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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

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes129Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Sports

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Artwork for Phantom Island

Latest Episodes

On this bonus episode, Steven Godfrey and Ryan Nanni examine Bear Bryant's 1970 loss to Sam Cunningham and an integrated USC team, a game mythologized as a watershed moment in the racial politics of college football in the South. Was this truly an un... more

Ryan Nanni sits down with Steven Godfrey to review a classic of offseason sportswriting: the coach profile. Examining the work Godfrey did interviewing coaches from James Franklin to Tom Herman to Geoff Collins, this episode explores how these pieces... more

Steven Godfrey accidentally starts a book club on Phantom Island, and entry one is American Men by Jordan Ritter Conn. Steven and Jordan discuss the economics that pop up across the four stories that make up the book, the role sports play in this exa... more

Susannah Fuller, host of the Kickback Committee, joins Ryan Nanni to discuss Major League Soccer's motivation to align its schedule with the rest of the world in the men's game, why the National Women's Soccer League came to the opposite conclusion, ... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

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
Jacson Bevens
Host of the Cigar Thoughts podcast
Seahawks fan, journalist-podcaster
Episode: RE-RELEASE: We're Not All Like This - The Seattle Seahawks
Ben Portnoy
Writer/Editor at Sports Business Journal, author of SBJ newsletter
Sports Business Journal
Episode: What's really happening between private investors and college sports?
Lindsay Crosby
Braves Today podcaster and Substack writer
Braves Today, Braves Today Substack
Episode: Why are sports teams becoming landlords?
David Covucci
Proprietor of FOIAball, FOIAball.com
FOIAball
Episode: Why can't we trust stadium attendance numbers?
Kevin Van Valkenburg
Director of Content at Fried Egg Golf
The Fried Egg
Episode: What can golf do about its addiction to Tiger Woods?
DJ Byrnes
Author/blogger known for The Rooster; OSU political reporting
The Rooster
Episode: Is Ohio State's media stranglehold an outlier?

Hosts

Steven Godfrey
Co-host and longtime sports writer with a focus on football culture, media, and governance.
Ryan Nanni
Co-host with a data-driven, analytical approach to sports and college football culture.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 184 ratings
  • Good stuff

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Peppermint Pete
    United States3 months ago
  • everything but…

    …the intro song is good.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    R-Pro Dart
    United States4 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 States4 months ago
  • So entertaining

    Really smart conversations that make you laugh

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    K Thele
    United States5 months ago
  • Listen to this pod

    Fun and creative ways to dig into the ephemera of modern sports landscapes. Tickles your brain in the good way.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jesushomes
    United States5 months ago

Listeners Say

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

High-quality guests and deep dives, especially on media rights and governance.
Fans praise host chemistry and willingness to tackle big questions beyond headlines.
Audience-driven and thoughtful; some episodes skew very analytical and data-forward.
Smart, insightful analyses with entertaining banter that keeps complex topics accessible.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#137
Poland/Sports
Apple Podcasts
#201
Austria/Sports

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

What's really happening between private investors and college sports?
Q: What are the questions fans should be asking when they see a private equity deal in college sports?
Fans should probe what the capital is being used for, how the deal is structured (e.g., standalone LLCs vs. athletic department funding), what control or influence investors might have, and how it affects long-term sustainability and governance.
The Single Wing: On Bias and Braves Hats (PREVIEW)
Q: David, what am I supposed to make of Rich Rod?
The discussion frames Rich Rodriguez as an offensive innovator whose ideas were ahead of his time but have since become ubiquitous, prompting reflections on how innovations diffuse through college football and affect long-term reputations.
Is Ohio State's media stranglehold an outlier?
Q: What is Life Surge and how does OSU fit into that picture?
Life Surge is discussed as a broader program involving Christian nationalist messaging and investment-style financing marketed to athletes and fans, with OSU-linked events and branding that resemble athletic department promotion but are framed as independent outreach.
Is Ohio State's media stranglehold an outlier?
Q: Walk me through what led to you chasing Ohio State head coach Ryan Day to ask about Libs of TikTok.
DJ explains that he was in a parking lot waiting for other officials when Day arrived; the moment was captured and the follow/unfollow activity on social media became a focal point of the exchange, highlighting how a single social action can become a public trigger for reporting.
What can golf do about its addiction to Tiger Woods?
Q: 1131700 Who is golf like defined as?
Kevin explains that 'golf' in this context includes the golf media ecosystem, tournament directors, fans, and the broader industry that together shape the sport's visibility and economics, not just the players on the course.

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 Phantom Island

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

A sharp, data-informed look at sports world narratives, governance, and business. Episodes frequently braid analysis of major topics—from the media ecosystem around stars like Tiger Woods to the economics of college sports, NIL oversight, and conference realignment—with candid banter and current-event pull‑ups. Guests range from veteran sports journalists to policy-focused analysts, and sponsorships or paywalled components often shape the pacing and depth of conversations. The show is known for deep dives, unconventional angles, and a willingness to challenge conventional wisdom, making it a strong fit for listeners who crave analytical rigor plus entertaining host chemistry.

A standout angle is how sports media, branding, and governance i... more

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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. The Distraction: A Defector Podcast
5. Hand In The Dirt

How many episodes of Phantom Island are there?

Phantom Island launched a year ago and published 129 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.

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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. Susannah Fuller
2. Mina Kimes
3. Natalie Weiner
4. Jacson Bevens
5. Ben Portnoy
6. Lindsay Crosby
7. David Covucci
8. Kevin Van Valkenburg

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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