Scoop: Sports podcast company Blue Wire expands

• Blue Wire, which has grown to over 200 podcasts and 35 full-time employees, will handle sales, marketing and content production for both shows.
• "We see this as an opportunity to grow ["Road Trippin'"] and keep fulfilling our mission since day one: No one tells our story better than us," Jefferson tells Axios.

The big picture: In the past, if an athlete wanted to speak candidly, they would do a sit-down interview or write a book. Now, they start a podcast — or at least appear as a guest on one.

• Companies are starting to recruit athletes with audio aspirations to build their podcasts on their platforms. Some, like Barstool Sports, are media brands. Others, like Blue Wire, are more like networks.
• Former NFL player Chris Long brought his podcast, "Green Light," to Blue Wire in June, and Raiders Pro Bowler Maxx Crosby will launch his show from Blue Wire's studio inside Wynn Las Vegas' hotel lobby.