The Varsity

Latest Episodes:

UFC's White House Fright Night Jun 14, 2026

Show notes

John sits down with Axios media correspondent Sara Fischer to discuss the throw down set for next Sunday on the White House lawn. They discuss the press access issues and the potential growth opportunities for the UFC. The pair also chat about the brands flocking to F1's Apple era, and the Murdoch vs. NFL leverage war playing out on Capitol Hill.

YouTube’s NFL Discipline & NFL Partner Math Jun 10, 2026

Show notes

Rich Greenfield, the LightShed partner and sports guru, joins John to weigh in on the looming NFL rights renegotiation bonanza: who wins, who blinks first, and why the league still has all the leverage in the post-cord-cutting era.

Full Court Press! Jun 07, 2026

Show notes

Puck legal guru Eriq Gardner joins John Ourand to explain how Capitol Hill and a veritable army of lawyers are reshaping college athletics: the fight over the Sports Broadcasting Act, the usual NIL mishegas, the Sunday Ticket time bomb, and much more.

Burke Magnus’s ESPN Wish List Jun 03, 2026

Show notes

ESPN head of content Burke Magnus joins John to discuss what's working for the network and what's in store. They chat about Inside the NBA, the state of the NBA booth, the NFL Network acquisition, and what it takes to draw younger audiences in through digital and social. They also discuss the MLB.tv experiment, and Magnus reveals what's still on his wish list for the network.

Is the U.S. Ready for the World Cup? May 31, 2026

Show notes

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 starts with youth development, college soccer, and the communities that support them.

In Defense of Apple’s Crazy F1 Math May 27, 2026

Show notes

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.

The Beautiful (iPhone) Game May 24, 2026

Show notes

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 pricing, immigration concerns, and stadium occupancy will significantly impact the event. Finally, they discuss Netflix’s acquisition of the Women's World Cup.

Super Bowl or Bust May 20, 2026

Show notes

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 why there’s still nothing that beats the Super Bowl.

Any Given Wednesday May 17, 2026

Show notes

UTA Sports chief Jerry Silbowitz joins John to discuss the newly released 2026 NFL schedule, including the league's experimentation with games on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, Saturdays in December, and a whopping nine games abroad. Then they turn to the rise of talent-led IP—like Dave Portnoy's Barstool—and the impact of the creator economy on sports media.

Pro Sports’ Private Equity Pickle May 13, 2026

Show notes

Jason Stein, the sports investor and indefatigable pickleball advocate, joins John to discuss the flow of private equity into sports at all levels, the commercialization of the NCAA, the future of youth sports…. and Apollo’s $225 million investment in Pickleball Inc.

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