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.
526
The Lord Stanley's Coffee Urn Edition
Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca talk about Jordan Spieth’s runaway Masters win. They also interview Sonny Vaccaro about the new documentary Sole Man. Finally, they ogle the Stanley Cup and speak to the trophy’s keeper Philip Pritchard.
61 min
527
The Earworm Madness Edition
Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca talk about Wisconsin’s upset victory over Kentucky and the start of the 2015 baseball season. They also interview composer Bob Christianson, who has written more than two dozen sports television theme tunes.
65 min
528
The UConn Territory Edition
Special guest Kate Fagan of ESPN joins hosts Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin.
66 min
529
The Stuffed Sparrow on a Cricket Ball Edition
Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca talk about the opening weekend of the NCAA tournament and the early retirement of San Francisco 49ers linebacker Chris Borland. They’re also joined by writer Andrew Miller to discuss the Cricket World Cup.
63 min
530
The Hate, Hope, and Hockey Edition
Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca talk about the NCAA tournament and ESPN’s I Hate Christian Laettner. They also discuss all the player movement during NFL free agency, and Bruce Arthur joins to assess the imploding Toronto Maple Leafs.
67 min
531
The College Hoops in Crisis Edition
Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca talk about college hoops’ slow pace with Ken Pomeroy. They also discuss the decline of the NFL running back and interview Errol Morris about his new series of short sports documentaries for ESPN.
63 min
532
The Good News for People Who Love Stat News Edi...
Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca are joined by ESPN.com’s Kevin Pelton to talk about the Sloan Sports Analytics Conference. They also discuss Larry Sanders’ decision to leave the NBA and Ben Rothenberg joins to examine match-fixing in tennis.
61 min
533
The Two Guys Punching Each Other in the Face Ed...
Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca are joined by Grantland’s Eric Raskin to discuss Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao. They also compare Alex Rodriguez and Kobe Bryant, and they look at new rules designed to make baseball speedier.
63 min
534
The Twerking Unicorns Edition
Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca talk about Kevin Durant’s anti-media rant. They also discuss Jackie Robinson West Little League losing its U.S. title and Slate’s Daniel Engber joins to explore the art and science of free-throw distraction.
66 min
535
The Not-So-Menacing Red Menace Edition
Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca are joined by Sports Illustrated‘s Alexander Wolff to talk about Dean Smith, by Nathaniel Vinton to discuss U.S. ski racers, and by Jonathan Hock for a chat about his Soviet hockey documentary Of Miracles and Me
68 min
536
The One Yard From Stardom Edition
Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca talk about New England’s 28-24 Super Bowl win. Grantland’s Bryan Curtis joins to discuss the game’s surprising stars and NBC’s lead producer Fred Gaudelli gives a behind-the-scenes look at the TV broadcast
74 min
537
The Good Sport, Bad Sport Edition
Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca talk about Deflategate. They also interview John Biever, who’s photographed every Super Bowl, and tennis player Tim Smyczek, who’s been lauded for his sportsmanship after losing a tight match to Rafael Nadal.
76 min
538
The Deflated Balls Edition
Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca talk about the Seahawks’ comeback win and the Patriots’ allegedly deflated balls; interview NBC producer Fred Gaudelli about televising the Super Bowl; and talk to Puck Daddy’s Greg Wyshynski about the NHL.
83 min
539
The Football Move Edition
Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca talk about the NFL playoffs and Dez Bryant’s disputed catch. ESPN’s Tom Haberstroh joins to assess the NBA’s Hawks and Pistons and Andrew Bisharat talks about the first free ascent of El Capitan’s Dawn Wal
71 min
540
The Great Scott Edition
Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca talk about the opening weekend of the NFL playoffs and the inaugural college football playoffs, wherein the SEC went down to a crushing defeat. ESPN’s Jay Harris also joins to discuss the death of Stuart Scott.
59 min
541
The Troubleshooter, the Faluter, and the Kid Ed...
Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca take listeners’ questions in a special year-end call-in show. Topics range from their greatest sports moments to what to watch on TV when you can’t sleep to gender bias in the sports media.
58 min
542
The Inside the NBA Insider Edition
Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca discuss Kentucky's surplus of basketball talent. They also talk with Sports Illustrated executive editor Jon Wertheim about the future of sports TV and assess Yahoo NBA writer Adrian Wojnarowski.
55 min
543
The I Love It When a Plan Comes Together Edition
Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca discuss Kobe Bryant’s legacy and the NBA’s conference imbalance. They also talk to Baseball Prospectus’ Sam Miller about MLB’s winter meetings and interview attorney Sharon Vinick about NFL cheerleader law
67 min
544
The Transactions vs. Transgressions Edition
Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca discuss the pairings for the inaugural College Football Playoff and look at UAB’s decision to drop its football program. They also interview legendary journalist Robert Lipsyte about his tenure as ESPN ombudsman
80 min
545
Hang Up Extra: Brooklyn's Baseball Graves
Slate's sports podcast pays a visit to the final resting places of Henry Chadwick, Charles Ebbets, and others
15 min
546
The Rice Reinstated Edition
Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca discuss the decision to overturn Ray Rice’s suspension and the injury-riddled careers of Robert Griffin III and Derrick Rose. Gideon Haigh also joins to talk about the on-field death of cricketer Phillip Hughes.
68 min
547
Hang Up and Listen: The Beckham Doesn’t Need St...
Slate’s sports podcast on Odell Beckham Jr.’s amazing catch, painkiller usage in the NFL, and Adrian Peterson’s extended suspension.
61 min
548
The Superfest East, Live in Brooklyn Edition
Hang Up and Listen joins the Political and Culture Gabfests, onstage at the Music Hall of Williamsburg with emcee Dan Kois, for a blockbuster show in front of a live audience.
75 min
549
The Whore No More Edition
Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca talk to Whore of Akron author Scott Raab about LeBron James’s return to Ohio. They also examine the NFL’s obsession with London and review ESPN’s documentary about Livan and Orlando Hernandez, Brothers in Ex
72 min
550
The SEC Ganks Noobs Edition
Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin ask Paul Finebaum about ESPN’s alleged pro-SEC bias. They also talk to Amanda Hess about Lauren Hill and inspirational sports moments and quiz Seth Stevenson about the video game League of Legends and the rise of e-sports.
61 min