15 JUL 2021 · The 4th of July is a celebratory time in our country, and one of the warmups for the day ahead on the 4th is when many Americans sit down in front of the tv and watch men and women dip hot dogs into water and consume as many as possible in 10 minutes. This week, Origins Host Ben Smith is once again joined by the guys, Rich Osborne, Mike Gorney and Chris Moon, for a special group chat edition of Origins to tell the story of the Nathans Hot Dog Eating Contest. Follow Origins on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/originspod/ Follow Origins Host Ben Smith on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SmithBSBen/ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2pjGeSmD2FHG8FkGFBMuRT Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-032-4th-of-july-doubleheaders/id1540853532?i=1000528303546 Download Our App for Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/wsn-live/id1553068845 Download Our App for Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wsnlive.androidapp Follow The Woodward Sports Network! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/woodwardsports/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/woodwardsports Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WoodwardSports/ Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/woodwardsports TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@woodwardsports?lang=en

9 JUL 2021 · This past 4th of July, baseball was back in full! After the year that was 2020 and having to miss out on 4th of July baseball last year, 2021 gave us a full day of baseball along with something we haven’t had since the early 1960’s; a July 4th Doubleheader. The doubleheader was a staple of Major League Baseball from the early 1900’s, through the early 1960’s. Teams made the 4th a special occasion, booking the biggest rivals so fans could see double the action against their teams rival. This week, Origins host Ben Smith tells us about the early days of the doubleheader, why Major League Baseball passed on this idea eventually, and just how it came back in 2021. Follow Origins on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/originspod/ Follow Origins Host Ben Smith on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SmithBSBen/ Download Our App for Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/wsn-live/id1553068845 Download Our App for Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wsnlive.androidapp Follow The Woodward Sports Network! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/woodwardsports/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/woodwardsports Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WoodwardSports/ Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/woodwardsports TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@woodwardsports?lang=en

2 JUL 2021 · Origins: Ep.31 - Fantasy Sports The Fantasy Sports Industry has exploded in the last 10-15 years, growing at an astounding rate, projecting to be a nearly $50 billion dollar industry by the year 2027. Whether you’re a football fan, a baseball fan, basketball, soccer or a fan of any other sport, fantasy sports is an accessible, fun and sometimes heartbreaking activity. This week, Origins host Ben Smith is joined by The Co-Founder of the Fantasy Football Index Magazine and a Fantasy Sports Hall-Of-Famer, Ian Allan to discuss the history of fantasy sports, his magazine and where he sees the industry going in the future. Website/Social Media for The Fantasy Football Index https://fantasyindex.com/ https://fantasyindex.com/store/#football-magazine Link To The Original GOPPPL Rules and Rosters from 1963: https://s3.amazonaws.com/fantasyindex/downloads/67d0f3bdd09eafe05ca794322b5ffd2ef900c9cd/GOPPPL_rules_and_rosters_1963.pdf?1594321701 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FantasyIndex Follow Origins on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/originspod/ Follow Origins Host Ben Smith on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SmithBSBen/

24 JUN 2021 · This week, Origins Host Ben Smith sits down with previous guests from our earliest episodes. In this bonus discussion, Ben and Gaming Historian from the University of Indiana, Raiford Guins, discuss the documentaries “atari: game over” about the search for what is called the worst video game of all time, the e.t. game for the atari console. Hundreds of thousands of e.t. Atari games were buried in the desert of Alamogordo, New Mexico, which does have a special connection to the first episode of our episode, but you should listen to episode 1 to hear that connection. Then it’s Krazy George, inventor of “The Wave,” telling the story of how Wayne Gretzky became involved in his life and became one of Krazy George’s biggest fans. Link(s) to Ep. 1 - Tennis For Two: Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/origins-ep-001-tennis-for-two/id1540853532?i=1000499075995 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2miexkQstYDfEGN3UW0Jez Link(s) to Ep. 2 - The Wave: Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/origins-ep-002-the-wave/id1540853532?i=1000500353325 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5v9TBSTtIkMKSGXOq6QDaM #Origins is a @woodwardsports production. You can find all our episodes on your favorite podcast app or at woodwardsports.com. Follow Origins on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/originspod/ Follow Origins Host Ben Smith on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SmithBSBen/ Follow Origins Host Ben Smith on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Ben_SmithBS Download Our App for Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/wsn-live/id1553068845 Download Our App for Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wsnlive.androidapp Follow The Woodward Sports Network! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/woodwardsports/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/woodwardsports Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WoodwardSports/ Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/woodwardsports TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@woodwardsports?lang=en Watch our Shows Live on Youtube, Facebook, Twitter & Twitch The Morning Woodward Show | Monday-Friday 8am-10am The Baligian and Bell Show | Monday-Friday 11am-1pm The Hook | Monday-Friday 3pm-5pm

18 JUN 2021 · This week, Origins Host Ben Smith sits down with a previous guest on the show, Journalist/Author Anna Clark. This week is an extra bonus discussion from back in episode 4 on Instant Replay. (Link for that episode is listed below). In this bonus discussion, Ben and Anna break down her book, "The Poisoned City: Flint's Water and the American Urban Tragedy." The details behind the story and how she came about the story as well as talk of a potential sequel to the book itself now that the case has moved a bit in the court systems here in Michigan. Link(s) to Ep. 4 - Instant Replay: Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/origins-ep-004-instant-replay/id1540853532?i=1000501963260 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5Qa9eItszhvA5154JzF5qQ #Origins is a @woodwardsports production. You can find all our episodes on your favorite podcast app or at woodwardsports.com. Follow Origins on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/originspod/ Follow Origins Host Ben Smith on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SmithBSBen/ Follow Origins Host Ben Smith on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Ben_SmithBS Download Our App for Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/wsn-live/id1553068845 Download Our App for Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wsnlive.androidapp Follow The Woodward Sports Network! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/woodwardsports/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/woodwardsports Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WoodwardSports/ Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/woodwardsports TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@woodwardsports?lang=en Watch our Shows Live on Youtube, Facebook, Twitter & Twitch The Morning Woodward Show | Monday-Friday 8am-10am The Baligian and Bell Show | Monday-Friday 11am-1pm The Hook | Monday-Friday 3pm-5pm

3 JUN 2021 · This week, Origins Host Ben Smith tells two very different origin stories suggested to us by you, the listeners. We start with a suggestion from Katie in Traverse City, Michigan. Her suggestion is a sport that does not get the acclaim it deserves; softball. This origin story is hard to believe as it has these completely random events, with a group of random people coming together and the right mood to strike and suddenly, softball was born. Then, Andrew in Midland, Michigan suggested we cover the origins of Air Hockey because… why not?!? A game that needs no introduction, this story is all about hard work, belief in a sport and a game that wasn’t widely accepted but persevered through many ups and downs in its lifetime.

27 MAY 2021 · This week, Origins Host Ben Smith tells 3 different short origin stories in another "Potpourri Edition" of Origins; (Skiing - Ultimate Frisbee - “Take Me Out To The Ball Game.”) This week, we start with a classic winter sport, Skiing, which had a whole different reason for existing before Skiing became a leisure activity or a sport in and of itself. Then we tell the story of Ultimate Frisbee and how the man who is credited with creating the sport went on to change an industry and a genre of entertainment. Finally, we go over the origin tale of the classic song, “Take Me Out To The Ball Game.” We’ll break down the origin, and how the song has far more to it that meets the eye, literally and figuratively.

20 MAY 2021 · No matter your age, no matter your abilities, bowling is accessible to all. It’s a sport, a leisure activity, a great hang out spot, and a sport that may be one of the oldest still in existence. This week, Origins host Ben Smith is joined by The Curator and Program Manager of the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame, Kari Smith, to discuss the origin of Bowling. Kari takes us through the earliest evidence of the sport, all the way through to the here and now. Bowling’s origin has many surprises, but no sport is more justified to be able to claim how open and accepting it has been to all walks of life, something that we’ll discuss in this new episode of Origins. (Website/Social Media for The International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame:) www.bowlingmuseum.com www.bowlingheritage.com Twitter & Instagram: @ibmhof Facebook: @bowlingmuseum Follow Origins on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/originspod/ Woodwardsports.com

13 MAY 2021 · This week, Origins celebrates 25 episodes with the man, the myth, the legend and the All-Time Teammate to the city of Detroit; Darren McCarty. This week, Origins Host Ben Smith sits down with McCarty in the MyBookie Studios at Woodward Sports HQ to break down a life fully lived. From his childhood in Leamington, Ontario, to moving away from his family as a teenager to pursue hockey, through his time in juniors, the OHL, his time with the Red Wings, and all the good and bad in-between. McCarty gets candid about his issues with addiction and how fighting that fight led him to where he is today. He shares his excitement about life and how he sees Woodward Sports growing into the future. This week, this special episode of Origins is also available to be viewed on the Woodward Sports YouTube page.

6 MAY 2021 · There have been only two players in NBA history that averaged a triple-double throughout the regular season; Oscar Robertson in the 1961-1962 season and Russell Westbrook did that 3 seasons in a row from 2016 to 2019. This week, Origins Host Ben Smith tells the complicated story of the Triple-Double and its origin in the sport of basketball. We ask two questions this week; did this stat-line get created in the earliest days of the NBA by a man so well respected by his NBA peers? Or was it created by a man whose sole job it was to elevate Magic Johnson to superstar status? We discuss those questions and look for the answers this week on Origins.