First Take

ESPN, Stephen A. Smith, Shae Cornette

New York Knicks

Lebron James

San Antonio Spurs

Jalen Brunson

NBA

Victor Wembanyama

Oklahoma City Thunder

Philadelphia 76ers

Boston Celtics

Dallas Cowboys

Jaylen Brown

Nba Playoffs

Los Angeles Lakers

Giannis Antetokounmpo

NBA Finals

World Cup

Jalen Hurts

Basketball

Green Bay Packers

Denver Nuggets

First Take is always a heated discussion as Stephen A. Smith and guests debate about the day's top stories.

9.1k ratings

Publishes	Daily	Episodes	229	Founded	15 years ago
Number of Listeners		Category	Sports

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Guests Hosts Reviews Charts Talking Points

Latest Episodes

Hour 2: Is USC No Longer a Football School?

First Take resumes with a long lost football powerhouse. USC used to have Heisman winners and Pete Carroll. Now, Lincoln Riley is desperately trying to fill The Coliseum! Then, after adding Aaron Donald and Myles Garrett, are the Rams officially this... more

Yesterday • 34 min • Popular

Hour 1: Stephen A. and Aaron Donald Return!

First Take begins with the triumphant returns of Aaron Donald and Stephen A.!! Donald hasn't played football in three years, and it feels like decades since SAS last appeared on First Take! Whose return has you more pumped? Then, Bill Belichick and U... more

Yesterday • 39 min • Most popular

Hour 2: What Do You Need to See From Arch Manning this Season?

First Take Resumes with what the 2027 top 10 picks could potentially be. What do we need to see from Dante Moore and Arch Manning to cement their draft stock? Then the crew argues who is more important to their teams' success, Myles Garrett or Micah ... more

28 Aug 2026 • 50 min • Popular

Hour 1: How Soon will we see Mendoza in a Regular Season Game?

First Take begins with Fernando Mendoza's poor pre-season performance. Does this change our view on Mendoza? How long will the Raiders start Kirk Cousins?

Then a deep dive into UNC's schedule. How many wins is realistic for them this year? Will it b... more

28 Aug 2026 • 50 min • Popular

Key Facts

Accepts Guests

Accepts Sponsors

Contact Information

Podcast Host

Number of Listeners

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

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Recent Guests

Booger McFarlane

Episode: Hour 1: What Are Your Thoughts on Deshaun Watson's Apology?

Jason McCourty

Former NFL player, guest analyst

Episode: Hour 1: What's Your Biggest Gripe With AP Preseason Poll?

Dan Wrolawski

Analyst guest

Media

Episode: Hour 1: Is The NFL Out To Get Jaxson Dart?

Fernando Mendoza

Preseason quarterback prospect, NFL analyst

Las Vegas Raiders

Episode: Hour 1: How Should Russell Westbrook Be Remembered?

Ramona Shelburne

ESPN journalist appearing to discuss Lakers ownership

ESPN

Episode: Hour 1: Are The Vikings Correct to start Kyler Over J.J. McCarthy?

Myron Medcalf

Co-host of Matt and Myron ESPN Radio

ESPN

Episode: Hour 1: Was Flagrant 2 on Dijonai Carrington the Right Call?

Jeff Passan

Sports journalist

ESPN/Baseball media

Episode: Hour 1: What Would Aaron Donald's Return Mean For The NFC?

Kimberly A. Martin

Sports journalist

ESPN

Episode: Hour 1: What Would Aaron Donald's Return Mean For The NFC?

Gerald McCoy

Former NFL defensive lineman and analyst

Former NFL player, television commentator

Episode: Hour 2: Into the NFC Unknown - The Philadelphia Eagles

Hosts

Shay Cornette

Host of the show, introducing topics and guiding discussion

Kevin Clark

Co-host/Analyst on First Take

Stephen A. Smith

Host/analyst, leading discussions and debates

Harry Douglas

Co-host on First Take

Evan Cohen

Co-host on First Take

Reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars from 9.1k ratings

Trash show
Terrible show
Apple Podcasts
1
PaulSeal1
United Statesa month ago
To much yelling!
It’s hard to listen to now. Steven is only yelling. If you want to listen to a good sports podcast listen to almost athletes.
Apple Podcasts
4
Davobavo1235
United Statesa month ago
Please upload Quicker
The uploads are inconsistent.
Apple Podcasts
5
Daniel B Swartz
United Statesa month ago
No upload
Episodes not uploading did they stop
Apple Podcasts
4
Cgzdub
United States2 months ago
Less Perk
Still love the show Steven is still Steven and the formula works but jay williams is terrible, so many better options except perk who is dumb arrogant and contrived all at the same time.
Apple Podcasts
3
Caz-714
United States2 months ago

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Listeners Say

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

Some reviews call out inconsistent uploads and overlong ad breaks.

Critiques often center on the intensity of debate and occasional guest-led dominance.

Listeners appreciate the show's energetic pace and bold takes from top-tier guests.

Fans like the cross-sport conversations and the mix of serious analysis with banter.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

YouTube	#185	United States/Popular Podcasts
Apple Podcasts	#51	United States/Sports
Apple Podcasts	#101	Canada/Sports
Apple Podcasts	#194	France/Sports
Apple Podcasts	#36	Mexico/Sports
Apple Podcasts	#73	Chile/Sports

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Hour 1: Deshaun Watson Named Browns Starting QB

Q: What led to the decision to name Watson the starter despite recent controversy?

Panelists attribute it to a combination of health, perceived preparedness from Watson in camp, and the organization's assessment of what gives them the best chance in week one, despite fan backlash.

Hour 2: Is Brown's QB Race Still a Debate?

Q: Is it still a race between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders after one preseason game?

The panel largely agrees the race remains open but leans toward giving Shedeur more opportunity if his week two performance continues to show improvement and pace with the rest of the team.

THE BETRAYAL OF SHOHEI OHTANI: Episode 1

Q: When you were first told that Ohtani might be involved in some kind of betting scandal, what was your initial reaction?

Shock, followed by a careful reassessment of everything observed about Ohtani, as I wondered who might be involved and how deep the connections could go.

Hour 2: Will Eagles Offense Improve Under Mannion?

Q: Do you expect Philly to be an improved offense with Mannion as their new OC?

The panel thinks the offense will be different and potentially improved, driven by smarter scheme presentation and under-center adjustments, though concerns remain about the lack of physicality at the WR position and the integration of new QB/offensive line dynamics.

Hour 2: Into the NFC Unknown - The Philadelphia Eagles

Q: What is the biggest point of emphasis for the Giants this season?

Discipline and culture change under new coaching staff to balance a talented roster with greater on-field consistency, focusing on keeping the core players motivated while avoiding self-inflicted mistakes.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About First Take

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

High-energy, debate-driven sports talk with a rotating panel of ESPN voices and guests who tackle the day's biggest NFL, NBA, and MLB topics. Expect rapid-fire takes, bold predictions, and lively banter around quarterback decisions, team systems, and star player narratives, often framed by cross-sport context and pop culture references. Noteworthy is the show's willingness to contrast strong personalities and use cross-league guests to broaden perspectives, creating a dynamic, opinion-led format that appeals to fans who want quick, confident analysis and entertainment from recognizable sports commentators.

Where can I find podcast stats for First Take?

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How many subscribers and views does First Take have?

To see how many followers or subscribers First Take has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to First Take?

These podcasts share a similar audience with First Take:

1. Get Up
2. Nightcap
3. Speakeasy
4. First Things First
5. Club Shay Shay

How many episodes of First Take are there?

First Take launched 15 years ago and published 229 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact First Take?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for First Take?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for First Take from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on First Take?

Recent guests on First Take include:

1. Booger McFarlane
2. Jason McCourty
3. Dan Wrolawski
4. Fernando Mendoza
5. Ramona Shelburne
6. Myron Medcalf
7. Jeff Passan
8. Kimberly A. Martin

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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