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The Varsity — News
The Varsity

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 Sunday.

Copyright: © Heat Media LLC All Rights Reserved.

Latest Episodes:

The Future of ESPN May 10, 2026

Show notes

Business Insider’s Peter Kafka joins John for a deep dive into ESPN’s effect on Disney’s bottom line. Kafka explains why Disney chief Josh D’Amaro ultimately decided against spinning ESPN into a separate company and looks into what needs to happen for his position to change. The two also highlight the new creator economy in sports media and handicap what’s likely to happen during the NFL’s media rights negotiations.

Is the Next Great American Sports League… Lacrosse? May 06, 2026

Show notes

Paul Rabil, co-founder of the Premier Lacrosse League, joins John for a candid chat about the challenges of carving out space in today’s overcrowded sports media landscape. They dig into the essential changes the league is implementing this upcoming season, its rights deal with ESPN, and an exciting women’s league launch slated for this year—including the budding superstar Rabil believes could transcend the sport, á la Caitlin Clark. Rabil also looks ahead to LA28 and shares what he’s learned about building a league with genuine staying power.

LIV to Die? May 03, 2026

Show notes

Joe House and Nathan Hubbard, hosts of The Ringer’s Fairway Rollin podcast, join John to weigh in on LIV Golf’s strategic misfires, from its combative marketing to its Saudi entanglements, which they suggest ultimately undercut the golf startup’s lofty ambitions. They also discuss PGA Tour’s ratings rebounds, the potential return of LIV players to PGA, the future of TGL, and more.

Introducing Family Lore May 01, 2026

Show notes

Family Lore is a weekly narrative podcast that celebrates and investigates ancestral mystique. Each episode begins with a guest sharing a fascinating family legend, followed by a historical deep-dive to uncover the truth and meaning behind the tale. Available now: https://link.pscrb.fm/f0281/FLFD

The NFL’s Media Monopoly Apr 29, 2026

Show notes

Guggenheim Securities analyst Mike Morris rejoins the pod to assess how the negotiating table has shifted for the Shield and its media partners over the past few months, YouTube’s deepening relationship with the NFL, Amazon’s football fantasy, and how the league has transformed the sports rights landscape writ large.

This show is brought to you by the Sports Betting Alliance, advocating for
regulated, responsible, and legal online sports betting. Learn more at
sportsbettingalliance.org.

Who Won NFL Draft Weekend? Apr 26, 2026

Show notes

Andrew Marchand joins John to recap the NFL Draft—and which broadcasters won the weekend, from ESPN and ABC to NFL Network and Pat McAfee. They also explore the growing political scrutiny surrounding the league, Mike Tomlin’s move into media with NBC, how NFL Network could evolve under ESPN, and more.

This show is brought to you by the Sports Betting Alliance, advocating for
regulated, responsible, and legal online sports betting. Learn more at
sportsbettingalliance.org.

NBC Sports’ Survival Strategy Apr 22, 2026

Show notes

Live from the National Association of Broadcasters Show in Las Vegas, top NBC exec Jon Miller joins John for a candid conversation about his network’s strategy for competing with trillion-dollar, sports-hungry streamers. He also discusses why MLB left money on the table to partner with NBC, whether the sports rights bubble is real, where Peacock fits in NBC’s bigger picture, and much more.

This show is brought to you by the Sports Betting Alliance, advocating for
regulated, responsible, and legal online sports betting. Learn more at
sportsbettingalliance.org.

The NFL’s Draft Day Fantasy Apr 19, 2026

Show notes

NBC Sports’ Matthew Berry joins John to discuss this week’s NFL Draft through a fantasy football lens—and what to watch for when the picks start rolling in. They also dig into ESPN’s acquisition of NFL Network and what fans should expect from the programming. The NFL’s media rights negotiations come into focus too, along with a bigger picture conversation about the evolution—and future—of fantasy sports.

This show is brought to you by the Sports Betting Alliance, advocating for
regulated, responsible, and legal online sports betting. Learn more at
sportsbettingalliance.org.

The Athletic’s Russini-Vrabel Stress Test Apr 15, 2026

Show notes

Dylan Byers joins John to parse the Diana Russini–Mike Vrabel scandal, and shed light on the tensions it has exposed between The New York Times and The Athletic. Dylan breaks down the Times’ internal investigation, The Athletic’s initial defensive posture, and what the episode reveals about the ongoing challenges of integrating the two newsrooms.

This show is brought to you by the Sports Betting Alliance, advocating for
regulated, responsible, and legal online sports betting. Learn more at
sportsbettingalliance.org.

The NFL’s Cracked Shield Apr 12, 2026

Show notes

Michael Nathanson rejoins the pod to discuss what the NFL must do to lock in its next round of media deals ahead of September’s kickoff—and what’s at stake if it doesn’t. They also examine the potential ripple effects of the D.O.J.’s latest investigation, which Michael says could spell more trouble for broadcasters than for the NFL itself. Plus, Michael explains why he believes the sports media landscape writ large is as strong as it’s ever been.

This show is brought to you by the Sports Betting Alliance, advocating for
regulated, responsible, and legal online sports betting. Learn more at
sportsbettingalliance.org.

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