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Stephen A. on sports to politics, always under fire but responds to criticisms & call outs|The Pivot

2025-10-17 Sports
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The Pivot Podcast
The Pivot Podcast
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Stephen A. Smith: Navigating Controversy, Fatherhood, and Political Ambitions

Discover the unfiltered perspective of Stephen A. Smith on his high-profile feuds, his commitment to health after a near-fatal illness, and why he seriously believes he could win the Presidency.

Short Summary

  • Stephen A. detailed the intense professional and personal overlap driving his ongoing friction with LeBron James, explaining the roots go deep into past media interference.
  • He shared a near-death experience battling COVID-19 in 2022, which prompted a total lifestyle overhaul leading to the best health he’s had since his twenties.
  • Smith discussed fatherhood, how his daughters influence his choices, and revealed the deeply formative lessons he learned from his parents regarding responsibility and fidelity.
  • The conversation centers on Smith’s willingness to be a lightning rod, covering his multi-faceted media empire, his views on politics (including speculation about running for President), and his philosophy on accountability for athletes.

The Pivot Podcast hosts Ryan Clark and Channing Crowder sit down with Stephen A. Smith for a no-holds-barred discussion at his home. They peel back the curtain on the controversy surrounding the media giant, from sports disputes to current political commentary, while also exploring the intensely personal foundation that guides his uncompromising professional approach.

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Description

Pivot Family! hit the button to SUBSCRIBE HERE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUnxiP7q4RDDyeioZFZLnXA?sub_confirmation=1 “I’m willing to say what most people aren’t. I’m willing to do what most people aren’t. I’m willing to be in the storm, if that’s what it takes.” Stephen A. Smith On this episode of The Pivot Podcast, Stephen A. Smith invites the guys to his home for a deeply personal and an unfiltered conversation discussing everything from sports to culture to parenting to politics while under fire for recent public clashes with LeBron James, Alexis Ohanian, and Rep. Jasmine Crockett. Ryan acknowledges all the heat surrounding Stephen A. and one by one, we go through it all, leaving no stone unturned to the whys, the hows and what happens from here while delving into the man Stephen A truly is behind the mic. Known for his bold takes and unapologetic style, Stephen A. opens up about the backlash, his growing interest in politics, and how he handles being a lightning rod for controversy. He shares the background into Lebron dislike, revealing how he and one of the greatest to ever play the game. ended up in such disdain. He shares insight into the recent Alexis Ohanian situation, doubling down on his comments but offering explanations of what he truly means at the core of his words. Stephen A. also talks about the criticism and being called out for comments on Jasmine Crockett, saying it wasn't an attack on black women but taking action to be a part of the solution not the problem. He also gets personal—discussing fatherhood as his two daughters have come into public eye lately and how it influences his choices on and off the air. He goes deep into his roots with the love and respect of his mother, who's voice still guides him today and the lessons he learned the hard way from his father's choices that have all led to shaping the man he is today. And of course we had to ask him about running for President, not only is he serious but Stephen A. shares why he believes he would win the office of Presidency and his why that drives him to take on politics in this dangerous era of hate and controversy. Buckle up, because this conversation covers it all and nothing is off limits! A special thanks to our partners at Jack Daniels for sponsoring this conversation and inviting us to be apart of their F1 partnership with McLaren, check us out in Austin, TX this wknd! GET MERCH HERE: https://www.pivotpodcast.com FOLLOW THE PIVOT PODCAST: INSTAGRAM | https://instagram.com/thepivot TWITTER | https://twitter.com/thepivot TIKTOK | https://tiktok.com/@thepivot FACEBOOK | https://facebook.com/thepivotpodcast SPOTIFY | https://open.spotify.com/show/5KtXTWiC3J5WW1CVTpYG5V APPLE PODCASTS | https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-pivot-podcast/id1603292451 #ThePivot #Podcast #RyanClark #ChanningCrowder #FredTaylor #NFL

Top Comments (10)

@darelljackson1288 2025-10-18

This is the Steven A show featuring The Pivot😂

273 12 replies
@kennethbenjamin1537 2025-10-17

This not even an interview this is just Stephen A Smith talking to his friends

267 10 replies
@Elvin-p1g 2025-10-17

Says he covers pop culture then when talking about Serena husband he says “ I don’t do pop culture “ 😂

218 17 replies
@zion42506 2025-10-18

That's why Fred didn't want to be there he full of it and Ryan just being a yes man

164 10 replies
@MapleChapman 2025-10-18

This is the first episode that I had to cut off before it was over.

114 16 replies
@thisjustin212 2025-10-19

Stephen A. is the master of hindsight. What he would have done means he'll never do it. And have a brilliant reason for it. Stop playing in our face.

83
@sharonbagby2158 2025-10-17

Channing's expression 😅😅😂

62
@nedric24 2025-10-18

It’s about time somebody said black athletes and entertainers should be organizing to create lobbies!

56 1 replies
@erikalong179 2025-10-28

Respect the sponsorship, for sure. Hopefully one day The Pivot fam will recognize Uncle Nearest, the brand in homage to the person who taught Jack Daniel how to distill whiskey. (My bad if I missed that episode.)

28
@Brino50 2025-10-29

Ryan Clark changed my life in regards to how he carry’s himself as a man. Now, I’m willing to attempt things in media that I’ve failed at but want to try again. I’ve followed his career from the field, broadcast to this podcast. I recently seen him at the Kansas City Chiefs game vs WAS Commanders. He gave hand shakes, greeting and interacted with anyone who spoke to him. He’s a great football analyst and amazing person.

4

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