Tao of Benjorati

By Pauly
Hollyweird, CA


We unofficially fired Dan Michalski and outsourcing our podcast with a cheaper European equivalent... Benjo. Ah, just kidding! The Tao of Pokerati is back. I taped four episodes with Benjo while we were in Budapest last weekend. Michalski posted threeall of them. Episode 3.1 might be one of my favorite all-time episodes.

Tao of Pokerati Book 3: Budapest (w/ Benjo)

Episode 3.1: EPT Afterparty (3:39)

Description by Michalski: Pauly heads to Hungary for EPT Budapest with Benjo, and unexpectedly hosts Johnny Lodden, winner Will Fry, and other final tableists in his flat for some celebratory 420 and beer — giving insight into the much heralded EPT circuit experience, the value of Hungarian forints, and "dodgy" Euro strip clubs.


Episode 3.2: Hungarian Hooker Halloween (4:14)

Description by Michalski: The post-EPT-Budapest shenanigans continue as Benjo and Pauly discuss whorehouses and the Tarantino-esque experiences of French and Scandi bustouts with Hungarian women-for-hire. A tad of religious guilt kicks in as the poker media duo contemplates the Day of the Dead on the Danube.


Episode 3.3: Competitive Apple Eating (4:08)

Description by Michalski: Prop bets among the international press break out at the EPT afterparty, and, of course, Benjo and Pauly are there to moderate/get in on the action. The big bet comes when Matt Showell challenges his PokerListings colleague Rod Stirzaker's claim that he can eat 50 apples in 90 minutes. Legal concerns emerge (what's the rule on a prop bet that leads to death?) before it turns into a scavenger hunt to find 50 edible Granny Smiths at 3:30am in Budapest.


Episode 3.4: Euro Core-tossing (3:17)

Description by Michalski: 5 am: The prop-betting evolves... as Pauly discovers (much to Benjo's dismay) the Hungarian offshoot of lime tossing: trying to hit bums with apple cores. The ethically questionable game of skill comes up as Pauly is on prop-bet tilt after losing a scaled down apple bet. From there, the good doctor and his Euro-conscience debate what games of bum abuse may or may not be acceptable.

Stay tuned for the last episode which should be posted shortly.


Original content written and provided by Pauly from Tao of Poker at www.taopoker.com. All rights reserved. RSS feeds are for non-commercial use only.

The Lost Tao of Pokerati Episodes - Fashion Report with Change100

By Pauly
Denver, CO


Or maybe, the title should be the "late" episodes of Tao of Pokerati? Michalski uploaded two episodes that are at least a week old.

Episode 28: Exit, Stage Tiffany

Description by Michalski: We're not done yet... still have a few more episodes to share with you, and Brian Balsbaugh and Oliver Tse our agents are in negotiations with French authorities over possible continuation of the show.

It's a 6-minute double-episode — that seems particularly timely with the benefit of hindsight was recorded from the dead-center of an emptied out Amazon room, shortly after Tiffany Michelle busted out in 17th place. Here Dr. Pauly and I survey the atmospheric damage as "the last hope" of the main event exits the building... and I argue that she was the only one of the final 27 players with true Chris Moneymaker potential — meaning her performance wasn't so much about her own abilities to win big cash as it was about the future of poker. Comparisons to Scotty Nguyen and college basketball as well, before one of your not-so-gracious hosts goes through severe WSOP separation anxiety.


Episode 28.5: Fashion Report (featuring Change100)

Description by Michalski: Dr. Pauly chats with Change100 (his personal fashion yogini) about Tiffany Michelle's attire before her Ultimate Bet patchwork became such a major wardrobe malfunction. It's sickeningly cute as this pokerblogging duo draws the fine line between rocker-chick chic and Tijuana hooker — and further fashion analysis tries to differentiate between the new-money stylings of Alexander Kostritsin, typical "online douchebag" and Mean Gene, and the poker-prep ways of Shronk and Brandon Adams.

Stay tuned for a few more lost/late episodes. You can always visit the Tao of Pokerati archives.


Original content written and provided by Pauly from Tao of Poker at www.taopoker.com. All rights reserved. RSS feeds are for non-commercial use only.

More Tao of Pokerati Episodes!

By Pauly
Las Vegas, NV


One of my favorite parts about covering the 2008 WSOP was a half-baked idea called the Tao of Pokerati podcast. Stephen Noh suggested that Michalski and I start our own podcast so we went out and did the first one in the hallway. Then another... and another. Along the way we had some special guests such as Benjo, Otis, the Poker Shrink, and Change100.

The best part about the Tao of Pokerati podcast is that they are quick bites and super short clips around 3 minutes in length. It was perfect for our short attentions span (Michalksi is had adult ADD) and the little nuggets were quick sound bites for you to listen to while destroying workplace productivity or background fodder while you play online poker.

Three recent episodes that stood out were...

Episode #19... which we recorded at Sapphire strip club for the Bluff party featuring Otis

Episode #23... we captured the excitement of the Main Event Bubble!

Episode #25... with special guest the Poker Shrink where he discussed his patient Mike Matusow and Aderrall.

The big star of the podcast this summer was Benjo. When he joined the mix, those were some of my favorite (and most hilarious) episodes. I might have to splice together a "Best of Benjo!"

Here's the first 32 episodes...

Episode 1: Game On! (3:16)
Episode 2: Dirty Sklanchez (3:30)
Episode 2.5: Poker Couture with special guest Benjo (1:03)
Episode 3: Milwaukee’s Best Vinny (3:25)
Episode 4: Late-Night Piladies (3:43)
Episode 5: Long Road (3:23)
Episode 6: Lowballin' (3:02)
Episode 7: Brasilia Time (4:23)
Episode 8: Online Sharks::Salmon (3:07)
Episode 9: Do You See What I See? (3:58)
Episode 10: Eurotarded(2:26)
Episode 11: Floorplay (3:21)
Episode 12: Going Halfsies (4:41)
Episode 12.5: Le Donk (1:35)
Episode 13: Energy Bucks (3:37)
Episode 14: Stakehouse (4:41)
Episode 15: Horse Rubbing (2:57)
Episode 16: Generation Bracelet (3:51)
Bonus Episode: Doyle Out featuring Benjo (2:00)
Episode 17: Gold Coasting (2:41)
Episode 17.1: Benjo - Barley Legal (0:55)
Episode 17.2: Benjo - Hooker Tournament Chips (1:05)
Episode 17.3: Benjo - Le Masturbe (1:20)
Episode 18: Triple Crown and Coke (4:54)
Episode 19: Topless Beer Pong (2:44)
Episode 20: Surviving Day 1a (3:58)
Episode 21: Poker for Africa (4:25)
Episode 22: Agent Oranges (7:07)
Episode 23: Bubbilicious (3:46)
Episode 24: Kids in the Hall (4:31)
Episode 25: Maderrall featuring the Poker Shrink (5:32)
Episode 26: Agents, Frenchies, and Polacks featuring Benjo (3:48)
Episode 27: Payouts and Payoffs (5:11)

FYI... You can right-click and Save As to download the MP3s to your hard drive. Or just click the link directly to stream it on your computer.

Michalski is a tad slow uploading the last couple of episodes including a fashion report featuring Change100 and our final WSOP broadcast. Stay tuned for those episodes.

Thanks to everyone for listening.


Original content written and provided by Pauly from Tao of Poker at www.taopoker.com. All rights reserved. RSS feeds are for non-commercial use only.