‘You Better You Bet’ hosts Nick Kostos and Ken Barkley pioneer in the realm of ‘wagertainment’ for sports betting

November 10, 2021

On this week’s episode of Podsauce, Alesha and Dax shared their splendid podcast picks, including Alesha’s true crime choice. Dax dove into a podcast previously recommended by Podsauce guest Leroy Luna. Alesha and Dax were thrilled to chat with “You Better You Bet” hosts about their daily sports betting coverage podcast.

Alesha’s Murder Most Foul pick is “Deathbed Confessions,” a podcast about the darndest things people announce during the final moments of their lives. Alesha listened to the episode where a person confessed to murdering her husband and storing him in the freezer after he died, waiting until she was about to die to share the truth.

Dax picked “Heist Podcast” because he enjoys watching Money Heist on Netflix and tuned in after Leroy’s rave review of the series. Turns out, it’s a steal! While Dax is waiting for the new Netflix season to premiere, “Heist Podcast” satiates his heist story cravings. Dax listened to the “The 200 Pound Gold Coin Heist and the Story of the Remmo Clan” episode and can’t wait to check out more episodes.

Next, “You Better You Bet” hosts Nick Kostos and Ken Barkley spoke with Alesha and Dax about starting their podcast in 2019, and how it has grown since. They explained how they shifted their hobbies into a podcast! Nick loves that their show pioneers with “wagertainment,” finding their niche by blending smart analysis, humor, and entertainment with gambling and sports commentary.

Audacy’s “You Better You Bet” appeals to casual sports fans and hardcore bettors alike, as the daily episodes cover all aspects of sports during the week. More and more people have joined in sports betting, especially since it is becoming legal in more places.

Nick and Ken have an awesome rapport on the podcast and share honest opinions ranging from betting to life updates. In 2020, as the world was slowly reopening post-quarantine, Nick and Ken reported on golf and soccer. It took a while for the major American teams to return. And now, they’re happy all sports are back in action. Nick said sports betting is a great way for states to recoup revenue lost during the pandemic, like in Connecticut, where Ken lives.

Nick and Ken shared their podcast picks. Ken said he used to work at ESPN and betting was his side hustle, so he would gravitate to non-sports, entrepreneurship-based podcasts in his free time. Ken enjoys the business podcast, “How I Built This with Guy Raz,” and checks out “Risk of Ruin” for betting advice. Nick listens to fantasy football podcasts such as “Establish the Run.” As a huge pro-wrestling fan, Nick tunes into “Something to Wrestle” and “What Happened When.” Nick is super-interested in Japanese culture, so he learns from “Abroad in Japan,” hosted by a British guy who lived in Japan and discussed his experiences.

For this week’s Odd Pod, Dax picked “Your Favorite Band Sucks,” a music commentary podcast where hosts Mark and Tyler trash your favorite artists, griping and groaning, like the title suggests, just why your favorite band sucks. Dax listened to the Queen episode, and both Dax and Alesha were shocked to learn this podcast even roasted Beethoven. All in good humor, maybe.

And that’s all for this week, folks! Catch you next time, and tune into this week’s full episode for more with Nick and Ken.