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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.

The Lead

An announcement about our show

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The Lead Says Farewell

A lot of sports stories caught our attention in 2023. But when we stepped back and looked at the year as a whole, there was one storyline that rose above them all -- the incredible growth of women’s sports. Today, we’re looking back at the moments that made 2023 such a historic year, and looking forward to what the future might bring.

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2023: The Year Of Women's Sports

When we think about innovative teams that have shaped the way offense is played in the NFL today, one of the first that comes to mind is the Bill Walsh-era San Francisco 49ers. However, there’s another trailblazing team from the same era that has arguably had just as big an impact on the sport. Today, we tell the story of the high-flying, but somewhat forgotten San Diego Chargers of the late 1970s and 80s, led by a brash quarterback (Dan Fouts) and visionary coach (Don Coryell). Plus, the stories of drug-fueled performances — and a mysterious gunshot wound — that still follow the team today. 

Guest: Zak Keefer, The Athletic

Read the full story here

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Cocaine, Disco, And A Football Revolution

Over the last four years, Armando Bacot has been a double-double machine for one of college basketball’s most storied programs. But the reminders of what Bacot hasn’t accomplished at UNC continue to hang over him. Today, we dive into why Bacot decided to come back for one last high-stakes season at Chapel Hill. Plus, how his fame off the court as one of the faces of NIL could influence a potential championship run.

Guest: Brendan Marks, The Athletic

Read the full story here

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Armando Bacot's Last Dance

Baseball has always had a special place in the hearts and minds of fans -- of all ages. But what if the power of baseball memories could help aging baseball fans heal and live healthier lives? Today we explore a little known practice known as 'Baseball Reminiscence Therapy.'

Reporter: Tiffany Oshinsky

Learn more about Baseball Reminiscence Therapy 

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‘It’s Just Magical’: The Surprising Power Of Baseball Memories

He’s the coach who makes slightly offbeat comments during press conferences, orchestrates the NFL’s most dynamic and explosive offense, and sometimes — decides to leave his high-pressure job out of the blue to see his family. Bottom line: Mike McDaniel does things differently. Today, we look at how the Dolphins head coach became someone who was willing to challenge the conventional wisdom of the NFL. And, whether his approach will backfire — or, potentially change the league.

Guest: Kent Babb, The Washington Post

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Fatherhood Changed Mike McDaniel. Will The NFL Follow His Lead?

Lior Asulin was a star player on a soccer team that was once a powerful symbol of peace and unity in Israel -- a team where Jews and Arabs played side by side. Nearly twenty years later, he was killed by Hamas in the October 7th attacks. This is the tragic story of his life and death.

Interviewees: Adi Rubinstein, Eyal Lahman, Gabriel Lima

Watch a documentary about the aftermath of Bnei Sakhnin's championship season, After The Cup: Sons of Sakhnin United, courtesy of the Kicking + Screening Soccer Film Festival. 

Special thanks for this episode: Chris Browne, Daigo Oliva, Itai Anghel, Rund Abdelfatah, Greg Lalas, Geoff Walker

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'I Lost My Soul': The Tragic Death Of An Israeli Soccer Star

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Josh Dobbs was the author of one of the most dramatic wins of the NFL season, leading his team to a victory over the Falcons — and learning plays on the fly — just five days after coming over from the Cardinals in a trade. Today, we look at why Dobbs — an actual rocket scientist — was in the rare position to rise to that occasion. And, after a disastrous performance against the Bears on Monday night, where does Dobbs’s story go from here?

Guest: Alec Lewis, The Athletic

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Rocket Science: Josh Dobbs Blasts Off, Returns To Earth

In 1983, musical legend Marvin Gaye stepped to the microphone at The Forum in Los Angeles, to sing the national anthem before the NBA All-Star Game. What happened next set in motion a cultural transformation within the NBA that still reverberates today. (This episode first aired on March 1, 2023)

Guests: David Aldridge and Marcus Thompson II, The Athletic

Read David and Marcus's story about Marvin Gaye at the 1983 NBA All-Star Game

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How Marvin Gaye Changed The NBA (Rebroadcast)

Travis Kelce might be the most talked-about man in all of American pop culture right now. But his rise from football star to A-List celebrity actually began months before he began courting Taylor Swift with a friendship bracelet. Tom Kludt spent time with Kelce earlier this year and wrote an in-depth profile of him for Vanity Fair, and Tom joined us to discuss Kelce's remarkable ascent, the origins of his off-field ambitions, and just how bright his star could become. (This episode originally aired in July.)

Guest: Tom Kludt, Contributing Editor at Vanity Fair

Read Tom's profile of Travis Kelce here

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Travis Kelce Was An A-Lister, Even Before T Swift (Rebroadcast)

Wondery

Mac McClung may always be remembered for one Saturday night in Utah a couple of weeks ago, when he made the jump from the G League to win the NBA Dunk Contest — a performance so great that some experts said it saved a dying event. But what’s less well-known about McClung is his long journey just to get to that point: spanning 30 cities, 150 teammates, and 10 head coaches. Today, we take a closer look at McClung’s odyssey from YouTube sensation to pro hoops journeyman, and whether the reigning Dunk Contest king can finally catch on in the NBA. 

Guest: Rich Hofmann

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‘He Saved The Dunk Contest’: What’s Next for Mac McClung?

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