‘Against the Grain’ puts Rice Athletics back on the radio waves

By Diego Palos Rodriguez     4/15/25 10:50pm

In the midst of ktru’s music rotation of indie rock, jazz, Brazilian funk and more, there is an 8 a.m. Saturday slot completely dedicated to talking about sports at Rice, in Houston and around the world. 

After years of deliberation, Chloe Singer, producer of “Against the Grain” and a sport management major, was finally able to set her idea for a Rice sports radio show into motion last semester, with their first episode releasing Oct. 31.

“I had always wanted to do a sports radio show here at Rice coming in freshman year but was struggling to find the right infrastructure,” said Singer, a Duncan College senior. “I had some friends in ktru [who were] interested in adding podcasts as a potential part of ktru. I had a previous NFL podcast, so as those discussions developed, the conversation shifted to, ‘Okay, what if we had a sports talk show?’”

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Shortly after the show was confirmed, Singer reached out to sport management professor Tom Stallings to recruit students who would be interested in working on the podcast, through which the podcast found many of its members. 

While “Against the Grain” features a number of contributors, a cohort of about six students participate in the podcast weekly.

Sport analytics major Ian Kleppinger leads off every episode with a segment called “Around the Hedges,” highlighting sports news from Rice.

“We want to update people because there aren’t [many students that are] closely following tennis or even baseball or volleyball, so here we can update them on that,” said Kleppinger, a Duncan junior.

After “Around the Hedges,” the show transitions to its lead segment, covering topics such as the Super Bowl, March Madness, NFL coaching changes and even Beer Bike. Next, they air an interactive trivia game before transitioning to their second main segment. They conclude each episode by sharing sports hot takes and game predictions. 

Kleppinger said that between researching each segment topic, attending team meetings and recording, the process can take up to seven hours a week. 

“I think when we first started, it felt way too rehearsed,” Kleppinger said. “We had pages and pages of information, there was no way we were going to say all that.” 

The preparation and execution of each episode have evolved as its hosts become more familiar with the process, he said.

“I think we’re funnier [now],” Kleppinger continued. “I think we’re more entertaining and honestly make better arguments and points when we’re in that sweet spot of not too much, not too little prep, which is also something you get better at with practice.”

Although a lot of effort goes into the production of each episode, all of which are recorded at least a day before they air, their main goal is to engage with the audience on a more intimate level.

“At the end of the day, [what] we’re going for is a group of friends sitting down talking about sports, with added research, added preparation and occasionally some analytic support,” Singer said. 

Growing up in Lincoln, Neb., Kleppinger’s mission is to bring a college-town feel to the greater Rice and Houston community, something he believes has been missing.

“Everything sports-related in Lincoln is about the Huskers, so I have this vision of trying to replicate that really big college sports town atmosphere,” Kleppinger said. “I want all the hours I’m putting in [to contribute to] that connection, that meaning for somebody who will look back and be like, ‘Oh, this is my connection, my experience with Rice Athletics, with the local Houston sports scene,’ kind of the same way I do with my hometown.”

Despite her upcoming graduation, Singer believes that “Against the Grain” has the potential to continue to inform the Rice and Houston communities well after the end of this semester.

“I think that we’ve laid enough foundation that things will continue on,” Singer said. “We already have standardized practices and there’s enough infrastructure and interest [for it to] carry on.”

The podcast, which can be found on Spotify, iHeartRadio and Amazon Music, continues to evolve in terms of content and reach. 

Luke McCaffrey, former Rice football player and current Washington Commanders wide receiver, will join “Against the Grain” April 26.

“It’s really exciting to have a big guest like McCaffrey on the show,” Singer said. “Moving forward, we hope to continue to showcase current and former Rice athletes who are making an impact in their field.”

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