Rephonic
Artwork for First Word
Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Bengals
Joe Burrow
Bengals
Reds
Dexter Lawrence
World Cup
Cincinnati
Ellie De La Cruz
Lebron James
Cincinnati, United States
Sal Stewart
Chase Burns
NBA Draft
NBA Finals
DJ Turner
Baseball
Youtube
US Men's National Team
Milwaukee Brewers

First Word with James Rapien is Cincinnati’s ONLY daily morning sports show, delivering the latest news, analysis, and insider insight on the biggest stories in sports.

Rapien is joined by Marisa Contipelli and Jacob Tissot to cover everything happening with the Bengals, Reds, FC Cincinnati, Bearcats, Musketeers and Ohio State Buckeyes.

From breaking news and game reactions to exclusive intervie... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes89Founded2 months ago
Number of ListenersCategories
SportsBaseballFootball

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for First Word

Latest Episodes

Topics include: Chase Burns innings limit, preview of the Reds/Guardians series, audio from Duke Tobin's press conference, Contipelli's Countdown, and more

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Subscribe to First Word on YouTube: www... more

Topics include: Bengals media day (Mock Turtle Soup) recap, NFL headlines, Ohio Cup feature, and more

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Subscribe to First Word on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@FirstWordCincy

Follow First Word on Twi... more

Topics include: Pressure on Zac Taylor to win this year, NL Rookie of the Year race, Contipelli's Countdown, Reds/Guardians preview, and more

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Subscribe to First Word on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@... more

Topics include: Bengals training camp begins this week, Reds trade deadline discussion, and more

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Subscribe to First Word on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@FirstWordCincy

Follow First Word on Twitter:... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
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

Jeremy Rauch
Fox19 in-studio analyst, Open Road Rauch
Fox19
Episode: 7/16/26: Hours 3 and 4, Jeremy Rauch Interview
Jeremy Rao
Fox 19 in-studio contributor
Fox 19
Episode: 7/16/26: Hours 1 and 2, Off to Greener Pastures?
Paul Fritchner
Former MLB athlete, notable MLB moment participant
MLB / Former ball boy for Marty Brenneman
Episode: 7/14/26: Hours 3 and 4, Burns Sitting ASG, Edge Rusher Rankings
Dan Hoard
Voice of the Bengals, guest on a safety/roster discussion
Bengals (broadcaster context)
Episode: 7/10/26: Hours 3 and 4, Cubs/Reds, Bengals Player Rankings
Clay Snowden
Baseball writer for JustBaseball.com
JustBaseball.com
Episode: 7/10/26: Hours 1 and 2, Clay Snowden Interview
Nick Hagelin
FC Cincinnati soccer player
FC Cincinnati
Episode: 7/2/26: Hours 3 and 4, NBA Free Agency, Reds
Nick Hagglund
FC Cincinnati defender, World Cup participant
FC Cincinnati
Episode: 7/1/26: Hours 1 and 2, Nick Hagglund Interview, Zac Taylor Discussion
Paul Fritschner
Host of Rebound Rundown
Rebound Rundown
Episode: 6/26/26: Hours 3 and 4, Paul Fritschner Joins, Reds/Pirates Preview
Darrin Horn
NKU head men's basketball coach
Northern Kentucky University
Episode: 6/24/26: Hours 3 and 4, Darrin Horn Interview, Reds/Brewers Preview

Hosts

James Rapien
Host of First Word
Marisa Contipelli
Co-host and energy contributor
Jacob Tissot
Co-host joining to provide insight and energy

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 59 ratings
  • Cincy needed this

    Finally a regular morning sports show dedicated to the Queen City, one stop shop for my Reds & Bengals news. Breath of fresh air that you ain’t gonna get from national sports coverage. Good rhythm and flow awesome local vibe! Thanks!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    RedsPhill
    United States2 months ago
  • Breath of fresh air!

    A fresh, much needed media outlet for Cincinnati sports. James and crew are well suited for the challenge. Love it so far. Keep up the good work.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    KY Colonel Reb
    United States2 months ago
  • Just right sized

    Definitely couldn’t fit all James’s ghost pepper takes in only three hours per day

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Uninformed Bengals Fan
    United States2 months ago
  • Amazing

    So needed for Cincinnati

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Char384847
    United States2 months ago
  • Can’t wait

    Let’s geauxxxxxxxxxxxxx

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jam504
    United States2 months ago

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#132
Japan/Sports/Football

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

7/10/26: Hours 1 and 2, Clay Snowden Interview
Q: What led you to writing the front-office change piece about Nick Kroll?
Snowden explains he wrote it to call out what he sees as systemic issues in Cincinnati's leadership, arguing that time has shown a need for a different approach and more decisive moves for a contender, especially given limited resources. He stresses fairness in evaluating players and the importance of a clear long-term plan.
Bengals Eyeing Super Bowl After Major Offseason Upgrades | Dan Hoard Interview
Q: Big question for you, Dan, with all the new defensive pieces, how quickly do you expect this unit to gel?
Veterans with proven track records, plus a strong leadership core, should tighten quickly; the talent level and prior success suggest they'll be ready to contribute from early in the season.
6/3/26: Hours 3 and 4, Ted Karras, Royals/Reds, NBA Finals Preview
Q: What internal goals does Ted say the Bengals have for the season?
Ted emphasizes starting strong by winning the division first, with Super Bowl as the overarching long-term goal, and stresses focusing on the present rather than predicting February outcomes.
7/1/26: Hours 1 and 2, Nick Hagglund Interview, Zac Taylor Discussion
Q: How has the US run in the World Cup influenced American fans and marketability for the sport?
Hagglund noted growing fan engagement across the US hosting the games, with fans embracing the tournament's culture and showing pride in hosting, which in turn boosts domestic interest and development for the sport.
7/1/26: Hours 1 and 2, Nick Hagglund Interview, Zac Taylor Discussion
Q: What stood out the most about the World Cup, especially this week?
Hagglund highlighted the knockout-stage excitement, the underdog stories, and the evolving role of players like Pulisic as catalysts, emphasizing that the knockout phase can redefine nations' trajectories and that the US has shown strong growth and confidence.

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 Word

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

This daily Cincinnati morning sports show covers a broad mix of local teams, including the Reds, Bengals, and FC Cincinnati, with timely game analysis, live reactions, roster moves, and insider commentary. Episodes frequently feature in-studio interviews with players, coaches, and front-office staff, plus expert takes from regional sports media. The show blends cross-sport context, local flavor, and audience engagement through polls and live reactions, making it a go-to for fans who want quick, informed takes on Cincinnati's sports landscape each weekday. A notable strength is the consistent presence of in-depth front-office perspective and player viewpoints, which adds credibility for listeners who value insider context and potential roste... more

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How many episodes of First Word are there?

First Word launched 2 months ago and published 89 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 Word?

Recent guests on First Word include:

1. Jeremy Rauch
2. Jeremy Rao
3. Paul Fritchner
4. Dan Hoard
5. Clay Snowden
6. Nick Hagelin
7. Nick Hagglund
8. Paul Fritschner

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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