In October 2007, journalist Eric Simons sat in the stands of Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, Calif., to watch his beloved University of California Bears take on Oregon State University in football. If Cal won, it almost certainly would be ranked No. 1 in the country. Instead, Simons agonized as Cal’s quarterback struggled through the final play. Cal lost. Sim ... Show More
Apr 19
Nathaniel Greenberg, "The Long War of Ideas: American Public Diplomacy in Arabic After 9/11" (Columbia UP, 2026)
In the wake of the September 11 attacks, US officials identified the so-called battle for hearts and minds as the “second front” in the war on terror. A wave of funding flowed into public diplomacy in the Middle East, seeking to change views of the United States through Arabic-la ... Show More
48m 38s
Apr 12
John Bechtold, "U.S. Militarism and the Terrain of Memory: Negotiating Dead Space" (Taylor & Francis, 2024)
In U.S. Militarism and the Terrain of Memory: Negotiating Dead Space (Taylor & Francis, 2024), John Bechtold examines how the US military understands information and the media as a contested terrain. Focusing on the assaults on the Iraqi city of Fallujah in 2004, Bechtold shows t ... Show More
1h 2m
Apr 7
Peter Richardson, "Brand New Beat: The Wild Rise of Rolling Stone Magazine" (U California Press, 2026)
Rolling Stone's first decade was truly rock and roll: chaotic, wild, and unpredictable. Brand New Beat: The Wild Rise of Rolling Stone Magazine (U California Press, 2026) by Peter Richardson charts the origins and evolution of the magazine during its formative early years in San ... Show More
49m 25s
Apr 2024
The psychology of sports fans, with Daniel Wann, PhD
Are you a sports “superfan”? Or do you wonder what’s driving the superfans in your life? Daniel Wann, PhD, of Murray State University, talks about why being a fan is usually good for people’s mental health, how they choose the teams they root for, why some are fair-weather fans w ... Show More
42m 6s
Mar 2020
The Preview Show: Hot takes and cold bacon
We return to survey the barren landscape of football, where yet again James Milner steps up to provide for all in a time of need, this time with a comprehensive physical pun XI. Get that man a statue, outside every ground in the country. We’re also intrigued by Royston Drenthe’s ... Show More
48m 35s
Sep 2021
Book Club: Barça – Simon Kuper
If one club encapsulates both the sublime and the ridiculous in modern football, it's FC Barcelona. Kate and Jim chart this duality on today's episode of the Book Club, as renowned author Simon Kuper joins them to discuss his new book, 'Barça'!Simon charts their rise from a frien ... Show More
57m 17s
Nov 2020
Things We Learned, Herbert, Tua, Dabo Swinney, CFB Playoff, BYU Weak, Music industry
* Things we learned over the Weekend: Lamar Jackson, Packers, Tua * Justin Herbert is a top 10 QB. You cannot change my mind. The evidence is on tape. * Dabo Swinney makes outrageous claim that Florida State forfeited their game. * BYU says. Any team, any time, any place, but the ... Show More
24m 29s
Feb 2017
Randy Olson, “Houston, We Have a Narrative: Why Science Needs Story” (U. Chicago Press, 2015)
Randy Olson, author of Houston, We Have a Narrative: Why Science Needs Story (University of Chicago Press, 2015), has an unusual background. He is a Harvard-trained biologist and former tenured professor who resigned from his academic post to earn a degree from the world-renowned ... Show More
1h 3m
Sep 2020
Fans back in stadiums, Lionel Messi again, Newcastle digs aplenty, and Michael Owen's new beer
What's going on, everyone! It's time for an all-fresh, brand spanking new episode of the Football Ramble! Today, Marcus, Jim and Pete join forces to deliver the warmest takes on the big football stories of the last 24 hours. They cover the prospect of fans going back into stadium ... Show More
43m 26s
May 2020
How a Book About Tennis Changed Everything, and How ‘Moneyball’ and ‘The Blind Side’ Influenced Sports With Michael Lewis
Steve and Pete are joined by author Michael Lewis ('Moneyball,' 'The Blind Side,' and 'The Big Short') to talk about how he gets the ideas for his books, and the background story of ‘The Blind Side’ and how it influenced the NFL’s view on the left tackle position. They discuss ho ... Show More
51m 51s
<p>ESPN College GameDay’s <strong>“The Bear”</strong>, <strong>Chris Fallica</strong>, joins <strong>Gill Alexander</strong> to give his thoughts on his top nine currently released College Football season win totals on today's edition of <strong>Beating The Book</strong> (July 16 ... Show More
