The Backyard Banter Podcast

Episode 15: Patrick Claybon - If you shine people will see you by Matt Harmon

Episode 14 brings us a great story as we're joined by Denny Carter, the co-host of the Living the Stream podcast, owner of Draft Day Consultants and the author of How to Think Like a Fantasy Football Winner. Denny shares his journey through the ups and downs of surviving in the industry, and how his place in it is different from where it was four years ago. We also dive into what is one of the more unique personas on Twitter.

Highlights from this episode include:

- Whether we think it is more important for a fantasy analyst to be a great writer or good fantasy player.

- Juggling too many assignments when you're starting out and how it can lead you to actually hate the game.

- The "process over results" idea and why it is important, but never letting it be a copout.

- Not being afraid of trusting yourself when you have an opinion that goes against the grain.

- The rhyme and reason behind Denny's Twitter personality, from the politics to the #brand and all the way to the horrendous food takes.

For episode 13 we are privileged to welcome in NFL Network's Adam Rank to share a wealth of information. Given the platform he needed to go into full filibuster form, Ranks dishes on every topic under the sun as we weave through the humorous and all too ironic story that landed him with NFL Media. You don't want to miss this episode with a guest I am quite lucky to call a personal friend and an individual with a centered but easy-going outlook on all things life and sports related.

Highlights from this episode include:

- The story of the starting point to Rank and I's relationship and how out friendship almost didn't get off the runway.

- Rank's background as a sports fan and his complicated relationship with the unfaithful Los Angeles Rams.

- How Rank decided mid-way through college to switch his path and how he never looked back.

- The value of just being available and just never going away puts you in positions for success.

- Plenty of relatable and important nonsense along the way.

On this episode, Adam Pfeifer of Project Roto and DFS Bootcamp joins us to talk about the state of his place in the fantasy football industry. Adam is the first guest we've had on who represents a young writer who is at the "in progress" stage of trying to make a career in this space. Many of the aspiring analysts who listen to the show will find his perspective on how he motivates himself to chase his dream and the approach he takes quite relatable. If I had to bet on one young writer out there trying to make it in this industry accomplishing the goal, it would be Adam Pfeifer.

Highlights from this episode include:

- Where Adam is currently in his writing career and the steps he took to get there.

- Juggling getting your point across but also providing detailed analysis.

- How writing is a real and helpful piece of therapy for those of us who love it.

- The importance of connections and always learning while picking other writers, and our readers' brains.

- Why Adam doesn't view the success of others in the industry as a a bad sign for him, but rather something to motivate him to keep going.

Today we have Mark Schofield from Inside the Pylon and author of the new book 17 Drives on the podcast to share the story of his recent transition to a full-time football writer. Mark left a comfortable job as a practicing lawyer to chase this dream and provides an inspiring template for others looking to make that jump.

Highlights from this episode include:

- Mark's background as a former college quarterback and how that influences the way he sees the game.

- The personal tribulations that led him to unhappiness in his career as a lawyer.

- Why the support of those in your closest inner circle means the most when deciding to chase a place in this field.

- The value of community and asking for help.

- ?Mark's personal philosophy of "you only get one drive in the game of life" and how that motivates him to continue to work harder at this craft.

Yahoo fantasy football analyst and co-host of the X's & Y's Podcast, Liz Loza, joins the show for the 10th episode. The first female guest of The Backyard Banter Podcast, Liz brings a unique perspective to the show that none of the previous guests or I can speak to. Even more fascinating were her thoughts on doing whatever it takes to make it, and the steps she took to put that into practice.

Highlights from this episode include:

- Liz's background playing fantasy football and how that set in motion her starting her own blog.

- How her relationship and upbringing with her grandfather influences her mindset as a women in a male dominated industry.

- The fine line between being self-assured and egotistical in dealing with criticism.

- Advice for how to interact with analysts on social media and some do's and dont's when trying to get noticed in the space.

- Simply invaluable thoughts for aspiring writers on going the extra mile and treating this "as your job" even if it's not your job yet.

ESPN Senior Fantasy Analyst and New York Times Best Selling Author of "Fantasy Life", Matthew Berry joins the show to tell the story of his rise to the mountain top of the fantasy football industry. Berry is quite literally the face of fantasy analysis, both among professional colleagues and in popular culture. Yet, here he tells the story of what went into his rise from just another unknown to dominating one of the fastest rising sectors of sports.

Highlights from this episode include:

- Berry's background as a Hollywood screenwriter and what about that field pushed him towards chasing his true dream.

- How he went from a part-time gig with Rotoworld to launching his own empire with The Talented Mr. Roto.

- Being an effective communicator is the most important part of being a professional analysts, but you need other tools.

- Why analysts even in the highest of positions shouldn't be afraid of competition from others.

- The concept of never being negative to others and how Berry notices it in others, both good and bad.

Many of the listeners asked me over the last month when I would bring a guest on that I work with at NFL Media, so I finally did. There are plenty of great options both in the fantasy department, and outside of it. Through all of the options, I wanted to bring in someone a little more under the radar than the big names, my fellow fantasy writer/editor Matt Franciscovich. Better known by his nickname "Franchise" around the office, he brings a unique story coming from a far different background than any of the previous seven guests.

Highlights from this episode include:

- How Franchise got his start as a writer in the music industry.

- Why he believes it's still important for him to channel those passions on the side through his newly launched website.

- Just keep producing content, whether you think it's good or bad, just have something to show for yourself.

- The importance of being persistent when you're chasing your dreams.

- Presenting a different avenue to success in the industry than just coming up through the Twitter community.

Former Cleveland Browns and ESPN scout, and current co-host of The Dynasty Blueprint podcast, Matt Williamson, joins up for the seventh edition of the podcast to tell his long and winding tale.

Highlights from this episode include:

- Growing up in Pittsburgh and being completely immersed in the culture of the Steelers.

- Leaving a job that paid him well with good hours to take a recruiting job with Pitt that would not hold the same benefits.

- How the support and sacrifices of his wife were invaluable ingredients to his success.

- Consistently beating the odds to get jobs many others were after, including as an NFL scout.

- Williamson's current transition from working with ESPN to being out on his own as a freelancer writer.

We have a treat for the sixth installment of The Backyard Banter Podcast as Eric Stoner? joins the show to talk about the ebbs and flows of his time in the football industry. If you aren't familiar with Stoner, he is one of the brightest football minds you'll find on Twitter and spent time working with Rotoworld, Bleacher Report and MattWaldmanRSP.com. However, these days he is no longer in pursuit of spending time as a professional writer, and that's what Stoner and I talk about on this episode.

Highlights from this episode include:

- How Eric first got started as a freelance writer after spending time as a high school coach.

- The conflicts of making what was a passion a day-to-day job.

- Navigating Twitter, while remembering the importance of fun and making friends. "If you logout none of these people exist."

- A valuable discussion on why football takes itself too seriously and how that seeps into the coverage.

- Finding out if the game truly speaks to you, whether this really is for you and being okay if it's not.