Podcast Host Conrad Simpson Goes from ‘Manny’ to Main Event

After cashing in his two previous World Series of Poker Main Event appearances, Conrad Simpson’s quest to make it three in a row came to an end late in the day on Sunday. Simpson made it close to another cash after running out of chips just about 100 players from the money.

The finish at least came after another nice run through the Main Event. In 2021, he finished 155th for $50,900. He also recorded a 742nd-place finish in 2022 for $21,000.

Dream is dead pic.twitter.com/7VXLWeWpDz

— Conrad Simpson (@conrads411) July 10, 2023

The native New Yorker lives and breathes poker, from hosting a podcast with Matt Berkey five days a week to traveling the country jumping in tournament action to mixing in some online play. Simpson returned with 318,000 chips on Sunday’s Day 3 of the Main Event, but just came up short of the money. He offered some insight on just how so many hours at the table can take a toll on a player.

“It’s a long grind,:” he said. “It’s a 10-day tournament and these are long days. I understand that now.”

Since February of 2022, Simpson has co-hosted the Only Friends podcast with Matt Berkey. The pair record the show five days a week and have a loyal following. Much of the rest of his life also revolves around the game as well. When not playing poker, Simpson says he’s still looking to play even more poker and lives for betting and bluffing at the card table.

“Ever since I met this game I just wanted to be the best I can be at it and grow as much as I can,” he says.

Before playing full time, Simpson spent much of his life on Long Island. He worked as dealer in home games before launching into the game full time and also worked as a “manny” – a male nanny.

“My mom was a nurse practitioner in downtown Manhattan,” he says. “She had a bunch of wealthy clients like actresses and bankers, and I used to be their babysitter.”

The 35-year-old poker pro, who now lives in Las Vegas, has $556,523 in live tournament winnings in a career stretching back to 2014. A WSOP bracelet has remained elusive thus far, but he’s had some close calls. In 2021, Simpson finished fourth in a  $5,000 Freezeout event for $133,733. He also picked up a WSOP Circuit ring in an online event in 2019 for $8,978. In this year’s series, Simpson says he’s been down a bit but is still playing the game he loves. A nice cash could turn his summer fortunes around.

With a record turnout this year for the Main Event, what's his advice for new players looking to get in the action?

“Get your rest,” he says. “This isn’t your normal tournament. I’m someone who makes up at five in the morning and I usually feel very energized for everything, but when you to the end of the days in this tournament – you’re going to feel it. When you get to Day 6 or Day 7, it hurts. It hurts a lot.”

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