Best Wondery The Athletic Podcasts (2024)

1
Listen Now: The Best One Yet 7:28

17d ago7:28

7:28

Feel brighter every day with The Best One Yet, a 20-minute pop-biz podcast that serves up the top 3 stories spanning pop culture & business news, every morning, with fresh takes you can pretend you came up with — Pairs perfectly with your morning ritual. Follow The Best One Yet on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to…

1
Listen Now: The Best One Yet 7:28

18d ago7:28

7:28

Feel brighter every day with The Best One Yet, a 20-minute pop-biz podcast that serves up the top 3 stories spanning pop culture & business news, every morning, with fresh takes you can pretend you came up with — Pairs perfectly with your morning ritual. Follow The Best One Yet on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to…

1
The Lead Says Farewell 3:50

4M ago3:50

3:50

An announcement about our show See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

1
2023: The Year Of Women's Sports 17:38

4M ago17:38

17:38

A lot of sports stories caught our attention in 2023. But when we stepped back and looked at the year as a whole, there was one storyline that rose above them all -- the incredible growth of women’s sports. Today, we’re looking back at the moments that made 2023 such a historic year, and looking forward to what the future might bring. See Privacy P…

1
Cocaine, Disco, And A Football Revolution 26:06

4M ago26:06

26:06

When we think about innovative teams that have shaped the way offense is played in the NFL today, one of the first that comes to mind is the Bill Walsh-era San Francisco 49ers. However, there’s another trailblazing team from the same era that has arguably had just as big an impact on the sport. Today, we tell the story of the high-flying, but somew…

1
Armando Bacot's Last Dance 26:07

4M ago26:07

26:07

Over the last four years, Armando Bacot has been a double-double machine for one of college basketball’s most storied programs. But the reminders of what Bacot hasn’t accomplished at UNC continue to hang over him. Today, we dive into why Bacot decided to come back for one last high-stakes season at Chapel Hill. Plus, how his fame off the court as o…

1
‘It’s Just Magical’: The Surprising Power Of Baseball Memories 22:46

4M ago22:46

22:46

Baseball has always had a special place in the hearts and minds of fans -- of all ages. But what if the power of baseball memories could help aging baseball fans heal and live healthier lives? Today we explore a little known practice known as 'Baseball Reminiscence Therapy.' Reporter: Tiffany Oshinsky Learn more about Baseball Reminiscence Therapy …

1
Fatherhood Changed Mike McDaniel. Will The NFL Follow His Lead? 32:47

5M ago32:47

32:47

He’s the coach who makes slightly offbeat comments during press conferences, orchestrates the NFL’s most dynamic and explosive offense, and sometimes — decides to leave his high-pressure job out of the blue to see his family. Bottom line: Mike McDaniel does things differently. Today, we look at how the Dolphins head coach became someone who was wil…

1
'I Lost My Soul': The Tragic Death Of An Israeli Soccer Star 23:05

5M ago23:05

23:05

Lior Asulin was a star player on a soccer team that was once a powerful symbol of peace and unity in Israel -- a team where Jews and Arabs played side by side. Nearly twenty years later, he was killed by Hamas in the October 7th attacks. This is the tragic story of his life and death. Interviewees: Adi Rubinstein, Eyal Lahman, Gabriel Lima Watch a …

1
Rocket Science: Josh Dobbs Blasts Off, Returns To Earth 28:19

5M ago28:19

28:19

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Josh Dobbs was the author of one of the most dramatic wins of the NFL season, leading his team to a victory over the Falcons — and learning plays on the fly — just five days after coming over from the Cardinals in a trade. Today, we look at why Dobbs — an actual rocket scientist — was in the rare position to rise to th…

1
How Marvin Gaye Changed The NBA (Rebroadcast) 32:08

5M ago32:08

32:08

In 1983, musical legend Marvin Gaye stepped to the microphone at The Forum in Los Angeles, to sing the national anthem before the NBA All-Star Game. What happened next set in motion a cultural transformation within the NBA that still reverberates today. (This episode first aired on March 1, 2023) Guests: David Aldridge and Marcus Thompson II, The A…

1
Travis Kelce Was An A-Lister, Even Before T Swift (Rebroadcast) 21:30

5M ago21:30

21:30

Travis Kelce might be the most talked-about man in all of American pop culture right now. But his rise from football star to A-List celebrity actually began months before he began courting Taylor Swift with a friendship bracelet. Tom Kludt spent time with Kelce earlier this year and wrote an in-depth profile of him for Vanity Fair, and Tom joined u…

1
The Tragic Demise Of A Basketball Phenom 29:40

5M ago29:40

29:40

At age 14, Mikey Williams was considered by some to be the best basketball player his age in the country. He had millions of followers on Instagram and celebrities like Drake asked for his jersey and invited him backstage. He even had LeBron James serving as a mentor. But questions about his basketball abilities began to pile up. And then, earlier …

1
C.J. Stroud Never Had A Doubt 27:11

5M ago27:11

27:11

You might not guess it from watching him play football, but for much of his life, the odds have not been in C.J. Stroud’s favor. He saw his father go to prison at age 13, and reportedly did so poorly on the S2 cognition test that many people expected him to fail in the NFL. Today, we look at how Stroud’s self-belief helped propel him past the obsta…

1
Push Comes To Shove: The NFL's Tush Push Dilemma 25:25

5M ago25:25

25:25

If you’ve watched a Philadelphia Eagles game recently, chances are you’ve gotten a close look at arguably the NFL’s most controversial play. The Tush Push (or Brotherly Shove, or Two-Cheek Sneak, if you prefer) has become the Eagles not-so-secret weapon, a play that’s been both criticized — and imitated — across the NFL. Today, we look at why the p…

1
The Kidnapping Of Liverpool Star Luis Diaz's Father 19:40

6M ago19:40

19:40

A living nightmare finally came to an end for Liverpool's Luis Diaz on Thursday when his father was released by kidnappers in Colombia. Luis Manuel Diaz had been held captive for nearly two weeks, despite a massive push by the Colombian government to have him set free. Today, we look at how the kidnapping took place, the group behind it, and how Di…

1
The Two Cities Counting On Anthony Edwards 32:52

6M ago32:52

32:52

At age 22, in his fourth year in the league, Anthony Edwards is on the verge of making the leap to NBA superstardom — a journey that can be traced back to the gritty neighborhood in southwest Atlanta that made him who he is. Today, we look at Edwards’s unlikely rise, and full circle return to his hometown, and the loving family that propelled him f…

1
Joe Burrow Goes Alien Mode 👽 27:08

6M ago27:08

27:08

In Week 8, Joe Burrow boarded the Bengals' team plane in an alien mask — then went into alien mode in a dominant performance against one of the NFL's best teams. That was a welcome sight for the Bengals, eight weeks into a season where the franchise QB has mostly looked like anything but himself. Today, we revisit the team's tumultuous start, and t…

1
Butter Sculptures and Bobbleheads: Caitlin Clark Mania Grips Iowa 25:53

6M ago25:53

25:53

Iowa's Caitlin Clark rewrote almost every individual record in women's college basketball last season, and led the Hawkeyes to within a game of a national championship. What followed can only be described as "Caitlin Clark Mania" -- a series of honors that included everything from bobblehead dolls to a butter sculpture. lToday, we break down Clark'…

1
The Best World Series No One Asked For 29:43

6M ago29:43

29:43

It is the World Series showdown that basically no one saw coming: Bruce Bochy’s Wild Card Texas Rangers, against a team that finished 16 games back in their own division — Torey Lovullo and the Arizona Diamondbacks. Today, we break down the low points that both of these teams had to navigate just to get here. Plus, the story of the journeyman outfi…

1
Poppin' Bottles: The Aces Are Champions Again 24:10

6M ago24:10

24:10

Last week, the Las Vegas Aces became the first back-to-back WNBA champions in more than two decades. And, as we have come to expect with the Aces, they let everyone know just how much fun they would be having at the championship parade. But along with all the winning and the highly visible fun, the Aces have also been quietly transforming the WNBA.…

1
A Bold New Beginning For The Bucks 32:46

6M ago32:46

32:46

The Milwaukee Bucks became the favorites to win the NBA title the moment they swung the blockbuster trade for Damian Lillard. But along with all the excitement from that trade, Milwaukee is also facing some big questions. How will this team respond to the loss of one of its most popular players, Jrue Holiday? Can they break the trend set by some re…

1
Can The World's Fastest Man Save His Sport? 25:30

6M ago25:30

25:30

U.S.A. Track and Field star Noah Lyles caused quite a stir back in August when he called out NBA players for referring to themselves as “World Champions" after winning their league title. Several NBA All-Stars -- and even Drake -- took issue with his words, and did some verbal sparring online. But Lyles's comments were part of a wider campaign to e…

1
Greatest Show On Surf: The Dolphins' 'Revolutionary' Offense 26:07

6M ago26:07

26:07

Mike McDaniel, Tua Tagovailoa and the Miami Dolphins have unleashed an offense that has taken the NFL by storm, with some of the fastest players in the league (including Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle and Raheem Mostert) powering them to point totals we haven’t seen since the 1960s. Today, we look at three key factors fueling the Miami offense, and whe…

1
'Just Play, Man': The NBA's Crackdown On Rest Days 26:59

7M ago26:59

26:59

The NBA has been wrestling with a thorny issue for several years now – star players sitting out regular season games, even when they’re healthy. Fans are mad about it. TV broadcasters are mad about it. And now, the NBA has put new rules in place to try and prevent it from happening. Will the rules work? Could they potentially backfire? And what's a…

1
Inside Ronald Acuña Jr.’s Season For The Ages 24:18

7M ago24:18

24:18

Ronald Acuña Jr. has had a season unlike any other in Major League Baseball history, becoming the first player with 40+ home runs and 70+ stolen bases in the same year. But leading up to this dream season, the Atlanta Braves outfielder endured a stretch of his career that was anything but a fairy tale. Today, we look at how Acuña went from his lowe…

1
The Terrifying Moments After Bronny James' Collapse 17:43

7M ago17:43

17:43

What exactly happened when Bronny James collapsed on a USC basketball court in late July? How were his teammates impacted? Ryan Kartje of the LA Times brings us some new details, and discusses what all of this mean for Bronny's -- and LeBron's -- future. Guest: Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times Read Ryan's full story here See Privacy Policy at https:/…

1
Cowboys + Navy SEALs = Super Bowl? 25:24

7M ago25:24

25:24

For months now, a single date has been etched into the minds of Dallas Cowboys players – February 11th, 2024 – the date of Super Bowl 58. And this year, the team looked for inspiration from a rather unlikely source: ex-Navy SEALs. Today, we look at why quarterback Dak Prescott organized this mental mission for his team. And, after a shocking loss t…

1
'Let Me See Your Phone': A Coaching Legend's Bizarre Demise 29:09

7M ago29:09

29:09

The NHL season doesn’t begin until next month, but we might have already seen the most bizarre story of the season. Mike Babcock, one of the most accomplished hockey coaches in history, resigned as head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets last week, after making his players show him private photos from their phones. Today, we go inside the strange d…

1
Shohei's Empty Locker: How The Angels Failed MLB's Biggest Star 18:34

7M ago18:34

18:34

The Los Angeles Angels have had arguably the two biggest stars in baseball, Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout, on their roster for the past six years. And yet they have failed to make the playoffs -- or even record a winning season -- during that time. Today, with Ohtani on the verge of free agency, we explore his complicated relationship with the Angel…

1
Why Brock Purdy May Be Kyle Shanahan's Dream QB 25:02

7M ago25:02

25:02

The San Francisco 49ers are 2-0, and looking like a legitimate Super Bowl contender, heading into a matchup with the Giants on Thursday Night Football. And on a roster filled with stars, the guy who’s in charge of keeping the high-powered offense running is the former Mr. Irrelevant, Brock Purdy. Today, we look at why Purdy has given himself a chan…

1
Have The Lakers Finally Found Their Third Star? 23:33

7M ago23:33

23:33

Five years ago, almost no one in basketball knew the name Austin Reaves. Now, the 25-year-old is an extremely rich and extremely popular member of the world’s most famous basketball team. Today, we look at Austin Reaves' unlikely and sudden rise to stardom and fame, why he has become so beloved, and whether or not he could become the third star the…

1
The Swagger And Style Of Coach Prime's Colorado Buffaloes 28:54

7M ago28:54

28:54

Two weeks into the college football season, it's fair to say that the most intriguing — and polarizing — team in the sport is Coach Prime's Colorado Buffaloes. Today, we look at how Deion Sanders has transformed Colorado — seemingly overnight — into arguably the most entertaining team that college football has ever seen. It's the story of a landsca…

1
The Unproven QB Trying To Lead Georgia’s Three-peat 21:24

8M ago21:24

21:24

The Georgia Bulldogs are aiming for some rare history this season — college football’s first three-peat since the 1930’s — and Kirby Smart's team has handed the keys to this emerging dynasty to a relative unknown at quarterback: Carson Beck. Today, we break down why Beck stayed with the Bulldogs for three years when he easily could have entered the…

1
The End Of The Star Running Back Era? 21:06

8M ago21:06

21:06

Perhaps the biggest story of the NFL offseason has been star running backs trying – and failing – to get the big contracts they feel they deserve. That, plus the ever-shortening careers of running backs, has led some people to declare that we have reached the end of the NFL's star running back era. Today, a look at how we got here and what the chan…

1
Can Aaron Rodgers And The Jets Go The Distance? 25:00

8M ago25:00

25:00

The last time the New York Jets made the NFL playoffs, Mark Sanchez was their quarterback, LaDainian Tomlinson was their leading rusher, and The Social Network was about to come out on DVD. Now, 13 years later, the Jets finally believe they’ve found the right guy to lead them back. Today, we look at the events that led Aaron Rodgers and the Jets to…

1
How Freddie Freeman Built His Signature Swing 24:32

8M ago24:32

24:32

The Los Angeles Dodgers have been one of the hottest teams in Major League Baseball lately, thanks in large part to a lineup featuring two front-runners for MVP: seven-time All-Star Mookie Betts, and their veteran first baseman with an unmistakable swing, Freddie Freeman. Today, we trace Freeman’s origin story as a hitter all the way back to his da…

1
A Saudi Soccer Gold Rush 27:19

8M ago27:19

27:19

This summer, an eye-popping number of global soccer stars have signed huge contracts with teams in an unlikely place: Saudi Arabia. Today, we dive into the chaos of the Saudi soccer gold rush, the ways in which it has turned world football upside down, and why the league might be here to stay. Guest: Tariq Panja, The New York Times Read Tariq's ori…

1
'The NFL Was Upset': When ESPN Killed A Hit TV Show 22:00

8M ago22:00

22:00

Twenty years ago, ESPN premiered a television drama called 'Playmakers'. It dove into a lot of edgy issues in football, and it was an instant hit with viewers. But after just one season, ESPN pulled the show from the airwaves, reportedly because the NFL was upset about it. Today, we bring you the story of a TV show that in many ways was ahead of it…

1
Mike Leach’s Long Shadow 21:54

8M ago21:54

21:54

This past December, the Mississippi State football program and the college football world were hit with a tragedy, when head coach Mike Leach — the mastermind who made the ‘Air Raid’ offense famous — died at the age of 61. Today, we look at how Mississippi State is moving forward after the sudden loss of the larger-than-life coaching icon. Plus, th…

1
Why The U.S. No Longer Dominates Women's Soccer 25:06

8M ago25:06

25:06

The U.S. Women's National Soccer Team was eliminated from the World Cup by Sweden in the Round of 16 last week. It was a stunning development that led to the resignation of head coach Vlatko Andonvoski, and a whole lot of criticism. Today, we explore what went wrong for the U.S., and why the rest of the world has caught up to the once untouchable t…

1
The Eagles’ Motivation? Kansas City’s Confetti 25:42

8M ago25:42

25:42

Our lasting memory of the Super Bowl back in February is Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and the Chiefs celebrating their second title in the last four seasons. But on the opposite end of all that excitement, for Nick Sirianni, Jalen Hurts and the Eagles, it was a loss that left them searching for answers. Today, we explain how the Eagles are using K…

1
Arrogance, Apathy, And The Pac-12's Demise 27:16

9M ago27:16

27:16

Late last week, the Pac-12 conference — which dates back more than a century — was suddenly showing signs of completely falling apart, with Oregon and Washington among the latest schools to leave. Today, we look at the rich history of a conference that produced John Elway, Aaron Rodgers, and Alex Morgan (among others), and how a strange combination…

1
Athletes And 'The Psychedelic Revolution' (Rebroadcast) 17:15

9M ago17:15

17:15

There's growing evidence that certain psychedelic drugs can have positive benefits for people suffering from PTSD, depression and other mental illnesses. Today, we explore why many former pro athletes are taking up the cause of psychedelic therapy, and how some of their lives have been transformed by their experiences with the drugs (This episode f…

1
The Man Who Started A Bowling Revolution 23:33

9M ago23:33

23:33

If you've ever been bowling at your local lanes, and seen the strange sight of someone flinging the ball toward the pins with two hands, there are two possible explanations: Either they have no clue what they're doing, or they're emulating one of the game's most dominant players. Ever since he burst onto the scene 15 years ago, Jason Belmonte has b…

1
The Secret To Getting Top Football Recruits Is...Photoshoots? (Rebroadcast) 21:32

9M ago21:32

21:32

In the age of TikTok and Instagram, a new type of social media currency has become an important part of the recruiting process. Today, we venture into the strange world of recruit photo shoots -- a world filled with horses, Rolls Royces and spinning cameras... and a whole lot of frustrated coaches and administrators. (This episode originally aired …

1
'A Tour Of Their Own': How The Women's Tour de France Was Born (Re-Air) 19:39

9M ago19:39

19:39

The Tour de France Femmes is happening right now, with Stage 6 out of 8 taking place today. But while many of the top female cyclists in the world are hard at work in the mountains, our podcasting team is on vacation, so we are replaying an episode about the Women's Tour that originally aired around this time last year. Reporter Maggie Mertens join…

1
It's Travis Kelce's World 22:22

9M ago22:22

22:22

After helping the Kansas City Chiefs win Super Bowl 57, and besting his big brother Jason in the process, Travis Kelce suddenly seemed to be everywhere: late night talk shows, MLB games, Saturday Night Live, even his own epic party in Kansas City -- Kelce Jam. Today, we explain Kelce's somewhat unlikely leap from star athlete to A-list celebrity, t…

1
'Hurricane Messi' Hits Miami 28:03

9M ago28:03

28:03

Lionel Messi has arrived. The Argentine soccer star shocked the world last month by announcing that he was joining Inter Miami of Major League Soccer, and he was introduced to fans on a rain-soaked Sunday evening in Ft. Lauderdale this past weekend. Today, we bring you the inside story of how the biggest deal in MLS history got done, and the role t…

1
How Elly De La Cruz Turbo-Charged The Reds 21:33

9M ago21:33

21:33

Earlier this year, things were looking pretty bleak for the Cincinnati Reds, with a lot of empty seats at Great American Ball Park coming off a 100-loss season. But this team has made a dramatic turnaround, and the catalyst has been a player who has wasted no time in electrifying the city — and the sport. Today, we take an in-depth look at the impa…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Wondery The Athletic Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide