Welcome to 2025! The Global Poker Award nominations are out, so GPI President Eric Danis joins James and Joe to run through this year’s shortlist , which includes recognition for Joe, #PITE and #TheBigGameOnTour. Plus, the guys speak to double nominee Abby Merk, who’s up for Rising Star in Content Creation and Best Short-Form Video. There’s also poker analysis: with Joe at RunGood Tulsa and James just back from Vegas, Team Pro Nick Walsh is on hand to pass judgement on their play. Finally, Michael Pinciaro is this week’s Superfan, answering questions about ‘Goodfellas’. Please follow/subscribe to the podcast and join our community on Discord (psta.rs/Discord). Send your Superfan applications to superfan@pokerstarsint.com

327. Global Poker Awards with Eric Danis & Abby Merk, plus Nick Walsh

Welcome to the #PITE Post Oscars Party! Yes, the Academy Awards are in the books. And Caitlin is back. So, time for James, Joe, Ms Comeskey and their special guest - Global Poker Award winning photographer Danny Maxwell - to discuss the top films of recent months, including this year’s Best Picture winner. Plus, they break down the Mike Matusow documentary on Amazon Prime. There’s also poker news, with the headline story being the “accidental” elimination of a player at the hands of Maurice Hawkins. In ‘Hand of the Century of the Day’, Caitlin questions the actions of podcast listener Sam Pye. Finally, Kenoi Makanani from Texas is quizzed on ‘Billy Madison’ in ’Superfan vs Stapes’. Please follow/subscribe to the show and join our community on Discord (psta.rs/Discord). Send your Superfan applications and hand histories to superfan@pokerstarsint.com

333. Co-host Caitlin Comeskey, plus Danny Maxwell

The first ever PokerStars Open is underway in Campione. James and Joe check in with their man on the ground, EPT legend Luca Pagano, ahead of this weekend's live streams (March 15th and 16th on the PokerStars Twitch and YouTube channels). The guys also recap their four nights in Las Vegas celebrating James’s 50th birthday, and Joe talks about his success on 'No Gamble No Future', playing $25/$25 cash against Phil Hellmuth and Jennifer Tilly. In Fintan Hand’s 'Hands of the Century of the Day', ‘easywithaces’ provides his feedback on a couple of Joe’s key hands from the session. Finally, Gonzalo Araujo from Argentina competes for a Bronze Power Pass in ’Superfan vs Stapes’. Please follow/subscribe to the podcast and join the #PITE community on Discord (psta.rs/Discord). Send your Superfan applications and hand histories to superfan@pokerstarsint.com

334. PokerStars Open Campione update with Luca Pagano, plus Fintan Hand

After recapping the first ever PokerStars Open, and their two-day live stream covering the Campione Main Event, James and Joe meet some of the poker stars of the future. They speak to three influencers making their mark in the community as content creators: Alexandra Loveless, Josh Kasen and Seth Moeller. As well as talking about their respective backgrounds, approaches to content production and personal ambitions, the trio are forced to participate in an unusual edition of ’Superfan vs Stapes’. Plus, ’Sethy Poker’ has a tough spot for his peers to discuss and debate in ‘Hand of the Century of the Day’. Please follow/subscribe to the podcast and join the #PITE community on Discord (psta.rs/Discord). Send your Superfan applications and hand histories to superfan@pokerstarsint.com

335. Alexandra Loveless, Josh Kasen & Seth ’Sethy Poker' Moeller

Sam Grafton joins James and Joe for a special announcement (which will be of particular interest to fans of ‘The Big Game'). And then, poker boot camp is in session! Ahead of the Sunday Million Anniversary - which James is planning to play - the guys hear from actor and poker player Beth Hall and her coach Faraz Jaka. How has Faraz helped Beth’s game and what advice and tips is he able to share? James, Joe and Beth also talk about the celebrity charity poker event they attended at the weekend, which provides a ‘Hand of the Century of the Day’ for Faraz to analyse. Finally, former Superfan Dan Baron is back on the show to compete for tournament tickets in the second half of James’s stupidly tough poker quiz. Please follow/subscribe to the podcast and join the #PITE community on Discord (psta.rs/Discord). Send your Superfan applications and hand histories to superfan@pokerstarsint.com and sign up for the free Jaka Poker Strategy Newsletter at farazjaka.com

336. Beth Hall & Faraz Jaka, plus Sam Grafton

James and Joe are in an actual studio, as they prepare for 'Big Game on Tour Uncut’. On Friday and Saturday (April 4th and 5th), they’re streaming all 150 hands from the first session of ‘BGOT’ Season 1, ahead of the Season 2 premiere later this spring. The enigmatic Alan Keating - one of the stars of both seasons - will be making a guest appearance on the stream and joins the guys on the podcast to discuss what ‘Big Game’ fans can expect to see this weekend. He also reveals how his rivalry with Lex Veldhuis develops in the next series of TV shows. Plus, Alan reacts to a hand that Joe played on PokerGo in ‘Hand of the Century of the Day’.  Then, it’s the return of the Poker in the Ears Book Club, as James and Joe delve into the poker-themed spy thriller ‘Blood Game’ and talk to the novel’s author Jeffe Boats. Daniel Posey from the USA has also read the book, because it’s the topic of ‘Superfan vs Stapes’ this week. Please follow/subscribe to the show and join the #PITE community on Discord (psta.rs/Discord). Send your Superfan applications and hand histories to superfan@pokerstarsint.com

337. Big Game with Alan Keating, plus Blood Game with Jeffe Boats

With the guys on the road for the next four weeks, there’s a lot to get to in this episode. James and Joe talk about playing a £1k tournament at The Hippodrome and hosting the ‘Big Game on Tour Uncut’ streams, and recap this year’s #SundayMillionAnniversary. There’s also a lot of events to preview, including the Irish Open and the first European Poker Tour stop of 2025: the PokerStars EPT Presented by Monte-Carlo Casino. Plus, there’s a PokerStars Open in Philadelphia later this month. Arlie Shaban will be there, so Ontario’s finest makes a guest appearance on the show to discuss what’s in store for players in Philly. Arlie also passes judgement on a couple of hands James butchered in the Sunday Million Anniversary in ‘Hand of the Century of the Day’. Finally,  Matt Mallams from Hawaii competes for merch in ’Superfan vs Stapes’. #PITE returns on May 15th. In the meantime, please follow/subscribe to the podcast and join our community on Discord (psta.rs/Discord). Send your Superfan applications and hand histories to superfan@pokerstarsint.com

338. Sunday Million Anniversary recap, plus Dublin, Philly & Monaco preview with Arlie Shaban

The gang are back after a four-week break. James, Joe and Caitlin have been on the road all that time, so have three events to recap: the Irish Open, the PokerStars Open Philadelphia and EPT Monte-Carlo. They speak to Jon Kyte, who won the record-breaking €1k Open in Monaco, and Jamil Wakil, who was eliminated from the #EPTMonteCarlo Main Event final table in a controversial hand (which Joe is labelling the ('Hand of the Century of the Century’). Was it an angle shoot? What are Jamil’s thoughts following Alexander Shevliakov’s public statement? Plus, with the 2025 Spring Championship of Online Poker getting underway, #SCOOP Correspondent Howard Swains is on hand with some important facts and figures. And Rod MacDermott from London competes for a Bronze #PowerPass in ’Superfan vs Stapes’ answering questions about ’The Matrix’. Please follow/subscribe to the podcast and join the #PITE community on Discord (psta.rs/Discord). Send your Superfan applications and hand histories to superfan@pokerstarsint.com

339. Jamil Wakil on controversial EPT Monte-Carlo hand, plus €1k champ Jon Kyte & SCOOP with Howard Swains

Finally, Joe gets the opportunity to talk to James and Caitlin about his adventures in Tokyo at the Japan Open Poker Tour, including his second-place finish in a PLO tournament. Brazilian pro Kelvin Kerber makes a guest appearance to analyse a couple of Joe’s hands in ‘Hand of the Century of the Day’. Kelvin also talks about being a captain in this year’s SCOOP League. And, as the 2025 Spring Championship of Online Poker heads into Main Event weekend, #SCOOP Correspondent Howard Swains provides an update on some of the most impressive achievements of the series so far. Please follow/subscribe to the podcast and join the #PITE community on Discord (psta.rs/Discord). Send your Superfan applications to superfan@pokerstarsint.com

340. SCOOP 2025 with Kelvin Kerber & Howard Swains

Following the Season 2 premiere of the ‘Big Game on Tour’, Griffin Benger joins the gang to share his thoughts on the first episode and talk about his experience playing on the show. Sam Greenwood makes a guest appearance for a ‘Hand of the Century of the Day’ x ‘Punt of the Day’ crossover,  analysing a hand Griffin played against the Loose Cannon. Plus, as they were both part of the #SCOOP live stream team, Sam and Griffin help recap the $5k Main Event. There are more stats and stories from Howard Swains, as the 2025 Spring Championship of Online Poker enters its final weekend. And Daniele Casino from Italy answers questions about world geography in ‘Superfan vs Stapes’. Please follow/subscribe to the podcast and join the #PITE community on Discord (psta.rs/Discord). Send your Superfan applications to superfan@pokerstarsint.com and sign up for ‘Punt of the Day’ at samgreenwoodpoker.substack.com

341. Griffin Benger & Sam Greenwood talk Big Game on Tour + SCOOP 2025

James and Joe are excited to learn they’re spending the summer in Vegas streaming this year’s World Series of Poker, and Caitlin is “thrilled" to discover she might be needed in the booth and will be expected to do some work! The gang are joined by Brent Hanks - WSOP commentator and Director of Programming at PokerGo - to discuss the partnership that will see the final tables of selected bracelet events and seven days of the $10k Main Event air on the PokerStars Twitch and YouTube channels. Plus, with the 2025 Spring Championship of Online Poker in the books, #SCOOP Correspondent Howard Swains rocks up with the final series stats. And Ben Godbaut from Canada competes for a Bronze #PowerPass in ‘Superfan vs Stapes’, answering questions about the movie ‘The Sandlot’. Please follow/subscribe to the podcast and join the #PITE community on Discord (psta.rs/Discord). Send your Superfan applications to superfan@pokerstarsint.com

342. James & Joe’s huge WSOP news, PokerGo’s Brent Hanks + SCOOP Correspondent Howard Swains

Winner of the 2021 Global Poker Award for Best Poker Podcast, Poker in the Ears takes you behind-the-scenes of the international poker circuit. Hosted by PokerStars commentators James Hartigan and Joe Stapleton, it’s a mostly uncensored take on the world of poker, told from the perspective of a cranky British dad (Hartigan) and an undateable American bachelor (Stapes). The presenters also regularly call in favours, in the form of guest spots from their big-shot celebrity poker-playing friends. And they routinely hold on-air competitions, providing chances for listeners to win prizes.

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(MGA/B2C/213/2011)

327. Global Poker Awards with Eric Danis & Abby Merk, plus Nick Walsh

Poker in the Ears

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