Emily Austin Blends Sports and Politics in Podcast
Emily Austin has effectively woven sports and political commentary into her career. At just 24 years old, she’s interviewed notable figures like former President Donald Trump and NBA player Jalen Brunson, and she shares this expertise through her podcast, The Emily Austin Show.
The podcast wrapped up on Tuesday, featuring Andrew Cuomo, a former New York governor and current mayoral candidate, as the inaugural guest. Future episodes are set to include athletes like Mitchell Robinson, Ryan Garcia, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Austin mentioned, “It wasn’t my intention to be political, but sometimes the situation calls for it,” during a recent discussion. This realization came during her time at Hofstra University, where she faced campus restrictions due to her vaccination status. At that point, she felt a disconnect with the administration under President Biden. However, she was already gaining traction with her NBA podcast, “The Hoop Chat.”
Feeling frustrated, she recognized the importance of her platform and figured, “What’s the point of having a platform if I’m not going to advocate for what I believe in?” This led her to transition from sports enthusiast to political commentator, merging her passions as needed.
Austin expressed, “What’s great about the podcast is the questions people ask me, like, ‘How do you stay engaged in politics and still enjoy sports?’ It dawned on me that many of the athletes share their own political views.” She observed that while some agree with her perspectives, others do not, yet they foster a relationship that allows for open dialogue.
“You’d be surprised how many NBA players I’ve talked to who align with MAGA views, but they don’t feel safe sharing that publicly. I want to encourage them just like they’re okay with teammates being Democrats. It’s important to create a safe environment for expressing differing opinions,” she noted.
However, Austin clarified that her ultimate aim isn’t to extract political views from athletes. Instead, she seeks a comfortable space for discussing issues with both athletes and politicians, regardless of their political stances.
She stated, “If a conversation leans more toward sports, that’s fine. But if a guest comes out with a strong political stance, like supporting Trump, and it resonates widely, that’s fair game too.” Austin emphasized the necessity of a dialogue space that is open and boundary-less, affirming that “everything that needs to be said will be addressed on The Emily Austin Show.”
