Fudd Around And Find Out

Episode Title: From Books to Broadcasting w/ Malika Andrews
Release Date: January 2, 2026
Host: Azzi Fudd with co-host Ashanti Plummer
Guest: Malika Andrews (ESPN host; first woman to host NBA Draft; Emmy winner)

Episode Overview

In this lively episode, UConn basketball star Azzi Fudd and co-host Ashanti Plummer sit down with acclaimed ESPN broadcaster Malika Andrews. The conversation dives deep into Malika’s love of books, her path from writing to TV, favorite book recommendations, the experience of hosting WNBA/NBA Drafts, and pivotal moments in her career. Listeners also get a window into the realities of being a student-athlete, favorite reading habits, and some “what the FUD?!” moments from both basketball and everyday life.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Life Between School and Basketball (02:39–04:43)

• Azzi describes the joy and relief of being on school break and focusing only on basketball: "Freedom. It's been really nice...just having like the extra downtime to just chill and be with everyone has been so nice." (02:47)
• Ashanti reflects on how periods like this in college athletics are “as close as you get to playing pro.”

2. Book Talk with Malika Andrews (04:43–17:32)

• Intro to Malika: Ashanti introduces Malika as the Emmy award-winning ESPN host and the first woman to host the NBA Draft.
• Malika’s Reading Habits: Malika shares her love for reading and reveals her ambitious goal from 2024: "In 2024, I had sort of delusional ambition...of reading 50 books." (05:02)
• Audiobooks: Malika says she now mixes audiobooks into her reading to hit her numbers and is a big supporter of them (both for accessibility and convenience).
• Preferred Genres: She loves historical fiction, especially with complex female protagonists—“Anything historical fiction, anything with a female protagonist that has sort of a maybe secret, dark, complicated past…Sign me up.” (05:53)
• Book Recommendations:
  • The Women by Kristin Hannah (highly endorsed by Malika and on Azzi's list; explores women in the Vietnam War)
  • The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah ("One of the best books I've ever read" —Azzi, 07:19)
  • Remarkably Bright Creatures
  • The Giver of Stars
  • The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo (Azzi & Malika both recommend)
  • The Only One Left (top pick for a page-turner per Malika)
• How Reading Fits Athlete Life: Azzi says she reads anywhere—plane, bus, car: “Any moving... No, I'm good.” (08:39)
• Reading to Avoid Screen Time: Malika started her 50-book quest to reduce endless scrolling and find a “mental reset button.” (09:54)
• Debate: Does Listening to Audiobooks Count as Reading?
  • Malika: “If there are people that the only way they're able to consume a book...I think that absolutely is reading.” (15:17)
  • Azzi recounts only using audiobooks to power through boring school assignments—“two times speed, let’s get through this.” (16:07)
• Tips: Malika uses 1.75x audiobook speed on her commutes to fit it all in.

Notable Quotes

• "The Women...it's a beautiful, complicated portrait of women in the Vietnam War...you have to, should, please read The Women." —Malika Andrews (07:39)
• “My quest to read 50 books was also to get my screen time down. Is there not something else I could be doing and learning and expanding in 8 hours and 44 minutes?” —Malika Andrews (09:54)

3. Malika’s Path from Books to Broadcasting (19:49–25:01)

When Did Malika Know She Wanted to Work in Sports? (19:49)

• Didn’t plan to work in sports until college; loved sports but never saw a career path blending that with her passion for English and writing.
• "I really, really wanted to be a writer," Malika says of her earliest journalism goals (19:53). She started as a beat reporter and only pivoted to TV when ESPN called with a digital-first opportunity.
• The turning point: “It was, it was a quality of life pivot...the newspaper industry was changing...and that made me nervous as a 22 year old who just wanted to have a job.” (21:04)

Does She Still Write?

• She journals but doesn’t write professionally at present, though she edits her sister and husband’s work for fun (22:38).

Hosting the WNBA Draft Lottery (23:53)

• "That was fun. Oh, it was so much fun. The stud buds are great...I liked having all of the reps in studio."
• Malika highlights the different vibe of the WNBA lottery versus NBA: “I’ve hosted the NBA draft lottery before and this had a different vibe to it, which I really enjoyed.” (23:56)
• Azzi describes the strange sensation of watching her future play out on TV: “It was very insane to think, is.” (25:01)

4. Welcome to the League Moments (27:52–32:14)

Malika’s ‘Welcome to the League’ Story (28:06)

• Malika recounts a press conference with Giannis Antetokounmpo after a tough playoff loss. She had reported on his future and asked a question in the post-game presser; Giannis walked out, which became a viral meme.
  • “I asked him the question and Giannis gets up and he walks out of the room and Chris Middleton, like, it became a meme and he's like, what just happened?” (28:23–28:31)
  • Malika later made sure to “close the loop” with Giannis: “The lesson is, always go back and have the conversation.” (32:04)

5. Fan Questions & Quick Hits (32:14–34:13)

Starting Five: Favorite Women’s College Players (32:14)

• Malika's picks:
  1. JuJu (“Electric when she’s playing”)
  2. Lauren Betts
  3. Audi Crooks
  4. KK Arnold
  5. Azzi Fudd (after some joking)
• “We might have some redundancy, but…we’re gonna stack up some W’s.” —Malika Andrews (33:39)

6. What the FUD of the Week (36:17–38:52)

• Malika: The Oklahoma City Thunder’s upset by the San Antonio Spurs, particularly Victor Wembanyama’s performance: “Anytime Vic is on the court...I’ve never seen what he can do at 7'5".” (36:45)
• Azzi: Accidentally signing someone’s Dallas Wings jersey with her name before she’s been drafted: “How do they have this already?” (37:23)
• Ashanti: Making it onto Azzi’s “papa’s” Instagram, which is known for impromptu, sometimes hilarious photos of the team. (38:03)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Book Recommendations:
  • “The Women is absolutely incredible. It's probably my favorite book right now.” —Malika (12:15)
  • “If you're a girly looking to get back into reading, Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is…that is the book that you gotta start with.” —Malika (13:45)
• On Welcome to the League:
  • “Getting walked out on in a press conference, I was like, oh, my gosh.” —Malika (31:35)
  • “You get dunked on so you can learn how to...be in better position and rotate better, right? And so that's what I did.” —Malika (31:40)
• Azzi on the Draft: "I'm really working on staying present...It was very insane to think, is." (25:01)
• Malika on Audiobooks: “Someone asked me if audiobooks count. They absolutely count, 100% for sure.” (15:07)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 02:39–04:43 — Life as a student-athlete on break
• 04:43–17:32 — Book talk, top book recommendations, audiobook habits
• 19:49–25:01 — Malika’s career path from writing to TV, hosting the draft
• 28:06–32:14 — Welcome to the league: Giannis press conference story
• 32:14–34:13 — Malika’s women's college basketball starting five
• 36:17–38:52 — What the FUD of the Week stories

Episode Tone & Style

The episode is warm, candid, and full of bookish enthusiasm and basketball insight. Malika comes across as thoughtful, energetic, and relatable. Azzi and Ashanti encourage plenty of laughter and playful teasing, especially during book comparisons and personal anecdotes.

Conclusion

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in basketball culture, the intersection of sports and storytelling, or just looking for excellent book recommendations from accomplished women at the top of their fields. Malika Andrews shines as both a sports media insider and a passionate reader, while Azzi and Ashanti blend athletic focus with curiosity and humor.

Closing note: Malika hints at a part two for more listener questions and book conversations, so stay tuned!