Jeff Pearlman: Author, "The Last Folk Hero: The Life and Myth of Bo Jackson"
The soups and nuts and crackers and eggs and muffins of writing my 10th book—featuring guest host Michael J. Lewis.
Oct 25, 2022•53 min•Season 20Ep. 282
Two Writers Slinging Yang
Jeff Pearlman
Jeff Pearlman's weekly in-depth, no-holds-barred conversation with a writer on writing. Available here and on iTunes
Last refreshed: ⓘ
Follow this podcast in the Metacast mobile app to refresh it and see new episodes.
Podcasts are better in Metacast mobile app
Don't just listen to podcasts. Learn from them with transcripts, summaries, and chapters for every episode. Skim, search, and bookmark insights. Learn more
Episodes
Tyler Dunne: Author, "The Blood and Guts: How Tight Ends Save Football"
On why, oh why, tight ends save football; on whether Chuck Muncie was better than Bo Jackson (Jeff's answer: a strong no!); on diving into a first book and completing it all in less than a year.
Oct 18, 2022•49 min•Season 20Ep. 281
Beth Warren: Louisville Courier-Journal investigative reporter
On devoting herself to covering drug cartels and the opioid crisis; on having a gun pulled on her while reporting; on accidentally entering a crack den; on why journalism has been the ideal career.
Oct 10, 2022•41 min•Season 20Ep. 280
Jemele Hill: Author, "Uphill: A Memoir" and contributing writer, The Atlantic
On the decision behind writing a memoir; on the famous (and righteous) "Donald Trump is a white supremacist" Tweet; on why she doesn't miss TV and why there's still joy to be found in journalism.
Oct 04, 2022•1 hr 10 min•Season 20Ep. 279
Robert Garrett: Author, "Stringer: A Sportswriter's Memoir" and ALS patient
On living with ALS; on piecing together a memoir for his sons; on the highs and lows of work as a freelance writer.
Sep 27, 2022•55 min•Season 20Ep. 278
Candace Buckner: Washington Post sports columnist
On the transition from beat writing to columnist; on driving to Pittsburgh to cover Albert Pujols—and missing the big moment; on why mock Tweeting John Wall wasn't the best idea; on representing African-American women in the sports media
Sep 20, 2022•55 min•Season 20Ep. 277
Ruby Cramer: Washington Post national political enterprise reporter
On her dazzling new piece, "When a man with a pistol shows up outside a congresswoman’s house"; on the lessons of her legendary father; on transcription hell and the importance of place and time.
Sep 12, 2022•55 min•Season 20Ep. 276
Bill Colson: Former Sports Illustrated managing editor
On the glorious days and wild nights of American magazines; on the insanity of the 50 Greatest Athletes (from every state) issue; on the famous bakeoff to become managing editor.
Sep 05, 2022•47 min•Season 20Ep. 276
Brad Mangin: Sports photographer, author of "28: A Photographic Tribute to Buster Posey"
On how fewer and fewer sports photographers are able to make a living; on running out of film during an epic Derek Jeter home run; on shooting for Sports Illustrated and The National; on what makes Buster Posey an ideal subject.
Aug 29, 2022•56 min•Season 20Ep. 275
Jeff Pearlman: The story behind the story behind my gut-wrenching experience reporting a piece for Golf Digest on the University of the Southwest golf team van accident.
A soup-to-nuts deep dive into reporting on tragedy; on asking people to discuss the worst pain of their lives; on second guessing your efforts; on driving nearly 4,000 miles across the state of Texas.
Aug 22, 2022•48 min•Season 20Ep. 274
Ben Arthur: Tennessee Titans beat writer, The (Nashville) Tennessean
On his past life covering women's semi-professional football in Laredo, Texas; on working for a newspaper in Seattle and receiving (literally) no editing; on introducing himself to a new readership and working to be accepted.
Aug 16, 2022•52 min•Season 20Ep. 273
Ron Shelton: Writer, director and author, "The Church of Baseball: The Making of Bull Durham: Home Runs, Bad Calls, Crazy Fights, Big Swings, and a Hit"
On the joys of having made "Bull Durham" and the hell of making it; on whether "Cobb" is a misunderstood classic; on how his minor league baseball career impacted his filmmaking.
Aug 08, 2022•38 min
Rich Cohen: Longtime journalist and author, "The Adventures of Herbie Cohen: World's Greatest Negotiator."
On the complexities and jots of writing a book about your father; on how to join "Boys in the Boat" and "Seabiscuit" as runaway best-sellers; on the art of the celebrity profile and Chris Pratt grilling Costco steaks.
Aug 01, 2022•54 min•Season 20Ep. 271
Eric Dickerson: Pro Football Hall of Famer and author, "Watch My Smoke"
On why one writes a book 30 years after his career ends; on the mistreatment of African-American players by the sports media; on why retired athletes hate the NFL; on being looked at as a piece of meat.
Jul 26, 2022•38 min•Season 20Ep. 270
Catherine Pearlman: Author of, "First Phone: A Child's Guide to Digital Responsibility, Safety, and Etiquette."
On the perils of children and their first cell phones; on why it's incredibly important for kids not to sleep near their phones; one how someone without a journalism background landed two book deals.
Jul 18, 2022•48 min•Season 20Ep. 269
Keri Blakinger: Author, "Corrections in Ink: Dispatches from an American Prison" and Marshall Project staff writer
On putting e-v-e-r-y-t-h-I-n-g out there in a revealing memoir; on having your story featured on HBO's Real Sports—and then Real Sports failing to mention your book; on why covering America's prisons is a passion.
Jul 11, 2022•45 min•Season 20Ep. 268
Marc Topkin: Tampa Bay Times' loooooooongtime Rays beat writer
On the strangeness of a city that doesn't seem to want a baseball team; on Josh Hamilton's demise and Elijah Dukes' threats; on covering Sweet Lou and Joe Maddon and Carl Crawford; on surviving—and thriving—for decades in the biz
Jul 05, 2022•50 min•Season 20Ep. 267
Dr. Lindsay Chervinsky: Presidential historian and author of "The Cabinet: George Washington and the Creation of an American Institution"
On how to research the lives of people who died centuries ago; on whether it's accurate to say, "History will judge a person"; on the impact of Donald Trump on the office of the president and whether Joe Biden should run again.
Jun 28, 2022•48 min•Season 20Ep. 266
Brad Townsend: Veteran Dallas Morning News sports writer/NBA chronicler
On the truth behind the Jason Kidd/Jim Jackson/Jamal Mashburn hostilities; on what it's like to cover Luka Dončić on a day-to-day basis; on how the changing sports landscape impacts the ability to chronicle the modern games.
Jun 20, 2022•46 min•Season 20Ep. 265
Jeff Live! [Giving a journalism talk at the Covington]
On June 15, Jeff was asked to speak to a group of senior citizens at the Covington in Southern California. The chat was recorded, and touched on a large number of topics related to this pod.
Jun 17, 2022•56 min•Season 20Ep. 265
Howard Bryant: Award-winning sports writer and author of "Rickey: The Life and Legend of an American Original"
On why Rickey Henderson fascinated him as a book subject; on what to do when a subject agrees to talk—then backtracks; on what people misunderstand about baseball's greatest base thief.
Jun 13, 2022•1 hr 16 min•Season 20Ep. 264
Brandon Lingle: San Antonio Express-News columnist and United States Air Force vet
On driving to Uvalde, Texas on the day after the school massacre; on writing opinion pieces concerning the craziness of America's gun obsession; on attending the NRA Convention as a member of the press; on transitioning from military to media.
Jun 07, 2022•47 min•Season 20Ep. 263
Teddy Greenstein: Former Chicago Tribune scribe, author of "Quarterback Dads"
On why the quarterback dad is such a unique modern phenom; on why covering Frank Thomas was better than covering Sammy Sosa; on Albert Belle's terror and the joy of placing a bet.
May 31, 2022•54 min•Season 20Ep. 262
Jason Tharp: Children's book author/inexplicable target of the modern hard-right culture war
On what it is to write a book that involves a unicorn and have folks assume you're promoting "the gay agenda"; on the best way to respond to negativity; on battling back from a brain tumor and embracing life
May 24, 2022•47 min•Season 20Ep. 261
Gabrielle Calise: Tampa Bay Times Culture and Nostalgia Reporter
On life as America's only (we think) nostalgia reporter; on being young and asking older subjects to share their painful memories; on reporting on hardship with compassion and empathy.
May 16, 2022•49 min•Season 20Ep. 260
Tracy Letts: Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, Tony Award-winning actor, "Jack McKinney" in "Winning Time"
On whether writing about familiar people was at all uncomfortable in "August: Osage County"; on why real life is too boring to be portrayed literally; on why he still uses a typewriter and what he tried to bring to the character of Jack McKinney.
May 10, 2022•44 min•Season 20Ep. 259
Payton Titus: University of Florida journalism student
On the detailed reporting that led to the dismissal of the Gators' women's soccer coach; on using different branches of social media to track down sources; on whether Tim Tebow remains relevant.
May 03, 2022•43 min•Season 20Ep. 259
Cheo Hodari Coker: Television and movie writer and producer (and former music journalist)
On the torture of writing a screenplay and watching everyone add their thoughts and notes and opinions; on how he became the "Luke Cage" executive producer; on having a member of Wu-Tang punch him in the face and steal his tape recorder; on his involvement in "Creed II."
Apr 26, 2022•56 min•Season 20Ep. 257
John McClain: Recently retired Houston Chronicle NFL writer
On surviving 45 years at a single newspaper—and loving it; on covering Earl Campbell and Bum Phillips and Dan Pastorini; on whether it's still worth pursuing a career in journalism.
Apr 19, 2022•1 hr 7 min•Season 20Ep. 256
Kostya Kennedy: New York Times best-selling author, "True: The Four Seasons of Jackie Robinson."
On feeling compelled to write about Jackie Robinson; on dissecting the details from long-ago newspaper articles; on the joy of the deep dig; on pissing off an NHL player and living to tell.
Apr 12, 2022•44 min•Season 20Ep. 255
Hosted on Spotify for Creators (Anchor)
For the best experience, listen in Metacast app for iOS or Android