Rushmore Podcast

Over the past year, the most influential figures in sports, comedy, music, fashion, and business sat down to answer one impossible question: Who belongs on the ultimate Mount Rushmore of culture—and who gets left off?

From Tom Brady to Shaq, Kevin Durant, Dana White, Jerry Seinfeld, and Anna Wintour drawing lines in the sand, Season 1 set the foundation. Season 2 raises the stakes significantly.

New full-length episodes premiere every Tuesday starting October 20th.

Follow The Rushmore Podcast across all platforms:

• Substack: Receive every episode, breakdown, and discussion directly

• Spotify & Apple Podcasts: Stream full video and audio on demand

• YouTube: Watch full episodes in 4K with visual debates

Join the debate and build your mountain: rushmorepodcast.substack.com

Welcome to the Rushmore Podcast, where legends join Ari Emanuel and Ben Persky to debate the ultimate Mount Rushmore of any topic. Tennis icons Maria Sharapova and John McEnroe come together to build the Mount Rushmore of female tennis players. Serena Williams delivers an unmatched serve and competitive fire. Steffi Graf achieves a golden slam and athletic perfection. Martina Navratilova claims 18 singles majors while Billie Jean King reshapes sports culture. Maria shares her personal memories of getting dominated by Monica Seles at 16. John argues for the pioneers who shaped the sport. The hosts, Ari and Ben, add their own lists. After a tense tiebreaker between Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova, a definitive final four emerges.Special thanks to Maria Sharapova & John McEnroe for joining our greatest female tennis players episode.

Welcome to the Rushmore Podcast, where legends join Ari Emanuel and Ben Persky to debate the ultimate Mount Rushmore of any topic. Music pioneer Lou Adler, film and record producer and co-owner of the Roxy Theatre, joins the Rushmore podcast to tackle an impossible task: building the Mount Rushmore of the greatest bands and artists from the 1970s. With hosts Ben and Ari, Lou makes his case for Bob Marley, Marvin Gaye, Carole King, and David Bowie. The debate that follows is chaotic, passionate, and hilarious—featuring Wings, Queen, ABBA, Bruce Springsteen, Black Sabbath, the Sex Pistols, and the Ramones. After intense deliberation, the final four are locked in.Special thanks to Lou Adler for joining our Bands of the 70s episode.

Welcome to the Rushmore Podcast, where legends join Ari Emanuel and Ben Persky to debate the ultimate Mount Rushmore of any topic. Reggie Miller and Shaquille O'Neal, two Hall of Fame legends with four championship rings between them, sit down to settle the ultimate playground debate: who are the four greatest point guards of all time? Stephen Curry, Isiah Thomas, Allen Iverson, Kyrie Irving, John Stockton, Tony Parker, Jason "White Chocolate" Williams, and even Bob Cousy all enter the conversation. The arguments get heated, the criteria get tossed around, and Shaq even threatens to eat a Tide Pod. From championships to handles to cultural impact, this is a point guard battle for the ages. Four lists. One winner. Final Rushmore revealed.Special thanks to Reggie Miller and Shaquille O'Neal for joining our greatest point guards episode.

Welcome to the Rushmore Podcast, where legends join Ari Emanuel and Ben Persky to debate the ultimate Mount Rushmore of any topic. Two of America's greatest historians, Ken Burns and Walter Isaacson, sit down to build the Mount Rushmore of U.S. non‑presidents from 1900 - present. The result is a breathtaking conversation about the inventors, artists, activists, and innovators who truly shaped modern America. Walter champions the giants of science and technology: Louis Armstrong, Philo Farnsworth, John Mauchly, and Steve Jobs. Ken counters with moral and cultural titans: Louis Armstrong, Eleanor Roosevelt, Martin Luther King Jr., and Henrietta Lacks. From the improvisational genius of jazz to the immortal HeLa cells, from the Marshall Plan to the iPhone, this debate explores who actually changed the way we live, think, and see ourselves. Four brilliant lists. One unforgettable Rushmore.Special thanks to KenBurns & Walter Isaacson for joining our Non‑Presidents (1900s‑Present) episode.

Welcome to the Rushmore Podcast, where legends join Ari Emanuel and Ben Persky to debate the ultimate Mount Rushmore of any topic. Two of the most passionate minds in combat sports, UFC president and CEO, Dana White, and boxing analyst, Max Kellerman, sit down to build the Mount Rushmore of middleweight boxing. From the mythical Harry Greb who fought 250 times before age 32, much of it with one eye to the sublime Sugar Ray Robinson, from the warrior Marvin Hagler to the unbeaten champion Carlos Monzon, this debate covers a century of fighting greatness. Dana champions the modern legends he grew up on. Max argues for the forgotten giants of the 1910s and 1920s. The hosts weigh in with their own lists. The result is a furious, informed, and deeply respectful argument about who truly rules the 160‑pound division.Special thanks to Dana White & Max Kellerman for joining our Middleweight Boxing episode

Welcome to the Rushmore Podcast, where legends join Ari Emanuel and Ben Persky to debate the ultimate Mount Rushmore of any topic.Two of the most influential figures in fashion, Anna Wintour and Andrew Bolton, sit down to build the Mount Rushmore of the greatest fashion designers. The result is a masterclass in style, history, and artistic vision. Andrew champions the pioneers who changed construction and silhouette. Anna counters with the rule‑breakers who redefined what a designer could be. Ari Emanuel and Ben Persky add their own picks, and the debate turns to legacy, influence, and cultural impact. Who deserves the final four spots?Special thanks to Andrew Bolton & Anna Wintour for joining our designers episode.

Welcome to the Rushmore Podcast, where legends join Ari Emanuel and Ben Persky to debate the ultimate Mount Rushmore of any topic. Two Super Bowl champion quarterbacks. One terrifying debate. Matthew Stafford and Troy Aikman sit down to build the Mount Rushmore of most feared players, and the hits keep coming.Lawrence Taylor changed the game. Reggie White forklifted offensive linemen. Ray Lewis flew across the field. Ronnie Lott amputated his own finger rather than miss a game. The stories are legendary, the respect is mutual, and the fear is real. Hear Matthew on practicing against Aaron Donald, Troy on the 49ers loophole that brought Deion Sanders to Dallas, and both on why today's quarterbacks have it easier than they did.Special thanks to Matthew Stafford and Troy Aikman for joining our most feared NFL players episode.

Welcome to the Rushmore Podcast, where legends join Ari Emanuel and Ben Persky to debate the ultimate Mount Rushmore of any topic. Two legends of fashion. One iconic debate. Edward Enninful and Inez van Lamsweerde sit down to build the Mount Rushmore of models, and the conversation is as captivating as the images they've created.From Linda Evangelista's transformative preparation to Naomi Campbell's legendary walk, from Kate Moss redefining beauty standards to Gisele Bündchen's one-woman supermodel army—the picks are passionate, the stories are revelatory, and the criteria run deep. Hear why Penelope Tree's face still haunts Inez, why Edward calls Linda "the Garbo of modeling," and what truly separates the greats from the rest.Special thanks to Edward Enninful & Inez van Lamsweerde for joining our Models episode.

Welcome to the Rushmore Podcast, where legends join Ari Emanuel and Ben Persky to debate the ultimate Mount Rushmore of any topic. Two legendary chefs. One impossible task. Wolfgang Puck and José Andrés sit down to build the Mount Rushmore of American restaurants, and the debate gets heated immediately.Chez Panisse, Le Bernardin, Charlie Trotter's, K-Paul's, The Four Seasons, The Inn at Little Washington are among the names are debated, the stories are revelatory, and the arguments run deep. Hear José's emotional tribute to Jean-Louis Palladin, Wolfgang's memories of the original Four Seasons, and the moment Ben nominates McDonald's and sparks chaos.

Welcome to the Rushmore Podcast, where legends join Ari Emanuel and Ben Persky to debate the ultimate Mount Rushmore of any topic. Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Doris Kearns Goodwin & Jon Meacham join the Rushmore table to tackle an impossible question. Which Americans who never held the presidency deserve to be on Mount Rushmore?The conversation spans centuries: Benjamin Franklin's endless curiosity, Frederick Douglass navigating the contradictions of America, Elizabeth Cady Stanton's declaration of sentiments, and Thomas Paine's words that armed a revolution. Then, a heated debate arises over the fourth spot, with names like Walt Whitman, Alexander Hamilton, John Marshall, Thomas Edison, and Jonathan Letterman, a Civil War doctor who forever changed battlefield medicine.Special thanks to Doris Kearns Goodwin & Jon Meacham for joining our Non-Presidents episode.

About Rushmore On X: Welcome to Rushmore On X, a show where The GOATs of their industries give their Mount Rushmores (Top 4) of hotly debated topics.Follow Rushmore On X:X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/rushmoreonxInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/rushmoreonx/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rushmoreonxhttps://open.spotify.com/show/7uFLsuRpmpuyzBSvxbIn14https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/14b85ed9-5e2f-44b5-be87-4995b3c08971/rushmore-podcasthttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rushmore-podcast/id1883112178

Welcome to Rushmore On X, a show where the GOATs of their industries give their Mount Rushmores (Top 4) of hotly debated topics. Two baseball legends. One impossible task. Bob Costas and Al Michaels sit down to build the Mount Rushmore of pitchers, and the debate gets heated immediately. Walter Johnson, Sandy Koufax, Bob Gibson, Mariano Rivera, Randy Johnson, Greg Maddux, Pedro Martinez, Satchel Paige are among the names of who are truly the greatest pitchers of all time. The stats are mind-blowing. The stories are unforgettable. And that Mariano Rivera moon stat? Wait until you hear it.Incredible moments unfold: Bob Costas hitting a triple off Bob Gibson in a fantasy game, the time Gibson interviewed a no-hitter winner and asked about his contract, and the Don Drysdale Yom Kippur joke that still lands. Four lists. Endless debate. One final Rushmore.Special thanks to Bob Costas and Al Michaels for joining us for this episode.Don't miss a video! Subscribe NOW:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqUovTzBO2zR_Dah_dpmHfg?sub_confirmation=1Video Chapters:0:00 Bob Costas declares the task impossible5:30 The panel asks who will go first6:06 Bob Costas lists 17 pitchers worthy of consideration7:13 Bob Costas picks Walter Johnson from the dead ball era8:50 Al Michaels picks Satchel Paige9:56 Bob Costas breaks down Koufax, Gibson, and the legends of the 60s13:08 Al Michaels reveals his four picks21:18 Ben makes his case for four pitchers26:14 The Mariano Rivera moon stat29:03 Bob Costas tells the Don Drysdale Yom Kippur story34:10 Bob Costas recalls hitting a triple off Bob Gibson41:51 The final four are revealed.

About Rushmore On X:Welcome to Rushmore On X, a show where The GOATs of their industries give their Mount Rushmores (Top 4) of hotly debated topics.Follow Rushmore On X:X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/rushmoreonxInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/rushmoreonx/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rushmoreonx

Welcome to Rushmore On X, a show where the GOATs of their industries give their Mount Rushmores (Top 4) of hotly debated topics.’90s heavyweights take their seats. Rick Rubin and Jimmy Iovine—two insiders who didn’t just witness the decade but helped define it—come together with one mission: carve the Mount Rushmore of ’90s music.The framework is locked. Names fly. The debate hits a boiling point. From Nirvana detonating the sound and style of a generation, to Lauryn Hill delivering a voice and vision that redefined hip-hop and soul, to Dr. Dre architecting the future of rap, and Outkast rewriting the rules entirely—this is THE soundtrack of the ’90s.Special thanks to Rick Rubin & Jimmy Iovine for joining our ‘90s Artists episode.Don't miss a video! Subscribe NOW:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqUovTzBO2zR_Dah_dpmHfg?sub_confirmation=1Video Chapters:0:00 - Three Record Giants Walk Into a Room1:48 - Jimmy Iovine Demands Clarity on the Rules3:37 - The Hosts Drop Their Picks: Nirvana, Dre & Spice Girls6:50 - Rick Rubin's List Includes Dr. Dre, Nirvana & The Prodigy8:47 - Jimmy Iovine Saw Rage Against the Machine With 50 People11:44 - Wu-Tang Clan and Radiohead Enter the Conversation14:37 - Jimmy Iovine Names Eight Artists Including Bjork and Jay-Z23:19 - Dr. Dre and Nirvana Are Locked In29:17 - The Spice Girls Debate Heats Up39:58 - Jimmy Iovine's Strongest Case: Whitney Houston48:10 - The Final Four Are RevealedAbout Rushmore On X:Welcome to Rushmore On X, a show where The GOATs of their industries give their Mount Rushmores (Top 4) of hotly debated topics.Follow Rushmore On X:X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/rushmoreonxInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/rushmoreonx/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rushmoreonx

Welcome to Rushmore On X, a show where The GOATs of their industries giving their Mount Rushmores (Top 4) of hotly debated topics. Country music royalty walks into the room. Luke Bryan and Jason Aldean—two of the biggest names in the genre—sit down to settle the ultimate debate: who belongs on the Mount Rushmore of Country Singers?The rules are set. The legends are nominated. And the arguments get heated fast. From George Strait's 60 number ones to Merle Haggard's songwriting legacy, from Dolly Parton's transcendent genius to the question of whether Hank Williams is the "George Washington" of country music—this is a masterclass in country music history.Don't miss a video! Subscribe NOW:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqUovTzBO2zR_Dah_dpmHfg?sub_confirmation=1Video Chapters:0:00 Luke Bryan Jokes on His Mural in an Axe Throwing Bar2:36 How Luke and Jason First Became Aware of Each Other in Georgia5:01 Supporting Each Other's Careers Early On8:02 The Difference Between Country Music and Other Genres11:04 The Panel's Criteria for the Mount Rushmore13:20 Jason Aldean Names George Strait as His First Pick24:06 Luke Bryan Names Johnny Cash and Dolly Parton29:17 The Panel Argues Over Hank Williams Being Left Off37:55 The Mount Rushmore of Country Singers38:04 Closing thoughtsAbout Rushmore On X:Welcome to Rushmore On X, a show where The GOATs of their industries give their Mount Rushmores (Top 4) of hotly debated topics.Follow Rushmore On X:X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/rushmoreonxInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/rushmoreonx/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rushmoreonx

Welcome to Rushmore On X, a show where The GOATs of their industries giving their Mount Rushmores (Top 4) of hotly debated topics. Jay Leno and Judd Apatow enter the arena to settle comedy's greatest debate, who belongs on the Mount Rushmore of Stand-Up? From Richard Pryor's electrifying storytelling to George Carlin's cultural rebellion, the legends are nominated and fiercely debated. Hear incredible personal stories, from bombing after a legend to getting a midnight call from Jay, as these comedy minds clash to crown the undisputed Top 4.Special thanks to Jay Leno & Judd Apatow for joining our Stand-Up episode.Don't miss a video! Subscribe NOW:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqUovTzBO2zR_Dah_dpmHfg?sub_confirmation=1Video Chapters:0:00 How was Mount Rushmore formed?1:03 How Jay & Judd Met 5:32 Their Comedy Beginnings13:23 Setting the Rushmore Criteria17:45 Jay Leno's Mount Rushmore24:21 Judd Apatow's Mount Rushmore31:08 The Hosts' Picks & Debate39:00 The Final Fourth Spot46:04 The Final Four Revealed47:54 Wrap Up & Special ThanksAbout Rushmore On X:Welcome to Rushmore On X, a show where the GOATs of their industries give their Mount Rushmores (Top 4) of hotly debated topics.Follow Rushmore On X:X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/rushmoreonxInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/rushmoreonx/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rushmoreonx

Welcome to Rushmore On X, a show where The GOATs of their industries giving their Mount Rushmores (Top 4) of hotly debated topics.UFC President Dana White and boxing analyst Max Kellerman clash over the Mount Rushmore of boxing's greatest fighters. With starkly different criteria like box office draw vs. pound-for-pound skill, the debate gets heated. White argues for Mike Tyson's cultural impact, while Kellerman makes a historical case for Joe Louis. Watch as legends like Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Robinson get unanimous praise, while Floyd Mayweather's undefeated record and Marvin Hagler's dominance spark major controversy. Can these experts from different combat sports worlds find a consensus on the final four?Special thanks to Dana White & Max Kellerman for joining our Boxing Mount Rushmore episode.Don't miss a video! Subscribe NOW:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqUovTzBO2zR_Dah_dpmHfg?sub_confirmation=1Video Chapters:0:00 How The UFC Told Fighters' Stories4:57 Dana White's Business Perspective10:39 Dana White's Four Greatest Boxers11:20 The Difference Between Better And Greater12:24 The Blueprint Sugar Ray Robinson15:36 The Case For And Against Floyd Mayweather20:01 Mike Tyson's Emotional Grip27:03 The Forgotten Great Henry Armstrong30:05 The Most Underrated Fighter Ever38:01 Our Mount Rushmore of BoxingAbout Rushmore On X:Welcome to Rushmore On X, a show where the GOATs of their industries give their Mount Rushmores (Top 4) of hotly debated topics.Follow Rushmore On X:X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/rushmoreonxInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/rushmoreonx/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rushmoreonx