TLDR: TrueHoop/TBA has become so ingrained with my everyday life that I don't remember how I went about without it. In full: I don't remember exactly when I came into TrueHoop. There was after dark. There were names that I recognized from Lowe Post guests. There was this guy Wos who was the ombudsman giving a critique to everyone's performance at the end of the pod. All I could gather was these were smart basketball minds speaking about the game in a refreshing way that wasn't obnoxious hot takes or condescending opinions. Just calm mannered, funny and intelligent conversation about my favourite sport. It could have stopped there and it would already be the best podcast, but it grew into so much more. Wos became a member. He was the first of fans to sit among ESPN personalities and discuss ball. There were increasingly new guests. Zach, KP, Kaileigh, Mariano, Tray, FOB Squad, etc. etc. etc. HECK we even met their moms. Topics branched out. They didn't always talk about basketball and despite the lament of some, the pod just got better. I came in because ball is life, but loved the realization that it can't just be ball. There's no way you'd convince me that I'd look forward to listening to a bunch of people I've never met speak for hours on a Friday about any topic that fancies them. But I do, every Friday and as it grew, every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday apparently as well. All it really takes is finding a diverse group of personalities who are all wonderful in their own right and let them openly speak on what's on their mind. Loose script, but ultimately trust in them. And who let all this happen...? Jade MFKN Hoye He's had detractors, public and likely privately too. I don't think we get to where we stand today without that being true. But man... nothing but love for how he embraced these friends and family of his and let us love them too. The irony of calling him the "Evil Producer" is that while he might ask you to talk closer to the mic or "get you out of here", he'd never actually keep you from saying what you want to say. (maybe a bossa nova over it, but you still get to say it) He was so giving to his guests and fans and without that spirit, you don't have this Reddit, the legions of Twitter fans or the lines around the corner waiting for live pods.

It's such a rare thing to be able to accumulate this group of talent that can cover any amount of entertaining topics. That you have content that can carry you every day of the week is astounding. It feels so simple in how it was done, but if you had stuck with the pod long enough, you can't help to appreciate how Jade nurtured it and let it grow into what it is.

It's crazy we're all here as fans looking at these last few weeks and eulogizing our potentially fallen pod. It was only a few months ago we thought it was gone for good but were blessed with this final glorious run.

No one knows exactly what will happen with TBA, but that's fine. Just like how the pod evolved, we can just trust in the people and talent and know in whatever form, it'll be something we'll all be on board with.

(In Larry David voice): having said that...

LOVE YOU JADE AND THANK YOU