January 30, 2020 9:00 pm

In Time for Super Bowl LIV, Neil deGrasse Tyson and Tony Gonzalez Tackle Football, Physics, Veganism, and More

You know what happens when you put your favorite astrophysicist in a room with an NFL Legend? You get a conversation that covers everything from football to quantum physics. On this pre-Super Bowl LIV episode of StarTalk Sports Edition, host Neil deGrasse Tyson sits down with legendary NFL tight end Tony Gonzalez to discuss his prolific career on the Kansas City Chiefs and the Atlanta Falcons and his life after football.

Neil is joined in studio by co-hosts Gary O’Reilly and Chuck Nice. Before we get into Neil’s interview with Tony, we discuss the upcoming Super Bowl LIV featuring a showdown between Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs and Jimmy Garoppolo and the San Francisco 49ers. We break down what each team must do to win the game. Find out why Chuck is rooting for the Chiefs. Also, as a former professional player, Gary explains how never winning a championship impacts great players.

Then it’s Tony time. Tony tells Neil about his dual-sport upbringing and the reason he chose to play football over basketball. We investigate Tony’s incredible NFL career. You’ll hear his early struggles with fumbles and injury. Find out what made him change his ways which then allowed him to thrive in the NFL.

Tony and Neil explore how failures can lead to greatness. Discover more about Tony’s transition into veganism. You’ll learn about his scare with leukemia as well as overcoming Bell’s Palsy. We chart the drastic changes made in the NFL to help players take care of themselves during the season. Tony reflects on his early years in the league and why they were the furthest thing from how players get treatment today.

Then, it’s Tony’s turn to ask the questions and he does not disappoint. We dive into the microscopic weirdness of quantum physics. You’ll hear about the expansion of the universe and if it’ll ever stop expanding. Lastly, Tony relays the importance of educating yourself in order to succeed. All that, plus, Chuck and Gary weigh in on Tony’s legacy and impact on the NFL and players in the league today.

You can find Conquering the Game, with Tony Gonzalez right here on our website, as well as on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, SoundCloud, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn and the StarTalk Sports Edition YouTube channel. If you’re a StarTalk+ Patron or an All-Access subscriber, you can watch or listen to this episode ad-free.

StarTalk Sports Edition will be found every other Friday in the main StarTalk feed wherever you listen to podcasts.

That’s it for now. Keep Looking Up!
-Ian Mullen