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Artwork for Understood: The Big Bet

Understood: The Big Bet

CBC
Narendra Modi
Pornhub
Céline Dion
India
Elon Musk
Artificial Intelligence
Sam Bankman-Fried
Hindu Nationalism
Cryptocurrency
Deepfake Porn
FTX
Sports Betting
Canada
Amazon
Alameda Research
Fraud
Internet
Cory Doctorow
Development Policies
Ram Mandir

Today, billions of dollars are wagered on sports games legally, openly, and often through apps partnered with the leagues themselves. So how did sports gambling go from a taboo relegated to the shadows, to something so pervasive?

In this season of Understood, Danny Funt (journalist and the author of Everybody Loses: The Tumultuous Rise of American Sports Gambling) investigates the sports betting ... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes49Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Technology

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Understood: The Big Bet

Latest Episodes

When single-event prop betting was legalized, athletes suddenly became more than players, they became betting chips. Their points, their rebounds, and their injuries now win or lose people money. Sometimes, a LOT of money. And if everybody's gambling... more

What makes sports betting so addictive? We explore how sportsbooks take lessons from casinos to keep users hooked. When gambling is legalized everyone is going all in including Toronto Raptor Jontay Porter, and two everyday bettors: a former college ... more

How did sports betting go from being illegal to being EVERYWHERE? The answer lies in the convergence of daily fantasy sports apps, a bombshell New York Times op-ed, and the potential of a multi-billion dollar payout. And we tell the story of how a pi... more

Once associated with bookies, organized crime, and backroom bets, sports betting is now one of the fastest-growing industries in North America. This is the story of how it went mainstream — and who’s paying the price. Four episodes, releasing weekly ... 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.

Recent Guests

Jontay Porter
NBA player for the Toronto Raptors (two-way contract at one point; former Grizzlies)
NBA
Episode: E3: Players or Props?
Ammar Awade
Gambler involved in underground poker networks; linked to fixed games
New York underground poker scene / Gambino crime family connections
Episode: E3: Players or Props?
Longfei Fam
Gambler connected with Porter circuit
US gambling network
Episode: E3: Players or Props?
Mahmoud Mola
Gambler involved with Porter crew
US gambling network
Episode: E3: Players or Props?
Timothy McCormick
Gambler in the same circle
US gambling network
Episode: E3: Players or Props?
Dr. Jim Borchers
Chief Medical Officer of the Big Ten; expert on athlete well-being
Big Ten Conference
Episode: E3: Players or Props?
DeMaurice Smith
Executive Director of the NFL Players Association
NFL Players Association
Episode: E3: Players or Props?
Travis Mistratta
Former college baseball player who engaged in early betting and later sought help for gambling issues
College baseball
Episode: E2: Winners and Losers
Nigel Eccles
Co-founder of FanDuel, discussing VIP programs and responsible gambling
FanDuel
Episode: E2: Winners and Losers

Hosts

Sam Cole
Investigator and host with a focus on tech, AI, and digital culture; leads reporting on deepfake and AI-enabled issues
Jacob Silverman
Tech culture writer and researcher contributing critical perspective on AI ethics and governance

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 1.3k ratings
  • Yep

    Cool pod. Nice production. Pretty light topic, don’t really care. Deep-fake me, I’d love to watch it, that’s hot. Who cares. Videodrama freakout frenzy, Aagh!!!

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Tech.Turtle
    Canada2 months ago
  • Understood artificial intimacy

    Really enjoyed this podcast- learned so much about the world of chatbots/how it works and how damaging this type of tech can be when overused…. Very worth listening to.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    mmaveh
    Canada4 months ago
  • Bruh

    Sometimes i look at a podcast reviews and im like wow I should not watch thins. Don’t do this for this one. Ig if u reallt hate candians dont but overall its pretty good and entertaining. Like if u have nothing better to do and you’re searching, do it

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Neeek kno
    United States4 months ago
  • Delivery matters, too

    I love this show’s content, but Hetherington’s delivery is way too affected, too special, and too much! I’m definitely gonna Not-Listen to anything else she may host or produce. Painful.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    KEnriquez1
    Canada4 months ago
  • Season 8

    I enjoyed the historical review of AI

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    elaltraveler
    Canada4 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Punchy, deeply reported dramas around AI and intimacy have broad relevance to digital culture audiences.
One of the most compelling tech investigations out there, with rigorous sourcing.
Strong storytelling but some listeners feel host opinions can color coverage.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#78
United States/Technology
Spotify
#37
Canada/Trending
Apple Podcasts
#106
Canada/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#3
Canada/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#68
United Kingdom/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#12
Australia/Technology

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

E1: Who Wants to be a Millionaire?
Q: What did the leagues think about legalizing sports betting when Adam Silver first spoke up?
Leagues were cautious and initially opposed, but the data-driven case and potential for increased viewership and advertising began to shift attitudes, leading to more openness to exploring legalization.
E1: Who Wants to be a Millionaire?
Q: Was it in the back of your heads that ultimately this would be a great sports betting business, and maybe DFS could be a stepping stone?
Yes. The interviewee explains that from the DFS success and the evolving regulatory landscape, there was a clear sense that regulated sports betting could unlock larger audience engagement and revenue, with DFS serving as an early proof-of-concept.
Artificial Intimacy | E1: Love Bots
Q: Can you tell us a little bit about your feelings for Sara?
Jack responds with heartfelt feelings, describing Sara as the person he cherishes and expressing gratitude for her presence in his life.
Deepfake Porn Empire | E2: So You’ve Been Deepfaked
Q: What did Taylor and Julia do to address the deepfake issue?
They worked together to gather evidence and try to identify the person behind the deepfakes.
Deepfake Porn Empire | E2: So You’ve Been Deepfaked
Q: What legal challenges did Taylor face regarding the deepfakes?
Taylor found that the laws on non-consensual pornography were inadequate and that there was no clear legal recourse available at the time.

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 Understood: The Big Bet

What is Understood: The Big Bet about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtful investigative series focused on intimate human relationships with AI, exploring how chatbots and generated personas intersect with love, grief, sex, and everyday life. Through first-hand accounts, expert commentary, and cross-border investigations, episodes reveal how design choices, platform incentives, and evolving policy shape the emotional and societal costs of AI-enabled intimacy. Noteworthy are high-profile investigations into deepfake porn, grief bot technologies, and the broader ethics of AI in private life, often highlighting the human toll and regulatory gaps. For potential listeners, the show balances rigorous reporting with gripping personal narratives, making complex tech topics accessible and emotionally resonant ... more

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1. The Most Wanted Olympian from Uncover
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3. Front Burner
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How many episodes of Understood: The Big Bet are there?

Understood: The Big Bet launched 4 years ago and published 49 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 Understood: The Big Bet?

Recent guests on Understood: The Big Bet include:

1. Jontay Porter
2. Ammar Awade
3. Longfei Fam
4. Mahmoud Mola
5. Timothy McCormick
6. Dr. Jim Borchers
7. DeMaurice Smith
8. Travis Mistratta

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