PODCAST · sports
Well Played
by theSkimm
A sports podcast that does what theSkimm does best: provide championship takes and breakdowns of the biggest stories you care about most. Finally, there’s a show dedicated to treating sports like the bingeable reality TV they actually are.
Episodes
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The Broke Boys of MLB Playoffs, Hailee Steinfeld’s Back in the Box, and WNBA Finals ft. Coach Jackie
Between MLB playoffs and WNBA finals, the sports gods have giveth this week. The WNBA will crown a debut champion for the first time since 2024, between the Atlanta Dream and the Golden State Valkyries. Meanwhile, the broke boys of MLB are dominating the ALCS. But only one of them will continue…
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The Fever Fan Debate, Gisele & Tom’s Astrological Divorce, and the NFL Teams Surprising Us in Week 4
We thought we knew everything about Tom Brady and Gisele Bündchen’s divorce, then Lars Anderson gave us more to chew on. In his new biography on the 7x Super Bowl champ, we learn that the literal stars effectively ended the Brady Bündch-en. Plus, we get into why we’re still talking about the...
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Stafford’s Swift Appearance, Kate Upton’s MLB Lore, and Jalen Brunson’s SNL Debut
Jalen Brunson ditched his typical stoic self for his SNL debut last weekend for a few characters: a high school musical-esque basketballer, a rapper, and a member of a polycule. Seeing OG Anunoby act was the cherry on top. Matt Stafford also took the big screen in Taylor Swift’s music video for...
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Simone Biles’ Sleepy Girl Game Day, Kiffin Flops in Front of His Ex, and Blake Picks Her NFL Team
NFL week 2 gave us injuries, moments from our favorite WAGs, and confirmation that it’s too soon to judge a team by its quarterback. Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Jaxson Dart all had to tap out of their games, while Taylor Swift and Simone Biles showed us two very different game day…
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The Week Women in Sports Couldn’t Catch a Break: Arch Manning, Sydney Sweeney, and Alexander Zverev
This week, women in sports couldn’t catch a break. From Novig’s controversial “Just Sports” ad featuring Sydney Sweeney to Arch Manning laughing at an A.I. video depicting violence against Holly Rowe – there is a lot to call out. Blake and Caroline break down these stories, plus the NFL’s return....
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Earle Meets Brady and Berrios, Wimbledon’s Influencer Ban, and Spain’s Family Planning Play
Blake and Caroline are back from summer vacation, ready to catch you up on all things sports. From Alix Earle dishing on Tom Brady and Braxton Berrios in her new Netflix show, to LSU having a full on Billy Madison moment — the August summer slump we normally expect never happened. Plus, Spain's...
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Hilary Duff’s LeBron Moment, Tom Brady the Nose Pincher, and Olivia Ponton Gets Joe Burrow’s Family Pass
Hilary Duff is making the rounds like LeBron James, bouncing from Florida to L.A. to Philly during her Lucky Me tour. Who’s gonna tell her she needs to make a pilgrimage to Cleveland? Meanwhile, Caroline recaps the snooze fest that was the Hall of Fame game, an unhinged speech by one of its...
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Ted Lasso’s Back, Bradley Cooper’s Recruitment Strategy, and Conversations about Trans Women in Sports
Bradley Cooper is playing the long game with Gigi Hadid as far as getting her and the younger generations on the Eagles bandwagon. Plus, a caller gets a vibe check on Ted Lasso’s returns as the head coach of the Lady Greyhounds. Will season four live up to the hype? In this episode, we also…
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LeBron Leaves Bronny, Josh Allen's Advice for Husbands, Cheating Scandal in the WNBA ft. BJ Beckwith
WNBA All Star weekend was a movie, so much so that Blake got sick and had to call out. We replace our B with another B, BJ Beckwith, former host of Just Women’s Sports' podcast Sports Are Fun!. They get into the cheating rumors between WNBA exes NaLyssa Smith and Dijonnai Carrington, how LeBron...
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Bieber's Baller Weekend, Taylor Fritz & Olivia Jade Dating Rumors, and FIFA World Cup Final Reactions
This week we're breaking down the biggest sports and pop culture moments you need to know. From our behind-the-scenes recap at Fanatics Fest NYC to Justin Bieber's surprise appearance, Aaron Rodgers' emotional family update, and the latest Taylor Fritz–Olivia Jade dating rumors, we're covering...
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Well Played LIVE at Fanatics Fest
The Well Played crew hit the stage live at Fanatics Fest with special guest Rachel DeMita for a can't-miss conversation covering the biggest stories in sports right now. From breaking down the World Cup final between Argentina and Spain—including Lionel Messi vs. Lamine Yamal, bold championship...
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Victoria Beckham’s Soccer Beef, Bieber’s Halftime Show, and Making History at the Queen’s Classic
Two things remain consistent in the world of soccer: fans still hate refs, and Victoria Beckham still couldn't care less about soccer. We break down why FIFA can’t beat the corrupt allegations in what fans are dubbing “Vargentina”, plus how Posh Spice maintains her beef with soccer. Also in…
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Royal (American) Wedding Recap, Ronaldo’s Last Run, and FIFA’s Red Card Reversal ft. Lilibeth Rendon
It happened. It finally happened. Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce wed at Madison Square Garden. As the resident Swiftie of Well Played, Caroline dives into all the details – and shows why her relationship with T&T is a little too parasocial. The World Cup continued in spite of the royal American...
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Taylor’s Wedding Weekend, Channing’s Haaland Cosplay, and the WNBA Enters the Villa with Mia Hamm
It’s happening…Taylor and Travis’ Madison Square Garden wedding is here. Despite Blake and Caroline being major skeptics, they spend the episode pretending all tabloid wedding rumors are true, plus they make predictions about the affair. Meanwhile, Love Island has entered the (WNBA) chat,...
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Messi Makes History, A’ja’s Pride Cake, and Haaland’s Half-Bun ft. Kelley O’Hara and Ali Riley
To continue the World Cup this week, Blake and Caroline bring in some pros. Kelley O’Hara and Ali Riley, former NWSL players, World Cup competitors, and hosts of “Time Wasting," join Well Played to discuss the convos that matter most this week — like the history-making all-American women...
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Serena & Venus at Wimbledon, Jalen Brunson’s Pay Cut, and FIFA Favorites from Week 1 with Ashtyn Butuso
Nature is healing. And by nature, we mean New York. The Knicks secured their first NBA championship in more than half a century, marking the city's fourth major sports title since 2023. Offball writer and Flagrant Magazine co-founder, Ashtyn Butuso, joins Blake to chat about witnessing the magic...
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A Very Sportsish Well Played: Jordyn Woods’ Lucky Purse, Taylor Swift’s Stadium Wedding, and Prom in the NIL Era with Lily Shimbashi
While Caroline is honeymooning in the Dolomites, Lily Shimbashi, founder of Sportsish, joins us to break down the most important news in sports and pop culture. Madison Square Garden is on our minds this week – and it’s not just because the Knicks lost at home. Rumor has it that Taylor Swift’s...
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Sexism at the French Open, Serena’s So Back, and Sports Have Entered the Villa // an Athlete Goes to “Love Island”
The French Open is no stranger to accusations of sexism (see: rare night sessions for women). But Adolfo Daniel Vallejo decided to make it his legacy when he blamed a female umpire for his loss at Roland Garros. Luckily, the tournament organizers hit him where it hurts – his wallet. Elsewhere in...
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The Knicks Party Like its 1999, Timothee Chalamet’s WAG Era, and a Late NASCAR Driver’s IVF Impact
The last time the Knicks made the NBA finals, Britney Spears dropped the generation-defining Baby One More Time, Napster gave us permission to illegally download music, and T9 word just became a thing. Fast forward to this past Monday when the Knicks swept their series against the Cavaliers – and...
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A Scoop on Taylor & Trav’s Brooklyn Night Out, Shakira’s World Cup, and Dave Portnoy Defends Caitlin Clark
Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift not only made an appearance in Bushwick, Brooklyn – because apparently that’s where A-list weddings are now. Even wilder: the event took place at Blake’s former workplace. She shares the inside scoop on their attendance, while Caroline shares everything we know about...
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Carlos Alcaraz's Tennis Tush, SI Swimsuit Covers Lack Body Diversity, and Celebrating Athlete Moms
The 2026 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue hits newsstands on Thursday. This year’s cover stars departed from what we’re used to seeing from on the cover of the swimsuit issue in recent years – diverse ages, races, and especially body sizes. With conversations around GLP-1s, the death of body...
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Ed Sheeran’s IRL A-Team, “Heated Rivalry” Hits Women’s Soccer, “Devil Wears Prada 2” Sporty Spottings
The “Devil Wears Prada 2” movie features two athlete cameos – one is a player from Anne Hathaway’s favorite basketball team and the other is a golfer who we wouldn’t blink twice at. Blake spotted both of them during the film, proving that Well Played works, y’all. In other sporty news, we learned...
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Vrabel & Russini’s Romance Rumors, Megan’s Hot Girl Summer 2.0, and Chloe Kim’s Princess Treatment
The takeaway from this week’s sports and pop culture news is that love isn’t real. From the romance rumors between Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini to Megan thee Stallion breaking up with Klay Thompson over cheating allegations, we’ve lost all faith in men…except Myles Garrett. He can stay. In this...
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Megan & Sue Call It Quits, West Takes Amanda to the Ball Game, and Noah Lyles’ First Look Flop
Megan Rapinoe and Sue Bird announced that after a decade together, they’re separating. Excuse us while we fly our flags at half staff. On the opposite end of the love spectrum, Olympic track and field athlete Noah Lyles got married – and probably fired his videographer after sharing the absolute...
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Hudson Williams’ Peloton Play, Coco’s Critics Get Shut Down, and WNBA Draft Orange Carpet Recap
Coco Gauff sported her natural hair in a recent ad for Miu Miu and the internet showed us why we can’t have nice things. The no. 3 ranked tennis player shut down criticism about her appearance and more importantly, to encourage young Black girls to embrace their natural hair. Meanwhile, the WNBA...
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Angel Reese Dreams, Khloe and Lamar Tell All, and the Royal Baby of Buffalo Arrives
This March Madness, the category was “upset.” At least on the women’s side. South Carolina upset UCONN — the overwhelming favorite on the women’s side – which failed on its mission to win the natty two years in a row. Then, UCONN coach Geno Auriemma literally upset South Carolina coach Dawn…
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The “Pregnancy Penalty”, Martha Stewart vs. Jalen Brunson, Gold Medal ASMR with Laila Edwards
Marathoner Emma Bates went viral after sharing that her sponsor, UCan, dropped her once they learned she was pregnant. While UCan denied the allegation, it still reminded us of an unfortunate reality for women athletes – that the “pregnancy penalty” still exists. We break down what the penalty…
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Chappell Roan Upsets Soccer Star, the WNBA’s Protection for Pregnant Players, and the Fernando Mendoza of Basketball
It finally happened – the WNBA voted to ratify its new collective bargaining agreement, months after the deadline passed. It’s a major win for professional women’s basketball players and the league, which will offer what it calls “the first comprehensive revenue-sharing model in women's...
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Sinners’ Stars Go Sport Mode, Chloe Kim’s Meet Cute, and Misty Copeland on Her Oscar’s Appearance
The internet was all in on Timothée Chalamet’s Oscars run last year for “Marty Supreme” (guilty as charged). The Academy? Not so much. The ping-pong flick struck out, Chalamet walked back his ballet take, and he left empty-handed. Meanwhile, ballerina Misty Copeland had a front-row seat…
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Joe Burrow & Jessica Alba Dating Rumors, Travis Returns, and Bracketology 101 ft. Mackenzie Brooks
Mercury is in retrograde which can only mean one thing — breakups. From Dak Prescott and Sarah Jane Ramos calling off their wedding to Luka Dončić’s fiancée deleting all of her photos with the star hooper, this week gave us nothing but drama in the love department. Plus, Caroline recaps this…
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Harry Styles’ Marathon Hack, Trinity Slides into DMs, and Azzi Goes WAG Status ft. Dawn Staley
Harry Styles ran two marathons and all he got was peeing advice that we may or may not adopt. Heavy on the “may not”. Trinity Rodman and Cameron Brink reminded us that Gen Z almost always finds love using the internet, and made us yearn for the Carolyn Bessette Kennedy and JFK Jr. days of romance...
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How Women Won the Winter Olympics ft. Brenda Song | Well Played
Women won big time at the Winter Olympics, taking home more than half of Team USA’s gold medals. But a story involving President Trump and the US men’s hockey team has clouded the moment, raising questions about support for the women. After the team declined a White House visit, Flavor Flav…
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Moms Win at the Olympics, Taylor Swift Intro's “Blade Angels”, and the Canadian Curling Scandal
(Almost) the entire pod is about the Olympics this week. Sorry, not sorry. Caroline and Blake beg the question: why are winter Olympic athletes so much more unhinged than the summer ones? From a Norwegian biathlete’s very public cheating confession to a gold medalist’s credit card fraud…
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Lindsay Vonn’s Controversial Call, Stefon Fumbles Cardi B, and Why Bad Bunny Had Bush People
After spending eight straight days together, Blake and Caroline are back in NYC with another episode of “Well Played.” We recap our Super Bowl experience with some exclusive intel on the Cardi B and Stefon Diggs break up, say goodnight to the NFL season, and send it to the Winter Olympics which…
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Super Bowl Special: Eli Manning Sightings and Game Day Predictions ft. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone
Team Well Played went West to cover this year's Super Bowl LX. Featuring special guest and Gatorade athlete and Olympian Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Blake and Caroline are breaking down the weekend's celeb sightings (hi Mr. Eli), game day predictions, and the some mind blowing stats around women's...
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Bravo Meets Winter Olympics, Tom Brady’s Sad Girl Era, and Listener Questions on Super Bowl LX
Tom Brady showed us just how much of a teen girl at heart he is with a recent series of Instagram stories. Did Gisele have anything to do with it? Caroline has thoughts. We also answer listener questions around the Super Bowl, like what “game odds” even mean and a vibe-check of the Seahawks and...
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Trinity’s Pay Day, the NBA’s Kardashian Kurse, and Coco’s Relatable Crashout ft. Cameron Brink
Sorry boys, but Kendall Jenner’s getting the last laugh around the “Kardashian Kurse". Well, at least she did in her Super Bowl ad with Fanatics Sportsbook. WNBA star Cameron Brink joins Well Played to talk about why she wants Alex Consani on her pod, the most “big brother” thing about Steph…
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Heated Rivalry Meets the NFL, Noami Stuns the Open, and the Beckhams are Beefing ft. Jeanie Buss
The NFL postseason is in full chaos mode, and this week Blake and Caroline are breaking down the Chicago Bears game that put fans through an emotional roller coaster. From pivotal play calls to high-pressure moments, they dig into what went wrong, what worked, and what Caleb Williams’ performance...
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Heated Rivalry’s Hollywood Takeover, Ilona Maher’s Lesson in Clapbacks and Playoff Josh Returns ft. Ali Truwit
The “Heated Rivalry” craze that started in 2025 spilled into the new year, with everyone (us) foaming at the mouth over the Heated Rivalry boys. Hollanov/ HudCon/our boyfriends dominated the Golden Globes, where Julia Roberts revealed her football fandom, Hailee Steinfeld debuted her bump on the...
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Josh & Hailee Are Having a Baby, the Chiefs Dynasty is Dead, and End of Year Awards ft. Olivia Culpo
Josh Allen and Hailee Steinfeld are expecting their first child together. Hailee shared the news in her “Beau Society” newsletter. But Josh Allen kinda gave it away with his empathic morning sickness on the sidelines. We wrap the last episode of the year with our annual Wellies, including...
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Alix's Breakup, Heated Rivalry Recap, and the Regina George of College Football ft. Amanda Anisimova
The hottest show in sports right now has nothing to do with quarterbacks or point guards, but it has everything to do with gay guys who play pro-hockey – and we’re into it. Blake recaps the hockey smut show, Heated Rivalry, while Caroline breaks down the Notre Dame college football playoff drama…
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Conrad and Steven’s Kiss Cam, Kiffin’s Messy (CFB) Divorce, and a Silent Struggle in Women Sports
Caroline breaks down the soap opera drama of Lane Kiffin’s recent divorce from Ole Miss for the younger, hotter LSU. Who knew a middle-aged white guy would occupy so much of our brain space? It’s also high-season for celeb-watch on the NBA sidelines, from Benny Blanco and Selena Gomez cuddling up...
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Well Played LIVE at the National Women's Soccer League Championship
Well Played headed to the West Coast for a LIVE podcast recording at the NWSL Championship weekend. Joined by special guests Sarah Spain, we recapped the NWSL awards, handed out a few of our own (hi, Midge Purce), and set the scene for the title match, including alll the drama the led to the big...
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Ciara and Russ Address Baby No. 5, LeBron and Bronny Go Freaky Friday, and Timothée and Adam Ball Out
Since at least late 2024, Russell Wilson has left thirsty comments on his wife Ciara’s Instagram posts asking for baby number five – aka, “Cinco.” Blake and Caroline join Ciara in her public plea to give her uterus a break. In other ick-worthy news, Sky Sports addressed the patronizing launch of...
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Joe Burrow's Crystal Collection, Dua Lipa's Soccer Club, and Prince Harry's Apology ft. Gotham's Jaedyn Shaw
Bengals fans, rejoice. The streets are saying Joe Burrow will return by Thanksgiving after healing his turf toe. Shocked he’s already making a comeback? Us too. Blake and Caroline suspect it’s all thanks to an Etsy witch – with a side of Joe’s crystal collection. Meanwhile, Dua Lipa spends a…
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The Beckhams Go Royal, the Kraft and Cardi Party, and the IRL Pink Pony Club
David and Victoria Beckham graduated from “Mr. and Mrs.” to “Sir and Lady” after the soccer legend was knighted for his service in sport and charity. It was a decade-long process – and apparently included some expletive-filled emails when he got passed over years ago. The family gathered to...
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Bieber Balls Out, a Taylor Touchdown Celly, and College Football’s Firing Boom
It was a big week in basketball news. Justin Bieber played in a rec league designed for “CEOs, VIPs, and people from all walks of life” (you may raise your eyebrows) while the NBA faces two scandals of its own. One deals with illegal sports betting and rigged poker games. The other? Jaylen…
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Simone’s First Flip Back, Sho-Time at the Series, and the Gross Trend in Women’s Sports Betting
Shohei Ohtani showed us why he’s Him while the uncs of the NFL faced off in Thursday Night Football. Vintage Joe Flacco and Aaron Rodgers game to play, which left fans with a 2010s sense of whimsy. Simpler times. Meanwhile, Simone Biles flipped for the first time since getting her new cherries...
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Timmy Takes Kylie to the Ballgame, Women Track Stars Get their Purse, and Frat Bros Run the Giants
Thursday night was tough for the city of Brotherly love. The Eagles, Phillies, and Flyers fell to their foes. Giants rookies Cam Skattebo and Jaxson Dart – aka the frat bros running the Giants – showed Jalen Hurts and friends who’s boss. Meanwhile, we learned the solution to the so-called male...
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Hockey (Smut)’s New Fans, Wide Receiver Divas, and Travis’ Wood with Gisele Thompson
WARNING: This episode may contain references to Taylor Swift’s “The Life of a Showgirl.” Actually – it definitely will. You’re welcome, Swifties (Caroline). Sorry skeptics (Blake). The NFL’s week 5 delivered on upsets, which has some analysts saying that Drake Maye has arrived, Trevor Lawrence...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
A sports podcast that does what theSkimm does best: provide championship takes and breakdowns of the biggest stories you care about most. Finally, there’s a show dedicated to treating sports like the bingeable reality TV they actually are.
HOSTED BY
theSkimm
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Well Played have?
Well Played currently has 159 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Well Played about?
A sports podcast that does what theSkimm does best: provide championship takes and breakdowns of the biggest stories you care about most. Finally, there’s a show dedicated to treating sports like the bingeable reality TV they actually are.
How often does Well Played release new episodes?
Well Played publishes regularly with 159 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Well Played?
You can listen to Well Played on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Well Played?
Well Played is created and hosted by theSkimm.
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