The Chicago Smokehouse Podcast By John Howell / Rick Telander cover art

The Chicago Smokehouse

The Chicago Smokehouse

By: John Howell / Rick Telander
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About this listen

 John Howell and Rick Telander share a cigar and conversations and insightful analysis of the stories shaping headlines today

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Episodes
  • Blocking Jurko, Smoking Cubans, and Belichick’s Mermaid Muse

    Blocking Jurko, Smoking Cubans, and Belichick’s Mermaid Muse
    May 12 2025
    John Howell and Rick Telander relive John’s glory days behind the plate—most notably, tagging out former Packers nose tackle John Jurkovic at a charity softball game. The conversation shifts from cigars and sports nostalgia to Bill Belichick’s eyebrow-raising relationship with a 24-year-old “muse” and the public spectacle it has become. Along the way, the duo riff on Yoko Ono, tortured genius, self-defense kicks, and why some basements just have better acoustics.

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    47 mins
  • Punch Cigars, Beatles Obsessions, and the Time John Howell Passed on Taylor Swift

    Punch Cigars, Beatles Obsessions, and the Time John Howell Passed on Taylor Swift
    Apr 28 2025
    John Howell and Rick Telander light up cigars and dive into a lively conversation about The Beatles, Buck Owens, and the musicians who shaped their lives. Along the way, John shares the story of the time he told a record label to pass on a young Taylor Swift—something he now calls “the dumbest thing ever.” From musical legends to yodeling news anchors, it’s a smoke-filled trip down memory lane with plenty of laughs along the way.

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    41 mins
  • Chicago’s Fiery Past, Present, and Future

    Chicago’s Fiery Past, Present, and Future
    Apr 21 2025
    John Howell and Rick Telander dive into the history of the Great Chicago Fire, using Scott Berg’s new book to explore how the disaster shaped the city’s power structure and modern identity. They compare 19th-century fires to today’s climate-driven infernos—including John’s personal account of losing his home in Pacific Palisades. With references to Peshtigo, Paradise, and pop culture classics like Backdraft, this episode explores the destructive power—and strange allure—of fire through history, memory, and lived experience.

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    26 mins
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