Garrett Graff

Welcome back to The Art of Remembering, a Sunday Long Read podcast series on the fascinating world of obituaries. Our fourth guest is magazine writer and author Garrett Graff. In early 2023, the prolific journalist was tasked with one of the toughest assignments of his career: writing the obituary of his friend, New York Times editor and reporter Blake Hounshell. In a conversation with Don Van Natta Jr., Graff describes his experience working on this emotional piece in a short amount of time.  POLITICO Magazine: In Remembrance of a Beloved and Very Online JournalistThe Art of Remembering is sponsored by our friends at Air Mail, a weekly newsletter from former Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter and Alessandra Stanley, formerly of The New York Times.

Welcome back to The Art of Remembering, a Sunday Long Read podcast series on the fascinating world of obituaries. Our fourth guest is magazine writer and author Garrett Graff. In early 2023, the prolific journalist was tasked with one of the toughest assignments of his career: writing the obituary of his friend, New York Times editor and reporter Blake Hounshell. In a conversation with Don Van Natta Jr., Graff describes his experience working on this emotional piece in a short amount of time. <ul> <li><a href="https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2023/01/10/blake-hounshell-remembrance-beloved-journalist-00077366" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">POLITICO Magazine: In Remembrance of a Beloved and Very Online Journalist</a></li></ul>The Art of Remembering is sponsored by our friends at Air Mail, a weekly newsletter from former Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter and Alessandra Stanley, formerly of The New York Times.

The Art of Remembering, Episode 4: Garrett Graff

Welcome back to The Art of Remembering, a Sunday Long Read podcast series on the fascinating world of obituaries. Our third guest, James Hagerty, is the only fulltime obituary writer at The Wall Street Journal, where he has worked for nearly 40 years. He's also written a book, Yours Truly, on the value of telling your own story. He and Don discuss the value of humor in the face of grief and how thinking about what your own obituary will say could change your life.

Welcome back to The Art of Remembering, a Sunday Long Read podcast series on the fascinating world of obituaries. Our third guest, James Hagerty, is the only fulltime obituary writer at The Wall Street Journal, where he has worked for nearly 40 years. He's also written a book, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Yours-Truly-Obituary-Writers-Telling/dp/0806542071" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Yours Truly</a>, on the value of telling your own story. He and Don discuss the value of humor in the face of grief and how thinking about what your own obituary will say could change your life.

The Art of Remembering, Episode 3: James Hagerty

Kathleen McElroy

Welcome back to The Art of Remembering, a Sunday Long Read podcast series on the fascinating world of obituaries. Our second guest, Kathleen McElroy, is currently a journalism professor at The University of Texas at Austin after spending nearly 30 years in the industry, including serving as Associate Managing Editor at The New York Times. Her 2013 article in the Journal of Black Studies focused particularly on obituaries, and the way they shape how civil rights leaders—and the entire movement—are remembered (or misremembered).  McElroy's study, "You Must Remember This: Obituaries and the Civil Rights Movement" 2005: Rosa Parks, 92, Founding Symbol of Civil Rights Movement, Dies 2020: John Lewis, Towering Figure of Civil Rights Era, Dies at 80  The Art of Remembering is sponsored by our friends at Air Mail, the sophisticated digital weekly dispatch from Graydon Carter and Alessandra Stanley. SLR readers can get 40% off their first year subscription.

Welcome back to The Art of Remembering, a Sunday Long Read podcast series on the fascinating world of obituaries. Our second guest, Kathleen McElroy, is currently a journalism professor at The University of Texas at Austin after spending nearly 30 years in the industry, including serving as Associate Managing Editor at The New York Times. Her 2013 article in the Journal of Black Studies focused particularly on obituaries, and the way they shape how civil rights leaders—and the entire movement—are remembered (or misremembered). <ul> <li><a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/24572933" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">McElroy's study, "You Must Remember This: Obituaries and the Civil Rights Movement"</a></li> <li>2005: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/25/us/rosa-parks-92-founding-symbol-of-civil-rights-movement-dies.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rosa Parks, 92, Founding Symbol of Civil Rights Movement, Dies</a></li> <li>2020: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/17/us/john-lewis-dead.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">John Lewis, Towering Figure of Civil Rights Era, Dies at 80</a></li> </ul> The Art of Remembering is sponsored by our friends at Air Mail, the sophisticated digital weekly dispatch from Graydon Carter and Alessandra Stanley. SLR readers can get <a href="https://airmail.news/subscribe/promo-slr40?utm_source=partner&amp;medium=slrem4" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">40% off their first year subscription</a>.

The Art of Remembering, Episode 2: Kathleen McElroy

Margalit Fox

Welcome to the first episode of The Art of Remembering, a Sunday Long Read podcast series on the fascinating world of obituaries. Our first guest, Margalit Fox, is a long-time obituaries writer whose brilliant articles still grace the pages of The New York Times five years after her retirement. Margalit dissects the ins and outs of the work, delivers memorable lines, and discusses some of her favorite obits with Don. The Art of Remembering is sponsored by our friends at Air Mail, a weekly newsletter from former Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter and Alessandra Stanley, formerly of The New York Times.

Welcome to the first episode of The Art of Remembering, a Sunday Long Read podcast series on the fascinating world of obituaries. Our first guest, Margalit Fox, is a long-time obituaries writer whose brilliant articles still grace the pages of The New York Times five years after her retirement. Margalit dissects the ins and outs of the work, delivers memorable lines, and discusses some of her favorite obits with Don. The Art of Remembering is sponsored by our friends at Air Mail, a weekly newsletter from former Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter and Alessandra Stanley, formerly of The New York Times.

The Art of Remembering, Episode 1: Margalit Fox

Welcome back to the long-dormant Sunday Long Read podcast! We're reviving our audio presence with a discussion between Don and Emily Kaplan, who wrote a piece copublished this week by the SLR and Pipe Wrench Magazine. It's about Mormons, Mexico, and the malleable nature of truth (among many other things). You can find it on sundaylongread.com and pipewrenchmag.com, where it is the centerpiece of their "road trip" issue. The SLR pod will return in 2023! We encourage you to stay tuned for more conversations about writing, reporting, and storytelling. If there are guests you'd like us to talk to, you can reach out to editors@sundaylongread.com and if you're a writer who'd like to work with us, you can reach out to originals@sundaylongread.com. 

Welcome back to the long-dormant Sunday Long Read podcast! We're reviving our audio presence with a discussion between Don and Emily Kaplan, who wrote a piece copublished this week by the SLR and Pipe Wrench Magazine. It's about Mormons, Mexico, and the malleable nature of truth (among many other things). You can find it on <a href="https://sundaylongread.com/2022/12/06/searching-for-zarahemla-a-van-the-yucatan-five-latter-day-saints-and-the-malleable-nature-of-truth/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">sundaylongread.com</a> and <a href="https://pipewrenchmag.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">pipewrenchmag.com</a>, where it is the centerpiece of their "road trip" issue. The SLR pod will return in 2023! We encourage you to stay tuned for more conversations about writing, reporting, and storytelling. If there are guests you'd like us to talk to, you can reach out to <a href="mailto:editors@sundaylongread.com">editors@sundaylongread.com</a> and if you're a writer who'd like to work with us, you can reach out to <a href="mailto:originals@sundaylongread.com">originals@sundaylongread.com</a>.

Episode 42: We're back!

Tim Urban

Tim Urban is a popular blogger and the co-founder of “Wait But Why,” a site that discusses a wide variety of topics including picking the right career path, SpaceX rockets, and love. His most recent mammoth work is “The Story of Us,” a re-tracing of how we got to this political moment.[1:06] The origins of “Wait But Why”[8:39] “Outqualitying” other websites like BuzzFeed and Upworthy early on[17:14] Asking readers for money[19:00] Kurzgesagt[23:55] On “The Story of Us”[46:39] On echo chambers [51:13] The possibility of writing about politics

<h4>Tim Urban is a popular blogger and the co-founder of “<a href="https://waitbutwhy.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Wait But Why</a>,” a site that discusses a wide variety of topics including picking the right career path, SpaceX rockets, and love. His most recent mammoth work is “The Story of Us,” a re-tracing of how we got to this political moment. [1:06] The origins of “<a href="https://waitbutwhy.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Wait But Why</a>” [8:39] “Outqualitying” other websites like BuzzFeed and Upworthy early on [17:14] <a href="https://www.patreon.com/waitbutwhy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Asking readers for money</a> [19:00] <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsXVk37bltHxD1rDPwtNM8Q" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Kurzgesagt</a> [23:55] <a href="https://waitbutwhy.com/2019/08/story-of-us.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">On “The Story of Us”</a> [46:39] <a href="https://waitbutwhy.com/2019/10/idea-labs-echo-chambers.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">On echo chambers</a> [51:13] The possibility of <a href="https://waitbutwhy.com/2016/10/second-presidential-debate.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">writing about politics</a></h4>

Episode 41: Tim Urban

Caity Weaver

Caity Weaver is a favorite of the Sunday Long Read, appearing in multiple newsletters every year, always giving us thoughtful, clever, and enjoyable stories to read. This week, the New York Times features writer joins Jacob to talk about how she interviews celebrities, to outline how she interacts with editors, and to perform a real-time dive into her search history on the Oxford English Dictionary. Along the way she provides a few tips for writers and talks about how she discovers new stories. Due to some technical difficulties, we had some trouble with the audio quality of our interview with Caity. So if you'd prefer to read this conversation instead of listening to it, we've published a transcript of this episode on our website, sundaylongread.com.​

Caity Weaver is a favorite of the Sunday Long Read, appearing in multiple newsletters every year, always giving us thoughtful, clever, and enjoyable stories to read. This week, the New York Times features writer joins Jacob to talk about how she interviews celebrities, to outline how she interacts with editors, and to perform a real-time dive into her search history on the Oxford English Dictionary. Along the way she provides a few tips for writers and talks about how she discovers new stories. Due to some technical difficulties, we had some trouble with the audio quality of our interview with Caity. So if you'd prefer to read this conversation instead of listening to it, we've published a transcript of this episode on our website, <a href="https://sundaylongread.com/2019/11/24/transcript-the-sunday-long-read-podcast-with-caity-weaver/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">sundaylongread.com</a>.​

Episode 40: Caity Weaver

James Fallows

There are few couples like Deborah and James Fallows, who have spent more than half a decade talking to people and visiting communities across America to produce "Our Towns," a New York Times bestseller, published last year, and an online series for The Atlantic. They're some of the smartest, most diligent people reporting on the state of the country today and they joined Jacob for a two-in-one SLR podcast to discuss their distinct reporting styles, the power of positive reporting, and the lessons they've learned from their travels. 1:30: Dayton, Ohio, Moves Forward6:00: "Our Towns" project with The Atlantic7:30: Muncie bridges the Town-Gown divide16:00: "Our Towns" book website21:00 The Charlie Peters School of Journalism38:00: Follow Jim and Deb on Twitter

There are few couples like Deborah and James Fallows, who have spent more than half a decade talking to people and visiting communities across America to produce "Our Towns," a New York Times bestseller, published last year, and an online series for The Atlantic. They're some of the smartest, most diligent people reporting on the state of the country today and they joined Jacob for a two-in-one SLR podcast to discuss their distinct reporting styles, the power of positive reporting, and the lessons they've learned from their travels.  1:30: <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/notes/2019/11/gem-city-moves-forward/597250/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Dayton, Ohio, Moves Forward</a> 6:00: <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/our-towns/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">"Our Towns" project with The Atlantic</a> 7:30: <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/notes/2019/05/unknown-outside-indiana/588589/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Muncie bridges the Town-Gown divide</a> 16:00: <a href="https://www.ourtownsbook.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">"Our Towns" book website</a> 21:00 <a href="https://washingtonmonthly.com/magazine/november-december-2019/the-charlie-peters-school-of-journalism/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">The Charlie Peters School of Journalism</a> 38:00: Follow <a href="https://twitter.com/JamesFallows" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Jim</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/fallowsdeb?lang=en" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Deb</a> on Twitter

Episode 39: Deborah and James Fallows

Charles Duhigg

Charles Duhigg is a 2013 Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter, the author of The Power of Habit, and a magazine writer who most recently published an in-depth look at Amazon's world-eating growth for The New Yorker.“The first question I might ask is, ‘I’m really sorry, I don’t know enough to know what question to ask you. What do you think is the most interesting thing I could ask you about x?’ It catches them off guard ... and they always come up with some suggested question that never would have occurred to me — because they know their own brain better than I could ever know it by asking them questions to get at it.”Jacob and Charles discuss how every corporate job at Amazon is really the same, how longform and books allow a conversation around a subject to linger, and reporting style and tips for podcasts, print and books — including using LinkedIn to find sources and stories.Charles can be found on Twitter @cduhigg and emailed at charles@charlesduhigg.com (he promises to get back to anyone who reaches out).[0:57] Is Amazon Unstoppable? (New Yorker, 10.10.19)[1:09] Did Uber Steal Google’s Intellectual Property? (New Yorker, 10.15.18)[9:52] The iEconomy (New York Times, 2012)[10:41] Covering the Cops (New Yorker, 2.9.86)[14:31] Amazon’s Next-Day Delivery Has Brought Chaos And Carnage To America’s Streets — But The World’s Biggest Retailer Has A System To Escape The Blame (BuzzFeed News, 8.31.19)[14:32] His Mother Was Killed by a Van Making Amazon Deliveries. Here’s the Letter He Wrote to Jeff Bezos. (ProPublica, 9.5.19)[14:40] Amazon Has Ceded Control of Its Site. The Result: Thousands of Banned, Unsafe or Mislabeled Products (Wall Street Journal, 8.23.19)[14:50] Jeff Bezos’s Master Plan (The Atlantic, 10.10.19)[16:39] “On the Clock: What Low-Wage Work Did to Me and How It Drives America Insane” (Little, Brown and Company, 2019)[18:23] Emily Guendelsberger’s Twitter thread (10.18.19)[23:01] “The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business” (Random House, 2012[23:01] “Smarter Faster Better: The Secrets of Being Productive in Life and Business” (Random House, 2016)[28:58] “How To!” Podcast (Slate, 2019)[51:30] Zuckerberg: Standing For Voice and Free Expression (Washington Post, 10.17.19)

<h4>Charles Duhigg is a 2013 Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter, the author of <a href="https://charlesduhigg.com/books/the-power-of-habit/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">The Power of Habit</a>, and a magazine writer who most recently published an <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/10/21/is-amazon-unstoppable" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">in-depth look at Amazon's world-eating growth</a> for The New Yorker. “The first question I might ask is, ‘I’m really sorry, I don’t know enough to know what question to ask you. What do you think is the most interesting thing I could ask you about x?’ It catches them off guard ... and they always come up with some suggested question that never would have occurred to me — because they know their own brain better than I could ever know it by asking them questions to get at it.” Jacob and Charles discuss how every corporate job at Amazon is really the same, how longform and books allow a conversation around a subject to linger, and reporting style and tips for podcasts, print and books — including using LinkedIn to find sources and stories. Charles can be found on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/cduhigg?s=17" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@cduhigg</a> and emailed at <a href="mailto:charles@charlesduhigg.com">charles@charlesduhigg.com</a> (he promises to get back to anyone who reaches out). [0:57] <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/10/21/is-amazon-unstoppable" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Is Amazon Unstoppable?</a> (New Yorker, 10.10.19) [1:09] <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/10/22/did-uber-steal-googles-intellectual-property" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Did Uber Steal Google’s Intellectual Property?</a> (New Yorker, 10.15.18) [9:52] <a href="http://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/interactive/business/ieconomy.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The iEconomy</a> (New York Times, 2012) [10:41] <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1986/02/17/covering-the-cops" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Covering the Cops</a> (New Yorker, 2.9.86) [14:31] <a href="https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/carolineodonovan/amazon-next-day-delivery-deaths" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Amazon’s Next-Day Delivery Has Brought Chaos And Carnage To America’s Streets — But The World’s Biggest Retailer Has A System To Escape The Blame</a> (BuzzFeed News, 8.31.19) [14:32] <a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/his-mother-was-killed-by-a-van-making-amazon-deliveries-heres-the-letter-he-wrote-to-jeff-bezos" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">His Mother Was Killed by a Van Making Amazon Deliveries. Here’s the Letter He Wrote to Jeff Bezos.</a> (ProPublica, 9.5.19) [14:40] <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/amazon-has-ceded-control-of-its-site-the-result-thousands-of-banned-unsafe-or-mislabeled-products-11566564990" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Amazon Has Ceded Control of Its Site. The Result: Thousands of Banned, Unsafe or Mislabeled Products</a> (Wall Street Journal, 8.23.19) [14:50] <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2019/11/what-jeff-bezos-wants/598363/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jeff Bezos’s Master Plan</a> (The Atlantic, 10.10.19) [16:39] “<a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780316509008" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">On the Clock: What Low-Wage Work Did to Me and How It Drives America Insane</a>” (Little, Brown and Company, 2019) [18:23] <a href="https://twitter.com/emilygee/status/1185191962493763585" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Emily Guendelsberger’s Twitter thread</a> (10.18.19) [23:01] “<a href="http://www.randomhousebooks.com/books/9780812981605/?ref=rhbookcard" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business</a>” (Random House, 2012 [23:01] “<a href="http://www.randomhousebooks.com/books/9780812983593/?ref=rhbookcard" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Smarter Faster Better: The Secrets of Being Productive in Life and Business</a>” (Random House, 2016) [28:58] <a href="https://slate.com/podcasts/how-to" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">“How To!” Podcast</a> (Slate, 2019) [51:30] <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2019/10/17/zuckerberg-standing-voice-free-expression/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Zuckerberg: Standing For Voice and Free Expression</a> (Washington Post, 10.17.19)</h4>

Episode 38: Charles Duhigg

Rowan Jacobsen

"I kind of think of myself as a nature writer disguised as a food writer. Because food is a great way to write about plants and animals because everyone has a built-in interest, " Rowan Jacobsen is an award-winning author who writes about food, sustainability, and the environment. Jacob and Rowan discuss how the latter delved into the world of food writing and some of his work including "Is Sunscreen The New Margarine" for Outside, which became the most popular article in their website's history. [1:09] How does one become a food writer? [4:41] Rowan on "Is Sunscreen The New Margarine"[8:17] On Rowan equating lack of sun to smoking [12:25] Rowan on "What Happens When the World’s Top Plastics Executives and Environmentalists Go Snorkeling Together in the Atlantic Garbage Patch?" [21:40] Rowan on Alt Meat Is Turning Cattle into Stranded Assets[28:38] On reading content that doesn’t take into account certain factors that endanger the environment [32:09] On not reading any fiction

<h4>"I kind of think of myself as a nature writer disguised as a food writer. Because food is a great way to write about plants and animals because everyone has a built-in interest, "  Rowan Jacobsen is an award-winning author who writes about food, sustainability, and the environment. Jacob and Rowan discuss how the latter delved into the world of food writing and some of his work including "<a href="https://sundaylongread.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6e1ae4ac632498a38c1d57c54&amp;id=d3327507c6&amp;e=a8a538c59a" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Is Sunscreen The New Margarine</a>" for Outside, which became the most popular article in their website's history.  [1:09] How does one become a food writer?  [4:41] Rowan on <a href="https://sundaylongread.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6e1ae4ac632498a38c1d57c54&amp;id=2d52d4ba48&amp;e=a8a538c59a" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">"Is Sunscreen The New Margarine"</a> [8:17] On Rowan equating lack of sun to smoking  [12:25] Rowan on <a href="https://sundaylongread.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6e1ae4ac632498a38c1d57c54&amp;id=740d6bc98e&amp;e=a8a538c59a" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">"What Happens When the World’s Top Plastics Executives and Environmentalists Go Snorkeling Together in the Atlantic Garbage Patch?"</a> [21:40] Rowan on <a href="https://sundaylongread.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6e1ae4ac632498a38c1d57c54&amp;id=5129a7fbd2&amp;e=a8a538c59a" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Alt Meat Is Turning Cattle into Stranded Assets</a> [28:38] On reading content that doesn’t take into account certain factors that endanger the environment  [32:09] On not reading any fiction</h4>

Episode 37: Rowan Jacobsen

Pulitzer-winning reporter Don Van Natta Jr. and journalist Jacob Feldman chat with writers and editors from across the industry as an audio extension of The Sunday Long Read e-mail newsletter.

The Shea Serrano interview was fun and engaging and made it very easy to root for a man who is just trying to do good things. Loved listening to this pod

Shea Serrano

I enjoy listening to these top sports reporters telling about their business.  Informative and very entertaining.

Entertaining sports reporters

The Sunday Long Read Podcast

It was about time The Sunday Long Read Podcast caught up with Taffy Brodesser-Akner, who extended her lead in list appearances this week. It's a longer episode, but equally jam-packed with stories and tips—and make sure to stick around for the first-ever lightning round!

Episode 6: Taffy Brodesser-Akner

Kevin Van Valkenburg

Kevin Van Valkenburg is a senior writer at ESPN The Magazine and ESPN.com, where he writes primarily about football and golf. Prior to joining ESPN, he spent 11 years at the Baltimore Sun. In 2015, he was the T. Anthony Pollner Distinguished Professor at the University of Montana, where he taught a class on storytelling. He and Don discuss his start in journalism, how he faked his way through an ESPN job interview, the time they've spent co-reporting, and his powerful Sunday Long Read essay.

Kevin Van Valkenburg is a senior writer at ESPN The Magazine and <a href="http://ESPN.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ESPN.com</a>, where he writes primarily about football and golf. Prior to joining ESPN, he spent 11 years at the Baltimore Sun. In 2015, he was the T. Anthony Pollner Distinguished Professor at the University of Montana, where he taught a class on storytelling. He and Don discuss his start in journalism, how he faked his way through an ESPN job interview, the time they've spent co-reporting, and his powerful Sunday Long Read <a href="https://us9.campaign-archive.com/?u=6e1ae4ac632498a38c1d57c54&amp;id=48680cde14" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">essay</a>.

Episode 10: Kevin Van Valkenburg

Rachel Syme

Where is Rachel Syme's favorite people-watching perch in New York City? What would her ideal beat be? One of our favorite profile writers—and a soon-to-be author—discusses those topics and many, many more on this week's podcast. She also explains the "tricky, transactional nature of profile writing," how she thinks of interviews as first dates, and why she wound up discussing detergent one afternoon on Twitter. Plus, Don's conversation with Rachel begins and ends with stirring discussions of F. Scott Fitzgerald's work (before Don shares his true feelings about Ernest Hemingway). Enjoy!

Episode 18: Rachel Syme

DVN: How many writers are you mentoring right now?SS: I think like 600.Don and Shea discuss how he first resorted to writing, how comments got him a job, how he found his unique voice, and the first compliment Bill Simmons gave him. From the first to graduate high school in his family to a New York Times bestseller, Serrano's story—just like his personality—is one-of-a-kind.

DVN: How many writers are you mentoring right now? SS: I think like 600. Don and Shea discuss how he first resorted to writing, how comments got him a job, how he found his unique voice, and the first compliment Bill Simmons gave him. From the first to graduate high school in his family to a New York Times bestseller, Serrano's story—just like his personality—is one-of-a-kind.

Episode 17: Shea Serrano

Will Leitch

Will Leitch founded Deadspin nearly 14 years ago. Since 2008, Leitch has written and worked outside of the site, most recently as a contributing editor at New York Magazine, a national correspondent for MLB, and the host of “The Will Leitch Show” on Sports Illustrated TV. “…During the years I actively ran [Deadspin] — now more than a decade in the past — I was ostensibly in charge of figuring out what was coming next on the sports internet; I was the supposed leader of the blog-barbarians at the gate, all those bulls (and we were all bulls) running roughshod over the Traditional Sports Media…” Don and Will discuss how Blacktable.com led to Deadspin.com, the Deadspin of today, Will's writing of today, and revisit the infamous and “rather festive” 2008 Costas NOW (HBO) discussion where Buzz Bissinger, the author of “Friday Night Lights,” berated Will as being “…sort of like Jimmy Olsen on Percocet," and the sports blogosphere of the early aughts being “dedicated to cruelty … journalistic dishonesty, and … speed.” They’ve both come around since then. Will lives in Athens, GA, has written four books (with a fifth on the way), and can be found on Twitter @williamfleitch.    [0:28] Will Leitch newsletter [5:28] How to Raise a Boy: I’m not sure what to think about what my dad tried to teach me. So what should I teach my sons? (New York Magazine, 2018) [10:30] Sports on Earth: A Closing Tribute (Sports on Earth, 2018) [18:15] Blacktable.com [26:37] Laura Wagner [28:44] Megan Greenwell [29:17] Who Is We? (Deadspin, 2019) [29:26] What Fresh Hell Is Barstool Sports? (New York Magazine, 2018) [30:56] Licensing Company Authentic Brands in Talks to Buy Sports Illustrated for About $110 Million (WSJ, 2019) [30:56] New York Magazine Owner Explores Sale (WSJ, 2018) [31:42] Grierson &amp; Leitch (Apple Podcasts) [46:46] The Secret Life of Pitchers (The Atlantic, 2017) [47:10] A Mound Of Troubles (New York Times Magazine, 2001) [48:59] "Internet Media” segment, “Costas NOW” (HBO, April 29, 2008) [48:59] Our Conversation With Buzz Bissinger (Deadspin, 2008) [48:59] Buzz, Bob, Projectile Spittle and Me (New York Magazine, 2009) [49:50] Buzz Bissinger (New York Magazine) [53:28] Play Magazine (New York Times) [54:30] "God Save the Fan" (HarperCollins) [59:13] Twitter Is Driving Everybody Insane (Especially Darren Rovell) (Deadspin, 2011) [1:00:40] David Wallace-Wells' “The Uninhabitable Earth” (Tim Duggan Books) [1:01:55] Vicki Michaelis [1:02:05] Historic Kentucky barns are being stripped by thieves to fuel farmhouse-chic trend (Louisville Courier Journal)

Will Leitch founded <a href="https://deadspin.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Deadspin</a> nearly 14 years ago. Since 2008, Leitch has written and worked outside of the site, most recently as a <a href="http://nymag.com/author/will-leitch/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">contributing editor</a> at New York Magazine, a <a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/news/columnists/?id=will_leitch&amp;type=all" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">national correspondent</a> for MLB, and the host of “<a href="https://www.amazon.com/The-Will-Leitch-Show/dp/B079C7V5J1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Will Leitch Show</a>” on Sports Illustrated TV. “…During the years I actively ran [Deadspin] — now more than a decade in the past — I was ostensibly in charge of figuring out what was coming next on the sports internet; I was the supposed leader of the blog-barbarians at the gate, all those bulls (and we were all bulls) running roughshod over the Traditional Sports Media…” Don and Will discuss how <a href="http://blacktable.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Blacktable.com</a> led to <a href="http://Deadspin.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Deadspin.com</a>, the Deadspin of today, Will's writing of today, and revisit the infamous and “<a href="https://deadspin.com/our-conversation-with-buzz-bissinger-5020265" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">rather festive</a>” 2008 Costas NOW (HBO) discussion where Buzz Bissinger, the author of “Friday Night Lights,” berated Will as being “…sort of like Jimmy Olsen on Percocet," and the sports blogosphere of the early aughts being “dedicated to cruelty … journalistic dishonesty, and … speed.” They’ve both come around since then. Will lives in Athens, GA, has written four books (with a fifth on the way), and can be found on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/williamfleitch?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@williamfleitch</a>. <ul> <li>[0:28] Will Leitch <a href="https://tinyletter.com/williamfleitch/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">newsletter</a></li> <li>[5:28] <a href="https://www.thecut.com/2018/03/will-leitch-on-raising-sons-in-2018.html#_ga=2.8320306.1892451809.1556321064-1825724117.1544304112" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">How to Raise a Boy: I’m not sure what to think about what my dad tried to teach me. So what should I teach my sons?</a> (New York Magazine, 2018)</li> <li>[10:30] <a href="http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/265377298/sports-on-earth-final-column-last-day-tribute" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sports on Earth: A Closing Tribute</a> (Sports on Earth, 2018)</li> <li>[18:15] <a href="http://blacktable.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Blacktable.com</a></li> <li>[26:37] <a href="https://kinja.com/laurawagner1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Laura Wagner</a></li> <li>[28:44] <a href="https://kinja.com/megreenwell" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Megan Greenwell</a></li> <li>[29:17] <a href="https://theconcourse.deadspin.com/who-is-we-1833100853" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Who Is We?</a> (Deadspin, 2019)</li> <li>[29:26] <a href="http://nymag.com/intelligencer/2018/09/what-fresh-kind-of-hell-is-barstool-sports.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">What Fresh Hell Is Barstool Sports?</a> (New York Magazine, 2018)</li> <li>[30:56] <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/authentic-brands-emerging-as-a-leading-contender-to-purchase-sports-illustrated-11556216604" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Licensing Company Authentic Brands in Talks to Buy Sports Illustrated for About $110 Million</a> (WSJ, 2019)</li> <li>[30:56] <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/new-york-magazine-owner-explores-possible-sale-1534264090" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">New York Magazine Owner Explores Sale</a> (WSJ, 2018)</li> <li>[31:42] <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/grierson-leitch/id1076170640" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Grierson &amp; Leitch</a> (Apple Podcasts)</li> <li>[46:46] <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2017/05/the-secret-life-of-pitchers/521415/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Secret Life of Pitchers</a> (The Atlantic, 2017)</li> <li>[47:10] <a href="http://movies2.nytimes.com/library/magazine/home/20010211mag-ankiel.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">A Mound Of Troubles</a> (New York Times Magazine, 2001)</li> <li>[48:59] <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQrrcwMMKl4" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">"Internet Media” segment, “Costas NOW”</a> (HBO, April 29, 2008)</li> <li>[48:59] <a href="https://deadspin.com/our-conversation-with-buzz-bissinger-5020265" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Our Conversation With Buzz Bissinger</a> (Deadspin, 2008)</li> <li>[48:59] <a href="http://nymag.com/news/sports/53975/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Buzz, Bob, Projectile Spittle and Me</a> (New York Magazine, 2009)</li> <li>[49:50] <a href="http://nymag.com/author/buzz-bissinger/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Buzz Bissinger</a> (New York Magazine)</li> <li>[53:28] <a href="https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/pages/sports/playmagazine/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Play Magazine</a> (New York Times)</li> <li>[54:30] <a href="https://www.harpercollins.com/9780061351785/god-save-the-fan/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">"God Save the Fan"</a> (HarperCollins)</li> <li>[59:13] <a href="https://deadspin.com/twitter-is-driving-everybody-insane-especially-darren-5870066" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter Is Driving Everybody Insane</a> (Especially Darren Rovell) (Deadspin, 2011)</li> <li>[1:00:40] <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/586541/the-uninhabitable-earth-by-david-wallace-wells/9780525576709/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">David Wallace-Wells' “The Uninhabitable Earth”</a> (Tim Duggan Books)</li> <li>[1:01:55] <a href="http://grady.uga.edu/faculty/vicki-michaelis/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Vicki Michaelis</a></li> <li>[1:02:05] <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/04/16/kentucky-barn-wood-stolen-farmhouse-chic-design/3492745002/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Historic Kentucky barns are being stripped by thieves to fuel farmhouse-chic trend</a> (Louisville Courier Journal)</li></ul>

Episode 33: Will Leitch

Seymour Hersh

A reporter's reporter, Sy Hersh characterizes his work this way: "I'm constantly walking into editors’ offices and throwing a deadrat full of lice on their desk. Maybe he’s still alive and moving.” Hear his unfiltered thoughts on his career and journalism, and check out Hersh's memoir, Reporter. Subscribe to the podcast here if you haven't already. 

A reporter's reporter, Sy Hersh characterizes his work this way: "I'm constantly walking into editors’ offices and throwing a dead rat full of lice on their desk. Maybe he’s still alive and moving.” Hear his unfiltered thoughts on his career and journalism, and check out Hersh's memoir, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Reporter-Memoir-Seymour-M-Hersh/dp/0307263959" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Reporter</a>. Subscribe to the podcast <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sunday-long-read-podcast/id1276024856?mt=2#episodeGuid=E3YMIKQH-CUWHFR" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">here</a> if you haven't already.

Episode 21: Seymour Hersh

Elaina Plott

“It seemed like everyone knew what to think but me.”   Elaina Plott landed not one but two stories in the Sunday Long Read newsletter last week. The first was a cover story for Pacific Standard magazine about the residents of Tangier Island, Virginia, and their unique relationship with God, Trump, and climate change, which scientists say is likely to wipe their island from the map within the next 25 years. Her second story was a personal reflection on gun violence for The Atlantic, where she is a staff writer. Elaina and Jacob discuss the details of both stories, the intersections of personal and political discourse, the way Elaina (an Alabaman who went to Yale and works in D.C.) approaches her work, and more.   -[1:35] Country's First Climate Change Casualties -- Pacific Standard -[18:00] Bullet in My Arm -- The Atlantic -[28:20] A Love Letter to the Upper West Side essay/I Was A Teenage Ann Coulter Fangirl essay -[43:20] Elaina breaks news on Scott Pruitt -- The Atlantic

“It seemed like everyone knew what to think but me.” Elaina Plott landed not one but two stories in the Sunday Long Read newsletter last week. The first was a cover story for Pacific Standard magazine about the residents of Tangier Island, Virginia, and their unique relationship with God, Trump, and climate change, which scientists say is likely to wipe their island from the map within the next 25 years. Her second story was a personal reflection on gun violence for The Atlantic, where she is a staff writer. Elaina and Jacob discuss the details of both stories, the intersections of personal and political discourse, the way Elaina (an Alabaman who went to Yale and works in D.C.) approaches her work, and more. -[1:35] <a href="https://psmag.com/magazine/the-countrys-first-climate-change-casualties" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Country's First Climate Change Casualties -- Pacific Standard</a> -[18:00] <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2018/10/the-bullet-in-my-arm/568369/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bullet in My Arm -- The Atlantic</a> -[28:20] <a href="https://www.westsiderag.com/2014/10/11/essay-a-love-letter-to-the-upper-west-side" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">A Love Letter to the Upper West Side essay</a>/<a href="https://www.washingtonian.com/2016/10/05/i-was-a-teenage-ann-coulter-fangirl/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">I Was A Teenage Ann Coulter Fangirl essay</a> -[43:20] <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/05/epa-leaks/559607/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Elaina breaks news on Scott Pruitt -- The Atlantic</a>

Episode 27: Elaina Plott

Tommy Tomlinson

"The clock doesn't run out until the very end," says Tommy Tomlinson, author of the new book "The Elephant in the Room: One fat man's quest to Get Smaller in a Growing America." Tommy talks about his book, his weight, and more with Don on this week's episode, which ranges from questions about emotional intelligence to the speed of Herschel Walker. Tommy, a 23-year veteran of the Charlotte Observer, a Pulitzer Prize finalist, and the host of his own podcast, has plenty of stories to tell and brings his trademark thoughtfulness to this week's episode.18:00: Tommy's Jared Lorenzen story: http://www.espn.com/espn/feature/story/_/id/11382220/ex-nfl-qb-jared-lorenzen-lifelong-battle-weight37:00: "Live Oak" by Jason Isbell: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvZoQhHi65Q48:00: "The Night of the Gun" by David Carr: https://www.amazon.com/Night-Gun-reporter-investigates-darkest/dp/1416541535Links:Read an excerpt from Tommy's book: https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2019/01/weight-loss-essay-tomlinson/579832/Buy "The Elephant in the Room: One fat man's quest to Get Smaller in a Growing America": https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Elephant-in-the-Room/Tommy-Tomlinson/9781501111617Read a Charlotte Observer Q&amp;A with Tommy: https://www.charlotteobserver.com/entertainment/arts-culture/article223587620.html

"The clock doesn't run out until the very end," says Tommy Tomlinson, author of the new book "The Elephant in the Room: One fat man's quest to Get Smaller in a Growing America." Tommy talks about his book, his weight, and more with Don on this week's episode, which ranges from questions about emotional intelligence to the speed of Herschel Walker. Tommy, a 23-year veteran of the Charlotte Observer, a Pulitzer Prize finalist, and the host of his own podcast, has plenty of stories to tell and brings his trademark thoughtfulness to this week's episode. 18:00: Tommy's Jared Lorenzen story: <a href="http://www.espn.com/espn/feature/story/_/id/11382220/ex-nfl-qb-jared-lorenzen-lifelong-battle-weight" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.espn.com/espn/feature/story/_/id/11382220/ex-nfl-qb-jared-lorenzen-lifelong-battle-weight</a> 37:00: "Live Oak" by Jason Isbell: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvZoQhHi65Q" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvZoQhHi65Q</a> 48:00: "The Night of the Gun" by David Carr: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Night-Gun-reporter-investigates-darkest/dp/1416541535" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.amazon.com/Night-Gun-reporter-investigates-darkest/dp/1416541535</a> Links: Read an excerpt from Tommy's book: <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2019/01/weight-loss-essay-tomlinson/579832/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2019/01/weight-loss-essay-tomlinson/579832/</a> Buy "The Elephant in the Room: One fat man's quest to Get Smaller in a Growing America": <a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Elephant-in-the-Room/Tommy-Tomlinson/9781501111617" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Elephant-in-the-Room/Tommy-Tomlinson/9781501111617</a> Read a Charlotte Observer Q&amp;A with Tommy: <a href="https://www.charlotteobserver.com/entertainment/arts-culture/article223587620.html" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.charlotteobserver.com/entertainment/arts-culture/article223587620.html</a>

Episode 30: Tommy Tomlinson

Jessica Contrera

Jessica Contrera covers a wide range of topics as a narrative reporter for the Washington Post and in this week's podcast she chats with Don about her happiest (and saddest) stories, taking care of her mental health while covering traumatic events, and the positive influence a good editor has on a young reporter. Jessica has been featured several times in the Sunday Long Read newsletter and the stories of hers that we've highlighted include a deep dive about sexting teenagers, a piece about the ongoing recovery of mass shooting victims, and a delightful tale about one particularly controversial dog park.  Episode Links: Dog Park: https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/no-excessive-barking-a-chevy-chase-dog-park-divides-the-rich-and-powerful/2019/08/27/0b9fd242-c4e5-11e9-9986-1fb3e4397be4_story.html Sexting: https://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/style/2016/09/06/the-sext-was-meant-to-impress-him-instead-it-nearly-destroyed-her/?utm_term=.375aacad9435 Parkland students: https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/i-would-rather-not-be-alone-behind-their-anger-florida-students-are-still-teens-struggling-with-trauma/2018/02/20/5e21bb40-1661-11e8-8b08-027a6ccb38eb_story.html Zach Cruz: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/local/wp/2019/01/25/feature/his-brother-confessed-to-gunning-down-17-people-in-parkland-but-hes-the-only-family-zach-cruz-has-left/ Trauma Stewardship: https://www.amazon.com/Trauma-Stewardship-Everyday-Caring-Others/dp/157675944X Jessica's biography: https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/jessica-contrera/  The Waffle House: https://www.jessicacontrera.com/the-waffle-house.html

Jessica Contrera covers a wide range of topics as a narrative reporter for the Washington Post and in this week's podcast she chats with Don about her happiest (and saddest) stories, taking care of her mental health while covering traumatic events, and the positive influence a good editor has on a young reporter. Jessica has been featured several times in the Sunday Long Read newsletter and the stories of hers that we've highlighted include a deep dive about sexting teenagers, a piece about the ongoing recovery of mass shooting victims, and a delightful tale about one particularly controversial dog park.  Episode Links: Dog Park: <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/no-excessive-barking-a-chevy-chase-dog-park-divides-the-rich-and-powerful/2019/08/27/0b9fd242-c4e5-11e9-9986-1fb3e4397be4_story.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/no-excessive-barking-a-chevy-chase-dog-park-divides-the-rich-and-powerful/2019/08/27/0b9fd242-c4e5-11e9-9986-1fb3e4397be4_story.html</a> Sexting: <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/style/2016/09/06/the-sext-was-meant-to-impress-him-instead-it-nearly-destroyed-her/?utm_term=.375aacad9435" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/style/2016/09/06/the-sext-was-meant-to-impress-him-instead-it-nearly-destroyed-her/?utm_term=.375aacad9435</a> Parkland students: <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/i-would-rather-not-be-alone-behind-their-anger-florida-students-are-still-teens-struggling-with-trauma/2018/02/20/5e21bb40-1661-11e8-8b08-027a6ccb38eb_story.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/i-would-rather-not-be-alone-behind-their-anger-florida-students-are-still-teens-struggling-with-trauma/2018/02/20/5e21bb40-1661-11e8-8b08-027a6ccb38eb_story.html</a> Zach Cruz: <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/local/wp/2019/01/25/feature/his-brother-confessed-to-gunning-down-17-people-in-parkland-but-hes-the-only-family-zach-cruz-has-left/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/local/wp/2019/01/25/feature/his-brother-confessed-to-gunning-down-17-people-in-parkland-but-hes-the-only-family-zach-cruz-has-left/</a> Trauma Stewardship: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Trauma-Stewardship-Everyday-Caring-Others/dp/157675944X" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.amazon.com/Trauma-Stewardship-Everyday-Caring-Others/dp/157675944X</a> Jessica's biography: <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/jessica-contrera/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/jessica-contrera/</a> The Waffle House: <a href="https://www.jessicacontrera.com/the-waffle-house.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.jessicacontrera.com/the-waffle-house.html</a>

Episode 35: Jessica Contrera

Gideon Lewis-Kraus

Gideon Lewis-Kraus is a writer at large for the New York Times Magazine, a contributing writer at WIRED, and a contributing editor at Harper’s. He’s the author of a travel memoir called A Sense of Direction, and he teaches nonfiction in the Graduate Writing Program at Columbia. Here, he talks with Jacob about ideal story length (100 pages, anyone?), why it took months to work out the structure of his latest NYT Magazine piece, how he uses detail, and more. Stories mentioned in the conversation: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/23/magazine/selling-airborne-opulence-to-the-upper-upper-upper-class.html https://www.wired.com/story/tezos-blockchain-love-story-horror-story/   https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/17/magazine/ancient-dna-paleogenomics.html https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/14/magazine/the-great-ai-awakening.html   https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/13/magazine/how-the-resistance-helped-democrats-dominate-virginia.html

Gideon Lewis-Kraus is a writer at large for the New York Times Magazine, a contributing writer at WIRED, and a contributing editor at Harper’s. He’s the author of a travel memoir called A Sense of Direction, and he teaches nonfiction in the Graduate Writing Program at Columbia. Here, he talks with Jacob about ideal story length (100 pages, anyone?), why it took months to work out the structure of his latest NYT Magazine piece, how he uses detail, and more. Stories mentioned in the conversation: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/23/magazine/selling-airborne-opulence-to-the-upper-upper-upper-class.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/23/magazine/selling-airborne-opulence-to-the-upper-upper-upper-class.html</a> <a href="https://www.wired.com/story/tezos-blockchain-love-story-horror-story/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.wired.com/story/tezos-blockchain-love-story-horror-story/</a> <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/17/magazine/ancient-dna-paleogenomics.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/17/magazine/ancient-dna-paleogenomics.html</a> <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/14/magazine/the-great-ai-awakening.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/14/magazine/the-great-ai-awakening.html</a> <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/13/magazine/how-the-resistance-helped-democrats-dominate-virginia.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/13/magazine/how-the-resistance-helped-democrats-dominate-virginia.html</a>

Episode 31: Gideon Lewis-Kraus

Jeanne Marie Laskas

The best-selling author, GQ correspondent, and National Magazine Award Finalist is the latest guest on The Sunday Long Read Podcast. Laskas discusses her books and articles including To Obama: With Love, Joy, Anger, and Hope, her New York Times Magazine article "The Mailroom", and her GQ article "Game Brain" which inspired the movie "Concussion."[0:49] Jeanne Marie on her book tour for “To Obama: With Love, Joy, Anger, and Hope”[1:54] How she came up with the idea for the book, based off “Ten Letters A Day: To Obama With Love, and Hate, and Desperation” for New York Times Magazine[8:07] Jeanne Marie on Joe Biden: The Most Misunderstood Man in Washington for GQ[18:32] Writing Bennet Omalu, Concussions, and the NFL: How One Doctor Changed Football Forever[26:50] Jeanne Marie on her writing craft, characters, and narrative arc/Inside the Federal Bureau of Way Too Many Guns[38:43] Jeanne Marie on advising students

<h4>The best-selling author, GQ correspondent, and National Magazine Award Finalist is the latest guest on The Sunday Long Read Podcast. Laskas discusses her books and articles including To Obama: With Love, Joy, Anger, and Hope, her New York Times Magazine article "The Mailroom", and her GQ article "Game Brain" which inspired the movie "Concussion." [0:49] Jeanne Marie on her book tour for “<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Obama-Love-Joy-Anger-Hope/dp/0525509380" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">To Obama: With Love, Joy, Anger, and Hope</a>” [1:54] How she came up with the idea for the book, based off “<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/17/magazine/what-americans-wrote-to-obama.html?_r=0" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Ten Letters A Day: To Obama With Love, and Hate, and Desperation</a>” for New York Times Magazine [8:07] Jeanne Marie on <a href="https://www.gq.com/story/joe-biden-presidential-campaign-2016-2013" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Joe Biden: The Most Misunderstood Man in Washington for GQ</a> [18:32] Writing <a href="https://www.gq.com/story/nfl-players-brain-dementia-study-memory-concussions" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Bennet Omalu, Concussions, and the NFL: How One Doctor Changed Football Forever</a> [26:50] Jeanne Marie on her writing craft, characters, and narrative arc/<a href="https://www.gq.com/story/inside-federal-bureau-of-way-too-many-guns" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Inside the Federal Bureau of Way Too Many Guns</a> [38:43] Jeanne Marie on advising students</h4>

Episode 34: Jeanne Marie Laskas

Ben Smith

Fresh off his guest-editing turn, BuzzFeed News editor-in-chief Ben Smith chatted with Don about how the term "Ben Smith-ing" came into being, why he moved from Politico to BuzzFeed, and the thought process behind publishing the controversial Trump-Russia dossier. They also discussed the journalism industry more broadly, from the blogging heyday to the current environment. "I read a lot of long articles but it’s in spite of the fact they’re long," Ben says.

Episode 28: Ben Smith

Christopher Goffard

Christopher Goffard, now at The Los Angeles Times, is an experienced journalist of over 20 years. Most recently, he's the reporter, writer and voice of Dirty John, a captivating series told via print and chart-topping podcast. Christopher tells Jacob why he assigns his journalism students stories of everyday people, the way he first learned about "Dirty John" Meehan, how creating a podcast was "harder work than I think I've ever done" (but work he recommends to any journalist), and why he isn't comfortable with the True Crime label for Dirty John.

Episode 5: Christopher Goffard

Jessica Pressler

"If you don’t want to tell me something it makes me very interested in what it is.” Jessica Pressler is a staff writer at New York magazine and joins Jacob this week to talk interesting stories, screen adaptations, and empathy. Her article "The Hustlers at Scores," is the basis for the new movie "Hustlers," and Jessica discusses the unique experiences of having a story adapted for the screen and being visited in your own home by a movie star assigned to portray you (Hello, Julia Stiles!).

Episode 36: Jessica Pressler

Albert Samaha

“There are two ways I view toughness and the virtue of it.” BuzzFeed News reporter Albert Samaha has a new book out about a young football team in a changing inner city. But clearly it’s about so much more than that, too. As for what he thinks will happen to America’s most popular sport, Samaha says, “Part of the question is what replaces it.” He also discussed what it’s like working at BuzzFeed, shared how he’s learned to grab attention online, and announced the topic of his next book. [1:00] The Sunday Long Read with Albert Samaha[1:30] Never Ran, Never Will[18:00] Albert’s magazine story about the Mo Better Jaguars[22:00] Jacob’s story on baseball in Liberty City[23:00] There Are No Children Here[41:45] Can A School Ban Its Students From Kneeling During The National Anthem?[56:30] Fatal Errors[1:05:00] Looking for Right and Wrong In the Philippines

“There are two ways I view toughness and the virtue of it.” BuzzFeed News reporter Albert Samaha has <a href="https://www.publicaffairsbooks.com/titles/albert-samaha/never-ran-never-will/9781541767867/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">a new book</a> out about a young football team in a changing inner city. But clearly it’s about so much more than that, too. As for what he thinks will happen to America’s most popular sport, Samaha says, “Part of the question is what replaces it.” He also discussed what it’s like working at BuzzFeed, shared how he’s learned to grab attention online, and announced the topic of his next book. [1:00] <a href="https://us9.campaign-archive.com/?u=6e1ae4ac632498a38c1d57c54&amp;id=adf25f87ff&amp;e=" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Sunday Long Read with Albert Samaha</a> [1:30] <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Never-Ran-Will-Football-Changing/dp/1610398688" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Never Ran, Never Will</a> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Never-Ran-Will-Football-Changing/dp/1610398688" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">[</a>18:00] <a href="http://digitalissue.villagevoice.com/article/Field+Goals/1554895/182387/article.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Albert’s magazine story about the Mo Better Jaguars</a> [22:00] <a href="https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/other-sports/article1981347.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jacob’s story on baseball in Liberty City</a> <a href="https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/other-sports/article1981347.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">[</a>23:00] <a href="https://www.amazon.com/There-Are-No-Children-Here/dp/0385265565" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">There Are No Children Here</a> [41:45] <a href="https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/albertsamaha/a-high-school-quarterback-is-fighting-to-kneel" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Can A School Ban Its Students From Kneeling During The National Anthem?</a> <a href="https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/albertsamaha/a-high-school-quarterback-is-fighting-to-kneel" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">[</a>56:30] <a href="https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/albertsamaha/good-guys-with-guns-shoot-wrong-people-in-seconds-of-panic" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Fatal Errors</a> [1:05:00] <a href="https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/albertsamaha/why-do-filipinos-love-duterte#.kvm4NGx9V" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Looking for Right and Wrong In the Philippines</a>

Episode 26: Albert Samaha

Jo Piazza

Jo Piazza is a journalist, podcaster, author of fiction and nonfiction books, and writer of personal essays. Her latest book – her eighth – is a novel called Charlotte Walsh Likes to Win, and it’s a fascinating look at what it takes for a woman to run for national office. She talks with Don about how she learned to be a good reporter covering celebrities, how her novel is influencing voters, and how the book might have been different if Hillary Clinton had won. Jo Piazza Jo's new novel, Charlotte Walsh Likes to Win NY Daily News celebrity coverage Emily's List Lauren Baer for Congress

Jo Piazza is a journalist, podcaster, author of fiction and nonfiction books, and writer of personal essays. Her latest book – her eighth – is a novel called Charlotte Walsh Likes to Win, and it’s a fascinating look at what it takes for a woman to run for national office. She talks with Don about how she learned to be a good reporter covering celebrities, how her novel is influencing voters, and how the book might have been different if Hillary Clinton had won. <ul> <li><a href="https://www.jopiazza.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Jo Piazza</a></li> <li>Jo's new novel, <a href="https://www.bookculture.com/search/site/Charlotte%20Walsh%20Likes%20to%20Win" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Charlotte Walsh Likes to Win</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/singer-wigs-k-fed-lies-win-kids-pals-article-1.234020#" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">NY Daily News celebrity coverage</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.emilyslist.org/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Emily's List</a></li> <li><a href="https://laurenbaerforcongress.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Lauren Baer for Congress</a></li></ul>

Episode 24: Jo Piazza

Steve Almond

Steve Almond says of writing: “The idea is that you are trying to show the reader somebody whose life is in disequilibrium and who is struggling with some universal bewilderment.” His newest book, Bad Stories: What the Hell Just Happened to our Country, is out now. It’s his tenth. He has also published more than 150 short stories and is the co-host of the popular Dear Sugars podcast. He and Don discuss the value of good editing, the apprenticeship a young writer should undergo, and much more.

Steve Almond says of writing: “The idea is that you are trying to show the reader somebody whose life is in disequilibrium and who is struggling with some universal bewilderment.” His newest book, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Bad-Stories-What-Happened-Country/dp/1597092266" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Bad Stories: What the Hell Just Happened to our Country</a>, is out now. It’s his tenth. He has also published more than 150 short stories and is the co-host of the popular Dear Sugars <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/podcasts/dear-sugars" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">podcast</a>. He and Don discuss the value of good editing, the apprenticeship a young writer should undergo, and much more.

Episode 19: Steve Almond

Michael Kruse

"We're all a product of our path to the current moment, and my path is a little bit different," Michael says. He has worked his way up from covering exurban news to writing about the President for POLITICO. And he says that journey, which included stories about a dead sheepand a woman who disappeared inside her own home, helps him today. "My path was through small areas and rural areas in New York state and in Florida ... it can't hurt when I go out to quote-unquote Trump country—which is to say, most of the country—and talk to people."Michael also talked about his first lucky break in the business, how a lack of access can sometimes be liberating, and why he considers his audience to be just about every single person on planet Earth.

"We're all a product of our path to the current moment, and my path is a little bit different," Michael says. He has worked his way up from covering exurban news to writing about the President for POLITICO. And he says that journey, which included stories about <a href="https://www.outsideonline.com/1922746/bighorn-sheep-who-was-youtube-famous" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">a dead sheep</a>and <a href="http://niemanstoryboard.org/stories/line-by-line-how-michael-kruse-wrote-the-story-about-the-woman-who-disapperaed-inside-her-own-home/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">a woman who disappeared inside her own home</a>, helps him today. "My path was through small areas and rural areas in New York state and in Florida ... it can't hurt when I go out to quote-unquote Trump country—which is to say, most of the country—and talk to people." Michael also talked about his first lucky break in the business, how a lack of access can sometimes be liberating, and why he considers his audience to be just about every single person on planet Earth.

Episode 13: Michael Kruse

Rachel Sklar

If you worked in media in New York in the mid 2000s, you read the Fishbowl on MediaBistro. Our podcast guest today is the writer of that indispensable, gossipy blog, Rachel Sklar. We’ll track her unconventional path from Mediabistro to Mediaite and Huffington Post, and on to co-found The Li.st, a network and visibility platform for professional women. Now she’s at work on a newsletter called The Luckiest.http://theli.st/   http://gawker.com/ Theluckiest.com

If you worked in media in New York in the mid 2000s, you read the Fishbowl on MediaBistro. Our podcast guest today is the writer of that indispensable, gossipy blog, Rachel Sklar. We’ll track her unconventional path from Mediabistro to Mediaite and Huffington Post, and on to co-found The <a href="http://Li.st" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Li.st</a>, a network and visibility platform for professional women. Now she’s at work on a newsletter called The Luckiest. <a href="http://theli.st/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://theli.st/</a> <a href="http://gawker.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://gawker.com/</a> <a href="http://Theluckiest.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Theluckiest.com</a>

Episode 29: Rachel Sklar

In the middle of his Twitter hiatus, two-time National Magazine Award winner Chris Jones (left) chats with Don Van Natta Jr. Jones shares behind-the-scenes details from his favorite stories—including profiles of Roger Ebert and Teller. He also explains why he's just now learning to cook and how he managed to expense both poker losses and marijuana.

In the middle of his <a href="https://twitter.com/EnswellJones/status/927330242099892225" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter hiatus</a>, two-time National Magazine Award winner Chris Jones (left) chats with Don Van Natta Jr. Jones shares behind-the-scenes details from his favorite stories—including profiles of Roger Ebert and Teller. He also explains why he's just now learning to cook and how he managed to expense both poker losses and marijuana.

Episode 7: Chris Jones

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