Episode 10

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Published on:

1st Jun 2025

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

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About the Podcast

What In The World?
A Fun Take On Serious News
There’s a LOT going on in the world these days. From unpredictable geopolitics and dysfunctional economic markets to the nonstop evolution of entertainment and digital culture, it’s no wonder that Gen Z feel overwhelmed by the rapid pace of news and the flood of information on social media.

What In The World? is a podcast hosted by Laura and Eugene, Gen Z who understand the tension between staying informed and tuning out the news. With backgrounds in global affairs, finance, history, business, and more, this duo will provide fresh, balanced perspectives to keep you informed and interested in the headlines that have you saying “what in the world?”