A weekly sports discussion from Slate. Hang Up and Listen features Slate sports editor Josh Levin, writer Stefan Fatsis (author of A Few Seconds of Panic), Slate writer and Slow Burn host Joel Anderson, and a selection of interesting guests from around the sports world.
49 Subscribers
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©2018 The Slate Group
Hang Up and Listen
49 Subscribers
Reviews
4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 Based on 280 reviews
Lady Lawyer Listening
5 out of 5 stars
Love this podcast!
I don’t even know about all the sports they are talking about, but I always enjoy their humorous banter and contextual insights. Always a great listen.
LppCo
5 out of 5 stars
Great Podcast
I love this podcast, I never miss an episode, and I’m not even a sports fan. Thoughtful discussions, interesting perspectives, and it’s fun!!
Amber UW
5 out of 5 stars
Love this podcast!!
I really loved Vinson! What a smart, thoughtful, insightful guy! I look forward to his next guest appearance. Overall this is my favorite podcast. Thank you for all the great work!
Buck Boats
5 out of 5 stars
Vinson Cunningham
Gonna miss Vinson. It’s always been a great sports podcast with a wider view and variety of stories, but Vinson clearly the most entertaining.
Bones T
5 out of 5 stars
Great, but I’m out
The content of this show is usually good but I think I’m going to move on from it because (1) the show has begun to suffer from a lack of continuity among hosts; while the guest hosts are good, I prefer a show with regular hosts who are committed to the project and have a rapport with each other; this is no longer that kind of show; (2) this podcast has technical problems unlike any other in my feed —e.g., sometimes I get the non-subscriber version even though I’m a subscriber; also, about once a month or so the show doesn’t download properly so I have to delete, re-download/reset. Points (1) and (2) combine to make this podcast increasingly bush league. That’s too bad because for years it was one of my favorites.
David from Eastwood
5 out of 5 stars
Jim Brown
Tremendous stuff from Joel Anderson on Jim Brown. I’m a Syracuse native and huge Cuse fan, obviously. I’m also a big Lacrosse fan. You ask any old times lacrosse person and they will tell you Jim Brown’s best sport was Lacrosse. Love the Pod, as always. David from Syracuse.
w22211
5 out of 5 stars
Great hosts, and chemistry!
Excellent! Really enjoy the current lineup of host. My constructive criticism is that the after balls goes on too long. Sportscasters love to hear themselves speak. It doesn’t really diminish the podcast because the hosts usually have something insightful to say. If I were to compare this to other sports podcasts I would have to give it 7 stars out of 5. The hosts here are knowledgeable and funny. But they are not annoying bros with “hot takes” like the vast majority of sports programming! Keep up the good work!!!!!
Kleinias
1 out of 5 stars
A very odd proposition
Listening to “Hang up and listen” is a very odd proposition. You quickly realize that sports is not the point at all. Instead it’s just accelerant used to move quickly into a very provincial way of thinking about the world around us. It’s politics everywhere and all the time and sports certainly will not escape this panopticon.
brainslikepickles
1 out of 5 stars
Steep decline
Used to be interesting, now it’s just more Slate woke garbage.
Around there
5 out of 5 stars
Rachel Nichols
It is crazy that at the start of every game, Rachel Nichols flashes the white power symbol with her left hand, for a long time during her monologue. You can go back and check. She did it from the preseason on. She obviously does not Want to be around “those” people. It devastated my children and I when we saw it. It is awful to do to the young, full of hopes and dreams. It is clear she wants to do something else. Let her do that something else away from our sons and daughters.
lizzardmelissa
5 out of 5 stars
the guys are great
i save this pod for my tuesday run and look forward to it every week. even when i don't think the subject will be interesting, it usually turns out to be because of the questions and discussion lead by joel, stephan, and josh. I like it best when they are chatting. their friendship is evident. please keep it up.v
Mr. Bill Beck
5 out of 5 stars
#1 pod since 2014
HUAL is where sports, society, and whimsy meet in thoughtful discussion and hilarious banter. A weekly highlight, and a consistent source of joy.
cris70802
5 out of 5 stars
it’s december
december 7, stefan, december. when joel described getting stuck in baton rouge due to LSU’s intransigence and using his spare days there to explore the sordid and rarely-told history of the interstate’s impact on the city’s black communities, i knew this was a special podcast with special journalists.
zralston
5 out of 5 stars
#1 on my (long) list
I listen to a lot of podcasts. Many of them at 1.5x speed, and some of them I delete episodes as soon as they download. But Hang Up and Listen has been my absolute favorite for as long as I can remember. The content is rich, nuanced, well-researched, respectful, and often wildly entertaining. It’s also so different from the rest of the sports media landscape (Sorry, Stephen A. and Tony Kornheiser), by delving into such topics as the fast-twitch muscles on Kenyan athletes, the setbacks suffered by female gymnasts, and obscure anecdotes about soccer in the 1960s. Josh is the perfect host — funny and intelligent, and not long-winded. Stefan and Joel add great conversation and complex takes, and all the guests are experts in their fields and provide unique, diverse voices. Any sports fan would be missing out by not listening to every episode of Hang Up. (One criticism: I really miss “Whimsy Watch!”)
Daniel Q2
5 out of 5 stars
Sometimes about sports, sometimes the issues around sports
This is one of the two podcasts I listen to as soon as it’s released. Talking about the issues surrounding sports makes our fan-dom more enriching.
Tetty
5 out of 5 stars
Love podcast, hate sports.
I started listening religiously during the pandemic even though I hate sports because Josh’s voice is so soothing. So soothing.
lameandlame
5 out of 5 stars
BIG TEN IS BACK
“Prime-prep.” Thank you for dropping gems
lexloma
5 out of 5 stars
Great but...
...Stefan Fatuous.
Chuckstero
4 out of 5 stars
A Smart, Smart Show
I love this podcast even though I am not a sports fan at all. These guys are SMART. They discuss every subject in depth with nuance. Almost makes me want to follow some sport teams. I appreciate being able to throw out some sports cocktail chatter. Again, a very smart show.
Brudd3788
5 out of 5 stars
Great podcast!
Did you know... Stefan Fatsis respects women and plays Scrabble?
This dude eats meat 10x a day
4 out of 5 stars
The Last Dance convo behind a paywall? Lol
I don’t listen to this show as much as I used to but still subscribe for some reason. I saw that their Last Dance ep was behind a paywall and laughed so hard. It’s like they think there is a dearth of The Last Dance podcast eps out there! Did they do their episode on the NFL draft on Slate Plus too? Hahaha. Cmon!
Eagle884
1 out of 5 stars
Paywalling a weekly pod isn’t acceptable
There’s nothing more Slate than seeing other sites get tremendous reader support through these tough times and thinking, “You know what’s missing from those? A hostage situation!”
DrSwampylove
5 out of 5 stars
Well researched
Great sports podcast, long form reporting and fun discussions about all aspects of the sports world
kutanskm
5 out of 5 stars
Pod review
Major east coast bias but still an awesome pod. Nice work!
Weeeezie
5 out of 5 stars
Quality audio
Finally a live podcast without horrible audience noise. Good job. Go tigers
Oblio88
3 out of 5 stars
Fast-forward is your friend here
I enjoy Stefan Fatsis and Mike Pesca, and the discussions are smart and funny, but...this is a Slate production. So, occasionally, you’re going to have to fast-forward through the pointless snark of Nick Greene.
PC Thugs
5 out of 5 stars
Super grateful for this super good podcast
Usually when I write a review I like to quibble a bit about the content after glowing about the podcast in general. Not here. discussions of big sport stories-done. stories about individual athletes-yep. Want to hear discussions of women’s sports-they do that. Cutting edge trends-of course. Intersection between sports and society-you know they do. Get interesting guests with diverse points of view-“boom goes the dynamite”. And as an added bonus: they bring smarts and they bring healing helpings of the funny. I ran my first marathon this year. So, with all this to recommend it, it is probably no surprised is that hang up and listen played a prominent role on my training. I will be grateful for the funny and thought provoking discussions that got me through some of those tough miles the summer. Thanks for being their.
LawlessKidd
5 out of 5 stars
First time reviewer...
...long time listener. Love the podcast! But why doesn’t Stefan’s bioblurb end with “...and the cult minor league baseball classic ‘Wild and Outside’?” Speaking of sad middle aged men, I’m pretty sure I “liked” one of Stefan’s Tiger Tweets.
@@@@@BIL@@@@@
2 out of 5 stars
Too political, missing Pesca
This show has kind of sucked since Pesca left. It’s become too political for me. I know we live in the time of Trump, and everyone wants to hail Trump as king or call him the devil. But, I just don’t want that political pandering stuff in sports coverage. Just one dude, know it doesn’t make a difference, but I’ll be unsubscribing. Best wishes in the future.
mac_mcclelland2000
5 out of 5 stars
Smart Sports
Smart people talking intelligently about sports and the broader culture in which it exists. It doesn’t shy away from politics and controversy. Interesting guest contributors often join Josh and Stefan. Hang Up and Listen is what I’ve wanted to say to sports talk radio callers for more than a decade. That or Shut Up and Listen.
B.C2
5 out of 5 stars
Long time listener 1st time caller
Great for anyone not just hardcore sports junkies. It is offers in depth conversation of sports and the joys, triumphs, and the hypocrisy that goes along with it. I love it and I look forward to discussion weekly.
HangzhouHarry
5 out of 5 stars
Mike is a national treasure!!
Mike’s takes are a breath of fresh air — even when they are wrong! (Not often :-)
Orin M
5 out of 5 stars
Sharp and irreverent
Not hacky like so much other sport talk; however, slightly less wacky without Pesca. Still, a great, well done and consistent podcast on sports! Well done and keep’em coming
Ponch_
5 out of 5 stars
Best sports podcast
This is the best sports podcast. Funny, intelligent, insightful, they cover many topics beyond football, baseball, and basketball.
Asmallcat
5 out of 5 stars
A better sports show
Great non-hot-takey smart sports show!
Philip DiDio
5 out of 5 stars
Well-founded Opinions
Pro Scholarly takes on current sports events Lefty slant on labor & race issues Guests curated for originality and intelligence Con Too judgy and quick to criticize alternative views Josh is sensitive, defensive when contradicted NYC bias supporting favorite teams
StevaReno56
5 out of 5 stars
a must listen
love the show, great takes and perspectives, a must listen for me every week.
Usedtoreadhuffpo
5 out of 5 stars
Fun, Thoughtful hot-takes
This is my favorite sports pod. The hosts are entertaining and present stories from perspectives that are hard to find elsewhere. They also bring in a wide diversity of other voices to help mine the depth of the stories. Remember Zelmo Beaty.
SammyNM
5 out of 5 stars
The G.O.A.T.
Without a doubt the best sports podcast out there because they take interesting angles on popular stories, bring in unusual and diverse guests and are always digging up fascinating details for the Afterballs. Thanks guys!
NOLA Fans
5 out of 5 stars
Hang Up and Listen
Best sports podcast going! Josh and Stefan are extremely knowledgable, have interesting guess and are very entertaining. We look forward to listening every week!
jjinvegas
5 out of 5 stars
Thinking Man’s Sports Talk
Covering all sports, this show offers a considered & well-reasoned perspective on what happens on the court, the field, the pitch, etc.
oscar057
5 out of 5 stars
Always Smart and Interesting
I’m not a huge sports fan, but always enjoy the topics and discussion.
1da_bred
5 out of 5 stars
Refreshing and unique way to talk about sports
Look I get it, sometimes we all need a little Stephen A Smith in our lives, staring angrily at us while he explains that a player did a bad thing and he should feel bad about it. But when I want a change of pace - I love the different mix of topics that really focus on what’s fun and amazing and important in the world of sports. I enjoy playing, watching, and talking about sports more since I started listening to this - and I think you will too.
2013Marco
5 out of 5 stars
Long time listener
I only listen to one sports podcast and I've been doing so every week for the past six years-- Hangup and Listen. Such a wonderful counterpoint to ESPN Sportscenter blather and similar highlight shows. Nice to ocasionally hear about sports I don't follow on a regular basis such as ice hockey and soccer. Done with insight and humor and with excellent guests.
21E3
5 out of 5 stars
Great insights, great topics
And they include a diverse array of guests (as in voices typically underrepresented in sports talk).
simonsays440
5 out of 5 stars
IMO The Best and Most Well-Rounded Sports Pod
As a consumer of a wide swath of sports podcasts (The Ringer, Effectively Wild, Dunc'd On, The Starters) this is by far my favorite. Stefan and Josh cover everything for the major sports stories to more obscure narrative. They do a good job of covering the crossover between sports and poltitics. Would highly reccomend to sports fans, as well as any fan of Slate's other podcasts (SPG, etc.)
hubbardl
5 out of 5 stars
not a real sports fan but love this podcast
So I'm not a real sports fan but I married one which means I'm around a lot of ESPN and Washington Wizards coverage. The most recent addition to my marital sports regimen is listening to one of two of my husband's favorite podcasts, Hang Up and Listen. Now I actually listen to it when he is out of town because it is that good. It doesn't really matter what subjects they cover, they end up grabbing my interest and give me history and perspectives that I wouldn't ordinarily be exposed to. I thoroughly enjoy it!
--MJS
5 out of 5 stars
The best hour of my week
In about 60 minutes, Stefan and Josh catch me up on everything important from the week in sports, make me smarter, and give me a reason to laugh out loud. Their stories surprise — who knew the Rockets GM loves musical theatre?? — and their analysis is incisive, though they manage to not take themselves too seriously. Hang Up and Listen gives me a reason to look forward to Mondays, and that says a lot.
TiddlyWinks239
5 out of 5 stars
Best Podcast Ever
Love you guys
Sraeblac
5 out of 5 stars
Great Smart Sports Podcast
I have been listening to Hangup for years. It is a wonderful podcast for the intelligent sports fan. They cover the whole spectrum of sports. Thanks, Josh and Stefan! Keep up the great work.
DoctorRose
5 out of 5 stars
Sports for Smart People
A really terrific sports show that doesn’t settle for (and openly expresses its hatred towards) short-sighted hot takes. The perfect antidote to the empty sports coverage that dominates sports media lately.
P. Cary
5 out of 5 stars
A must-listen for sports fans
Love this show, I have to listen to it every week.
JRN Forbes
5 out of 5 stars
The most consistently insightful sports podcast
I’ve been listening to Hang Up & Listen for the 2010s. I continue to listen because the show provides insight about a variety of sports that goes beyond recaps and baseless predictions. Josh Levin is a national treasure. He’s hilarious and is able to call B.S. on various sports tropes.
CARMP TAZ
3 out of 5 stars
Lack of Hockey Coverage
Generally I really like this podcast and have been listening for years. However, I'm really frustrated that they can talk week after week and week about the NBA playoffs and barely have one segment for the NHL playoffs. VERY DISAPPOINTING that for the second year in a row they barely mention the Stanley Cup and this year it had almost as much to do with making fun of the opening at the Capital One center compared to the Golden Knights opening ceremonies.
Big old fish
4 out of 5 stars
Best sports talk going
A sports podcast that includes a tribute to Tom Wolfe? That takes soccer and women’s sports seriously? That doesn’t make you feel dumber when you’ve listened to an episode? Count me in!
SethJake
5 out of 5 stars
Best sports talk podcast in America...
I'm a New Yorker, so you KNOW I'm listening to the best sports talk in the world, from Steve Summers and Mike Francessa and Joe Boningo on the WFAN to Michael Kay and Stephen K Swmith on ESPN Radio, etc. But, these guys are nothing like that. They come at things historically, noting changes and trends and inside baseball kind of stats. My favorite show, and there are many (probably listening to them since I got my stitcher app, 7 years ago?). Mike Pesca, was the third voice, and was always stirring things up but he recently left to do his Spiel podcast which is also really really good). Stefan and Josh are super and are carrying the extra load beautifully (in fact it may even be a smoother show now). I love it when Stephen brings in his stories about scrabble (he's written a book about playing competitive scrabble!) or trying out for the Broncoes. Josh often gets in that he is from the South, but he is anything but a good old boy. Granted, they sometimes get into sports that I have no interest in. But, that's half the fun of the show. When they get at the guts of the PEOPLE in those sports and so, it's invariably entertaining and you always learn something. My all time favorite episode when they interviewed the high school football coach who NEVER punts (well, not exactly true, he would punt at his 40 - 50 if he didn't get a first) and has this tremendous record. Be cool to do a followup on that story, is he still winning? hmmmmmm...
lala&sand
5 out of 5 stars
Good listen
Great way to spend Monday commute. Like the skeptical, no room for flattery attitude.
ksam47
5 out of 5 stars
The Best Sports Podcast
For nearly a decade Hang Up and Listen has been the most thoughtful and entertaining sports podcast out there. Always look forward to a new one.
DeanGrif
5 out of 5 stars
Best sports podcast out there
I've been listening to HU&L for several years and here's the thing to know about this show: These guys aren't dude-bros sharing hot takes and high fives. But they're not hot-air ESPN-style him-bots spewing banal "analysis" either. They're top-drawer journalists with curiosity and wry humor that always put sports in a broader perspective. They're also able to attract great guests. Yeah, I miss Pesca too. But Josh and Stefon are terrific. Long may they wave
YHK_reviews
5 out of 5 stars
Best Sports Podcast!
This is the best sports podcast around! That's right, it's FAR superior to the Orvis Fly Fishing Podcast. Subscribe now and remember Zelmo Beaty
marvin webster
5 out of 5 stars
Best sports podcast out there
Smart and funny
BetaAlex81
5 out of 5 stars
THE Sports Podcast
These guys cover it all. From NBA Finals to cheating scandals at the highest level of bridge tournaments, their angles and topics are always interesting. Recommended even for the most casual of sports fan. Fresh, funny, insightful...I look forward to each week's episode.
Finn4444
5 out of 5 stars
Awesome! Fatsis is the best!!
Have been listening for awhile. You requested a review so here it is: great show listen early and often.
Rich in St. Louis
5 out of 5 stars
If you only listen to ONE sports podcast...
And I only do... It’s great, I can keep up with the basics, but also learn to love the philosophical meanings of sports, past and present, through Hang Up And Listen. Plus, it just reacquaints us with the ever-more stratified nature of human competition and, yes, exaltation. Whatever that means.
EdfromEdison
5 out of 5 stars
Review
Stephan and Josh have the best sports show there is. Don't bother listening are reading from their riff-raff competitors
Chefmitch
5 out of 5 stars
Good listen.
I listen to this every week. Definitely a great complement to more traditional sports shows.
SeattleDaveSoundersFan
5 out of 5 stars
Can’t miss this podcast
After trying so many sports podcasts I finally found my favorite. The best one out there.
rmc65
5 out of 5 stars
Listen to this podcast
I look forward to this podcast more than any other in the universe. Smart talk, every week.
yumiph
5 out of 5 stars
My go to sports podcast
Never miss a week! Always entertaining, great topics and guests. I’ve been listening from the beginning and I love it. Remember Zelmo Beaty!
JM180
5 out of 5 stars
Intelligent Takes
An antidote to all things Skip Bayless. Intelligent takes on sports and sports media.
schorrm
5 out of 5 stars
Sports talk radio by intelligent people
If drive time hosts were smart
beeposter
5 out of 5 stars
Enjoyable show
I am always entertained and informed by this podcast and I am old enough to remember Zelmo Beaty
Daanab
5 out of 5 stars
Best annotated Podcast in Slate's lineup
Love the soccer talk. Always good angles on different subject matter. Great chat show.
iluvDowntonAbbey
5 out of 5 stars
Always solid.
Fun to hear the evolution of the show. Sports for all!
JGM246
5 out of 5 stars
Great podcast
Best sports talk there is. Like if people talked about sports — but they were smart.
geauxmc
5 out of 5 stars
Interesting, different take on sports topics.
I love the show because they always tackle topics of the week from a different angle.
Craig of GR
5 out of 5 stars
NPR
This is like long form NPR sports. I’ve been listening all 9 years without fail. Can’t wait for Monday nights when this is released.
Los&Jess
5 out of 5 stars
These guys are the best
If you want a smart and thoughtful discussion of sports, listen to these guys.
MyNameIsJonas1994
5 out of 5 stars
Eclectic amusing show
Runs the gamut of sports content from nerdy stats musings to the social implications of events in sports. I love this show and listen to it every week.
DipDap1234
5 out of 5 stars
Brilliant!
Love the after ball segment!
Sleepy Mole
5 out of 5 stars
Don’t have to like sports to like the podcast
I’ve been listening for about four years and I do miss pesca but Josh and Stefan have kept the podcast fascinating. Their intelligence and humor keep me listening as they often discussed supports that I loathe. Yet I cannot miss an episode.
Alfie127
5 out of 5 stars
Hang up and listen
Best and smartest sports talk podcast around.
phillieseagles4ever
5 out of 5 stars
Best sports podcast
I’ve listened for years. They cover meaningful sports topics and you can rest assured you are getting the smartest commentary. Every time big sports news breaks the reporter will be on this show. It’s got everything you want in a podcast- it’s funny, relatable, good banter, informative. I will admit I miss Pesca, who I guess was too lazy to do a daily podcast plus this one, jk, but Josh and Stefan have kept me listening as soon as it’s available every week. Love you guys
Markrosoft
5 out of 5 stars
Great Sports Podcast - more like a magazine than ESPN news
Really great conversations about sports. Even when they talk about sports or players I'm not particularly interested in, they do it in a way that I always like listening to. They go meta a lot - talk about issues in each sport rather than just debate which player is better or who choked or whatever they talk about on ESPN endlessly....
aandy314
1 out of 5 stars
Annoying
Just bleh
CoronadoJim
4 out of 5 stars
Good critical analysis
The hosts are smart and funny. They also get other great reporters to diss on all kinds of stuff. Sometimes I’m not interested in the topic, but the always make it engaging.
Ugh-Nickname
4 out of 5 stars
I miss Mike Pesca
Still a great show though
Flap Trap
5 out of 5 stars
Sports chatter for thinkers
This is a podcast for people who think and talk about sports on a higher level than scores or players of the day.
TravelingHoosier
5 out of 5 stars
Good Synopsis and Great Commentary
This show engages with sports in an interesting, funny, and smart way. I love hearing how the hosts will interepret this week in sports.
John.R.Haggard
2 out of 5 stars
Not what it once was
This used to be my favorite podcast in years past, but recently it’s lost a lot of the creativity and uniqueness that made it great. I remember unique and fun topics such as Zelmo Beaty, Whimsy Watch, Zack Hample, the rise of league of legends college teams, FIFA criticisms (in the fake Sepp Blatter voice) that were such a breath of fresh air in a world of increasingly self-important sports talk. Ever since Pesca left the show has taken on that air of self-importance they used to mock. The show now seems to think they are fighting for a greater cause. It has become overly political. It seems every single show is about the anthem, colin kaepernick, or Donald Trump in a very loose affiliation to sports. There’s nothing wrong with talking politics or tackling those issues, but there are plenty of other podcasts that already do this much better than HUAL. I miss the fun, whimsy, and unique sports topics that used to draw me to this show.
Griz Morris
1 out of 5 stars
Long time, Last time
I have listened regularly to HU&L for over three years but have finally hit the limit. The slanted discussion over the flag protest is enough for me to give up on the podcast. No mention of the Steeler lineman and his commitment to the flag and country proves that there is no concern to at least show the other side of an issue. Good bye.
Listener 0123
5 out of 5 stars
good show
Really fun show (if you can handle the liberal politics). Smart, fun, makes the Monday commute a little better.
r8lobster
3 out of 5 stars
not as good as it could be
When it launched HUAL was pretty fresh -- intelligent and lively minds taking on sports, culture, the artistry and culture of sports and a variety of sports in the mix. It's devolved. These days it's mostly who's racist, who's sexist, who's too dumb or neanderthal to make statistically-mandated moves (as if sports were index funds), why can't Latino players flip bats if they want to, blah blah. A drone. (Unless it's basketball. They get excited about basketball. If they went in for baseball and football the way they do basketball, it would be worth more than the occasional tune-in).
gpg
5 out of 5 stars
Keep up the great work...
I have been listening for years but this week's interview with Ed Cunningham inspired me to provide a review. I so appreciate this show's perspective...keep it coming!
Taka G
5 out of 5 stars
Smart
Funny and smart sports analysis. Still trying to regain their footing after the departure of Pesca. I'm happy to listen in while they do.
Tim Condon
5 out of 5 stars
Smart Sports Show
This is the best and smartest sports podcast out there. Perfect, even without Mike Pesca.
The best Jason Yen
5 out of 5 stars
Good for sports
Nice podcast to keep you updated on sports and the other weird things they talk about tangentially. I look forward to this podcast every week.
madcitychuck
5 out of 5 stars
Hang up
My most anticipated podcast every week!
Meatyard
5 out of 5 stars
My only sports podcast
Listen for the intelligent sports discussion, stay to hear Josh giggle every time Houston Nutt's name is mentioned
Podcast Addict2
5 out of 5 stars
I want Mike Pesca! I want AfterBalls! But 5 stars
I went back as far as I could on my app and listened for weeks to nothing but Hang Up and Listen. I was so sad when I reached the present day and had to wait for a new one every week. I listen at 1.3 speed and they are even more witty and crisp when sped up. I do wish Slate hadn't let Mike Pesca get away with just doing his own podcast. But even at two thirds strength it is stil my favorite sports podcast.
SttKilda
4 out of 5 stars
I miss Pesca
Still a great podcast, but miss having three hosts and really miss Mike Pesca. I hope they get a replacement soon. Great coverage of sports that goes way beyond X's and O's.
InjeraFrost
5 out of 5 stars
Never miss it
I just found this podcast in the last year. It is smart, witty and always entertaining.
djfish03
3 out of 5 stars
Hang Up and Listen to Us Talk About Basketball
I've been listening for about a year now and, though I appreciate the smart commentary, largely witty banter and attention to obscure sports and stories, I'm getting a little tired of hearing about the NBA and basketball week in and week out. Plus, I miss Mike Pesca.
T FAES
5 out of 5 stars
Slates Hang Up and Listen
Smart, funny, informative and quirky. This is a sports program that is unlike all the others. The only problem: it comes but once a week! While other sports programs that I love cover the big sports stories of the day, Slates Hang Up and Listen covers these plus obscure sports happenings across the globe. It also revisits sports history and social issues that overlap the sporting world. I look forward to a new podcast popping up on my phone each week!
TypicalChet
5 out of 5 stars
Fun and thoughtfu,l no hot takes or bloviating
Great interviews, good coverage of lesser known figures, avoids the echo chamber of many big network shows
jesusbuiltmyhotrod2000
5 out of 5 stars
argle barrel
Best podcast dealing with sports and its' intersection with culture, even with the recent departure of Pesci, but PLEASE, no more Skype interviews, or even worse, guest host stand ins via Skype....Totally unlistendable because of the crappy sound quality.
Živalski vrt
4 out of 5 stars
Loved for many years, but I’ve stopped listening.
I think most of the discussion and topics on this show are the best I’ve found in sports podcasting. They pick topics that span the range of sports and balance both emotional and statistical topics. I stopped listening recently, mostly because of host Stefan Fatsis. I'm really tired of him referencing his experiences in an NFL locker room (almost a decade ago), and I realized I started cringing during EVERY SINGLE football segment when he brings it up (and many non-football segments besides). He also has regular grandstanding moralizations about topics like the NCAA and sports announcing that seem more in place for talk radio rather than an interesting discussion; his excoriation of Chris Berman recently felt oddly personal and way out of line. I really enjoy Pesca and Levin, but Fatsis has bothered me to the point where I decided to unsubscribe. I’m sad, as I haven’t found anything comparable in sports to replace it yet.
Nature nick17
5 out of 5 stars
Listener
If you're sick of the arrogant bellicosity of other sports podcasts, take a chance on these guys. They're smart, somewhat likable, and they always have interesting things to say. Plus, they made me interested in darts!
mcdoodle77
5 out of 5 stars
great collection of hosts
everyone brings a lot to the show and it's very entertaining .
DonT
1 out of 5 stars
Too Political, Too Bad
Coulda been great, but these guys got so political this year that it has become unlistenable for me. Breaks my heart to delete this podcast from my feed.
Sabes in Six
5 out of 5 stars
Sports talk for smart people
My favorite sports podcast/radio show period.the writers are unmatched at painting vivid pictures and spin yarns!
JCornell
5 out of 5 stars
The best!
Very insightful and entertaining.
taragona
5 out of 5 stars
Thinking man's sports pod
Josh, Mike and Stefan deliver thoughtful, interesting analysis of the latest headlines from the sports pages, and close each episode with unique perspectives on more obscure sports related topics. Anti-hot taek zone.
DrewDDD
5 out of 5 stars
Outside the normal sports opinion
Good segments with focus on athletes, athletics, and fandom and how we as sports consumers should think about them. Sometimes reveletory, sometimes pedantic, but always interesting.
Wonderwmn212
5 out of 5 stars
Awesome Podcast for Non-Sports Fanatics
I look forward to this podcast every week, even though I'm definitely not a fanatic of major American sports. My only complaint is that Josh Levin does not get as much airtime, he is usually too gracious with his co-hosts and guests. He makes up for that deficiency with the regular Olympic podcasts - they're great and feature interesting guests discussing the more technical nature ofvarious sports.
DDlodi
5 out of 5 stars
The best sports podcast
Miles better than anything else out there. A diverse group of thinkers that have insightful and useful things to say about sports I love and sports I have barely heard of.
lil'gastrolith
5 out of 5 stars
like O&P said...
The only sport i really follow is hockey but i can (and look forward to) these three talk about anything... even golf or team handball (sadly they've never talked about my version of handball, the NYC one-wall version) every Monday night or, if i'm behind, Tuesday morning. Josh Levin's almost-daily Olympic specials have been a real treat- great opening summaries of the previous day's events including highlights and some outer-orbit Olympic gems. Levin, also a brilliant writer/journalist, has over the last year become my favorite podcast voice, almost exactly halfway on the personality spectrum between Brian Lehrer and Jon Stewart. Fatsis is, for me, the best afterballer. And as a daily Gistener my dependence on Pesca's voice in my life troubles me the same way my brother's Glenn Beck addiction troubles him. Also i agree with everything otters&puffins said in her/his review last month. Happy to have saved my first itunes review for the best: HUaL.
CRPar
5 out of 5 stars
Not your average sports talk show!
Hang up is not your average sports talk show. Although they do discuss topics of interest from everyones' favorite sports, they also will delve into sports that are not always front and center. Give them a listen!
FellowTrojan
5 out of 5 stars
Intelligent, funny, entertaining, enlightening, etc...
This podcast is so much more than a "sports podcast." Sure, sport is the genesis for discussion, but it's not a couple of bros sitting around in cultural ignorance and spewing misogyny and the like. These guys are smarter, wittier, and more compassionate than any of the other talking heads wasting space on the Internet. Scrutinizing the Hang Up and Listen cannon, sure, I've noted a few inconsistencies, even hypocrisies when one or another of the guys cracks a joke that betrays the ideals voiced in a previous episode. In these moments, their intellectualism teeters on the edge of sounding pretentious. But they're human, and I can't fault them for that. And that's really the only constructive feedback I could give. These guys are so entertaining, so insightful, that I can't help but express my gratitude for continuing to put out such well-thought out and articulate content. Keep up the good work you guys. Also, talk about football (soccer) more. Thanks!
SmashBklyn
5 out of 5 stars
Great for fans and non fans
I've been listening for years and love hearing these guys speak so intelligently about things I never knew or considered in the world of sports. Very enjoyable for a non sporty person like me and an ESPN / BS report follower like my spouse. My favorite of all the Slate podcasts.
jbrewarnold
5 out of 5 stars
Best
Best sports podcast!
dkk260
5 out of 5 stars
love it
it's a nice change of pace from the ranting and raving of sports commentary.
ottersandpuffins
5 out of 5 stars
Three brilliant journalists with great chemistry
Levin, Fatsis, and Pesca are all extremely thoughtful, intelligent, and funny analysts. This podcast is amazing-- it will make you think deeply about important social and cultural issues, and it will educate you about everything from history to statistics. And it will make you laugh more than even the best comedy podcasts. This will change the way you think about sports analysis.
Denny Catlett
3 out of 5 stars
time to end
This used to be an excellent podcast. I started listening in late 2009 or early 2010. But over the years the current podcast has almost become a parody of what it used to be. All three hosts have become the bureaucratic pinheads that they used to make a reasoned case against now they take the easy way out and just rant against.
clthomp2
5 out of 5 stars
Excellent, smart sports commentary
One of my favorite podcasts. Good hosts. Good guests. Great topics.
buffbills83
5 out of 5 stars
A different type of sports pod, love it
Hang Up and Listen is a lighter sports pod that touches more on the human/culture side of sports than the analytical side. It’s typical of a Slate pod, inasmuch that it hits a wide variety of subjects that carry weight on and off the court or field of play. The gang reviews three stories per week, about 15 minutes on each. It’s a lighter listen and can really make you think at times. They touch on a wide variety of sports, so if there is a segment of the pod that I don’t have interest in (they covered cheating in scrabble or something regarding cricket), it’s easy to just fast forward through.
philmc78
5 out of 5 stars
Smart sports talk
In the world of hot takes, Slate's HUAL is the remedy we all need. Josh, Stefan, and Mike clearly do research and think before speaking. The wide range of topics and varied guests make this the best all-around sports podcast that exists. Keep up the great work.
commentator
5 out of 5 stars
Listen weekly
This is my one regular sports journalism/commentary fix. Smart guys, funny guys, who call BS on the inanity of much sports coverage and most sports corruption. I’d like to see them do more in depth discussions outside football, baseball, basketball— and to embrace even more international perspectives and scenes. They never did reply to my long ago email to them about the Queen of Spain’s visit to her country’s national soccer team’s World Cup winning locker room— but I’m still a stalwart fan.
TheBenjaneer
5 out of 5 stars
Excellent broad view on sports
This podcast is what all of the daytime shows on ESPN should be - intelligent looks at a wide swath of sports topics and how they play into the broader context of the news cycle.
@mdjames67
5 out of 5 stars
Slate Plus Member
Great show! Funny, informative, and entertaining.
jards_5
5 out of 5 stars
The Best
As a regular listener to sports podcasts, there simply isn’t a better one you will find, there just isn’t.
gretel
5 out of 5 stars
perfect antidote to ESPN
Josh Levin is my favorite podcast host these days. I love this show and am so grateful I can keep up with the sports world without ever having to watch f'ing sportscenter. intelligent, wide-reaching coverage that makes me laugh. 👍👍
Steve7973
5 out of 5 stars
Excellent podcast
One of my favorite podcasts, and definitely my favorite sports podcast. Witty and erudite hosts, thoughtful and amusing commentary… just a delightful way to spend your time in the car.
Agec057
1 out of 5 stars
What asshats
Supercilious arrogant asshats who think they are just too smart. Unbearable.
DaveInMarietta
5 out of 5 stars
Funny, interesting, smart
Three very smart hosts and their interesting guests discuss the week's sports news without the hysteria of sports radio. I often learn interesting things or hear worthy opinions that I wouldn't have gotten anywhere else.
greatgreenhopper
4 out of 5 stars
The Western Interior Sea is gone
This is a great podcast, but I've decided to stop listening for a while. The reason? The hosts seem to have forgotten there are sports teams that lie west of the Appalachians, east of the Rockies and North of the Gulf states. I understand you can't talk about every sports team under the sun but I would like to hear something more than a passing mention about teams that I cheer for. If you cheer for coastal teams you'll love it, if you are interested in teams from the middle of our country you'll be disappointed. Sorry.
NolanTreadway
5 out of 5 stars
Great stuff
What a wonderful, outstanding sports podcast! So much sports talk is drivel and dumbed-down and this podcast is really interesting and smart (without being overly intellectual).
fpdins
5 out of 5 stars
Great podcast for (smart) sports fans
Very thoughtful interesting sports talk. Not something you want to listen to for technical analysis but there is plenty of that out there. I never miss one of the episodes but that brings me to my next point. A couple things that I don't like. 1. I saw someone say this before: one episode a week is not enough. Tons of stuff happen in any given sports week. I'm sure it takes time and effort to make that happen, and I know that there is this magical thing called Slate plus, but at least two a week would make my year. Well probably not, but at least my week. 2. Guys, we love them, but you don't need an hour for your afterballs. Or, better yet, have two episodes a week, (see above^^) and have one be afterballs and one be other stuff. Keep up the good work. Love it all.
waitingforjerm
2 out of 5 stars
Mike Pesca spoils it.
I've listened for a long time, but I just can't anymore. So much of this podcast is "Mike Pesca's One-Liner Comedy Act", and it just ruins the overall podcast. He hogs the microphone and equates volume (and profanity) with being funny. And it's just the opposite of comedy. There is a lot of smart sports talk here, but I'll wait until I find one that's equally intelligent minus the Pesca.
jorgeRfragoso
5 out of 5 stars
Fair and balanced
Covers primarily the major sports. Sports, media criticism, and NFL whimsy watch. Basically, the same 3 journalists cover 3 different topics every week, and each of them tells a little story at the end. It's pretty great.
tomdwyer
5 out of 5 stars
I like it
It is good
Jimhfoster
5 out of 5 stars
One Podcast That I Never Miss
I think of this as the thinking person's sports show. Three very smart, very insightful people who also happen to be sports junkies.
Corey Haim’s Pizza Delivery
5 out of 5 stars
The Best Sports Coverage Out There
Hang Up and Listen is the podcast I wait eagerly to download each week. The hosts are great, their guests are (usually) terrific, and I love the hosts’ unique take on all things sports. They cover both the major and the minor things going on, and talk more intelligently about the main sports topics than anyone else I’ve heard. Love it.
basieboy
5 out of 5 stars
Thanks
For considering ethical issues. Specifically your eschewing the name of the Washington football train wreck. And also for saying "Remember Zelmo Beatty."
Chris Ht
5 out of 5 stars
Listening with Sepp
Mr. Blatter and I love the show.
damyfix
5 out of 5 stars
smart sports show
Josh has the sharpest wit, Mike has the most interesting insights, and Stefan is your one stop source for all things Greek, handball, Sep Blatter, scrabble, girls' soccer, concussion protocol, 2008 Broncos, and long lists.
Senyh Redlac
5 out of 5 stars
Best Sports Podcast
Thank you guys for putting together such an entertaining and thoughtful podcast. I appreciate your humor, preparation, and educated opinions.
Professor Dave
5 out of 5 stars
Finally, conversations about sports that aren’t mind-numbingly stupid!
Every week, the lazy complacency of the conventional wisdom gets blown to bits on HUAL. Josh, Stefan, and Mike complement one another in temperament and perspective, and they have developed a great chemistry. The sports world is overflowing with clichés and unexamined platitudes. If you routinely find yourself wondering, “Is that actually true? Is there any empirical evidence for that?” you should tune into HUAL every week and get some relief.
Appuser314
5 out of 5 stars
Getting smarter every podcast
Make sure you have a dictionary ready and enjoy the podcast
jeddmax
5 out of 5 stars
Pinnacle of...whatever it is they do
These guys have absolutely reinvented (was anyone else doing it before?...) smart sports. Without diving too deep into the details of playing sports (see any piece of media that will demonstrate, say, 30 minutes on Mariano's cutter) this show has the totally appropriate balance of knowledge (more than average - but only a bit more), perspective (people LOVE sports but it's still ONLY sports) and intelligence (knowledge and intelligence are different things (for all you FOX NEWS types)) - minimal number of people saying "like or um in a sentence" and proper use of the spoken word. If Bill Simmons never existed these 3 would be the most important sports media specialists for the literate.
Stingeyb
5 out of 5 stars
Bar none, the best sports podcast
No hot takes, just smart conversation.
RBD66GSO
5 out of 5 stars
Intelligent sports talk
Three distinctly different voices tackle issues and make you think. If you aren't afraid of intellectual heft with your sports chatter, you'll find this a highlight of your week.
40kDad
5 out of 5 stars
My number one sports podcast
I look forward to this every week and it's pacing humor and reporting have made it my favorite sports podcast.
JohnW-703
5 out of 5 stars
Remedy for sports talk idiocy
Great show. Well thought out topics, good discussion and humor.
Penguin7975
5 out of 5 stars
Funny, intelligent and insightful
I know this is an exceptional show because my husband listens to it, and he hates watching/following sports almost as much as I love it! Every week at least one segment addresses an issue of sports as part of our political/cultural landscape, and the "afterball" segments are incredible works of journalism and historical research. I've listened to archived episodes just for the enjoyment, and the conversations are still relevant. Now that I'm caught up, I check my phone every hour on Monday to see when the new episode is posted. Thanks guys!
CalPed
5 out of 5 stars
Sad I'm so late to the party
Just started listening in 2014. Wish I'd started a lot sooner. Love the show
Buckeye_Brad_79
5 out of 5 stars
Best Sports Podcast Ever
Fanstic weekly sports podcast which always has interesting and intelligent discussions on issues in sports, some of them popular topics but also sometimes far out of the national narrative. These guys have great chemistry and this is a must-listen for any sports fan.
IndySteveIndy
5 out of 5 stars
Best Sports Podcast Ever
These guys are great. This has become my favorite Sports Podcast (sorry Tony and Mike!).
veejaydee
5 out of 5 stars
The Only SportsTalk Worth Listening To
Sports radio stinks. As another reviewer says, this podcast is just the opposite. I am a Slate Plus subscriber, paying $5 a month, and it's worth it just to get this podcast ad-free, with a bonus segment, each week. Remember Zelmo Beaty and subscribe today.
Timchi24
5 out of 5 stars
Great Sports Podcast
Always interesting no matter the subject, great conversations about sports and all the things surrounding sports. Hosts are knowledgable and thoughtful, makes for great listening and I find myself learning and being interested in sports that I usually don't pay attention to. Really good program.
InOnIt
5 out of 5 stars
One of my favorites
Pesca is the man
jkr7977
3 out of 5 stars
Shorten up the afterballs, guys
The show averages 65 minutes, and at least 15 minutes of that is listening to their recommendations at the end of the show. Often, they are so long I forget what they are even talking about.
goatymcgoat
5 out of 5 stars
Perfect, except for the puns.
You'd think that with the Gist, Pesca would no longer need to use puns. Wrong! HUAL is perfect except for the puns.
deantoulan
5 out of 5 stars
Great, Thoughtful Sports Discussion
I’ve been meaning to write a review of this podcast for a year. It really is the best sports discussion out there. Josh and Mike are awesome. All likable guys, but at first I had to get over Fatsis forcing soccer, Scrabble and field goal kicking into nearly every podcast. Whatever the opposite of the joke ESPN has become, this is it. Great stuff.
shunterjensen
5 out of 5 stars
Intelligent people talk about sports
A witty and wildly rambunctious discussion of sports. How many other sports talk shows go deep into the history of obscure sports and athletes, and are laugh out loud funny. Oh, and you might catch the occasional Star Wars reference.
Apants
3 out of 5 stars
great but dated
I really enjoy this podcast. i'm only allowing three stars because it needs to be published more frequently. only once a week is not near enough. by the time it is published, often the topic of conversation has happened a week ago. by that time i'm tired of hearing about it. sports happen every day, hang up and listen should too. or at least three times a week..
MommyMegn
5 out of 5 stars
Intelligent Sports Talk Radio
Any sports talk show where the host correctly uses the term "regression to the mean" correctly is going to be a good show. We need more smart men having intelligent conversation about what's going on the world of sports.
Designerloveryearmarried
2 out of 5 stars
It's the playoffs right?
I really like the panel, but how do you have an hour-long show and not discuss the NBA playoffs?! I kept checking the date on the podcast to see if I was in an old episode! The discussions are great, but the show needs to keep its priorities straight.
MeAlso2
5 out of 5 stars
The opposite of Rome (and that’s a good thing!)
I’ve been listening to these guys for a few years. I really like their intellectual walk through of current sports issues. They get into smart, but entertaining (and funny) discussions about current events and what is driving trends on and off the playing surface.
DepRun
3 out of 5 stars
Less and Less About Sports
For a long while, this was a revelation: sports talk a hundred times smarter than anything else out there. All three guys were (and are) intelligent, well-informed, and witty. But for the last few months, the show has become a degrading contest between the three as to who can have the most progressive political position on every topic—no debate, no dissent, just each trying to outdo the other. I don’t necessarily mind discussing the intersection of politics and sports, and sometimes I even agree with the opinions, but sports has become secondary on this show.
Charles H. Bryan
5 out of 5 stars
For smart sports fans
If you like discussions of sports that tend to not just throw red meat to the idiots, this is the podcast for you. It's bright, it's funny, it's insightful, it's informative, and it's sometimes silly (in an entertaining way). You'll get to hear from some guests who you wouldn't get to hear from in other media, and you'll get to hear about some topics that don't get covered as much in other shows. Even if you don't like sports all that much, you just might enjoy this podcast.
k-austria
5 out of 5 stars
Best Weekly Podcast
I can't wait for Mondays so I can listen to Hang Up and Listen. These guys are so smart and funny! Add them to your playlist ASAP. Thanks Slate.
A Syzygy
5 out of 5 stars
Witty show that covers both mainstream and niche interest sports
The hosts take sports seriously in the same way that carnival barkers take the Big Top seriously. Entertaining and engaging.
rugbycritic
5 out of 5 stars
Erudite Analysis of Sport
The best part of the show are the After Balls. Each host develops a topical and interesting story about sport that is at times poignant and always compelling. Their coverage of mainstream US sports is complete, while bringing in important high(low)lights from around the globe. I especial enjoyed their coverage of 2011 Rugby World Cup with the Americans being fantastically hosted by my Kiwi friends. HUaL is a weekly must listen for me, as well as the other (lesser) Slate podcasts. Remember Zelmo Beatty.
jon3337076
5 out of 5 stars
Excellent stuff.
I’m writing because I realized the other day that I can’t listen to other sports podcasts — I just don’t have the patience for them. Not even the ones that focus more narrowly on my favorite teams or sports. What makes these guys a cut above is their combination of wit, preparation, journalistic skills, range of interests and ability to discuss sports in a broader social context. I don’t even have to care about their topics — stuff occasionally gets a little too NY-centric for my liking — I’m still reeled in.
Truffles4ever
5 out of 5 stars
Mike and the mad dog
I love the story about taking calls during Hurricane Sandy. No wonder either you love or hate Francesca
Dcan12345
5 out of 5 stars
Live Show
I've been a listener for about a year now. Generally I like the show, though I'm not really a baseball fan so those segments tend to bore me. However, I love the outside perspective. I really value when the hosts call out irresponsible concussion reporting and other athlete abuse stories. The live show, particularly the interview and questions sections were superlative. I love em'. Keep the show coming please.
MikeTV14
5 out of 5 stars
Refreshing
It's an intelligent, non-sensationalized sports talk show, with a delightful amount of personality and humor. The hosts are cool-headed and knowledgeable, while still maintaining a great degree of perspective on how ridiculous sports and sports culture are in America. It's a shame more sports shows aren't like this.
frommaui66
5 out of 5 stars
Increase Your IQ..just tune in.
This has got to be the wittiest, consistently wry and most intelligent sports podcast…EVER! Listening to the guys making hilariously arcane observations about sports and related events around the world is like getting a Masters Degree in Smart and Funny Sportstalk. This show is one of the few podcasts I listen to regularly.
Joe in Boise
5 out of 5 stars
One of a kind.
Funnier than most comedy podcasts. This podcast covers sports of all kind with wit and emotion. Guests are well chosen experts. Cant reccomend highly enough even though they do sometimes ramble on about Scrabble (which is not a sport!).
beckfat
5 out of 5 stars
Hang Up and Listen is fascinating and hilarious.
I listen to a lot of podcasts, and while I enjoy sports, I'm not a fanatic. But Hang Up and Listen is hands down my favorite podcast. It's a great blend of smart, funny, obscure, accessible, and totally fascinating.
Displaced Boston Sports Fan
5 out of 5 stars
Smart and Fun
I love the ESPN manufactured debate shows as much as the next sports fan, but if you are looking for intelligent, witty sports discussion, Hang Up and Listen is the podcast of your dreams. Subscribe and make time for it every week.
Mike Hickerson
5 out of 5 stars
The Best Sports Podcast
Hang Up and Listen is so good that I listen even when they're talking about sports I don't care about.
elwesq
5 out of 5 stars
intelligent and witty
I listen to this on my long run every weekend- the guys are funny and engaging. The miles go by much faster listening to Josh and Stefan and Mike. My only wish would be to have the show come out later in the week- long run day is Saturday and it kills me to wait until then to listen! Love the show, and I'm far from a rabid sports fan. Its always a must listen.
bhspdx
5 out of 5 stars
Great, thoughtful sports commentary
Their takes are not always correct (heh), but they are respectful and thoughtful. Their topics are varied, and their guests are similarly knowledgeable. Their end-of-podcast blurbs are ridiculously researched and unique.
countfathom
5 out of 5 stars
You are wasting your time...
if you are listening to any OTHER sports podcast. Even though they seem to find baseball interesting, this is the gold standard for sports journalism.
bigtenfreak
1 out of 5 stars
March 11th podcast was horrible
Normally a fan of this podcast but the 3/11 podcast was well, well below the usual standards. J Levine buried the needle in coming across as a dismissive jerk when discussing the World Baseball Classic and refusing to acknowledge that everyone outside of the U.S. is enjoying this event. The interview with Jay Bilas had some interesting elements but when Bilas grouses about how college basketball is currently being played he is doing a 'get off my lawn' schtick that would do anyone over the age of 80 proud. The guy from Mother Jones was truly interesting, but he was given short shrift as apparently everyone deemed it more important to consume time mocking the WBC or giving Old Man Bilas a platform for his whining. Boooooo
johne_b
5 out of 5 stars
A smart, slightly nerdy take on sports
Consistently entertaining banter between smart fans who take a different take on the stories in sports. Download it. You'll be glad you did.
aogaby5
5 out of 5 stars
Great podcast!
Love to listen to you guys on my way to work.
Matty_munch
5 out of 5 stars
Good show
Smart and entertaining.
Tubtoot
5 out of 5 stars
Best sports talk around.
Goes deeper than the typically shallow sports discussions.
dcvanriper
5 out of 5 stars
Fantastic show
I've listened to every Hang Up and Listen episode, and I never tire of it! The guys do a great job recapping the week in sports, and they realy seem to enjoy one another. I also enjoy the guests they bring on to discuss the issues.
MnWreckingCrew
1 out of 5 stars
Sheer idiocy
I've never heard a more ignorant collection of blowhards. They know absolutely nothing about the subjects they rant about, and show an appalling lack of tact when spewing their ignorance. Case in point: saying that a former Baltimore football player's Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's Disease) was most likely caused by his football career. That is an amazingly ignorant and stupid thing to say, not to mention a slur against all of the people who have and will die from this cruel and insidious disease. Shame on everyone associated with this vile program.
Doug Pick
5 out of 5 stars
Loves Hang Up and Listen
Each week I get to spend an hour (roughly) with three of the best sports reporter/thinkers in the business. Instead of hyperbole and bombast, they rely on observation and discussion. It is a wonderful listening experience! I particularly enjoyed the segment a few years ago about an article on what it was like to be an African-American athlete earlier in the 20th century. Very thought provoking and enjoyable. I recommend this podcast to anyone, regardless of whether you are an avid sports fan or someone who simply is interested in sports as an aspect of culture.
AlyoshaPopovich
5 out of 5 stars
What Sports Radio Should Be
This show is smart, funny and engaging. It really does move the bar higher within the genre of sports talk radio.
B-Dice
5 out of 5 stars
Great Show!
Highbrow sports commentary. These guys are a welcome alternative to the standard screaming talking heads out there. Passionate and informed. They do their homework and bring their A game every week. Love this podcast.
m00nsh1ner
4 out of 5 stars
Great repartee and smart analysis
But leaves much to be desired in terms of discussing the things that people actually care about. They spend the majority of their time discussing the NHL and the NBA even though they're two of the least popular sports and it's the offseason. Right now people want to talk about NFL, CFB, and MLB. I really dig the guys, don't get me wrong, but I'm really disappointed at the lack of World Series coverage in comparison to some inane NHL or NBA stuff. I've found myself finding it a hassle to listen because they talk so much about things I don't care about. Guys, I love you, but I really wish you would spend the majority of your podcasts discussing the sports in season.
MattDuffy
5 out of 5 stars
Brilliant!
I am a heavy-duty podcast listener, but was only recently introduced to "Hang Up and Listen." It is intelligent, informative, insightful, relevant, funny, lean, and all-around brilliant. Podcasts don't get much better than this.
Michael Lynch
5 out of 5 stars
Thoroughly entertaining
Thoroughly entertaining
Maggie1517
5 out of 5 stars
Something I look forward to every week
Smart, funny, insightful sports talk - and so much more. Thanks, guys! Y'all rock!
k_www
5 out of 5 stars
They Told Me To Do It
The highest quality sports podcast available. More focused and with less drivel, Hang Up and Listen shouldn't be the only sports podcast you listen to, but as a once a week supplement, you won't find better.
Slippy Noodles
3 out of 5 stars
Unfortunately does not cover enough
It is truly great to be able to hear sports talk conducted in an intelligent and level-headed forum. Unfortunately the show has some gaping holes in it - most notably the dearth of coverage given to baseball and basketball. Even during these sports seasons, HU&L pays frequent attention to soccer (always soccer!), football, and a range of lesser-followed and sometimes esoteric sports. Meh.
mthomas_mi
4 out of 5 stars
Best sports on web
It's wonderful to hear intelligent conversations. A must for thoughtful sports fans.
The bossjan
5 out of 5 stars
Top sports podcast
In a day and age where sports journalism has hit an all-time low, this group still sparkles
Canavansbackyard
5 out of 5 stars
Excellent!
Just when you think an intelligent discussion of sports-related topics is impossible, we are treated to Josh Levin, Sefan Fatsis, and Mike Pesca. The trio, all smart and well-informed, are able to provide us with a sober, balanced, yet witty assessment of some of the big weekly sporting events that is refreshingly free of the moral hysteria, lazy platitudes, and hoary cliches that all too often dominate similar conversations. Keep up the great work.
podview
5 out of 5 stars
Sports talk like no other
They talk about sports in a way that is more intelligent than the news broadcasting styles of ESPN or SI. They cover great topics, are well spoken, and often very witty; offering perspectives that you don't usually get to here. It's refreshing and definitely one of the best podcasts around.
mjaltman
5 out of 5 stars
What Sports Talk Should Be
It's like Aaron Sorkin wrote a sports talk show.
Dan Heaton
5 out of 5 stars
Best Sports Podcast Out There
Hang Up and Listen is one of my favorite podcasts and puts other sports podcasts to shame. Josh, Stefan, and Mike provide informative discussions about the latest sports news and also have a lot of fun at the same time. They aren't afraid to question the general consensus about a particular story or sports icon. I also like how they question the way sports are covered and sometimes disagree when tackling the major issues. Great podcast!
THNK1st
5 out of 5 stars
Great spin on sports!
These guys bring a highbrow level of humor to sports discussions and stories that is not found anywhere else. Yes, this might sound stuffy, but it is far from it. Just about every week they bring out the angles and story lines to the latest sports that is just plain unique. They are hilarious and really know their stuff!
EHEC 0157:H7
5 out of 5 stars
Ambivalent towards sports but freaking love this podcast
Pesca and Josh are priceless. Stefan's kind of the surly old foil but his affection for kickers, handball, and Scrabble (and of course the blue-blazered European sportocrat impression) makes him a key member of the team. The highlight of Tuesday mornings here in Japan.
Kronstanople
4 out of 5 stars
For the Sophisticated Sports Fan
If you are a fan of ESPN, you might not like this podcast. If you are a fan of ESPN Ocho, you'll probably love it. These three delve into topics that are truely rare in the sports world. Don't be surprised if they have a segment on girl's table tennis in China. Usually I find that I love at least one segment, find one segment fairly interesting, and one segment a little too obsure for my tastes. And never have I heard trival questions so odd. Sometimes I can't wait to hear how he unravels it, at other times I'm just not that into it as I roll my eyes. But what I really love about this podcast is that they are willing to go in depth, talk about an issue for 15 minutes. The best you can hope for in other places might be five good minutes. If you are interested in the topic, there is no better place to hear three guys chattering about it. They cover stories that I don't hear elsewhere. For that it's worth checking out - even if you have to occasionally fastforward it.
Kerouac9
5 out of 5 stars
Best D@mn Sports Podcast Ever
I'd recommend HU&L to any thoughtful sports fan. This is the antidote to Jim Rome's Jungle, in that they have thoughtful conversations not only about sport, but about the ways and whys that sports are reported. The cordial atmosphere between the hosts and guests is great. I've never walked away from an episode a less knowledgeable or invested sports fan.
mrsmonique2
4 out of 5 stars
not a big sports fan, but...
i really enjoy listening to this show! :)
Jamestheallen
5 out of 5 stars
Great sports pod
Really enjoy hang up and listen. Intelligent, clear-eyed sports discussion. They highlight great sports articles from the past week and have smart guests. Great for anyone tired of the cliched narratives pushed by espn
Mike in Berkeley
5 out of 5 stars
Simply the best sports podcast there is
After slogging through many of ESPN's lame efforts, it's refreshing to hear these three guys bring some intelligence and humor to the topic. All three, Levin, Fatsis and Pesca are great, and their chemistry is wonderful. Everyone out there doing podcasts, sports or otherwise, should listen to these guys to get a lesson on how it's done right.
Justin Fenton
5 out of 5 stars
Best sports hour of the week
HUAL is the best sports show in any format. Great balance of intelligence, hilarity, guest speakers and listener interaction. Keep up the great work guys!
ELHIII
5 out of 5 stars
Grapefruit
If you have a computer and like some sports you should listen to this podcast.
7JCW
5 out of 5 stars
Mike Pesca is my hero!
Mike Pesca's informal rewrite and performance of Oklahoma as a musical about the NBA is hands-down the most awesome thing that I have ever heard from any sports media. I spent the better portion of a week chuckling like a maniac when portions of it popped back into my brain.
Norm318
5 out of 5 stars
Three smart and funny guys talk sports
This show represents the best in thoughtful and extremely entertaining sports talk. The three guys come prepared, are almost never bombastic, as in many sports talk shows, and inform as well as entertain. Their guests on the show are always very knowledgable and add a great deal to the show's value. Hang Up and Listen is the one that I look forward to each week.
dlanguage
5 out of 5 stars
Engaging and funny
Sports radio has nothing on these guys! I love the cerebral approach that they take to sports which really allows them to stand out from the crowd of other sports commentaries.
P&Js
4 out of 5 stars
Great sports conversation
The focus on off the wall or poorly covered things in sports is refreshing. The irreverence and poking fun at the world of sports is also welcome, after all, we're talking about game.
mshapiro
5 out of 5 stars
55 minutes of hilarious, funny, thoughtful, and interesting every week!
I've lived in Big 10 towns for the last 10 years and never watched a football game; I've not seen a basketball game since high school; I've never watched golf, tennis, etc., etc. And yet I LOVE this podcast: yes, it talks about sports & athletes, but it does so in a way that gets at why sports matter and not why sports can seem (sometimes) silly and pointless. It is, on reflection, better than any podcast but Planet Money in that it explains the ideas and events that underlie our culture and world. Pesca, Fatsis, and Levin may be the best 3-person talk team you will ever hear.
erikwmark
5 out of 5 stars
well done.
i regularly listen to a few sports podcasts and this is the one i am excited for each week.
@kcopen
5 out of 5 stars
Like a Beacon in the Fog
If your an intelligent sports fan that has been worn down and demoralized by what passes for sports talk radio, it is almost jarring to listen to the Hang up and Listen podcast. I've pretty much dreamt about this kind of show since the days when Mike and the Mad Dog were at their peak in the early 90's (they soon became parodies of themselves and are now unlistenable, but back then they were legitimately good, i know it's hard to believe). Since then sports talk radio has devolved into what it's become today, the likes of Colin Cowherd, Steven A. Smith and Skip Bayless (hmmm who do they all work for again?), ranting at you, trolling for reaction, throwing crap against the wall to stir things up. In a word, pure hell for anyone looking for a semblance of intelligent conversation about sports. Thankfully podcasting has given rise to a medium that allows for intelligent people to create long-form discussions without torturous commercial breaks every 5 minutes or the need to satisfy the sweeps cycle. Few are better then the Hang Up and Listen podcast. These guys are really great, i'm actually excited to hear it every week. You will actually get pertinent, intelligent discussion about the doings of each week in sports, usually covering 3 topics or so in some depth. The conversation is smart, funny, witty, intelligent and definitely worth listening too. My only regret is that it's not on more often, how about twice a week guys!
AMJROSS
5 out of 5 stars
Great !
Entertaining and informative! I really enjoy the podcast. I love the soccer/football coverage.
MaineAle
1 out of 5 stars
If your two favorite subjects are field goal kicking and Scrabble this is the podcast for you
Otherwise, find a different podcast would be my suggestion.
@NjGreene
5 out of 5 stars
The only sports podcast I listen to
A smart, constantly new show, worth listening to every week. Do I like hockey, skiing, or any number of other sports? Nope. Do I find their conversations about them definitely worth listening to? Oh yes. If you only subscribe to one sports podcast, this should be the one. If you only subscribe to 5 podcasts, this should be one of them.
Joeyjojo222
5 out of 5 stars
Smartest sports talk there is
It really is
Accionben
5 out of 5 stars
Best sports coverage around
Great, smart, funny show. If you care about sports at all it's a must download.
lil-quinha
5 out of 5 stars
Hilarious and thought-provoking.
Great listen for sports fans who don't go for the lowest common denominator
doyoulikedonuts
5 out of 5 stars
A real gem!
Slate's Hang Up and Listen is your one-stop shop for timely sports news and analysis presented in a humorous yet informative way. Between this and the Sklars, you really don't need anything else.
MN DBR
5 out of 5 stars
Top notch
I'm at best a very casual sports fan, but I love this podcast. It features intelligent, yet fun discussions. I particularly like their probing into the difficult ethical issues that come up in professional and collegiate sports. No whitewashing here. One of my very favorite podcasts.
doc ws
5 out of 5 stars
Greatest Sports Talk...Ever
After this podcast, all other sports talk shows are flimsy, cliched shadows. I hope this airs forever.
PJ Vermont
5 out of 5 stars
The Best Sports Talk
Very simply, the most intelligent sports talk on air.
Derm318
5 out of 5 stars
My favorite hour of the week
What could be better than having 3 literate and funny guys talk sports. The conversation is almost always interesting, lucid, topical and educational. I like hearing about sports about which I usually have absolutely no interest (e.g. soccer). My only quibble is that the topics tend to have a distinct east coast bent. As a westerner, I sometimes feel a little left out when the conversation centers around the Mets and all those mediocre east coast college basketball programs. Please continue this show forever.
Der-K 2
5 out of 5 stars
5*
5*
lookoutcoffeemaker
5 out of 5 stars
best show, podcast, radio, or TV
This is by far the show, podcast, radio, or TV, I most look forward to each week. Smart and funny discussion of sports for sports fans who can't stand typical shouting in sports reporting. You will learn, be entertained, and laugh out loud (if you listen in the car by yourself).
claskowski
5 out of 5 stars
The best
The best. The best. The best. I like this podcast.
Chimps In Suits
4 out of 5 stars
A welcome alternative
If you're sick of espn (like me) then Slate's "Hang Up And Listen" is a welcome alternative on the sports talk scene. The hosts are both thoughtful and curious which is a breath of fresh air when compared to the glut of know-it-all, cynical, screaming matches that pass for entertainment on ESPN. My only complaint is that there aren't more shows like this available. These guys are good. I put them in a category with Joe Posnanski, Frank Deford, and Peter King although they're a notch below the great Tony Kornheiser.
VictoriaH15
5 out of 5 stars
Best sports podcast out there, period.
I subscribe to many sports podcasts and this is by far the best. Stefan, Josh and Mike speak intelligently about every sport they discuss and often uncover new and interesting stories within the world of sports. I could not recommend this podcast enough!
Silverjman
5 out of 5 stars
Great!
Love the show, love the hosts... now, love the breadth of topics. Listen only if u want great insights your friend aren't getting anywhere else.
jbeckr
1 out of 5 stars
very impressed with themselves
not much sports info. alot of banter to show you how clever they are.
Beatuofa
5 out of 5 stars
Smart sports talk
I like the way the guys challenge conventional thinking but in a thoughtful, rational vein - no mindless ranting or being obnoxious just for the sake of stirring the pot. My one quibble is that sometimes they can edge too far over to the snooty side, but all in all they rein themselves in and deliver the smartest sports podcast you're gonna find.
cozmo buchar
5 out of 5 stars
Thoughtful, cool sports opinions
I think hang up is my favorite podcast. I listen right away. I cannot get enough of mike pesca. The commentary is very deep but they don't take themselves too seriously. Good coverage of smaller sports too.
Colorado listener
5 out of 5 stars
Favorite All Time Podcast
At least my favorite after the Guardian's Football Weekley. So, my favorite non-soccer podcast. Great thoughtful sports coverage.
Gbix33
4 out of 5 stars
Enough soccer
+1 @VBinNV But overall great podcast - possibly best sports podcast anywhere.
VBinNV
2 out of 5 stars
Enough with the Soccer Already
I can understand you guys pimping Bing (they're a sponsor), but the time and energy expended on everyone's daughters' favourite game is getting old old old.
Juju Guy
5 out of 5 stars
Thoughtful and funny
The best, most insightful, intelligent, and funny sports commentary around. All 3 play off each other well, good guests, great show.
OkJeff
5 out of 5 stars
Intelligent talk about sports
Intelligent talk about sports
Data-Driven Reviews
5 out of 5 stars
Five-Star Sports Podcast
I gave this podcast five stars and I never give anything five stars! Once I started listening to Hang Up and Listen, I never went back to terrestrial sports-talk radio. You never realize just how trite other sports shows are until you've listened to these three gentlemen discuss sports. Incisive, funny, and witty: Hang Up and Listen is the GREATEST PODCAST EVER!
Da23rdBuchan
5 out of 5 stars
Great show
Sports analysis stripped of typical sports radio tropes. Only downside is that it's only one once a week...
mmascolino
5 out of 5 stars
Intelligent sports discussion
These guys are smart, not prone to cliche and a joy to listen to. It is a refreshing change of pace of how most sports talk is presented.
Jww29160
5 out of 5 stars
Outstanding
Well-read and interesting. By far the best sports talk program out today.
maggiehobbs100
5 out of 5 stars
The best
There are so very many high quality podcasts out there for so many subjects. Sport is one of the areas where there are *not* good choices. HUAL is the exception. It's outstanding.
Hammering Hamp
5 out of 5 stars
Never miss it
My Monday afternoons are spent waiting for this podcast. Simply the most enjoyable hour of sports commentary I know of.
1brown1
5 out of 5 stars
Weekly. Must listen
This show is an extremely insightful look at the week in sports. Really like the the afterballs and weekly trivia question
EarthPpl
5 out of 5 stars
No comparison for sports
HUAL is everything sports discussion should be with none of the obnoxious filler that is found everywhere else.
cm_jeff
5 out of 5 stars
Epitome of sports talk
Finally, a podcast for the cerebral sports fan! Gotta love the preparation and research that goes into each show. One of the few podcasts that I never miss - it never disappoints.
Darting Wexford
5 out of 5 stars
Good work
So glad they don't feel compelled to talk about women's sports that no one cares about. That sort of misguided deference to political correctness ruins a lot of otherwise fine sports coverage. Keep talking about things that are interesting. Love the program.
stovegenie
4 out of 5 stars
I love this podcast but I have constructive criticism...
The content is excellent. The format is engaging. The 3 hosts are brilliant and very funny. But the audio quality is cringe-inducing. Am I the only fan that is driven crazy by the sibilant sound of this podcast? Maybe a little more compression would help?
EmmaTav
3 out of 5 stars
Diversify Please!
Good as long as you aren't looking for commentary on women's sports.
jpjohnson007
5 out of 5 stars
Great Show!
Intelligent sports talk is so rare. It seems like they can cover all important topics in fifty minutes a week. It's a great alternative to the monotonous ESPN world.
apcclle
5 out of 5 stars
Highpoint of my Monday
Josh, Mike, and Stefan have supplanted the Political Gabfest as my new favorite podcast. Keep it up and keep me engaged in sports while football is in the off-season!! PS - Still love the Thursday show, John Dickerson is the greatest political correspondent in the business today.
chaz inside a Milwaukee Perogi
5 out of 5 stars
Best sports "week in review" podcast
Of all the Slate gabfests, this team really does have the best chemistry. Also they treat their topics with the right reverence/irreverence, pointing out possible reasons for Lakers wins while still noting that Ron Artest hit the biggest shot of his career simply by not going as insane as expected, etc. I look forward to this one ever Monday.
AreJ
5 out of 5 stars
Best sports podcast
Far and away the best sports podcast on the hyper-web. Look forward to it every week.
RaspyPuma
5 out of 5 stars
Excellent
Intelligent, thoughtful sports talk. Very well done
js44043
2 out of 5 stars
Know-it-all NPR types
If you are too good for normal sports talk radio shows -- and/or most people -- you will probably like this show. It's what ESPN would sound like if it were run by Ira Glass: Think Gen-X, pseudo-intellectual, newspaper reporters running amok in a sound booth.
Nate Shivar
5 out of 5 stars
Brilliant - Even For non-sports addicts
Ok, I hate sports talk radio. In fact the whole sports talk radio culture drove me away from everything sports for a couple of years. Thankfully, Hang Up and Listen has brought me back to a more intelligent appreciation of sport. I love this sports podcast. It's smart, concise, coherent, and doesn't have that inane faux-jock attitude that pervades sports radio. Levin and Pesca have single-handedly brought me back to appreciate sports. They help me to intelligently talk sports to anyone - without having to keep up with all the ESPN daily detritus. Subscribe, and enjoy.
Will_E_in_Rhody
5 out of 5 stars
Three funny, well-informed guys
These are the guys you want to hear talk about sports instead of the blowhards on AM radio: they know their material, they know each other, and they are having fun. They each have different areas of expertise (did you know that Fatsis was an NFl kicker? True!), and don't pretend to too much. I wish it was more than 45 minutes long, or more often than once a week, but I am glad for what we do get.
gggcc
4 out of 5 stars
Generally good, but a bit stuck in the past
These guys are quite intellegent and eloquent, and the podcast is fairly interesting. But they are a little narrow minded at times, sort of stuck in the big newspaper reporter world once in a while, unable to look at things from other perspectives or tolerate any sort of deviancy when commenting on their peers. Reminds me of a good NPR show.
omnoir
4 out of 5 stars
Sportstalk for the rest of us
This is intelligent, light hearted sportstalk; refreshingly free of the typical AM radio antics.
powpow
4 out of 5 stars
A refreshing sports podcast
An intelligent, thoughtful discussion on sports.........yes, it actually exists. This a great podcast, and it's so refreshing compared to the usual ESPN screaming matches and dumbed-down banter. My only suggestion: go from three topics to four, as sometimes they get bogged down on a topic. Forty minutes is plenty of time for four topics and cocktail chatter. Keep up the good work!
Scott_Roberts
5 out of 5 stars
Excellent show
This instantly became my most anticipated show from Slates distinguished lineup of stellar shows/gabfests. It's like an extended NPR sports piece with Fatsis and Pesca here. And the chemistry is great. Thank you!
ryanhealy
5 out of 5 stars
Refreshing.
This is the anti-ESPN/Fox Sports podcast. In other words, the panel doesn't scream at you, yell at each other, or needlessly sensationalize every sports story they cover. If you're a fan of Woody Paige, Jim Rome, or Stephen A. Smith, this podcast is NOT for you. However, if you like intelligent, calm, rational, and entertaining discussions, subscribe immediately. Very refreshing.
codder
5 out of 5 stars
Not your Average Sports Joe
It's nice to hear 3 intelligent guys talk sports.
Commutebybike
5 out of 5 stars
Hang up and enjoy
Excellent insight and entertaining. Great to hear a thoughtful discussion of sports minus the platitudes.
WittyRejoinder
5 out of 5 stars
Great conversation from experienced writers
Exactly the kind of quality conversation I expect from other podcasts in the Slate family. I enjoy the counterweight to the noise of sports radio and obnoxious podcasts.
RJ Nuxy
5 out of 5 stars
Super way to commute
Imagine being able to commute on a train in a 4-sestet with three smart, funny guys who love sports. Well imagine no more. Pesca excels. This is a funny guy. The only thing missing is better beer than the fosters oil cans they sell at Grand Central.
Seabendy
5 out of 5 stars
It's pretty much the exact opposite of Sports Talk Radio.
I guess that's what happens when you put smart, funny and interesting people in front of the microphone. Strong opinions, plenty of snark, tons of knowledge and no hyperbolic shouting. It's a relief to listen to smart sports talk. All three of these guys are great and a pleasure to read or listen to. Getting them all together on one podcast is awesome. This is what I imagine NPR's sports show would be like if NPR ever manage to get a good sports show together. Nice work, Slate!
Mr. Public Media
5 out of 5 stars
Pesca Rocks
I would listen to Mike Pesca discuss how cheese is made, so subscribing to this is a no-brainer. Thanks Slate!
Podcast information
- Amount of episodes
- 504
- Subscribers
- 49
- Verified
- No
- Website
- Explicit content
- Yes
- Episode type
- episodic
- Podcast link
- https://podvine.com/link/..
- Last upload date
- January 30, 2023
- Last fetch date
- February 4, 2023 8:58 AM
- Upload range
- WEEKLY
- Author
- Slate Podcasts
- Copyright
- ©2018 The Slate Group
susbcribers
- Mikaela Shiffrin Is AmazingJoel Anderson and Stefan Fatsis are joined by Lindsay Jones of the Ringer to break down the NFL conference championship games, won by the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs. Joel, Stefan, and Josh Levin discuss the impact of college athletes finally making money through name, image, and likeness rights. Finally, an interview with former Olympian Edie Thys Morgan about Mikaela Shiffrin, who is on the verge of becoming the winningest ski racer of all time. NFL (3:49): The biggest takeaways from the NFL conference championship games. NIL (27:49): Is college sports funding declining because athletes are getting money? Mikaela Shiffrin (50:48): The skier is one World Cup win from tying Ingemar Stenmark’s all-time record. Afterball (1:06:46): Stefan talks to Leander Schaerlaeckens about Weston McKennie, Leeds, and the U.S. men’s national soccer team.0 comments0
- NBC’s Tony Dungy ProblemJoel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin assess the divisional round of the NFL playoffs. They also discuss Tony Dungy’s history of anti-gay rhetoric, and whether NBC and the NFL should do something about it. Finally, Slate contributor Isaac Butler joins to talk about the rise of American men at the Australian Open and Netflix’s tennis reality series Break Point. NFL (5:37): The biggest takeaways from the weekend’s games. Dungy (26:19): Should the ex-coach still be on television? Tennis (47:49): Who are all these new American stars? Is Break Point worth watching? Afterball (1:11:37): Josh on Shannon Sharpe, Vernon Maxwell, and NBA fracases.0 comments0
- Bye-Bye Brady?Joel Anderson and Josh Levin are joined by Bomani Jones to discuss the Cowboys’ blowout win over the Bucs and other storylines from the opening weekend of the NFL playoffs. They also talk about all the high-scoring games in the NBA this season. Finally, Joel and Josh interview pool legend Jeanette Lee, aka the Black Widow, who’s featured in the new documentary Jeanette Lee Vs. NFL (4:23): Is Tom Brady going to retire? Should he? NBA (25:42): Why are so many players putting up 50-point games? And is all that scoring good for the sport? Jeanette Lee (46:47): The Black Widow speaks about her life and career. Afterball (1:02:33): Joel on the sad decline of Georgetown basketball.0 comments0
- The Bulldogs Stomped the FrogsJoel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin talk about Georgia’s win over TCU in the college football title game. They also discuss Damar Hamlin’s remarkable recovery and how the NFL has tried to move on. Finally, they assess the Berhalter-Reyna rift that’s tearing apart U.S. men’s soccer. Georgia-TCU (2:26): What it’s like to be on the wrong side of one of the biggest blowouts in sports history. Hamlin (25:10): Watching pro football a week after the Bills safety’s near-death on the field. U.S. soccer (48:59): The pettiness and sadness of a family dispute that’s gone public. Afterball (1:07:20): Josh on a college basketball replay controversy.0 comments0
- What Happened to Damar HamlinJoel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin talk about Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsing on the field during Monday Night Football and what came after. Slate’s Ben Mathis-Lilley also joins to discuss TCU and Georgia’s thrilling wins in the College Football Playoff semifinals. Finally, author Alex Bellos discusses the Brazilian soccer legend Pelé, who died last week at age 82. Hamlin (3:26): Is it fair to criticize the NFL’s response to Monday’s on-field crisis? College Football Playoff (25:52): How TCU and Georgia took down Michigan and Ohio State. Pelé (46:23): Remembering the greatest soccer player of all time.0 comments0
- The “Immaculate Reception” RememberedJoel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin are joined by the Athletic’s Kalyn Kahler to discuss her story on Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ array of hand signals. They also discuss New York Mets owner Steve Cohen’s $800 million offseason spending spree and look back at 1972’s “Immaculate Reception” by Pittsburgh Steelers running back Franco Harris. Rodgers (3:00): The Packers QB bristled over Kahler’s well-sourced story on why rookie receivers struggle in Green Bay. Mets (26:33): Cohen’s lavish spending hit a speed bump after medical concerns over free agent Carlos Correa. Immaculate Reception (45:08): Why it’s considered the greatest play in NFL history. Afterball (1:01:42): Stefan on how the New York Cosmos wooed Pele in the 1970s.0 comments0
- Argentina Campeón Del MundoJoel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin are joined by Argentinian journalist Marcela Mora y Araujo to talk about Lionel Messi’s coronation on soccer’s biggest stage and then continue their conversation about the greatest World Cup final ever. They also discuss a bizarre weekend in the NFL and assess the life and career of college football coach Mike Leach. World Cup final (3:36): What it means to Argentina and how it felt to watch it. NFL (28:55): The Vikings came back from how far? The Patriots did what? Leach (44:08): Why there will never be another coach like him. Afterball (1:05:12): Joel on Brittney Griner, high school phenom.0 comments0
- Remembering Grant WahlJoel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin are joined by Sports Illustrated’s Jon Wertheim to talk about journalist Grant Wahl, who died suddenly over the weekend at the age of 49. They’re also joined by the Atlantic’s Franklin Foer for a conversation about Morocco’s thrilling run to the World Cup semifinals. Finally, they discuss Brittney Griner’s long-awaited return to the United States after a prisoner swap with Russia. Grant Wahl (6:26): The life and legacy of a great journalist, mentor, and friend. Morocco (32:01): What their success means for soccer, Africa, and the Arab world. Griner (49:08): How she got released and what comes next. Afterball (1:04:31): Josh on Grant Wahl’s Sports Illustrated cover story on LeBron James.0 comments0
- What’s Next for U.S. Men’s Soccer?Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin are joined by Grant Wahl to discuss the U.S. loss to the Netherlands at the World Cup. Josh and Joel Anderson are then joined by Slate’s Alex Kirshner to talk about the College Football Playoff pairings and Deion Sanders’ move to Colorado. World Cup (3:43): The positives and negatives of the USMNT’s run to the round of 16. College Football Playoff (27:50): Who’s in, who’s out, and what to expect in the semifinals. Deion Sanders (49:25): Was he wrong to leave Jackson State? Afterball (1:08:47): Stefan on soccer vs. football.0 comments0
- Who Is Jerry Jones?Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin are joined by journalist Meg Swanick to preview the U.S. men’s soccer team’s matchup against Iran. Ben Mathis-Lilley, the author of The Hot Seat, also joins to discuss Michigan’s win over Ohio State. Finally, they talk about the Washington Post’s feature on Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. USA-Iran (4:09): The on-field and off-field implications of the USMNT’s big game. Michigan-Ohio State (25:53): How the Wolverines took down the Buckeyes again. Jerry Jones (46:30): How much responsibility does he bear for the NFL’s diversity problems? Afterball (1:07:46): Joel on the resignation of Stanford football coach David Shaw.0 comments0
- An Opening Draw for the USMNTJoel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin are joined by Slate’s Eric Betts to discuss the U.S. men’s national team’s 1-1 draw against Wales. They also discuss the controversial opening days of the World Cup. Finally, they assess the Warriors’ and Lakers' early-season woes and Kyrie Irving’s return to the Brooklyn Nets. USA-Wales (4:24): How the USMNT fizzled after a promising start. FIFA (35:06): What’s happening in Qatar, and what the media is (and isn’t) saying about it. NBA (47:21): What’s wrong with the league’s most star-laden teams? Afterball (1:07;12): Josh on the next big star in American tennis.0 comments0
- Jeff Saturday Is Coaching on SundaysJoel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin are joined by Grant Wahl to talk about the World Cup in Qatar. They also discuss the NFL head coaching debut of the Colts’ Jeff Saturday and examine how women athletes are benefitting from the new name, image, and likeness rules in college sports. Qatar (3:08): Bribery, authoritarianism, and soccer. Jeff Saturday (24:07): He has no college or pro coaching experience. He’s running an NFL team now. NIL (43:49): Women athletes are getting paid, but is there a potential problem lurking? Afterball (59:26): Stefan on the pointed commentary about race in A Wife’s Guide to Baseball.0 comments0
- The Astros Are the ChampsJoel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin are joined by Hannah Keyser of Yahoo Sports to talk about the Houston Astros’ World Series triumph. They also discuss LSU’s win over Alabama and the current state of SEC football. Finally, they assess Herschel Walker’s Senate candidacy. World Series (5:02): How Houston won it all. SEC football (26:12): Is Alabama on the way down? And what’s going on with Texas A&M? Herschel Walker (48:46): What’s motivating the former football star’s foray into politics? Afterball (1:08:35): Joel on what he wishes Deion Sanders would say about Jackson State and HBCUs.0 comments0
- Goodbye KyrieJoel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin discuss Kyrie Irving and anti-Semitism. They also talk about the continued rise of Deion Sanders and Jackson State. And Claire Watkins of Just Women’s Sports comes on for a conversation about the championship game of the National Women’s Soccer League. Kyrie (3:09): Is it finally time for the Brooklyn Nets to get rid of him? Jackson State (28:09): Will the Prime Effect go away when Coach Prime moves on? NWSL (47:10): The stardom of Sophia Smith and the future of the league. Afterball (1:03:05): Stefan on a historic match-up between women soccer coaches.0 comments0
- What Happened to Russell Wilson?Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin are joined by the Ringer’s Ben Lindbergh to talk about the Astros-Phillies World Series. They also discuss the decline of Russell Wilson, and possibly Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers. And they assess whether Adam Silver’s NBA promotion and relegation talk is for real. World Series (5:35): How are the Astros so consistently good in the randomness of the postseason? Wilson (28:00): Is Russ cooked? NBA relegation (47:00): Could it ever happen? Afterball (1:04:36): Josh on the key to sports fan happiness.0 comments0
- Linsanity ReduxJoel Anderson and Stefan Fatsis are joined by Slate’s Ben Mathis-Lilley to review a crazy weekend in college football. ESPN’s Pablo Torre talks with Joel, Stefan, and Vinson Cunningham of The New Yorker about the new documentary 38 at the Garden on Jeremy Lin’s short but brilliant run with the New York Knicks a decade ago. Finally, Joel, Stefan, and Vinson discuss another new documentary, The Redeem Team, about the 2008 U.S. Olympic men’s basketball team. College Football (5:25): Alabama vs Tennessee and CFB's explosive offenses. Linnsanity revisited (28:32): 38 at The Garden. Is Jeremy Lin still underrated? Redeem Team (49:28): Lebron, Kobe, Wade's quest for gold. Afterballs (1:09:01): Joel examines which high basketball stars lived up to the hype.0 comments0
- Wembanyama ManiaJoel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin talk about the Warriors’ Draymond Green punching his teammate Jordan Poole. They also discuss 7-foot-4 basketball phenom Victor Wembanyama. Finally, the Athletic’s Steph Yang joins for a conversation about Sally Yates’ report on abuse in the National Women’s Soccer League. Warriors (4:59): How should the team handle Draymond’s punch? Is he done in Golden State? Wembanyama (28:24): Can the 18-year-old Frenchman possibly live up to all this hype? Soccer abuse (49:09): What we learned from the report and what comes next. Afterball (1:12:20): Stefan revisits cheating in chess and Scrabble.0 comments0
- Who’s to Blame for Tua’s Head Injury?Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin discuss the fallout from Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s concussions. They also talk about Aaron Judge’s quest for the American League home run record. Finally, chess champion and poker pro Jennifer Shahade joins for a conversation about cheating allegations in both sports. Tua (3:52): Why was he allowed to play after suffering an obvious head injury? Judge (31:50): Is the Yankees star chasing the “real” home run record? Chess and poker cheating (54:40): What we know, what we don’t, and what comes next. Afterball (1:14:06): Josh on the real home run record of 1884.0 comments0
- The Brett Favre Welfare ScandalJoel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin discuss the Boston Celtics’ decision to suspend head coach Ime Udoka. They also talk about Roger Federer’s tearful retirement. Finally, Anna Wolfe of Mississippi Today joins for a conversation about Brett Favre and the state’s enormous welfare scandal. Udoka (4:24): Did the media and the Celtics mishandle the news of his suspension? Federer (21:01): What makes his relationship with Rafael Nadal so special. Favre (42:20): How the ex-quarterback got enmeshed in an escalating welfare controversy. Afterball (1:02:46): Joel on Mississippi, a segregation academy, and a football field.0 comments0
- Should the NBA Ban Robert Sarver?Josh Levin, Joel Anderson, and the New Yorker’s Vinson Cunningham discuss the NBA’s suspension of Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver and Denver Broncos coach Nathaniel Hackett’s bizarre decisions. Finally, Josh and Stefan Fatsis speak with Olympic champion Mark Spitz about the new documentary series 72—A Gathering of Champions. Robert Sarver (4:07): Should Adam Silver have done more? Nathaniel Hackett (25:55): What is this coach thinking? Mark Spitz (45:57): One of the greatest Olympians ever remembers the dizzying highs and brutal lows of the 1972 Summer Games. Afterball (1:10:40): Vinson on the greatness of Manu Ginobili.0 comments0
- Our New Tennis OverlordStefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and the New Yorker’s Vinson Cunningham discuss the opening weekend of the NFL season and the rise of tennis phenoms Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek. They’re also joined by Josh Levin (same name, different guy) to discuss how he made the final stage of American Ninja Warrior. NFL (3:10): The cognitive dissonance of a new season. Tennis (23:27): Why 19-year-old Carlos Alcaraz looks like a legend in the making. Josh the Ninja (47:20): How he conquered his Ninja Warrior demons. Afterball (1:11:07): Josh on notable moments in Knicks message board history.0 comments0
- Serena’s Coach Tells AllJosh Levin and Stefan Fatsis speak with Rennae Stubbs of ESPN and Racquet about coaching Serena Williams at the U.S. Open. Alex Kirshner of Slate and Split Zone Duo joins to discuss the start of college football season and the new 12-team playoff. Finally, the New York Times’ Juliet Macur talks about her story on how the Afghan women’s soccer team escaped the Taliban. Rennae Stubbs (3:24): What she told Serena before and during her grand send-off in New York. College football (24:22): How the game is changing, and how it’s staying the same. Afghan women’s soccer team (49:23): The harrowing story of their escape from Kabul. Afterball (1:11:42): Stefan on American soccer players on rival Scottish teams having the gall to eat dinner together.0 comments0
- The Coco Gauff Hype TrainJosh Levin, Stefan Fatsis, and Vinson Cunningham are joined by Ben Mathis-Lilley to discuss his new book on college football, The Hot Seat. They also discuss the hype around American tennis star Coco Gauff and review the soccer documentary Welcome to Wrexham. The Hot Seat (2:14): Why does college football make so many of us insane? Coco Gauff (24:54): Is the publicity warranted, or is too much for an 18-year-old to handle? Welcome to Wrexham (47:60): Does the story of Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney buying a soccer team make for good TV? Afterball (1:06:51): Josh on drinking beer through a hot dog straw.0 comments0
- I Guarded LeBronJosh Levin, Stefan Fatsis, and Vinson Cunningham are joined by Defector’s Maitreyi Anantharaman to discuss the WNBA playoffs. Dion Wright also joins to explain what it was like to guard LeBron James. Finally, they talk about Isiah Thomas’ “No Crime Day,” the subject of the first episode of Slate’s One Year: 1986 podcast. WNBA (2:48): Can Sue Bird lead the Seattle Storm to a fifth title? Dion Wright (23:39): How it felt to go viral for going up against one of the greatest of all time. No Crime Day (42:20): A conversation about basketball and athlete activism in the 1980s. Afterball (1:05:56): Stefan on the agony and ecstasy of watching Pete Carril’s Princeton teams.0 comments0
- Psychedelics and SportsVinson Cunningham and Stefan Fatsis are joined by the New Yorker’s Louisa Thomas to discuss the latest on Deshaun Watson’s sexual abuse case and Serena Williams’ impending retirement. Also, Sports Illustrated’s Julie Kliegman joins to talk about athletes and psychedelics. Deshaun Watson (5:00): The new Browns quarterback debuted with the team to boos and jeers. Serena Williams (21:52): The superstar announced in Vogue that she is “evolving away from tennis.” Psychedelics (35:20): Should more athletes be using them to treat mental health and injury?0 comments0
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