Bend It Like Beckham (w/ E.R. Fightmaster, Katie Kershaw, & Tien Tran)

Comedians Nicole Byer and Lauren Lapkus have spent seasons of their Newcomers: Sports podcast exploring massive pop culture phenomena they somehow missed, from Star Wars to the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe. Now, they’re lacing up their cleats and stepping onto a whole new playing field. For this season, the pair turn their hilariously uninitiated perspectives toward the world of legendary sports movies, a genre packed with iconic moments, underdog tropes, and sweaty melodrama they’ve largely avoided. Released by Headgum, each episode finds Nicole and Lauren watching a classic film-think the inspirational highs, the brutal training montages, and the questionable life lessons-and then breaking down their reactions with the same blend of genuine curiosity and riotous commentary that has defined their show. Listeners get to experience these cultural touchstones fresh through their eyes, hearing the confusion, the unexpected cheers, and the inevitable tangents that arise when two very funny people confront a realm of jocks, jargon, and juiced-up cinematic glory. It’s a comedy podcast that feels like hanging out with your most entertaining friends as they finally get around to the stuff everyone else has seen, making the familiar feel bizarre and hilarious all over again.