The Distraction: A Defector Podcast

Drew and Roth are joined by Patrick Wyman, author of the upcoming book Lost Worlds: How Humans Tried, Failed, Succeeded, and Built Our World and creator and host of the new podcast Past Lives ! They ask Patrick how our present compares to the past, and why everyone in the White House has terrible form. Then, they pick favorites for the AFC and NFC title games and open up the funbag to answer real...

Drew and Roth are joined by Arif Hasan, CEO and Chief Writer of Wide Left, to preview the divisional playoff games! But first, because Arif lives in Minnesota, he shares his experiences on the ground from recent weeks. And of course, they’ll crack open the Funbag to answer real questions from real listeners. Do you want to hear your question answered on the pod? Well, give us a call at 909-726-372...

Drew and Roth ring in the new year with Kalyn Kahler, and go long about the NFL post-season. First and foremost, what the hell is going on with the Raiders? Has Tom Brady been an awful shadow president for the team? And then, to the Playoffs: How is Kalyn liking the Bears’ chances? What would be the most interesting matchup?  Do you want to hear your question answered on the pod? Well, give u...

Drew and Roth reflect on their years, personally, professionally, and politically, and look forward to 2026 being, if not better, then maybe just a little more consistent. Then, they open the funbag to answer real questions from real listeners. Thank you for listening for another year! Do you want to hear your question answered on the pod? Well, give us a call at 909-726-3720. That is 909-PANERA-0...

It’s the most magical time of the year once again! Drew brings Roth and guest Matt Selman, The Simpsons EP and Showrunner, a list of Williams Sonoma’s finest – who is more in tune with the everyman consumer? Does anyone need a $350 Porsche-branded Smeg toaster? No. Do you want to hear your question answered on the pod? Well, give us a call at 909-726-3720. That is 909-PANERA-0! Stuff We Talked Abo...

Drew and Roth are joined by Purple Insider’s Matthew Coller to talk football as the NFL season heats up. In this brand new world where K-balls are changing the entire game, how do we even tell if a player or a team is good at all?  Are the Cowboys actually any good? The Broncos? The Patriots? Is Matthew buying Caleb Williams? Then, they open up the Funbag to answer real questions from listene...

Drew and Roth are joined by Peter Brannen, author of The Story of CO2 Is the Story of Everything: How Carbon Dioxide Made Our World to talk about CO2’s role in our lives, past and present. Should CO2’s image be rehabbed? Then, they talk about the NBA–with the OKC Thunder at 21-1, how screwed is the rest of the league? Finally, they open up the funbag to answer real questions from listeners, like a...

Happy Thanksgiving! It’s a Drew and Roth solo episode this week, and they talk about Roth’s latest artistic discovery, Drew’s hometown, and, of course, their Thanksgiving food plans. Then, they’re joined by a lucky listener to open up the funbag and answer questions from other lucky listeners. Do you want to hear your question answered on the pod? Well, give us a call at 909-726-3720. That is 909-...

Food journalist and founder of the newly-revived website Roads & Kingdoms Nathan Thornburgh returns to the podcast after many many moons. Where’s he been this whole time? Well it turns out, lots of places! Drew & Roth get a rundown of Nathan’s favorite food places in the world, as well asp the surprising challenges involved in preparing an iguana for consumption. And of course, we’ll serve...

Stefan Fatsis joins Drew and Roth to talk about dictionaries! For his new book, Unabridged: The Thrill of (and Threat to) the Modern Dictionary (out now), Stefan embedded with Merriam Webster, and even drafted some new entries. Then, Stefan and Drew discuss the finer points of the letter V’s usage in Scrabble, and they figure out if NFL kickers are too good now. Finally, they open up the funbag to...

Rohan is back with Drew and Roth to talk about the Mamdani win and what it could mean for the political future. But don’t worry, there’s plenty of sandwich talk as well! Then, they talk about the Dolphins, the Jets, the World Series, and the real insider secret to getting traded: location, location, location. Do you want to hear your question answered on the pod? Well, give us a call at 909-726-37...

It’s a Drew and Roth solo joint this week! They start with the World Series and how it’s good! Really good! Then, does the NBA gambling scandal matter? And finally, Drew is NOT making any predictions about the NYC mayoral election, but he and Roth have some hopeful thoughts about it. Do you want to hear your question answered on the pod? Well, give us a call at 909-726-3720. That is 909-PANERA-0!...

Our good buddy Justin Halpern (of Harley Quinn and Abbott Elementary fame) takes some time away from his luxury box to return to the show for a World Series preview. The ALCS & NLCS were packed with highlights: clutch double-plays, out-of-the-park homers, and the Best Player Of All Time™. Can the World Series itself hope to match, or have the Dodgers sucked all of the fun out of baseball? We a...

Seth Wickersham, senior writer at ESPN (and former high school quarterback) joins Drew and Roth to talk about his latest book, American Kings: A Biography of the Quarterback . They talk about what being a quarterback at all levels asks of you. Then, Drew catches Roth up on J.J. McCarthy, and they open up the funbag to answer questions from listeners like you! Do you want to hear your question answ...

Comedian and writer Eli Yudin joins Drew and Roth to talk about his new special, Humble Offering ! He shares what it’s like making a living in comedy today without having oil money offered to you. Then, they open up the funbag for sandwich talk, and try to figure out where all those crayons go. Do you want to hear your question answered on the pod? Well, give us a call at 909-726-3720. That is 909...

Defector’s own Lauren Theisen joins Drew and Roth to preview the MLB playoffs, and the first game featured Lauren’s Tigers beating the Guardians on the road?? Then, they talk about the WNBA Finals being set between the Vegas Aces and Phoenix Mercury, and the start of the NHL season. Finally, they open up the funbag to answer real questions from real listeners. Do you want to hear your question ans...

The NFL is back in full swing, and so our good buddy Andy Behrens returns to the pod along with his cohort Chris Harris. We’re looking at analytics, and how fantasy football butts up against football reality. When does the math go too far? Is it even possible to pick a team so safe they’re immune to a single dude tripping and falling? We’ll check in with Andy’s Bears, Chris’s Pats, and Roth’s Gian...

Defector’s own Dan McQuade joins Drew and Roth! Dan updates them on his cancer diagnosis (he’s doing well!), then football – what can Drew expect with Carson Wentz? What’s going on with the Eagles? Does Dan fear the Packers? Finally, baseball! How do the Phillies stack up? And Roth tells us about the Mets’ postseason prospects. Do you want to hear your question answered on the pod? Well, give us a...

It’s just Drew and Roth, here to celebrate Defector’s five year anniversary! Where will this company be in another five years? Then: baseball! How is Roth liking the Big Dumper? Football! Can the AFC be rigged so that Buffalo and Baltimore meet in the conference title game? Finally, they discuss the Bears’ dysfunction, Ty Dunne, and Caleb Williams. Do you want to hear your question answered on the...

Mina Kimes of ESPN joins Drew and Roth to complete this year’s NFL Good/Bad! This week, it’s the AFC, and there’s no equivocating allowed. Do you want to hear your question answered on the pod? Well, give us a call at 909-726-3720. That is 909-PANERA-0! Stuff We Talked About The Jones family black hole AFC Good/Bad Mina’s very good boy, Lenny Sponsors - Mint Mobile , where new customers can get a...

Our guest is Kalyn Kahler, which can only mean one thing: NFL Good/Bad time has arrived! We’re splitting the show up this year, so Kalyn will go through the NFC with us today, and Mina Kimes will join us next week to break down the AFC. OMG FOOTBALL. Do you want to hear your question answered on the pod? Well, give us a call at 909-726-3720. That is 909-PANERA-0! Stuff We Talked About The state of...

Giri Nathan, author of the new book Changeover: A Young Rivalry and a New Era of Men's Tennis , joins Drew and Roth to tackle one of the most difficult questions of our time – how did Giri write a book and have a baby at the same time? They also talk about Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner’s epic new rivalry. Then, they open up the funbag to answer real questions from real listeners, like you! Do y...

Emma Baccellieri, staff writer at Sports Illustrated and creator of The Soda Fountain newsletter, joins Drew and Roth to talk baseball and the WNBA, but, mostly, sodee pop. What have the W refs been messing up lately, and what’s the fix? Can you pop into a baseball stadium for a quick hot dog? Then, they open up the fun bag to answer real questions from real listeners. Do you want to hear your que...

Maitreyi Anantharaman of Defector joins Drew and Roth to break down the latest in the WNBA: expansion, the Aces’ fall from grace, the Caitlin Clark problem - or not, as the case may be - and more. She’s got a book in the works called, You Can’t See Me: Inside the New Golden Age of Women’s Basketball . And then, with a brief stop off in Detroit to check in on the Lions & Tigers (oh my), they op...

Pablo Torre, host of Pablo Torre Finds Out , shares with Drew and Roth what thing he’s found out about lately. For instance, he found out that the NFLPA is a flaming shitwreck! Then, will the NBA gambling stories remain mini-scandals in the public eye right up until the moment that someone openly rigs an NBA Finals? Finally, they open up the funbag to answer real questions from real listeners. Do...