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The Fire Pit Podcast

Fire Drill 090: "Gambler" - The Story Behind the Story

Aug 17, 2023
Armen Keteyian, co-writer of Billy Walters's "Gambler", discusses fact-checking and crafting storytelling in this Fire Drill podcast. They talk about researching and verifying information, co-writing techniques, and addressing misconstructions in the media. The podcast also covers Phil's reluctance to explore his betting habits and hiring powerful counsel. The importance of context is highlighted, followed by three ads/sponsors.
49:06

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • The podcast explores the fascinating life of legendary gambler Billy Walters, highlighting his mentorship of Phil Mickelson and their fractured friendship following a legal dispute.
  • The podcast discusses the unique journalistic experience of co-writer Armen Keteyian while working on the book 'Gambler' with Billy Walters, emphasizing the challenges of balancing storytelling, journalistic integrity, and maintaining a measured tone.

Deep dives

Billy Walters' Unique Life Story

The podcast explores the fascinating and inspiring life story of Billie Walters, a legendary gambler. From his humble beginnings in Kentucky to becoming a multi-millionaire in Las Vegas, Walters' life is filled with remarkable twists and turns. The podcast delves into his mentorship of Phil Mickelson, their fractured friendship following a legal dispute, and the allegations of insider trading. Walters' belief that he never passed inside information to Mickelson is emphasized, as well as his disappointment in his former friend's lack of support during the legal proceedings. The podcast also highlights the government's aggressive pursuit of Walters and the lengths they went to in order to build a case against him.

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