Basketball is more than competition—it’s creativity, design, music, and a way of shaping culture. In this second part of our pilot episode, we explore the game’s influence through two stories that highlight its reach beyond the court:

Design, Vision & Influence: Tokyo’s Premiere Basketball Café
In 1990, Slam Dunk introduced a generation to basketball in Japan. Years later, its creator, Takehiko Inoue, painted the walls of Coast2Coast, a Tokyo café built entirely around the culture of the game. For owner Megumi Wakazaki, basketball isn’t just a sport—it’s a sense of belonging. Her café is more than a place to watch games; it’s a community hub where hoops, art, and design converge.

A Deep Dive into the NBA Live 2003 Soundtrack
The only video game soundtrack to ever go platinum, NBA Live 2003 set a new standard for how music and sports interact. Two decades later, Will Gendron takes us inside its legacy—how it shaped sports video game soundtracks, influenced pop culture, and laid the foundation for today’s hyper-immersive gaming experiences. With insights from those who crafted its release, we look back at a time when basketball video games were simpler, before they became full-fledged lifestyle brands.

The Team Behind the Franchise Podcast:

Produced by Big Beach and Franchise Magazine.

Executive Producers: Kieron Banerji, Brittany Reeber, Michael B Clark, and Justin Montag

Marketing and Communications: _general population

Audio Production by Palm Tree Island

Contributors: Will Gendron, Megumi Wakazaki, and Thisanka Siripala

Creative: Samurai Snacks.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Basketball isn’t just a sport; it’s a culture. It fosters a sense of community, belonging, and creativity. You could even call it an art form—one that has shaped music, fashion, and design across the world. When you immerse yourself in basketball, you immerse yourself in art.

In this first part of our pilot episode, we explore the deep connection between basketball and creativity through two distinct stories:

Art Recognizes Art: Caris LeVert in Conversation with Jacob Rochester.
A player and an artist—two creators who express themselves in different mediums but speak the same language. In this conversation, moderated by Franchise, Atlanta Hawks shooting guard Caris LeVert and multidisciplinary artist Jacob Rochester discuss the intersection of basketball and art, their creative influences, and the ways the game has shaped their work.

Pick-Up Games in Warsaw.
On the courts of Świętokrzyski Park in Warsaw, basketball has become more than just a game. Since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, these courts have turned into a refuge for young Ukrainian players who have fled the war. Some have come alone, their families remaining behind. Others are building a future in a new city, unsure of when—or if—they’ll return home. But here, in the heart of Warsaw, the game gives them a moment of normalcy, a way to connect, and a place to belong.

The Team Behind the Franchise Podcast:

Produced by Big Beach and Franchise Magazine

Executive Producers: Kieron Banerji, Brittany Reeber, Michael B Clark, and Justin Montag

Marketing and Communications: _general population

Audio Production by Palm Tree Island

Contributors: Piotr Wołodzko and Taylor Jones

Creative: Samurai Snacks.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Introducing the Franchise Podcast, produced by Big Beach. This show is an authentic, diverse, and contemporary sonic exploration of global basketball culture. We’ve curated an unparalleled look into the game, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible at the intersection of sports and culture.

In each new episode of the Franchise podcast, you’ll hear unexpected conversations: players in dialogue with visual artists, musicians and other legends in their own lane; bringing out aspects of the sport that have never been explored.

We’ll travel across the globe, showing the ways basketball has transformed and is transformed by culture outside the U.S. And we’ll also do in-depth reporting, diving deep into a moment in time, a cultural phenomenon or a philosophical idea– all with hoops as the heartbeat of it all.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.