Eli Saslow: Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times writerOn the intricacies of his latest article, "A Republican Election Clerk vs. Trump Die-Hards in a World of Lies." On how to convince subjects to open up to a media outlet they don't trust. On working with a photographer. Jun 17, 202453:59Morgan Jerkins: New York Times bestselling author and two-time National Magazine Award winnerOn Kendrick, Drake and a fool's opinion of their beef; on a beautiful piece between Black-Italian cinematic ties; on Don Lemon as a voice for inspiration; on teaching those who can't write how to write.Jun 10, 202443:18Keith Law, baseball writer for The AthleticOn the joys of writing about prospects on their way up. On why Kerry Lightenberg and the 2004 Blue Jays drove him to drink. On how a non-journalist from Harvard became one of the best. On dealing with editors.Jun 03, 202458:42Sarah Leach: (Wrongly fired by Gannett) Holland Sentinel executive editorOn why Gannett did what Gannett does and wrongly fired her for bullsh*t corporate reasons. On the importance of local media. On a bunch of crazy right-wing zealots overtaking a town's government. On the transition to Substack and the need to report.May 27, 202436:32Hugh Ryan: Queer writer and historian, author of, "The Women's House of Detention: A Queer History of a Forgotten Prison"On proudly being recognized as "The queer writer ...". On the Manhattan prison that inspired a book. On writing about people and issues who have been largely ignored and scorned. On writing and self-discovery.May 20, 202452:05Curry Kirkpatrick: Legendary former Sports Illustrated, ESPN the Magazine writerOn the anger of Bobby Knight and the love of Christian Laettner. On why John McEnroe was a brat and why Dean Smith only gave five minutes. On the magic of Sports Illustrated in the 1960s and the splendor of Frank Deford. May 13, 202401:02:49Sam Amico: Hoops Wire writer, owner, Grand PubaOn finding joy in the aggregating of NBA info. On the fight for survival in the modern media landscape. On long-ago hockey fights and BYU-Wyoming games and dog sled races.May 06, 202443:13Chris Cillizza: Longtime CNN, Washington Post/Substack political writer/guruOn whether being close to politics causes one to look less terrifyingly at politics. On whether CNN is still a worthwhile spot. On why one is better served covering sports than government. On the transition to Substack.Apr 29, 202450:19Tommy Tomlinson: Author, "Dogland: Passion, Glory, and Lots of Slobber at the Westminster Dog Show"On the weird coolness of the Westminster Dog Show. On having an open mind to unique scenes and people. On why one writes a book about dogs. On writing through hell.Apr 22, 202447:20Amy Gutierrez: Emmy Award-winning reporter and author of, "Smarty Marty Takes the Field"On the word-choice decisions one must make when writing a children's book. On the (gasp!) Dodger-loving grandma who inspired a character. On why we should cut Barry Bonds a break and why Will Clark is a lovely dude. On the hyper-criticized hug of a Major League pitcher.Apr 15, 202454:34Richard Hoffer: Former Sports Illustrated, Los Angeles Times writerOn the highs and lows of chasing around Barry Bonds for six days (and being blown off repeatedly); on what it was to cover Mike Tyson in his prime; on the death of boxing writing; on why he left the business and never looked back.Apr 08, 202442:37Justin Sayles: Editor/Writer, The Ringer and creator/host of "The Wedding Scammer" podcastOn the lengths he went through to track down and corner a master scam artist. On whether podcasts have a future as a journalistic medium. On what happens when you don't use material from people you interviewed.Apr 01, 202401:01:44Sarah D. Bunting: Lord of all bloggers and founder of Tomato Nation and Television Without PityOn the heyday of the blogger and what became of the genre. On why James Van Der Beek earned her scorn. On how one becomes less cruel (for sport) with age. On whether blogs have a place in 2024.Mar 25, 202452:24Cora Hall: Knoxville News Sentinel Tennessee women's basketball beat writerOn covering the Lady Vols as they approach yet another NCAA Tournament; on making the leap from Ferris State to the big leagues; on women athletes and the passion of self expression; on landing a sweet gig out of college.Mar 18, 202445:20Peter King: Retiring Football Morning in America writerOn wrapping a career after decades of chronicling the NFL; on picking up Boomer Esiason from the airport as a rookie Bengals beat scribe; on breaking the news of Lawrence Taylor's drug suspension for Newsday; on what is good and bad about modern beat writing.Mar 11, 202401:04:09Jack McCallum: Former SI basketball writer and author of, "The Real Hoosiers: Crispus Attucks High School, Oscar Robertson, and the Hidden History of Hoops"On the untold story of Indiana high school basketball and the team you need to know about; on the brilliance of a young Oscar Robertson; on whether we can still dig, "Hoosiers"; on nearly coming to blows with a Hall of Fame point guard.Mar 04, 202453:29Franne Golde: BMI Award-winning songwriterOn the inspiration behind the Commodores' "Nightshift" and Selena's "Dreaming of You." On that first big song for Diana Ross. On the big winners of "We Are The World." On being credited as a writer on Tupac's "Hit 'Em Up."Feb 26, 202454:18Louisa Thomas: Staff Writer, The New YorkerOn the brilliance of her latest piece, "How Nikola Jokić Became the World’s Best Basketball Player." On how she navigates a subject who doesn't speak with her. On the beauty of tiny details. On whether bad writers can learn to be good writers.Feb 19, 202446:28Teren Kowatsch: Sports writer, Lewiston (Idaho) Tribune, Moscow-Pullman Daily NewsOn coming up through small daily newspapers. On whether quotes bog down stories. On dealing with prep coaches. On whether athletes read newspapers.Feb 12, 202447:51Ariel Helwani: The Howard Cosell of MMAOn knowing from a young age what he wanted to do and how he wanted to do it. On a string of irksome and weird conflicts with Dana White. On why interviewing UFC fighters is the best gig in the world. On the difference between wanting a career and craving a career.Feb 05, 202401:02:09Joy Sewing: Houston Chronicle columnistOn being named the first Black news columnist in the newspaper's lengthy history. On what the population misunderstands about Houston's Third Ward. On finding humanity in the recently deceased homeless man. On transitioning from fashion to news after the murder of George Floyd.Jan 29, 202439:22Mark Mulvoy: Legendary former Sports Illustrated managing editorOn the dispiriting demise (and end?) of his beloved magazine; on the curious case of Sidd Finch and the decision to tell Michael Jordan to bag baseball; on defending the Swimsuit Issue and a bitter divorce from Frank Deford; on Dan Jenkins and George Plimpton and William Nack and Pat Putnam and Rick Reilly and the world's greatest sports writers.Jan 22, 202401:02:17Michael Farber: Former Sports Illustrated, Montreal Gazette hockey writerOn why former Expos manager Dick Williams physically assaulted him; on the bliss of writing NHL game stories; on the Canadian appeal of Gary Carter; on the demise of a beloved magazine.Jan 15, 202454:14Sean Keeler: Denver Post sports columnistOn why so many Colorado-based media outlets kneel before Coach Prime; on a long and trying fight to stay afloat as a journalist; on our weirdly combative days as Nashville prep writers; on infuriating Steve Alford and Corey Dillon.Jan 08, 202444:50James Edwards III: Detroit Pistons beat writer, The AthleticOn what it's like to cover an NBA team as it loses 27-straight games; on how to approach players when they have no interest in talking; on the empathy of Cade Cunningham; on working a locker room. Dec 31, 202346:57Danté Stewart: Former Clemson football player, author, "Shoutin' in the Fire: An American Epistle"On what a Black man learned about America from white Christianity; on what football players need to know about the system they occupy; on how a Facebook screed became a terrific manifesto; on the book he dreamed of writing.Dec 25, 202345:20Stanley Pearlman: My fatherMy dad, Stan Pearlman, died today of pancreatic cancer. He was 81 and a great man—as well as a beautiful writer. This is his final interview, conducted last week in South Florida. Dec 20, 202343:26Bob Rose: Former San Francisco Giants, Oakland A's, Cal and Stanford media relations guruOn why Barry Bonds was such a monumental asshole; on a young Aaron Rodgers soaring at Cal; on the unique decency of Dusty Baker; on the wild, wacky Los Angeles Express of the USFL.Dec 18, 202341:55David Black: Founder and President, David Black Literary AgencyOn the difference between a great book proposal and a crappy one; on representing Jimmy Breslin and Hank Aaron and Wolfgang Puck; on concerns as Jonathan Eig dove into the legacy of MLK; on how the book business has transformed.Dec 11, 202338:01Kacy Sager: Score Atlanta preps writer/editor, daughter of the great Craig SagerOn how one covers Georgia preps ... from Missouri; on growing up with a famous father and taking Charles Barkley to school for show and tell; on why a horse's fossilized poop lived in her family's basem*nt; on how one moves on after losing a loved one.Dec 04, 202346:20Rick Telander: Chicago Sun-Times columnist, former SI senior writerOn having Albert Belle threaten him with a bat; on the strange contradictions of Mike Ditka; on whether anyone cares about newspaper columns in 2023; on the joy of ... poetry.Nov 27, 202354:37Kay Iselin Gilman: First-ever New York Daily News woman sports columnist, author of "Inside the Pressure Cooker: A Season in the Life of the New York Jets"On breaking barriers and becoming the Daily News' first woman sports columnist; on the different sides of Joe Namath; of how Dick Young lived up to his first name; on the 95-year-old strongman who needed a diaper.Nov 19, 202357:07Jeff Bradley: Former ESPN The Magazine baseball writer, current baseball glove kingpinOn being (cruelly) let go by ESPN The Magazine and engaging upon a tough road of rediscovery; on sitting in a bar with an alcoholic relief pitcher and urging him not to drink; on the 1995 Yankees-Mariners classic; on life as a baseball glove entrepreneur.Nov 13, 202346:26Jean-Jacques Taylor: Longtime football writer, author, "Coach Prime: Deion Sanders and the Making of Men"On spending a season observing a college football team; on the love/hate relationship between Jackson and Coach Prime; on the affection Deion has for his players; on breaking in as an NFL scribe with the wild 1990s Dallas Cowboys.Nov 06, 202349:15Kate Cohen: Washington Post columnist, author of "We of Little Faith: Why I Stopped Pretending to Believe (and Maybe You Should Too)"On why society might be better off not chalking everything up to God; on the complications of admitting one believes in no higher power; on snagging a book deal on an unorthodox topic.Oct 30, 202336:15Bill Rabinowitz: Columbus Dispatch Ohio State beat writerOn what one should think about Division I college coaches and their pronouncements; on covering the expansion Cleveland Browns and the first-year Baltimore Ravens; on diving deep into C.J. Stroud and teaming up with Cardale Jones.Oct 23, 202347:57Russ Bengtson: Former Slam editor and author, "A History of Basketball in Fifteen Sneakers"On why the history of basketball can (and can't) be told in 15 sneakers; on whether Michael Jordan was more accidental tourist than genius; on Dee Brown and the Reebok Pump; on why Russ has eternal love for Milt Palacio and Lucious Harris.Oct 16, 202339:56Ric Bucher: FS1 basketball analyst; former ESPN, Washington Post writerOn the frustrations of modern NBA coverage; on a punch-throwing Rod Strickland; on the diva-like behaviors of Jerry Rice; on a frustrated Chris Webber and a furious Don Nelson.Oct 09, 202358:09Jason Reid: Andscape NFL writer, former Los Angeles Times Dodgers beat guyOn NFL locker rooms v. MLB clubhouses; on the pettiness of Bruce Allen; on nearly coming to blows with former Dodgers outfielder Milton Bradley; on professionalism and accountability in modern media.Oct 02, 202357:48Benjamin Hochman: St. Louis Post-Dispatch sports columnistOn the tiny bits of decision-making that go into every column; on finding the nuance in Adam Wainwright's 200th win; on why long dashes are different than commas, which are different than ellipses.Sep 26, 202350:36Julie Carrick Dalton: Novelist, author of "The Last Beekeeper" and "Waiting for the Night Song"On why re-writing is more fun than writing; on how a novelist comes up with the end of a story; on whether fictitious characters become real; on the orange couch and soggy pizza of a long-ago college newspaper.Sep 18, 202356:36A bonus episode: The end of "Winning Time"Emotions, feelings as the show (based on my book, "Showtime") vanishes; the highs and lows of adaptation; the white party and 150-year-old Dr. J and memories that will last.Sep 18, 202331:46Steve Schmidt: Longtime political consultant, Trump slayerOn how opposing candidates should go after Donald Trump and the MAGA nutties; on the highs and lows of the John McCain 2008 presidential campaign; on how elections have changed for the worse.Sep 12, 202301:22:37Stephen Marche: Essayist, former Esquire columnist and author of, "On Writing and Failure"On why one would write a book on writing and failure; on the craziness of Rob Ford, former Toronto mayor; on why essays are so important in modern storytelling.Sep 04, 202347:41Ava Wallace: Washington Post's Wizards/professional tennis beat writerOn how covering a habitually mediocre NBA franchise can still be interesting; on saying farewell to Bradley Beal and missing the frankness of John Wall; on a long-ago Frank Beamer piece (that needs to vanish).Aug 28, 202348:48Jordyn Holman: New York Times business reporterOn the joys of reporting from an Alabama Waffle House; on whether corporations ever do good deeds for the sake of helping people; on how a racist incident in college impacted her life and career; on having people open up when they'd rather not open up.Aug 21, 202348:16Ty Rushing: Senior editor and political reporter, Iowa Starting LineOn the Ron DeSantis campaign banning him from an event; on covering the craziness of the Iowa State Fair (aka: The Super Bowl of Iowa politics); on why candidates for office should never pose eating a corn dog; on being one of his state's lone Black journalists.Aug 14, 202341:23Adam McKay: Writer, producer, director, "Winning Time" guruOn how he can dread all things climate change and still focus on amazing TV/film; on the joys of "Winning Time," the rethinking of "Veep," the small regret in "Anchorman," the highs of entertaining people; on whether bad reviews result in sleepless nights.Aug 07, 202353:31Tim Brown: Former LA Times, Yahoo sports writer and author of, "The Tao of the Backup Catcher"On why backup catchers are the coolest people on earth; on having David Wells and Jeff Juden loathe you; on covering the Shaq-Kobe Lakers; on being laid off as a columnist and bouncing back as an author; on not being Raiders WR Tim Brown.Jul 31, 202301:01:02Bill Bellamy: Comedian, actor and author of "Top Billin'"On the magic of two words: Booty and Call; on the impact of cleaning bank toilets at 4 am; on the charisma of Tupac and the odd rear-end decisions of Madonna. Jul 24, 202343:22
