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Illinois Football
Illinois Basketball
Illinois
Big Ten Conference
Big Ten
NCAA
Illinois Women's Basketball
Illinois Fighting Illini
College Football
Illinois Men's Basketball
NCAA Tournament
Transfer Portal
Illinois Volleyball
Basketball
Michigan
College Basketball
NBA
Ohio State
Purdue
Washington Huskies

A daily look at the latest in sports, mostly focused on the Illini. A variety of guests join the program, and the News-Gazette sportswriters make Mondays their own.

PublishesDailyEpisodes300Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Sports

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Artwork for SportsTalk

Latest Episodes

Steve Kelly and Loren Tate welcome News-Gazette sportswriter Scott Richey to the studio for updates on Illini basketball and football, then talk to former Illini football star and Big Ten Network personality, Howard Griffith.

Joey Wright and Loren Tate chat with former Illinois football captain Jonathan Kerr in the days before his daughter, Caroline, faces off against Illinois with the Tennessee volleyball team.

Joey Wright, Matt Daniels, Scott Richey and Matt Lucas chat about the news of the day and recap the opening week of the high school football season.

Joey Wright and Evan Conn chat with former GCMS football coach Mike Allen and ALAH football coach Ryan Jefferson on the eve of the 2026 high school football season.

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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

DaJuan Gouard
New Athletic Director at Danville Area Community College and longtime DACC men's basketball coach
Danville Area Community College
Episode: DaJuan Gouard | 8-13-26
Tank Wright
Strength and conditioning coach for Illinois football
University of Illinois
Episode: Scott Richey, Tank Wright | 8-12-26
Abby McDonald
Fall sports coach (SJO)
St. Joseph Ogden High School
Episode: SportsTalk 8-7-26
Chris Stevens
Fall sports coach (SJO)
St. Joseph Ogden High School
Episode: SportsTalk 8-7-26
Ryan Lotion
Athletic coach (SJO)
St. Joseph Ogden High School
Episode: SportsTalk 8-7-26
Kevin Martledge
Athletic coach (SJO)
St. Joseph Ogden High School
Episode: SportsTalk 8-7-26
Jason Retz
Athletic coach (SJO)
St. Joseph Ogden High School
Episode: SportsTalk 8-7-26
Jon Adkins
Head coach, Mahomet-Seymour Bulldogs
Mahomet-Seymour High School
Episode: Mahomet-Seymour Football | 7-31-26
Eli Dyer
Senior offensive lineman, Mahomet-Seymour
Mahomet-Seymour High School
Episode: Mahomet-Seymour Football | 7-31-26

Hosts

Joey Wright
Host of Sports Talk on DWS / News-Gazette; long-running local radio presence
Steve Kelly
Host of the show; prominent local sports radio voice
Loren Tate
Co-host; conducts interviews and discusses Illinois athletics
Scott Richey
Co-host / guest analyst; News-Gazette beat writer

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 23 ratings
  • Great content, questionable audio quality

    As a long time Illini football season ticket holder, living outside CU, I greatly appreciate this podcast. I give the content an A grade, but the production (and this is true for each and every WDWS podcast) a C grade. Feedback, over modulation and callers that you can’t hear are a constant and definitely a problem.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    illinidodgers
    United States4 years ago
  • Terrific Show

    Fantastic post game show, very capable house, Scott, Evan, Trent. Terrific regular callers including Steve from Peoria. Does tend to attract some Negative Normans who like the sound of their own complaints, but they quickly crawl back into their cracks when the light comes out on Illini wins.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Erebiz
    United States5 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Audio quality and production sometimes notes as a point of feedback in reviews.
Prospective guests should fit the Illinois sports ecosystem and local community angle.
Content covers a lot of Illinois sports, with strong local flavor and knowledgeable hosts.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

DaJuan Gouard | 8-13-26
Q: DaJuan, how did this come about and how excited are you to take over as the leader of DACC's athletic program?
He describes growing up in Danville, the natural progression from assistant AD to AD, and his readiness to lead while leveraging his long experience with the college and community to drive multiple sports forward.
Justin Harrison | 8-12-26
Q: What would you tell young players about the significance of the CIO/YFL roots in shaping their futures in college football?
Youth football is a pipeline for character, discipline, and football IQ, and the league's leadership aims to provide a pathway that reinforces commitment, teamwork, and the bridge to high school success and beyond.
Justin Harrison | 8-12-26
Q: How does the current Illinois team compare in terms of depth and culture to the teams you played on?
The current program is focused on building depth across the line and in the secondary, maintaining accountability, and leveraging a culture of competition that doesn't rely on one star but on a strong, cohesive unit ready to execute every play.
Justin Harrison | 8-12-26
Q: Justin, what do you remember from that afternoon at Ohio Stadium during the 2007 Rose Bowl–era breakthrough?
The memory centers on the chaotic buildup and the off-the-chart intensity; the defense forced turnovers, the offense battled back, and the team believed in its ability to perform even under enormous pressure, culminating in a convincing late drive that sealed the win.
Scott Richey, Tim May | 7-29-26
Q: What's Ryan Day's biggest concern, going into this season, besides the second game at Texas?
Tim May answers that the running back room must sort itself out, with Bo Jackson expected to lead but depth and spring injuries creating a question mark. He notes the need for immediate productivity when training camp opens.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About SportsTalk

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

A fast-paced local-sports show centered on Illinois athletics, with a rotating cast of hosts who riff on early-season results, recruiting news, and postseason implications while weaving in interviews with high school and college coaches, beat writers, and former Illini players. Episodes frequently cover IHSA and Big Ten happenings, college basketball and baseball, and the broader landscape of Illinois sports, often mixing game recaps, scheduling chatter, and community-local perspectives. Noteworthy is the consistent emphasis on Illinois programs and Midwest prep-to-college pathways, along with a strong anchoring by News-Gazette reporters and veteran radio hosts who blend analysis with light, relatable banter. Potential listeners include Ill... more

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How many episodes of SportsTalk are there?

SportsTalk launched 9 years ago and published 300 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 SportsTalk?

Recent guests on SportsTalk include:

1. DaJuan Gouard
2. Tank Wright
3. Abby McDonald
4. Chris Stevens
5. Ryan Lotion
6. Kevin Martledge
7. Jason Retz
8. Jon Adkins

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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