On any given day, you can hear SARAH SPAIN talking sports on ESPN. On TV. On Radio. On Podcasts. Online. (And hell, maybe now in the owner's box.) But she's also found ways to use her platforms to explore her passions beyond sports - which is kinda sorta what this show is all about. So we break down that balancing act, her favorite interviews beyond sports, and some other fun stuff in her final appearance with us. Then, Brad and his daughter Charley talk the art and science of catching a real, live leprechaun.

ESPN's Sarah Spain on the Joys of Not Sticking to Sports

Calling all MAC alums! (Uh, and MAC "townies" like us.) We've got The Ringer's ace music critic and writer ROB HARVILLA - an Ohio University alum - to break down his new podcast "60 Songs That Explain the '90s." And we also talk growing up with '90s Cleveland sports, having Mazzy Star as your prom theme, and all things Hashtag MACtion. And because Gareth & Brad grew up in a MAC town (shoutout Bagel & Deli in Oxford, Ohio) we share our favorite '90s MAC memories, from Randy Moss kinda sorta being in the MAC to Gary Trent kinda sorta being the "Shaq of the MAC."

Go listen to "60 Songs That Explain the '90s" ... https://www.theringer.com/60-songs-that-explain-the-90s

Ringer's Rob Harvilla on '90s Music, '90s Sports & '90s #MACtion!

ERIC DAVIS is a legend. He hit an iconic homerun in the 1990 World Series to beat the heavily favored A's. He outlasted double-figure surgeries. He somehow made "buttonless 80s baseball jerseys" work. And, most crucially, he beat cancer. Our co-host Gareth Hughes is battling cancer now, so we dialed up Eric for perspective and a pep talk. And it's especially poignant because Gareth was there in the stands the night when Eric went yard against Oakland in the World Series. Two strangers, connected by a legendary sports moment, and an awful disease. And the hope and resolve to win, in both.

World Series Hero Eric Davis Beat Cancer AND the '90 A's. He's a Legend.

It's the last dance for "Just Not Sports," and we're bringing out the big guns! MARVIN LEWIS coached our (well, Brad's) beloved Bengals for half our life, so we're thrilled to finally have our favorite all-time coach here to share his love of golf. We break down his short and mid-range game, his greatest tournament highlight (which is online, ya know), and why you shouldn't gamble with NBA players. (Like, ever.) Then, Gareth & Brad bid farewell after nearly 200 episodes and half-a-decade by creating their all-time "farewell" mix tape. Plenty of shoutouts to close this episode and series ... thanks to each and everyone who ever contributed, collaborated or listened over the years. Booty rappers, stay booty.

Our Last Episode Had to Be Marvin Lewis Talking Golf. (Yup, Just Golf.)

Shaq is the Non-Sportsman of the Century for all his amazing movies, raps, TV shows and self-given nicknames. To honor his Hall of Fame induction, we go deep on his 1996 “rapping genie” movie “Kazaam.” And we chat up the kid from the flick, “Veronica Mars” actor FRANCIS CAPRA, who dishes some behind-the-scenes stories from the set. 

Ep. 46: Shaq Special w/ Francis Capra of 'Kazaam'

Spencer Hall, or @EDSBS as he's better known, wrote one of 2016's most talked about pieces of sports writing with his essay, "BUFFALO," a look at the majestic animal and the violence of football (it works). With the NFL Playoffs and College Football Championship upon us, we spoke to Spencer about the American Bison, and examined the moral complexity of football fandom.

Ep. 60: Spencer Hall on Buffalo (the animal), football, and our love of a violent game

When NICOLE AUERBACH isn't stalking the sidelines at NCAA games or the Olympics for USA Today, she's catching up on one of her all-time favorite shows: "Parks And Recreation." We break down the sitcom's cult status, the joy of "Treat Yo Self Day," and of course her uncanny resemblance to co-star Aubrey Plaza. Including whether Nicole ever tries to score a dinner reservation using her doppelganger's name.

Ep. 64: USA Today's Nicole Auerbach is Aubrey Plaza's Twin

SEAN McINDOE is a longtime NHL writer and analyst who was born standing up. Meaning, from childhood he's been a huge fan of stand-up comedy. We break down his favorite comics, the genius of George Carlin, funniest players in hockey, and more. Plus, Adam and Brad go DEEP on the new Damian Lillard (aka, Dame DOLLA) rap album, and rejoiced in the fact that, in Dame's words, we're gonna turn your funeral into a trap party.

Ep. 93: Sean McIndoe Likes Stand-Up Comedy

ESPN's SAM ALIPOUR loves adventures, with athletes or without. The guy who once took a "red wine bath" with Amar'e and tipped Jimmy Butler out of a canoe breaks down his gig showing off the personalities of athletes, plus his own thrill-seeking tendencies. Plus, the guys break down Starbury's electronics line, the "Justice League" disaster, why JJ Watt isn't creating a "Bad Moms" expanded universe and more.

Ep. 98: ESPN's Sam Alipour is an Adventurer

They asked JOE POSNANSKI to write a book about Babe Ruth ... he came back with one about Harry Houdini. Which, ya know, makes The Pos a "Just Not Sports" legend. Joe joins us (20:45 mark) to go deep on Houdini's most death-defying tricks, how he got so jacked, his controversial death, and why his legend persists today. Plus, the guys "slam some hammers" for 2018 by inviting guests onto the show ... including the missing-in-action Joe Reed!

Ep. 105: Joe Posnanski is Writing a Houdini Book

As a NCAA basketball coach, RICK PITINO was a two-time national champion. As a race horse owner ... hey, he's just having a good time. We break down Pitino's tales from the track, why he doesn't care about winning the Kentucky Derby and why his horse is named "Party Dancer." Then, we go deep on his "Billions" fandom, why he identifies with Axe more than ever, and whether AAU bros are like "Dollar Bill." 

His new book "My Story" is available at Amazon and wherever you buy new books these days.

Rick Pitino Talks Horse Racing & "Billions"

The Ringer's SEAN FENNESSEY has many titles. Editor-in-Chief. Chief Content Officer. Podcaster. But we appreciate him best as Horror Film Buff. Sean goes deep with Brad on the history of horror movies, including a breakdown of Sean's tremendous "Horror Oscars" piece from earlier this month. (Is "Gremlin's 2" horror? Is "Poltergeist" better than "The Thing?" Is "Texas Chainsaw 2" crazy or ... batshit crazy?) Plus, they analyze the great new Ringer podcast series "Halloween Unmasked" and why that film remains such a phenomenon today.

Subscribe to Sean's podcast "The Big Picture" & "Halloween Unmasked" wherever you listen to pods.

The Ringer's Sean Fennessey on Horror Films & "Halloween"

Sportswriter JANE McMANUS is a highly respected columnist, host and educator. She's also someone who saw N.W.A. in concert ... in Lincoln, Nebraska. We break down her love of old-school rap, whether she's #TeamChuckD or #TeamFlav, and the joy of seeing your kid write a term paper on hip-hop. Oh, and after the old-school rap talk we get into older-school archaeology, which ancient ruins hold up today and whether she believes in Ancient Aliens!

Jane McManus Talks Old-School Rap & Older School Relics

Peabody- and Gracie-winning Chicago sports talk host JULIE DiCARO returns to the show to help Brad shake off the looming trauma of HBO's "Chernobyl" series. Just who was to blame for an accident that almost killed everyone ... like, ever? Is Brad an awful person for not caring if TV dogs get shot? (Uh, yes.) And is it xenophobic to call the lead character "Lane Pryce" the whole time? (Also, yes.)

Julie DiCaro Helps Us Detox from HBO's "Chernobyl"

When ESPN's JOON LEE isn't globetrotting around to various sporting events, you can bet he's scouting "Star Wars" merch! We break down Joon's lifelong love of "Star Wars," the generational divide on the prequels, why he's not afraid of Reddit spoilers for "Rise of Skywalker," and why he started collecting cool "Star Wars" stuff. May the Force be with you, always.

ESPN's Joon Lee Collects 'Star Wars' Memorabilia

In 2020, U.S. Soccer legend and Fox Sports analyst ALEXI LALAS will be eligible for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Seriously. Now a quarter century into his solo music career, we bring back Alexi to discuss his new album "Look At You," running into his fans in Europe, when "la la la la la" is the perfect lyric, and whether his record works as a concept album about the 2019 US Women's National Team winning the World Cup. (Spoiler, Brad thinks it is.)

Alexi Lalas is on a Quest for the Perfect Pop Song

GARETH HUGHES is a 7x Emmy winner for his work on the NFL, NCAA, Masters and documentaries. He's also Brad's best friend and a former co-host of this very pod. So when he got diagnosed with liver cancer, we just had to break it all down. The stigma of liver cancer when you're sober, explaining cancer to your kids, when cancer "hurts," and the joys of watching Guy Fieri when you're on chemo.

Emmy-Winning Sports Producer Gareth Hughes Has Cancer. So He's Watching a LOT of Guy Fieri on Chemo

Before covering sports and culture for ESPNw, KATIE BARNES tried a different kind of writing ... fan fiction! Katie was part of a vibrant and active online community that specifically explored the characters and relationships on the hit TV drama, "Grey's Anatomy." Katie joins us to talk about they got into the show, the importance of Grey's "Calzona" coupling and on-air LGBTQ representation, and the amazing art of "remixing" a show's storylines. Really fun interview.

ESPNw's Katie Barnes Wrote "Grey's Anatomy" Fan Fiction

YOU: Why the hell is CHUCK KLOSTERMAN on this show? ME: Well, I will forever consider him part of the sports media expanded universe, for his contributions to sportswriting, Grantland, Simmons' pod - all that. So when Chuck has a book of short fiction, he gets to come on and talk short fiction. We debate unreliable narrators, unrealistic reader expectations, a football coach with only one play and whether Shaq has a case for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame!

Chuck Klosterman on Short Stories, Unreliable Narrators and Shaq's Rock & Roll HoF Chances

WNBA All-Star DIAMOND DeSHIELDS has only been without "Game of Thrones" a few months, and she's already missing it. The dynamic Chicago Sky guard breaks down her passion for the fabled TV show, re-examines the polarizing final episodes, shares favorite moments, explores how Arya got such good hops, and reveals how the home stretch may have unified her team during their race to the WNBA Playoffs!

WNBA All-Star Diamond DeShields Misses "Game of Thrones" Already

Eat your heart out Robert Downey Jr., because Yahoo Senior NFL writer KIMBERLEY MARTIN is the original animal lover. She's owned dogs, cats, a (super old) turtle and multiple bunnies. Yes, bunnies. We break down her passion for pets, then call up our old co-host Gareth Hughes from CBS Sports to hear the latest in his battle against cancer - and talk about how watching the "Watchmen" is helping him cope.

Yahoo's Kimberley Martin Loves Dogs, Cats, Turtles & Bunnies (+Gareth on Watchmen)

Many people know JODY AVIRGAN as a podcaster and producer who's done great work for "FiveThirtyEight" and ESPN's "30 for 30." But he's also found his way onto the "SportsCenter" highlights as a professional ultimate frisbee player. We break down his lifelong passion for the sport, his trash-talking intensity on the field, which athletes would make the best ultimate players, and more. Then, we visit with Gareth Hughes to break down his own (sometimes naked) adventures with ultimate frisbee with the Skidmore Wombats at the turn of the century.

Jody Avirgan Played Professional Ultimate Frisbee

When she's not hosting "Drinks with Binks" or "Call It a Night" on fubo Sports Network, you better believe JULIE STEWART-BINKS is rocking the eff out. We break down the rock 'n' roll fandom she inherited from her mom, getting starstruck interviewing Alice Cooper, whether Motley Crue and other 80s greats truly count as "classic rock," and a ton of other rock stuff from Scorpions to KISS to Ozzy. Then, Brad has run out of stuff to do with his kids in quarantine so get ready to hear his 6-year-old talk awful Disney+ shows!

Julie Stewart-Binks Loves Alice Cooper, Motley Crue & Classic Rock

Under Hashtag Quarantine we're all watching Hashtag Comfort TV. So let's turn that into Hashtag Sports! We sit down with Bleacher Report's DAVID GARDNER to do a TV Sitcom Draft. Who's going No. 1 -- "Seinfeld" or "Friends" or an upset? Does "The Simpsons" count as a sitcom? Does "Atlanta?" Do you need a raunchy show in your line-up? Oh, and we also break down mystic poetry, because, ya know, it's the end of the world.

Talking TV Sitcoms with David Gardner of Bleacher Report

RACHEL BONNETTA is a lot of things. A comedian. A sports TV host with FS1's "Lock It In." And someone who's just now starting "The Sopranos" so PLEASE DON'T SPOIL THE DAMN ENDING!!!! We break down her new Crooked Media podcast "Hall of Shame" about the most insane sports scandals of all time, we ponder which "Pod Save America" host would get picked last in gym class, we talk the joy of HGTV when you are confined to an apartment, and we also get into whether Ryan Lochte is hot or not. (Split decision!) Then, Gareth and Brad break down our best live sports moments ever ... which are still super depressing somehow. Hashtag Bengals, I guess.

Comedian & FS1 Host Rachel Bonnetta on Sports Scandals & Sopranos

JEFF BLAKE burst onto the scene for Bengals fans thanks to a heroic, iconic leap from third string to Pro Bowl quarterback during the mid-90s. And we were there for it, so humor us here folks. We break down Jeff's rise from obscurity, we go "full awkward Chris Farley questions" about his first game, then we geek out on his new venture into renewable energy and how he's using solar technology to break into the industry's "good-ole-boys" network. Plus, Gareth and Brad give distractions about virtual trivia and Friday the 13th-themed podcasts.

Bengals Icon Jeff Blake's Going Deep on Solar Energy

Comedian DAVID GBORIE had a full-fledged "athletic career," dammit, and you will respect it! We cajoled the co-host of "All Fantasy Everything" and the official Voice of Comedy Central to talk about his days on the high school gridiron, shady Wyoming-based two-a-days, creepy coaches, and that one INT he got that one time. Plus, we talk Denver sports, old-school Sonics, and why "Blue Chips" is a great freaking movie. Then, Gareth takes us back to "Cancer Corner" and we debate why things like that Ted Lasso TV show work against the odds.

David Gborie on Denver Sports, the '90s Sonics, Football Head Injuries & the Joy of "Blue Chips"

It's the holiday season, and Super Bowl champ BEN UTECHT is a most wonderful person to talk with in this most wonderful time of the year. He's been active in music for years, and each December he performs a concert that channels the best holiday music from Andy Williams and Bing Crosby. We go deep on his show (which is virtual this year), his other Christmas albums and recordings, his new musical trio Reborn, and his Top 5 favorite holiday tracks. Then, Brad is joined by "Summer Blockbuster" host Steve Warner to debate that annoying debate about what constitutes a Christmas movie. And why our parents EVER let us watch "Gremlins."

"An Andy & Bing Christmas" is virtual this year and you can buy tickets here: https://chanhassendt.com/shows/andybingchristmas/

Ben's group Reborn can be found here: https://www.rebornmusicgroup.org/

The "Summer Blockbuster" podcast is here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/summer-blockbuster/id1233568639

NFL Vet Ben Utecht Talks Holiday Concerts, Channeling Andy Williams and His Top 5 Christmas Classics

Washington Post reporter CHUCK CULPEPPER wrote an amazing story about the time Miami University (um, of Ohio) changed its nickname from R-dskins to RedHawks. And guess what? Yeah, everything was fine! With Native American nicknames back under debate, we check in on this time when a small Ohio town debated the change, the people who made it happen, the Miami Tribe members who clarified and personified the debate, and, ya know ... Brad's mom's role in all of it.

Washington Post's Chuck Culpepper on Racist Sports Nicknames, Plus My Mom on Our Life with Them

JESSE WASHINGTON of The Undefeated joins us to break down his new book "I Came as a Shadow" which he co-authored with legendary Georgetown basketball coach John Thompson about the life and legacy of this amazing coach, mentor, activist and man. Then, Gareth and Brad talk about what distracted us in 2020, and some show news for 2021.

The Undefeated's Jesse Washington on the Cultural Impact of Georgetown Coach John Thompson

For years, JULIE DICARO has been one of the most outspoken voices about the challenges faced by women in sports. It's what first brought us to her in 2016, when we launched the #MoreThanMean campaign (alongside One Tree Forest Films) to combat online harassment. Half a decade later, we revisit that work to discuss what's changed ... and frankly, what hasn't. (Because a whole hell of a lot hasn't.) And we hear from Julie about her work with Deadspin, her new podcast with Jane McManus, her upcoming book on this very issue, and how more men can step up to ensure that sports becomes a truly fair and equitable industry for everyone.

Julie's book "Sidelined" comes out in March: https://www.amazon.com/Sidelined-Sports-Culture-Being-America/dp/152474610X/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=julie+dicaro&qid=1612106950&sr=8-1

The Ladies Room podcast is here: https://deadspin.com/welcome-to-the-ladies-room-a-new-deadspin-sports-podca-1845878217

Deadspin's Julie DiCaro on the Challenges Faced By Women in Sports

Hey, before we go away for good, let's look back! Gareth and Brad replay an interview with "Parks & Rec" and "Good Place" creator MICHAEL SCHUR on the one book he got banned by his wife from discussing at parties ("The Power Broker"). Then, we discuss and debate the legacy of Van Halen with NFL reporter JUDY BATTISTA. These are two of our favorite interviews - enjoy!

Best Of: "Good Place" Creator Michael Schur on Books & NFL Reporter Judy Battista on Van Halen

We continue our Exit Interviews with soccer icon ALEXI LALAS returning for the third time! After two appearances breaking down his own musical talents, this time we asked him to describe his life via mix tape. And he delivers with an all-time starting eleven!  Then, Gareth and Brad do the same ... and it gets seriously weird.

Alexi Lalas Makes His Ultimate Mix Tape, from Air Supply to Zeppelin!

Sports talk, without the sports talk. We go deep with the people who play and cover sports about their passions away from the games. Movies, music, hobbies, interests, fashion. Anything ... JUST NOT SPORTS.

Just Not Sports

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