Live From The Bracket: Episode 1 | March Madness, Travel & Joel McHale
No Hesitation with Sophie Cunningham & Drew HanlenShow Notes
This week, Show Me Something goes LIVE with Marriott Bonvoy from the biggest March Madness® bracket in the country. Sophie Cunningham and West Wilson check in from Indianapolis, home of the 2026 Men’s Final Four®, to set the stage for March Madness chaos, Cinderella dreams, and the travel that powers it all. Recorded on March 17—before the first tip‑off of the tournament—they break down why March hits harder when you travel for it, from bracket‑breaking possibilities to the emotional rollercoaster of buzzer‑beaters and heartbreak. Along the way, they give flowers to the unsung heroes of March Madness: the parents, fans, coaches, and communities who crisscross the country to support their teams. Then things level up with special guest, Joel McHale, who joins the show with unforgettable travel stories, behind‑the‑scenes Hollywood moments, and peak fandom energy. From his college football days and legendary University of Washington tailgates to hotel must‑haves and dream sporting events, Joel brings humor, heart, and March‑level intensity. He also talks current and upcoming projects including Scream 7, House of Villains, and Animal Control—because whether it’s underdogs fighting to survive or rivals colliding on the biggest stage, Joel knows March Madness energy when he sees it. In this episode: March Madness predictions and bracket chaos Why travel is inseparable from the Final Four experience The emotional highs and lows that define March Joel McHale on fandom, football, tailgating, and travel essentials Hollywood stories and life on the road
This is March Madness like you’ve never heard it before, and the first of four live episodes with Marriott Bonvoy. Follow Show Me Something for the rest of the limited series. Check us out @showme_pod on Instagram to enter for a chance to win tickets to the Final Four. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Void where prohibited. Open to legal residents of the 50 U.S./D.C., who are at least 18 years old as of date of entry. Sweepstakes ends 11:59 PM ET on 4/15/26, with two (2) entry periods. For complete Official Rules, visit rules.dja.com/livefromthebracket. Sponsor: Marriott International, Inc.
[Depicted] Men’s March Madness bracket located at the JW Marriott Indianapolis. Episode filmed at The Westin Indianapolis. Marriott Bonvoy is the official hotel partner of the NCAA, March Madness, and Final Four. 00:00 - We’re Live from the Bracket in Indy! 1:00 - Welcome to Westin 1:53 - West and Sophie Post Up in the New Studio 2:57 - Who are West & Sophie Backing in March Madness 2026? 4:09 - How NIL and Travel Has Changed the March Madness Landscape 6:18 - Home Games and Familiarity Matters 8:38 - Game Styles Per Conference 9:49 - West’s Love for Seeing Small Schools Make It to the Big Dance 10:26 - Shoutout to the Parents! 12:06 - Teams Supporting Teams; Women’s Tournament is a Tight-Knit Community 13:30 - West’s Favorite March Madness Memory 14:31 - All the Emotions of March Madness 15:38 - West & Sophie’s Hotel Power Rankings 19:21 - Welcome Joel McHale 20:30 - March Madness: A Perfectly Designed Tournament 21:31 - Selection Sunday Thoughts & Reactions 22:00 - Who Joel’s Got for #1 22: 13 -Joel’s Time at University of Washington 23:16 - Joel’s Top College City to Visit 24:40 - How Far Would Joel Travel to Watch the University of Washington Play? 25:48 - Joel Reflects on Hosting the ESPYs 26:16 - Experiencing the City When You Travel is a Must 27:11 - Joel’s Latest Projects: Scream 7, Animal Control, and More 29:10 - Wait, Joel Was Born in Rome? 30:50 - Dream Vacation Spots 32:50 - Joel’s Travel Essentials 33:15 - Best Tennis Venues Around the World 34:04 - What Sporting Events Are on Sophie and West’s Travel List? 36:08 - Final Four Sweepstakes: How to Enter
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More from No Hesitation with Sophie Cunningham & Drew Hanlen
Sophie Cunningham and Drew Hanlen break down the upcoming WNBA Finals matchup between the Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries! First, they recap the semifinals, where the Dream swept the New York Liberty and the Valkyries knocked off the defending champion Las Vegas Aces. Then, they preview the championship series, breaking down key matchups, Angel Reese’s physical semifinals and her improved three-point shooting, Golden State’s defensive intensity and depth, and what each the three major key factors are in this matchup. Watch and listen to new episodes of No Hesitation during the WNBA and NBA season and follow us on social media for all the best moments from the show. You can also listen to new episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube: @NoHesitationShow Twitter: @NoHesiShow This episode is brought to you by: POLYMARKET 18+ Only. Restrictions and eligibility requirements apply. Not available in all jurisdictions. Trading is risky. 100% loss can occur. See polymarket.com/tos for more information. The Polymarket US App serves as an independent software provider and affiliate of Polymarket US and Polymarket Clearing, the CFTC-regulated exchange and clearing organization. Get $25 free when you deposit just $10. Sign up right now with promo code NO HES to get $25 when you deposit just $10. https://app.polymarket.us/S8ac/NOHES See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sophie Cunningham and Drew Hanlen break down the biggest moments from the first round of the WNBA playoffs, from the Liberty’s historic upset over the Lynx to Arike Ogunbowale’s 45-point explosion and the Valkyries’ incredible comeback against Dallas. Then they move on to breaking down the semifinals, where the Golden State Valkyries are up 2-0 over the Las Vegas Aces, and the Atlanta Dream are up 2-0 over the New York Liberty. They dive into Atlanta’s defensive dominance, the Valkyries’ battle with the Aces, and the Dream-Liberty series (including Sophie’s reaction to the end of game situation in Game 2 and Stewie’s comments about the refs) analyzing key matchups and the late-game decisions that can make or break a championship run. Watch and listen to new episodes of No Hesitation during the WNBA and NBA season and follow us on social media for all the best moments from the show. You can also listen to new episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube: @NoHesitationShow Twitter: @NoHesiShow This episode is brought to you by: POLYMARKET 18+ Only. Restrictions and eligibility requirements apply. Not available in all jurisdictions. Trading is risky. 100% loss can occur. See polymarket.com/tos for more information. The Polymarket US App serves as an independent software provider and affiliate of Polymarket US and Polymarket Clearing, the CFTC-regulated exchange and clearing organization. Get $25 free when you deposit just $10. Sign up right now with promo code NO HES to get $25 when you deposit just $10. https://app.polymarket.us/S8ac/NOHES FACTOR Let’s eat real. Head to factormeals.com/nohes50off and use code nohes50 to get 50 percent off and 1 free breakfast item per box for 1 year, while supplies last until 10/31/2026. See website for more details. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sophie Cunningham and Drew Hanlen go game by game through the Indiana Fever’s first round showdown against the Las Vegas Aces in the WNBA playoffs, breaking down the biggest moments, deep-diving into film, discussing the play of Caitlin Clark, Kelsey Mitchell, and Aliyah Boston, and much more. They also get into the A’ja Wilson incident with a fan in Game 2, and Sophie reveals what’s next for her this offseason. Watch and listen to new episodes of No Hesitation every Thursday during the WNBA and NBA season and follow us on social media for all the best moments from the show. You can also listen to new episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube: @NoHesitationShow Twitter: @NoHesiShow This episode is brought to you by: POLYMARKET: 18+ Only. Restrictions and eligibility requirements apply. Not available in all jurisdictions. Trading is risky. 100% loss can occur. See polymarket.com/tos for more information. The Polymarket US App serves as an independent software provider and affiliate of Polymarket US and Polymarket Clearing, the CFTC-regulated exchange and clearing organization. * Get $25 free when you deposit just $10. Sign up right now with promo code NO HES to get $25 when you deposit just $10. https://app.polymarket.us/S8ac/NOHES TECOVAS: Right now get 10% off at https://tecovas.com/NOHESITATION when you sign up for email and texts. & FACTOR See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
On this episode of 'No Hesitation,' Sophie Cunningham and Drew Hanlen dive into the Indiana Fever’s struggles from last week and break down what the team can do to turn things around heading into the playoffs. They discuss the adjustments that can make a difference, Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston, Kelsey Mitchell and the Fever's offense, and why Sophie LOVES playoff basketball. Sophie and Drew also get into the mental side of basketball, including handling adversity, building confidence, and Sophie's approach to 3-point shooting. Plus, they break down film of the New York Liberty's Breanna Stewart and what makes her so great. Watch and listen to new episodes of No Hesitation every Thursday during the WNBA and NBA season and follow us on social media for all the best moments from the show. You can also listen to new episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube: @NoHesitationShow Twitter: @NoHesiShow This episode is brought to you by: POLYMARKET 18+ Only. Restrictions and eligibility requirements apply. Not available in all jurisdictions. Trading is risky. 100% loss can occur. See polymarket.com/tos for more information. The Polymarket US App serves as an independent software provider and affiliate of Polymarket US and Polymarket Clearing, the CFTC-regulated exchange and clearing organization. Get a $50 bonus when you deposit just $10. Sign up right now with promo code NO HES. That's Polymarket dot U.S. and use promo code NO HES to get a $50 bonus when you deposit just $10. https://app.polymarket.us/S8ac/NOHES HULU Watch the new season of Chad Powers now streaming on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ For bundle subscribers. Terms apply. https://www.hulu.com/series/7117a15d-128c-4c2b-a5b9-98adfa0f4505 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sophie Cunningham and Drew Hanlen are back with plenty to talk about on No Hesitation. The duo dives into Team USA’s gold and Caitlin Clark’s return to the Indiana Fever, the differences between WNBA and NBA practices, and what makes Sonia Citron’s game stand out. Plus, Sophie weighs in on Sydney Sweeney’s ad and the rest of the latest conversations surrounding women’s basketball. Watch and listen to new episodes of No Hesitation every Thursday during the WNBA and NBA season and follow us on social media for all the best moments from the show. You can also listen to new episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube: @NoHesitationShow Twitter: @NoHesiShow This episode is brought to you by: POLYMARKET 18+ Only. Restrictions and eligibility requirements apply. Not available in all jurisdictions. Trading is risky. 100% loss can occur. See polymarket.com/tos for more information. The Polymarket US App serves as an independent software provider and affiliate of Polymarket US and Polymarket Clearing, the CFTC-regulated exchange and clearing organization. Get a $50 bonus when you deposit just $10. Sign up right now with promo code NO HES. That's Polymarket dot U.S. and use promo code NO HES to get a $50 bonus when you deposit just $10. https://app.polymarket.us/S8ac/NOHES HULU Watch the new season of Chad Powers now streaming on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ For bundle subscribers. Terms apply. https://www.hulu.com/series/7117a15d-128c-4c2b-a5b9-98adfa0f4505 FACTOR Let’s eat real. Head to factormeals.com/nohes50off and use code nohes50of to get 50 percent off and 1 free breakfast item per box for 1 year, while supplies last until 10/31/2026. See website for more details. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.