Puck’s A.I. expert Ian Krietzberg joins John for a deep dive into the growing influence of artificial intelligence in sports. Ian discusses the promise and pitfalls of A.I. in sports, from computer vision models to predictive analytics—and stresses the importance of deploying A.I. with intent, solving real-world problems rather than embracing the technology for novelty’s sake. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more a...
Jul 09, 2025•45 min
Christine Brennan, the pioneering sports columnist, joins the pod to discuss her new book, “On Her Game: Caitlin Clark and the Revolution in Women's Sports.” She unpacks the WNBA’s struggle to match the moment of Caitlin’s rise, the financial implications of Caitlin’s ascent, the league’s perpetual lack of media attention and support, and much more. Christine also reflects on her own trailblazing career pushing through sports journalism’s glass ceiling. To learn more about listener data and our ...
Jul 06, 2025•59 min
Axios’s Sara Fischer returns to the pod for a sweeping tour of the most urgent issues in the sports media landscape—from the looming Trump–CBS settlement (and what a Skydance-Paramount merger portends for CBS Sports) to the College Football Playoff’s potential expansion, the growing leverage of live sports in ad markets, the possibility of a new NFL stadium in D.C., and much, much more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Le...
Jul 02, 2025•35 min
Sports Illustrated’s Jon Wertheim—America’s preeminent tennis sage—joins the pod to explore the sport’s cultural resurgence, driven in large part by breakout stars like Coco Gauff, Carlos Alcaraz, and Jannick Sinner. Jon makes a strong case for unifying the men’s and women’s tours, weighs into tennis’s global business dilemma, touches on growing interest from Saudi investors—and much, much more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-...
Jun 29, 2025•42 min
Paul Rabil, co-founder of the Premier Lacrosse League, joins John for a deep dive into the PLL’s new five-year media rights deal with ESPN, which includes an equity stake from the network. Rabil charts the PLL’s growth trajectory, teases expansion plans, and explains why the 2028 Olympics could be a turning point for lacrosse as a global sport. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https...
Jun 25, 2025•52 min
Alexi Lalas, Fox Sports analyst and former American soccer star, swings by the pod for a wide-ranging discussion about the accelerated growth of soccer in the U.S. Alexis lays out the MLS roadmap to global relevance, celebrates the rise of the NWSL, and explains why he’s bullish on the 2026 World Cup—and what this all means for the future of the sport in the U.S. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad c...
Jun 22, 2025•48 min
CNBC’s Alex Sherman returns to the pod to gab about the biggest forces reshaping sports media—from the streaming ambitions of Amazon, Google, and Netflix, to the accelerating collapse of linear TV, epitomized by the dual Comcast and WBD divorces. They also size up the precarious futures of F1, UFC, and MLB media rights—and what comes next for the ever-evolving sports landscape. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more ...
Jun 18, 2025•47 min
The legendary Dale Earnhardt Jr. joins John for a rollicking discussion about the future of motorsport. He delves into NASCAR’s expansion into Mexico City and the opportunities of international racing; shares his thoughts on F1’s hospitality and accessibility compared to NASCAR; discusses Amazon Prime’s gripping four-part documentary series on his father; and much more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about yo...
Jun 15, 2025•47 min
LightShed’s Rich Greenfield joins John to break down the myriad implications of Zaslav’s WBD spin-off. With both Comcast and WBD laying down a roadmap for exiting the linear era, Rich weighs in on whether Disney and Paramount will follow suit. Then they chart the fate of TNT and WBD’s sports rights—and why WBD will likely avoid any major sports acquisitions for the foreseeable future. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Lear...
Jun 11, 2025•46 min
Len Perna, founder of the executive search firm TurnkeyZRG, joins John for a wide-ranging conversation on the shifting landscape of college sports. They unpack the fallout from the NCAA’s landmark House settlement, trends in athletic director hires, the real estate gold rush on campuses, and why the next wave of roles might be titled ‘C.E.O. of Athletics.’ To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices....
Jun 08, 2025•50 min
ESPN’s Don Van Natta returns to the pod with the scoop on a new FBI investigation into OneTeam Partners—the licensing company backed by the NFL and MLB player associations and RedBird Capital. Van Natta breaks down the opaque finances, the major players under scrutiny, and why some insiders suspect a potential Trump linkage. Then they dig into the growing threat of an MLB work stoppage next season as the owners and league’s unions clash over salary cap reforms. To learn more about listener data ...
Jun 04, 2025•49 min
Chris Eubanks, TNT’s French Open analyst (and professional tennis player, himself) joins the pod to discuss the state of tennis in the U.S. He unpacks the surge of homegrown talent, the media’s role in turning players into personalities, and what it’ll take to bring casual fans into the fold. Eubanks also shares what it’s like to straddle the broadcast booth and the court. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about...
Jun 01, 2025•35 min
ESPN’s Seth Wickersham joins John to break down all of his remarkable inside reporting from last week’s NFL owners meetings in Minnesota. They discuss what it all portends for the league, before turning to Seth’s forthcoming book, American Kings: A Biography of the Quarterback. Finally, they dig into all the latest drama surrounding Bill Belichick. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit h...
May 28, 2025•42 min
CBS Sports’ Pete Radovich joins John for an in-depth conversation about the UEFA Champions League. Pete reflects on the evolution of CBS’s coverage, the challenge of preserving its distinctive vibe amid personnel changes, and how they’ve optimized social media to deepen fan engagement. Then he previews the upcoming Champions League finals between PSG and Inter Milan—and their special watch-along event with David Beckham on Paramount+. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices v...
May 25, 2025•48 min
Bill Cohan drops by the pod to break down Wall Street’s view of the sports media landscape. Bill explains why he’s bullish on Warner Bros. Discovery, what investors want from sports rights, what’s really behind the Skydance-Paramount holdup, and much more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices...
May 21, 2025•43 min
Eric Shanks, C.E.O. and executive producer of Fox Sports, joins John to break down the state of IndyCar, five races into the season. Eric reflects on the sport’s deep-rooted nostalgia, its future-facing momentum, his efforts to build a bridge between IndyCar and NASCAR. and how he’s “Fox-ified” the event for modern audiences. Then Eric outlines the company’s D.T.C. ambitions with Fox One—and how Fox’s strong portfolio is drawing interest from advertisers. To learn more about listener data and ou...
May 18, 2025•41 min
Axios media reporter Sara Fischer returns to the pod to preview ESPN’s forthcoming streaming service, ingeniously named… ESPN. She breaks down the logic behind the offering—but also the potential problems with the branding. Then Sara and John discuss Fox’s more tempered streaming strategy and how The Athletic has prospered under The New York Times banner. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. ...
May 14, 2025•37 min
Build the life of your dreams and learn from the world’s most successful people. Emma Grede, one of America’s richest self-made women - wants you to make the most of your life. On ‘Aspire with Emma Grede', learn through thought-provoking conversations with some of the most successful and smartest minds on the planet. Each episode will unpack their habits, philosophy and strategies, covering career advice, well-being, psychology and of course how to win in business. The show offers personal stori...
May 13, 2025•3 min
Jeremy Carey, Optimum Sports’ chief investment officer, joins John for a look ahead at New York’s upfronts week. Jeremy shares the overarching themes he’s watching out for, discusses the health of the TV business, and examines whether recession fears are affecting advertisers who’ve spent years falling over themselves to buy into sports. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podc...
May 11, 2025•50 min
ESPN’s MLB insider Jeff Passan joins John for a sweeping conversation about the state of the league a few months into the 2025 season. Jeff discusses MLB’s biggest red flags, the forthcoming labor and media rights negotiations, and the parity between high-payroll teams and small market teams. Then, as the specter of a new salary cap looms, Jeff warns why a 2027 lockout may be all but inevitable. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-...
May 07, 2025•57 min
Connor Schell, the visionary co-creator behind ESPN’s 30 for 30 series, joins John for a deep dive into the golden era of sports storytelling. From the evolution of prestige documentaries at HBO and ESPN to the streaming revolution led by the likes of Netflix and Apple, Connor unpacks how the landscape has shifted—and why these are the golden days for sports content. He also offers an inside look at his production company, Words + Pictures, and discusses what’s next. To learn more about listener...
May 04, 2025•49 min
ESPN’s senior NHL guru Greg Wyshynski joins John Ourand to take stock of professional hockey amid the league's labor negotiations, big media deals, and its innovation mindset. Then Greg explains why the tumultuous economy threatens the NHL in ways it doesn’t the NBA or NFL. With a new labor deal expected to be announced during the forthcoming Stanley Cup Finals, what does the future really look like for hockey? To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacy...
Apr 30, 2025•44 min
NBC’s data guru Steve Kornacki drops by the pod to talk about his new deal with the network, expanding his footprint across both NBC News and Sports—while also allowing flexibility to pursue other avenues, à la Stephen A. and Pat McAfee. Then he previews his coverage plans for the Kentucky Derby, riffs on the rise of sports betting, explains how he brings numbers to life, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn m...
Apr 27, 2025•37 min
NBC Sports’ Mike Florio revisits the pod to shed light on the shifting sands of the NFL Draft’s media rights—and the league’s continued international push with next year’s season opener in Brazil. Then, Mike drills into the NFL’s antitrust challenges and the league’s 18-game-fantasy, before assessing the freshly-filed $50 million civil lawsuit against Shannon Sharpe. Plus, John pores over Adam Silver’s candid worries about legacy media’s grip on the NBA. To learn more about listener data and our...
Apr 23, 2025•41 min
In a special live taping of The Varsity, Giants C.E.O. Larry Baer and Fox Sports exec Ben Valenta join John for a rollicking convo on the art of community-building in sports. They discuss the Giants’ hands-on approach, Fox Sports’ data-fueled fan strategy, the ripple effects of chord-cutting, and more. Then, the trio dig into the delicate balance between spending and success in baseball—before fielding questions from the audience. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit...
Apr 20, 2025•48 min
Axios’s Sara Fischer returns to the pod to discuss the meteoric rise of women’s sports. From the emergence of the new LOVB volleyball league and the Professional Women’s Hockey League, to Willow Bay and Bob Iger’s bold investment in Angel City FC, Sara breaks down why women’s sports rights are being viewed as a huge asset in today’s sports media climate. Plus, John digs into the looming battle over UFC rights as its negotiating window with ESPN ended at midnight. To learn more about listener dat...
Apr 16, 2025•36 min
Jerry Silbowitz, UTA's co-head of sports media, joins John to discuss how next-gen talent are following the McAfee playbook—leveraging platforms like YouTube and TikTok to skip the corporate development ladder and connect directly with younger audiences—and how broadcasters like ESPN are reinventing themselves to get a piece of the action. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://po...
Apr 13, 2025•43 min
Beloved sportscaster Peter Schrager drops by the pod to chat about his decision to jump from NFL Network to ESPN and the evolving business of professional sports analysis. Then Peter and John weigh into what’s next for the NFL and ESPN in the streaming era and the impact that Netflix and Amazon will have on the media rights market in 2029. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://po...
Apr 09, 2025•45 min
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman swings by The Varsity to gab about the league’s recent successes, including the Four Nations tournament and his $11 billion media rights deal with Roger’s Communications. Then Bettman wades into NHL’s international plans… and addresses how Trump’s trade war on Canada could impact the league’s economics. Plus: the future of hockey on ESPN, WBD, local TV, and more! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-pol...
Apr 06, 2025•39 min
In a special reunion episode, the legendary Andrew Marchand returns for a rollicking conversation about the NFL’s streaming strategy, from Amazon’s Thursday Night Football to Netflix’s Christmas Day triple header. Then, they debate whether ESPN will reacquire Sunday Night Baseball rights and the effectiveness of MLB's current media tactics. Finally, they touch on JJ Watt's move to CBS and the future of NFL broadcasting. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://w...
Apr 02, 2025•53 min
