Joe Stapleton on the Magic of Barcelona, WSOP, and His Dual Career

Joe Stapleton, a longtime poker commentator, has been a central figure at the PokerStars EPT Barcelona 2025, not on the felt but behind the microphone. Stapleton describes Barcelona as having a unique vibe where players are more vibrant and excitable, creating a camaraderie that makes his job easier. “The thing that’s different about Barcelona is the way the players feel, the vibe at the tables,” Stapleton explained. “You can tell when you’re watching a Barcelona final table. People are more vibrant, more excitable here. Even though it’s intense competition, there’s this camaraderie. Everyone is having such a good time, even when they’re playing for huge money. That’s pretty unique to Barcelona. And for me, when the players are having fun, it makes my job easier.”

Stapleton's workdays are packed and surreal, involving various tasks like commentary, podcasts, and player parties. “Yes, the hours are long, but it’s such a fun kind of busy,” he said. “Yesterday during a break I shot content for some video — I don’t even ask what it’s for anymore. I just say: where do you need me? Stand here? Okay, let’s do it. One day it’s a podcast, next it’s a player party, or voice‑overs. I’ve even had to go to a party as part of the job. That was work. How crazy is that?”

Stapleton's signature phrase 'Hello my babies' originated from an impression he did during a WCCOOP radio rehearsal. “I stole it, really,” he admitted with a grin. “A comedy writer I admired used to say it in his one‑man Mark Twain show. Years later, during a WCCOOP radio rehearsal, I started doing an impression of it as a joke. The sound techs began mimicking me, so I doubled down to mock them. Francine [Watson] told me it had to stick, and it did. To this day, I’m just glad people notice.”

This summer brought another career highlight when Stapleton joined the World Series of Poker main event broadcast team. “It was an honor,” he said. “Something I never thought would be possible. People are very protective of their brands and their commentators, but it worked out this year that we could partner with PokerGO. “I actually got my start covering the World Series back in 2005, doing sideline reporting and live blogs. So to be back, in the booth for the Main Event — that was special. It was long days, late nights, a lot of work. But so worth it. To have my voice on the biggest event in poker — yeah, I’d love to do it again. Maybe with one day off next time,” he added with a smile.

Stapleton also has a career in stand-up comedy and produced a comedy night at this year’s EPT Barcelona. “Comedy is different because the whole world is open to you, not just poker,” he said. “But commentary helped me get started. I was already on TV, so I had confidence that a lot of stand-ups don’t have. And poker gave me a community — when I go to New York and ask for a spot, I can say: hey, if you book me, 20 extra people might show up. That’s a selling point. Without that confidence and support, maybe I’d have quit stand‑up.”

One moment Stapleton treasures isn’t from the WSOP, but from EPT Barcelona. “A couple of years ago James [Hartigan] got sick, and I had to lead the broadcast myself for the first time,” he recalled. “It was that insane final table where [Giuliano] Bendinelli came back from a chip and a chair to win. I thought: what would James do? I followed his lead in my head. Afterwards, James texted me: ‘I think this is some of the finest work you’ve ever done.’ That meant a lot.”

Stapleton and James Hartigan have a long-running commentary duo and a real-life friendship. “We spend a lot of time together,” Stapleton said. “We do TV voice‑overs, tour stops, podcasts. There are maybe three or four weeks a year I don’t see James. We connected early on over nerdy stuff like Star Wars, movies, comic books — mainstream now, but nerdy back then. That’s part of why the chemistry works.”