The Pirates Insider Podcast can be addicting

There is a crowded field of possibilities to surf through when looking for a reliable, informative source on all things Pittsburgh Pirates. Monday through Friday, a 10-to-15-minute update on the previous day’s game, as well as any breaking news on roster moves or injury issues to players, is dished by host Jason Mackey.

Employed by the Pirates, Mackey often has a leg up on other Pittsburgh media outlets when it comes to breaking or building news stories. Mackey’s years of experience in covering the Buccos for the Pittsburgh Post–Gazette newspaper come through in each episode.

“I’m around the team, I’ve covered the team for a number of years, so hopefully fans will get to relive the previous game’s action and storylines,” Mackey said during a phone conversation on Wednesday. “It’s (podcast) very game- based. My goal is for the people to stay connected with the team day to day; at least Monday through Friday.”

With free rein on the topics to discuss on the podcast, Mackey has stepped out from his opinion-only format at times and introduced segments such as mailbag editions and in-depth opinions shared on MLB’s Draft held earlier this month. Traveling with the ballclub, attending each game, and regularly spending time in the Pirates clubhouse are what allow Mackey to offer an all-encompassing view of who the newsmakers on the team are on any given day.

“When I took this job, I wanted to be everywhere to have a lot of different outlets to tell stories. I’m always looking to get challenged.”

After each game, The Pirates Insider is recorded by Mackey. When the club enjoys a homestand at PNC Park, the podcast is recorded at his home. When the Pirates are on the road, Mackey records and sends the final version from his hotel room for fans to digest the following day.

Reporting on the club at Pirates.com and recording a 90-second recap for Sportsnet Pittsburgh once a week of the live Ben Cherington radio show that airs on 93.7 The Fan on Sundays one hour before first pitch are among the list of platforms that Mackey gets the word out on the club.

Fresh updates on the Pirates are also offered at 93.7 The Fan, however sporadically, by Mackey. Then, Buccos fans can continue to receive in-depth updates with a show on Saturday morning, also on The Fan, by Mackey.

“It’s called Bucco Talk, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Then there is radio hits guaranteed on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday; usually four out of the five weekdays.”

Any action from Pirates games missed by fans is available on Mondays during the pre-game radio program on The Fan. Mackey puts together a package where he talks a bit, brings in a sound bite, and the four-minute baseball briefing is sort of a shortened version of the podcast.

There is no shortage of ways to find and digest every aspect of how the Pirates are making their way through the 2026 season. But it’s the podcast that gives fans plenty to chew on surrounding the club. With the multitude of media outlets to embrace, writing remains Mackey’s top passion when communicating with the public.

“I’ll always be a writer. As a Pirates fan, this is a dream job. You see a whole different world, from looking at it from an external to an internal side.”

Mackey tells of being marveled at the way the team travels; the logistics behind it, and how many genuinely good people it takes to keep the club running. Ultimately, helping people connect with Pirates baseball a little more is what Mackey calls “really, really cool.” From the Pirates Insider podcast perspective alone, baseball fans in southwestern Pennsylvania are far more informed about the club now than prior to the start of spring training.