The Varsity

Latest Episodes:

How Much NFL Is Too Much? Apr 08, 2026

Show notes

NBC Sports’s Mike Florio joins John to tackle the most pressing questions facing the NFL as it stares down a highly consequential offseason—from looming media rights negotiations and the potential loss of its antitrust exemption to referee labor talks, the continued push for an 18-game schedule, the league’s expanding appetite for marquee midweek games, 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.

Mashburn’s N.I.L. Market Theory Apr 05, 2026

Show notes

Kentucky Wildcat legend and former NBA veteran Jamal Mashburn joins John to break down the strange duality of college basketball, where the business is increasingly chaotic but the on-court product has arguably never looked better. He explains how mid-majors can navigate the N.I.L. maze, emphasizes the growing premium on education and career development for student-athletes, and reflects on how his own playing career laid the groundwork for his second act as an entrepreneur.

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.

Reinventing America’s Favorite Pastime Apr 01, 2026

Show notes

ESPN’s Jeff Passan joins John to break down the sweeping changes reshaping MLB—from the new robo umps to the ripple effects of the pitch clock. They also discuss Netflix’s MLB debut and baseball’s evolving streaming future, the global momentum of the World Baseball Classic, whether Olympic participation is finally within reach, and much more.

ESPNW’s Growth Engine Mar 29, 2026

Show notes

Top ESPN exec Susie Piotrkowski joins John to talk about the explosion of women’s sports, from the surging popularity of the WNBA and women’s college basketball to the growing reach of the NWSL. She also dives deep into ESPN’s push to mainstream the category, including the launch of “Women’s Sports Sundays” this summer—and discusses how stars like Trinity Rodman and Caitlin Clark are accelerating the shift. Twenty nations and territories will compete in the World Baseball Classic with rosters featuring 78 MLB All-Stars, the most ever. Learn more at ⁠WorldBaseballClassic.com⁠.

Presenting The Draymond Green Show | Draymond Green Versus Skip Bayless Mar 27, 2026

Show notes

On the Draymond Green Show, no topic is off limits. In this episode Draymond welcomes Skip Bayless to discuss Michael Jordan, Stephen A Smith, LeBron James, Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, and they debate whether or not Draymond is really the dirtiest player of all time.

Inside MLB’s Netflix Experiment Mar 25, 2026

Show notes

The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand joins John to break down the biggest media storylines shaping the MLB season—from its Netflix “experiment” to the future of the World Series and World Baseball Classic. They also dig into the NFL’s looming rights negotiations and whether the league is pushing too far with its ask, plus what the PSKY-WBD deal could mean for the future of March Madness.

How Broadcast Survives in a Netflix World Mar 22, 2026

Show notes

Curtis LeGeyt, C.E.O. of the National Association of Broadcasters, joins John to assess the future of local TV in a streaming-first world. He weighs in on the need for scale in competing with tech giants like Netflix and Amazon, scrutinizes the Tegna-Nexstar deal, argues for modernized regulations to keep broadcasters in the game, discusses the NAB’s role in defending the First Amendment—and much more. Twenty nations and territories will compete in the World Baseball Classic with rosters featuring 78 MLB All-Stars, the most ever. Learn more at ⁠WorldBaseballClassic.com⁠.

ESPN's Talent Whisperer Mar 18, 2026

Show notes

ESPN senior vice president Mike Foss joins John to spill the secrets on running the network’s studio shows, from SportsCenter to First Take to Get Up. He explains why The Pat McAfee Show is in a league of its own, how ESPN balances talent across different shows and platforms, their biggest digital headaches and opportunities, and much more. Plus, his take on why collaboration beats top-down management.

Twenty nations and territories will compete in the World Baseball Classic with rosters featuring 78 MLB All-Stars, the most ever. Learn more at ⁠WorldBaseballClassic.com⁠.

The NWSL’s Moneyball Moment Mar 15, 2026

Show notes

NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman joins John to preview the upcoming season as its 14th is set to kick off tomorrow. She dives deep into the league’s meteoric growth, rising attendance, and viewership records. She also sheds light on the league’s expansion plans, media rights deals, the logic behind its new “high-impact player rule,” and much more. Twenty nations and territories will compete in the World Baseball Classic with rosters featuring 78 MLB All-Stars, the most ever. Learn more at ⁠WorldBaseballClassic.com⁠.

An Ex Cable Cowboy on the Future of Sports Mar 11, 2026

Show notes

David Levy, the former Turner Networks prez turned sports marketing exec, joins John to chart the evolution of the industry, the streaming rights arms race, and the surprising implications of the Paramount Skydance–WBD deal. Then the guys chat about a potential CBS–Turner Sports merger and why women’s sports are primed for explosive growth. Twenty nations and territories will compete in the World Baseball Classic with rosters featuring 78 MLB All-Stars, the most ever. Learn more at ⁠WorldBaseballClassic.com⁠.

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