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Episode Notes
Hosts Alex Kirshner, Lindsay Gibbs, and Ben Lindbergh are joined by Nate Silver, founder of FiveThirtyEight and Silver Bulletin, to discuss his new NFL prediction model “ELWAY” and what it reveals about an unpredictable football league. Later in the show, OG Hang Up host Stefan Fatsis returns to talk about his new book on the dictionary, “Unabridged: The Thrill of and Threat to the Modern Dictionary,” and to share some of his favorite sports word definitions. The panel also previews the upcoming NBA season. Stefan sticks around to give a throwback style introduction to Ben’s Afterball on the goofy mule-kicker comedy “Gus”.
On the bonus episode available exclusively for Slate Plus members, the panel has GOAT talk about Shohei Ohtani.
Explore more of ELWAY’s prediction modeling.
Read Eno Sarris piece for the Athletic, comparing parity across the major professional sports.
Check out ESPN’s massive NBA preview package.
Read the Athletic article Lindsay mentioned on the Celtics’ coaches for the media game.
Pick up a copy of Stefan’s new book “Unabridged: The Thrill of (and Threat To) the Modern Dictionary,” and check out his website for tour and media information.
Read the Washington Post review of Unabridged.
Check out this profile from the Sport Illustrated vault on Brett Favre’s retirement
Watch the trailer for goofball Disney classic, “Gus,” the football-kicking mule.
Get more Hang Up and Listen with Slate Plus! Join for weekly bonus episodes of Hang Up and Listen and ad-free listening on all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe from the Hang Up and Listen show page on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or visit slate.com/hangupplus for access wherever you listen.
You can email us at hangup@slate.com.
Podcast production and editing by Kevin Bendis, with production assistance from Patrick Fort.
Bonus Episode
[### Bonus: Ten Strikeouts, Three Homers, One Ohtani.
Ben Lindbergh on the cosmic greatness of pitcher-slugger Shohei Ohtani](https://slate.com/podcasts/hang-up-and-listen/2025/10/shohei-ohtanis-historic-performance-in-nlcs-game-four)