Joy Pop Productions LLC…

Is This A Great Game, Or What?

1
October Baseball With Mr. National 1:06:07

26 weeks ago1:06:07

1:06:07

Ryan Zimmerman is the greatesting Washington National of all time. And with eleven walk-off homers, he is one of the most clutch batters in the bottom of the ninth and beyond. We talk to him about what it’s like to play in October. We revisit Shohei Ohtani’s 50/50 season, break down the ending for the Mets-Braves, and look at some of the greatest October performances of all time. We also put fandom to the test with our Kurkjian Quandary. Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights. Joy Pop Productions LLC…

Is This A Great Game, Or What?

1
Welcome To Tangier, Adnan Virk 1:16:55

27 weeks ago1:16:55

1:16:55

He’s like family to us, Adnan Virk is our guest this week. He can be found on MLB Network or chatting about movies on his podcast, Cinephile. We chat with him about so much, too many laughs to contain. We break it down with our friends at Strat-O-Matic to find out how Aaron Judge would do in the 1920s and how Babe Ruth would do today. We say farewell to the Oakland Athletics playing in Oakland with a Best of All Tim. We hear from Jeff about the Savannah Bananas and chat about the insanity that is Shohei Ohtani. Please rate and review the show, share it with a friend and don’t forget to follow! Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights. Joy Pop Productions LLC…

Is This A Great Game, Or What?

1
Dan Patrick, “GONE!” 1:10:45

28 weeks ago1:10:45

1:10:45

Dan Patrick joins us as our special guest. He grew up a fan of The Big Red Machine, and while playing Strat-O-Matic that was his team. A Kurkjian Quandary that surrounds Shohei Ohtani’s potential 50/50 season. And a Best of All-Tim including the best juniors! And of course, you’ll get loaded with brand new Quirkjians as the season eyes October. Thanks to our friends at Strat-O-Matic, you can have fun just like us by getting 20% off at checkout using the code “GreatGame20” at checkout on all of their baseball games! Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights. Joy Pop Productions LLC…

Is This A Great Game, Or What?

1
Clemente and Cakes 1:14:11

29 weeks ago1:14:11

1:14:11

Jim Palmer is a Hall of Fame pitcher who is now a broadcaster calling games for the Baltimore Orioles. In his famed career, he faced quite a few Hall of Fame bats including that of Roberto Clemente, who is celebrated every year on Roberto Clemente Day, coming up this Sunday. Fantasy football was talked about quite a bit this week including a team name that got Tim into hip-hop. The greatest defensive players to ever play the game, Tim put his list together, feel free to debate him on this one. A Kurkjian Quandary that is bound to make you feel young again. On This Date In Baseball History, 1963 had a lot of brothers batting in a game! Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights. Joy Pop Productions LLC…

Is This A Great Game, Or What?

1
Pete Fairbanks, Reading At 100 MPH 1:10:11

30 weeks ago1:10:11

1:10:11

Current Major League closer, Pete Fairbanks, is our guest this week not only because of his arm, but also because of his mind. Friday, September 6th is National Read A Book Day and boy does this guy love to read! He also loves the NYT crossword puzzle, Legos and video games, we cover it all. Plus, you get a look inside some of the best baseball players that also played college football. Rich Hill is 44 years old, still pitching in the bigs. We dive into more about the hope for the Washington Nationals and a football Kurkjian Quandary that will probably have you limping. Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights. Joy Pop Productions LLC…

Is This A Great Game, Or What?

1
Joey, Judge and Jansen 1:05:29

31 weeks ago1:05:29

1:05:29

We took time to recap the incredible Little League World Series finish because we think the Major Leaguers could learn a thing or two from those kids. Tim and Jeff, with the help of our friends at Strat-O-Matic, answer the age old question, what would you rather have, all-contact or all-power? Dan Shaughnessy is a Hall of Famer writer who has relentlessly covered Boston sports throughout his incredible career. Tim and Dan go way back their relationship shines through during their interview together. Also, Tim talked to Danny Jansen about the incredible feat he accomplished, playing for two teams in one game, very impressive! Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights. Joy Pop Productions LLC…

Is This A Great Game, Or What?

1
Todd Frazier, The King Of The LLWS 59:18

32 weeks ago59:18

59:18

Need we say more? We were at the Little League World Series with our friends at GameChanger, for this entire episode. We booked the biggest 12-year-old of all time, the one and only Todd Frazier. If you didn't know, he and his Toms River, New Jersey team won it all when he was a kid. He was a really good MLB player, won an Olympic medalist and now has turned to broadcasting. This episode is dedicated to all things Little League. We talk about the Little League Classic game between the New York Yankees and the Detroit Tigers. Tim came up with the best MLB of players who played at the LLWS and then Jeff surprised him with something bit from our friends at Strat-O-Matic. Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights. Joy Pop Productions LLC…

Is This A Great Game, Or What?

1
Jeff Francoeur, A Pure Athlete 1:05:37

33 weeks ago1:05:37

1:05:37

It can’t be understated the amount of fun we had with Jeff Francoeur. We discussed his new venture, “Pure Athlete,” that is so focused on the importance of correctly navigating youth sports. He added stories of being on the golf course with John Smoltz and Tiger Woods. Or the time Bobby Cox had him fake an injury! This conversation is one of our favorites to date. Stat-O-Matic, the market leader in sports simulations, helped us figure out if there was a way that the Cubs curse could’ve been broken sooner. Tim goes off the rails with his new “Best Of All-Tim,” a bit of a stretch even to his standards. Finally, our Kurkjian Quandary is all about a recent NFL Hall of Fame inductee and we are certain you will agree with our decision on this one. Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights. Joy Pop Productions LLC…

Is This A Great Game, Or What?

1
Mike Scioscia Sho-Time 1:06:44

34 weeks ago1:06:44

1:06:44

Former Major League Player and Manager, Mike Scioscia, lends us his time to discuss his incredible career. Two World Series rings as a player and one as a manager and a silver Olympic medal to top it all off. He managed the team that represented the United States at the 2020 Olympics. He shares his thoughts on Shohei and Trout (both of whom he managed) and even weighed in on this week's Kurkjian Quandary. It's good to be back together in person after quite a few weeks away from Jeff's basement studio. "It's In the Cards" returns finally and Tim outlines his "All-Romance" team inspired by one player in the game today. Get quirky with this week's Quirkjian's and cry over the White Sox season thus far. Please take a minute to subscribe or follow wherever you're listening right now and share this podcast with a friend who might like it! Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights. Joy Pop Productions LLC…

Is This A Great Game, Or What?

1
Olympic Medals, Baseball Peddles 1:06:10

35 weeks ago1:06:10

1:06:10

We are joined by Eddy Alvarez who has two Olympic medals; one in baseball and one in speed skating! Yes, you read that correctly. Trade deadline big moments and a new segment with our friends at Strat-O-Matic. A new pitcher inspired this week's Best Of All-Tim plus we find out why Jeff and Tim won medals over the weekend. Our Quirkjians cover cycles and Grand Slams, and a Kurkjian Quandary that will make you debate even your best friend. Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights. Joy Pop Productions LLC…

Is This A Great Game, Or What?

1
Johnny Bench's Hall 56:14

36 weeks ago56:14