The Varsity

Constance Schwartz-Morini, the C.E.O. and co-founder of SMAC Entertainment, sits down with John to share her journey as a trailblazer in talent management, providing an inside look at the ins and outs of running a talent firm and managing a roster of high-profile clients including Deion Sanders, Michael Strahan, and Erin Andrews. She also sheds light on her bold decision to leave a promising career at the NFL—where she started as an assistant—to carve out her own path as an entrepreneur. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

ESPN senior writer and “Belichick whisperer” Seth Wickersham joins John to give an inside look at Belichick’s surprising decision to jump to the college ranks and become UNC’s next head coach. Seth dissects the appeal of this position, whether Belichick will be able to emulate his NFL success, and his desire to build a legacy beyond football. Then he dives into the evolution of the “Patriot Way” and offers his take on Brady’s broadcasting learning curve. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NBC sports commentator and fantasy football guru Matthew Berry joins John to discuss the new economics of on-air talent, from Stephen A. to Mike Clay; who’s actually moving the needle for the sports media business; and the grinfucker of the week. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben Strauss reunites with John to delve into a litany of hot topics stimulating the world of sports media: Stephen A. Smith’s soon-to-be historic contract, B1G’s college football noon kickoffs, ESPN’s MNF Simpsons alt-cast, the surprising non-bidders for the FIFA Women’s World Cup, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In a special live recording of The Varsity at the University of Massachusetts, former CBS Sports chairman and president Sean McManus sits down with John for a candid conversation about the ins and outs of sports media and his decades-long run as a media exec. The duo dive into how Sean got introduced to the biz, his crusade to bring the NFL back to CBS, why networks without the NFL can’t thrive, the ascension of women’s sports, and much, much more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After popular demand, The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand joins the pod to discuss McAfee, Manning, Inside the NBA, the Pitaro star strategy, the best Marchand jokes, and so much more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michael Nathanson, the co-founder and top analyst at MoffettNathanson, joins John for a rollicking exploration of the challenges facing legacy media now that streaming is king. Then they dive into how sports leagues and college conferences can survive, and thrive, in the post-TV era. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Bill Cohan joins John to assess the fate of Comcast’s Spinco, the potential involvement of private equity, and the snowball effect it could have on the industry writ large. Then Bill previews some potential M&A activity in the media space before recounting the surprising backstory to Wyc Grousbeck’s leveraged buyout of the Boston Celtics. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Former Turner Network prez David Levy joins John for a rollicking discussion of Comcast’s bombshell decision to spin off its cable channels, Amazon’s opportunities to dominate the R.S.N. market, the brilliance of Netflix’s Tyson-Paul fight, the ripple effects of the TNT-ESPN deal, and much more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

John is joined by Axios media star Sara Fischer for a look behind the headlines captivating the sports world: The glitch-ridden Tyson-Paul bout, TNT’s partnership with ESPN, WBD’s settlement with the NBA, how Trump 2.0 will impact local sports, and much more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

John is joined by one of ESPN’s brightest stars, Mike “Greeny” Greenberg. In a wide-ranging conversation about the evolving media landscape, the duo dive into Greeny’s remarkable 28-year (and counting) career at the network, the market for on-air talent and how it’s changed over the years, how his morning show Get Up became a cornerstone of ESPN’s morning programming, and much more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

John is joined by NBC Sports’ Mike Florio, creator of ProFootballTalk, to contemplate the biggest dramas facing the NFL today: the debate surrounding whether (and how) to add an additional game to the schedule, the push to expand its international footprint, the league’s surprising difficulty selling NFL media, and much more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

LightShed super-analyst Rich Greenfield joins John to discuss what Trump’s reelection means for the sports media business and the M&A landscape. Then they debate how the business will look in 10 years, whether platforms like YouTube and Spotify could get into sports, and much more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Fan favorite Ben Strauss return to discuss why he believes that Fox Sports—not ESPN—reigns supreme as the "woke” sports network. Then the duo dive into Fox Sports’ unique live-sports media strategy and wade into the rising drama surrounding beat reporters’ locker room access. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

John is joined by NASCAR President Steve Phelps for an in-depth discussion about how America's favorite homegrown motorsport plans to rev up its reach—without alienating the die-hard fans who fuel its legacy. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

John rings up Dylan Byers for a temperature check on the stability-starved media industry. They discuss why major streamers like Amazon are reticent to dabble in live news, the current trend of on-air talent salaries, why the Yankees-Dodgers World Series is good for MLB’s “health,” and much more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

John Ourand rings up baseball Hall of Famer turned analyst John Smoltz for a broad-spectrum conversation about broadcasting and Smoltz’s ascension to becoming Fox Sports’ top World Series analyst. Then the duo preview the World Series and get into the riveting narratives stemming from the Yankees-Dodgers/Judge-Ohtani matchup. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

John sits down with NBC Sports’ lead college football insider, Nicole Auerbach, for an in-depth discussion on the evolving landscape of the college sports business. They explore the impact of N.I.L., the dynamics of the transfer portal, the shifting tides of conference realignment, the potential role of private equity, and much more.  To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As the World Series looms, MLB commish Rob Manfred joins John to discuss the league’s landmark 2024 season, its outreach to younger fans, new (and future) rule changes, and the enhanced in-game experience—all contributing to the league’s highest attendance in seven years. Then they weigh into the media rights landscape and Manfred’s grand plans. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Legal expert Eriq Gardner joins John to discuss the bizarre saga of Jack Nicklaus’ lawsuit against Nicklaus Companies, in which the retired golfer is fighting to reclaim the rights to his own name, image, and likeness. Eriq offers some very frank advice to athletes looking to capitalize on their N.I.L. Then the duo dig into the looming DirecTV-Dish merger, and whether Venu Sports will ever see the light. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices