
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
| Publishes | Twice weekly | Episodes | 217 | Founded | 2 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | Business NewsNews | |||

Longtime Sports Illustrated columnist Jimmy Traina joins the pod to discuss why he left the publication after 20-plus years and what to expect from his move to Underscore Media. Jimmy and John also highlight some of the sports media trends they’re mo... more
Mark Ein, a veteran investor with stakes in the Commanders, Orioles, and Leeds United, joins John to trace his path from World Team Tennis owner to NFL minority owner. Ein breaks down why franchise valuations keep shattering records (hint: AI wealth)... more
ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, who broke last week’s big news about the LA Lakers, joins John to walk through how the $12.5 billion deal came together practically overnight. The two dig into the NBA’s exploding franchise valuations, what kind of owner Iger... more
John sits down with Guggenheim's Mike Morris to unpack the NFL's media rights maze and outline some worst case scenarios for the Sunday Ticket lawsuit. The pair dig into why the cable bundle still prints money, Netflix's math on Sunday football, and ... more
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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.
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.
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
John we aren’t interested in hearing anti- Trump diatribes from your guests. CBS put their thumb on the scale with the KH interview
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.
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.
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Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.
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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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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
The Varsity launched 2 years ago and published 217 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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Recent guests on The Varsity include:
1. Gideon Cohen
2. Annie Costabile
3. JT Batson
4. Eriq Gardner
5. Michael Ratner
6. Lance Fensterman
7. Uzma Dowler
8. Steven Cahall
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