Francesa sez he would be YUGE at it after WFAN

The Sports Pope could soon become The Podfather.

Mike Francesa, leaving WFAN at the end of the year, teased that podcasting could be his next venture in an interview with “The Ringer.”

Francesa didn’t exactly sound thrilled with the format, but didn’t completely dismiss the idea, either. When asked what interested him in podcasting, he said “right now, nothing.”

“It’s a folly. They’re doing it wrong,” Francesa said.

The radio host said podcasting could “possibly” be next for him and he claims he could change what he thinks is wrong with the world of podcasts.

“I’m not telling you yet because I know how to fix it,” Francesa said.

If Francesa does decide to do a podcast, it’s possible he could end up having one for Bill Simmons’ “The Ringer” podcast network.

Simmons has co-hosted with Francesa before and also currently has one of the most popular sports podcasts. Comedian Larry Wilmore recently launched a podcast with The Ringer and joining Simmons would be a way for Francesa to bring his large audience to a network that already has a strong following.

However, knowing the ego of the Sports Pope, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he launched his own show on his own network.

He hinted at this, bringing up the idea of starting one based on “his brand.”

“First of all, if you go into the podcast business without a brand, you’re dead,” Francesa said. “You have to be a brand … Simmons does that. Carolla does that. Beck does that. I will do that. … I’m going to do well in that business as soon as I walk into it because I’m a brand.”

Francesa concluded that if he does go down the podcasting road it will have to be with someone else’s money.

“Only the way smart people do it. OPM—other people’s money. … I’ll give them my ideas as long as I get paid well first. I don’t give it away,” Francesa said.

Podcasting might take away one of the highlights of Francesa’s current WFAN show − the callers. However, when asked what he’d miss about the WFAN callers, Francesa said “sometimes nothing because they can be tedius.”

“If I just say, ‘Thank you for that,’ or, ‘Thanks for being a part of my show,’ when they were vapid or dull or brought the show to a halt, man, it just doesn’t play. It’s not real,” Francesa said. “But, when I go after them or when I really give it to them or make fun of them or yell or whatever it is — that’s natural. When I emote, I emote realistically.”

After 30 years on the New York airwaves, Francesa’s final show on WFAN will be on Dec. 15.