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The Varsity

Puck | Audacy
NFL
ESPN
Streaming Services
Netflix
NBA
College Sports
NIL
Nascar
Major League Baseball
World Cup
MLB
Media Rights
Disney
Women's Sports
Fox Sports
Sports Media
College Basketball
Baseball
NCAA
CBS Sports

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 weeklyEpisodes229Founded2 years ago
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Business NewsNews

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Latest Episodes

John is joined by Words + Pictures co-founder Connor Schell and chief creative officer Aaron Cohen to discuss their new six-part Saban documentary, chronicling the life and career of the legendary college football coach. They also discuss the evoluti... more

Andy Johnson, founder of Fried Egg Golf, joins John to discuss the state of the PGA Tour under Brian Rolapp’s stewardship. He highlights Rolapp’s star-centric vision, argues that LIV’s real legacy may be forcing the Tour to innovate, and digs into th... more

Fan favorite Andrew Marchand joins John to run through the sports-media news of the week. They dig into the NFL’s underwhelming early-season ratings, Joe Buck’s $108 million extension with ESPN, Brian Rolapp’s new plans for the PGA Tour, the growing ... more

Ted Leonsis, C.E.O. of Monumental Sports, joins John to talk about the ins and outs of owning the Washington Capitals, Wizards, and Mystics. He gets into the billion-dollar rebuild of Capital One Arena, why the Lakers’ $12.5 billion sale makes him ne... more

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Recent Guests

Andy Johnson
Founder of Friday Golf
Friday Golf
Episode: Golf’s Rolapp Revolution
Ted Leonsis
Owner of Monumental Sports & Entertainment (Wizards, Capitals, Mystics, Capital One Arena)
Monumental Sports & Entertainment
Episode: Ted’s Monumental Adventure
Kevin Burkhardt
NFL play-by-play announcer for Fox Sports; baseball studio host; broadcaster
Fox Sports
Episode: Kevin Burkhardt's Art of "Not Showing How Smart You Are"
Nick Khan
President of WWE, TKO board member
WWE / TKO
Episode: Nick Khan's Plan to Let the Boxers Box
Jim Gray
Veteran sportscaster and interviewer
Television/Sports Broadcasting
Episode: Jim Gray’s History Lessons
Marc Ganis
Industry consultant and advisor to Roger Goodell and several team owners
Presidential College Sports Council member
Episode: Can Washington Actually Fix College Sports?
Brian Herbst
Senior NASCAR executive who signed a $7.7 billion media deals package in 2023
NASCAR
Episode: NASCAR’s $7.7 Billion Bet
Jimmy Traina
Sports Illustrated veteran transitioning to Underscore Media, focused on New York sports
Underscore Media
Episode: Life After SI
Mark Ein
Owner/investor with stakes in Commanders, Orioles, Leeds United; former World Team Tennis owner
DC-area sports investor
Episode: Inside D.C.'s Sports Ownership Boom

Host

John Ourand
Host of The Varsity, sports business journalist with deep ties to Puck and The Varsity; frequently negotiates and analyzes major media deals.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 111 ratings
  • Annie Constable

    Love the pod… but Annie was horrible.

    And not the cats.

    Audio mix had them talking over each other without hearing the other speaking.

    Says “yeah” like she’s 18yo. Batting 100⁉️

    100% vs Batting 1000.

    Obviously not versed in other sports just stays in her WNBA lane.

    Unfortunately, just didn’t add any insight to anything that I’ve already heard over the last three weeks.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    CGK in PDX
    United States2 months ago
  • Listen to most shows

    Most guests are great that soccer guy last week was insufferable. I enjoy Marchand they have great chemistry. His vocal fry voice is annoying, and the amount of background noise in last show made me turn it off. I enjoy the content being delivered on a Sunday morning.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Big Dan Howgate
    United States4 months ago
  • F McAfee

    This is not a slight on the show but more on this episodes content and opinions, mostly that McaHack is the future of sports entertainment. He and his antics represent everything that is WRONG with where sports is going. You DON’t give him more of a platform, you take him off it, because he has no journalistic integrity, his schtick is beyond cliche and he has the most grating voice I’ve ever heard. I don’t watch ESPN anymore because of this direction. Go BACK to the way it was We don’t want to ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    quikoni
    United States10 months ago
  • 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 Statesa year 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 States2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Audience appreciates practical, real-world insights into rights and deals.
Guests are consistently high-caliber with deep industry access.
Feedback notes some shows have strong takes but occasionally polarizing opinions.
Chemistry between hosts and guests is a strong point for engaging interviews.
Listeners value the insider perspective and executive-level context.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The NFL’s Ratings Slump & PGA Tour’s New Swing
Q: What is the PGA Tour's strategic direction under Brian Rolapp?
Rolapp envisions a summer-heavy schedule with relegation-like mechanisms and clearer season-long stakes, designed to compete with the NFL's dominance by offering drama, audience clarity, and more meaningful results for TV partners.
The NFL’s Ratings Slump & PGA Tour’s New Swing
Q: How might the top NFL play-by-play booths evolve in the coming years?
The discussion centers on Buck potentially returning with a partner like Aikman or Olson, movements among networks to secure the best talent, and how price and prestige will influence which duo gets the marquee assignments, with Buck and Aikman viewed as a strong current pairing.
The NFL’s Ratings Slump & PGA Tour’s New Swing
Q: What surprised you about NFL media trends through the first two weeks of the season?
Andrew points to the complexity of ratings trends, noting that while numbers can be down in some weeks, the NFL remains the primary driver of television engagement and that streaming and entertainment elements are reshaping how games are consumed, not necessarily signaling a collapse in interest.
TV’s New Gatekeepers
Q: Why does Fox want to buy Roku and what does it mean for the streaming landscape?
Roku is seen as a major aggregator and gateway in the streaming era, offering a platform to reach a broad audience and position Fox's content within a central navigation hub; it fits into a broader push toward eventized, scalable distribution rather than traditional, linear scheduling.
TV’s New Gatekeepers
Q: Should Fox be concerned that government is taking a closer look at the Roku acquisition?
The guest suggests there will likely be regulatory review but does not see an insurmountable problem, given Fox's size and the strategic fit of Roku in their broader distribution strategy.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Varsity

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

A sharp, insider-focused look at the business of sports media and entertainment. Episodes consistently explore shifting rights economics, the rise of digital and influencer-driven content, and how traditional leagues, networks, and platforms navigate cord-cutting, streaming, and eventization. Interviews with top executives, agents, and industry observers uncover dealmaking tactics, talent strategy, and the evolving relationship between owners, athletes, and media partners. The show often highlights real-world implications for negotiations, branding, and content strategy, with practical takeaways for listeners ranging from agents and marketers to sponsors and platforms. Notable for its candid access to executive suites and a strong emphasis ... more

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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. Traina Thoughts
4. The Grill Room
5. The Powers That Be: Daily

How many episodes of The Varsity are there?

The Varsity launched 2 years ago and published 229 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?

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What guests have appeared on The Varsity?

Recent guests on The Varsity include:

1. Andy Johnson
2. Ted Leonsis
3. Kevin Burkhardt
4. Nick Khan
5. Jim Gray
6. Marc Ganis
7. Brian Herbst
8. Jimmy Traina

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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