You’re Still Watching Sports—Just Not the Way You Think

It might look like sports viewership is declining… but what if it’s actually just moving to different platforms?In this episode, I unpack how our engagement with sports has fundamentally changed, especially for Gen Z. People are no longer only watching two-hour games on ESPN. Instead, short-form media is reshaping how we experience sports. Alysa Liu took over our feeds during the Winter Olympics. TikTok edits of athletes are going viral. Heated Rivalry—which gained traction through its online fanbase—has drawn female audiences into the NHL.Platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube are transforming sports culture by making sports visible across new spaces and formats. These more accessible entry points are redefining what it means to be a “sports fan” and why more people might be engaging with sports than ever before—just not in traditional ways.Subscribe for more! New episodes every Thursday. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe on Substack for written notes on culture and to get new episodes delivered straight to your inbox.Have ideas, questions, or something you want me to dig into? Send them my way at [email protected] or message me on Substack! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit workingtheorypod.substack.com