The Middle

Where the game gets personal. From world championships to everyday athletes, we dig into the human side of sports told by the athletes, coaches and industry insiders that lived those career-changing moments, near misses, unexpected wins, season-ending injuries and inevitable transitions.

The Middle is a sports podcast hosted by Megan R, with 53 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Megan R hosts The Middle, a sports show with 53 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #30

  Should the A’s Just Return to Philadelphia?

  Sep 9, 202648 minS2

  When J T. Ramsay wasn’t leading digital and marketing campaigns for brands like Ford Motor Company and Comcast, he was spending his nights doing something else: leading a campaign to bring Major League Baseball team the A's back to Philadelphia. In this conversation, Megan and JT unpack his grassroots and decade-long "Bring Your A’s Game" campaign, why ownership is (probably) baseball's real problem, and what the Los Angeles Dodgers' deferred-contract saga reveals about the future of finances in the MLB. They dig into the league’s CBA fight over a salary cap and floor, what it’s been like raising two sonsthrough the sport's grind, and how the points being argued in the upcoming labor negotiations ultimately impact the youth-to-college baseball pipeline, including JT’s own two sons. The Middle finds the sport stories the big outlets skip, told by Megan and the athletes, coaches, and insiders who lived them. J T. Ramsay is a digital marketing executive with more than 15 years of experience transforming how Fortune 500 brands engage their customers. He currently advises companies on how to evolve and modernize their communications and marketing strategies, processes and teams. He is, much to his own vexation, a Philadelphia sports fan. Connect with J T. on LinkedIn and follow his ‘Bring Your A’s Game’ campaign . Follow The Middle on Instagram , Threads , and YouTube . Connect with Megan on LinkedIn .

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  Episode #29

  Is NIL Good or Bad for College Sports?

  Sep 2, 202640 minS2

  Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) changed college sports forever, but five years in, is it working? This episode breaks down what NIL is, how it started, and how the money moves now that schools, collectives, and athletes are all part of the equation. Megan covers the eligibility rules that keep shifting under everyone's feet, the growing gap between big and small universities, and what this new economy is doing to the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL. And she dives into several real stories of NIL money changing lives and where this all might be headed next. The Middle finds the sport stories the big outlets skip, told by Megan and the athletes, coaches, and insiders who lived them. Follow The Middle on Instagram , Threads , and YouTube . Connect with Megan on LinkedIn .

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  Episode #28

  What Matt Lombardo Knows About the 2026 NFL Season That You Don’t

  Aug 26, 202642 minS2

  NFL insider Matt Lombardo joins Megan fresh off his 2026 training camp tour to break down what's happening across the league during preseason, from why he thinks the Green Bay Packers are due for a step back to why the Los Angeles Rams' aggressive offseason makes them this year’s team to beat. Megan and Matt dig into the quarterback situations making headlines, the Baltimore Ravens receiver breakout that could unlock Lamar Jackson's passing game, and which team is facing a make-or-break year. Matt also shares his early 2027 Super Bowl predictions (it may surprise you), his Coach of the Year pick, and which former Super Bowl coach is on borrowed time. Matt Lombardo is a veteran NFL reporter and founder of Between the Hashmarks , home for exclusive and in-depth NFL news, insight and analysis from general managers, coaches, agents, and current and former NFL players. Prior to creating Between the Hashmarks Matt spent over a decade in journalism covering the Philadelphia Eagles for NJ.com, the New York Giants for the Star-Ledger, and serving as Senior NFL Insider for Heavy Sports and FanBuzz. Subscribe to Between the Hashmarks to get full access to Matt’s insights and interviews (20% of the proceeds from each new subscription purchased is donated to causes including the ACLU, the National Immigrant Justice Center, the Trevor Project, PBS, and others). Tune in every week to the Between the Hashmarks podcast . Follow Matt on YouTube , Instagram , Threads , Facebook , and BlueSky . The Middle finds the sport stories the big outlets skip, told by Megan and the athletes, coaches, and insiders who lived them. Follow The Middle on Instagram , Threads , and YouTube . Connect with Megan on LinkedIn .

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  Episode #26

  ENCORE: Inside the Leadville 100: What It Really Takes to Run or Bike the Toughest Race in the Rockies

  Aug 12, 202638 minS2

  After a season filled with uncertainty due to Colorado wildfires, the Leadville Race Series has been given the green light to move ahead with their 2026 race season. Now, we're days away from the two most challenging and legendary races: the Leadville Trail 100 MTB and the Leadville Trail 100 Run. Earlier this year Megan sat down with race director Tamira Jenlink to talk about the race series and what it takes to put on these events. Enjoy this encore episode of their discussion on one of the most popular and prestigious endurance Race Series in the world. -- At 10,152 feet in the Colorado Rockies, the legendary Leadville Race Series looks like a dream for endurance athletes chasing the Leadville Trail 100 Run, the Leadville Trail 100 mountain bike race, the Leadville Trail Marathon, and more. In this episode, race director Tamira Jenlink takes us inside the unseen side of endurance racing, where split-second safety decisions, unpredictable mountain weather, and the logistics of supporting athletes above 12,000 feet collide. More than a race, Tamira explores the inclusiveness of the endurance community and the delicate balance between hosting world-class events and supporting the future of towns like Leadville. The Life Time Leadville Race Series is a variety of annual mountain bike and running races held in the heart of the Rocky Mountains in Leadville, Colorado. The most grueling of the races – the 100-mile mountain bike and the 100-mile run – have attracted cyclists and ultrarunners from around the world since 1983. The Middle finds the sport stories the big outlets skip, told by Megan and the athletes, coaches, and insiders who lived them. Follow the Leadville Race Series on Instagram , YouTube , Facebook , and X , or learn more about the races on the website . Follow The Middle on Instagram , Threads , and YouTube . Connect with Megan on LinkedIn .

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  Episode #24

  Why 70% of Kids Quit Sports by 13

  Jul 29, 202643 minS2

  Research shows 70% of kids quit youth sports by age 13, and it’s not because they got cut or lost interest in the game. Dr. Michael Berrebi joins Megan to break down what’s driving kids out: the professionalization of youth sports, the pay-to play system pricing out entire communities, and the burnout nobody’s trained to spot in younger kids. Dr. Berrebi explains what anxiety and stress look like for athletes at these ages (hint: it’s not laziness), which words to pay attention to when kids describe their practice or game, and the simple question any parent can ask to help determine if their kid is struggling. Dr. Michael Berrebi is a licensed professional counselor with a Ph.D. in Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology. Based in Denver, Colorado, he specializes in working with youth, high school, and college athletes from every sport. He founded Elevation Sport and Performance Consulting to help athletes break through the mental barriers that hold them back on and off the field. The Middle finds the sport stories the big outlets skip, told by Megan and the athletes, coaches, and insiders who lived them. Follow The Middle on Instagram , Threads , and YouTube . Connect with Megan on LinkedIn .

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