During an appearance on The Dave Pasch Podcast last week, Mike Golic said he was approached by an unidentified party about starting a podcast network after he departed ESPN Radio.
If Golic had entered the podcast network game, it would have been the latest foray into the space made by several other prominent figures. Kevin Durant, Dan Patrick, Michelle Beadle, Colin Cowherd, and Jemele Hill have all launched podcast networks over the course of the last roughly two years, to varying degrees of success.
The revelation by Golic got my wheels turning. Who — in the sports world — could launch a new podcast network and see real, tangible success? I think there are fewer names than you might imagine.
In my estimation, there’s some sort of triumvirate formula of likeability, credibility, and social following that could lead to potential podcast network success.
I’ve kicked around this list for quite awhile, and while I’m certain there’s someone or several that could be argued, these were the names that jumped off the page to me that could be in the running to launch their own podcast networks and make an impact in the space.
Big Cat and PFT
Big Cat and PFT already host the biggest sports podcast on the planet. If they ever wanted to, and it certainly seems like they’re more than content to stay at Barstool, they could kickstart a project together that could be a juggernaut. However, it would be a direct competitor to Barstool Sports, and I’d venture to guess that’s just not something they’d entertain at this stage in their career. Nonetheless, they’re in the rare air of folks in the “could do it, if they wanted to” category, and that might be reason enough to command whatever price they want from Barstool in the future.
Big Cat has 1.5 million followers on Twitter and PFT has 994,000. They’ve got the following needed to create something, if they ever choose to do so.
Charles Barkley
For all the evidence you need for why Charles Barkley is on this list, simply hop in your time machine and return to mid-July, as the NBA on TNT flirting with joining the LIV Golf tour as a television commentator. His “Will he or won’t he?” contemplation dominated the sports media headlines, with nearly everyone in radio and television landing on a position of what he should or shouldn’t do.
Through all of his faults, and there are many, Barkley is one of the most entertaining figures in sports media, and I don’t think he’s going to lose that distinction anytime soon. The allure of “what in the world will he say on a podcast that he won’t already say on Inside the NBA?!” would be reason enough for his podcast to anchor a successful network.
Pat McAfee
Likeability? Check. Credibility? Check. Social media following? Check. The people have spoken and the people want Pat McAfee. Nearly everything has bounced the former Colts punter’s way during his short but meteoric rise in the industry. McAfee has shown a willingness to promote others, like his insistence that his current crew ascend to higher places in sports broadcasting by leaving his show, before they immediately shut him down. He’s shown the ability to market himself, and his brand, to some top advertisers that could help keep a podcast network afloat in its building phase.
Paul Finebaum
To millions of college football fans, Paul Finebaum is an institution. And college football has somewhat lagged behind other sports in the podcast space. I’m not saying Finebaum could simply just create the college football version of “Locked On” or “Heavy On” or whatever team-centric podcast networks exist, but if he wanted to sit down and dedicate the final chapters of his already stellar career to creating a podcast platform for the sport he’s renowned for, I like his chances of success.
Scott Van Pelt
While not killing jewelry, Applebee’s, and fabric softener, among other things, us millennials have shown that, almost over anything, we value authenticity. It’s why people like McAfee and Scott Van Pelt continue to be highly-regarded. To borrow a phrase, Scott Van Pelt is just a guy being a dude. He’s authentic, he’s real, and he’s genuine. Millennials and Gen Z value those traits. He has credibility not only as a sports journalist, but also as a sports fan. He has elevated the profile of several other current and former folks in Bristol by association, and I think that would be seen in the podcast space as well.
Finally, I don’t know that I would go out on the limb and say that she herself could launch a podcast network, but I think Katie Nolan would be a logical choice to partner with someone to start a network or be a lead show. I’ve long been a fan of her work, and firmly believe that when she’s been given the opportunity to pick who she works with, she has shown the ability to be a difference maker in the avenues she has selected.
I’m sure I left someone glaringly obvious off my list. I tried to avoid someone like Peyton Manning and Omaha Productions, simply because they’re already dipping their toes into the space, and focus on those who aren’t already generally creating content on their own, but could step outside their current roles, ala Colin Cowherd and The Volume, to try to launch the next success podcast network.
Garrett Searight is Barrett Media’s News Editor, which includes writing daily news stories, features, and opinion columns. He joined Barrett Media in 2022 after a decade leading several radio brands in several formats, as well as a 5-year stint working in local television. In addition to his work with Barrett Media, he is a radio and TV play-by-play broadcaster. Reach out to him at Garrett@BarrettMedia.com.
