Stephen A. Smith Looking Outside of ESPN for Deal Similar to the Colin Cowherd "The Volume" Podcast iHeartMedia Deal

Stephen A. Smith otherwise known as Screaming A. Smith in some circles wants to venture into podcasting. (But compared to Chris "Mad Dog" Russo, Smith seems laid back.)


The ESPN Radio and TV personality is reportedly looking to launch a podcast and it may not be at the network where he signed a five-year deal in 2019. Bloomberg reports Smith has had talks with podcast producers such as Spotify, about launching his own podcast sports network.


Sports broadcaster Colin Cowherd’s deal with iHeartMedia may be the template for what Smith wants to do. Cowherd launched The Volume podcast network partnered with iHeartMedia a year ago and it has become quite popular with his audience and with the athletes that play the sport as well. Colin Cowherd appears daily on FS1 and Fox Sports Radio network with his show "The Herd."


The same can't be said for Stephen A. Smith's relationship with fellow sports journalists and with the players that play the sport. Smith is paid a reported $12 million a year at ESPN where his duties include First Take, NBA Game hosting, and a weekday  radio show.

My theory is that guys like steve, skip and Shannon have changed the game for the worse. Playas like Stephen and Michael can only push the game forward. https://t.co/0Oc9J2HqxS

— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) June 2, 2022

https://t.co/KJbShVUZ6D pic.twitter.com/9VcI7ScR03

— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) June 2, 2022

The Volume is a sports-talk podcast network, co-produced by Colin Cowherd and iHeartRadio. This pod features Draymond Green, who also has his own podcast on The Volume.