The GIST of It is a twice-weekly podcast on what’s going on in the sports world. Hosts Ellen Hyslop and Stephanie Rotz discuss current sports topics and how they intersect with pop culture and social issues, covering everything from major league season previews to calling out the sexist BS we see in sports daily. Expect a hilarious yet informative conversation with a refreshing female perspective on the world of sports.
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Here’s to a legend! Diana Taurasi, one of the greatest basketball players of all time, announced her retirement on Tuesday, so today’s episode of The GIST of It is a toast to the queen of confidence. As co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz discuss, Taurasi’s skill, starpower, and most of all, swagger, re-defined women’s hoops — the game is in a big…
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Ice, ice, baby. Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin is chasing history, now just 13 goals away from breaking Wayne “The Great One” Gretzky’s all-time NHL scoring record. So on today’s episode of The GIST of It, co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz dive into Ovi’s pursuit of greatness, from his consistency across 20 (!!!) NHL seasons, to the c…
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Ep #436: Fighting and Politics in the NHL: The 4 Nations Face-Off championship success amongst charged hockey fans
34:09
It’s time to do that hockey! The hottest thing in sports right now is the 4 Nations Face-Off, a replacement to the NHL’s All-Star tourney that’s drawing millions of viewers and creating new hockey fans across North America. And tonight, it’s Team USA vs. Team Canada in the highly anticipated championship game, sparking new life into a storied rival…
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The business of women’s sports is booming. It’s all gals, all the time in this extra-special episode of The GIST of It. Today, co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz are digging into two major women’s sports business headlines, sponsored by our pals at Amazon Business. First, El and Steph are diving head first, fearless into the PWHL’s wildly success…
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Happy Galentine’s Day! Leslie Knope’s favorite day of the year is here, and to celebrate co-hosts Steph Rotz and guest host Lauren Tuiskula are diving into all the shiny and fun happenings in the sports world this coming weekend. First, the gals discuss the 74th NBA All-Star Game, airing this Sunday from San Francisco. Much like the NHL, who upgrad…
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Hi! Today’s episode of The GIST of It has a little bit of everything with one tournament preview and one WTF moment on deck. Co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz start things off by discussing the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off, an NHL hockey tourney that’ll pit Team USA, Team Canada, Team Finland, and Team Sweden against each other for international …
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Hut, hut, hello there! You already know what time it is. On today’s episode of The GIST of It, co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz kick off Super Bowl weekend with a full preview of the biggest event in sports. Will quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs achieve a historic three-peat? Can running back Saquon Barkley and the Philade…
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Ep #431: A true WTF weekend: Disturbing allegations against Justin Tucker & the bombshell Luka Dončić trade
34:41
Hey there! The sports headlines came fast and furious this weekend, so co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz are here to break it all down on today’s episode of The GIST of It. First, the gals dig into the disturbing sexual misconduct allegations against Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker, who has been accused of inappropriate behavior dating bac…
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Happy Friday Jr.! Grab some boxes because today’s episode of The GIST of It is all about major moves. From the WNBA to the NWSL, there’ve been a plethora of massive trades and signings in the last few weeks. Co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz begin in the WNBA, where two perennial All-Stars — Alyssa Thomas and Brittney Griner — will be donning di…
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Happy Tuesday! Or should we say hoopy Tuesday because today’s episode of The GIST of It is all about the WNBA. A blockbuster three-team trade sent shockwaves through the league over the weekend, so co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz are breaking down which players are on the move (hint: it’s two All-Stars) and the potential impact of this massive…
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Ep #428: An NFL Conference Championship primer, plus Novak Djokovic chases history Down Under
36:38
Hello hello! We’re talking gridiron and Grand Slams on today’s episode of The GIST of It, previewing this weekend’s NFL Conference Championships along with the finals of the first tennis major of the season, the Australian Open. Co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz begin by previewing this weekend’s AFC title game between the Buffalo Bills and Kans…
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Ep #427: Unrivaled’s superstars, the NFL Divisional Round, and previewing the CFP Championship
37:55
Go long! On today’s three-part episode of The GIST of It, co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz go long as they preview three major sporting events this weekend. First up, the gals continue their deep dive into new pro women’s basketball 3v3 league Unrivaled ahead of its inaugural tipoff on Friday, previewing the teams, players, and coaches that wil…
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Who run the world? Girls, of course — and that’s especially fitting for today’s all women’s sports episode of The GIST of It. Co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz begin with a look at the PWHL’s nine-game Takeover Tour, which is already off to a rousing start as the league tests new markets for its two expansion teams, set to debut next season. The…
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Ep #425: A College Football Playoff semis preview & NFL MVP candidates to watch in the postseason
39:32
Hut hut! On today’s episode of The GIST of It, co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz preview a wild weekend on the gridiron. First, the gals check in with the College Football Playoff as the remaining four teams head into the semifinals, with star-studded games on deck tomorrow and Friday. Score. Then in part two, El and Steph look ahead toward the …
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Hello, 2025! New year, same sports drama. In this episode of The GIST of It, co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz dive headfirst into Miami Heat superstar Jimmy Butler’s team-issued seven-game suspension, detailing the timeline behind this shocking breakup before sharing their takes on where Butler could land before the February 6th trade deadline.…
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It’s time to reflect. This year was truly one for the books, so today’s episode of The GIST of It is a classic year in review. From the women’s sports movement to the standout moments at the Paris Olympics, co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz are taking a trip down memory lane, diving headfirst, fearless into a phenomenal year full of championship…
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Hello, hello! Forget the holidays — it’s playoff season for a few fall college sports: women’s volleyball and football. On this episode of The GIST of It, co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz first preview tonight’s national volleyball tournament semifinals, where all four No. 1 seeds will be duking it out for a spot in Sunday’s championship. And v…
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It’s hoopin’ time! Today’s episode of The GIST of It is all about the hardwood. First, co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz preview today’s NBA Cup final between the in-season tournament’s two No. 1 seeds: The Milwaukee Bucks and the Oklahoma City Thunder. Trust us — you won’t want to miss this star-powered showdown featuring a pair of perennial MV…
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Ep #420: A Heisman Trophy explainer, way-too-early NFL award predictions & a dive into the Women’s Lacrosse League
36:25
Hey there! End-of-year awards season chatter is growing by the minute, and the football world is no exception. The fun begins on Saturday, when the Heisman Trophy, aka, the MVP award of college football, will be handed out. Before the winner is named, today’s episode of The GIST of It begins with an explainer on one of the most important trophies i…
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Hi there! Turns out there’s no hibernating in baseball — especially when it’s Winter Meetings season. On the heels of heavy hitter Juan Soto’s historic NY Mets contract, The GIST of It co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz dive into what the most expensive deal in sports history means for the Mets and their opponents. Batter up. Then in part two, th…
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Hello! It may be the WNBA offseason, but the W is still dominating headlines. The Golden State Valkyries, the W’s 13th team, will take part in an expansion draft tomorrow ahead of their 2025 debut, so on today’s episode of The GIST of It, co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz are breaking down how player selection works, the draft rules, and more. T…
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Hey there. Today’s episode of The GIST of It digs into a disturbing and unfortunately unrelenting issue in football: head trauma and the unmitigated risks of playing American’s favorite sport. Two examples rocked the NCAA and NFL worlds recently: The tragic death of Alabama A&M linebacker Medrick Burnett Jr. and the late hit on Jacksonville Jaguars…
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Ep #416: PWHL sophomore season preview, plus a conversation with the Minnesota Frost’s Taylor Heise
50:45
Ready the Zamboni! The PWHL’s sophomore season is just days away, so today’s episode is all about previewing the action before the puck drops on Season 2 on Saturday. From standout rookies to women’s hockey vets, the PWHL is dripping with talent, and co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz have everything you need to know. Speaking of massive talent, …
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Buckle up! Today’s episode of The GIST of It is a classic two-part breakdown. First, co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz dig into the Globe and Mail’s Canada Soccer culture probe, which came as a result of the drone scandal that rocked the Paris Olympics and exposed a longstanding culture of spying in the federation. Then in part two, the gals hit…
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Ep #414: Formula 1 takes Las Vegas, previewing the NWSL Championship, and chatting with NJ/NY Gotham’s Midge Purce
44:04
Let’s go for a drive! Today’s episode of The GIST of It is another three-parter featuring a very special guest. First, co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz preview the Las Vegas Grand Prix happening in Sin City this weekend. This marks the second year the Las Vegas Strip will play host to the F1 circuit, and El and Steph have you covered with the d…
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