Hang Up and Listen
A weekly sports discussion from Slate. Hang Up and Listen features Slate sports editor Josh Levin, writer Stefan Fatsis (author of A Few Seconds of Panic), Slate writer and Slow Burn host Joel Anderson, and a selection of interesting guests from around the sports world.
476
The Balls and Strikes Bonus Segment
Every fall for eight years, contributing writer Seth Stevenson has been pitching a story where he goes to umpire camp and reports back, and every fall Slate’s editor-in-chief has been rejecting the proposal as too expensive. Now Slate Plus has agreed to
11 min
477
The All Hail the Royals Edition
Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca discuss the Royals' World Series victory over the Mets. They also talk about ESPN's decision to shut down Grantland, and they interview National Basketball Players Association executive director Michele Roberts.
82 min
478
The Hockey on Cocaine Edition
Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca discuss the World Series with baseball writer Rany Jazayerli. They also talk about the NFL's foray into Internet-only broadcasting, and Puck Daddy's Greg Wyshynski joins to assess the NHL's 3-on-3 overtime format.
68 min
479
The Steely Dan and the Wolverine Edition
Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca are joined by SB Nation’s Spencer Hall to discuss Michigan State’s bizarre win over Michigan. They also talk about the MLB playoffs and assess basketball and reality TV star Lamar Odom’s near-death experienc
79 min
480
The Coriolis Force-Assisted Field-Goal Edition
Stefan Fatsis, Mike Pesca, and Emma Span discuss the MLB playoffs, Robert Andrew Powell joins to scrutinize the U.S. men's national soccer team, and lastly they talk about the annual rash of deaths in high-school football. This week's episode is brought
55 min
481
The You Don't Know What Fluffer Means Edition
Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca discuss the collapse of the Washington Nationals and the start of the MLB playoffs. Ken Early joins to assess the chaos at English soccer club Chelsea. Finally, they talk about LSU running back Leonard Fournette.
75 min
482
The Nobody Goes There Anymore It's Too Crowded ...
Josh Levin, Mike Pesca, and guest panelist Scott Raab are joined by Max Linsky to talk about the Cleveland Browns podcast Brownscast. They also discuss ESPN's embrace of gambling and mark the passing of baseball and linguistic legend Yogi Berra. Hang Up
66 min
483
The Total Victory Edition
Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca are joined by Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal to discuss baseball's great rookie class. They also discuss the rise of IMG Academy's high school football program and assess the popularity of American Ninja Warrior. Hang
67 min
484
The Sad Serena, Resplendent Roberta Edition
Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca talk about Serena Williams' shocking U.S. Open defeat. They also discuss whether the NFL has a quarterback crisis, and how European soccer clubs have responded to an influx of Syrian refugees. Hang Up and Listen
63 min
485
The Roger Goodell Is Bad at His Job Edition
Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and the Washington Post's Dan Steinberg discuss the latest Deflategate news. They also talk about the Washington NFL team's publicity nightmares, and Yahoo's Jeff Passan joins to assess Mets pitcher Matt Harvey's arm. Hang Up a
63 min
486
The You Get a Trophy Just for Listening Bonus S...
In their Aug. 17 members-only Slate Plus bonus segment, Hang Up and Listen’s Josh Levin, Stefan Fatsis, and Mike Pesca debunked the supposed scourge of participation trophies.
12 min
487
The Grab the Stick and Run Like Hell Edition
Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca discuss the latest innovation in NCAA evildoing: football programs fining players. They also interview 81-year-old track star Irene Obera and review HBO’s Hard Knocks, starring the Houston Texans’ J.J. Watt.
58 min
488
The Drop Kick Me Jesus Edition
Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca talk about Usain Bolt’s win over Justin Gatlin at the track and field world championships. They also discuss Baylor’s handling of football player Sam Ukwuachu’s sexual assault and the place of religion in sp
59 min
489
The She's a Married Baseball Edition
Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca discuss Jason Day and Jordan Spieth with Grantland’s Bryan Curtis. They also talk about the Jets’ locker-room fight, and Sports Illustrated’s Tim Layden explains Nick Symmonds’ brouhaha with USA Track and
61 min
490
The How Does He Even Have a Computer? Edition
Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and ESPN the Magazine’s Mina Kimes discuss record-breaking swimmer Katie Ledecky with the New York Times’ Karen Crouse. They also talk about Philadelphia Eagles coach Chip Kelly, and they interview WNBA star Elena Delle Donn
63 min
491
Hang Up: The Fiddlin’ with Equipment Edition
Josh Levin, Stephen Metcalf, and Mike Pesca discuss Roger Goodell’s decision to uphold Tom Brady’s Deflategate suspension and the New York Mets’ surprising surge. June Thomas also joins for an interview with Greg Louganis about his new HBO documenta
63 min
492
The NBA Meets American Ninja Warrior Edition
Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca discuss the Basketball Tournament, a winners-take-all hoops competition. Nancy Lieberman joins to talk about women coaching men, and they interview Brad Balukjian about his book project Wax Pack.
75 min
493
The How Tiger Lost His Stripes Edition
Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pescsa discuss whether Tiger Woods will ever be great again. Writer James Andrew Miller also joins to talk about recent departures from ESPN, and author Molly Knight explains the Los Angeles Dodgers’...
58 min
494
The How to Make Sports Funny Bonus Segment
In their July 13 Slate Plus bonus segment, Hang Up and Listen hosts Josh Levin and Mike Pesca spoke to special guest Mike Schur, the co-creator of NBC’s Parks and Recreation, about the intersection of sports and comedy.
11 min
495
The All We Are is Cyber Dust in the Wind Edition
Josh Levin, Mike Pesca, and special guest Mike Schur talk about the DeAndre Jordan emoji saga and his decision to re-join the Clippers. Tennis writer Courtney Nguyen joins to discuss Serena Williams, and they evaluate the latest advances in...
62 min
496
The Carli Lloyd Is a Golden God Edition
Josh Levin, Mike Pesca, and Bryan Curtis are joined by Stefan Fatsis, who watched the U.S. beat Japan to win the Women’s World Cup. They also talk about the strange economics of NBA free agency and consider the pros and cons of ESPN’s “K Zone” gra
60 min
497
The Other People's Podcasts Edition
In a special edition of Slate's Hang Up and Listen, we feature segments from three fellow sports podcasts, including Howler's DUMMY, a show about soccer, Effectively Wild from Baseball Prospectus, and 538's Hot Takedown.
60 min
498
The Zack the Ball-Catching Maniac Edition
Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca are joined by Shane Ryan to talk about Jordan Spieth’s U.S. Open win. They also discuss the knockout round of the Women’s World Cup and they interview Zack Hample, the man who caught Alex Rodriguez’s 3000th
72 min
499
Slate Plus Preview: "United Passions" Commentar...
Enjoy an excerpt of Hang Up and Listen's commentary track for a terrible piece of FIFA propaganda.
10 min
500
The Plus Plus Plus to Plus Plus Edition
Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca talk about the NBA Finals. Grantland’s Katie Baker also joins to discuss the Stanley Cup Finals, and they interview ProPublica’s David Epstein about his investigation of running coach Alberto...
62 min