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I Want to Be a Baseball (Jordan Shusterman’s Version)

On the Bleachers

Release Date: 11/13/2025

Hockey Work show art Hockey Work

On the Bleachers

We’re using sports to connect with the youth. A sports podcast through a pop culture lens. Culture critic and novelist and journalist and Scamfluencers senior producer discuss the results of NFL’s Divisional Round; Travis Kelce’s charity and aren’t all athlete charities a scam, really?; Fandom culture continues to crash into hockey culture, with mixed results; Russians are once again freelancers at the Olympics; and female millennial excellence is coming for the Olympic Games. Links: (The Arizona Republic) (ESPN) (Reddit) (Twitter) (Yahoo! Sports Canada) (NHL.com) ...

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Twice As Many Popes (Mike Golic Jr’s Version) show art Twice As Many Popes (Mike Golic Jr’s Version)

On the Bleachers

We are a bowling ball covered in knives. A sports podcast through a pop culture lens. Culture critic and novelist and journalist and Scamfluencers senior producer discuss Notre Dame’s college playoff snub and how the post-season teams are decided; Fernando Mendoza and the unreal story of the Indiana Hoosiers; we break down the NFL Wild Card weekend and look ahead to the divisional round.   Links: Mike Golic Jr’s daily TV show, Mike Golic Jr. on (Sports Illustrated) (NBC Sports) (The Athletic) (The Athletic) (ESPN) (ESPN) (Bill Snyder’s story on NCAA’s...

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Known Ball Knower show art Known Ball Knower

On the Bleachers

We’ll give you all our disagreements for free. A sports podcast through a pop culture lens. Culture critic and novelist and journalist and Scamfluencers senior producer discuss O Line Christmas gifts; NFL Narrative Fantasy final scores; the Sabres don’t suck?!; Kalshi, Polymarket, and commodifying every feeling or thought you’ve ever had; US Men’s Hockey snubs IRL Shane Hollander; Puka Nakua and Mookie Betts choose to spend their one precious life with Andrew Tate’s bestie; and Phillip Rivers continues to ride his unexpected renaissance. Links: (The Athletic) (ESPN) ...

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Heart, Mind, and Groin: Heated Rivalry Discussion (Patreon Teaser) show art Heart, Mind, and Groin: Heated Rivalry Discussion (Patreon Teaser)

On the Bleachers

Have we got the Patreon for you! A sports podcast through a pop culture lens. Culture critic and novelist and journalist and Scamfluencers senior producer discuss the backstory and first episode of HBO's new gay hockey show, Heated Rivalry.   Links:   (Patreon)

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Do You Dominate the Taco? show art Do You Dominate the Taco?

On the Bleachers

All civic duties should include good gossip. A sports podcast through a pop culture lens. Culture critic and novelist and journalist and Scamfluencers senior producer discuss the NASCAR settlement; Phillip Rivers’s return is Millennial Excellence; the NFL Narrative Fantasy Draft update; skyrocketing World Cup ticket prices; IOC seeks to ban trans athletes; the best and least popular PNWL player looks to beat the transphobe allegations; Lando Norris wins F1, experiences feelings.    Links: ! (ESPN) (The Athletic) (The Daily Mail) (Disney+) (TikTok) (The...

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Eat This Up, Clouted Ah Wrld show art Eat This Up, Clouted Ah Wrld

On the Bleachers

And we take that personally! A sports podcast through a pop culture lens. Culture critic and novelist and journalist and Scamfluencers senior producer discuss the FIFA peace prize; Trinity Rodman and NWSL’s self-own; Michael Jordan, text messages, and other drama from the NASCAR trial; reality stars on an alternate NFL broadcast; George Pickens goes off; Lane Kiffin quits, internet rejoices; and athletes getting hurt in all-too-human ways; an LPGA golfer is curing her anxiety with fantasy novels.   Links: (The New Yorker) (The Athletic) (The Athletic) (Defector) (SB...

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He’s a Ho And I Want That Known show art He’s a Ho And I Want That Known

On the Bleachers

We believe it could also always be better. A sports podcast through a pop culture lens. Culture critic and novelist and journalist and Scamfluencers senior producer discuss NFL narratives (Brosmer woes; shirtless locker room victory chants; Jauan Jennings gets what’s coming to him); a bald man solves a hair care crisis; people are packing stadiums for women’s hockey; get ready for pro women’s baseball; the gross right-wing incentives driving anti-trans athlete narratives; and a cyclist takes a stand. Links: (The New York Times) (NFL) (The Athletic) (Twitter) (ESPN) ...

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The Algorithm Giveth, The Algorithm Taketh Away (Arif Hasan's Version) show art The Algorithm Giveth, The Algorithm Taketh Away (Arif Hasan's Version)

On the Bleachers

We’ll find the romance. A sports podcast through a pop culture lens. Culture critic and novelist and journalist and Scamfluencers senior producer discuss MLB’s MVPs; more sports brothers with podcasts; the NBA’s mob ties; Nico is out in Dallas; YouTube TV and ESPN make up; and (57:00) we talk to Wide Left’s Arif Hasan about JJ “Nine” McCarthy and his future with the Vikings.   Links: (ESPN) () (Vanity Fair) (The Athletic) (True Hoop / Substack) (CBS Sports) (Front Office Sports) (Torched / Substack) (Awful Announcing) (Awful Announcing) (Cord...

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I Want to Be a Baseball (Jordan Shusterman’s Version) show art I Want to Be a Baseball (Jordan Shusterman’s Version)

On the Bleachers

We’ve got pucks in our pants A sports podcast through a pop culture lens. Culture critic and novelist and journalist and Scamfluencers senior producer discuss LAPD’s reaction to Dodgers fans celebrating doesn’t bode well for the big sports events the city is set to hold; Pitchers indicted in sports gambling scandal; a Narrative Fantasy update; Cooper Flagg learns about losing; transphobic op-ed roils the NWSL; Ovechkin scored 900 goals; and (51:20) we talk to Céspedes Family BBQ co-host Jordan Shusterman about how he picked the Mariners, covering this postseason, and how to occupy...

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Lads Being Bros show art Lads Being Bros

On the Bleachers

We also played in the 18-inning game! A sports podcast through a pop culture lens. Culture critic and novelist and journalist and Scamfluencers senior producer discuss the incredible end to the World Series and the continuation of the Drake curse; the ongoing Tyler Skaggs trial and what would it take to make an MLB owner sell; and are shirtless men at college football games curing the male loneliness epidemic?   Links: (MLB Glossary) (The Athletic) (Sports Illustrated) (The Los Angeles Times) (Yahoo! Sports) (The Athletic)

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More Episodes

We’ve got pucks in our pants A sports podcast through a pop culture lens. Culture critic and novelist Zan Romanoff and journalist and Scamfluencers senior producer Sarah Enni discuss LAPD’s reaction to Dodgers fans celebrating doesn’t bode well for the big sports events the city is set to hold; Pitchers indicted in sports gambling scandal; a Narrative Fantasy update; Cooper Flagg learns about losing; transphobic op-ed roils the NWSL; Ovechkin scored 900 goals; and (51:20) we talk to Céspedes Family BBQ co-host Jordan Shusterman about how he picked the Mariners, covering this postseason, and how to occupy our time in the off-season.

Links:

Winning Streak (Torched / Substack)

Bartenders and Innocent Bystanders Tear Gassed, Knocked Over By Horses, And Shot With ‘Rubber Bullets’ During World Series Night Celebrations (LA Taco)

Hiring Paul DePodesta is a Gamble the Rockies Couldn’t Afford to Make (Sports Illustrated)

Indictment of Emmanual Clase and Luis Ortiz (Justice Department)

If Pitches Are Fixed, Baseball is Broken (The Ringer)

MLB, sportsbooks agree to nationwide limit on pitch bets (ESPN)

Sources: Trump wants Commanders' new D.C. stadium named for him (ESPN)

Micah Parsons trade has 'poison pill' blocking future deal to Eagles (ESPN)

Jalen Ramsey is the Steelers' best cornerback. He might be their best safety at the moment, too (CBS Sports)

ESPN Personalities Grapple with Fallout Over Blackout (Front Office Sports)

The Ballad of the Fixed Fight (Sports Politika)

Cooper Flagg coping with Mavericks’ woes: ‘It’s the most I’ve lost since, I think, ever’ (The Athletic)

L.A. soccer stars blast teammate's 'racist and transphobic' op-ed calling for NWSL 'gender standards' (NBC Sports)

Alex Ovechkin continues to make history, becoming first NHL player to score 900 goals (The Athletic)

Jordan Binnington: I didn't intend to keep Alex Ovechkin 900th goal puck (ESPN)

Video of the attempted puck-stealing

Cespedes Family BBQ (Twitter)

Baseball Bar-B-Cast (Apple Podcasts)

Freddie Freeman Shows Up and Shows Out on the Dance Floor (YouTube)

Dodgers' World Series Tell-All with Mookie, Kershaw, Kiké Hernández, Will Smith and More | On Base (YouTube)

How the Mariners' Logan Gilbert and Cal Raleigh developed alongside each other into foundational pieces of the team's success (Yahoo! Sports)

Cal Raleigh and Mookie Betts on 'Big Dumper' Name, Ghosts & Play Guess the Pitcher | On Base, Ep. 26 (YouTube)