The Athletic Show

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Welcome to your essential weekly breakdown of the biggest stories in sports, brought to you by the most extensive sports newsroom ever assembled. Every Saturday, Robert Mays, Zena Keita and Jason Goff will explain the stories behind the headlines, leaning on the expertise of The Athletic's esteemed reporters to cut through the noise. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 2 DAYS AGO

    NBA Tanking, March Madness and the Rise of Angel Reese

    John Hollinger joins the show to discuss whether the league's tanking problem has finally reached a breaking point. We explore radical solutions—from abolishing the draft entirely to a "split-season" format—and look at a mathematical formula that could finally reward teams for being competitive, even when they’re losing. Then, Shakeia Taylor from The Athletic drops by to discuss her deep dive into "The Bayou Barbie’s" systematic ascent. We look at how Angel Reese has curated a brand that spans from the Victoria’s Secret runway to the Unrivaled 3x3 court, all while navigating a high-profile comeback from injury. In our main story, it’s almost March, and the madness is already bubbling over. Brendan Marks and Zena Keita give us the ultimate lay of the land for the Men’s and Women’s tournaments. Are the Duke men the team to beat? Can the Darryn Peterson saga derail Kansas? And how is NIL rewriting the "one-and-done" playbook? With parity on the women's side at an all-time high, we look at UConn’s quest for perfection, the dominance of JuJu Watkins, and why the stars of the women's game are sticking around to build the best rivalries in sports. Hosts & Guests Zena Keita @itszenakeita Robert Mays @robertmays Jason Goff @Jason1Goff John Hollinger @johnhollinger Brendan Marks @BrendanRMarks Mix: Matt Shilts Executive Producer: Maggie Burbank Producer: Jen Bradley A Production of The Athletic, Ode Studios, and Banner Studios. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    33 min

  2. 21 FEB

    The Hardest Coaching Job in Sports, an Olympic Recap from Milan, and Your MLB Spring Training Preview

    This week, The Athletic's Lindsay Schnell joins us live from Milan to recap the Winter Olympics, breaking down the must-watch events from the final weekend. Then, the hosts dive into a heated debate over The Hardest Coaching Job in Sports with The Athletic's Jets reporter Zack Rosenblatt. Finally, baseball season is almost here! Derek VanRiper gives us a full MLB spring training preview, discussing Tony Clark’s shocking resignation, the robot ump debate, the overhauled New York Mets, and whether the Seattle Mariners are the best team in the AL. Hosts & Guests Zena Keita @itszenakeita Jason Lloyd @ByJasonLloyd Jason Goff @Jason1Goff Lindsay Schnell @Lindsay_Schnell Derek VanRiper @DerekVanRiper Zack Rosenblatt @ZackBlatt Mix: Matt Shilts Executive Producer: Maggie Burbank Producer: Jen Bradley A Production of The Athletic, Ode Studios, and Banner Studios. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    32 min

  3. 14 FEB

    Your brain on ping pong, Ilia Malinin's dominance and saving the NBA All Star Game

    Senior Writer for The Athletic, Rustin Dodd, and world-class coach Matt Hetherington stop by to explain why table tennis is the ultimate "brain sport." From helping pro athletes sharpen their reaction times to potentially warding off dementia, we explore why you should trade your running shoes for a paddle. With icons like LeBron James, Steph Curry and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander sidelined for the 2026 NBA All Star Game, Bulls writer Joel Lorenzi weighs in on whether a "US vs. The World" format or a 1v1 tournament save a weekend that’s lost its soul? Also, the "Quad God," figure skater Ilia Malinin often has math-defying performances, but is his technical dominance making the sport "ugly"? We discuss the evolution of scoring, the legalization of the backflip, and more. Hosts & Guests Zena Keita @itszenakeita Robert Mays @robertmays Jason Goff @Jason1Goff Rustin Dodd @rustindodd Matt Hetherington @mhtabletennis Joel Lorenzi @JoelXLorenzi Mix: Matt Shilts Executive Producer: Maggie Burbank Producer: Jen Bradley A Production of The Athletic, Ode Studios, and Banner Studios. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    39 min

  4. 6 FEB

    Previewing Super Bowl LX, NBA Trade Deadline Chaos and US Skiing's Secret To Success

    Zena and Jason welcome Dave DuFour to break down the final preparations for the Big Game, featuring a special sit-down between Robert Mays and Matt Ryan. Also, Jordy Fee-Platt joins the show to share the incredible "backyard" origin story of Olympic skier Ryan Cochran-Siegle and how his family’s "fun-first" philosophy built a gold-medal dynasty. Finally, we dive into the madness of the NBA trade deadline with The Athletic's Joe Vardon - did your team find a missing piece, or are they stuck in the league's new "two-tier" economy?  Hosts & Guests Zena Keita @itszenakeita Robert Mays @robertmays Jason Goff @Jason1Goff Dave DuFour @DaveDuFourNBA Joe Vardon @joevardon Jordan Fee-Platt @jfeep Editor: Matt Shilts Executive Producer: Maggie Burbank Producer: Jen Bradley A Production of The Athletic, Ode Studios, and Banner Studios. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    40 min

  5. 31 JAN

    Wemby's Evolution, Belichick's Snub And Do We Need Pro Leagues Anymore?

    The Pro Football Hall of Fame just delivered the shock of the century by passing on Bill Belichick in his first year of eligibility. Is this a case of "Spygate" karma, or is the Hall out of touch? This week, we dive into the fallout of the snub heard ‘round the sports world. Bryson DeChambeau is at a crossroads that could dismantle pro golf as we know it, leading us to ask: Do we even need professional leagues anymore? From the WNBA’s labor war to the rise of "Unrivaled," we explore how player power is breaking the monopoly. Finally, we go deep on "The Unicorn." The Athletic’s Jared Weiss joins us to discuss Victor Wembanyama’s evolution from a basketball prodigy to a civic leader in San Antonio, proving that the most interesting thing about the Frenchman isn’t his wingspan—it’s his soul. Hosts & Guests Zena Keita @itszenakeita Robert Mays @robertmays Jason Goff @Jason1Goff Jon Greenberg @jon_greenberg Jared Weiss @JaredWeissNBA Editor: Matt Shilts Executive Producer: Maggie Burbank Producer: Stephen Lorenzo A Production of The Athletic, Ode Studios, and Banner Studios. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    40 min

  6. 24 JAN

    Brady Tkachuk On The USA-Canada Hockey Rivalry And The NHL's Return To The Olympics

    NHL players are back on the world stage for the first time in 12 years! Pierre LeBrun sits down with Brady Tkachuk to discuss the fierce USA-Canada rivalry and the race to finish the Olympic arena in Italy before the puck drops. Fresh off the 2026 Baseball Hall of Fame announcement, the crew welcomes Zack Meisel to discuss the strange fraternity of players who were nominated but fell into the "one-vote" category. Plus, the team debates who belongs in the inaugural "Hall of Very Good.” Hosts & Guests Zena Keita @itszenakeita Robert Mays @robertmays Jason Goff @Jason1Goff Pierre LeBrun @PierreVLeBrun Brady Tkachuk @Wingmenpod Zack Meisel @ZackMeisel Editor: Matt Shilts Executive Producer: Maggie Burbank Producer: Stephen Lorenzo A Production of The Athletic, Ode Studios, and Banner Studios. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    38 min

  7. 17 JAN

    Inside NFL RedZone, Petty Rivaries And The League's Coaching Carousel

    Go behind the curtain of the most intense broadcast in media: NFL RedZone. We explore the secret shorthand, the 200-page research dossiers, and the "shaman-like" stamina of Scott Hanson. Can the NFL’s most addictive show survive without its legendary quarterback? Plus, as the NFL coaching carousel begins to spin, Zena Keita, Robert Mays, and Jason Goff are joined by Dave Helman to play "NFL Owner" and predict where the league's biggest names—from Mike Tomlin to John Harbaugh—will land. Also, is "polite" sports culture dead? We dive into the rising tide of pettiness in the league, from Ben Johnson’s abrupt handshakes to the never-ending Jordan vs. Isiah feud. Hosts & Guests Zena Keita @itszenakeita Robert Mays @robertmays Jason Goff @Jason1Goff Scott Hanson @ScottHanson Dave Helman @davehelman_ Jayne Bardahl @Jaynabardahl Editor: Matt Shilts Executive Producer: Maggie Burbank Producer: Stephen Lorenzo A Production of The Athletic, Ode Studios, and Banner Studios. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    40 min

  8. 10 JAN

    Vibe Check: NFL Playoff Previews & the Death of SEC Dominance

    Zena, Robert and Jason are kicking off the New Year by digging into the seismic shifts rocking the football world. Madeline Hill and Charlotte Wilder from The Sports Gossip Show join the show for a special "Vibes-Only" NFL Playoff Preview. We’re ranking every playoff team from "Immaculate" to "Horrific" and spilling the tea on the off-field drama you might have missed—from front-office feuds to Jordon Hudson’s latest correspondences. Plus, after Indiana’s historic 38-3 dismantling of Alabama in the Rose Bowl and Miami’s upset over Ohio State, The Athletic’s Chris Vannini joins the set to answer the question: Is the SEC’s era of untouchable dominance officially over? We also turn our attention to the disaster in the desert. After a 3-14 season, Pete Carroll is officially one-and-done with the Las Vegas Raiders. We examine the enigma of owner Mark Davis: Why can he build a dynasty with the WNBA’s Aces but can’t find his footing in the NFL and is Tom Brady the only person who can save the Silver and Black. Hosts & Guests Zena Keita @itszenakeita Robert Mays @robertmays Jason Goff @Jason1Goff Chris Vannini @ChrisVannini Chalotte Wilder @TheWilderThings Madeline Hill @mad_hill Editor: Matt Shilts Executive Producer: Maggie Burbank Producer: Stephen Lorenzo A Production of The Athletic, Ode Studios, and Banner Studios. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    35 min
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About

Welcome to your essential weekly breakdown of the biggest stories in sports, brought to you by the most extensive sports newsroom ever assembled. Every Saturday, Robert Mays, Zena Keita and Jason Goff will explain the stories behind the headlines, leaning on the expertise of The Athletic's esteemed reporters to cut through the noise. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Channel
    The Athletic
  • Creator
    The Athletic
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    17
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © The Athletic
  • Show Website
    The Athletic Show
  • Provider
    The Athletic Media Company

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