On the anguish and difficulty of writing a comprehensive oral history on the 9.11 terrorist attacks; on getting people to open up about tragedy; on a long-ago life running Howard Dean's website.

On finding something interesting in limited time with Baker Mayfield; on morphing from writer to all-around media professional; on whether it's OK to cheer for a sport; on perceptions of women in sports journalism; on the complexities of profiling Tyreek Hill.

In 1994 and 1995, as a fresh-out-of-college journalist, I couldn't get out of my own way. I was arrogant, dismissive, smug, juvenile, error-prone and painfully dumb. This is my story.

On how a soon-to-be 80-year-old scribe transitions from typewriter to computer; on seeing the real Roger Clemens; on having the subject of your profile call your wife to say you're cheating on her; on a bond with Tom Seaver; on flip phone life.

On covering high schools while simultaneously taking photographs while simultaneously keeping stats while simultaneously putting a section together; on existence at his 8,000-circulation daily newspaper; on how to treat young athletes. 

On jumping onto a huge beat at a huge newspaper at a young age; on the awkwardness of the clubhouse approach; on life without Bryce Harper and life with Juan Soto; on surviving an eternal season of Major League Baseball.

On whether family drama is fair game in poetry; on the incredible power of the word "meat"; on the chance meeting with a long-ago girlfriend on a Brooklyn street and a sprig of lavender.

On her past life as a heroine addict and dealer who spent two years in prison; on witnessing executions; on seeking to improve life for people behind bars—and having the empathy and experience to do so.

On proposing, then writing a political book in a year of 800 other political books; on arranging an interview with the president of the United States, then sitting across from him for 40 minutes; on catching political figures off guard and having them open up; on the never-to-be Super Bowl champion Detroit Lions.

On the details and complexities behind his marvelous Boston Globe Magazine profile of Red Sox broadcaster Dennis Eckersley; on trying to convince a subject to allow you to drive along for a ride; on his time as a 24-year-old editor.