Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin discuss Michigan’s win over Washington in the College Football Playoff. They also talk about Bill Belichick’s future and the Philadelphia Eagles’ decline. Finally, the Athletic’s Chantel Jennings assesses the state of women’s college basketball and the sport’s new TV deal. Michigan (7:14): How the Wolverines won it all. NFL (26:01): Why hasn’t Pats owner Robert Kraft made a move yet? Women’s hoops (50:40): Is the new TV contract a disappointment or a ...
Jan 10, 2024•1 hr 20 min•Transcript available on Metacast Joel Anderson and Josh Levin are joined by Slate’s Ben Mathis-Lilley to discuss the College Football Playoff semifinals. Vincent Goodwill of Yahoo Sports also joins to talk about the Detroit Pistons’ epic losing streak. Finally, we look back at our 2020 segment on the Pac-12’s #WeAreUnited movement. CFP semis (5:21): How Michigan and Washington emerged victorious. Pistons (29:02): How did they get so bad? #WeAreUnited (51:06): A conversation from 2020 with then UCLA players Elisha Guidry and Oti...
Jan 02, 2024•1 hr 18 min•Transcript available on Metacast Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin discuss the most important and most memorable sports moments of 2023. They’re also joined by Mark Wright to talk about his podcast The Bison Project, on Howard University’s 1971 NCAA champion soccer team. Finally, we look back at one of our favorite segments from the recent past, featuring … a mystery guest. Memorable moments (4:41): Damar Hamlin, Michigan sign-stealing, and everything in between. Howard soccer (21:06): Can a 50-year-old injustice be ...
Dec 25, 2023•1 hr 5 min•Transcript available on Metacast Joel Anderson, Josh Levin, and Slate’s Alex Kirshner discuss Draymond Green’s indefinite suspension. They also talk about the Washington Capitals and Wizards reportedly leaving D.C. for Northern Virginia. And finally, they examine why every college quarterback is in the transfer portal. Draymond (4:43): What’s next for him and for the Warriors? Wiz and Caps (26:12): Are they actually leaving or is this just a classic case of owner extortion? Portal (45:53): Why so many quarterbacks are switching...
Dec 19, 2023•1 hr 19 min•Transcript available on Metacast Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin discuss Shohei Ohtani’s record-setting contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. They’re also joined by the Washington Post’s Ben Golliver to assess the NBA’s first in-season tournament. Finally, they discuss Joel’s story about his tenure at ESPN and what it’s become now. Ohtani (4:31): Did the Dodgers actually get a bargain? In-season tournament (23:41): Was it a flop or is it here to stay? ESPN (47:57): What is the Worldwide Leader trying to be? Afterb...
Dec 12, 2023•1 hr 21 min•Transcript available on Metacast Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and the Ringer’s Bryan Curtis assess the decision to leave Florida State out of the College Football Playoff at the expense of Alabama. They also discuss Sports Illustrated using AI writers. And Stefan and Josh follow the continuing saga of LSU’s Kim Mulkey and Angel Reese. Florida State and Alabama (3:50): A total outrage or a totally understandable decision? Sports Illustrated (21:28): What does the magazine’s AI mess say about the present and future of sports media?...
Dec 04, 2023•1 hr 10 min•Transcript available on Metacast Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin talk about the Michigan football team’s win over Ohio State and Alabama’s last-second victory over Auburn. They also discuss the mystery around why LSU women’s basketball star Angel Reese isn’t playing. Finally, the Wall Street Journal’s Jonathan Clegg explains the huge penalty the Premier League dished out to Everton. College football (6:31): Why this year’s rivalry week loss was so crushing for Ohio State. LSU women’s basketball (26:10): What’s goin...
Nov 28, 2023•1 hr 18 min•Transcript available on Metacast Josh Levin, Joel Anderson, and Ben Mathis-Lilley are joined by the Ringer’s Lindsay Jones to talk about the controversy Charissa Thompson kicked up about sideline reporting. They also discuss Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel, and whether he’ll succeed at bringing a new leadership style to the NFL. Finally, the Wall Street Journal’s Joshua Robinson joins to assess Formula 1’s Las Vegas Grand Prix. Sideline reporting (5:41): Why did Thompson’s admission that she made up reports strike such ...
Nov 21, 2023•1 hr 16 min•Transcript available on Metacast Josh Levin, Joel Anderson, and Ben Mathis-Lilley weigh the evidence in the sign-stealing case against Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh. They also discuss Texas A&M’s decision to fire its football coach Jimbo Fisher. Finally, Josh and Joel speak with writer Megan Swanick about the career and legacy of Megan Rapinoe. Harbaugh (4:04): Should the coach go down or is he getting railroaded? Fisher (26:49): How national championship dreams turned into a $76 million buyout. Rapinoe (44:01): She didn’t get a ...
Nov 14, 2023•1 hr 18 min•Transcript available on Metacast Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Joel Anderson assess the life and career of basketball coach Bobby Knight, who died last week at age 83. They also review Victor Wembanyama’s awe-inspiring opening weeks in the NBA. Finally, the Athletic’s Dan Robson joins to discuss the tragic death of hockey player Adam Johnson, who was slashed in the neck by a skate blade. Knight (4:39): The legendary coach was a symbol of toughness and egomania. Wemby (24:45): The French giant is even better than we thought. Ho...
Nov 07, 2023•1 hr 20 min•Transcript available on Metacast Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Joel Anderson are joined by Slate’s Ben Mathis-Lilley to assess the latest developments in the Michigan sign-stealing extravaganza. The Ringer’s Ben Lindbergh also joins to break down the World Series matchup between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Texas Rangers. Finally, Stefan, Josh, and Joel discuss how to talk about Dwight Howard, the future basketball Hall of Famer who’s been accused by a man of sexual assault. Michigan (5:52): Is Jim Harbaugh in trouble? Wor...
Oct 31, 2023•1 hr 18 min•Transcript available on Metacast Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, are joined by Slate’s Ben Mathis-Lilley to talk about allegations that the Michigan football team is running a sign-stealing operation. They also discuss flag football becoming an Olympic sport. Finally, ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski comes on for a conversation about the National Hockey League’s ban on rainbow-colored Pride Tape. Michigan (1:54): Are the Wolverines cheating? And what does a guy named Connor Stalions have to do with it? Flag football (23:12): Will NFL players t...
Oct 23, 2023•1 hr 16 min•Transcript available on Metacast Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and special guest Pablo Torre of Pablo Torre Finds Out are joined by Sports Illustrated’s Jon Wertheim to talk about the Ohio State wrestlers speaking out against their former coach Jim Jordan. They also discuss the journalism ethics brouhaha over the Braves’ Orlando Arcia lightly mocking the Phillies’ Bryce Harper. Finally, they assess the rivalry between NBA newsbreakers Adrian Wojnarowski and Shams Charania. Jim Jordan (4:22): He claims he knew nothing about Richard...
Oct 17, 2023•1 hr 16 min•Transcript available on Metacast Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin are joined by the Athletic’s Sabreena Merchant to talk about the WNBA Finals matchup between the Las Vegas Aces and the New York Liberty. Aaron Schatz of the FTN Network also joins to discuss the badness of the New England Patriots and whether Bill Belichick’s job is at risk. Finally, Defector’s Dave McKenna comes on for a conversation about swimmer Diana Nyad and the adversary committed to exposing her as a fraud. WNBA (3:31): Do the Liberty still have a chance to m...
Oct 10, 2023•1 hr 16 min•Transcript available on Metacast Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin are joined by Kevin Clark of ESPN to talk about Taylor Swift vs. the New York Jets and the Buffalo Bills’ rout of the Miami Dolphins. Ben Golliver of the Washington Post also comes on to evaluate the trade of superstar Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks. Finally, golf writer Shane Ryan discusses Team Europe’s blowout Ryder Cup win over the United States. NFL (3:31): Everyone (except Zach Wilson) wins when “Tayvis” hits New Jersey. NBA (25:31): Dame to the Bucks. J...
Oct 02, 2023•1 hr 18 min•Transcript available on Metacast Stefan Fatsis is joined by writer and podcaster Spencer Hall to talk about a busy weekend in college football. The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh discusses Major League Baseball’s playoff races, and the future of Shohei Ohtani. Finally, Slate’s Nadira Goffe and Defector’s Dan McQuade assess the budding Taylor Swift-Travis Kelce relationship, and a new documentary about Kelce’s brother, Jason. College football (2:30): Deion Sanders’ Colorado Buffaloes finally lost, and badly. MLB (20:20): Are the Atlanta...
Sep 25, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Transcript available on Metacast Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin are joined by the Wall Street Journal’s Jason Gay to talk about quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ (possibly) season-ending injury. Gay also discusses American cyclist Sepp Kuss’ historic grand tour win at the Vuelta a Espana and the controversy that preceded it. And finally, the Athletic’s Sabreena Merchant assesses the big storylines in the WNBA playoffs. Rodgers (2:22): Is it too soon to laugh about him doing his own research? Kuss (19:30): Should the cyclist’s team and h...
Sep 18, 2023•1 hr 15 min•Transcript available on Metacast Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin talk about Coco Gauff’s big breakthrough at the U.S. Open. They also discuss Texas’ win over Alabama, and whether the Longhorns are back, baby. Finally, the Washington Post’s Ben Golliver joins to assess Team USA’s non-medal-winning performance at the FIBA Basketball World Cup. Coco Gauff (2:48): Why her first grand slam victory felt so monumental. Texas-Alabama (26:50): Are the Longhorns rising up or is the Crimson Tide on the way down? FIBA World Cu...
Sep 12, 2023•1 hr 26 min•Transcript available on Metacast Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin discuss the Colorado football team’s season-opening win over TCU. They also talk about how Maryland football coach Mike Locksley is dealing with his son’s posthumous CTE diagnosis. Finally, ESPN’s Elizabeth Merrill joins to explain how the Nebraska women’s volleyball team drew 92,000 fans. Colorado (4:04): Deion Sanders got the win he needed to sell his vision and himself. Locksley (28:26): A profound loss and a reckoning with football’s costs. Nebras...
Sep 05, 2023•1 hr 19 min•Transcript available on Metacast The Cannon Street All-Stars dreamed of playing in the 1955 Little League World Series. Their biggest obstacle didn’t come on the field. In the year that Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a public bus, these Black 12-year-olds became unlikely civil rights pioneers—and faced the wrath of a white society that wasn’t ready to change. Josh Levin is One Year’s editorial director. One Year’s senior producer is Evan Chung. This episode was produced by Kelly Jones and Evan Chung, with additional ...
Aug 31, 2023•58 min•Transcript available on Metacast Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin talk about the American stars at the world track and field championships. They also review the documentary BS High, on the Bishop Sycamore high school football scandal. Finally, journalist Semra Hunter joins Stefan and Josh to discuss the latest in the battle between Luis Rubiales and Spain’s women’s soccer team. Track (5:50): Sha’Carri Richardson and Noah Lyles won gold and are shooting for stardom. BS High (25:45): Looking back at an amazing con and...
Aug 28, 2023•1 hr 22 min•Transcript available on Metacast Josh Levin and Stefan Fatsis are joined by Yahoo Sports’ Henry Bushnell to talk about Spain’s Women’s World Cup victory and the turmoil that preceded it. The New York Times’ Kurt Streeter joins to discuss the controversy over The Blind Side. Finally, ESPN’s Luis Miguel Echegaray assesses Lionel Messi’s brilliant opening month with Inter Miami. Spain (3:27): The story behind La Roja’s World Cup win and everything that came before. The Blind Side (28:12): Revisiting the book and the movie in light...
Aug 22, 2023•1 hr 15 min•Transcript available on Metacast Josh Levin, Stefan Fatsis, and the Atlantic’s Vann Newkirk talk about ESPN’s embrace of gambling. They also discuss the alleged suspension of Baltimore Orioles announcer Kevin Brown for alluding to the team’s recent losing seasons. Finally, Rebecca Schuman joins to assess Simone Biles’ return to competitive gymnastics. ESPN and gambling (3:30): The Worldwide Leader makes a big bet. Is it too late? Orioles (23:53): What are announcers allowed to say on team-owned networks? Biles (42:49): How did ...
Aug 14, 2023•1 hr 16 min•Transcript available on Metacast Josh Levin and Stefan Fatsis talk about the U.S. national soccer team’s early exit from the Women’s World Cup. Slate’s Ben Mathis-Lilley also joins to discuss the huge shakeups in the Big Ten, Big 12, and Pac-12 conferences and ESPN’s Jeff Passan assesses the fallout from the Major League Baseball trade deadline. Finally, Josh interviews Wimbledon quarterfinalist Chris Eubanks. Women’s World Cup (2:47): What went wrong for the U.S. women’s national team. NCAA (26:01): Assessing the most signific...
Aug 07, 2023•1 hr 23 min•Transcript available on Metacast Josh Levin and Stefan Fatsis are joined by the Washington Post’s Chuck Culpepper to talk about big wins for Colombia and Australia at the Women’s World Cup. Alex Kirshner of Slate and the Split Zone Duo podcast also joins to discuss whether NFL running backs should go on strike and the Celtics’ Jaylen Brown getting the biggest NBA deal ever. Women’s World Cup (2:40): The scene in the stadium when Australia thrashed Canada. NFL running backs (21:34): What can they do to get more respect and more ...
Jul 31, 2023•1 hr 19 min•Transcript available on Metacast Josh Levin is joined by the Athletic’s Steph Yang to talk about the opening days of the Women’s World Cup. Author Jonathan Clegg also joins to discuss Lionel Messi’s MLS debut. And the Wall Street Journal’s Jason Gay assesses the 2023 Tour de France and the Netflix documentary Tour de France: Unchained. Women’s World Cup (3:32): What are the main takeaways from the U.S. win over Vietnam? Messi (20:31): What does success look like for Messi, his club, and Major League Soccer? Tour de France (40:0...
Jul 24, 2023•1 hr 7 min•Transcript available on Metacast Josh Levin is joined by Joel Anderson and Ben Mathis-Lilley to talk about Northwestern firing football coach Pat Fitzgerald in the midst of a hazing scandal. Sports Illustrated’s Jon Wertheim then comes on to discuss Carlos Alcaraz’s win over Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon. Finally, Josh and Stefan Fatsis speak with the Washington Post’s Sally Jenkins about her piece on Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova. Northwestern (5:44): Why Fitzgerald got axed. Wimbledon (28:30): Is this a changing of the gu...
Jul 17, 2023•1 hr 11 min•Transcript available on Metacast Josh Levin and Stefan Fatsis are joined by the Washington Post’s Ben Golliver to discuss Victor Wembanyama’s NBA Summer League debut. The Athletic’s C. Trent Rosecrans also joins to talk about baseball stars Elly de la Cruz, Ronald Acuña Jr., and Shohei Ohtani. Finally, legendary New York Times sports columnist Robert Lipsyte comes on to talk about the demise of the Times sports department. Wembanyama (5:45): What happened with Britney Spears? And what about his iffy debut? MLB (29:46): A look a...
Jul 11, 2023•1 hr 9 min•Transcript available on Metacast Josh Levin and Stefan Fatsis are joined by TV producer Mike Schur for a special episode: a debate on which sports have generated the best art and made the greatest contributions to culture. Topics discussed include Schur’s Field of Dreams adaptation, whether basketball or football has a greater canon, and if boxing will lose its cultural footprint. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 03, 2023•1 hr 10 min•Transcript available on Metacast Josh Levin and Stefan Fatsis are joined by the Ringer’s Ben Lindbergh to talk about Luis Arraez’s run at a .400 batting average. The Athletic’s Steph Yang also joins to discuss the U.S. women’s national team’s World Cup roster. Finally, college golfers Maycee Kay Aycock and Sarah Marshall come on to explain why they stuck with the sport despite shooting some of the worst scores of all time. .400 (3:14): Why it’s still a magic number in baseball. USWNT (21:57): Will injuries doom them at the Worl...
Jun 26, 2023•1 hr 16 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
