To unravel how a top college recruit’s NBA dreams ran into a sprawling federal investigation, reporter Paula Lavigne explores his early years. Billy Preston and his mom struggle to get by in L.A. An active kid, Billy finds basketball through his mom’s partner, a high school coach and former professional player. Billy’s star rises in youth leagues. He generates buzz as an NBA prospect. Top colleges vie for his talents, and his family pulls out all the stops to support his goals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Billy’s mom Nichole lets her son focus on improving his game. Meanwhile she fields all the onlookers who want Billy on their team. To play for a top college, Billy couldn’t accept any money or he’d ruin his eligibility. Yet offers to circumvent that abound: aka, the bag game. In the college recruitment dance, Billy gets his top pick and Nicole makes a connection that promises to secure the family’s finances. But Billy’s dream is short-lived. And Nicole’s dealings later get federal investigators’ attention. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The NCAA’s amateurism rules kept schools from paying players like Billy, so money wouldn't sway their college decision. But Paula learns how the youth teams delivering top recruits could serve as a go-between, where influence could be peddled. We hear one youth coach in Florida court much-needed funding from big-time shoe companies, only to land in hot water for what he promises in return. He didn’t know he was being recorded. The bag game unravels, as the feds’ secret investigation comes to light. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Federal prosecutors tell the college sports world, “We have your playbook." As court cases begin, details come out on secret payments. Who made them and for whose benefit? Who was the victim of all this and what, exactly, was the crime? Why were no head coaches called to testify? Prosecutors break their silence and reveal their legal strategy. After playing overseas, Billy returns for the NBA draft. His name and the Kansas program have been swept into the case. Sentences come down for defendants. Billy and Nichole don’t face charges, but feel the impact of the fallout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

ESPN and 30 for 30 Podcasts present "The Bag Game." Investigative reporter Paula Lavigne shines light on the biggest pay-to-play scandal in college basketball, through the story of Billy Preston. He was a five-star recruit set to start for Kansas, when his path crossed a sprawling federal investigation. The complex case ensnared major athletic programs, coaches, apparel executives and agents. But did it clean up corruption in college sports? And what did it mean for players like Billy? Available now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Growing up Iranian American, Shima Oliaee found her mother didn’t talk much about where she came from. Watching soccer, though, was a portal to Iran, a place that was in large part a mystery. Shima delves into the stories she didn’t hear growing up: Iran's mandated modernization and how soccer played a role, the women-led 1979 revolution, and her parents’ mistaken-identity love story. Shima and her mom meet Zeinab Sahafy, a young Iranian woman and avid soccer fan whose love of the game led to her being named an enemy of the state. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode starts with two questions: If women equally led the 1979 revolution, why were their rights stripped away first? How does this happen to an emboldened part of the population? At first, the women fight back, chanting “Azadi! Azadi!” [translation: “Freedom! Freedom!”] in the streets until the clerics back down. But in a story told by legendary writer and activist Mehrangiz Kar, women’s rights erode one by one – leading us to the nationwide ban on women at stadiums. This is when Iran's national soccer stadium becomes a battleground. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One game sets off a movement. In 1997 Iran surprisingly makes the World Cup in the last three minutes of play against Australia. When Iran's national team gets helicoptered into Azadi Stadium to celebrate, women are asked to stay home. They don't listen, and thousands rush the stadium. This is the origin story of the White Scarves, a group that uses international soccer matches to defy the regime and take back their country. As the White Scarves gain international fame, they face grave danger at home. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

(Warning: this episode includes description of a suicide). The newest generation of Iranian girl soccer fans take a bold new approach. They cross-dress as men to sneak into Azadi Stadium, documenting their rebellion live on social media - an irreverent middle finger to the government. One of those girls is Zeinab Sahafy, from Episode 1. One night four of her friends are arrested and she flees for her life. Another girl, still in the country, loses her life. In a moment described as “a miracle,” Iran’s regime relents on its ban and thousands of women enter the stadium. We end Pink Card wondering how this hard-won slice of freedom connects to the 2022 historic protests and a possible new revolution, more than 40 years after Shima’s teenage mother left home. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Iran, women are banned from soccer stadiums. But some dare to defy that. From 30 for 30 Podcasts, Pink Card tells a story of Iranian women fighting for their rights across three generations. They use ingenious tactics and risk their lives to take back their stadiums and their joy in the game. Created by Shima Oliaee (Dolly Parton’s America, Radiolab), Pink Card will forever change how you see fandom and freedom. Available December 8th. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Baseball holds its records sacred. Most home runs, strikeouts, career wins. But what about the longest game ever? That honor goes to a 1981 AAA game, when the Pawtucket Red Sox and Rochester Red Wings slugged it out from dusk to dawn. The record-breaking 33 innings brought hope, despair and drama on and off the field. Radio Diaries and 30 for 30 Podcasts take listeners to that frigid, surreal night with the voices who lived it – including Hall of Famers Wade Boggs and Cal Ripken Jr. Most heroes of The Longest Game never made it big, but their unflagging endurance made history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Streetball. It's a style of basketball defined by trash talk, windmill dunks, no-look passes, and broken ankles. You can find streetball at city parks and rec centers, driveways and playgrounds, pro-am leagues and even -- in spirit -- NBA arenas. Through it all, you might even call it hoops in its purest form. Drawing inspiration from hip hop mixtapes, this podcast explores how streetball – and the way it’s played around the United States – has shaped not just the game of basketball, but the country's culture. In true mixtape form, the podcast is a compilation of stories, styles, and sounds, all illuminating the essence of the game. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nipsey’s life story lives on in his music, but only a handful of people witnessed Hussle in creation mode. Meet the brothers behind the beats and hear some of the secrets of the “slaps.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nipsey traveled across the world, but all of his love and loyalty funneled back to the community that raised him. With the corner of Crenshaw Boulevard and Slauson Avenue as his headquarters, this episode looks at Nipsey’s devout local commitment — and how that played out in the worlds of business, philanthropy and social justice as many young Black men in the NBA began to actively engage in those areas as well. In death, Nipsey left a blueprint for this friends to follow, and through them, Nipsey’s prophetic mantra, ‘The Marathon Continues’ will do just that. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There are a ton of descriptions that could properly summarize Nipsey Hussle’s music career. But “overnight” isn’t one of them. A decade-plus-long journey through time that weaves in the highs, lows, joys and pains of Nipsey’s voyage to his debut album ‘Victory Lap.’ And how that marathon ran parallel with the NBA players who were in awe of his every move. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nipsey Hussle is a Los Angeles icon, but what’s the story behind that? Before the fame, he was Ermias Asghedom, a young kid coming of age in the South Crenshaw district. Life in South LA was beautiful, but it wasn’t for the weak of heart either. This episode is a look into the world that raised, bruised, and ultimately made Nipsey Hussle the man he became. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Nipsey Hussle was murdered on March 31, 2019 in front of his South LA clothing store, the tragedy elicited immediate tributes across industries, walks of life, and international borders. One world in particular where the news resonated on a personal level — the NBA, where Hussle had long, deep and authentic ties. For the host Justin Tinsley and many young Black men in the league, like DeMar DeRozan, Isaiah Thomas, and Demarcus Cousins, Nipsey was far more than a rapper who wrote the score to their lives. Hip hop has always been woven with basketball in one way or another, but why was this particular connection so deep? What was it about Nipsey Hussle that made him so much more than a friend, but rather an inspiration and beacon of light they carry with them for the rest of their lives? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The King of Crenshaw is a four-part podcast series that will focus on how the late Nipsey Hussle’s life, death, and legacy deeply impacted the sports world. This series aims to examine how that overlap of Black male creativity, talent, and ambition will forever live on in Nipsey’s responsibility to his neighborhood. And how NBA players are vowing to continue his marathon moving forward. From 30 for 30 Podcasts and The Undefeated. Hosted by Justin Tinsley, Senior Reporter for The Undefeated. Original music for the series by 1500 or Nothin'. All four episodes available August 23, 2021. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Americans woke up on March 11 2020 in one reality and, by the time they went to sleep that night, they were living with a new one. Hear the story of the day everything changed — the day the NBA shut down and the pandemic became real — as told by those who lived it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There has perhaps been no greater event in recent history that has so clearly underlined how integral sports are to our culture than the coronavirus pandemic has. March 11 2020 will tell the story of a seismic day that started in one reality and ended with a new one — the day the NBA shut down and the pandemic became real — as told by those who lived it. Full episode available December 21, 2020. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Martha has turned the U.S. women’s gymnastics program into a world powerhouse. But as Martha is taking her final victory lap at the 2016 Olympics in Rio, the gymnastics community is rocked by a scandal that will shock the world. The Karolyis’ legacy is called into question as the gymnasts grapple with the cost of what it took to earn all that gold. If you or someone you know has been subjected to sexual assault or abuse, and you would like more information or support, these hotlines can help: RAINN's 24/7 confidential national sexual assault hotline: 1-800-656-4673, or ChildHelp: 1-800-4-A-Child. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For years, Martha Karolyi avoided the spotlight — appearing only as the mysterious and subservient partner of her boisterous husband. But when she is tapped to take over the national team, Martha finally comes into full view. Martha aims to prove that she can turn the United States into a dominant force in gymnastics, building teams that win gold medal after gold medal. But under Martha’s regime, injured athletes are often discarded and a culture of silence prevails. If you or someone you know has been subjected to sexual assault or abuse, and you would like more information or support, these hotlines can help: RAINN's 24/7 confidential national sexual assault hotline: 1-800-656-4673, or ChildHelp: 1-800-4-A-Child. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After the glory of winning gold in Atlanta, the U.S. National Team slips on the world stage, finishing last in the finals at the 1999 World Championships. With the next Olympics less than a year away, USA Gymnastics turns to the one person they think can save the team: Bela Karolyi. Bela finally has what he’s always wanted, control over a semi-centralized training system in the United States. But on such a tight schedule, will the, “You can do it!” motivator-in-chief be able to lead a team to victory? If you or someone you know has been subjected to sexual assault or abuse, and you would like more information or support, these hotlines can help: RAINN's 24/7 confidential national sexual assault hotline: 1-800-656-4673, or ChildHelp: 1-800-4-A-Child. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pulled back onto the world gymnastics stage by the precocious talent of their newest protege, Dominique Moceanu, Bela and Martha are all in on winning gold at the Atlanta Games. But when Dominique falls on vault, everything rides on the shoulders of Bela’s long-overshadowed veteran, Kerri Strug, to bring home the gold. If you or someone you know has been subjected to sexual assault or abuse, and you would like more information or support, these hotlines can help: RAINN's 24/7 confidential national sexual assault hotline: 1-800-656-4673, or ChildHelp: 1-800-4-A-Child. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Growing his image as the most well-known coach in gymnastics, Bela builds his brand and aims for more gold medals with a new star athlete. But after his champion fails at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, Bela announces he’s stepping away from elite-level gymnastics and retreats to his Ranch in Texas. But even after stepping out of the spotlight, Bela remains in focus, as accusations of abuse grow against the coach. If you or someone you know has been subjected to sexual assault or abuse, and you would like more information or support, these hotlines can help: RAINN's 24/7 confidential national sexual assault hotline: 1-800-656-4673, or ChildHelp: 1-800-4-A-Child. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After defecting from Romania, the Karolyis begin to build their gymnastics empire in the U.S. But they need a champion. Enter Mary Lou Retton, the bubbly teenager whose perfect 10 at the 1984 Olympics will make her and her coach household names. Little girls across America want to be Mary Lou, and train with her famous coach. Bela has given the United States its first gold medal in women’s gymnastics. Now he needs to harness that success to advance his own cause. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the middle of the Cold War, Romanian gymnastics coaches Bela and Martha Karolyi turn Nadia Comaneci, a 14-year-old gymnast from a Communist country, into a global symbol of excellence at the 1976 Olympics when she scores the first perfect 10. But Romania becomes too small and too controlled for Bela’s ambitions, and the Karolyis set their sights on the freedom of the United States. If you or someone you know has been subjected to sexual assault or abuse, and you would like more information or support, these hotlines can help: RAINN's 24/7 confidential national sexual assault hotline: 1-800-656-4673, or ChildHelp: 1-800-4-A-Child. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For 40 years, as athletes came and went, there was one constant presence in Olympic gymnastics: Bela and Martha Karolyi — the most successful coaches in the sport's history, and the most controversial. The Karolyis wielded unprecedented power and became more recognizable characters than many of their gymnasts. Generations of gymnasts trained at their isolated ranch outside of Houston, where the Karolyis were champion-making teachers to some and tormentors to others. In front of the cameras, Bela was the bear-hugging motivator who pushed his athletes to the limit and Martha was the silent partner who demanded perfection. From the 1970s through the 1990s, the Karolyis coached some of the greatest names in the sport, from Nadia Comaneci to Mary Lou Retton and Kerri Strug. The couple then took over the U.S. national team program that featured Olympic champions like Carly Patterson and Simone Biles. Few dared challenge the Karolyis’ coaching methods, and those who did were ignored or ostracized. But in 2016, their accomplishments came under fire as the extent of Larry Nassar’s predatory sexual abuse was exposed. "Heavy Medals: Inside the Karolyi Gymnastics Empire" is a 7-part series from 30 for 30 Podcasts, in collaboration with espnW. All seven episodes available July 14th. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

According to local legend, the Louisiana Superdome was always a haunted place. First plagued by construction problems, then years of bad luck for the host Saints team -- by 2005 those Saints were prepared to abandon the stadium in favor of a dreaded move to San Antonio. Then Hurricane Katrina hit, and somehow the dome became a symbol for a city's rebirth. This is the story of New Orleans, through the story of its dome. Produced and reported by Eve Abrams. Narrated by Tarriona "Tank" Ball of Tank and the Bangas. Hosted by Jody Avirgan. Transcript and more at 30for30podcasts.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

During qualifying for the 1990 World Cup, Chile's national team felt that it needed to be "more bandits than the bandits." Driven by an intense desire to eliminate rival Brazil, goalkeeper Roberto Rojas pushed his team past the brink. Hosted by Jody Avirgan. Transcript and more about the Radio Ambulante version of this piece at 30for30podcasts.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

World-class biathlete Kari Swenson was on an afternoon trail run in the mountains near Big Sky, Montana in July 1984 when two men blocked her path. Reported by ESPN's Bonnie Ford. Hosted by Jody Avirgan. | For more on the 1984 women's biathlon team, visit 30for30podcasts.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For legends Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird, life in the WNBA paled in comparison to the lavish treatment they received in Russian professional basketball, courtesy of their team owner and benefactor, Shabtai Kalmanovich. Kalmanovich spoiled his stars, showering them with expensive gifts, luxury hotels, and private concerts -- but he was a man with a shadowy past. Eventually, the two stars would have to reckon with what they'd gotten themselves into. Reported by Keith Romer. Hosted by Jody Avirgan. More at 30for30podcasts.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The new season of 30 for 30 Podcasts launches November 12th, with four new stories spanning four sports and three continents. The new episodes will tell a range of fascinating stories about kidnappings, scandal, natural disasters, hope, and recovery, and span the globe from Moscow to Montana, Chile to New Orleans. More at 30for30podcasts.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Donald Sterling story comes to an end where it all started -- with a showdown in court. This time, though, it was Donald vs. Shelly. The Sterling Affairs is hosted by Ramona Shelburne. Produced by 30 for 30 Podcasts and The Undefeated in collaboration with Western Sound. More at 30for30podcasts.com/sterling Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When the explosive tape of Donald Sterling broke, it came at a moment when power in the NBA was changing. Players, owners, and a new commissioner were faced with a major test that would re-shape the league. The Sterling Affairs is hosted by Ramona Shelburne. Produced by 30 for 30 Podcasts and The Undefeated in collaboration with Western Sound. More at 30for30podcasts.com/sterling Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Donald and Shelly Sterling escaped poverty, reinvented themselves, and became the biggest residential landlords in LA. But in housing and basketball, they never had to face the consequences of their actions. The Sterling Affairs is hosted by Ramona Shelburne. Produced by 30 for 30 Podcasts and The Undefeated in collaboration with Western Sound. More at 30for30podcasts.com/sterling Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Throughout the 80s and 90s, the Clippers were horrible and Donald Sterling was known as the worst owner in sports. But Donald Sterling wasn't the joke we all thought he was. The Sterling Affairs is hosted by Ramona Shelburne. Produced by 30 for 30 Podcasts and The Undefeated in collaboration with Western Sound. More at 30for30podcasts.com/sterling Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A domestic battle boils over and sends the NBA into crisis when secretly recorded tapes of Donald Sterling and his mistress V. Stiviano leak on TMZ. The Sterling Affairs is hosted by Ramona Shelburne. Produced by 30 for 30 Podcasts and The Undefeated in collaboration with Western Sound. More at 30for30podcasts.com/sterling Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A story of power and scandal in Los Angeles. When an audio recording of a racist rant by Clippers owner Donald Sterling was leaked online, it caused an uproar that changed the NBA forever. But Sterling had been a problem for decades -- in basketball, real estate, and more. Why did it take 30 years to finally hold him accountable? "The Sterling Affairs" is a five-part series from 30 for 30 Podcasts and The Undefeated, produced in collaboration with Western Sound. Reported and hosted by ESPN's Ramona Shelburne. All five episodes available August 20th. More at 30for30podcasts.com/sterling Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 1999 Women's World Cup transformed Mia Hamm, Julie Foudy, and the National Team into celebrities overnight. They used their newfound fame to launch the world's first women's professional soccer league: WUSA, the Women's United Soccer Association. But mismanagement and tension with the U.S. Soccer Federation put the league's future in jeopardy. This is the story about how the stars of the '99 World Cup Team built a league from scratch and fought to keep it alive. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At age 46, Rickey Henderson refused to walk away from the game of baseball. This is the story of a baseball legend doing everything he can to keep playing the game he loves, whether or not it will ever love him back. Produced by Pineapple Street Media. Narrated by The Undefeated's Clinton Yates. 30 for 30 Podcasts is hosted by Jody Avirgan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 1995, star pitcher Hideo Nomo attempted to do what no Japanese player had done since 1965 - join Major League Baseball. Nomo and his agent hatched a plan to overcome the legal and cultural barriers that stood in his way, risking Nomo's career and reputation in Japan. The Loophole reveals how they pulled it off, launched "Nomo-mania," and transformed both American and Japanese baseball forever. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Before the 1970s, women were not welcome at the world's great marathons, but a few brave pioneers sought to challenge that system. Six Who Sat tells the story of two iconic moments in women's running, both captured in photographs. The first, from 1968, is of a race director trying to physically restrain a woman from running the Boston Marathon. The second, from 1972, is of a protest at the New York City Marathon that forever changed women's ability to participate in the sport they loved. This episode was produced by Transmitter Media, and narrated by Hillary Frank. 30for30 Podcasts is hosted by Jody Avirgan. 30for30podcasts.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 2003 World Series of Poker should not have been a success. Its host casino teetered on the edge of bankruptcy, internet qualifiers knocked out the most marketable stars, and the production company tasked with showing the event on TV knew nothing about the game. "All In" explores how the 2003 tournament overcame the odds to spark a poker boom and forever change poker's place in America. This episode was reported by Keith Romer. 30 for 30 Podcasts is hosted by Jody Avirgan. 30for30podcasts.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At the end of his career, Jose Canseco, the self-proclaimed "godfather of the steroid era," was effectively forced out of baseball. As revenge, Canseco conceived a tell-all memoir in which he would call out his fellow players for steroid use. Within a month of its publication, Juiced sparked a congressional hearing. Reported by Andrew Mambo. More at 30for30podcasts.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Members of the Bikram community wrestle with Bikram's behavior, their own complicity, and the question, "Can Bikram the yoga be separated from Bikram the man?" Reported by Julia Lowrie Henderson. Hosted by Jody Avirgan. More information at 30for30podcasts.com/bikram If you or someone you know has been subjected to sexual assault or abuse, and you would like more information or support, RAINN's 24/7, confidential, National Sexual Assault Hotline can help at 1-800-656-4673. Internationally, Pathways to Safety International provides assistance, at 833-SAFE-833. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As Bikram's darkest behaviors begin to emerge, the community devoted to his yoga is forced to face the truth about its leader. Reported by Julia Lowrie Henderson.. More information at 30for30podcasts.com/bikram If you or someone you know has been subjected to sexual assault or abuse, and you would like more information or support, RAINN's 24/7, confidential, National Sexual Assault Hotline can help at 1-800-656-4673. Internationally, Pathways to Safety International provides assistance, at 833-SAFE-833. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bikram claims ownership over his brand of yoga using increasingly hardball tactics. Julia investigates the roots of yoga to try to separate what is true from what is false in Bikram's story. Reported by Julia Lowrie Henderson. Hosted by Jody Avirgan. More information at 30for30podcasts.com/bikram If you or someone you know has been subjected to sexual assault or abuse, and you would like more information or support, RAINN's 24/7, confidential, National Sexual Assault Hotline can help at 1-800-656-4673. Internationally, Pathways to Safety International provides assistance, at 833-SAFE-833. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bikram spreads his brand of hot yoga through teacher trainings, where he puts his most devoted followers through nine weeks of intense suffering and begins to reveal the complexities of his character. Reported by Julia Lowrie Henderson. More information at 30for30podcasts.com/bikram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bikram Choudhury begins his journey to fame, wealth, and scandal in 1970s Los Angeles. He takes Beverly Hills by storm, using his Hollywood connections and rags-to-riches origin story to build a devoted following and lay the foundation for a yoga empire. Reported by Julia Lowrie Henderson. Hosted by Jody Avirgan. More information at 30for30podcasts.com/bikram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To different generations, John Madden has been a different kind of icon: coach, broadcaster and, since the late 1980s, video game mogul. This is the story of how Madden linked up with an upstart company called Electronic Arts to build an electronic empire -- and pushed the limits of gaming in the process. Produced by NFL Films. Narrated by Wil Wheaton. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When the Tribune Company bought the Chicago Cubs in 1981, its executives saw nighttime baseball as a way to turn around the club's fortunes. The only problem? Scores of Wrigleyville residents were ready to fight against it. Produced by Dan Collison and Elizabeth Meister of Long Haul Productions. Narrated by former Cubs PA announcer Wayne Messmer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Who is the ultimate fighter? A wrestler? A boxer? A martial arts master? The first ever Ultimate Fighting Championship set out to answer that question. The results were violent, chaotic, and led to the birth of a multi-billion-dollar sport. Reported by Chris Berube. Produced by Pineapple Street Media and 30 for 30's Andrew Mambo. 30for30podcasts.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The story of a protest photo taken in 2012 by LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and the Miami Heat. Reported and hosted by Jody Avirgan. More at 30for30podcasts.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How does a professional boxer, convicted of armed robbery in 1975, end up rising in the ranks of the sport -- from inside a state penitentiary? The Fighter Inside is the unlikely story of an inmate who wanted to continue his boxing career while behind bars, and the visionary prison warden who made his dream a reality. Reported by Andrew Mambo. Hosted by Jody Avirgan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 2012, poker star Phil Ivey pulled off an elaborate baccarat scheme that won him over $20 million and landed him in court. But Ivey had another card up his sleeve - secretive mastermind "Kelly" Cheung Yin Sun, a woman who crafted the entire scheme to get revenge. Reported by Rose Eveleth. Hosted by Jody Avirgan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Twenty years ago, hundreds of women answered a classified ad seeking adventurers for an all-women trek to the North Pole - no expedition experience necessary. On the ice, 20 of those women came face to face with just how deadly the Arctic can be, while also discovering something in themselves that changed their lives forever. Reported by Rose Eveleth. Hosted by Jody Avirgan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How a chant and a shirt came to dominate one of baseball's biggest rivalries, thanks to a group of hardcore punks from Boston. Reported by Julia Lowrie Henderson. Hosted by Jody Avirgan. This piece was inspired by the Grantland article "Yankees Suck! Yankees Suck!" written by Amos Barshad. More at 30for30podcasts.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 1992 Summer Olympics produced a great many heroes, but that spring TV viewers were led to believe they were all about Dan O'Brien and Dave Johnson -- decathletes competing not only for the USA but for Reebok, as well. 25 years later, we revisit the hype, how the campaign went bust -- and Dan O'Brien's path to redemption. Hosted by Jody Avirgan. Produced by Andrew Mambo. 30for30podcasts.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices