Breakthrough Builders Discovering Vulnerability: Brad Balukjian
(4:12) Brad describes the origins of his passion for baseball, and the contrarian criteria he used to identify his heroes
(8:37) Art and science, connecting: How the premise of The Wax Pack was linked to Brad’s study of Tahitian bugs, and the parallels Brad sees more broadly between science and journalism
(15:46) Refusing to be taken out of the game (as a character in his own book)
(19:30) Journalism as therapy, and discovering the power of embracing vulnerability
(22:59) How to write the telling details
(27:26) Some of Brad’s favorite (and surprising) moments from his time on the road with retired players: Rick Sutcliffe, Don Carman, Rance Mulliniks, and others
(32:10) Giving yourself the freedom to let go of expectations
In 2020, Brad Balukjian’s first book The Wax Pack reached #7 on the Los Angeles Times bestseller list and was named one of NPR's Best Books of the Year. The book was formulated on a breakthrough premise, evident by its universal reception––lifelong baseball lovers and the merely curious followed Brad as he tracked down all the players in a single pack of 1986 Topps baseball cards, drawing unexpected connections between their lives and his own in the process.
In his talk with Jesse, Brad dishes on his unconventional journey to becoming a celebrated chronicler of the remarkably human 'afterlives' of uniquely talented athletes. You’ll hear about the early connections he made between the scientific method and journalism, how he’s currently embracing what he calls a 'hybrid career,' and of course: scores of anecdotes and special insights from his time on the road with retired major league ballplayers.
Guest Bio
Brad Balukjian teaches natural history at Merritt College in Oakland, California. He is pursuing a hybrid career of teaching, writing, and research to get the word out that science is accessible and (gasp!) fun.
Brad, a Filipino-American, studied journalism and island biogeography (yes, that's a thing) at Duke University and earned his Ph.D. in Environmental Science from UC Berkeley.
Helpful Links
Brad’s past work for Rolling Stone, National Geographic, and more
An interview with Brad on MLB.com