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The Varsity

Puck | Audacy
ESPN
NBC
NBA
NFL
Olympics
Tom Brady
WNBA
Lacrosse
Sports Media
Paris
Streaming Services
Cable Bundles
Premier Lacrosse League
Leadership Quality
Snoop Dogg
Directv
Warner Brothers Discovery
WSC Sports
Beijing
Tokyo

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 ... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes141Foundeda year ago
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Latest Episodes

Puck superfriends Julia Alexander, Eriq Gardner, and Dylan Byers reunite with John to debate the sports-media class of the year: David Ellison muscling into the rights wars, Pat McAfee cementing himself as the on-air talent north star, and the rest o... more

MLS commissioner Don Garber joins John live from the University of Maryland’s Povich Symposium to chart the league’s MLS 3.0 blueprint. They discuss MLS’s rising fortunes, including its $21 billion collective valuation, and dig into the much-scrutini... more

It’s been 20 years since How I Met Your Mother premiered, and just over 10 years since the finale. Josh Radnor, who played “Ted” for nine seasons teams up with series co-creator Craig Thomas for this episode-by-episode rewatch podcast. For the superf... more

Puck superfriends Julia Alexander, Eriq Gardner, Dylan Byers, and John convene for a rollicking debrief of the most pressing sports media plot lines of 2025: YouTube’s unstoppable march toward inevitability, Netflix’s bold leap into live sports, the ... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
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Number of Listeners
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Recent Guests

Don Garber
Longtime commissioner of Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Episode: The MLS 3.0 Blueprint
Joe Manganiello
Actor known for roles in Magic Mike and True Blood
Episode: Introducing How We Made Your Mother Season 2!
Bryan Cranston
Actor known for his roles in Breaking Bad and How I Met Your Mother
Episode: Introducing How We Made Your Mother Season 2!
Steve Bornstein
Former President of ESPN and NFL Media, key figure in NFL media rights negotiations.
NFL, ESPN
Episode: Steve Bornstein’s NFL Gospel
Hans Schroeder
The NFL's top media executive and a veteran in NFL media deals.
NFL
Episode: Hans Schroeder’s NFL Media Huddle
Michael Rubin
Founder of Fanatics, known for transforming the sports merchandise industry.
Fanatics
Episode: Rubin’s Fanatics Formula
Josh Harris
Founder of Harris Blitzer Sports and Entertainment, owner of the Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Devils, and Washington Commanders.
Harris Blitzer Sports and Entertainment
Episode: The Josh Harris Owner’s Manual
Ken Belson
Longtime sports business reporter for The New York Times and author of "Every Day is Sunday".
The New York Times
Episode: Is the NFL Unstoppable?
Greg Wyshynski
A sports journalist and NHL insider
Puck
Episode: NHL Rinkside Revelations

Host

John Ourand
Host and sports correspondent known for in-depth analysis and coverage of the sports business industry, engaging with various executives and insiders.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 92 ratings
  • Not Interested

    John we aren’t interested in hearing anti- Trump diatribes from your guests. CBS put their thumb on the scale with the KH interview

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    SamimSissel
    United States7 months ago
  • Eamon Lynch was great

    I recently enjoyed your podcast with Eamon Lynch. It gave me a better understanding of what is going on with the PGA tour and LIV golf right now. You do a great job as I have enjoyed your podcast going back to the first one. It is one of my favorite ones to listen to each week.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    mattmanfan
    United States9 months ago
  • Netflix

    Didn’t the first game start 2 hours late? 1pm start time pushed to just before 3pm?!

    Great pod.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    LBJ503
    United Statesa year ago
  • Good sports media podcast. I enjoyed John's prior podcast that he did with Andrew Marchand prior to joining Puck. Good long form interviews.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    EricNC
    a year ago
  • What a rolodex!

    Everybody who’s anybody in sports business seems to come on this podcast—commissioners, top media executives, well known personalities. And I can understand why. These are great interviews. Ourand started with Peyton Manning, and the guest quality hasn’t dropped one bit since.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sports Biz Fan
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some listeners express a desire for more balance in perspectives.
Engaging discussions that clarify complex industry topics.
"What a rolodex!" Great interviews with high-profile sports figures.
The host has a knack for extracting meaningful answers—superb interviews.
Offers valuable insights into sports media and business trends.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

College Football Gone Wild
Q: What does this private equity deal mean for schools like Maryland?
The Big Ten private equity deal could provide an immediate infusion of $110 million for schools like Maryland, which would help offset various financial stresses.
College Football Gone Wild
Q: Where are these changes going to be pushed from?
Changes in college sports may come from Congress, the SEC, and the Big Ten, but significant political pushback may delay them.
The MLS 3.0 Blueprint
Q: How big has Messi been for the league?
Messi has been huge for the league, bringing excitement and national attention, and he enjoys playing here for the right reasons.
The MLS 3.0 Blueprint
Q: MLS 3.0 seems to be coming from the league about sort of getting ready for the next stage of growth. What does that look like?
MLS 3.0 represents the next iteration of where the league needs to be, which includes innovations and alignment with international standards.
Matthew Berry’s Sports Media Crystal Ball
Q: How could federal involvement in sports betting affect the fantasy industry?
While there may be increased scrutiny, the fantasy industry is unlikely to be significantly affected as the stakes in fantasy do not match those in sports betting.

Audience Metrics

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Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Varsity

What is The Varsity about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The content focuses on the intersection of sports and media, featuring in-depth discussions on the evolving landscape of sports broadcasting, business strategies, and key players in the industry. Topics frequently explored include media rights negotiations, the impact of digital platforms on traditional broadcasting, and the dynamics of sports ownership and management. This engaging series stands out for its high-profile interviews with sports executives, former players, and media insiders, providing listeners with insider perspectives and valuable insights into the sports business sector.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Varsity?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Varsity. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Varsity and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Varsity get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The Varsity, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for The Varsity?

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How many subscribers and views does The Varsity have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Varsity has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Varsity?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Varsity:

1. The Sports Media Podcast
2. Sports Media with Richard Deitsch
3. SI Media With Jimmy Traina
4. The Powers That Be: Daily
5. The Grill Room

How many episodes of The Varsity are there?

The Varsity launched a year ago and published 141 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Varsity?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Varsity?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Varsity from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Varsity?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Varsity. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on The Varsity?

Recent guests on The Varsity include:

1. Don Garber
2. Joe Manganiello
3. Bryan Cranston
4. Steve Bornstein
5. Hans Schroeder
6. Michael Rubin
7. Josh Harris
8. Ken Belson

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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