The Backyard Banter Podcast

Rotoworld and NBC Sport's lead NFL Draft analyst, Josh Norris, drops in for a conversation unlike any other in the previous episodes. Perhaps unexpectedly, we were able to discuss important real life implications of our line of work, and just functioning as rising individuals in this space.

Highlights from this episode include:

- The transition from life as a fan to working as an analyst, and what you lose in the change.

- Oddly, a lot of discussion about dating, why it's hard in our business, what we're scared of meeting out there and a personally shocking revelation on my end.

- The importance of saying " I don't know" when it applies.

- Josh's account of his time with an NFL team and what he learned from the experience.

- Why process, and those who employ an effective one, matter more than anything else in the business.

Rumford Johnny (@RumfordJohnny) joins the podcast to talk about his unique place in the fantasy football community. Rummy provides a different viewpoint than our previous three guests as he does not hold a job in the profession, but is a voice in the sphere that many people know and respect.

Highlights from this episode include:

- The importance of being kind and actively trying to elevate other writers in the industry.

- How to interact on social media.

- Knowing when to be contrarian in your work.

- Trusting your instincts and the importance of narrative in player evaluations.

- Why your real life and the journey your on matters more than anything.

JJ Zachariason (@LateRoundQB), Editor-In-Chief at numberFire and author of The Late Round Quarterback, stops by The Backyard Banter Podcast to talk about how he transitioned from a regular day job to a full-time position in the fantasy sports industry. JJ is one of the best examples in our industry of someone who developed and cultivated a #brand through his unique Late Round Quarterback strategy.

Highlights from the episode include:

- Realizing that you can't run out the same old content as everyone else.

- Managing your time while juggling a day job and personal life while starting out as a writer.

- The process of networking with people bigger than you in the field and being confident.

- How to defend an unpopular, or contrarian stance to readers and other analysts.

- Most importantly, always remembering that this the still the coolest thing in the world.

Rookie Scouting Portfolio creator and Footballguys columnist, Matt Waldman (@MattWaldman), joins the podcast to deliver some of the harder truths one needs to weigh when deciding to pursue a career asa football writer.

Highlights from the episode include:

- ?Maintaining interests outside of football and sharing that with your audience.

- Discovering your lane or fit in the industry, and being willing to fail in the pursuit.

- Putting in the hard work and deciding whether that's worth it.

- Being guided by your compulsive passion as a writer.

- Why this might not be for everyone.

Sigmund Bloom (@SigmundBloom), co-owner of Footballguys.com and co-host of The Audible Podcast, stops by The Backyard Banter Podcast to talk about his journey in making a career in the fantasy football writing industry.

Highlights from the episode include:

- The importance of community and involving yourself in each other's lives.

- Making decisions in an impulse.

- Cultivating your audience, and being good to them.

- Finding your unique place in a space of the community you think.

- Putting yourself out there and don't wait for life to roll out a red carpet.