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.)

Many women who cover sports are harassed online. For some it's sporadic, and for others it's a daily issue. We talk to columnist/broadcaster JULIE DICARO and NFL writer ANDREA HANGST about how they handle online abuse, the perils of self-censorship, and a social campaign project #MoreThanMean which we made to educate guys that some tweets are more than mean - they're harassment. And they need to stop.

Ep. 26: Online Harassment w/ Julie DiCaro & Andrea Hangst

VERNE LUNDQUIST is an icon of broadcasting who has delivered more famous calls than anyone. On the eve of his last SEC season for CBS, we break down his love of classical music - and get some hilarious revelations about his acting in "Happy Gilmore" and "The Last Boy Scout." 

Ep. 43: Verne Lundquist on 'Happy Gilmore' & Classical Music

It's the first pod ever to talk city planning AND country musicians who golf in the same show! We start with show runner MICHAEL SCHUR ("Parks & Rec," "Brooklyn Nine-Nine," "The Good Place") on his love of the iconic book "The Power Broker," which his wife banned him from talking about at parties. Then, we go deep on the country music career of golfer John Daly with GABE SPITZER, who directed the amazing "30 for 30" on the crooning golfer.

Ep. 57: TV's Michael Schur Got Banned from Talking "Power Broker"

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

Olympic gold medalist swimmer LILLY KING is an outspoken champion in the pool ... and a huge Harry Potter fan out of the water. At 20:30, we break down the books vs. movies, the art of re-reading a novel, and how top athletes relate to the most famous figure in the wizarding world. Then, on the heels of "Girls" making up a "White Men Can't Jump" musical, we do our best to cast that faux Broadway show.

Ep. 72: Olympic Hero Lilly King Relates to Harry Potter

Snowboarding icon and Olympic gold medalist KELLY CLARK is great on the slopes, but even better over a table saw. She opens up (15:00 mark) about her passion for making custom furniture, her modern style, and her love of "Fixer Upper" and HGTV. Then, the gang goes deep on "Above the Rim," Tupac's greatest performance ... besides faking his own death.

Ep. 73: Snowboarder Kelly Clark Makes Furniture

It's Shark Week ... so we got "The Shark" himself. MARK TITUS has always been a successful guy. He was a standout basketball player in high school,  a celebrity "benchwarmer blogger" at Ohio State, and a popular personality at Grantland and The Ringer. And the whole time, Mark secretly battled depression and anxiety that damn near derailed his life. He opens up (22:00) about his experiences, the stigma around mental health in sports, and the weird looks he gets making jokes about his depression. It's a revealing conversation you won't want to miss.

Ep. 83: Mark Titus Talks Mental Health in Sports

For many fans, KEVIN HARLAN is the voice of the NBA. Not because he's on the broadcasts, but because he's in the game. (Wait, wrong tagline?) Harlan speaks out on being the longtime voice of the mega-popular NBA 2K franchise. He breaks down sneaking in names, taping banter with his color commentators, what's in store for the new version, and just when he'll finally get around to playing the damn thing. Plus, the gang breaks down the NFL's "Pimp My Ride," sports tats, early lunches and more.

Ep. 87: Kevin Harlan is the Voice of NBA 2K

You may not consider CHUCK KLOSTERMAN a "sportswriter," but the famed cultural critic has produced a ton of intriguing sports writing. His new book "X" (uh, Ten) opens with a story called "Three Man Weave," an amazing tale of the craziest junior college basketball game ever played. We pin down Chuck on the backstory of that piece, the pressure of it kicking off Grantland's launch, his relationship with Bill Simmons, and the best American band ever (natch). Plus, Gareth and Brad talk the "It" movie. Because, we all float down here ...

Ep. 90: Chuck Klosterman on JuCo Hoops, Grantland and the Best American Band

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"

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

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)

MICHAEL BAUMANN of The Ringer ("Ringer MLB Show") takes a break from covering sports to talk space movies! We break down the reaction to the latest, final-for-now "Star Wars" sequel, which movie astronaut he'd trust to save his life, hidden space-flick gems and whether the real Neil Armstrong is better than the movie version. Plus, Brad's daughter's relentless pursuit of Minnie Mouse's personal cell takes a turn! Find us on Apple, Stitcher, SoundCloud, Luminary.

Ringer's Michael Baumann Talks Space Movies, From a New Skywalker to "The Last Starfighter"

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

Pittsburgh Pirates' ace STEVEN BRAULT is now making a different kind of pitch ... to the theater world. He's got a new album "A Pitch at Broadway" that recreates several famous musical numbers with a modern, rock sound. We go song-by-song with a deep dive on why he chose the tunes he chose, how to be funny while singing, how creepy a Phantom of the Opera should really be, why some "rolled R's" are mandatory thanks to "Hamilton," and which Pirates teammates wanted cameos. Then, Gareth and Brad go deep on their best live music moments ever ... which also includes Broadway, natch.

Pirates' Steven Brault Makes His 'Pitch at Broadway'

As demonstrations continue to press for racial justice, Brad and Gareth take time to reflect on tough conversations this show has had over the years with Black athletes and media on racial equality, police violence, profiling, protesting and representation. Then, they amplify several Black voices who are worth your time.

Black Athletes Keep Telling Us. It's Time We Listen.

From "The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon" to New Yorker essays about little league, Stephen King has had a compelling, sometimes tortured relationship with sports, and especially baseball. So we call up noted King and horror expert MICHAEL ROFFMAN -- co-founder of Consequence of Sound and co-host of the outstanding Loser's Club and Halloweenies podcasts -- to geek out on the author's connection with sports. We also talk sports' role in horror overall, from Jason's boxing to Freddy's invisible karate. (And Michael breaks down the highs, and horrors, of being a Miami Heat fan.) Then, Gareth and Brad present their own Top 5 King books ... and Gareth defends "The Tommyknockers" somehow.

Michael Roffman on Stephen King's Wide World of Sports

With the WNBA coming back, ESPN basketball analyst and "Around the Rim" podcast host LaCHINA ROBINSON goes deep on how this league is carrying the movement for racial justice and equality. We talk about why some stars are opting out of the season to focus on societal change, how white stars can "pass the mic" to women of color, and the tricky dynamics of returning to play in a pandemic. Oh, and why huge knee pads were a bad look for LaChina on the court (according to her). Then, Gareth & Brad catch up on their latest distractions, which includes Netflix shows and Stephen King.

LaChina Robinson on How the WNBA Will Carry This Movement

It's election season, so we're calling up Congress! This week, we talk to U.S. Congressman SEAN CASTEN (who reps Brad's district in Illinois) to break down his relationship with sports. Growing up a Mets fan in the '80s (and almost missing their fabled Game 6 comeback), coaching his daughters in youth soccer, whether elected officials have time to actually follow sports, athletes speaking out on political topics, and squaring off against U.S. Soccer "ringers" in Congressional soccer matches. Then, Gareth and Brad take a cue from Twitter and discuss things they once found profound but now just ... don't.

You can learn more about Sean Casten here: https://casten.house.gov/

Learn more about voting in Illinois here: https://www.elections.il.gov/

U.S. Congressman Sean Casten on Sports Fandom, Political Athletes & Government Soccer Ringers

Sports Illustrated copy chief JULIE KLIEGMAN's Twitter bio says "Talk to me about the SpongeBob musical." So here ... we ... are. We go deep on the legacy of the beloved cartoon, the show's manic comedic style, the meme-ification of the characters, why most reporters are Squidwards at heart, and why she loves the human-starring SpongeBob stage show. Then, Gareth and Brad do some old school distractions that include a Princess Di podcast and a reassessment of some truly hated '80s horror.

SI's Julie Kliegman Goes Deep on All Things SpongeBob

If there's a big Boston sports story, MICHAEL HOLLEY probably wrote a book about it. But he's never chronicled a basketball team ... until now. We break down his new book on the turn-of-the-century Celtics' Big Three. That means talking Paul's inflated sense of self, KG's acting chops versus Ray Allen's, why basketball makes for such great books, and the time Michael could smell 'Melo's cologne during an infamous "almost" brawl. Oh, and we get into Stevie Wonder's '70s vs. '80s music, because of course we do. Plus, Brad shares his own Kevin Garnett story about the time KG snuck the F-word into a commercial.

Michael Holley on Boston's Big Three, KG and Ray's Acting and '80s Stevie Wonder

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.

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