The Distraction: A Defector Podcast

Stitcher

From Defector. Former Deadspin writers Drew Magary and David Roth should really stick to sports. Sure, their new indie sports podcast will break down the week in sports: the Mets grounding into quadruple plays, NBA players getting testy on the court and horny on Instagram, Bill Belichick cutting 80% of his roster just to keep himself interested, horrifying takes from sports talk radio that need to be broken down, etc. But these two men and their guests will have their fair share of off-the-field issues they’ll also have to address: stupid Funbag questions, bad tweets from bad people, pointless food arguments, and even less. Every week is a VERY long week these days. We could all use a little Distraction. Head to defector.com for more info.

  • 1 hour 4 minutes
    This Episode Cancels Out the Manhattan Project with Justin Halpern

    Executive producer of Harley Quinn and Abbott Elementary Justin Halpern returns to Drew and Roth to talk about the Dodgers making baseball into capitalism-shaped-like-a-baseball! In the wake of even more free agent signings, they explain how the Dodgers are running their team like a company with McKinsey consultants and they’re blowing everyone else outta the water. In the second half, our group decides which two teams they want to see in the Super Bowl, regardless of how possible that scenario can be. And as always, they dive into the Funbag, answering real questions from real listeners.

    Do you want to hear your question answered on the pod? Well, give us a call at 909-726-3720. That is 909-PANERA-0!

    Sponsors

    - LiveGood, where you can get 10% off your first order at livegood.com/distraction

    - Hims, where you can start your free online visit today at hims.com/distraction

    - Betterhelp, where you can get 10% off your first month at https://betterhelp.com/distraction

    Credits

    - Hosts: Drew Magary & David Roth

    - Producer: Eric Silver

    - Editor: Brandon Grugle

    - Production Services & Ads: Multitude Podcasts

    - Subscribe to Defector!

    About The Show

    The Distraction is Defector's flagship podcast about sports (and movies, and art, and sandwiches, and certain coastal states) from longtime writers Drew Magary and David Roth. Every week, Drew and Roth tackle subjects, both serious and impossibly stupid, with a parade of guests from around the world of sports and media joining in the fun! Roth and Drew also field Funbag questions from Defector readers, answer listener voicemails, and get upset about the number of people who use speakerphone while in a public bathroom stall. This is a show where everything matters, because everyone could use a Distraction. Head to defector.com for more info.

    23 January 2025, 6:00 am
  • 1 hour 9 minutes
    Dresses Like Kevin Federline with Ed Zitron

    Better Offline’s Ed Zitron joins Drew and Roth for a doubleheader of British accents and Trump impressions. The first half is all about what pits of despair NFL coaches would walk into if they joined the Raiders, the Cowboys, or the Jags. In the second half, Ed and Roth recap the 2025 CES Conference in Las Vegas and how everyone there is smooshing AI into their product because it’s the hot thing to do. And, as always, the show wraps up with the Funbag, answering real questions from real listeners.

    You can find Ed Zitron at Better Offline, in his newsletter Where's Your Ed At, or on his football podcast 60 Minute Drill.

    Do you want to hear your question answered on the pod? Well, give us a call at 909-726-3720. That is 909-PANERA-0!

     

    Sponsors

    - Raycon, where you can get up to 15% off sitewide at buyraycon.com/distraction

    - Factor, where you can use code distraction50off at factormeals.com/distraction50off to get 50% off plus free shipping on your first box

    - Blueland, where you can get 15% off your first order at https://blueland.com/distraction

     

    Credits

    - Hosts: Drew Magary & David Roth

    - Producer: Eric Silver

    - Editor: Brandon Grugle

    - Production Services & Ads: Multitude Podcasts

    - Subscribe to Defector!

     

    About The Show

    The Distraction is Defector's flagship podcast about sports (and movies, and art, and sandwiches, and certain coastal states) from longtime writers Drew Magary and David Roth. Every week, Drew and Roth tackle subjects, both serious and impossibly stupid, with a parade of guests from around the world of sports and media joining in the fun! Roth and Drew also field Funbag questions from Defector readers, answer listener voicemails, and get upset about the number of people who use speakerphone while in a public bathroom stall. This is a show where everything matters, because everyone could use a Distraction. Head to defector.com for more info.

    16 January 2025, 1:37 pm
  • 1 hour 4 minutes
    He Lost the Slack and the Clubhouse with Diana Moskovitz

    Defector’s very own Diana Moskovitz joins Drew and Roth to preview the NFL playoffs! They interrogate why the Steelers are the way that they are, the ethics of rooting for the Packers, and who they think will win it all in their heart of hearts. And the show wraps up with the Funbag, answering real questions from real listeners.

    Do you want to hear your question answered on the pod? Well, give us a call at 909-726-3720. That is 909-PANERA-0!

    Stuff We Talked About

    Sponsors

    - Mint Mobile, which is offering a 3-month unlimited wireless plan for just 15 bucks a month at mintmobile.com/distraction

    - Shipskis.com, where the code DISTRACTION will get you 20% off your first shipment at shipskis.com

    - Raycon, where you can get up to 15% off sitewide at buyraycon.com/distraction

    Credits

    - Hosts: Drew Magary & David Roth

    - Producer: Eric Silver

    - Editor: Brandon Grugle

    - Production Services & Ads: Multitude Podcasts

    - Subscribe to Defector!

    About The Show

    The Distraction is Defector's flagship podcast about sports (and movies, and art, and sandwiches, and certain coastal states) from longtime writers Drew Magary and David Roth. Every week, Drew and Roth tackle subjects, both serious and impossibly stupid, with a parade of guests from around the world of sports and media joining in the fun! Roth and Drew also field Funbag questions from Defector readers, answer listener voicemails, and get upset about the number of people who use speakerphone while in a public bathroom stall. This is a show where everything matters, because everyone could use a Distraction. Head to defector.com for more info.

    9 January 2025, 6:00 am
  • 58 minutes 6 seconds
    The 2024 Williams-Sonoma Catalog Price Is Right

    Christmastimeeee is hereeeeee and so is the 2024 Hater’s Guide To The Williams-Sonoma Catalog. For your last Distraction of the year, enjoy Drew lead Roth through the wonders of the ridiculous catalogue and follow along at home by guessing the prices with your loved ones.

    Programming Note: we’re taking next Thursday off, see you on January 9th, 2025!

    Do you want to hear your question answered on the pod? Well, give us a call at 909-726-3720. That is 909-PANERA-0!

    Sponsors

    - Wildgrain, where you can get $30 off the first box plus free Croissants in every box using code DISTRACTION at https://wildgrain.com/DISTRACTION

    Credits

    - Hosts: Drew Magary & David Roth

    - Producer: Eric Silver

    - Editor: Brandon Grugle

    - Production Services & Ads: Multitude Podcasts

    - Subscribe to Defector!

    About The Show

    The Distraction is Defector's flagship podcast about sports (and movies, and art, and sandwiches, and certain coastal states) from longtime writers Drew Magary and David Roth. Every week, Drew and Roth tackle subjects, both serious and impossibly stupid, with a parade of guests from around the world of sports and media joining in the fun! Roth and Drew also field Funbag questions from Defector readers, answer listener voicemails, and get upset about the number of people who use speakerphone while in a public bathroom stall. This is a show where everything matters, because everyone could use a Distraction. Head to defector.com for more info.

    26 December 2024, 6:00 am
  • 1 hour 3 minutes
    Oprah Doesn’t Own Discovery with Susie Banikarim

    Co-host of The Kicker: The Unraveling of Ozy Media Susie Banikarim joins Drew and Roth to unravel the story of Carlos Watson and the fraud of OZY Media. Why did so many rich people invest in this media company? Was the stuff that Watson did uniquely terrible or was he the one who got punished? Why would you name your company after the poem Ozymandius? And since Susie worked with Drew and Roth, they compare and reflect on their own experiences with the ethically murky business that pervaded digital media.

    Do you want to hear your question answered on the pod? Well, give us a call at 909-726-3720. That is 909-PANERA-0!

    Sponsors

    - Betterhelp, where you can get 10% off your first month at https://betterhelp.com/distraction

    - Storyworth, where you can save $10 on your first purchase at storyworth.com/distraction

    - Shipskis.com, where the code DISTRACTION will get you 20% off your first shipment at shipskis.com

    Credits

    - Hosts: Drew Magary & David Roth

    - Producer: Eric Silver

    - Editor: Brandon Grugle

    - Production Services & Ads: Multitude Productions

    - Subscribe to Defector!

    About The Show

    The Distraction is Defector's flagship podcast about sports (and movies, and art, and sandwiches, and certain coastal states) from longtime writers Drew Magary and David Roth. Every week, Drew and Roth tackle subjects, both serious and impossibly stupid, with a parade of guests from around the world of sports and media joining in the fun! Roth and Drew also field Funbag questions from Defector readers, answer listener voicemails, and get upset about the number of people who use speakerphone while in a public bathroom stall. This is a show where everything matters, because everyone could use a Distraction. Head to defector.com for more info.

    19 December 2024, 6:00 am
  • 1 hour 1 minute
    A Century of Podcast Episodes! with Eric Silver

    Producer of The Distraction and co-host of Attach Your Résumé Eric Silver joins Drew and Roth to celebrate 100 episodes in the new era of the show. What is different about the media industry since we started? Have Drew and Roth gotten better on the mic? Is there a petition to bring back the mashups?

    In the second half, they make their picks for the college football playoff based on information from their brains and certainly not astroturfed like Timothee Chalamet. And the show wraps up with the Funbag, answering real questions from real listeners.

    Do you want to hear your question answered on the pod? Well, give us a call at 909-726-3720. That is 909-PANERA-0!

    Stuff We Talked About

    • Here’s “the affirmative action is bad cause I didn’t get into Ivy League schools” article and on the Today Show!

    Sponsors

    - Storyworth, where you can save $10 on your first purchase at storyworth.com/distraction

    - Raycon, where you can get up to 25% off sitewide at https://buyraycon.com/distraction

    - Factor, where you can use promo code 50distraction at https://factormeals.com/50distraction to get 50% off your first box plus 20% off your next month while your subscription is active.

    Credits

    - Hosts: Drew Magary & David Roth

    - Producer: Eric Silver

    - Editor: Brandon Grugle

    - Production Services & Ads: Multitude Productions

    - Subscribe to Defector!

    About The Show

    The Distraction is Defector's flagship podcast about sports (and movies, and art, and sandwiches, and certain coastal states) from longtime writers Drew Magary and David Roth. Every week, Drew and Roth tackle subjects, both serious and impossibly stupid, with a parade of guests from around the world of sports and media joining in the fun! Roth and Drew also field Funbag questions from Defector readers, answer listener voicemails, and get upset about the number of people who use speakerphone while in a public bathroom stall. This is a show where everything matters, because everyone could use a Distraction. Head to defector.com for more info.

    12 December 2024, 6:00 am
  • 1 hour 10 seconds
    An All Pizzas Thanksgiving with Rivers McCown

    Writer of the Man, Free newsletter Rivers McCown joins Drew and Roth to talk all things NFL as we head into the tailend of the season. But first, Rivers describes his experience restarting on Substack after taking more than a year off from media. After that, we get into burning football questions: What’s going on with the Texans and CJ Stroud? Why are the Chiefs so boring to watch? Are coaches becoming more collaborative with players, and is that even a good thing? And the show wraps up with the Funbag, answering real questions from real listeners.

    Do you want to hear your question answered on the pod? Well, give us a call at 909-726-3720. That is 909-PANERA-0!

    Sponsors

    - Uncommon Goods, where you can get 15% off your order at https://uncommongoods.com/distraction

    - Blueland, where you can get 15% off your first order at https://blueland.com/distraction

    - Betterhelp, where you can get 10% off your first month at https://betterhelp.com/distraction

    Credits

    - Hosts: Drew Magary & David Roth

    - Producer: Eric Silver

    - Editor: Brandon Grugle

    - Production Services & Ads: Multitude Productions

    - Subscribe to Defector!

    About The Show

    The Distraction is Defector's flagship podcast about sports (and movies, and art, and sandwiches, and certain coastal states) from longtime writers Drew Magary and David Roth. Every week, Drew and Roth tackle subjects, both serious and impossibly stupid, with a parade of guests from around the world of sports and media joining in the fun! Roth and Drew also field Funbag questions from Defector readers, answer listener voicemails, and get upset about the number of people who use speakerphone while in a public bathroom stall. This is a show where everything matters, because everyone could use a Distraction. Head to 

    defector.com for more info.

    5 December 2024, 6:00 am
  • 54 minutes 41 seconds
    The Dog’s Name Is Babydog?

    Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours! Take a break from watching the terrible games on Thursday and Friday to hear Drew and Roth talk about those games. And it’s better because there’s a 50% better chance for a good accent or impression. And the second half is an overflowing cornucopia of the Funbag, as they answer written and voicemail questions from real listeners.

    Do you want to hear your question answered on the pod? Well, give us a call at 909-726-3720. That is 909-PANERA-0!

    Stuff We Talked About

    • Roth found that photo of Jim Justice deep in the mines so Eric hosted it on Google Drive enjoy

    Sponsors

    - Storyworth, where you can save $10 on your first purchase at storyworth.com/distraction

    - Wildgrain, where you can get $30 off the first box plus free Croissants in every box using code DISTRACTION at wildgrain.com/DISTRACTION

    Credits

    - Hosts: Drew Magary & David Roth

    - Producer: Eric Silver

    - Editor: Brandon Grugle

    - Production Services & Ads: Multitude Podcasts

    - Subscribe to Defector!

    About The Show

    The Distraction is Defector's flagship podcast about sports (and movies, and art, and sandwiches, and certain coastal states) from longtime writers Drew Magary and David Roth. Every week, Drew and Roth tackle subjects, both serious and impossibly stupid, with a parade of guests from around the world of sports and media joining in the fun! Roth and Drew also field Funbag questions from Defector readers, answer listener voicemails, and get upset about the number of people who use speakerphone while in a public bathroom stall. This is a show where everything matters, because everyone could use a Distraction. Head to defector.com for more info.

    28 November 2024, 6:00 am
  • 1 hour 1 minute
    Part of Our World… of Billionaires with Sabrina Imbler

    Defector’s own and author of How Far the Light Reaches Sabrina Imbler joins Drew and Roth to talk about obscure marine life! Sabrina contains multitudes, so they hash out which animal do they wish could be miniaturized, what do they like the most about the impending jingling bells of Christmas, and how much does a non-sports person know about what went down in Week 11. And, as always, the show wraps up with the Funbag, answering real questions from real listeners.

    Stuff We Talked About

    Do you want to hear your question answered on the pod? Well, give us a call at 909-726-3720. That is 909-PANERA-0!

    Sponsors

    - Against the Rules with Michael Lewis, available wherever you listen to podcasts

    - Uncommon Goods, where you can get 15% off your order at uncommongoods.com/distraction

    - Betterhelp, where you can get 10% off your first month at betterhelp.com/distraction

    Credits

    - Hosts: Drew Magary & David Roth

    - Producer: Eric Silver

    - Editor: Brandon Grugle

    - Production Services & Ads: Multitude Podcasts

    - Subscribe to Defector!

    About The Show

    The Distraction is Defector's flagship podcast about sports (and movies, and art, and sandwiches, and certain coastal states) from longtime writers Drew Magary and David Roth. Every week, Drew and Roth tackle subjects, both serious and impossibly stupid, with a parade of guests from around the world of sports and media joining in the fun! Roth and Drew also field Funbag questions from Defector readers, answer listener voicemails, and get upset about the number of people who use speakerphone while in a public bathroom stall. This is a show where everything matters, because everyone could use a Distraction. Head to defector.com for more info.

    21 November 2024, 6:00 am
  • 1 hour 3 minutes
    Cocaine in an MRI Machine with Arif Hasan

    Wide Left’s Arif Hasan joins Drew and Roth to talk about sports gambling. Although Drew and Roth have obligations to Bareback Sportsbook, Arif walks them through his personal experience with gambling and how society treats this particular vice stranger than all the others. In the second half, Arif turns his thoughtful considerations to Football, as they break down the collapsing Bears, the lucky Chiefs, and the denouement of Daniel Jones. And, as always, the show wraps up with the Funbag, answering real questions from real listeners.

    Do you want to hear your question answered on the pod? Well, give us a call at 909-726-3720. That is 909-PANERA-0!

    Stuff We Talked About

    Do you want to hear your question answered on the pod? Well, give us a call at 909-726-3720. That is 909-PANERA-0!

    Sponsors

    - Blueland, where you can get 15% off your first order at https://blueland.com/distraction

    - Uncommon Goods, where you can get 15% off your order at https://uncommongoods.com/distraction

    Credits

    - Hosts: Drew Magary & David Roth

    - Producer: Eric Silver

    - Editor: Brandon Grugle

    - Production Services & Ads: Multitude

    - Subscribe to Defector!

    About The Show

    The Distraction is Defector's flagship podcast about sports (and movies, and art, and sandwiches, and certain coastal states) from longtime writers Drew Magary and David Roth. Every week, Drew and Roth tackle subjects, both serious and impossibly stupid, with a parade of guests from around the world of sports and media joining in the fun! Roth and Drew also field Funbag questions from Defector readers, answer listener voicemails, and get upset about the number of people who use speakerphone while in a public bathroom stall. This is a show where everything matters, because everyone could use a Distraction. Head to defector.com for more info.

    14 November 2024, 6:00 am
  • 56 minutes 19 seconds
    Violator Was an Investment Banker in LA with Ray Ratto

    Defector’s Very Own Ray Ratto joins Drew and Roth to talk only about sports and bagels and not about the election. We promise. First, they run through a game of How Fucked Is This NFL Team? It turns out, a lot of them are fucked. And in the second half, we have a heaping helping of Funbag questions, as they answer both written and voicemail questions from real listeners.

    Do you want to hear your question answered on the pod? Well, give us a call at 909-726-3720. That is 909-PANERA-0!

    Stuff We Talked About

    Do you want to hear your question answered on the pod? Well, give us a call at 909-726-3720. That is 909-PANERA-0!

    Sponsors

    - Raycon, where you can get up to 30% off sitewide at https://raycon.com/distraction

    - Betterhelp, where you can get 10% off your first month at https://betterhelp.com/distraction

    Credits

    - Hosts: Drew Magary & David Roth

    - Producer: Eric Silver

    - Editor: Brandon Grugle

    - Production Services & Ads: Multitude

    - Subscribe to Defector!

    About The Show

    The Distraction is Defector's flagship podcast about sports (and movies, and art, and sandwiches, and certain coastal states) from longtime writers Drew Magary and David Roth. Every week, Drew and Roth tackle subjects, both serious and impossibly stupid, with a parade of guests from around the world of sports and media joining in the fun! Roth and Drew also field Funbag questions from Defector readers, answer listener voicemails, and get upset about the number of people who use speakerphone while in a public bathroom stall. This is a show where everything matters, because everyone could use a Distraction. Head to defector.com for more info.

    7 November 2024, 6:00 am
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