Chaos Inside the NFLPA

Hang Up and Listen

Slate Podcasts

News, Sports, Sports News

4.6 • 986 Ratings

🗓️ 28 July 2025

⏱️ 60 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Hosts Alex Kirshner, Ben Lindbergh, and Lindsay Gibbs speak with ESPN senior NFL reporter Kalyn Kahler on the secrets, scandals, and leadership implosion plaguing the NFL Players Association ahead of labor negotiations. They also discuss the historic induction of Ichiro Suzuki in the National Baseball Hall of Fame and the death of Hulk Hogan. On the bonus episode available exclusively for Slate Plus members, the panel reviews the new movie Happy Gilmore 2. NFLPA (2:59): Behind the scenes of the leadership meltdown. Ichiro(25:10): The first Japanese MLB position player joins the Hall of Fame. Hulk Hogan (45:28): The wrestling giant’s life, death, and embarrassing embrace of bigotry. (Note: time codes are only accurate for Slate Plus members, who listen ad-free.) Get more Hang Up and Listen with Slate Plus! Join for weekly bonus episodes of Hang Up and Listen and ad-free listening on all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe from the Hang Up and Listen show page on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or visit slate.com/hangupplus for access wherever you listen. You can email us at [email protected]. Podcast production and editing by Kevin Bendis, with production assistance from Patrick Fort. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	I've ruled out uni because I want to live at home.
0:02.0	I've ruled out uni because I want to earn money.
0:05.0	I've ruled out uni because of my grades.
0:10.0	Study with the Open University and there's no need to rule out anything.
0:13.0	With our respected degrees, you can learn from home and work alongside study.
0:17.0	We're open to all. Plus, you'll have the support of expert tutors. So rethink your
0:23.6	future with the degree you didn't think was possible. The Open University. The future is open.
0:35.6	It is Monday, July 28th, 2025.
0:39.2	Welcome back to Hang Up and Listen, the sports podcast here at Slate.
0:42.3	Back with you again this week, I'm Alex Kershner.
0:45.1	I'm a contributing writer for Slate, and I also co-host split-zone duo, a national college football show.
0:51.1	Stack show for you this week to close out the month of July.
0:53.8	We're going to talk
0:54.3	with a newsbreaking reporter who has been all over the scandalous happenings at the NFL Players
0:58.9	Association in recent days, Kalyn Kaler from ESPN. We'll join the show. We'll talk about
1:03.8	Ichiro's induction to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and how it fits into the beautiful, if
1:08.4	sometimes cursed lineage of star players on the Seattle Mariners.
1:12.1	And we will remember Hulk Hogan, who left us last week at 71.
1:16.4	As usual, joining me this week is Lindsay Gibbs, the publisher of PowerPlays, a newsletter that
1:20.8	covers the key stories of the moment in women's sports.
1:24.2	Lindsay, how are you?
1:25.4	I'm doing great.
	...

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