In the last five years, high school sports participation has fallen for the first time on record. The number of boys playing high school sports today is lower than in any year since 2007. While travel leagues are thriving, local leagues are flailing—for football, soccer, baseball, basketball ... you name it. And this is happening, of course, in a decade when young people are spending less time in the physical world, less time with their friends, less time moving around, and more time sitting hunched over a phone. So what’s going on, and what should we do? Today’s guests are Jason Gay, sports columnist for the Wall Street Journal, and Tom Farrey, the executive director of the Aspen Institute's Sports and Society Program.If you have questions, observations, or ideas for future episodes, email us at PlainEnglish@Spotify.com. You can find us on TikTok at www.tiktok.com/@plainenglish_Host: Derek ThompsonGuests: Jason Gay and Tom FarreyProducer: Devon Manze Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jason Gay, a writer for The Wall Street Journal, discusses the layoffs at ESPN, focusing on Zach Lowe's departure and its impact on sports commentary. He also examines Travis Kelce's media scrutiny and its cultural implications. Technology reporters Kate Conger and Ryan Mac delve into Elon Musk's controversial changes at Twitter, including the block feature modifications and the chaos at the headquarters. They address Twitter's decline in value and the aftermath of verifying check removals, highlighting the shifting landscape of social media.

We’re taking a short break from the Twitter shitshow to give you an interview with Jason Gay, sports and humor columnist at The Wall Street Journal. His new book is “I Wouldn’t Do That If I Were Me: Modern Blunders and Modest Triumphs (but Mostly Blunders).” Gay talks to Peter Kafka about what it’s like to write humor for a publication that’s not exactly known for that, the cognitive dissonance required to enjoy football, and why he isn’t interested in making Elon Musk jokes.Featuring: Jason Gay Matt Levine (@jasongay), Sports and Humor Columnist at The Wall Street JournalHost: Peter Kafka (@pkafka), Senior Editor at RecodeMore to explore: Subscribe for free to Recode Media, Peter Kafka, one of the media industry's most acclaimed reporters, talks to business titans, journalists, comedians, and more to get their take on today's media landscape.About Recode by Vox: Recode by Vox helps you understand how tech is changing the world — and changing us. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices