This week on The Mount Rushmore Show, Joe and Mike were faced with a big decision: lean into Valentine’s Day season… or lean into sports. Let’s just say debating rom-coms didn’t survive the selection process.

Instead, they dive headfirst into the icy world of the Winter Olympics — where athletes race gravity, defy physics, and somehow make sliding at highway speeds look graceful.

We break down:

• How the Winter Olympics have evolved since 1924
• Why these events feel more intense than most Summer Olympic sports
• What makes certain winter sports secretly more dangerous than they look
• The fascinating psychology of watching athletes compete on the edge of control
• Early impressions from this year’s games
• Predictions for Team USA’s medal outlook

Plus, they debate what truly makes a sport “dangerous” — speed, height, collisions, unpredictability… or all of the above?

If you’ve ever watched the Winter Olympics and thought “there’s no way that’s safe” — this episode is for you.

Topics Covered

Winter Olympics history Olympic danger debate Extreme winter sports Olympic risk vs skill Team USA predictions Sports psychology of risk Olympic physics explained (kind of)

Call to Action

Think your Mount Rushmore would look different? Send us your four most dangerous Winter Olympic sports and we might feature your list in a future episode.

Super Bowl Sunday has become far more than just a football game — it’s an American cultural event that blends sports, entertainment, food, and tradition into one of the most-watched days of the year. In this special Super Bowl episode of The Mount Rushmore Show, we explore why the big game has evolved into an unofficial national holiday, from blockbuster commercials to halftime shows, prop bets, and, of course, billions of chicken wings consumed nationwide.

With this year’s matchup featuring two teams that missed the playoffs just one season ago, the episode centers on one of the most compelling themes in modern sports: dramatic one-year turnarounds. Joe breaks down how today’s NFL allows teams to rebound faster than ever through free agency, trades, coaching changes, and smarter roster construction — a stark contrast to earlier eras when rebuilding required years of patience through the draft.

The conversation then shifts to historic examples of Super Bowl champions who transformed their fortunes in just one season, examining what went wrong the year before and what specific changes — in coaching, personnel, and identity — fueled their rise to the top.

To close the show, Jwe dive into Super Bowl predictions and also have some fun with Super Bowl traditions, including setting an over/under on how many chicken wings expected to be eaten on game day.

Whether you’re watching for the football, the commercials, or the food, this episode celebrates everything that makes Super Bowl Sunday unique — and why turnarounds are now one of the defining stories of the modern NFL.

With the Grammy Awards airing this Sunday, we dive into one of our favorite themes — legendary snubs. This episode explores how awards don’t always line up with legacy, impact, or long-term cultural influence.

We open with a crossover snub from the sports world, reacting to the surprising Hall of Fame first-ballot omission of a six-time Super Bowl–winning head coach and what analysts say may be behind the decision. We discuss how voter psychology, timing, and narrative can shape recognition — and how sometimes a snub actually strengthens a legacy through added debate and visibility.

From there, we shift into a deep-dive Grammy Awards monologue — covering the origins of the Grammys, how the awards evolved over time, how voting trends have changed across eras and genres, and why certain artists and styles historically struggled to get top-category recognition.

We break down the concept of the “career snub” vs the “moment snub,” and what separates popularity, innovation, and industry validation.

The episode includes:

• Snub theory and award politics
• Grammy history and category evolution
• Debate over voter bias and genre recognition
• A heated co-host argument over questionable Mount Rushmore selections
• Predictions for this year’s Album of the Year winner
• Hall of Fame finalist predictions and storyline implications

As always, expect debate, hot takes, friendly fire, and legacy arguments that will absolutely age well — or terribly.

New episodes weekly.

Special Guest: Jim Mintz

This week on The Mount Rushmore Show, we welcome back a special guest — the second Mintz cousin and Mike’s brother, Jim Mintz — for one of our most ambitious episodes yet: The Mount Rushmore of Matt Damon & Ben Affleck Movies.

Inspired by the recent release of their new Netflix action thriller The Rip, we dive deep into one of the most fascinating and enduring bromances in Hollywood history.

Opening Thoughts on The Rip

We kick things off with a quick review of The Rip, discussing why Netflix-style action movies aren’t always must-watches — but how pairing two legitimate movie stars like Damon and Affleck instantly raises the floor. We talk about chemistry, twists, expectations, and yes… some elite beard analysis.

The Origin Story

From growing up together around Boston to grinding their way through early roles in Field of Dreams, School Ties, Kevin Smith’s indie run, and unforgettable supporting turns, we trace how two childhood friends navigated Hollywood long before superstardom.

Good Will Hunting and the Career Split

We unpack the seismic impact of Good Will Hunting — the writing Oscars, the cultural moment, and how it launched two very different but equally compelling career arcs:

• Damon’s rise as a global movie star and prestige actor
• Affleck’s winding road through highs, lows, tabloid noise, and eventual reinvention

Redemption, Reinvention, and Respect

We explore Affleck’s unlikely second act as a director, the public perception shift that followed, and how both men continued to support one another in an industry that often destroys long-term relationships.

This ended up being the hardest Mount Rushmore we’ve ever built.

Key Movie Debates & Deep Dives

Without spoiling selections, we debate and analyze:

• Cult favorites vs. legacy films
• Underrated performances
• Movies that aged better than expected
• Films that quietly shaped culture more than box office numbers suggest

We also get into spirited disagreements over comedy performances, crime classics, and the danger of unfair comparisons between great films.

Looking Ahead: The Future Is Still Bright

We close by discussing why Damon and Affleck may be entering the most interesting phase of their careers yet — from creative control through their production company, to Netflix partnerships, to their upcoming collaboration in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey.

After 30+ years, countless movies, and more than a few reinventions, we ask the big question:

How did these two not only survive Hollywood — but win it?

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It’s the loudest time of the year — not a holiday, not a gimmick, but the moment when riffs matter, tempos explode, and thrash metal reigns supreme. The amps are cranked, the pits are imaginary (or very real), the denim and leather are worn thin, and four bands still stand above the rest.

In this episode, we carve out our Mount Rushmore of Thrash Metal Albums, focusing on the best four albums from the Big 4 icons — Metallica, Megadeth, Anthrax, and Slayer. These aren’t just records; they’re cultural weapons. The albums that defined the sound, set the bar, and reshaped heavy metal forever.

We kick things off by tracing the rise of thrash metal — the collision of punk aggression and metal precision — and how the Big 4 each took that blueprint and twisted it into something unmistakably their own. Speed, politics, technicality, humor, brutality — all forged in a brief, explosive window that changed music history.

Along the way, we debate:

What actually makes a thrash album essential

Whether influence matters more than musicianship

How production, songwriting, and attitude define longevity

And why some albums feel immortal while others feel trapped in their era

From razor-sharp riff clinics to raw, feral energy, we break down why these specific albums rise above stacked discographies — and why cutting any of them sparks controversy.

As always, the Mount Rushmore format delivers strong opinions, passionate pushback, deep cuts, and the kind of arguments that only metal fans can have — loud, nerdy, and absolutely correct (until proven otherwise).

Whether you’re blasting this in the car, lifting heavy things, or revisiting the records that made you fall in love with metal in the first place, this episode is a tribute to speed, precision, and controlled chaos.

Crank it up, throw the horns, and thanks for listening. 🤘

This week’s episode is all football — and for good reason.

With the College Football Playoff in full swing, NFL Wild Card Weekend delivering instant classics, and Black Monday detonating the coaching carousel, the guys break down one of the most chaotic weeks in recent football memory before diving into a Mount Rushmore topic that perfectly captures the moment.

We open with reactions to the College Football Playoff, including the unlikely Miami vs. Indiana matchup. Miami’s path to the playoff raised eyebrows, while Indiana’s dominance over traditional college football powerhouses has forced everyone to take notice.

From there, we recap an unforgettable NFL Wild Card slate:

• The Panthers pushing the Rams to the brink in a nail-biter many didn’t see coming
• The Bears’ stunning comeback against the Packers, highlighted by a defining fourth-quarter moment for rookie quarterback Caleb Williams

That Bears win also spotlights the immediate impact of a first-year head coach thriving under pressure, setting up a larger conversation about coaching success — and how quickly it can vanish.

The episode then shifts to Black Monday and the coaching carousel, questioning why teams continue to move on from proven winners. We discuss:

• The growing trend of short leashes for head coaches
• The role of ownership, roster construction, and quarterback decisions
• Whether coaching success is more about timing, alignment, or luck
• Why the NFL truly lives up to its reputation as “Not For Long”

This week’s Mount Rushmore explores one central question: What does it take for an accomplished, winning head coach to still get fired?

We close the episode with:

• Predictions on where several top coaching candidates may land next
• A look at whether legendary figures could return for one final chapter
• Wild Card weekend predictions and Super Bowl matchup picks

It’s a wide-ranging football conversation that blends history, hot-seat pressure, and the brutal reality of coaching at the highest level.

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It’s the most wonderful time of the year — not Christmas morning, but the week of Christmas. The lights are glowing, the anticipation is high, shopping is (mostly) done, the eggnog is flowing, and holiday music is blasting everywhere you go.

In this episode, we dive into our Mount Rushmore of Holiday Songs — the tracks that instantly put us in the spirit of the season, transport us back to simpler times, and unlock that nostalgic, feel-good holiday energy we all chase every December.

We start by breaking down the origins of holiday music and how it evolved from traditional carols into cultural staples tied to movies, memories, and generations. We discuss what makes certain holiday songs endlessly replayable, why nostalgia plays such a powerful role, and how some tracks become timeless while others fade away.

From soulful classics to novelty chaos, we debate:

• What actually qualifies as a holiday song
• Why some songs feel warm and authentic while others feel engineered
• The role of overplay, cultural impact, and generational attachment
• And whether holiday music is about tradition, emotion, or pure vibes

As always, the Mount Rushmore format sparks strong opinions, pushback, laughs, and a little holiday controversy.

Whether you’re driving around looking at lights, wrapping last-minute gifts, or just trying to hold onto the joy before the December 26th crash hits — this episode is your soundtrack.

Happy holidays, enjoy whatever puts you in that feel-good place, and thanks for listening.

🎙️ Mount Rushmore Show – The Heisman Trophy Episode

Fresh off last night’s dramatic Heisman Trophy ceremony, we dive headfirst into one of the most debated awards in all of sports.

This year’s race came down to the wire, with Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza taking home the trophy in a tight finish that had fans arguing until the final vote. We break down what made this Heisman race so compelling, why the margin felt razor-thin, and how history may look back on the finalists very differently with time.

Before getting into the Heisman itself, we shine a spotlight on one of college football’s most meaningful traditions — the Commander-in-Chief Trophy game. Navy’s thrilling win over Army capped a historic 10-win season and secured the rivalry trophy, with a chance to reach 11 wins in the Liberty Bowl. As an Annapolis native who grew up around the Naval Academy, Joe shares firsthand insight into why this Navy team felt different and how their quarterback helped modernize an offense that had long been defined by the triple option.

From there, we zoom out and explore the history and evolution of the Heisman Trophy — from its original intention of honoring the most “outstanding” player in college football to what it has become today: a subjective, narrative-driven award shaped by campaigning, signature moments, and a massive voting pool with loose criteria. We discuss why the Heisman feels closer to winning an Oscar than an undisputed MVP, and how hindsight plays a huge role in how we judge winners and snubs years later.

That sets the stage for today’s two Mount Rushmore topics:

• One focused on legendary players who never managed to bring home the Heisman despite incredible careers
• The other centered on Heisman winners whose success didn’t fully translate at the next level

We debate criteria, expectations, context, and how difficult it is to project college dominance into professional success. Along the way, we touch on fame, pressure, system fit, and how quickly narratives can flip once players leave Saturdays behind.

We close by looking ahead — what the future might hold for this year’s Heisman winner, how runner-up narratives can fuel careers, and why college football history often looks very different in hindsight.

Plenty of strong opinions. Plenty of disagreement. And plenty of reasons this award will always spark debate.