The Athletic Audio+ Podcast Shows

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Football

Football

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Football

Football

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American Football

American Football

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American Football

American Football

Updated 5 Nov
American Football

American Football

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Weekly series

24/07/2023

Part One - Becoming the GOAT

Welcome to the Making of Messi, our new three-part narrative series. Following in the footsteps of former stars of the footballing world like Pele, David Beckham and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Lionel Messi is attempting to crack the US with his move to Inter Miami. The Argentine has won it all in domestic and international football over a glittering career at Barcelona, PSG and for his country, Argentina. In the first episode of this audio documentary series, presenter Mike Zimmermann takes us on the journey of Messi becoming, in many people’s eyes, the greatest of all-time, or GOAT. We go back to Messi’s roots in Rosario, Argentina, hearing from Felipe Cardenas on his early years, Pol Ballus provides insight on his 20-year spell at Barcelona, and Tom Williams recounts his time at PSG. James Horncastle assesses his international career, which reached its peak in that epic 2022 World Cup win in Qatar. You’ll also hear from Michael Cox on Messi the footballer, and Nick Miller on the Messi the man, and the money. Produced by Mike Stavrou.

24/07/2023

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36 min
14/11/2022

Episode Five: The impossible game

Shakhtar’s Champions League campaign reaches an epic climax with two decisive fixtures against Celtic and RB Leipzig and head coach Igor Jovicevic promises his team will do everything they can to honour and represent the troops back home. We hear the inside story on young superstar Mykhailo Mudryk, who attracts attention from the world’s biggest clubs. The realities of war remain and we hear the first-hand account of Olena Sukhenko, who lost multiple members of her football obsessed family to Russian brutality. And eight years on from Shakhtar’s forced exodus from their home in Donetsk, we explore just how realistic it is for the club to one day return to its true home in eastern Ukraine. Credits: Presenters: Adam Crafton and Joey D'Urso Producers: Adam Crafton, Joey D'Urso, Jesse Howard, and Mike Stavrou Sound Mixing: Jesse Howard Credits: BT Sport

14/11/2022

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57 min
14/11/2022

Episode Six: The road ahead isn't easy

In the final episode, Adam Crafton & Joey D’Urso are joined by producer Abi Paterson in the London studio to reflect on their experiences witnessing Shakhtar's against-all-odds story in the Champions League against the backdrop of war. They are joined by Jakub Parusinski from the Kyiv Independent and Powerlines podcast to learn more about Ukraine's relationship with sport during this war. With the uncertainty in Ukraine, we explore what the future might hold for the club and its star players who have emerged such as Mykhailo Mudryk. Credits: Presenters: Adam Crafton, Joey D'Urso and Abi Paterson Producers: Abi Paterson and Mike Stavrou

14/11/2022

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31 min
07/11/2022

Episode Two: Thank you Croatia

We take you inside the dressing room with Shakhtar Donetsk as they prepare for their next Champions League match against Celtic. Whilst The Athletic’s Adam Crafton follows the team in Warsaw, his colleague Joey D'Urso is in Croatia. He meets with the children from the club’s academy who are kept safe and out of harm’s way, but pine for their friends and family back home in Ukraine. We then return to Warsaw for match day - can the underdogs get another result? We start with an emotional team-talk from the club’s captain Taras Stepanenko… Credits: Presenters: Adam Crafton and Joey D'Urso Producers: Adam Crafton, Joey D'Urso, Abi Paterson, and Mike Stavrou Sound Mixing: Ollie Bellwood Featuring footage from: CBS with dressing room footage & audio kindly supplied by Shakhtar Donetsk.

07/11/2022

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37 min
07/11/2022

Episode Three: God in the sky

In this episode The Athletic’s Adam Crafton goes into the boardroom at Ukrainian football club Shakhtar Donetsk to meet those facing unprecedented challenges to compete in the Champions League whilst war rages in Ukraine. Shakhtar’s CEO Sergei Palkin reveals why his club are suing football’s world governing body FIFA for €50m. The grim realities of war are never too far away, as Adam speaks to one Ukrainian mother, who shares the tragic story of her son, a soldier and promising young footballer, who once tried out with Shakhtar. Despite it all, we join Shakhtar as they take to the field against the world’s richest, most successful club Real Madrid. Credits: Presenter: Adam Crafton Producers: Adam Crafton, Jesse Howard, and Mike Stavrou Featuring footage from Al Jazeera, AP, ESPN, BBC News and BT Sport

07/11/2022

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49 min
07/11/2022

Episode One: We believe in miracles

In this episode, The Athletic’s Adam Crafton speaks to Taras Stepanenko, the captain of Ukrainian football club Shakhtar Donetsk, as he and his young family take refuge in an underground shelter when war breaks out in Ukraine. Adam also meets with Shakhtar's Croatian head coach, Igor Jovicevic, who was separated from his family when Russia invaded. Meanwhile, as the team prepares for their first match in Europe’s elite competition, the Champions League, we hear from Shakhtar midfielder Ivan Petryak, who lost a family member to the war with Russia. With all the odds against Shakhtar, can the Ukrainian club pull off a shock victory against the German club Red Bull Leipzig? Credits Presenter: Adam Crafton Producers: Adam Crafton, Abi Paterson, Mike Stavrou Sound mixing: Ollie Bellwood Featuring footage from: The Daily, AP, ABC News, Sport BILD, DW News, Al Jazeera, and BT Sport

07/11/2022

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41 min
24/07/2023

Part Three - Leaving a Legacy

In the third and final episode of this documentary series, presenter Mike Zimmermann explores the legacy that Lionel Messi will leave behind. Matt Slater explains the motives behind the Saudi Pro League, and why Messi turned down nearly half $1 billion annually in favor of Major League Soccer. The relationship between Messi and Inter Miami started back in 2018 — Paul Tenorio takes us through the initial interest from Miami, the inner workings of a contract that includes equity and profit-sharing from Apple and Adidas, and how Messi will change Major League Soccer, both on the field and off. With MLS and Apple partnered for the next 10 years, a broadcast deal worth $2.5 billion, Richard Deitsch describes Lionel Messi's arrival in the US as "a massive catalyst" for Apple's soccer coverage and the media landscape. You'll also hear from Andrés Cantor, legendary Telemundo Deportes broadcaster, about how Messi is viewed in Argentina leading up to the 2024 Copa America and 2026 World Cup, both being played in the United States. Produced by Mike Zimmermann.

24/07/2023

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28 min
14/11/2022

Episode Four: Nothing can kill us

Adam Crafton’s trip to Ukraine is aborted as Russia launches a fresh wave of missile strikes on Kyiv and other cities. As the war drastically changes, Adam is with Shakhtar players who desperately await confirmation that their friends and family have survived Putin’s latest onslaught. Amid the anxiety, Joey hears how the coaching staff somehow prepare to face the best team in the world, Real Madrid. In an intensely emotional week, can Shakhtar pull off a sporting miracle? Credits: Presenters: Adam Crafton and Joey D'Urso Producers: Adam Crafton, Joey D'Urso, Abi Paterson, and Mike Stavrou Sound Mixing: Ollie Bellwood Featuring footage from: BBC, The Daily

14/11/2022

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52 min
24/07/2023

Part Two - Coming to America

In the second episode of this documentary series, presenter Mike Zimmermann explores what Lionel Messi’s arrival will mean for American Soccer. Pablo Maurer looks back at the stars who have tried to crack the USA, while Felipe Cardenas looks ahead to how Messi and Inter Miami will attempt to build on this. You'll also hear from Ex-MLS players Bradley Wright-Phillips and Nedum Onuoha, who talk us through playing Soccer in the States, and how they think the Argentine will fit in. Produced by Jay Beale.

24/07/2023

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28 min
15/07/2023

Ep. 2: When football breaks

Once candidates for the same head coaching jobs, Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay's dynamic gets complicated as they turn into NFC rivals in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Host Jourdan Rodrigue goes inside how both coaches' modern offenses take shape and the untold stories of McVay's hiring process by the Rams. Eventually, McVay's Rams take the NFL by storm in 2017-18. But all the while, one of the greatest coaches in NFL history is lying in wait to teach McVay a humiliating lesson in Super Bowl LIII...just a couple of years after Shanahan's own Super Bowl heartbreak at the hands of that same veteran coach. Playcallers is presented by Miller Lite. To get Miller Lite delivered right to your door, visit millerlite.com/playcallers. Celebrate Responsibly. Miller Brewing Company, Milwaukee, WI. 96 calories and 3.2 carbs per 12 ounces.

15/07/2023

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51 min

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Top Shows

Part One - Becoming the GOAT

Episode Five: The impossible game

Episode Six: The road ahead isn't easy

Episode Two: Thank you Croatia

Episode Three: God in the sky

Episode One: We believe in miracles

Part Three - Leaving a Legacy

Episode Four: Nothing can kill us

Part Two - Coming to America

Ep. 2: When football breaks

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