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.
Episodes
April 30, 2024 • 73 mins
Joel Anderson, Josh Levin, and Slate’s Alex Kirshner discuss the quarterback frenzy at the top of the NFL draft and Anthony Edwards’ star-making performances in the NBA playoffs. Then, Josh and Stefan Fatsis are joined by cross-country skiing broadcaster Chad Salmela to talk about the remarkable Jessie Diggins.
QBs in the NFL draft (4:23): Was the Falcons’ Michael Penix pick a big mistake?
Edwards (18:44): The Timberwolves guard...
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April 23, 2024 • 65 mins
Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin are joined by writer Tom Haberstroh to discuss Jontay Porter’s lifetime ban from the NBA for gambling. The Ringer’s Ben Lindbergh also joins to talk about the scourge of pitcher injuries in Major League Baseball and what MLB should do to get the crisis under control.
Jontay Porter (2:51): What his ban augurs for the future of pro sports and betting.
Pitcher injuries (26:17): What is M...
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April 16, 2024 • 57 mins
Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin, discuss the death of O.J. Simpson and everything his life and his murder trial dredged up. They’re also joined by Vincent Goodwill of Yahoo Sports for a breakdown of the NBA playoffs.
O.J. Simpson's legacy (2:05): Reckoning with the meaning of O.J.
NBA Playoffs (23:45): Breaking down the upcoming playoff picture.
Afterball (41:42): Joel on O.J. Simpson’s long and not so successful sp...
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April 9, 2024 • 71 mins
Stefan Fatsis and Josh Levin are joined by the Athletic’s Chantel Jennings to talk about South Carolina’s victory over Iowa. They also ponder Caitlin Clark’s WNBA future, John Calipari’s reported move to Arkansas, and Tennessee’s decision to move beyond the Pat Summitt coaching tree. Finally, Sam Koppelman joins to discuss Hunterbrook Media’s new report on Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia’s mortgage company and how Hunterbrook is tryi...
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April 2, 2024 • 76 mins
Joel Anderson and Stefan Fatsis are joined by USA Today’s Lindsay Schnell to talk about the NCAA women’s college basketball tournament and by Buzzer’s Eamonn Brennan to discuss the men’s tournament. Finally, the Washington Post’s Kent Babb joins for a conversation about his profile of Kim Mulkey.
NCAA women (5:55): Can anyone beat South Carolina?
NCAA men (23:02): Why everyone loves North Carolina State’s DJ Burns Jr.
Mulkey pro...
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March 26, 2024 • 64 mins
Joel Anderson, Josh Levin, and Ben Mathis-Lilley talk about whether college hoops has passed by John Calipari and why Oakland’s Jack Gohlke became a folk hero. They also discuss Kim Mulkey’s preemptive strike against the Washington Post and what to make of the strange story of Shohei Ohtani, his interpreter, and massive gambling debts.
NCAA tournament (4:06): The strangeness of tourneys that have mostly gone to form.
Mulkey (23...
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March 19, 2024 • 70 mins
Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin talk about the top storylines going into March Madness. They also assess the NFL’s big quarterback moves. Finally, they discuss the greatest Scrabble play of all time and the fascinating Kiwi who made it.
March Madness (5:20): Brown’s Ivy League loss, the possible showdowns in the women’s bracket, and more.
NFL QBs (26:56): Were the Steelers smart to get Russell Wilson AND Justin Fie...
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March 12, 2024 • 62 mins
Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin are joined by Great Expectations author Vinson Cunningham to talk about the fracas between the LSU and South Carolina women’s basketball teams. They also discuss Steve Garvey, DEI in Florida, and other intersections between sports and politics in 2024.
Women’s hoops (3:24): In so many ways, this weekend showed that this sport has the juice.
Sports and politics (22:07): How athletes are i...
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March 5, 2024 • 60 mins
Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin are joined by NFL reporting legend Peter King to talk about the Chicago Bears’ quarterback dilemma, what he’s seen in his four decades covering pro football, and why Bill Belichick refuses to speak to him.
Justin Fields and Caleb Williams (4:02): What are the Bears going to do?
Peter King looks back (29:48): What stories did he screw up? Which ones does he wish he got to cover?
Aft...
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February 27, 2024 • 66 mins
Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin discuss whether court-storming should be banned for good. The Washington Post’s Sally Jenkins also joins to explain why she believes the NCAA is cheapening Caitlin Clark’s scoring records. Finally, they assess the NCAA’s latest legal trouble and what comes next.
Court-storming (4:41): Is it even possible to stop students from rushing the court?
Clark’s records (22:48): The AIAW’s Lyn...
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February 21, 2024 • 70 mins
Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin discuss whether the NBA All-Star Game is fixable. They also talk about whether Fanatics and Nike are destroying the sports uniform. Finally, writer Abraham Josephine Riesman joins to explain the allegations against wrestling impresario Vince McMahon and why they matter.
All-Star Game (3:16): What can the league do to revive what used to be a showcase event?
Uniforms (22:53): Baseball...
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February 13, 2024 • 63 mins
Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin discuss the Chiefs’ Super Bowl win over the 49ers, the performances of Patrick Mahomes and Brock Purdy, and how the new overtime rules played out. CNBC’s Alex Sherman also comes on to explain whether a new multi-network streaming deal will change how we watch sports.
How the Chiefs won (3:41): This Mahomes guy is pretty good.
Overtime (20:07): Did the 49ers screw up by taking the bal...
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February 6, 2024 • 71 mins
Joel Anderson and Josh Levin are joined by the Athletic’s Chantel Jennings to discuss women’s college basketball stars JuJu Watkins and Caitlin Clark. The Washington Post’s Will Hobson also joins to talk about his piece on the broken promises of the NFL’s concussion settlement. Finally, U.S. senator and New York Knicks legend Bill Bradley discusses his one-man show Rolling Along.
Watkins and Clark (4:29): The biggest stars in wo...
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January 30, 2024 • 70 mins
Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin discuss the 49ers’ comeback win over the Lions and the Chiefs’ victory over the Ravens. The Washington Post’s Ben Golliver also joins to talk about the spate of high-scoring games in the NBA.
49ers-Lions (3:44): Did Dan Campbell’s coaching moves cost Detroit?
Chiefs-Ravens (18:50): Patrick Mahomes won again. Lamar Jackson flopped.
NBA scoring (35:36): Are all these amazing point to...
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January 23, 2024 • 69 mins
Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin discuss Kansas City’s win over Buffalo in the NFL playoffs. Adam Duerson also joins to talk about the collapse of Sports Illustrated and ESPN’s Myron Medcalf comes on for a conversation about second-generation athletes (and how they make us feel old).
Chiefs-Bills (5:00): How Patrick Mahomes took down Josh Allen again.
Sports Illustrated (21:49): Is there a path forward for SI?
Se...
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January 17, 2024 • 81 mins
Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin discuss the opening weekend of the NFL playoffs. They also talk about the departures of coaching legends Nick Saban, Bill Belichick, and Pete Carroll. Finally, Ben Rothenberg joins to discuss his new biography of tennis star Naomi Osaka.
NFL playoffs (3:17): How did the Detroit Lions franchise turn itself around?
Saban, Belichick, and Carroll (26:03): What do these coaching greats ha...
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January 10, 2024 • 80 mins
Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin discuss Michigan’s win over Washington in the College Football Playoff. They also talk about Bill Belichick’s future and the Philadelphia Eagles’ decline. Finally, the Athletic’s Chantel Jennings assesses the state of women’s college basketball and the sport’s new TV deal.
Michigan (7:14): How the Wolverines won it all.
NFL (26:01): Why hasn’t Pats owner Robert Kraft made a move yet?...
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January 3, 2024 • 78 mins
Joel Anderson and Josh Levin are joined by Slate’s Ben Mathis-Lilley to discuss the College Football Playoff semifinals. Vincent Goodwill of Yahoo Sports also joins to talk about the Detroit Pistons’ epic losing streak. Finally, we look back at our 2020 segment on the Pac-12’s #WeAreUnited movement.
CFP semis (5:21): How Michigan and Washington emerged victorious.
Pistons (29:02): How did they get so bad?
#WeAreUnited (51:06)...
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December 25, 2023 • 65 mins
Joel Anderson, Stefan Fatsis, and Josh Levin discuss the most important and most memorable sports moments of 2023. They’re also joined by Mark Wright to talk about his podcast The Bison Project, on Howard University’s 1971 NCAA champion soccer team. Finally, we look back at one of our favorite segments from the recent past, featuring … a mystery guest.
Memorable moments (4:41): Damar Hamlin, Michigan sign-stealing, and everything...
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December 19, 2023 • 78 mins
Joel Anderson, Josh Levin, and Slate’s Alex Kirshner discuss Draymond Green’s indefinite suspension. They also talk about the Washington Capitals and Wizards reportedly leaving D.C. for Northern Virginia. And finally, they examine why every college quarterback is in the transfer portal.
Draymond (4:43): What’s next for him and for the Warriors?
Wiz and Caps (26:12): Are they actually leaving or is this just a classic case of ow...
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