It's the last dance for "Just Not Sports," and we're bringing out the big guns! MARVIN LEWIS coached our (well, Brad's) beloved Bengals for half our life, so we're thrilled to finally have our favorite all-time coach here to share his love of golf. We break down his short and mid-range game, his greatest tournament highlight (which is online, ya know), and why you shouldn't gamble with NBA players. (Like, ever.) Then, Gareth & Brad bid farewell after nearly 200 episodes and half-a-decade by ...
Apr 17, 2021•1 hr 2 min
ERIC DAVIS is a legend. He hit an iconic homerun in the 1990 World Series to beat the heavily favored A's. He outlasted double-figure surgeries. He somehow made "buttonless 80s baseball jerseys" work. And, most crucially, he beat cancer. Our co-host Gareth Hughes is battling cancer now, so we dialed up Eric for perspective and a pep talk. And it's especially poignant because Gareth was there in the stands the night when Eric went yard against Oakland in the World Series. Two strangers, connected...
Apr 17, 2021•54 min
Calling all MAC alums! (Uh, and MAC "townies" like us.) We've got The Ringer's ace music critic and writer ROB HARVILLA - an Ohio University alum - to break down his new podcast "60 Songs That Explain the '90s." And we also talk growing up with '90s Cleveland sports, having Mazzy Star as your prom theme, and all things Hashtag MACtion. And because Gareth & Brad grew up in a MAC town (shoutout Bagel & Deli in Oxford, Ohio) we share our favorite '90s MAC memories, from Randy Moss kinda sor...
Apr 11, 2021•50 min
On any given day, you can hear SARAH SPAIN talking sports on ESPN. On TV. On Radio. On Podcasts. Online. (And hell, maybe now in the owner's box.) But she's also found ways to use her platforms to explore her passions beyond sports - which is kinda sorta what this show is all about. So we break down that balancing act, her favorite interviews beyond sports, and some other fun stuff in her final appearance with us. Then, Brad and his daughter Charley talk the art and science of catching a real, l...
Mar 13, 2021•47 min
We continue our Exit Interviews with soccer icon ALEXI LALAS returning for the third time! After two appearances breaking down his own musical talents, this time we asked him to describe his life via mix tape. And he delivers with an all-time starting eleven! Then, Gareth and Brad do the same ... and it gets seriously weird.
Feb 16, 2021•1 hr 24 min
Hey, before we go away for good, let's look back! Gareth and Brad replay an interview with "Parks & Rec" and "Good Place" creator MICHAEL SCHUR on the one book he got banned by his wife from discussing at parties ("The Power Broker"). Then, we discuss and debate the legacy of Van Halen with NFL reporter JUDY BATTISTA. These are two of our favorite interviews - enjoy!
Feb 08, 2021•1 hr 22 min
For years, JULIE DICARO has been one of the most outspoken voices about the challenges faced by women in sports. It's what first brought us to her in 2016, when we launched the #MoreThanMean campaign (alongside One Tree Forest Films) to combat online harassment. Half a decade later, we revisit that work to discuss what's changed ... and frankly, what hasn't. (Because a whole hell of a lot hasn't.) And we hear from Julie about her work with Deadspin, her new podcast with Jane McManus, her upcomin...
Jan 31, 2021•36 min
JESSE WASHINGTON of The Undefeated joins us to break down his new book "I Came as a Shadow" which he co-authored with legendary Georgetown basketball coach John Thompson about the life and legacy of this amazing coach, mentor, activist and man. Then, Gareth and Brad talk about what distracted us in 2020, and some show news for 2021.
Jan 13, 2021•54 min
Washington Post reporter CHUCK CULPEPPER wrote an amazing story about the time Miami University (um, of Ohio) changed its nickname from R-dskins to RedHawks. And guess what? Yeah, everything was fine! With Native American nicknames back under debate, we check in on this time when a small Ohio town debated the change, the people who made it happen, the Miami Tribe members who clarified and personified the debate, and, ya know ... Brad's mom's role in all of it.
Dec 31, 2020•46 min
It's the holiday season, and Super Bowl champ BEN UTECHT is a most wonderful person to talk with in this most wonderful time of the year. He's been active in music for years, and each December he performs a concert that channels the best holiday music from Andy Williams and Bing Crosby. We go deep on his show (which is virtual this year), his other Christmas albums and recordings, his new musical trio Reborn, and his Top 5 favorite holiday tracks. Then, Brad is joined by "Summer Blockbuster" hos...
Dec 24, 2020•1 hr 2 min
If there's a big Boston sports story, MICHAEL HOLLEY probably wrote a book about it. But he's never chronicled a basketball team ... until now. We break down his new book on the turn-of-the-century Celtics' Big Three. That means talking Paul's inflated sense of self, KG's acting chops versus Ray Allen's, why basketball makes for such great books, and the time Michael could smell 'Melo's cologne during an infamous "almost" brawl. Oh, and we get into Stevie Wonder's '70s vs. '80s music, because of...
Dec 21, 2020•42 min
Sports Illustrated copy chief JULIE KLIEGMAN's Twitter bio says "Talk to me about the SpongeBob musical." So here ... we ... are. We go deep on the legacy of the beloved cartoon, the show's manic comedic style, the meme-ification of the characters, why most reporters are Squidwards at heart, and why she loves the human-starring SpongeBob stage show. Then, Gareth and Brad do some old school distractions that include a Princess Di podcast and a reassessment of some truly hated '80s horror.
Dec 08, 2020•52 min
Comedian DAVID GBORIE had a full-fledged "athletic career," dammit, and you will respect it! We cajoled the co-host of "All Fantasy Everything" and the official Voice of Comedy Central to talk about his days on the high school gridiron, shady Wyoming-based two-a-days, creepy coaches, and that one INT he got that one time. Plus, we talk Denver sports, old-school Sonics, and why "Blue Chips" is a great freaking movie. Then, Gareth takes us back to "Cancer Corner" and we debate why things like that...
Nov 23, 2020•1 hr 12 min
ETAN THOMAS is many things. Poet. Writer. Activist. Athlete. We talk about his road from a decade-long NBA career to his new pursuits, which include creative writing, reporting, activism and more. And we guess what he would have brought into the NBA bubble to entertain himself. Then, since it's Halloween time Brad is joined by "Summer Blockbuster" podcast host Steve Warner to break down their all-time favorite horror movie sequels. Which is just straight up not the list you expect, just saying.
Nov 02, 2020•1 hr 13 min
It's election season, so we're calling up Congress! This week, we talk to U.S. Congressman SEAN CASTEN (who reps Brad's district in Illinois) to break down his relationship with sports. Growing up a Mets fan in the '80s (and almost missing their fabled Game 6 comeback), coaching his daughters in youth soccer, whether elected officials have time to actually follow sports, athletes speaking out on political topics, and squaring off against U.S. Soccer "ringers" in Congressional soccer matches. The...
Oct 14, 2020•1 hr 5 min
We've spent five years on this show talking to people who play, cover and obsess over sports. But what's life like for folks who just don't care about these games? Reply All's ALEX GOLDMAN (one of our favorite podcast creators) joins to talk about life as a NON-sports fan. He breaks down the only team he ever really cheered for (the '84 Tigers), why he still rocks Tigers gear despite not following the team, mixing up famous sports "Barrys," ignoring Big Ten games in a Big Ten town, and the unfai...
Sep 28, 2020•1 hr 8 min
Journalist and podcaster JESSICA LUTHER has made a career out of covering some of the most controversial aspects of sports. So when she sits down with a good book, she wants a happy ending, dammit! We break down her passion for romance novels, and their role in sustaining her mental health. Plus, we talk her new book "Loving Sports When They Don't Love You Back" about the complexities and compromises of modern sports fandom. Then, Gareth & Brad continue their Summer of Stephen King by re-rea...
Sep 06, 2020•58 min
Sportswriter, broadcaster and host MAGGIE HENDRICKS loves her some crafts. She's been sewing, baking and crafting (if that's a word) her way through the pandemic, so we break it all down! The art of making your own clothes (and how to brag about it). Teaching herself how to sew (and using her powers to make Captain Marvel fan art). Plus, making sweet corn ice cream, all-time kitchen disasters and more. Then (40:00) Gareth & Brad continue their "Summer of Stephen King" by re-reading the famil...
Aug 25, 2020•1 hr 10 min
Denison vs. Kenyon. It's the greatest college sports story you've NEVER heard. A historic 17-year national title streak on the line. Two archrivals separated by a few miles. And a group of dedicated athletes determined to unseat an all-time NCAA dynasty. This is the story of the 2000-01 Denison women's swim team as they tried to pry the Division III national title from the vaunted Kenyon College Ladies. It's the untold story of a great rivalry, and the passion and culture of D3 athletes and swim...
Aug 06, 2020•1 hr 7 min
For those about to rock ... we salute you! By day, you can find MAURY BROWN reporting on baseball and the business of sports at outlets like Forbes. But by night, he's likely tearing up a stage somewhere. We break down his lifelong passion for playing hard rock and heavy metal. From touring the country (and sleeping in vans) with a hair metal outfit in the 80s, to his current (and wildly popular) AC/DC tribute band Shoot to Thrill, to surviving a GG Allin show -- Maury's been on one wild ride! T...
Jul 19, 2020•1 hr 14 min
With the WNBA coming back, ESPN basketball analyst and "Around the Rim" podcast host LaCHINA ROBINSON goes deep on how this league is carrying the movement for racial justice and equality. We talk about why some stars are opting out of the season to focus on societal change, how white stars can "pass the mic" to women of color, and the tricky dynamics of returning to play in a pandemic. Oh, and why huge knee pads were a bad look for LaChina on the court (according to her). Then, Gareth & Bra...
Jul 06, 2020•53 min
When it's time to talk sports, you call the guy who recorded "Sports," the album. HUEY LEWIS is an icon of rock and pop culture, but he's also a huge sports fan. So we go deep on his love of San Francisco teams, which 49ers Hall of Famers sang on "Hip to Be Square," the time he got busted on the sideline during Monday Night Football, getting called out for talking golf during "We Are the World," and why he started letting Chris Berman sing with the band. Plus, we break down his latest album "Wea...
Jun 28, 2020•1 hr 4 min
From "The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon" to New Yorker essays about little league, Stephen King has had a compelling, sometimes tortured relationship with sports, and especially baseball. So we call up noted King and horror expert MICHAEL ROFFMAN -- co-founder of Consequence of Sound and co-host of the outstanding Loser's Club and Halloweenies podcasts -- to geek out on the author's connection with sports. We also talk sports' role in horror overall, from Jason's boxing to Freddy's invisible karate....
Jun 20, 2020•1 hr 26 min
As demonstrations continue to press for racial justice, Brad and Gareth take time to reflect on tough conversations this show has had over the years with Black athletes and media on racial equality, police violence, profiling, protesting and representation. Then, they amplify several Black voices who are worth your time.
Jun 17, 2020•39 min
Between her work for USA Today's For the Win and her podcast "Ten Movies," HEMAL JHAVERI devotes a lot of time and thought to pop culture. And one Hollywood icon truly stands out to her: Keanu Reeves. We break down his filmography, his comedic roots, his status as an action hero, that insanely earnest Paula Abdul video he made, why "John Wick" works so well ... oh, and why Hemal just doesn't care about "The Matrix." Plus, O.G. "Just Not Sports" producer JOE REED returns to the pod to talk baking...
May 25, 2020•51 min
Pittsburgh Pirates' ace STEVEN BRAULT is now making a different kind of pitch ... to the theater world. He's got a new album "A Pitch at Broadway" that recreates several famous musical numbers with a modern, rock sound. We go song-by-song with a deep dive on why he chose the tunes he chose, how to be funny while singing, how creepy a Phantom of the Opera should really be, why some "rolled R's" are mandatory thanks to "Hamilton," and which Pirates teammates wanted cameos. Then, Gareth and Brad go...
May 12, 2020•1 hr 8 min
JEFF BLAKE burst onto the scene for Bengals fans thanks to a heroic, iconic leap from third string to Pro Bowl quarterback during the mid-90s. And we were there for it, so humor us here folks. We break down Jeff's rise from obscurity, we go "full awkward Chris Farley questions" about his first game, then we geek out on his new venture into renewable energy and how he's using solar technology to break into the industry's "good-ole-boys" network. Plus, Gareth and Brad give distractions about virtu...
May 08, 2020•44 min
RUSS BENGTSON is an iconic chronicler of all things NBA and sneakers. Which is why he's launching a new podcast about Michael Jordan to coincide with the new ESPN doc. But let's shift our focus from his feet to his wrists. Russ collects and cherishes watches. Vintage. Historic. Stylish. Colorful. Space-Tested. Russ opens up about his personal passion points with watches, plus how the simple gesture of winding a watch has made the Great Quarantine a tad bit easier. Then ... Gareth & Brad veer...
Apr 26, 2020•1 hr 13 min
RACHEL BONNETTA is a lot of things. A comedian. A sports TV host with FS1's "Lock It In." And someone who's just now starting "The Sopranos" so PLEASE DON'T SPOIL THE DAMN ENDING!!!! We break down her new Crooked Media podcast "Hall of Shame" about the most insane sports scandals of all time, we ponder which "Pod Save America" host would get picked last in gym class, we talk the joy of HGTV when you are confined to an apartment, and we also get into whether Ryan Lochte is hot or not. (Split deci...
Apr 20, 2020•1 hr 1 min
You know KEITH LAW of The Athletic for his obsessive rankings of baseball prospects. But when we're all on lockdown, thank goodness Keith is *also* known for his obsessive rankings of boardgames! He returns to "Just Not Sports" to break down which boardgames can get you through social distancing. His new #1 game of all-time, the games that play differently every day, which old-school titles are worth bringing out of the basement, best solo and two-player games, and more! Plus, Gareth returns to ...
Apr 12, 2020•52 min
