The Independent: A Notre Dame Football Podcast
The Independent is the essential listen for fans of Fighting Irish football. Pete Sampson of the Athletic and Matt Fortuna of The Inside Zone are back to take you inside the Notre Dame program. With a combined 35 years +...
Insights from recent episode analysis
On the show
- Jeff Kilburg1 ep
- Chris Zorich1 ep
- Steve Roddy1 ep
Also: Cornelius Southall, Jordan Cornette, Brian Kelly, Adam Rittenberg, Tim Murray, Caroline Pineda
Audience Interest
Podcast Focus
Publishing Consistency
Insights are generated by CastFox AI using publicly available data, episode content, and proprietary models.
Most discussed topics
Brands & references
Total monthly reach
Based on 1 signal.
Built from
By chart position
- 🇺🇸United States · FootballHOME#29130K to 686K
- 🇧🇷Brazil · Football#326.8K to 36K
- 🇨🇦Canada · Football#601.9K to 10K
- 🇮🇳India · Football#761.4K to 7.3K
- 🇳🇱Netherlands · Football#441.1K to 5.8K
- Per-Episode Audience
Est. listeners per new episode within ~30 days
143K to 759K🎙 Daily cadence·162 episodes·Last published today - Monthly Reach
Unique listeners across all episodes (30 days)
478K to 2.5M🇺🇸90%🇧🇷5%🇨🇦1%+2 more - Active Followers
Loyal subscribers who consistently listen
263K to 1.4M
Market Insights
Platform Distribution
Reach across major podcast platforms, updated hourly
Total Followers
—
Total Plays
—
Total Reviews
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* Data sourced directly from platform APIs and aggregated hourly across all major podcast directories.
| Date | Episode | Topics | Guests | Brands | Places | Keywords | Sponsor | Length | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10/27/26 | Notre Dame post-bye check-in, Marcus Freeman reflects on BYU loss | It’s game week once again for Notre Dame, and it can’t come any sooner for the Fighting Irish. Marcus Freeman addressed the BYU game on Monday, and his Irish are now ready to turn the page to Navy. Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson are here to break it all down on another episode of The Independent. | 41m 16s | ||||||
| 10/20/26 | More Notre Dame-BYU thoughts and fallout with ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg | Notre Dame may have an open date, but the Fighting Irish gave everyone plenty to talk about to fill the void of a non-game week. ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg joins Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson to talk about the fallout of the BYU loss for Marcus Freeman, Chris Ash and CJ Carr. Where does ND go from here? | 42m 24s | ||||||
| 10/18/26 | Notre Dame falls short at BYU | Notre Dame's shot at an undefeated season went incomplete on Saturday night as CJ Carr couldn't connect with Jaden Greathouse on the game's final play. Do the Irish have a problem heading toward Miami? | 58m 03s | ||||||
| 10/16/26 | Notre Dame-BYU preview: A top-10 clash in Provo | No. 2 Notre Dame receives its first major test of the season, traveling to Provo, Utah to take on an undefeated, top-10 BYU squad. ESPN’s “College GameDay” will be on-site for the primetime showdown as Marcus Freeman, CJ Carr and Co. look to prove their championship mettle. Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson are here to break it all down. | 38m 04s | ||||||
| 10/13/26 | ESPN’s Roddy Jones joins the show to preview top-10 Notre Dame-BYU matchup | The meat of the schedule is finally here. It’s Notre Dame-BYU week, and ESPN’s Roddy Jones joins Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson to talk about Kalani Sitake’s Cougars, whose win over TCU Jones called two weeks ago. | 41m 47s | ||||||
| 10/11/26 | Notre Dame blasts Stanford to cap the season's first half | The Irish won their 16th straight game – by double digits – as Marcus Freeman led a demolition of Stanford, setting Notre Dame up for its first big test of the season when it heads to BYU next weekend. | 38m 44s | ||||||
| 10/9/26 | Notre Dame-Stanford preview: Can the Fighting Irish name their score against The Cardinal? | Notre Dame is about to reach the halfway point of its season as the Fighting Irish ready to host rival Stanford. Will Marcus Freeman’s squad dominate, or is this a bit of a lookahead spot with BYU looming? | 30m 47s | ||||||
| 10/7/26 | Dusty Dvoracek joins the show to talk Notre Dame ground game and more | As Notre Dame turns the page from North Carolina to Stanford, ESPN’s Dusty Dvoracek joins Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson after calling Saturday’s Fighting Irish game in Chapel Hill. | 50m 27s | ||||||
| 10/4/26 | Notre Dame's run game comes to life versus UNC | Pete Sampson and Matt Fortuna break down Notre Dame's performance in a 37-26 victory over North Carolina. | 47m 10s | ||||||
| 10/2/26 | Notre Dame-North Carolina preview: Can Marcus Freeman’s squad get the best of Bill Belichick’s? | No. 3 Notre Dame readies for a trip to Chapel Hill to take on North Carolina and the ACC. As Marcus Freeman’s squad looks to get to 5-0, Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson look at the strengths of the Fighting Irish and put the Tar Heels series — and Bill Belichick’s tenure — into context. Is this a rivalry? | 33m 00s | ||||||
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| 9/30/26 | Notre Dame starts 4-0 & Yogi Roth joins the show! Plus, Quincy Porter is out for the year and more. | No. 3 Notre Dame is turning the page to October after dominating Purdue to complete a perfect opening month. Plus, NBC analyst Yogi Roth joins the show after calling the Fighting Irish game for Peacock. | 41m 03s | ||||||
| 9/27/26 | No. 3 Notre Dame dominates Purdue, 49-10, to complete perfect September | Notre Dame completed the Big Ten portion of its schedule in dominating fashion Saturday, winning at Purdue, 49-10, at Ross Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind. CJ Carr threw for 237 yards, Aneyas Williams ran for 80 and the defense dominated, recording six sacks. | 51m 18s | ||||||
| 9/24/26 | Notre Dame-Purdue Preview with NBC’s Paul Burmeister | No. 3 Notre Dame travels to West Lafayette, Ind., on Saturday to take on in-state rival Purdue. Former Irish radio play-by-play man Paul Burmeister will be on the call for Peacock, and he joins Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson to preview the contest and much more. | 49m 58s | ||||||
| 9/23/26 | Final Thoughts on Notre Dame-Michigan State. Plus, Marcus Freeman worked at Texas Roadhouse? | No. 3 Notre Dame is 3-0 entering Saturday’s game at in-state rival Purdue. Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson are here to look at what the Fighting Irish did well and what they can improve on after beating Michigan State. Plus, Marcus Freeman had a funny revelation this week about his college job. | 39m 05s | ||||||
| 9/20/26 | No. 3 Notre Dame beats Michigan State, 27-10, to improve to 3-0 | CJ Carr threw for 234 yards, Nolan James ran for 121, Micah Gilbert caught 8 passes for 170 yards and No. 3 Notre Dame took care of Michigan State, 27-10, on Saturday night in South Bend. | 45m 41s | ||||||
| 9/17/26 | Notre Dame-Michigan State Preview: How will the Fighting Irish look in primetime vs. the Spartans? | Notre Dame readies for its third game of the season, and its second in South Bend, Ind., as Marcus Freeman and the Fighting Irish take on Pat Fitzgerald and the Michigan State Spartans under the lights on NBC. | 40m 19s | ||||||
| 9/15/26 | Final thoughts on Notre Dame-Rice and a lookahead to Michigan State | Notre Dame's home opener went according to plan, as Marcus Freeman's squad shut out Rice, 52-0. Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson are here to take one final look back at the win and to turn the page ahead toward rival Michigan State, as the Fighting Irish look to beat the Spartans in primetime. | 37m 57s | ||||||
| 9/13/26 |  Notre Dame shuts out Rice 52-0 in home opener. Marcus Freeman's never let up in dominant Irish win. | Notre Dame dominated Rice, 52-0, to record its second shutout win of the Marcus Freeman era. CJ Carr and the Fighting Irish offense looked smooth, while Chris Ash's defense dominated with four takeaways. Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson are here to recap the home opener and much more! | 47m 46s | ||||||
| 9/10/26 | Notre Dame-Rice Preview. Can the Fighting Irish avoid another Week 2 trap? | Notre Dame has a quick turnaround after putting away Wisconsin on Sunday night in Green Bay. While this Saturday’s home opener vs. Rice figures to be an easier test, the Fighting Irish, crazy enough, are 0-3 vs. FBS teams in Week 2 under Marcus Freeman. | 51m 10s | ||||||
| 9/9/26 | Notre Dame FootballMarcus Freeman+3 | — | Notre DameRice | WisconsinLambeau Field | Notre DameMarcus Freeman+5 | — | 35m 31s | ||
| 9/7/26 | Notre Dame FootballMarcus Freeman+4 | — | WisconsinMarcus Freeman | Lambeau FieldGreen Bay | Notre DameWisconsin+7 | — | 51m 42s | ||
| 9/3/26 | Notre Dame FootballWisconsin Badgers+4 | — | Notre DameWisconsin | Lambeau FieldGreen Bay | Notre DameWisconsin+5 | — | 45m 24s | ||
| 9/1/26 | Notre Dame Football2026 Season Preview+3 | Tim Murray | Notre Dame Fighting IrishMarcus Freeman | — | Notre Damefootball+4 | — | 52m 36s | ||
| 8/25/26 | Notre Dame footballfall camp+3 | — | — | — | Notre Damefootball+4 | — | 44m 27s | ||
| 8/21/26 | Notre Dame footballsideline reporting+4 | Caroline Pineda | NBCNotre Dame+1 | — | Notre DameCaroline Pineda+5 | — | 45m 01s | ||
| 8/13/26 | Notre Dame footballlive fan questions+5 | — | Notre Dame | Lambeau FieldWisconsin | Notre Damefootball+5 | — | 57m 49s | ||
| 8/8/26 | Notre Dame Footballfall practice+3 | — | Notre DameFighting Irish+2 | No. 5 | Notre DameFighting Irish+4 | — | 49m 26s | ||
| 8/6/26 | Notre Dame FootballFall Camp+3 | — | Notre DameUSC | — | Notre DameFall Camp+3 | — | 48m 51s | ||
| 7/31/26 | Notre Dame Footballalternate jerseys+3 | — | Notre DameFighting Irish | — | Notre Damefootball+3 | — | 43m 42s | ||
| 7/14/26 | Notre Dame FootballBrian Kelly+3 | Brian Kelly | Notre DameLSU | — | Notre DameBrian Kelly+5 | — | 40m 00s | ||
| 6/30/26 | fan surveyNotre Dame football+3 | — | The AthleticMarcus Freeman | Notre Dame | Notre Damefan survey+3 | — | 56m 34s | ||
| 6/27/26 | Notre Dame FootballESPN Rankings+3 | Adam Rittenberg | ESPNNotre Dame+1 | — | Notre DameESPN+3 | — | 32m 22s | ||
| 6/4/26 | Notre Dame footballoffseason moves+3 | — | Notre DameCFB27 | — | Notre Damefootball season+3 | — | 51m 04s | ||
| 5/15/26 | Notre DameACC spring meetings+3 | — | Fighting IrishACC | Amelia Island, Fla. | Notre DameACC+3 | — | 45m 05s | ||
| 4/26/26 | Notre Dame footballspring game recap+3 | — | Notre Dame | — | Notre Damespring game+6 | — | 53m 32s | ||
| 4/22/26 | Notre Dame FootballCJ Carr+3 | — | Notre DameMarcus Freeman | — | CJ CarrNotre Dame+3 | — | 45m 08s | ||
| 4/9/26 | NFL Draftspring ball updates+3 | — | Notre Dame | — | Notre DameNFL Draft+3 | — | 39m 42s | ||
| 4/1/26 | spring footballNotre Dame+3 | — | Notre Dame | — | Notre DameMarcus Freeman+3 | — | 49m 23s | ||
| 3/26/26 | spring footballNotre Dame+3 | — | Notre Dame | — | Notre Damespring football+3 | — | 42m 12s | ||
| 3/13/26 | Lou HoltzNotre Dame Football+4 | Jeff KilburgChris Zorich+2 | — | — | Lou HoltzNotre Dame+5 | — | 1h 13m 56s | ||
| 3/12/26 | Notre Dame basketballJordan Cornette+3 | Jordan Cornette | NBCFighting Irish | Notre Dame | Notre Damebasketball+3 | — | 36m 03s | ||
| 3/5/26 | Notre DameNFL Draft+3 | — | NFL Scouting CombineFighting Irish | — | Notre DameJeremiyah Love+3 | — | 48m 23s | ||
| 2/27/26 | Notre Dame footballquarterback situation+3 | — | Notre DameWisconsin+1 | — | Notre DameCJ Carr+3 | — | 44m 24s | ||
| 2/19/26 | College Football Playoffassistant coaching hires+3 | — | Big TenNotre Dame | — | College Football PlayoffBig Ten+3 | — | 58m 11s | ||
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Chart history for The Independent: A Notre Dame Football Podcast
Peaked at #29 in United States, currently #29 in United States.
| Market | Genre | Peak | Current | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | — | #29 | #29 | — |
| Ireland | — | #32 | #32 | — |
| Brazil | — | #32 | #32 | — |
| Netherlands | — | #44 | #44 | — |
| New Zealand | — | #47 | #47 | — |
| HK | — | #53 | #53 | — |
| Canada | — | #60 | #60 | — |
| CL | — | #63 | #63 | — |
| CO | — | #65 | #65 | — |
| India | — | #76 | #76 | — |
| United States | — | #82 | #82 | — |
| AR | — | #91 | #91 | — |
| South Korea | — | #136 | #136 | — |
| Spain | — | #146 | #146 | — |
| Japan | — | #164 | #164 | — |
| Brazil | — | #191 | #191 | — |
Chart Positions
16 placements across 14 markets.
Chart Positions
16 placements across 14 markets.