John Middlekauff

John Middlekauff

Author: Ethan Strauss February 11, 2026 Duration: 44:58
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.houseofstrauss.com

First of all, congratulations to our SportsPredict Super Bowl winners SFZevi, Nathan Shea and Peter V. I had fun competing against all of you this NFL season, even though I reliably fell short of prize territory.

But before we completely say goodbye to football, I present this look back at the game/season with John Middlekauff, absolute contest BEAST for The Volume network. Of course, we got off topic into issues of interest, as tends to happen. Subjects include!

* How much is Michael MacDonald worth on the open market?

* Why are NFL coaches paid so low relative to impact?

* Why does nepotism work better in the NFL than the NBA?

* Should NBA GMs make more than NBA coaches?

* James Pearce Jr., coming off a 10.5 sack rookie season for the Atlanta Falcons, has been arrested and the details are horrific. How would you assess the pick and process if you’re the new GM of the team?

* NFL media seems happier than NBA media. Why?

* Is the NBA past its peak?

* John’s boss Colin Cowherd famously warned against hiring golfers. Does golf nut Middlekauff still find time to play rounds?

* Can Scottie Scheffler reach a higher echelon of fame?

* Why are pitchers better than hitters at golf?

* Is there a big market to watch non golf athletes compete playing golf?


Ethan Strauss hosts the House of Strauss, a podcast that operates on a simple premise: the games we watch are never just games. They are reflections of our culture, our politics, and our rapidly evolving relationship with technology. Each episode digs into the collisions and convergences between these seemingly separate worlds. You might hear a deep analysis of an NBA dynasty followed by a conversation about how artificial intelligence is reshaping the media that covers it, or a debate on a political headline examined through the lens of a stadium funding fight. The discussions are built on the understanding that the playing field, the voting booth, and the Silicon Valley boardroom are increasingly part of the same conversation about power, money, and the future. This isn't about hot takes for their own sake, but about tracing the deeper connections that explain why we care so much about sports and what they tell us about everything else. Tune in for thoughtful, often unpredictable explorations where a debate about league policy can easily spiral into a discussion about societal change, all guided by Strauss's curious and contrarian perspective. The House of Strauss podcast is where the passion for competition meets a critical examination of the forces shaping it.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

House of Strauss
Podcast Episodes
Freddie deBoer Talks NFL and NFL Media [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:18
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.houseofstrauss.comWe’re happy to have Freddie deBoer on to discuss a mutual obsession: The modern NFL. He’s got some issues, as do I, with how the league…
Wosny Lambre on Clipper Crime, Nike’s Fall, Selling Sex in 2026 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:45
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.houseofstrauss.comWhat a discussion we have for all of you. Topics! Include!* Why the Clippers’ salary-cap cheating felt like a “victimless crime” only be…
Jordan Rogers on the Golf Culture Wars [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:04
There’s perhaps no better person in media to discuss This Week in Golf Brand Turmoil than Jordan Rogers, former Nike executive and all-around golf guy. This was a great conversation and we explored so much within a recen…
Colin Cowherd [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:23
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.houseofstrauss.comIt’s Cowherd Week at House of Strauss! Roughly once a year, we explore the state of sports media with one of the biggest voices in this…
Saam Esfandiari, Our Sports Renaissance Man [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:15
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.houseofstrauss.comI know many sports sickos but Saam Esfandiari might be the sickest. The Light Years co-host has in depth opinions on basketball (of cour…
Nate Jones Explains the NBA CBA [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.houseofstrauss.comAn entertaining and informative NBA CBA-based conversation with NBA agent and Move Insoles co-founder Nate Jones. Absolutely loved this…
Justin Termine on Hot NBA Topics! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:10
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.houseofstrauss.comWe’ve got a fantastic NBA-centric pod with SiriusXMNBA host and ever-candid broadcaster Justin Termine. So many subjects topics to cover…
Ryan Glasspiegel on Tim Bontemps, Alexi Lalas [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:49
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.houseofstrauss.comWe’ve got a great House of Glass for you today. Just look at the docket. You have to subscribe, just so you can hear how Ryan pronounces…