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The Distraction: A Defector Podcast

Defector Media
Sports Illustrated
NFL
Shohei Otani
NCAA Tournament
The Simpsons
Sean Mcdermott
College Football
Anaheim Angels
Los Angeles Dodgers
Covid-19
Writer's Room Etiquette
Hollywood Strikes
Analytics
North Carolina
Defector
Super Bowl
Fan Engagement
Draymond Green
Philadelphia Eagles
Baseball Uniforms

Defector's flagship podcast about sports (and movies, and art, and sandwiches, and certain coastal states) from longtime writers Drew Magary and David Roth. Every week, Drew and Roth tackle subjects, both serious and impossibly stupid, with a parade of guests from around the world of sports and media joining in the fun! Roth and Drew also field Funbag questions from Defector readers, answer listen... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes285Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureSports

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Artwork for The Distraction: A Defector Podcast

Latest Episodes

Drew is off frolicking on another continent, so it’s time to talk about baseball! Kelsey is back with Roth to swap their first ballpark stories of the 2026 season. Of course, there’s lots of new things to grab your attention at a baseball game this y... more

Emma Baccellieri (Sports Illustrated) is back, and with a new book! Drew and Roth ask her about her writing process, and how she worked with co-author Jordan Robinson. Then, they talk Emma’s women’s Sweet Sixteen bracket and WNBA players’ collective ... more

Happy March Madness! As always, Drew and Roth are joined by Ken Pomeroy of KenPom.com to talk about the men’s bracket. Is Ken’s insight still the gold standard, or are AI rankings coming for his job? Do the top seeds all look ready to bloom on schedu... more

Rohan, of NBC News and sandwich fame, is back! He fills Drew and Roth in on his Italian Olympic experience, including, most importantly, his favorite meals. Rohan, like the rest of us, was bowled over by ice dancing, and by how Italians eat Italian f... more

Key Facts

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

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Recent Guests

Spencer Hall
College football writer and commentator, Channel 6 blog contributor
Channel 6 / ESPN, Defector connections
Episode: I Was Born in the Cutty Sark with Spencer Hall
Tom Ley
Editor-in-Chief of Defector
Defector
Episode: Digest It As It Comes In with Tom Ley
John Cullen
Comedian and author of "Curling Rocks"
Episode: A Good Set of Stones with John Cullen
Kathryn Xu
A reporter who covered the Westminster Dog Show
Defector
Episode: A Well-Rounded Apple Dome with Kathryn Xu
Patrick Wyman
Co-host of Tides of History and historian
Independent author, podcaster
Episode: Born Aloft on a Cloud of Dad Energy with Patrick Wyman
Matt Selman
Showrunner of The Simpsons
The Simpsons
Episode: Williams Sonoma Price Is Right 2025! with Matt Selman
Matthew Coller
Sports analyst and host of Purple Insider
Purple Insider
Episode: Bad For Your Heart, Bad For Your Soul with Matthew Coller
Peter Brannen
Author and science writer
Episode: Batteries Are Woke, Mining is Based with Peter Brannen
Nathan Thornburgh
Journalist and co-founder of Roads & Kingdoms
Roads & Kingdoms
Episode: Reptile Epicurean Delights with Nathan Thornburgh

Hosts

Drew Magary
Host of The Distraction and long-time Defector writer. Associated with Defector Media and frequent on-air banter.
David Roth
Co-host and long-time Defector writer, known for sharp sports and media commentary.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 3.1k ratings
  • I miss sports lunacy

    I haven’t listened to this in a while, then I saw Spencer Hall was going to be on. Cool! Then These self righteous clowns spent the whole time talking over him, not cool! Zzzzz

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    stinky lefty
    United Statesa month ago
  • Love the show!

    Roth is the absolute best! Someone needs to stage an intervention for Drew to get him to stop spreading his horrendous Vikings inspired nonsense that has infiltrated an otherwise stellar podcast. Love that Mina Kimes and Roth called him out for this in the latest episode.

    Aside from that, keep up the amazing work!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    :The Dude Abides:
    United States7 months ago
  • no one better

    Love the show, smart, funny, great guests, I should probably start paying for this.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Nick the ....
    United Statesa year ago
  • Hmm

    I could frankly do without the theme song and Drew’s traditional show-opening catchphrase. Aside from those niggling complaints, it’s a delight.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    CM21218
    United Statesa year ago
  • One of my favorites

    Has long been a favorite of mine. Bring back the mash up, bring back the guys.

    Big fans of both Drew and Roth. Drew seems to take some flack but he keeps this thing going and at least has some opinions/things to say. Roth doesn’t need to agree with every guest’s every opinion.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sleu dobbs
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise chemistry between hosts and guests, with some noting producer interruptions as a hurdle to the flow.
Episodes with insider sports and media takes are highly valued, especially when guests bring depth and wit.
Shows that mix humor with sharp analysis attract repeat listeners and strong word-of-mouth.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#180
United States/Sports
Apple Podcasts
#225
Poland/Sports

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

A Hot Sauce Faceprint on the Hotel Door with Rohan Nadkarni
Q: What was the best sandwich Rohan ate in Milan?
Rohan recalls the ham-and-cheese focaccia from a Milan media lounge as a standout, describing it as a simple, perfectly balanced combination that hit hard and stuck with him, though acknowledging other high points like a Roman restaurant and various Italian offerings.
A Good Set of Stones with John Cullen
Q: What is curling?
Curling is essentially frozen ice shuffleboard, where you slide heavy rocks on ice towards a target, with elements similar to bocce and billiards involved.
The Italian Word for Waluigi with Rohan Nadkarni
Q: Do you think people are still writing songs about romantic interests?
Yes, but contemporary music may not be providing the same level of horniness as before.
The Italian Word for Waluigi with Rohan Nadkarni
Q: What are you most excited about for your trip to Italy?
I'm most excited about the sandwiches, it's one of my biggest pet peeves that journalists have to have an origin story, I just want to go and enjoy good food.
Born Aloft on a Cloud of Dad Energy with Patrick Wyman
Q: How did you sustain a Turf Toe injury?
Patrick explains that he was doing Muay Thai, and he jammed his foot hard into the mat while throwing a kick.

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 The Distraction: A Defector Podcast

What is The Distraction: A Defector Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A fast-talking, conversation-driven show that blends sharp sports analysis with culture, humor, and near-podcast-wide banter. Episodes frequently feature guests from sports media, journalism, and related entertainment worlds, who help unpack topics from college athletics economics to NFL intricacies, travel journalism, and behind-the-scenes media industry dynamics, all interwoven with personal stories, pop culture riffs, and signature reader-fueled bits. The unique rhythm comes from two hosts with strong chemistry, playful sponsor reads, and a willingness to switch from serious analysis to lighthearted riffs about sandwiches, travel, and current events, making it a distinctive mix of expert insight and irreverent humor.

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Which podcasts are similar to The Distraction: A Defector Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Distraction: A Defector Podcast:

1. Nothing But Respect
2. Shutdown Fullcast
3. Pablo Torre Finds Out
4. Guys: With Bryan Quinby
5. The PosCast with Joe Posnanski & Michael Schur

How many episodes of The Distraction: A Defector Podcast are there?

The Distraction: A Defector Podcast launched 6 years ago and published 285 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 The Distraction: A Defector Podcast?

Recent guests on The Distraction: A Defector Podcast include:

1. Spencer Hall
2. Tom Ley
3. John Cullen
4. Kathryn Xu
5. Patrick Wyman
6. Matt Selman
7. Matthew Coller
8. Peter Brannen

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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