The Lead

There's growing evidence that certain psychedelic drugs can have positive benefits for people suffering from PTSD, depression and other mental illnesses. Today, we explore why many former pro athletes are taking up the cause of psychedelic therapy, and how some of their lives have been transformed by their experiences with the drugs (This episode first aired in June, 2021)

Guest: Dan Robson, The Athletic

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If you've ever been bowling at your local lanes, and seen the strange sight of someone flinging the ball toward the pins with two hands, there are two possible explanations: Either they have no clue what they're doing, or they're emulating one of the game's most dominant players. Ever since he burst onto the scene 15 years ago, Jason Belmonte has been one of the best, and most polarizing, bowlers in the world. Today, we look at how the man known as Belmo broke the game, and the backlash from his peers that threatened to break him.

Read the full story from Eric Wills in GQ here

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In the age of TikTok and Instagram, a new type of social media currency has become an important part of the recruiting process. Today, we venture into the strange world of recruit photo shoots -- a world filled with horses, Rolls Royces and spinning cameras... and a whole lot of frustrated coaches and administrators. (This episode originally aired in April, 2022)

Guest: Ari Wasserman, The Athletic

Read Ari and Antonio Morales's full story about recruit photoshoots here.

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The Tour de France Femmes is happening right now, with Stage 6 out of 8 taking place today. But while many of the top female cyclists in the world are hard at work in the mountains, our podcasting team is on vacation, so we are replaying an episode about the Women's Tour that originally aired around this time last year. Reporter Maggie Mertens joined us to explain how the Women's Tour de France finally came to be, thanks to the grit and perseverance of many women, with an unexpected assist from an online gaming company.

Guest: Maggie Mertens

Read Maggie's original Sports Illustrated story about the Women's Tour de France here.

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After helping the Kansas City Chiefs win Super Bowl 57, and besting his big brother Jason in the process, Travis Kelce suddenly seemed to be everywhere: late night talk shows, MLB games, Saturday Night Live, even his own epic party in Kansas City -- Kelce Jam. Today, we explain Kelce's somewhat unlikely leap from star athlete to A-list celebrity, the source of his off-field ambitions, and what life after football might look like for the charismatic tight end.

Guest: Tom Kludt, Vanity Fair

Read Tom's full profile of Travis Kelce here

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Lionel Messi has arrived. The Argentine soccer star shocked the world last month by announcing that he was joining Inter Miami of Major League Soccer, and he was introduced to fans on a rain-soaked Sunday evening in Ft. Lauderdale this past weekend. Today, we bring you the inside story of how the biggest deal in MLS history got done, and the role that one particular man played in it.

Guest: Paul Tenorio, Senior Writer at The Athletic

Read Paul's full story about Inter Miami's courtship of Lionel Messi here

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Earlier this year, things were looking pretty bleak for the Cincinnati Reds, with a lot of empty seats at Great American Ball Park coming off a 100-loss season. But this team has made a dramatic turnaround, and the catalyst has been a player who has wasted no time in electrifying the city — and the sport. Today, we take an in-depth look at the impact of Elly De La Cruz, the trends behind the scenes that paved the way for his arrival, and the dynamics between the 21-year-old, and a Reds veteran who's nearly twice his age: Joey Votto.

Guest: C. Trent Rosecrans, The Athletic

Read the full story here

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The U.S. Women's National Soccer Team won its second straight World Cup in 2019. But since then, they've had a string of losses and injuries -- and the roster is now stretched thin. Today, we break down the USWNT's quest for an unprecedented third straight World Cup, the young stars who will have a chance to shine on the world's biggest stage, and the opponents that stand between the U.S. and a shot at history.

Guest: Jeff Rueter, The Athletic

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For football fans of a certain age, the name Adam “Pacman” Jones conjures up a certain set of memories. Jones was drafted sixth overall in 2005, and eventually became a Pro Bowler and All-Pro, but a wave of troubling off-the-field incidents trailed him during much of his career. However, what’s less well known about Jones is the story of a loss that changed his life — and ultimately, his family life — forever. Today, we look at how Jones emerged as a devoted father, and why his complicated life prepared him for what came next.

Guest: Zak Keefer, The Athletic

Read the full story here

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