Sportly Podcast: Beyond The Playing Field

 When is a sports podcast not a sports podcast? When the podcast doesn't cover what's happening when and where the sport is played, but focuses on how the sport began, gained popularity and its impact on our society and culture. 

That's Sportly. 

 The producers of the show, Immigrantly Media say: "Embark on a unique exploration of the world of sports with Sportly, a dynamic podcast by that transcends the typical focus on scoreboards and statistics. Join our host, Kavitha A. Davidson, an Emmy award-winning sports journalist, on a journey through the intriguing narratives that underpin the games we adore, from iconic moments to lesser-known treasures."

It's an accurate boast.

Each episode goes beyond the superficial, delving into the lives of legendary athletes, the cultural impact of sports, and the untold stories that shape the very nature of competition. Whether it's the challenges immigrants face shattering barriers or the victories that bring nations together, we reveal the human aspect of sports in a way that’s never been done before. From the court to the field, the arena to the pitch, Sportly promises to deliver captivating conversations that inspire and enlighten.

The show's host is Kavitha Davidson, who is eminently qualified to host Sportly.

Kavitha A. Davidson is a sportswriter and was the host of The Lead, an in-depth daily sports news podcast produced by The Athletic. Before that, she was a columnist at ESPN and Bloomberg, focusing on the intersection of sports and business, culture, race, and gender. Her work has also been published in Rolling Stone, The Guardian, and NBC News THINK, and has been noted in Best American Sports Writing. She has appeared on SportsCenter, Outside the Lines, CBS, CNN, and MSNBC. She currently sits on the Board of Directors of the Yogi Berra Museum. She is also the co-author of Loving Sports When They Don't Love You Back.

About the show, Davidson explains: "We'll dive into sports from a different angle and go beyond the stats and numbers."

Davidson also notes that the show "goes beyond the way we see ourselves in sports."

The show, which began in June 2024, averages a comfortable 33 minutes an episode, and Davidson excels as a host and purveyor of sports as a cipher for our collective consciousness.

My favorite episodes include a much-needed explanation (At least for U.S. audiences) why cricket is so popular, the evolution of pickleball from a game developed by one family into a national phenomenon, and an August 2024 show with guest sports journalist Jessica Luther discussing sex and gender roles in sports.

The December 2024 episode about cheerleading was a highlight of the show. Cheerleading is more than just glitter and pom poms—it's a high-stakes blend of gymnastics, dance, and raw athleticism. On that episode, Davidson exposed the world of professional cheerleading, focusing on the NFL's squads. From the glamorous spotlight of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders to troubling abuse accusations, Kavitha Davidson delved into how cheerleading can be both empowering and exploitative based on intent. 

It's fair to say that Sportly may not appeal to the local sports talk radio fans who obsess over unlikely trades, trash their hometown athletes who are in a slump, or demonize the opponents. 

 Check out Sportly. It's sports for listeners who understand that sports is often an indicator of major political, societal and cultural trends.