Just A Cup - Rafi Kohan, "Trash Talk" best selling author

Just A Cup - Rafi Kohan, "Trash Talk" best selling author

From Just A Cup by Bleav

September 3, 2025 · 43 min · Episode 59

About this episode

Bryan Fetzer interviews Rafi Kohan about the cultural and psychological aspects of trash talk in sports.

The podcast episode “Just a Cup” hosted by Bryan Fetzer features Rafi Kohan, a journalist and author of the book Trash Talk, which explores the psychological, cultural, and historical dimensions of trash talk in sports. Kohen delves into the ancient roots of trash talk, tracing its lineage from biblical times and Homeric poems to today’s sports arenas. He explains that trash talk is not merely a form of verbal insult but a sophisticated tool of psychological gamesmanship that raises the stakes of competition by increasing stress and pressure on opponents. This stress can either motivate or demoralize, depending on the mindset of the athlete.

People in this episode

Host: Bryan Fetzer

Guest: Rafi Kohan

Topics covered

  • trash talk
  • sports psychology
  • cultural history
  • competition
  • athlete mindset

Keywords

  • trash talk
  • sports
  • psychological gamesmanship
  • competition
  • athlete mindset
  • cultural dimensions
  • historical roots

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Trash Talk

More episodes of Just A Cup

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Just A Cup podcast page.