# The 24 best sports podcasts in 2026. Markdown copy of https://realalpha.app/best/sports-podcasts/ on Real Alpha, the best minutes from long interviews with the people building AI. Cite and link the page, not this copy. [Best podcasts](https://realalpha.app/best/) · Updated Oct 28, 2026 As of Oct 28, 2026, Real Alpha’s ranking of 5 sports podcasts puts Stick to Football, Pablo Torre Finds Out, The High Performance Podcast, The Pivot Podcast and All the Smoke at the top, by the minutes worth watching cut from each. We follow 84 long-form podcasts and cut those minutes from their episodes. These are the shows we follow where athletes, coaches and the people who run sport talk about their own careers, rather than last night’s game. This list ranks the 5 we follow that fit it: the 2 we’ve cut 6 moments from, then 3 we haven’t cut yet. Then come 19 more we don’t follow, A to Z. It changes as we cut more. **How we rank:** Each moment we’ve cut from a show earns a point, plus one when an AI builder is the one talking. Its episode’s points are multiplied by how many people watched it on YouTube: once at 100,000 views, half as much again for each tenfold more and half less for each tenfold fewer. A moment’s points halve every year after its episode came out. Each show is scored on its five best episodes by those points, so posting more often doesn’t lift it. Shows we follow but haven’t cut from yet come after, by the views their episodes usually get on YouTube. 1. **[Stick to Football](https://realalpha.app/shows/stick-to-football/)** Stick to Football is a sports talk and interview show, hosted by Gary Neville, Jamie Carragher, Ian Wright, Roy Keane and Jill Scott, with a new episode every week. Top guests: [Sylvester Stallone](https://realalpha.app/people/sylvester-stallone/) [Start with: Stallone designed Rocky around the flaws that held him back](https://realalpha.app/s/stallone-designed-rocky-around-the-flaws-that-held-him-back/) 2. **[Pablo Torre Finds Out](https://realalpha.app/shows/pablo-torre-finds-out/)** Pablo Torre Finds Out is a sports talk and interview show, hosted by Pablo Torre, with a new episode a few times a week. Top guests: [Kiera Butler](https://realalpha.app/people/kiera-butler/), [Brad Logan](https://realalpha.app/people/brad-logan/) [Start with: A payment vendor says LifeSurge workers solicited reviews](https://realalpha.app/s/a-payment-vendor-says-lifesurge-workers-solicited-reviews/) 3. **[The High Performance Podcast](https://realalpha.app/shows/high-performance/)** The High Performance Podcast is a sports talk and interview show, hosted by Jake Humphrey and Damian Hughes, with a new episode every day. Not cut yet. Its episodes usually get about 790,000 views on YouTube. 4. **[The Pivot Podcast](https://realalpha.app/shows/pivot-podcast/)** The Pivot Podcast is a sports talk and interview show, hosted by Ryan Clark, Fred Taylor and Channing Crowder, with a new episode about twice a week. Not cut yet. Its episodes usually get about 410,000 views on YouTube. 5. **[All the Smoke](https://realalpha.app/shows/all-the-smoke/)** All the Smoke is a sports talk and interview show, hosted by Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson, with a new episode every day. Not cut yet. ## 19 more sports podcasts we don’t follow We don’t follow these, so they aren’t ranked. Here they are A to Z, each linking to where you can listen. - **[32 Thoughts: The Podcast](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/32-thoughts-the-podcast/id1332150124)** 32 Thoughts: The Podcast is Sportsnet’s weekly deep dive into the NHL, hosted by Elliotte Friedman and Kyle Bukauskas. [Listen on Apple Podcasts](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/32-thoughts-the-podcast/id1332150124) - **[The Athletic Football Show](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-athletic-football-show-a-show-about-the-nfl/id1528622068)** The Athletic Football Show is The Athletic’s flagship NFL show, on the news and the game itself, hosted by Robert Mays, Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman. [Listen on Apple Podcasts](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-athletic-football-show-a-show-about-the-nfl/id1528622068) - **[The Bill Simmons Podcast](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bill-simmons-podcast/id1043699613)** The Bill Simmons Podcast is The Ringer’s flagship sports show, with a rotating crew of guests, hosted by Bill Simmons. [Listen on Apple Podcasts](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bill-simmons-podcast/id1043699613) - **[Club Shay Shay](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/club-shay-shay/id1531023690)** Club Shay Shay is an NFL Hall of Famer’s long talks with athletes, celebrities and influencers, hosted by Shannon Sharpe. [Listen on Apple Podcasts](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/club-shay-shay/id1531023690) - **[The Draymond Green Show](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-draymond-green-show/id1595716948)** The Draymond Green Show is a four-time NBA champion’s show with teammates, rivals and guests, hosted by Draymond Green. [Listen on Apple Podcasts](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-draymond-green-show/id1595716948) - **[F1 Beyond The Grid](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/f1-beyond-the-grid/id1405972616)** F1 Beyond The Grid is Formula 1’s own show of long interviews with drivers, team bosses and engineers, hosted by Tom Clarkson. [Listen on Apple Podcasts](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/f1-beyond-the-grid/id1405972616) - **[Football Weekly](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/football-weekly/id188674007)** Football Weekly is The Guardian’s show on the Premier League and beyond, hosted by Max Rushden and Barry Glendenning. [Listen on Apple Podcasts](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/football-weekly/id188674007) - **[Men In Blazers](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/men-in-blazers/id908407811)** Men In Blazers is a show on the Premier League and the world’s football. [Listen on Apple Podcasts](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/men-in-blazers/id908407811) - **[The Mina Kimes Show featuring Lenny](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-mina-kimes-show-featuring-lenny/id1437647915)** The Mina Kimes Show featuring Lenny is an ESPN analyst’s show on the NFL, with friends, hosted by Mina Kimes. [Listen on Apple Podcasts](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-mina-kimes-show-featuring-lenny/id1437647915) - **[Mind the Game](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mind-the-game/id1736431000)** Mind the Game is a show on how basketball is played, from two of its greatest players, hosted by LeBron James and Steve Nash. [Listen on Apple Podcasts](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mind-the-game/id1736431000) - **[New Heights](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-heights-with-jason-travis-kelce/id1643745036)** New Heights is two NFL brothers’ show on football, their careers and their guests, hosted by Jason Kelce and Travis Kelce. [Listen on Apple Podcasts](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-heights-with-jason-travis-kelce/id1643745036) - **[Pardon My Take](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pardon-my-take/id1089022756)** Pardon My Take is Barstool Sports’ sports talk show, with guests, hosted by Big Cat and PFT Commenter. [Listen on Apple Podcasts](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pardon-my-take/id1089022756) - **[The Pat McAfee Show](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-pat-mcafee-show/id1435183458)** The Pat McAfee Show is a weekday show on the biggest news in sports, led by a former Pro Bowl punter, hosted by Pat McAfee and AJ Hawk. [Listen on Apple Podcasts](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-pat-mcafee-show/id1435183458) - **[The Rest Is Football](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-rest-is-football/id1701022490)** The Rest Is Football is three former England players on football’s biggest stories, hosted by Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer and Micah Richards. [Listen on Apple Podcasts](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-rest-is-football/id1701022490) - **[The Ringer NFL Show](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ringer-nfl-show/id1109282822)** The Ringer NFL Show is The Ringer’s show on the NFL’s biggest stories, three times a week, hosted by Tom Pelissero, Sheil Kapadia and Billy Gil. [Listen on Apple Podcasts](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ringer-nfl-show/id1109282822) - **[Rio Ferdinand Presents](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rio-ferdinand-presents/id1638148943)** Rio Ferdinand Presents is a former England captain’s show of football talk and interviews, hosted by Rio Ferdinand. [Listen on Apple Podcasts](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rio-ferdinand-presents/id1638148943) - **[Spittin Chiclets](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spittin-chiclets/id1112425552)** Spittin Chiclets is a show where former NHL players talk hockey and pop culture, hosted by Ryan Whitney, Paul Bissonnette, Rear Admiral and Mike Grinnell. [Listen on Apple Podcasts](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spittin-chiclets/id1112425552) - **[The Totally Football Show](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-totally-football-show-with-james-richardson/id1267958765)** The Totally Football Show is football news and chat four times a week, from The Athletic, hosted by James Richardson. [Listen on Apple Podcasts](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-totally-football-show-with-james-richardson/id1267958765) - **[The Zach Lowe Show](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-zach-lowe-show/id1805478723)** The Zach Lowe Show is NBA conversations and game breakdowns from The Ringer, hosted by Zach Lowe. [Listen on Apple Podcasts](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-zach-lowe-show/id1805478723) ## The same shows, by what they cover ### Best NFL podcasts 1. 04 [The Pivot Podcast](https://realalpha.app/shows/pivot-podcast/) 2. The Athletic Football Show 3. Club Shay Shay 4. The Mina Kimes Show featuring Lenny 5. New Heights 6. Pardon My Take 7. The Pat McAfee Show 8. The Ringer NFL Show ### Best NBA and basketball podcasts 1. 05 [All the Smoke](https://realalpha.app/shows/all-the-smoke/) 2. The Draymond Green Show 3. Mind the Game 4. The Zach Lowe Show ### Best football and soccer podcasts 1. 01 [Stick to Football](https://realalpha.app/shows/stick-to-football/) 2. Football Weekly 3. Men In Blazers 4. The Rest Is Football 5. Rio Ferdinand Presents 6. The Totally Football Show ### Best hockey podcasts 1. 32 Thoughts: The Podcast 2. Spittin Chiclets ## Questions ### What is the number one sports podcast? Stick to Football is the number one sports podcast in Real Alpha’s ranking of 5, as of Oct 28, 2026. It has 3 moments cut from one episode. ### What is the best daily sports podcast? The High Performance Podcast, No. 3 of 5 in Real Alpha’s ranking, is the best-ranked one with a new episode every day. ### How does Real Alpha rank sports podcasts? Each moment we’ve cut from a show earns a point, plus one when an AI builder is the one talking. Its episode’s points are multiplied by how many people watched it on YouTube: once at 100,000 views, half as much again for each tenfold more and half less for each tenfold fewer. A moment’s points halve every year after its episode came out. Each show is scored on its five best episodes by those points, so posting more often doesn’t lift it. Shows we follow but haven’t cut from yet come after, by the views their episodes usually get on YouTube. Then come the shows we don’t follow, unranked, A to Z. ## More lists, ranked the same way - [Best AI podcasts](https://realalpha.app/best/ai-podcasts/) Sources, All-In, Training Data and 61 more - [Best tech podcasts](https://realalpha.app/best/tech-podcasts/) Sources, All-In, Lightcone and 42 more - [Best coding podcasts](https://realalpha.app/best/coding-podcasts/) Latent Space, The Pragmatic Engineer, The Peterman Pod and 12 more - [Best business podcasts](https://realalpha.app/best/business-podcasts/) All-In, Training Data, Lightcone and 47 more - [Best investing podcasts](https://realalpha.app/best/investing-podcasts/) All-In, Training Data, Sourcery and 26 more - [Best finance podcasts](https://realalpha.app/best/finance-podcasts/) All-In, BG2, Prof G Markets and 16 more - [Best science podcasts](https://realalpha.app/best/science-podcasts/) Huberman Lab, StarTalk, Into the Impossible With Brian Keating and 25 more - [Best interview podcasts](https://realalpha.app/best/interview-podcasts/) Sources, All-In, Training Data and 71 more - [Best political podcasts](https://realalpha.app/best/political-podcasts/) TRIGGERnometry, The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart, Pod Save America and 17 more