Back when this podcast started, Joe Posnanski joined Brian for Episode 4 to talk about Hamilton, Buffalo sports, and writing.

This week, for our 100th episode, Joe joins Brian again to talk about … Hamilton, Buffalo sports, and writing.

After nerding out about their favorite moments in Hamilton, Brian and Joe get to the main topic — Joe’s upcoming book on Harry Houdini. Joe talks in depth about his writing and research process on this book, particularly how he balanced writing a biography of Houdini and a book about magic and wonder itself. Joe discusses how he reconciled those two ideas and found the center of the book.

Joe and Brian also talk about the importance of finding that thing that your piece of writing is about, and about how being honest with what you don’t know can build your credibility with sources. There is a brief Harry Potter detour, and reporting is compared to roller coasters (one of which, Brian and Joe love). Joe also discusses how he defines wonder and why that is so important to the book and our lives.

Also noteworthy, after this podcast was reported, someone did in fact hit two home runs in a game that day.

Joe Posnanski on Twitter

Joe Blogs

The Life and Afterlife of Harry Houdini

Joe on Amazon

Episode 4: Joe Posnanski

The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead