All The Smoke

Nobody is using their platform to educate, challenge, and inspire quite like Vic Mensa. From viral orange-tree monologues to fearless conversations about politics, identity, and culture, Vic joins ALL THE SMOKE for one of our most wide-ranging and thought-provoking interviews yet. Vic breaks down how he uses social media as a tool for activism, the realities of Venezuelan immigration in Chicago, and how redlining and systemic violence continue to shape the city. He reflects on growing up biracial, his powerful ayahuasca experience, and the role music plays in influencing today’s youth. We also dive deep into Chicago’s legendary music scene, including unforgettable stories about coming up with Chance The Rapper, being in the room while Kanye West recorded “30 Hours,” and the moment Vic’s own career began to take off. Plus, he talks acting on The Chi, sheds light on today’s activists making a real difference, and shares what it was like filming Still With Smoke entirely on an iPhone in Senegal. This one is equal parts history lesson, cultural deep dive, and raw personal reflection. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jay Bilas and Seth Greenberg join Matt Barnes for a deep, unfiltered conversation on what’s actually broken in college basketball. From NIL and the transfer portal to year-to-year free agency and growing age gaps, Bilas and Greenberg explain why the NCAA is purposefully struggling to keep up, and what that means for the future of the sport. Later, the conversation shifts to the generational 2026 NBA Draft class, including Jay’s thoughts on Darryn Peterson’s Kobe Bryant comparisons, AJ Dybantsa, and Cam Boozer. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NBA super-agent Rich Paul is stepping into a new lane, and it’s turning heads across the league. Matt Barnes reacts to Rich Paul’s recent "Game Over" podcast comments and explains why publicly discussing player movement, trades, and locker-room dynamics can have serious ripple effects inside NBA organizations, ESPECIALLY when stars like LeBron James and the Lakers are involved. Plus, Matt reacts to the Jimmy Butler injury and its consequences for the Golden State Warriors. I s this transparency fans want... or is Rich Paul playing with fire in a profession built on trust and relationships? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this powerful episode, Matt Barnes sits down with Senator Raphael Warnock for an unfiltered conversation about faith, politics, and the America’s division in dark times. Warnock speaks on Renee Good, community resistance, and why hope requires action and not hashtags. He calls out the weaponization of Christianity, breaks down the real stakes around healthcare and choice, and explains how culture and sports can shift political power. This is an urgent and honest dialogue about using your voice, protecting your neighbors, and showing up for the next generation. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ben Affleck joins Matt and Stak for a wide-ranging conversation about creativity, control, and staying grounded in an industry that rarely allows for it. He talks about building Artists Equity with Matt Damon, why ownership matters more to him now than ever, and how their friendship has survived fame, failure, and everything in between. B en reflects on choosing when to step in front of the camera and when to stay behind it, why he’s never felt the pull of social media, and what it takes to be comfortable being misunderstood. He also shares stories from directing Air, working closely with Michael Jordan, and the sports movie he still hopes to make one day. The conversation moves through defining moments like Good Will Hunting and The Town, lessons learned from Rob Reiner, handling paparazzi at the height of fame, and his respect for filmmakers like Ryan Coogler. Ben also gives his honest take on artificial intelligence in entertainment and what to look out for in his new Netflix film, The Rip. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fred VanVleet pulls up to ALL THE SMOKE Unplugged and keeps it 💯 From Kevin Durant’s viral moment to the REAL version of Dillon Brooks, Fred sounds off on everything fans don’t get to hear: ACL rehab, mental battles, grief, veteran leadership, and why today’s NBA is missing something real. PLUS: Coach Ime Udoka’s leadership (“Popovich energy”) Why the NBA needs vets more than ever His most infamous ejection and the real-life context behind it Quick hitters: toughest covers, MJ/Kobe/Bron, road trip cities & more See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Jaguars reporter showed emotion after a playoff moment... and legacy media LOST ITS MIND. Matt Barnes breaks down why the backlash to Lynn Jones Turpin's postgame interaction with Liam Coen missed the point, how athletes see moments like this differently, and why letting someone show love for 30 seconds shouldn’t be controversial. If you’ve ever wondered who actually understands the pressure of playoff sports, players or pundits, this one’s for you. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scramblin’ Randall was the original dual-threat quarterback and one of the most electric players the game has ever seen. Matt and Stak sit down with Randall Cunningham, now Pastor Cunningham, to trace his journey from UNLV to the Philadelphia Eagles and beyond. Cunningham shares his thoughts on today’s stars like Lamar Jackson and Shedeur Sanders, reflects on playing alongside Randy Moss and Cris Carter, and tells unforgettable stories from his life on and off the field. From college football days with Suge Knight, to hearing his name dropped in Jay-Z’s Heart of the City, to dating Whitney Houston, this episode is packed with moments you don’t want to miss. Buckle up. This one sets the tone perfectly for the NFL playoffs. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mad Max returns to the first Unplugged of 2026 with both Matt and Stak! The crew debates whether the Warriors dynasty is officially OVER, breaks down the viral Draymond-Kerr sideline confrontation, and plays Push or Pivot on trade deadline targets like Anthony Davis, Trae Young, and Ja Morant. Plus, Stak goes OFF on Joel Embiid playing basketball with NO SOCKS, the guys debate if Jaylen Brown is the best two-way player in the NBA, discuss LeBron's potential All-Star snub, and dive deep into Jokic's MVP case vs. the 65-game rule. Then it's NFL Wild Card Weekend picks and a thoughtful conversation about Drake's post-Kendrick beef comeback with the Iceman album. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ALL THE SMOKE is where real beef gets talked about, not talked around. Over the years, our guests have been unfiltered about their biggest conflicts and the moments where they refused to back down. Whether it was tension with a coach, the media, a league, or a teammate, this compilation brings it all together. We cover Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf standing up to the NBA, the Will Smith and Chris Rock incident, Isiah Thomas on his issues with Michael Jordan and Karl Malone, Dwight Howard’s struggles with Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant, and Terrell Owens’s unrecoverable beef with Stephen A. Smith, and more. Matt and Stak even get personal, breaking down their own beefs with Byron Scott and Doc Rivers. One of the special things about ALL THE SMOKE is that guests let it all fly. No filters. No rewriting history. This might be one of the juiciest compilations we’ve dropped to date. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Real History of Hip-Hop & Media's AI Future With Damion 'Darizza' Young See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jerry Lorenzo joins ALL THE SMOKE alongside his father, former MLB player and manager Jerry Manuel, making this the first father son duo episode in the show’s history. They reflect on Jerry Lorenzo’s upbringing around Major League Baseball, the influence of his father’s career, and how those early years shaped his perspective. The conversation also dives into Michael Jordan’s unintended impact on baseball and what his presence meant for the sport and its cultural visibility. Jerry breaks down the origin of Fear of God and opens up about the early moments that gave him confidence including receiving Kanye West’s stamp of approval, which helped solidify his belief in what he was building. From there, they talk about breaking through in fashion, what culture really means, and the decline of the Black American baseball player. The episode also covers baseball players with the most swag, fatherhood, the best baseball jersey of all time, building Fear of God Essentials, battling imposters, finding the right collaborators, and carrying their family legacy forward. This is rare multi generational conversation connecting sports, fashion, culture, and belief. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of The Art of Ward, Andre Ward sits down with Hall of Famer Tim Bradley live at the House of Boxing in San Diego. Bradley calls out Jake Paul AND his trainer J’Leon Love to a “two for one” fight in the same night—and reveals why he’s training at 5:30 AM to back it up. The two-division, five-time world champion also shares the untold story of discovering Terence Crawford’s greatness during a sparring session, the truths behind his trilogy with the legendary Manny Pacquiao, plus his incredible journey from being expelled in second grade to the Hall of Fame. Subscribe to The Art of Ward: -https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-art-of-ward/id1767454006 -https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1333-the-art-of-ward-214694054/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kendrick Perkins pulls back the curtain on the NBA’s most unforgettable moments, from Hall of Fame hazing stories to the truth about the Durant-Westbrook OKC era. He also weighs in on Shedeur Sanders, NBA media beefs, his biggest career regrets, what ESPN life is really like, why SGA is giving him Michael Jordan-type vibes. Plus, we get an inside look into the future of NBA fandom with Head of Threads Connor Hayes! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rachel Nichols goes behind the scenes of the NBA Cup with Dwyane Wade, SGA, Jalen Williams, Desmond Bane, Tony Parker, Blake Griffin, De’Aaron Fox, Josh Hart, Chris Haynes and more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Layzie Bone pulled up to ALL THE SMOKE for a legendary conversation about one of the most influential rap groups ever. From reuniting Bone Thugs-N-Harmony today to breaking down their impact on hip-hop, this episode is packed with stories that shaped an entire era. Layzie takes us back to Cleveland, talks about being homeless while making a platinum album, and opens up about Bizzy Bone’s kidnapping and the chaos that surrounded the group in their early days. He shares memories of working with icons like Eazy E, Mariah Carey, Biggie, and Tupac, and gives us the inside story on classic tracks like Notorious Thugs and First of the Month. We also get into a Christmas party run-in the crew had with Wu-Tang Clan, his thoughts on the greatest rap groups ever, and the journey from the streets to winning a Grammy. This is hip-hop history told by one of the architects. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shedeur Sanders turned heads against the Titans…and Matt Barnes & Mad Max have PLENTY to say. After the rookie’s best game yet through three NFL starts, the crew unpacks the pre-draft disrespect, the media double standard with Baker Mayfield & Johnny Manziel, and why they believe the backlash is more about Deion than football. Plus, Max unloads on what he sees as a system built to stunt Shedeur’s growth. Also in this episode of ATS Unplugged: • Is Patrick Mahomes’ Chiefs run slipping? • LeBron’s Lakers surge and real title chances • Chris Paul’s messy Clippers exit and the NBA’s respect problem • Sparks or Fire: Kuminga trade rumors, Warriors ceiling & more See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Candace Parker sits down with ALL THE SMOKE for a rare and honest conversation about her legendary career and the future she's helping build. She takes us from dunking in high school to learning under Pat Summitt at Tennessee, linking with Kobe in LA, and her Finals battles with Maya Moore. She opens up about giving birth mid-career and still dominating, winning that 2016 WNBA championship for Coach Summitt, and what it means watching A'ja Wilson, Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and Paige Bueckers carry the torch. Now running Adidas Women's Basketball, Candace breaks down the WNBA's evolution, Unrivaled, and why this generation is different. This is one of the greatest to ever do it, unfiltered and all in on the future of the game. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mad Max and Stak pull up for an unfiltered breakdown of the NBA’s most unexpected beefs: from Kenyon Martin vs Draymond Green, to K-Mart’s clashes with Swaggy P, IG Live moments, and the “STRAITJACKET CRAZY” stories. They also react to the Klay vs. Ja Morant/Myron Gardner situation, Caron Butler stepping in, and what Ja needs mentally to get back to form. Plus: Lakers surging, Jazz banning signs, Max leaving $25M on the table, and a new Stoner 60 reaction. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Women’s basketball is exploding and we linked up with three of the best coaches in the country to break it all down: Dawn Staley, Cori Close, and Vic Shaefer. Matt and Stak get a real inside look at how South Carolina, UCLA, and Texas operate at the highest level and how NIL has reshaped recruiting across the board. Dawn also opens up about her interview with the Knicks and what really happened behind the scenes. The future of the women’s game is shining brighter than ever and this roundtable is a full masterclass on where the sport is headed. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.