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

Matt Ridley chats with Trey Elling about HOW INNOVATION WORKS: AND WHY IT FLOURISHES IN FREEDOM, including: the truth about Edison and the light bulb (00:33), innovating e-cigs (04:51), potatoes (08:33), luggage with wheels (10:15), and coffee (16:10); the dog as one of man's best innovations (14:04), whether China is becoming the global leader of innovation (21:47), and more.

Filmmaker Barry Sonnenfeld joins the pod to share details from BARRY SONNENFELD, CALL YOUR MOTHER: MEMOIRS FROM A NEUROTIC FILMMAKER, including... He and his dad comparing eating his mom's cooking to cannibalism (4:16). His prowess as a leg wrestler, including dominating Kelly Ripa (7:08). Cousin Mike the Child Molester (10:17). His first paying gig in the film, as the camera guy on a nine-day porn shoot (20:32). Scaring a roomful of kids to tears on the set of THE ADDAMS FAMILY (52:13). Behind the scenes stories from GET SHORTY (56:38). Terrorizing Will Smith and his family with Tucks pads (1:14:51). Publicly arguing with Larry David about who's more neurotic (1:17:54).

Dave Rubin joins Trey Elling to discuss DON'T BURN THIS BOOK: THINKING FOR YOURSELF IN AN AGE OF UNREASON, including: the difference between Catholic- and Jewish guilt, why a transgender Nazi helps explain the need for open dialogue, "woke" Thanksgivings, "catastrophizing," loving Clyde Drexler, and more.

Acclaimed journalist and author Joan Ryan joins Trey Elling to discuss INTANGIBLES: UNLOCKING THE SCIENCE AND SOUL OF TEAM CHEMISTRY, including: defining team chemistry, oxytocin's role, the seven archetypes of good team chemistry, why Barry Bonds wasn't a clubhouse cancer in SF, the power of expectation, and more.

Author Erik Larson chats with Trey Elling about THE SPLENDID AND THE VILE: A SAGA OF CHURCHILL, FAMILY, AND DEFIANCE DURING THE BLITZ, which takes a detailed look at the effects of Germany's aerial assaults on Great Britain during Winston Churchill's first year as prime minister. Larson also provides an update on the screen adaptation of THE DEVIL IN THE WHITE CITY.

Actor and restauranteur Danny Trejo chats with Trey Elling about TREJO'S TACOS: RECIPES & STORIES FROM LA. The conversation includes: why he wanted to share the "secret" recipes from his Trejo's Tacos restaurants, the importance of food from his childhood and time in the pen, memories from the sets of HEAT and CON AIR, why he loves Austin, the time his boys mistook the "hook 'em Horns" hand signal for a gang sign on 6th Street, and more.

Howard Bloom joins Trey Elling to share details from EINSTEIN, MICHAEL JACKSON & ME: A SEARCH FOR SOUL IN THE POWER PITS OF ROCK AND ROLL, including: reigniting Texas pride thru ZZ Top, learning from the gospel of Al Green, Ozzy Osbourne's explanation for biting off a bat's head, empowering Joan Jett, Bob Marley's brilliance, the magic of Prince, advising John Cougar Mellencamp to not shill ketchup with his music, Billy Joel's "Yoko," how "We Are the World" did the opposite of helping with famine in Africa, why Michael Jackson is the closest person to a saint he's ever met, and much more.  

Broadcaster and musician John Tesh joins Trey Elling to discuss RELENTLESS: UNLEASHING A LIFE OF PURPOSE, GRIT, AND FAITH. The conversation includes: how he learned to express his childhood curiosity in less mischievous ways, why he ended up living in a tent and working construction during what was supposed to be his senior year at NC State, what participatory journalism meant at its onset in the late 1970s and how he partook, why he was jeered by a fired up crowd of New Yorkers while interviewing Jimmy Connors after his US Open championship in 1982, how he came up with the renowned NBA on NBC theme song while covering the Tour de France, what happened before and during the 1994 concert at Red Rocks that launched his music career, why his last visit to a literal crackhouse is one of his favorite chapters in the book, and more.

Singer-songwriter Allison Moorer joins Trey Elling to discuss BLOOD: A MEMOIR. The book is based around 14-year-old Allison being awakened in the early morning hours of August 12, 1986 by the sounds of gunshots outside the family's home, as her dad killed her mom before turning the weapon on himself. This conversation includes events that led up to the tragedy, how she continues to heal as an adult, and her son's importance in her writing and with life.

New York Times best-selling author Chuck Palahniuk joins Trey Elling to discuss CONSIDER THIS: MOMENTS IN MY WRITING LIFE AFTER WHICH EVERYTHING WAS DIFFERENT. The conversation includes why Chuck finally decided to put out a book that offered writing tips, the importance of establishing authority within a story, how his idea of "selling out" has changed over the years, a moment in Chuck's life after which everything was different, and more.