Sports writer Bill Rabinowitz joins me to unpack his new book Buckeye Brotherhood, the people-first stories from Ohio State's national championship season, and what it really takes to build a career in sports media today. We cover interviewing 50+ players and coaches, the leadership arc of Ryan Day, and why great reporting starts with listening. If you love Ohio State or you want to sharpen your sports-writing game, this one will hit.

In this episode:

• The human stories behind the Buckeyes' championship run
• How to break into sports media in 2025 and build audience on your own terms
• Listening to understand vs listening to reply
• Preparing under pressure and telling hard stories the right way
• Why Ohio State football unites an entire state
• Five takeaways
• People first, plays second. The best football stories are human stories.
• Listening is your edge. It unlocks trust and better reporting.
• Preparation reduces nerves and clarifies decisions.
• You can build a writing career if you are excellent and consistent.
• Resilience and identity fueled Ohio State's run, not just scheme.

Chapters 00:00 Intro 03:00 Bill's path in journalism 06:45 Breaking in today 08:40 The power of listening 12:35 Why Ohio State unites Ohio 13:30 Making Buckeye Brotherhood 18:55 Telling Ryan Day's story 21:05 Unsung players, big moments 27:30 Substack and paying for real journalism 41:00 Wrap and resources

Resources

Book: Buckeye Brotherhood (search on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Triumph Books)

Bill's Substack: billrabinowitz.substack.com

About The Gametime Guru

Nine years running, I interview sports figures from around the world to deliver a panoramic view on sports. Former athletes, die-hards, and casual fans all walk away with something useful.

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