The Varsity cover art
Podcast · 140 episodes

The Varsity, page 6

by Puck | Audacy · English

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.

All episodes, page 6

Roger Goodell’s Justice LeagueNFL season preview focused on off-field issues and business/media power shifts, including an NFL player suspension timing dispute (Rasheed Rice), the NFL’s potential 10% ownership stake in ESPN, and…27 Aug 2025 · 52 min · 17 chapters
College Football Embraces the CrazyCollege football’s off-field “chaos” in 2024—NIL/revenue sharing, transfer portal rules, playoff expansion, conference realignment, and governance/enforcement—plus a business angle on pregame-show…24 Aug 2025 · 59 min · 20 chapters
Yahoo’s Big Sports PlayRyan Spoon (Yahoo Media Group president) explains Yahoo’s launch of the Yahoo Sports Network, an ad-supported FAST streaming TV channel, and ties it to the broader shift from cable bundles to…20 Aug 2025 · 41 min · 13 chapters
Does Baseball Need a Salary Cap?Whether Major League Baseball needs a salary cap, how it would affect labor talks, and the risk of a work stoppage around the next CBA; plus a related NFLPA internal-leadership controversy.17 Aug 2025 · 1 h · 17 chapters
A Sports Rights Royal RumbleTwo-week shakeup in legacy sports media rights ahead of the NFL season, focusing on an NFL-ESPN ownership/distribution deal and broader streaming/bundling trends; plus a separate Nevada Supreme Court…13 Aug 2025 · 33 min · 9 chapters
Josh Pate Gets DraftedJosh Pate announces his college football show’s new distribution partnership with Yahoo Sports and On3, and discusses college football’s media/business landscape amid conference realignment and…10 Aug 2025 · 44 min · 10 chapters
Nick Khan on the WWE-ESPN DealWWE’s new multi-year media rights deal with ESPN/Disney for 10 WWE Premium Live Events (PLEs), starting in 2026, shifting PLE streaming from Peacock to ESPN’s direct-to-consumer “flagship” app.6 Aug 2025 · 34 min · 10 chapters
A Sports Legend’s Second ActSally Jenkins’ departure from The Washington Post for The Atlantic, framed as a newsroom “reset” and a pivot toward video/audio/social, plus sports-media and sports-business trends (Fox owning stakes…3 Aug 2025 · 51 min · 18 chapters
The Art of the Sports CollectibleThe episode explains how sports collectibles have become a professional, auction-driven “cultural property” market—covering why demand is rising, how authenticity and grading create liquidity, and…30 Jul 2025 · 49 min · 16 chapters
A Major NFLPA FumbleThe resignation of NFLPA executive director Lloyd Howell and how his two-year tenure’s alleged secrecy, conflicts, and misconduct may derail upcoming NFL labor negotiations, including whether the…27 Jul 2025 · 48 min · 15 chapters
The Dark Art of Stadium FinancingJohn Ourand, Puck Sports Correspondent23 Jul 2025 · 48 min
Michael Nathanson’s Sports Media Pulse CheckFuture of sports media amid cord-cutting and streaming; RSN viewership trends; CBS canceling Stephen Colbert; Netflix earnings and “eventizing” sports; NFL rights negotiations; ESPN’s upcoming…20 Jul 2025 · 50 min · 18 chapters
Dude, Where’s My NASCAR?NASCAR’s media-rights rollout and growth strategy, including streaming/broadcast performance, audience demographics, accessibility vs.16 Jul 2025 · 52 min · 19 chapters
Matt Berry’s Real Life Sports FantasyMatt Berry (Matthew Berry) discusses how he raised $7M for his fantasy sports startup Fantasy Life, why investors backed him, and how Fantasy Life monetizes fantasy via a newsletter, ad-supported…13 Jul 2025 · 1 h · 18 chapters
Here Come the Robo Umps…The episode connects college football’s playoff expansion disputes with how AI is entering sports—especially the reliability/definition problems—while debating AI regulation, workforce fears, and…9 Jul 2025 · 45 min · 16 chapters
The Caitlin Clark EffectChristine Brennan discusses “The Caitlin Clark Effect,” arguing the WNBA was unprepared for Caitlin Clark’s arrival—despite record-breaking TV interest—and explores league missteps, on-court…6 Jul 2025 · 59 min · 16 chapters
A College Football Power Grab & CBS Sports on EdgeCollege football playoff power dynamics (Big Ten/SEC pushing for automatic bids), the likely settlement of Trump vs.2 Jul 2025 · 35 min · 13 chapters
The NFL Owners Summit & More Belichick BluesInsights from the recent NFL owners meetings in Minnesota, discussions about Wickersham's upcoming book "American Kings: A Biography of the Quarterback," and the current situation surrounding Bill…28 May 2025 · 42 min
Can IndyCar Go Global?Eric Shanks, CEO and Executive Producer of Fox Sports18 May 2025 · 41 min
Introducing: Aspire with Emma GredeJohn Ourand and rotating industry insiders13 May 2025 · 3 min