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Every week, Steven Godfrey and Ryan Nanni walk you (and one another) through a question from the sports world. While they don't promise any conclusive answers, you'll get an interesting and thoughtful look at topics from a variety of perspectives. This feed is also home to Steven and Ryan's other work, including The Single Wing, where Godfrey answers listener questions, We're Not All Like This, Ry... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes147Foundeda year ago
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Sports

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Latest Episodes

Steven Godfrey's feeling a soccer-filled future for U.S. sports fans, but he wants to talk about that path with Ryan Nanni first. (Somehow, this leads to a brief discussion of famous NYU graduates.) What are the indicators that would show this World ... more

Matt Stahl, Alabama beat writer for AL.com, was not present at the SEC's 2010 Media Days when Vanderbilt's coach told the assembled reporters about his days inseminating turkeys, but he's been working to find audio or video of the moment for some tim... more

Steven Godfrey opens up the listener mailbag once again to answer questions from Phantom Island subscribers on topics including how to tell if your head coach hates one of his assistants, who might be placed at the top of a theoretical super league, ... more

Rodger Sherman, author of the Sports! newsletter, joins Ryan Nanni on this episode to talk about the continued growth and expansion of almost every professional sport. Can our most popular leagues ever approach oversaturation of their audiences? What... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Andy McGrath
Freelance cycling journalist
The Athletic (mentioned)
Episode: Why have the French gone so long without winning the Tour de France?
Ben Strauss
Sports Business Reporter for ESPN
ESPN
Episode: What do TV ratings actually tell us about sports leagues?
Dan Devine
senior NBA writer at Yahoo Sports
Yahoo Sports
Episode: Why didn't the NBA see Jalen Brunson coming?
Jake Kring-Schreifels
Freelance writer introduced as the guest for today's episode
The Ringer, The New York Times, GQ (Front Office Sports piece referenced)
Episode: What's making Major League Baseball stadiums so noisy?
Justin Ferguson
Proprietor of The Auburn Observer
The Auburn Observer
Episode: How should we judge Auburn basketball's first year post Bruce Pearl?
Jordan Ritter Conn
Author of American Men, sports writer
The Ringer
Episode: PI Book Club: American Men by Jordan Ritter Conn
Susannah Fuller
Host of the Kickback Committee
Kickback Committee
Episode: Why is half of American pro soccer flipping its calendar?
Mina Kimes
NFL analyst
ESPN
Episode: RE-RELEASE: We're Not All Like This - The Seattle Seahawks
Natalie Weiner
Seattle-based writer
Previously Seattle-based journalist, writer
Episode: RE-RELEASE: We're Not All Like This - The Seattle Seahawks

Hosts

Steven Godfrey
Co-host/Host on Phantom Island; long-running contributor to the show with a focus on analytics-minded sports storytelling
Ryan Nanni
Co-host on Phantom Island; known for contextual, culture-forward sports discussions and collaboration with Steven Godfrey

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 195 ratings
  • Pure entertainment

    I found this podcast a few months ago because I love college football. And I love the insight. It’s the best and I’d listen to all episodes but they have put on a subscription plan. They took on the model of financial assistance - “pay me for our newsletter” … and I get it. I do. My thing is, I’d love to see them grow before they’re confident enough to start the subscriptions. I’ve seen this show. But good luck. And I mean that.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Orion고마워
    United States24 days ago
  • Always a good listen

    The Bear Bryant integrated the SEC is the best episode of a roster of very good ones. Loved this episode

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    DonDerby
    United States2 months ago
  • Good stuff

    Just here to listen to Ryan’s laugh. 10/10

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Peppermint Pete
    United States5 months ago
  • everything but…

    …the intro song is good.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    R-Pro Dart
    United States6 months ago
  • I Can’t Quit Mr Godfrey

    I’m not a huge college football fan. I mean I am, but it’s basically just following and watching the team I root for.

    I didn’t even know who Mr Godfrey was until I heard him on a Wharton Moneyball podcast and I could just tell this person is smart and he gets it.

    I started listening to the Yahoo College Football Enquirer podcast Mr Godfrey is on. The first college football podcast I ever started listening to and enjoy it. Naturally that led me to Phantom Island. I subscribed to check it out, ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ⛈️Storm
    United States6 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Occasional paywall notes; fans appreciate the value but some want broader access.
Thoughtful, data-driven discussions with entertaining banter.
Hosts' chemistry and investigative angle are highlights.
Strong guests and deep dives that stay accessible.
Consistently entertaining takes on sports culture and analytics.

Top Sports Podcasts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

What do TV ratings actually tell us about sports leagues?
Q: Is it useful to compare ratings across leagues or platforms?
It can be informative but is often misleading due to differing schedules, platforms, and audiences; better to analyze trends over time and understand what the data actually measure.
What do TV ratings actually tell us about sports leagues?
Q: What do you look for when you receive a press release with TV ratings?
Look for multi-year trends and context, rather than chasing a single year's number; see how the data fits into longer patterns that inform rights deals and league health.
How greedy can FIFA get with the 2026 World Cup?
Q: Can you give me a sense of how much more expensive it is to go to a World Cup match this year than in recent years?
The price increase is substantial—ranging from about two times to ten times or more depending on the match and market conditions, driven by the US location, high live-event demand post-pandemic, and the unique 48-team format.
Why didn't the NBA see Jalen Brunson coming?
Q: Do you think the emergence of Jalen Brunson and the like, 'oh, I didn't think it was going to go that way,' are we talking about levels to this as we head forward?
Yes, there are multiple levels: Brunson's lack of typical size, his steady, lead-by-example leadership, and the Knicks' roster construction around him created a catalytic situation that reshaped expectations; the rise was real due to a combination of skill, basketball IQ, and the surrounding system.
Numbers and Words: Part 1 of The Optimist's G6 Preview with Bill C. (PREVIEW)
Q: What is the scope of this preview in one sentence?
The hosts explain that this episode is part one of a two-part preview focusing on the Mac, Conference USA, and Sun Belt, with the rest to follow, and acknowledge the challenge of fitting the entire preview into a single episode.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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Age Range
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Frequently Asked Questions About Phantom Island

What is Phantom Island about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Analyses skew toward big-picture sports topics, with a strong emphasis on analytics-driven previews, roster decisions, and how culture shapes the viewing experience. Episodes frequently pair long-form breakdowns with personal anecdotes, covering World Cup logistics, NBA player evaluation, stadium sound design, NCAA issues, and college football/NIT storylines, all delivered with sharp banter and a behind-the-scenes vibe. Noteworthy is the blend of data-focused depth and candid host chemistry, plus frequent guest appearances from respected sports writers and analysts, which helps translate complex topics into accessible conversations for sports enthusiasts and industry professionals alike.

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How many listeners does Phantom Island get?

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What are the audience demographics for Phantom Island?

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How many subscribers and views does Phantom Island have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Phantom Island 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 Phantom Island?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Phantom Island:

1. Shutdown Fullcast
2. Split Zone Duo: College Football Podcast
3. College Football Enquirer
4. Hand In The Dirt
5. The Right Time with Bomani Jones

How many episodes of Phantom Island are there?

Phantom Island launched a year ago and published 147 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 Phantom Island?

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 Phantom Island?

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

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What guests have appeared on Phantom Island?

Recent guests on Phantom Island include:

1. Andy McGrath
2. Ben Strauss
3. Dan Devine
4. Jake Kring-Schreifels
5. Justin Ferguson
6. Jordan Ritter Conn
7. Susannah Fuller
8. Mina Kimes

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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