American author and columnist
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What does it take to actually be the greatest of all time? Chuck Klosterman is a cultural critic who studies the lowbrow, taking a closer look at sports, music, and media to discover what it can tell us about society and human behavior. In this episode, Adam challenges Chuck on his controversial take that Tom Brady is not the greatest football player of all time, and the two wrestle with the definition of greatness in the context of modern culture. Chuck also argues that football is headed towards a decline as America's favorite sport, and invites Adam to reconsider whether or not self-awareness is an advantageous trait. Featured guestFollow Chuck Klosterman on Facebook and at https://chuckklostermanauthor.com/Buy Chuck's book FootballConnect with the teamFollow Adam on Instagram, LinkedIn, and at adamgrant.net/Subscribe to Adam's substack GrantedWatch ReThinking videos on YouTube at TEDAudioCollectiveFollow TED on X, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and TikTokReThinking is produced by Cosmic Standard. Our Senior Producer is Jessica Glazer, our Engineer is Aja Simpson, our Technical Director is Jacob Winik, and our Executive Producer is Eliza Smith.For the full text transcript, visit ted.com/podcasts/rethinking-with-adam-grant-transcripts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode, host Alex Kopytko welcomes back recurring guest and history PhD student Cole Costello for a wide-ranging conversation on politics, culture, sports, and the stories we tell ourselves about all three. The two discuss the Great American Fair, celebrity politics, the ongoing debate around public figures and their personal views, and whether modern media focuses on the right controversies. They also dive into Chuck Klosterman's ideas about football, exploring why America's most popular sport is unlike any other and what its structure reveals about human nature and society.
Gregg Rosenthal is joined by bestselling author Chuck Klosterman to talk about his new book "Football". Gregg and Chuck take a deep dive into the fandom around the sport of football, Chuck growing up a Cowboys fan and how being on the wrong side of a moment like "The Catch" can change a fan forever, the future of football globally and more! NFL Daily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nflpodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
We'll be back next week with a new episode. Rob is (hopefully) flying back from Egypt, and for now, we're unlocking a really fun Patreon episode, where we are answering theoretical questions from Chuck Klosterman's party game, HYPERtheticals. Topics include Brain vs Body, Stopping A Bear Attack, and A Movie On Your Life.LEAVE US A VOICEMAIL with feedback or any questions. Just call(240) LIVE - CASThat's (240) 548-3227Watch the episode on Youtube for free. Join our Patreon and get a bonus episode each month, and other behind-the-scenes goodies. More info here.Follow us on: Twitch, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and our Discord Chat. Also don't forget about our Spotify playlist. We also have merch if you're into that kind of sharing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Boys are thrilled to welcome author CHUCK KLOSTERMAN on the show so he can weigh in on some of their ethical dilemmas. Check out Chuck's new book, Football, on sale now! Get a Hat Pack Hat here! Check out Sean and Hayes’s bonus shows at Patreon.com/HollywoodHandbook Listen on the iHeartRadio App!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Un monólogo de Villalobos respecto a un libro que se topó armando la bibliografía de un nuevo taller: I wear the black hat (Uso el sombrero negro), de Chuck Klosterman. Un ensayo sobre lo que significa ser una figura villanesca, ya sea en la literatura, el cine, la televisión o la vida real. Desde los Eagles a Hitler, pasando por Bill Clinton y Joe Paterno, acá el viaje es accidentado pero fascinante.
For many Americans, football is more than just a sport — it is a way of life. Year after year, it remains the most watched sport in the country, captivating millions every season. A recent study showed that 93 of the 100 most-watched programs on U.S. television were NFL football games. Football, whether we like it or not, is inescapable. Chuck Klosterman, New York Times bestselling author, journalist, and critic, visits Town Hall just after Super Bowl Weekend to discuss his newest book, Football. Here, Klosterman dissects the question of natural greatness, looks at football through various lenses such as gambling and war, explores the caricature of the uncompromising head coach, ponders the morality of necessary risk, and posits hypotheticals in which certain celebrities chose football over other fields. Football explains the sport as not only a cultural phenomenon but as a "hyperobject" — an entity so large in scale that it is able to defy human perception and understanding. Klosterman seeks both to enlighten and amuse as he offers examples of how football is woven into our collective identity. Whether you are a diehard fan or a more passive viewer, Klosterman's latest work goes beyond football as just an athletic competition. Chuck Klosterman is the bestselling author of nine nonfiction books, two novels, and a short story collection. He has written for The New York Times, The Washington Post, GQ (London), Esquire, Spin, The Guardian (London), The Believer, and ESPN. Klosterman served as the Ethicist for The New York Times Magazine for three years and was an original founder of the website Grantland with Bill Simmons. He was raised in rural North Dakota and now lives in Portland, Oregon. Buy the Book Football Elliott Bay Book Company
Author and essayist Chuck Klosterman tackles the game of football in his economically titled new book Football, which examines the sport's cultural dominance in America and why, one day, that might change; poet Sasha Debevec-McKenney explains why her debut collection Joy Is My Middle Name includes U.S. Presidents, stand-up comedy one-liners, and the movie Babe; and indie singer-songwriter Laura Gibson gives us an update on her gardening practice before performing a new, unreleased song titled "Sylvia."
National Library Week 2026 is April 19-25, and it's the perfect time to share our love of libraries and our deep appreciation for the librarians who work to make them the vibrant and welcoming places that they are. In this special compilation episode of This Is the Author, hear Mychal Threets, Arthur C. Brooks, Tom Junod, Elizabeth Berg, Erin McGoff, Angela Buchdahl, Zachary Rubin, Dominic Hoffman, Chuck Klosterman, C .Thi Nguyen, and Susan Orlean share what they love most about their local libraries.
Matt recaps his weekend of hockey, Baylor Scheierman's ascension, and update on The 90s with Chuck Klosterman, Rory won The Masters, and Matt previews the Monday show.
Seth and Sean see if Dwyane Wade, Shady McCoy, Charles Huff, Aaron Glenn or Chuck Klosterman can dethrone reigning champ CC Sabathia in this week's Take-a-Mania.
The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Chuck Klosterman to discuss a new fix for tanking in the NBA, before diving into a convo about fixing the NBA product as a whole (2:49). Then, they discuss the development of student-athletes and the draft process (40:15). Finally, they break down Wemby's game, ABS in MLB, and more (01:05:50). Host: Bill Simmons Guest: Chuck Klosterman Producers: Chia Hao Tat, and Eduardo Ocampo Sam's Club | Join The Club of Yes And #ULTRACourtside could get you closer to the game! https://michelobultra.com/courtside MICHELOB ULTRA® COURTSIDE '25 to '26. No Purchase Necessary. Open to US residents 21 plus. Begins on October 1, 2025 and ends on June 30, 2026 Multiple entry periods. See Official Rules at https://michelobultra.com/courtside for free entry, entry deadlines, prizes, and details. The Ringer is committed to responsible gaming. Please visit www.rg-help.com to learn more about the resources and helplines available. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
You start out guiding your kids through your world. Then suddenly you're trying to understand theirs.In this episode, Ryan talks with Chuck Klosterman about what it's like to raise kids in a culture that moves faster than you can keep up with and why knowing what your kids love matters more than judging it. Chuck is the author of Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs, But What If We're Wrong?, The Nineties, and now his latest book Football. Pick up a copy of Football by Chuck KlostermanFollow Chuck on X @CKlosterman
As the Iran war triggers a global energy crisis, the climate consequences are already mounting. The International Energy Agency warns this crisis could surpass the oil shocks of the 1970s. Yet, even as some countries accelerate the shift to renewables, the Trump administration is doubling down on fossil fuels, scrapping wind projects and expanding drilling. Bill McKibben is a leading environmentalist who argues this war underscores the urgent need to transition away from oil, and he joins the program from Vermont. Also on today's show: Hamidreza Mohammadi, brother of imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi; cultural critic Chuck Klosterman, author of "Football" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
It's backwards day on Out of Our League! This week, Jason takes the reins of the show as he and Mike START with an insightful Dr. Mike Smith Sports Moment of the Week, and then discuss the success of the World Baseball Classic, the start of the NCAA Tournament, the latest on NBA expansion, and much more! Then Charles, who couldn't help but chime in a few times earlier, finally has his own segment! He reviews the latest two books that he's read: Football by Chuck Klosterman and Every Day Is Sunday by Ken Belson.
Do you like football? Chuck Klosterman is a culture writer who really, really likes football. His new book is called Football. In it, he examines the cultural impact of the sport, as it relates to American life. He joins Bullseye to talk about the ups and downs of being a life-long football fan, and why the sport can matter to everyone, regardless of fan status.To manage podcast ad preferences, review the links below:See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
Football by Chuck Klosterman (2010) vs Theo of Golden by Allen Levi (2023)
But in taking a principled stand against the Pentagon and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, it will gain valuable trust with customers, argues Bradley, and that means winning the war. Plus: Jack Dorsey's 4,000-person layoff at Block is a sign of things to come as AI efficiency tools displace white-collar workers — and nobody has a real plan for what comes next; why the addiction claims being made in the lawsuit against Meta are "1,000 percent accurate" but that doesn't mean it's illegal; is Mayor Mamdani governing as a pragmatic big-city leader or showing his progressive stripes; a Chuck Klosterman theory about political movements that Bradley mostly finds fault with; and the case for cautious optimism about the Mets pitching staff.This episode was taped at P&T Knitwear at 180 Orchard Street — New York City's only free podcast recording studio.Send us an email with your thoughts on today's episode: info@firewall.media.Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter and follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack + YouTube.
Watching the Winter Olympics. The end of Mass Market Paperbacks. House Burping. Rough Times for Female Tortoises in Macedonia. Jo Ann Bass and Joe's Stone Crab. Freedom House Ambulance Service. Football by Chuck Klosterman. Credits: Talent: Tamsen Granger and Dan Abuhoff Engineer: Elizabeth Easton Aziz Art: Zeke Abuhoff
Chuck Klosterman has written about music, pop culture, and the nature of reality... but football is a different level of obsession. In today's episode, Chuck details his new book, Football, and digs into what makes the sport so culturally singular, why college football's pageantry and regionalism feel increasingly fragile, and why the blue bloods still need to matter for any of this to work. In our wide-ranging conversation, we also touch on the television presentation of college football, the impact of NIL and the transfer portal on fandom, the insanity of Indiana winning a national championship, and the cautionary tale of horse racing. Pick up Chuck's book, Football, right here: https://www.amazon.com/Football-Chuck-Klosterman/dp/0593490649 0:00 - Intro4:10 - Chuck Klosterman InterviewSupport the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mike Pesca wrote a fine piece for the Free Press on how oddly not controversial the supposedly very controversial Eileen Gu is. She's from the United States, but competes for China, and yet receives…mostly glowing mainstream American coverage? What's with that? And beyond Gu, what's the elite American consensus on China? But before the topics are introduced…Per the new Substack/Polymarket partnership, I'm posting an Eileen Gu involved competition. As someone incapable of accurately pricing Winter Olympics events, I'm interested in whether bettors reflect Gu's true odds for winning the Ski Halfpipe. As of this writing, Polymarket has her favored to triumph. Fame halo effect, or accurate probability? And onto the Pesca pod topics…* Would we bet that Chuck Klosterman has a secret North Dakota accent?* Eileen Gu is certainly beautiful, but does she also look a little terrifying? * Is the lack of elite anger towards China rooted in corporate considerations?* America is less patriotic now, especially among the young. Bad thing?* Is the United States the best country?* Per the Jeremy Carl congressional dustup, is there such a thing as White American culture? * Stuffwhitepeoplelike was a great website* Is there such a thing as a “white guy basketball assist”? * Is it plausible that Spike Lee's All-Star Game Palestine outfit had nothing to do with Deni Avdija? House of Strauss is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.houseofstrauss.com/subscribe
In this thrilling episode, Meagan Brings: Enemies to Lovers by Alisha Rai: https://hpld.na4.iiivega.com/search/card?recordId=2396512 The Haar by David Sodergren: https://hpld.na4.iiivega.com/search/card?recordId=16830176:hoopla Brewbies by Kerrigan Byrne: https://hpld.na4.iiivega.com/search/card?recordId=18017750:hoopla A Most Worthy Husband by Faye Delacour: https://hpld.na4.iiivega.com/search/card?recordId=2393327 Peter Brings: Football by Chuck Klosterman: https://hpld.na4.iiivega.com/search/card?recordId=2391170 Letters to the Purple Satin Killer by Joshua Chaplinsky The Librarianist by Patrick Dewitt: https://hpld.na4.iiivega.com/search/card?recordId=2330984 Howard the Duck by Zdarsky and Quinones
The Super Bowl is over, but the NFL season is set to ramp up again in just a few months. Today's episode features two nonfiction books that delve into the world of football. First, Chuck Klosterman's Football is a critical reading of the sport. He spoke with NPR's Juana Summers about why football became dominant in American culture and why he believes it'll lose popularity over the next decades. Then, Danny Funt speaks with NPR's A Martínez about his new book Everybody Loses, which charts the sports gambling boom and the NFL's role in the popularization of prop bets.To listen to Book of the Day sponsor-free and support NPR's book coverage, sign up for Book of the Day+ at plus.npr.org/bookofthedayLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
"Dan, is your position now anti-football as opposed to pro-football?" Chuck Klosterman joins us from in front of his electric fireplace to discuss his new book, "Football," and why the cultural monolith of the game may eventually be... doomed? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Host Piya Chattopadhyay speaks with The Toronto Star's Susan Delacourt and The Economist's Rob Russo about calls for Canadian unity from former prime ministers Stephen Harper and Jean ChrétienPussy Riot's Nadya Tolokonniokva reflects on power, protest and Russia's parallels with the U.S.Writer Chuck Klosterman nerds out about American football and its many contradictions ahead of Super Bowl LXCanadian curling legend Jennifer Jones looks back on her journey both on and off the ice
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.houseofstrauss.comAs I told Chuck Klosterman, I planned to do a pod on his Football book with non sports fan Rob Henderson. So what did our favorite sports agnostic intellectual think of such a deep dive into America's favorite game? Topics! Include!* When one's job is a bigger marker of identity than one's race* Is the NFL a more positive racial story than what gets relayed in media?* Why did conservative media know football was coming back during Covid?* Most retired NFL players have painful daily injuries. Most of the injured have no regrets* How does NFL culture deal with certain positions being higher/lower Wonderlic?* Libs are fine with young women doing Only Fans; Cons are fine with young NFL players damaging their brains* Rob Henderson is fascinated by the gender implications of how the WNBA reacted to Caitlin Clark* Why are NBA teammates rarely friends?* Rob is interested in why soccer is an elite sport in America but working class sport elsewhere* Rob and I both loved one particular passage in Klosterman's book about how his dad reacted to Doug Flutie's miracle play
Few writers understand American culture like Chuck Klosterman, which is why he joins Ryan ahead of the Super Bowl to talk about how football reshaped American culture.In this episode, Chuck and Ryan discuss what football really reveals about American culture, power, and the stories we tell ourselves about expertise and control. Chuck shares his observations, strange historical parallels, and personal stories that connect sports to technology, identity, and how monocultures form and eventually fade.
I highly recommend Football, Chuck Klosterman's latest book. In this podcast, we discuss his trenchant and personal exploration of the sport, along with the following topics…* Are we primarily writers or podcasters?* Many believe that young people are correct about the future, but few think they were smarter as young people* Will opinions change less often now that we are publicly anchored to opinions?* Would Chuck lie if his privacy was violated to procure damning information?* Why do we want coaches to be scary assholes? * Chuck asks me if I scream at my kids* Why Mike Holmgren screamed at Andy Reid* The media driven ego battle between Bill Belichick and Tom Brady* Why television dominates our sports memories for games we saw in person* Do we want football to stay American?* Has history forgotten Roger Staubach?* Chuck has been a closeted Dallas Cowboys fanHouse of Strauss is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.houseofstrauss.com/subscribe
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.houseofstrauss.comGreat conversation with Mike Pesca in which I, unfortunately, regressed to my old ways of pronouncing Chuck Klosterman's name incorrectly. This is possibly our most controversial and free associative podcast yet. * Was Alec Baldwin's best Trump imitation actually Jack Donaghy?* “Seinfeld sucks and isn't funny”?* Mike disagrees with certain Minnesota ICE takes from my podcast with Kat Rosenfield * Berkeley made me biased against protestors* We discuss Brian Phillips' belief that Trump era chaos is all a devious strategy* The oddness of initially not knowing whether the 2nd Alex Pretti video was AI* Should the new Pretti vs. police video have any influence on how one feels about the possibly unrelated deadly encounter 11 days later? * We aren't conquering Canada and also, adding Alberta would look so stupid on the map* Mike weighs in on whether the NFL should All 22 itself* Most people agree that a man's morality shouldn't influence his NFL Hall of Fame case, but nobody will make the Hall of Fame case for serial rapist Darren Sharper* Is Robert Saleh good or just good at playing the media game?
See Adam on tour https://theadamfriedland.show/pages/tour -- JOIN THE FRIEDLAND FAMILY FOUNDATION / PREMIUM SUBSCRIPTION: https://www.youtube.com/@TheAdamFriedlandShow/join -- Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheAdamFriedlandShow -- Buy our merch!: https://theadamfriedland.show/collections/new -- The Adam Friedland Show - Season Two Episode 32 | Chuck Klosterman X: https://x.com/adam_talkshow Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theadamfriedlandshow TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@adamfriedlandshowclips YouTube: Subscribe to @TheAdamFriedlandShow here: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheAdamFriedlandShow Subscribe to @TAFSClips here: https://www.youtube.com/@tafsclips -- Limited Time Offer – Get Huel’s full High-Protein Starter Kit with my exclusive offer of 20% OFF online with my code TAFS20 at huel.com/TAFS20. New Customers Only. Code only valid for the bundle. Thank you to Huel for partnering and supporting our show! For simple, online access to personalized and affordable care for Hair Loss, Weight Loss, and more, visit Hims.com/TAFS Use code TAFS at Monarch.com for 50% off your first year! -- #adamfriedland #theadamfriedlandshow #Chuck Klosterman
This week on The Leftovers, never-before-heard audio from Chuck Klosterman, the pop culture obsessed best-selling author, critic and journalist. Chuck moved from New York City to Portland, Oregon in 2017, a city known for its creative, eclectic, innovative restaurant scene. A scene that, you will hear, Chuck does not appreciate! Please enjoy his rant. He talks about the book that most inspired his writing career, the importance of having a distinct writing voice and wonders what distinguishes red velvet cake from regular chocolate cake, besides the Red 40. Listen to the full episode of Your Last Meal with Chuck Klosterman here. Become a Cascade PBS member and support public media! Watch Rachel's Cascade PBS TV showThe Nosh with Rachel Belle. Sign up for Rachel's (free!) biweekly Cascade PBS newsletter for more food musings. Follow along on Instagram. Order Rachel's cookbook Open Sesame.
Spike hosted an event with Chuck Klosterman at the Midtown Scholar Bookstore in Harrisburg last week. This is a recording of that entire conversation covering several topics within the book, reclining your seat on an airplane, standing at a concert, AI and the future of entertainment, and more. Thanks to Midtown Scholar, Chuck, Alex Brubaker and everyone else who made it happen. Order a signed copy of the book here: https://www.midtownscholar.com/signed-copies/footballThe Rights To Ricky Sanchez is presented by Draft Kings Sportsbook.
Why do we love football so much? Why does this sport dominate American culture in a way nothing else can? Why does it feel essential even to people who barely like sports? And what does it say about us that we keep watching, even as the risks and contradictions become harder to ignore? Today's guest is Chuck Klosterman, cultural critic and bestselling author, whose new book Football tries to explain the game at the height of its power. Sean and Chuck talk about how football became the defining spectacle of modern America, why it's easily the best television show we've ever seen, and why it presents a ton of moral dilemmas we can't really solve. Host: Sean Illing (@SeanIlling) Guest: Chuck Klosterman, author of Football We would love to hear from you. To tell us what you thought of this episode, email us at thegrayarea@vox.com or leave us a voicemail at 1-800-214-5749. Your comments and questions help us make a better show.And you can watch new episodes of The Gray Area on YouTube. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
We open the week reacting to the NFL Conference Championships games, and the local CBB teams! Plus, Author of "Football" Chuck Klosterman joins the show!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The journalist, novelist and cultural critic Chuck Klosterman is best known for writing about rock music and pop culture in astute essay collections like “The Nineties,” “X” and “Sex, Drugs and Cocoa Puffs.” But Klosterman got his start in college as a sports journalist, and with his new book, “Football,” he has finally devoted an entire collection to the sport that has fundamentally shaped him alongside American society at large.“I've unconsciously been thinking about football for most of my life,” Klosterman tells host Gilbert Cruz on this week's episode. “I decided at some point, I do want to write a book about sports. You know, I'd always mentioned sports here and there in the culture writing I had done, or the kind of conventional pop culture writing I'd done, but I wanted to do a real sports book. And initially my idea was it would be about basketball — but over time it became very clear to me it had to be about football, for a variety of reasons. … It seemed as though if you're going to do a sports book, particularly as it relates to society, there is only one choice in the United States.” Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.
One of America's foremost cultural critics steps out of the writer's cabin and into the studio to predict the future of a game that seems too big to stop: What happened to the egghead prophecy of Peak Football? Is 11 minutes actually the perfect amount of hyper-connective, violent action? And, in a Post-Winning Era, will the relentless gold-mining of fandom threaten the NFL's dominance, as soon as 2070? Plus: best laid aquarium plans, killing your fake darlings, old love letters, the meaning of nostalgia... and becoming Don Rickles for Bill Simmons. • Read "Football" by Chuck Klosterman• Take a PTFO audience survey for your chance to win a $100 Amazon gift card Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this fantasy world, where my guests can choose anything they want for their hypothetical last meal, there is something very charming and humble about choosing...leftovers. Which is exactly what bestselling author, critic and journalist Chuck Klosterman did! Chuck told me he's not that into food, then proceeded to deliver hot take after hot take, passionately opining on everything from candy bar innovation to turkey consumption to his disdain of restaurant chitchat. And he asks me a surprising question no guest has ever asked me before, in the nine years of making this podcast: Why am I a guest on this show? Do you eat leftovers? A Wall Street Journal food reporter joins the show to share new data on Americans' relationship with the plastic containers of food piling up in our refrigerators. Then Chuck and I chat about his new book, Football and he tells me a hilarious story about the times he's been mixed up with other famous Chucks. ---------------Listen to the Prodigy episode, featuring an inmate who cooked many death row meals. Become a Cascade PBS member and support public media! Watch Rachel's Cascade PBS TV showThe Nosh with Rachel Belle. Sign up for Rachel's (free!) biweekly Cascade PBS newsletter for more food musings. Follow along on Instagram. Order Rachel's cookbook Open Sesame.
Chuck Klosterman returns with his one-word book, Football, using the Raiders' brand mystique—and the Pac-12 reduced to two lonely teams—as proof that the sport's identity outlives its on-field logic. He argues the short-term cash grab (conference realignment, NIL, gambling) is eroding the traditions that made college football feel timeless, even while the Saturdays are still great. Along the way: concussions as a rehearsal for America's broader "we can change it" institutional cycle, body cams as the reform that boomeranged, and the bleakly funny idea that our real hobby is forensic videography. Plus, a Davos "weave" tour where Trump sells "Green New Scam" riffs to bewildered Swiss elites, then Todd Blanche signals DOJ won't even bother with the usual investigative fig leaf after the Minnesota ICE killing. Produced by Corey Wara Coordinated by Lya Yanne Video and Social Media by Geoff Craig Do you have questions or comments, or just want to say hello? Email us at thegist@mikepesca.com For full Pesca content and updates, check out our website at https://www.mikepesca.com/ For ad-free content or to become a Pesca Plus subscriber, check out https://subscribe.mikepesca.com/ For Mike's daily takes on Substack, subscribe to The Gist List https://mikepesca.substack.com/ Follow us on Social Media: YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4_bh0wHgk2YfpKf4rg40_g Instagram https://www.instagram.com/pescagist/ X https://x.com/pescami TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@pescagist To advertise on the show, contact ad-sales@libsyn.com or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/TheGist
What does American football reveal about who we are and who we're becoming? Watch the video of this episode on YouTube here. Russell Moore talks with cultural critic and essayist Chuck Klosterman about his new book Football and what the sport tells us about masculinity, community, memory, violence, and belief. From Roman gladiator games to Super Bowl halftime shows, and from church attendance to television economics, Klosterman argues that football is more than entertainment: it's one of the last truly shared experiences in American life—and one that may not survive the century. Even for listeners who don't care about football at all, this conversation is about the deeper question beneath the spectacle: what happens when a culture's rituals outlast its imagination? Moore and Klosterman discuss football as a made-for-television phenomenon, the way fandom shapes identity and irrationality, and how football functions as an unofficial secular holiday—one that churches once resisted, then accommodated, and eventually surrendered to. Along the way, they examine agency, violence, masculinity, and why moral critiques of football provoke more outrage than theological disagreements ever could. The conversation widens to include politics, class, religion, and even Billy Joel—ending with the question: when future generations judge our era by one piece of football culture, what will they see? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
American football is so big — so braided into our weekends, our language, and our culture — that it can be hard to see it clearly as a whole.In his new book, Football, Chuck Klosterman helps us see the game from unexpected angles, and argues that football isn't just a sport, it's a kind of national operating system. Chuck explains how it became the dominant televised spectacle in America, despite having elements that should count against it. We then explore football as a simulation — of war, of reality, and even of itself — and how its simulation through video games has actually fed back into the sport itself. We also talk about who Chuck thinks is the GOAT (hint: it's not Tom Brady), and the difference between achievement and greatness. At the end of our conversation, Chuck lays out a compelling argument for why football may be headed for a steep and surprising fall.Resources Related to the PodcastAoM Podcast #248: Why Football MattersAoM Podcast #1,061: Are You Not Entertained? The Myths and Truths About Roman GladiatorsAoM Podcast #1,044: What Sports Betting Is Really Doing to Players, Games, and FansThanks to This Week's Podcast SponsorIncogni. Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code MANLINESS at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/manlinessSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Author Chuck Klosterman joins the show to discuss his new book, Football, and how football's strange mechanics, from hidden labor to stop-start pacing,and its resistance to casual play, have helped turn it into the last true monoculture. He also makes the case that future critics will misread football as decadence, missing what it actually revealed about the era that embraced it. Also, the double pardon of the same woman convicted twice for fraud, including a scheme selling counterfeit 5-Hour Energy drinks. Plus a Spiel on how Donald Trump and Stephen Miller make reckless promises of protection that can get supporters hurt or killed. Produced by Corey Wara Coordinated by Lya Yanne Video and Social Media by Geoff Craig Do you have questions or comments, or just want to say hello? Email us at thegist@mikepesca.com For full Pesca content and updates, check out our website at https://www.mikepesca.com/ For ad-free content or to become a Pesca Plus subscriber, check out https://subscribe.mikepesca.com/ For Mike's daily takes on Substack, subscribe to The Gist List https://mikepesca.substack.com/ Follow us on Social Media: YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4_bh0wHgk2YfpKf4rg40_g Instagram https://www.instagram.com/pescagist/ X https://x.com/pescami TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@pescagist To advertise on the show, contact ad-sales@libsyn.com or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/TheGist
Hosts Alex Kirshner, Lindsay Gibbs, and Ben Lindbergh are joined by Fried Egg Golf's Brendan Porath to examine the crumbling of LIV Golf in the wake of Brooks Koepka's reinstatement by the PGA Tour.Then Alex and Ben speak to author Chuck Klosterman about his new book, simply titled, Football. Klosterman predicts the eventual demise of America's most beloved sport, and explains why it will be widely misunderstood by future generations.The panel wraps with more football, breaking down the College Football Playoff national championship and the NFL postseason.On the bonus episode, available exclusively for Slate Plus members, the panel discusses the Kyle Tucker acquisition by the Dodgers and whether it's finally time for an MLB salary cap.LIV Golf (8:22): Koepka is out and takes his punishmentsKlosterman (25:49): When football is no moreCFB (01:02:27): Hoosiers are no longer the biggest losers(Note: time codes are only accurate for Slate Plus members, who listen ad-free.)Get more Hang Up and Listen with Slate Plus! Join for weekly bonus episodes of Hang Up and Listen and ad-free listening on all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe from the Hang Up and Listen show page on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or visit slate.com/hangupplus for access wherever you listen.You can email us at hangup@slate.com.Podcast production and editing by Kevin Bendis, with production assistance from Patrick Fort. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Hosts Alex Kirshner, Lindsay Gibbs, and Ben Lindbergh are joined by Fried Egg Golf's Brendan Porath to examine the crumbling of LIV Golf in the wake of Brooks Koepka's reinstatement by the PGA Tour.Then Alex and Ben speak to author Chuck Klosterman about his new book, simply titled, Football. Klosterman predicts the eventual demise of America's most beloved sport, and explains why it will be widely misunderstood by future generations.The panel wraps with more football, breaking down the College Football Playoff national championship and the NFL postseason.On the bonus episode, available exclusively for Slate Plus members, the panel discusses the Kyle Tucker acquisition by the Dodgers and whether it's finally time for an MLB salary cap.LIV Golf (8:22): Koepka is out and takes his punishmentsKlosterman (25:49): When football is no moreCFB (01:02:27): Hoosiers are no longer the biggest losers(Note: time codes are only accurate for Slate Plus members, who listen ad-free.)Get more Hang Up and Listen with Slate Plus! Join for weekly bonus episodes of Hang Up and Listen and ad-free listening on all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe from the Hang Up and Listen show page on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or visit slate.com/hangupplus for access wherever you listen.You can email us at hangup@slate.com.Podcast production and editing by Kevin Bendis, with production assistance from Patrick Fort. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Hosts Alex Kirshner, Lindsay Gibbs, and Ben Lindbergh are joined by Fried Egg Golf's Brendan Porath to examine the crumbling of LIV Golf in the wake of Brooks Koepka's reinstatement by the PGA Tour.Then Alex and Ben speak to author Chuck Klosterman about his new book, simply titled, Football. Klosterman predicts the eventual demise of America's most beloved sport, and explains why it will be widely misunderstood by future generations.The panel wraps with more football, breaking down the College Football Playoff national championship and the NFL postseason.On the bonus episode, available exclusively for Slate Plus members, the panel discusses the Kyle Tucker acquisition by the Dodgers and whether it's finally time for an MLB salary cap.LIV Golf (8:22): Koepka is out and takes his punishmentsKlosterman (25:49): When football is no moreCFB (01:02:27): Hoosiers are no longer the biggest losers(Note: time codes are only accurate for Slate Plus members, who listen ad-free.)Get more Hang Up and Listen with Slate Plus! Join for weekly bonus episodes of Hang Up and Listen and ad-free listening on all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe from the Hang Up and Listen show page on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or visit slate.com/hangupplus for access wherever you listen.You can email us at hangup@slate.com.Podcast production and editing by Kevin Bendis, with production assistance from Patrick Fort. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.wethefifth.comChuck Klosterman's new book, Football is out now! (See also The Nineties, and Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs)-The music-doc cinematic universe, featuring Billy Joel and Japanese Jimmy Page-Moynihan missed the Morrissey cover-band boat-How to actually say Klosterman-From pop culture to America's most popular TV show-It had to be football: the one exception …
John welcomes pop culture savant and bestselling author Chuck Klosterman back to the show to discuss his new book, “Football.” Klosterman explains how America football went from overtaking baseball as the country's favorite sport and national pastime to utterly dominating its cultural landscape – and why, despite its power, pervasiveness, and influence today, football is all but certain in the next few decades to become a marginal, more or less irrelevant enterprise. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On this week's episode, I'm joined by Chuck Klosterman to discuss all things football and his new book, aptly titled Football. (Please buy a copy for yourself and your friends; you'll thank me, and then your friends will thank you.) We hit on an array of topics, including but not limited to the potential demise of the sport, the ways in which television and football are a perfect match, why streaming services are spending billions to acquire the rights to NFL and NCAA games, how gambling and fantasy football have fundamentally changed our relationship to the sport, and trying to think through how we think about football and why it matters.
The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to recap the Texans taking down the Steelers to wrap up the wild-card round before previewing the Texans-Patriots matchup (1:52). Then, Chuck Klosterman joins the pod to talk about his new book, ‘Football,' and the evolution of humans' relationship to the sport (35:44). Host: Bill Simmons Guests: Cousin Sal and Chuck Klosterman Producers: Chia Hao Tat and Eduardo Ocampo The Ringer is committed to responsible gaming. Please visit www.rg-help.com to learn more about the resources and helplines available. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Joel Embiid is out, Paul George is out again somehow, Oubre's hurt, Watford got hurt, Edgecombe is out, and still that game was pretty awful. At least Jared McCain seems to be putting it together. We talk about the loss, whether Brian Windhorst should be banned or celebrated, give some relationship advice and determined where in the hierarchy of US born players Tyrese Maxey is. Get tickets to see Spike and Chuck Klosterman here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/an-evening-with-chuck-klosterman-and-spike-eskin-football-tickets-1964428822489Reserve your spot for Fly The Process New Orleans here: https://www.rightstorickysanchez.com/p/flyThe Rights To Ricky Sanchez is presented by Draft Kings SportsbookAdam Ksebe is the official realtor of The Ricky at 302-864-8643LL Pavorsky Jewelers is where Ricky listeners go and get engaged. Get 20% off any Body Bio order with the code in the podcast.Surfside Iced Tea and Vodka is the official canned cocktail of The Ricky.
The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Chuck Klosterman to react to the Mavericks firing Nico Harrison months after trading Luka Doncic (3:04). Then, they take a look at a possible Anthony Davis trade before discussing parity in MLB, coaching in college sports, and much more (40:47)! Host: Bill Simmons Guest: Chuck Klosterman Producers: Chia Hao Tat and Eduardo Ocampo Get Gameday Deals all season long only on Uber Eats. Order Now. The Ringer is committed to responsible gaming. Please visit www.rg-help.com to learn more about the resources and helplines available. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices