The Rudy Gestede Interview

Fan favorite Vas has found himself in another complicated dating situation, but does he have a chance? And the NFL Draft threw up a couple of surprises, but were the Browns right to trade down? Will Shadeur Sanders go in the second round? And did the New York Giants make the right move at quarterback? We're then joined by Rudy Gestede, Head of Football Operations at Blackburn Rovers, to talk about his role at the club, potential promotion from the Championship and a return to the Premier League, transfer budget management, and the supporter backlash and unrest.  

Eddie breaks down his day at The Grove for a corporate golf outing. The start of the NHL and NBA playoffs has filled up some sporting diaries, but can Arsenal make it to a Champions League final? Or will PSG continue their recent European success, and will Barcelona or Inter Milan join them in Munich?  We're then joined by Brett Johnson, CEO of Benevolent Capital, minority owner of Ipswich Town, and co-founder and owner of Rhode Island F.C. Ipswich have experience almost unprecedented success over the last couple of seasons, but what have been the keys to their success, what plans are in place for their return to the Championship, and can the gap between the Premier League and the Football League be closed? And does the introduction of promotion and relegation to the USL pose a serious threat to the MLS's place at the top of the US Soccer pyramid?   

Rory McIlroy completed his career grand slam by winning The Masters, but Eddie thinks that his rollercoaster ride to the title explains his popularity and his limitations. Plus, can anyone pull off an upset in the second legs of the Champions League quarterfinals, or are PSG, Barcelona, Arsenal, and Inter Milan set for the semis? And will Eddie's unusual approach to golf serve him well in a corporate golf day?

We're finally getting some great TV, and Frank and Eddie discuss why Season 1 of 'The Pitt' is starting to blow Season 2 of 'Severence' out of the water. Trey Lance's time with the Dallas Cowboys is coming to an end, and his NFL future is in doubt, but Eddie explains why the former 49ers quarterback has really made a killing in the NFL even after being one of the biggest draft busts in recent years.  Liverpool's recent League Cup final failure has left supporters disappointed, but does it also call into question Mo Salah's record in finals?  And can Frank be trusted with March Madness picks? 

The Champions League threw up little by way of surprises, but Liverpool and Barcelona were both lucky to survive scares. Can PSG or Benfica overturn the odds in the second leg and will any of the other ties throw up surprises? Plus, Myles Garrett became the highest-paid non-quarterback in the history of the NFL following his decision to stay with the Cleveland Browns. Around 25 minutes in we are joined by Emmet Kennedy of the Final Furlong Podcast and Talksport to talk about the 2025 Cheltenham Festival. What are the best storylines ahead of the festival and will the heavy favourites come through for punters? Will Constitution Hill get back to his best in the Champion Hurdle. Will Lossiemouth prove too good having chosen to go for the Mares' Hurdle. And will Kopek Des Bordes and Majborough live up to the hype on Day One. Plus, Emmet thinks that Ballyburn, Jonbon, Fact To File, Dinoblue, and Galopin Des Champs should all pass potentially career defining tests. But it's not all about favourite backing, with some tips for every day of the festival. 

Frank makes his long-awaited return to ice hockey, but will McDonald's temporary rebrand as McDavid's help to cool USA-Canada tension? The MLS's reputation has taken a hit as the Houston Dynamos have offered free tickets because of a Messi no-show, and Eddie reacts to the news that the San Francisco 49ers have traded Deebo Samuel to the Washington Commanders. Plus, the FA Cup failed to deliver any shocks, and Manchester City look primed to avoid a trophyless season. And Blackburn Rovers' latest defeat has seen them slip out of the playoff places, but there's still all to play for in the Championship.  Eddie argues that Timothée Chalamet's acting career might be slightly overrated and Frank is finally all-in on 'The Pitt'. 

Frank's cousin put in a disappointing performance in a college basketball halftime competition, but Eddie thinks it could be reflective of some larger generational issues.  In the world of competitive sport, Liverpool can start planning their Premier League title celebrations, but Manchester City are finally showing some improvement. Frank throws out some possible NFL trades - including potential landing spots for Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp, and Aaron Rodgers.  Plus, Frank's reaction to the first few episodes of 'The Pitt' as the HBO Shows reputation grows as a realistic medical drama. 

Frank is rejected by a former co-host, but would he accept Delta's offer for plane crash victims? It looks like the Premier League title race is all but over following Arsenal's latest slip-up and Liverpool's win over Manchester City, but Eddie thinks that Guardiola and and City could bounce back next season. Plus, the 4 Nations Face-Off delivered drama and entertainment as tensions are high between USA and Canada, but can ice hockey build on the attention? And Severance Season 2 finally got going, but what can we learn from the ethical questions that Innies and Outies face in their relationships and love lives. 

The listeners have raised some concerns over the new logo, but Eddie is here to reassure the fans that it is just a placeholder. The NBA All-Star game served up a another dud, but what can the NBA learn from the NFL and NHL? Eddie is fully on board with Canada booing the American national anthem during the 4 Nations, but Frank is more focused on the hockey.  Plus, Manchester City might finally be showing signs of life in the Premier League, but will Liverpool survive a tough run of fixtures? And Severance continues to slowly reveal itself as a show that might be too smart for its own good. 

In this episode of the Big Chill Podcast, hosts Frank and Edward discuss a variety of topics ranging from sports performances and social media engagement to music trivia and current events in the sports world. They delve into the implications of streaming quality and why Eddie might not have been wrong about his Fox versus Sky Super Bowl 4K quality assessment, have a go at a Valentine's Day quiz, and discuss Minnesota Timberwolves Star Anthony Edwards' latest drama. The conversation also covers the recent Champions League matches and another late slip-up from Manchester City, and the fallout from the Merseyside Derby. They also discuss the current state of Blackburn Rovers after John Eustace became the latest Rovers manager to walk away, the future of Aaron Rodgers in the NFL as his time with the New York Jets comes to an end, and the cultural challenges posed by Saudi Arabia hosting the World Cup. Plus, the latest episode of the series 'Severance' might raise more questions than it is answering, and that could be a problem.