Edge of Sports

Apr 14 2025 413 ep. 48 mins 5.5k

Edge of Sports Podcast artwork

Where sports and politics collide, hosted by Nation magazine Sports Editor Dave Zirin

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The Rhythm of DC’s Resistance & What's The Deal With UFC?

Apr 14 2025 88 mins

This week, we talk to Dr. Maurice Jackson, author of the new book Rhythms of Resistance and Resilience: How Black Washingtonians Used Music and Sports in the Fight for Equality. We also talk to Ari Drennen from Media Matters about their recent study about the politics of the people behind the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Rhythms of Resistance & Resiliencehttps://press.george

What To Learn From A Yearbook

Apr 04 2025 94 mins

This week, we talk to Michael Messner, author of the fascinating new book, about what we can learn by looking at sports and yearbooks over the course of a century. It’s called “The High School: Sports, Spirit, and Citizens, 1903-2024.” Also, I’m talking to the savant, Arya Shirazi, about the days when March was truly mad. The High Schoolhttps://www.rutgersuniversitypress.or

Rabbis for Justice in Palestine

Mar 24 2025 54 mins

This week, we speak to Rabbi Brant Rosen of the Tzedek Chicago Synagogue, a synagogue that claims anti-Zionism as a core tenet of their beliefs. We talk about this perilous moment when an antisemitic administration is weaponizing antisemitism to jail Israel’s critics. We also talk some sports! Brant Rosenhttps://rabbibrant.com/Zirin, Jackie Robinson Again Teaches Us to Never Back

Journalist and Trans Athlete Karleigh Webb & Great Point Guards of Yesteryear

Mar 17 2025 116 mins

This week, we speak to Outsports journalist and Connecticut Ambush football player Karleigh Webb about her journey and insights on trans issues in sports. Also, we speak to hoops savant Arya Shirazi about the long-lost days of the court general, who was the point guard. We also remember the late great John Feinstein. Karleigh Webbhttps://www.outsports.com/author/karleigh-webb/https

Mapping A US Men’s Soccer Revolution

Mar 11 2025 59 mins

This week, we speak to US-born, Rio de Janeiro-based visionary Robert Wilson, whose short volume A Football Manifesto is a brilliant excavation of the systemic, structural problems in US men’s soccer and a radical fan-centric approach to radical change. It’s not just a diagnosis. It’s a wholly original cure. Robert Wilsonhttps://bookshop.org/p/books/the-football-manifesto-and

“Sports Under Fascism & All-Time NBA Injury What-Ifs”

Mar 03 2025 92 mins

This week, we have a talk I gave two years ago about the social function of sports in an authoritarian society. It rings more true today, and I wanted to share it with you all. Also, I talked to basketball savant Arya Shirazi about the injuries that changed the course of NBA history.Zirin, Why Democrats Won’t Throw a Real Punchhttps://www.thenation.com/article/politics/democratic

Former NFL Player Chris Kluwe On His Arrest Protesting MAGA

Feb 24 2025 30 mins

This week, we speak to former NFL player Chris Kluwe. Kluwe made news this week for his protest of MAGA at a Huntingdon Beach city council meeting, garnering headlines worldwide. We discuss what led to that moment, why he did what he did, and the sports world’s reaction to this administration and what explains it.Zirin, Why Democrats Won’t Throw a Real Punchhttps://www.thenatio

The Sports Doc We’ve Been Waiting For And the NBA at the All-Star Break

Feb 12 2025 109 mins

This week we speak to executive producer Arif Khatib and director Steven C. Bernier about their new documentary, Because They Believed: Minority Athletic Trailblazers Who Broke through The Racial Divide. The film is available on all streaming platforms and it's the documentary sports and politics lovers have been waiting for. Also, we talk to hoops savant Arya Shirazi about whe

Heavy Luka Theories with Kiese Laymon

Feb 06 2025 68 mins

It's being called the most shocking trade in basketball or even sports history: All-NBA guard Luka Doncic was sent from the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis. Everyone is searching for reasons why the Mavericks would throw away Doncic, a generationally great player who is only 25 years old. On Edge of Sports, we break the trade down with none other th

The Legendary Robert Lipsyte: His New Book Rhino Run, And How YA Novels Can Save The World

Feb 03 2025 49 mins

This week, we speak to the legendary New York Times journalist and acclaimed Young Adult writer Robert Lipsyte. We talk about his new book, Rhino’s Run, the relationship between high school athletes and masculinity, and the galvanizing potential of American football. Al this and more on this week’s pod!https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/780979/let-us-play-by-harrison-brow