Episodes

  • The Science of the Trans Athlete Debate, Made Easy(ish)

    The Science of the Trans Athlete Debate, Made Easy(ish)
    Jan 9 2025
    The culture war around a tiny population of competitors may have led to the re-election of Donald Trump, who says nationwide bans on Day One aren't complicated. But biology is complicated. And David Epstein — greatest sports science reporter in America, author of The Sports Gene, writer of the Range Widely newsletter — did the research, so that the suspicious and/or sympathetic among us don't necessarily have to. Turns out, there are solutions upon which fact-based humans can agree, in case studies from childbirth to high-jump junk, college volleyball to Olympic boxing, nature to nurture... and nipple. ** Link on The Sports Gene: https://davidepstein.com/david-epstein-the-sports-gene/ Link on Range Widely: https://davidepstein.substack.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    53 mins
  • We Finally Found the Star of the Worst (and Most Mysterious) Commercial in Sports History

    We Finally Found the Star of the Worst (and Most Mysterious) Commercial in Sports History
    Jan 7 2025
    It is an infamous basketball ad that keeps going viral as much for its cringe-worthiness as the mystery of its simple message: "sportsmanship." But correspondent Zach Schwartz embarked on a two-and-a-half-year quest to meet the anonymous actor who's gotten dunked on by Twitter for more than a decade. Now, he helps us untangle a web of links from March Madness to Madison Avenue; a Supreme Court justice to a secretive billionaire; and the Dalai Lama to Damian Lillard (who agreed to go on the record). And we learn the true meaning of "perseverance" in the process. For more Zach Schwartz, you can visit his YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@zach_schwartz And special thanks to Goodnight, Texas for blessing this episode with their hit song, "The Railroad": https://youtu.be/1sp33WgVWMA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    51 mins
  • Donald Trump's Secret Weapon Is a Quarterback

    Donald Trump's Secret Weapon Is a Quarterback
    Jan 3 2025
    Johnny McEntee went viral before virality, as a trick-shot QB at UConn. He foresaw the rise of Donald Trump, while ordering him KFC on the campaign trail. He was straight out of central casting, but suddenly "Johnny Mac" the quarterback became enforcer-in-chief for the commander-in-chief, running a presidential "Gestapo" and hand-picking cabinet secretaries. Correspondent Devin Gordon meets a Trumpworld action figure and asks: How did this in-over-his-head loyalist get so powerful? And could it happen again? This episode originally aired November 7, 2023. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    52 mins
  • How Sam Bankman-Fried Sportswashed an $8 Billion Crypto Fraud, Starring Tom Brady and Steph Curry

    How Sam Bankman-Fried Sportswashed an $8 Billion Crypto Fraud, Starring Tom Brady and Steph Curry
    Jan 2 2025
    The FTX founder was a "martian" to the sports world. Why did he spend so much on arena naming rights and superstar endorsements? And how the hell did SBF become friends with TB12? Authors Michael Lewis (Going Infinite) and Zeke Faux (Number Go Up) witnessed the rise and fall of a crypto king. Now we can do the postmortem: “Moneyball, on steroids, gone wrong.” This episode originally aired November 21, 2023. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    54 mins
  • The Hard Truth About Orgasms in Sports, with Domonique Foxworth

    The Hard Truth About Orgasms in Sports, with Domonique Foxworth
    Dec 31 2024
    Is sex a performance-enhancing drug? Pablo and Domonique insert themselves into the debate over "post-nut clarity" with exhaustive research, from a pre-game onesome in the locker room and abstinence as a coaching philosophy, to the stamp of approval from Drake, Megan Rapinoe and actual doctors — Pablo's dad included. This episode originally aired February 29, 2024. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    49 mins
  • I Think I Solved the Mystery of the NFL's Secret Scammer and a $5 Billion Check

    I Think I Solved the Mystery of the NFL's Secret Scammer and a $5 Billion Check
    Dec 27 2024
    Pablo investigates a story including, but not limited to, a Duke basketball champion, a World War II treasure hunt, an alleged con man, Bob Marley, Dan Snyder, and an attempt to make history by purchasing the Washington Commanders. This episode originally aired September 8, 2023. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    53 mins
  • Why Listening to Action Bronson Makes Us Happy

    Why Listening to Action Bronson Makes Us Happy
    Dec 26 2024
    Action Bronson raps, cooks, paints, hosts, and acts (for Martin Scorsese, at least). He also has philosophical explanations for why A) he never wears pants, B) his go-to move is the headbutt, and C) nothing is better than a VHS tape. But Action Bronson had still never heard of the Accidental Bronson tribute account. Until now. Plus: AOL screennames, robot vacuum murder, and saggy balls. This episode originally aired November 10, 2023 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    49 mins
  • A Content Carol with Miserable Pablo Torre

    A Content Carol with Miserable Pablo Torre
    Dec 24 2024
    Pablo only understands the true meaning of making this show, not the holiday season. So the ghosts of Christmas break pay him a visit, to pay it forward with recommendations for reality shows and Christmas songs, plus an important investigation into the truth about Santa Claus. May bonus content bless you, everyone. PTFO-approved xmas playlists: Charlotte Wilder's Christmas-Song Christmas Songs Cortes's Holiday Mix This episode originally aired December 22, 2023. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    52 mins