Sports Media with Richard Deitsch

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The Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch is a weekly show that features interviews with members of the sports media about their work, as well as roundtables with sports media reporters about television, digital, audio/radio, print, and other forms of media. You can read Richard’s work at The Athletic.

Recent Episodes
  • Sports Media Roundtable: Future changes to NBA Finals broadcast booth? Plus, TNT's coverage of the French Open
    Jun 10, 2025 – 34:13
  • Softball great Cat Osterman on The Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL)
    Jun 5, 2025 – 34:40
  • Sports Media Roundtable: Will the Thunder-Pacers and Oilers-Panthers draw your interest? Plus, Inside The NBA talk
    Jun 3, 2025 – 54:07
  • Kate Scott, lead host for CBS Sports and Paramount+’s Champions League coverage
    May 29, 2025 – 38:37
  • ESPN NBA play by play voice Mike Breen
    May 27, 2025 – 46:24
  • First Look: Mike Breen
    May 26, 2025 – 04:48
  • Author James Andrew Miller on the end of ESPN's Around the Horn — and where PTI is in 2025
    May 23, 2025 – 42:51
  • A roundtable with Donnovan Bennett and Jon Lewis on the 2025 NFL schedule and the WNBA season start
    May 19, 2025 – 49:03
  • Hans Schroeder, the NFL’s EVP for Media Distribution, on the 2025 NFL Schedule
    May 16, 2025 – 38:45
  • Front Office Sports women's sports reporter Annie Costabile previews the WNBA season and the growth of women's sports
    May 15, 2025 – 49:27
  • S.L. Price, on his new book, The American Game: History and Hope in the Country of Lacrosse
    May 13, 2025 – 38:09
  • Sports Media Watch's Jon Lewis
    May 9, 2025 – 28:08
  • NBC Sports host Ahmed Fareed, on filling in for an ailing Mike Tirico on the Kentucky Derby broadcast
    May 7, 2025 – 34:24
  • What happens to the NBA's popularity if LeBron James retires?
    May 5, 2025 – 39:25
  • Peter King
    May 1, 2025 – 48:39
  • NBC horse racing reporter Donna Brothers
    Apr 30, 2025 – 42:05
  • NBA reporter and host Cassidy Hubbarth
    Apr 28, 2025 – 58:07
  • Sports Media Roundtable with Jon Lewis of Sports Media Watch
    Apr 25, 2025 – 36:34
  • Meet The People Who Bring You The NFL Draft. The guests are Charlie Yook of The NFL Network and ESPN's Seth Markman
    Apr 22, 2025 – 55:16
  • The NBA's viewership story; MLB's Jackie Robinson miss
    Apr 16, 2025 – 43:00
  • Life after ESPN: The guest is Joon Lee
    Apr 14, 2025 – 46:40
  • Can Paige Bueckers get you to watch the WNBA Draft?
    Apr 11, 2025 – 35:59
  • Do You Still Care About The Masters?
    Apr 10, 2025 – 38:48
  • TNT Sports' Kenny Albert, on calling Alex Ovechkin's 895th career NHL goal, which eclipsed Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goals record
    Apr 7, 2025 – 38:39
  • Alex Bazzell, the president of Unrivaled Basketball, on the business of women's basketball
    Apr 2, 2025 – 40:34
  • Roundtable: LeBron James exposes the attention economy
    Mar 31, 2025 – 01:01:39
  • She coached Caitlin Clark at Iowa
    Mar 27, 2025 – 43:48
  • The rise of Scripps Sports, owner of ION, as a player in sports television
    Mar 25, 2025 – 42:33
  • Rebecca Lobo, Holly Rowe and Ryan Ruocco
    Mar 20, 2025 – 53:03
  • A Deep Dive On The Women's And Men's NCAA Tournaments
    Mar 19, 2025 – 43:19
  • Inside the Surging Business of Women's Sports
    Mar 17, 2025 – 30:37
  • Sports Media Roundtable: “Who’s the bigger name right now, Matthew McConaughey or Caitlin Clark?” and other pressing questions.
    Mar 12, 2025 – 55:15
  • Why the pro wrestling content space is as hot as ever
    Mar 10, 2025 – 01:07:32
  • Cassidy Randall, author of Thirty Below: The Harrowing and Heroic Story of the First All Women’s Ascent of Denali
    Mar 6, 2025 – 33:36
  • Is college basketball still a big draw in 2025 - and how networks should approach televising national anthems
    Mar 4, 2025 – 45:19
  • Sportnet's (Canada) Chris Cuthbert on calling the Canada-U.S. final at the 4 Nations Face-Off for a Canadian audience
    Feb 28, 2025 – 32:04
  • Media Roundtable: Will the NHL get a bump from the U.S-Canada heat and the ESPN-MLB divorce
    Feb 26, 2025 – 31:28
  • ESPN's Sean McDonough on calling the amazing Canada-U.S. final at the 4 Nations Face-Off
    Feb 25, 2025 – 32:55
  • Taylor Twellman on MLS's start, Messi and Sunday Night Soccer
    Feb 21, 2025 – 47:04
  • Jake Rogal, the director of Netflix's "Court of Gold" docu-series on the 2024 Paris Olympic basketball tournament
    Feb 19, 2025 – 28:03
  • Indiana Fever coach and ESPN broadcaster Stephanie White
    Feb 18, 2025 – 47:52
  • How to call the NBA All Star Game and the passing of Bob Uecker
    Feb 13, 2025 – 45:41
  • The Super Bowl broadcast recap
    Feb 11, 2025 – 36:40
  • Kevin Harlan, and ESPN VP of Production Linda Schulz
    Feb 7, 2025 – 01:05:07
  • The producer and director of Super Bowl LIX: Richie Zyontz and Rich Russo
    Feb 6, 2025 – 50:53
  • Super Bowl viewership predictions — and Tom Brady’s big test
    Feb 3, 2025 – 38:26
  • The WWE's Paul Heyman
    Jan 30, 2025 – 58:11
  • The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand
    Jan 28, 2025 – 01:04:59
  • How to cover the biggest NFL game of the season: The guests are Joe Buscaglia (who covers the Bills for The Athletic) and Nate Taylor (who covers the Chiefs for The Athletic)
    Jan 23, 2025 – 44:59
  • Tom Brady Talk with Austin Karp and Chad Finn
    Jan 22, 2025 – 45:43
Recent Reviews
  • KTP1024
    Guest list
    I have been a long time listener of this podcast, and I continue to enjoy Richard’s interviewing style and choice of guests. He does seem to search for out of the box guests, often times people I’ve never heard of which make listening to this a weekly staple for me.
  • DocLouIowa
    King
    Great stuff. How can you spend so much time on the coach BB CBS interview but you did not watch it. Clearly if you had you would have noticed the huge hole on the shirt.
  • LNK 926
    Not as good as Marchand, but Still Excellent!!!!
    Terrific Podcast…Just started to listen and the insight and dry humor are terrific!
  • Jaws 1234
    Loved the Join Lee Interview
    Really loved learning about what Join is doing now. As an old, I’m not interacting with YouTube, so I was really interested to learn how this a medium that could deliver us from the monolithic dumbness that is Hot Take world.
  • jennifer in berkeley
    great pod!
    love the coverage of women’s bball. i look forward to wnba analysis. go valkyries!
  • fippsalot
    freshly minted j-school grad
    I’ve been listening to the pod for about two years now, and it is so helpful as a journalist about to graduate college. Not only do I learn how the media business works behind the scenes, but I learn the struggles and joys of a field I’m hoping to work in. Also, I love learning how to interview from Richard! He always asks great questions and gives great intros. Excited for more episodes!
  • mattmanfan
    Recent two podcasts were great
    I really enjoyed your most recent podcasts especially the one with Conrad Thompson. I am impressed that you are interested in covering pro wrestling from different perspectives like this one. I am a big pro wrestling and NASCAR fan and would like you to interview people who cover these two sports on a weekly basis, most notably Jeff Gluck or Jordan Bianchi.
  • Rossario
    Sports Media is a bit Geeky Isn’t It?
    I thoroughly enjoy Richard’s pod and look forward to it every week. I’m not sure why I am so interested and follow the business of sports media, but I truly find it fascinating. Richard seems to have at times that juvenile enthusiasm for it as do I. Keep the WWE talent and executives coming. You always bring some interesting perspectives and insights into those discussions as well. Sorry we lost you to Canada; but live and be well!!
  • GoldenFlash10
    Love the author interviews!
    I’ve listened to Richard’s podcast since the SI days, but I was finally compelled to review after listening to the Cassidy Randall interview. I can’t say I’m a big consumer of adventure sports, but I found the story so fascinating from this interview that I’m going to have to check out “30 Below.” As much as I love the sports media roundtables, I think author interviews like this are where the podcast really shines. I hope to hear more in the future!
  • Hoopdude
    Rarely miss this pod
    Really enjoy about 98% of these episodes (tapping out on the UFC/WWE ones). I’m a WBB hoophead, so appreciate the interviews and commentary on the game, and it’s growth. Yeah, I was a student manager for my team in the 80’s and we used school vans to get to games (D-1). Am sure you already have plans for March Madness, but I’d suggest Courtney Lyle for a future pod. I think she is a good facilitator of her broadcasts, and she does multiple sports. Really solid PxP. Is it time for Ruocco, Lobo and Rowe podcast? Also, I don’t think Candace Parker has been on? Really good at this announcing stuff. Thanks, Richard - appreciate the work you put into your ‘3rd rate’ podcast.
  • Rick F in Austin
    Cassidy Randall interview
    Great interview. Very interesting topic & author. Two great questions asked of her: What she has learned about publicizing her book. And how her being from Montana has influenced her writing. Both great questions with great answers by Cassidy. Your interview has me interested in her book and future books. Great job!
  • 80'sVillager
    Farewell
    Richard is a good guy but is an unfortunate combo of being a both a bit sensitive and a lil gassed in the head.
  • amyrchapman
    Great podcast and host!
    Please bring Clinton Yates on - a really interesting sports person (and ask why his ESPN Daily podcast vanished with no notice or final ep) Also, I keep hearing that ESPN’s Pitaro is a baseball fan - how can that be when BB2night has only been on once a week during the season and football and basketball shows are on nightly regardless of the season?
  • Madeguy71
    Unique insight
    Really enjoy a look on the other side of sports Richard has here. Topical and not afraid to give his opinion and critique when do. Really enjoyed the recent conversations regarding the 4 Nations Tournament.
  • LG88137
    Share the mic
    You gotta resist the urge to speak over your guests- it’s as if any time someone else starts talking you have to raise your voice and interrupt
  • Willy Chaz
    Great insight into the industry!
    If you like sports and want more details on the industry and broadcasts, then this podcast is for you. Richard’s background and his key questions really bring out the conversations in his guests. Thanks for the hard work!
  • Joey shabadoo
    Good Mix of Weekly Guests
    Enjoy the wide variety of guests featured here. It doesn’t beat the drum of a certain sport too heavily and instead will feature prominent and engaging guests from national media, NFL, NHL, NBA/WNBA and even WWE
  • Josemanuel Cruz
    A Must Listen
    Love this podcast! Absolutely essential for anyone planning on working in the sports industry. I always learn something interesting listening to this podcast either from him or his guests.
  • We have run out of nicknames
    Washington HAS a baseball team
    It’s a Canadian export, and they’ve won a World Series more recently than the Orioles. Despite that, this is the best of this genre of podcasts. Wide range of interesting guests. Thoughtful and provocative questions (if sometimes long-winded).
  • The Popcorn Vendor
    Great podcast
    This podcast is tremendous. Heyman was great. Did he have dental surgery prior to the interview?
  • nba reviewer 12345
    Typical liberal media personality
    LEAVE YOUR GENDER AND POLITICAL OPINIONS OUT OF IT. Just search sports media podcast and you’ll find one who don’t bring their 2023 “hip” opinions into it. I bet he’s a triple vaxer. Maybe he should disclose that. Pushes women’s sports more than anything
  • Jimmy’s Nieces
    Dallas Texans not Houston
    Let Nate Taylor the KC Chiefs writer and fan know they originally moved from Dallas in 1963. They were not the original Houston Texans
  • Cuhbster
    Al Michaels episode
    Great show with Al, so much great stuff in it!
  • Just lil ol me$
    Sean Gregory re: Caitlin. Clark profile
    Great guest and discussion! Always fascinating to hear behind the scenes prep for journalists. Can always count on Richard asking questions that provide fresh perspective.
  • TSuitsNYC
    A gem - so necessary
    Really have come to depend on Richard’s voice in this space and his wonderful guests. Thoughtful topics and all quite digestible. Really appreciate your coverage/treatment of women’s sports as well. Thank you!
  • KSpringer17
    Good Stuff!
    I’ve listened to the Chris Myers interview and the Munich Olympics discussion. Both were very interesting and informative!
  • Qhshsbbs
    Richard hits every note perfectly
    Anchored in the ecosystem, and clearly respected by his peers, Dietch never fails to inform and entertain. Is there any guest that Antonetti can’t get for this guy? On a personal note, I’ve made The Sports Media podcast my nightly “go to sleep” listen. Doing so has greatly increased the quality of my rest. Of course, I have to listen to what I missed as I fall into a deep sleep - the next morning.
  • muneec
    Good Podcast, Needs Editing
    Richard, you can’t say “sort of” 70 times per episode. You’re saying it multiple times in the same parentheticals. Please.
  • PDXZel
    MC
    Love your show; sending my great appreciation for introducing me and fellow track and field fan to Chris Chavez and CitiusMag; we went to their “studio” at the trials in Eugene and listened to their daily debrief at the Olympics ; such an enhancement to the Olympic media experience. Nothing better than merging sports and media…keep it up.
  • Lolo13419
    Love the podcast - found the opening ceremony chaotic
    Have enjoyed watching the events immensely but I felt like the opening ceremony was terrible. On the boats, in the rain, back and forth. It was impossible to keep track. I thought Lady Gaga was absurd. I loved Celine Dion until I read that her song was prerecorded long ago and it reminded me of the news I’ve heard that she is so very ill. I was wondering how she possibly could have been up there lip syncing let alone live singing and it made me sad for her. What did she have to go through to get out there? Don’t get Snoop Dog raking in $500k per DAY. WOW!
  • i. Am. Awesome
    Spain
    The Sarah Spain pod is pure comedy gold…good luck with those women sports pods!🤣🤣🤣
  • fsczjgecbeev
    KY Derby show
    There was an audible gasp when Richard realized that it is possible that a female horse could win the Kentucky Derby. His agenda of promoting the viewing of women’s sports also applies to animals!
  • Mason Dixon1
    Constructive Criticism
    Richard is terrific and I enjoy the pod very much. I do believe the recent show with Andrew M was not the best listen. I felt on this occasion Richard “over talked” and was a bit long winded on his delivery of the questions. And he stepped on the guest more than I’d ever heard before. He is great at giving the guest room to breath but maybe not this one time. Almost as if he was excited to have Andrew as the guest…and was looking to inject his thoughts more than normal. Love him and the pod…I’ll leave my opinion at that.
  • luckie1710
    Great Pod
    Great interview with Becky Lynch. Episode was a fun in depth interview.
  • Denae Ransome
    Mini Eps on ratings rock!
    Great pod overall. Love the long-form interviews even if I don’t catch them all. Where the show really shines for me are the mini episodes with a guest or two that break down ratings for big sporting events at a given moment in time. Would even like to see one of those mini episodes expanded to a full hour maybe once a month so Rich and the guests can really get into the weeds.
  • jroman1090
    Excellent Episode with Pablo Torre
    I usually complain about how inside baseball this podcast is, but this was a great episode.
  • Boner in sweat pants
    Rust Belt
    Good interview with Paul Finebaum!
  • Sports media listener
    Amazing show but Richard’s voice is going soft to loud too often
    The show is great. But when there’s multiple guests, Richard’s voice level is uneven. He sometimes interrupts guests. And James Andrew Miller clearly hates it when Richard teases him—so awkward to listen to. I only know this because I listen to so many episodes.
  • Hey Nowadays
    Let the guest speak!
    You don’t give your guests a chance to complete thoughts/sentences.
  • CPCaz
    Solid offering for a niche audience
    Been listening to Richard’s podcast for years. Pretty sure he has been doing sports media podcasting the longest now and continues provide interesting interviews with folks from all over the sports media world. Main reason it’s a good not great listen is Richard’s long winded questions which are often self deprecating. The guy is an experienced and distinguished writer in the sports media world and his attempt to build his guests up while pushing himself down is off putting. But overall, I continue to listen when the guests peak my interest because overall..it tends to be enjoyable.
  • frostinglove
    Must Listen
    This is one of the podcasts I listen to every week. I am not in media, just a sports fan, but always enjoy Richard’s interviews. He has such an easy respectful manner with his guests. I really appreciate the way he champions women in all aspects of sports. His guests and topics are always interesting.
  • LastsonX
    Stop the Featured Clip Nonsense!
    The podcast is good, but I’m going to unsubscribe if you keep throwing clips of podcasts I’ve already downloaded to listen to back into my feed. I’ve never had another podcast put chunks of the same podcast back into my feed!
  • @Greg_YNWA1
    Recommend
    Excellent pod for many years. Variety of topics and guests. Really good recent interviews with on air talent such as Doris Burke, Joe Buck, and Ted Robinson. Authentic conversation where one learns more about these talented broadcasters. If you are interested in sports media it’s worth a follow and to listen to most episodes.
  • J.J. Hanke
    Jason Benetti
    Hey Richard, I am a life long Ann Arbor area resident and sports fan. I don’t remember how I found the podcast, but I really enjoy it. I’ll admit not every topic is for me, but I love the wide array. I’m a huge hockey fan so I have to give love to those who genuinely cover the sport with passion and not belittle it as a niche sport. I was really curious who the Tigers would get to do play-by-play and when I heard about the Jason Benetti hire I did some digging. I came away impressed, but after now listening to your interview TWICE I’m convinced the organization got this hire right. Jason has extreme depth and could become a gem similar to Ken Daniels for the Red Wings. Thank you! All the best. J.J. Hanke
  • @richsullivan
    Writ large the best sports media podcast
    Thoroughly enjoy Richard’s depth of knowledge as well as his excellent interviewing style. Great regular guests give unique insights into the business of sports broadcasting, game production, broadcast talent, scheduling, ratings, etc. His interviews with play-by-play announcers likely serve as a great learning tool for aspiring announcers.
  • CobiCuse
    Featured Clip
    Do Features Clip before the main show podcast. Clip will makes us listen to whole show before main show drop. Do not needs featured clip AFTER already listen to main show
  • OneBurke
    I’m going to buy the book tomorrow
    Wow. Just listened to the first pod dedicated to The Year’s Best Sports Writing 2023. Each interview blew me away. But the one with Cassidy Randall? I want to read EVERYTHING she’s written. Thanks Richard, for bringing these great writers to light.
  • Mocha James
    Oregon
    You’re a journalist. Learn how to say Oregon correctly. Sheesh!
  • Roll-a
    Great resource for Sports Media news and notes
    This podcast does a great job of discussing the trends, technology and stories of not just front facing talent, but behind the scenes movers and shakers. I listen to keep up to date with my industry and enjoy the interviews and opinion makers in Sports Television. Rich, keep up the great work, sir.
  • Desidero
    Excellent sports media podcast
    This podcast has gotten better and better over the past few years. Richard is a prepared, thoughtful interviewer who always asks great questions. Moreover, unlike a lot of other podcast hosts, he never gets in the way of his guests. The caliber of the guests has also improved over the past year or so. Keep up the good work!
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