Content warning: This episode contains mention of sexual misconduct. Co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz are talking fútbol and football on today’s episode of The GIST of It . The gals start off with some international women’s soccer news: Three French women’s national team players announced last week that they will not play internationally until changes are made within the federation, and now those desired changes could be imminent. It’s all part of a broader trend of female footballers fighti...
Feb 28, 2023•28 min•Ep. 248
Hey, hi, hello! Tomorrow is the one-year anniversary of Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, so on today’s episode of The GIST of It , co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz are chatting through the ongoing war’s impact on the sports world. The gals will then dive into Russia’s fraught history at international competitions, as well as the country’s use of sportswashing to detract from their problematic policies and heinous actions. Thanks for tuning in for this important conversation. Show not...
Feb 23, 2023•25 min•Ep. 247
Class is in session! On today’s episode of The GIST of It , co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz are heading back to school to chat about a major legal battle involving the NCAA. A federal court heard arguments yesterday in the case of Johnson vs. NCAA, which argues that former collegiate athletes should have been paid an hourly wage, similar to other student workers. College sports fan or not, this debate could impact the sports landscape for years to come, and the gals have you covered with ev...
Feb 16, 2023•26 min•Ep. 246
Happy Valentine’s Day! Content warning: This episode mentions hazing and sexual assault. And happy belated Galentine’s Day. Unfortunately, this episode of The GIST of It is short on love as co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz dive into two WTF stories claiming headlines. First up, the CanWNT’s ongoing labor dispute. The squad went on strike over the weekend, just days before the all-important SheBelieves Cup is set to kick off. El and Steph chat through the inequities that led to this moment, a...
Feb 14, 2023•26 min•Ep. 245
Are you ready for some football?! Sure hope so, because it’s time for the fourth annual Super Bowl episode of The GIST of It . The big game is set for this Sunday, so co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz are serving up everything you need to know before kickoff. Will quarterback Patrick Mahomes lead his Kansas City Chiefs back to glory? Or can the Philadelphia Eagles fly to a second franchise title? The gals also tackle other crucial questions, including which Kelce brother will win ultimate bra...
Feb 09, 2023•30 min•Ep. 244
Hey there! Content warning: Today’s episode contains mention of sexual abuse. Thanks for tuning in for another episode of The GIST of It . On today’s pod, co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz are tackling a topic that’s become all too familiar across all levels of sports: athlete abuse. The latest example? Three U.S. snowboarders sued their longtime coach for sexual abuse and sex trafficking, as well as U.S. Ski & Snowboard (USSS) and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) for the...
Feb 07, 2023•26 min•Ep. 243
Happy Groundhog Day! Content warning: Today’s episode contains brief mention of racism and verbal and emotional abuse. No, you’re not reliving the same day again — co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz are back with yet another WTF-filled episode of The GIST of It . The first relates to a topic oft-discussed on the pod: toxic hockey culture. Longtime Harvard women’s coach Katey Stone is facing allegations of abusive behavior and racist language. The second pertains to another hot button topic: sp...
Feb 02, 2023•25 min•Ep. 242
Happy NGWSD eve! Tomorrow marks the 37th annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day, but here at The GIST of It , it’s a year-round party. On today’s episode, co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz are celebrating by digging into two of the biggest storylines in women’s sports this week: WNBA free agency and NWSL expansion. W players can officially ink deals starting tomorrow, but one big name (hi, Candace Parker!) is already on the move, with rumors swirling about where the remaining stars on ...
Jan 31, 2023•25 min•Ep. 241
Happy Thursday! It’s a Friday Jr. in January, so you know what that means: NFL playoff preview, baby. On today’s episode of The GIST of It , co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz break down everything you need to know about this weekend’s NFL Conference Championships. The NFC No. 2 San Francisco 49ers will meet the No. 1 Philadelphia Eagles, then the AFC No. 3 Cincinnati Bengals match up against the No. 1 Kansas City Chiefs with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line. Can’t wait. Then stick around ...
Jan 26, 2023•22 min•Ep. 240
Hello! On today’s episode of The GIST of It , co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz are diving into a crucial topic — parenthood in sports. Over the weekend, WNBA star Dearica Hamby shared claims that her former team, the Las Vegas Aces, discriminated against her for being pregnant. Beyond unacceptable. Hamby’s allegations also come on the heels of other recent stories of mistreatment across sports, sparking a broader discussion about support, or lack thereof, for elite athletes who choose to bec...
Jan 24, 2023•29 min•Ep. 239
Hey, what’s up, hello! Thanks for tuning in to another episode of The GIST of It . On today’s pod, co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz dig into the chaos that is the WNBA offseason. Free agency is barely underway, but there’s already been one league-altering move plus rumors swirling about a few more that could follow. Then, for part two, the gals preview this weekend’s NFL Divisional Round slate as eight teams continue their quest for the Lombardi Trophy. Hut, hut, hit play. Show notes: More o...
Jan 19, 2023•29 min•Ep. 238
Happy Thursday! Content warning: Today’s episode contains mention of domestic violence. And happy NFL playoffs eve eve. On today’s episode of The GIST of It , Steph Rotz and guest host Lauren Tuiskula break down everything you need to know before the 14-team postseason kicks off with this weekend’s Wild Card action. Then after the break, Steph and Lauren dig into a story that’s gone stunningly under-discussed in sports media. UFC president Dana White publicly slapped his wife on New Year’s Eve, ...
Jan 12, 2023•22 min•Ep. 237
Hi there! Content warning: Today’s episode contains mention of sexual assault. Welcome to a jam-packed episode of The GIST of It . On today’s pod, co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz kick things off with yesterday’s breaking news that the NWSL issued lifetime bans to four coaches as part of the corrective action following investigations into widespread abuse across the league. El and Steph break down the deets, and how this critical step will shape the future of the NWSL. Then the gals offer an...
Jan 10, 2023•23 min•Ep. 234
Happy New Year! Content warning: Today’s episode contains mention of domestic violence. Thanks for tuning in to the first The GIST of It episode of 2023. On today’s pod, co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz discuss a story that’s gripping the sports world and beyond: the status of Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin, who suffered a cardiac arrest during Monday Night Football. El and Steph provide the latest updates on Hamlin’s condition, then zoom out to chat through the key storylines sparked by ...
Jan 05, 2023•35 min•Ep. 235
Happy Tiny Friday! In today’s final episode of The GIST of It for 2022, co-hosts El and Steph take a walk down memory lane, reliving the top sports stories from 2022. Join us, won’t you! Show notes: More on The GIST: Subscribe: thegistsports.com/subscribepodTwitter: @thegistpod Email: pod@thegistsports.com IG: @thegistca @thegistusa...
Dec 22, 2022•30 min•Ep. 234
Hey, what’s up, hello! It’s time for the penultimate The GIST of It episode of the year, and this one’s all about, you guessed it, soccer. From a recap of Sunday’s absolutely jaw-dropping men’s World Cup final and a discussion of what it means for Lionel Messi’s legacy to what comes next for both the women’s and men’s international games, co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz have your footy lowdown on lock. Thank you to Sonos for sponsoring today’s podcast! With their wide range of game-changing...
Dec 20, 2022•24 min•Ep. 233
Content warning: Today’s episode contains mention of sexual, verbal and emotional abuse. Today’s episode of The GIST of It is jam-packed with footy news, featuring one high and one low from the beautiful game. First, co-hosts El and Steph discuss yesterday’s release of the joint NWSL and NWSLPA investigation into widespread abuse across the league. There are, sadly, more damning details to break down, plus crucial recommendations to build a better future for the players. Then it’s time to kick i...
Dec 15, 2022•32 min•Ep. 232
Good morning! Today’s episode of The GIST of It is a good one, literally. Co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz chat through the fantastic news that WNBA star Brittney Griner is finally home after 10 months of being wrongfully detained in Russia, along with the league’s compensation issues that cause so many athletes to play overseas in the first place. Then the gals kick it on over to the men’s World Cup pitch to recap the exciting quarter-finals and preview today’s and tomorrow’s semifinals. We...
Dec 13, 2022•29 min•Ep. 231
Hello! Queue up today’s episode of The GIST of It, featuring a soccer smorgasbord of updates from the beautiful game. Co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz begin with the exciting news that a Canadian women’s pro league is set to kick off in 2025, launched by CanWNT legends Diana Matheson and Christine Sinclair. Great news for the Great White North. Then it’s time for a men’s World Cup quarter-finals preview before eight teams continue their quest for fútbol glory this weekend. Let’s kick it. Sho...
Dec 08, 2022•31 min•Ep. 230
Happy podcast day! Content warning: This episode contains mention of verbal, emotional and sexual abuse. It’s time for a fútbol-filled episode of The GIST of It. Co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz kick things off by chatting on- and off-field World Cup updates. The quarter-finals are nearly set with tourney favorites taking care of business in the knockouts, while a brand new potential off-field Qatar controversy just dropped. This sh!t never ends. Then El and Steph take it to the NWSL where t...
Dec 06, 2022•34 min•Ep. 229
Hello, Hola, Salut! Content warning: This episode contains mention of sexual misconduct. Today on The GIST of It, co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz discuss the biggest story in pro football and the men’s and women’s big wins in World Cup fútbol. First, the gals start with this weekend’s notorious NFL game that will see Deshaun Watson back on the gridiron for the first time after serving his paltry 11-game suspension for sexual misconduct. Watson will take the field for the Cleveland Browns fo...
Dec 01, 2022•27 min•Ep. 228
Long time no talk! Content warning: This episode contains mention of suicide and sexual assault. On today’s episode of The GIST of It, co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz are heading back to school to discuss two major stories from college sports. They’ll start in women’s basketball where squads competed in a hotel ballroom over the weekend, notably without EMTs present. Wish we were kidding. Then after the break, the gals discuss a layered, heartbreaking story out of Stanford. Last week, the p...
Nov 29, 2022•25 min•Ep. 227
Hello! The men’s FIFA World Cup is officially underway and, though we’re just three days in, it’s already a disaster. On today’s episode of The GIST of It, co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz detail the series of unfortunate events from opening weekend, spanning a last minute reversal on beer sales to cracking down on athlete protest. It’s giving Fyre Fest. Thank you to Sonos for sponsoring today’s episode! You love them, we love them, and now you can give the gift of quality sound to everyone ...
Nov 22, 2022•27 min•Ep. 226
Happy Thursday! And happy (almost) men’s FIFA World Cup kickoff. On today’s episode of The GIST of It, co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz cover everything you need to know about one of the biggest sporting events in the world. The gals start things off by chatting about the main story from the tourney — the many controversies surrounding it. Then they pivot to the pitch with a full breakdown on how things work, the top contenders, the players to watch and more. Thanks for kicking it with us. T...
Nov 17, 2022•30 min•Ep. 225
Hola! Co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz are back in your ears with yet another WTF–filled episode of The GIST of It, this time covering NCAA women’s soccer and the NFL. El and Steph start things off with an enraging story out of Iowa State University, where head women’s soccer coach Matt Fannon was accused of verbal abuse, body shaming and a toxic culture so, of course, the school just extended his contract. Wish we were kidding. Then the gals head to Washington, D.C., where the attorney gene...
Nov 15, 2022•26 min•Ep. 224
Steph Rotz and guest host Lauren Tuiskula are back with yet another WTF episode of The GIST of It. The gals begin in Boston, where the NHL’s Bruins are trying to cut ties with defenseman Mitchell Miller after signing him to an entry-level contract despite accounts that he horrifically bullied and assaulted a Black classmate with special needs six years ago.* Then, after the break, Lauren and Steph head over to the NFL to discuss the recent hiring of ESPN analyst Jeff Saturday, a man with no coll...
Nov 10, 2022•23 min•Ep. 223
Happy hoops season! On today’s episode of The GIST of It, Steph Rotz and guest host Lauren Tuiskula are celebrating with a NCAA women’s basketball season preview. They’ll discuss the season setup, the top contenders, the players to keep an eye on and more. It’s tip-off time, baby. Thank you to Nike for supporting today’s episode! Just in time for the start of the new women’s basketball season, Nike teamed up with WNBA and former NCAA standout Elena Delle Donne to create the “Together We Fly” sho...
Nov 08, 2022•22 min•Ep. 222
On today’s episode of The GIST of It, co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz are back with an NBA WTF and an update on the NFL’s Washington Commanders. First, the gals discuss the Brooklyn Nets’ firing of head coach Steve Nash. Most disturbingly, the top candidate to replace Nash is none other than Boston Celtics suspended head coach Ime Udoka. Then, Steph and El chat through what we know and, more importantly, what we don’t know about the future of the NFL’s Washington Commanders. While owners Da...
Nov 03, 2022•26 min•Ep. 221
Co-host Steph Rotz and guest host Lauren Tuiskula are kicking off the new month with yet another WTF–filled episode of The GIST of It. They’ll start in the NBA, where Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving is making all the wrong headlines after doubling down on his promotion of an antisemitic film and book to his massive social media following last week. Then, it’s time for another NBA WTF, this one centered around 2021 No. 12 draft pick Joshua Primo, who allegedly exposed himself to multiple women, i...
Nov 01, 2022•20 min•Ep. 220
On this episode of The GIST of It, co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz are previewing this weekend’s crowning sports competitions — the start of the World Series and the NWSL Championship game. First, the gals head to the diamond to chat about the National League champion Philadelphia Phillies and American League champs Houston Astros, who will battle it out for baseball glory beginning on Friday. Then, El and Steph discuss the last two squads standing in the NWSL postseason, the Kansas City Cu...
Oct 27, 2022•25 min•Ep. 219
