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The Varsity

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

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 weeklyEpisodes192Founded2 years ago
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Latest Episodes

John sits down with Dan Helfrich, COO of US Soccer, ahead of the World Cup. Helfrich makes the case for the US team’s readiness and discusses how this three-nation-hosted tournament is so unique. He also explains why the pipeline to a top-tier MLS st... more

Peter Supino, the Wolfe Research super analyst, joins John to gab about the changing sports media landscape and the insider math behind two of the biggest  rights deals of the decade: Apple’s curious bet on F1, and whether Paramount overpaid for UFC.... more

The Athletic's Andrew Marchand joins John to discuss Apple’s use of numerous iPhone 17 Pros to produce a live soccer match, and whether iPhone broadcasting could become the norm. They also get into the 2026 World Cup and whether issues like ticket pr... more

Horizon Media’s Adam Schwartz hops on the pod to discuss the state of the ad sales market with John. They talk about the vitality of the 30 second ad spot, A.I. optimization for commercials during sports broadcasts, social media sponsorships…. and wh... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
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Recent Guests

Peter Supino
Senior media analyst at Wolfe Research
Wolfe Research
Episode: In Defense of Apple’s Crazy F1 Math
Adam Schwartz
Senior executive with Horizon Media who oversees ad budgets for major brands
Horizon Media
Episode: Super Bowl or Bust
Jerry Silbowitz
Co-head of UTA Sports, influential sports media executive
UTA Sports
Episode: Any Given Wednesday
Jason Stein
Managing Partner at SC Holdings, private equity investor in sports ventures
SC Holdings
Episode: Pro Sports’ Private Equity Pickle
Joe House
Co-host of Fairway Rollin, golf industry observer
The Ringer
Episode: LIV to Die?
Nathan Hubbard
Executive with sports/entertainment industry background
Formerly at Spotify; involved in media rights discussions
Episode: LIV to Die?
Wendy Poppin
Oldest Poppin sister, childhood recollections
Poppin family
Episode: Introducing Family Lore
Julie Poppin
Sister, childhood recollections
Poppin family
Episode: Introducing Family Lore
Mike Morris
Top media analyst with Guggenheim Securities
Guggenheim Securities
Episode: The NFL’s Media Monopoly

Host

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

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 101 ratings
  • 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 States6 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 Statesa year 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
    a year 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.

The Beautiful (iPhone) Game
Q: What surprised you about Netflix's approach to opening day games and promos?
Gabe Spitzer indicated Netflix may have over-promoted the opening day, conflating a landmark event with the broader baseball season, which could misframe audience expectations.
The Beautiful (iPhone) Game
Q: Before that first kick, what are the storylines for Aziz Senior Sports Media Commons for the Athletic? What are some of the storylines that you're looking at going in?
They discuss Fox's World Cup presentation, Netflix's growing involvement including Women's World Cup, and the shifting dynamics of streaming rights, with emphasis on the potential for Netflix and other streamers to influence event programming and rights valuations.
In Defense of Apple’s Crazy F1 Math
Q: Why is Apple's deal with F1 viewed as potentially favorable despite being a premium price?
Because F1's global, non-traditional schedule can benefit from Apple's ecosystem and merchandising capabilities, attracting a premium but also potentially expanding the audience, particularly among iPhone-heavy demographics; the deal also adds digital optionality without drastically diminishing live viewing value.
In Defense of Apple’s Crazy F1 Math
Q: How do you see the sports media ecosystem today, particularly rights and distribution?
The guest explains that sports rights are a significant share of total TV economics, with streaming gradually increasing, but live, high-value events still anchor bundles. ARPU, churn, and subscriber acquisition are key KPIs, and different platforms have different cost structures and threats depending on their existing subs and engagement.
The Future of ESPN
Q: So I just want to start with a really open-ended question for you, and just the state of media right now in 2026, what are some of the big themes or storylines that you're really focused on right now?
Kafka highlights the creator economy and the tension between big media companies and individual creators, noting how publishers seek collaborations with hot digital personalities while balancing retention, compensation, and platform dynamics.

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?

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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To see how many followers or subscribers The Varsity has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

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 192 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. Peter Supino
2. Adam Schwartz
3. Jerry Silbowitz
4. Jason Stein
5. Joe House
6. Nathan Hubbard
7. Wendy Poppin
8. Julie Poppin

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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