The Lead

With the Taliban returning to power in Afghanistan, many groups have been fearful of retribution, including the Afghan Women's National Soccer Team, which has long been a symbol of defiance to the ultra-conservative Islamic group. Last week, against all odds (and amidst the chaos at the Kabul airport), the players and their family members managed to make it out of the country alive. Today, we have the inside story of their incredible escape, which included secret communications, beatings by the Taliban, and wading through a canal filled with sewage water -- and how teamwork ultimately helped them survive.Here are links to some of the organizations working to help the team:Girl Power - https://www.girlpowerorg.com/Human Right For All - https://www.hr4a.com.au/Centre For Sport And Human Rights - https://www.sporthumanrights.org/FIFPRO - https://www.fifpro.org/enSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The start of the NFL season is now just two weeks away. And while teams have been hard at work in training camps, The Athletic’s Lindsay Jones has also been hard at work -- traveling to those camps. Lindsay joins us today to share her observations from recent trips to Jacksonville, Miami, Tampa, and Denver, where she had a front row seat for everything from Urban Meyer's unconventional practices to Tom Brady's seemingly ageless arm.More from Lindsay Jones:https://theathletic.com/author/lindsay-jones/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Heading into this MLB season — the 15th of his career — it looked like Joey Votto might be on the decline. But this summer, the charismatic Cincinnati Reds first baseman has found another gear. The Athletic’s Trent Rosecrans collected stories about Votto’s larger-than-life personality, and today, he joins us to look at how the veteran’s sometimes strange behavior (including non-stop mopping) helps power his still-elite production. Read the full story about Joey Votto from Trent Rosecrans, Rustin Dodd and Jayson Jenks: https://theathletic.com/2479327/2021/04/13/joey-votto-is-playing-chess-and-the-rest-of-us-are-playing-checkers-reds-first-baseman-may-be-the-most-interesting-man-in-baseball/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Manchester City dropped their opening game to Tottenham, but still look like title favorites. New signing Romelu Lukaku shined in his debut for Chelsea over the weekend, and the Blues are off to a perfect 2-0 start. Paul Pogba is off to a record-setting campaign for Manchester United, and the Red Devils also look poised to challenge for the title. Arsenal? Not so much. So, who will be sitting atop the standings when the season wraps up ? The Athletic's Ed Malyon joins us make his picks, and to break down what we've seen in the Premier League season so far.More from Ed Malyon:https://theathletic.com/author/ed-malyon/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

With fans back in the stands during the 2021 MLB season, we’ve seen the return of one of baseball’s most unique traditions: fans interacting with outfielders while they’re playing in the field. However, as fun as these interactions can be, there are times that the dynamic turns dangerous, like the incident this year where a fan threw a baseball at Red Sox outfielder Alex Verdugo. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Eno Sarris to discuss why these interactions are a double-edged sword, and whether they should ultimately be a part of the game. Read Eno Sarris’s full story about outfielder-fan interactions: https://theathletic.com/2754023/2021/08/19/carne-asada-fries-pizza-bird-legs-the-unexpected-potential-of-outfield-fan-interactions/?source=theleadpodcast See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In late June, the college sports landscape changed forever when the NCAA's Board of Governors voted to allow student athletes to profit from their name, image and likeness -- or NIL. Notre Dame star safety Kyle Hamilton and his family have wasted no time in exploring what this new reality means for his ability to build a brand before he even enters the NFL as potential top-10 pick. Today The Athletic's Pete Sampson takes us inside Hamilton's new life as both a football player and a trailblazer in the new world of NIL and college athletics.Read Pete Sampson's story about Kyle Hamilton here: https://theathletic.com/2754680/2021/08/06/inside-kyle-hamilton-inc-notre-dame-stars-unofficial-family-startup/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In her early teens, Morgan Stickney was a highly accomplished swimmer who had a legitimate shot at the Olympics. Then came a mysterious series of injuries that upended her life and left doctors across the country scratching their heads. Now, a decade later, Morgan is one of the U.S.‘s top swimmers and a favorite to win gold at the Tokyo Paralympics. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For a lot of fans, the first thing that comes to mind with minor league baseball is family fun, goofy promotions and generally just an all-around happy environment. However, in 2021, the reality for the players — especially when it comes to finances — is a lot more bleak. The Athletic's Britt Ghiroli recently reported on the squalor that many minor leaguers have been living in, from roach infestations to sometimes sleeping out of cars. Today, she joins us to discuss why this is reaching a boiling point in 2021, and what can ultimately be done about it. Read Britt Ghiroli’s full story about minor league baseball living conditions: https://theathletic.com/2750280/2021/08/05/cockroaches-car-camping-poverty-wages-why-are-minor-leaguers-living-in-squalor/?source=theleadpodcast See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A year ago, Tyler Gilbert was a minor league castoff who had returned to his hometown to train with his high school baseball coach and to work with his dad, who is an electrician. Then, this past weekend, against all odds, Gilbert threw a no-hitter for the Arizona Diamondbacks in his first major league start -- a feat that has been accomplished by only three other people in history. Zach Buchanan, who covers the Diamondbacks for The Athletic, joins us to discuss how Gilbert's incredible 180 came about, where he goes from here, and the scout who saw something special in Gilbert where others did not.Read Zach Buchanan's full story about Tyler Gilbert:https://theathletic.com/2771005/2021/08/15/there-was-never-a-doubt-how-diamondbacks-rookie-tyler-gilbert-went-from-nobody-to-no-hitter/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Nothing determines an NFL team's success more than the guy who lines up under center. But one of the trickiest things in the sport is figuring out which guys can really move the needle. For the past eight years, The Athletic's Mike Sando has polled coaches, general managers, and other decision makers from around the league to rank the NFL's best (and worst) quarterbacks. He joins us today to share some of the insights he gained from talking to these people and gives us his best guess as to which one of the incoming rookie quarterbacks could be a difference maker for his team in year one.Read Mike Sando's Quarterback Tiers story here: https://theathletic.com/2727336/2021/07/28/2021-nfl-quarterback-tiers-50-coaches-and-evaluators-rank-the-leagues-starters/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Carolina Panthers are hoping to make some noise in the NFC South this season, and one key component to their success is their dynamic young defensive end, Brian Burns. As it turns out, Burns’s development has been fueled in part by his older brother, Stanley McClover, who endured a difficult stretch after his own NFL career ended. Today, The Athletic’s Joe Person has the story of how McClover helped his brother make it to the NFL, and found new purpose for himself along the way. Follow Joe Person’s coverage of the Panthers: https://theathletic.com/author/joseph-person/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The second season of Ted Lasso is now underway, and that means we’re all being treated to more hilarious scenes of Jason Sudeikis’s signature coaching character and his unyielding positivity. Earlier this year, The Athletic’s Rustin Dodd tracked down the real life coach who inspired Sudeikis's Lasso character, at least in part, and he joined us to talk about the coach and the impact he had on Sudeikis's life. (This episode first aired on March 18, 2021.)Read Rustin Dodd's full story about Ted Lasso:https://theathletic.com/2430910/2021/03/15/ted-lasso-jason-sudeikis-coach-kansas/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

At the Tokyo Olympics last week, U.S. track and field star Allyson Felix won gold in the women’s 4 x 400 meter relay, making her the most decorated American track and field athlete ever. Today, we’re replaying an episode that aired in the buildup to the Games. Tiffany spoke with The Athletic’s Kavitha Davidson (our very own former co-host!) about how Allyson Felix experienced an awakening through her high-profile fallout with Nike two years ago, going from an eyes-on-the-prize athletes to an advocate for mothers, and where she hopes to go next with her career.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The word out of the San Francisco 49ers training camp is that rookie quarterback Trey Lance has been looking good, and head coach Kyle Shanahan recently said that the former North Dakota State star will definitely be getting minutes this year. So, today, we’re replaying an episode that first aired back in May, shortly after Lance was, somewhat surprisingly, drafted 3rd overall by the 49ers. The Athletic’s Dan Hayes traveled to Trey’s hometown of Marshall, Minnesota, and he joined us to talk about the town that a frozen food company built, why Trey’s talents were overlooked for so long in high school and college, and what his joining the 49ers meant to people back home. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Over the weekend, a tearful Lionel Messi stood at a podium and announced that he would, in fact, be leaving Barcelona -- the team and city that have been his home for the past 21 years. But one of the silver linings of this sad saga is that Messi could very well be reunited with his good friend and former Barcelona teammate, Neymar, at Paris St. Germain. The Athletic’s Jack Lang joined us to back in May to talk about why the Brazilian striker both delights and enrages soccer fans, the role that Messi played in his development, and why it might be time to stop hating the sublimely talented star. (Note: This episode originally aired on May 6, 2021.)Read Jack Lang's original story about Neymar:https://theathletic.com/2518636/2021/04/14/seriously-what-is-it-that-makes-you-hate-neymar/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Trey Mancini's incredible comeback story continues. In March of last year, the Baltimore Orioles first baseman was diagnosed with stage III colon cancer, and began undergoing cancer treatment -- right around the time the world was shutting down because of the pandemic. Today, the O's slugger is once again putting up solid numbers, and he even advanced to the final of the home run derby a few weeks ago. The Athletic's Dan Connolly had in-depth conversations with both Mancini and his girlfriend, Sara Perlman, about what life was like before, during, and after the diagnosis, and he joins us today to describe the slugger's strength and struggles along the path to recovery. (Note: This story first aired on March 4th, 2021).Read Dan Connolly's full story about Trey Mancini:https://theathletic.com/2413122/2021/03/01/orioles-trey-mancini-cancer-recovery/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

You probably know that Simone Biles withdrew from several gymnastics events at the Olympics last week and then returned this week to win a bronze medal in the balance beam. But did you know that a statue of a sumo wrestler has been terrifying horses at equestrian events? Today on the show, we recap some of the most unforgettable stories of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics -- from Italian announcers absolutely losing it while calling the men's 100-meter finals to a teenage skateboarder accidentally bowling over a cameraman to NBA legend Bill Walton making a perplexing appearance on NBC's Tokyo Tonight. And, you know, some incredible athletic achievements.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

At the Tokyo Olympics, Japan has more or less dominated the competition in a martial art that originated in Japan -- judo. But it turns out, it was actually an American who is responsible for judo becoming an Olympic sport in the first place. The Athletic's Daniel Brown recently sat down with the now 101-year-old Californian, Yoshihiro "Yosh" Uchida, to talk about his incredible life journey -- from growing up on a tomato farm to becoming a judo pioneer and now an Olympic legend (with a whole lot of challenges along the way) -- and why he doesn't plan to let the pandemic stop him from getting back onto the mat or continuing to grow the sport for future generations. Plus, the untold story of Uchida's impact on an NFL coaching legend.Read Dan Brown's full story about Yosh Uchida's incredible life:https://theathletic.com/2716391/2021/07/26/2021-olympics-judo-yosh-uchida/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We have reached the semifinals of the men’s Olympic basketball tournament, and one of the teams still standing is the three-time defending gold medalist United States. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Joe Vardon — who’s in Tokyo — for the latest on Kevin Durant, Damian Lillard, Jrue Holiday and Team USA, their biggest challengers for gold (including Luka Doncic and Slovenia), and what life is like inside the Olympic bubble. Follow Joe Vardon’s coverage from the Tokyo Olympics: https://theathletic.com/author/joe-vardon/?source=theleadpodcast See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We have already seen a number of new Olympic sports make exciting debuts in Tokyo, including surfing and skateboarding. This week, we’re adding one more to that list, as we watch the first Olympic appearance of sport climbing. Today, we’re joined by Alex Honnold — from the Academy Award-winning documentary "Free Solo" — to look at how climbing finally got into the Olympic Games, and the incredible demands that will be placed on athletes vying for medals this week.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The college football world was thrown into a tizzy last week when Oklahoma and Texas announced that they planned to leave to their home in the Big 12 for the SEC by 2025. The story took an even stranger turn when Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby accused ESPN of trying to sabotage his conference to expedite the move. Today, The Athletic's Max Olson gives us the inside story of this seismic move that has put the Big 12 on life support and what it could all mean for the future of college football.Read Max Olson's college football coverage here: https://theathletic.com/author/max-olson/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

New Zealand weightlifter Laurel Hubbard became the first openly trans athlete to qualify for the Olympics earlier this year, and is considered one of the favorites to win a medal in her competition next week. Meanwhile, the South African runner (and two-time gold medalist) Caster Semenya is not competing in the Olympics at all this year, because of a recent ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. So why is one of these athletes allowed to compete while the other is not? And what does that tell us about how the IOC determines sex? Madeleine Pape, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Lausanne (and an ex-Olympian who competed against Caster Semenya in the 800-meter) joins us to explain.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Coming into the Tokyo Olympics, the U.S. Women's Soccer Team was the clear favorite to bring home a gold medal, which would make them the first team to ever a World Cup title and an Olympic title back-to-back. But after dropping their first game to Sweden 3-0, and battling Australia to a tough 0-0 draw, some questions have started to emerge about the squad and head coach Vlatko Andonovski, who is leading the team in a major tournament for the first time. The Athletic's Meg Linehan and Steph Yang join us to break down what went wrong for the U.S. in that opening loss, the journeys that Alex Morgan and Carli Lloyd went on to make it to the tournament, and what now stands between the team and a gold medal.More from Meg Linehan: https://theathletic.com/author/meg-linehan/More from Steph Yang: https://theathletic.com/author/steph-yang/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Tokyo Olympics are in full swing, and already there have been a number of surprising developments from Japan, including Simone Biles deciding to withdraw from the women’s team gymnastics competition and the individual all-around competition, and Katie Ledecky losing for the first time ever at the Olympics — but rebounding to win gold. Today, we break down the stories that have captured our attention for a wide range of reasons, including 17-year-old Lydia Jacoby winning a gold medal for Alaska, a gymnast saying farewell at age 46, and an out-of-place boat derailing the start of the men’s triathlon.Follow The Athletic’s coverage of the Tokyo Olympics: https://theathletic.com/olympics/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The NBA Draft is almost here and one of the most intriguing prospects at the top of the lottery is USC big man Evan Mobley. The seven footer's game has drawn comparisons to reigning finals MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and All-NBA big man Anthony Davis, but questions over his introverted personality and skinny frame have some evaluators questioning if he can actually reach his incredible upside. The Athletic's Sam Vecenie spent some time with Mobley during his lone college season and he joins us to discuss whether the concerns over the big man's mentality are overblown and whether or not he could actually become the best player in this draft. Then he tells us about his evaluation of presumptive number one pick Cade Cunningham and picks one player who could be this draft's most undervalued prospect.Read all of Sam Vecenie's NBA Draft coverage here: https://theathletic.com/author/sam-vecenie/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Carissa Moore is not your typical surfer. Before she could walk, her father had her on his surfboard so that she could get the feel of the water. By age ten, she had been labeled a prodigy. At 14, she defeated the top-ranked women's surfer in the world (twice). And now, at age 28, she is a four-time world champion -- and one of the favorites to win gold at the Tokyo Olympics. But, on top of all her natural talent, she also breaks a lot of stereotypes about surfers. The Athletic's Christopher Kamrani recently interviewed Carissa and her father, Chris (who is still her coach), and he joins us today to explain how Carissa developed her incredible talents, and how she and her dad have walked the line between pursuing a dream and finding peace.Read Christopher Kamrani's full story about Carissa Moore:https://theathletic.com/2692257/2021/07/08/carissa-moore-olympics-surfing/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Opening Ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics is tonight, and one of the biggest stars to watch on the U.S. team is five-time Olympic gold medalist Katie Ledecky. Today, The Athletic’s Nicole Auerbach joins us to tell the story of the backyard pool where Ledecky kept her training going in the spring of 2020, the bond she formed with the family who shared the same space, and how the whole thing could impact her pursuit of history in Tokyo. Read Nicole Auerbach’s full story about Katie Ledecky: https://theathletic.com/2609313/2021/05/26/katie-ledecky-olympics-tokyo-swimming/?source=theleadpodcast See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

At every Olympic Games, there are thousands of stories. This year, Simone Manuel looks to solidify her legacy as the greatest gymnast of all time. Katie Ledecky could become the most decorated female athlete in Olympic history. And Trayvon Bromell aims to claim the title of 'world's fastest man.' But there are also so many more. The Athletic's Zack Pierce joins us to talk through some of the biggest and most fascinating storylines to follow from Team USA during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, including a softball duo's 13-year quest for redemption, a teen prodigy who could inherit the crown in swimming, and a rock legend's horse-riding daughter.Read Zack Pierce's full rundown of U.S. athletes to follow:https://theathletic.com/2706266/2021/07/19/meet-team-usa-every-athlete-at-the-2021-olympics-and-what-to-know-about-each-event/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In each of the past two seasons, the Milwaukee Bucks came up short in the playoffs after amassing incredible regular season records. With each loss, the questions over whether this team, its coach, and its star player could ever get to the mountaintop grew. On Tuesday night, all those questions were answered. Giannis Antetokounmpo had an historic night, becoming only the 7th player in history to score 50 points in an NBA Finals game, and the Bucks brought a championship back to Milwaukee for the first time in 50 years. Today, The Athletic's Eric Nehm, who has covered Antetokounmpo's entire career, tells us how the star forward changed the narrative around his playoff performances and how the Bucks finally overcame the ghosts of playoffs past.Read Eric Nehm's Milwaukee Bucks coverage: https://theathletic.com/author/eric-nehm/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The 2021 NBA Draft is next Thursday, and one guy who has defied the odds (in a truly unprecedented way) to become a projected pick is Ohio University junior Jason Preston. The Athletic's James Edwards III recently interviewed Preston, and he joins us to explain how the late-blooming guard went from being a high school benchwarmer in Florida, to an aspiring basketball journalist, to an overnight college basketball sensation -- and how a family tragedy continues to fuel him.Read James Edward III's story about Jason Preston:https://theathletic.com/2707091/2021/07/15/from-pistons-blogger-to-likely-2021-nba-draft-pick-meet-jason-preston/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

U.S. track and field legend Allyson Felix is on the way to her fifth Olympic Games after qualifying for the 400 meter and the 4 x 400 meter relay. She and her 2-year-old daughter Camryn also stole the show (and kinda broke the Internet) at the Olympic Trials last month with an incredible display of cuteness after the race. The Athletic's Kavitha Davidson -- our very own former co-host! -- recently spoke with Felix about her incredible journey to qualifying for the Tokyo Games, and how her high-profile falling out with Nike two years ago transformed her from a quiet, eyes-on-the-prize runner to an advocate for mothers -- and now a businesswoman who says her new shoe company aims to do things differently.Read Kavitha Davidson's full story about Allyson Felix:https://theathletic.com/2702778/2021/07/13/i-hope-that-women-just-realize-their-worth-allyson-felix-bolstering-her-legend-status-by-fighting-for-mothers/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The U.S. Men's National Basketball team has won four straight gold medals and looked pretty much unbeatable since 2004. That is, until recently. In the run-up to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the Americans lost back to back games against Australia and Nigeria, and raised doubts over whether this team has what it takes to continue the streak of basketball dominance that the U.S. men's team has enjoyed for nearly two decades. The Athletic's Joe Vardon is embedded with the squad as they prepare for the Games. Today, we asked him whether fans should be worried about the teams prospects going forward or if this is just the growing pains of a hastily assembled squad.Follow Joe Vardon's coverage of Team USA here: https://theathletic.com/author/joe-vardon/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The 2021 NFL offseason has delivered a lot of surprising decisions, from the Bears moving up to draft Justin Fields to the Falcons moving on from franchise legend Julio Jones to the Raiders completely remaking their offensive line (for reasons that aren't entirely clear). Today, The Athletic’s Robert Mays joins us to break down some of the best, worst and most notable decisions of the NFL offseason — including the Tampa Bay Buccaneers bringing back all 22 starters from their Super Bowl-winning team — and what it all means for the season that’s ahead.Follow Robert Mays’s coverage of the NFL: https://theathletic.com/author/robert-mays/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For weeks, Japanese citizens have been holding protests about the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and saying that Japan should not be hosting the Games in the midst of a worsening coronavirus pandemic. A recent poll showed that 80 percent of the public opposes holding the Olympics, and medical experts have warned that the Games could be a super-spreader event that will further strain the country's health care system. Now the government has declared a state of emergency, meaning many businesses are closing their doors, a move that has further enraged many business owners. So, with public opinion so squarely against them, why has the Japanese government continued to insist that the Olympic Games must go on? Anthony Kuhn, NPR's international correspondent in Seoul, joins us to explain why the government's position is about more than the bottom line.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Chris Paul is not everyone's cup of tea. During the course of his career, the diminutive point guard has often rubbed teammates the wrong way during his career and that became an easy knock against one of the greatest players of his generation who never made an NBA Finals. Over the past few seasons, Paul has seemed to turn over a new leaf, and in Phoenix he's found a group of teammates who want to listen to the 16-year-veteran. The Athletic's Jovan Buha has been reporting on the Suns during their magical playoff run. He joined the show to talk about how Paul's leadership has matured since his early days in New Orleans and why this new approach has been so effective in The Valley. Read Jovan Buha's story about Chris Paul's leadership: https://theathletic.com/2690467/2021/07/06/chris-pauls-leadership-has-evolved-with-suns-its-only-leadership-if-people-follow-you/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Major League Baseball has arrived at the All-Star break, and during the first half of the season, no player has put on a more amazing all-around show than Angels slugger/ace Shohei Ohtani. Today, The Athletic’s Joe Posnanski joins us to break down some of the season’s biggest story lines, including Ohtani’s superhuman feats, Jacob deGrom’s brilliance, the return to dominance of baseball’s most controversial team — the Houston Astros — and whether MLB is finally getting its sticky substance problem under control. Follow Joe Posnanski’s coverage of Major League Baseball: https://theathletic.com/author/joe-posnanski/?source=theleadpodcast See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After more than 50 years of waiting, England fans saw their team reach the final of a major tournament on Wednesday after the Three Lions knocked off Denmark at Wembley Stadium. The soundtrack for this historic run is a song that debuted 25 years ago, the last time England hosted a European tournament, and produced a memorable slogan for English fans, 'It's Coming Home.' Today, The Athletic's Jack Pitt-Brooke joins us to talk about the origins of the song that led to the chant, why it's so divisive among some fans and players, and what Gareth Southgate has brought to the national team setup to get them back to the mountaintop.Read Jack Pitt-Brooke's story about the origins of The Three Lions: https://theathletic.com/2689661/2021/07/07/its-coming-home-dream-boast-or-way-of-life/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Two years ago, the Scripps National Spelling Bee had arguably the most dramatic -- and delightful -- ending in its nearly hundred-year history. After five rounds and forty-seven words spelled correctly, the judges threw in the towel and declared eight co-champions, much to the joy of the contestants and the millions who tuned in on television. So, now that the kids have bested the competition, the organizers have been forced to find a new way to challenge them. The Athletic’s Seth Davis recently took a break from the college hoops beat to write about Scripps' new rules this year (and people's opinions about them), a 14-year-old girl who is one of the favorites to win, and why the spelling bee is not what many people assume.Read Seth Davis's full story about the 2021 Scripps Spelling Bee:https://theathletic.com/2686719/2021/07/07/the-scripps-national-spelling-bee-is-approaching-its-reckoning-will-the-dictionary-strike-back/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Heading into the 2021 MLB season, the NL West was supposed to be a showdown between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres. But for the first half of the year, the San Francisco Giants stole the show. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Andrew Baggarly to look at how this team of veterans (including Buster Posey, Brandon Crawford and Evan Longoria) has managed to exceed basically all expectations, and whether they are built to keep it going. Follow Andrew Baggarly’s coverage of the Giants: https://theathletic.com/author/andrew-baggarly/?source=theleadpodcast See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Two years ago, the Tampa Bay Lightning suffered one of the most humiliating defeats in NHL history, getting swept in the first round of the playoffs by the #8 seed Columbus Blue Jackets (after compiling the best regular season record in league history). It was the latest in a series of playoff failures for the talented Bolts, and many people began wondering if they needed a new coach and a roster makeover to start winning in the playoffs. Now, the team is on the cusp of winning back-to-back Stanley Cups, with the same core group of players and head coach Jon Cooper still at the helm. The Athletic's Joe Smith joins us today to talk about the man who decided to stay the course, and how the organization seems to have built a championship culture in Tampa.More from Joe Smith:https://theathletic.com/author/joe-smith/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Fernando Tatis Jr. has been red hot lately. So, today, we're replaying an episode that originally aired back in February, after the superstar signed his massive deal with the Padres. The Athletic’s Dennis Lin joined us to look at how the idea for Tatis Jr.’s deal was inspired by a pair of statues, and how a unique bond between player and general manager helped this contract become a reality.More from Dennis Lin:https://theathletic.com/author/dennis-lin/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The hottest bat in baseball doesn’t belong to Fernando Tatis Jr. or even Shohei Ohtani. No that title currently belongs to Washington Nationals left fielder Kyle Schwarber. After the worst season of his career in 2020, Schwarber has managed to get his groove back and take his game to new heights in 2021. Today, The Athletic’s Maria Torres joins us to talk about the hitting coach who helped Schwarber find his swing again and whether or not this changes how we should perceive him as a player going forward.Read Maria Torres’ story about Kyle Schwarber: https://theathletic.com/2681453/2021/06/30/unleashed-the-beast-kyle-schwarbers-historic-home-run-streak-has-been-months-in-the-making/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On Tuesday night, we saw yet another injury to a star player during these NBA Playoffs, as Giannis Antetokounmpo went down with a knee injury in a loss to the Atlanta Hawks in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Today, The Athletic’s Eric Nehm on the Bucks chances for survival if they are without the two-time MVP, and why former second-round pick Khris Middleton could be the guy to carry them. Read Eric Nehm’s full story about Khris Middleton: https://theathletic.com/2677215/2021/06/28/giannis-antetokounmpo-sings-khris-middletons-praises-after-game-3-heroics-i-trust-this-guy-to-death/?source=theleadpodcast See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Italian men's national soccer team is off to a flying start at the 2020 European Championship, and is now one of the favorites to win the tournament. Which makes it easy to forget that, just a few years ago, the Azzuri suffered through an almost unspeakable tragedy that the Italian press dubbed “The Apocalypse" -- failing to quality for the World Cup. Today, The Athletic’s James Horncastle joins us from Rome to explain how Italy has found its way back from the end of the (footballing) world thanks to a coach with a complicated history with the team. Plus, how the Italians have had an unusual ace up their sleeve during the tournament -- a former banker with a notebook full of secret plays.Read James Horncastle's full story about Italy's renaissance under Roberto Mancini:https://theathletic.com/2634406/2021/06/08/italys-rebirth-and-mancinis-second-chance-how-the-azzurri-came-back-from-the-brink/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In April, less than a month after their team was eliminated from the 2021 NCAA tournament, eleven players from the Syracuse Women's Basketball program had announced that they would be transferring from the program -- the most of any basketball program in the country. Head coach Quentin Hillsman said it was nothing to be concerned about and indicated that the new NCAA transfer portal, which allows players to move more freely between schools, was to blame. But when The Athletic's Chantel Jennings and Dana O'Neil started speaking with former members of the program, they heard a very different, and much more troubling, explanation for the mass exodus. They join us today to explain what they found during their two-month investigation.Read Chantel and Dana's full story:https://theathletic.com/2678410/2021/06/29/why-the-mass-exodus-from-syracuse-womens-basketball-ego-manipulation-fear-tactics/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Stanley Cup Finals begin tonight, with the defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning hosting the upstart darlings of Quebec, the Montreal Canadiens. For the Lightning, all eyes will be on their superstar who missed the entire regular season, only to come back and lead them in scoring during the playoffs -- former Hart Trophy winner Nikita Kucherov. The Athletic's Joe Smith has been following the Lightning up close all season, and he joins us to discuss how Kucherov managed to regain his red hot form after five months off, what we learned about Kucherov and the Lightning during a hard-fought seven-game series against the New York Islanders, and why NHL legends like Doug Gilmour and Scotty Bowman think the Russian star is so special.More of Joe Smith's Lightning coverage:https://theathletic.com/author/joe-smith/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When Albert Pujols was released by the Angels, it seemed like it might the unceremonious end to a decorated career in Major League Baseball. Then Pujols raised eyebrows by signing with the Dodgers, a team in the National League with no designated hitter slot. People around the league wondered if Pujols had any gas left in the tank, and the man with over 670 home runs to his name has proven that he's not yet out of fuel. Today, The Athletic's Molly Knight joins us to talk about Pujols' play with the Dodgers and why his biggest impact on the team might be something that has nothing to do with the power left in his bat.Read Molly Knight's story about Albert Pujols: https://theathletic.com/2650671/2021/06/14/the-albert-pujols-signing-is-paying-off-for-dodgers-on-the-field-in-the-clubhouse-and-in-the-stands/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Four years ago, BIG3, the 3-on-3 basketball league founded by hip-hop artist Ice Cube and entertainment executive Jeff Kwatinetz, was rolled out amidst a healthy dose of skepticism. But now, after a year off because of the pandemic, the league is still alive and is trying to pick up steam. The Athletic's Tashan Reed recently spoke with Ice Cube, Kwatinetz, and NBA legend Clyde Drexler (BIG3's commissioner) about their hopes and goals for the league, and Tashan joins us today to discuss how BIG3 is shaking things up, and whether or not they're here for the long haul.Read Tashan Reed's recent story about BIG3:https://theathletic.com/2633929/2021/06/09/we-got-the-hottest-league-in-the-summer-the-big3-basketball-league-demands-to-be-taken-seriously/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On Monday, Raiders defensive end Carl Nassib made history by becoming the first active NFL player to publicly come out as gay. The 28-year-old Nassib, who had previously played for the Cleveland Browns and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (and who was one of the breakout stars of HBO's Hard Knocks in 2019) made the announcement in a one-minute video on Instagram. The Athletic's Steve Buckley faced many of the same questions that Nassib now faces when he came out in 2011, while working for the Boston Herald. Steve joins us today to discuss why Nassib's act was so momentous and what lessons from his own story might apply to Nassib.Read Steve Buckley's recent column about Carl Nassib:https://theathletic.com/2666196/2021/06/22/buckley-the-raiders-carl-nassib-makes-a-statement-not-just-for-today-but-for-tomorrow/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Phoenix Suns have been the most dominant team in the playoffs so far. Despite being without their star point guard, Chris Paul, due to COVID-19, the Suns won their eighth straight playoff game on Sunday in Game 1 of their Western Conference Finals matchup with the Los Angeles Clippers. The Athletic's Jovan Buha has been covering the Suns remarkable postseason run and he joins us today to talk about how good fortune, steely defending and a couple of star performers have fueled Phoenix's rise to potential NBA Championship favorites. Read Jovan Buha's Phoenix Suns coverage here: https://theathletic.com/author/jovan-buha/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.