Commentary is integral to sports, and some of the best commentary out there now exists in podcast form. Whatever your game or your team, you can find a show — or several — with tailored postgame analysis, while other podcasts offer a deep dive into news stories with implications beyond sports itself, like China’s clash with the N.B.A. And since it was true crime that brought podcasting into the mainstream, it’s no surprise that there are also plenty of deeply reported audio documentaries exploring the darker side of athleticism, including the death of Aaron Hernandez and the disgraced guru behind Bikram yoga.

Here are seven podcasts about sports that are worth your time, whether you’re a die-hard aficionado, a casual World Series watcher or simply a fan of great storytelling.

‘30 for 30’

Since its genesis in 2009, ESPN’s “30 For 30” series has established itself as the gold standard of modern sports documentaries, and its relatively new audio spinoff is no exception. Much like the original, the podcast shifts nimbly in tone from episode to episode, telling self-contained stories on subjects ranging from the historic Yankees-Red Sox rivalry to the first all-women’s expedition to the North Pole. Last year the show ventured into longer-form storytelling with a compelling five-part series about Bikram Choudhury, the hot-yoga guru who developed a cult following in the literal sense and has been accused of wielding his position to manipulate, bully and sexually abuse his followers.

Starter episode: “BIKRAM Part 1: Arrival”

‘Gladiator: Aaron Hernandez and Football Inc.’

One of the most haunting tragedies in modern sports is brought to life in this rigorously reported six-part series from Wondery, the network behind the true-crime hits “Dirty John” and “Dr. Death.” Two years on from the death of Aaron Hernandez, the N.F.L. star who was convicted of murder and killed himself in prison, The Boston Globe’s Spotlight team examines his downfall in the context of the league’s corporate machine and the physical risks its players take in the name of glory. Through interviews with Hernandez’s former teammates and coach, and extraordinary audio of the phone calls he made from prison, Gladiator explores the thorny subject of C.T.E. — the degenerative brain condition caused by repeated head trauma, from which Hernandez suffered — and the overuse of pain medication in the N.F.L. All the while, the podcast paints a picture of a deeply troubled young man that is addictive without ever being sensationalistic.