Dave Portnoy, who oversees the vapid empire that is “Barstool Sports”, has a complaint…no one from Georgia’s baseball team got up early on Monday morning to chat with the same guy who recently joked that “only 7 people in the whole country” watch college baseball.
Then, he turns his tantrum to the attention of Georgia’s SID:
He needs to go back to rating pizza and I’ll continue to ignore that nonsense, too.
Anyway, it’s been noted in various social media post I’ve seen that Podcast Celebrities, like Portnoy, Theo Von, etc., are starting to see their popularity and views dwindling. But after doing a little research, it would seem that the online gaslighting of podcasters is being disproven by actual data and numbers from the industry:
According to ListenNotes, there were 198,488 new podcasts published in 2025. That number is an improvement from 2024 when 189,280 new podcasts were published. Moreover, Livewire reported that 13.2% more podcast episodes were published in December as compared to the previous month.
Those numbers indicate that podcasting is thriving. Yet, why is the podcasting industry constantly beset by Podfade? It is a condition so worrisome that Your Mic Podcast Creator/Host Freddy Cruz organized an October 2025 event called Speke Fest 2025: Night of the Living Pod, “to help to put an end to the zombie podcast plague. The war for podcasting’s future begins on October 10th and 11th at The National Museum of Funeral History.”
While numbers may fluctuate, as of September 2025, there are 4.52 million podcasts available worldwide, according to PodcastStatistics. According to this podcast data company, 487,280 podcasts have published an episode in the last 90 days. According to a May 2025 report by Podnews, 90% stop after episode three, and another large chunk quit by episode 20, leaving very few to reach consistent production. Those that hit around 30 episodes are in the top 1% for longevity, highlighting consistency as key to survival.Podfade is when a podcast abruptly stops publishing new episodes, often after just a few episodes, due to creator burnout, loss of interest, underestimating the work, or life getting in the way, leading the show to fade into podcasting oblivion without a formal conclusion. It’s a common challenge where passion wanes, finances dry up, or the time crunch accelerates as the reality of consistent production sets in, causing creators to lose motivation and abandon the project.
Boy, do I know a few people who would make the sports world a better place if their efforts “podfaded” (looking at you, Danny Kanell).
Anyway, one thing that is noted is that, like many American industries, the sector is thriving, but only for a few at the top 1% of podcasters. Some are currently going through a state of shifting change, still reeling from the 2024 elections as some podcasters allied with presidential candidates and are now trying to repair image or devote content to thei personal “mea culpas” for supporting said candidates and trying to rebrand themselves. And one of the places I can say, confidently, that has shifted and downsized in recent years (at least the three I’ve been blogging here) has been in the sports industry.
So why are some sports podcasters fading away? Is it because we’re all waking up to the fact that their content is hot-take garbage? Is it because they outkicked their coverage with daily posting when there’s really nothing out there to post about (trust me, the offseason in college football is a painful nightly endeavor sometimes)? Is it because ESPN monetized it, put the loudest and most obnoxious ones on their channel, and squeezed out the market (or the desire) thanks to the Stephen A Smiths and Pat McAfees of the world?
So do you listen to anyone in particular…if, so, why? And did you quit listening to someone because of the reasons above? What’s happening…and do you have any insights into why the social media star in sports is fading faster than it began to shine?
Discuss.
I don’t listen to any of them because I’m at work all day, but I’m not sure I would anyway unless I had a lot of time on my hands. With a wife and three kids, I can’t see it right now, but I hope to have that option some day! This is about all I read in the way of sports so thank you for keeping me informed. I also listen to Dusty and Danny on XM radio while driving to work. Super appreciative of y’all for running this site!
This is my daily read. Starts here every morning. Thanks for being my rock!
I do listen to a few podcasts when on my morning walk with my dogs. The Georgia Show (two Jakes & Rusty) for Georgia football scoop and talk and I also listen to the D1 Baseball Podcast and SEC Unfiltered/Glue Guys for SEC baseball content during baseball season. The main guy who hosts that last one is pretty cheesy, but he does a pretty good job with a former LSU pitcher talking SEC baseball.
I drive a lot for work so I’m regular for many podcasts. I love Dan Le Batard UNTIL he gets political. When they joke around it’s awesome and they don’t take themselves too seriously. But man, when they get political- u either are on the left, or you’re the worst, dumbest, biggest nazi that ever walked the earth. These days I’ve got to where I’ll fast forward that crap or shut it down all together. And if you know the show, now that Billy’s gone and Stugotz isn’t coming back (I don’t guess..?) it’s not near as much fun.
Love Ryen Russillo too and listen to him regularly. Fast forward thru most of the nba stuff (cuz I don’t really care) but his football stuff (pros and college) and life advice are great.
Away from sports tho, I love Tuesday with Stories and Tim Dillon Show – 2 of my favorites just as suggestions.
I also like the DL podcast. I miss Billy and Stugotz. The show still makes me laugh though.
I listen to Dawgnation Daily … I know, I know … because there are excellent guests most days. It’s Georgia content.
I also listen to Josh Pate. There are no other sports discussed. I sometimes want to reach through the ear buds and choke him, but he comes from an angle (generally) of a CFB traditionalist.
Brandon Adams loves the Dawgs and that’s good enough for me. His wife was very nice to my girlfriend when we met them at Coach Dooley’s Veteran Hall of Fame induction. Seems like a nice enough guy and he celebrates hating Gators.
I’ll have to disagree with you on Brandon Adams. His delivery just really gets on my nerves. His tone and how he repeats himself and seemingly tries to be overly verbose to stretch out his episodes ended a short stint of trying to listen to him.
I like BA, but I can’t sit through an entire episode. You’re right. He is way too verbose about everything. Get to the point man! His episodes average about an hour and a half to 1:45, when they could be half that long.
I totally agree about Brandon Adams being a good guy and good host. He is an admitted DAWG homer and doesn’t try to hide it. Also he’s a true Gator Hater! I had the pleasure of meeting him and the Dawgnation team at a Braves event. Got to spend some time with him and he was very gracious. I really like the format and content, especially the guest segments, of the podcast.
Also, this site is my go to site first thing each day. Thanks for reviving the site and for all the work of the administrators. GO DAWGS!
1. This is my first stop in the morning. You guys are doing a terrific job and we can’t thank you enough. Please never stress over providing content. Just post “The NCAA are idiots…” and we can do the rest in the comments.
2. Portnoy, McAfee et al are a plague in sports. Know nothing and talentless they are a reflection of the “Look at me!” generation rather than insightful sports information. When sports talk radio got gobbled up and centralized by private equity it opened the door to cheaply produced alt-hot take bros on the internet. Rather than fight back the radio/tv guys chased this market or simply retired.
3. The beauty of a blog is it creates a community allowing for audience responses and thoughtful editing. I don’t listen to podcasts but since it’s less about being a live show and more about storing inventory it lacks any soul. If they even take audience feedback while live aren’t they just mini Finebaum shows?
4. ESPN ruined Sportscenter. I only watch Dari, Ben and that gator on the SEC football wrap up show for sports infotainment now.
We appreciate the community … in the words of the character who inspired our content creator in perpetuity:
Excellent post FPD!
Tim Dillon cracks me the fuck up. That’s the only one I make any effort to keep current with.
The Rest is History is great especially is you want to take an afternoon nap.
Brooks Austin is worth watching when he’s breaking down game tape.
Refugees my only go to. First thing every morning. Will read dawgbone & DawgNation but not listen to audio. Too much crap for me. Never tv unless it’s sec net. Even then l am picky. Thanks guys. Y’all help to keep me semi- sane!!!
I start my morning with “Get The Picture Refugees”. Check back in from time to time for comments during the day if I’m lazing around. Other than that, they’re all just of bunch of blow hards.
Outside of a few faith based podcasts that I listen to, I generally stay away from the podcast universe. In my fifties now and while I still love my Dawgs, the current state of sports has really impacted my interest in keeping up with what’s going on.
I read you guys as part of my routine. Then head over to YouTube for some kitten videos or “should I convert my 401K to a Roth” videos. Keep up the good work.
Sorry JP, I’m sure it’s a great post but I couldn’t read past the Portnoy quote calling our SID an “egomaniac”. Portnoy can fuck himself running. Fucking tool.
Wtf is a SID? Did I miss out on a new acronym again?
Unnecessary Roughness is my go to podcast during CFB season. I like Barstool sports but Dave Portnoy is definitely a rich, egotistical moron.
Sports Information Director
I’ll be honest this community is the only place I go for sports stuff and make no mistake y’all know ALMOST as much as me, lol. I celebrate a lot of the cesspool stuff on Twitter because it’s funny. I maybe do a few segments of Marty & McGee on Saturdays. If the lovely Kelly Krull is on 680 I might listen. Dawgnation Daily during my lunch break because why not? When in NC I listen to the afternoon local gas bag because they’re ballz deep in the Hurricanes and I learn things about hockey so I look good when I get company tickets.
I got a lot of windshield time between Athens and Cary so I do LOTS of podcasts.
Rogan and Andy Stumpf for fun. Jack Carr for books. Andrew Huberman for health and fitness. Shawn Ryan for conspiracy wildness. Generally, it depends on the guest. I admit Joe Rogan’s podcast with John Fogerty from CCR was one of the most interesting discussions on the creative process, ever. Jocko Willink trucks out a lot of Vietnam Veterans so I give them a listen – it’s a shame (although some had NDA restrictions) we’re only getting their stories now. Vietnam Veterans are older than WWII veterans when I was a kid, What the ever living Heyell?
But, the criticisms about national sports opinion? I’m with y’all on many of the criticisms. Except, I still fire up Jim Rome’s recap of the Natty over TCU all the time.
I usually catch Brooks Austin and Dawgs HQ with Rusty and the two Jake’s. Brooks ‘ show is where I learned that the reason UGA didn’t agree to an interview on Portnoy’s show is that after Stetson’s appearance on TV after the ’21 natty, a policy of no more “morning after” interviews was instituted.
Shutdown Fullcast. They nail the absurdity of college football and its fandoms.
The internet’s only college football podcast. Also, the disaster episodes are comedy gold.
This is my first stop in the mornings then WSJ. After that I live life without ever having a social media footprint.
I come here, as I used to go to GTP, every morning during breakfast and usually check in once or twice later in the day. I do the same with a small handful of SB Nation team blogs that have remained good over the years.
I’m obviously in the minority but I find podcasts (and radio chats) tedious in the extreme. Even for genuinely capable and interesting people (and they’re not the ones getting promotion anyway), it’s difficult to find and say something compelling on a regular basis, especially over relatively long blocs of time.
Coming back into a loud office so I can collaborate…..I have picked up surfing some podcasts to listen to a single background noise. They are mostlysmaller broadcast mostly auto related. I gave up on Brooks and Brandon Adams long ago, never cared for the sensationalist propagandists which male up the big names.
This is my first stop every morning, continuing from the original GTP days. Y’all do a good job here and it is much appreciated. I occasionally visit the Dawgnation site, but Mike Griffin’s anti-Stetson rants from 21 and 22 keep me from reading anything with his name attached. And I am at the point in life where my time is a little more precious, so I don’t invest it in full podcasts. I catch podcast clips of Brandon Adams, Josh Pate, and Brooks Austin from various posters on X, but that is about it.
I read the posts here, and I’ll read some other news sites. Don’t really do podcasts unless I’m on a long drive. Even then, it’s not sports radio. I’ll listen to sports ON the radio, but listening to jackoffs talk about sports is horrible to me. And now that we’ve got the “Bro” culture with sports, it’s even worse.
Oh, and fuck Dave Portnoy. I’ve never listened to anything that guy has said, but the headlines make me hate him anyway.
F Dave P and F Barstool. Have no use for them.
Dear Dave,
“Better to be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.”
Most of my podcast listening is during the season. The majority of my watches are “The Film Guy” Brooks Austin. I listen a little bit to Pate and Finebaum, mainly to catch interviews with guests. Chris Hayes does a nice film breakdown on youtube, and I often enjoy segments of the UGA sports overreaction show after games. Dawgnation? Like listening to nails on a chalkboard for me.
My most consistent listen is The Shutdown Fullcast, the internet’s only college football podcast. I know it’s hosted by two Florida grads, a Tennessee grad and a guy that went to Kennesaw State. But I find them to be hilarious and Spencer Hall is the best college football writer around, if not the most interesting. I think they’ve helped make me a better college football fan by highlighting the insanity and dumbness that is baked into this sport. I’ve learned how to take an honest look at the sport and still love it warts and all. My in season listening is Waiting Since Last Saturday. They do a really good job of telling the story of the game as fans in a way that is similar to how the good Senator would break things down. I know they were fans and were regular readers of the old blog. Besides that, I’ll listen to Finebaum after a Bama loss and I’ll watch Josh Pate and Brooks Austin during the season.
Here for the Senator and am now a Refugee although I feel like a Legacy. During the season, it is SEC Shorts and Coach 30. Don’t need anything else.
On3 and Late Kick are worth a listen.
What a panoply of ingnoranuses they have at Barstool. Given the quality choices that exist now, I am surprised they are still in business. I guess there are just so many jabronis out there that still buy their schtick. It really should make sense as Pat McAfee still has a job.
Damn, if you have ever listen to any of that dreck, it’s like flat earth level thick headed.
Agreed. Was glad when Aaron got away from T-Bob Hebert & went with Eric McClain.
I work from home & usually have some of these on in the background during the day:
LockedOn Bulldogs
Dawg Nation Daily
Josh Pate
Mac & Murray
The Hard Count w JD Pickell
Crain & Cone
See Ball Get Ball
LockedOn SEC
Good choices.
This is the only Dawgs site I go to, because what more could there possibly be out there? You guys have carried on the Senator’s work in an admirable fashion, and HIALTDAWG is well on his way to RangerRuss status. Feels like home…
The only sports podcast I listen to is Punt & Pass. It’s only 1X per week, and Butler & Fromm have done a nice job in the offseason with guests (Pollack, Harrison English, Jack Bauerle, etc.). Most other podcasts have gone to shit lately.
There’s one Dawg podcast that I listen to every week. And it’s Radi “AthensFordDentalImplantsRogueGummies” Nabulsi’s podcast with Coach Donnan each week. Radi & Dayne Young are on the podcast but, I’m there for Donnan and I like to hear what he has to say. The man has forgotten more about college football than I’ve ever known. I do listen to Brandon Adams from time to time but, not religiously.
Pate, Rivals (Donnan), On3 (Rusty), ESPN (Reece), Audible (Feldman/Mandel), Waitin Since Last Saturday (regular fans with different perspectives).