Shows / First Word
First Word
First Word with James Rapien is Cincinnati’s ONLY daily morning sports show, delivering the latest news, analysis, and insider insight on the biggest stories in sports.
Rapien is joined by Marisa Contipelli and Jacob Tissot to cover everything happening with the Bengals, Reds, FC Cincinnati, Bearcats, Musketeers and Ohio State Buckeyes.
From breaking news and game reactions to exclusive interviews, roster updates, and expert analysis, First Word gets you caught up on everything you need to know…
Episodes
- First Word
7/2/26: Hours 3 and 4, NBA Free Agency, Reds
Topics include: NBA Free Agency, plus Cincinnati Reds -------------------------------------------- Subscribe to First Word on YouTube…
- First Word
7/1/26: Hours 1 and 2, Nick Hagglund Interview, Zac Taylor Discussion
Topics include: World Cup preview interview with Nick Hagglund, Zac Taylor discussion -------------------------------------------- Subscribe to First Word on…
- First Word
6/30/26: Hours 3 and 4, Bengals Contracts, Reds and Brewers Series Discussion
Topics include: Cincinnati Bengals contract negotiations, Cincinnati Reds and Milwaukee Brewers series, and Contipelli's Countdown…
- First Word
6/30/26: Hours 1 and 2, Reds Blow Another Lead, Bengals Contracts
Topics include: Cincinnati Reds blow another late lead and lose to the Milwaukee Brewers, plus Cincinnati Bengals contracts…
- First Word
6/29/26: Hours 3 and 4, Contipelli's Countdown, Reds/Brewers Preview
Topics include: Contipelli's Countdown, a preview of the Cincinnati Reds/Milwaukee Brewers series, Buy or Sell, and more…
- First Word
6/29/26: Hours 1 and 2, Reds Success in Pittsburgh, NFL Top 100 List, DJ Turner Hint?
The first two hours of First Word with James Rapien, including a discussion about the Cincinnati Reds winning their series against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Pete…
- First Word
6/26/26: Hours 3 and 4, Paul Fritschner Joins, Reds/Pirates Preview
Paul Fritschner of the Rebound Rundown joins the show, and the crew previews the Reds and Pirates series. --------------------------------------------…
- First Word
6/26/26: Hours 1 and 2, Reds Discussion, WNBA Officiating
Cincinnati Reds discussion and WNBA officiating. -------------------------------------------- Subscribe to First Word on YouTube…
- First Word
6/25/26: Hours 3 and 4, Game of "Real or Ridiculous"
The second half of First Word, including a game of "Real or Ridiculous." -------------------------------------------- Subscribe to First Word on YouTube…
- First Word
6/25/26: Hours 1 and 2, Reds Season Spiraling, Bengals Embracing Pressure
The first two hours of First Word with James Rapien, including a long discussion about the Cincinnati Reds after they were swept by the Milwaukee Brewers…
- First Word
6/24/26: Hours 3 and 4, Darrin Horn Interview, Reds/Brewers Preview
The second half of First Word with James Rapien, including an interview with Northern Kentucky head men's basketball coach Darrin Horn…
- First Word
6/24/26: Hours 1 and 2, Reds Lose Series, and Headlines
The first two hours of First Word with James Rapien from June 24th, 2026, including discussion about the Cincinnati Reds losing the series against the…
- First Word
6/23/26: Hours 3 and 4, Contipelli's Countdown, Reds/Brewers Talk
The second half of First Word with James Rapien from June 23rd, 2026, including Contipelli's Countdown, and a preview of Reds/Brewers on Tuesday…
- First Word
6/23/26: Hours 1 and 2, Reds Lose to Brewers, NBA Draft Talk
The Cincinnati Reds lost to the Milwaukee Brewers in extra innings on Monday night at Great American Ball Park. Also, some NBA Draft talk…
- First Word
6/22/26: Hours 3 and 4, Reds vs. Brewers, Dusty May to the Dallas Mavericks
The second half of First Word with James Rapien from June 22nd, 2026, including a preview of the Cincinnati Reds vs. Milwaukee Brewers, and Michigan head coach…
- First Word
6/22/26: Hours 1 and 2, Reds Win Series vs. Yankees
The first two hours of First Word with James Rapien from June 22nd, 2026, including the Cincinnati Reds winning their weekend series against the New York…
- First Word
6/19/26: Hours 3 and 4, Interview with Greg Garza Previewing USMNT
The second half of First Word with James Rapien, including an interview with Greg Garza, a former FC Cincinnati and USMNT player, breaking down Friday's USMNT…
- First Word
6/19/26: Hours 1 and 2, Bengals Young Talent, Headlines, Brendan Sorsby Discussion
The first half of First Word with James Rapien from June 19th, 2026, including a discussion about the Cincinnati Bengals young talent, headlines, and a…
- First Word
6/18/26: Hours 3 and 4, Contipelli's Countdown, Reds Outlook
The second half of First Word with James Rapien from June 18th, 2026, including discussion about the Cincinnati Reds and sound from Zac Taylor's press…
- First Word
6/18/26: Hours 1 and 2, Mike Petraglia Interview
The first half of First Word with James Rapien from June 18th, 2026, including an interview with Mike Petraglia talking about the Cincinnati Reds…
- First Word
INTERVIEW: Barrett Carter on Bengals Defense, Dexter Lawrence Trade & Linebacker Room
Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Barrett Carter joined the show to discuss the state of the defense, including his reaction to the Dexter Lawrence trade, his role…
- First Word
6/17/26: Hours 3 and 4, Part 2 of Barrett Carter Interview, Reds/Mets Preview
The final two hours of First Word with James Rapien from June 17th, including the second part of the interview with Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Barrett…
- First Word
6/17/26: Hours 1 and 2, First Half of Barrett Carter Interview, Reds Win Series over Mets
The first two hours of First Word with James Rapien, including the first half of the interview with Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Barrett Carter, and the…
- First Word
6/16/26: Hours 3 and 4, Paul Dehner Jr. Interview
Paul Dehner Jr., Senior Writer and The Growler Podcast host covering the Cincinnati Bengals, joins the second half of First Word with James Rapien…
- First Word
6/16/26: Hours 1 and 2, Reds Dominate Mets
The Cincinnati Reds began their series against the New York Mets with a 12-0 win on Monday night. Hear about all of that and more in the first half of June…
- First Word
6/15/26: Hours 3 and 4, Brian Parker II Interview, Reds-Mets Preview
2026 Bengals draft pick Brian Parker II, a 2022 St. Xavier high school graduate, joins the First Word crew. Plus, topics including the Cincinnati Reds series…
- First Word
6/15/26: Hours 1 and 2, Reds Lose Series, Bengals Trade Opportunities, and Knicks Win Title
The first two hours of First Word with James Rapien from June 15th, including the Cincinnati Reds losing their series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, the…
- First Word
6/12/26: Hours 3 and 4, Geoff Cameron World Cup Preview, and Reds Talk
The second half of First Word with James Rapien, including an interview with Geoff Cameron previewing the World Cup, and Reds talking entering their series…
- First Word
6/12/26: Hours 1 and 2, While You Slept, Bengals Ring of Honor
The first two hours of First Word with James Rapien, including headlines from while you were sleeping, Bengals Ring of Honor discussion, and more…
- First Word
6/11/26: Hours 3 and 4, Contipelli's Countdown, Cashius Howell Contract, and Reds
The second half of First Word with James Rapien, including Contipelli's Countdown, the Cashius Howell contract, and the Reds…
- First Word
6/11/26: Hours 1 and 2, Reds Lose on Walk-off, Knicks Comeback
The Cincinnati Reds lost to the San Diego Padres on a walk-off home run. The New York Knicks completed the largest comeback in NBA Finals history. All of that…
- First Word
6/10/26: Hours 3 and 4, John Fanta NBA Finals Preview
The second half of First Word with James Rapien from June 10th, 2026, including an NBA Finals Game 4 preview with NBC broadcaster John Fanta…
- First Word
6/10/26: Hours 1 and 2, Bengals Restructure Joe Burrow's Contract, Reds Win in Extras
The first two hours of First Word with James Rapien from June 10th, 2026. Topics include the Cincinnati Bengals restructuring Joe Burrow's contract and the…
- First Word
6/9/26: Hours 3 and 4, Ben Baby Interview
The second half of First Word with James Rapien from June 9th, 2026, including an in-studio interview with Ben Baby, Bengals reporter for ESPN…
- First Word
6/9/26: Hours 1 and 2, Reds Lose, Bengals Schedule Game, Spurs Win
The first two hours of First Word with James Rapien from June 9th, 2026, including discussions about the Cincinnati Reds losing to the San Diego Padres…
- First Word
6/8/26: Hours 3 and 4, Texas Tech QB Brendan Sorsby Ruled Eligible
The second half of First Word with James Rapien, including a discussion about Texas Tech QB Brendan Sorsby being ruled eligible for the 2026 season…
- First Word
6/8/26: Hours 1 and 2, Reds Get Swept
The first two hours of First Word with James Rapien from June 8th, 2026, focusing on the Reds getting swept in St. Louis by the Cardinals…
- First Word
INTERVIEW: Orlando Brown Jr. Breaks Down Bengals' Offseason, Joe Burrow, Contract Extension & More
Orlando Brown Jr. joins First Word to discuss the Cincinnati Bengals' busy offseason, his new contract extension, the state of the offensive line, and…
- First Word
6/5/26: Hours 3 and 4, Orlando Brown Jr. Interview
The second half of First Word with James Rapien from June 5th, 2026. Includes an interview with Cincinnati Bengals left tackle Orlando Brown Jr…
- First Word
6/5/26: Hours 1 and 2, Reds/Cardinals, Reds Trade Opportunities, Bengals Talk
The first two hours of the First Word with James Rapien from June 5th, 2026. ----------------------------------------------------------- Follow Jack on Twitter…
- First Word
INTERVIEW: Fox19's Joe Danneman (6/4/26)
Fox19 Sports Director Joe Danneman joins First Word to discuss the Cincinnati Reds, the Bengals, and the NBA. Bengals topics include OTAs and the vibe around…
- First Word
INTERVIEW: Cincinnati Reds Pre and Postgame Host Brian Giesenschlag (6/4/26)
Cincinnati Reds pre and postgame host Brian Giesenschlag joins the show to talk about the injuries the Reds have suffered as well as the issues the Reds have…
- First Word
INTERVIEW: ESPN Senior NFL Reporter Jeremy Fowler (6/4/26)
The First Word crew was joined Thursday by ESPN Senior NFL Reporter Jeremy Fowler to talk about the Cincinnati Bengals from a national perspective as well as…
- First Word
6/4/26: Hours 3 and 4, Interviews with ESPN's Jeremy Fowler and Fox19's Joe Danneman
The second half of First Word with James Rapien from June 4th, 2026, including interviews with Jeremy Fowler of ESPN and Joe Danneman of Fox19…
- First Word
6/4/26: Hours 1 and 2, Interview with Brian Giesenschlag
The first two hours of First Word with James Rapien from June 4th, 2026, including an interview with Cincinnati Reds pre and postgame host Brian Giesenschlag…
- First Word
INTERVIEW: Bengals Center Ted Karras
Cincinnati Bengals center Ted Karras stops by the First Word studio to talk about the Dexter Lawerence trade, Joe Burrow's "Super Bowl" comments, Karras'…
- First Word
6/3/26: Hours 3 and 4, Ted Karras, Royals/Reds, NBA Finals Preview
The second half of First Word with James Rapien from June 3rd, 2026. This half of the show includes an interview with Bengals center Ted Karras, Royals vs…
- First Word
6/3/26: Hours 1 and 2, Reds Walk-Off Win
The first two hours of First Word from June 3rd, 2026. -------------------------------------------- Subscribe to First Word on YouTube…
- First Word
6/2/26: Hours 3-4, Myles Garrett Trade and Reds Updates
The final two hours of First Word with James Rapien from June 2nd. -------------------------------------------- Subscribe to First Word on YouTube…
- First Word
6/2/26: Hours 1-2, Including Interview with Roman Celentano (FC Cincinnati Goalkeeper)
The first two hours of June 2nd's First Word with James Rapien. Includes Marisa Contipelli's sit-down interview with FC Cincinnati goalkeeper Roman Celentano…
- First Word
6/1/26: Hours 3-4, Bengals Assistant GM Steve Radicevic
The 9-11am portion of First Word from 6/1/26, debut day for First Word. This portion includes an interview with Bengals Assistant GM Steve Radicevic…
- First Word
6/1/26: Hours 1-2, The Debut of First Word, Paul Dehner Jr. In-Studio
Welcome to First Word with James Rapien! This is hours 1-2 from the debut show, including an interview with Cincinnati Bengals beat writer Paul Dehner Jr. of…
- First Word
Trailer: First Word
Wake up with "First Word," the only morning sports show in Cincinnati. Hosted by Bengals insider James Rapien, Marisa Contipelli, and Jacob Tissot, this is…