
Where sports and politics collide, hosted by Nation magazine Sports Editor Dave Zirin
| Publishes | Twice monthly | Episodes | 452 | Founded | 18 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | SportsNewsPolitics | |||

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
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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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
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 The link for your website goes to your old, outdated site.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
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!
Dave Zirin is the best sports historian and journalist. He’s truthful, dynamic and incredibly intelligent! Huge fan!
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.
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.








Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.
Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.
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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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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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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
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