Bub’s Pub Podcast

Dan and Brennen are back at Bub’s Pub for a packed, delightfully chaotic episode that starts with a much-needed wellness check after the USMNT’s brutal World Cup exit and then rolls straight into penalty-kick strategy, World Cup quarterfinal hype, and the strange joy of watching fans from around the world discover America, Buc-ee’s, ranch dressing, and all. The guys also break down the Bulls addin...

Dan and Brennen are back in the pub for a fast-moving, fun-filled ride through sports, music, tech money, and one very independent giraffe. The guys celebrate Bobby Bonilla Day, recap Brennen’s Milwaukee music adventures, cheer on the USMNT’s dramatic World Cup run, and bask in the Cubs’ scorching-hot stretch—especially after a 23-run fireworks show. They also wander into NFL QB battles, LeBron ru...

Dan and Brennen are back in the pub with a sports-and-news buffet that somehow starts with full-body USA soccer pride and ends with crypto taxes, charity numbers, and George Santos doing George Santos things. The guys catch up on live music, ride the World Cup wave, check in on the Bulls, Michigan hoops, the Cubs, White Sox, and Pete Crow-Armstrong’s scorching stretch, then detour through the Bren...

In this episode of Bub’s Pub, Dan and Scott settle in for a classic midweek barstool marathon—equal parts sports talk, side quests, and friendly ribbing. They kick things off by celebrating the U.S. men’s national team’s big 4-1 World Cup opening win over Paraguay, while also wondering whether Mauricio Pochettino deserves a full victory lap just yet. From there, they bounce into local pride with S...

In this episode of Bub’s Pub, Dan and Brennen bounce from bar-stool catch-up mode into a wide-ranging sports-and-news happy hour. They tip a cap to Bulls legend Stacey King and his all-time catchphrases, untangle the latest twist in the Brendan Sorsby saga, check the temperature on the Cubs and Sox, and gear up for the World Cup with the usual mix of analysis, side comments, and friendly chaos. Al...

In this episode of Bub’s Pub, Dan and Brennen basically do what every great neighborhood hangout promises: bounce from fish tales to football chaos to Illinois politics without ever spilling the drink. They swap stories from a Sheboygan fishing trip, then dive headfirst into the Bears’ never-ending stadium soap opera, where everyone seems to have a plan except maybe the Bears. From there, it’s a f...

In this episode, Dan and Brennen do what any respectable barstool philosophers would do: check in on reunion recovery, wonder if the Cubs have misplaced their bats (and possibly their souls), and take a lap through the latest Bears stadium soap opera. Along the way, they mix in college baseball chatter, Illini updates, a wild look at the "Enhanced Games," a history-making racing adventure, Elon-si...

Rob Phillips is our guest this week! This episode of Bub’s Pub is a little bit sports bar, a little bit travel show, and a whole lot of good-natured chaos. Dan and Brennen bounce from the emotional roller coaster of Cubs and White Sox baseball to some bold crystal-ball predictions for Indiana football, with the usual mix of hometown optimism, mild disbelief, and friendly ribbing. The real world to...

We welcome Carl Franco, Aurora's 5th Ward Alderman to Bub's Pub this week!  This episode is a little bit of everything in the best possible way: Bulls lottery luck, Bears contract mysteries, draft dreams, road trip debates, local politics, cybercrime chaos, and even a free-pizza oddball story for dessert. Dan and Brennen bounce from sports takes to city issues to wonderfully weird headlines, with...

Brennen Roberts pulls up a stool for another round at Bub’s Pub—starting with shout-outs (including a loving tribute to sticky-bar floors). The guys break down the Bears’ draft with equal parts optimism and exasperation, detour into the strange gray area of prediction markets (investing… or just gambling with a spreadsheet?), and then crank the dial up with some politics chatter designed to get th...

We welcome back Scott Presley and Troy Hillman for an episode that covered the NFL Draft, Illini hoops, sports gambling weirdness, and two heavy true-crime cases—then somehow ended with a baby born on a plane, which is exactly the conversational arc you’d expect after “just one drink” at a neighborhood bar. Scott arrived with BBQ-draft-level convictions, and the guys played armchair coordinator on...

Dan Drews welcomes back Brennen Roberts for a one-year anniversary episode of Bub’s Pub—which means it’s time to get sentimental, revisit the 2025 NFL Draft preview, and remind everyone (again) that one of them “nailed several picks”… just sayin’. The guys tackle a modern tragedy: the affordability of live sports. It’s back to business in Champaign as they size up Illinois basketball’s huge return...

Episode summary: Dan Drews brings on first-time guest Gavin Drews (aka the guy you text when the Blackhawks make you sad again) and they kick things off with a quick life check-in and some wedding-planning updates. From there it’s golf talk: why Gavin finally caved and got lessons, what’s clicking so far, and which part of the game is currently bullying him the most. Dan then does a Masters recap...

Welcome back to Bub’s Pub!  Brennen Roberts is bellied up to the bar discussing some of these hot topics… The Masters is underway & Rory is hot Autopsy of the Illini basketball season POTUS steps in to manage the NCAA The Chicago Bulls are a mess Department of Justice VS. the NFL The "Home Team Act" proposal for pro sports teams A baseball record breaking story from Scott Presley DRAFT: Best E...

Brennen Roberts is back in the co-pilot seat as we break down everything from the historic run by Illini basketball in the NCAA tournament to outer space! Florida vacation adventures Illini basketball in the Final Four! Chicago Cubs season preview White Sox season preview MLB Lockout is looming "Can we agree...?" DRAFT: Best space movies "Hail Mary" movie review Artemis II mission back to the moon...

Super sister Stephanie joins the Bub’s Pub Podcast to discuss Sanibel, Soldier Field, Soccer, and being a Super Teacher in today’s environment! Getting to Sanibel and travel tips A toast to Chuck Norris who passed away at 86 Illini basketball makes the sweet 16 A Hail Mary for Soldier Field? Soccer fandom at the Premier League DRAFT: Best beach adjacent movies Being a teacher today 2 crazy headlin...

50th Episode celebration!!!  Josh Bartzen, Tim Orfritz, and Brennen Roberts all join in for our first 4-person episode!  We look back on the first 49 shows while still covering the news of today.  Thanks to everyone who has listened and laughed with us along the way! Brennen's AI deep dive research of Bub's Pub Patrick’s Day insights NFL free agency and updates World Baseball Classic NCAA Basketba...

SPECIAL EDITION:  Brennen Roberts is starting up Seniors Helping Seniors for the Greater Naperville Area!  Seniors Helping Seniors is a company that offers non-medical in-home care for aging seniors who want to age in place in their homes.  Brennen and I sit down for this interview about his exciting new business venture and the path he took to get there! Changes in the marketing agency space Pers...

Mike Ciccarelli, Franchise Consultant Extraordinaire, joins the podcast for an in-depth interview with me and Brennen regarding all the considerations when starting up your own franchise business.  Enjoy! Genius idea: Government "Relegation" Bear's Drew Dalman retires unexpectedly Illinois basketball feel good story Is there any hope for the Bulls? World Baseball Classic starts Iran conflict break...

Brennen is back!  He tells us about his amazing Costa Rica trip, and we catch up on the world topics. Costa Rican vacation was amazing! A toast to Rev. Jesse Jackson The Bears stadium saga and debate Illini basketball is so Aggravating! Winter Olympics highlights Mexican Cartels are pissed off DRAFT: Best Drug Cartel Movies/TV Mamdani's Money Madness in NY Who does Kalshi say who will be the Democ...

Josh Bartzen co-hosts this week and provides great insight (even for a Packers fan)! Big Ten basketball is tough Sam Darnold lost money playing the Super Bowl NFC North & Packers Analysis MLB -Tony Clark - Which is worse? Winter Olympics Update RIP - James Van Der Beek (Varsity Blues) DRAFT: Best of Robert Duvall – RIP Millionaire Migration from California Stephen A. Smith for President? Josh...

Brennen Roberts co-hosts as we dive into these topics of the day… Baseball is starting up Super Bowl 60 takeaways Illini basketball 2 overtime losses! Winter Olympics updates DRAFT: Winter Olympic events I would never do Ring Company using AI to find lost pets Violent crime is down, but why? Data Centers in space? Illinois residents keep leaving Olympic plush toys in demand

Brennen Roberts co-hosts as we unbox all these goodies… The Grammy’s, Jelly Roll, & Kelly Osbourne Illinois basketball slaughters Northwestern Bears coaching staff and stadium drama Super Bowl predictions and best bets Will the Seahawks be sold? The Chicago Bulls trade the whole team! Winter Olympic preview Northern Illinois football gets $34M DRAFT: Best Catherine O'Hara Movies/TV Autonomous...

Brennen Roberts co-hosts as we dissect all these stories of the day: Megan Fox makes a hot robot Check out "The Venue" in Aurora Should Robinhood be in the Polymarket? A Toast: Terry Boers passes away at 75 AFC & NFC Championship games review Luke Ferrelli drama with Clemson and Ole Miss Trinidad Chambliss still trying to get a 6th year MLB Spring training starts Feb 11 Illinois defeats Purdue...

Brennen Roberts co-hosts with a breakdown and spirited conversation on all these topics: The Polar Vortex is on the way! The autopsy of the Bears loss to the Rams and the season College National Championship analysis Duke sues their starting QB for trying to leave Ole Miss QB sues to get a 6th year of football The transfer portal is closing...now what? Way to early college football rankings for ne...