The Main Event Episodes - Tao of Pokerati

By Pauly
Las Vegas, NV

My friends are a motley crew. I would have bailed from the WSOP weeks ago if it weren't for those amazing folks. Luckily, we record podcasts from time to time to chronicle our adventures in Las Vegas. I love listening to older episodes (visit our archives) from time to time, but I just sat down and listened to every single one of our 2010 Main Event podcasts -- from the moment that Michalski picked me up at the airport hours before the Main Event kicked off on Day 1A, all the way through an episode that Benjo and I recorded a few hours ago about hard-to-pronounce names at the WSOP.

Anyway, I love writing to no end, but that is a lonely and solitary pursuit. The collaboration process with Michalski, Benjo, and others is simply inspiring and one of my favorite parts of the summer. We've recorded 68 episodes of Tao of Pokerati podcast thus far. And we have a few more episodes to come of the quickest podcast on the intertubes.

I encourage you to listen to our archives a second or third time. In the meantime, here's what we've done in the last 10 days or so...

The Tao of Pokerati 2010 Main Event Episodes

Episode 49: Main Event Airport Run - Dan picks Pauly up at the airport only 90 minutes before the Main Event begins. Dan gives Pauly guff for taking off while others were hard at work. Dan catches Pauly up with the latest happenings and poker media gossip.

Episode 50: Day 1B Monkeys with Benjo - The crew in the press box cannot contain heir excitement for the Main Event during the pre-game rules announcements. At some point Jamie Gold and monkeys come into play. Don't ask why. Just listen.

Episode 51: Welcome to the Tao of Schmoozarati - Pauly was shocked to find Dan hanging out in the press box during the Main Event. Pauly gives him guff for schmoozing with everyone, while Dan vehemently denies everything.

Episode 52: Phreindly Lost Vegas Update - During the last few minutes of the dinner break, Dan asks Pauly about the first week of sales for Lost Vegas. And then out of nowhere, a familiar song begins to play over the sound system and a few of the dealers get a little giddy.

Episode 53: Porn Stars, Hookers, and Poker Players with Benjo - While sitting in the press box, Pauly and Benjo notice that their favorite massage girl is working today. The discussion veers off into running a hooker ring out of Europe to coincide with various poker tours.

Episode 54: Day 1D Pharmaceutical Report - Here's Pauly's solo report where he give a quick rundown of street prices for pharmies and other illicit narcotics.

Episode 55: 7,319 with Benjo - The official numbers for the Main Event were released: 7,319 runners. Benjo and Pauly discuss the origins of the increase in the player pool.

Episode 56: Beast Light Reunion - Pauly quizzes Dan about reconnecting with his ole teammates from Milwaukee's Best Light (one of whom has also joined Team Pokerati) and wonders whatever happened to the inflatable beer cans that seemed ubiquitous at the WSOP just a few years ago.

Episode 57: Scents and Subtle Sounds of the Main Event with Snoopy - An impromptu episode (with our British colleague Snoopy) to further discuss odor emissions -- stemming from loose bathing habits, flatulence, pungent reefer, and a growing desire for luck -- as the main event progresses.

Episode 58: DonkeyBomber Death Watch - Short-stacked DonkeyBomber, wearing one of his extremely eye-catching Loudmouth blazers, is sitting at one of the tertiary tables. Dan is nearby keeping an eye on his good friend and one his Team Pokerati players. Pauly stops by to sweat DonkeyBomber with Dan as they hold a death watch for him.

Episode 59: The Party of the Year with Benjo - Benjo arrives to the party a little late and Pauly gives him a run down of what he missed. Meanwhile, drunks stumble around a few folks fall into the pool while everyone wonders: 'Where the fuck is Michalski?'

Episode 60: Fumigation and Boners with Chip Bitch - Pauly asks Chip Bitch to share his assessment of working the WSOP as a floor reporter. Chip Bitch does not hold back and revealed his plot to fumigate Phil Ivey's table, along with his frequent spontaneous erections that pop up while ogling girls on the rail.

Episode 61: Media Day and Angry Timtern with Timtern - Pauly busted early from the media event and is sweating the World Cup final. Dans tops by to chat on his break. He's still in, but an angry, pissed off Timtern wanted to vocalize his displeasure about a particular hand that he played against Dan. Hilarity ensues.

Episode 62: Media Daze - Dan officially busts and he sits down with Pauly to analyze the progression of the WSOP media event since 2004. The two discuss many important aspects of the media only tournament and how it has evolved over the years and where it could go from here.

Episode 63: Day 4 Hypertension - With under 1,000 players to go, Dan and Pauly wax on the tension inside the Amazon Ballroom along with the breakdown of the Pavilion. Pauly wonders if Team Pokerati's last player standing, the Big Randy, in the Main Event is properly patched up as action approaches the money bubble.

Episode 64: Big Head Randy and the Min-Cashers - Dan and Pauly hang out at the Bad Beat bar and wonder if they are coolers? Or if the Big Randy had busted out because he was not wearing a Pokerati patch. Yes, the Big Randy busted before the money bubble. The discussion shifts to the bubble strategy for PokerStars qualifiers who also have a PCA package riding on the line along with the min-cash.

Episode 65: Boo Bubble - Dan was napping in his car as the bubble slowly approached. He woke up during the dinner break and wondered where everyone went. Pauly clued him in and Dan was bummed that he couldn't record the players groaning in dissent. The Bubble is nigh.

Episode 66: Bubblicious - Pauly and Dan were hanging out in upper level of the Jack Links' beef jerky lounge keep tabs on the entire Amazon Ballroom from the high ground when the bubble burst. They captured the announcement of Tim McDonald's 748th place elimination thereby becoming this year's Bubble Boy. They also recorded the jubilant celebration from the players who made the money in the 2010 Main Event.

Episode 67: Tempers Rising with Benjo DiMeo - An incensed Benjo goes off on an ESPN cameraman who tried to pick a fight with one of his French colleagues. As a six-year vet, Pauly shares a few of his run ins with the same surly cameraman who once nailed Mad Harper in the head. Yes, tempers are rising on Day 5 of the Main Event as the action on the tables and in the aisles heat up.

Episode 68: Fun with Names: Fokkin Bonkers with Benjo - After realizing that Dutch pro Fokke Beukers has the best name left in the Main Event, Benjo and Pauly search the remaining players list and attempt to pronounce the truly obscure and difficult names.

Check out our complete Tao of Pokerati archives.