I just want to take this time to earnestly thank everyone for their support of the show. Before I came on as co-host in Show #330, I was a listener since Show #1, just like many of you guys. I have to thank Adam, MJ, and our dear departed friend James Bunner for blazing the trail for me to spew words about poker into my p-popping headset on a kinda-sorta weeklyish basis. The fact that there were you guys out there listening made it so worthwhile. Any time anyone on this forum, on Twitter, or in person made the effort to let me know they appreciated the show, it felt great.

I'm now old enough that I've been playing poker longer than I haven't playing poker. I may not play professionally/full-time any more, but it is a huge part of me. I was hooked the second I stepped into a run-down smoke-filled 4/8 LHE game in south Vancouver. I met Adam playing in a 1-2 pot-limit dealer's choice in a rat-infested garage. As a teenager, I regularly drove across the border into Washington State to play $40 buy-ins tournaments, because we didn't have them in Vancouver. I moved to Costa Rica to work for a poker startup, and had a front-row seat during the Moneymaker boom. But as good as Stars was to me, I needed to get in on the action and played full-time for 8 years before being coaxed back to the online poker startup thing. When the Ultimate Poker gig ended is fortuitously when Adam stepped in and graciously offered me the co-host job. It seems that no matter what happens, the pokers is in me and it's not going away. This silly five-card game is a part of me, for better or worse, in sickness and health.

Adam and I have talked a lot and it seems apparent that the current incarnation of the Pokercast is just not tenable long-term. But like all egotists, I still enjoy babbling into a microphone and am under the ridiculous impression that people care what I have to think about things. So I don't imagine I'll stop doing that.

I do hope we have the opportunity to make it to #500 and do ...just...one...more. I'd hate if I were a part of ~180 shows and the only thing some random downloader years from now finds was our discussion about n***er vs m*****f***er.

From Vancouver to Kells, thank you all so much for inviting us into your homes, commutes, walks, or where ever you Pokercasted. It was, in the words of the immortal Chainsaw, "nice to be on your show."

Terrence

wtf, noooooo!!! This is worse than BF

Can we at least get a goodbye episode? (With Mike)

This is sad. I remember when it was on bigpoker.ca way back when. Its been quite a run, hopefully it gets reincarnated.

Not good.

good job raising ur hand at that hockey conference, adam. good job...

Seriously?
499 episodes?
How much does it cost to produce one? I'm willing to throw a good chunk in to make that last one.

BF is what got me listening, so maybe it's fitting.

But lol@ stopping at #499.

Hi Everyone:

Well, a little over ten years ago I, Mat Sklansky, and Steven McLoughlin, who was working with us at that time, had a lunch meeting with Adam Schwartz concerning what they would be allowed to say in terms of self promotion relative to their already popular poker podcast Rounders. Anyway, after just a few minutes an obvious solution occurred to me, and that was to bring their show into Two Plus Two and to make it the Two Plus Two Pokercast. Adam immediately agreed, all issues were resolved, and this site now had a poker podcast, and what a podcast it was.

In no time, with our hosts Mike Johnson and Adam Schwartz, the Two Plus Two PokerCast was easily the number one podcast of its type, and the number of people listening was huge, with the most listeners being the Howard Lederer show which occurred in September, 2012 where there were over 4 million downloads, incredible numbers for a show like ours.

Also, for those who occasionally ask this question, I quickly learned that Mike and Adam knew a lot more about how to do the PokerCast than I did, so it was rare for me to even talk to them about the direction of the show or who should be the guests, and virtually everyone who had any importance in poker, and this includes the latest WSOP champion to those who worked behind the scenes in the Internet poker business, made an appearance.

However, the great Mike Johnson retired in 2014, and Terrence Chan ably took his place as a co-host alongside Adam Schwartz. And the Two Plus Two PokerCast continued on without missing a beat.

Unfortunately, times have changed and the poker world has slowed down a great deal. Eric Holder's Justice Department, which was part of the Obama administration, did a great deal of damage to our industry and to our show when they shut down the major Internet poker sites in 2011. So that today I'm officially announcing the suspension of the Two Plus Two PokerCast.

Now suspension doesn't mean that it is over for good, it could come back some time in the future with the same hosts or different hosts. But it does mean that PokerCast show #499 will be our last show for now. I know that many of you, including those of us in Two Plus Two management, are highly disappointed to hear this, but all good things come to pass.

And finally, I want to thank those people who helped to make our PokerCast such a success for all these years. These include Mike Johnson, Adam Schwartz, Terrence Chan, James Bunner, Steven McLoughlin, Chuck Weinstock, David Sklansky, Mat Sklansky, Ross Henry, Steve Day, and all the loyal listeners we've had for all these years.

Best wishes,
Mason

I'm very saddened to hear this. This was for many years the only podcast I would listen to. I've listened to every single episode and haven't missed any. This podcast then opened me up to a regular 10+ I now listen to. But the pokercast always had top priority and shot to the top of the list any time a new ep was released.

Is there any reason it is being formally 'suspended'? Can they not put out eps at their own convenience. Reach milestone 500? Bring MJ back for one last horaw?

Either way, just want to thank everyone involved in making and putting the pokercast together. I'll miss hearing your voices and knowing how far listeners are from kells.

Yeah, seems rather strong handed to end at 499 and not have a 500th episode celebration.

Hi that_pope:

There's complete agreement among all of us to suspend the show. To do another show requires much preparation on the part of our hosts, and I don't feel it's fair to ask them to do this.

Best wishes,
Mason

Thanks for making my favourite podcast all these years you guys have a special place in a lot of peoples hearts i feel.

I for one would happily pay for the podcast to be made each week and if the reason for stopping the show is purely financial i am pretty sure that a crowd funded show would easily be do-able !

Cheers guys

Hi all,

First, I want to thank Mason for his very kind words in his post above. I can't imagine having a better working relationship with someone than I've had with him over the last ten years.

I know some don't like his gruff personality, but I'm here to tell you that he's one of the most generous men I've come across. We had a partnership that over the years amounted well into seven figures, all on a handshake. I never once doubted his honestly or his commitment to allowing Mike and I, later Terrence and I, to take the show in whichever direction we felt was right. The early years were very rewarding financially and as Mason pointed out, the meddling democrats and Black Friday changed the financial situation of our sponsorship. When times were tough, Mason was there to offer me a salary from his own pocket to try to find other sponsors and keep the show going. He didn't have to do that and he would never tell you he did, that's what I mean by generous.

As I said, he let us do basically whatever we wanted with the direction of the show. Understand how difficult that is for him. He has a website worth millions and he's letting two guys with very different views on everything from politics to poker teaching and general decorum say whoever they like on a podcast going out to thousands of people. For example, you won't ever hear him swear, but he accepted that we were going to even though it reflected on his brand in a way which he likely disagreed with.

A few other people I want to thank:

1. Mike Johnson. The show would never have been born without a proven veteran of talk radio. Mike is a true professional in everything he does and he taught me from day one how to go about planning and executing an entertaining product. I'd like to think I filled in the lead host role seamlessly after he left, but we all know that's not the truth. MJ is one of my best friends to this day and I can't thank him enough for all he did for me and the show.

2. T Chan. After MJ left, I don't think the show would have survived if T didn't take over the other host role. It was an easy transition as we were already close friends and knew we would get along, but Terrence constantly challenged me to be as good as he is whenever the mic is turned on. Thanks T!

3. Ross Henry. After our boy Bunner left the show, again I don't know if we would have continued if it weren't for Rosscoe. He innovated constantly, adding drops and suggesting segments that kept the show as fresh as it could be. Following his poker career and day to day adventures was fun for all of us. When I think of excellent podcast producers I think of Ross, Bunner and Shronk. Thanks Ross!

4. Mat Sklansky. Matty is a great human and I love him to death. One of the most easy going guys you'll ever meet, Mat was always there to help when something had to get done. Also, if you need a tour guide for the worst casinos in Vegas, he's your guy! Thanks Matty!

5. Steven McGloughlin. As Mason said, Steven was there at the beginning and had the vision to see how this show could make money. We don't see eye to eye on pretty much anything, but Steven is another person that was absolutely integral to the genesis of the show and it likely wouldn't have happened without him.

6. Our boy James Bunner. I miss healthy James so much. He was a great friend and was as focused on enjoying life like nobody I've ever come across. If you didn't have fun when you were out with Bunner, something was wrong with you. So many great memories, I'll cherish them all till I die.

7. Our favourite guests! If I try to list them, I'lll likely forget some so I'm not going to do that, but you know who you are!

8. Most importantly, our loyal listeners. The dedication to the show always humbled me. People that listened to every show, sent emails and tweets gave us a reason to keep going and improve on what we were doing. To each and every one of you, thanks so much!

As far as show 499 or 500, anyone that has listened to the podcast knows how much I dislike "best of" or milestone shows. It feels so much like patting ourselves on the back and it's just not something I've ever been comfortable doing.

Who knows what the future holds, but I will look back on my time hosting a podcast at 2+2 with nothing but fond memories.

Lots of love,
Adam

Thanks for the endless hours of entertainment over the years. All the best.

Adam,

As you know, I’ve been a listener from pretty much the get go. The pokercast has been a backdrop to my whole poker existence and has helped me through many card dead hours in tournaments both here in the UK and when I’ve been in Vegas.

Thank you for everything you’ve given us all over the years.

...and thanks to Mason for keeping it going for so long.

I guess Todd’s show will get more of my attention now.

Sad news, loved the show and listened to it a ton over many years. You always asked the tough questions even when a rep from PokerStars was being interviewed. What's gonna happen to that sick house in Thailand now?

:-(

dont post often anymore but was quite an avid listener of the PC, sad how the times have changed

ty for everything and gl in the future!

also: favourite episode? random anecdote?

we want moarr

Bummer!

Adam,
I look forward to your Why I joined The Athletic post.

thank you from the bottom of my heart for the hundreds of hours of entertainment you gents gave me and the rest of my fellow degenerates.

was always so happy to see the latest episode popup in my podcast que and the pokercast will forever be my no1.

GG to all involved. I am an avid Podcast listener and poker player, and your podcast was the only ‘newsy’ podcast about poker that I liked. Well, that is wrong; I truly enjoyed it on every level. I have tried to listen to several other shows in your genre,but none of them could hold a candle to yours.

"When the money is gone, it's time to move on."


Sincerest thank you.

Huge thank you to everybody in the Pokercast gang for the countless hours of entertainment! I have been a listener since double digit Pokercast numbers, don't think I have missed a single episode. I hope you guys are proud of what you have accomplished - you've put out a hell of a product, and you did it with integrity. Best of luck to all of you, you will be missed!