Crunching Tackles

Crunching Tackles
  • 5.0 (17)
  • SOCIETY & CULTURE
  • UPDATED SEMIMONTHLY

Hello and welcome to Crunching Tackles, a podcast where John Nekrasov and Chad Wylie discuss the biggest cultural issues that affect the sports world. Tune in to hear our takes on the controversial topics that touch the games we watch every week. If you enjoy our content, like, follow, subscribe (all the fun stuff), and follow us on Twitter @john_nekrasov and @chadewylie!

  1. Episode 186: Sports and the War in Iran

    MAR 4

    Episode 186: Sports and the War in Iran

    In a gripping discussion, Chad and John delve into the intricate web of war, politics, and sports in Iran, shedding light on how recent conflicts have reshaped the landscape for athletes and sporting events. This conversation uncovers the powerful role of sports as a stage for protest, the persistent challenges faced by women in Iran, and the ethical quandaries confronting international sporting organizations. As the world watches, a burning question remains: will Iran compete in the 2026 World Cup, and what ripple effects will this have on other sporting events across the Middle East? Tune in to explore these pressing issues and their far-reaching implications. 00:00 Introduction 02:40 USA Hockey Gold Medal Game and Controversies 14:52 The War in Iran and the Future of the World Cup 21:04 A Brief History of Modern-Day Iran 24:09 The Uncertainty of Sports in the Middle East 38:19 Iran's Pending Attendance at the 2026 World Cup 39:18 Concerns Over Mexico's Political Stability as a World Cup Host 45:14 Iranian Athletes Protesting the Regime 50:53 The Struggles of Women Athletes in Iran 55:31 The Complexities of Women's Soccer and Hijab Regulations 01:00:54 The Future of Iran and the Role of Sports 01:04:41 The Ethics of Sports and International Relations

    1h 13m
  2. Episode 185: Winter Olympics 2026

    FEB 21

    Episode 185: Winter Olympics 2026

    In this episode, Chad Wylie and John Nekrasov discuss the highlights and controversies of the Winter Olympics. They delve into the excitement of competition, the curling cheating scandal, and the absurdity of doping in ski jumping. In this conversation, John Nekrasov and Chad Wylie discuss the impact of Russia's absence from the Olympics, the challenges faced by athletes like Lindsey Vonn, and the pressures of competing at such a high level. 00:00 Introduction to the Winter Olympics Discussion 00:52 Reflections on Past Winter Olympics 05:51 Current Winter Olympics Highlights and Controversies 08:49 The Curling Scandal: Cheating in Canada 16:51 The Absurdity of Doping in Ski Jumping 26:45 A Different Kind of Cheating at the Olympics 35:02 Ukrainian Athlete Disqualified for "Political" Helmet 47:41 Lindsey Vonn's ACL 58:51 The Quad God and Figure Skating Gold 01:08:50 Alysa Liu's Triumph and Joy in Skating 01:15:46 Eileen Gu's Controversial Nationality Choice

    1h 32m
  3. Episode 184: Super Bowl 60 Recap

    FEB 9

    Episode 184: Super Bowl 60 Recap

    In this episode of Crunching Tackles, hosts Chad Wylie and John Nekrasov dissect Super Bowl 60, focusing on the Seahawks' impressive performance and Drake Maye's struggles as a young quarterback. They discuss the halftime show, the cultural significance of the event, and the disappointing quality of commercials this year. The conversation wraps up with predictions for next year's Super Bowl and reflections on the season's highlights. 00:00 - Super Bowl 60 Overview 02:03 - Super Bowl LX Recap 11:09 - Halftime Show Highlights and Cultural Impact 20:27 - Commercials and Their Decline Please subscribe to the show and share with your friends!

    30 min
  4. Episode 183: Is Sportswashing Beginning to Fail?

    FEB 4

    Episode 183: Is Sportswashing Beginning to Fail?

    In this episode of Crunching Tackles, hosts Chad Wylie and John Nekrasov dive into a variety of pressing sports issues, including the upcoming Super Bowl, Carlos Alcaraz’s latest history-making performance, and the shocking news surrounding Bill Belichick's Hall of Fame denial. They also discuss the implications of the Epstein files on the NFL, the controversy surrounding Shedeur Sanders' Pro Bowl selection, and the decline of LIV Golf amidst Saudi Arabia's sports washing efforts.  00:00 - Introduction to Crunching Tackles 04:23 - Australian Open Final 14:06 - Bill Belichick's Hall of Fame Snub 24:33 - Shedeur Sanders' Pro Bowl Selection 26:25 - Super Bowl Preview: Seahawks vs. Patriots 35:43 - The Epstein Files Comes to the NFL 42:22 - LIV Golf: Is Saudi Arabian Sports-washing still working?

    1h 5m

  5. JAN 24

    Episode 182: The NFL Coaching Carousel Hits Full Speed

    On today's show, Chad Wylie and John Nekrasov discuss the dramatic and controversial final in the African Cup of Nations. They also discuss the latest gambling investigation, this one involving almost 40 college basketball players. The big story today is all about head coaching changes in the NFL. Why have their been so many, and is this trend going to continue? Also, we are finally on YouTube! If you want to watch our episodes as videos, you should subscribe and follow our brand new YouTube channel!

    1h 16m
  6. Episode 181: Top 5 Movies of 2025

    JAN 7

    Episode 181: Top 5 Movies of 2025

    Chad and John look back on the year in film, giving their top 5 movies of 2025, along with some coverage of Stranger Things and the upcoming NFL Playoffs. 0:30 - Chad reflects on the Steelers amazing regular season finale and we look ahead to the NFL Playoffs 16:20 - A brief aside on Manchester United and the state of the club after another manager is fired. 27:00 - We review Stranger Things season/series finale 42:20 - Top 5 Films of 2025 As always, make sure to share this episode if you enjoyed it, and give us a follow on all your social media platforms!

    1h 31m
  7. Episode 180: Top 5 Athletes of the Century

    12/19/2025

    Episode 180: Top 5 Athletes of the Century

    Chad and John reflect on the first quarter of the 21st century, as they rank five athletes who have had the biggest cultural impact of the past 25 years. 2:40 - Chad recounts his freezing and fun time at the NCAA Men's Soccer Championship game 7:25 - Philip Rivers comeback and a NFL update 19:30 - Top Five Athletes of the Century: Number 5 39:30 - Number 4 43:30 - Number 3 1:01:30 - Number 2 1:14:50 - Number 1 As always, make sure to share this episode if you enjoyed it, and give us a follow on all your social media platforms!

    1h 36m
  8. Episode 179: Top 5 for 2025

    12/03/2025

    Episode 179: Top 5 for 2025

    Chad and John look back on 2025 and identify our top 5 sports stories of the year. They also unveil their theme for the year, award the sports "Man of the Year" and commemorate the first ever "Benedict Arnold" designation on the podcast! As always, make sure to share this episode if you enjoyed it, and give us a follow on all your social media platforms!

    1h 15m
See All (190)

5
out of 5
17 Ratings

About

Hello and welcome to Crunching Tackles, a podcast where John Nekrasov and Chad Wylie discuss the biggest cultural issues that affect the sports world. Tune in to hear our takes on the controversial topics that touch the games we watch every week. If you enjoy our content, like, follow, subscribe (all the fun stuff), and follow us on Twitter @john_nekrasov and @chadewylie!

Information

  • Creator
    Crunching Tackles
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    190
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Crunching Tackles
  • Show Website
    Crunching Tackles