Baseline to Bassline

Aidan and Nathan are back to talk March Madness (1:05) and MLB regular season predictions (16:52) before breaking down Selena Gomez's "Buscando Amor" (32:20) and bringing back Nathan's freestyle segment (39:05).

Baseline to Bassline hits the historic quarter-century mark on this edition of the pod — recorded Thursday, Jan. 28. First, the guys discuss Deshaun Watson formally requesting a trade out of Houston and share the destinations where they’d most (or least) like to see the star quarterback end up (1:57). Then, Aidan basks in the glory of his NFL playoff picks while the guys preview Super Bowl LV (14:49). Knowing Aidan is completely out of touch with reality, Nathan picks the No. 1 song on the Billboard Hot 100, and the two discuss Olivia Rodrigo’s “drivers license” while Nathan gets weirdly down bad and Aidan offers therapy (28:30). And on the freestyle segment, all signs point to Nathan delivering an astonishingly horrendous performance — but does he? (36:53)

In this episode of Baseline to Bassline, Aidan tells a tale of a late Christmas miracle (0:40) before the guys dive into their full NFL Playoff predictions (5:37). Then, they discuss the College Football Playoff and drop their picks for the Heisman Award (24:51). In the music segments, Nathan re-introduces Aidan to Aidan’s least favorite artist (35:42), and Nathan “J. Cole” Ackerman has yet another go at a freestyle (46:35).

To avoid disastrous NBA overreactions and maintain the holiday spirit, Aidan and Nathan deliver a music special for the ages on this episode of Baseline to Bassline. They start by giving their predictions for the AFC Wild Card spots and the NFC Least winner (2:07) before going into the song segment — and this time, there are not one, not two, but three tunes to dissect (17:18). Then, because Aidan’s song suggestion goes so well, Nathan has to balance out the music quality on the freestyle segment, and he comes through (40:51).

On this episode of Baseline to Bassline, Aidan and Nathan react to the College Football Playoff field and discuss which teams got screwed out of New Year’s Six bowls (1:11). Then, they share their predictions for the NBA Conference Finals, Finals and individual awards (12:43). Later, Aidan is reintroduced to Nathan’s favorite female artist (30:38) before Nathan channels his inner Eminem on the freestyle segment (38:51).

The guys are back on a historic episode of B2B (you have to listen to understand why). They kick it off by discussing the NFL playoff landscape and whether anybody can stop the Chiefs (1:01). Then, they dive into the the College Football Playoff, picking some dark horse playoff contenders while acknowledging that it probably won’t matter (14:52). Then, Nathan takes Aidan on a trip to the 80s in the song segment (30:53), and Nathan gets some serious retribution on the freestyle (38:05).

Aidan and Nathan are back with arguments about who won the John Wall-Russell Westbrook trade (1:30) and how bad this football season has been for the Pac-12 (15:10). After that, Aidan makes his second offering on the song segment (27:45) before Nathan battles through the rust on his freestyle (37:18).

The guys welcome fellow USC journalist Lauren Mattice to discuss her Dodgers finally winning another World Series (2:25). From there, they talk about the recruiting and team morale ramifications of USC football’s new marketing venture BLVD Studios (19:55) before Ariana Grande makes her second straight appearance on the song segment (39:27). Finally, Nathan screws up a freestyle full of potential (50:20).

Aidan and Nathan kick off this week’s B2B by talking about Games 1 and 2 of the World Series and how they think the rest of the series is shaping up for the Dodgers and Rays (1:16). Then, they talk about the trash heap that was Thursday Night Football and the garbage disposal that is the NFC East (12:53). Nathan fawns and obsesses over Ariana Grande’s new single “positions” while Aidan … doesn’t (24:21), and Nathan closes this week’s episode with a sweet freestyle (34:11).

The guys start a rather unique episode by discussing the sharp turn in the Rays-Astros series and what the most enjoyable World Series matchup would be (2:27). Then Aidan takes the lead on the song review (29:48) and Nathan delivers an uneven freestyle performance (42:32).

After a brief hiatus, the boys are back in town (B2B Town, that is) with a **rather NSFW** episode. Nathan apologizes to Duncan Robinson and the guys fawn over Jimmy Butler before a much-needed bashing of Lakers fans (2:00). Then, they talk about how much the Astros suck but are actually kind of good, preview the ALCS and NLCS and, of course, bash the Yankees (17:03). Later, Aidan analyzes a brutal yet “bubbly” and “bouncy” song (36:23), and finally, Nathan returns with as milquetoast a freestyle as ever (44:29).

On this episode of Baseline to Bassline, Aidan bemoans the Celtics falling behind the Heat 3-1 (0:51) and Nathan holds out hope for a Phillies playoff appearance (16:20). A return to pop makes B2B history in the song segment (36:35), but will that energy carry over to Nathan’s freestyle (47:32)?

The guys return this week with their longest episode ever, and they kick off the party by talking about the NBA Conference Finals (1:41) — a sore spot for Aidan. Then, they dive into their predictions for the NFL regular season and Super Bowl (19:33). Nathan gets a little dark on the song segment (52:34) and turns in yet another FIRE freestyle performance (1:03:32).

Aidan and Nathan are back as they kick things off by giving their takeaways from the first few games of the conference semifinal round of the NBA Playoffs (0:51) and dive into whether the early leads out of the East will hold. Then, the guys talk about the MLB playoff race a few games past the halfway point of the season (14:33). Nathan provides some twang on the music segment (27:29). And finally, Nathan gets a little help on his freestyle (37:04).

Aidan and Nathan discuss the strikes across professional sports and how the leagues differed in their action (2:00). Then they grudgingly analyze BLACKPINK's "Ice Cream" feat. Nathan's true love, Selena Gomez (22:35) before Nathan provides a Karl Malone-esque freestyle performance (31:05). If that doesn't make sense to you, well, you'll just have to listen.

Aidan and Nathan welcome Bobby Kirschenbaum, who comes in hot with a baseball take (1:00). The three discuss Thursday night's NBA Draft Lottery (8:10) before offering some takes on the way the NBA Playoffs have unfolded (17:20). Aidan gives one of his worst song grades yet to an artist near and dear to Nathan's heart (29:50), but Ack gets it back with his freestyle performance (37:40).

In a truly historic day for Baseline to Bassline, ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan joins the show to talk all things MLB (6:51). Jeff, Aidan and Nathan discuss the league’s return, whether they’ll be able to finish up this season, a potential playoff bubble, financial ramifications of the coronavirus on baseball and a whole lot more. Then, Nathan gets into his freestyle (26:57), which he thought went pretty well — Jeff gives his thoughts and adds some legendary impersonations to help him weigh in.

The guys change it up this week on many fronts. First, they do just one sports segment, a prolonged conversation about the evolving landscape in the NBA’s Orlando bubble (0:59). Then, they both — yes, both — react to Taylor Swift’s new “August” (20:15), before Nathan kills his freestyle — although, that’s not really changing anything up (27:45).

The guys welcome on the first guest in the podcast’s history — Aidan’s friend Andrew Golden, a Northwestern journalism student. Andrew, Aidan and Nathan give their reactions from the first night of the NBA restart (2:17) before Andrew, a Braves fan, and Nathan, a Phillies fan, get into it with an MLB debate (12:06). Then, it’s Pelicans szn (according to Nathan), so the three give their review of Lonzo Ball’s “Get Off” (27:28). Finally, Nathan gives a bounce back performance for the ages with the freestyle segment (34:25).

Baseball is finally back! Aidan and Nathan each give an overreaction to Yankees-Nationals and talk about Giants-Dodgers on Opening Day (1:19). Then, they dive into their predictions for the rest of the NBA restart, which tips off in six days (11:35). On the musical side of things, Aidan gives his best song grade on the podcast yet (26:45), and Nathan — well, any progress is good progress (33:35).

The guys are back like they never left. First, they talk about Thursday’s Washington Post article detailing troubling allegations of sexual harassment in Washington’s NFL organization (2:05). Then, they lay down — and fervently debate — their predictions for the upcoming MLB season (14:35). Nathan tries to convince Aidan to think abstractly about WILLOW’s “Wait a Minute!” (33:00). To round things out, Nathan takes on his sixth freestyle and — well, you be the judge (39:57).

The guys applaud Maya Moore's involvement in getting an innocent man's conviction overturned (1:10) before discussing Cam Newton signing with the Patriots and how he will fare compared to New England's former signal-caller (14:30). They move on to arguing about Elle King's "Ain't Gonna Drown" (28:20) before Nathan performs his fifth (and best?) freestyle (36:38).

In the fourth episode of Baseline to Bassline, Aidan and Nathan talk about college athletes taking a stand (1:38) and MLB finally reaching a plan for the 2020 season (14:46). Then, Aidan expresses his disgust at Miranda Cosgrove’s “Kissin U” (29:04) and Nathan tears up a beat on the new and improved freestyle segment (35:08). (Originally uploaded to SoundCloud)

The guys talk about the ugly state of Major League Baseball before theorizing which NBA players will blow up the snitching hotline in Disney World later this summer. Then, they analyze Billie Eilish's "bury a friend" and Nathan takes a shot at redemption after last week's disastrous freestyle.

Aidan and Nathan discuss the end of Reggie Bush's disassociation from USC, and Nathan argues the MLB Draft is the best sports draft. Then, the guys disagree about the quality of Selena Gomez' "Undercover" before Nathan drops his second freestyle of the series.

On the very first episode of Baseline to Bassline, Aidan Berg and Nathan Ackerman introduce you to this new show before discussing the NBA's return plan and the MLB's inability to do so. Plus, the guys do their first iteration of the music segments.