What’s the plan for building on ESPN’s podcast portfolio?
“We’re focused on growing in smart, intentional ways—especially around the personalities and sports fans already love. We pay attention to where audiences are showing interest, and we think about how podcasts can deepen that connection and build on what ESPN is doing across every platform.
We’ve seen success with established franchises like Fantasy Focus, The Mina Kimes Show Featuring Lenny and Hoop Collective, and we’re continuing to build around those foundations while identifying new opportunities. Sometimes that means adding established personalities, like First Draft with Mike Greenberg joining Field Yates and Mel Kiper Jr, where audiences create a deeper bond with personalities that translates in other locations as well. Other times it means serving passionate fans that are looking for something more specific from established experts, whether that’s baseball with Jeff Passan (Sources Tell Jeff Passan), Peter Schrager (Schrager Hour) or basketball with Chiney Ogwumike (Chiney Today).
The goal is always the same: give fans more of the personalities and stories they are establishing a relationship with, while creating new ways to engage with even more ESPN content.”
What’s considered a successful podcast at ESPN today?
“Success looks different than it did even a few years ago.
We’re no longer evaluating podcasts solely as audio. Today, a successful show is part of a much larger ecosystem. We look at audio consumption, YouTube performance, short-form video engagement, social distribution, audience growth and how a show contributes to the broader ESPN brand.
Some shows thrive through traditional podcast listening. Others find significant audiences on YouTube, YouTube Shorts, vertical video, talent social channels, ESPN2, ESPN News, Spotify and other platforms. Ultimately, success means creating content that audiences actively seek out and building lasting relationships with fans. Our job is to help fans get lost with their favorite personalities and everything they stand for.”
What’s on the horizon for ESPN Podcasts?
“We’re excited about several new projects that continue expanding the portfolio and serving audiences in different ways. Just last week we launched This Was SportsCenter: Stories from the Set in partnership with Rich Eisen Productions.”
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