The Super Bowl has evolved from just an American football game to an annual entertainment spectacle. But how did the Super Bowl manage to live up to its name so much?

Why is football so deeply rooted in American life?

And what does America's love of sport tell us about their national identity?

In this episode, we explore how a national sport became a multi-billion dollar economy as we answer the question… what makes the Super Bowl so super?

From the faculty this week, and making his professional debut on the podcast, is Thomas Ruys Smith, Professor of American Literature and Culture and Deputy Director of Area Studies at the University of East Anglia.

And our special guest is a guy who, to many NFL podcast fans, will be a very recognisable voice. Robert Mays is the host of The Athletic Football Show and all-round expert of the sport.

Additional Resources:

PODCAST: The Athletic Football Show

WEBSITE: NFL Website

BOOK: The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane

If you enjoy this episode, you might also like:

What Makes the Super Bowl so Super?

When Did the USA Last Host the Olympics?

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This episode is sponsored by What's Your Map

What's Your Map is the British Podcast Award-winning show from map expert Professor Jerry Brotton. In each episode, he invites a special guest to share a map that means something to them. It's a fascinating show, and you can listen to the new season right now: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/whats-your-map/id1766500219