The GIST of It

The GIST of It

The GIST of It is a twice-weekly podcast on what’s going on in the sports world. Hosts Ellen Hyslop and Stephanie Rotz discuss current sports topics and how they intersect with pop culture and social issues, covering everything from major league season previews to calling out the sexist BS we see in sports daily. Expect a hilarious yet informative conversation with a refreshing female perspective on the world of sports.

Episodes

May 12, 2026 26 mins
Softball is having a major moment this season, so on this episode of The GIST of It, co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz head to the diamond to preview the 64-team NCAA national softball tournament which begins on Friday. After consulting with former NCAA softball player (and our senior editor) Lauren Tuiskula, the gals have the low-down on the storylines you need to know, from a record-breaking season of home runs to explaining h...
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At long last, we’re just one day away from the start of the highly-anticipated WNBA season. To celebrate, we have an extra-special treat: Acclaimed sports broadcaster and women’s basketball expert Elle Duncan sat down with The GIST’s Senior Editor Lauren Tuiskula to talk about her move to USA Sports, spill her spiciest women’s sports takes, and share insight into balancing fandom and professionalism in sports journalism. Sporty spi...
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It’s been 33 years since a Canadian team won the Stanley Cup, and with the second round of the playoffs underway, just one squad remains in contention: the Montreal Canadiens. On today’s episode of The GIST of It, co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz dig deep on the Habs, the NHL’s youngest team, before highlighting the other NHL playoff series that has our undivided attention. After that, in today’s Personal Training Session, El a...
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The puck drops now — literally. The PWHL Playoffs begin tonight when the No. 2 seed Boston Fleet take on the No. 4 Ottawa Charge, making this episode of The GIST of It the perfect time for co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz to preview the four-team competition. Who will hoist the coveted Walter Cup? The girls have thoughts — and they’re spilling. 

Show notes:
Episode #551: Our unfiltered PWHL playoff reactions

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You’re gonna want pads for this.

Okay, not really — but after the preview for this members-only episode of The GIST of It, you’ll be more excited about women’s tackle football than ever before. Today, co-host Steph Rotz chats with Odessa “OJ” Jenkins, the founder and CEO of the Women’s National Football Conference (WNFC). If you love this convo, consider joining The GIST Plus for the full episode…and so much more.

Show notes:
Join The...
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Gonna have a good day.

It’s always a good day on The GIST of It when co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz chat women's hockey and WNBA free agency drama — and today’s no different as the PWHL wrapped up the regular-season over the weekend. A full playoff preview is coming your way on Thursday, but today, the girls are taking off the filter: El and Steph have thoughts about everything from the first-round matchups to expansion team r...
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A PWHL post-mortem.

High-stakes sports are happening left, right, and center — and another league is about to join the playoff party: the PWHL. Four teams will vie for the Walter Cup, but equally as intriguing is who won’t be: the league’s two expansion squads. In fact, the Vancouver Goldeneyes and Seattle Torrent were the first teams eliminated from playoff contention. On today’s episode of The GIST of It, co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and...
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Ready to smile?

Then look no further than today’s episode of The GIST of It. Today, co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz are sharing the story of Athletes Unlimited softball’s viral Golden Tickets, handed out to college players around the country to let them know their dreams of becoming a pro softball player are about to come true. It’ll melt your heart in the best way. 

Show notes:
World Series champ Kike Hernandez’ secret to succes...
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It’s giving icy and spicy. 

It’s once again time to talk about the hardest trophy to win in professional sports, the Stanley Cup. The puck drops on the NHL postseason this Saturday, so today’s episode of The GIST of It is all about the best game you can name, from how the playoffs work to the teams co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz are keeping an eye on. Let’s do that hockey.

Show notes:

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✉️ Email: pod@thegistsport...
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Aliyah Funschelle got her start impersonating Gossip Girl. 

Just make it sporty. The content creator has been in the sports game since she was 14, and now she’s reaching new heights, hosting her very own podcast The Match-Up with Aliyah with iHeart Women’s Sports. Today, Funschelle joins The GIST of It host Steph Rotz for a fun, members-only conversation about being women in sports media. Tune in to hear a snippet of that convo befo...
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Batter up!

LA Dodger Kike Hernández knows how to bring the fun to the baseball diamond, but would you believe this three-time World Series champ was once playing at a serious disadvantage? On today’s episode of The GIST of It, senior editor Lauren Tuiskula sits down with Hernández to discuss how a simple eye exam changed his career forever, as well as how the injured outfielder is adjusting to changes in MLB. A true home run. 

Show n...
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It’s tee time.

The 90th edition of the Masters kicks off at Augusta National today. The Masters isn’t just the first of the PGA’s four major tournaments of the season — it’s also a golf competition steeped in tradition, both good and bad. On today’s episode of the GIST of It, co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz dive deep on the Masters’ cultural significance, from the lush greens to the tournament’s history of racism and misogyny, ...
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WNBA free agency is officially underway. 

With more than 100 players available to sign new contracts, potentially with new teams, all eyes are on the WNBA leading up to May 8th’s regular-season tipoff. That’s why co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz are breaking down all the nuances of free agency on today’s episode of The GIST of It, from the ins and outs of the truncated schedule to the players who could be seeking greener pasture...
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Is it hot in here?

Or is it just these takes? On today’s episode of The GIST of It, co-hosts Steph Rotz and Lauren Tuiskula preview the women’s March Madness Final Four, a repeat of last year’s field featuring all four No. 1 seeds: UConn, South Carolina, Texas, and UCLA. Who will end up on top in this clash of queens? Steph and Lauren have a few ideas — and they might surprise you.

Show notes:

More on The GIST: 
🎧 Subscribe: thegistsp...
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It’s time to giggle.

This is a true sporty spice treat, GISTers. Podcast host and comedian Hannah Berner joins our members-only podcast episode today, chatting with Senior Editor Katie Kehoe Foster about all things March Madness — after all, Berner is a recovering Division 1 athlete herself. Tune in to hear a snippet of this super fun conversation, but to get to the end, you’ll need to subscribe to The GIST Plus using the link in ou...
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It’s official.

The historic Houston Comets are back in the WNBA — but the news came with a heaping dose of drama. Instead of awarding Houston a 2027 expansion team, the WNBA is relocating the Connecticut Sun to Houston, where they’ll be rebranded as the Comets, an original (and very successful) W franchise. Needless to say, while some folks are thrilled to see a great WNBA team rise from the dead, others (namely fans of the Connecti...
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Play ball!

Happy Opening Day to all who celebrate — with pitches flying, it’s time to preview the 2026 MLB season. Today's episode of The GIST of It covers it all, from the unsurprising team to beat to the new rule that’s shaking things up. And of course, co-hosts Steph Rotz and Lauren Tuiskula will chat about their respective teams: the Toronto Blue Jays and the Boston Red Sox. Because fandom is better with a friend. 

Show notes:
Mor...
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March 24, 2026 22 mins
No glass slippers here. 

For the second straight year, there aren’t any true Cinderella squads in the men’s March Madness Sweet 16, as every team remaining hails from an NCAA power conference. What gives? On today’s episode of The GIST of It, co-hosts Steph Rotz and Lauren Tuiskula explore the 2024 rule change that changed March Madness forever — and maybe not for the better. 

Show notes:

More on The GIST: 
🎧 Subscribe: thegistsports....
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March 19, 2026 29 mins
Lace up those dancing shoes. It’s time to boogie.

Men’s March Madness officially begins today, with the 64-team first round tipping off at 12:15 p.m. ET. Before the guys and gals hit the hardwood, co-hosts Steph Rotz and Lauren Tuiskula are going all in with a Big Dance primer, spending this episode of The GIST of It talking about the top storylines in the men’s and women’s tourneys. Gimme gimme, shimmy shimmy. 

Show notes:
Join The G...
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There’s legends, and then there’s Alex Morgan. 

The two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup champ is now a certified friend of The GIST after chatting with podcast producer Alessandra Puccio before the start of the biggest-ever NWSL season. Morgan is using her platform to make youth soccer safer across the country and spilling tea along the way, from her future as a youth soccer coach to her favorite players to watch in the NWSL. Pour yours...
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