As the 2025-26 football season approaches, The Athletic is set to revolutionize its audio content landscape, ushering in a new era for sports enthusiasts. Following a period of rejuvenation for many Premier League athletes, the anticipation for competitive play is soaring. In response, The Athletic's podcast network has unveiled an ambitious expansion, introducing a series of exciting enhancements to its existing programming and fostering deeper community engagement. This strategic evolution aims to provide unparalleled coverage and analysis, catering to the growing demand for insightful sports commentary and fan interaction.
This comprehensive revamp will see flagship shows augment their broadcast schedules, ensuring fans receive more frequent updates and diverse perspectives. Concurrently, specialized podcasts will enrich their offerings with additional episodes and guest appearances, delving into tactical nuances and club-specific narratives. A central tenet of this expansion is the emphasis on community participation, transforming passive listening into an interactive experience. By integrating live streams, fan tours, and direct communication channels, The Athletic is cultivating a vibrant ecosystem where listeners are not just consumers of content but active contributors to the ongoing football discourse.
Expanding Horizons: More Content, Deeper Insights
The Athletic's podcast network is undergoing a significant transformation for the upcoming 2025-26 football season, promising an enriched auditory experience for fans. This expansion is driven by a desire to provide more frequent and in-depth analysis across a spectrum of football topics. Key podcasts are increasing their episode count, introducing new segments, and featuring a wider array of expert voices, all designed to offer comprehensive coverage of the beautiful game.
Foremost among these changes is 'The Totally Football Show,' which is moving from three to four weekly episodes. This popular podcast will continue its Sunday evening YouTube livestream reviews, Tuesday Euro show, and Thursday midweek analysis, now adding a Saturday installment focused on 90s and 00s football nostalgia, featuring respected personalities like James Horncastle and Michael Cox. 'The Athletic FC Podcast,' recognized as the British Sports Podcast of the Year, will remain a cornerstone for major football stories, providing sharp analysis daily with a diverse panel of contributors including David Ornstein and Matt Slater, alongside more of Adam Leventhal's acclaimed documentary series. Matt Davies-Adams will host the Weekend Preview, complemented by 'The Athletic FC’s Week in Football' on Saturdays. Furthermore, Joe Devine’s 'Tifo Football Podcast' will add a second weekly episode on Thursdays, featuring compelling guests, while 'The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast' will continue its in-depth tactical and analytical discussions. For North American football, 'The Total Soccer Show' will maintain its dedicated coverage of the USMNT and MLS.
Fostering Connection: Community and Engagement
Beyond content expansion, The Athletic's podcast network is placing a strong emphasis on fostering a vibrant and interactive community. This initiative seeks to transform the listening experience into a participatory one, encouraging fans to actively engage with their favorite shows and fellow enthusiasts. By creating diverse avenues for interaction, The Athletic aims to build stronger connections between its content creators and its dedicated audience.
This commitment to community engagement is evident across various shows. 'Talk of the Devils' is not only embarking on a five-date tour across the UK and Ireland but also introducing video versions of its episodes, allowing fans a more immersive experience. Similarly, club-specific podcasts such as 'Handbrake Off' (Arsenal), 'The View from the Lane' (Tottenham), 'Walk On' (Liverpool), and 'Straight Outta Cobham' (Chelsea) will continue their dedicated weekly coverage, serving their respective fan bases. The overarching goal is to involve listeners in every show. This includes participating in livestreams with hosts like James Richardson, joining tours with podcasts such as 'Talk of the Devils' and 'The View from the Lane,' or simply sharing thoughts through email voicenotes. Each podcast encourages interaction, with contact details provided for email and social media platforms. All shows are accessible on major podcast platforms like Apple Podcasts and Spotify, with video versions available on YouTube for selected programs, reinforcing the network's dedication to accessibility and fan involvement.
