Naked Sports with Cari Champion

Today, Cari talks with PBS NewsHour co-anchor Geoff Bennett about his book “Black Out Loud” and why the ’90s felt like a once-in-a-lifetime run of Black TV—“how did all of these shows exist on the air at the same time?” He traces the history from minstrelsy and vaudeville to comics like Moms Mabley, Dick Gregory, Richard Pryor, and the Fox era that helped power “In Living Color,” &ldq...

This episode feels like a real check-in on what it takes to show up every day with purpose. Laura Coates walks Cari through her nonstop routine—up at 6 after getting home around 1:30 a.m., researching, doing CNN hits, writing fiction, parenting, then hosting her live 11 p.m. show. She explains why she left government work for TV: she felt “a muzzle” during officer-involved shootings. She wanted truth and justice t...

Cari introduces an interview with surfer Caroline Marks, a 2024 Paris Olympics gold medalist, world champion, and one of six featured athletes in Red Bull’s film “Now Days,” premiering May 1 on Red Bull’s YouTube. Marks explains how women’s surfing has rapidly progressed, including the WSL’s equal pay shift in 2019, and describes how the film—two and a half years in the making—brings ...

Cari has been bouncing between LA and New York and is close to recording from home full-time. She shouts out Kayla Nicole after appearing on her structured, story-driven “Pregame” podcast, saying it changed her perspective and reminded her not to judge people by social media. Now back in NYC, she vents about neighbors leaving shoes and a kid’s bike in the hallway, admits she left a polite note, and asks listeners ...

Today features Wheezy—co-host of Decisions, Decisions (formerly Whoreible Decisions) and an entrepreneur behind Trap Haus Fitness and WTF Media—about sex positivity, public judgment, and the business realities of building a brand. Wheezy explains the name change was driven by missed opportunities and lost ad revenue tied to “Whoreible,” even though the original title fit their message about how liberated wom...

Larry Miller, chairman of the advisory board for Nike’s Jordan Brand, shares how he went from being a smart kid in West Philly to joining a gang, killing a teen at 16, and serving time for murder and later armed robberies. In prison, he earned his GED, entered a college program, got an associate’s degree, then finished a Temple University accounting degree and built a decades-long career while keeping his record private...

Cari welcomes trailblazer Jane Kennedy, praising her as the first Black woman she saw on TV doing sports and urging listeners to read her memoir, Plain Jayne: A Memoir by trailblazing actress and sports broadcaster Jayne Kennedy. Kennedy explains the title as identifying as “the girl next door”, tracing her early pageant and tomboy roots, and describes how limited roles for Black women in 1970s Hollywood ...

Cari reflects on Reverend Jesse Jackson’s death (Tuesday, February 17) and what he represented to her growing up; watching family gather around the TV during his 1984 and 1988 presidential runs, hearing “Keep Hope Alive” and “I am somebody,” and learning how much those messages of dignity and possibility mattered to Black communities. Cari speaks on Jackson’s legacy and contribution to the Civil ...

In this special edition of Naked Sports, host CarI and her friend/co-host Jemele Hill introduce their new podcast, 'Flagrant and Funny.' Recorded live from the Super Bowl, they discuss the podcast's focus on lively conversations about women's sports, culture, and race, emphasizing the need for honest critiques and praise. They share their hesitations and experiences critiquing athletes, drawing parallels between sports critique and...

Cari kicks off the 'Naked Sports' podcast by taking listeners back to 1977, when New York was a mix of World Series excitement and urban crises. The spotlight shines on Elliot Williams, a former federal prosecutor, as he discusses his book 'Five Bullets,' which tells the story of Bernard Goetz, the so-called subway vigilante. Williams recounts Goetz's controversial 1984 shooting of four black teenagers, an event that highlighted ra...

Today, Cari welcomes Selema Masekela, an influential figure in action sports, music, and storytelling. Selema shares his journey of embracing his unique identity, recounting his transformation from being known as 'Sal' to reclaiming his full name, 'Selema.' They discuss the challenges he faced in predominantly white spaces and the significance of maintaining cultural authenticity. Selema talks about his impactful work in expanding ...

Cari shares her experiences at the iHeart LA studios and expresses gratitude to her team. The main discussion features various hot topics, including the controversy surrounding reporter Lynn Jones's compliment to a Jaguars head coach and the blowback it received in the media. Then transitions to the Golden Globes, highlighting celebrities using their platform to advocate for social issues, and praises Mark Ruffalo for his bold stan...

Cari opens with gratitude, welcoming our new viewers, and celebrates a recent spike in YouTube subscribers. Despite battling a cold, the host reflects on a hectic holiday season and an exciting trip to Dubai, where she interviewed tennis legend Novak Djokovic. The conversation then shifts to the recent capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by U.S. forces, sparking debate over the implications and motivations behind this mo...

Isabelle 'Izzy' Harrison Talks Career, WNBA Challenges, and Powerful Journeys 

On this episode of Naked Sports, Cari sits down with one of the real ones — Isabelle Harrison of the New York Liberty.

Izzy opens up about the journey that shaped her; from playing under the legendary Pat Summitt at Tennessee, to making waves in the W with talent, heart, and a whole lot of voice. She gets real about her relationship with ...

Summary: In this final episode for the year, Cari is joined by fellow journalist Ayman Mohyeldin, and they share stories of friendship, mutual passions, and deep dives into how current events and policies shape people's lives. Ayman, originally from Egypt with Palestinian roots, immigrated to Detroit at age five. He expresses his family's journey for a better life and how his background influences his unique perspective on politics...

In part two of the interview on Naked Sports, Joy Reid talks about the intersection of politics, media, and social issues. She expresses her views on the current political landscape, grappling with harassment from conservative figures and the challenges of being a public figure. Reid candidly discusses the impact of legacy media versus independent platforms, her stance on political issues like the Jeffrey Epstein case, and the comp...

In this episode, Cari welcomes Joy Reid by first reflecting on the beauty of their long-standing friendship, which began during the COVID-19 pandemic. Cari talks about their shared friend group, known as “The Machetes,” and their collective mission to create positive cultural change.

After the introduction, Reid joins the conversation to discuss perspectives on the controversial Diddy documentary, shedding light on her ...

We're back with Season 5 of Naked Sports with Cari Champion!

Today, Cari welcomes Audie Cornish, a respected journalist formerly of NPR and now with CNN. Cari expresses her admiration for Audie and invites her to share personal insights, including the origin of her name and her career journey. They discuss the challenges and rewards of their professions and reflect on the importance of curiosity in journalism. The conversation touc...

In the final episode of Naked Sports Season 4, you take a moment to look back and breathe it all in. Cari reflects on the journey — how the show evolved with the culture and the world’s events. Back when it was called Naked, it was all about the intimate, vulnerable stories from our guests. Now, it’s a space where bold voices meet big topics. Case in point? Today’s timely conversation on Ba...