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The Varsity

Puck | Audacy
ESPN
NBA
NBC
NFL
Olympics
Tom Brady
WNBA
Lacrosse
Sports Media
Paris
Streaming Services
Cable Bundles
Premier Lacrosse League
Snoop Dogg
Leadership Quality
Directv
Warner Brothers Discovery
Youth Sports
Beijing
Tokyo

Puck Sports Correspondent John Ourand and a rotating cast of industry insiders take you deep inside the executive suites and owner boxes that run the entire sports business. You’ll hear interviews with everyone from players to network execs and everyone in between. The Varsity is an extension of John's private email for Puck by the same name. New episodes publish twice-weekly, every Wednesday and ... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes123Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Sports NewsNewsBusiness News

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Latest Episodes

Ken Belson, The New York Times’ longtime sports business reporter, swings by the pod to discuss his new book on the NFL’s gargantuan and many-tentacled business, aptly titled Every Day Is Sunday: How Jerry Jones, Robert Kraft, and Roger Goodell Turne... more

NBC’s Frank DiGraci and Noah Eagle join John for a spirited NBA season preview, as the network and league reunite for the first time since the 2002 Finals. They break down how the deal came together, how NBC plans to evolve its coverage while nodding... more

ESPN’s NHL analyst Greg Wyshynski joins John for a rollicking preview of the NHL season, which kicked off yesterday. He discusses the league’s labor peace and breaks down the new C.B.A. set to hit next September. He also weighs into their new media r... more

Cody Campbell, the billionaire Texas Tech booster and visionary behind the “Saving College Sports” campaign, joins John to diagnose what’s ailing college athletics, from the NCAA’s broken governance to its outdated economic model. He lays out a few p... more

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Recent Guests

Greg Wyshynski
A sports journalist and NHL insider
Puck
Episode: NHL Rinkside Revelations
Cody Campbell
Billionaire behind the Save College Sports campaign and former NFL player.
Episode: Can a Billionaire Former NFL Player Fix College Sports?
Sara Fischer
A great media reporter from Axios with insights into ESPN's operations and the sports media landscape.
Axios
Episode: ESPN’s D.T.C. Blitz
Dany Garcia
A former Merrill Lynch executive and current investor in the UFL, known for her storytelling ability and partnership with Dwayne Johnson.
UFL
Episode: The UFL’s Scale-Up Era
Charlie Neiman
Head of sports partnerships at Amazon
Amazon
Episode: The Prime Play for Sports Rights
Matt Ryan
Former NFL quarterback and current CBS Sports analyst.
CBS Sports
Episode: Matty Ice Quarterbacks the CBS Booth
Pablo Torre
Former ESPN writer and studio host, current host of the podcast Pablo Torre Finds Out
Pablo Torre Finds Out
Episode: The Clippers Bombshell & Belichickghazi
Sally Jenkins
One of the greatest sports columnists of the past quarter century.
The Atlantic
Episode: A Sports Legend’s Second Act
Marion Maneker
Writer of the private email on the art business called Wallpower
Puck
Episode: The Art of the Sports Collectible

Host

John Ourand
Host of The Varsity; Sports correspondent with a focus on delivering deep insights into the sports business.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 89 ratings
  • Not Interested

    John we aren’t interested in hearing anti- Trump diatribes from your guests. CBS put their thumb on the scale with the KH interview

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    SamimSissel
    United States5 months ago
  • Eamon Lynch was great

    I recently enjoyed your podcast with Eamon Lynch. It gave me a better understanding of what is going on with the PGA tour and LIV golf right now. You do a great job as I have enjoyed your podcast going back to the first one. It is one of my favorite ones to listen to each week.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    mattmanfan
    United States7 months ago
  • Netflix

    Didn’t the first game start 2 hours late? 1pm start time pushed to just before 3pm?!

    Great pod.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    LBJ503
    United States10 months ago
  • Good sports media podcast. I enjoyed John's prior podcast that he did with Andrew Marchand prior to joining Puck. Good long form interviews.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    EricNC
    10 months ago
  • What a rolodex!

    Everybody who’s anybody in sports business seems to come on this podcast—commissioners, top media executives, well known personalities. And I can understand why. These are great interviews. Ourand started with Peyton Manning, and the guest quality hasn’t dropped one bit since.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sports Biz Fan
    United States10 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Some listeners express concern over political biases in certain discussions, indicating mixed feedback on guest selections.
Hosts conduct thorough and engaging interviews with a diverse range of experts.
Great insight into sports business and media.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

NHL Rinkside Revelations
Q: How does the participation in the Olympics affect NHL players?
Player participation is important, but NHL owners are cautious due to potential injuries and not receiving enough from the IOC.
NHL Rinkside Revelations
Q: What will be the impact of the new CBA on the NHL?
The new CBA introduces salary cap restrictions that prevent teams from taking advantage of injuries to gain a competitive edge, impacting team strategies.
NHL Rinkside Revelations
Q: What are the business issues facing the NHL going into this season?
There are no significant business issues; the NHL has labor peace, secured media deals, and a good relationship between players, owners, and management.
Can a Billionaire Former NFL Player Fix College Sports?
Q: What could be the likely solutions to fix these issues?
Cody stresses the need for effective legislation on media rights and the establishment of an independent governing body to effectively manage college sports.
Can a Billionaire Former NFL Player Fix College Sports?
Q: What are the biggest problems you see in college sports right now?
The biggest problems include the lack of effective governance and funding issues, which lead to chaos and financial strains across institutions.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Age Range
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Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Varsity

What is The Varsity about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This podcast features in-depth discussions on the intersections of sports, media, and business, with a strong emphasis on the transitions and challenges facing the industry. Topics frequently explored include the integration of streaming services in sports broadcasting, evolving viewer habits, and the impact of major league shifts in management and ownership. The format offers insights not only from sports journalists but also from executive insiders, providing a comprehensive view of the current sports landscape. Noteworthy guests range from sports columnists and network executives to industry analysts, showcasing diverse perspectives and substantial expertise. The two weekly episodes ensure timely discussions on emerging trends and signif... more

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How many listeners does The Varsity get?

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What are the audience demographics for The Varsity?

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How many subscribers and views does The Varsity have?

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Which podcasts are similar to The Varsity?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Varsity:

1. The Sports Media Podcast
2. Sports Media with Richard Deitsch
3. SI Media With Jimmy Traina
4. The Grill Room
5. The Powers That Be: Daily

How many episodes of The Varsity are there?

The Varsity launched a year ago and published 123 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 The Varsity?

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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What guests have appeared on The Varsity?

Recent guests on The Varsity include:

1. Greg Wyshynski
2. Cody Campbell
3. Sara Fischer
4. Dany Garcia
5. Charlie Neiman
6. Matt Ryan
7. Pablo Torre
8. Sally Jenkins

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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