Best L.A. Times | Wondery Podcasts (2024)

1
Hot Routes Halloween Special: Sports’ Scariest “What Ifs” | 35 43:40

1d ago43:40

43:40

On today’s special Hot Routes episode, we’re getting into the Halloween spirit by looking at some of the scariest events, moments and people in sports. What happens if a Palace doesn't erupt in a melee that torches the title hopes of one of the NBA’s best teams and an all-time great? What if the NBA’s all-time worst owner isn’t unmasked? Which NFL …

1
What If Kobe Bryant Played College Basketball? | 34 46:19

8d ago46:19

46:19

There wasn’t much that Kobe Bryant didn’t achieve on the basketball court. National High School Player of the Year. NBA Most Valuable Player. Five-time NBA Champion. Two-time Finals MVP. 18-time NBA All-Star. Olympic gold medalist. Hall of Famer. He even won an Oscar! But the one thing Kobe didn’t accomplish - by his own choice- was to play college…

1
Listen Now: The Best Idea Yet 6:33

15d ago6:33

6:33

The untold stories behind the products you’re obsessed with and the bold risk-takers who made them go viral. How did Birkenstocks go from a German cobbler’s passion project 250 years ago to a starring role in the Barbie movie? Who created that bottle of Sriracha permanently living in your fridge? Did you know the Air Jordans were initially banned b…

1
What If The ‘94 Baseball Season Wasn’t Cut Short? | 33 45:45

15d ago45:45

45:45

The World Series is the most enduring team championship in North America. Not even, World War I, World War II or even the events of September 11 could postpone it. But in 1994 the World Series was canceled because of a labor dispute and players’ strike that prematurely ended what was well on its way to being an historic major league season. But wha…

1
What If Wayne Gretzky Never Went To L.A? | 32 36:53

22d ago36:53

36:53

Compared to other hockey players Wayne Gretzky wasn’t especially big, strong or fast. But nobody ever dominated a sport the way “The Great One” dominated the NHL. Before his 28th birthday the captain of the Edmonton Oilers had shattered every NHL single-season scoring record en route to leading his team to four Stanley Cups championships in five ye…

1
What If Bo Jackson Stayed Healthy? | 31 38:40

29d ago38:40

38:40

Whether it’s MJ or LeBron, Tiger, Serena, Brady or Biles, there are scores of athletes who can lay claim to being the GOAT. But when it comes to unicorns - mythical athletes whose abilities defy belief - there are at best a handful. For all who saw him play, Vincent “Bo” Jackson was a unicorn. A threat to score from anywhere on the football field, …

1
What If Eli Manning Played For The Chargers? | 30 42:22

1M ago42:22

42:22

The Eli Manning Hall of Fame debate is about to achieve critical mass as Peyton’s little brother headlines the latest class of Canton hopefuls. Manning is one of the most beloved players in Giants history after leading Big Blue to two Super Bowl titles, both against Tom Brady and the Patriots. However, Eli wasn’t drafted by the Giants. Instead he w…

1
What If Jimmy Johnson Stayed With The Cowboys? | 29 49:22

1M ago49:22

49:22

“How ‘bout them Cowboys?” In the early 1990s Dallas had a dynasty built by masterminds Jimmy Johnson and Jerry Jones. Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith & Co. won consecutive Super Bowls, but before they could even say “three-peat” Johnson and Jones parted ways, rocking the NFL. The Cowboys managed to win another Super Bowl two years later, but haven’t even…

1
What If the Eagles Drafted Lamar Jackson? | 28 31:07

2M ago31:07

31:07

One of the few drawbacks of winning the Super Bowl is that you get the worst draft position - a tradeoff every team would make any day. But in the 2018 draft, the “Philly Special” Eagles had the opportunity to select Lamar Jackson at No. 32, but chose to trade the pick to the Baltimore Ravens for a package of lower picks. Since then, the Ravens hav…

1
What If Cam Newton stayed a Florida Gator? | 27 41:08

2M ago41:08

41:08

For the past two decades, the road to the college football National Championship has passed through the SEC. With Texas and Oklahoma joining the party, it doesn’t look like that’s changing anytime soon. This current dominance began in 2006 when The Florida Gators won two titles in a three year span under coach Urban Meyer. Those Florida teams were …

1
WAKE UP: A Slingshot Story - Episode 3: Crash Landing 15:06

2M ago15:06

15:06

When his investigation leads him to a mysterious survivor from a previous Odyssey Project mission, Ezra learns the shocking truth about his own future, and sets out to make sure that no one else suffers the same fate. But however flawed, the Project is essential to the survival of life on Earth, and its operatives are determined to protect it at al…

1
Hot Routes: Predicting the 2024 NFL Season | 26 46:41

2M ago46:41

46:41

The wait is almost over - the 2024 NFL season finally kicks off this week! Since every new season comes with an endless supply of storylines yet to be played out, instead of our usual look back at “woulda, coulda, shoulda” moments, Trey and Kevin are focusing on the “here and now” and doing their best to predict what will happen. Will Patrick Mahom…

1
WAKE UP: A Slingshot Story - Episode 2: System Critical 15:26

2M ago15:26

15:26

After a tragic accident during a training simulation, Ezra attempts to throw himself back into the mission. But he has questions about what happened, and about his own increasingly unreliable state of mind that no one will answer. With nowhere else to turn, he begins his own investigation but isn’t prepared for what he uncovers - or must do as a re…

1
WAKE UP: A Slingshot Story - Episode 1: Simulation Day 15:05

2M ago15:05

15:05

Inside a top secret training facility, Ezra Keaton and his crew wake up from experimental deep hibernation. As candidates for the Odyssey Project, their mission is critical to the survival of life on Earth. If they’re able to mine a renewable resource on Saturn’s moon Titan, the course of history will change. The simulation of a dangerous slingshot…

1
What If Nick Saban Stuck with Hurts over Tua? | 25 43:03

2M ago43:03

43:03

For the first time in nearly two decades there’s a new boss in Tuscaloosa, AL. Nick Saban, widely regarded as the GOAT in college football, stepped down in January after winning six of his seven National Championships at Alabama, leading the Tide to eight of the first ten College Football Playoffs, and coaching four Heisman Trophy winners. Perhaps …

1
What If Steph Curry Was Traded To The Bucks? | 24 33:47

3M ago33:47

33:47

One of the biggest stories of this NBA offseason was the breakup of Golden State’s Splash Brothers. Teammates since 2011, Steph Curry and (now-Dallas Maverick) Klay Thompson won four NBA titles, made a collective 7,000 regular and postseason three pointers and literally changed how the sport is played on all levels. But the NBA’s all-time greatest …

1
What If Isiah Thomas joined the Dream Team? | 23 41:08

3M ago41:08

41:08

Before arriving in Paris for the 2024 Olympics, the U.S. national basketball teams were making more headlines for who wasn’t chosen. At the center of the respective maelstroms were WNBA phenom Caitlin Clark and 2024 NBA Finals MVP Jaylen Brown. However, those omissions pale in comparison to the greatest snub in Olympic basketball history: Isiah Tho…

1
What If the U.S. Women’s Soccer Team lost the ‘99 World Cup? | 22 38:49

3M ago38:49

38:49

As the world’s greatest athletes descend on Paris for the 2024 Olympics, we find ourselves in the golden age of women’s team sports. Over the past year alone we’ve seen record viewership and attendance across the board, punctuated by the more than two billion viewers who tuned into the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. However, it was another World Cup,…

1
What If Michael Jordan Never Left To Play Baseball? | 21 45:01

3M ago45:01

45:01

It was the “retirement” heard round the world. In October of 1993, shortly after losing his father, Michael Jordan shocked the world by walking away from basketball and becoming a minor league baseball player for the Birmingham Barons. MJ was at the peak of his powers and the Chicago Bulls were coming off three consecutive championships when he dec…

1
Hot Routes: Golf’s Biggest “What If?” Moments | 20 40:12

4M ago40:12

40:12

Of all the sports covered on Alternate Routes, few breed more “what if” scenarios than golf. It’s so often one round, one swing, one putt separating winners from losers. To fully explore golf’s greatest “what if?” moments, we’re flipping the script with a new format called Hot Routes, where Trey and Kevin dive down the rabbit holes from multiple sl…

1
What If The Tuck Rule Didn’t Save Tom Brady? | 19 32:18

4M ago32:18

32:18

Can a single play change the trajectory of a franchise? If a quarterback is hit while his arm is (maybe) in motion, is it a fumble? Is there no true justice in the universe?! These are the questions that keep sports fans (especially Raiders fans) up at night. When the referees called the infamous “tuck rule” in the 2001 AFC Divisional Round Playoff…

1
What If Shaq Stayed in Orlando? | 18 36:06

4M ago36:06

36:06

Whether you call him Shaq, Diesel, Shaq Diesel, or DJ Diesel, Shaquille O’Neal is one of the greatest players to ever step on a basketball court and a true American treasure. So much of his success as a player and personality stems from the three rings he won alongside Kobe Bryant in L.A, despite their tumultuous alliance. But, what if Shaq never m…

1
What If The Cavs Drafted Joel Embiid? | 17 28:35

4M ago28:35

28:35

When Joel Embiid is on the court, he’s one of the greatest big men the NBA has ever seen. However, emphasis on the word “when” - injuries have proven to be Embiid’s achilles heel, fractured back, and tweaked knee. Just days before the 2014 draft, Embiid fractured his foot in a workout for the Cleveland Cavaliers, causing them to pass on the Cameroo…

1
What if Donald Trump Bought An NFL Team? | 16 39:43

5M ago39:43

39:43

Hang on, hear us out, this is a real thing that almost happened, multiple times. It’s widely reported that beginning in the early 1980s, Donald Trump had interest in purchasing multiple NFL teams: The Baltimore Colts, The New England Patriots, The Dallas Cowboys, and The Buffalo Bills. What if even one of these scenarios actually materialized? If T…

1
What If A-Rod Was Traded to The Red Sox? | 15 37:44

5M ago37:44

37:44

Whether you love him, hate him, or REALLY hate him, there’s no denying that Alex Rodriguez was one of baseball’s most perplexing stars. Despite becoming the best player in the AL and signing (at the time) the richest contract in pro-sports history, he never really sealed the deal with the fans - or with J-Lo (twice). But, instead of landing on the …

1
What If The Seahawks Handed Off To Marshawn? | 14 38:36

5M ago38:36

38:36

Super Bowl XLIX. Seattle vs. New England. The Seahawks are on the one yard line with the chance to win back to back Lombardis and the game in their hands. You know whose hands the ball should’ve been in?! Marshawn Lynch. Instead, Russell Wilson threw the ball into the arms of Patriots’ cornerback Malcolm Butler. The rest, as they say, is history. B…

1
What If A Coin Flip Landed Magic Johnson in Chicago? | 13 33:19

5M ago33:19

33:19

What’s the most you’ve ever lost on a coin toss? What’s the most you’ve ever stood to gain? The Bulls and Lakers once had more than life or death on the line; they had Earvin “Magic” Johnson. The top draft pick in 1979 went to the winner of a toss between LA and Chicago, and we all know how that story played out. But, what if the coin flipped the o…

1
What If Peyton Manning Stayed in Indy? | 12 31:51

5M ago31:51

31:51

Before Caitlin Clark was the biggest name in Indiana, one guy ruled the Hoosier state: Petyon Manning. “The Sheriff” may as well have been Governor while quarterbacking the Colts, but in 2012 they shocked the world by cutting him from the team following a potentially career ending neck injury. Manning went on to lead the Broncos to Super Bowl glory…

1
What If The T-Wolves Drafted Steph Curry? | 11 38:52

6M ago38:52

38:52

Something is happening in Minnesota. Thanks to the elite play of Anthony Edwards basketball fans in the Twin Cities are experiencing a new and surprising emotion, hope. The T-Wolves are on the doorstep of destiny, a place they could’ve been years ago if they didn’t decide to draft back to back PGs, Ricky Rubio and Johnny Flynn with the 5th and 6th …

1
What If Durant, Harden & Westbrook Stuck Together in OKC? | 10 36:01

6M ago36:01

36:01

“The Big Three” are sacred words in basketball. Lebron, Wade and Bosh in Miami; Steph, Klay and Draymond in Golden State; Bird, McHale and Parish in Boston; and Magic, Kareem and Worthy in L.A. One trio that never realized their full potential: Durant, Harden and Westbrook in OKC - a young, hungry squad on the cusp of greatness before going their s…

1
What If The Celtics Won The Tim Duncan Draft Lottery? | 9 30:26

6M ago30:26

30:26

The ping pong balls of destiny can be cruel arbiters of fate. The Gods shined on the city of San Antonio, and fundamentally shifted the NBA landscape when The Spurs landed the first pick of the ‘97 draft, Tim Duncan. The rest (five championships and an all-time dynasty) is history. But, The Celtics had two lottery picks and everyone, including Dunc…

1
What If The Niners Drafted Aaron Rodgers? | 8 33:49

6M ago33:49

33:49

Before promoting the benefits of ayahuasca and considering Vice Presidential bids, Aaron Rodgers was one of the most hyped quarterbacks entering the 2005 NFL Draft. Rodgers was widely expected to go to his childhood team, The 49ers, but ended up waiting out an awkward draft night until the Packers finally picked him up. Rodgers became a Green Bay l…

1
What If The Bears Drafted Patrick Mahomes? | 7 38:27

7M ago38:27

38:27

What do Patrick Mahomes and DJ Khaled Have in common? All they do is win, no matter what. Mahomes has three rings and counting and is on a breakneck pace to become the GOAT. But, what if the Chicago Bears drafted Mahomes instead of trading up to snag Mitch Trubisky (*this is a real thing that actually happened). Would Mahomes have led the Windy Cit…

1
What If Tiger’s Marriage Didn’t Fall Apart in ‘09? | 6 37:00

7M ago37:00

37:00

Tiger Woods is the greatest golfer of his generation, but he might have been even “greater-er” if not for that infamous Thanksgiving night of 2009. Following Tiger’s tabloid-worthy cheating scandal and ambient induced car crash, Woods took a hiatus at the height of his powers, forever changing the trajectory of golf. If Tiger kept on rolling in ‘09…

1
What If Chris Webber Didn’t Call Timeout? | 5 25:28

7M ago25:28

25:28

Chris Webber might be one of the best college basketball players of all time, but he’s still best known for the one play he’d love to forget. When Webber called an illegal timeout in the 1993 NCAA championship game, he cost Michigan a championship and brought about the abrupt end of The Fab Five. But what if Webber never called timeout? Would Michi…

1
What If Barry Bonds Signed With The Yankees? | 4 31:23

7M ago31:23

31:23

The legendary but scandal-ridden career of Barry Bonds could’ve taken a very different turn if he’d signed with the Yankees, not the Giants, as a free agent in ‘92. The alternate reality of Bonds playing in pinstripes sets off a butterfly effect that changes the entire baseball landscape and begs pressing questions like: Would Barry have even neede…

1
What If Jordan Missed The Shot Against Georgetown? | 3 30:51

8M ago30:51

30:51

Michael Jordan’s iconic career may have taken a different route had he missed his first big shot. Not the game winner in Utah, not the dagger vs The Cavs, but the jumper to ice the ‘82 NCAA championship for North Carolina. If that ball rims out, does MJ lose his confidence and swagger? Does Georgetown become the greatest college basketball dynasty …

1
What If The NBA Didn’t Veto The Chris Paul Trade? | 2 31:06

8M ago31:06

31:06

What if the best backcourt in NBA history was one that never existed? Trey Wingo and Kevin Frazier dive head first into the infamous Chis Paul trade that never was! When then NBA commissioner David Stern vetoed the CP3 to The Lakers trade for “basketball reasons” sports fans were left wondering what could’ve been. Thankfully, Trey and Kevin are her…

1
What If Drew Brees Didn’t Fail His Physical In Miami? | 1 33:15

8M ago33:15

33:15

This week on the inaugural episode of Alternate Routes: How one failed physical altered the landscapes of the NFL and college football forever! Trey Wingo and Kevin Frazier re-examine what would’ve happened if Drew Brees bypassed New Orleans for Miami and teamed up with Nick Saban to form a QB-coach combination to rival Brady-Belichick. It almost h…

1
“Baba Gets To Go In The Lounge” with Sabrina Jalees | 39 29:57

8M ago29:57

29:57

This week comedian Sabrina Jalees joins Megan, Chris, and Kurt LIVE! They love their kids, BUT…did our parents just not give a shit or are we the crazy ones? Kurt reminisces about the good old days as a 12 year old smoking heaters and flipping through porn in the Dayton airport because his parents thought sending an unaccompanied minor on a flight …

1
Introducing: Alternate Routes With Trey Wingo and Kevin Frazier 1:53

8M ago1:53

1:53

What if the NBA never vetoed the Chris Paul trade to the Lakers? What if the Seahawks ran the ball on the one yard line in the Super Bowl? Could a coin flip have landed Magic in Chicago, Michael in LA and made Charles Barkley the first Black President? Wait, what?!! Questions like these have broken the brains of sports fans since the beginning of t…

1
"I Registered for a Gucci Diaper Bag" with Colton Underwood | 38 40:36

8M ago40:36

40:36

This week Colton Underwood joins Megan, Chris, and Kurt. They love their kids, BUT….why are our closets bursting with thousands of dollars of unused baby crap that we all thought was vital to keep our babies alive when all we needed was a blanket and boobs? Megan recalls the panic items she threw on her baby registry when Conrad was born including …

1
“They’ll Learn Sea Shanties and Scrimshaw ” with John Hodgman | 37 47:56

8M ago47:56

47:56

This week comedian and actor John Hodgman joins Megan, Chris, and Kurt. They love their kids, BUT…why are we putting the pressure on ourselves to take out a mortgage to send our kids to a school where the main subject is shapes? Chris went to an open house at a prestigious school that is part Hogwarts, part Clyvedon Castle and he was ready to spill…

1
“I’m Not An Australian YouTuber With Frosted Tips” with Baron Vaughn | 36 38:38

9M ago38:38

38:38

This week comedian and actor Baron Vaughn joins Megan, Chris, and Kurt. They love their kids, BUT…why are we worrying about what a six year old is going to be when they grow up? Kurt got a chance to go to career day at Olive’s school and show all the kids what a comedian’s life is like. And while the tough toddler crowd didn’t appreciate Kurt’s jok…

1
“We Had Sex Roughly Around The Same Time” with Nick Thune | 35 41:11

9M ago41:11

41:11

This week, comedian Nick Thune joins Megan, Chris, and Kurt. They all love their kids, BUT… Do we really need to be friends with their friends' parents? We've already been through grade school, high school, college, and the workplace, and we've made ALL the friends we need at this point. We're pretty set by now. Or, are we? During a family trip to …

1
“Mama’s Night For Me!” with Adam Cayton-Holland | 34 46:48

9M ago46:48

46:48

This week comedian Adam Cayton-Holland joins Megan, Chris, and Kurt. They love their kids, BUT…parents are allowed to have a favorite child (admit it, we all do) but who gave them the right to have a favorite parent!? Megan got one little illness that put her out of commission for a few days and all of the sudden she’s knocked down the parental ran…

1
“Un Día a La Vez” with Aida Rodriguez | 33 37:21

9M ago37:21

37:21

This week comedian Aida Rodriguez joins Megan, Chris, and Kurt. They love their kids, BUT…how are we expected to be stable, emotional pillars to our kids when we’re falling apart ourselves? (Tissue Warning!) Chris shares some bad news with the group about his mom’s recent cancer diagnosis and struggles with the duality of needing to be both a heart…

1
“I Think Waffles Are Very Healthy” with Noah Gardenswartz & Ester Steinberg | 32 40:44

9M ago40:44

40:44

This week, comedians (and married couple!) Noah Gardenswartz and Ester Steinberg join Megan, Chris, and Kurt. They love their kids, BUT…how is it possible to be the gentle, warm, and caring parents we all aspire to be while we’re in a raging fight with our spouse? After Megan’s husband forgets his passport on a recent family trip, she finds herself…

1
“I’m Going To Decrease Your Treats” with Eugene Mirman | 31 40:29

10M ago40:29

40:29

Happy New Year Buttheads! This week comedian Eugene Mirman joins Megan, Chris, and Kurt. They love their kids, BUT…why are even our best intentions twisted and used against us by our sadistic children? When Kurt asks his kids how their day at school was, they clamp up like a couple of Cold War era Soviet Spies under a hot interrogation light. Kurt’…

1
EPISODE 2: Moscow 14:10

10M ago14:10

14:10

Reporting dire news out of America and at home, Russian news anchor Viktor Antonov attempts to guide his audience through what may be the beginning of the end. Everywhere is a battlefield.‘SIGN OFF’ is a branded podcast from LA Times Studios paid for by Bleecker Street and LD Entertainment in support of the film ‘I.S.S.’ only in theaters January 19…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

L.A. Times | Wondery Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide