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 before the day starts. Watch LIVE weekdays from 7-11AM ET on YouTube and the Rock Entertainment Sports Network, or listen on demand anytime.

If you're looking for a Cincinnati sports podcast that keeps you informed every morning, First Word is your go-to show.
Follow the show and start your morning with First Word.

Listen on:

Episodes

5 days ago

10/26/26: Hours 1 and 2, Bengals beat Ravens 35-13 after Huge Second Half

5 days ago

1 hr 27 min

The Cincinnati Bengals scored five touchdowns in the second half to beat the Baltimore Ravens 35-13 in Baltimore on Sunday.
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5 days ago

1 hr 27 min

Oct 23, 2026

10/23/26: Hours 3 and 4, Mike Petraglia Interview, Bengals Over/Unders, World Series Predictions

Oct 23, 2026

1 hr 26 min

Topics include: interview with Mike Petraglia of CLNS Cincy, Contipelli's Countdown, Bengals trade options, World Series predictions, and more
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Oct 23, 2026

1 hr 26 min

Oct 23, 2026

10/23/26: Hours 1 and 2, Bengals vs. Ravens, Wyler Keys to the Game, Marisa's Matchup

Oct 23, 2026

1 hr 26 min

Topics include: Bengals vs. Ravens thoughts, Keys to the Game presented by the Jeff Wyler Automotive Family, Marisa's Matchup, and more
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Oct 23, 2026

1 hr 26 min

Oct 22, 2026

10/22/26: Hours 3 and 4, John Sheeran and Brad Evans Interviews, NIL Arms Race

Oct 22, 2026

1 hr 26 min

Topics include: interview with John Sheeran (Bengals) and Brad Evans (fantasy football), plus the NIL arms race in college basketball, Give Me the Keys presented by the Jeff Wyler Automotive Family, and more
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Subscribe to First Word on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FirstWordCincy
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Follow the Crown on Twitter: https://x.com/TheCincyCrown
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Oct 22, 2026

1 hr 26 min

Oct 22, 2026

10/22/26: Hours 1 and 2, Chase Brown's Next Step, While You Slept, Trey Hendrickson Signing

Oct 22, 2026

1 hr 26 min

Topics include: what Chase Brown needs to do, everything you missed while you slept, is Trey Hendrickson the greatest free agent in Bengals history, and more
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Oct 22, 2026

1 hr 26 min

Oct 21, 2026

INTERVIEW: Mike Renner (247 Sports) on Bengals

Oct 21, 2026

27 min

Mike Renner of 247 Sports joins in-studio to share his thoughts on the Bengals
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Oct 21, 2026

27 min

Oct 21, 2026

10/21/26: Hours 3 and 4, Mike Renner and Joe Goodberry Interviews, NFL Top 10 Power Rankings

Oct 21, 2026

1 hr 27 min

Topics include: Mike Renner and Joe Goodberry join the show to talk Bengals, NFL Top 10 power rankings, and more
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Oct 21, 2026

1 hr 27 min

Oct 21, 2026

10/21/26: Hours 1 and 2, Ja'Marr Chase Deep Threat, Bengals Trade Possibilities

Oct 21, 2026

1 hr 27 min

Topics include: the Bengals needing to find Ja'Marr Chase deep, Bengals trade possibilities, Give Me the Keys presented by the Jeff Wyler Automotive Family, and more
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Subscribe to First Word on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FirstWordCincy
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Follow the Crown on Twitter: https://x.com/TheCincyCrown
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Oct 21, 2026

1 hr 27 min

Oct 20, 2026

10/20/26: Hours 3 and 4, Buy or Sell, Fair or Foul, Rookie Class Rankings

Oct 20, 2026

1 hr 26 min

Topics include: buy or sell, fair or foul, rookie class rankings, and more
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Oct 20, 2026

1 hr 26 min

Oct 20, 2026

10/20/26: Hours 1 and 2, Making the Bengals Better, NFL Takeaways, CFB Week 8 AP Poll

Oct 20, 2026

1 hr 25 min

Topics include: what to do to make the Bengals better, takeaways from Week 6 of the NFL season, college football Week 8 AP Poll, Give Me the Keys presented by the Jeff Wyler Automotive Family, and more
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Subscribe to First Word on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FirstWordCincy
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Listen to First Word LIVE on Mixlr: https://thecrown.mixlr.com/
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Follow the Crown on Twitter: https://x.com/TheCincyCrown
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Oct 20, 2026

1 hr 25 min