

The Distraction: A Defector Podcast
Defector Media
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 voice mails, 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.
Episodes
Mentioned books

10 snips
Apr 4, 2024 • 1h 2min
Subtraction by Subtraction with Ray Ratto
Defector’s own Ray Ratto joins Drew and Roth to preview the MLB season! Which teams are good? which are bad? and which teams are anonymous enough that you and your goomar can enjoy a game together? Halfway through, they take a pit stop to discuss women’s college basketball and unpack what happens when WBB stars can make more money staying in school than going to the pros. 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!Stuff We Talked About- Anthony Rendon Is Already Feeling Pretty AngelsSponsors- Blueland, where you can get 15% off your first order at https://blueland.com/distraction- Raycon, where you can get 20% off your order and free shipping at https://raycon.com/distractionCredits- Hosts: Drew Magary & David Roth- Producer: Eric Silver- Editor: Brandon Grugle- Production Services & Ads: Multitude- Subscribe to Defector!About The ShowThe 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.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

5 snips
Mar 28, 2024 • 55min
As Basil Exposition Once Said…
It’s everything you ever wanted: Drew and Roth fucking around and talking about whatever. The first half is all about Drew’s vacation, foggy ol’ London town, and college reminiscing. And the second half is all Funbag questions, 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!Credits- Hosts: Drew Magary & David Roth- Producer: Eric Silver- Editor: Brandon Grugle- Production Services & Ads: Multitude- Subscribe to Defector!About The ShowThe 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.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Mar 21, 2024 • 58min
The 2024 Hater’s Guide to March Madness with Ken Pomeroy
College basketball metrics analyst Ken Pomeroy makes his triumphant annual to the Distraction to preview this year’s March Madness! Drew, Roth and Ken make their Final Four picks, give the all-important UPSET SPECIAL, and show what teams are min-maxing offense and defense. And they nicely explain to Roth why Wagner, although in the tournament, is mathematically dogwater. And as always, they dive into the Funbag for 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 AboutArea Teen Watching March Madness Enters 2-Week Phase Where Dream School Is CreightonSponsors- Factor, where code distraction50 will get you 50% off at https://factormeals.com/distraction50- Betterhelp, where you can get 10% off your first month at betterhelp.com/distractionCredits- Hosts: Drew Magary & David Roth- Producer: Eric Silver- Editor: Brandon Grugle- Production Services & Ads: Multitude- Subscribe to Defector!About The ShowThe 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.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

8 snips
Mar 14, 2024 • 1h 5min
I Am a Girl and I Drive! with Kathryn Xu
Defector’s own Kathryn Xu join Drew and Roth to break down the hottest free agency market we’ve ever seen: K-Pop groups. They also glean insight from Kathryn’s specialties that are rare for the show: F1 drama, hot pot drama, and what young people are doing these days. And as always, Roth shares a specific detail about Trump that has pushed out precious memories in his mind palace and they dive into the Funbag for 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
Read Kathryn's work!
The F1 story on Escape Collective
Sponsors- Wildgrain, where you can get $30 off the first box plus free Croissants in every box using code DISTRACTION at Wildgrain.com/DISTRACTIONCredits- Hosts: Drew Magary & David Roth- Producer: Eric Silver- Editor: Brandon Grugle- Production Services & Ads: Multitude- Subscribe to Defector!About The ShowThe 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.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

12 snips
Mar 7, 2024 • 1h 14min
Subway Sandwiches Don’t Actually Look Like That! with Rohan Nadkarni
We’re back! We’re back! with Rohan Nadkarni as he joins Drew and Roth to throw water all over the Boston Celtics. They read the tea leaves of the back half of the NBA season to see who is falling or surging to the playoffs. And they loft the media story of Caitlin Clark out there to see if any of the three of them will zag on it… the answer will surprise you. And as always, there is Sandwich Talk and they dive into the Funbag for 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! - Blueland, where you can get 15% off your first order at https://blueland.com/distraction- Raycon, where you can get 20% off your order and free shipping at https://raycon.com/distractionCredits- Hosts: Drew Magary & David Roth- Producer: Eric Silver- Editor: Brandon Grugle- Production Services & Ads: Multitude- Subscribe to Defector!About The ShowThe 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.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

6 snips
Feb 29, 2024 • 1h 1min
Run Out of Town with Pitchforks Media with Ed Zitron
Ed Zitrion discusses the Apple Vision Pro and running a humane workplace; Funbag with listener questions; Comparing casino culture in England and US; Tech review and product critique of Apple Vision Pro; Wall Street vs. consumer dilemma; Exploring Factor meal delivery service; Profit vs. innovation in tech world; Corporate mismanagement and elite disconnect; Quirky discussion on washing habits and Elon Musk's shower routine

4 snips
Feb 22, 2024 • 55min
My University of Austin Class on Bloodletting
Drew has activated vacation mode so it is a no-guest streak on The Distraction. They start with ski talk and injury talk, and I promise these are unrelated stories. But Nike and Fanatics doing such a terrible job with baseball jerseys leads to a discussion the flattening, joylessless, and enshittification of so much of modern products. Then they give advice to 7th graders about how to make good podcasts and dive into the Funbag, with 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
What Happened to Baseball Jerseys?
The tweet about the Vegas NBA team
How Bob Moore, of Bob’s Red Mill, Got Grocery-Store Famous
It’s Not Just Wages. Retailers Are Mistreating Workers in a More Insidious Way
Drew talking about sports gambling in the Funbag
Google Image: "Breakfast Pizza"
Sponsors- Factor, where code distraction50 will get you 50% off at https://factormeals.com/distraction50- Betterhelp, where you can get 10% off your first month at betterhelp.com/distractionCredits- Hosts: Drew Magary & David Roth- Producer: Eric Silver- Editor: Brandon Grugle- Production Services & Ads: Multitude- Subscribe to Defector!About The ShowThe 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.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

8 snips
Feb 15, 2024 • 1h 4min
The Future of Schlong-Form Reporting
Drew and Roth are snowed in together, so they’re doing they’re favorite snow day activity: podcasting. Now that football season is over, they’re getting into the weird stuff: Darren Rovell going one-on-one with Kristaps Porzingas, wrestling with the idea that Biden can be president but maybe not drive, and why can’t companies just create a good product and make money that way. And they dive into the Funbag, with 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
Kristaps Porzingis Goes One-On-One Against An Absurdly Goofy Darren Rovell
Darren Rovell's Taken-Style Blog for Catching Aaron Run’s Record-Setting Home Run Balls
Bill Ackman’s War on Harvard, MIT, DEI, and Everyone Else
Stephen A. Smith Is Never Satisfied
The Hottest Beer in America Doesn’t Have Alcohol
Sponsors- Blueland, where you can get 15% off your first order at https://blueland.com/distractionCredits- Hosts: Drew Magary & David Roth- Producer: Eric Silver- Editor: Brandon Grugle- Production Services & Ads: Multitude- Subscribe to Defector!About The ShowThe 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.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Feb 8, 2024 • 55min
Live From the Bounty House on Radio Row with Matthew Coller
Purple Insider’s own Matthew Coller joins Drew and Roth from the Super Bowl! You can feel the energy of standing at an activation sponsored by one of the best paper towel brands out there. They preview the Big Game and answer the immortal question: is the NFL going analytics woke? And in the back half of the show, they answer a whole lot of Funbag questions from real listeners, both voicemail and written in! 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- Factor, where code distraction50 will get you 50% off at https://factormeals.com/distraction50Credits- Hosts: Drew Magary & David Roth- Producer: Eric Silver- Editor: Brandon Grugle- Production Services & Ads: Multitude- Subscribe to Defector!About The ShowThe 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.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Feb 1, 2024 • 1h
I Am Wearing a Christian Black Metal Hoodie in My Headshot With Jason Kirk
Guest Jason Kirk, senior editor for The Athletic and co-host of the Shutdown Fullcast, talks about his debut novel and his Evangelical upbringing. The hosts also recap championship games, discuss Lamar Jackson's performance and strong defenses, reflect on the Detroit Lions' disappointing loss, analyze Brock Purdy's performance, and explore Christianity in fiction and pop culture. They also cover the success of a book, supporting refugee charities, and encounters with inconsiderate dog owners.


