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

Pulitzer Prize winner and former New York Times investigative reporter Barry Meier chats with Trey Elling about SPOOKED: THE TRUMP DOSSIER, BLACK CUBE, AND THE RISE OF PRIVATE SPIES. Questions include: Why does the first chapter of a book on private spies focus on journalism? Who are Glenn Simpson and Fusion GPS? Why did they connect with Michael Steele in 2016 to take Trump down? How did Buzzfeed end up publishing the dossier? Have many media outlets apologized for reporting on dossier claims that turned out to be false? What does Barry think his strength is as as reporter?

It's episode #3 of our 'No Books Required' series, with legendary standup comedian Andrew Dice Clay, ahead of his performances on August 14th and 15th at Vulcan Gas Company in Austin, TX. Questions include: How good does it feel to be out performing standup again? (01:05) Is it nicer to do smaller venues than someplace like Madison Square Garden? (04:52) Did he ever think at the height of his popularity that he'd eventually become an elder statesman for standup? (09:17) Does he recall when the legendary Mitzi Shore passed him at the Comedy Store? (12:43) Did he and Bill Hicks ever cross paths? Is he concerned that 'cancel culture' will infect standup comedy? (19:25)

Former CIA spy Christina Hillsberg chats with Trey Elling on LICENSE TO PARENT: HOW MY CAREER AS A SPY HELPED ME RAISE RESOURCEFUL, SELF-SUFFICIENT KIDS. Questions include: How did she end up working in the Central Intelligence Agency? (01:12) Is there a good way to teach kids how to improvise for becoming better prepared? (11:53) What is 'getting off the X'? (12:51) Why is it important for kids to avoid predictability in being aware of their surroundings? (17:35) What is 'you, me, same same'? (23:12) How has Christina opened her kids' eyes to the world to help build rapport with others? (26:22) Why are analytic lead sentences important for teaching children written communication skills? (32:34) Are there good ways to moderate technology with little kids? (37:18)

Ultramarathon legend and bestselling author Dean Karnazes chats with Trey Elling about A RUNNER'S HIGH: MY LIFE IN MOTION. Questions include: Why does he run such long distances in grueling conditions? (02:05) Is the extreme growth of ultramarathoning over the past 20+ years a good thing? (02:54) What's it like in the days after completing an ultra? (08:18) What is the greatest lesson running has taught him? (14:47) How special was it for his son to be there to help during Dean's most recent participation in the Western States 100? Why did he break down crying with less than two miles left in the race? (28:31) How many more 100-mile races do his legs and mind have left? (30:39)

Filmmaker Kristine Stolakis chats with Trey Elling about the new Netflix documentary PRAY AWAY. Questions include: How did Kristine end up working on this film? (01:02) Is gay conversion therapy mostly a religious movement? (04:12) Was it tough to find interviewees who had been through gay conversion therapy? (07:25) Is Kristine hopeful from society's increasing acceptance of LGBTQ+ communities over the past 15 years? (14:53) Do those who leave conversion therapy groups typically remain Christian? (17:54) What would Kristine ask the modern leaders of conversion therapy who declined her interview requests? (18:41) What does Kristine still love about her late uncle, the man who inspired this film? (22:50)

Former Secretary of Agriculture, Kansas congressman, and Chairman/CEO of the Motion Picture Association of America Dan Glickman chats with Trey Elling about LAUGHING AT MYSELF: MY EDUCATION IN CONGRESS, ON THE FARM, AND AT THE MOVIES. Questions include: What was it like growing up in a family of "cafeteria Jews" in Wichita, KS? (02:57) Why did he switch from Republican to Democrat early in his political life? (06:38) What did he learn about agriculture during his first successful congressional run? (08:14) How is Dan Glickman responsible for the Pizza Hut pizza served in schools in the early-to-mid '90s? (14:12) As someone who originally supported the legislation that created it, has NAFTA been a net positive or negative for the US? (18:03) What all is the USDA, which he led as the ag secretary, responsible for? (19:26) Has the mainstream press on "both" sides become  unreliable to report news without spinning it to fit a specific narrative? (28:37) Do we as a country produce and waste too much food? (31:48)

Houston Chronicle & San Antonio Express-News columnist and bestselling author Chris Tomlinson chats with Trey Elling about FORGET THE ALAMO: THE RISE AND FALL OF AN AMERICAN MYTH. Questions include: What myth about the Alamo does Chris hope this book dispels? Why does he believe slavery is the primary reason Mexico sent troops into Texas? What kept Santa Anna from accepting William Travis' surrender before the battle? How many of those at the Alamo were actually slave owners? Did Davy Crockett die fighting to the death? Why was LBJ guilty of "Alamo syndrome"? How should the Alamo be taught in schools?

Filmmaker Garret Price chats with Trey Elling about his new HBO Max documentary, WOODSTOCK 99: PEACE, LOVE, & RAGE. Questions include: What were his memories of that disastrous festival going into this project? How well-prepared were the security guards? What insight about the weekend did Moby provide? Considering it didn't rain that weekend, why did the grounds get so muddy? When did he decide to explore the dichotomy between the social awareness brought about by grunge earlier in the decade, and the machismo physiology that took over when Cobain died? How responsible was Fred Durst for the worsening of conditions with his performance on Saturday night? When did he decide to use what was the perfect song for the end credits? Will there ever be another Woodstock?

Emmy-winning journalist and #1 New York Times bestselling author Kate Fagan chats with Trey Elling about ALL THE COLORS CAME OUT: A FATHER, A DAUGHTER, AND A LIFETIME OF LESSONS. The book details Kate's relationship with her dad, who died from complications of ALS in December 2019. Questions include: What was her dad like as a parent during her childhood? Why did he wisely never let her beat him as a kid? How did her decision to play college hoops far from home impact their relationship? Why did Kate let her mom tell him when she came out as gay? What did she go through when he informed her of his ALS diagnosis? How did Kate learn that she and her dad slept in the same position? Why was the night before Kate's wedding an important moment in her relationship with dad? What does she cherish about her mom?

Former jazz pianist and boxing manager Charles Farrell chats with Trey Elling about (LOW)LIFE: A MEMOIR OF JAZZ, FIGHT-FIXING, AND THE MOB. Questions include: How did Charles get into music, gambling, and hustling as a kid? (01:56) Why John Coltrane is the only musician he ever saw in person who scared him, and how did it impact his music? (06:57) What did teenaged Charles do when Janis Joplin tried to seduce him? (08:54) Which was the worst of the many mob clubs that Charles played in the 1970s? (10:36) How did Charles manage Leon Spinks so late in Leon's career, and what challenges did that pose? (18:30) Why does he believe Sonny Liston took dives in both his fights with Ali? (23:39) Was Mike Tyson's fight with Peter McNeeley fixed in any way? (33:31) What does Charles mean when he refers to Mike Tyson's former trainer Cus D'Amato as a "chickenhawk"? (35:15) Did Charles ever get suckered into a boxing bet that cost him big? (40:28) Is Charles considering turning his life story into a movie? (54:38)