In this year-end episode, Matt and Paul close out 2025 the only way they know how: big takes, Bay Area chaos, and a full-blown Best of the Year breakdown.

The guys open with the San Francisco 49ers, asking the only question that matters: are we headed for the #1 seed or Wild Card City? They unpack Jauan Jennings weekly trash talk, whether this season is Kyle Shanahan’s best coaching job of his career, and if Brock Purdy has the juice to make a real playoff run. The fellas give predictions for the Colts matchup and map out the rest of the season and postseason.

Then it’s panic time. What is going on with the Golden State Warriors? Is the season cooked? Is this the end of the Steve Kerr era? Can Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Jimmy Butler save this thing, or is it time to blow it up? The guys run through trade targets and uncomfortable truths. Quick hits on the San Francisco Giants, the winter meetings, the trade market, and who Buster Posey might chase before spring training.

(25:18) After that, it’s time for the main event. The annual Best of the Year with Beat LA producer and Sixth Man of the Year, Nick Conrad. The crew debates the best movies of 2025, including F1 and Paul’s undying love of Sinners. They jump to TV, breaking down favorites like Your Friends & Neighbors, MobLand, 1923, Adolescence, and The Pitt. They cap it with the best sports moments of the year, from Patrick Bailey’s walk-off against the Dodgers, to Buddy Hield going nuclear in the playoffs, to Paul witnessing tennis history at the French Open. In Pet Peeves of the Year, the guys unload on the Dodgers’ mentality and Netflix’s quest for global domination. Matt hands out the Beat LA Man of the Year to Daniel Lurie, and the episode wraps with quick reviews of Knives Out 3 and J. Kelly.

It’s been a hell of a year. Thanks for listening, thanks for watching, and thanks to every guest who helped make 2025 our best year yet. Here’s to an even better 2026.

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Hosts: Matt Ferrucci & Paul Ruehl

Producer: Nick Conrad

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Follow Paul Ruehl on Instagram: @llruehlj

In this episode, Matt and Paul open with the state of the Bay. The 49ers are suddenly surging heading into the bye week, Jauan Jennings is talking like a WWE wrestler, and Kyle Shanahan looks like a coach who finally grew up and learned how to adapt. The guys also dive into the Warriors, who are stuck with a stagnant offense, no self-creation and the growing sense that the locker room might be tuning out Steve Kerr. Then it is Giants talk, including the surprising news that the team is not pursuing major free agents, even Japanese pitcher Tatsuya Imai, who openly said he wants to come to MLB specifically to take down the Dodgers.

(22:08) After that, Matt and Paul sit down with writer and producer Kirk Rudell, whose credits span Will & Grace, Spin City and American Dad. Kirk talks about growing up a long-suffering Jets fan in New York City, attending Princeton with Paul, and whether Paul has lied for years about being a campus legend. Then the guys dig into the sitcom years, the Michael J. Fox era of Spin City and what it was like writing on huge network shows when sitcoms ruled TV. Kirk breaks down how he fell in love with soccer, the true ceiling of the USMNT under coach Mauricio Pochettino, his predictions for the 2026 World Cup, the sleeper nation he believes could win it all and how far the United States can realistically go on home soil. They also get into Messi in Miami, LAFC culture, the Oakland Roots and Kirk’s new podcast An American Game with co-host Tom McCabe, which explores the wild, forgotten origin story of soccer in America.

(1:13:17) Later in Pet Peeves, Matt rips Avatar, Trent Williams, Ja Morant and Kenyon Martin, while confessing his deep and shameless love for The Grove and Nordstrom. In Best Things We Saw, Paul reviews the Eddie Murphy documentary Being Eddie, and Matt recommends Family Rental and Train Dreams.

Thanks for listening. Do not forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, TikTok and Instagram.

Hosts: Matt Ferrucci & Paul Ruehl

Producer: Nick Conrad

Follow, Subscribe & Watch the Show on:

Watch Episodes on YouTube!
Instagram: @beatlapodcast
TikTok: @beat.la.podcast

Email the show at: beatlapodcast@gmail.com

Follow Matt Ferrucci on Instagram: @matt_ferrucci

Follow Paul Ruehl on Instagram: @llruehlj

In this episode, Matt and Paul open with the San Francisco Giants hiring Tony Vitello. Is this the bold reset the franchise needed or a beautiful disaster waiting to happen? The guys dive into what this means for the Giants future and why Paul believes Buster Posey is about to transform into the official free agent whisperer. Then the guys move to the state of the 49ers. Is this team still in the playoff hunt or are we staring straight into doom and gloom? They break down the Brock Purdy vs. Mac Jones simmering quarterback controversy and give their prediction for this week’s matchup against the Arizona Cardinals.

(20:07) After that, Matt and Paul sit down with actor Jack Atkins, the youngest guest in Beat LA history and easily one of the funniest. Jack talks about growing up in New Haven, Connecticut as a Jacksonville Jaguars fan, leaving the University of Chicago to star on the Netflix hit reality show The Circle, and what it was like catfishing America as a character named Emily. Jack breaks down how to spot a real life catfish on the dating apps and the fellas start building their own unhinged reality shows. Matt pitches a real life version of The Running Man. Paul creates a killer concept called “The Will,” a show where younger guys try to charm their way into wealthy older women’s wills. Jack then gives Matt and Paul the full Gen Z report on Los Angeles nightlife. Are people still going out or is the city just full of run clubs now? They talk what it’s like trying to break in as an actor today in a social media world, Jack getting 11 million views playing the character Lil Brick in a film about a fictional SoundCloud rapper and his upcoming starring role in the comedy Chet Bond: License To Chill.

(1:14:41) Later in Pet Peeves the guys hit Gavin Newsom for rooting for the Dodgers and the petition to get Bad Bunny off the Super Bowl halftime show. They discuss Landon Donovan’s hair transplant, Gabe Kapler running the Marlins and Barry Bonds returning to the Hall of Fame ballot. In Best Things, Matt recommends House of Dynamite, The Diplomat and Death by Lightning.

Thanks for listening! Don’t forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, TikTok and Instagram.

Hosts: Matt Ferrucci & Paul Ruehl

Producer: Nick Conrad

Follow, Subscribe & Watch the Show on:

Watch Episodes on YouTube!
Instagram: @beatlapodcast
TikTok: @beat.la.podcast

Email the show at: beatlapodcast@gmail.com

Follow Matt Ferrucci on Instagram: @matt_ferrucci

Follow Paul Ruehl on Instagram: @llruehlj