Advertise on podcast: Two Writers Slinging Yang

On what it's like the report the red carpets. On the weirdness of modern celebrity. On Brad Pitt and Jerry Lewis and Lena Dunham and Leo. On good questions v. great questions.

On the amazing joy of covering soul music back in the 1960s and 70. On James Brown and Sam Cooke and Marvin Gaye. On growing up writing and a modern age.

On being laid off after 36 years on the job. On Jimmy Johnson and Dan Marino and the highs of sports chronicling. On seeing an industry collapse around you. On adjusting to Substack life.

On leaping from the St. Louis Cardinals' beat to the Los Angeles Dodgers. On reporting on the arrival of Tarik Skubal. On finding space in a crowded clubhouse. On a glamorous summer with the Solano Mudcats.

On what it means to cover college programs in 2026. On finding a love for the nitty gritty. On whether it matters if Missouri athletes read the newspaper. On his origin story as a 15-year-old scribe.

On embedding within a poor Alabama community and gaining the trust of the people. On what people fail to understand about poverty. On why books remain worthwhile.

On writing books with a co-author—and relishing the experience. On how Jerry Jones and Rupert Murdoch elevated the NFL. On the highs and lows of the book experience.

On the evolution of hip-hop and hip-hop writing. On whether "Bust A Move" is his best song. On the pacing and oomph of a quality musical piece. On whether he'd perform with NBA YoungBoy and JPEGMAFIA.

On why a child of writers loves writing. On her obsession with "We Are The World" and Ronald Reagan. On the magic and staying power of the zine. On whether the future is bright or awful.

On what went into reporting and writing, "Just Give Me a Chance to Fail: The Life of NFL Hall of Fame Linebacker Sam Mills." On the golden days of bad Texas Rangers baseball. On how one would cover the Philadelphia Eagles when players were accessible.

On the perils and highs of modern college sports. On life with the Iowa State sports landscape. On coming up with fresh ideas and new material. On getting to know athletes.

On writing a biography of a reluctant and reclusive legend. On where Nolan Ryan ranks on the all-time lists. On having a subject agree to speak at the last minute. On the love-hate of the biography pursuit.

On finding a different way to explain Fernando Medoza. On covering Kobe during his second championship spree. On tracking down players from LeBron's draft class. On media survival and the power of the elite name, "Jeff."

On the recent Awful Announcing article, ""Jeff Pearlman apologizes after YouTuber catches him plagiarizing video on former Yankees phenom." On what is YouTube plagiarism. On a career covering media.

On losing interest in the b******t of it all. On red carpet work and Sally Field rudeness. On a love for basketball and an indifference toward celebrity.