Best Sports Gala Show Podcasts (2024)

1
Chief End Times Correspondent 1:00:41

3h ago1:00:41

1:00:41

It’s just Drew and Roth in this episode, but I think it captures what it’s like living in America right now. In the first half, they process all of The Stuff that’s been going on in the country. And in the second half, they talk baseball and the All-Star game, along with some Funbag questions. A microcosm of modern life, you know? Do you want to he…

1
A Pog on Society with Rohan Nadkarni 48:31

2d ago48:31

48:31

Chief Sandwich Correspondant Rohan Nadkarni joins Drew to actually explain how the NBA’s CBA apron actually works. Is it making everything worse? or is all we have to talk about Bronny James so we’re keying in on it? And in the second half, Rohan delivers secret Pennsylvania buffet intel and they dive into the Funbag, answering real questions from …

1
What Was 1982 Like? with Ray Ratto 46:56

16d ago46:56

46:56

Chief Comrade of Defector Ray Ratto joins Roth to get really esoteric with it. We’re asking the tough questions: What’s the deal with the city of Edmonton? How did everyone not die in the late 1970s and early 80s? What do you call a run forced in by cheating? And how much semi-legal sticky stuff is too much sticky stuff for the MLB? And as always, …

1
Mr. Met Has Fallen Down the Stairs at the Met Gala 1:01:23

24d ago1:01:23

1:01:23

It’s summertime and you know what that means? Drew and Roth are hanging loose, chilling out, and wondering if the flags at the beach are related to Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito’s wife. In the first half of the episode, they’re wrapping up an NBA season of wondering if the Celtics are good and kicking off NFL QB contract dicsussion now that th…

1
100 Foods to Throw in the Garbage with Megan Greenwell 1:04:25

1M ago1:04:25

1:04:25

Godmother of Defector Megan Greenwell joins Drew and Roth to talk about how private equity is pervasive and bad. Also pervasive and bad are the Athletics baseball team, which they discuss in the second half of the show. But it’s not just doom and economic gloom, because this episode also has loud farts, emo cows, tight doughnuts, and Zoomers using …

1
It Doesn’t Matter If We’re Off Topic with Ray Ratto 1:02:39

1M ago1:02:39

1:02:39

Defector’s own Ray Ratto joins Drew and Roth to dive into the 2024 NBA Finals! Is Kyrie good enough at basketball to forgive all the weird things he said in the past? Are the Celtics the greatest team of the 21st century, actually bad and will lose in the finals, or maybe somewhere in between? And in the second half of the show, they hit on the med…

1
It’s the Distraction, I’m Sheila, That’s Roth. 53:16

2M ago53:16

53:16

It’s time for the Annual Defector Staff Meeting, so Drew and Roth are recording a guestless ep a little ahead of time. And guestless ep means a wide breadth of topics: toothpaste talk, butter talk, consideration of the future of Defector, wrestling with the goal of Defector being the #1 website, summertime body talk, wondering if Current Age Derek …

1
Elite Old Guy Excellence with Stephen Rodrick 57:16

2M ago57:16

57:16

Variety’s Stephen Rodrick joins Drew and Roth to talk about his most recent profile of director Paul Schreder. As Stephen is one of the premier profile writers of our time, there are a lot of parallels to draw: this Schreder profile to the one in The Canyons era; what it is like writing profiles in 2024 as compared to 20-year-old Rudy Giuliani arti…

1
Jake from State Farm Invented Women’s Basketball with Maitreyi Anantharaman 56:17

2M ago56:17

56:17

Defector’s own Maitreyi Anantharaman joins Drew and Roth to preview the WNBA season! Which team (other than the Fever) should we be excited about? Which team will be meh? What does it mean to “as soon as we can get planes in place?” But Maitreyi has other areas of expertise, including not dying at Detroit Tigers games and rooting for the Vancouver …

1
The Mashup Returns 47:28

3M ago47:28

47:28

Drew and Roth are chopping it up without a guest, so it’s a hearty stuff of whatever is on their minds right now: the SF real estate market, stories about LA, and inside jokes about their marriages. And the second half is diving into the Funbag, answering real questions from real listeners. I am not going to tell you where the mashup is, you’ll hav…

1
Once, Twice, Three Times a Rohan Nadkarni 1:11:50

3M ago1:11:50

1:11:50

*Stefon voice* This podcast episode with Rohan has everything: media speculation, Sports Illustrated tea, Michael Jordan comparisons, LeBron James speculation, salads, sandwiches, goaltending, and a fake ad that is definetely not real but feels like a real ad. And as always, they dive into the Funbag, answering real questions from real listeners. D…

1
The Pajama Lesson with Alec Lewis 1:01:40

3M ago1:01:40

1:01:40

The Athletic’s Alex Lewis joins Drew and Roth! The first half they wrestle with the rational idea that trading back for more picks is the best draft strategy. What percent crazy are you for wanting your team to trade up for the first draft picks or is it just human nature? In the second half, they apply that theory to practice by discussing what te…

1
Kennedy Levels of Ruddiness with Patrick Redford 1:02:41

3M ago1:02:41

1:02:41

Defector’s own Patrick Redford joins Drew and Roth to for a Hater’s Guiiiide to the NBA Playoffs! Which team in the East should you root for even as the Boston Celtics are inevitable like the heat death of the universe? Which teams in the West signify how weird their owner has gotten? And which team are the Sacramento Kings who are great and will n…

1
I Hear Him All Day with Justin Halpern 1:01:21

3M ago1:01:21

1:01:21

Executive producer of Harley Quinn and Abbott Elementary Justin Halpern returns to Drew and Roth now that baseball season has started and we know the Padres and Mets are already blowing it. In the first half, they discuss how betting isn’t just ruining the lives of folks risking all their money on over-unders, it’s ruining sports media as a whole. …

1
Subtraction by Subtraction with Ray Ratto 1:02:26

4M ago1:02:26

1:02:26

Defector’s own Ray Ratto joins Drew and Roth to preview the MLB season! Which teams are good? which are bad? and which teams are anonymous enough that you and your goomar can enjoy a game together? Halfway through, they take a pit stop to discuss women’s college basketball and unpack what happens when WBB stars can make more money staying in school…

1
As Basil Exposition Once Said… 54:39

4M ago54:39

54:39

It’s everything you ever wanted: Drew and Roth fucking around and talking about whatever. The first half is all about Drew’s vacation, foggy ol’ London town, and college reminiscing. And the second half is all Funbag questions, real questions from real listeners! Do you want to hear your question answered on the pod? Well, give us a call at 909-726…

1
The 2024 Hater’s Guide to March Madness with Ken Pomeroy 57:41

4M ago57:41

57:41

College basketball metrics analyst Ken Pomeroy makes his triumphant annual to the Distraction to preview this year’s March Madness! Drew, Roth and Ken make their Final Four picks, give the all-important UPSET SPECIAL, and show what teams are min-maxing offense and defense. And they nicely explain to Roth why Wagner, although in the tournament, is m…

1
I Am a Girl and I Drive! with Kathryn Xu 1:05:11

4M ago1:05:11

1:05:11

Defector’s own Kathryn Xu join Drew and Roth to break down the hottest free agency market we’ve ever seen: K-Pop groups. They also glean insight from Kathryn’s specialties that are rare for the show: F1 drama, hot pot drama, and what young people are doing these days. And as always, Roth shares a specific detail about Trump that has pushed out prec…

1
Subway Sandwiches Don’t Actually Look Like That! with Rohan Nadkarni 1:14:11

5M ago1:14:11

1:14:11

We’re back! We’re back! with Rohan Nadkarni as he joins Drew and Roth to throw water all over the Boston Celtics. They read the tea leaves of the back half of the NBA season to see who is falling or surging to the playoffs. And they loft the media story of Caitlin Clark out there to see if any of the three of them will zag on it… the answer will su…

1
Run Out of Town with Pitchforks Media with Ed Zitron 1:00:44

5M ago1:00:44

1:00:44

Ed Zitrion (host of the podcast Better Offline and proprietor of the Where’s Your Ed At newsletter) joins Drew and Roth to break down the Apple Vision Pro. Continuing the running theme of the last few episodes, why does this feel like an unfinished product that a company has pushed out the door to maximize profit? And Ed weighs in on if it possible…

1
My University of Austin Class on Bloodletting 54:46

5M ago54:46

54:46

Drew has activated vacation mode so it is a no-guest streak on The Distraction. They start with ski talk and injury talk, and I promise these are unrelated stories. But Nike and Fanatics doing such a terrible job with baseball jerseys leads to a discussion the flattening, joylessless, and enshittification of so much of modern products. Then they gi…

1
The Future of Schlong-Form Reporting 1:03:30

5M ago1:03:30

1:03:30

Drew and Roth are snowed in together, so they’re doing they’re favorite snow day activity: podcasting. Now that football season is over, they’re getting into the weird stuff: Darren Rovell going one-on-one with Kristaps Porzingas, wrestling with the idea that Biden can be president but maybe not drive, and why can’t companies just create a good pro…

1
Live From the Bounty House on Radio Row with Matthew Coller 55:19

6M ago55:19

55:19

Purple Insider’s own Matthew Coller joins Drew and Roth from the Super Bowl! You can feel the energy of standing at an activation sponsored by one of the best paper towel brands out there. They preview the Big Game and answer the immortal question: is the NFL going analytics woke? And in the back half of the show, they answer a whole lot of Funbag …

1
I Am Wearing a Christian Black Metal Hoodie in My Headshot With Jason Kirk 1:00:17

6M ago1:00:17

1:00:17

Senior editor for The Athletic and co-host of the Shutdown Fullcast Jason Kirk joins Drew and Roth to talk about his debut novel Hell Is a World Without You. Jason describes his relationship with his Evangelical upbringing and how he expressed it, writing the book that he wanted someone to hand him, and the Christan versions of every single band. B…

1
No One Could Make Fun of Me If I Went to Bed Right Now 1:00:08

6M ago1:00:08

1:00:08

Drew and Roth are by themselves today, and they do what they do best. They’re breaking down the shuttering of Sports Illustrated as only two writers who experienced something similar can, and they’re balancing the overcoming and succumbing to tragedy that was the Divisional round of the NFL playoffs. But first, we have very specific stories about t…

1
The Fist Bump That Ages Me 20 Years with Ray Ratto 59:20

6M ago59:20

59:20

Defector’s own Ray Ratto joins Drew and Roth to look back on NFL’s Super Wild Card Weekend, both the teams that looked terrible that lost and the teams that looked killer for winning. And they break down the new coaches, the fired coaches, and if the coaching openings are even good. We will be directing you to The New York Post too, but it’s for a …

1
Bury Me with a Terrible Towel with Rohan Nadkarni 1:03:21

6M ago1:03:21

1:03:21

Our first guest of 2024 needs no introduction: Sports Illustrated’s Rohan Nadkarni joins Drew and Roth to preview the NFL playoffs. But along the way, we’re keeping Rohan’s New Years Eve malady secret for viral marketing, examining how much of a Philly dude Bradley Cooper is, trying to keep Roth from being fully assassinated by Aaron Rodgers’ strik…

1
Happy Immunological New Year! 1:03:23

7M ago1:03:23

1:03:23

Happy 2024, listeners. Here’s to another year with more Distractions. We’re giving you the classics on this two-man episode: leading off with Drew vomiting and how weird are the fans of the teams in the college football finals. Then our favorite football guys are truly being their best self at the turn of the year: Dan Campbell going for two many t…

1
A Boy Named Cloud with Dan McQuade 57:42

7M ago57:42

57:42

The podcast title is referencing Final Fantasy, so you know that Defector’s own Dan McQuade is joining Drew and Roth. They’re talking about how bad the Eagles are, how bad Jalen Hurts is, and which PS1 games fit which NFL teams. In the second half, they wonder if any team would take Draymond Green, and by team they mean wrestling organization. And …

1
The Extreme Bonilla 57:34

7M ago57:34

57:34

Drew and Roth drill down on the most important story in sports right now: is Tommy DeVito’s agent proof that we’re living in a simulation? Because it’s just too on the nose. But first, Roth unspools the effects of Shohei Ohtani’s signing, on the current baseball picture and the sport as a whole. And we’re a little late on it, but we need to go thro…

1
Georgia Frat Relatives with “The Simpsons” Exec Producer Matt Selman 1:00:09

8M ago1:00:09

1:00:09

The Simpsons executive producer and co-showrunner Matt Selman joins Drew and Roth to talk about something only he knows: the food at SoFi Stadium. But seriously, Matt explains what it’s like making the historic cartoon in 2023, how necessary it is to have silly people together in the same room, and how to make jokes for people who’ve been watching …

1
A Conglomeration of All Sports Writers with Dave McKenna 57:32

8M ago57:32

57:32

Defector’s own Dave McKenna joins Drew and Roth to talk about Ireland's sports as it intersects with the political climate in the country. But first, these three longtime sportswriters untangle the next media company that wants to give you the slop via AI, Sports Illustrated. And we can’t let Dave McKenna leave without wrestling with the Dan-Synder…

1
Break Out 28 Dollars for Taco Bell with Jasper Wang 57:57

8M ago57:57

57:57

Defector’s own Jasper Wang joins Drew and Roth on Thanksgiving to talk about the Annual Report that Defector releases about how their business is going. The conclusion: financial stuff is much more fun when you give yourself a challenge inside of it. But they also ask Jasper about the butt-related football highlights of New York Jets, the different…

1
Non-Monster Mash Songs by the Monster Mash Guy with Rob Harvilla 56:25

8M ago56:25

56:25

Author of 60 Songs that Explain the 90s Rob Harvilla joins Drew and Roth to explain the 90s. At the risk of sounding like old farts, there’s a lot of talk about how mixtapes really showed how much you liked a girl in middle school, Rico Suave, and the six cassette tapes that Rob owned as a teenager. But Rob doesn’t get off that easy, as he needs to…

1
It Is Self-Care to Not Watch the Giants 1:00:59

9M ago1:00:59

1:00:59

The sports world is rounding into full dramatic nonsense shape, and Drew and Roth are on it! They’re covering the miraculous comeback of Josh Dobbs (and how much Drew screamed during it) alongside the wealth of garbage QBs starting in the National Football League. Then, they break down what’s going on in college football with forums weirdo Connor S…

1
The NBA Tush Push with Ray Ratto 59:55

9M ago59:55

59:55

Defector’s own Ray Ratto joins Drew and Roth to look ahead at the NBA season after a few games. But really, they need Ray to guide them through the harrowing James Harden trade and the incredibly bold colors of these in-season tournament courts. And as always, we dive into the Funbag! Do you want to hear your question answered on the pod? Well, giv…

1
His Dream Was to Be a Dentist with Emma Baccellieri 57:22

9M ago57:22

57:22

Sports Illustrated’s Emma Baccellieri joins Drew and Roth on the eve of the World Series. They dive into why the Rangers are so good, examine the continuous Rich-Boy-Heel Vibes of the defeated Astros, and give equal weight to the Phillies and Diamondbacks becuase we didn’t know who was moving on yet. And as always, we dive into the Funbag! If you w…

1
A Farewell to Guys 1:00:03

9M ago1:00:03

1:00:03

Coming down off the high of seeing listeners laugh at them in person, Drew and Roth meditate about the live show, the podcast, and themselves. The Distraction marches onwards even if we leave comrades behind. And at the end of the show, they answer a slew of voicemail Funbag questions! If you want to go to a live Distraction show where you live, le…

1
The Distraction Live in Brooklyn! with Rohan Nadkarni 1:06:27

10M ago1:06:27

1:06:27

Everyone’s favorite Distraction Guest Rohan Nadkarni joins Drew and Roth at Littlefield in Brooklyn, New York! They discuss Jimmy Butler’s emo haircut, the success of the Dolphins, many real-life NYC sandwiches, and a whole lot more. Plus, they’re on the spot as the audience asks live and in-person Funbag questions. If you want to go to a live Dist…

1
The Haterrr’s Guiiide to the 2023 MLB Playoffs! 57:10

10M ago57:10

57:10

Drew is locking Roth in to do a whole lot of baseball talking, because it’s the Haterrrrr’s Guiiiide to the 2023 MLB Playoffs! Who’s fun, who sucks, who’s gonna win it all, and who do we wish would win it all? But we also take an aside to talk about Michael Lewis, Walter Isaacson, and how they suck now. And as always, we Remember a Guy and dive int…

1
Taylor Swift's Elite Length with Giri Nathan & Samer Kalaf 53:39

10M ago53:39

53:39

Defector’s own Giri Nathan & Samer Kalaf join Drew and Roth to break down the best way to trade friendship bracelets at Chiefs games. We’re only joking a little bit, since everyone’s talking about Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce possibly dating. But that cannot overshadow the sheer magnitude of garbage that are the Bears, Broncos, and Mac Jones. Plus…

1
Vintage Smarm 58:55

10M ago58:55

58:55

Drew and Roth are on their own, so we only spent, like, five minutes talking about HJ nomenclature. They hit a wide range of Distraction-specific topics: the ethics of showing gruesome injuries, Coach Priiiime, the NBA’s PPP, and Elon Musk being an objectively boring person. And as always, the Guy of the Week and a Roth-forward Funbag! The Distract…

1
The Baseball Pathetic-Off with Justin Halpern 58:40

10M ago58:40

58:40

Executive producer of Harley Quinn and Abbott Elementary Justin Halpern joins Drew and Roth for the saddest event in baseball: The Pathetic-Off! Justin, demoralized by the Padres, challenges Roth, terrorized by the Mets, to decide who has the most upsetting experience rooting for their home team. And at the top, Justin gives us an update on the cur…

1
It’s NFL Good/Bad 2023! with Kalyn Kahler 1:14:52

11M ago1:14:52

1:14:52

Senior Writer for The Athletic and former Defector comrade Kalyn Kahler is back to preview the NFL season with Drew and Roth. They’re deciding if every single team will be Good or Bad this year with absolutely no explanation in between. But at the top, Kalyn gives her perspective, as someone at the Athletic, on the New York Times shuttering its spo…

1
Serious, Emotional Vikings Talk 1:02:16

11M ago1:02:16

1:02:16

It’s for another Drew and Roth Mess Around Hour, Sponsored by Bareback Sportsbook! The first half is a dive into the emotional and mental state of being a Vikings Fan. The second hafl is a grab bag of all your favorite podcast things: Drew’s bits coming home, voicemail and written Funbag questions, B+ celebrity impressions, and more. The Distractio…

1
Shrimp-Fed Fools with Spencer Hall 53:25

11M ago53:25

53:25

Spencer Hall of the Shutdown Fullcast and Channel Six joins Drew and Roth for a summertime tradition like no other: previewing the college football season. Spencer prognosticates the CFB Mega League, if New Yorkers will ever care about college football, and which teams will be the most fun to watch. Plus, we Remember a Guy and dive into the Funbag!…

1
4,000 Flipped Birds with Andy Behrens 1:01:45

11M ago1:01:45

1:01:45

Andy Behrens of Yahoo Sports joins Drew for the Haters’ Guiiiiiiiide to the 2023 fantasy football season. Andy explains where fantasy football stands in the face of sports gambling and how to draft for the reality of the 2023 NFL, while giving his top positional and rookie picks. Plus, we Remember a Guy and dive into the Funbag! Do you want to hear…

1
UND s3e7: 1 x 1 with 2023 NBA Champ, Nuggets F Aaron Gordon 53:16

12M ago53:16

53:16

Emmy and NABJ awarded veteran journalist and CBS Sports Senior NFL Insider Josina Anderson hosts an exclusive interview with 2023 Denver Nuggets NBA Champion Aaron Gordon form his summertime abode in Malaga, Spain. Gordon opens up about life after winning the trophy; Anderson confesses she predicted the Miami Heat to win. Gordon shares how deferenc…

1
Dog, I Lived at Warped Tour 2011 with Lindsey Adler and Tom Ley 1:10:08

12M ago1:10:08

1:10:08

Wall Street Journal’s Lindsey Alder joins Roth and guest host Defector EIC Tom Ley to talk deliberately and calmly about August baseball. Of course, the first half is about noted modern emo enthusiast and Met Pete Alonzo, which is exactly the story we want. Plus a remembering a Guy (the chocolate sauce on this chocolate ice cream) and diving into t…

1
What Is The Worst Profession of a Person You’d Admit to Have Dated? 1:00:15

12M ago1:00:15

1:00:15

The summer’s got that dog days in ‘em, so Drew and Roth going hard into summer food opinions and voicemail Funbag questions. Which will create more arguments: euphonic baseball player names or the proper way to eat a lobster? You can only find out from listening! Do you want to hear your question answered on the pod? Well, give us a call at 909-726…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Sports Gala Show Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide