The Chicago Bears’ 2026 season kicks off in a week, so we wanted to introduce our in-season schedule for our 2nd City Gridiron podcast and video channels.
Before we get down to the nitty-gritty, a reminder to please subscribe to our podcast feed wherever you get your audio and leave us a review and/or a rating. Also, subscribe to our YouTube channel. Subscriptions, likes, and reviews help their algorithms put our brand in front of more people. So we could use your help!
Our schedule is based on Sunday games, and the Bears currently have 10, so our lineup will change when they play on a different day of the week.
*All listed times are Central*
MONDAY
6:00 p.m. Livestream Video: Bear & Balanced from Jeff “JB” Berckes and Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. is their day-after, cooled-down postgame take of the Bears game.
The fellas run a tight show as they work through their usual weekly segments, which always start with the linemen and their Trench Tribute, and end with the only porridge-themed segment in all of podcasting. They always try to stick around after for some video-exclusive Q&A with Bears fans. So hang out with us before the Monday Night Football game each week.
PM Podcast: As soon as the Bear & Balanced video ends, we’ll quickly cut it up and publish the show to our podcast channel.
TUESDAY
Podcast/Video: Bill Zimmerman’s Bears Banter features a weekly guest drawn from his decades of experience in sports media.
Since Bill will work around his guests’ busy schedules to ensure he has the best content possible for our fans each week, his show may occasionally be published at different times. Bill will also have his Bears Banter published on our 2nd City Gridiron video channel each week, so stay tuned and turn those notifications on so you never miss his premiere.
WEDNESDAY
8:00 p.m. Livestream Video: Hang out with hosts Ryan Droste and Bryan Orenchuk, who are back again for another season of Bears Over Beers.
Bears Over Beers is once again our weekly pivot show, and we want you guys to drive the discussion. Ryan and Bryan will kick off each show featuring a tasty beverage before settling in to talk about the previous game, the upcoming game, and anything else you want to discuss.
So pull up a stool and bring your favorite drink for a laid-back, interactive chat about the Bears live on our YouTube channel!
PM Podcast: If you missed the livestream of Bears Over Beers, you can catch the audio version as soon as the fellas publish it on our podcast feed.
THURSDAY
6:00 p.m. Livestream Video: The Mac & Read Show from Evan McLean and Ross Read returns for year two! These two lifelong Chicago sports fans will look ahead to the game; they may also get into the other Windy City teams, plus they’ll also talk music, pop culture, food, current events, and so much more.
PM Podcast: As soon as The Mac & Read Show** ends on the video feed, we’ll chop it up and publish the show to our podcast channel.
FRIDAY
Podcast/Video: Taylor Doll’s Making Monsters is our game preview show. Each week, she’ll call up a guest (thanks to her massive Rolodex of media contacts) with ties to the Bears’ upcoming opponent, and they break down what to expect for each game. She’ll also have a segment with a Bears analyst to chop it up about all the latest on our favorite team.
Her fantastic Making Monsters segment spotlighting Chicago players will still be there occasionally, so stay tuned to see which family member, former coach, or media member she finds to share some insight on our favorite Bears.
Taylor’s podcast will usually show up on Friday mornings, with the video version dropping early that evening.
SATURDAY
10:00 a.m. Livestream Video: How about some Bears for Breakfast with Jacob Infante and Jacob White?
Bears for Breakfast is brand new to our lineup, and we couldn’t be more excited to see what Jacob and Jacob (2 Jakes, wow!) come up with each week. They’ll discuss the upcoming Bears game, go over the final game day injury report, do a little fantasy football talk, and touch on some of the draft prospects the Bears could have their eyes on.
SUNDAY
We don’t have a regularly scheduled immediate postgame show this season; however, someone on our team may have time on occasion to jump on the mic, so subscribe to our YouTube page and turn on notifications so you know when we go live. And if you need that postgame fix, then join us on Mondays for Bear & Balanced!
During the week, we may have an occasional Bearly a Podcast pop up if there is important breaking news about the Bears. We’ll also have YouTube Shorts and occasional Xs & Os content, so if you subscribe, you’ll never miss a thing.
HOST BIOS
Jeff “JB” Berckes: Jeff serves as the Assistant Editor for Windy City Gridiron and podcast co-host for Bear & Balanced and multiple limited series shows. Jeff runs half marathons (over 60 finishes in 45 states to date) and loves to travel, eat the local fare, and drink new and interesting libations. He and Lester independently own the 2nd City Gridiron network.
Taylor Doll: Taylor has been covering the NFL to some extent since 2015, when she began her internship at 1010XL, the flagship station of the Jacksonville Jaguars. In addition to her weekly podcast, she is the social media director, sports update reporter, and co-host of Helmets & Heels on 1010XL. But as a lifelong Bears fan, she brings her passion as the host of Making Monsters for 2nd City Gridiron.
Ryan Droste: Ryan is a lifelong Bears fan and contributor to Windy City Gridiron. He has covered sports and entertainment extensively, with bylines at Sports Illustrated, CBS Interactive, Entrepreneur, and many others. Ryan is also the founder and host of Top Rope Nation, a professional wrestling podcast, and for you history buffs, be sure to check out his Substack, History Beyond The Bell. It’s 5 o’clock somewhere, so crack open a cold one and join Ryan on Bears Over Beers.
Bryan Orenchuk: Bryan played his high school and college football in Florida, where he was a walk-on Running Back at the University of Central Florida and competed in multiple National Flag Football Tournaments before getting into rugby. After his playing days, Bryan coached middle school football for five years. He became a WCG contributor in 2024 and is a co-host of Bears Over Beers, with fellow Girl-Dad, Ryan Droste.
Evan McLean & Ross Read: Evan and Ross are good friends who have been talking sports on air in Chicago together for the better part of a decade now. Come for the unique football content, and stay for breakdowns of your favorite shows, movies, pop culture, and Hip Hop projects.
The Mac & Read Show is just like 2013 Matt Forte; there’s nothing these guys can’t do.
Jacob Infante: Jacob is the lead draft analyst for Windy City Gridiron and the Director of Media Partnerships for Pro Football Network. He has covered the Bears and the NFL Draft for WCG since 2017, specializing in scouting reports, player interviews, and film reviews. He covers the NFL as a whole for PFN. He has been featured on outlets including Barstool Sports, USA Today, NBC5 Chicago, WGN, NewsNation, 670 The Score, WLS 890, Bleacher Report, SB Nation, and more. Jacob has had a podcast presence on our network for years, but now he’s debuting a brand-new show, Bears for Breakfast!
Jacob White: Jacob White is a co-host of Bears for Breakfast and a lifelong Chicago Bears fan. His interest in football began through the statistical side of the game, eventually leading him to work as a fantasy football writer for Gridiron Experts and FantasyPros, where he was also an expert ranker. He graduated from Wabash College in 2025 with a degree in economics and now lives and works in downtown Chicago in the insurance industry. Jacob prides himself on bringing a quintessential Gen Z approach to football, keeping things casual and humorous while maintaining a sharp eye for the numbers and strategy that dictate the game.
Lester A. Wiltfong Jr.: Lester is the Editor-in-Chief at Windy City Gridiron, and he’s been writing about the Chicago Bears since 2005. In 2016, he kicked off his T Formation Conversation podcast (which is semi-retired) and has since added co-hosting Bear & Balanced to his resume. He’s also guested on several TV, radio, and podcast outlets over the years to share his takes on the Bears and the NFL.
Bill Zimmerman: Bill serves as the Deputy Editor of Windy City Gridiron and has been covering the Bears since 2014.
As a writer and podcast host of Bears Banter, Bill brings his lifelong passion for the Bears to every article and episode. A media professional with over 20 years of experience, Bill has covered over 15 Super Bowls and several World Series, including the Cubs’ 2016 World Series championship. He currently resides in New York, but not by choice.
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