Off The Looking Glass
Kate Fagan and Jessica Smetana host this magazine style podcast. The show will include a mix of interviews, skits and discussions that consider an alternative historical point of view on culture, as well as women’s sports and those who have critiqued them. While the show is *technically* about sports, it will mostly enter through the side doors of pop culture and comedy, with a northstar of telling the story of (women in) sports with humor, insight, and joy.
1
Grand Finale
In this, the last-ever episode of OTLG, Kate & Jess take you on a journey through some of their favorite moments: from their interview with silver screen icon Geena Davis to legend Dawn Staley talking about who she’d give a signature shoe to that one time they interviewed Megan Rapinoe, Sue Bird, Ashlyn Harris and Ali Krieger ALL AT THE SAME TIME. Plus, one last time … don’t skip the ads!
36 min
2
Dreams
Kate & Jess go back to their roots — basketball. WNBA star Angel McCoughtry joins the show to talk about how women’s hoops has changed in the last decade, then boxing legend Jackie Kellen shares stories from her life along the ropes.
31 min
3
The Fan
Kate & Jess are very, very sad about the USWNT loss but so, so happy that the rest of the world is happy! And as a soothing balm for all hurting fans out there, OTLG has an episode chock full of goodness: Olympic gold medalist and data guru Angela Ruggiero joins to share what she’s learned about selling women’s sports, and Olympic marathon Kara Goucher shares a fascinating story from her first-ever Boston Marathon. Ole!
38 min
4
Flat White
From halfway around the world, all the way from Wellington, New Zealand, The Athletic’s Meg Linehan joins Kate & Jess and breaks down everything World Cup — from the perfect flat whites to the USWNT’s slow start. Ole!
29 min
5
Worldwide
Kate & Jess go around the globe for this episode of OTLG, touching on the ongoing World Cup — show alum Sophia Smith with two goals! — then bringing you the story of the Soccer Grannies from South Africa, and finally finishing in France (say it with us: cwwwwuissant) with a Campfire told by the winner of the first-ever Tour de France for women, Marianne Martin.
35 min
6
The Main Event
It’s World Cup time baby, and OTLG is here with one of the stars of the USWNT, Sophia Smith, who takes us back to her high school years when she was the star of her … basketball team! (And, also, Kate’s crushed to hear that she’s never even HEARD of the movie Notting Hill.)All kinds of surprises await — psst, don’t skip the ads — in this WWC kick-off episode.
34 min
7
Big UCONN
Off The Looking Glass comes full circle with an extra special data-driven episode where Jess & Kate aim to quantify their UCONN bias theory from Season 1.
32 min
8
Open
Jess and Kate dive head first into all things golf, first bringing on LPGA tour member Ryan O’Toole who offers a peek behind the curtain about what it’s like as a professional golfer (she’s like a part-time travel agent!), then a brand-new Campfire — this one brought by Anya Alvarez — about the backstory of one very famous 16th hole, the woman who helped design it, and what it’s like to play it.
35 min
9
Tidal Wave
Kate & Jess embark on an episode with a unifying theme: Things They Are Scared Of. First up is the ocean, and waves (big and small), which they discuss with World Surf League chief of sport, Jessi Miley-Dyer, who deftly handles — no surprise! — the hosts 101 questions. Theeeeeen, Jess & Kate dissect the new Max documentary, Bama Rush, a film that *tries* to take viewers inside the mysterious and competitive world of … sorority rushing.
40 min
10
Snacks
AN EPIC CROSSOVER EXPERIENCE: OTLG x Snacks! Kate & Jess are joined by U.S. soccer stars Sam Mewis and Lynn Williams, who answer key questions such as “How does the World Cup roster get released?” and “Would you rather interview or be interviewed?” Plus, after years of Kate expressing the importance of The Sandlot to Jess, the show welcomes actor Patrick Renna for a nice chat, which forces the hosts down a combo rabbit hole/Does It Hold Up?
42 min
11
Fore!
In this grab bag episode, Jess & Kate welcome the two golfers — Maycee Kay Aycock and Sarah Marshall — whose combined score of 434 helped save not only their college’s team, but also an entire conference.
26 min
12
Diamonds
In honor of the Women’s College World Series (and its bonkers ratings), Kate & Jess present an all-softball episode ft. TWO former NCAA champs: Lauren Chamberlain (Oklahoma) and Natasha Watley (UCLA), as well as TWO rabbit holes that dig deep into the future of professional women’s softball.
39 min
13
Ante Up
A jam-packed episode featuring poker champ Annie Duke, who chats with Jess & Kate about the power of quitting, then the show takes a much-needed trip to the multiverse for an episode of the Jess & Kate Show, where the hosts discuss the ridiculous jockstrapGATE that took over golf, and also a very special Campfire about how the runners of San Francisco are attempting a Guinness world record.
44 min
14
Say Cheese
Olympic gold medalist and WNBA champ Jewell Loyd is back for Part II of her interview, where she takes us inside that devastating Seattle Storm loss to the Aces during last season’s playoffs, theeeeeeen, a very special (and very stinky) Campfire segment featuring the winner of a sport you probably have never heard of, but will certainly never forget.
27 min
15
Game Time
The show dips back into the basketball waters — hello, WNBA season! — with WNBA champ, and Seattle Storm cornerstone, Jewell Loyd, who reveals that she and her brother drew up a 5- and 10-year plan for her career BACK IN HIGH SCHOOL.
36 min
16
Support System
OTLG hits all the notes in this episode, from an opening voicemail from Kate’s mom (Happy Mothers Day, y’all!) to a deep discussion about the objectification of female athletes with national champion runner, and New York Times bestselling author (GOOD FOR A GIRL), Lauren Fleshman. Plus, a final update from Anya before next week’s U.S. Open qualifier and, of course … don’t skip the ads!
38 min
17
Stakes
Giddy-up! OTLG goes full Kentucky Derby: Jess and Kate welcome the legend — and winner of a Triple Crown race! — Julie Krone, who gives us the inside scoop on life as a jockey and what kind of hype music she listened to before a big race (hint: SHOWTUNES), then Anya brings us an Extra, Extra! featuring Diana Krump, who was the first female rider in Kentucky Derby history.
41 min
18
Capital T, Capital S
It’s baaaaaack — in honor of their superstar guest, Kate & Jess deliver the first “Does it Hold Up?” of the new era, going all the way back to 1992 to reassess the family-friendly (or maybe not?) comedy, The Mighty Ducks.
42 min
19
Future
Jess & Kate share their visions for the future of women’s sports (Mars, anyone?) after catching up with Anya Alvarez on her journey to the U.S. Open, then the pair are joined by basketball maven Ari Chambers, who takes us inside the busiest week in hoops and leads the hosts down a little Paige Beuckers detour.
38 min
20
Tuxedos
Join Kate and Jess as they discover an almost-never-seen sports flick starring Pistol Pete and their guest, “Machine Gun” Molly Kazmer (nee Bolin), who tells another round of stories from the WBL heyday, including a Hollywood/Des Moines movie premiere, and the Great Tuxedo Rebellion.
30 min
21
Heartland
Jess & Kate take a journey back in time with a legend, “Machine Gun Molly” Kazmer (née Bolin), who grew up playing 6-on-6 in basketball-mad Iowa before starring in the WBL. But first, the pair weighs in — twice, in fact! — on the Angel Reese vs. Caitlin Clark craziness.
43 min
22
The Pill?
The pair take you back to the pod’s drawing-board days, answering questions such as, “What were some abandoned titles for the show?” and “What is your favorite fake ad?” Plus, they tackle important questions from listeners, including, “Is the show jinxing people” and, paramount, “Which college coach would you give truth serum to?”
30 min
23
Where the Buffalo Roam
Come jump on the Colorado Buffaloes’ bandwagon alongside Kate — and maybe, Kate hopes, Jess? — as CU head coach JR Payne joins the pod ahead of her team’s Sweet Sixteen showdown with Caitlin Clark and Iowa.
16 min
24
Cardinal Rule
39 min
25
Mac
Kate and Jess are joined by Stanford basketball star Cameron Brink (who loves Barbie and has never seen Sandlot!), and then they debut a brand new segment called “The OpEd” to discuss a story that piqued their interest — a New York Times article about NIL and the marketing of female athletes — which also connects with Brink.
35 min