Hello and Welcome

Will Lou, Alex Wong, and producer Jerome Cheng have you covered on all things Raptors, in addition to the NBA and other culturally relevant topics. New episodes every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday

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Recent Episodes
  • Drafting the 15 Funniest and Most Memorable Raptors Moments of the 2024-25 Season
    Apr 23, 2025 – 1:58:11
  • 10 things from wild first weekend of 2025 NBA playoffs + Should Raptors buy-low on these stars?
    Apr 21, 2025 – 2:08:37
  • First Round Playoff Predictions + Most intriguing player in each series
    Apr 18, 2025 – 1:30:19
  • Masai Ujiri and Darko Rajakovic praise Raptors' progress this year, and lay out plans for future
    Apr 16, 2025 – 1:25:36
  • Takeaways from Raptors Exit Interviews: Scottie Barnes sets playoff expectations for 2025-26
    Apr 14, 2025 – 1:04:36
  • React Pod: Scottie Barnes goes for 35-11-8 in finale + H/W fan appreciation episode
    Apr 14, 2025 – 2:08:46
  • React Pod: Raptors ready to say "1-2-3 Cancun!" in Dallas, so this episode become a banter pod
    Apr 12, 2025 – 1:36:48
  • NBA Letterboxd Ratings: OKC, Lakers, Cavs enjoy 5 star seasons, while Mavericks come in at 0
    Apr 10, 2025 – 1:42:45
  • React Pod: Jonathan Mogbo records triple-double as Raptors thank fans in last home game
    Apr 10, 2025 – 1:18:02
  • 6 Takeaways from the 2024-25 Raptors Season
    Apr 8, 2025 – 1:14:22
  • React Pod: Jonathan Mogbo and Jamal Shead lead the way, NCAA tournament takeaways
    Apr 6, 2025 – 1:28:09
  • React Pod: Ja'Kobe Walter continues to break out, while Raptors hint at Brandon Ingram return
    Apr 5, 2025 – 1:32:03
  • React Pod: Raptors lose to Blazers, and Darko says Scottie Barnes playing with injured hand
    Apr 4, 2025 – 1:23:47
  • 5 prospects who fit the Toronto Raptors from the 2025 NBA draft
    Apr 2, 2025 – 1:24:39
  • React Pod: Raptors officially eliminated and how concerned are you about Scottie Barnes?
    Apr 2, 2025 – 1:30:57
  • React Pod: RJ Barrett drops 31, all 4 rookies shine, as Raptors sweep shameless Sixers
    Mar 31, 2025 – 1:25:49
  • React Pod: Why the Raptors keep winning, and appreciation for Jakob Poeltl and Jamal Shead
    Mar 29, 2025 – 1:38:26
  • React Pod: Raptors rookies show great development in first 30-point win of the season
    Mar 27, 2025 – 1:31:31
  • Raptors Mailbag! Draft Prospects, Optimism for Next Season, Biggest What-Ifs
    Mar 26, 2025 – 1:14:26
  • React Pod: Raptors try to tank, but promising 2024 rookie class take over in the 4th
    Mar 25, 2025 – 1:10:09
  • React Pod: Raptors can't completely no-show at home even if it's a tank + assorted banter
    Mar 24, 2025 – 1:10:23
  • React Pod: Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley shine as Raptors push Warriors to final buzzer
    Mar 21, 2025 – 1:18:49
  • Raptors Roundtable! Is Scottie a Number One Option, Brandon Ingram’s Fit, and more
    Mar 20, 2025 – 1:23:12
  • Championship React Pod: Kawhi and Pascal Lead Raptors To Double OT Win Over Bucks
    Mar 18, 2025 – 1:02:46
  • React Pod: Raptors blown out by 40, so let's just banter and check in on the rest of the NBA
    Mar 18, 2025 – 1:05:26
  • React Pod: Raptors finally tank right, while Jakob Poeltl SHOWS OFF 3-point shot
    Mar 17, 2025 – 1:21:13
  • React Pod: Scottie and IQ developing chemistry, Temple and Shead's defense denies tank
    Mar 15, 2025 – 1:21:16
  • NBA 6-pack: The only solution to tanking, Shai vs Jokic, and Scottie Barnes struggling to score
    Mar 13, 2025 – 50:41
  • React Pod: Raptors tank hits a new level of shameless in ultimate tank-off vs. Sixers
    Mar 13, 2025 – 1:15:26
  • John Bitove Jr. on the origin story of the Raptors
    Mar 11, 2025 – 48:34
  • React Pod: AJ Lawson drops 32, Jamal Shead poster dunk, as Raptors 905 beat Wizards
    Mar 11, 2025 – 1:17:07
  • React Pod: Jamal Shead's game-winning layup ruled out by 0.1 seconds as Raptors fall to Wizards
    Mar 9, 2025 – 1:04:22
  • React Pod: Immanuel Quickley goes off for 34 points, but are the Raptors tanking or not?
    Mar 8, 2025 – 1:02:00
  • NBA 6 pack: Is there a "right" way to tank, and why the Raptors shouldn't trade RJ
    Mar 6, 2025 – 34:54
  • The February Banter Pod
    Mar 5, 2025 – 3:09:35
  • React Pod: Ja'Kobe Walter hits the game-winner, while Raptors tank hits new absurd heights
    Mar 5, 2025 – 1:12:43
  • React Pod: Immanuel Quickley is a huge difference maker, Raptors' tank becoming obvious
    Mar 3, 2025 – 1:12:31
  • React Pod: Raptors' clutch issues on full display in epic choke against Chicago
    Mar 1, 2025 – 1:10:44
  • Chuck Swirsky on the Vince Carter era & the toughest broadcast of his career
    Feb 27, 2025 – 56:14
  • React Pod: Raptors rookies struggle vs. Pacers, Lakers-Mavs, and where is PJ Tucker?
    Feb 27, 2025 – 1:04:17
  • React Pod: Scottie Barnes setting tone with defensive intensity, but Raptors can't hit 3's vs. C's
    Feb 26, 2025 – 55:08
  • React Pod: Raptors stun Suns with 7-straight threes in thrilling crunch-time performance
    Feb 24, 2025 – 1:17:53
  • React Pod: Don't take RJ Barrett for granted, and can the NBA could copy the NHL's all-star format?
    Feb 22, 2025 – 1:28:48
  • What the NBA needs to change after underwhelming 2025 All-Star Weekend
    Feb 17, 2025 – 1:08:50
  • ASW Day 2: Mac McClung Rescues the Dunk Contest (again), Pascal revisits 2019 at Oracle
    Feb 16, 2025 – 22:37
  • ASW day 1: Gradey Dick gets no help, hanging with Masai, Zach Edey’s favorite dim sum item
    Feb 15, 2025 – 15:01
  • Why Did Vince Carter Wear AND1 at the 2000 Dunk Contest
    Feb 14, 2025 – 52:01
  • Norman Powell reacts to his iconic Toronto Raptors moments: "I wanted to be there my whole career"
    Feb 13, 2025 – 7:42
  • React Pod: Tristan Thompson sparks needless scuffle in Cavaliers' blowout over Raptors
    Feb 13, 2025 – 32:36
  • React Pod: Scottie Barnes silences doubters in win vs. 76ers, Brandon Ingram extends at 3/$120M
    Feb 12, 2025 – 1:10:21
Recent Reviews
  • stevo647
    My fav raptor show!
    Have followed Will since his Raptors Republic days! Love to listen to his recaps and all the bantering involved.
  • Clanger WW
    Loyal Listener
    Been following these guys for a long time. Thanks for all the hours of quality Raps content. PS - I kinda miss the shorter episodes. Felt like the 30-35 min versions of the react pods and others were the sweet spot
  • Santi Espinosa
    Best Raptors Podcast!
    I truly enjoy this pod. Will speaks to my raptors soul. Thank you and keep the great work. Santi
  • jonathan davis from korn
    obviously the best
    alex wong lowkey the funniest man alive
  • gavins
    Best Raptors show - hands down!
    Substantial analysis, in-depth coverage, great guests and the best vibes, couldn’t ask for more.
  • GeorgeaBrooks
    Glad You're Back!
    Was so thrilled to find Hello and Welcome! This review is for the algorithm but also I'm a huge fan and would die without your podcast. Do hashtags work here? #raptors #nba #basketball. Okay incase they don't.... Basketball, NBA, nbaBasketball, Raptors, Hoops. Okay! All the best.
  • Anonymous+Anonymous
    Let’s go!
    Best Raptors’ podcast and it’s not even close.
  • Twistedbacon
    Great access to court-side observations!
    Love the post game/major event react pods, not droning on purely about subjective thoughts, but a real nice mix of up court-side observations or game recaps, the interaction with listeners/viewers, all mixed together with a twang of Asian John Hughes-esque shared trauma. Can hardly ever catch a game nowadays due to family life, not enough time to watch entire games, and hate watching highlight reels with no context. Hello and Welcome hits every note for me in terms of post game. The regular show itself is also great, especially when they bring on interesting and fun guests. Really appreciate these guys and if you’ve read this far, thanks for reading!
  • Frequent W2R User
    Big Three
    Hands down my favourite pod to listen to. Always enjoyed Will and Alex on other pods, but the addition of Jerome is great on this one. Something I really appreciate is they pitch the content to meet where the Raptors and the fan base are right now. Not even close to contending and the difficult 2023-24 season needed levity to make it through. Feels like this podcast is the perfect pairing to The Future Starts Now era of the Raptors.
  • Sunday Blessed
    The climb continues
    Such a unique pair, I feel like I’m back in pre-2010 GTA listening to them.
  • cchemi01
    Best in the business
    So happy the guys are back together
  • Agalaaga
    Lets go!
    Happy to see the boys back!
  • GoCats!!
    The best!
    Long time listener, these guys have the best chemistry on the air. Excited to hear more!!
  • Aihidi
    Elite pod
    Two goats
  • Alb8887
    The best to come
    Looking forward to this dynamic team podcasts. The material is always stellar, hilarious, and informative. Great banter!
  • Andysancan
    The best Raptors podcast ever!!!
    I’m so excited they’re back! I thought they were gone forever BUT THEY’RE BACK BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Consistently best content, even the 4 hr banter pods are worth listening to
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