Episode 10: Money, politics, and inequality in sports
From billion-dollar franchises to political protests, sports today are about way more than just the game. In this episode of What In The World?, we unpack the wild world of modern sports — where money talks, politics play, and global power is always just behind the curtain.
Here’s what we break down:
🏈 Big Money in Sports – The most valuable teams across the NFL, NBA, MLB, and global soccer — and what those jaw-dropping player contracts really say about the industry.
🪙 Saudi Arabia & Vision 2030 – Why the Kingdom is investing billions into sports like soccer, golf, and F1—and how it’s using athletic diplomacy to reshape its global image.
🎰 Sports Betting Boom – From DraftKings deals to billion-dollar league sponsorships, we examine how gambling is fueling the next era of pro sports.
✊ Sports & Social Movements – From Jesse Owens to Colin Kaepernick, we explore the long history of athletes using their platforms to challenge power—and how sports and politics are more entangled than ever.
⚖️ Geopolitics, Gender & Sport – Trans athletes, Olympic bans, and culture war policies—why sports are now a battleground for identity, rights, and ideology in the U.S. and abroad.
💬 What In Your World?
We want to hear from you! What’s your take on this week’s episode?
- Are sports becoming too political—or have they always been?
- Should leagues be held accountable for who they partner with?
- Is sports betting changing how you (or your friends) watch the game?
📢 Don’t forget to follow What In The World? for your weekly fun take on serious news:
INSTAGRAM: @whatinworld_pod
TIKTOK: @whatintheworldpod
WEBSITE: whatintheworldpod.com