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

Subscribe:

iTunes

RSS

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

Subscribe:

iTunes

RSS

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

Subscribe:

iTunes

RSS

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

Subscribe:

iTunes

RSS

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

Subscribe:

iTunes

RSS

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

Subscribe:

iTunes

RSS

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

Subscribe:

iTunes

RSS

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

Subscribe:

iTunes

RSS

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

Subscribe:

iTunes

RSS

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.

Subscribe:

iTunes

RSS

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

Subscribe:

iTunes

RSS

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

Subscribe:

iTunes

RSS

Episode 20: Farm livin' with Rochelle Bilow

Rochelle Bilow has been a writer, a line cook, a culinary student, and a farmer. She’s also the first second-generation guest of The Other 51, coming on at the recommendation of Leah Stacey. Rochelle and Brian talk about making yourself a character in your own book, why Rochelle’s memoir doesn’t have any exposition, and what people can do to make themselves a better cook.

Rochelle Bilow

Rochelle Bilow on Twitter

… and on Instagram

The Call of the Farm

Alexander Hamilton’s Guide to Life

The Joy of Cooking

Ruhlman’s Twenty

Jerusalem a Cookbook

The Portable Veblen: A Novel

On the Milo Bus With the Lost Boys of America’s New Right

Subscribe:

iTunes

RSS

Episode 19: The Fine Art of Hanging Out with Chris Jones

National Magazine Award winner Chris Jones talks about what it’s like to replace Charles Pierce, why reporting is so important to his work, and finding your voice when you start writing for a new publication. Chris talks about how the Ellie-award-winning story “The Things That Carried Him” came together. They also discuss Chris’ favorite building in North America (Buffalo City Hall) and Brian’s strange romantic affinity for the southern-most stretch of the Q.E.W.

Chris Jones

Buffalo City Hall

26 shirts: Buffalo The Queen City

Queen Elizabeth Way Fort Erie to St. Catharines

The Things that Carried Him

Mike Piazza Learns How to Be an Owner. Of a Soccer Team. In Italy.

Subscribe:

iTunes

RSS

Episode 18: Saran Wrap Octopus with Mike Sielski

Many years ago, Mike Sielski tried to get Brian a job as a sports reporter at the Bucks County Courier Times. It didn’t happen, but life has a funny way of working out. The two get back together to talk about what makes a good Philadelphia story, why you can’t scream and yell about everything, picking your sports for a personal column, and the wonderful career of Bill Lyon. They also spend a good nine minutes geeking out about Godzilla. It’s quite a thing.

Mike Sielski

Mike Sielski Media

The Fight

The Unlikely Odds of Making it Big

Inside the Macedonian Fake News Complex

Godzilla 2014 Trailer

Subscribe:

iTunes

RSS

Episode 17: Call Mr. Plow with Erik Malinowski

Erik Malinowski of Bleacher Report talks about writing a book about the Golden State Warriors, our favorite Simpsons episodes (including which one to best introduce Brian’s daughter to the show), and why you should never Tweet. We also get super nerdy talking about Scrivener.

Erik Malinowski

The Making Of “Homer At The Bat,” The Episode That Conquered Prime Time 20 Years Ago Tonight

1. Never Tweet

Nate Silver Tells Tone-Deaf Burrito Arrest Story Amid Ferguson Protests, Gets Epically Burned

A 15-year-old (sorta, maybe] basketball phenomenon

Synderella: How Noah Syndergaard went from awkward kid to Mets ace

I Helped Create the Milo Trolling Playbook. You Should Stop Playing Right Into It

Episode 16: Treating History Like Chicken with Ben Sawyer.

Dr. Ben Sawyer, a historian from Middle Tennessee State, joins Brian to talk about why Forest Gump is a dangerous movie, why journalists are kicking historians butts in terms of writing compelling works, and why Lenin was making it all up as he went along (validating a long-standing theory of Brian’s). They also discuss their favorite Founding Fathers.

The Road To Now

Ben Sawyer

Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow

Washington: A Life by Ron Chernow

All the Gallant Men: An American Sailor's Firsthand Account of Pearl Harbor by Donald Stratton with Ken Girl

Woody Guthrie: A Life by Joe Klein

Plutopia: Nuclear Families, Atomic Cities, and the Great Soviet and American Plutonium Disasters by Kate Brown

To Make Men Free: A History of the Republican Party by Heather Cox Richardson.

Subscribe:

iTunes

RSS

Episode 15: Non-stop with Dan Horan, OFM

Dan Horan, OFM, is Alexander Hamilton to Brian’s Aaron Burr. OK, not exactly. But the writer, theologian and Franciscian friar talks about how he keeps up an insanely productive writing schedule (seriously, six books and 120 articles in just about a decade), reinvention, the problems with academic writing, and drops some Post-Colonial Theory on us. (Also, there’s a fair amount of St. Bonaventure talk).

Dating God

America Magazine

Gunslinger

Between The World and Me

My President Was Black

My Marathon: Reflections on a Gold-Medal Life

SUBSCRIBE:

iTunes

RSS

Episode 14: Gunslingers with Jeff Pearlman

Author Jeff Pealrman tells us why the 1980s were an awesome time in sports, how he turns 400-500 interviews into a narrative, and why he loves writing in coffee shops. He also tells us the real reason he wrote the excellent book “Gunslinger” about Brett Favre.

Gunslinger

Jeff Pearlman

Casey Stengel: Baseball’s greatest character by Marty Appel

The widowhood effect: What it’s like to lose a spouse in your 30s by Christina Frangou

Subscribe

iTunes

RSS