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NBA
New York Knicks
Boston Celtics
Dallas Mavericks
Lebron James
Social Justice
NFL
College Football
Basketball
Eastern Conference
Philadelphia 76ers
Western Conference
Detroit Pistons
Unionization
Baseball Movies
Cleveland Cavaliers
Baseball
Labor Rights
USA Men's Basketball
Cultural Identity

Where sports and politics collide, hosted by Nation magazine Sports Editor Dave Zirin

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes452Founded18 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
SportsNewsPolitics

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Artwork for Edge of Sports

Latest Episodes

This week we talk about the politics and promise of the 2026-2027 NBA season with the Hoops Savant Arya Shirazi. It gets no better.

Zirin, The WNBA, Past and Present and Irish Sport for Palestine

www.thenation.com/podcast/politics/eos-10072... more

This week, we speak with Tamryn Spruill, author of the remarkable new book The W: A History of the WNBA. We also talk to Rebecca O’Keeffe, chairperson of Irish Sport for Palestine and a former international basketball player.

Zirin, Irish Goalkeeper... more

This week we speak about the rapper Macklemore and why all hell broke loose on Ed Sheeran's tour when he said the words "Free Palestine." And what the heck did Patriots owner Robert Kraft have to do with any of this? Also, we speak to Arya Shirazi ab... more

We talk to Tom Nelson about his back on the Green Bay Packers and Arya joins the show again to talk Eastern Conference.

Body: This week we talk to Tom Nelson about his new book, “The Green and Gold Standard: A People's History of the Green Bay Packe... more

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Recent Guests

Tamryn Spruill
Award-winning independent journalist, former editor-in-chief of Swish Appeal
Author of The W, A History of the WNBA
Episode: The WNBA, Past and Present and Irish Sport for Palestine
Rebecca O'Keeffe
Chairperson of Irish Sport for Palestine, peace activist
Irish Sport for Palestine
Episode: The WNBA, Past and Present and Irish Sport for Palestine
Arya Shirazi
Wrestling savant and writer
Edge of Sports contributor
Episode: Unpacking Macklemore and the Iron Sheik
Tom Nelson
Author of The Green and Gold Standard, A People's History of the Green Bay Packers
Author
Episode: How the Green Bay Packers Became the Only USA Team Owned by the Fans
Sam Husseini
Activist and journalist running for Congress in Maryland District 4
Green Party
Episode: Congressional candidate Sam Husseini and talking NBA over-unders
Frankie de la Cretaz
Independent sports journalist and author
Out of Your League
Episode: Anti-Trans Bigots Try To Divide/Destroy WNBA
Leander Schaerlaeckens
Soccer writer and author of The Long Game
The Guardian, ESPN, Marist University (teaches journalism and sports communication)
Episode: Did Trump Doom the US Men at the World Cup? / Edge of Sports
Vincent Intondi
Executive Director of Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility
Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility
Episode: Did Trump Doom the US Men at the World Cup? / Edge of Sports
Eddie Glaude
Professor at Princeton, author
Princeton University
Episode: How Racism Shadows the 250th with Eddie Glaude... and The Knicks!

Hosts

Dave Zirin
Host of Edge of Sports and Nation Magazine sports editor, central voice driving the show's political sports commentary.
Arya Shirazi
Hoops savant and co-host; provides sports analysis, cultural insight, and cinematic context.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 716 ratings
  • left misogyny

    We need podcasts that bring left analysis to sports. Given that, it’s shocking that this pod has little to no representation or analysis of women’s sports (not to mention analysis of the politics of gender and sexuality across sports).

    The relative absence of the WNBA and NWSL — whose players have been on the leading edge of labor movements, BLM, and queer and trans rights — is especially disappointing. Leftists who are cool to reproduce misogyny and heterosexism are not leftists.

    If the gen... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    re:be.k.a
    United States8 months ago
  • Real and refreshingly unique sports talk

    Dave Zirin is an essential journalist in sports landscape all too littered with pablum and shiny distractions—he tells the perspectives and shares voices that few others will.

    But one pro tip, Dave: update the links in your podcast notes! The link for your website goes to your old, outdated site. And add your Patreon URL so that more people can support you!

    And lastly, all the complainers need to sit down: this podcast is published by The Nation and just a couple episode titles will tell you w... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    redwallmuriel
    United States2 years ago
  • Real and refreshingly unique sports talk

    Dave Zirin is an essential journalist in sports landscape all too littered with pablum and shiny distractions—he tells the perspectives and shares voices that few others will. And come on people: this is published by The Nation, so don’t even try to complain about the politics!

    But one pro tip, Dave: update the links in your podcast notes! The link for your website goes to your old, outdated site…. And add your Patreon URL so that more people can support you!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    redwallmuriel
    United States2 years ago
  • The Best!

    Dave Zirin is the best sports historian and journalist. He’s truthful, dynamic and incredibly intelligent! Huge fan!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    WordVader
    United States2 years ago
  • where are women’s sports?

    For all the great political edge and value of this podcast, it’s a bummer that it has such little representation or analysis of women’s sports. The relative absence of the WNBA and NWSL is especially disappointing (and arguably hypocritical). If the gender balance of coverage were improved, this podcast would level up so much.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    lrh103
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

High-quality, thought-provoking sports journalism that connects to real-world issues.
Listeners praise the rigorous analysis and diverse guest slate.
Some critiques note perceived political bias; overall, strong engagement and loyalty.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The WNBA, Past and Present and Irish Sport for Palestine
Q: What is your big-picture view of the current state of the WNBA?
Tamryn Spruill argues the league is more visible than ever but also more vulnerable to reactionary backlash that targets its demographics, leadership, and visibility, and she emphasizes the need for continued protection of players and sustained investment in the league's cultural relevance.
Unpacking Macklemore and the Iron Sheik
Q: Why do you think the Macklemore incident matters beyond music and sports?
It highlights how billionaires and power structures can suppress speech and how artists, fans, and brands grapple with political accountability in public forums.
Congressional candidate Sam Husseini and talking NBA over-unders
Q: Can you share what happened at the National Press Club and its significance for your campaign and press freedom?
I stood up to call out corruption and genocide, was escorted out, and subsequently banned, an incident I see as a microcosm of broader threats to free speech and democratic norms.
Congressional candidate Sam Husseini and talking NBA over-unders
Q: Why are you running as a Green, and how do you view electoral strategy in a blue district?
I view the ballot as a mechanism to activate movements and push the conscience of the region, aiming to empower grassroots campaigns rather than rely on traditional party coattails.
Anti-Trans Bigots Try To Divide/Destroy WNBA
Q: What role do media narratives play in shaping the debate around trans athletes in sports?
The host and Frankie criticize media framing, particularly ESPN's profile, for not adequately challenging the underlying anti-trans claims and for allowing harmful language to go uncontextualized.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Edge of Sports

What is Edge of Sports about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A sharp, politically engaged look at sports, culture, and power. Episodes center on how races, gender, labor, and global politics intersect with leagues, athletes, and governing bodies, often challenging mainstream coverage and spotlighting marginalized perspectives. A recurring thread is using sports as a lens to critique media narratives, highlight worker rights, and examine democracy, human rights, and social justice through the world of athletics. Notable strengths include a diverse slate of guests—scholars, activists, and investigative journalists—combined with rigorous analysis and a clear stance in favor of independent journalism and accountability within sport's power structures.

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Which podcasts are similar to Edge of Sports?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Edge of Sports:

1. The Nation Podcasts
2. On the Media
3. The Intercept Briefing
4. Jacobin Radio
5. Democracy Now! Audio

How many episodes of Edge of Sports are there?

Edge of Sports launched 18 years ago and published 452 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Edge of Sports?

Recent guests on Edge of Sports include:

1. Tamryn Spruill
2. Rebecca O'Keeffe
3. Arya Shirazi
4. Tom Nelson
5. Sam Husseini
6. Frankie de la Cretaz
7. Leander Schaerlaeckens
8. Vincent Intondi

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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