15 Underrated Sports Podcasts That Won't Mansplain What a Field Goal Is

Whether you’re a fan of tennis and its Grand Slam tournaments or you’re all in for football spend your year eagerly awaiting the Super Bowl, with the many overlapping league schedules and dozens of teams to keep up with, you might find it hard to keep up with all that’s happening within the worlds of your favourite sports. If you don’t have time to watch every single game or are new to a sport and want to go down the rabbit hole, you can save some time and learn a whole bunch by checking out fun sports websites, talk shows, and podcasts. Beyond following your favourite players on social media, you can get an inside scoop on your favourite teams from specialised hosts who really dive into the details of specific players, games, and ranks.

While you might be familiar with the most streamed sports podcasts like Barstool Sports Pardon My Take or The Ringer and Bill Simmons: The Bill Simmons Podcast, we’ve compiled a list of podcasts that focus on specific sports or have unique, dynamic hosts – and specifically pods that ditch the old and tired misogynistic tropes around sports and sport fandom. Whether you’re a tennis loving Naomi Osaka fan or a Megan Rapinoe-worshiping soccer lover, this list will have a podcast that’s right up your alley and touches on whatever fandom you belong to.

podcasts.apple.com

Best New Podcast: Earnin' It

Earnin’ It only debuted a few months ago, but its content is fresh and fierce. The podcast follows the women of the NFL and shares the stories of their successes both on and off the field as coaches, officials, and more. You’ll hear not only from the women themselves but also NFL players, coaches, and owners. So far, episodes have included important figures like Sarah Thomas, the first woman to officiate a Super Bowl, and Roger Goodell, the commissioner of the NFL since 2006.

podcasts.apple.com

Best Gymnastics Podcast: GymCastic: The Gymnastics Podcast

GymCastic follows everything in the world of gymnastics at both the collegiate and professional levels. This year, the show did immediate reaction episodes to the Olympics as well as the World Championships, which offered listeners a chance to get caught up to speed on the latest results as well as hear about how their favorite gymnasts were performing. GymCastic also produces fun history lesson episodes including a recent episode on the history of Romanian gymnastics and what makes their team so unique. Whether you have loved gymnastics forever or are just getting into the sport, this approachable podcast is informative, fun, and easy to listen to.

podcasts.apple.com

Best for Tennis Fans: The Body Serve

The Body Serve takes what you think you know about tennis and spins it on its head. This playful and hilarious podcast takes a sport that is usually perceived as quiet and serious and makes it a total party. Done in casual conversation rather than in an overly organised manner, The Body Serve truly feels like you’re listening to your buddies talk about their favourite players. Hosts Jonathan and James don’t claim to be experts, and they freely share their intense biases toward their favourite players, but that’s what is so charming about this podcast. It’s not attempting to be clinical and is instead offering a perfect listening experience for those who love watching the sport and want to hear more about it from fellow fans.

podcasts.apple.com

Best for Men's Basketball: Pull Up with CJ McCollum

Pull Up with CJ McCollum is hosted by, of course, CJ McCollum, a star player for the Portland Trail Blazers and a former journalism student. McCollum’s unique experience as a current NBA player and someone with journalistic education creates a dynamic host who is able to speak thoughtfully about current news within the NBA. McCollum’s episodes cover current pressing matters within the basketball world from key games to player suspensions. He does not shy away from sharing his own struggles as an active player and focuses on being honest with his listeners.

podcasts.apple.com

Best for Professional Football: The Mina Kimes Show

The Mina Kimes Show is perfect for football lovers everywhere. Kimes is a senior writer for ESPN and serves as an NFL analyst on NFL Live, so she is incredibly well-versed in current news concerning professional football. Not only is she educated and insightful, but her dog occasionally joins to podcast for those who might be lured in by canine guests. Kimes’ podcast focuses on current teams and how they are performing within the season. She speaks freely about which teams are excelling and which are disappointing – there is no sugarcoating. Often, Kimes is joined by guests who are also key figures in NFL reporting, so there is always thoughtful conversations to be had.

podcasts.apple.com

Best for College Football: Inside the Garage

Inside the Garage is a unique podcast hosted by four current football players at the University of Notre Dame. Fighting Irish teammates Kyle Hamilton, Cam Hart, KJ Wallace, and Conor Ratigan give an insightful look into the lives of current student athletes and how they balance the pressures of athletics and academics. Additionally, they speak honestly about how they are feeling about upcoming match-ups within their season and future Bowl games. The group is candid about their thoughts on coaching changes, rivalry matchups, and more, and they truly make listeners feel as though they’re part of the Fighting Irish, too.

podcasts.apple.com

Best for Hockey: Everything but Hockey

Everything but Hockey is a unique hockey podcast made by the Philadelphia Flyers about everything BUT hockey. This means that host Andrea Helfrich interviews the players of the team that fans know and love about everything beyond the game. This special podcast is perfect for fans who want to learn more about the lives of the players they root for rather than more about the technical aspects of recent games. In the most recent episode, Helfrich interviewed legendary player Danny Briere who has won four gold medals with Team Canada.

podcasts.apple.com

Best for Interviews: Laughter Permitted with Julie Foudy

Hosted by beloved soccer player Julie Foudy, Laughter Permitted focuses on interviewing famous athletes, coaches, sports journalists, and more. Its inspiring episodes focus on women in sports and their journeys to the top of their respective sports. Recent interviewees include WNBA player Sue Bird, tennis champion Venus Williams, and soccer star Abby Wambach. Foudy’s thoughtful interviews mean that you’ll always be learning something new about your favourite athletes, and as the title suggests, laughing along the way.

podcasts.apple.com / rekayaus

Best Multi-Sport Podcast: Black Girls Talk Sports

Black Girls Talk Sports is no one-trick pony. This podcast is put on by true sports fans, and it covers a wide breadth of different athletics. Recent episodes range from learning about Black women who defined tennis to a behind-the-scenes look at Ivy League football. The hosts even made an episode to help listeners figure out what holiday and birthday gifts to buy the fellow sports fans in their lives. If you love the WNBA, the NFL, or college football, the hosts of Black Girls Talk Sports have got your back with their incredible catalog of episodes.

podcasts.apple.com

Best Track and Field Podcast: Keeping Track

Keeping Track is hosted by Alysia Montaño, Molly Huddle and Roisin McGettigan, three badass Olympians from two different countries. With a passion for creating more media coverage of women’s athletics, these three hosts interview athletes across several sports, but they keep their focus on the world of track and field. Recently, they interviewed a medalist from the Boston Marathon as well as Olympians from Tokyo 2020. In addition to reporting on recent news in track and field, the hosts also get candid about motherhood, retirement, and more for their listeners.

podcasts.apple.com

Best Soccer Podcast: Attacking Third

Attacking Third is a soccer podcast from CBS Sports that covers all things in the world of professional women’s soccer. Hosted by Sandra Herrera and Lisa Roman, this podcast previews and recaps games so listeners are always informed about what has just happened and what is coming in the realm of women’s soccer. Beyond game recaps, highlights, and predictions, Herrera and Roman conduct interviews with noteworthy people within the soccer community, including former NWSL player and Just Women’s Sports CEO Haley Rosen.

podcasts.apple.com

Best NASCAR Podcast: The Racing Writer's Podcast

The Racing Writer’s Podcast is hosted by Racer Magazine‘s Kelly Crandall. Crandall tells incredible stories and shares interviews with drivers and other notable NASCAR personalities. She shares stories about men’s and women’s racing, and has interviewed a number of drivers including Krista Baldwin and Kip Childress. The podcast dives into the nitty gritty details on how to be a good racer and also not often thought about topics like what drivers do during rain delays to keep focused. This podcast focuses on the technique required to be a good racer, so it’s perfect for listeners who love competition.

podcasts.apple.com

Best WNBA Podcast: Tea with A and Phee

Tea with A and Phee is hosted by WNBA All-Stars A’ja Wilson and Napheesa Collier. While the hosts mainly focus on what is going on within the world of the WNBA, they also talk about pop culture and other passions of theirs. Most recently, the two women spoke about the future of the WNBA, both sharing changes they’d like to see as the league continues to grow. The two also interview other noteworthy athletes, including an episode with Denver Nuggets star Michael Porter Jr. who was Phee’s childhood friend. This podcast is great for those who love basketball, are interested in following the WNBA, and prefer a podcast with a more conversational, friendly vibe.

podcasts.apple.com

Best for Swimming: The SwimSwam Podcast

The SwimSwam Podcast is an in-depth swimming podcast that interviews a plethora of stars from the sport that hail from all across the world. Listeners can enjoy conversations anchored by hosts Melvin Stewart and Coleman Hodges about famous swimmers, rising stars, and iconic races from past and present. The pod tackles the ins and outs of professional swimming while also diving into the world of collegiate competitions as well.

podcasts.apple.com

Best Women's Sports-Focused Podcast: Just Women's Sports

Just Women’s Sports is hosted by two-time World Cup champ and Olympic gold medalist Kelley O’Hara. O’Hara sits down with famous athletes of today and yesterday to converse about the untold triumphs and tragedies behind their great successes. Listeners can enjoy hearing from Olympians, MVPs, and newcomers alike. If you’re interested in learning about the lifestyles and mindsets of the world’s best athletes, this intimate podcast is for you. Recent interview subjects include Olympic volleyball player Alix Klineman and all-time leading goalscorer in US Soccer History, Abby Wambach.

Recent Posts

Exit mobile version