Meet KC women behind growing Chiefs podcast, breaking ground in male-dominated field
In the predominantly male-dominated realm of sports podcasting, where in-depth game analysis is often led by men, two Kansas City women are making their mark.
They created a niche within the Chiefs fan community with their female-hosted podcast which offers a fresh and insightful perspective on the team, game-day play and everything Chiefs related.
Now in its third season, The Kingdom’s Queens podcast, is hosted by Jodi Newsome and Lexi Osborne, two lifelong Chiefs fans.
Newsome and Osborne started out as strangers from different walks of life who connected on Twitter (now X) four years ago. The two were often the only female voices in male dominated social media forums and groups where they began to bond over their passion for the Chiefs.
“Me and Lexi were pretty much like the only women who really spoke about The Chiefs,” said Newsome.
That sparked the idea of creating an all-female hosted podcast focused on Chiefs coverage.
The women initially intended to feature a panel of four women, but scheduling conflicts ultimately led to Newsome and Osborne becoming the sole hosts of the show.
Neither Newsome, of Kansas City, nor Osborne, who’s from Overland Park, Kansas, had any prior podcasting or broadcasting experience, and both were initially nervous about being the only female voices in a male-dominated Chiefs fandom.
But as the Kansas City Chiefs near the chance of securing a historic third straight Super Bowl win, the two hosts are grateful to be among the voices offering fresh perspectives on the weekly happenings in the Chiefs Kingdom.
The two women launched their podcast at the perfect time — the start of the 2023 season — coinciding with the Chiefs’ first of what they are hoping will be three consecutive, Super Bowl appearances.
“I never really even considered it,” said Osborne, a photographer and social media manager. “The Chiefs were doing so well and there were no women-driven podcast for them so we saw an opportunity and took it.”
The podcast has grabbed the attention of a lot of female Chiefs fans—both long-time Chiefs fans and those who are newly discovering the sport.
“We really try to break things down to where if you’re a new fan you understand what is going on and we’re not going to make you feel silly,” said Newsome, a content creator. “A lot of our fans come back because every single week they feel like they learn something new.”
Newsome and Osborne attribute the Chiefs’ devoted fanbase to the humility shaped by years of struggle and losses.
“I remember sitting out in Arrowhead in negative degree weather when we had two-and-14 seasons and just not a good football team,” said Newsome. “So, to be able to see just all of the things that this team has been able to overcome, but also seeing how the players really give back to the community, I think it kind of helps amplify why we are creating history here in Kansas City.”
It’s obvious that in recent years, particularly over the past five, the team’s popularity has surged. The podcasting duo believes the Chiefs story has inspired local residents, including themselves, to discover their own potential.
“I think it’s really cool just how this team has grown,” said Osborne. “I appreciate every moment of it because you’re literally living through history. And I think the city’s always been very loyal, but I do think it’s come to another level now watching this success.”
The show, which originally provided weekly rundowns of games, discussing plays, players, injuries, and predictions for the upcoming week, has evolved recently. Osborne and Newsome now not only offer recaps but also built relationships with Chiefs players like Creed Humphrey, who plays center and wears number 52, and Carson Steele, a running back who wears number 42.
Since a lot of fans seem to be interested in players’ lives off the field, they’ve expanded their coverage to explore areas previously untouched by other Chiefs podcasts, such as interviewing the mothers and significant others of players to gain unique insights.
News and NFL reports and social media traffic indicates, that Taylor Swift’s relationship with Chief’s tight end Travis Kelce has increased the number of casual female fans following the Chiefs. Those new viewers, Osborne said, are seeking more information about the game. A female-led show about the Chiefs was the natural solution.
“I think we got a ton of Swifties supporting us now,” said Osborne. “It is awesome to see her embrace our city and I think we all really respect Taylor Swift seeing everything she has done to come here and be apart of the Chiefs Kingdom is really cool.”
While The Kingdom’s Queens are excited to welcome more women into the Chiefs podcasting community, they emphasize that their show is for all Chiefs fans. Despite being female-hosted and driven, the two Kansas City area natives note their show’s fanbase is evenly split between male and female listeners.
That’s not to say the podcasting duo has not heard from male listeners critical about women discussing sports.
“I’m going to be me and Lexi will say what she wants to say,” said Newsome. “I’m very analytical, I will do research before I say anything just because people are wanting us to have a downfall, so it’s important for me and to always be 110% correct.”
Osborne, who describes herself as a “people pleaser,” found it harder to handle the criticism compared to her co-host and had to learn not to let those opinions bother her so much.
“I didn’t like getting criticism but I really had to get over that and had to develop a thick skin,” said Osborne. “There is always going to be trolls out there that don’t like your opinion or agree with it. I can’t tell you how many times I have been told to get back in the kitchen but you just have to roll with it.”
Despite some negative feedback, Newsome and Osborne said they are proud to occupy this space in sports podcasting. They are thrilled seeing the popularity of their hometown team grow, not only nationally but internationally. They’ve had listeners engaging with their platform from around the globe.
The Kingdom’s Queens Podcast team said they’re confident the Chiefs can secure a third Super Bowl victory.
And when that’s locked down the duo aims to expand their brand into an even more respected sports platform, breaking down barriers for football coverage through nontraditional outlets.
Osborne envisions a future where they are in the same rooms as players, asking them questions directly.
“I would say our biggest challenge is still trying to get into those media rooms because we are independent,” she said.
As they work to form new partnerships and expand into Kingdom’s Queens merchandise, the hosts are optimistic that support and interest will keep coming and more women will step into career spaces where their voices are underrepresented.
“Just being women talking sports, you don’t see it often,” said Newsome. “Me and Lexi are really trying to make our footprint in Kansas City and not just with the Chiefs but all of the sports teams. So we are working hard to build our brand so we can be recognized.”
