Top of Mind: Is Sports Fandom Good for America?

This week on Her Y, we share an episode from another member of our BYUradio family—Top of Mind—about the impact of sports. Most Americans identify as sports fans – more than identify as church-goers. Is it good for sports fandom to play such a prominent role in society? After all, we know how tribal, obsessive, and competitive we can get about our favorite sports teams. But there’s evidence that sports fandom benefits American society as a whole. For example, it fuels networks of relationships and can help reduce political polarization. In this podcast episode, we’ll hear why sports fans often have more friends and are more satisfied with other aspects of their lives. And we’ll cast a critical eye on the influence sports has on the way we think about gender, patriotism, and the American Dream. How can we maximize the positive impact of sports fandom in society?