The Distraction: A Defector Podcast

Best-selling author Paul Kix joins Drew to talk about his new book, You Have to Be Prepared to Die Before You Can Begin to Live . Paul illustrates the most critical time in the history of the Civil Rights movement: ten weeks of protests that took place in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1963. And he answers the thorny question if a mass Civil Rights movement actually work in an age of information overload...

Writer and journalist John Vaillant joins Drew and Roth to talk about his newest book, Fire Weather: The Making of a Beast . John details the 2016 wildfire that essentially destroyed the city of Fort McMurray, how fire has changed throughout modern history, and how humans attempt to comprehend the future. And we make the best transition ever in podcasting to the Guy of the Week and the Funbag!   D...

It’s Our Fourth of July USA Spectacular With Drew and Roth! We talk about what we like about America without goofing nearly at all. And, like true patriots who listen to the voice of the people, we answer a whole lot of audio Dirtbag questions.   Here's Roth's article about George-Lucas-ass names in baseball   Do you want to hear your question answered on the pod? Well, give us a call at 909-726-3...

Defector’s own Alex Sujong Laughlin joins Drew and Roth to discuss her article on the liquidation of Gimlet by Spotify. They stay on Media Creation Corner to discuss their experiences in digital media with Producer Eric, as well as the dust-up between Bill Simmons and the Royal Family, and take a second to talk sports by way of Lance Armstrong’s posting. All that, plus Remembering a Podcast and di...

Drew is at the beach and Roth is recovering from the annual Defector gathering, so we’re recording a smaller thing today. Roth and Eric reflect on the in-person recording and how tall Drew is in person, and they give some recommendations for you to get your specific-vibe-of-this-podcast fix.   Roth & Eric’s Recs Dan McQuade on Insert Credit Jon Gabrus on Um, Actually Roth was on American Prest...

Defector’s own Dave McKenna and Israel Daramola join Drew and Roth in person in the Multitude studio! They talk about how Israel and Dave got into writing, the most precious things they’ve kept in a bathroom, and conspiracy theories about why Steven A Smith loves Chris Christie. All that and Remembering a Guy, diving into the Funbag, and an endorsement for shotgun tops on Coors cans.   Do you want...

Defector’s own Ray Ratto makes his 2023 debut on the Distraction! Drew, Roth, and Ray discuss the breaking LIV-PGA merger, what’s the future look like for the Warriors, and what the hell is going on with the As. All that and Remembering a Guy, diving into the Funbag, and an incredible Barry Bonds story. Do you want to hear your question answered on the pod? Well, give us a call at 909-726-3720. Th...

Sports Illustrated’s Rohan Nadkarni returns to the show to preview the NBA Finals with the Miami Heat and the Denver Nuggets. Drew, Roth, and Rohan talk the power of Caleb Martin, hate on the Celtics to a respectful degree, decide if the Nuggets are being stiffed by national media, and make time to complain about the Mountain Time Zone. All that and Remembering a Guy, diving into the Funbag, and a...

We’re going back to basics with an episode of just Drew and Roth. Sure, there are no prominent union activists or NYT best-selling authors, but despite that -- in fact, because of it -- this is an extremely Distraction-y Distraction episode. We talk about Jimmy Butler’s singularity as a basketball guy, the LA Dodgers reversing their decision to get peer-pressured by Marco Rubio, and David Zazlov’s...

Journalist, best-selling author, and staff writer for the New Yorker David Grann joins Drew and Roth to talk about his newest book, The Wager . David explains how he pulled together a trip to go see a shipwreck, editing the book down to a tight 300 pages, and the experience of working with Martin Scorsese. (David was incredibly gracious about the experience and we were like “So, uh, was it cool?)...

Comedian, writer, and member of the WGA Negotiating Committee Adam Conover joins Drew and Roth to talk about the current WGA strike. Adam lays out what the writers are fighting for, the biggest differences between the 2007 strike and this one, how this is going to affect TV going forward, and much, much more.   Stuff We Talked About The "Canada on Strike" South Park episode Bill Simmons' article o...

Defector’s own Patrick Redford joins Drew and Roth to light up our beams with powerful basketball energy! Patrick shares his experience watching Warriors-Kings in person, and we deal with the absolute deflation that is watching second round of the playoffs as compared to the first. And as always, Guy of the Week and voicemail Funbag questions! Do you want to hear your question answered on the pod?...

Last night, the Writers Guild of America authorized a strike which began at 12:01AM Pacific Time on Tuesday, May 2. The best explanation we’ve heard of why this is necessary was from our March 9th episode with TV producer and member of the WGA bargaining committee Michael Schur. We’ve broken out the clip from this episode on its own here. This conversation starts with a short discussion about Repu...

NBC Sports and Football Outsiders’ Rivers McCown joins Drew and Roth to preview the NFL Draft! What are the Texans going to do, is it worth drafting a supposed future superstar RB in the first round, and is the S2 Cognition test just 2Wonder2 Lic? And as always, Guy of the Week and the Funbag! Give us a call at 909-726-3720. That is 909-PANERA-0!   Stuff We Talked About https://www.golongtd.com/p/...

Defector’s own Lauren Theisen joins Drew and Roth because [Drew sings the NHL 94 organ music] the NHL playoffs are here again! We get the essential information: most fun team, most annoying team, most hateable coach, and much more. And as always, Guy of the Week and the Funbag! Give us a call at 909-726-3720. That is 909-PANERA-0!   Sponsors - Athletic Greens , which is giving you a free 1-year su...

Defector’s own Kelsey McKinney joins Drew and Roth to catch up all the news that they missed when they were on spriiiiing breaaaaak, like who we should root for in the NBA Playoffs and how Mavs decided to not make the NBA playoffs. But it wouldn’t be a Kelsey episode without a Normal Gossip update and taking the temperature of Philadelphia’s sports scene. And as always, Guy of the Week and the Fun...

This episode is just like Spring Breakers, except both Drew and Roth have white dreadlocks. It’s a full spread of your favorites: spring break memories, commenters’ worst drinks ever assembled, and both voicemail and written Funbag questions! Give us a call at 909-726-3720. That is 909-PANERA-0!   Stuff We Talked About https://defector.com/season-of-the-oaf-with-ken-pomeroy?commentID=43f8e58f-3ac5...

Defector’s own Dan McQuade joins Drew and Roth to share his experiences from on-the-ground reporting of the Sweet 16 and Elite 8 games at Madison Square Garden. But don’t worry, folks; the Dan McQuade experience delivers with a deeeeeep dive into the most harmful reality TV shows. And as always, Guy of the Week and the Funbag! Give us a call at 909-726-3720. That is 909-PANERA-0!   Stuff We Talked...

Sports Illustrated’s Rohan Nadkarni joins Drew and Roth to talk basketball, both of the collegiate and professional varieties. But it really comes down to whether Rohan or Roth has more pride for the obscure colleges from their respective hometown states, Florida or New Jersey. And we’re delivering an extra special Guy of the Week with two Guys and the first voicemail Funbag! Give us a call at 909...

College basketball metrics analyst Ken Pomeroy returns to the Distraction to give his preview of March Madness 2023! Drew, Roth and Ken make their Final Four picks, sort out the newest college coach you love to hate, and determine if this Purdue center can be likable. And as always, Guy of the Week and the Funbag!   Give us a call at 909-726-3720. That is 909-PANERA-0!   Sponsors - Homefield Appar...

TV producer and co-host of the PosCast Mike Schur joins Drew and Roth to talk baseball and the state of the TV industry. Of course, this also includes New York Post headlines, Lorne Michaels impressions, Jeff Koons statues, and the puzzling way that conglomerates expect 9-11% profit growth from their entertainment departments. And as always, Guy of the Week and the Funbag! Give us a call at 909-72...

Vince Mancini of Uproxx joins Drew and Roth to make Oscars predictions, and everyone is smiling and high-stepping like they’re all going to lobby. And as always, Guy of the Week and the Funbag, which cannot be missed if only for the impressions of Rob Schneider from SNL colliding with Rob Schneider now. Give us a call at 909-726-3720. That is 909-PANERA-0!   Stuff We Talked About https://www.netfl...

Defector’s own Israel Daramola joins Drew and Roth to celebrate the XFL. We’re kidding about 50%. We talk about if Mac McClung was a revival or a death rattle of the dunk contest, how much stock to put into a security guard’s account of what Ja Morant’s friends are doing, and what TÁR is trying (or not trying) to make us feel. And as always, Guy of the Week and the Funbag! Spoilers for TÁR startin...

Drew and Roth are on their own, so they’re ready to give you the Super Bowl analysis that you can’t get anywhere else! Also Roth is released from his Persephone-And-Hades-style bargain with football coverage, so he can finally talk about NBA trades and how we never need to think about Kyrie again. And as always, Guy of the Week and the Funbag! Give us 5 stars on Apple Podcasts to combat all the ba...

Defector’s own Dan McQuade joins Drew and Roth to break down their Super Bowl predictions, but also lots of Philly stuff, Xenogears, and hippos as sports mascots. We’re giving you the full Dan McQuade experience, which either a) you’re excited about or b) you’re going have wash over you like jumping into a wave. And as always, Guy of the Week and the Funbag!     Stuff We Talked About https://defec...