10 sports podcasts to add to your rotation

Here are some podcasts that cross my rotation from time to time, and I'd love to hear yours.

Sports podcasts are a magical world. Before everyone and their dog had a podcast about every topic under the sun, I seem to recall sport leading the way in that space, taking on from the massive popularity of sports-talk radio. It’s just so easy and talking sport and the medium of podcast is a match made in heaven. All of us do it anyway with friends and colleagues, so why not hit record it and put it out into the universe?

As the barriers to entry have fallen, everyone now has a podcast of some sort, especially when it comes to covering all of the different areas of sports. From student graduates to a couple of mates in a room, to the biggest media empires, it’d be weird if you didn’t have a podcast. Sports websites that once dedicated their time and efforts to great writing, that writing is now simply there to complement their real bread and butter which is a suite of podcasts covering all the different sports and news angles.

It’s now so oversaturated that it can be hard to keep up and very overwhelming when it comes to finding new content and hidden gems, and I’m guilty of sticking to what I know and not giving new podcasts a try.

In the interest of expanding my horizons, I thought I’d share some sports podcast that cross my rotation depending on what’s happening in the world of sport at the time and invite your own suggestions. This is by no means an exhaustive list and I’m leaving out some big names that everybody knows about already, but they might be new to you.

I’d love to hear from you what’s in your rotation, so feel free to drop your favourite listens in the comments.

Quickly Kevin; will he score?

Let’s start with something a bit irreverent - the Quickly Kevin podcast from Josh Widdicombe, Michael Marden and Chris Scull is a tremendously entertaining look back at 1990s football nostalgia. Featuring a range of guests and contributors, and plenty of Steve Bruce, it takes all of the nonsense and madness from that era of football and brilliantly retells it for a modern audience. It’s nostalgia personified. Although the podcast “ended” in 2024, they still upload frequently and it’s the type of podcast that lasts the test of time, so don’t worry about going back to the very beginning or taking on one of the rib-tickling Steve Bruce book series. 🎧 Listen

Sport Unlocked

This one unites Sky News’ Rob Harris, Martyn Ziegler, Chief Sports Reporter at the Times, and Tariq Panja of the New York Times and it’s three of sport’s best reporters chatting about the latest controversy and drama off the field, be that the latest FIFA nonsense with Gianni Infantino, sportswashing, doping, and other murky areas of world sport. It’s not as heavy as it seems—the guys do a great job of making the topics accessible and engaging. 🎧Listen

The Right Time with Bomani Jones

I’ve followed Bomani for years and he’s one of my go-to voices when it comes to the latest on US sport. The Right Time is his latest endeavour, having most recently been through ESPN and a late night sports show on HBO. Including a rotation of excellent guests, Bomani’s intelligent takes and quick-sharp wit, with a mix of hilarious stories and anecdotes, will leave you feeling that little bit smarter when you’re done listening. 🎧 Listen

Stadio Football

One of my favourite football podcasts, now living amongst The Ringer empire, is Stadio Football. It is Musa Okwonga and Ryan Hunn and they cover all the latest goings on in European football and beyond. They have a great camaraderie and Musa’s unrelenting positivity and infectious laugh will fill your eardrums. For something a bit different to the usual football roundtable format, I’d highly recommend giving this one a go for a slightly different change of pace, that still plugs the gap of keeping you up to date on the latest football stories. 🎧 Listen

The Real Science of Sport

This from sports scientist Ross Tucker is essential when it comes to taking a look through a scientific lens, be that the science of sporting performance, the latest technologies advancing sport, the latest doping scandal, or the highly charged topic of transexuals in sport. Ross and his co-host Mike Finch offer a really good science-backed view on sport. 🎧 Listen

The 42FM

This is the combo of The 42 sports journalist Gavin Cooney and The Journal’s Sinead O’Carroll, taking on a particular topic in sport, usually with an Irish twist, and delivering a nuanced outlook on things, exploring the wider context of stories and their intersection with current affairs and pop culture. 🎧 Listen

Football Cliches

You could slot any number of podcasts from The Athletic, but Football Cliches tops it for me. The hilarious combination of Adam Hurrey alongside Athletic writers Charlie Eccleshare and David Walker explore the weird and wonderful language of football: the words, the phrases, the mannerisms and, of course, the clichés. It’s pure chewing gum for your ears when it comes to taking football that less bit seriously. 🎧 Listen

The Lapsed Fan

It’s real to me, dammit! Now be warned, this one isn’t for the fainthearted. Episodes often go into the three, four, maybe even five hour marks. These are marathons, not sprints. But if you loved pro wrestling in a former life I can think of nobody better to have in your corner than the Lapsed Fan. They take a show from wrestling past and do a deep dive. And by deep, you’re talking bottom of the ocean deep. But it’s the comedy, the impersonations of wrestling’s most infamous characters, and the twisted humour of our co-hosts that make it easily one of the best podcasts in the world, regardless of the category, and I don’t say that lightly. These guys do their homework and deliver every single time. If wrestling was ever your bag, I’d recommend giving it a go—and don’t be put off by all the inside jokes and bizarre humour, you’ll pick it up quicker than you think. 🎧 Listen

No Laying Up

This one isn’t in the rotation too often, but in and around the big majors or if a big story or scandal hits golf, I’m straight onto the No Laying Up podcast to fill me in on the latest. The guys deliver a really entertaining, raw and passionate account of golf, almost making it feel like you’re there on the green with them. 🎧 Listen

Second Captains

I couldn’t not include my number one sports podcast that Irish readers will be more than familiar with—the gang’s all here, with the Second Captains. Hosted by Eoin McDevitt, Ken Early and Ciarán Murphy, the trio delve into sports with an entirely unique twist and a chemistry and camaraderie that you won’t find anywhere else. With a free podcast every Monday, they dive behind a paywall for the rest of the week, but it’s easily the best value content you’ll find anywhere on sport and remains for me, across the board, the best offering you’ll find anywhere when it comes to football. 🎧 Listen

Now over to you, let me know your essential listening recommendations in the comments.