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It’s the last Vegas Day Drinkers episode of summer 2026, and Chris and Darren are closing the season with tipping, tourism, technology, football, concerts and television.

After NBC’s TODAY asked viewers whether to “Tip or Skip,” we continue the national tipping-culture conversation from the hospitality worker’s side of the bar. Has tipping gone too far, or are customers blaming tipped employees for a system they didn’t create?

We also examine summer passenger traffic at Harry Reid International Airport, rising fuel and travel costs, and what they could mean for Las Vegas tourism. Then we catch up on the future of transportation in Vegas—including rideshare changes, the Vegas Loop and Tesla tunnels, Vay, Waymo and Zoox.

There’s also a shoutout to Pouring Stories host Michael Giambrone and his conversation with legendary mixologist Tony Abou-Ganim about hospitality and the reimagining of Helen David’s historic Brass Rail in Port Huron, Michigan.

Plus: AC/DC, Guns N’ Roses and Foo Fighters at Allegiant Stadium; Raiders talk as the preseason ends; and what we’re watching, including Ted Lasso, Special Ops: Lioness, Reacher and more.

Pull up a stool and close out summer with the Vegas Day Drinkers Podcast—hosted by Chris and Darren.

Sip. Socialize. Shine.

Our Motto: Sip Socialize Shine!

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It's summer in Vegas; it's hot, and after a couple of weeks off, the boys are finally back behind the mics. No script, no guests, no plan — just a freestyle "let's catch up" episode to knock the rust off and get something published. Grab an ice-cold Busch Light and settle in.

On this one, Vegas Day Drinkers cover a little bit of everything: a full 2026 World Cup recap now that the dust has settled — including how it went for the host nations (Canada, Mexico, and the USA all bowed out in the Round of 16) and Spain's extra-time win over Argentina in the final. The guys break down LeBron James shocking the NBA by leaving the Lakers for the Philadelphia 76ers on his self-described "last decision," teaming up with Joel Embiid for one more title run.

From there it's straight into pop culture: Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey and the wild ambition of shooting the entire film on IMAX 70mm — a first in cinema history — plus Matt Damon as Odysseus. They also get into Star Trek turning 60 and the big Star Trek convention rolling into Las Vegas next week, and close it out with some proper summer nonsense: pool crashes and slugging ice-cold Busch Lights in the desert heat.

Two guys, a few drinks, and everything that's been going on. Welcome back to the pod.

In this episode:

• Back from a break — why this one's a freestyle catch-up
• 2026 World Cup recap: host nations, results, and Spain over Argentina
• LeBron James signs with the Philadelphia 76ers — his "last decision"
• Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey & the first film shot entirely in IMAX 70mm
• Star Trek's 60th anniversary + the Vegas convention next week
• Pool crashes, Busch Light, and surviving a Vegas summer

🍺 New episodes of Vegas Day Drinkers — real talk, real drinks, straight from Las Vegas.

Tags/Keywords: Vegas Day Drinkers, VDD podcast, Las Vegas podcast, 2026 World Cup recap, LeBron James 76ers, LeBron Philadelphia, Christopher Nolan The Odyssey, IMAX 70mm, Matt Damon Odysseus, Star Trek 60th anniversary, Star Trek convention Las Vegas, Busch Light, pool crashing, summer in Vegas, sports and pop culture podcast, drinking podcast

Our Motto: Sip Socialize Shine!

Send us Fan Mail

Pour yourself a tipple of a tuath of Jameson Black Barrel and get ready for episode 43 — Vegas Day Drinkers is here. We open with love: happy birthday to Raffo and continued healing vibes to Steve Kay. Then we get into it — the passing of legendary TV director James "Jimmy" Burrows, the man behind Cheers, Friends, Frasier, Will & Grace, Taxi, and basically every sitcom that defined American television from the '70s through today. We walk his entire career arc and the landmark legacy he left for LGBTQ representation on network TV.

We break down the Stanley Cup chaos (Tortorella out, Ryan Craig in, Kelly McCrimmon making moves), check in on the World Cup one week into the first-ever 48-team, three-nation tournament — including the Tartan Army overtaking Boston and Europeans discovering Buc-ee's, Waffle House, and "free" soda refills. Plus the origin story of our Challenge Coin and what we're building with it.

And the big one: Bourdain Day, this Thursday, June 25th at the Huntridge Tavern. We retrace every Vegas spot Tony visited across No Reservations and Parts Unknown — from the Double Down Saloon to Lotus of Siam to Huntridge itself.

Bourdain Day is presented by The Vegas Day Drinkers in collaboration with Jameson Black Barrel. Donations benefit the Anthony Bourdain Global Cuisine & Culture Legacy Scholarship at the CIA. Sign up now → https://bourdainday.vegas

Our Motto: Sip Socialize Shine!