Ball Is Left Podcast
47 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 3 years ago -A show about the intersections of sports, politics, culture and art. Join Brian Cullen, a credentialed member of NBA media, and Stephen Lee Clark, an academic, musician, and NFL savant, as they navigate the inherently unethical world of these crossroads.
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Episodes
Re-Release: The NBA and the Prison-Industrial Complex with David Dayen
June 23, 2021 07:01 - 1 hourToday the boys talk to David Dayen (@ddayen) about his article "The NBA's Quiet Problem with Prison Exploitation". A very dark problem the NBA is keeping especially quiet about. Before that they get into why you shouldn't sleep on the Bucs but feel free to sleep on the Bucks. David's article about Tom Gores and his ties with prison exploitation: https://prospect.org/justice/the-nbas-quiet-problem-with-prison-exploitation/ David's latest book can be found here: https://thenewpress.com/books/mo...
Drive
June 16, 2021 07:01 - 1 hourFresh off his trip to his first NASCAR race, SLC brings us tales of culture, cars, and shirt slogans. Plus a peer into the NBA Playoffs.
I Wish You Would Leaf with Sam Bosson
June 09, 2021 07:01 - 1 hourBall Is Left's Hockey Correspondent Sam Bosson is back! SLC is out of town at the races, and Sam steps in seamlessly. What's going on in the NHL playoffs? Why are the Leafs so triggering for Brian? Did sports dictate our deep rooted misogyny? All that and more! Follow Headbanger Hockey on IG! https://www.instagram.com/headbangerhockey/
Re-Release of Albert Corado Pt.2: Nolympics
June 02, 2021 07:01 - 1 hourThe boys sit down and have a quick discussion while Brian is out of town recording music with friends. With the population of Tokyo largely opposed to the summer Olympics, the conversation with Al Corado about organizing against this evil entity seemed as relevant as ever. Join the fight: https://nolympicsla.com/
Finally A Baseball Correspondent with Clayton Stevens
May 26, 2021 18:06 - 1 hourBall Is Left finally have a baseball correspondent! Our good friend Clayton Stevens (Touché Amoré, Entry) joins to discuss the excitement of the NBA postseason opening and then takes us into the MLB. Why is this becoming the Golden Era of baseball? What team fits your personality? Is baseball headed for a lockout? Entry- https://entrysl.bandcamp.com/releases Touché Amoré- https://www.toucheamore.com/
See You In The Cage with SLC and Dave Castillo
May 19, 2021 14:32 - 1 hourDave Castillo returns! He joins SLC while Brian is in the wilderness to discuss how his Jets fared in the draft, the surging Knicks have homecourt advantage in the playoffs, and his MMA podcast The Rusty Cage. Listen to The Rusty Cage Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-rusty-cage-mma-podcast/id1558473858
Re-Release of Albert Corado Pt.1: The Run For City Council
May 12, 2021 07:01 - 1 hourBrian is in the vast wild of the high desert this week so we are re-releasing one of our favorite and most powerful episodes. Other than some election takes(lol) it is an evergreen episode. SLC returns from the heart of darkness. Then, the boys are joined by Albert Corado- organizer with People's City Council LA, No Olympics LA, and current candidate for LA City Council District 13. In part one of the conversation Albert discusses his path to direct action, organizing, and politics. His story...
It's All Temporary
May 05, 2021 07:01 - 1 hourThis week the boys discuss their bouts of sports delusion. Plus more! -Rulings on police violence at protests -The unhoused population in LA -LAPD v LeBron...again -Caitlyn Jenner is an idiot
Soulmates
April 28, 2021 07:01 - 57 minutesThis week the boys have a check in with the last week of stories that have grabbed their attention. Then they take a break to FINALLY watch the new Mortal Kombat movie and come back with their initial takes. -Classic boxing matches -Pat Tillman as continued military propaganda -The Raiders buffoon tweet -FINISH HIM
Not Enough
April 21, 2021 07:01 - 1 hourAfter taking some time off the recharge the boys are back with some heavy headlines. -Professional Sports teams react to the murder of Duante Wright -The war on trans athletes continues -RK Russell pens his thoughts -The effects of the Tokyo Olympics -LOL of the Week *we almost lost this episode to technical difficulties, but our amazing producer Kern was able to work some magic. SLC's audio was slightly affected, but we're so thankful that it came out as well as it did!
A Message From SLC
April 14, 2021 16:05 - 55 secondsThe boys are taking a much needed bye week. Thank you all for the support and feel free to get caught up on some old episodes!
Makin' All The Right Plays Happen
April 07, 2021 07:01 - 1 hourThis one steps into some for foreign territory for your hosts, but some stories are too big to ignore. -March Madness and the highlights of being a fan -MLB moves the All Star game -New NFL TV deal -Draymond vs WNBA -KD vs Rapaport
Desert Dolphins Don't Do Denver Drugs
March 31, 2021 07:01 - 1 hourFresh off another connection with the desert sands of California the dookie booty boys sit down to discuss a few things that have been on their minds in the sports world. -The Day Sports Stood Still documentary and looking back on 2020 athletics in America -Militarization of LA has begun for the '28 Olympics -Elgin the Legend -Does the NBA owe Larry Sanders an apology? -The Dolphins have fleeced the league and aren't afraid of buds with buds -Ballers and LOLers
The Bungalow and The Cage
March 24, 2021 07:01 - 1 hourThis one is an undertaking. We start with a pleasant visit to SLC's Free Agency Bungalow where he takes us through the pleasant pastures of NFL Free Agency so far. Then we crawl across the coals to the hellfire landscape of the NBA trade deadline with Brian in the Trade Cage. Plus some LOL of Fame awards.
By All Means, Please Prohibit It
March 17, 2021 07:01 - 1 hourThis week the boys discuss beautiful accidents, reform bills and Meyers Leonard's slip of the tongue. What can we learn from nature? Is there a difference between accountability and cancelling? NBPA backing problematic legislature. Historic unionization happening in Alabama The LOL of Fame So much more!
YOUnionize
March 10, 2021 08:01 - 1 hourIt's the Blake Griffin episode. Or the Marcus Allen episode. Either way (it's Blake), the boys breakdown some personal battles and some buried headlines. Plus everyone's favorite new segment LMAO. -Landlords; what are they good for? -NFL PA is up to backdoor deals with the owners and backstabbing the players. -University of Texas donors LOVE their racist songs. -LOL @ some body slams and incels.
Current Full Time Sh!thead
March 03, 2021 08:01 - 1 hourIn a brand new episode the boys go through some recent, unfortunately dark, headlines in the sports world from the last week and also explore a new format to the NBA regular season. -World Athletics power over gender qualifications -Jeremy Lin and anti-Asian hate in America -Should Kobe be the new logo? -The Dream is free! -SLCLMAO
ABACABB with Garrett Chorpenning
February 24, 2021 08:01 - 1 hourThis week Sports Illustrated Clippers beat writer Garrett Chorpenning joins the show. He joins to cover some recent headlines and talk about some bigger picture topics. -Chris Webber teaching athlete activism in college -He's also trying to put some balance in the weed game -The tension around the NBA and the COVID vaccine -Cam Newton fighting with youngsters -Sports Sociology Follow Garrett on Twitter and IG: @gachorpenning Find his work on the Clippers here: https://www.si.com/nba/clippers/...
Coherence with Dave Castillo
February 17, 2021 08:01 - 1 hourThis week Dave Castillo, owner of the legendary Saint Vitus in NYC/musician/awesome person, joins to talk about a myriad of topics. -NCAA players forced to forfeit a game for kneeling -Dallas Mavericks spark a National Anthem debate -Are the Knicks building the right way? -Do the Jets REALLY have a bright future? Confines IG: @confinesworld https://confinesworld.bandcamp.com/ FAKTOR (Label/A/V collective) IG: @FAKTOR_Music https://faktormusic.bandcamp.com/ Saint Vitus IG: @saintvitusbar h...
Lighting The Lamp with Sam Bosson
February 10, 2021 08:01 - 1 hourBall Is Left hockey correspondent Sam Bosson comes back on the show to discuss the new season of NHL hockey, how they're surviving COVID, and what the player movement for social change looks like now. Plus maybe a little Grateful Dead talk.
Wait, Who Is Making Money?
February 03, 2021 18:34 - 1 hourNewly minted Free Market Success Story, SLC and BC give their thoughts on the idea of Wall Street activism. Plus: -Clippers exercise eminent domain -Misogyny in hockey and the NWHL's fight for recognition without it -Angel City FC's vision of sustainability for women athletes -More!
The Saquon Barkley Episode
January 27, 2021 08:01 - 1 hourIn the latest episode the boys really lean into their specialized corners a bit. -Anti-trans bill introduce under the guise of "helping women in sports" -A quick look through the first quarter of the NBA season -THE SUPER BOWL IS HERE -Who is the real QB GOAT? -SLC introduces a new segment and then breaks all the rules -Plus much more!
The Cheerleader's NFL Problem with Yu Gu
January 20, 2021 08:01 - 1 hourFilmmaker Yu Gu joins BIL to discuss her documentary A Woman's Work, which follows two former NFL cheerleaders as they take on the NFL in search of fair wages, fair working conditions and a seat the table. Plus, Belichick's theater, swimming dummy, Houston sports crumbling, and more. Pre-order the feature length version of the film:https://geni.us/AWomansWork You can watch an edited version on PBS streaming until 2/3/21: https://www.pbs.org/independentlens/videos/a-womans-work/ To receive ...
What a Weak
January 13, 2021 08:01 - 58 minutesThe new year has already proved that punishment cares not about your constructs like calendars. The boys look back at the last week and cover a lot of ground- Bean Dad, WNBA players' affect on the Georgia runoff election, sports media forcing players to talk about trauma for clicks and headlines, a new trend of Antifa soccer leagues popping up, and much more!
'21 Questions
January 06, 2021 08:01 - 1 hourNew year, same sh*t? College athletes are suffering from cardiovascular health issues after contracting COVID, but it's not being talked about. The NBA's first woman head coach. As the new year kicks off the boys ask their burning questions for the next twelve months. Plus more!
Kyrie A River
December 23, 2020 08:01 - 1 hourThey finally did it. A baseball conversation. The boys discuss the juxtaposition of the MLB recognizing the Negro Leagues as part of the Majors and the Cleveland baseball team moving forward with the next season under their current team name. Then, the Boston Celtics ink an opinion piece against facial recognition technology. Finally, a deep look into the battle between Kyrie Irving and the media. Celtics article: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/12/16/opinion/governor-baker-regulating-facial...
The Activist Athlete
December 16, 2020 08:01 - 1 hourOn the heels of Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year announcement the boys debate the merits of the 'activist athlete', if SI's list was correct, and if player activism helps or hurts movements. They also take a look at what current protests in sports are looking like and ponder what the future holds for them as fans are slowly allowed back at games. Plus player empowerment, COVID news, academic gatekeeping and much more!
Spotify Unwrapped with Liz Pelly
December 09, 2020 08:01 - 1 hourLiz Pelly, musician, community artspace volunteer, writer, contributing editor at The Baffler, and all around amazing person joins the show to discuss something she has been researching and reporting on for years now- the exploitative nature of Spotify and the streaming world. She discusses how major labels and Spotify get the majority of the money and the artists themselves are left with close to nothing. Follow Liz's work at the Baffler: https://thebaffler.com/authors/liz-pelly Listen to Pr...
SPORTS SPORTS SPORTS
December 02, 2020 08:01 - 1 hourIt's been a while since the last real sports-y episode, this week Brian and Stephen deliver just that. First, a quick check-in with SLC and his anti-ice lobbyist doctor. Then, Brian dives into the moves in the NBA as the new season is right around the corner. Finally, SLC goes into the current crumbling state of the NFL as COVID continues to run rampant through the league.
A Dark Side of Collegiate Sports with Jessica Luther
November 25, 2020 08:01 - 1 hourContent/Trigger Warning: Sexual abuse, physical abuse, trauma. Author and investigative reporter Jessica Luther joins Ball Is Left to discuss a recent article she co-wrote at USA TODAY about several sexual misconduct cases against athletes and other students at LSU and the school's inaction surrounding them. She breaks down what Title IX is and the role it plays in such allegations. Jessica has been following cases like these for a long time- dating back to 2013 with the Baylor University sca...
That Escalated Quickly
November 18, 2020 08:01 - 1 hourThe boys discuss the recent elections and whether or not there's any hope to be found in it. Plus trade rumors, the upcoming draft, Rockets implosions, the next generation of NFL stars, hidden cameras in the locker room, and much more!
FTW with Lindsay Gibbs
November 11, 2020 08:01 - 1 hourThis week BIL is joined by Lindsay Gibbs- co-host of the Burn It All Down podcast and founder of the Power Plays Newsletter. She discusses the WNBA season, the Wubble, feminism and sexism in sports, and how women athletes have paved the way for so much on and off the court. Plus, SLC reveals that his physician is a lizard person. Support Lindsay's work by listening to her podcast, subscribing to her newsletter and following her on Twitter! Burn It All Down pod: https://www.burnitalldownpod.co...
Owners, Analytics, Costumes
November 04, 2020 08:01 - 1 hourThis week the boys take a look back at some of their favorite Halloween memories, the void of an NBA-less All Hallows' Eve, the new owner of the Utah Jazz, SLC jumping off the Cowboys wagon, putting stock in analytics, owners strong arming athletes to turn a profit, and much more!
In Otter News...
October 28, 2020 07:01 - 1 hourSLC is back and has tales from the road- horror stories just in time for Halloween. The boys pay homage to a fallen comrade, NFL fumbles, deep dive the ratings drops in sports and whether its related to player protests, plus much more. Follow the show on IG and Twitter: @ballisleft Email the pod: [email protected]
NBA, CBA, BSC and Josh Briond
October 21, 2020 07:01 - 1 hourSLC is on the road which mean BSC is very uncomfortable. Luckily, Brian gets bailed out with a really cool conversation with Josh Briond. Josh is the cohost of the Millennials Are Killing Capitalism, an artist, writer, cultural worker, and NBA fan. Brian and Josh talk about the NBA season, the bubble, protests, athlete labor unions, the Collective Bargaining Agreement, and much more! Be sure to follow Josh on Twitter: @queersocialism Follow Millenials Are Killing Capitalism and Radical Theory...
Albert Corado Pt.2: NOlympics
October 14, 2020 07:01 - 1 hourIn the second installment with our conversation with Albert Corado we dive into his work with NOlympics LA and dive into the dark and demonstrative world of the Olympics, it's charter, the IOC, and the unspoken ripple effects the games have on communities and athletes. Follow NOlympics LA on Twitter and IG: @NOlympicsLA Get involved here: https://nolympicsla.com/ You can find more info on Albert's campaign for LA City Council here: https://www.alforla.com/
Albert Corado Pt.1: The Run For City Council
October 07, 2020 07:01 - 1 hourSLC returns from the heart of darkness. Then, the boys are joined by Albert Corado- organizer with People's City Council LA, No Olympics LA, and current candidate for LA City Council District 13. In part one of the conversation Albert discusses his path to direct action, organizing, and politics. His story is harrowing, uplifting and inspiring all at once. Follow Albert on Twitter: @digitalurn Follow his campaign on Twitter: @ALforLA2022 Get involved in his campaign: https://www.alforla.com/...
A.W.S. Always Watching Stuff (you're doing to ensure you don't organize or do anything cool really)
September 30, 2020 07:01 - 1 hourOn our tenth episode we move away from the sports world for a bit to talk surveillance capitalism. This Not just in: Amazon monitors their workforce, however recent news reveals they monitor BIPOC and LGBTQ workers more actively to ensure no organizing is taking place. SHOCKING I know. We also have the privilege to welcome our new producer Kern Haug to the team!! The team is growing (but not in like an infinite expansion way or modeled on some wacky idea like infinite resources way, relax our...
Big Sigh with Joseph Raya-Ward
September 23, 2020 14:05 - 1 hourThe boys go in this week. First, they discuss the whistleblower situation surrounding forced sterilization at immigration concentration camps. Then they break down the absurdity of the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department demanding money from LeBron James. Finally, they wrap with a discussion about the Clippers playoff collapse with The Clipset Podcast co-host Joseph Raya-Ward.
SLC Cooks
September 16, 2020 08:00 - 1 hourThe boys sit down and have a discussion about the opening night of the NFL, and really dig into the hardships of being an NFL fan with a set of ethics. Then SLC dives into his predictions and some premature takes for the upcoming season. It's a very sports heavy episode, but you try stopping Stephen when football is back...
The NBA and the Prison-Industrial Complex with David Dayen
September 09, 2020 07:01 - 1 hourToday the boys talk to David Dayen (@ddayen) about his article "The NBA's Quiet Problem with Prison Exploitation". A very dark problem the NBA is keeping especially quiet about. Before that they get into why you shouldn't sleep on the Bucs but feel free to sleep on the Bucks. David's article about Tom Gores and his ties with prison exploitation: https://prospect.org/justice/the-nbas-quiet-problem-with-prison-exploitation/ David's latest book can be found here: https://thenewpress.com/books/mo...
The Least Chill Sport In The World
September 02, 2020 07:01 - 1 hourToday the boys dive into the wild world of Calcio Storico, then get into some serious stuff as we have yet another police shooting. The NBA went on strike and there's been some NFL news. There's also a clip from a live stream we did with Mr. Crossover Media himself Alex Hollingsworth. Handshakes & Hugs from your boys at B.I.L. Full conversation with Alex Hollingswoth of Crosser Media here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZ44QG9mHso&t=293s
Puck The System with Sam Bosson
August 26, 2020 07:01 - 1 hourRIP Riley. This week the Booty Boys of Dook sit down with their good friend, hockey fanatic, and talented musician Sam Bosson. They discuss BLM in the NHL, toxic masculinity in hockey culture, and white supremacist pillars in the sport as a whole, including it's origins of being stolen from indigenous people. Be sure to check out Sam's band Kommand and their new album 'Terrorscape' (kommand-maggotstomp.bandcamp.com)! Be sure to tune in for their livestream on August 28th at www.twitch.tv/born...
2 JUICED UP
August 19, 2020 12:15 - 1 hourThis week the boys go off a little bit into a dark political path with the new Democratic VP pick Kamala Harris. Then they touch upon the NBA PLAYOFFSS BABBBBYYY. Finally, they wrap up with the return of SLC's favorite show Hard Knocks. Don't forget to rate, review, and share that sh*t!! Big Love.
Who Gave You Permission?
August 12, 2020 08:00 - 1 hourThis week the boys go down an existential rabbithole, get into the NBA Western Conference race for the 8-seed, banish the Kings and Wizards to Trash Island, and update on the NFL players opting out for the upcoming season.
The Second One
August 05, 2020 08:00 - 1 hourThis week Stephen and Brian explore the underlying themes of Last Chance U including resource deprivation, educational inequities, and unattainable dreams in capitalism. There's also NBA Bubble talk and some questions of contenders and pretenders, plus how professional leagues are handling the virus, and even some talk about China.
The Conundrum
July 29, 2020 14:34 - 1 hourIn the inaugural episode of Ball Is Left hosts Stephen Lee Clark and Brian Cullen discuss navigating sports and sports fandom as two individuals with very strong sets of convictions and ethics. They also breakdown scrimmage NBA basketball as well as some NBA Awards odds.