The 20 Best Sports Podcasts

Last updated on January 15th, 2020

Sports have remained a fixture of mainstream media for decades. The sports section sold newspapers by itself,  ESPN became an industry giant during the rise of cable, and sports coverage continues to dominate talk radio. Sports can be a way to cross the aisle – if you have nothing else in common with someone other than your love for Lebron James, you can become best friends. Better yet, a Chicago Bears fan and a Packers fan can go to great lengths explaining why their franchise of choice (or compulsion) is superior to the other and still have a beer together. In today’s age, podcasts afford us another avenue for consuming content about the sports we love or love to hate. Hosts range from former and current athletes, industry insiders and beat writers to the diligent and entrepreneurial fan. Connecting with a voice or platform is easier than ever before. Here’s a list of our favorite sports podcasts.

All Sports Podcasts

The Bill Simmons Podcast

Bill Simmons rose to notoriety as an ESPN sports analyst. His unfiltered personality and affinity for viral moments helped endear him to a national following. The Bill Simmons Podcast and The Ringer sports network were his creations that in many ways pioneered modern sports podcasting. He promotes The Book of Basketball, will reiterate Dirk Nowitzki’s place among the NBA elite, and succumb to the throes of his fantasy football team. The Bill Simmons Podcast remains a credible and entertaining source for the latest sports news. Celebrities and athletes join him and help maintain a light-hearted yet passionate vibe. Despite his success, you can still hear the starry-eyed fanboy in Bill Simmons’ voice. Episodes of The Bill Simmons Podcast are typically one to two hours and are released every two to three days to provide a steady stream of content. 

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

Pardon My Take

Hosts Big Cat and PFT Commenter have a lot of fun while covering the biggest national headlines. Their sometimes off the cuff commentary is qualified by their deep understanding of sports culture. Pardon My Take is a mix of comedy and sports analysis that connects with the listener. Guests partake in the show’s sense of humor while still delivering illuminating interviews. Big Cat and PFT Commenter’s propensity for sports gambling and dipping into politics make them accessible, flawed human beings that just want to provide an enjoyable product. Pardon My Take presents a great example of community engagement that is only possible in the podcast world. Episodes are dropped frequently, at least every two to three days and hang around the two-hour mark.

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

Football Podcasts

Around the NFL

Football fans that want to keep up to date ought to have Around the NFL in the rotation. The crew of Gregg Rosenthal, Dan Hanzus, Marc Sessler and Chris Wesseling recap each week every Sunday. Beyond the thoughtful analysis and insight, there is a genuine friendliness that shines through and maintains a conversational tone. Hear them list the latest injuries and contemplate Tom Brady’s assessment of Julian Edelman’s toughness. With most episodes clocking in between an hour and an hour and a half, a careful balance of humor and information helps the listener catch up with an overview of the NFL. It is perfect for the fan that needs the run-down. Segments like Fork Committee, Defend Your Hero and Win Wes’s Toaster reward repeated listening.

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

The Football History Dude

Host Arnie Chapman invites the listener to “hop on his Delorean” and investigate the history of the NFL and other professional football leagues. His sobering and unique approach to the world of sports podcasts is a breath of fresh air.  The Football History Dude has carved a niche that explores the origins of teams and recounts unique or notable games from professional football’s infancy. He’ll also interview veterans that have been retired for years. Arnie will put a spotlight on an unknown team like the Muncie Flyers and delve into the evolution of the forward pass. The podcasts begin with him framing the setting, and sustain a journalistic integrity. Most episodes are under an hour, often ranging from about 20 to 45 minutes. For something a little different with an academic twist, check out The Football History Dude.

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

Related reading: best fantasy football podcasts

Basketball Podcasts

The Woj Pod

Adrian Wojnarowski, father of the #WojBomb, has a finger on the pulse of what is most important and relevant to the NBA and its fans today. His podcasts boast an impressive array of guests that includes superstars, coaches, front office leaders and sports journalists. Adrian’s scoops have been so integral to the NBA that he is an automatic Twitter follow among executives. Woj is credited to breaking Lebron James’ intentions to leave Cleveland for the first time, and has accurately forecasted teams’ picks during the NBA draft.  The Woj Pod’s style can contrast the conversational tone of other podcasts, but by design it gleans as much information as possible, as efficiently as possible, with most episodes hovering around 45 minutes or less. Episodes can go past the hour mark when Woj or the guest are particularly engaged. With Woj’s deep connections as a seasoned insider, this is a must listen for the NBA fan.

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

Pod Don’t Lie

Pod Don’t Lie is a profanity-laced, no holds barred, hilarious and informed commentary on the NBA hosted by comedians Sam Morril and Stavros Halkias. A play on the famous basketball quote/phenomenon “Ball don’t lie”, the namesake of the show marries the hosts’ love for basketball and astute observational comedy. They break down Lizzo’s relationship and relevance to the NBA, wallow in the misery that is Knicks fandom, and just introduced “The Stiffness Index.” Running gags, questions and topics that are atypical to the wider breadth of sports dialogue make the show an easy add to any NBA fan’s regimen, in weekly hour-long doses.     

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify

Posted Up with Chris Haynes

NBA insider Chris Haynes sits down with guests to tackle pertinent current events in basketball, while peering into the human side of the business. His ability to sincerely engage on a personal level is the strongest suit of the show. The majority of Posted Up with Chris Haynes features active players, but candid talks with former players like Lamar Odom, NBA commissioner Adam Silver and Big3 C.E.O. Ice cube are sprinkled in. Chris Haynes’ approachable demeanor make in-depth workings of the game more fluid and accessible. His show with Jimmy Butler after being traded to Philadelphia highlights his talents as an interviewer. Episodes range from 25 minutes to an hour but seem to go by fast. Posted Up with Chris Haynes is just becoming active again but there is a backlog that was updated on a weekly basis.

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

The Doug Gotllieb Show

Doug Gottlieb leans into the spirit of debate and holds no punches. His perspective is as entertaining as it can be abrasive. A bit of a foil to mainstream politically-correct culture, The Doug Gottlieb Show is more of an outraged editorial than it is a comprehensive, unbiased analysis. He finds himself defending attacks to his opinions on Lamar Jackson, while reminding listeners that he has commended Lamar and foresaw his success. Gottlieb’s self-awareness allows him to praise other sports podcasts personalities, athletes and coaches while offering blunt critiques. The weekly shows are around two hours each with “Best Ofs” that condense the biggest talking points down to a half hour.

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify

Related reading: best basketball podcasts

Baseball Podcasts

Starting 9

Former MLB pitcher Dallas Brayden and blogger Jared Carrabis form a dynamic duo for Starting 9. Focused around interviews with baseball greats, the two are able to cover a wide range of relevant baseball news without being swallowed up by the bigger markets. Starting 9 will dissect the curiosities of the Phillie’s rabid fanbase, and explain why Ken Griffey Jr. has one of the best batting stances of all time. Dallas Brayden, a former player and Jared Carrabis, a blogger offer different perspectives of the game while still being extremely informative. Updated weekly with episodes between one and two hours, Starting 9 is a tremendous source for MLB news. 

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

Baseball and Chill

The name “Baseball and Chill” captures the essence of the show. While hosts Scott Braun and Kelly Nash don’t shy away from the Xs and Os type of baseball analysis, they prioritize where the demands of professional baseball and home life meet, and sometimes conflict. Of note is Kelly Nash’s voice of an underrepresented group in the world of sports’ podcasts: women. Catch sideline reporting in a post-game interview with Ji-Man Choi  as he battled through the ALDS, and listen in on Nash’s experiences as the only woman on a youth coaching staff. Scott Braun and Kelly Nash navigate the challenges of the MLB and personal life in episodes that are between 30-45 minutes, as Baseball and Chill transitions from a weekly to a monthly schedule, where they promise to deliver quality over quantity. 

Listen: Apple Podcasts 

Hockey Podcasts

Spittin’ Chiclets

Spittin’ Chiclets is among the most popular hockey podcasts and for good reason – they know their audience and supply relevant content with credibility. Retired NHL players Ryan Whitney and Paul Bissonnette share their experiences with the grueling NHL schedule and physical toll that the sport takes on the body, providing a context that enriches their stories. Barstool Sports’ Rear Admiral rounds out the crew as they feature guests twice a week. Spittin’ Chiclets episodes are long form, typically over two hours and flirt with the three hour mark often. Heavy on the “locker room” talk, the hosts will weave in their lament of expensive NHL tickets and share their pursuit of liquor fame with promotion of Pink Whitney, one of Ryan’s labors of love. Ryan Whitney, Paul Bissonnette and Rear Admiral are all excellent conversationalists that engage with their guests and keep the audience entertained.  

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

Puck Soup

Puck Soup assembles a cross-section crew that includes Greg Wyshynki of ESPN, Sean McIndoe of The Atlantic, and Ryan Lambert of Yahoo Sports. The hosts’ opinions and takes are not beholden to a particular network. It is an important part of the show’s identity. The hosts don’t take themselves too seriously and promote good-spirited dialogue. Hear them debate over ketchup on eggs, answer mailbag questions on the best hockey gifts, a review of The Mandalorian, and the Best and Worst of the Decade in both hockey and TV — all part of the “soup.” One to two-hour long episodes are released weekly and provide an easy listen while catching up on all the happenings of the NHL.

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

Honorable Mentions:

• The Lowe Post
• 31 Thoughts
• Hang Up and Listen
• The Evan Roberts Podcast
• The Pat McAfee Show
• Yahoo MLB Podcast
• Dropping the Gloves
• The Herd

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