“More Than Mean” by Just Not Sports
About
Above you can watch the 2016 Peabody award-winning viral video “More Than Mean" - a PSA created and released by the podcast Just Not Sports, for which I was proud to serve as co-founder and producer for many years.
While researching guests for our sports-related podcast, often via their public social media accounts, it became clear to us that women in sports – and women in general – have a very different online experience than we four guys had ever imagined. The targets of slurs and smears, these women were – and still are – subject to vitriol and hate on a daily basis, just for doing their jobs in sports. Our goal was to bring this exchange into the light, and open men’s eyes – by having them open their mouths.
“More Than Mean” shows what happens when real sports fans read real online comments made about women sports reporters right to their faces. In reading these statements out loud to women journalists, these men are forced to experience the shocking online harassment happening to women in sports everyday. It serves as proof that most sports fans would never say such things to another person – so we shouldn’t type them, either.
In addition to “More Than Mean,” Just Not Sports produces a podcast featuring major athletes and sports media personalities – more on that below.
The “More Than Mean” crew at the Clio Sports Awards. (L to R) Gareth Hughes, Chad Cooper, Sarah Spain, Brad Burke, Adam Woullard, and me!
The Just Not Sports podcast
“Sports talk, with absolutely no sports talk. We talk with the people who play and cover sports about anything and everything they like … Just Not Sports.”
Back in 2015, a good friend and colleague of mine, Brad Burke, asked if I knew anything about how to make a podcast. Coming from production and being an ambitious DIY-er, my answer was “no, but let's figure it out!” Since donning the role of 'Producer Joe' in late 2015, Brad and I, along with our co-hosts Adam and Gareth, have produced more than 100 episodes of our nationally-recognized and award-winning podcast, Just Not Sports. You can stream the most recent episodes below, on iTunes, or on Soundcloud.
As producer, I was honored to help create this podcast with close friends and amazing guests. While I’m no longer regularly active in the show’s production, starting something from nothing with the passion and excitement we had was a thrill and satisfaction I won’t soon forget.