5 sports podcasts that go beyond the arena (or diamond, or field – you get it)

There are a lot of sports podcasts out there – more than any of us could probably even imagine. They’re keeping us up to date on the biggest athletes and the biggest games, and for that, we could not be more grateful. But some podcasts go above and beyond just what’s happening on the field/court/gridiron/diamond. These podcasts know that sports do not exist in a bubble, but are constantly being influenced by culture, politics, and societal change.

We found a few podcasts that keep us updated on both the most recent games and current events. Whether it’s daily or weekly sports news podcasts or serialized sports podcasts that have blown us away, these are five sports podcasts that have found the intersection of sports and culture.

The Right Time with Bomani Jones

After ESPN cancelled his talk show High Noon with Pablo Torres, Bomani Jones has continued to make superb content for ESPN. The brilliant sports media figure now writes and produces “The Right Time with Bomani Jones,” a sports podcast that has found its niche within the intersection of social issues.

While he keeps us updated on sports news and scores, he’s discussed, along with his Friday co-host Domonique Foxworth, the devaluation of the Heisman trophy, why The Great Resignation doesn’t tell the full story about labor in the pandemic, and so much more.

You’ll find everything you need here: your sports fix along with an excellent analysis of why sports do not exist in a bubble.

Takeline

A weekly podcast hosted by Jason Concepcion and Renee Montgomery, “Takeline” is an exploration of the NBA and culture. A Crooked Media production, “Takeline” looks at what’s happening off the court as well as on. You’ll get both a deep game analysis as well as the stories that you didn’t even know were happening simultaneously.

Shattered: Hope, Heartbreak and the New York Knicks

Speaking of basketball, this 8-part podcast from The Athletic analyzes the downfall of the ’90s Knicks and 20-year slump filled with chaos and controversy. Hip-hop star and Long Island native Chuck D hosts “Shattered: Hope, Heartbreak and the New York Knicks,” diving into the team’s time under owner James Dolan.

Hear about the fall out between Dolan and Isiah Thomas, the fight for a star player in LeBron James, MeloDrama, Linsanity, and the tragic failure of the summer of 2019. Check in on secrets about Dolan, the Knicks, and the NBA from interviews with dozens of people, including past Knicks players, coaches, and executives, as well as the legendary Patrick Ewing.

The Lead

One of our favorites, Wondery’s and The Athletic’s “The Lead,” is purely telling the best storyline in sports every day. Hosts Tiffany Oshinsky and Anders Kelto are telling only the most interesting, most relevant sports stories of the day with the help of the reporters who witnessed them front and center.

Hear how Nick Saban created a dynasty at Alabama, the Afghan women’s soccer team’s escape from Kabul after the collapse of Afghanistan’s government, how teams thrive without star players, and sweet episodes like “5 Sports Stories To Make You Feel Better About 2021.”

The Rumor

In 1997, a power outage in Baltimore postponed a game between the Orioles and Seattle Mariners in the ALDS. Honestly, it really wasn’t something all that noteworthy, but it did start a salacious rumor – that maybe a star on the team did it.

“The Rumor” is an investigative podcast looking into this outage, and it leads our two hosts down a path that circles both Cal Ripken Jr. and Kevin Costner. What they find challenges their beliefs about what makes a hero and proves that there is maybe truth to the conspiracy about what happened that August night. It’s a tad goofy, a little sad, but a whole lot interesting. Check out “The Rumor.”