The Other 51

“After 190 episodes talking about other’s people writing, I finally get to talk about something I wrote!”

Brian is joined by Matthew Zimmeran and Lauren Burch, and the three of them talk about their new textbook, Introduction to Sports Journalism. 

We talk about how Matt started the project and how/why he asked us to be a part of it. We talk about our different writing styles and methods, how Brian’s writing habits give Lauren anxiety, and how our three voices turned into one cohesive book. We also talk about the challenges of balancing theory with the need for practicality, and how we to tried to balance writing something as permanent as a book about such a fast-changing industry.

Anyway, I’m super proud of the book and so proud that I got to do it with friends of mine. 

Links

Introduction to Sports Journalism (our book!) 

Buy it at Human Kinetics

Buy it on Amazon

Want: Sexual Fantasies by Gillian Anderson (the best thing Lauren’s read lately.

The Storyteller by Dave Grohl (the other best thing Lauren’s read lately)
Tennessee coach Josh Heupel comes home to Oklahoma by Jake Trotter and Chris Low (the best thing Matt’s read recently.)

Moneyball by Michael Lewis (the other best thing Matt’s read recently.)

Everyone On This Train is a Suspect by Benjamin Stevenson  (the best thing Brian’s read lately)

Support

The Other 51 is and will always be free, but if you like my work (and the stuff I do at Sports Media Guy) and want to kick me a few dollars, you can do so here. I really appreciate your support. 

Follow us on Instagram and Threads. We’re on the decaying corpse of Twitter, but only because for some reason sports media won’t abandon the site. 

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“I feel like my place as a writer is sort of that place between what happened and the mythology of what’s happening.” 

Joe Posnanski joins Brian for a deep dive into his new book, Why We Love Football: A History in 100 Moments. 
Joe talks about how he started with a list of more than 300 football moments and the process of whittling those down. It’s an honest and super nerdy discussion about how early drafts of the book weren’t working, what Joe did to work through those struggles, and how writing about The Drive unlocked the book for him

Joe also talks about how we was able to write a collection of essays while maintaining a central theme, how the Don Beebe-Leon Lett play is the perfect example of why we love football, and what kind of athlete “Brian Moritz” would be. 

“For me as a writer, the moment where the book came alive for me was when I started to think of it as a football game … every play is its own little universe in football.”

Links

Why We Love Football: A History in 100 Moments

Joe Blogs

The Poscast

Destiny of the Republic: A Tale Of Madness, Medicine, and the Murder of a President by Candice Millard (the best thing Joe’s read lately.)

Support

The Other 51 is and will always be free, but if you like my work (and the stuff I do at Sports Media Guy) and want to kick me a few dollars, you can do so here. I really appreciate your support. 

Follow us on Instagram and Threads. We’re on the decaying corpse of Twitter, but only because for some reason sports media won’t abandon the site. 

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“I think those fans deserve the truth. They don't need to be pandered to, they don't need to be misled.”

Tyler Dunne, the man behind Go Long and the best NFL feature writer working today, joins Brian to talk about Sean McDermott, Zay Jones and so much more. 

Ty talks about the aftermath of his Sean McDermott series, how the coach and the team responded to that explosive series and reached out to him and how he’s now credentialed by the Bills. Tyler talks about the conversation he had with McDermott at the NFL Combine and what it felt like to walk into that meeting. 

We then do a deep dive into his feature on Zay Jones that won him a first place award in the APSE National Writing Contest. Tyler talks about his tools for gently steering a conversation in an interview, how to handle the elephant in the room, and the value of doing extra reporting beyond the main interview. He also discusses how he protects his own mental health when writing and reporting heavy features, and how these stories make him want to be a better person.

“It's a people business, it's a human business, and you just want to have conversations and you just want to treat people like human beings.”

Links

Go Long

The McDermott Problem

I’m Still Alive: The Zay Jones story

Buffalo Bills Memory Lane with Chuck Pollock

The Infinite Game by Simon Sinek (The best thing Tyler’s read lately.)

County Highway (The other best thing Tyler’s read lately.)

Support

The Other 51 is and will always be free, but if you like my work (and the stuff I do at Sports Media Guy and want to kick me a few dollars, you can do so here. I really appreciate your support. 

Follow us on Instagram. We’re on the decaying corpse of Twitter, but only because for some reason sports media won’t abandon the site. 

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“I think the role of the critic is to bring that nuanced understanding and historical context to explain the music.”

Dr. Jenn Billinson from Nazareth University joins Brian for a deep, deep dive into Cowboy Carter, The Tortured Poets Department, and the role of music writing in today’s media world. 

Jenn talks about her recent research into gatekeeping in country music and specifically the reaction to Beyonce’s new album. What is it about country music that brings out such strong gatekeeping tendencies? Jenn talks about her role as a white woman writing about her reaction to Beyonce’s music.

Jenn and Brian discuss the role of a journalist or an academic in writing about music in 2024, especially in a world where fans are doing incredible analyses and album breakdowns on TikTok. 

Rabbit holes include their favorite song on each album, the new Pearl Jam record, and staying up past midnight in your 40s.

Links

About Jenn Billinson 

Jenn Billinson on Threads

Daddy Lessons (Beyonce and The Chicks, 2016 performance.)

A Complete Review of Beyonce’s New Album on The Right Time

Raw Dog: The naked truth about hot dogs (The Best Thing Jenn’s read lately.)

He turned his garage into a nightclub. Now the city wants to shut it down and kick him out (the best thing Brian’s read lately.)

Support

The Other 51 is and will always be free, but if you like my work (and the stuff I do at Sports Media Guy and want to kick me a few dollars, you can do so here. I really appreciate your support. 

Follow us on Instagram. We’re on the decaying corpse of Twitter, but only because for some reason sports media won’t abandon the site. 

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“When in doubt, choose not to harm somebody.”

Jen Moritz, senior editor and inclusive language specialist (and Brian’s wife) joins us to talk about inclusive language. 

What is inclusive language?

So glad you asked! 

Jen defines the term for us, and also describes how she got interested and involved in this area of editing. She tells us how the pandemic influenced her interest in inclusive language, how editing for inclusive language is an extension of her “Grammar Tingle” and what she does when that is activated by word or phrase, and how inclusive editing can help connect us back to our humanity in an increasingly digital world. 

We also go down a rabbit hole about the phrase “rule of thumb” and what to do when people think you’re wrong but you’re actually right. 

Other rabbit holes include dragon smut, fairy smut, banned books and Maintenance Phase.

Also, as far as we can tell, “flying by the seat of your pants” is not problematic. As a phrase, at least.  

“You will always be learning. You will never have perfect language and perfect representation. You’re just doing your best.”

Links

Jen Moritz on LinkedIn 

Maintenance Phase

The Conscious Language Newsletter 

Rabbit with a Red Pen

Abraham Piper

Flamer (the best thing Jen’s read lately.)

Other Words For Home (the best thing Jen’s read lately.)

Rebecca Yarros Empyrean Series (the best thing Jen has read lately.)

Sarah J. Mass books (the best thing Brian has read lately.)

Support

The Other 51 is and will always be free, but if you like my work (and the stuff I do at Sports Media Guy and want to kick me a few dollars, you can do so here. I really appreciate your support. 

Follow us on Instagram. We’re on the decaying corpse of Twitter, but only because for some reason sports media won’t abandon the site. 

Subscribe:

Apple Podcasts

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Next week, our regularly scheduled episode with Jen Moritz will be out. We’ll be talking all about inclusive language. 

However.  

Early in April, the Associated Press announced updates to its style book. Including new guidance on writing about “obese, obesity and overweight”

We, um, we have some thoughts. 

And so, a bonus episode. 

Enjoy! And be sure to listen to our non-bonus episode with Jen next week.

This was largely inspired by the work of Maintenance Phase. 

Support

The Other 51 is and will always be free, but if you like my work (and the stuff I do at Sports Media Guy and want to kick me a few dollars, you can do so here. I really appreciate your support. 

Follow us on Instagram. We’re on the decaying corpse of Twitter, but only because for some reason sports media won’t abandon the site. 

Subscribe:
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“We all experience loss differently, but there’s common ground for all of us to find in that.”

Jared Paventi joins Brian this week to talk all about his excellent Substack, Dirt Nap. 

Jared discusses how he came to write a weekly blog/newsletter/Substack/whatever we’re calling it about death and grieving, how watching his oldest daughter grieve the loss of her grandpa inspired him, and how he uses writing to work through what he’s thinking and feeling.

Jared talks about how he’s looking to create a space for conversations about grief through his excellent Griever’s Digest series, how grieving can be about more than just the death of someone, and how the writing of A.J. Daulerio and The Small Bow inspired Dirt Nap, especially the tone. 

We also talk about what happened to his food blog, Blog Al Dente, and what you do when a project starts to feel more like work than fun. 

Rabbit holes include HJ Magazine, how a deadline without a consequence is meaningless, and Brian’s move out of the basement. 

“This is some shit that’s going on in my head and my world. Maybe it’s happening to you too.”

Links

Dirt Nap by Jared Paventi

The Griever’s Digest series at Dirt Nap

The Small Bow by A.J. Daulerio

The Other 51 Episode 13: Anti-Federalists with Jared Paventi

I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jeanette McCurdy (The best thing Jared’s read lately.)

Jean Hanff Korelitz books (The best thing Jared’s read lately.)

The Last Boy by Jane Leavy (The best thing Brian’s read lately.)

Support

The Other 51 is and will always be free, but if you like my work (and the stuff I do at Sports Media Guy and want to kick me a few dollars, you can do so here. I really appreciate your support. 

Follow us on Instagram. We’re on the decaying corpse of Twitter, but only because for some reason sports media won’t abandon the site. 

Subscribe:

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“Come in for the show, stay for the tears.”

Alex Brightman joins Brian to talk about Broadway and writing, including a deep dive into his play “The Life and Slimes of Marc Summers.”

A two-time Tony Nominee (for School of Rock and Beetlejuice), Alex tells Brian how a YouTube series, a production of Grease, and a shared affinity for Old Hollywood led to him writing a one-man show for Marc Summers based on the Double Dare host’s life. What exactly is a “part interactive game show, part memoir?”

Alex describes the process of writing the show, including the ah-ha moment that made him realize there was something special here.

Alex also tells the story of how he and Drew Gasparini met, became fast friends and writing partners, and how they work together. Alex also discusses how he fits writing into an already busy acting schedule and some of the projects he’s working on now.

Rabbit holes include our shared reverence for calendars, and how Simon’s mom reacted to his message (IYKYK).

Links

Alex on Instagram

The Life and Slimes of Marc Summers (through June 2, 2024)

Spamalot (through April 7)

A Little Bit, sung by Alex Brightman, written by Drew Gasparini

Boom Town by Sam Anderson (the best thing Alex has read lately)

A Strange Loop AND Ain’t No Mo (the best shows Alex has seen lately)

Alex’s coming appearances: 

LvlUp Expo in Las Vegas April 26th-28th

GalaxyCon in Oklahoma City May 24th-26th

Rhode Island Comic Con November 1st-3rd

Support

The Other 51 is and will always be free, but if you like my work (and the stuff I do at Sports Media Guy and want to kick me a few dollars, you can do so here. I really appreciate your support. 

Follow us on Instagram. We’re on the decaying corpse of Twitter, but only because for some reason sports media won’t abandon the site. 

Subscribe:

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“Oh, I wrote a musical about me. I really did. This is just me.”

Joe Iconis, one of the best writers on Broadway and one of Brian’s favorite people, joins us on The Other 51 to talk all about The Untitled Unauthorized Hunter S. Thompson Musical. 

Yep, that’s the name of Joe’s most recent show, which debuted at La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego in 2023. 

Joe tells the story of the name and why it’s so appropriate for a show about Hunter S. Thompson. Joe also discusses why the show is unauthorized, what that meant for him trying to write a show without being able to use a famous writers’ words, and why it was scary but ultimately rewarding. 

Joe and Brian also discuss the show’s multivolume coffee table book trip from an idea in 2007 to the stage 16 years later, what’s next for the show, and the difference for Joe between writing music and writing a script.  

Rabbit holes include the coming Broadway Thinkpieces and Huey Lewis and the News. We also get a Diane Kitten update. 

“Let there be things that are weird and strange. And good and true.”

Links

Joe Iconis on the internet

Joe Iconis on Instagram

And Joe on Twitter

The Untitled Unauthorized Hunter S. Thompson Musical

Buy Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas from The Strand

Oh Mary (the best show Joe’s seen lately)

Days of Wine and Roses (the best show Joe’s seen lately)

The Untold Stories of Broadway Vol. 4 by Jennifer Ashley Tepper (the best thing Joe’s read lately)

Support

The Other 51 is and will always be free, but if you like my work (and the stuff I do at Sports Media Guy and want to kick me a few dollars, you can do so here. I really appreciate your support. 

Follow us on Instagram. We’re on the decaying corpse of Twitter, but only because for some reason sports media won’t abandon the site. 

Subscribe:

Apple Podcasts

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“Do the work. Show Up. Show you care by listening.”

Liz Robbins joins Brian to talk about her remarkable career as a journalist, covering everything from the NBA to U.S. immigration policy. 

Liz tells stories about what it was like to cover sports in Cleveland in the late 1990s, including how she broke the news that the WNBA would be forming and traveled on a private jet with Tim Couch. This was the last golden age of traditional newspaper sports journalism, and Liz describes what that was like. 

Liz also details how broke a story for The Times that led to the U.S. government literally changing one of its immigration policies. Writing topics include how Liz knows she’s done reporting and ready to write, how to build a network of sources, and how to protect your mental health while covering tough stories. 

Rabbit holes include the only time in Liz’s career that she was star struck, Susan Sarandon in Rocky Horror Picture Show, Larry Brown yelling at her, and the St. Bonaventure-Kentucky NCAA Tournament game in 2000. 

Links

Liz Robbins official website

Liz on Twitter

Liz at The New York Times

Post Office Fails to Deliver on Time, and DACA Applications Get Rejected

A Record Breaking 2023 in Sports

St. Bonaventure-Kentucky 2000 NCAA First Round

All the Sinners Bleed by Y.A. Cosby (the best thing Liz has read lately)

Roman Stories (the other best thing Liz has read lately) 

Criminal Record on Apple TV+ (the best thing Liz has watched lately)

Support

The Other 51 is and will always be free, but if you like my work (and the stuff I do at Sports Media Guy and want to kick me a few dollars, you can do so here. I really appreciate your support. 

Follow us on Instagram. We’re on Facebook the decaying corpse of Twitter, but only because for some reason sports media won’t abandon the site. 

Subscribe:

Apple Podcasts

Spotify