Five Best Sports Podcasts Of 2024

 2024 was a new epoch in sports podcasting for one reason -- the growth of women's sports podcasts. We saw the formation of the Women’s Sports Audio Network, which will spotlight and celebrate the athletes who move, entertain and inspire in the game and in their personal lives, with hosts including hockey stars Madison Packer and Anya Packer, tennis Grand Slam winner Rennae Stubbs, WNBA legend Sheryl Swoopes, and golf media personality Tisha Alyn, as well as revered personalities Khristina Williams and Sarah Spain. 

 The Athletic Relaunched the Full Time with Meg Linehan Podcast, covering USWNT, NWSL and more.  

Jemele Hill returned in a new podcast, SPOLITICS, which will feature sharp commentary, in-depth discussions and pressing conversations with athletes, prominent sports figures and politicians including sports personality Dan Le Batard, Former NFL player Lesean McCoy, Michigan Lt. Gov Garlin Gilchrist, Reddit founder Alexis Ohanian and more. Each week, Hill will tackle topics such as immigration, reproductive rights, affordable housing and gender equity.

  A good sports podcast does not recreate the sports bar or locker room in language, attitude or intelligence level. If you want to hear crazy sports talk, head down to the nearest sports bar. Sports audio or video journalism is too often all loud voices, anger released fire hose style, and sports insights that are designed to offend.

As I've mentioned before, Ear Worthy uses a panel of people from around the U.S., from Texas to California, New Jersey to Oregon, and Alabama to New Hampshire. Also, we do not choose the low-hanging fruit of podcasts with high visibility because of marketing by their podcast network. Just because a podcast has thousands of downloads does not make it a quality, ear-worthy show.

 In no particular order, here are Ear Worthy's Five Sports Podcasts of 2024.

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   Hang Up And Listen

Slate podcasts are, as a rule, a cut above iHeart, Spotify, and Wondery podcasts. These intelligence-inflected podcasts are often designed to spur thinking, reflection, and self-awareness. That rule applies to the Hang Up And Listen podcast with hosts, Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin, who excel as quieter, more perceptive versions of Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless.

The show covers the requisite sports topics of the week. What makes this podcast so remarkable is the show's instinct to make listeners think about the covered topic, instead of telling listeners what the hosts think and demanding that listeners then support the ideological line. 

What the three co-hosts accomplish every episode is to remind listeners that, while sports can be a metaphor for life, it's still an entertainment medium. Even more impressive is the show's resistance to either lionize or demonize athletes in sports. Instead, the show reserves its opprobrium for the self-indulgent, narcissistic owners of team sports and parent organizations of individual sports. 

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Ross Tucker Football Podcast

Ross Tucker is a former offensive lineman whose career was cut short by a serious neck injury in 2007. He's a Princeton graduate and has done multiple jobs in football journalism since his retirement. 

His show -- Ross Tucker Football Podcast -- broadcasts throughout the year with reviews of the NFL draft by position, forecasts about the upcoming season, and guest interviews that sparkle.

Tucker doesn't offer his listeners the typical screaming retired football player with random opinions that are shouted and announced as fact. Instead, Tucker interviews people with more thoughtful, nuanced positions, such as journalist Gary Myers, math wizard Steve Fezzik, and insightful interviews with current players. 

However, Tucker's ace in the hole is ESPN's NFL Matchup producer and analyst Greg Cosell. Unlike some analysts, Cosell is not loud, controversial and is often quite bland. But his devotion to watching game films and explaining the intricacies of the game to listeners makes him a unique repository of knowledge for those who really want to understand how NFL football is played.

What to know about which teams use "12" personnel and why? Cosell will tell you on this podcast. (12 personnel means that there is one running back, two tight ends, and two receivers on the field.) When Cosell explains the two deep safety shell (The two deep safeties divide the field in half and work over the top of the five underneath players.) you'll understand why some quarterbacks have a hard time exploiting that defense. Cosell is ideal for the fan who wants to know why his team is winning or losing, and not for the fan who wants to blame the referees for everything.

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The Rich Eisen Show

The Rich Eisen Show provides a mix of sports news, interviews with athletes and celebrities, and lively discussions on current events in the sports world. Eisen brings his extensive knowledge and experience to the show, engaging with guests and offering insightful analysis. The show covers a wide range of sports topics, including football, basketball, baseball, and more.

The show has a similar format to most sports podcasts, but it's Eisen that stands out. He's smart, and can be smart-alecky but with a restraint that tells listeners he's a thinking man, not a drinking man. Eisen handles interviews with ease, and always inserts reflective musing, attentive skepticism, and that awareness that he's discussing sports, not life or death conundrums.

Finally, Eisen may have the only spouse who is always an incredible sports podcaster, Suzy Shuster. (What The Football with Amy Trask).

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 The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz

From the Elser Hotel in Downtown Miami, Dan Le Batard, Stugotz and company share their unique perspectives on all-things sports, pop-culture and more.

This is the place for original content from Le Batard and Stugotz, including the daily “Local Hour” generally focusing on the South Florida scene, the Big Suey, and a few more surprises along the way.

Le Batard worked at ESPN, and for his hometown paper, the Miami Herald, for which he wrote from 1990 to 2016. Le Batard was a frequent contributor to many programs on the ESPN television network. Among others, he was a recurring guest on Outside the Lines, The Sports Reporters, and College GameDay. He also was a regular guest host of Pardon the Interruption. In December 2020, Le Batard announced that he would be leaving ESPN, effective January 4, 2021.

Le Batard prides himself on being the "uncomfortable" sports journalist. He often writes about controversial topics, especially race.

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The Right Time with Bomani Jones

 Any time is the right time to listen to The Right Time with Bomani Jones. In an industry that’s prone to groupthink, Bomani stands out as a rather smart and unique voice.

The show is known for mixing intelligent sports commentary with topics like race, economics, and tech. All this is enhanced by the hilarious storytelling from both his personal life and his audience’s voicemails.

 Listen to the podcast if you’re interested in the intersection of sports and social issues.

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If there is an "in memoriam" award for sports podcast, it has to go to Only A Game on WBUR for 27 years. It's the GOAT of all sports podcasts.  Hall Of Fame awards go to host Bill Littlefield, correspondent Charlie Pierce and producer Karen Given. Check out the archives here.