Episodes

  • How Japan Flipped the Script on America’s National Pastime: The Global Rise of Baseball

    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)

    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

    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
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    24 mins
  • Bend It Like Miriam: Platform Sneakers, Javelin Tattoos & Breaking Sports Norms

    Bend It Like Miriam: Platform Sneakers, Javelin Tattoos & Breaking Sports Norms
    May 19 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 vibrant episode of Sportly, host Kavitha Davidson chats with Miriam Walker Khan, sprinter-turned-journalist, host of Real Talk (Sky Sports), and founder of Brown Girl Sport, a platform dedicated to celebrating South Asian women and girls in sports. They talk about everything from winning sprint races in glittery platform sneakers to reporting on England’s controversial transgender football ban. Miriam opens up about how Bend It Like Beckham changed her life, why she got a javelin tattoo after reporting on the Olympics, and what it means to challenge lazy stereotypes like “South Asians don’t play football.” Whether she’s hosting panels at Chelsea FC or covering hard-hitting issues like race, inclusion, and gender in sport, Miriam is reshaping what representation looks like, one story at a time. Host: Kavitha A. Davison | Producer: Saadia Khan 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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    35 mins
  • How Field Hockey Helped Shape Women’s Sports in America

    How Field Hockey Helped Shape Women’s Sports in America
    May 12 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 http://Zocdoc.com/Sportly to find and instantly book a top-rated doctor today. Why is field hockey considered a women’s sport in the U.S.? What does that say about gender, race, and access to athletics? In this episode of Sportly, the host, Kavitha Davidson, explores the surprising history of field hockey, from its Victorian-era scandal to its role in Title IX and the first NCAA women’s championship. The episode reveals how one British woman, Constance Applebee, revolutionized women’s sports and how class and racial divides complicate field hockey’s legacy. Host: Kavitha A. Davison | Producer: Saadia Khan I Content Writers: Emmanuelle Monahan & Kavitha Davidson I Fact Checking and Research: Suhasini Patni 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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    21 mins
  • The 2025 Kentucky Derby Was a Hit But Is Horse Racing Dying?

    The 2025 Kentucky Derby Was a Hit But Is Horse Racing Dying?
    May 5 2025
    Subscribe to Hyphenly, our latest newsletter that explores the real, everyday experiences of immigrant identity. You will find honest opinions, real stories, and perspectives that don’t follow a script. : https://immigrantlys-newsletter.beehiiv.com/subscribe This episode is brought to you by Zocdoc. Stop putting off those doctor appointments and visit http://Zocdoc.com/Sportly⁠⁠ The 151st Kentucky Derby brought the usual spectacle — record crowds, outrageous hats, and a dramatic finish. But beyond the mint juleps and million-dollar bets lies a sport in crisis. In this episode, Kavitha Davidson unpacks the sharp contrast between Churchill Downs' pageantry and the steady decline of horse racing across America. From track closures to growing concerns over animal welfare, we ask: can the Derby’s magic survive when the rest of the industry is falling apart? Host: Kavitha A. Davison | Producer: Saadia Khan I Content Writers: Nicholas Black & Kavitha Davidson I Fact Checking and Research: Suhasini Patni 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. 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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    19 mins
  • Where Sole Meets Soul At The Marathon Des Sables (August 2024)

    Where Sole Meets Soul At The Marathon Des Sables (August 2024)
    Apr 28 2025
    This episode is brought to you by Zocdoc. Stop putting off those doctor appointments and visit http://Zocdoc.com/Sportly to find and instantly book a top-rated doctor today. The 2025 Marathon des Sables just wrapped earlier this month, drawing global attention once again to one of the most grueling endurance races on Earth. So, we’re bringing back a powerful episode that dives into the race’s wild origin story, harrowing survival tales, and the inspiring legacy of athletes like Duncan Slater, the first double amputee to finish the race. This episode covers the 150-mile trek through Morocco’s Sahara Desert and the runners who push beyond every imaginable limit, from bat blood and sandstorms to stories of resilience and redemption. Whether you’re a runner, a thrill-seeker, or just someone fascinated by extreme human feats—this story is for you. Press play and enter the desert! Hosts: Kavitha A. Davison | Producers: Saadia Khan & Shei Yu I Content Writers: Michaela Strauther, Shei Yu & Kavitha A Davidson I Sound Designer & Editor: Paroma Chakravarty I Immigrantly Theme Music: Simon Hutchinson | Other Music: Epidemic Sound 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. 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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    31 mins
  • The Spirit of Boston: A Marathon Like No Other

    The Spirit of Boston: A Marathon Like No Other
    Apr 21 2025
    This episode is brought to you by Zocdoc. Stop putting off those doctor appointments and visit http://Zocdoc.com/Sportly to find and instantly book a top-rated doctor today. It’s Marathon Monday in Boston, and we’re diving deep into the legacy of the world’s most iconic footrace. In this episode of Sportly, Kavitha Davidson breaks down what makes the Boston Marathon so special, from its historic first race in 1897 to the Wellesley Scream Tunnel, Heartbreak Hill, and the spirit of resilience that followed the 2013 bombing. The episode explores what it takes to qualify, how the race has evolved, and why it continues to hold a near-mythic status among runners. Whether you’re racing today or cheering from the sidelines, this one’s for you. Host: Kavitha A. Davison | Producer: Saadia Khan I Content Writers: Nicholas Black & Kavitha Davidson I Fact Checking and Research: Suhasini Patni 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. 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
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