Running It Back

Palmer Media
  • 5.0 (15)
  • Basketball
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What can we learn from legendary sports players and performances? In each episode of Running It Back, Tarlin Ray and Mike Palmer bring us back to moments from the past to find the stories that resonate with the events of today. If you forget history, you may be destined to repeat it. So be sure to run it back with us before you play it forward in these tumultuous times.

  1. 6d ago

    The NFL’s Injury Problem, Brian Flores’ Revenge & Redemption QBs | Running It Back

    It's November, and the NFL is already a war of attrition. Mike Palmer and Tarlin Ray take the league's midseason temperature: quarterbacks dropping by the week, a Giants fan with a playoff hot take, and a Vikings fan somehow miserable about an undefeated start. LESSONS FROM THE MIDWAY POINT 🩼 Football is violent. Who knew? Six starting quarterbacks went down in the first two weeks. Saquon and Breece Hall are out. And Jalen Hurts flew cross-country with a blood clot to play a game. Tarlin is calling it a Chris Bosh moment. 🔄 One team's castoff is another's cornerstone. The Giants are on quarterback number three, and it's the guy Minnesota let go. Mike thinks that funky mojo, plus a heroic tie, gets them to the playoffs. Tarlin has questions. 🛡️ Bet on the coach the league gave up on. The Vikings are winning with a quarterback Tarlin can't stand, because Brian Flores keeps building the best defense in football. Credit to Kevin O'Connell for building a culture that can make the most of a coach the league pushed aside. 🧩 Fit beats firepower. Jim Harbaugh paired up with Mike McDaniel, and Justin Herbert's howitzer has gone quiet. Meanwhile Brock Purdy keeps proving touch beats velocity, and Kyle Shanahan keeps winning with half his roster hurt. 📈 Redemption arcs are undefeated. C.J. Stroud went from getting his walk-in fit roasted to a comeback story. Drake Maye is rolling. The Browns are actually winning. And in Chicago, Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams might be building something real. 🎮 Plus: Josh Allen and Jaxon Smith-Njigba are cheat codes, fantasy football updates (one of us is 6-1, one of us faces a last-place penalty), Mike Tomlin's Minecraft universe, and the Rams trying to make a SoFi Super Bowl happen. COMING UP That's My Quarterback is coming back. Somebody's getting stuck with Deshaun Watson, and Tarlin can't wait for it to be Mike. Coaching carousel shows to follow. KEEP RUNNING IT BACK That's a wrap on the Season 7 kickoff. Catch the full set: the Brewers' World Series, the Valkyries' WNBA title, and our NBA tipoff. Running It Back, the Lessons Learned from Sports Podcast. Hit play, subscribe wherever you get your pods, and tell us who you're taking in the That's My Quarterback draft.

    The NFL’s Injury Problem, Brian Flores’ Revenge & Redemption QBs | Running It Back

  2. 6d ago

    Yaxel vs Luka, LeBron in Philly & the NBA’s Injury Problem | 2026-27 Tipoff | Running It Back

    The NBA is back, and so is Running It Back. Mike Palmer and Tarlin Ray tip off the 2026-27 season with the league flipped upside down: LeBron's in Philly, the champion Knicks started 0-3, and a 24-year-old rookie is already trash-talking Luka. LESSONS FROM OPENING WEEK 🗣️ Earn your smoke. Yaxel Lendeborg went from community college to a national title at Michigan to the Warriors, and in his first NBA game he got in Luka's face, then said he'd lost all respect for him. Moxie hits different when you can back it up. 🏆 Draft winners, not just potential. Everyone wants the 19-year-old with upside. But the teams jumping out early are leaning on players who've already won: Memphis with two Wooden Award winners, Houston with Fred VanVleet running the show. Sound familiar, Valkyries fans? 👑 Test the Ewing Theory. Can a team get better after its superstar leaves? The Lakers are Luka's team now, and Tarlin has three requests for his new leader. One of them is "get down the court." 🪜 Who are you after you get stepped over? Ty Lue lived through one of the most famous moments in Finals history from the wrong side, and showed up the next day. Mike wants him on the pod to talk about it. 🩼 The best ability is availability. Anthony Edwards, Jalen Williams, Haliburton: stars are dropping already. So should the league go contrarian on health? Tarlin floats a halftime smoke, a steakhouse instead of lift day, and a hard look at all those low-tops. It's gotta be the shoes. 🤖 Plus: Buttery got cut. Meet Rounded, our new real-time AI fact-checker. Also, Dame and Ja in Portland, LaMelo's joy factor in Minnesota, a Beverly Hills Cop deep cut, and a public plea to bring back Game of Zones. HELP US OUT Our fact-checker needs a real name. Rounded isn't cutting it. Send us your best pitch. And if you know the Game of Zones creators, we want them on the show. KEEP RUNNING IT BACK Season 7 is rolling. Catch our Brewers World Series and Valkyries WNBA Finals episodes now. NFL is up next. Running It Back, the Lessons Learned from Sports Podcast. Hit play, subscribe wherever you get your pods, and don't call it a comeback.

    Yaxel vs Luka, LeBron in Philly & the NBA’s Injury Problem | 2026-27 Tipoff | Running It Back

  3. Nov 1 ·  Bonus

    Lessons From Ballhalla | Running It Back and the 2026 WNBA Finals

    Ballhalla delivered. The Golden State Valkyries are WNBA champions in just their second season, and Mike Palmer and Tarlin Ray saw it coming. We recorded this one before Game 7, so consider it receipts. LESSONS FROM THE FINALS Year two. Title. How did the Valkyries pull it off, and what does the Atlanta Dream's run tell us about where the league goes next? 🏆 Stack winners. Golden State loaded up on UConn alums who already knew how to close. Tarlin's betting rule: back the players who've won before. 🔄 Narratives flip fast. Angel Reese got shipped out of Chicago with a reputation. A year later she's anchoring Atlanta's defense in the Finals. Haters, update your takes. Ball don't lie. ⚔️ Rivalries build leagues. Tarlin says Reese vs. Caitlin Clark could be the WNBA's Bird and Magic, and the league needs the anger that comes with it. Mike thinks Ballhalla's ride-or-die energy is the real growth engine. Game 7 may have just cast the deciding vote. 📺 Schedule like you want people watching. Game 6 tipped at 12:30 on a weekday. Mike's lunch hour. Everyone else's work meeting. A league with the NBA in its corner can do better. 💜 Violet, purple or lilac? A Pantone dispute settled live on air, kind of. 🤖 Plus: the debut of our real-time AI fact-checker, who gets the Valkyries' name right, costs Tarlin 30 seconds and earns the nickname "Buttery." Also, Geno vs. Dawn Staley, and why Geno Auriemma is a gateway drug to Nick Saban. KEEP RUNNING IT BACK Season 7 is rolling. Catch our Brewers World Series episode now, and our NBA and NFL shows are up next. Running It Back, the Lessons Learned from Sports Podcast. Hit play, subscribe wherever you get your pods, and tell us: was this a Valkyries title or a Ballhalla title?

    Lessons From Ballhalla | Running It Back and the 2026 WNBA Finals

  4. Nov 1 ·  Bonus

    Lessons Learned from the Milwaukee Brewers 2026 World Series Run

    Season 7 is here, and Running It Back is opening it with a baseball joint. Mike Palmer and Tarlin Ray are back on the mic after a long layoff, and the reunion gets emotional fast. One of them sent an "I miss you" text. We'll let you guess who. THE BREWERS DID IT Two small-market teams. Zero evil empires. The Milwaukee Brewers won their first World Series, taking down the Rays in five. Tarlin, a Dodgers loyalist, still had to tip his cap. So what did a 103-win team from Wisconsin teach the rest of us? ⚾ Small ball wins. Milwaukee manufactured runs, extended innings and never looked out of a game. The Dodgers kept stranding runners and praying for homers. 🔄 When everyone zigs, flop. Baseball went all-in on launch angle and the three true outcomes, which opened the door for a team willing to play differently. Think D'Antoni's Suns, think the Fosbury Flop. Today's edge is tomorrow's orthodoxy. ⏳ It's never too late. Tarlin's executive-coach brain lights up over a manager who got his shot late in his career. Over 50 and wondering about act two? This one's for you. 🤖 Fix the product and fans come back. Automated balls and strikes plus the pitch clock have baseball moving again. The NFL? Mike has thoughts about replay and the chain gang. Tarlin made him save them for the football show. 🍗 Dad bods are a durability plan. While the NBA and NFL lose stars to injury every week, baseball players are still allowed a little cushion. Tarlin has theories involving beer and chicken. 🧀 Plus: Brewers fans invading Southwest Florida, a Bob Uecker shoutout, and a debate over whether cows have anything to do with brewing. They do not. SEASON 7 STARTS NOW This is drop one of a Season 7 variety pack, and the rest is landing in the feed now: 🏀 WNBA: what happened, and why so few of us saw it 🗽 NBA: the Knicks are champions, and Mike will be mentioning it every episode until the cows come home 🏈 NFL: Mike finally unloads on replay and the chain gang Running It Back, the Lessons Learned from Sports Podcast. Hit play, subscribe wherever you get your pods, and send this one to the friend you've been meaning to text.

    Lessons Learned from the Milwaukee Brewers 2026 World Series Run

  5. Jul 28

    NBA Offseason Moves Part 1 | Jaylen Brown to Sixers, LaMelo to the Wolves, and the LeBron Decision Vigil

    Mike Palmer and Tarlin Ray are double-dipping on Running It Back to navigate the post-Summer League, post-World Cup lull while the entire NBA holds its breath waiting on the latest LeBron James decision. From blockbuster trades and team-building philosophies to draft blunders and post-championship hangovers, the guys cover it all. In this Episode: The LeBron Decision Vigil: We’re on day 5,000 of waiting for the King's next move. We look back at the awkward glory of 2010's "South Beach" spectacle and examine Bronny locking down his deal in LA. Jaylen Brown Heading to Philly: Why do the analytics wonks keep sleeping on Jaylen Brown? We break down his fit alongside Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe—and whether Joel Embiid’s health caps their ultimate ceiling. LaMelo to Minnesota: Pairing LaMelo Anthony with Anthony Edwards sounds like pure basketball entertainment, but how will LaMelo handle the slick winter streets of Minneapolis? Roster DNA & Superstar Ego: Why Jalen Brunson and Victor Wembanyama are setting a new standard for team-building, while other stars stay pot-committed to style over team chemistry. Drafting Winners & Golden State's Missteps: We examine why front offices need to stop chasing raw upside over proven winners—and look back at the past draft decisions coming back to haunt the Warriors. Knicks Post-Championship Reality: Fresh off a title, are the Knicks already flirting with Pat Riley’s infamous "disease of more" during their media victory lap? Stump the Pod Trivia: Can you name the active superstar who has been traded twice in his career for Finals MVPs? (Listen in to see if you can beat Tarlin’s challenge!) Timestamps: 00:00 Back on the Pod00:30 Inside the Box Talk 00:57 Summer Doldrums Check In 01:58 Catching Up on Trades 02:40 LeBron Decision Watch 04:29 Bronny and Lakers Jokes 05:11 Jaylen Brown Breakdown 06:51 Team First Superstars 09:15 Fans vs Load Management 09:44 Fanatics Fest Memories 10:37 Bronny Clip and USC Story 11:13 LaMelo Meets Ant 12:08 Roster Build Debate 12:59 Second Apron Chess 14:03 Draft Class Talk 14:50 Summer League Banners 16:20 Warriors Draft Regrets 18:39 Pick Winners Philosophy 19:40 Knicks Hype Check 20:54 Trivia and Signoff

    NBA Offseason Moves Part 1 | Jaylen Brown to Sixers, LaMelo to the Wolves, and the LeBron Decision Vigil

  6. Jul 27

    World Cup 2026 - Lessons Learned from the Beautiful Game

    Mike Palmer and Tarlin Ray return to Running It Back: Lessons Learned from Sports after a short hiatus. Repping a questionable Brooklyn-purchased ESPANA button-down shirt, Mike breaks down his recent bike crash on Smith Street, how a helmet saved his head, and how he turned his couch recovery into a World Cup viewing lounge using Mobilegs and an Amazon projector. From there, Mike and Tarlin dive into the 2026 World Cup, exploring how Spain's championship run demonstrated the power of team orchestration over raw star power. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS Bike Crashes and Rehab Tech: Mike recounts going over his handlebars in Carroll Gardens to avoid a pedestrian, the importance of wearing a helmet, and navigating soft-tissue recovery with Mobi Legs and a cheap projector setup. Spain's System of Excellence: Why Spain played like the Knicks with high-floor execution and selfless ball movement, led by Golden Ball winner Rodri and rising star Lamine Yamal. Soccer to NBA Player Comps: Tarlin puts Mike on the spot with rapid-fire comparisons, matching Erling Haaland to early Luka Dončić, Mbappé to Kobe or Jordan, Jude Bellingham to Jaylen Brown, and Lionel Messi to LeBron James. Tournament Depth and Turf Debates: A look at the 48-team expanded format, Cabo Verde's run, the US Men's team exiting in the round of 16, and the hypocritical field turf standards between FIFA and NFL owners. Halftime Shows, Fan Chants, and Voltron: Reacting to Justin Bieber and Shakira at halftime, relief over English fans not singing Wonderwall in the finals, and why Spain's collective style matched the space armada version of Voltron. LESSONS LEARNED "Rather than falling in love with the star sensibility, what really made Spain transcendent was that there was this system of excellence, and they knew what they needed to do." — Mike Palmer Systems Beat Star Power: A squad built around system excellence and deep roster quality consistently beats a collection of individual talent. Wear a Helmet: Always protect your cranium when riding a bike through the city. Subscribe to Running It Back wherever you get your pods. Check out our NBA offseason shakeup episodes up next in the queue. And be on the lookout for our NFL Preview episode due out in August. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Intro: Brooklyn gear and World Cup fever 02:00 - The Smith Street Bike Crash: Shattered helmets and Carroll Gardens collisions 04:50 - Bionic Rehab: Mobi Legs, couch projectors, and recovering like a giraffe 06:15 - Spain’s Championship System: Why Spain played like the Knicks 08:15 - Soccer Lingo 101: Ground duels, Rodri's Golden Ball, and becoming a new fan 10:00 - Good vs. Evil: Sports as a morality play and stars showing up 12:00 - USMNT Exit: Round of 16 stumbles and Cape Verde’s tournament run 13:50 - Soccer to NBA Player Comps: Haaland, Mbappé, Bellingham, and Messi 16:30 - Tournament Expansion and Field Turf: FIFA vs. NFL venue politics 18:20 - Halftime Chaos: Justin Bieber, Shakira, and advice for Bieber 20:00 - Fan Chants: Rowing Norwegians, hating Wonderwall, and Viking history 21:40 - The Voltron Lesson: System excellence over individual star potential

    World Cup 2026 - Lessons Learned from the Beautiful Game

  7. Jul 6

    NBA Draft 2026, the Giannis Trade, and World Cup Fever | Running It Back | Lessons Learned From Sports

    Welcome back to Running It Back, the Lessons Learned From Sports podcast! We are eyeballs deep in sports lesson fodder this week, fresh off the Knicks hangover period and diving straight into a brand new World Cup season. We bring you the raw analysis, front-office chemistry checks, and unique banter you love, keeping it completely real as we look at the shifting landscape of modern sports. The 2026 NBA Draft: Analytics vs. Proven Winners We kick things off by looking at the NBA Draft and questioning why front offices continue to shy away from drafting proven winners. We look at Jalen Brunson's incredible championship history as the ultimate counterpoint and debate why we would still select a winner like Cameron Boozer over high-ceiling potential bets like AJ Dobbins. We also break down how NIL changes are shifting the landscape of college sports, keeping top-tier talent playing domestically so fans actually get a chance to see them before draft night. Then we discuss how Danny Hurley is fast becoming the Nick Saban of the NBA draft by molding UConn players to be immediately ready for the league. Finally, we examine how the Knicks provided a blueprint on "wemby-proofing" a team by throwing raw upper-body strength and wide frames at Victor Wembanyama, and why OKC and the Spurs are playing chess while everyone else plays checkers. Mega Trades & LeBron's Passive-Aggressive Shenanigans Next, all hell breaks loose in the trade landscape as we unpack the massive blockbuster trade sending Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Miami Heat. Miami gives up Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kel'el Ware, and a haul of picks, prompting us to debate whether a twin-towers frontcourt with Giannis and Bam Adebayo will dominate or just look awkward on shooting and spacing. We run it back by analyzing the historical returns of the 2019 Anthony Davis trade and the 2021 James Harden deal to figure out who actually won those legacy-defining moves. Then we dive headfirst into the scuttlebutt surrounding LeBron James's shenanigans and a wild potential LeBron-AD mega-team reunion with Golden State. We break down whether LeBron is playing the role of a passive-aggressive drama king or if the Warriors can actually assemble a savvy, elite veteran lineup with Steph, Draymond, and the crew. Plus, Mike drops live news about DeAndre Ayton picking up his player option, leaving Tarlin completely stunned and reckoning with Pelinka's draft shortcomings and a defensively-challenged Lakers backcourt. World Cup Fever & Soccer Lingo Quiz We wrap things up by catching World Cup fever because the absolute biggest stars like Messi, Mbappe, and Haaland are actually performing and delivering dominant spectacles on the pitch. We talk about the impressive TV product, the incredible depth of the US men's team reserves, and the unexpected beautiful bond between international fans and American host cities. To close it out, Tarlin puts Mike's football knowledge to the test with a surprise lingo quiz, leaving you with everything you need to know about a brace, a hole, and a glut! Time Stamps: 00:00 – Intro: The Post-Knicks Hangover & World Cup Bandwagon Fashion 02:00 – 2026 NBA Draft: Scouting Winners, NIL Impacts, and Hurley's UConn Pipeline 12:00 – Wemby-Proofing the League: OKC and the Spurs Play Chess 15:00 – Giannis Blockbuster Trade: Unpacking the Heat's Mega-Swing 17:30 – Running It Back: Historical Returns of the AD and Harden Trades 23:00 – LeBron to the Warriors Scuttlebutt & Live DeAndre Ayton Updates 28:30 – World Cup Fever: Performing Superstars, US Reserves, and Tarlin's Soccer Quiz

    NBA Draft 2026, the Giannis Trade, and World Cup Fever | Running It Back | Lessons Learned From Sports

  8. Jun 16

    Lessons Learned from the 2026 NBA Finals | Knicks Win! | To the Victor Goes the "L"

    53 years of waiting is officially over. New York is officially Knick-a-bonkers. The gentleman’s sweep of Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs is complete, and Mike and Tarlin are back for Year 6 of Running It Back to unpack the definitive lessons learned from the 2026 NBA Finals. From Jalen Brunson’s masterclass in footwork to the elite grit of the Nova Knicks, we are breaking down how culture, character, and clutch timing systematically dismantled Vegas's favorite "alien." Pop a top, shrug off the NFL media takeover, and let's run it back. 🎧 Episode Timestamps 00:00 — Year 6 of the pod, NFL trade distractions, and the upcoming NBA Draft ("wingspan," not arm length!). 01:15 — The 53-year drought is over: Brunson-sanity takes over Brooklyn. 04:00 — Tarlin’s dispatch from enemy territory (Times Square) and escaping JFK lightning strikes. 05:40 — To The Victor Goes The L: The 63 Saturday night arrests and why Macy's wooden escalators are lucky to still be standing. 07:45 — Taylor Swift's crumpled hat & the Knicks as America’s Team. 08:30 — The Lamppost Theory: Why analytics failed the Spurs. 10:00 — Lesson 1: You always want an OG as your wingman (and the legend of "Twinkle Toes" Brunson). 12:10 — Lesson 2: Who let the dogs out? Real grit vs. genetic lotteries. 15:30 — Lesson 3: Experience matters. There are no shortcuts to the mountaintop. 21:50 — Basketball Intelligence: A San Diego callback to the Luka vs. Brunson debate. 24:15 — Roster Construction: How Leon Rose and Worldwide Wes built a culture of underdogs. 28:45 — Can you coach heart? (Spoiler: Hell yeah you can). 30:50 — The Explicit Outro: Don't get enamored of youth, the street meat metaphor, and putting Draymond Green on absolute blast. 32:45 — Ticker Tape Parade Predictions: Will Jose Alvarado end up on top of a street light? 🏀 Key Lessons From The 2026 Finals You Want an OG as Your Wingman: Everyone thought KAT was Brunson's primary shield, but OG Anunoby proved to be the ultimate, introverted, cold-blooded killer when it mattered most. Analytics Are a Lamppost: The analytics said the Spurs were the better team on paper. The basketball court said otherwise. "Analytics are like a lamppost to a drunk person. They'll hold you up. They're not gonna get you anywhere." — Josh Hart (quoting Jay Wright) Don't Get Enamored Of Youth: Talent is great, but Gen Z can’t win championships alone. Unseasoned street meat is a stay-away; you need mature, battle-tested veterans who know how to close out the fourth quarter when the game slows down to "winning time." Character Over "Wingspan": The Knicks built an entire identity around New York grit. From trades for Mikal Bridges to elite bench minutes from Jose Alvarado, they hired for character and reaped a championship. 🌶️ The Clean-Up Crew (EXPLICIT CONTENT WARNING) We managed to keep it PG-13 for most of the run, but the final whistle required some explicit, lyrical flow. Mike finally crosses the line to clear up a massive cultural misconception: Street meat is NOT about the white sauce. Draymond Green, consider yourself officially put on notice. As for Thursday's ticker tape parade? Let's just hope the city greases the poles, because Jose Alvarado is definitely climbing a lamppost by noon. Hit that Subscribe button, leave a 5-star review, and let us know in the comments: Will the Knicks repeat in 2027?

    Lessons Learned from the 2026 NBA Finals | Knicks Win! | To the Victor Goes the "L"
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About

What can we learn from legendary sports players and performances? In each episode of Running It Back, Tarlin Ray and Mike Palmer bring us back to moments from the past to find the stories that resonate with the events of today. If you forget history, you may be destined to repeat it. So be sure to run it back with us before you play it forward in these tumultuous times.

Information

  • Creator
    Palmer Media
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    102
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright Palmer Media 2025. All Rights Reserved.