Defector Media

The Distraction: A Defector Podcast

Sports EN ↓ 300 episodes

Defector's flagship podcast about sports (and movies, and art, and sandwiches, and certain coastal states) from longtime writers Drew Magary and David Roth. Every week, Drew and Roth tackle subjects, both serious and impossibly stupid, with a parade of guests from around the world of sports and media joining in the fun! Roth and Drew also field Funbag questions from Defector readers, answer listener voice mails, and get upset about the number of people who use speakerphone while in a public bathroom stall. This is a show where everything matters, because everyone could use a Distraction. Head...

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Defector Media

Episodes

What Do You Wanna Do Bro? (with Justin Halpern) 21.07.2022 48:26

TV Writer and Producer Justin Halpern joins Drew and Roth to discuss the San Diego Comic-Con, the first half of the 2022 MLB season, how MLB should market their stars and Abbott Elementary. Plus, Guy of the Week and the Funbag! Visit Defector.com . See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Where Would We Be As A Society If It Wasn't For Ray J (with Kazeem Famuyide) 14.07.2022 47:41

MSG Network's Kazeem Famuyide joins Drew and Roth to discuss what the Brooklyn Nets should do with Kevin Durant, New York Knicks free agency moves and WWE vs AEW. Plus, Guy of the Week and the Funbag! Visit Defector.com . See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Is It Actually Better To Be The 22nd Best Team In The Big 12? (with Ben Mathis-Lilley) 07.07.2022 54:49

Slate's Ben Mathis-Lilley joins Drew and Roth to discuss the pros and cons of USC and UCLA joining the Big 10. How the Big 10 news will affect the Pac 12 and the Big 12. Plus, Guy of the Week and the Funbag! Visit Defector.com . See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

No Plays Off! 23.06.2022 36:26

Drew and Roth deliver a vacation episode where they discuss Hollywood impressions, Guy of the Week and the Funbag! Visit Defector.com . See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

That's Good Parenting Right There 16.06.2022 53:17

Drew and Roth discuss what's been enjoyable about the NBA Finals, Jack Del Rio's insurrection comments and the Saudi backed LIV Golf league. Plus, Guy of the Week and the Funbag! Visit Defector.com . See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

No One Who Works At Twitter Uses Twitter (with Matt Levine) 09.06.2022 48:29

Bloomberg's Matt Levine joins Drew and Roth to discuss Elon Musk's Twitter Acquisition, the Denver Broncos being sold and the state of business media. Plus, Guy of the Week and the Funbag! Visit Defector.com . See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

You Are The First Person To Say I Wish I Could Still Be A Mets Fan (with Adam Conover) 02.06.2022 53:20

Comedian and Actor Adam Conover joins Drew and Roth to discuss the LA Marathon, NBA Finals, LA Dodgers and Adam's Netflix show The G Word. Plus, Guy of the Week and questions from the Funbag! Visit Defector.com . See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

These Are The Things That Keep You Awake At Night 26.05.2022 53:43

Drew and Roth discuss their trip to Coney Island, the Harry Sidhu Angels stadium scandal, and the NBA conference finals. Plus, Guy of the Week and questions from the Funbag! Visit Defector.com . See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

I Love His Kinks (with Pablo Torre) 19.05.2022 52:39

ESPN's Pablo Torre joins Drew and Roth about the demise of the Phoenix Suns, the 76ers Sam Hinkie era, 2022 Eastern Conference Finals, Phil Mickelson and the inner workings of sports media. Plus, Guy of the Week and the Funbag! Visit Defector.com . See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

We’re Gonna Hit That F*&#king Mountain (with Luis Paez-Pumar) 12.05.2022 49:42

Defector co-owner, Luis Paez-Pumar, talks to Drew and Roth about Formula 1 racing, the Drive to Survive docuseries, and the NBA Playoffs. Plus, Guy of the Week and the Funbag! Visit Defector.com . See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

The Dander Is Overwhelming (with Patrick Redford) 05.05.2022 52:11

Defector co-owner, Patrick Redford, joins Drew and Roth in an in-depth conversation about the 2022 NBA Playoffs and changes in Major League Baseball. Plus, Guy of the Week and the Funbag! Visit Defector.com . See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

I Don’t Want Food That Grows on Me (with Austin Gayle) 28.04.2022 50:53

Ahead of the NFL draft, Austin Gayle from Pro Football Focus joins Drew and Roth to explain exactly how teams evaluate players and why he'll never try Skyline Chili. Plus, Guy of the Week and questions from the Funbag! Visit Defector.com . See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

A Found Footage Horror Movie (with Gabriella Paiella) 21.04.2022 41:06

GQ Magazine writer, Gabriella Paiella, talks to Drew and Roth about the peculiar lifestyle of Nicolas Cage and writing celebrity profiles. Plus, Guy of the Week and the Funbag! Visit Defector.com . See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

I’m Gonna Make This Damn Green Sauce (with Albert Burneko and Kelsey McKinney) 14.04.2022 56:05

Defector teammates, Albert Burneko and Kelsey McKinney, talk to Roth about the return of the Major League Baseball season, Kelsey’s podcast, “Normal Gossip”, and the Daniel Snyder scandal. Plus, Guy of the Week and the Funbag! Visit Defector.com . See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

It’s Been Very Frustrating to See Them Succeed (with Rohan Nadkarni) 07.04.2022 56:27

Sport Illustrated’s Rohan Nadkarni joins Drew and Roth to cover everything you need to know ahead of the NBA Playoffs: title favorites, the MVP race, and why the play-in tournament is necessary. Plus, Guy of the Week and the Funbag! Visit Defector.com . See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Retrograde and All Those Things (with Tim Marchman) 31.03.2022 54:19

VICE’s Features Editor, Tim Marchman, talks to Drew and Roth about cryptocurrency, NFTs, and the long-awaited return of Major League Baseball. Plus, Guy of the Week and the Funbag! Visit Defector.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

It’s Oozing Out of His Shoes (with Ray Ratto) 24.03.2022 48:49

Defector editor and Bay Area sports journalist, Ray Ratto, talks to Drew and Roth about money fraud, Joe Biden, the Warriors, Lakers and MLB player salaries. Plus, Guy of the Week and the Funbag! Visit Defector.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Not Everybody Likes A Headband Guy (with Ken Pomeroy) 17.03.2022 50:24

College basketball metrics analyst, Ken Pomeroy, joins Drew and Roth in a conversation all about the 2022 Men’s NCAA Tournament. Plus, Guy of the Week and the Funbag! Visit Defector.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Let’s All Get Married On Successive Weekends (with Lauren Theisen) 10.03.2022 50:36

Co-Defector Lauren Theisen chats with Drew and Roth about mask mandates, the ongoing MLB lockout, Russell Wilson being traded to the Denver Broncos, and hockey predictions. Plus, Guy of the Week and the Funbag! Visit Defector.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

The Strong Boys Podcast (with Jason Zengerle) 03.03.2022 50:48

The New York Times Magazine writer, Jason Zengerle, talks to Drew and Roth about The Biden administration, 2024 presidential election predictions, and North Carolina college basketball. Plus, Guy of the Week and the Funbag! Visit Defector.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

How Many Sidewalk Cracks Did I Step On? (with Kyle Buchanan) 24.02.2022 53:32

The New York Times reporter and author, Kyle Buchanan, tells Drew and Roth why the film Mad Max: Fury Road took nearly two decades to make. Plus, Guy of the Week and the Funbag! Blood, Sweat & Chrome: The Wild and True Story of Mad Max: Fury Road, is available everywhere books are sold. Visit Defector.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https:/...

Can You Say ‘Orange’ Again, For Me? 17.02.2022 48:28

This week, Drew and Roth discuss the Winter Olympics doping scandal, their thoughts on Super Bowl LVI, and 90s European house music. Plus, questions from the funbag! Visit Defector.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

A Grim Men's Evening (with Andy Behrens) 10.02.2022 51:13

Just ahead of Super Bowl LVI, Yahoo! Sports’ fantasy football expert, Andy Behrens, talks to Drew and Roth about future game predictions, stories of Super Bowl’s past, the Houston Texans hiring Lovie Smith, and the state of Major League Baseball. Plus, questions from the funbag! Visit Defector.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/p...

Coca-Cola Just Needs to Blink Wrong (with Diana Moskovitz) 03.02.2022 56:21

Defector’s very own investigative journalist, Diana Moskovitz, talks to Drew and Roth about Brian Flores suing the NFL, her experience working for NFL media, and workplace discrimination. Visit Defector.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Headed to ’Bama for a Broken Pinky (with Nate Jackson) 27.01.2022 44:27

Former Denver Bronco’s tight end and radio personality, Nate Jackson, talks to Drew and Roth about behind-the-scenes of the NFL, players choking under pressure, and life after football. Plus, more questions from the funbag! Visit Defector.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .