The Lead
Wondery
The award-winning sports show from Wondery, known for delivering the best storytelling in sports. Every Wednesday and Friday, co-hosts Tiffany Oshinsky and Anders Kelto dive into the biggest and most fascinating sports stories of the day, as told by the reporters who cover them up close. The Lead cuts through the chatter and brings you in-depth reporting and emotional stories, to help make sense of the complicated sports landscape. Listen to The Lead on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can binge all episodes ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/the-lead/ now.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jan 4, 2021 • 15min
The AFC's Wild Week 17
The Cleveland Browns snapped an 18-year playoff drought, the Baltimore Ravens continued their hot streak, and the Tennessee Titans clinched the AFC South in dramatic fashion, setting up a mouth-watering first round game against the Ravens. Lindsay Jones joins us to break down the AFC's wild Week 17, and to discuss what these three teams will have to do to succeed in the playoffs.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.
Jan 1, 2021 • 14min
Best of 2020: The Boy Who Inspired Baltimore
With 2020 now officially in the books, we’re taking a final look back at the year in sports -- and replaying one of our favorite episodes of 2020. It’s about Baltimore’s most unforgettable young sports fan, Mo Gaba, who inspired people throughout the city and across the world before passing away from cancer. The Athletic’s Britt Ghiroli spoke with us about Mo’s brief, incredible life and a moment after his death that she will never forget.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Dec 31, 2020 • 14min
Best of 2020: The Dodgers' Surreal World Series Win
In late October, the L.A. Dodgers ended their World Series drought in one of most surreal nights in baseball history. Today, as part of our look back at the year in sports, we’re re-airing our episode about that game. The Athletic’s Pedro Moura joined us to discuss the strange night in Texas when the Dodgers won the title and the scene that unfolded after third baseman Justin Turner tested positive for Covid-19.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Dec 30, 2020 • 11min
Best of 2020: The Milwaukee Bucks' Protest
Back in August, there was a stunning night when the Milwaukee Bucks refused to take the court against the Orlando Magic inside the NBA bubble. This was shortly after the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin -- an event that triggered protests in Wisconsin and across the country. As part of our look back at 2020, we’re revisiting that story today. The Athletic’s Michael Lee spoke with us about how things unfolded on that day and why the events in Kenosha were hitting NBA players particularly hard.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Dec 29, 2020 • 14min
Best of 2020: Where Is The Joe Paterno Statue?
For years, the location of an iconic Joe Paterno statue, which once stood on the Penn State campus, has been unknown. Today, as part of our look back at 2020, we’re replaying an episode about the statue that first aired back in June. The Athletic’s Audrey Snyder spoke with us about why Penn State has gone to such great lengths to conceal its location, and what she discovered in her own quest to find it.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Dec 28, 2020 • 14min
Best of 2020: The Fight For Equal Pay
Back in March, the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team and its lawsuit over equal pay once again came into the national spotlight. Today, we’re replaying an episode about that case as part of our look back at 2020. The Athletic’s Meg Linehan joined us to break down the controversy that led to a major backlash from fans and sponsors -- and the sudden resignation of U.S. Soccer President Carlos Cordeiro.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Dec 25, 2020 • 14min
Best of 2020: The Night The NBA Shut Down
Back in March, the NBA suspended play in sudden and dramatic fashion after Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz tested positive for the coronavirus. It was a night that, to many, signaled just how serious the pandemic had become -- and in the days that followed, life as we knew it changed. Today, as part of our look back at 2020, we’re rebroadcasting our episode about how that night unfolded.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Dec 24, 2020 • 14min
Best of 2020: Hail To The Chiefs
In February, the Kansas City Chiefs won the Super Bowl thanks to a dramatic fourth quarter comeback. It was the first Super Bowl victory for Chiefs head coach Andy Reid and quarterback Pat Mahomes -- a duo that could now be building a dynasty in Kansas City. Today, as part of our look back at the year in sports, we're replaying that episode, which was recorded shortly after the team's historic win.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Dec 23, 2020 • 15min
Best of 2020: Mourning Kobe Bryant
As the year comes to an end, we're replaying some of our best and most memorable episodes of 2020 -- the stories that defined the year in sports. First, we're revisiting the fateful day in late January when Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna, and seven other people were killed in a tragic helicopter crash, shocking the city of Los Angeles, the basketball community, and the world.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Dec 22, 2020 • 15min
The Steve Nash Experiment Begins
The NBA season begins tonight, with a very familiar name making his coaching debut for the Brooklyn Nets: Steve Nash. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Alex Schiffer to look at how the last five years (including a bond with Steve Kerr and Kevin Durant in Golden State) have prepared Nash for this moment, and how his resume as a two-time MVP has helped him earn the respect of Durant and Kyrie Irving in Brooklyn. Follow Alex Schiffer’s coverage of the Nets: https://theathletic.com/author/alex-schiffer/?source=theleadpodcast See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
