The Bench with John and Lance

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The biggest sports talk duo to ever hit Houston airwaves is still going strong after 2 decades in the market. John Granato and Lance Zierlein mix insightful sports analysis with irreverent humor and quick wit. You never know what you're going to hear, but it'll be like nothing else you ever have. Listen weekdays 7-11am live on ESPN 97.5 & 92.5 FM or anytime on demand at http://espn975.com.

ESPN Houston


    • Dec 22, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • daily NEW EPISODES
    • 46m AVG DURATION
    • 4,322 EPISODES

    4.9 from 168 ratings Listeners of The Bench with John and Lance that love the show mention: h town, moved away, del, excuse, houston, sports talk, best show, radio, awesome, funny, great, john and lance.


    Ivy Insights

    The Bench with John and Lance podcast is an absolute delight for sports enthusiasts in Houston and beyond. With their witty banter, insightful analysis, and genuine chemistry, John Granato and Lance Zierlein have truly set the platinum standard for sports radio. This dynamic duo knows how to keep their audience engaged with a perfect blend of humor and well-informed discussions. Whether it's Blue Mountains Johnny and Rappin' Dad crushing it or Dale keeping them honest, this show offers the best entertainment on the entire dial.

    One of the best aspects of The Bench podcast is the seamless combination of humor and knowledge that John and Lance bring to the table. Their funny yet informed discussions ensure that listeners are both entertained and educated about the latest happenings in sports. They don't carry anyone's water, meaning they provide unbiased opinions without pandering to any particular team or player. This authenticity is refreshing and keeps fans coming back for more.

    Another great aspect of this podcast is the chemistry between John and Lance. Their camaraderie shines through as they bounce off each other's jokes, insights, and observations. It feels like you're listening to two friends having a casual conversation about sports, which creates a welcoming atmosphere for listeners. This dynamic duo keeps you hooked from start to finish with their engaging rapport.

    However, no podcast is without its flaws, and one potential drawback of The Bench is the presence of Del as the supposed third wheel. Some listeners find his contributions less valuable compared to John and Lance, causing a slight disruption in the otherwise smooth flow of the show. While he may not be everyone's cup of tea, it's important to remember that different perspectives can add depth to discussions. Nonetheless, some fans do find Del's involvement slightly underwhelming.

    In conclusion, The Bench with John and Lance podcast is an outstanding way to stay up-to-date on H-Town sports even if you've moved away from Houston. With their smart and funny commentary, John and Lance provide an enjoyable listening experience that keeps fans hooked. Despite the minor setback of Del's presence, this show remains the go-to for sports talk radio with its blend of humor, knowledge, and engaging chemistry.



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    Latest episodes from The Bench with John and Lance

    12/22 John and Lance Hour 1 - Texans BARELY Win vs Raiders + Rockets Suffer Another Overtime Loss - At Nick's Place For The 2025 Christmas Party!

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 22, 2025 53:06


    12/22 John and Lance Hour 2 - Texas A&M Loses To Miami In The First Round Of The CFB Playoffs- At Nick's Place For The 2025 Christmas Party!

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 22, 2025 44:21


    12/22 John and Lance Hour 3 - Are You WORRIED About The Rockets?!- At Nick's Place For The 2025 Christmas Party!

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 22, 2025 41:57


    12/19 John and Lance Hour 1 - TNF Reactions + Rockets Fall Apart Late

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 19, 2025 56:28


    12/19 John and Lance Hour 2 - Brian Smith Allegations

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 19, 2025 45:08


    12/19 John and Lance Hour 3 - Beat Warehouse Live + News of the Weird

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 19, 2025 49:50


    12/18 Hour 1 - Is NIL Ruining College Sports?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 18, 2025 56:07


    Hour 1 of John and Lance with John Granato and Lance Zierlein! Lance is throwing the station under the bus Why are accredited NCAA agents not required anymore? What does Puka Nacua think about the refs? Will Alabama be upset again this year vs Oklahoma?

    12/18 Hour 2 - Do Texans Have More Potential To Be Unlocked?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 18, 2025 43:04


    Hour 2 of John and Lance with John Granato and Lance Zierlein! Ime Udoka goes off on Ref for bad calls Is Nick Caley's job still on the ropes? Winner Winner Taquito Dinner TNF: Seahawks vs Rams

    12/18 Hour 3 - Has A&M Faced Easy SEC Opponents All Year?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 18, 2025 53:30


    Hour 3 of John and Lance with John Granato and Lance Zierlein! Does James Madison have a chance against Oregon? Is there anything to do in Lubbock? John Chill talks NFL and CFB playoff trends at Golden Nugget PLUS, News of The Weird!

    12/17 John and Lance Hour 1 - NBA Cup Reactions

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 17, 2025 55:19


    12/17 John and Lance Hour 2 - Is the Texans O-line Good Enough?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 17, 2025 44:29


    12/17 John and Lance Hour 3 - Fact Check

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 17, 2025 53:29


    12/16 John and Lance Hour 1 - Officiating Controversy in Rockets Showdown

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 16, 2025 53:49


    12/16 John and Lance Hour 2 - DeMeco Ryans Not Satisfied After Win

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 16, 2025 50:54


    12/16 John and Lance Hour 3 - Quarterbacks in the Transfer Portal

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 16, 2025 45:15


    12/15 Hour 1- Texans Win Again + AFC is WIDE Open

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 15, 2025 57:13


    Live from the Golden Nugget in Lake Charles Takeaways from Cardinals vs Texans Who's making the AFC playoff bracket? What you learned this weekend

    12/15 Hour 2- Houston to the Super Bowl?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 15, 2025 47:25


    Does this Texans team have the best chance to win it all? Who is their biggest threat? What is Jawhar Jordan's role on the team going forward?

    12/15 Hour 3- Does Anyone From the AFC Stand Out?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 15, 2025 45:04


    Lance trolls AJ on Cowboys loss to the Vikings Which AFC team has the fewest weaknesses? A bad day for injuries News of the Weird

    12/12 Hour 1: Rockets beat the Clippers in the clutch

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 12, 2025 51:49


    12/12 Hour 2: Chris "Bear" Fallica joins the show to preview the CFP

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 12, 2025 49:53


    12/12 Hour 3: Beat the Warehouse Live + News of the Weird

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 12, 2025 45:17


    12/11 Hour 1 - Sherrone Moore Fired and Arrested?!

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2025 54:31


    Hour 1 of John and Lance with John Granato and Lance Zierlein! Will Phillip Rivers start this week? Healthy Jalen Pitre is a game changer! Do the Astros have enough room for Paredes and Walker? Astros still need pitching, who will they go after?

    12/11 Hour 2 - Are the Colts Playoff Hopes Over?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2025 43:25


    Hour 2 of John and Lance with John Granato and Lance Zierlein! Texans Chargers Week 17 high stakes game flexed to Saturday 3pm Joe Burrow is not excited about football Is Gronk or Kelce the greatest TE of all time? Winner Winner Taquito Dinner TNF: Falcons vs Buccaneers

    12/11 Hour 3 - Josh Pate Talks His Favorites To Win CFB Championship

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2025 51:42


    Hour 3 of John and Lance with John Granato and Lance Zierlein! Why Oregon has a legit shot to win it all Could Miami go on a run and upset some teams? Could Kalen DeBoer end up leaving Alabama? John Chill talks CFB and NFL trends at Golden Nugget PLUS, News of The Weird!

    12/10 Hour 1- Astros Offseason Has Begun

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2025 49:54


    - MLB winter meetings update - Astros Outfielder Woes  -Trades Astros can make 

    12/10 Hour 2- This Houston Sports Team Has The Worst GM

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2025 51:31


    - Thoughts on Rockets recent moves - Houston sports GM rankings - CFB Playoff format change idea

    12/10 Hour 3- The AFC is Heating Up

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2025 39:25


    - Close race in the AFC South  - MLB free agency  - Texans upcoming schcedule 

    12/10 Hour 1: The Texans offense: Super Bowl Good?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 10, 2025 59:31


    12/10 Hour 2: Are the Texans actually better than you thought?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 10, 2025 47:12


    12/10 Hour 3: Notre Dame is for the streets + News of the Werid

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 10, 2025 42:16


    12/9 Philip Rivers on the mobile Calls in to the Show

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 9, 2025 18:59


    Phillip Rivers chats with John and Lance about the Indianapolis Colts 

    12/8 Hour 1-Curt Cignettis Confidence

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 9, 2025 28:58


    Kelvin Sampson and Mo Williams  Stroud/Mahomes Comparison  Texans Defense-Al Shaair & Pitre play well

    12/9 Hour 2-Eagles/Chargers Game-Herbert Shines

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 9, 2025 41:18


    Oldest NFL QBs Andy Reid out in KC? Jalen Hurts plays poorly College Bowl Games CTE-from High School to the Pros

    12/9 Hour 3-Joe Espada Speaks on Jose Altuve

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 9, 2025 58:13


    Celebs for A&M or UT? A&M vs Miami International NBA Players Iowa State Mark-Iowa and Kansas Coaches fined   College Coach Matt Campbell-"Contracts are meaningless"

    12/8 Hour 1- Horns Up, Houston

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 8, 2025 55:32


    Texans beat Chiefs to win five in a row Are Kansas City's playoff hopes over? Is this Houston defense one of the best we've ever seen? What you learned this weekend

    12/8 Hour 2- Texans Makeover + CFP Chaos

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 8, 2025 48:36


    What different about the Texans compared to the beginning of the season? Is the college football playoff system broken? What's the ceiling level for Houston's offense?

    12/8 Hour 3- Houston Basketball Roundup + NFL Week 14

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 8, 2025 46:29


    Rockets lose to the Mavs in a Texas showdown Cougars men's basketball blows away Florida State Reactions for the rest of NFL week 14 News of the Weird

    12/5 John Lance Hour 1 - Can the Texans Prevail?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2025 49:15


    12/5 John and Lance Hour 2 - World Cup Draw

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2025 48:31


    12/5 John and Lance Hour 3 - Big Sports Weekend Preview

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2025 44:12


    12/4 Hour 1- 5 Star QB Recruit Keisean Henderson Commits to Houston Cougar Football

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 4, 2025 44:49


    Penn State needs a Coach Caller Andy chats about Texans OC Rockets coach Ime Udoka and guard Amen Thompson speak Mike Tomlin to Penn State?   Australia is in Asia?

    12/4 Hour 2- Texans-Chiefs SNF Preview

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 4, 2025 47:12


    Caller Keith Shouts Out to NFL WR Adam Thelien  Ohio State-Indiana Game  Coach Mario Christobal advocates for Miami John and Lance debate College FB

    12/4 Hour 3-Willie Fritz Speaks about new QB Keisean Henderson

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 4, 2025 39:52


    Subway Rats and Toilet Snakes QB Keisean Henderson commits to UH Giannis True Value  Hockey to Houston? John Chills Pro & College FB Picks

    12/3 John and Lance Hour 1 - Why Texas Misses CFP

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 3, 2025 52:37


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