Bub’s Pub Podcast

Dan Drews

Welcome to Bub’s Pub, the podcast where the conversation flows as freely as the beer (BYOB!). Join host Dan ”Bub” Drews and his rotating cast of characters, including regular Brennen Roberts, as they dive headfirst into the kind of chats you’d overhear at your favorite neighborhood watering hole. If you’re a Chicagoan navigating the wild world of sports (Go Bears? Go Cubs?), the latest flicks, shows, books, the joys (and occasional terrors) of fatherhood, and maybe even some grown-up business talk (without getting too serious), then pull up a virtual stool. We’re serving up opinions, laughs, and maybe even a little unsolicited advice, all with a distinctly Chicago suburban flavor. So grab your beverage of choice and join the Bub’s Pub crew! It’s like hanging out with your buddies, without having to leave the house.

  1. 3d ago

    Ep.60 - Brennen vs. Smokey; Cubs crisis; Elon prepares SpaceX for record breaking IPO; Big Earners moving away from taxes

    In this episode, Dan and Brennen do what any respectable barstool philosophers would do: check in on reunion recovery, wonder if the Cubs have misplaced their bats (and possibly their souls), and take a lap through the latest Bears stadium soap opera. Along the way, they mix in college baseball chatter, Illini updates, a wild look at the "Enhanced Games," a history-making racing adventure, Elon-sized ambition, and just enough politics and budget talk to keep everybody pretending this is still a serious operation. In other words, it’s the usual Bub’s Pub blend of sports, headlines, opinions, and friendly chaos—best enjoyed with a drink in hand and zero expectation of staying on one topic for too long. Brennen vs. Smokey The Bear NASCAR champ Kyle Busch passes away at 41 Bears stadium drama at a tipping point Cubs 10 game losing streak College baseball world series starts up Andre Stojakovic is back...for sure this time! Illini football: Kaden Feagin switches positions The Enhanced Games break a record Auto racer Katherine Legge attempts "The Double" DRAFT: Best Firefighting movies or TV shows Elon prepares SpaceX for a record breaking IPO California has two interesting elections this week Mamdani did not "balance" a budget Big earners moving out of high tax areas Funny stories of the week

    1h 11m

  2. May 21

    Ep.59 - Rob Phillips living abroad in Colombia; White Sox up; Cubs down; Indiana Football predictions; Favorite Hoosier Draft

    Rob Phillips is our guest this week! This episode of Bub’s Pub is a little bit sports bar, a little bit travel show, and a whole lot of good-natured chaos. Dan and Brennen bounce from the emotional roller coaster of Cubs and White Sox baseball to some bold crystal-ball predictions for Indiana football, with the usual mix of hometown optimism, mild disbelief, and friendly ribbing. The real world tour begins when Rob Phillips stops by to talk about his life in Colombia, sharing stories and observations that make the conversation feel like a front-row seat to life abroad—just with more laughs and fewer airport delays. Toss in a few oddball headlines and the crew does what they do best: make every topic sound like something worth discussing over a cold drink. The Rob Phillips and Brennen origin story Surprising NBA draft stats Chicago White Sox...the most surprising team? Chicago Cubs...the most frustrating team? Indiana Football predictions DRAFT: Favorite people from Indiana Living abroad in Colombia Funny story of the week = Typical Cardinals Fans

    1h 26m

  3. May 14

    Ep.58 - Alderman Carl Franco interview; Bulls get luck in the lottery; Weird Bears stats; Best NFL road trip Draft; Fat Rosie's Burrito Challenge

    We welcome Carl Franco, Aurora's 5th Ward Alderman to Bub's Pub this week!  This episode is a little bit of everything in the best possible way: Bulls lottery luck, Bears contract mysteries, draft dreams, road trip debates, local politics, cybercrime chaos, and even a free-pizza oddball story for dessert. Dan and Brennen bounce from sports takes to city issues to wonderfully weird headlines, with plenty of friendly banter mixed in. In short, it’s the kind of show that feels like hanging out at the neighborhood bar with two guys who came prepared with stats, opinions, and at least one tangent you never saw coming. Fat Rosie’s Burrito Challenge A toast to Ted Turner The Chicago Bulls get the 4th pick! Now what? Bears contract insights and favorite undrafted player ”The Bears Tax” penalty discrepancies DRAFT: Best NFL road trip cities Carl Franco, Aurora’s 5th Ward Alderman interview Mayor versus a City Manager system What’s new with Aurora’s development Some elected officials are knuckleheads Crazy stories of the week

    1h 27m

  4. May 6

    Ep.57 - Bears draft debate; Brendan Sorsby wrinkle; Baseball update; Route 66 birthday and classic car draft; Political craziness

    Brennen Roberts pulls up a stool for another round at Bub’s Pub—starting with shout-outs (including a loving tribute to sticky-bar floors). The guys break down the Bears’ draft with equal parts optimism and exasperation, detour into the strange gray area of prediction markets (investing… or just gambling with a spreadsheet?), and then crank the dial up with some politics chatter designed to get the group chat humming. From there it’s a fast, fun zig-zag through baseball vibes—especially a Cubs run that feels borderline magical despite the injury list—plus a Route 66 centennial road-trip daydream, and a couple “you can’t make this up” headlines to close out the tab. Bears Draft Therapy Session: who they picked, what they didn’t, and why “the board made me do it” is not a valid excuse. Prediction markets, explained: when “I’m investing” starts sounding a lot like “I’m sweating.” Sorsby saga update: the college-football story that keeps getting wilder. Cubs corner: hot bats, elite defense, and the bullpen juggling act—plus a nod to the legendary Lee Elia rant. Route 66 turns 100: Chicago-to–Santa Monica nostalgia with some fun trivia sprinkled in. Draft segment: classic cars you’d actually bid on (and ones you’d only admire from a safe distance). Crazy Politics Talk: Chicago mayoral race, bad policies in New York and Seattle, and California craziness Odd news to-go: Delta drama and a “WKRP is real?” moment to send you out smiling.

    1h 17m

  5. Apr 30

    Ep.56 - Troy Hillman's true crime breakdown; NFL Draft recap; Illini basketball; Draft of best U of I; Baby on board!

    We welcome back Scott Presley and Troy Hillman for an episode that covered the NFL Draft, Illini hoops, sports gambling weirdness, and two heavy true-crime cases—then somehow ended with a baby born on a plane, which is exactly the conversational arc you’d expect after “just one drink” at a neighborhood bar. Scott arrived with BBQ-draft-level convictions, and the guys played armchair coordinator on Illinois’ roster before turning to the Bears’ picks and league-wide draft chaos; from there they dove into how betting and prediction markets keep evolving, then handled the Gilgo Beach and Allison Feldman discussions with the seriousness they deserve, including the long timelines and investigative/legal twists. And the feel-good flight birth story that made the safety briefing sound like it needed an extra line: tray tables up, seat belts fastened, and congratulations, it’s a girl. Troy Hillman & Scott catch up Illinois Basketball returning their core NFL Draft recap and review NCAA gambling issues DOJ scandal with the Polymarket Is the Polymarket investing or betting? DRAFT: Best University of Illinois bars/restaurants The Gilgo Beach Murders The Scottsdale Allison Feldman case Baby on Board!

    1h 14m

  6. Apr 23

    Ep.55 - Ticket chaos; Illini back together; NFL Draft preview; DRAFT: best sporting events; Pied-a-Terre tax; Giga-Chad

    Dan Drews welcomes back Brennen Roberts for a one-year anniversary episode of Bub’s Pub—which means it’s time to get sentimental, revisit the 2025 NFL Draft preview, and remind everyone (again) that one of them “nailed several picks”… just sayin’. The guys tackle a modern tragedy: the affordability of live sports. It’s back to business in Champaign as they size up Illinois basketball’s huge returning core and newcomers, before going full draft-nerd with the Bears’ picks, why safety is screaming “need,” and a seven-round mock that will definitely age perfectly. Plus: Brennen’s quick-hit reactions to the week’s sports headlines, “term of the week” so you can casually drop pied-à-terre at your next function, and a truly absurd weird story that proves the only thing more unpredictable than the draft is a guy in a bear suit trying to commit insurance fraud. Affordability of live sporting events Illini Basketball getting the band back together 2026 NFL Draft Preview WNBA relationship drama Bulls and White Sox updates DRAFT: Best live sporting events bucket list New York creates ANOTHER bad policy SpaceX deal to buy AI startup Cursor Gilgo Beach killer teaser for next week Giga-Chad? (and other crazy trends) Bear suit luxury car scam for insurance fraud

    1h 25m

  7. Apr 18

    Ep.54 - Gavin Drews co-hosts; Blackhawks autopsy; BBQ Draft; Agri-Buisness News; First time home buyer blues: Bapple is back!

    Episode summary: Dan Drews brings on first-time guest Gavin Drews (aka the guy you text when the Blackhawks make you sad again) and they kick things off with a quick life check-in and some wedding-planning updates. From there it’s golf talk: why Gavin finally caved and got lessons, what’s clicking so far, and which part of the game is currently bullying him the most. Dan then does a Masters recap featuring Rory McIlroy going back-to-back at Augusta (green jacket: still undefeated). The main course is a full Blackhawks season autopsy—where the rebuild’s at, how injuries and thin depth turned things into a grind, and what the team’s got to nail this offseason. They wrap with some agri-business + real-world AI-for-farmers talk, a first-time homebuyer “what is even happening” moment, and finish on a weird-story cherry on top: Busch Light Apple (“Bapple”) is back, baby. Wedding planning process Golf Lessons for a beginner The Masters wrap up Chicago Blackhawks autopsy and outlook BBQ Tips from a student of the game DRAFT: Best foods on the grill or smoker Anthropic holds back new "too powerful" AI model Agri-business hot topics and news First time home buyer blues Bapple Is Back Baby!

    54 min

  8. Apr 10

    Ep.53 - Illini basketball autopsy; Government getting involved in sports; Best Easter Candy; Elon Musk's out of this world plans

    Welcome back to Bub’s Pub!  Brennen Roberts is bellied up to the bar discussing some of these hot topics… The Masters is underway & Rory is hot Autopsy of the Illini basketball season POTUS steps in to manage the NCAA The Chicago Bulls are a mess Department of Justice VS. the NFL The "Home Team Act" proposal for pro sports teams A baseball record breaking story from Scott Presley DRAFT: Best Easter Candy! New York Governor changes her tune Elon Musk's plans are out of this world! Some pets are not OK

    1h 14m
See All (60)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

Welcome to Bub’s Pub, the podcast where the conversation flows as freely as the beer (BYOB!). Join host Dan ”Bub” Drews and his rotating cast of characters, including regular Brennen Roberts, as they dive headfirst into the kind of chats you’d overhear at your favorite neighborhood watering hole. If you’re a Chicagoan navigating the wild world of sports (Go Bears? Go Cubs?), the latest flicks, shows, books, the joys (and occasional terrors) of fatherhood, and maybe even some grown-up business talk (without getting too serious), then pull up a virtual stool. We’re serving up opinions, laughs, and maybe even a little unsolicited advice, all with a distinctly Chicago suburban flavor. So grab your beverage of choice and join the Bub’s Pub crew! It’s like hanging out with your buddies, without having to leave the house.

Information

  • Creator
    Dan Drews
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    60
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Bub’s Pub Podcast

You Might Also Like