Mike & Jake: The Almost Experts

Episode 19: Coach Walk Joins the Almost Experts — One-on-One Legends, Teaching Life, Sports Nostalgia & Random DebatesMike and Jake return for episode 19 (or 19.2) after scrapping a “lost episode” and welcome special guest Coach Walk, a former history teacher and baseball coach. They joke about an infamous one-on-one game where Walk claims he beat Mike 10–0, reminisce about watching SNL skits in class, and discuss Walk’s coaching stops from Twin Rivers to Holcomb, Puxico, and Greenville. The conversation shifts to teaching milestones and feeling like veteran educators, the start of football season and college football Saturdays, and fandom talk including the Chiefs potentially moving and the Mizzou–Kansas rivalry. They share retail athlete encounters, adult-life costs like gas, insurance, taxes, and tires, debate career paths beyond college, list dream sports time-machine events, swap early-2000s TV and movie nostalgia, recall memorable coaching plays, and end with rapid-fire would-you-rathers.

LeBron’s Legacy, Super Teams & the 82-0 Challenge (ft. Coach Alex Wiggs) | Ep. 18In episode 18 of Mike & Jake: The Almost Experts Podcast, Mike and Jake welcome Three Rivers College head girls basketball coach Alex Wiggs and discuss LeBron James, including his reported move to the 76ers and how super teams, longevity, and flopping affect his legacy compared to Michael Jordan. They debate whether LeBron was properly hyped, talk about modern NBA athleticism, and compare impact on the game from Jordan and Steph Curry. The conversation shifts to basketball philosophy on mid-range shots versus threes and layups, then to hobbies like hunting, fishing, and Call of Duty as ways to unwind from coaching. They also touch on MLB topics like the Cubs’ trade deadline, briefly argue about the Savannah Bananas and Harlem Globetrotters, and finish by playing the “82 and 0 Challenge,” with teams featuring players like Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Chris Webber.

Mike & Jake: The Almost Experts Podcast Ep. 17: New Studio Reveal, Disney & Beach Trips, Baseball Highs, and a $15 Sports Movie DraftIn Episode 17 of Mike & Jake: The Almost Experts podcast, Mike and Jake return after a month-long break and debut a newly upgraded podcast room. Mike recaps a 10-day Disney World and Universal trip, including long FastPass waits, Florida heat, and a tight Tron ride, while Jake describes Panama City Beach and a quick turnaround trip to Pinehurst for a national golf tournament where their team competed and Charlie Woods drew big crowds. They celebrate Brady Smith being drafted by the Brewers and Jordan Walker winning the Home Run Derby, then Mike shares he finally shot scratch in golf and retired the polo. They finish with a $15 sports-movie draft game.

Gene Bess Legacy, NBA Draft Talk & Worst Team Name/Logo Snake Draft | Mike & Jake Ep. 16
In Episode 16 of the Mike and Jake: The Almost Experts Podcast, Mike and Jake welcome special guest Dr. Tim Hager—retired superintendent, “voice of the Raiders,” and ’80s trivia winner—to discuss the life and legacy of legendary Three Rivers coach Gene Bess, including his coaching philosophy, impact on players and the community, and moments from his 1,300th win and Hall of Fame experiences. The conversation shifts to meeting famous athletes and sports figures, then to NBA topics such as the Knicks’ win over the Spurs, the NBA Draft, and major trade chatter including Giannis and Celtics roster rumors. The episode wraps with a snake draft of worst sports team names, logos, and rebrands across major leagues, with plenty of debate over uniforms, mascots, and franchise moves.

Episode 15: Coach Jason Long on World Cup Hype, Public vs Private Schools, and the 82-0 NBA Draft ChallengeEpisode 15 of the Mike and Jake: The Almost Experts Podcast features special guest Coach Jason Long (nearly 400 coaching wins across basketball, baseball, and volleyball). The trio recaps their trip to the National Beta Convention in Nashville and the chaos of navigating the massive Gaylord Opryland, then shifts into World Cup talk, including watching USA matches and a story about a packed Gatlinburg sports bar reacting to a jukebox interruption. Coach Long shares thoughts on public funding for private schools, rural schools struggling with budgets, and concerns about consolidation, before the conversation turns to MSHSAA, private-school competitive balance, and the updated championship factor rules. They wrap up by playing the 82-and-0 basketball challenge, drafting teams from random NBA eras and reacting to their projected records.

Episode 14: Hammocks, Survival Talk, Kam Misner’s Call-Up, and Liquid FingersIn episode 14 of the Almost Experts podcast, Mike and Jake bounce through topics including their ever-changing recording “studio,” Apple Watch annoyances, claustrophobia, hammocks, and camping stories from deer season. They discuss survival content like Bear Grylls, the “Nature Boys” creator, and a MrBeast Antarctica video, then drift into nostalgia about Cha Cha, Ask Jeeves, dial-up internet, early phones, and classic mobile games like Snake, Temple Run, Flappy Bird, and Candy Crush. They react to GTA VI rumors involving AI NPCs and real-world money through crypto, then talk about pennies disappearing and society going cashless. The episode highlights Kam Misner being recalled to the Kansas City Royals, a 76-hour “Hand on the Camper” winner, and coaching stories, including an intentional walk that helped win a district title, before ending with a debate on five liquids to squirt from fingers.

Episode 13: MJ Musical, Nostalgia, Dogs vs Cats, and Building the Perfect Athlete | Mike & Jake: The Almost ExpertsIn Episode 13 of the Mike and Jake Almost Experts podcast, the hosts wing a wide-ranging conversation covering Mike’s St. Louis anniversary trip and seeing a Michael Jackson musical at the Fox Theatre, including memories of MJ’s death in 2009 and buying CDs. They swap nostalgia about Walmart CD purchases, Blockbuster-era rentals, Hastings, and how gaming and technology have changed, then share job stories (Orscheln, first “real” jobs, and meeting Courtney at Missouri Orthopedic Institute). Jake recounts volunteering at Cedar Creek Therapeutic Horse Riding Center and they trade country stories about loose animals, including goats and a donkey on the highway. They debate getting dogs, husky chaos, disliking cats, and dropped-off dogs, then end with a “build the perfect athlete” draft (speed, strength, IQ, clutch, trash talk) and mention Bo Jackson.

Summer Break, Moving Chaos, Cardinals vs. Dodgers Heckling & a Pizza Snake Draft | Episode 12In Episode 12 of Mike & Jake: The Almost Experts Podcast, the guys return after a few weeks to talk about the end of the school year, chaotic last-week-of-school gym management, and what they’re looking forward to in summer, including yard work and coaching. They share life updates about Jake moving again, driving a 26-foot U-Haul, breaking a gaming monitor, and discovering Walmart delivery, plus a side discussion on selling baseball cards through Whatnot (including Venmo flagging suspicious activity). They recap attending a Cardinals vs. Dodgers game where their friend Colton loudly heckled Dodgers outfielder Kyle Tucker all game, and they briefly discuss crowd energy in sports and Mizzou traditions. They wrap up with a snake draft of favorite pizza types.

Jake’s New Role, Summer Sports Talk, Card Collecting Chaos & Our Top 5 Drinks | Episode 11Mike and Jake return for Episode 11 of the Almost Experts podcast, catching up on life and summer plans. They celebrate Jake becoming Poplar Bluff’s head athletic director starting July 1, talk about Mike’s family schedule with cheer, dance recital, and upcoming t-ball season, and joke about full “dad mode” moments. They share listener stats showing downloads from the Czech Republic, briefly revisit their inconsistent weight-loss efforts, and discuss summer coaching, contact days, and the value of travel ball versus school summer development. Mike recounts a golf tournament moment where a player slices a ball into a truck windshield, and they chat about golf ambitions. Mike also updates on his growing sports card flipping hobby via Whatnot and eBay. They finish by listing their top five favorite drinks.

Weight Loss Journey, Silver Dollar City Roller Coasters & Trying Weird Food Combos | Episode 10In episode 10 of the Mike and Jake: The Almost Experts podcast, Mike and Jake celebrate reaching episode 10 and passing 700 Facebook followers, then talk about their new weight loss journey—“Operation Outlaw Run”—aimed at fitting on Silver Dollar City rides, including Outlaw Run, and discuss Silver Dollar City closing the Thunderation coaster. They share stories about playing basketball in Mike’s PE class, old-school games like 21 and horse, competitiveness, and even a debate about doing cartwheels, plus a conversation about group chat personalities and how many group texts they’re in. They finish by trying weird food combinations suggested on Facebook: watermelon with mustard, a hot dog dipped in applesauce, a pita bread sandwich with peanut butter, chips, and Sweet Baby Ray’s, and ice cream with chocolate syrup and soy sauce, then rank the results.00:00 Podcast Kickoff00:58 Episode 10 Milestone01:30 Flags And Followers02:56 Walmart Weird Combos03:25 Operation Outlaw Run05:04 Silver Dollar City News08:49 Rollercoaster Fit Anxiety11:38 Water And Diet Reality13:17 PE Basketball Stories14:44 Cartwheel Debate17:11 Trash Talk And 2119:51 Horse And Mental Toughness24:12 Old School Fouls25:18 Group Chat Chaos29:15 Left Out of Texts31:56 Fans Pick Weird Foods33:44 Walmart Bread Hunt36:02 Watermelon Mustard Test38:35 Hot Dog Applesauce Dip40:20 Dumb and Dumber Sandwich43:51 Soy Sauce Ice Cream45:57 Rankings and Wrap Up