It may seem as though ESPN sportscaster and "Meme King" Stephen A. Smith has been around every corner you turn -- from SNL impressions, to soap opera appearances -- but one place he's never ventured until now is in the podcasting space. He joined the Klein/Ally Show this morning to talk about his brand new project with Cadence13, Know Mercy with Stephen A. Smith, diving deeper than his views on politics and current events -- and straight into steamier issues like hot yoga and pickleball.
LISTEN NOW: Klein/Ally Show: The Podcast: Stephen A Smith Loves Hot Yoga, Hates Pickleball
Calling in while driving himself to work, Klein wondered whether Stephen A. is going to make a habit of listening to his new project while sitting in traffic. "I'm definitely going to listen to every single podcast before it gets posted, I'll tell you that. I'm excited about it because it's mine, you know I'm in complete control of it -- 100% control of content, 100% ownership. I'm working in conjunction with Aucacy and Cadence13, but it's a big deal for me because I've always wanted to spread my wings and expand beyond the parameters of sports. I know sports, I've accomplished a lot in sports, but there's more that I want to talk about."
LISTEN NOW: Know Mercy with Stephen A. Smith
Already known for his intense approach and provocative analysis, Klein wondered if fans should expect him to let loose with any swearing on the podcast. "Yeah, but I'm pretty close to doing that anyway," he says. "I say 'damn' and 'hell,' but sometimes I'll go a little further than that. But I'm not a guy that goes around cussing and all of that stuff. It's not orchestrated, it's not planned. I speak from the heart. A lot of the times when I'm over regular FCC airwaves, I have to monitor what I'm going to say because I'm inclined to drop an F-bomb from time to time with some of the nonsense that I hear, but nevertheless you got to contain yourself. On a podcast, I don't... so occasionally, I'll swear but it won't be all the time."
With Stephen A.'s intensity evident just in the way he's held this conversation while navigating traffic, Ally also queried whether he would be offering up any relaxation tips on the show. "I don't know if I'm capable of that," he says, although Bikram Yoga was an experience he says he's enjoyed in the past. "And I want to try pilates... Listen, I'm slim but damn it I got a little stomach that I want to get rid of too," he adds. "I wanna get me a six-pack, I want to get myself in better shape."
Klein, sneaking a sports question in towards the end, although the Know Mercy podcast will not be focusing on that, he opened up the topic of Pickleball, much to every single Pickleballer's chagrin -- including his friend and early investor LeBron James. "I've never paid any attention to it, I've never seen it. I've heard about it because of LeBron, but I've never paid any attention to it and I'm not about to." OK, so does that mean he would refuse to cover it? "Hell yeah," Stephen A. says without missing a breath.
Listen to the full interview with Klein & Ally and Stephen A. Smith above, and follow Klein/Ally Show: The Podcast for more.
Stephen A. Smith knows mercy… when it’s warranted. On “Know Mercy” Stephen A. will give you his straight shooter point of view beyond the world of sports, breaking barriers and pulling back the curtain on politics, entertainment, and business. Three times a week, you’ll hear his unfiltered opinions on front page news and pertinent cultural events, as well as interviews with outspoken celebrities and thought leaders across the societal arena. You’re guaranteed to be entertained, informed, and motivated. And one thing will be clear: you don't need to know sports to know mercy. Know Mercy with Stephen A. Smith is a presentation of Cadence13, an Audacy studio.
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