The GIST of It

Never in our wildest dreams did we think Kim Kardashian would be a guest on The GIST of It, but when the reality star executive produced a new show about youth sports, we had to chat. In today’s episode, you’ll hear what inspired Kardashian to spotlight youth sports (and in particular, the behavior of the athletes’ parents) before co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Lauren Tuiskula share their thoughts on the ongoing WNBA semis series. 

Show notes:
👀 Read our take on “Team Moms: Baseball”
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🎧 Episode #590: Alex Ovechkin’s concerning relationship with Vladimir Putin

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Today’s episode of The GIST of It is especially fun because walking green flag Jared McCain is joining the pod. Whether you’re familiar with the NBA star because of his on-court acumen or his TikTok legacy, you’re in for an absolute treat. The 22-year-old is prepping for his third NBA season after being traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder in February. And while he’s a talented basketball player, our favorite part about him is that he’s unapologetically himself, from singing and dancing on social media for his millions of followers to painting his nails. King. 

Show notes:💪 Come play NFL Pick’ems

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The NHL season is starting extra-early, tipping off tonight instead of in October with a five-game slate, but we’re having trouble getting excited here at The GIST. During the offseason, we felt discouraged by NHL headlines on multiple occasions, which has sparked some really important conversations at The GIST about how to cover a league that seems hellbent on alienating the women in its fanbase. In today’s One Big Story, co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Alessandra Puccio discuss some of the frustrating NHL stories from this summer as they grapple with loving a sport that doesn’t love you back. 

Show notes:🏒 PWHL 2026-27 home opener season schedule
🎓🏈 P.J. Fleck, what are you doing?

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Calling all women’s basketball fans: The WNBA postseason tipped off yesterday, so it just makes sense that today’s episode features an interview with two legends: Former WNBA scoring champ Chamique Holdsclaw and Indiana Fever icon Tamika Catchings. To enjoy this episode in full, join The GIST Plus, our extra-special membership platform. Until then, this preview will have to do.

Show notes:
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Kentucky State University women’s basketball star Amina Seck was detained by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, aka ICE, a month-and-a-half ago and remains in custody at the Grayson County Detention Center. Seck is from Senegal and was arrested while traveling with her team in August, reportedly over an expired student visa. On today’s episode of The GIST of It, co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz discuss this important story, as Seck remains in custody. 

Show notes:
💪 Come play NFL Pick’ems
🏈 Subscribe to The GIST’s Weekly Blitz

The GIST:
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In the September 1st episode of The GIST of It, #586: Exposing fake NFL players, co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz briefly discussed two men who made headlines for posing as NFL players: Daejon Love and Uras Agee IV. At the end of August, Love was arrested for allegedly scamming 26 women out of $1.3M while posing as a wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers. On September 18th, the FBI announced that another 35 women have been identified as victims of Love’s scheme…and there might be more on the way. In today’s One Big Story, the gals will share everything we’ve learned about Love, including how he created such a vast internet footprint that he was able to effectively impersonate an NFL player, despite never playing in a single NFL game.

Show notes:
🎧 #586: Exposing fake NFL players
👀 FBI tip form

The GIST:
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Today is Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin’s 41st birthday. It’s also the first day of training camp ahead of his 22nd and perhaps final season in the NHL, which should be cause for celebration as one of the league’s all-time greats. However, on today’s episode of The GIST of It, co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz detail Ovi’s relationship with Russian president Vladimir Putin, inspired by the hockey player's recent ad endorsing Putin’s party ahead of parliamentary elections. 

Show notes:
⚽ Check out BMO's TFC Women in Soccer Fellowship
💪 Come play NFL Pick’ems
🏈 Subscribe to The GIST’s Weekly Blitz

The GIST:
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Today’s episode features an interview with journalist Hannah Vanbiber, a staff writer at The Athletic, who covers just about everything in the sports world. In particular, Vanbiber focuses on the intersection between sports and culture, making her the perfect person for GISTers to hear from as the NFL season begins. To enjoy this episode in full, join The GIST Plus, our extra-special membership platform. Until then, this preview will have to do.

Show notes:
Join The GIST Plus

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Week 1 of the NFL season did not disappoint. The stars shined, the offenses scored a mind-boggling number of touchdowns, and most importantly, Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson played absolutely terribly.

To celebrate one of our favorite times of the year, today’s episode of The GIST of It is dedicated to NFL Week 1 overreactions, from the team co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz think will win Super Bowl 61 to the players they consider MVP contenders after one outing.

Show notes:
🏈 Come play NFL Weekly Pick’ems with us

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Today, we’re covering the end of an era…maybe. LIV Golf has officially filed for bankruptcy, bringing the four-year battle between the Saudi-backed league and the PGA Tour to an end…kinda. In today’s episode of The GIST of It, co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotzl dive into what LIV’s bankruptcy entails, how much is owed to its players (hint, it’s millions), and what the league’s CEO has in store for the next iteration of LIV Golf. Oh boy. 

Show notes:

The GIST:
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📷 Instagram: @thegistusa @ellenatthegist @stephanierotz