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Sportly

Sportly

By: Immigrantly Media
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Sportly by Immigrantly Media takes you beyond the scoreboard to uncover the captivating stories, hidden histories, and rich cultural legacies that make sports truly unforgettable. Hosted by Emmy-winning investigative journalist Kavitha A. Davidson, Sportly brings listeners a fresh perspective on sports each week—did you know that the oldest international cricket rivalry is between the United States and Canada? Or that the NBA’s first minority player was of Asian descent? With deep dives into iconic moments, lesser-known rivalries, and the fascinating evolution of traditions like the national anthem in American sports, Sportly is here to expand your love of the game. Each episode explores stories that transcend stats, celebrating the diversity of players, the cultures they represent, and the unique events that shape our favorite sports. Tune in every Monday for thought-provoking insights, heartwarming anecdotes, and thrilling highlights that make you see the games you love in a whole new way. Sportly is the podcast companion for your commute, workout, or downtime—bringing sports to life wherever you listen. Host: Kavitha A. Davidson Producer: Saadia Khan & Shei Yu Content Writers: Michaela Strauther & Kavitha A. Davidson, Jonathan Hazel & Kavitha A Davidson Sound Design & Content Editor: Paroma Chakravarty Theme Music: Simon Hutchinson Other Music: Epidemic Sound Cover Art Design: Sarah DiMichele Follow us on IG @immigrantlypods Twitter @Immigrantly_pod TikTok @Immigrantly Subscribe to our Patreon Sportly is an Immigrantly Media Production For advertising inquiries, please email at info@immigrantlypod.com Social Sciences World
Episodes
  • How Japan Flipped the Script on America’s National Pastime: The Global Rise of Baseball
    Jun 16 2025
    Don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter Hyphenly; it's our no-fluff love letter with hot takes, heartfelt stories, and all the feels of living in between cultures. Come for the nuance, stay for the vibes! Link below ⁠⁠⁠https://immigrantlys-newsletter.beehiiv.com/subscribe⁠ This episode is brought to you by Zocdoc. Stop putting off those doctor appointments and Visit Zocdoc.com/Sportly to find and instantly book a top-rated doctor today. In this episode of Sportly, we dive into the unlikely journey of baseball from a symbol of American soft power to a global phenomenon dominated by Japan. Host Kavitha Davidson traces the game’s roots in Meiji-era Japan, unpacks how post-WWII baseball diplomacy shaped U.S.–Japan relations, and revisits iconic moments—from Babe Ruth’s tour to Shohei Ohtani’s World Baseball Classic showdown with Mike Trout. With history, culture, and politics all in play, we ask: does baseball still belong to America, or has Japan truly made it its own? It is a must-listen for fans of sports history, geopolitics, and epic underdog wins. Host: Kavitha A. Davison | Producer: Saadia Khan I Content Writers: Nicholas Black & Kavitha Davidson I Fact Checking and Research: Shahmeer Nawaz I Sound Designer & Editor: Paroma Chakravarty I Immigrantly Theme Music: Simon Hutchinson | Other Music: Epidemic Sound | Cover Art Graphic Designer: Sarah DiMichele Join us as we create new intellectual engagement for our audience. You can get more information at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://immigrantlypod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Please share the love and leave us a review on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to help more people find us! Remember to subscribe to our Apple podcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠channel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for insightful podcasts. You can reach the host, Kavitha, at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠kavitha@immigrantlypod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow us on TikTok @immigrantly IG @immigrantlypods Sportly is an Immigrantly Media Production For advertising inquiries, you can contact us at info@immigrantlypod.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    20 mins
  • Hot dog! Hot dog! Hot dog! (Oct 2024)
    Jun 9 2025
    Don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter Hyphenly; it's our no-fluff love letter with hot takes, heartfelt stories, and all the feels of living in between cultures. Come for the nuance, stay for the vibes! Link below ⁠⁠⁠https://immigrantlys-newsletter.beehiiv.com/subscribe⁠ This episode is brought to you by Zocdoc. Stop putting off those doctor appointments and Visit Zocdoc.com/Sportly to find and instantly book a top-rated doctor today. We are back with one of our fan-favorite episodes in honor of baseball season! This week, Sportly takes you on a delicious deep dive into the surprising history of America's most iconic ballpark snack —the hot dog. From its German immigrant roots to its rise as the ultimate stadium food, discover how this simple street food became synonymous with Major League Baseball. This episode explores its evolution through economic hardship, celebrity endorsements (yes, Babe Ruth!), wild stadium variations like the Texas Rangers' BoomStick and Arizona’s churro dog, and the cultural power of tailgating. Whether you are a foodie, a baseball fanatic, or just curious about how food shapes fandom, this episode is your ultimate guide to the legendary ballpark hot dog. Come back next week for a brand new Sportly episode about the rise of baseball in Japan! Hosts: Kavitha A. Davison | Producers: Saadia Khan & Shei Yu I Content Writers: Jonathan Hazel, Shei Yu & Kavitha A. Davidson I Sound Designer & Editor: Paroma Chakravarty I Immigrantly Theme Music: Simon Hutchinson | Other Music: Epidemic Sound | Cover Art Graphic Designer: Sarah DiMichele Join us as we create new intellectual engagement for our audience. You can get more information at ⁠http://immigrantlypod.com⁠. Please share the love and leave us a review on ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠ & ⁠Spotify⁠ to help more people find us! Remember to subscribe to our Apple podcast⁠ channel ⁠for insightful podcasts. Follow us on social media for updates and behind-the-scenes content. Follow us on X @immigrantly_pod. IG @immigrantlypods Sportly is an Immigrantly Media Production For advertising inquiries, you can contact us at info@immigrantlypod.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    24 mins
  • Fitbits, Vests & Surveillance: The Double-Edged Future of Athletic Tech
    Jun 2 2025
    Don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter Hyphenly; it's our no-fluff love letter with hot takes, heartfelt stories, and all the feels of living in between cultures. Come for the nuance, stay for the vibes! Link below ⁠⁠⁠https://immigrantlys-newsletter.beehiiv.com/subscribe⁠ This episode is brought to you by Zocdoc. Stop putting off those doctor appointments and Visit Zocdoc.com/Sportly to find and instantly book a top-rated doctor today. From Fitbits to Apple Watches to GPS-powered vests, wearable tech has revolutionized how athletes train, recover, and compete. But with data comes power and risk. In this episode, host Kavitha Davidson dives deep into how devices like Catapult's wearable vests are reshaping pro and amateur sports, from Duke basketball to high school football in Georgia. The episode explores the promise of injury prevention, the pressure of player monitoring, and the growing ethical debate over data, privacy, and fairness. Is this the future of peak performance or surveillance disguised as progress? Host: Kavitha A. Davison | Producer: Saadia Khan I Content Writers: Nicholas Black & Kavitha Davidson I Fact Checking and Research: Shahmeer Nawaz I Sound Designer & Editor: Paroma Chakravarty I Immigrantly Theme Music: Simon Hutchinson | Other Music: Epidemic Sound | Cover Art Graphic Designer: Sarah DiMichele Join us as we create new intellectual engagement for our audience. You can get more information at ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://immigrantlypod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠. Please share the love and leave us a review on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠ to help more people find us! Remember to subscribe to our Apple podcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠channel ⁠⁠⁠⁠for insightful podcasts. You can reach the host, Kavitha, at ⁠⁠⁠⁠kavitha@immigrantlypod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow us on TikTok @immigrantly IG @immigrantlypods Sportly is an Immigrantly Media Production For advertising inquiries, you can contact us at info@immigrantlypod.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
    Show more Show less
    24 mins
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