The Varsity

Josh Pate, college football’s favorite late-night philosopher, joins the pod to break down his new distribution deal with On3/Rivals and Yahoo. Josh also retraces his winding path through the sports media ecosystem, and addresses a host of other topics affecting the college sports business. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy...

Nick Khan, president of WWE, joins John for an exclusive interview about the company’s blockbuster deal with ESPN to bring WrestleMania, SummerSlam, and its other premium live events to the network’s forthcoming streaming platform. They dig into what makes WWE such a coveted media property, the company's ongoing international expansion strategies, their partnerships with Netflix and Peacock, and m...

Sally Jenkins, perhaps the best sports columnist in the business, joins John for a candid conversation about her decision to leave The Washington Post after 25 years and join The Atlantic. She reflects on her rise through the ranks, Bezos’s generous buyout offer, the uncertain future of The Post, what she hopes to tackle in her next chapter—and much, much more. To learn more about listener data an...

Puck’s resident art market expert Marion Maneker swings by the pod for a rollicking conversation about the growing market for sports collectibles, from a recent $660,000 Caitlin Clark rookie card sale to the many ways auction houses are elevating collectibles into high art. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about...

ESPN’s Don Van Natta joins the pod to break down the widespread dysfunction rocking the NFLPA—from sexual harassment claims to collusion accusations and more—that led to the abrupt resignation of executive director Lloyd Howell. They explore the myriad implications for the future of one of the most powerful labor organizations in sports. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices...

Sports Business Journal’s Bret McCormick joins John to chart the shifting priorities in sports ownership, from media rights deals to the increased focus on real estate development. They dig into how organizations across professional leagues are leveraging real estate for steady income, touch on the myriad challenges of financing new stadiums, predict whether the Washington Commanders will return t...

Michael Nathanson joins John for a rollicking conversation about the future of sports media. They dig into the R.S.N. slow bleed, CBS’s shocking cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, ESPN’s forthcoming D.T.C. service, which potential streamers will bid on NFL rights—and much, much more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/priva...

NASCAR commissioner Steve Phelps joins John Ourand for a candid conversation about the sport’s evolving media ecosystem, including new deals with Fox, NBC, and Amazon Prime. Phelps also outlines NASCAR’s experimental growth strategy; explains why he’s not in competition with F1 and IndyCar; and weighs in on the simmering legal standoff with Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan—while making the case for...

NBC Sports’ Matthew Berry returns to the pod to share the growth story behind his fantasy sports startup, Fantasy Life. He explains how he attracted heavyweight investors like LeBron James, Maverick Carter, and Jeff Shell, and how the company has carved out a niche in an oversaturated space—boasting 1.5 million daily users and a 73 percent jump in revenue since last year. Matthew also weighs in on...

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...

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...

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 m...

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. T...

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 pra...

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...

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...

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 listene...

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 mor...

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...

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...

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 list...

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...

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 e...

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. V...

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 F...