Linda Cohn Blasts ESPN, Embraces ‘Radical Candor’ in New YouTube Venture

Former ESPN anchor Linda Cohn has embarked on a new chapter in her broadcasting career, launching an eponymous YouTube show where she offers unvarnished opinions on sports. After 34 years with ESPN, Cohn retired in June and has since pursued what she describes as a move into "independent opinion journalism."

Cohn's show, which initially aired twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays and recently added a Sunday NFL-focused program, has quickly garnered over 36,000 subscribers. She also recently signed a deal with the Bleav podcast network to expand her reach to platforms like Spotify and Apple.

During her tenure at ESPN, where she hosted SportsCenter and covered WNBA play-by-play, Cohn was accustomed to a more measured approach. "For the first time the gloves are off," she stated, contrasting her current freedom with her past experience where she felt "trained in being the good girl and measured in what I said."

The launch of her show coincided with significant layoffs at ESPN, a situation Cohn addressed directly on her platform. "It was so many close friends of mine [who were affected]. I spoke openly, honestly and freely about it. I think people said, ‘Wow Linda Cohn’s going to be really honest about it’,” she recalled.

Cohn has not shied away from controversial topics, including WNBA controversies, behavior at the US Open, and remarks about Arch Manning. She has also faced criticism and labels such as “MAGA” and “right wing grifter” from some segments of the audience for her stances, particularly on issues concerning women's sports.

"There are people out there making assumptions, and they don't know who the hell I am," Cohn said. "I’m not a political person. I’m a journalist. Guess what journalists do? We ask questions. We don’t just take the PR statement that is out there."

She has particularly drawn attention for her defense of Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham's comments regarding male participation in women's sports. Cohn expressed confusion over the backlash, referencing Billie Jean King's fight for Title IX and questioning the lack of "common sense" in the debate.

Despite the criticism, Cohn views the response to her independent venture as "very empowering." She is adopting a resilient mindset, channeling a lyric from Taylor Swift's song "New Romantics": "I could build a castle out of all the bricks they threw at me."

"I always come back to that," Cohn said. "I’m being true to myself."

Throughout her career, Cohn navigated a male-dominated industry. She previously wrote about the challenges of breaking into the sports media landscape, and now, as an independent voice, she feels she is authentically representing her views. "It was definitely harder back then. Or more challenging," she reflected on her early career.