

Edge of Sports
Dave Zirin / The Nation
Where sports and politics collide, hosted by Nation magazine Sports Editor Dave Zirin
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jun 27, 2023 • 44min
Aaron Maybin: "Athletes aren't superheroes, we're human beings"
After four years as a professional linebacker for football teams in the U.S. and Canada, Aaron Maybin put down his helmet and picked up a range of new hats off the gridiron. As a public school teacher, artist, and activist, Maybin's best days are still yet to come. Aaron Maybin joins Edge of Sports for a wide-ranging conversation on the boxes athletes get placed in, racism within the NFL, and his life after football.Zirin, “I Write Things I Cannot Play”: The Secret of Liz Phairhttps://www.thenation.com/article/culture/liz-phair-interview/—http://www.edgeofsportspodcast.com/ | http://twitter.com/EdgeOfSportsPod | http://fb.com/edgeofsportspod | email us: edgeofsports@gmail.com | Edge of Sports hotline: 401-426-3343 (EDGE)—Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Jun 20, 2023 • 42min
W. Kamau Bell, the reluctant optimist | Edge of Sports
In this episode of Edge of Sports, host Dave Zirin highlights two takes on the gender politics of sports culture. Dr. Cheryl Cooky joins the Ask a Sports Scholar segment to discuss the history of sports and gender equality, as well as her book, No Slam Dunk: Gender, Sport, and the Unevenness of Social Change. Finally, W. Kamau Bell climbs aboard for a special interview looking back on his career as a media personality, from the early days of Totally Biased to United Shades of America.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

May 26, 2023 • 53min
Shine On, Denver Nuggets
This week we look with the great Washington Post journalist Michael Lee at what makes the Denver Nuggets and their star player Nikola Jokic so special. Also, I have a lot of “Choice Words” about the passing of Jim Brown. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

May 2, 2023 • 34min
Lamar Jackson And The State of the Black Quarterback
On this week's episode of the Edge of Sports podcast, we talk to Prof. Louis Moore, author of "We Will Win The Day," about Lamar Jackson's new contract, the NFL Draft, and what both say about the state of the Black Q.B. in the NFL.I have some Choice Words about France on the precipice of both the Olympics and social chaos. We've got a Just Stand Up award for Miami Heat legend, Dwyane Wade, for his courage in the face of the anti-trans bigotry his family has been facing, which caused them to leave the state of Florida. We also have and Just Sit Down awards for the cowardly silence from some of the biggest stars in the Florida sports community.Subscribe to The Nation to support all of our podcasts: thenation.com/podcastsubscribe. Lou MooreTwitter: @loumoore12https://www.profloumoore.com/Zirin, The Protests in France Are About to Collide With the 2024 Paris Olympicshttps://www.thenation.com/article/world/paris-france-olympics-protests/—http://www.edgeofsportspodcast.com/ | http://twitter.com/EdgeOfSportsPod | http://fb.com/edgeofsportspod | email us: edgeofsports@gmail.com | Edge of Sports hotline: 401-426-3343 (EDGE)Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Apr 20, 2023 • 31min
David Aldridge on the end of Dan Snyder
This week we speak to Washington media legend David Aldridge about the forthcoming sale of the Washington football team by its much-loathed owner Dan Snyder. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Apr 9, 2023 • 1h 9min
A Radical Retelling of NBA History
This week we speak to Theresa Runstedler, author of the book Black Ball: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Spencer Haywood, and the Generation that Saved the Soul of the NBA.We'll have Choice Words about what Caitlin Clark has taught us throughout the fallout after the NCAA women’s championship game. We also have Jake’s Takes on the NBA finals and more. Subscribe to The Nation to support all of our podcasts: thenation.com/podcastsubscribe. Theresa RunstedtlerTwitter: @DrTRunstedtler https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/theresa-runstedtler/black-ball/9781645036951/Zirin, Caitlin Clark’s Lesson for White Athletes: Don’t Be a MAGA Pawnhttps://www.thenation.com/article/culture/caitlin-clark-basketball-ncaa/—http://www.edgeofsportspodcast.com/ | http://twitter.com/EdgeOfSportsPod | http://fb.com/edgeofsportspod | email us: edgeofsports@gmail.com | Edge of Sports hotline: 401-426-3343 (EDGE)Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Mar 29, 2023 • 50min
Why the NBA World Lost Its Joy
On this episode of Edge of Sports, we speak to Michael Lee of the Washington Post about why this has been the most dispiriting NBA season in recent history. We don’t just catalog the moments, though. We also try to understand the underlying issues.We have Choice Words about the late Willis Reed, and what his life meant for the New York Knicks as well as the city. We have a Just Stand Up awards for the Maryland Terrapins lady women’s team that went on a great tourney run. We also have a Just Sit Down award for Silver who has not done a great job of handling the flame ups that have occurred during the NBA season. All that and more on this episode of the Edge of Sports podcast! Subscribe to The Nation to support all of our podcasts: thenation.com/podcastsubscribe. Zirin, Willis Reed Was the Best of New York Cityhttps://www.thenation.com/article/culture/willis-reed-obituary/—http://www.edgeofsportspodcast.com/ | http://twitter.com/EdgeOfSportsPod | http://fb.com/edgeofsportspod | email us: edgeofsports@gmail.com | Edge of Sports hotline: 401-426-3343 (EDGE)—Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Mar 17, 2023 • 39min
Ja Morant on the Edge
On this episode of the Edge of Sports podcast, we speak to Daily Memphian columnist Chris Herrington about the personal troubles of Memphis Grizzlies point guard and budding icon Ja Morant. We talk about the Grizzlies, the city of Memphis, and what’s next for the superstar point guard.We have Choice Words about the MVP debate going on between Embiid, Jokic, and Giannis. We also have a Just Stand Up award to Lamar Jackson for standing on his principle, and a Just Sit Down award for the NFL owners that are seemingly colluding against Lamar. All that and more on this episode of the Edge of Sports podcast!Subscribe to The Nation to support all of our podcasts: thenation.com/podcastsubscribe. Zirin, Banning Trans Athletes Is Just the Beginning:https://www.thenation.com/article/society/congress-sports-federal-ban-trans-athletes/—http://www.edgeofsportspodcast.com/ | http://twitter.com/EdgeOfSportsPod | http://fb.com/edgeofsportspod | email us: edgeofsports@gmail.com | Edge of Sports hotline: 401-426-3343 (EDGE)Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Mar 9, 2023 • 35min
Hooked On Women's Hoops with Kate Fagan
On this episode of the Edge of Sports podcast, we speak to author and sports opinionist Kate Fagan about her new illustrated history of the women in basketball, Hoop Muses: An Insider’s Account to Pop Culture and the (Women’s Game). The book is illustrated by Sophia Chang and curated by the legendary hoopster Seimone Augustus. Fagan and I talk about her inspiration, creative process and what it was like working with Seimone Augustus.We'll have Choice Words about the effort to ban trans athletes from youth sports. We give a Just Stand Up award to the New York Knicks for looking like a legitimate, joyous playoff contender down the home stretch of the season. We also have a Just Sit Down award for Texas Tech basketball coach, Mark Adams for the wild comments he made to members of his team.Subscribe to The Nation to support all of our podcasts: thenation.com/podcastsubscribe. Kate FaganTwitter: @katefagan3https://www.twelvebooks.com/titles/seimone-augustus/hoop-muses/9781538709146/Zirin, Banning Trans Athletes Is Just the Beginninghttps://www.thenation.com/article/society/congress-sports-federal-ban-trans-athletes/—http://www.edgeofsportspodcast.com/ | http://twitter.com/EdgeOfSportsPod | http://fb.com/edgeofsportspod | email us: edgeofsports@gmail.com | Edge of Sports hotline: 401-426-3343 (EDGE)—Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Feb 21, 2023 • 52min
Remembering David Jolicoeur aka Trugoy the Dove
This week we speak to Program Manager for KGNU Community Radio, and founder of the decades strong Hip Hop group Council of Word, Dave Ashton about the legacy of David Jolicoeur aka Trugoy the Dove, who passed away last week, and his groundbreaking hip hop group De La Soul. We also have ‘Choice Words’ about this year’s Super Bowl.” We got ‘Just Stand Up’ and 'Just Sit Down’ awards to Ron DeSantis for banning books and being an awful governor and person and the U.S. alpine ski team for their climate change themed uniforms they put out, bringing awareness to such an important issue. David Ashton https://councilofword.bandcamp.com/album/indignoranceZirin, Why People Don’t Even Trust the Super Bowlhttps://www.thenation.com/article/society/super-bowl-rigged-trust/—http://www.edgeofsportspodcast.com/ | http://twitter.com/EdgeOfSportsPod | http://fb.com/edgeofsportspod | email us: edgeofsports@gmail.com | Edge of Sports hotline: 401-426-3343 (EDGE)Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy