In the early 2000s, few websites had the cultural cachet that Deadspin was able to generate. The company was one of the most popular sports blogs online at the time. Though much of its staff have since moved on to other projects, The Distraction: A Defector Podcast is a continuation of its legacy.
The Distraction: A Defector Podcast has two hosts-Drew Magary and David Roth. Magary was previously a writer for Deadspin. Magary's work as a writer encompasses both fiction and non-fiction. Much of his non-fiction work focuses on writing sports coverage and humor columns. He is also the author of three novels.
Roth is a writer and editor whose work explores various areas. These include pop culture and politics, as well as major league sports. His work has appeared in numerous print publications, including New York Magazine. Like Magary, Roth was previously a writer and editor for Deadspin.
The Distraction: A Defector Podcast was the result of a mass exodus from the company after Deadspin bosses told the writers to "stick to sports." After this, Magary, Roth, and several other Deadspin writers formed Defector Media. The company is proudly employee-owned and focuses on creating content without censorship.
This podcast mainly focuses on sports. The hosts spend much of their time focusing on the week's most prominent sports stories. However, there are other focuses of the podcast. They will often filter these discussions through the lens of pop culture or politics.
Each episode sees the duo hosting a special guest on the podcast. Comedian Adam Conover and writer David Grann have been guests on the show. Various guests keep the podcast interesting and exciting to listen to from week to week.
New episodes of The Distraction: A Defector Podcast premiere weekly on Thursdays.
Episodes