Hang Up and Listen
A weekly sports discussion from Slate.
Get more Hang Up and Listen with Slate Plus! Join for weekly bonus episodes of Hang Up and Listen and ad-free listening on all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe from the Hang Up and Listen show page on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or visit slate.com/hangupplus for access wherever you listen.
526
The Horse Awakens Edition
Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca talk with Slate's Dan Engber about the movie Concussion. They also discuss NFL refereeing, and Sports Illustrated's Tim Layden discusses Serena Williams over American Pharoah as SI's Sportsperson of the Year.
72 min
527
The Universe Really Is Just a Circle Edition
The Hang Up team talk about the Philadelphia 76ers, baseball's newly minted juggernaut, the Chicago Cubs, and self-appointed college football holder of the year Peter Mortell.
71 min
528
The Worst Best Great Mediocre Team Ever Edition
Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca are joined by guest Bryan Curtis to talk college football and Stephanie Cox to discuss the U.S. women's soccer team canceling a game due to poor field conditions. Finally, they discuss the 12-0 Carolina Panthers.
64 min
529
The Barking Where There Are No Dogs Edition
Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca discuss the final years of Peyton Manning and Kobe Bryant. They also talk about LSU's decision to keep Les Miles and Georgia's to fire Mark Richt. Finally, they interview Ian Eagle about how he calls a game.
75 min
530
The Runaway Potting Shed Edition
Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca discuss the Golden State Warriors' amazing start. They also talk about the state of daily fantasy sports, and film director Taika Waititi joins to assess New Zealand rugby star Jonah Lomu, who died at age 40.
70 min
531
The Russians Are Doping Edition
Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca are live from Town Hall in New York City. In this segment from Slate's Superfest, they discuss the Russian track and field doping scandal. Facebook: facebook.com/HangUpAndListen Email: hangup@slate.com Show notes
16 min
532
The Bonus Edition
Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca collect the show's best Slate Plus bonus segments. Topics: how to write a sports column (w/Dan Steinberg), taking your kids to games (w/Allison Benedikt), women in sports media (w/Emma Span), and East Coast bias.
39 min
533
The Serious Times Edition
Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca discuss the Dallas Cowboys' Greg Hardy. Slate's Jamelle Bouie also joins to talk about the Missouri football players' boycott, and they interview Jonathan Hock about his documentary The Gospel According to Mac. H
78 min
534
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
535
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
536
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
537
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
538
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
539
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
540
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
541
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
542
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
543
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
544
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
545
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
546
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
547
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
548
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
549
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
550
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