Well Played

The Cowboys had their most devastating loss yet after Sabrina Carpenter wore a Cowboys sweatshirt. It deepened rumors that Sabrina cast a hex on several sports teams after donning their merch, leading Blake and Caroline to question: is Sabrina a teenage witch?  In this episode of Well Played, we’ll also cover:  The WAGs who made our favorite touchdown celebration of the week  Why Donte DiVicenzo and Rick Brunson were beefing on the court after the Knicks and T-wolves pre-season game  The woman who just became the NHL’s first female coach  Several health updates coming out of NFL week 6 including: Jim Harbaugh’s 2-0 heart arrhythmia record, the broken leg that’s likely to cost Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson his season, and Tua’s post-concussion return ft. Megan Gailey  Why Eagles coach Nick Sirianni is apologizing to fans after his team…won?  Who Megan is rooting for in the WNBA and MLB playoffs Listen to Megan’s show “Sports, Bitches” wherever you get your podcasts and be sure to follow her on all socials:  Megan’s Instagram: @bettermegangailey Blake’s Instagram: @blaaakkkke Caroline’s Instagram: @cghendy theSkimm’s Instagram: @theskimm

It finally happened. In a preseason game over the weekend, Lebron James and his son Bronny Jr. made NBA history as the first father-son duo to play in a game together. TBD on how the regular season actually rolls out. For this week’s Tuesday Morning Quarterback, Caroline and Blake invite TikToker and podcast host Annie Agar to chat about the breaking news out of the Jets, major diva wide receivers, and speculation about several failing QBs. In this episode of Well Played, we’ll also cover:  Travis Kelce’s real boo who he recently spent $70K on  Savannah James’ 2K character of choice (sorry, Lebron) Coco Gauff’s stunning win over Karolina Muchova at the China Open  Guest Annie Agar’s takes on sitting rookie QBs, what the Browns’ front office needs to do to salvage the team, and the iconic moments from the Raven and Falcons wins Amanda’s comeback to discuss the Liberty’s chances in the finals  Four viral moments of the week you need to send to your sports-loving group chats Listen to "The Offensive Line with Annie Agar" wherever you get your podcasts and be sure to follow her on all socials:  Annie Agar IG/TikTok: @annieagar5 Blake’s Instagram: @blaaakkkke Caroline’s Instagram: @cghendy theSkimm’s Instagram: @theskimm

In this episode of Well Played, we’ll also cover:  Baker Mayfield calling out Tom Brady for girl bossing too close to the sun Why UNLV star quarterback Matt Sluka is sitting out the season in the name of securing the bag How Serena Williams’ husband, Alexis Ohanian, is changing the game for women athletes  Guest Erin Foley’s takes on the stats we’re thinking about in Week 4 of the NFL: Patrick Mahomes’ 12-0 record, Jayden Daniels’ 82.1% completion rate, and more Why some WNBA players are calling out Indiana Fever fans  How to engage in friendly chirping on the sidelines of a WNBA game ft. Spike Lee What Caitlin Clark remembers most from her rookie season (hint: it has nothing to do with her broken records) Listen to Erin’s show, Herlights, wherever you get your podcasts, and give her a follow on IG @erinkfoley.  Blake’s Instagram: @blaaakkkke Caroline’s Instagram: @cghendy theSkimm’s Instagram: @theskimm

Favorite after favorite fumbled the bag in week 3 of the NFL season, leaving sports journalists wondering: is this the year of the upsets? NFL insider Caroline Hendershot joins Amanda and Blake to give her POV and to share a special announcement you won’t want to miss. In this episode of Well Played, we’ll also cover:  Why true crime fans everywhere are rejoicing in the to get Jordan Chiles’ bronze medal back The 120th L the White Sox took this week and how their social media team is responding Dodgers player Shohei Ohtani’s inauguration as the president of the 50/50 club  The record sale price on Caitlin Clark’s rookie card (hint: it’s higher than her salary)  A’ja Wilson’s league MVP three-peat, plus a WNBA playoffs preview by Amanda NFL headlines including Raiders’ coach making “business decisions”, Bryce Young’s benching, and a milestone for women in the NFL  What Amanda, Blake, and Caroline are stiff arming this week

Apparently if you say “injuries” three times in the mirror, Week 2 of the 2024 NFL season will appear. Amanda and Blake tackle the injury stories squashing the hopes and dreams of fantasy football leaguers everywhere.  In this episode of Well Played, we’ll also cover:  NFL Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe’s response to when an “intimate moment” was captured on his Instagram Live  WNBA player Caitlin Clark’s explanation as to why she liked Taylor Swift’s endorsement of Kamala Harris Tom Brady’s victory lap over Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney in English football  What it’ll take for Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa to retire after his latest concussion  How many flags were thrown after five athletes were hit with the illegal hip drop tackle (spoiler alert: 0)  In or out: guardian caps on NFL player’s helmets A nod to A’ja Wilson who became the first WNBA player to score 1000 points in a season Fantasy Football legend Matthew Berry’s advice on how to maximize your chances this season, plus his roasting of Blake’s celebrity Skybox draft pick

Week 1 of the NFL season is in the books, and Amanda is joined by special guest-host Claudia Rupcich of theSkimm to break it all down.  In this episode of Well Played, we’ll cover:  Tom Brady’s awkward debut as the highest paid commentator in sports A’ja Wilson and Bam Adebayo (seemingly) having their relationship spoiled by the mayor Steph Curry and Klay Thompson’s viral WNBA moment The controversial arrest of Miami Dolphins WR Tyreek Hill prior to Sunday’s game Aaron Rodgers’ disappointing MNF performance This year’s selection for the Super Bowl halftime show All the famous faces seen at the US Open final (we’re looking at you Taylor Swift) Alex Morgan’s illustrious career comes to a close

Football is back, and so are Amanda and Blake (fresh off their post-Olympics mini vacation). They’re ready to bring you weekly episodes about the sports stories dominating your feeds. Between major sporting events like the US Open and the kickoff of the NFL season, there’s a lot to get to this week.  In this episode of Well Played, we’ll cover:  Whether Tom Brady’s Youtube career sparks joy or gives us the ick (spoiler: kinda both?) The power of AI in sports via Yahoo Fantasy Football’s unsolicited roast of Amanda’s team The BBC sports commentator who is seeing his doctor instead of taking full accountability for sending sexually explicit texts to his coworkers Why some are calling the Paralympics TikTok account “edgy”  A quick Skimm of the NFL rule changes for kickoffs and hip-drop tackles, plus a preview of this weekend’s games  Why this year’s US Open feels like Fashion Week 2.0 with a side of tennis and Honey Deuces

Are you ready for a podcast in a league of its own? theSkimm presents Well Played, a podcast dedicated to treating the sports world like the bingeable reality TV it actually is. Well Played is available now, with new episodes starting Tuesday, September 3rd, just in time for the 2024 NFL season. Be sure to subscribe now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you’re listening. Game on.

We’re pouring one out for the Paris 2024 Olympics in the last episode of Well Played: Olympics Edition. From the most heartwarming moments to the most memeable ones, Amanda and Blake settle the score on the most iconic outcomes of the Games, plus what’s to come in the Los Angeles Games in 2028 (yes, we’re already talking about them).  In this episode of Well Played, we’ll also cover:  An update on USA Gymnastics’ appeal against the CAS stripping Jordan Chiles of her bronze medal  The moment Tom Cruise did the absolute most at the closing ceremony The buckets Team USA had to pull off to defend its Olympic winning streak in basketball Reactions to the Sha’Carri Richardson’s side-eye that dominated our feeds this weekend Track & field legend Carl Lewis’s response when the men’s team botched the 4x100m final for the 5th straight time  A comprehensive list of Amanda’s award-winning Olympics moments

Sunday marks the end of the Olympics, and the vibes are big time sad. The US still has time to clinch more medals with team sports and track wrapping up this weekend, and the debut of the sport we’ve all been waiting for: breaking.  In this episode of Well Played, we’ll also cover:  If Simone Biles is responsible for taming the internet bullies coming for McKayla Skinner Why India’s woman wrestler, Vinesh Phogat, was disqualified and how much agency athletes have over their well-being This week’s track and field gold wins by Gabby Thomas, Cole Hocker, and Quincy Hall  The offensive trio leading the USWNT to the gold medal match against Brazil this weekend The history behind biting Olympic gold medals, plus the secret ingredient in this year’s medals (hint: it might be making one Parisian landmark structurally less sound) Amanda’s (potentially?) hot take on proposing at the Games

We’re over halfway through the Paris Olympics and back with our fourth episode of Well Played: Olympics Edition. After learning about the pair of Czech exes that slayed the tennis doubles competition, listeners learn that Amanda has a Hallmark rom-com in the works about the famed Olympic couple. In this episode of Well Played, we’ll also cover:  The bulge that prevented a French pole vaulter from winning (yes, that bulge) More poo problems in the Seine and its effects on athletes Why, in her expert track & field opinion, Amanda believes both Noah Lyles and Kishane Thompson won the 100m race Sha’carri Richardson’s first Olympic medal, plus the famed Jamaican athletes who bowed out of the 200m this week  How Simone Biles torched reporters after copping her final medal of these games  The bullying of Algerian women’s boxer, Imane Khelif

We are seven days into the 2024 Paris Olympics and back for another episode of Well Played: Olympics Edition. Amanda and Blake chat about the MyKayla who decided to go after the US women’s gymnastics team. Rest assured, McKayla Maroney had nothing to do with it.  In this episode of Well Played, we’ll also cover:  The *chefs kiss* TikToks Suni Lee and Simone Biles executed after winning the team all-around gold medal, plus how protecting their physical and mental health paid off for the gymnasts so far The emotional moment the US women’s rugby sevens team took home the bronze  How rugby player and social media queen, Ilona Maher, managed to recruit Jason Kelce to be the no. 1 fan of the team à la Flavor Flav If “boundary king” Stephen Nedoroscik will have his second Clark Kent moment on the pommel horse this weekend One theory on why Olympic swimmers are breaking less world records this year  Whether Amanda and Blake would stay in the Olympic Village or flee to a bourgeois hotel

We’re back with our second episode of Well Played: Olympics Edition. Amanda and Blake dive into their thoughts on the opening ceremony. As it turns out, they worried too much about unsightly denim outfits and not enough about the potential for inclement weather that fell upon athletes stuck on boats.  In this episode of Well Played, we’ll also cover:  The cheating scandal shaking up the Canadian women’s soccer team  The iconic viral swimmer who took over our feeds this weekend (no, not Katie Ledecky) Whether Simone Biles will be hampered by her injury, and the bittersweet moment watching Suni Lee qualify for the team all-around finals The lore behind the “Boundary King” who scored the men’s US gymnastics team its first medal since 2008 Team USA literally towering over Team Japan in women’s basketball, plus what Diana Taurasi said to reporters about playing basketball at her age  A convo with Canadian high diver Molly Carlson on her experience plunging in the Seine PS: Like what you hear? Subscribe to Well Played on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you’re listening now. Be sure to rate the show 5-stars too. We’ll be back in your feed on Thursday.

In the first ever episode of Well Played, presented by theSkimm, hosts Amanda Duberman and Blake Lew-Merwin preview the biggest Olympic stories dominating your feeds ahead of the opening ceremony kicking off the games tomorrow.   In this episode of Well Played, we cover:  Swimming in the river Seine: yay or nay?  Team USA denim outfits, and the singular reason Amanda is all about them  How the opening ceremony looks different this year (spoiler alert: it’s floating) What to expect from the US women’s soccer team with former USWNT member, Sam Mewis Why we’re hyped for the return of the GOAT, Simone Biles How the Olympics are becoming more inclusive for mom athletes with guest Allyson Felix Subscribe to Well Played on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you’re listening now.

Sadly, we’re saying goodbye to Pop Cultured. In the last year, we’ve done some memorable pop culture deep dives (think: Queen Bey’s “Renaissance” and the history of house music) and broken down some of the biggest stories in the news (like: the Oscar’s slap and Serena retiring as the GOAT). We’ve also had some amazing conversations along the way.  So, it’s only right that we end the show the way it began: talking about why these stories matter. TV, movies, fashion, sports, and just about everything we consume can be pop culture, and looking at it can tell us a lot about what’s going on in society. Today, we take a look back at some of our favorite moments on the show — from Dwyane Wade totally flubbing questions about his wife Gabrielle Union to that time Bridget got an astrology reading that told her when she’ll find love. Then, we chat with some of our favorite show guests on why pop culture is important to them — and the world. You’ll hear from: Sabrina Razack, PhD candidate who studies and writes about the intersection of sports, gender, and race. Find Sabrina’s curriculum at teachbeyondaboundary.com.  Sharon Kwon, psychotherapist, social worker, writer, and mental health advocate. Learn more about Sharon’s practice at sharonkwon.com.   Daric L. Cottingham, freelance culture and entertainment journalist. Check out Daric’s work at dariccott.com. Bethonie Butler, TV and pop culture reporter for The Washington Post. Read Bethonie’s latest articles for washingtonpost.com.  Want more Skimm?  Sign up for our free daily newsletter Subscribe to theSkimm’s other podcasts (Skimm This and 9 to 5ish), and leave us reviews wherever you get your podcasts Skimm'd by Senior Producer and Host Bridget Armstrong. Produced by Alaisha Key. Engineered by Andrew Callaway and Elie McAfee-Hahn. TheSkimm’s senior director of audio is Graelyn Brashear.

Don’t know about you, but we’re still processing everything that went down at the VMAs — from that totally weird Johnny Depp appearance (can we call it that?) to Lizzo responding to haters. Again.  We’re also going to break down the Olivia Wilde–Shia LaBeouf beef, the Euphoria season three drama, and the latest thing to fall out of Chris Rock's mouth. And finally, with all eyes on NASA this week, we’re going back to one of our favorite episodes of this show, where we dug into our pop culture obsession with space.  You’ll hear from: Dr. Teasel Muir Harmony, curator of the Apollo Spacecraft Collection, professor at Georgetown University and author of  Apollo to the Moon: A History in 50 Objects.   Swapna Krishna, journalist covering space, tech, and pop culture at outlets such as Engadget, StarTrek.com, The Verge, and more. Co-host of the podcast Desi Geek Girls.  Eric Kohn, New York–based Executive Editor & Chief Critic at IndieWire.

We’re kicking it off this week with a rundown of a big win for HBO Max (House of the Dragon, we’re looking at you) and a whole lot of cringe. A plantation wedding, Bennifer? Really? Then, it’s a conversation with The Juggernaut’s Ishani Nath about Indian Matchmaking, and why she says the Netflix show about arranged marriages is still a hate watch. We get into what the series gets right, what it’s still getting wrong in season two, and why Sima from Mumbai fires up so many feelings.  And finally, the VMAs are right around the corner. But who even watches music videos any more? We talked to Rolling Stone writer Claire Shaffer about the rise, fall, and rebirth of the medium — from the big-budget heyday of Michael Jackson’s ’80s to the boy bound countdowns of TRL to today’s YouTube-ready viral sensations.  You’ll hear from:  Ishani Nath, culture editor for The Juggernaut Claire Shaffer, freelance writer for Rolling Stone Want more Skimm?  Sign up for our free daily newsletter Subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts Skimm'd by Senior Producer and Host Bridget Armstrong and producer Alaisha Key. Additional production help from Blake Lew-Merwin. Engineered by Andrew Callaway and Elie McAfee-Hahn. TheSkimm’s senior director of audio is Graelyn Brashear.

First, it’s the Pop Five: Megan Thee Stallion’s new album “Traumazine” is just what the hot girls need as we transition into fall. Rihanna’s boo A$AP Rocky might be in big trouble, and Real Housewife Kathy Hilton is facing backlash from Lizzo fans. And we’re getting nostalgic over Brandy’s “Cinderella” turning 25.  Next, Jennette McCurdy’s new memoir is making us rethink some of our childhood faves. We Skimm (in under four minutes) what we’re learning about the era at Nickelodeon that brought us "iCarly." And since we’re looking back, we’re celebrating the GOAT: Serena Williams. The tennis phenom recently announced that she’s retiring, so we talked to a writer about Serena’s career, legacy, and lasting impact on women’s sports.  You’ll hear from: Sabrina Razack, PhD candidate who studies and writes about the intersection of sports, gender, and race                                             Want more Skimm?  Sign up for our free daily newsletter Subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts Skimm'd by Senior Producer and Host Bridget Armstrong. Produced by Alaisha Key. Additional production help from Blake Lew-Merwin. Engineered by Andrew Callaway and Elie McAfee-Hahn. TheSkimm’s senior director of audio is Graelyn Brashear.

First up, say goodbye to #Kete, folks. Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson called it quits after just nine months of dating. Get the rundown on the biggest breakup of the summer and Kanye’s reaction.  Plus, find out why Megan Thee Stallion’s boo Pardi seems a little upset with The Rock? And did a couple really find love in the Popeye’s parking lot? We quickly break it all down in this week’s Pop Five stories.  Then, we Skimm (in under four minutes) what the heck is going on with the Warner Bros. Discovery merger that killed "Batgirl" — and how this new marriage may affect your streaming options. And since we kinda have relationships on the brain, we’re diving deeper into dating app fatigue. (Yes, it’s a real thing!) We spoke with a reporter who’s done research on the topic to understand what it is, what the signs are, and what you can do if you’re tired of swiping. You’ll hear from: Jessica Klein, contributing reporter for the BBC                                                 Want more Skimm?  Sign up for our free daily newsletter Subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts Skimm'd by Senior Producer and Host Bridget Armstrong. Produced by Alaisha Key. Additional production help from Blake Lew-Merwin. Engineered by Andrew Callaway and Elie McAfee-Hahn. TheSkimm’s senior director of audio is Graelyn Brashear.

All hail Queen Bey! The “Renaissance” is here, and the house listening party started last weekend along with the drama. But this act one wasn’t the only thing dominating pop culture news.  Did you hear that Taylor Swift’s is also topping the charts? But this time it isn’t for music. It’s for her terrible private jet CO2 emissions. And after eight weeks of not being able to turn away from Love Island UK, we finally have this seasons’ winners. What else is on our radar? Check out this week’s Pop Five stories.  Then, we dive into one of the biggest trends Millennials and Gen Z are obsessed with: astrology. We speak with a journalist to find out why. And we chatted with an astrologer to get the breakdown on what it’s all supposed to mean. Plus, don’t miss our host getting her chart read! You’ll hear from: Kirah Tabourn, creative, astrologer, and host of The Strology Show podcast                                       Elizabeth Gulino, senior writer at Refinery29                                                    Want more Skimm?  Sign up for our free daily newsletter Subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts Skimm'd by Senior Producer and Host Bridget Armstrong. Produced by Alaisha Key. Additional production help from Blake Lew-Merwin. Engineered by Andrew Callaway and Elie McAfee-Hahn. TheSkimm’s senior director of audio is Graelyn Brashear.