Maria Konnikova and James Hartigan Launch “The Tough Call” Podcast

Table Of Contents

• The Touch Call Season One Release Schedule
• Poker Hall of Famer Jason Koon Features in the Inaugural Tough Call Episode
• Upcoming Guests on The Tough Call Podcast

PokerStars Ambassadors Maria Konnikova and James Hartigan are the hosts of a brand-new PokerStars-sponsored podcast called “The Tough Call.” The popular duo will bring together an exciting line-up of guests from the poker, business, and entertainment worlds.

Season 1 features 10 episodes. The first episode is available right now, with subsequent episodes released every Tuesday up to and including December 29.

During these episodes, Konnikova and Hartigan will lead the conversation with leading experts, figures, and personalities from poker, business, and entertainment, as they discuss decision-making.

They’ll touch on subjects such as how we think, assess risk, handle pressure, and navigate uncertainty, all things that are required to take your poker game to the next level.

Konnikova explained more. “Poker gives you a unique window into people – how they think, how they handle pressure and make decisions, what drives them. But those qualities extend far beyond the poker tables – and that is what makes these conversations so interesting.”

“What makes the show exciting is the range of people we’re speaking to, with every guest bringing different perspectives, their own stories and opinions, the kinds of unique insights that come from their experiences and expertise. We’ve really enjoyed the conversations so far, and hopefully, listeners will enjoy them just as much.”

The Touch Call Season One Release Schedule

Poker Hall of Famer Jason Koon Features in the Inaugural Tough Call Episode

Episode 1 is available to watch right now, and sees Jason Koon join Konnikova and Hartigan, where they discuss why smart people make bad decisions.

Koon is widely regarded as one of the best high-stakes players of his generation. A deep thinker with 12 Triton Poker titles, a pair of World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelets, and more than $77 million in live tournament earnings.

During the episode, Koon reveals how his upbringing shaped his instincts and what years of making high-stakes decisions have taught him about emotion, risk, and trusting your gut, all while staying calm under pressure.

“Strategic thinking wasn’t something that was taught to me,” Koon said, “It was something I had to learn. That journey has shaped the way I approach decision-making, risk, and pressure, so I’m delighted to join the first episode of the podcast to explore what it takes to make better decisions when the stakes are high from the poker table to life beyond it.”

Upcoming Guests on The Tough Call Podcast

Over the next few weeks, Konnikova and Hartigan will sit down with some hugely successful individuals. They include investor and high-stakes poker player Bill Perkins, bestselling author David Epstein, award-winning television writer, producer, and showrunner Mark Goffman, and Samm Hunter, a renowned performance, mindset, and relationship coach.

Watch each released episode of The Tough Call on its dedicated YouTube channel, or listen to it on podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Matthew Pitt hails from Leeds, West Yorkshire, in the United Kingdom, and has worked in the poker industry since 2008, and worked for PokerNews since 2010. In September 2010, he became the editor of PokerNews. Matthew stepped away from live reporting duties in 2015, and now concentrates on his role of Senior Editor for the PokerNews.