Anthony Rizzo didn’t frame it as a media strategy or a brand move. He described it like something that happens whenever the old group ends up in the same place: people sit down, stories start, and time slips. Now, that impulse is becoming “The Lovable Reunion, ” a behind-the-scenes podcast he is launching with former teammate David Ross as the Chicago Cubs mark the 10th anniversary of their 2016 World Series season throughout 2026.
What is “The Lovable Reunion, ” and why are Anthony Rizzo and David Ross doing it now?
“The Lovable Reunion” is a podcast announced on Wednesday that will feature Anthony Rizzo and David Ross interviewing former members of the 2016 Cubs squad about “the stories and memories from that season, ” as described in the official statement. The timing is tied directly to a season of organized remembrance: the Cubs are marking the 10th anniversary of the 2016 World Series season throughout 2026, with a team reunion planned for July 18 (ET) after another reunion already took place in January (ET).
Rizzo’s own explanation was personal and practical. “This is us alone, ” Anthony Rizzo said about the podcast in remarks carried by the Chicago Tribune. He added that he and Ross had been talking and that “with the 10-year reunion we wanted to do this. ” Rizzo also said he always wanted to do a podcast after he was playing, while noting that Ian Happ had tried to get him to do one while he was still active but it was “too much of a commitment. ”
The project is also a reconnection of two careers that have recently shifted off the field. Anthony Rizzo retired in 2025 after a 14-year major league career and has stayed visible around the Cubs while pursuing broadcasting, with plans to work for NBC Sports and Netflix. Ross finished his 15-year playing career with the 2016 title, later managed the Cubs from 2020 through 2023, and has worked on television as an analyst for.
How does the Cubs’ 2026 anniversary push turn memories into a new kind of access?
The Cubs are entering the 2026 season under what was described as “heavy nostalgic feelings and memories” of the championship run. The 2016 championship ended a 108-year drought for the organization and remains one of the biggest moments in franchise history, with many players still closely tied to the team and its fan base. “The Lovable Reunion” positions itself inside that emotional ecosystem—not as a highlight reel, but as a place for the kinds of stories that typically surface only in private.
Ross emphasized the momentum that builds once the talking starts. “We get down with these sitdowns, and the guys are ticked off they don’t get to travel around with us and get to hang out with everybody and hear the stories, ” Ross said. “And they can’t believe when (it’s over). We’ll do a two-hour session, and the guys want to keep going. It’s amazing how much fun everyone has had doing this. ”
The format is not limited to audio. The series will include filmed interviews and behind-the-scenes details from the 2016 title run, with the first episode set for Mar. 31 (ET). A launch date of April 1 (ET) has also been announced, and the show is being released with The Volume Sports.
Who is expected to appear, and what kind of stories are on the table?
Trailers and reports have named a slate of figures connected to that 2016 season, including Kris Bryant, Joe Maddon, Jon Lester, Jake Arrieta, John Lackey, Kyle Schwarber, and Addison Russell. The guest list signals that the podcast aims to widen the lens beyond any single viewpoint, letting teammates, leaders, and central contributors revisit the year through their own memories.
In that sense, the show’s premise is less about retelling what fans already know and more about recreating the atmosphere of a reunion room: who remembers what, which details still surprise people a decade later, and why certain moments matter more in reflection than they did in real time. Anthony Rizzo is at the center of that pivot from player to storyteller, and the podcast frames that transition as an extension of how the group already relates to each other when they meet—without turning the reunion into a stage-managed performance.
For the Cubs, the timing of these conversations also aligns with formal anniversary events. The organization has already held a reunion in January (ET) and has another planned for July 18 (ET). The podcast’s release schedule, with the first episode set for Mar. 31 (ET) and a launch date of April 1 (ET), places it early in the anniversary year’s public rhythm, when nostalgia is most active and the desire for detail is at its peak.
Image caption (alt text): Anthony Rizzo and David Ross announce “The Lovable Reunion” podcast focused on behind-the-scenes stories from the 2016 Cubs title run.
