The Ringer is reportedly adding its first NHL podcast.
Chad Finn at the Boston Globe reports that the popular former All City show, What Chaos! is joining the Spotify-owned network. While it is the first NHL podcast The Ringer will ever distribute, the show fits the mold of Ringer founder Bill Simmons’ frequent pursuit of Boston-area sports voices.
All City launched What Chaos! as part of its initial expansion into national coverage. Hosts Pete Blackburn and DJ Bean both hail from Massachusetts and have since grown their YouTube channel to nearly 50,000 subscribers, along with 1,100 paid Patreon members and multiple advertising sponsorships.
Blackburn previously covered the NHL for Fox, CBS, and Bally. Bean has covered the Boston Bruins for WEEI and NBC Sports Boston.
The show goes live multiple times a week during the season, and streamed watchalongs during the Stanley Cup playoffs last year. Episodes also cover off-ice stories like EA Sports’ NHL video game, team jerseys, and the HBO show, Heated Rivalry.
After initially trying to have a voice in every big sports league and entertainment vertical, The Ringer, since being purchased by Spotify, has been more selective. The network recently lost two of its soccer podcasts and doesn’t cover baseball, but it does, for instance, distribute a sizable rugby podcast. It wasn’t until last year that The Ringer launched a full-time college football show.
Hockey remains frustratingly regional and has ceded ground to soccer and the WNBA in recent years, but has a devoted fan base. By bringing in What Chaos!, The Ringer gets a built-in loyal audience and a creative show with high production value as it continues its embrace of video.
About Brendon Kleen
Brendon is an Editorial Lead at Awful Announcing overseeing digital content and special projects. He lives in Phoenix and has covered sports media for Awful Announcing since 2023.