Rephonic
Artwork for First Take
New York Knicks
Lebron James
Victor Wembanyama
San Antonio Spurs
NBA
Jalen Brunson
Oklahoma City Thunder
Boston Celtics
Philadelphia 76ers
Jaylen Brown
Los Angeles Lakers
NBA Playoffs
Dallas Cowboys
NCAA Tournament
Basketball
Giannis Antetokounmpo
NBA Finals
World Cup
Denver Nuggets
Miami Heat

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

PublishesDailyEpisodes229Founded15 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Sports

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for First Take

Latest Episodes

ESPN Investigative Reporter Tisha Thompson receives a tip that, if true, could damage Shohei Ohtani’s picture-perfect reputation.

To listen to the rest of The Betrayal of Shohei Ohtani, follow 30 for 30 Podcasts on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, ... more

First Take resumes with more suspicious Jaylen Brown comments. The Sixers fourth option said he hasn't spoken with Jayson Tatum since being traded to Philly. Weren't these guys best friends? Perhaps their relationship was more fractured than we thoug... more

First Take begins with Jahmyr Gibbs massive new contract! Gibbs inked a three year/$67.5 deal with the Lions making him the highest-paid RB in NFL history! Does this immediately make Detroit NFC North favorites? Then, Stephen A. addresses Caitlin Cla... more

First Take resumes with the oft criticized Jalen Hurts. His stats don't align with any of the top players, and the eye test shows he can't even throw down the middle of the field... but he has won a Super Bowl. Should we stop criticizing Hurts, or be... 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.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Get Up
Get UpESPN, Mike Greenberg
Nightcap
NightcapShay Shay Media & Playmaker
Speakeasy
SpeakeasyGood Boys Creative
Club Shay Shay
Club Shay ShayShay Shay Media & Playmaker

Recent Guests

Christopher Mad Dog Russo
Television/radio analyst, sports broadcaster
ESPN/Other
Episode: Hour 1: Are Dodgers The Team To Beat?
Jessica Mendoza
Baseball analyst
ESPN
Episode: Hour 1: Are Dodgers The Team To Beat?
Louis Riddick
NFL analyst
ESPN
Episode: Hour 1: Are Dodgers The Team To Beat?
Gerald McCoy
Former NFL player
Episode: Hour 1: Are Dodgers The Team To Beat?
Tarik Skubal
Baseball pitcher, Dodgers on trade
Los Angeles Dodgers
Episode: Hour 2: Skubal's Defense of the Dodgers
Jeff Passan
Sports journalist
ESPN/Reporter
Episode: Hour 1: Bijan's Extension
Paul Finebaum
Sports journalist and SEC analyst
ESPN/SEC Network
Episode: Hour 1: Do You Like Dak's Beaming Confidence?
Deion Sanders
Hall of Fame NFL player and college coach
Colorado/Prime Video era context in Browns coverage
Episode: Hour 1: Do You Like Dak's Beaming Confidence?
George Pickens
NFL wide receiver referenced for a segment on a career year impact
Dallas Cowboys discussion segment
Episode: Hour 1: Does Joel Embiid Have More To Lose Than Goat James?

Hosts

Stephen A. Smith
Host of First Take; leading debate and analysis across sports
Shae Cornette
Co-host on First Take; contributor to discussion and debate

Reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars from 9.1k ratings
  • Glad I gave it another chance

    I had stop listening to this podcast when they had Keyshawn Johnson as a regular guess. At the time it seemed like the show was more of who could tell the loudest and cut off the other speaker the fastest. Thankfully they realized that format sucked now it’s my favorite podcast. Great intelligent organized discussions now

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Lazy worker66479
    United States2 months ago
  • Wemby vs Caruso

    It’s all OKC’s strategy. They put Caruso on Wemby so Wemby will think he got an easy shot because OKC put a small guy on him. But when Wemby got the pass and he turns around to dunk or take a shot, that’s when Chet came and double him. Look at how many times that happened. OKC is blitzing double team on Wemby, trying to caught Wemby off guard. What OKC under estimated is how hard Wemby played and by the time Chet go over to double team it’s too late. Also OKC don’t want to put Chet on Wemby it’s... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Kawhi015
    United States3 months ago
  • AMAZING

    I love this podcast so much it is easily my favorite

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    I don’t jfkdncunene
    United States3 months ago
  • Just

    Terrible

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    From Another Great Admirer
    United States3 months ago
  • I WOULD TAP ROMI GOEF

    ROMI GOEF IS REALLY HOT

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Niggerdees
    United States4 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Many appreciate guest variety and crossover with pop culture.
Audio quality and episode consistency are common discussion points for improvement.
Listeners praise the show's energy and passion from Stephen A. and guests.

Chart Rankings

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

YouTube
#132
United States/Popular Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#46
United States/Sports
Apple Podcasts
#100
Canada/Sports
Apple Podcasts
#158
Italy/Sports
Apple Podcasts
#236
Australia/Sports
Apple Podcasts
#21
Saudi Arabia/Sports

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
Hour 2: Into the NFC Unknown - The Philadelphia Eagles
Q: Is DJ Moore a true upgrade for the Bills and can they sustain quarterback excellence without AJ Brown?
The panel suggests DJ Moore provides a bona fide number one option, but the quarterback and surrounding offense must consistently maximize that talent for sustained success.
Hour 1: Will they, Won't they?
Q: Do you agree that Allen has now passed Mahomes as the best quarterback in the NFL?
The panel largely agrees that Josh Allen has surpassed Mahomes in the short term due to recent form and surrounding weapons, though some acknowledge Mahomes' longer-term track record and injuries complicating the ranking.
Hour 1: What Does France Loss Mean For Mbappé?
Q: What does this loss mean for Mbappé's legacy?
It may soften the perception of Mbappé's legacy in the short term, but with 20 World Cup goals at 27, he remains among the elite; the loss is framed more as a team issue given the surrounding performances rather than Mbappé's individual decline.

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?

A high-energy sports talk program features heated debates on current basketball storylines, player legacies, and front-office strategy, often mixing in cross-sport commentary and pop-culture banter. Episodes frequently center on Knicks vs. Cavaliers, team-building questions, and the role of analytics in basketball, with guests ranging from NBA analysts to entertainers providing fan perspective. A distinctive cadence blends rapid-fire takes with sharp analysis, punctuated by sponsor reads and occasional crossovers into other sports and entertainment. Noteworthy traits include guest versatility, a barbershop-style debate vibe, and a willingness to challenge narratives while highlighting broader sports media dynamics.

Where can I find podcast stats for First Take?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for First Take. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to First Take and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does First Take get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for First Take, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for First Take?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for First Take, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

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. First Things First
3. Nightcap
4. Speakeasy
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.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for First Take?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of First Take. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on First Take?

Recent guests on First Take include:

1. Christopher Mad Dog Russo
2. Jessica Mendoza
3. Louis Riddick
4. Gerald McCoy
5. Tarik Skubal
6. Jeff Passan
7. Paul Finebaum
8. Deion Sanders

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days