Atlanta Braves GM and executive VP Alex Anthopoulos joins Jeff and Stephen in studio to discuss his current contender, his time in Toronto and how he turned the Blue Jays into a powerhouse, the similarities running the two franchises, and how MLB front offices plan for the future. Audio credits to Xave Ruth, Fox Sports South and MLB TV.

Jeff and Stephen are joined in studio by Ken Dryden, author, Hall of Fame goaltender, former Toronto Maple Leafs president and past politician. They investigate ways to address concussions in hockey and opine on what the NHL and NHLPA can do to mitigate the problem for their players. Audio credit: CBC, HBO, NBC, ESPN and ABC.

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Media Inc. or any affiliate.

The 2026 World Cup is coming to North America, but what will it mean for Canadian soccer? Jeff and Stephen chat with former U.S. men’s goalkeeper and current FOX soccer analyst Tony Meola about the impact the 1994 World Cup had on the game and the top players in the United States, and whether Canada’s squad will be more prepared to compete on home soil than the U.S. was.

Jeff and Stephen explore hooliganism ahead of the World Cup and retrace the origins of fan violence in soccer. Sam Borden of ESPN travelled to Russia for his magazine story on a new school of hooligan culture that sometimes doesn’t involve soccer, but might involve an architect or a graphic designer. Sam joins The Lede from Russia to discuss these new MMA-style hooligans, their thoughts on the Russian government and why the violence at Euro 2016 in Marseille escalated as it did.

LeBron James and Jim Brown have a city in common. And like Brown in the 1960s, LeBron is politically active. Both are also iconic figures in African-American sports and cultural history. But that’s where the similarities end. Dave Zirin, sports editor of The Nation and writer of The Edge of Sports, discusses his new book “Jim Brown: Last Man Standing” and how LeBron is finding his own way as keeper of the flame lit by the likes of Brown, Muhammad Ali and Bill Russell.

Each week, Jeff Blair and Stephen Brunt tackle the most impactful stories in the world of sports and their intersection with popular culture. Jeff and Stephen lean on their expansive Rolodexes and a combined 70 or so years covering the biggest events and most interesting names in the games we all love to entertain, engage and educate listeners.