logo
episode-header-image
Sep 2024
29 m

Episode 1: What’s Wrong with Eric?

Pushkin Industries
About this episode

Sports fans experience incredible highs and lows, and spend loads of money on a product over which they have no control. But for a long time, no one bothered to study the minds or impulses of fans. Michael Lewis finds out how that's changing as writers and academics learn more about the powerful psychology of fandom. Just in time for technology to exploit fandom more than ever.

For further reading: 

Eric Simons’ book The Secret Lives of Sports Fans

Research by Murray State University psychology professor Daniel Wann on fandom: https://murraystate.academia.edu/DanielWann

The Henry Tajfel Experiments

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Up next
Dec 2024
Vegas Sports Bookies on Old-School Betting
On a visit to Las Vegas, Michael Lewis meets three old-school sports bookies. Chris Andrews, Jimmy Vaccaro, and Vinny Magliulo book bets and set odds at the South Point Hotel Casino. They talk about how they got started in Vegas, the origins of the prop bet, and why it's bad for ... Show More
30m 12s
Dec 2024
Gambler Billy Walters on the Sharp's Life
Michael Lewis sits down with Billy Walters, one of the most famous sports bettors of all time. They talk about Walters' impoverished childhood in Kentucky, and his transformation from an auto dealer to a professional poker player in Las Vegas to a sobered-up millionaire who's bee ... Show More
37m 10s
Dec 2024
Episode 7: Little Big Short
As a resident of California, Michael Lewis cannot place bets on any of the online sports books at the center of this season. They’re not allowed to operate in the state. But why? We hear from pastors, Native Americans and short-sellers about why a handful of states are still hold ... Show More
43m 17s
Recommended Episodes
Dec 2024
The rise of fans and fandom
When the writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle killed off his most famous literary creation, Sherlock Holmes, readers were so angry that thousands cancelled their subscriptions to the magazine in which the stories appeared. The editor and Conan Doyle himself were overwhelmed with letters ... Show More
48m 54s
Feb 2024
Strategies on developing global fan base, Eric Blankenship
In this Sports Geek Throwback episode, Sean Callanan interviews Eric Blankenship, who was with the Tampa Bay Lightning when episode 126 was recorded. They discuss strategies for developing a global fan base. Show notes - https://sportsgeekhq.com/podcast/throwback/strategies-on-de ... Show More
8m 9s
Jul 2024
Más preguntas con Eric
Eric is back answering the massive amount of questions you all sent in. He talks about life with Ros out filming, bucket list items, being fulfilled in his career, his favorite type of podcast episodes, and gives his thoughts on your questions regarding marriage, dating, and even ... Show More
29m 29s
Sep 2023
It's All A Show with Derek DelGaudio
🪄🪄🪄Paul and Stephen are fascinated by magic and the art of deception and they’re thrilled to take this extraordinary ride into the wondrous mind of master illusionist Derek DelGaudio.Listen in as they explore themes of reality, deception, imagination, morality, manipulation, a ... Show More
1h 6m
Apr 2020
Ultras: Among The World's Most Extreme Fans, with James Montague and Ros Urwin
Ultras are football fans like no others. A hugely visible and controversial part of the sporting game. This movement of extreme fandom and politics is also one of the largest youth movements in the world. In this episode, James Montague, author of '1312: Among the Ultras: A journ ... Show More
50m 58s
Oct 2021
15 - Robert Sapolsky: Why Society Would Be Fairer If We Stopped Believing in Free Will
Eric chats with Robert Sapolsky, Stanford Professor of Biology, Neurology, and Neurosurgery. Robert is a world-renowned academic and author of highly successful books such as A Primate’s Memoir, Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers, and Behave: The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst. ... Show More
50m 38s
Dec 2024
The 2024 Sports Year In Review
Who were the superstars, and what were the unforgettable moments of 2024? Who failed to launch, and who exceeded expectations? What are your hopes for sport and sports science in 2025? We draw a spectacular sporting year to a close with a look back at the highlights, lowlights, n ... Show More
2h 10m
Feb 2025
Oral History of the Dan Le Batard Show: Episode 12
In this episode of the Oral History of the Dan Le Batard Show, Dan, Stugotz, and Mike explore the COVID era of the show. What began with fear and anxiety as a global pandemic unfolded eventually turned into what the guys consider one of the most creative eras of the show. You'll ... Show More
1h 43m
Sep 2021
169. The Science of Cool, with Dr. Troy Campbell
Today is a very fun episode about something that you might not think has a science to it, but definitely does which is so amazing! My guest is Troy Campbell, who got his Ph.D. at Duke University and has worked at/for Disney, Netflix, Nike (and much more) as well as taught at the ... Show More
48m 49s
Mar 2025
Stuff You Should Know | Chuck Bryant & Josh Clark
Stuff You Should Know has been one of the top podcasts since it started in 2008. The podcast overviews and simplifies a truly extensive range of topics, from the history of refrigeration to how Saturn works to forensic dentistry and peacocks. Chuck and Josh released over 1,500 ep ... Show More
45m 59s