

SI Media With Jimmy Traina
Sports Illustrated
Every week on the Sports Illustrated Media Podcast, host Jimmy Traina sits down for an informal conversation with the biggest broadcasters, athletes, sports personalities, celebrities, and anybody else interested in sports or media. Plus, get a window into the storylines Jimmy is following closest in the weekly Traina Thoughts segment.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 9, 2025 • 1h 23min
ESPN's Ryan Ruocco + Traina Thoughts
Episode 576 of "SI Media With Jimmy Traina" features a conversation with ESPN's Ryan Ruocco.Ruocco talks about calling the WNBA Finals, the constant off-the-court attention that the WNBA receives, controversies involving the refs and the commissioner, Caitlin Clark's impact, ratings and scheduling the Finals against NFL action.In addition, Ruocco talks about calling less Yankees games, but more Nets games, being in the mix for the Yankees radio job after John Sterling retired, what he loves about calling NBA games for ESPN and much more.Following Ruocco, Sal Licata from WFAN radio and SNY TV in New York joins Jimmy for their weekly "Traina Thoughts" segment. This week, Jimmy and Sal discuss the Major League Baseball's playoffs, the performance of Fox play-by-play guy, Eric Collins, on last week's Dolphins-Panthers game, Hulu canceling its show about North Carolina football and how Bill Belichick has tarnished his legacy, the Mark Sanchez arrest, a ridiculous betting loss, current movies and moreSponsored by:Underdog: Download the Underdog app and use code SPORTSILLUSTRATED'Rocket Money: RocketMoney.com/SIMEDIAAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Oct 2, 2025 • 1h 1min
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport
Episode 575 of "SI Media With Jimmy Traina" features a conversation with the NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Rapoport talks about the life of an insider and whether the offseason is just as busy as the season, while also describing what his day-to-day schedule is like.In addition, Rapoport explains where we stand on the NFL going to an 18-game schedule and a full-time international schedule, talks about his feelings regarding ESPN buying the NFL Network and the possibility of being colleagues with Adam Schefter and shares the full story of what happened at the NFL Combine when another NFL reporter confronted him and got in his face in a Starbucks.Following Rapoport, Sal Licata from WFAN radio and SNY TV in New York joins Jimmy for their weekly "Traina Thoughts" segment. This week, Jimmy and Sal discuss the Mets' collapse, the Yankees over-reliance on analytics, a schedule change that Major League Baseball must implement, ESPN's baseball broadcasters, Bad Bunny being announced as the Super Bowl halftime show and more.Sponsored by:Underdog: Download the Underdog app and use code SPORTSILLUSTRATED'Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Sep 25, 2025 • 1h 12min
ESPN/Amazon's Kirk Herbstreit
Episode 574 of "SI Media With Jimmy Traina" features a conversation with ESPN and Amazon Prime's Kirk Herbstreit.Herbstreit talks about what "College GameDay" has been like without Lee Corso, the popularity of the show's field-goal contest segment, Pat McAfee volunteering Herbstreit to donate money to the contest winners without clearing it with Herbstreit first, McAfee's viral dive in a speedo on a recent "GameDay" episode and what Nick Saban brings to "GameDay."In addition, Herbstreit breaks down his crazy schedule with "Thursday Night Football," "College GameDay" and ABC's top game of the week, explains his issues with college football's schedule, and reveals where he stands on the Tush Push.Following Herbstreit, Sal Licata from WFAN radio and SNY TV in New York joins Jimmy for their weekly "Traina Thoughts" segment. This week, Jimmy and Sal discuss Jimmy's appearance on a Bill Simmons Reddit page, their weekly gambling outcomes, baseball implementing the ABS challenge system, the "NFL Today's" throwback edition featuring Brent Musburger, Sal having to go to a 50th birthday party during the Oregon-Penn State and Alabama-Georgia games and much more.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

6 snips
Sep 18, 2025 • 1h 51min
ESPN's Mina Kimes and WWE's Seth Rollins
Episode 573 of "SI Media With Jimmy Traina" features two interviews.First up is ESPN's Mina Kimes, who talks about how she got her start at ESPN, transitioning into an NFL analyst, the stigma of being an NFL analyst who didn't play the game, what her typical Sunday is like, whether she'd like to be in the booth calling games one day.Kimes also discusses auditioning for the "ManningCast," the worst thing about social media becoming a cesspool, working with Dan Orlovsky and much more.Following Kimes, WWE Superstar Seth Rollins joins the show. Rollins talks about the WWE's upcoming show on ESPN, Wrestlepalooza, fooling the entire wrestling world with his fake knee injury, the one person he felt bad about lying to, becoming a cast member on "Good Morning Football," why he despises the "Tush Push" and more.The podcast closes with the weekly "Traina Thoughts" segment featuring Sal Licata from WFAN radio and SNY TV. This week, Jimmy and Sal talk about Jimmy and friends getting booted from a restaurant, Sal's second week in a row suffering a horrific NFL betting loss, a crazy college football bad beat, Sal losing the Emmy Award on his birthday and moreSponsored by:Underdog: Download the Underdog app and use code SPORTSILLUSTRATED'Rocket Money: RocketMoney.com/SIMEDIAAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Sep 11, 2025 • 1h 20min
CBS's Jim Nantz + Traina Thoughts
Episode 572 of "SI Media With Jimmy Traina" features a conversation with CBS's lead NFL play-by-play caller, Jim Nantz.Nantz talks about his game assignments for the next few weeks and CBS's overall schedule for the 2025 season. In addition, he shares his expectations that CBS's Thanksgiving game between the Chiefs and Cowboys will shatter the record for the most-viewed regular-season game of all time.Nantz also discusses his 40th anniversary at CBS, how he got his start at the network and the roles that Brent Musburger and Mike Francesa played in the beginning of his career.With CBS/Paramount acquiring the rights to UFC, could we see Nantz play a role in its coverage? Plus, Nantz opines on the trend of younger people not being interested in play-by-play jobs.Following Nantz, Sal Licata from WFAN radio and SNY TV in New York joins Jimmy for their weekly "Traina Thoughts" segment. This week, Jimmy and Sal talk about a HORRIFIC bad betting beat for Sal, Jimmy's problem during the Ravens-Bills game, issues with ESPN's new app, Sunday Ticket on YouTube, Ryan Clark calling out Peter Schrager, Howard Stern coverage, Sal's solo weekend and much more.Sponsored by: Underdog: Download the Underdog app and use code SPORTSILLUSTRATED'Cozy Earth: cozyearth.com code SIMEDIAAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Sep 4, 2025 • 1h 17min
Andrew Marchand on Charles Barkley NCAA Football Coverage & More
Presented by YahooFantasy #YahooPartner. Play Now at yahoofantasy.com/simediaEpisode 571 of "SI Media With Jimmy Traina" features an interview with The Athletic's sports media reporter, Andrew Marchand about all the latest sports media news.Topics discussed: Charles Barkley's recent comments that he still doesn't know what's going on with "Inside the NBA" on ESPN; Fox and ESPN's over-the-top college football coverage in Week 1; Lee Corso's perfect ending; Why ESPN dropped Doris Burke and added Tim Legler to its lead NBA crew; Major League Baseball's television future; ESPN's new direct-to-consumer product; Ryen Russillo leaving The Ringer and much more.Following Marchand, Sal Licata from WFAN radio and SNY TV in New York joins Jimmy for their weekly "Traina Thoughts" segment. This week, Jimmy and Sal go through some NFL win total over/unders for the 2025 season, look at Week 1 betting lines and discuss NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTubeSponsored by Underdog: Download the Underdog app and use code SPORTSILLUSTRATED'Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Aug 28, 2025 • 1h 18min
Brent Musburger on 'The NFL Today's' 50th Anniversary
Brent Musburger, a legendary broadcaster and Hall of Famer known for his work on 'The NFL Today' and the SEC Network, shares exciting insights from his legendary career. He reflects on his Hall of Fame induction and the upcoming 50th anniversary of 'The NFL Today.' Musburger dishes on his notorious fight with Jimmy The Greek, the evolution of Vegas as a sports hub, and the changing landscape of sports broadcasting. He also discusses the challenges of modern sports viewership and the impact of streaming on how fans access their favorite games.

Aug 21, 2025 • 40min
Traina Thoughts + Mailbag
Presented by YahooFantasy #YahooPartner. Play Now at yahoofantasy.com/simediaEpisode 569 of "SI Media With Jimmy Traina" is a mix of "Traina Thoughts" with WFAN and SNY TV's Sal Licata and a mailbag answering listener questions.Topics discussed include the onslaught of sports docuseries, ESPN's new direct-to-consumer app and its best feature, preseason NFL magazines and the perils of Major League Baseball betting.In the mailbag segment, Jimmy and Sal tackle questions about the possibility of a woman becoming a full-time NFL game analyst, UFC leaving ESPN for Paramount, Howard Stern's future on SiriusXM, ESPN possibly buying MLB.tv, ESPN's plan for its direct-to-consumer product, Russell Wilson vs. Jaxson Dart, the pinnacle of HBO's "Hard Knocks," Cris Collinsworth's future with NBC, MLB realignment, Jimmy's aversion to flying and whether Sal has called 911 recently.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Aug 14, 2025 • 1h 5min
Mike Golic Jr.
Presented by YahooFantasy #YahooPartner. Play Now at yahoofantasy.com/simediaEpisode 568 of "SI Media With Jimmy Traina" features a conversation with TNT's Mike Golic Jr, who will be an analyst for Big 12 college football games this season.Golic Jr. talks about going into a full-time role as an analyst after working just four games last year, the changing television landscape in college football and trying to keep up with which teams are in which conference.In addition, Golic reveals the best and worst thing about doing a daily show with his father, what his reaction was to the end of Mike Golic Sr.'s longtime radio show, "Mike & Mike and how they navigate the world of gambling while doing a show for FanDuel.Golic also talks about the role social media has played in his career and where he stands with social media today.Following Golic Jr., Sal Licata from WFAN and SNY joins Jimmy for their weekly "Traina Thoughts" segment. This week, Jimmy talks about his day at a CBS NFL media event, Sal getting duped by a fake Odell Beckham Jr. retirement announcement, the circus of rumors surrounding Howard Stern and the future of his SiriusXM show, a terrible taxi cab incident and more.Sponsored by: https://go.happinessexperiment.com/begin-aff-o2?am_id=podcast2025&utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=michaelAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Aug 11, 2025 • 1h 4min
WWE Champion, Cody Rhodes
Presented by YahooFantasy #YahooPartner. Play Now at yahoofantasy.com/simediaEpisode 567 of "SI Media With Jimmy Traina" features an interview with WWE Undisputed Heavyweight Champion, Cody Rhodes.The man known as the "American Nightmare" talks about his SummerSlam match against John Cena, how it felt winning the title for a second time, how banged up he was after the match, the positive reaction to the match, a special moment he had with Cena and whether a heel turn for him at SummerSlam was ever in the cards.In addition, Rhodes discusses a potential third WrestleMania match against Roman Reigns, whether he would want Roman's schedule, how satisfied he was with his year as WWE champion, the Netflix series, "WWE: Unreal," and the WWE's new deal with ESPN for PLE'sRhodes also talks about being a nice guy in real life, his one major beef with "fans," hosting a new podcast, his comment about wanting to gain 100 pounds after he retires, moving into an acting career and much more.Sponsored by: https://go.happinessexperiment.com/begin-aff-o2?am_id=podcast2025&utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=michaelAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy