Barstool Nate Brings Poker and Podcasting to WPT Borgata

By Sean Chaffin

Barstool Sports has become a sports and pop culture phenomenon since its founding in 2003. The website, which was originally based in Boston, evolved from a newspaper to a blog and now encompasses a complete multimedia platform. That includes a video and podcasting network and its own channel on SiriusXM Radio.

The company also now includes some poker as well. Eric “Barstool Nate” Nathan (pictured) hosts the site’s Cracking Aces podcast along with poker pro Jake Toole. Both were among the Day 2 field at the Borgata Winter Poker Open.

“We talk about the news, take listener hand histories, and interview guests,” says Nathan, who now lives in New York City after the company relocated there three years ago.

Some of those guests have included Daniel Negreanu, Chris Moneymaker, Ryan Riess, and numerous others. WPT Executive Tournament Director Matt Savage has even appeared on the show. Nathan, who is originally from the Washington D.C. area, also covers poker for the blog, highlighting the fun, interesting people, and events in the news.

“I’ve been writing more and more about poker in the last year,” he says. “I also write a lot about D.C. sports.”

So far, there have been quite a few ups and downs in the tournament for Nathan. He had a nice Day 1 and bagged 58,000. After moving up to 85,000 on Day he dropped as low as 25,000, but built that back up and sat on a stack of about 100,000 at the second day of the break.

The Borgata and WPT have been great experiences, Nathan said, and he enjoys the competition a major WPT event brings out in players.

“I wish I could play so many more,” he says. “I love it. I love playing. I love that when you play these events you’re playing against a lot of pros and it kind of makes me realize that I’m nowhere near good enough to compete. You just feel overmatched and I feel like I just need to get better. I like challenging myself, and seeing how good my game is and if I can compete.”

Nathan busted before the Day 2 dinner break and will be talking about poker again soon for his loyal listeners.

Sean Chaffin is a freelance writer in Crandall, Texas, and his work appears in numerous websites and publications. Follow him on Twitter @PokerTraditions.