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The Varsity

Puck | Audacy
NFL
ESPN
Streaming Services
NBA
Netflix
NIL
College Sports
NASCAR
MLB
Major League Baseball
Disney
NBC
World Cup
Media Rights
Sports Media
Women's Sports
FOX Sports
Amazon
NCAA
College Basketball

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 weeklyEpisodes204Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Business NewsNewsSports News

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Artwork for The Varsity

Latest Episodes

Michael Ratner, C.E.O. of Fanatics Studios, and Lance Fensterman, C.E.O. of Fanatics Events, join John to discuss the wild growth and evolution of Fanatics Fest—and why immersive, interactive experiences built around high-profile athlete appearances ... more

Wells Fargo Securities analyst Steven Cahall joins John to cut through the noise on sports media’s biggest storylines: why a sale of NBC is less likely than the market assumes, the fuzzy logic surrounding the $22 billion Fox–Roku deal, whether linear... more

With Wimbledon in full swing, John is joined by Sports Illustrated’s Jon Wertheim for a wide-ranging conversation on the state of tennis. They get into Serena Williams’ return to the court, the WTA’s player protests over fair wages, and the challenge... more

C.E.O. Eric Shanks joins John to gush about the World Cup and Fox’s decade-long investment in soccer. He discusses his biggest surprises, Fox’s always-on approach to coverage, Zlatan Ibrahimović’s unlikely TV career, the controversial hydration break... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
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Recent Guests

Eric Shanks
CEO and executive producer of Fox Sports
Fox Sports
Episode: Fox Sports’ Golden Boot
Christian Genetski
President and CEO of FanDuel
FanDuel
Episode: FanDuel’s Next Gamble
Nicole Auerbach
Lead college football and basketball insider for NBC Sports
NBC Sports
Episode: College Sports Confidential
Brian Windhorst
Senior NBA writer at ESPN
ESPN
Episode: The James Dolan Paradox
Mike Breen
Lead NBA analyst for ESPN/ABC
ESPN
Episode: The James Dolan Paradox
Burke Magnus
Head of content at ESPN, overseeing ESPN's content strategy
ESPN (The Walt Disney Company)
Episode: Burke Magnus’s ESPN Wish List
Dan Helfrich
COO of US Soccer
US Soccer
Episode: Is the U.S. Ready for the World Cup?
Peter Supino
Senior media analyst at Wolfe Research
Wolfe Research
Episode: In Defense of Apple’s Crazy F1 Math
Andrew Marchand
Sports media columnist
The Athletic
Episode: The Beautiful (iPhone) Game

Host

John Ourand
Puck Sports Correspondent and host with ties to The Varsity and various media partnerships

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 106 ratings
  • 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 Statesa month 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 States7 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 Statesa year 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 States2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Some listeners critique guest selections or viewpoints, but overall quality remains strong.
Host asks tough, source-driven questions and gets candid responses.
Content is deep and market-focused, great for sponsors and guests.
Guests are consistently high-profile and industry-forward, which makes for valuable insights.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Full Court Press!
Q: Where do you see Sunday Ticket headed in the near future, and what are the scenarios if the Ninth Circuit reverses or if the case goes to the Supreme Court?
If the Ninth Circuit reverses, the case could return to trial or the penalty could be reinstated; if it reaches the Supreme Court, the central question will be whether pulling rights together constitutes an antitrust violation under the SBA framework, with outcomes ranging from settlement to new regulatory frameworks.
Full Court Press!
Q: What would happen if the Sports Broadcasting Act were removed or significantly altered for the leagues and the broadcast ecosystem?
Without SBA protections, leagues could face more antitrust exposure, leading to potentially more competitive bidding by streamers and a shift toward more fragmented, game-by-game licensing instead of pooled rights, which could raise costs and change fan access.
Soccer’s American Dream
Q: Do hydration breaks help or harm the broadcast experience for fans watching at home?
They disrupt the continuous action and reduce the clean two-hour viewing window, which is generally unfavorable for fans and streaming viewers, though some broadcasters argue they are necessary for safety and sports economics.
Soccer’s American Dream
Q: What do you see as the biggest shift in World Cup rights in the coming years?
The biggest shift is toward streamer-driven global rights, with platforms like Netflix, Apple, and others potentially competing with traditional TV for marquee games, impacting how broadly the event is distributed and how revenue is structured.
Burke Magnus’s ESPN Wish List
Q: What has surprised you most about ESPN's evolution under your leadership?
The biggest surprise has been how quickly the ecosystem shifted from a TV-centric model to a multi-platform approach, requiring rapid adaptation in content creation, distribution, and on-demand engagement while keeping the quality and consistency of the brand.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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Professions
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Varsity

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

The show gives sharp, insider-level conversations with leaders across sports media, business, and athletics. Episodes frequently center on media rights, streaming, and the intersection of technology, sponsorship, and league strategy, with deep dives into how major properties monetize and distribute content. A notable strength is its guest rosters and sourcing—ranging from network executives and league insiders to veteran journalists and former athletes—offering both big-picture context and behind-the-scenes specifics that help listeners understand market dynamics and dealmaking. Potential listeners include industry professionals, advertisers, and sponsors seeking informed analysis and networking-ready insights, with frequent threads on NFL ... more

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How many listeners does The Varsity get?

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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 2 years ago and published 204 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. Eric Shanks
2. Christian Genetski
3. Nicole Auerbach
4. Brian Windhorst
5. Mike Breen
6. Burke Magnus
7. Dan Helfrich
8. Peter Supino

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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