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Artwork for First Take
New York Knicks
Dallas Cowboys
Lebron James
San Antonio Spurs
Jalen Brunson
Victor Wembanyama
NBA
Oklahoma City Thunder
Los Angeles Rams
Chicago Bears
Philadelphia Eagles
NFL
College Football
Philadelphia 76ers
Green Bay Packers
Jaylen Brown
NBA Finals
Deshaun Watson
Jalen Hurts
Cleveland Browns

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

PublishesDailyEpisodes229Founded16 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Sports

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Artwork for First Take

Latest Episodes

First Take resumes with more Cowboys talk. After the game a stadium staff member called Dak and the Cowboys performance "embarrassing" as Prescott walked by. Dak was not pleased by the comments but is there any truth to them? Has Dak given more reaso... more

First Take begins as Dallas loses in one of the biggest upsets of the NFL season so far. Undrafted rookie QB, Jalon Daniels, led the 0-4 Bucs to a win in Dallas against the Cowboys. The Bucs rushed for almost 250 yards in the game as Dallas' defense ... more

First Take resumes as Stephen A. and Mina Kimes compare their top five NFL teams after four weeks. Do they have the same team number one? Mina goes off on Stephen A. for his Vikings take? Then some breaking news has dropped... Jayden Daniels will sta... more

First Take begins as Stephen A's Yankees were swept last night in the American League Division Series by the Tampa Bay Rays. This now marks 17 straight seasons without a world series title for New York, the second longest drought in franchise history... more

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

Kyle Brandt
Sports commentator; NFL analyst
CBS/other
Episode: Hour 2: How should we assess the SEC so far this season?
Joe Tessitore
ESPN analyst and commentator
ESPN
Episode: Hour 2: How should we assess the SEC so far this season?
Nick Saban
Head coach, University of Alabama; subject of ESPN docu-series
University of Alabama
Episode: Hour 2: Are the Eagles Still a Serious Threat in the NFC?
Tucker Craft
Packers tight end, guest commentator
Green Bay Packers
Episode: Hour 2: Are the Packers the Worst Team in the NFL?
Jameis Winston
Quarterback (Giants)
New York Giants
Episode: Hour 1: Are There More Questions About the Ravens or the Cowboys?
Kenny Chesney
Singer-songwriter and musician
Episode: Hour 2: Whose Offense is More Concerning: Steelers or Patriots?
Mina Kimes
Guest Analyst
ESPN
Episode: Hour 1: Is it a Mistake for Joe Burrow to Play if he isn't 100%?
Lane Kiffin
Head coach, Ole Miss
Ole Miss
Episode: Hour 1: Which Team Needs to Win More: Lions or Bills?
Desmond Howard
College Game Day analyst, guest on set to discuss Arch Manning and college football
ESPN College Game Day
Episode: Hour 2: Why Were The Rams So Sluggish?

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 States2 months 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 States3 months ago
  • Please upload Quicker

    The uploads are inconsistent.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Daniel B Swartz
    United States3 months ago
  • No upload

    Episodes not uploading did they stop

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Cgzdub
    United States3 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 States3 months ago

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.

Spotify
#47
United States/Sports
Apple Podcasts
#59
United States/Sports
Apple Podcasts
#153
Canada/Sports
Apple Podcasts
#183
Australia/Sports
Apple Podcasts
#141
Philippines/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#8
Philippines/Sports

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Hour 2: How Critical is Sunday's Game for the Cowboys?
Q: Is all the pressure on Ole Miss on Saturday night, according to Lane Kiffin's move to LSU and the hype around the matchup?
Desmond Howard explains that while Lane Kiffin faces high expectations and scrutiny, the real pressure is on Ole Miss to prove they can sustain success after his departure, with LSU's rising program and hype complicating the rivalry.
Hour 1: Should The SEC Expel LSU?
Q: Who wins tonight and why?
Seattle is favored to win due to home-field advantage and the Seahawks' current form, though the Patriots could steal a big win if they execute well in Seattle's loud environment.
Hour 1: Was the Clippers Punishment too Soft?
Q: Shams, what more can you tell us about the Clippers and Kawhi's punishment up to this point?
Shams Charania provides a broader update on the investigation's status, affirming the gravity of the charges and the complexity of the evidence, while noting the difference between what was privately discussed and what was publicly announced, emphasizing procedural aspects like arbitration and the lack of an appeal for Ballmer.
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.

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.

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How many subscribers and views does First Take have?

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Which podcasts are similar to First Take?

These podcasts share a similar audience with First Take:

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

How many episodes of First Take are there?

First Take launched 16 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.

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What guests have appeared on First Take?

Recent guests on First Take include:

1. Kyle Brandt
2. Joe Tessitore
3. Nick Saban
4. Tucker Craft
5. Jameis Winston
6. Kenny Chesney
7. Mina Kimes
8. Lane Kiffin

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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