The Untold History of Sports in America

For 20 years, Canadian sailor Lawrence Lemieux chased perfection on the water. He slept in vans. He drained his savings. He dedicated his life to a single goal: standing on an Olympic podium. At the 1988 Games in Seoul, that dream was finally within reach. Then, in the chaos of a brutal race, he was forced to make a split-second decision. It would cost him his shot at a medal, and forever change his life. Listen to Very Special Episodes wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the winter of 1980, the world turned its eyes to Lake Placid, New York, host of the Winter Olympics. But behind the pageantry, another structure loomed in the Adirondack woods. Built to house 1,800 athletes, the Olympic Village looked less like a dormitory than a detention center — because that’s exactly what it was designed to become. Listen to Very Special Episodes wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Elizabeth Swaney fulfilled her childhood dream of becoming an Olympian, defying all odds. But it wasn’t supernatural athletic ability that got her there. And by the time she made it to the 2018 Winter Olympics, a lot of people were rooting against her. Here's the incredible story of a woman who made it to the Games by understanding those odds better than anyone else. Listen to Very Special Episodes wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in baseball. That's a well known piece of history. But who integrated the NFL? Well, it's an amazing story with lots of binge drinking, miraculous comebacks and hot dog eating. Seriously. We called up David Fleming, author of A Big Mess in Texas: The Miraculous, Disastrous 1952 Dallas Texans and the Craziest Untold Story in NFL History. He explains how one of the worst teams in NFL history shaped the game we know today. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You gotta keep 'em separated. That's a lot of people's opinion about mixing sports and politics. But as the world turns its eyes to Italy for the 2026 Winter Games, you have to wonder if this is the ideal place to make a political statement. To understand how acts of political activism have played out at the Olympics throughout history, we call up Jules Boykoff. He's the author of numerous books about the Olympics, including What are the Olympics For? So, are the Olympics fair game for protest? Or should athletes keep their eye on the ball ... or épée ... or curling stone? You get the point. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

During World War II, football itself was at risk. The Steagles—a hybrid of the Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers—were a desperate wartime experiment. With rosters drained by the draft, the NFL turned to mostly players deemed unfit for military service. And it might be the only way the NFL can survive the war. Special thanks to Matthew Algeo! Check out his book Last Team Standing. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John Quincy Adams finally defeats the Gag rule, but his feud with Andrew Jackson lasts until the bitter end.  And Congressman Abraham Lincoln witnesses from the House floor the dramatic final hours of Adams' life. Founding Son is a Curiosity Podcast and is a co-production of iHeartPodcasts and School of Humans. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When the fates of the enslaved captives of the Amistad are put into the hands of the Supreme Court, John Quincy Adams feels it's his duty to represent them. Adams' son and wife would have preferred he stayed away from the case altogether.  Founding Son is a Curiosity Podcast and is a co-production of iHeart Podcasts and School of Humans. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Warning: This episode contains a brief description of violence.  Andrew Jackson ascends to the presidency after defeating John Quincy Adams in an 1828 rematch. But Jackson is tested by another rival: his own vice president.  Meanwhile, Adams arrives in Congress and finds himself in the middle of the slavery debate. Founding Son is a Curiosity Podcast and is a co-production of iHeart Podcasts and School of Humans. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After a difficult term in office, President John Quincy Adams loses re-election to Andrew Jackson in 1828, one of the most malicious presidential campaigns in American history. But a post-presidential run for Congress gives Adams another chance at political greatness.  Founding Son is a Curiosity Podcast and is a co-production of iHeart Podcasts and School of Humans.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A contentious 1824 presidential election and accusations of a “corrupt bargain” by rival Andrew Jackson raise the stakes for John Quincy Adams as he prepares to take the office his father held just two decades earlier. Founding Son is a Curiosity Podcast and is a co-production of iHeart Podcasts and School of Humans.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join award-winning historian and Professor of History at Kean University, Dr. Christopher M. Bellitto, Ph.D. to explore some of the most powerful ideas, tensions, and political struggles that shaped the modern world in the new podcast Half-Hour History: Secrets of the Medieval World. Listen on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts. https://www.iheart.com/podcast/867-half-hour-history-110763991/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Joe Biden is halfway through his first term and will likely run for re-election. How will historians view his presidency so far?  Southern Methodist University Professor Jeffrey Engel discusses Biden's accomplishments and missteps with host Steven Schragis. One Day University is a co-production of iHeart Podcasts and School of Humans. It is a Curiosity Podcast. You can sign up at the website OneDayU.com to become a member and access over 700 full length video lectures. You can also download their app. Once you're a member,  you can watch Professor Jeffrey Engel's lectures on presidential history .See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 95th Academy Awards were held last weekend, with Everything Everywhere All At Once winning Best Picture. The Oscars are just the latest example of society's fascination with the rich and famous, but there's a complex history behind fame.  University of Michigan Professor Susan Douglas joins One Day University founder Steven Schragis to explain the history and power of celebrity.  One Day University is a co-production of iHeart Podcasts and School of Humans. It is a Curiosity Podcast. You can sign up at the website OneDayU.com to become a member and access over 700 full length video lectures. You can also download their app. Once you're a member, you can watch Professor Susan Douglas' lecture, “A History of Fame: The Power of Celebrity.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Popular TV shows and high-profile televised trials have made forensic science famous…but what's the science and history behind it? Host and filmmaker Molly Hermann traces the roots of these tools and the questions surrounding their accuracy. CSI On Trial is a co-production of iHeart Podcasts and School of Humans. It is a Curiosity Podcast based on the Curiosity Stream series CSI On Trial. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Decades after singer Dean Reed's mysterious death, his daughter Ramona digs through a treasure trove of documents left behind by her mother to learn more about the man she called Papa...and to figure out what really happened to him. Red Elvis is a co-production of iHeart Podcasts and School of Humans and is part of the Curiosity Audio Network. It's based on the Curiosity Stream documentary Red Elvis: The Cold War Cowboy.  Check out the doc at https://curiositystream.com Got tips, questions or comments? Email RedElvisPodcast@gmail.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In our final episode, Matt Andrews explores how athletes have protested in the modern era, from Craig Hodges' direct plea to President Bush to Colin Kaepernick taking a knee during the national anthem. Those protests, just like similar ones before it, were criticized by some Americans who told those athletes to "shut up and dribble." See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why do we sing the National Anthem at sporting events? Is patriotism part of sports? Matt Andrews explains how American sports have been intertwined with national tragedies over the last century, including September 11th.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Baseball, Cycling, Golf....why are we so obsessed with athletes cheating? Matt explores this question through the stories of Lance Armstrong and Tiger Woods.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Women's soccer began to take off in the U.S. in the 1990s, culminating in the frenzy surrounding the 1999 World Cup and one of the greatest female athletes, Mia Hamm. Matt tells that story and explains how a sports bra created a controversy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Matt Andrews tells the story of one of the greatest athletes of all time, Michael Jordan, and how his relationship with Nike changed the world of sports. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the 1980s, white athletes for some Americans came to represent white excellence in a sports world dominated by black athletes. Matt Andrews illustrates this through the stories of three white sports legends-NBA player Larry Bird, boxer Gerry Cooney...and fictional fighter Rocky Balboa.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Soviets and Americans both hosted the Olympics in the 1980s.  Matt Andrews explains that the fraught political situation of the time spilled into the Games, including boycott threats and fallout from a shot-down commercial airplane. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Before the 1970s, the average American stopped exercising after their high school days in gym class. But with modern technology came sedentary lifestyles and rising health issues. Matt Andrews breaks down the beginnings of the American fitness boom and how the jogging craze was partly about the need to feel in control.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We won't spoil which movie Matt Andrews declares the "greatest," but he feels pretty strongly about it. And that's because it's the first of its kind to be brutally honest. Hint: It's not Hoosiers.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When President Nixon signed Title IX into law in 1972, the goal was achieving gender equality and fairness in education. But it led to a women's revolution in sports, with high school and collegiate participation for women soaring in the 1970s-1990s. Matt Andrews explains the complicated story of Title IX, including a famous naked protest and the debate over its impact.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's the age of women's athletic revolution, with female athletes battling on the field for equality and respect. Nothing encapsulates that more than the 1973 tennis match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs.  Matt Andrews tells the story of the "Battle of the Sexes." See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Matt Andrews tracks the evolution of professional football in America, from the origins of the Super Bowl to the celebrity of the New York Jets' Joe Namath. He rejected norms and challenged how a professional athlete can act off the field  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised their fists on the podium of the 1968 Olympic Games, it reverberated across both the political and sports worlds. Matt Andrews delves into the unrest that led black athletes to take a stand at the Olympics, including the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hi, The Untold History of Sports in America fans! The best-selling author of The Paradox of Choice and Why We Work, this eminent psychologist and leadership guru returns to help you tackle the biggest decisions of your life. The new life-changing series, The Happiness Formula, weaves vivid case examples, research-based psychological insights, and deep wisdom. You'll find vital takeaways you can use every day. Listen here and subscribe to 'The Happiness Formula' on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

During the Cold War, black athletes were touted on the world stage by the U.S. as proof that the American system was superior. But soon, some of them chose to speak out politically against their country, and they were led by Muhammad Ali. Matt Andrews explains Cassius Clay's journey to  "The Louisville Lip" and The People's Champ.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Olympic Games served as a theater for the Cold War between the Soviet Union and the United States, competing to answer the question, who has the better system for maximizing human potential? Matt Andrews delves into these Games, and how they helped to propel black female American athletes and the Presidential Fitness Test.         See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1947, Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier as a Brooklyn Dodger. He and his family received death threats, teammates signed a petition refusing to play with him, and he was trained to ignore racist taunts from the crowd. Matt Andrews explores Robinson's career, his impact on American history, and the hidden cost of integration in sports.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Matt Andrews explores the legacy of professional boxer Joe Louis, one of the first black athletes that many white Americans supported. Andrews also talks about the 1936 Olympic Games, where Hitler's racist goals were refuted by the performances of American black athletes like Jesse Owens. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Briskly performed housework was considered an acceptable form of exercise for women in the 19th century.  Matt Andrews lays out the journey for women in sports, including the bicycle craze of the 1890s, the mother of women's basketball, and the other Babe in American sport history: Mildred "Babe" Didrikson.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the 1920s, sports writers and agents sold Americans on larger-than-life heroes, athletes that people could live through vicariously while celebrating their "rags to riches" backgrounds. Matt Andrews tells the story of two men that embodied the American dream and became sports legends: Babe Ruth and Jack Dempsey.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the last episode, Matt Andrews covered the disaster that was the first U.S.-held Olympics. Today, he discusses one of the most famous American Olympic athletes, Jim Thorpe. Andrews explains how Thorpe redefined what an American athlete looked like and embodied the fight against amateur sports. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Olympic Games were revived for the modern era in the late 1800s, setting the stage for the U.S. to host for the first time in 1904. Matt Andrews details how those Games are responsible for several fiascos-including a human zoo, the death of four water polo players from bacteria-filled water, and the grim origins of the hot dog.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sports are a presence in Americans' daily lives. But it wasn't always that way. Today, Matt Andrews explains how basketball was invented at the YMCA, why gym class is called Physical Education, and how sports were used to Americanize immigrants. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Matt Andrews tells the story of legendary boxer Jack Johnson, the first black heavyweight champion, and how he triumphed in arguably the most significant sporting event in American history.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For 100 years, if you wanted to gauge the access Black Americans had to the American Dream, you could look to how black athletes were treated in sports. In our seventh episode, Matt Andrews explores how successful black jockeys and black cyclists were pushed out by their white competitors.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In our last few episodes, Matt Andrews covered horse racing, baseball, and boxing. Are you ready for some football? Let's talk about the current great American pastime. Understanding how football got so popular takes us into some real American history. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.