Why New Heights Explained Travis Kelce Better Than the NFL Ever Could

You’ve seen the clips. Travis Kelce, a man who looks like he was carved out of a block of Midwestern granite, giggling like a schoolboy because his older brother Jason just made a joke about a "detachable body part" or some weird food take. Honestly, if you told a football fan five years ago that the most dominant tight end in league history would become a podcasting mogul with a nine-figure deal and a fanbase that includes both grizzled season ticket holders and teenage girls from suburban London, they’d have told you to lay off the stadium beer.

But here we are in January 2026. New Heights isn't just a side project anymore. It’s a cultural monster.

What Most People Get Wrong About the Kelce Rise

People think this podcast blew up solely because of the "Taylor Swift effect." Kinda true, but mostly wrong. Sure, when Taylor appeared on the show in August 2025 to announce The Life of a Showgirl, it drew 15 million viewers and literally crashed the stream. That was a moment. But the foundation was there long before the friendship bracelets.

The magic of New Heights is actually the sibling rivalry. It’s watching Jason, the recently retired Eagles legend, try to keep Travis on the rails while Travis—who is currently weighing his own NFL retirement after the Chiefs' rocky 6-11 season—just wants to talk about "No Dumb Questions."

Speaking of that, they just announced a massive pivot. On January 14, 2026, the brothers revealed they’re releasing a book called No Dumb Questions: And All of Our Dumbest Answers. It’s coming out June 2, 2026, via William Morrow/HarperCollins. Jason called it a "bathroom book" on the latest episode. That tells you everything you need to know about their brand. They don't take themselves seriously, which is exactly why everyone else does.

The Wondery Deal and the Business of Being a Kelce

Money talks. Specifically, $100 million talks. That’s the value of the three-year deal they signed with Amazon’s Wondery.

Most athletes start podcasts. Most of those podcasts are boring. They’re filled with corporate-speak and "taking it one game at a time" platitudes. The Kelces went the other way. They talk about:

• Whether you should pour milk or cereal first (Travis is a cereal-first guy, obviously).
• Jameis Winston's year of celibacy (yes, that was an actual conversation from the January 14 episode).
• How Jason’s kids are doing.
• The sheer terror of playing against a 300-pound defensive lineman who wants to eat your lunch.

By mixing the elite locker room insights with the mundane reality of being a "regular human," they created something that feels authentic. In a world of AI-generated scripts and PR-polished social media, two brothers calling each other "jabroni" for an hour is a breath of fresh air.

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The 92%ers: More Than Just a Fanbase

They call their fans the 92%ers. It started as a joke about a quarterback sneak success rate, but it’s morphed into a legitimate community.

This community just got a physical home, too. They’re opening the Kelce Clubhouse in Culver City, California. It’s a retail space, a podcast studio, and a "hangout" for the fans. It’s a smart move. In 2026, digital success has to translate to the real world to survive.

Is Travis Kelce Done With Football?

This is the question that haunts every episode lately. Travis is 36. His contract with the Chiefs is officially up. After the Vegas Raiders beat them 14-12 to end a disappointing season, the "Big Yeti" sounded tired.

"I'll put my feet up and I'll just be a human for a couple weeks," Travis said on the show last week. He’s talking to ESPN and Fox Sports. There’s a rumor he might want a No. 1 booth job that pays eight figures. Honestly, why wouldn't he? He’s already proven he can hold an audience of millions without ever putting on a helmet.

But then you hear him talk about the "love for the game." He says if his body heals up, he’d go for another 20-week run "in a heartbeat." It’s the classic athlete’s dilemma, played out in real-time for millions of listeners.

The Guest List Evolution

The show used to be just them. Now? It’s a revolving door of A-list talent.

1. Matt Damon recently stopped by to talk about his movie The Rip and give Travis "girl dad" advice.
2. Jameis Winston gave one of the most honest (and hilarious) interviews in the show's history.
3. Kylie Kelce, Jason's wife, remains the undisputed queen of the show; her episodes consistently outperform the NFL superstars.

Actionable Insights for the 92%ers

If you’re trying to keep up with the Kelce empire, here is how you actually stay in the loop without drowning in the noise:

• Pre-order the Book: No Dumb Questions drops June 2. If you want the "bathroom book" experience Jason promised, that’s your target.
• Watch the YouTube Feed: The audio is fine, but you miss the facial expressions. Travis’s reactions to Jason’s rants are half the entertainment.
• Check the Kelce Clubhouse: If you're in SoCal, the Culver City location is the only place to get the "92%er" exclusive gear that sells out online in minutes.
• Listen on Wednesdays: That’s the drop day. If you want it ad-free, you have to go through Wondery+, which was part of that massive $100 million payout.

The Kelce brothers didn't just change how athletes do media; they deleted the old playbook entirely. Whether Travis returns to the field or moves to a full-time "media mogul" role, New Heights has already reached its peak—and it doesn't look like it's coming down anytime soon.