Reality Check with Spence Checketts

- Chris Wingert interview
- Jason Kreis to Jeff Cassar
- First year under DLH
- A rivalry born with Sporting KC
- MLS Cup loss to KC
- Final year under Lagerway
- Dunny the GM???
+ more

- Sit-down with RSL interim President John Kimball
- Kimball's return to Real Salt Lake
- Andy Williams departure
- Dell Loy Hansen legacy
- Vision of Dave Checketts
- The 'RSL Way' 
- Future Expectations 

- Latest on Andy Williams/RSL fallout
- Dave Checketts > Dell Loy Hansen
- Hansen tenure
- What's next for new ownership
+ more

- Clint Mathis chat
- Defending MLS cup
- CONCACAF
- Best team in RSL history
- 2013 heartbreak
- Rivalry w/ Sporting KC
- Kreis era
+ more

- A big announcement from Amy
- The art of interviewing
- Kamrani, blue whales and Bill Walton
- NBA mandates National Anthem to be played.
- Amy’s dad makes us feel soft
- Jazz are good. Spence thinks that’s fun.
- Spence regurgitate CK’s hot takes, apologizes.

In Episode 3...

- Interview with Garth Lagerway
- 2009 MLS Cup title
- Roster Construction
- Playoff run
- Rimando heroics
- "Team is the star" vs "team of stars"
+ more

In Episode 2:

- 1 hour interview with Jason Kreis 
- Real Salt Lake / Real Madrid duo
- Real Salt Lake vs Real Madrid(2006)
- Dave Checketts and David Beckham put gold shovel in ground, stadium appears
- Battle to build the RioT
- Ellinger/Pastorino to Kreis/Lagerway leadership 

Spence, Trey and Dunny discuss the beginnings of Real Salt Lake. RSL founder Dave Checketts joins the pod for an hour. That and more in part 1 of The Comprehensive History of Real Salt Lake.

- Reaction to Jan. 6 insurrection
- More danger on the horizon?
- Trump impeached ... again.
- How to speak truth to conspiracies.
- NBA latest league to underestimate COVID
- Jazz one of five teams with fans in arena. Will the league step in?
- CFB season is done. Reflecting on the chaos.

An hour of local + national hoops talks with the Ringer's Ryen Rusillo...

- Building a small market winner
- James Harden...
- Gobert extension
- Jazz ceiling
- Lakers vs everyone else?
- NBA COVID concerns
- Worst character in The Office and why it's Pam
+ more

- The vaccine is here and Amy is happy.
- Vaccinate teachers ASAP
- Lack of media access through COVID. New normal or temporary?
- We enjoy interviewing athletes, but prefer them clothed.
- Utah Royals on the move
- RSL sale
- Effective altruism/charity
- Good riddance 2020

Spence is joined by MLS/RSL analyst/former pro Brian Dunseth as well as longtime MLS/RSL front office man Trey Fitzgerald.
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Julian Carr(professional skier/entrepreneur) and Walker Willey(entrepreneur) stop by for a round-table discussion on 2020, COVID's effects on the local outdoor industries, public transit and air quality, Utah political landscape, post-pandemic life + more

- Covering Sports during pandemic
- Utah vs ASU cancelled
- Utah vs UW set
- BYU CFP rankings
- Jazz allowing fans
- Amy vs Misogyny
- Changing generations of conditioning
+ more

Spence welcomes Chris Kamrani and Amy Donaldson for a round table discussion on COVID-19 in sports, what we learned from the 2020 election cycle, the current status of the state of Utah, possible solutions for positive progress + more

- Spence Checketts hosts The Drive daily from 2-6 on ESPN700.
- Chris Kamrani covers Utah football + more for The Athletic.
- Amy Donaldson covers sports, politics + more for the Deseret News and hosts the Voices of Reason podcast.

Subscribe, rate and review Reality Check wherever you get shows!

The next episode of Reality Check is now here for you! The Utah Jazz are in the middle of their season, and we breakdown our impressions of the team after 13 games. Afterwards we have on Tom Haberstroh and Tim MacMahon to talk about the national story lines around the league.

We're back after a long extended break of the Reality Check podcast. Spence breaks down his coming to Broadway Media, and how he decided to accept the position with ESPN 700. Included in the podcast is Spence's conversation with head coach of the Utah Jazz, Quin Snyder.

This week's episode of Reality Check, Spence and Braden breakdown what the Jazz's identity going forward, and a special tribute to longtime Jazz legend Jerry Sloan.

Back with a breaking news podcast, Spence breaks down the Russell Westbrook trade to the Rockets, and hints at where CP3 will be going soon. How does Kawhi Leonard effect the rest of the West, and who truly are championship contenders. Finally, did the Thunder win the trade after all is said and done?

On this episode of Reality Check, Spence brings on Ryen Russillo to help breakdown all the madness around the NBA and try to make sense of what Kawhi Leonard may do.

On this episode of Reality Check, Spence breaks down all of the madness that went down on day one of the NBA free agency. From the Utah Jazz signing Bojan Bogdanovic to Ricky Rubio's massive new contract. Spence breaks it all down for you from the western conference to the eastern conference.

This week on the Reality Check, Spence breaks down the last two weeks of the NBA including what the Utah Jazz should do this free agency with Derrick Favors, and what the rest of the NBA will look like come Sunday night.

Spence talks to Mike Breen ahead of Game 6 of the NBA Finals. Bang!

A conversation with Jimmer Fredette of the Phoenix Suns.

Spence sits down with BYU legend and Phoenix Sun Jimmer Fredette

Spence catches up with Tony Jones of The Athletic.

Spence and NBA Commissioner David Stern catch up, dig into the league from a macro perspective, and touch on Commissioner Stern's post NBA activities.

Spence dives into round 1 of the playoffs, matchups, outcomes, strategy and schemes. He touches on the Laker situation, Golden State giving up a 31 points, Kawhi's future W or L, how to tackle James Harden, Portland's backcourt, OKC woes and more.

Spence catches up with old friend Ryen Russillo of ESPN and The Ringer.

Spence catches up with former University of Utah and NBA Forward, Britton Johnsen.

Spence talks Zion Williamson, LeBron getting shut down, the possibility of a Warriors-Bucks Finals, Russell Westbrook's 20-20-20 and more

Jeff weighs in on recent trades in the NBA, how to decrease the number of meaningless games in the league, Jim Dolan's fan ban, players and social media, and much more.

Spence talks Russ Westbrook & the Utah Jazz fan situation, the current state of the Lakers, Phil Jackson back to  LA (?), and Jimmer Fredette returning stateside to play for the Phoenix Suns.           

Mark and Spence catch up on his era of Utah Jazz basketball, the new era, and what's happening with Mark off the court.

David talks about his career, his relationship with Michael Jordan, current and former players, and much more.

Spence talks Lakers, LeBron's mogul phase, Zion Williamson, Player's Only, and Dirk Nowitzki

John and Spence talk about the path from humble beginnings to pop culture icon, the dunk, being a leader on a decade of great Knicks basketball, and much more.

Steve Young and Spence discuss his rise and legendary success in the NFL, Joe Montana, personal challenges and triumphs, and much more.

Spence gets into KD's media outburst, 27 total deals leading up to the official trade deadline, the new apparent strength in the Eastern Conference, trade hits and misses, and where the Lakers go from here.

Spence runs the gamut on trade activity within the league leading up to the deadline, does a mock All-Star draft with Vik, and catches up with Howard Beck on storylines around the league.

In part 2 of their conversation, Spence and Dennis talk about the state of the Utah Jazz, the current season, long term plans going forward and much more.

Spence calls in for an emergency podcast to discuss Rudy Gobert's All Star snub, Kyrie potentially teaming back up with LeBron, the likelihood of an AD to the Lakers trade happening before the trade deadline, the strategy behind the Jazz working to trade for Mike Conley, the Knicks trading away KP in a possible move for KD and Kyrie, the new look Mavs, and LeBron's return to action and the Lakers' playoff possibilities.

In part 1 of their conversation, Spence and Dennis swap personal stories and much more.

Spence and Mike catch up on the state of journalism today, how covering the game has evolved over time, the LeBron vs. MJ debate, covering the Knicks for The New York Times and much more!

Spence talks Boston Celtics, Kyrie Irving and their recent struggles, the 5 most entertaining players in the league, and NBA trade deadline activity.

Spence and Jason talk about his path to becoming a professional soccer player and eventual coach across the MLS and the United States men's national soccer team. Jason is currently tied for the fifth highest scorer in MLS regular season history, with 108 goals.

Spence catches up with David Locke, CEO of Locked On Podcast Network and play-by-play announcer for the Utah Jazz.

Frank Layden, Jazz legend and former head coach, joins Spence for an in-depth conversation.

Spence talks Anthony Davis to the Lakers, going from a losing culture to a winning one, Dolan selling the Knicks, whether everything NBA players say should make headline news, and the Boylen disaster in Chicago.

Frank Isola and Spence catch up on NBA headlines, coaches around the league, LeBron, the NFL and more.

Spence shares his views on Rudy Gobert's ejection, whether small market teams get officiated differently, league surprises, league disappointments, Allen Iverson's top 5 all time and how it's different from his own. 

Spence talks Urban Meyer and the value add of a great head coach, Kevin Durant's comments on LeBron, the current NBA media landscape, and his favorite Pat Riley story. 

David Checketts sits down with Spence to discuss his tenure with the New York Knicks & Madison Square Garden. Topics discussed include: leaving the Jazz (2:30), negotiating with Pat Riley and Patrick Ewing (9:09), turning the Knicks into a winning franchise (36:32), John Starks' 2-18 performance (41:02), Pat Riley leaving for Miami (45:19), the Jeff Van Gundy era (56:25), and Dave's legacy on the Jazz and Knicks franchises (1:07:58). Visit realitycheckpod.com to subscribe. 

David Checketts sits down with Spence to discuss his early career at Bain and then the Utah Jazz. Topics discussed include: Dave's current work (5:01), his relationship with David Stern (8:12), the difficult early years with the Utah Jazz (21:41), making the Jazz relevant and formidable (26:41), Frank Layden's importance (32:39), and Dave's decision to leave the Jazz (43:27). Visit realitycheckpod.com to subscribe. 

Spence talks about the Draymond Green-Kevin Durant situation (06:28), Gordon Hayward's return to Utah (23:47), Carmelo Anthony's legacy (40:08), and finishes things off with his first listener mailbag (49:29). 

Part 2 of Spence's conversation with ABC/ESPN NBA basketball analyst and coach Jeff Van Gundy concentrates on the modern day NBA. They discuss the state of the league, Kevin Durant and the Warriors (1:39), Tim Duncan vs. Karl Malone (4:55), the impact of social media on the league (6:34), alcohol and addiction (19:01), current coaches (23:49), Donovan Mitchell (26:40), health scares (28:10) and whether Jeff will coach again (32:27). Visit realitycheckpod.com to subscribe. 

ABC/ESPN NBA basketball analyst and coach Jeff Van Gundy sits down with Spence to discuss the Jordan-era. Topics discussed include: new generation of basketball fans (3:47), Anthony Mason (10:50), Pat Riley (13:55), the Knicks-Heat rivalry (16:11), coaching against Mike (20:50), the MJ vs Lebron debate (36:14), Reggie Miller as a "Knick killer" (40:14), and his relationship with former NBA commissioner, David Stern (46:06). Visit realitycheckpod.com to subscribe. 

Join Spence on his new podcast where he sits down with NBA players, coaches and front office executives for in-depth conversations about the league, the game, and life.