Episode 39: My Play Uncle with Dr. Sherri Williams

Dr. Sherri Williams and Brian were classmates in the doctoral program at Syracuse University. Sherri is a former newspaper reporter who is now a newly hired assistant professor at American University in Washington D.C. and incredibly gifted and prolific writer on the intersection of race, media and popular culture.

She and Brian talk about the difficulty they faced in moving from newspapers to academia and why they both, in part, don’t consider themselves fully academics. Sherri also discusses the impact Oprah had on her life and career, why she considers herself a storyteller above all else, the importance of the bulletin board at the supermarket or listening to people talk at a bar to finding story ideas, and how a looming deadline led her to write one of her most personal stories.

Dr. Sherri Williams

Sherri on Twitter

Racism and the invisible struggle of mental health in the black community

After 40 Years of Staying Silent About My Depression, Last Week I Told the Whole World

Hunger: A memoir of (my) body by Roxanne Gay

Dr. Mutter’s Marvels by Cristin O’Keefe Aptowicz

St. Jude run/walk to end childhood cancer

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Episode 38: Mets Weblog with Matthew Cerrone

Matt Cerrone was one of the pioneers of digital sports media. MetsBlog.com, the site he created in the 2000s, has been an indispensable resource for New York Mets fans.

He joins Brian this week to talk about just what the heck happened to the Mets this season, and the challenges and opportunities that a bad year like this presents to writers and storytellers. Matt talks about how he created MetsBlog and how he maintains it while still being a dad to two young kids, why knowing your own strength and weaknesses is so important to being a writer, how blogging really hasn’t changed that much and why journalists need to realize that they’re in the customer service.

He and Brian also talk about Matt’s new book and the joys of New England IPAs.

Matthew Cerrone

Matt on Twitter

MetsBlog

New York Mets Fans’ Bucket List

I Must Say: My Life As a Humble Comedy Legend

What Made Maddy Run

Episode 37: Off Main Street with Jenni Carlson

Russell Westbrook.

In Jenni Carlson’s job as a sports columnist at The Oklahoman, she could probably write those two words in the lede of a column and attract readers. But there is more to Jenni’s job than just writing about Oklahoma football and the Thunder.

She and Brian talk about where she finds ideas for more off-beat columns and the balancing act between writing “off-Main Street” columns with ones about subjects her readers care about. She also discusses how writing is kind of scientific and what the ingredients of a good column are, and makes a good Oklahoma story — beyond just football, tornados and military affiliation.

They also talk about how they relate to current politics through The West Wing, what makes that series so beloved by writers and why you should NEVER invoke Leo McGarry’s name in comparison with anybody in the current administration.

Jenni Carlson columns

Jenni Carlson on Twitter

Why Women of a Certain Age Have Embraced Granny Basketball

Dez Bryant: The Survivor by Paul Solotaroff

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Episode 36: Aaron Burr, Sir, with Chris Anderson

A few years ago, when Brian was writing his dissertation at Syracuse, one of the books that provided the best material and most inspiration was Rebuilding the News by Dr. Chris Anderson.

Today, Chris — a professor at the University of Leeds and the City University of New York - joins Brian to talk about academic writing and the profession of journalism. They talk about what made the era between 2003-09 so fascinating for media sociologists, why tabloid newspapers were probably better suited for the digital revolution than broadsheets, why Chris misses being a doctoral student, and how he is a fast writer of truly awful first drafts. They also discuss Chris’ upcoming book on digital journalism and his respect for Aaron Burr (sir).

CW Anderson

Chris Anderson on Twitter

Rebuilding the News

Burr - Gore Vidal

The German War: A Nation Under Arms by Nicholas Stargardt

Losing the War by Lee Sandlin

Music for Wartime: Stories by Rebecca Makkai

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Episode 35: Bat Flips with Stacey May Fowles

You know those banal-sounding cliches you hear baseball players say in interviews with reporters every day? Stacey May Fowles finds a lot of truth in them. She’s built a newsletter and written a book about the life lessons she’s learned as a baseball fan.

After breaking down exactly what’s up with the Toronto Blue Jays, Stacey May talks about her career writing about baseball from a fan’s perspective. She and Brian talk about how the Blue Jays’ recent run of success has changed the fan culture in Toronto, the value of writing on a closed platform like a newsletter, how Jose Bautista would be an awesome life coach, and how being an outsider can help you find your voice as a writer (especially in a closed world like sports).

Brian and Stacey May also share their favorite memories of Exhibition Stadium, the best worst stadium in Major League history.

Stacey May Fowles on Twitter

Baseball Life Advice

Baseball Life Advice: Loving the Game that Saved Me

It’s Enough That We’re Here: Thoughts on Baseball and Recovery

Foul Ball: Five Years in the American League

The Art of Fielding

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Episode 34: Something More Than Free with Seth Wickersham

ESPN The Magazine investigative journalist Seth Wickersham joins Brian this week. The two bond over Jason Isbell and talk about the idea for a SiriusXM channel called “Byline” that would feature Isbell, Bruce Springsteen and other singers journalists tend to love.

Seth calls himself “an accidental byproduct of people landing on ESPN.com” but he’s one of the best reporters in sports journalism today. He talks about his work with Don Van Natta Jr and the lessons he’s learned from working with him on several ESPN stories and their upcoming book about the NFL. Seth also talks about why compassion is such an important skill for journalists, how he organizes his stories, why the worst thing you can feel as a writer is that you’ve plateaued, and why he has faith that the writing process will always work itself out.

Seth also tells the story of what happened when he asked Ben Bradlee a question at a Washington Post internship lunch. You can imagine how this one goes.

Seth Wickersham on Twitter

Seth Wickersham on ESPN

Why Richard Sherman can't let go of Seattle's Super Bowl loss

Spygate to Deflategate: Inside what split the NFL and Patriots apart

THE WOW FACTOR

Sin City or Bust

The Greatest, At Rest

Fire On the Mountain

Did Running Save My Life?

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Episode 33: Apple Jack Would Never Say This with Katie Cook

Katie Cook is a nerd in the best possible way.

She’s a comic book writer and artist. She’s written My Little Pony comics, worked on books for Marvel, D.C. and IDW. She’s written her own comics, including the adorably awesome Gronk. She drew pictures of the cast of Hamilton for Broadway Cares and has been on stage at the Richard Rogers Theater twice. She’s basically living every nerd’s dream life.

She and Brian talk about the comic book writing process. Katie talks about why it can be easier to write for an already established character as compared to one you create yourself, why she always thinks of herself as an artist first, the importance of having a sounding board as a writer, the delights of hearing your 6-year-old singe age-inappropriate Broadway songs, and how Hamilton inspires us all to create something unique that lasts.

Kate was also kind enough to answer a question from Brian’s daughter about My Little Pony.

Katie Cook

… on Twitter

…and on Tumblr

Gronk: A Monster’s Story

So on Friday night, I saw Hamilton

Hawkeye: My Life as a Weapon

Saga

Bone by Jeff Smith

I Hate Fairyland

Raina Telgemeier

DC The New Frontier

Death Note

Washington: A Life

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Episode 32: Old Man Yelling at Cloud with Patrick Hruby

Patrick Hruby is probably best known as the sports journalist who writes about all the unpopular issues in sports. Whether it’s concussions in football, amateurism in the NCAA, or cities subsidizing sports stadiums, Hruby writes about the intersection of politics and sports for Vice (among other places).

Patrick joins Brian to talk about how sports can serve as a gateway drug to talk about bigger issues in society, and why “stick to sports” is such a false position. They also talk about the generational use of social media, why curiosity is such an important trait for journalists and why he sometimes feels like Darth Vader at the end of Rogue One.

Patrick Hruby on Twitter

Patrick Hruby at Vice Sports

Amateurism isn’t Educational: Debunking the NCAA’s Dumbest Lie

WHAT BULLETS DO TO BODIES

Bloomburg Businessweek cover

Broke and Broken

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Episode 31: Summerteeth with Michael Farrell

It’s a WSBU/88.3 The Buzz reunion, and Brian catches up with fellow St. Bonaventure alum and author Michael Farrell. The two talk about the importance that Dr. Rick Simpson played in both of their writing lives, with Michael telling the story about how Doc Simpson line-edited the 600-page first draft of his first novel.

Farrell talks about the writing process of his two novels, Running with Buffalo and When the Lights Go Out. He discusses the lessons he learned in several grad-school meetings with Dennis Lehane, why it’s important to keep a story moving forward, what it’s like to see Buffalo’s resurgence and how he’s happy his children won’t have to grow up through his stories.

But most importantly, Michael helps Brian figure out how to start listening to Wilco.

Michael Farrell

Michael Farrell on Twitter

Michael Farrell at The Buffalo News

Running with Buffalo

When the Lights Went out

The Last Fine Time

Dreaming the Beatles

Bright Shining Morning

The Plot Against America

The Bad Guys Won

Reconstruction

Tupac, Glocks and In-and-Out: A football team’s run-in with the rapper, revealed

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Episode 30: Cheering for Ourselves with Mike Vaccaro

Mike Vaccaro and Brian both attended St. Bonaventure University as journalism/mass communication majors. Their first jobs out of college were at The Times Herald in Olean, N.Y., working for the legendary sports editor Chuck Pollock.

The professional similarities pretty much end there.

Mike, a senior sports columnist at the New York Post, joins the podcast this week to talk about the art of writing a sports column. Mike talks about why the lede of his column can be so important, what makes a good New York City story, the value of a great editor and the challenge of writing something that stays with the reader. They also talk a lot about St. Bonaventure and A LOT about the Beatles and Mike’s ranking of all 189 Beatles songs.

Mike Vaccaro on Twitter

Mike Vaccaro Barry, Vaccaro honored by NY Press Club for stories on boxing and basketball

At last, LeBron can cry — because there’s nothing else to do

1941 -- The Greatest Year In Sports

The First Fall Classic

Emperors and Idiots

Robert Caro Wonders What New York Is Going To Become

City of Fire

Hellhound On His Trail

Sting Like a Bee

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Episode 29: Standing for Science and Pie with Keith Law

There have been days in the past month where Keith Law has done more than 20 interviews in one day.

So what’s one more?

Law, the ESPN columnist and author of the outstanding new book “Smart Baseball,” joins Brian to talk about writing and analytics in sports. Keith talks about how he learned to slow down his writing, how writing about analytics doesn’t mean you don’t have passion for your subject material, and how being open-minded can help you ask better questions and write better stories. He also describes how numbers should never drive a story, and he reveals what question interviewers ask him that is a giveaway that they haven’t read his book.

Brian also gets his first-ever board game recommendation.

Smart Baseball

Keith Law

Keith at ESPN

The Dish

Keith Law writer

Like a Detuned Radio

Blackout by Connie Willis

Commonweath: A Novel by Ann Patchett

Reconstruction by Eric Foner

Ticket to Ride

Ticket to Ride First Journey

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Episode 28: God of your Words with Don Van Natta Jr.

Don Van Natta Jr.’s favorite song in Hamilton is “The Room Where It Happens.” Partially because, in his own words, as an investigative journalist, he is always trying to find out what really happens in the rooms where things happen.

Seriously. It’s pretty perfect.

Van Natta Jr., a senior writer at ESPN, joins Brian this week and talks about how covering the White House, Pentagon and CIA prepared him to write about the NFL, how he keeps organized when interviewing 100 people for a story and how he builds the architecture of his stories. He also shares tips on how to become a better rewriter, and he and Brian figure out why writers drink so much.

Don Van Natta Jr

Rice case: purposeful misdirection by team, scant investigation by NFL

Spygate to Deflategate: Inside what split the NFL and Patriots apart

Sin City or Bust

Sunday Long Read

Pat Riley’s final test by Wright Thompson

The Ghost of the GOAT by Howard Beck

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Episode 27: Always Writing with Alysa Auriemma

Professor, essayist and novelist Alysa Auriemma joins Brian this week. In between nerding out over both Hamilton and comic books, they really do talk a bit about writing. Alysa, who teaches at the University of Connecticut, talks about why she always writes her fiction longhand, how she uses her phone to help her write and what student writers can do to improve their writing by 10 percent today. She also discusses how Twitter has helped make her a more nuanced writer. I know, right?

But really, they nerd out big time over Hamilton and comics. It’s quite the thing.

Alyssa Auriemma

The Curious Ally Cat

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah Mass

The Underground Railroad by Coulson Whitehead

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara

Winter Soldier by Ed Brubaker

Captain Marvel by Kelly Sue DeConnick

Saga Vol. 7

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Episode 26: Everyday People with Sean Kirst

Author, writer and award-winning columnist Sean Kirst has lived in and written about upstate New York his entire life. He joins Brian this week, and they talk about why writers work best at extreme times of day (late night for Brian, early morning for Sean), the discipline that comes from writing on deadline, how column writing is like both archery and pitching, and why communion is the essence of writing. They also break down the subtle differences between Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse and what makes a good Central New York Story.

Sean Kirst on Twitter

Sean Kirst on Facebook

Sean Kirst at Syracuse.com

Sean Kirst at The Buffalo News

The Soul of Central New York by Sean Kirst

Shitfaced: Musings of a Former Drunk by Seamus Kirst

Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders

All Quiet on the Western Front

Blood in the Water: The Attica Prison Uprising of 1971 and Its Legacy by Heather Ann Thompson

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Episode 25: Making a ruckus with Seth Godin

Best-selling author and noted ruckus maker Seth Godin joins Brian this week. They talk about the importance of not only writing every day but publishing every day, what school should teach students, and why work is always the answer. Seth explains to Brian why the recording of Kind of Blue can be compared to writing, why he benefits from writing every day, and why books are the perfect technology.

Seth is one of Brian’s favorite people on the internet. This was a fun episode to do.

Seth Godin

Seth’s Blog

Replay by Ken Grimwood

Impro: Improvisation and the Theater by Keith Johnstone)

The Gift: Creativity and the Artist in the Modern World

Breslin: Digging JFK grave was his honor

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BONUS TRACK: Ellie and Amy Moritz

In a first-ever bonus track, Ellie Moritz (episode 21) interviews Amy Moritz (Episode 24).

Episode 24: Working Girl with Amy Moritz

Brian’s origin story as a reporter and writer is an easy one — his older sister is a writer and reporter, so of course he wanted to do it to. But what’s Amy Moritz’s origin story?

Sitting in Brian’s kitchen, they talk about how their grandma taught them how information is power, how their mom’s love of books made reading an important part of their lives, and the moment Amy realized she could be a sports writer. Amy also provides an in-depth look at life as a sports writer at The Buffalo News and why Bob Huggins loves Buffalo (and doesn’t wear a tie). They also (eventually) get around to talking about Amy’s current book project.

Bob Huggins loves Buffalo, especially for the fishing

Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison

The Confessions of Saint Augustine

The Wisdom of Insecurity by Alan Watts

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Episode 23: Comfort Zones with Molly Knight

Molly Knight, bestselling author of “The Best Team Money Can Buy” about the Los Angeles Dodgers, and Brian reminisce about the 5th Summit on Communication and Sport and Bradley University. Molly was the keynote speaker and was terrified. Brian was a first-year doc student and somehow impressed Dave Kindred.

Molly talks about how baseball players are the easiest athletes to relate to, the adorableness of Vin Scully and his wife, how doing a little bit at a time can make a huge project seem less daunting, and why the best sports stories end in losses. She and Brian also talk about the balance of being a sports fan and a sports writer, and the importance of authenticity and passion in your writing.

Molly Knight on Twitter

The Best Team Money Can Buy by Molly Knight

How to be a Woman by Caitlin Moran

Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates

South and West: From a Notebook by Joan Dideon

The Rise, Then Shame, of Baylor Nation by Marc Tracy and Dan Barry.

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Episode 22: James Baldwin’s head with Rion Amilcar Scott

It’s Press & Sun-Bulletin reunion day, as the former Binghamton University education beat writer and Binghamton University athletics writer reconnect.

Rion Amilcar Scott left journalism 10 years ago and is now a fiction writer and professor at Bowie State. He and Brian talk about creating and chronicling the fictional town of Cross River, Maryland; the biggest sins young writers make and how they can improve their writing, and the pure magic of watching your kids learn to read. Rion also gives Brian several recommended collections of short stories.

Rion Amilcar Scott

Rion Amilcar Scott on Twitter

Insurrections by Rion Amilcar Scott

This Is How You Lose Her by Junot Diaz

Him, Me, Muhammad Ali by Randa Jarrar

Know the Mother by Desiree Cooper

Lost in the City by Edward Jones

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Episode 21: Spoiler Alert with Ellie Morit

Ellie Moritz (first grader, actress, human spoiler alert) talks about her favorite Harry Potter books, the books and plays she’s written and been in, why she loves theater, and who her favorite actresses are. She also becomes the first guest of The Other 51 to sing.

Angelica Schyuler

I Will Get Back Up Again

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Spotlight Arts

Sutton Foster

John Tartaglia

Brian D’Arcy James

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

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