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On December 12th, Noah Lyles decided to shake things up in the track and field world by dropping something totally unexpected—his own podcast! Teaming up with fellow Olympic gold medalists Grant Holloway and Rai Benjamin, the trio launched the ‘Beyond The Records Podcast’, a groundbreaking venture that’s literally rewriting the playbook. Imagine three Olympic icons hosting a show together—it’s as legendary as it sounds. And their latest guest? None other than YouTube sensation MrBeast! With his colossal fanbase of over 500 million across social media and Noah’s own loyal followers, you’d think this episode would’ve shattered the internet, right? But, surprise, surprise—it didn’t exactly set the world on fire.

On December 20, Erin Brown didn’t hold back as he hopped on X to share his two cents about Noah Lyles’ podcast numbers. He posted two screenshots—one from YouTube and another from Instagram—showing none other than MrBeast as the special guest on Beyond The Records. His caption? Let’s just say it stirred the pot: “Before y’all say I’m hating… remember, men lie, women lie, numbers don’t! So Noah Lyles (The biggest male track athlete) did a YouTube podcast with the biggest YouTuber on earth (MrBeast 339 Million Subscribers) and got 1,000 views in a day??? Track is dead.”

The video, titled “MR BEAST Reveals Living in the Pyramids, BEAST GAMES Secrets, and Cancelled Ideas—BTR EP2,” has since climbed to around 5.1K views. But even with MrBeast’s massive 339 million-strong YouTube army, those numbers are leaving folks scratching their heads. How does something this epic fly so under the radar? Maybe the track-and-field crowd isn’t vibing with podcasts—or maybe, just maybe, the game’s about to change.

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On one side, there’s MrBeast, whose massive social media presence includes over 500 million followers across various platforms. Known for extreme stunts and jaw-dropping contests, MrBeast has captivated audiences with videos like spending weeks in a bunker to win huge cash prizes. With over 320 million subscribers on YouTube and billions of views, his influence is unparalleled.

On the other hand, Noah Lyles has built a strong following of 1.5 million across his platforms, but the scale of his reach still falls short compared to MrBeast’s global dominance. Despite their massive stardom and massive fan bases, the YouTube video still struggled to gain views. But hey, that may be exactly what Noah Lyles is aiming for with his new podcast—building something fresh and unique.

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Noah Lyles’ new podcast with a purpose!

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Is track and field losing its appeal, or is podcasting just not the right platform?

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Olympic gold medalists Noah Lyles, Grant Holloway, and Rai Benjamin have teamed up to launch Beyond The Records Podcast. This podcast takes fans beyond the track with raw stories and insights straight from the athletes themselves. Lyles shared his excitement, saying, “What’s up, everybody. You’ve seen us on the track, and now it’s time to see us off the track. From rivalries on the track to what really went down in the village, we’re bringing you everything you didn’t see on TV—and yeah, we are naming names. Mark your calendars. On December 12th, we’re bringing the heat.”

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The podcast kicked off on December 12th, featuring untold stories from the Paris Olympics and teasing future episodes with exciting guests. Lyles and his co-hosts aren’t just focused on track and field—they’re exploring real, relatable topics that go beyond the sport. Lyles pointed out, “Track and field has struggled with popularity compared to leagues like the NBA and NFL.” He believes building connections and personal branding are key. “You look at our sport, and we don’t even hang out with the athletes in our own sport,” Lyles said. “How can we get to this higher level that we all talk about if we don’t even show respect for one another?”

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With ‘Beyond The Records Podcast’, Noah Lyles is making it clear that this is about more than just running on a track. It’s about creating a space where fans can feel connected and athletes can share a side of the sport they don’t often get to show. From behind-the-scenes moments to heartfelt conversations, this podcast aims to make track and field feel more accessible and exciting than ever before. But will they succeed? Only time will tell!

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Is track and field losing its appeal, or is podcasting just not the right platform?