Diksha Sundriyal
Sports are much more than just competitive games. Another invention that has become an inseparable part of our existence, it is impossible to imagine the world without it. Sports and games have evolved with humans and we have become more creative with time. While there are countless sports that we indulge in, there are some that have struck a strong chord. So much that when these events happen, the whole world watches. Be it the Olympics, the FIFA World Cup, the Super Bowl, or the Cricket World Cup, sports might have divided us into teams, but they have also become a medium of bringing us together.
For a sports fan, a good part of their day is spent watching a tournament. And if not that, then revisiting some iconic match. But that is not the only medium where one’s enjoyment of their favourite sport should be restricted to. There’s a whole other medium for sports enthusiasts. Here’s the list of top sports podcasts. You can listen to several of these best sports podcasts on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify or even YouTube for free.
17. The Lowe Post (2017- present)
Who doesn’t love basketball! It turned some of the best into celebrities. It is a constant reminder of exactly how short you are and also, it is very entertaining. Zach Lowe from ESPN shares your sentiments about the show. He is a bit of a fanboy too. In this podcast, he goes around in basketball circles and tries to find basketball people so that he can talk about basketball things to them. The people that he stumbles upon are just as ordinary as Brian Windhorst, Kevin Arnovitz, David Locke and Jeff Van Gundy! You can listen to all episodes of the podcast here.
16. Pardon My Take (2016- present)
Commentators have played a very important role in sports broadcasting. When there were no televisions and radio was the only means for the fans to tune in live for a match, it was the words of the commentators that kept them up to date with the live match. Now, the listeners never really knew what was actually happening on the field, they couldn’t see it for themselves. So, it was very important for the commentators to keep their eyes hooked to the game and send off the right information. In many ways, people would listen to an interpretation of the game. ‘Pardon My Take’ takes you back to those times. With the best hosts ever and the guests ready to adapt themselves according to the structure of the show, this is going to be an instant favourite for you. You can listen to all episodes of this podcast here.
15. Spittin Chiclets (2016- present)
Before you start thinking about dedicating your time to this podcast, I believe it is important to tell you that its episodes can get lengthy, as in two and a half hours long. Anyway, if you really love the topic then you can chat about it endlessly, so it shouldn’t really be a bother. This podcast is about ice hockey. Ryan Whitney, a former NHL player, is joined by Paul Bissonette (another veteran of the sport) to engage in a conversation about the sport; the discussions tend to take other directions as well. You can listen to all episodes of this podcast here.
14. Art of Wrestling (2013- present)
Wrestling is one of the most popular sports in the world. Various countries have their own traditional styles of wrestling and the art has evolved as all these styles have merged together with the passage of time. ‘Art of Wrestling’ is hosted by Colt Cabana, an accomplished wrestler himself. He travels the world to talk to other big names in wrestling. These people are not in the ring anymore. They are in familiar surroundings and they are calmer than you might have seen them in the fights. They talk about their dreams and aspirations and how much hard work they put into it. You can listen to all episodes of this podcast here.
13. F1: Beyond the Grid (2018- present)
Formula One is one of the most exciting sports of all time. The speed, the adrenaline, the sheer excitement of this sport is unmatchable. When the viewers have such a great time, I can’t even imagine what the racers might feel like. If you too love this sport, then there is no better podcast for you than this. Here, you receive great stories about some legendary racers; you also receive some interesting trivia. Some of the biggest names in the game are invited in the show and they share their personal experiences and what Formula racing means to them. You can listen to all the episodes of ‘F1: Beyond the Grid’ here.
12. The Enormocast: A Climbing Podcast (2011- present)
Climbing, of any sort, is a physically demanding activity. One needs to develop a lot of strength for this sport, but once you get into it, there is no getting out. If you too are a climbing fanatic, then you should listen to ‘The Enormocast’. It has Chris Kalous, a famous climber himself, as the host. He is joined by other climbers and they discuss various aspects of this sport. There is the talk about rock climbing, mountain climbing, alpine climbing and everything else that falls under this topic. However, the conversation does tend to shift to other things, like zombie apocalypse and all. You can listen to all episodes of this podcast here.
11. Zen and the Art of Triathlon (2006- present)
Participating in triathlon means a lot of workout in advance. It is a gruelling task and you can’t simply walk into it without preparing yourself mentally and physically for it. What is the best way to prepare for it? How should you strategise and plan your workout? What is the best way to train? In ‘Zen and the Art of Triathlon’, you will find some great tips and tricks to help you in winning the next race. The hosts talk about the impact of the sport on one’s life, how fatal injuries can get in this, how great it feels when you win and how to take failure like a boss. You can listen to all episodes of this podcast here.
10. Following on Cricket Podcast (2018- present)
Cricket might not be a popular game in America, but for the rest of the continents, it is one of the most important sports ever. It is the national game of England, and for most South Asian countries, it could very well be the only game that exists. It’s a big deal. If you are not a cricket fan, don’t really know much about the game, then you can listen to this podcast and maybe get the gist. For the fans, on the other hand, it is the only podcast that you need to listen to. You can catch all the episodes of ‘Following on Cricket Podcast’ here.
9. Effectively Wild: A FanGraphs Baseball Podcast (2012- present)
This podcast is for the fans of baseball and it is unlike any other you have heard on the topic. Some prominent names in the field join the discussion in every episode and weigh in on various topics related to the game. They analyse the current situation of various players and teams; other contemporary topics also find a place in these conversations. They talk about the serious stuff, but it can easily divert to something ridiculously funny. You can catch all the episodes of this podcast here.
8. Men in Blazers (2016- present)
Soccer in America, football on the other side of the pond. It is one of the, if not the, biggest games in the world. Each World Cup throws the whole world into a frenzy and fans just go mad. What brings football to this status? How has it succeeded in receiving this international fandom? What is its scope of popularity in America where baseball and basketball still rule the sports scene? All such questions are the topics of discussion in this podcast. You can listen to all the episodes of ‘Men in Blazers’ here.
7. ELeague Report (2017- present)
This podcast airs two episodes a week and is hosted by Brian and Seven. This is your podcast if you want to know about the latest developments in esports. Video games have been popular ever since they were brought into the market. Every year, their status only increases, and the sense of competition in the gamer community becomes even stronger. If you are also an ardent gamer and an eleaguer, then you should keep your ears tuned to this podcast. You can catch all its episodes here.
6. Jalen and Jacoby (2018- present)
You love sports. And who doesn’t love movies? You love sports movies, I am sure. So, you know how awesome it gets when both your favourite things are on at the same time, and you are not missing one to watch another. The same feeling arises from this podcast as well. Jalen and Jacoby complement each other as fine as movies do to sports. Their topics of discussion here are the latest developments in the sports community and what’s the next big thing in pop culture. Needless to say, it is an absolute fun ride. You can catch all the episodes of ‘Jalen and Jacoby’ here.
5. That Peter Crouch Podcast (2018- present)
This podcast is for all the budding footballers. You might want to let your kids in on this one if you see the spark for the sport in them. The podcast is hosted by Peter Crouch, Tom Fordyce and Chris Stark. Their only motive here is to educate you the best they can about the challenges of becoming a professional footballer. They have the first-hand experience on the job and know exactly what troubles will come your way and what you should do to overcome them. You can listen to all the episodes of this podcast here.
4. The Pat McAfee Show 2.0 (2017- present)
Pat McAfee is a retired professional footballer who played eight seasons for the Indianapolis Colts. He has several awards to his name and has built a good reputation for his name in the long career that he has experienced. Currently, he serves as an analyst for football and WWE. He is also one of the hosts of this podcast. His knowledge of the game and his no filter attitude make a dangerous combination, an interesting one at that. Here, he talks about the latest in football and a lot about what had happened before. One thing is for sure, you won’t be bored here. You can listen to all episodes of the podcast here.
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3. R2C2 is Uninterrupted (2018- present)
This podcast is hosted by CC Sabathia and Ryan Ruocco. They receive athlete guests in the show and talk about the game as well as the life of the player. The conversations soon expand from there and we find ourselves in the middle of discussions that are on food, life and other awkward things. You can catch up with all the episodes of the show here.
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2. The Big Podcast with Shaq (2019- present)
Shaquille O’Neal is one of the most famous basketball players. His track record is full of awards and accolades and in his two-decades-long career, he has proved himself to be one of the best players of all time. He retired from the game back in 2011, but that doesn’t mean he has completely let go of it. How can he possibly? In this podcast, he is joined by John Kincade to talk about all things basketball and then some. This is a fun podcast and is extremely enjoyable for basketball fans. You can listen to all its episodes here.
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1. The Lefkoe Show (2017- present)
Want insider information on the NFL? Want to know what happens outside of the field, what is the nature of the relationship between the players? What drives the players and how do they manage to face the pressure of the high expectations of their fans? All of this and more is told to the listeners of ‘The Lefkoe Show’. The host takes you behind the scenes and interviews some of the most well-known players, talks to people in high places, the insiders, and shows you a picture that is very different from what you see on the court. You can listen to all episodes of this podcast here.
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