Why Sports Matter Even When the Game Doesn’t with Roger Bennett
Why do sports make us cry, unite strangers, and create memories that last a lifetime? In this episode, Men in Blazers founder and CEO Roger Bennett joins Brené Brown and Adam Grant fresh off a 39-day World Cup marathon to explore what the tournament revealed about identity, belonging, and the power of collective effervescence. Together, they unpack the difference between hero players and hero teams, what it means to be a true fan, the political complexities surrounding the World Cup, and how sports create shared experiences that shape our lives. Along the way, Roger shares stories from the road, reflects on the strange grief of “World Cup withdrawal,” and revisits some of the tournament’s most memorable stories, including Erling Haaland’s taxidermy shop detour, the Cape Verde goalkeeper who became a global icon overnight, the controversial red card reversal, and more.
Roger Bennett – Men in Blazers Media Network
The Kansas City fanwalk had us all like… – OnsOranje, Royal Dutch Football Association
The Numbers Game: Why Everything You Know About Football Is Wrong – Anderson & Sally, 2013, Penguin
Men in Blazers - “The Women’s Game” and “Vamos” (Platform links) – The Men in Blazers Media Network
Who Belongs? Football and the Reinvention of the Modern Nation – Josh Wilson, 2026, TIME
The definition of a true fan – Adam Grant, Instagram
Folarin Balogun's lifted suspension – Roger Bennett, CBS Morning News, Instagram
Human challenges in polar and space environments – Sandal et al., 2006, Springer
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