First Take

ESPN, Stephen A. Smith, Shae Cornette

New York Knicks

Lebron James

Dallas Cowboys

San Antonio Spurs

Jalen Brunson

Victor Wembanyama

NBA

Oklahoma City Thunder

Philadelphia 76ers

Los Angeles Rams

Chicago Bears

College Football

Jaylen Brown

Philadelphia Eagles

Green Bay Packers

NBA Finals

Jalen Hurts

NFL

Detroit Lions

LSU

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	16 years ago
Number of Listeners		Category	Sports

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Latest Episodes

Hour 2: Are the Cowboys Going to Run Away with the NFC East?

First Take resumes as Michael Irvin claims that the NFC East is now Dallas' to lose. With Philly having offensive problems again, could this be true? Could a Jameis led Giants team stand in their way? Next the Raiders and Chiefs delivered a great gam... more

5 Oct 2026 • 46 min

Hour 1: Did the Cowboys make a Statement with their Win on Sunday?

First Take begins as Dallas wins the battle for Texas. CeeDee Lamb and Dallas' offense are able to hold off CJ Stroud and the reeling 0-4 Houston Texans. Did the Cowboys make a statement with their win? Did their defense show anything different? Next... more

5 Oct 2026 • 47 min

Hour 2: Have the Cowboys Proven they are Better off without Micah?

First Take resumes as Joey Porter Jr. is hoping to make his Cowboys debut on Sunday. How much will Porter actually improve this defense? Has Jerry Jones been able to make up for the loss of Micah Parsons through his trades? Next the crew looks ahead ... more

2 Oct 2026 • 46 min

Hour 1: How Bad is this Loss for the Steelers?

First Take begins as Stephen A. sounds off on the Steelers after last night's poor performance. A loss to the Browns with some Rodgers controversy does not make for a good Thursday Night recipe. What's going on in Pittsburgh? Next the Eagles take on ... more

2 Oct 2026 • 48 min

Key Facts

Accepts Guests

Accepts Sponsors

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Number of Listeners

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Recent Guests

Kyle Brandt

Guest analyst, NFL commentator

NFL Network/BBQ

Episode: Hour 2: Who is The Team to Beat in The NFC North?

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?

Lane Kiffin

Head coach, Ole Miss

Ole Miss

Episode: Hour 1: Which Team Needs to Win More: Lions or Bills?

Barry Melrose

ESPN NHL analyst, memorialized during the segment

ESPN

Episode: Hour 1: How Much is the Patriots Loss on Drake Maye?

Myles Garrett

NFL quarterback? actually NFL star mentioned in discussion

Cleveland Browns

Episode: Hour 2: How will Aaron Rodgers be Viewed if the Steelers Miss the Playoffs?

Deion Sanders

Colorado Buffaloes head coach

Colorado Buffaloes

Episode: Hour 1: What Will Happen if Lane Kiffin adds his Pro Players to LSU's Roster?

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 States2 months ago
Please upload Quicker
The uploads are inconsistent.
Apple Podcasts
5
Daniel B Swartz
United States2 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

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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.

Spotify	#47	United States/Sports
Apple Podcasts	#39	United States/Sports
Apple Podcasts	#90	Canada/Sports
Apple Podcasts	#190	Australia/Sports
Apple Podcasts	#246	Philippines/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts	#21	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. Nick Saban
3. Tucker Craft
4. Jameis Winston
5. Kenny Chesney
6. Lane Kiffin
7. Barry Melrose
8. Myles Garrett

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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