PokerStars podcast celebrates 100th episode with live broadcast

(PRESS RELEASE) -- Poker broadcasting personalities James Hartigan and Joe Stapleton will celebrate the 100th episode of PokerStars' Poker in the Ears podcast by hosting a special episode in front of a live audience on Tuesday, 26 September at The Hippodrome Casino in London's West End, sponsored by PokerStars, the flagship brand of The Stars Group.

For the past three years, PokerStars TV hosts Hartigan and Stapleton have brought listeners behind-the-scenes insight into the international poker circuit for a mostly uncensored and often hilarious take on the world of professional poker. Some of the biggest names in poker have graced — and been roasted on — the podcast, including Team PokerStars Pro Daniel Negreanu, Hollywood star and global comedy sensation Kevin Hart and an array of high stakes players and PokerStars Championship Main Event winners.

The 100th episode promises to be a show to remember, featuring special celebrity guests and the disclosure of a secret password into an exclusive online freeroll tournament. This celebratory tournament has a $5,000 guaranteed prize pool and will be held on Sunday, 1 October at 20:15 BST. Though tickets to the event have already sold out, fans can still enjoy the show from the comfort of their own homes.

The 100th episode will be published on iTunes, Stitcher, SoundCloud and PokerStars on Thursday, 28 September. For those who can't wait for the 100th episode, here's a list of Hartigan and Stapleton's favorite episodes so far:

Hartigan's highlights
"I can't actually believe we made it beyond episode one," said James Hartigan, presenter of Poker in the Ears. "But I'm glad we've been able to keep going, because I think we're finally finding our feet! I've enjoyed having so many poker players and poker fans on the show and look forward to talking to many more."

Hartigan described some of his favourite memorable moments from past podcasts:

• Episode 49 – 2 June 2016 – Team PokerStars Pro Daniel Negreanu – "We conducted an in-depth interview with Daniel Negreanu on the day the 'KidPoker' documentary dropped on Netflix."
• Episode 77 – 23 February 2017 – Mike McDonald – "Mike McDonald admits to us that he lost his virginity while watching Kurosawa's 'Rashomon.'"
• Episode 91 – 16 June 2017 – PokerStars Ambassador Kevin Hart – "I talk about a James Bond movie for an extended period of time. People were forced to listen to what I had to say. Some of them might have cared!"

Stapleton's best moments
Joe Stapleton says of the milestone, "In the golden age of network television, reaching 100 episodes meant the show was eligible for some of that sweet, sweet syndication money. Well, this is a podcast, so that isn't a thing, which makes this benchmark even more surprising."
Stapes noted some of his favorite episodes:

• Episode five – 17 April 2015 – Team PokerStars Pros Liv Boeree & Theo Jorgensen – "I confess to having had an erotic dream about a certain Team Pro and her mother. They join us on the line. The awkwardness is real."
• Episode seven – 14 May 2015 – Former Team PokerStars Pro Johnny Lodden – "Johnny Lodden made an incorrect fold involving pocket fives, and I berate him without mercy about it in one of Joe's 'classic' games."
• Episode 86 – 5 May 2017 – Maria Ho – "By texting me a 'Your Mom' joke, Maria Ho unwittingly inspires me to call my mother and tattle on her. I'd like to say she wasn't amused, but she sort of was."

Listeners are encouraged to leave a rating and subscribe to Poker in the Ears to ensure an episode is never missed.