The Sport of Life: Chats w/ Comedians, Filmmakers, Sports Figures, Musicians, & Intellectuals

Dr. Cassandra Leah Quave, who serves as the herbarium curator and associate professor of dermatology and human health at Emory University, chats with Trey Elling about THE PLANT HUNTER: A SCIENTIST'S QUEST FOR NATURE'S NEXT MEDICINES. The book chronicles Dr. Quave's efforts to unite Eastern and Western medicines through an understanding of the medicinal powers of plants, a path inspired by her own experience in dealing with unique medical difficulties since birth.

Adventurer, mountaineer, writer, filmmaker, and environmentalist Rick Ridgeway chats with Trey Elling about LIFE LIVED WILD: ADVENTURES AT THE EDGE OF THE MAP. Rick tells Trey about numerous jaw-dropping experiences he's gone through in the mountains, oceans, and everywhere in between. Occasionally these expeditions would literally become life-and-death, with Rick surviving while his friends did not. How did he cope with such traumas, and what lessons did he learn along the way? Rick discusses these things and much more.

Intel, military, and law enforcement veteran and bestselling author Myke Cole chats with Trey Elling about THE BRONZE LIE: SHATTERING THE MYTH OF SPARTAN WARRIOR SUPREMACY. In both the book and this chat, Cole explains why much of what modern society believes about this seemingly-superhuman group of people in ancient times is greatly exaggerated.

Former FDA high-ranking official and expert on food safety and nutrition Richard A. Williams chats with Trey Elling about FIXING FOOD: AN FDA INSIDER UNRAVELS THE MYTHS AND THE SOLUTIONS. Williams provides a comprehensive look at the bureaucracy behind  decisions made at the agency responsible for food and drug safety in the US. The rationale and influence behind policies aren't always pure, which led to RIchard arguing from a statistical argument why something did (or didn't) make sense for the public. 

New Yorker staff writer and bestselling author Susan Orlean chats with Trey Elling about ON ANIMALS. Questions include: Why does she feel a lifelong connection with animals? (01:10) Why is she most interested in animals that straddle the line between domesticated and wild? (03:03) How does someone get comfortable enough with a lion to keep it as a pet? (14:54) What impresses her most about mules? (19:32) Why are rabbits the only animals we keep as pets and also readily eat? (25:12)

Writer and editor Laurie Woolever chats with Trey Elling about BOURDAIN: THE DEFINITIVE ORAL BIOGRAPHY. Laurie spent nearly a decade working as Anthony Bourdain's assistant and co-author, before his suicide in 2018. BOURDAIN is a result of conversations with a multitude of important people in Tony's life as a child, aimless college student, lover, cook, addict, writer, tv personality, father, celebrity, and more.

Investigative storyteller and bestselling author Mary Roach chats with Trey Elling about FUZZ: WHEN NATURE BREAKS THE LAW.

Villanova political science professor Mark Lawrence Schrad chats with Trey Elling about SMASHING THE LIQUOR MACHINE: A GLOBAL HISTORY. The guys discuss the history of temperance and prohibition as a tool of the oppressed in: Russia Sweden Germany Great Britain India The United States And as a bonus, Mark shares a story of drinking too much vodka, on a train from Russia to the Ukraine, that you don't want to miss!

Science journalist Leigh Cowart chats with Trey Elling about HURTS SO GOOD: THE SCIENCE AND CULTURE OF PAIN ON PURPOSE. Questions include: What is pain? (01:26) Why do endorphins help explain why pain can feel good? (02:25) How do fMRI scans differ between the brains of masochists and non when dealing with pain? (08:11) What do people get wrong about capsaicin, the chemical that causes the hot spice in peppers? (15:24) Why does she tend to notice how attention changes perception? (20:36) Where is the line when purposeful pain goes from good to bad? (22:25) Why is discomfort good for us? (25:11)

Clinical neuropsychologist William Stixrud and PrepMatters founder Ned Johnson chat with Trey Elling about WHAT DO YOU SAY? HOW TO TALK WITH KIDS TO BUILD MOTIVATION, STRESS TOLERANCE, AND A HAPPY HOME. The book serves as the follow-up to their 2018 bestseller, THE SELF-DRIVEN CHILD.