Podcasts about Impossible Dream

2004 studio album by Patty Griffin

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Impossible Dream

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Best podcasts about Impossible Dream

Latest podcast episodes about Impossible Dream

My Summer Lair
Keith O'Brien (Heartland: The Miracle of Larry Bird)

My Summer Lair

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 9, 2026 44:37


My Summer Lair host Sammy Younan talks to author Keith O'Brien about his latest book Heartland: A Forgotten Place, an Impossible Dream, and the Miracle of Larry Bird. My Summer Lair Chapter #354: Do You Know Larry Bird's Origin Story As Well As You Know Superman's?  Recorded: Friday, April 17, 2026 3:30 p.m. (EST) For more show notes visit MySummerLair.com. Bonus Fun? Sign up for my newsletter because the F in FOMO doesn't stand for Fun. Stress free pop culture (TV shows! Books! Movies! Music! So Many Recommendations!!) tastefully harvested for your divine delight. Once a week a carefully curated edition of My Pal Sammy goes directly to your inbox. Magic or Science? You decide.

WHMP Radio
Amherst Town Manager Paul Bockelman: Hampshire College's closing—an update preserving services, school funding,layoffs?

WHMP Radio

Play Episode Listen Later May 26, 2026 24:15


5/26/26 (Co-Host: Amilcar Shabazz) Amherst Town Manager Paul Bockelman: Hampshire College's closing—an update preserving services, school funding,layoffs? The Leslẽa Newman on “Rainbow Cookies” and “Something Sweet: A Sitting Shiva Story;” also, censorship, love, & her upcoming reading for kids & parents at High Five Books. Greenfield City Council President Lora Wondolowski: Greenfield is a happening place – Juneteenth & the Green River Festival; her job at the Peace Development Fund, public safety & balancing priorities. Sports historians Duke Goldman & Keith O'Brien (coming to Broadside) on his new book “Heartland: A Forgotten Place, An Impossible Dream, and the Miracle of Larry Bird.”

WHMP Radio
Sports historians Duke Goldman & Keith O'Brien (coming to Broadside) on his new book “Heartland: A Forgotten Place, An Impossible Dream, and the Miracle of Larry Bird.”

WHMP Radio

Play Episode Listen Later May 26, 2026 19:58


5/26/26 (Co-Host: Amilcar Shabazz) Amherst Town Manager Paul Bockelman: Hampshire College's closing—an update preserving services, school funding,layoffs? The Leslẽa Newman on “Rainbow Cookies” and “Something Sweet: A Sitting Shiva Story;” also, censorship, love, & her upcoming reading for kids & parents at High Five Books. Greenfield City Council President Lora Wondolowski: Greenfield is a happening place – Juneteenth & the Green River Festival; her job at the Peace Development Fund, public safety & balancing priorities. Sports historians Duke Goldman & Keith O'Brien (coming to Broadside) on his new book “Heartland: A Forgotten Place, An Impossible Dream, and the Miracle of Larry Bird.”

WHMP Radio
Greenfield City Council President Lora Wondolowski: Greenfield is a happening place – Juneteenth & the Green River Festival; her job at the Peace Development Fund, public safety & balancing priorities.

WHMP Radio

Play Episode Listen Later May 26, 2026 24:46


5/26/26 (Co-Host: Amilcar Shabazz) Amherst Town Manager Paul Bockelman: Hampshire College's closing—an update preserving services, school funding,layoffs? The Leslẽa Newman on “Rainbow Cookies” and “Something Sweet: A Sitting Shiva Story;” also, censorship, love, & her upcoming reading for kids & parents at High Five Books. Greenfield City Council President Lora Wondolowski: Greenfield is a happening place – Juneteenth & the Green River Festival; her job at the Peace Development Fund, public safety & balancing priorities. Sports historians Duke Goldman & Keith O'Brien (coming to Broadside) on his new book “Heartland: A Forgotten Place, An Impossible Dream, and the Miracle of Larry Bird.”

WHMP Radio
The Leslẽa Newman on “Rainbow Cookies” and “Something Sweet: A Sitting Shiva Story;” also, censorship, love, & her upcoming reading for kids & parents at High Five Books.

WHMP Radio

Play Episode Listen Later May 26, 2026 20:20


5/26/26 (Co-Host: Amilcar Shabazz) Amherst Town Manager Paul Bockelman: Hampshire College's closing—an update preserving services, school funding,layoffs? The Leslẽa Newman on “Rainbow Cookies” and “Something Sweet: A Sitting Shiva Story;” also, censorship, love, & her upcoming reading for kids & parents at High Five Books. Greenfield City Council President Lora Wondolowski: Greenfield is a happening place – Juneteenth & the Green River Festival; her job at the Peace Development Fund, public safety & balancing priorities. Sports historians Duke Goldman & Keith O'Brien (coming to Broadside) on his new book “Heartland: A Forgotten Place, An Impossible Dream, and the Miracle of Larry Bird.”

WWrEcap
May 20, 2026 - To Dream the Impossible Dream

WWrEcap

Play Episode Listen Later May 25, 2026 97:52


aka These Ground-Based Shits

Zolak & Bertrand
The Jaylen Brown-Stephen A Smith Beef Ensues // Carefree Russini in NYC // Today's Takeaways - 5/18 (Hour 4)

Zolak & Bertrand

Play Episode Listen Later May 18, 2026 36:56


(00:00) Zolak & Bertrand start the hour with some chicken and beer talk. They quickly pivot to the beef between Jaylen Brown and Stephen A. Smith as they trade shots over the weekend.(10:31) The guys re-visit Russini's weekend in New York City before going to the phone lines.(21:36) Moon shoes, 1960's Red Sox takes, the Impossible Dream and Tony Eason all get referenced as the guys round out the segment with the callers.(33:56) Today's TakeawaysSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Celticunderground:The Celtic Football Fan Podcast

Celtic had a woeful summer transfer window. In October we wrote a piece setting out why we were playing so poorly - in the summer and previous Jan window we'd sold players who, in the 12 months prior, had scored 86 goals and had 41 assists and replaced that with 28 goals (16 Nygren). That paucity of attacking options has been evident all season. Chuck in the injuries to CCV, AJ and Jota and the club was in a poor place. It was the principle reason behind the fan unrest.After Brendan left, we looked at Rangers and said “hold my beer” and brought in Nancy.The effect of all of this is that we have lost 8 league games. Martin O'Neil has had to overcome an 8 point then 6 point deficit - yet here we are. Win and the title's ours.It's been the most unexpected title decider and it's previewed tonight.Enjoy…Apple podcastsSpotifyAmazonPlayer.fmSpreakerAudioboomYoutube This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com/subscribe

Jean & Mike Do The New York Times Crossword

Today's crossword was (checks calendar) classified as a Friday, but it was definitely on the tougher side of the Friday spectrum. Did our intrepid cohosts manage to solve the puzzle? Or did they go down in flames? To find out, as well as hear a fabulous Fun Fact Friday™️ segment, checkout today's episode.Show note imagery: MANIOC (aka cassava or yuca) is a woody shrub native to South America from which we get, among other things, tapioca.We love feedback! Send us a text...Contact Info:We love listener mail! Drop us a line, crosswordpodcast@icloud.com.Also, we're on FaceBook, so feel free to drop by there and strike up a conversation!

The Prank Call Hobosodes
Hobosode 270 - Crossed Swap Shop Lines

The Prank Call Hobosodes

Play Episode Listen Later May 6, 2026 38:33


Today I try to call about some items I heard on the radio this morning, but there always seems to be some kind of interference on the line. At one point I'm accidentally connected to a 1990's prank call artist. This Hobosode is brought to you by anthony b. The opening song is by Vista Blue. The background music is untitled and by me. The ending song is Impossible Dream by Future Folk.

It Was What It Was
The Impossible Dream: Leicester City's Premier League Win

It Was What It Was

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 28, 2026 65:25


Welcome back to It Was What It Was, the football history podcast. In this week's episode, co-hosts Jonthan Wilson and Rob Draper are joined by Sports Journalist and author Jonathan Northcroft to take a look 10 years on from that extraordinary and famous Premier League win! They frame the story around key pivot points, including the Valentine's Day defeat at Arsenal and the self-belief it sparked, plus Ranieri's unexpected decision to still grant the squad a holiday. Northcroft traces the longer build-up through the 2013 Watford play-off heartbreak, Nigel Pearson's cross-department reset, the 2014 Championship-winning platform (and the later FFP breach), and the club's smart recruitment and early data use that delivered players like Kanté, Mahrez and Okazaki. They cover Pearson's departure after off-field incidents, the scepticism around Ranieri's appointment, his “dilly ding” media touch, rivals' crises, standout wins over Liverpool and Manchester City, Spurs' chase, and the city's all-in celebrations as the miracle became real.06:35 Origins of the Build10:39 FFP and the Promotion Debate11:35 Recruitment and Data Edge17:36 Kante and Mahrez Backstories22:22 Pearson Great Escape and Exit26:10 Ranieri Arrives Against the Odds27:46 Dilly Ding and Pizza Psychology35:24 Chelsea Chaos Unravels41:42 Big Clubs in Crisis45:02 Vardy Volley and City Statement47:37 Leicester Media Frenzy53:30 Spurs Pressure and Title Night59:19 Leicester Celebrates as One01:04:30 Bonkers Finale Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

TCBCast: An Unofficial Elvis Presley Fan Podcast
TCBCast 404: The Impossible Dream & Snowbird - A SotW Special!

TCBCast: An Unofficial Elvis Presley Fan Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 23, 2026 129:23


Olivia joins Justin this week for a Song of the Week special as they deep-dive the stories behind two of their favorite Elvis songs. Olivia's up first, examining Elvis' exellent 1970 cover of Anne Murray's classic country hit "Snowbird" and the tragic story of its songwriter, Gene MacLellan.  Then, Justin saddles up and goes tilting at windmills in an attempt to explore the fascinating history behind "The Quest/The Impossible Dream" from the Broadway musical "Man of La Mancha," which Elvis is most known for having have performed in 1972 at Madison Square Garden, but is also unique in being the only song Elvis ever used to close his shows post-1969 besides "Can't Help Falling in Love." Justin looks back to understand why the song resonated so much with Elvis, why he may have chose to feature the song when he did, what versions he took influence from, how his deeply personal interpretation varies from the many dozens that came before him, and ponder why he stopped performing it. Also explored are the song's explicit ideas of heroism, sacrifice and fearlessness in spite of impossible odds - and the tension and dissonance between that message and Elvis' own human shortcomings.  If you enjoy TCBCast, please consider supporting us with a donation at Patreon.com/TCBCast. Your support allows us to continue to provide thoughtful, provocative, challenging and well-researched perspectives on Elvis's career, his peers and influences, and his cultural impact and legacy.

Biographers International Organization
Podcast #255 – “Four Paths, One Impossible Dream,” Part VI: Still Writing

Biographers International Organization

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 17, 2026 16:54


In this final episode of our six-part miniseries, we're in January 2026. Kate's already researching her next book, and it turns out it connects everything she's ever written. Kevin has one goal: to finish first. Katie Rose has a draft proposal, three kids under five, and no intention of stopping. And Sara has a message for anyone who's ever thought about writing a book. BIO Podcast producer Jenny Skoog guides listeners through this series' finale. “Four Paths, One Impossible Dream” follows four authors navigating the challenges of writing biography. Over eight months in 2025, BIO Podcast producer Jenny Skoog spoke with comedian Sara Benincasa, tackling Abraham Lincoln; professor Kate Culkin, working on a book about Ralph Waldo Emerson's daughters; historian Kevin McGruder, who has spent decades researching Harlem Renaissance writer Rudolph Fisher; and journalist Katie Rose Quandt, on the challenges of completing a book proposal while pregnant.

Biographers International Organization
Podcast #254 – “Four Paths, One Impossible Dream,” Part V: Community and Solitude

Biographers International Organization

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 10, 2026 19:08


Sara offers her advice to anyone writing their first book: get a therapist and take a walk. Kate cut a story she loved — about two sisters fighting over politics in 1880 — because it didn't belong. Kevin is in a race he didn't sign up for, and Katie Rose is asked if she's ever thought about quitting. She says no. She wants this book to exist; that's enough. Part five of our podcast miniseries, produced by Jenny Skoog, explores the quiet, unglamorous work of writing biography — and what it actually feels like. “Four Paths, One Impossible Dream” follows four authors navigating the challenges of writing biography. Over eight months in 2025, BIO Podcast producer Jenny Skoog spoke with comedian Sara Benincasa, tackling Abraham Lincoln; professor Kate Culkin, working on a book about Ralph Waldo Emerson's daughters; historian Kevin McGruder, who has spent decades researching Harlem Renaissance writer Rudolph Fisher; and journalist Katie Rose Quandt, on the challenges of completing a book proposal while pregnant.

Classic Baseball Radio
To Live The Impossible Dream, California Angels at Boston Red Sox, July 27, 1967 (Recreation)

Classic Baseball Radio

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2026 172:01


What a difference a year makes. From finishing second-last in the American League, the Boston Red Sox are sitting just one-and-a-half games behind the White Sox after the All-Star break. Their midweek series against the third-placed California Angels is another “must-win” series in the chase for their first pennant since 1946.The Angels are chasing just as hard, looking to show that the expansion team has just as much right to the top spot as legacy franchises like the Red Sox.A look down the rosters for both teams brings up players who are going to write themselves into the history books; you have rookie relief pitcher Sparky Lyle, who'll take a Cy Young in 1977, two Gold Gloves with the Angels, Jim Fregosi and Bobby Knoop, and a certain Carl Yastrzemski.Yaz is on course to grab the Triple Crown in 1967, which would remain a feat unmatched in the league until Miguel Cabrera in 2012, and post 3,308 appearances while joining the 3,000-hit club over a 23-year career with the Red Sox.For this afternoon, it's not only the third deciding game in the series, it's two contenders chasing for the pennant, and no quarter will be offered.Ewan Spence and the Classic Baseball Radio team bring you this recreated radio broadcast from July 27, 1967. This should not be considered a complete or fully accurate historical record. Nevertheless, this is our story of the game.We thank Retrosheet, Sports Reference, Sports Logos Net, Tom R Audio, and  Crafting The Call.** Links **You can find the boxscore here:https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BOS/BOS196707270.shtml The Fenway Park Diaries recaps the game's dramatic ninth-inning home runs and Yastrzemski's 10th-inning defensive gem.https://fenwayparkdiaries.com/1967%20red%20sox/sox%2007-27-1967.htm SABR look at the final day of the season and how the Angels played the spoiler role to help Boston complete ‘The Impossible Dream' and win the pennant.https://sabr.org/gamesproj/game/october-1-1967-red-sox-complete-impossible-dream/An analytical narrative focusing on Carl Yastrzemski's torrid late-season hitting and the cultural impact of 1967 in Bostonhttps://thisgreatgame.com/1967-baseball-history/ Six Days in September, from The Hardball Times. An in-depth look at the 1967 pennant race, including the impact of Tony Conigliaro's injury.https://tht.fangraphs.com/six-days-in-september-the-1967-al-pennant-race-part-1/National Baseball Hall of Fame profile of Carl Yastrzemski, highlighting his 1967 MVP season and his transition from Ted Williams to team legend.https://baseballhall.org/hall-of-famers/yastrzemski-carlThe life and career of the Angels' All-Star starter Jim McGlothlin, who tragically died of leukaemia at age 32.https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/jim-mcglothlin/ Crashing The Pearly Gates profiles Minnie Rojas' Path to the Majors.https://crashingthepearlygates.com/2020/03/20/top-100-angels-95-minnie-rojas/ 

Arroe Collins
Heartland A Forgotten Place An Impossible Dream From Sports Journalist Keith OBrien

Arroe Collins

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 7, 2026 19:03 Transcription Available


From the New York Times bestselling author of Charlie Hustle and Fly Girls comes one of America's greatest sports stories: the improbable rise of Larry Bird and the Indiana State Sycamores.In the fall 1974, Larry Bird-one of the greatest players to ever pick up a basketball-was lost, and in danger of slipping away.He had dropped out of Indiana University, spurning legendary Hoosiers head coach Bobby Knight. He returned home to French Lick, a tiny town in the second poorest county in Indiana, and he got a job hauling trash.It could have ended right there for Bird, were it not for two men: Bob King, an old coach with bad knees, and Bill Hodges, a man who knew what it was like to be poor and overlooked. In the spring of 1975, during one of the darkest chapters of Bird's life, King and Hodges convinced Bird to leave French Lick and play basketball at Indiana State University, a college that couldn't even fill its arena, much less compete with Bobby Knight. Then, while no one was watching, King and Hodges built a team of players around Bird who were just like him: they were castoffs and leftovers, ready to work.Four years later, in March 1979, this unheralded team would put together one of the greatest seasons in American sports history. By the time it was over, more than 50 million people would tune in to watch the Indiana State Sycamores play in the NCAA finals against Magic Johnson and Michigan State.What happened that night would change college basketball and the NBA. Perhaps more importantly, it would change the members of this hardscrabble team, binding them together forever. In some ways, their one shining moment would never end.Drawing on exclusive, in-depth interviews with players, coaches, and staffers, New York Times bestselling author and PEN American award-winning biographer Keith O'Brien offers a stirring account of the mighty Indiana State Sycamores. With its unforgettable ensemble cast, Heartland is more than just a sports book. It's the story of a group of young men who achieved the greatest feat of all: immortality.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/arroe-collins-unplugged-totally-uncut--994165/support.

Biographers International Organization
Podcast #253 – “Four Paths, One Impossible Dream,” Part IV: Challenging the Canon

Biographers International Organization

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 3, 2026 18:08


In this fourth episode of our six-part miniseries, Sara finds out that President Lincoln presided over the largest mass execution on American soil, and she wants to know why nobody taught her that. Kevin has a death certificate that answers a question other scholars keep pretending is a mystery. Katie Rose reads congressional testimony from a hundred years ago that could have been written this morning. And Kate has to reckon with the fact that one of her subjects was a racist. The ideas. The arguments. The stuff that keeps them up at night, and BIO Podcast producer Jenny Skoog explores these dilemmas with the four authors. “Four Paths, One Impossible Dream” follows four authors navigating the challenges of writing biography. Over eight months in 2025, BIO Podcast producer Jenny Skoog spoke with comedian Sara Benincasa, tackling Abraham Lincoln; professor Kate Culkin, working on a book about Ralph Waldo Emerson's daughters; historian Kevin McGruder, who has spent decades researching Harlem Renaissance writer Rudolph Fisher; and journalist Katie Rose Quandt, on the challenges of completing a book proposal while pregnant.

NPR's Book of the Day
Keith O'Brien on 'Heartland,' Larry Bird and the basketball career that almost wasn't

NPR's Book of the Day

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 2, 2026 8:55


Larry Bird – one of the greatest players in the history of the NBA – once gave up his college basketball career to return to his hometown, French Lick, Indiana. But soon after, an assistant coach went searching for Bird and brought him back to Indiana State. Bird's return to basketball and subsequent rise is the subject of a new book by Keith O'Brien, Heartland: A Forgotten Place, An Impossible Dream, and the Miracle of Larry Bird. In today's episode, O'Brien talks with NPR's Scott Simon about Bird's origin story, his distaste for reporters, and how a matchup vs. Magic Johnson changed basketball.To listen to Book of the Day sponsor-free and support NPR's book coverage, sign up for Book of the Day+ at plus.npr.org/bookofthedaySee pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

Vitality Explorer News Podcast
The Vital Vitamin & Chase the Impossible Dream

Vitality Explorer News Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 2, 2026 20:18


PeakSpain, Optimism & Purpose PodcastFIVE PRIMARY POINTS of the PODCASTVitamin D is a “Vital Vitamin” for Whole-Body PerformanceVitamin D is far more than a bone-health nutrient—it actively regulates the immune system and nervous system, helping optimize overall vitality and resilience.Vitamin D Enhances Cancer Defense and Immune FunctionSupplementation reduced DNA damage and increased natural killer (NK) cell activity—your body's frontline cancer defense—while rewiring immune-related genes toward a stronger anti-cancer environment.Vitamin D Improves Nervous System Balance and Stress ResilienceVitamin D increases heart rate variability (HRV), a key marker of adaptability and recovery, by shifting the body away from chronic “fight-or-flight” toward a more balanced, resilient state.Vitamin D Impacts Performance, Injury Risk, and AgingLow vitamin D is linked to higher risk of ACL injuries, poorer muscle function, and increased inflammation, while adequate levels may slow biological aging (via telomere preservation) and improve long-term health outcomes.The “Four-Minute Mile” Lesson: Alternate Intensity with RecoveryUsing the story of Roger Bannister, the key performance principle is clear:Run hard on repeat → then deliberately rest.This cycle of intense effort and intentional recovery is the optimal strategy for achieving “impossible” goals in any domain.Copyright VyVerse, LLC. All Rights Reserved. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit vitalityexplorers.substack.com/subscribe

Hello Old Sports
Author Keith O'Brien on Larry Bird and Indiana State

Hello Old Sports

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 30, 2026 34:09


Fans know the 1979 NCAA Championship Game as a classic showdown between Indiana State and Michigan State, and the first chapter in the Bird/Magic rivalry. Fewer know the fully story of ISU's cinderella run to the championship game, and of how close Larry Bird came to ending his legendary career before it even started. Just in time for the Final Four, author Keith O'Brien joins us to discuss his new book, "Heartland: A Forgotten Place, an Impossible Dream, and the Miracle of Larry Bird". It tells the story of how a young man from French Lick led a team from Terra Haute to the summit of college basketball. Hello Old Sports is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Your Favorite Sport's Yesteryear. Contact the show at HelloOldSports@gmail.com and find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HelloOldSports

The Chills at Will Podcast
Episode 332 with Jordy Rosenberg, Author of Night Night Fawn and Master of the Poetic, the Profound, the Hilarious, and the Satirical

The Chills at Will Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 29, 2026 69:04


Notes and Links to Jordy Rosenberg's Work   Jordy Rosenberg is the author of the novel Confessions of the Fox, a New York Times Editors Choice selection, shortlisted for the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize, a Lambda Literary Award, a Publishing Triangle Award, the UK Historical Writers Association Debut Crown Award, longlisted for The Dublin Literary Award, and named one of the best books of the year by The New Yorker, Kirkus Reviews and others. Jordy's work has been supported by MacDowell, The Lannan Foundation, The Banff Centre, and The Ahmanson-Getty Foundation. He is a professor in the Department of English and Associated MFA Faculty in the Program for Poets and Writers at UMass-Amherst. His latest work is Night Night Fawn, published in early 2026. Buy Night Night Fawn   Jordy Rosenberg's Website   Review for Night Night Fawn from The New York Times At about 0:45, Jordy responds to Pete's questions about the feedback Jordy has received since Night Night Fawn has come out At about 2:50, Jordy talks about tour events and purchase info At about 4:15, Jordy talks about his background in reading and writing, especially the influence of the Marxist tradition  At about 6:50, Jordy responds to Pete's questions about what draws him to sci-fi, and Jordy expands on his interesting view of genre as “collective” At about 9:00, Jordan cites contemporary writers whom he appreciates in his "omnivorous" writing, including Lara Sheehi At about 12:30, Jordy reflects on seeds for his novel, which started out as memoir  At about 16:10, the two discuss the narrator, Barbara, and the book's exposition, and connections to Marx At about 18:50, Jordy discusses how he wanted to explore Marxism through the voice of someone with a passing knowledge of it At about 20:45, Part II of the book, a letter from Barbara, is discussed At about 22:45, Jordy reflects on how he satirizes those so obsessed with anti-trans vitriol At about 25:00, Jordy expands on Barbara's antiquated and biased world view and victim mentality  At about 26:45, Jordy discusses a pivotal scene at a funeral and the importance of a photo At about 31:00, Jordy responds to Pete's question about meta-writing and  At about 35:00, Barbara's job and it providing “ammunition” for her homophobia is the basis of discussion  At about 36:00, Neil, a family friend, is discussed as a trope and anti-trope At about 38:00, Pete compares Neil's Marxism to “a la carte Catholicism” At about 38:50, The beginnings of discussions of Israel and 1980s viewpoints and a “public relations nightmare” and a broken friendship are highlighted At about 42:40, Jordy talks about the importance of the “carrot scene” and ideas of Jewish masculinity At about 47:15, Pete cites Deni Avdija's story and Jordy expands on ideas of BDS and narratives of “the most moral army in the world” At about 52:00, Jordy and  Pete posit some ideas about the adult daughter in the novel and talk about Jewish leadership in the BDS movement  At about 54:10, The two discuss the scene in which Barbara reunites with her old friend and how Jordy uses satire in the scene At about 57:15, Jordy reflects on real-life connections to Barbara sending her daughter to Israel for “support work” At about 59:15, Jordy cites the book as adding to conversations that come from “bedside rants”        You can now subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and leave me a five-star review. You can also ask for the podcast by name using Alexa, and find the pod on Stitcher, Spotify, and on Amazon Music. Follow Pete on IG, where he is @chillsatwillpodcast, or on Twitter, where he is @chillsatwillpo1. You can watch other episodes on YouTube-watch and subscribe to The Chills at Will Podcast Channel. Please subscribe to both the YouTube Channel and the podcast while you're checking out this episode.       Pete is very excited to have one or two podcast episodes per month featured on the website of Chicago Review of Books. The audio will be posted, along with a written interview culled from the audio. His conversation with Jeff Pearlman, a recent guest, is up now at Chicago Review.     Sign up now for The Chills at Will Podcast Patreon: it can be found at patreon.com/chillsatwillpodcastpeterriehl      Check out the page that describes the benefits of a Patreon membership, including cool swag and bonus episodes. Thanks in advance for supporting Pete's one-man show, DIY podcast and extensive reading, research, editing, and promoting to keep this independent podcast pumping out high-quality content!    This month's Patreon bonus episode features an exploration of formative and transformative writing for children, as Pete surveys wonderful writers on their own influences.    Pete has added a $1 a month tier for “Well-Wishers” and Cheerleaders of the Show.     This is a passion project, a DIY operation, and Pete would love for your help in promoting what he's convinced is a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.    The intro song for The Chills at Will Podcast is “Wind Down” (Instrumental Version), and the other song played on this episode was “Hoops” (Instrumental)” by Matt Weidauer, and both songs are used through ArchesAudio.com.     Please tune in for Episode 333 with Keith O'Brien. Keith has written five books, won the PEN America award for best biography, and has contributed to multiple publications over the years.    Keith's work has appeared in the New York Times Magazine, the Atlantic, Rolling Stone, the Wall Street Journal, and on National Public Radio. His radio stories have aired on All Things Considered, Morning Edition, and Weekend Edition, as well as Marketplace and This American Life. His latest gem is Heartland: A Forgotten Place, an Impossible Dream, and the Miracle of Larry Bird.    The episode airs on March 29 or thereabouts.    Please go to ceasefiretoday.org, and/or https://act.uscpr.org/a/letaidin to call your congresspeople and demand an end to the forced famine and destruction of Gaza and the Gazan people.    You can also donate at chuffed.org, World Central Kitchen, and so many more, and/or you can contact writer friend Ursula Villarreal-Moura directly or through Pete, as she has direct links with friends in Gaza.  

The Chills at Will Podcast
Episode 333 with Keith O'Brien, Author of Heartland: A Forgotten Place, an Impossible Dream, and the Miracle of Larry Bird, and Dogged Researcher and Journalist Whose Alchemy Leads to Wondrous Stories

The Chills at Will Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 29, 2026 48:37


Notes and Links to Keith O'Brien's Work     Keith O'Brien has written five books, won the PEN America award for best biography, and has contributed to multiple publications over the years.    Keith's work has appeared in the New York Times Magazine, the Atlantic, Rolling Stone, the Wall Street Journal, and on National Public Radio. His radio stories have aired on All Things Considered, Morning Edition, and Weekend Edition, as well as Marketplace and This American Life. His latest gem is Heartland: A Forgotten Place, an Impossible Dream, and the Miracle of Larry Bird.   Buy Heartland: A Forgotten Place, an Impossible Dream, and the Miracle of Larry Bird    Keith O'Brien's Website   Review for Heartland from The Wall Street Journal   At about 1:50, Pete shouts out his brother as a huge Larry Bird fan At about 2:30, Keith talks about his book tour for the launch of Heartland and gives a summary of the book at about 4:40, Keith responds to Pete asking about the time period covered in the book and how he figured out his angle for the book at about 7:55, Keith talks about his attempts to talk to Larry Bird for the book at about 10:00, Pete sets the record straight grammatically, and Keith expands on Indiana State University President Dick Landini's persona  at about 11:20, The two discuss the book's opening sequence, and Keith explains why he started the book where he did, with an Indiana State NIT loss and Larry Bird fracas  at about 16:25, Keith talks about Larry Bird's treatment as "The Great White Hope" and the ways in which he was talked about and treated in the late 1970s at about 19:00, Larry Bird's childhood is discussed, including his father's military background, and Larry talks about his research and work to make Joey Bird "three-dimensional"  at about 22:40, Keith gives background on the poverty and hardship in Larry Bird's upbringing at about 23:40, Dave Bliss, Bobby Knight, and Larry Bird's college recruitment are discussed at about 24:20, Keith recounts an amazing story involving Denny Crum and Larry Bird's recruitment  at about 26:45, Larry's short time at Indiana University and Northwood Institute are highlighted at about 29:40, The two discuss important recruits for Indiana State to team up with Larry Bird, including Harry Morgan and his upbringing in a racist town/society at about 33:00, Larry responds to Pete's asking about the college basketball Magic Johnson/Larry Bird dynamic, and the racial dynamics and popularity of the NBA in the late 1970s at about 36:30, Keith gives background on the Celtics drafting Larry Bird after his junior year of college at about 37:10, Pete discusses the "glue guys" that Coach Hodges brought in to ISU for Larry's third year and the novelty of nationally-televised games  at about 39:00, Keith reflects on the fact that while Magic Johnson is crucial to the book's events, he was at the time of the book's action, largely unknown to Larry, and vice versa at about 41:30, Keith responds to Pete's referring to the book's last section, a sort of "Where are they now?" by calling it his favorite section and how the players and connections to ISU were irrevocably-changed    You can now subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and leave me a five-star review. You can also ask for the podcast by name using Alexa, and find the pod on Stitcher, Spotify, and on Amazon Music. Follow Pete on IG, where he is @chillsatwillpodcast, or on Twitter, where he is @chillsatwillpo1. You can watch other episodes on YouTube-watch and subscribe to The Chills at Will Podcast Channel. Please subscribe to both the YouTube Channel and the podcast while you're checking out this episode.       Pete is very excited to have one or two podcast episodes per month featured on the website of Chicago Review of Books. The audio will be posted, along with a written interview culled from the audio. His conversation with Jeff Pearlman, a recent guest, is up now at Chicago Review.     Sign up now for The Chills at Will Podcast Patreon: it can be found at patreon.com/chillsatwillpodcastpeterriehl      Check out the page that describes the benefits of a Patreon membership, including cool swag and bonus episodes. Thanks in advance for supporting Pete's one-man show, DIY podcast and extensive reading, research, editing, and promoting to keep this independent podcast pumping out high-quality content!    This month's Patreon bonus episode features an exploration of formative and transformative writing for children, as Pete surveys wonderful writers on their own influences.    Pete has added a $1 a month tier for “Well-Wishers” and Cheerleaders of the Show.     This is a passion project, a DIY operation, and Pete would love for your help in promoting what he's convinced is a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.    The intro song for The Chills at Will Podcast is “Wind Down” (Instrumental Version), and the other song played on this episode was “Hoops” (Instrumental)” by Matt Weidauer, and both songs are used through ArchesAudio.com.     Please tune in for Episode 334 with Lisa Lee. She is the recipient of the Marianne Russo Emerging Writer Award from the Key West Literary Seminar, an Emerging Writer Fellowship from the Center for Fiction, and a Pushcart Prize. Her work has appeared in Ploughshares, VIDA: Women in Literary Arts, North American Review, Sycamore Review, and elsewhere. Her essay on racial invisibility and erasure in the writing workshop was featured on Bitch Media's feminism & pop culture podcast Popaganda, on the episode “Writing About Race.”     The episode airs on March 31, Pub Day for her novel American Han.    Please go to ceasefiretoday.org, and/or https://act.uscpr.org/a/letaidin to call your congresspeople and demand an end to the forced famine and destruction of Gaza and the Gazan people.    You can also donate at chuffed.org, World Central Kitchen, and so many more, and/or you can contact writer friend Ursula Villarreal-Moura directly or through Pete, as she has direct links with friends in Gaza.

Biographers International Organization
Podcast #252 – “Four Paths, One Impossible Dream,” Part III: The Business of Biography

Biographers International Organization

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2026 16:42


The third episode of our six-part miniseries goes behind the scenes of biography's business realities — the contracts, proposals, and market pressures authors navigate to get their books published. “Four Paths, One Impossible Dream” follows four authors navigating the challenges of writing biography. Over eight months in 2025, BIO Podcast producer Jenny Skoog spoke with comedian Sara Benincasa, tackling Abraham Lincoln; professor Kate Culkin, working on a book about Ralph Waldo Emerson's daughters; historian Kevin McGruder, who has spent decades researching Harlem Renaissance writer Rudolph Fisher; and journalist Katie Rose Quandt, on the challenges of completing a book proposal while pregnant.

WGTD's The Morning Show with Greg Berg
3/25/26. "Heartland" (about Larry Bird)

WGTD's The Morning Show with Greg Berg

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2026 25:11


We learn about the early years of basketball legend Larry Bird through Keith O'Brien's new book "Heartland: A Forgotten Place, an Impossible Dream, and the Miracle of Larry Bird."

Writer's Bone
Episode 749: Keith O'Brien

Writer's Bone

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 25, 2026 46:02


Author and journalist Keith O'Brien (Charlie Hustle, Fly Girls) returns to the show to discuss his latest book Heartland: A Forgotten Place, an Impossible Dream, and the Miracle of Larry Bird.  To learn more about Keith O'Brien, visit his official website. Also listen to our first interview with the author in Episode 645. This episode is sponsored by Libro.fm and the Is It Streaming podcast, the newest addition to the Writer's Bone Podcast Network.

The Andres Segovia Show
How Faith and Resilience Rebuilt a Legendary Career | Guest: Award-Winning Artist Steph Carse | Episode 441

The Andres Segovia Show

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 24, 2026 62:42


In this episode I am joined by award-winning Canadian artist Steph Carse. Steph opens up about his decades-long career, from his early international success in the 1990s to his recent triumph as the winner of the French-Canadian version of The Masked Singer.He shares deeply personal stories of struggle, including a period of homelessness, losing his voice in Las Vegas, and the profound role of faith in his artistic and personal rebirth.Tune in for a conversation about resilience, finding purpose, and the power of an “Impossible Dream.”For more info on Steph Carse, visit his website https://www.stephcarse.com/• Studio Album – Praise and Worship https://www.amazon.com/Praise-Worship-Steph-Carse/dp/B0G31J5PR8• Autobiography – The Impossible Dream https://www.amazon.com/Impossible-Dream-Steph-Carse-Biography/dp/B0G3QK2P83/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0• Children's Book – I Am Awesomely Made https://www.amazon.com/am-Awesomely-Made-Stephen-Carse/dp/B0G16F1R28Follow Steph:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/musicbystephInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephcarse/YouTube ⁨@StephCarseUpTV⁩Across The Socials @TheAndresSegoviaIG: https://www.instagram.com/theandressegovia/X: https://twitter.com/_AndresSegoviaShow Notes:https://TheAndresSegovia.comSupport The Show!My Amazon Store:https://www.amazon.com/shop/theandressegoviashowThe Goat Farm Skin Care: https://thegoatfarm.idevaffiliate.com/25.htmlBlackout Coffee: https://www.blackoutcoffee.com?p=wC4nmVNoaUse Promo Code THEANDRESSEGOVIA for 20% off your order!Gainful Protein: http://gainful.com/ANDRESSEGOVIABUBS Naturals Wellness Products: https://shop.bubsnaturals.com/TheAndresSegoviaAll Affiliate Links: https://theandressegovia.start.pageThank you to everyone who tuned into my live video! Join me for my next live video in the app. To hear more, visit theandressegovia.substack.com

The Creative Nonfiction Podcast with Brendan O'Meara
Episode 517: The Miracle of Writing a Book with Keith O'Brien

The Creative Nonfiction Podcast with Brendan O'Meara

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 20, 2026 78:33


"Those people who shaped the people are often more important than the subject, because they have insight into this young person that they were working with. It's crucial," says Keith O'Brien, bestselling author of Heartland: A Forgotten Place, an Impossible Dream, and the Miracle of Larry Bird.Today we have Keith O'Brien, author of five books, including his latest book Heartland: A forgotten Place, an Impossible Dream, and the Miracle of Larry Bird. It's published by Atria Books.It's a lean, propulsive biography framed as an origin story of Larry Bird before he went to the NBA to later become one of the ten best players in history.Keith is the New York Times bestselling author of Outside Shot, Fly Girls, Paradise Falls, Charlie Hustle, which won the PEN America award for biography, and now Heartland. You can learn more about Keith at keithob.com and follow him on the ol' IG @obrienstory. This book has been crushing it. His events have been overflowing. In this episode we talk about: The dispiriting change we're seeing in sports journalism Finding the people who shaped the people Sitting under the prism of history Writing an origin story His favorite part of the job And how writing a book is like a miracle every time you finish Lost of great stuff to chew on …Promotional support: The 2026 Power of Narrative Conference. Use narrative20 at checkout for 20% off your tuition. Visit combeyond.bu.edu.Order The Front RunnerWelcome to Pitch ClubShow notes: brendanomeara.com

Biographers International Organization
Podcast #251 – “Four Paths, One Impossible Dream,” Part II: The Work

Biographers International Organization

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 20, 2026 17:34


In the second episode of our special six-part miniseries, the authors share updates on their research and writing. “Four Paths, One Impossible Dream” follows four authors navigating the challenges of writing biography. Over eight months in 2025, BIO Podcast producer Jenny Skoog spoke with comedian Sara Benincasa, tackling Abraham Lincoln; professor Kate Culkin, working on a book about Ralph Waldo Emerson's daughters; historian Kevin McGruder, who has spent decades researching Harlem Renaissance writer Rudolph Fisher; and journalist Katie Rose Quandt, on the challenges of completing a book proposal while pregnant.

Felger & Massarotti
Inside the making of Larry Bird // Off-Air Show with Felger March 18, 2026

Felger & Massarotti

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2026 35:11


Mike Felger welcomes Keith O'Brien to the Off-Air Show to discuss O'Brien's new book "Heartland: A Forgotten Place, an Impossible Dream, and the Miracle of Larry Bird," which details Larry Bird's backstory.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In Between The Pages with James Lott Jr.
With Doug Hess-Heartland: A Forgotten Place, An Impossible Dream, and the Miracle of Larry Bird

In Between The Pages with James Lott Jr.

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 16, 2026 21:18 Transcription Available


In this episode I spoke with author Keith O'Brien about his latest book "Heartland: A forgotten Place, An Impossible Dream, and the Miracle of Larry Bird". In the fall 1974, Larry Bird—one of the greatest players to ever pick up a basketball—was lost, and in danger of slipping away.He had dropped out of Indiana University, spurning legendary Hoosiers head coach Bobby Knight. He returned home to French Lick, a tiny town in the second poorest county in Indiana, and he got a job hauling trash.

EV News Daily - Electric Car Podcast
BONUS: BYD Tech Day – The Impossible Dream

EV News Daily - Electric Car Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2026 25:44


On 5 March 2026, BYD held a landmark technology event unveiling the second-generation Blade Battery, a 1,500 kW megawatt Flash Charging network, eleven new or updated vehicle models, a next-generation LiDAR sensor from Robosense and an upgraded Gods Eye 5.0 ADAS suite.

Biographers International Organization
Podcast #250 – “Four Paths, One Impossible Dream,” Part I

Biographers International Organization

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 13, 2026 23:48


This time, we present the first episode in a special six-part miniseries that follows four authors on their biographical path. We spent the last eight months of 2025 with comedian Sara Benincasa who is tackling Abraham Lincoln; professor Kate Culkin is publishing a book about Ralph Waldo Emerson's daughters that nobody taught her how to promote; historian Kevin McGruder has been carrying around his subject, Harlem Renaissance writer Rudolph Fisher, for decades; and journalist Katie Rose Quandt is finishing a book proposal about five influential women while pregnant with her third child. BIO member Jenny Skoog sat down with each of these writers to ask the obvious question: who gets to write biography?

Nice Games Club
Tabletop Special

Nice Games Club

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 12, 2026


While Mark is off on a Star Trek cruise, the rest of your nice hosts invite Lydia's husband Ian Peters to discuss tabletop games, specifically RPGs! We've split this supersized episode and topic into three different acts for your listening pleasure.0:01:58Holistic Connection of Theme and MechanicBlades in the DarkEvil Hat ProductionsGURPS: Generic Universal RolePlaying SystemSteve Jackson GamesThirsty Sword LesbiansEvil Hat ProductionsDialect: A Game About Language and How It DiesThorny Games0:33:41DiceCall of Cthulhu RPGChaosium Inc.Does a crit always mean success?MolaschiRedditDread the RPGThe Impossible DreamKids on BikesHunters Entertainment1:00:28FlexibilityLydia had talked about tabletop mechanics in her Untitled Memory Mechanic Nice Thinking episodeUntitled Memory MechanicCitizen SleeperJump Over The AgeSteam

ML Sports Platter
Heartland (Larry Bird/Indiana State) Author Keith O'Brien.

ML Sports Platter

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2026 16:16


00:00-20:00: Keith O'Brien joins the show to chat about his new book Heartland: A Forgotten Place, an Impossible Dream, and the Miracle of Larry Bird. Bird's tough upbringing, what would have happened if he never attended Indiana State, why Keith wanted to write this book, when Bird arrived before Magic and the Lakers and Celtics and the 1979 NCAA title game and more. Plus, how much Bird benefited from not playing during the social/digital media age and sports TV bonanza. Sponsored by Arc of Onondaga and Byrne Dairy. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Nightside With Dan Rea
NightSide News Update 3/9/26

Nightside With Dan Rea

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 10, 2026 38:22 Transcription Available


As part of our continuing news coverage, we’ll talk about what’s behind the new Tik Tok sardine trend that has Gen Z loading up on sardines!8:05PM: The MA proposed ballot question that would do away with partisan primaries and have the two most popular candidates compete in the general election, regardless of party…Two veteran Democrats sue to block the ballot question.Guest: Chris Lisinski - Senior Reporter for the Commonwealth Beacon (formerly with the State House News Service)8:15PM: Freedom Trail Foundation Revolutionary Women Tours Return!Guest: Kara Zeiberg – tour guide & actor who portrays Thankful Rice on the Trail8:30PM: Sardine Fasts: What's behind this Gen Z TikTok trend?Guest: Paul Fulford - healthy living expert with Cynosure Lutronic8:45PM: “HEARTLAND: A Forgotten Place, an Impossible Dream, and the Miracle of Larry Bird”-Tells the story of his unlikely rise in rural Indiana in the 1970s, the time period when Bird nearly slips away from the game, the miracle of his underdog Indiana State team, how that team could never exist today.Guest: Keith O’Brien – New York Times best-selling author & writerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sportlanders, The Podcast
The Lost Years of Larry Bird with Keith O'Brien

Sportlanders, The Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 8, 2026 41:45


Guest: Keith O'Brien, author of HEARTLAND: A Forgotten Place, an Impossible Dream, and The Miracle of Larry Bird by Keith O'Brien (Atria Books, March 3, 2026) https://amzn.to/47ghvEE Podcast Release Date: March 7, 2026 Episode Length: 42 minutes EPISODE DESCRIPTION: Larry Bird is one of basketball's all-time greats, but there's a chapter of his story that's rarely told. Between 1974 and 1979, from his brief time at Indiana University through his magical season at Indiana State, Bird nearly walked away from basketball entirely. In this episode, Brian O'Leary sits down with journalist and New York Times best-selling author Keith O'Brien to discuss his meticulously researched new book HEARTLAND, which fills in this forgotten narrative with unprecedented detail. Through interviews with teammates, coaches, photographers, and dozens of people who were there, O'Brien paints a vivid portrait of a shy kid from rural Indiana who changed sports history—even though he never wanted the spotlight. We discuss Bird's poverty-stricken upbringing in French Lick, his time as a garbage collector, his legendary media boycott, the iconic Sports Illustrated photo shoot, and even a softball tournament in which he beat Joe Montana. This is Larry Bird like you've never heard him before. TIMESTAMPS: [0:00] Introduction and Sports Illustrated covers [7:38] Keith's journalism career: Salem to Boston Globe [10:21] Why Bird left Indiana University after just weeks [12:30] Bird's $75 arrival at IU and feeling out of place [14:27] Working as a garbage collector in French Lick [16:34] How Heartland reads like a novel [19:01] Writing the book without Larry's participation [20:23] Bird's famous media boycott throughout college [23:10] The legendary Sports Illustrated photo shoot (October 1977) [27:30] Lane Stewart's struggle to photograph Bird [28:46] The softball tournament: Bird vs. Joe Montana [30:49] Bird playing baseball AFTER the 1979 championship game [33:40] The 3-3 release date and Bird's #33 jersey [34:25] The lasting impact on Bird's teammates [37:07] Where to find Keith's work and buy the book KEY TOPICS DISCUSSED: Larry Bird's brief, unhappy time at Indiana University under Bob Knight Bird's return to French Lick and work as a municipal worker The industrial league basketball that nearly became his final chapter Indiana State's improbable 1978-79 undefeated season The 1979 NCAA Championship: Bird vs. Magic Johnson Bird's lifelong aversion to media attention The Sports Illustrated cover that changed everything Bird's love of softball and baseball The ripple effects of the Bird-Magic rivalry on the NBA How the 1979 Indiana State team still feels the impact today GUEST BIO: Keith O'Brien is a journalist and New York Times best-selling author whose previous books include Charlie Hustle: The Rise and Fall of Pete Rose. He has worked for newspapers, including the Boston Globe, and has contributed to NPR and various magazines. He specializes in narrative nonfiction and long-form storytelling. BOOK INFORMATION: HEARTLAND: A Forgotten Place, an Impossible Dream, and The Miracle of Larry Bird by Keith O'Brien (Atria Books, March 3, 2026) Purchase Links: https://amzn.to/47ghvEE Author Website: https://keithob.com CONNECT WITH THE SHOW:

Sportlanders, The Podcast
The Lost Years of Larry Bird with Keith O'Brien

Sportlanders, The Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 8, 2026 41:45


Guest: Keith O'Brien, author of HEARTLAND: A Forgotten Place, an Impossible Dream, and The Miracle of Larry Bird by Keith O'Brien (Atria Books, March 3, 2026) https://amzn.to/47ghvEE Podcast Release Date: March 7, 2026 Episode Length: 42 minutes *** EPISODE DESCRIPTION: Larry Bird is one of basketball's all-time greats, but there's a chapter of his story that's rarely told. Between 1974 and 1979, from his brief time at Indiana University through his magical season at Indiana State, Bird nearly walked away from basketball entirely. In this episode, Brian O'Leary sits down with journalist and New York Times best-selling author Keith O'Brien to discuss his meticulously researched new book HEARTLAND, which fills in this forgotten narrative with unprecedented detail. Through interviews with teammates, coaches, photographers, and dozens of people who were there, O'Brien paints a vivid portrait of a shy kid from rural Indiana who changed sports history—even though he never wanted the spotlight. We discuss Bird's poverty-stricken upbringing in French Lick, his time as a garbage collector, his legendary media boycott, the iconic Sports Illustrated photo shoot, and even a softball tournament in which he beat Joe Montana. This is Larry Bird like you've never heard him before. *** TIMESTAMPS: [0:00] Introduction and Sports Illustrated covers [7:38] Keith's journalism career: Salem to Boston Globe [10:21] Why Bird left Indiana University after just weeks [12:30] Bird's $75 arrival at IU and feeling out of place [14:27] Working as a garbage collector in French Lick [16:34] How Heartland reads like a novel [19:01] Writing the book without Larry's participation [20:23] Bird's famous media boycott throughout college [23:10] The legendary Sports Illustrated photo shoot (October 1977) [27:30] Lane Stewart's struggle to photograph Bird [28:46] The softball tournament: Bird vs. Joe Montana [30:49] Bird playing baseball AFTER the 1979 championship game [33:40] The 3-3 release date and Bird's #33 jersey [34:25] The lasting impact on Bird's teammates [37:07] Where to find Keith's work and buy the book *** KEY TOPICS DISCUSSED: Larry Bird's brief, unhappy time at Indiana University under Bob Knight Bird's return to French Lick and work as a municipal worker The industrial league basketball that nearly became his final chapter Indiana State's improbable 1978-79 undefeated season The 1979 NCAA Championship: Bird vs. Magic Johnson Bird's lifelong aversion to media attention The Sports Illustrated cover that changed everything Bird's love of softball and baseball The ripple effects of the Bird-Magic rivalry on the NBA How the 1979 Indiana State team still feels the impact today *** GUEST BIO: Keith O'Brien is a journalist and New York Times best-selling author whose previous books include Charlie Hustle: The Rise and Fall of Pete Rose. He has worked for newspapers, including the Boston Globe, and has contributed to NPR and various magazines. He specializes in narrative nonfiction and long-form storytelling. *** BOOK INFORMATION: HEARTLAND: A Forgotten Place, an Impossible Dream, and The Miracle of Larry Bird by Keith O'Brien (Atria Books, March 3, 2026) Purchase Links: https://amzn.to/47ghvEE Author Website: https://keithob.com *** CONNECT WITH THE SHOW:

Book Nook with Vick Mickunas
Book Nook: 'Heartland: a Forgotten Place, an Impossible Dream, and the Miracle of Larry Bird' by Keith O'Brien

Book Nook with Vick Mickunas

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 6, 2026 28:45


The story of a basketball star who almost wasn't.

Mo Egger
3-4-26 - Mo Egger with Keith O'Brien

Mo Egger

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 5, 2026 10:58 Transcription Available


Mo has called it the best sports book he's read so far this year. It's called Heartland: A Forgotten Place, an Impossible Dream, and the Miracle of Larry Bird. Keith O'Brien is the author, and he joined Mo to talk about the project, Larry Bird, college basketball the way it was, and Keith's appearances in town this weekend. Podcasts of The Mo Egger Radio Show are a service of Longnecks Sports Grill.Listen to the show live weekday afternoons 3:00 - 6:00 on ESPN1530. Listen Live: ESPN1530.com/listenGet more: https://linktr.ee/MoEggerFollow on X: @MoEggerInstagram too: @MoEggerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mo Egger
3-4-26 - Mo Egger with Keith O'Brien

Mo Egger

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 5, 2026 10:58 Transcription Available


Mo has called it the best sports book he's read so far this year. It's called Heartland: A Forgotten Place, an Impossible Dream, and the Miracle of Larry Bird. Keith O'Brien is the author, and he joined Mo to talk about the project, Larry Bird, college basketball the way it was, and Keith's appearances in town this weekend. Podcasts of The Mo Egger Radio Show are a service of Longnecks Sports Grill.Listen to the show live weekday afternoons 3:00 - 6:00 on ESPN1530. Listen Live: ESPN1530.com/listenGet more: https://linktr.ee/MoEggerFollow on X: @MoEggerInstagram too: @MoEggerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Arroe Collins Like It's Live
Heartland A Forgotten Place An Impossible Dream From Sports Journalist Keith OBrien

Arroe Collins Like It's Live

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2026 19:03 Transcription Available


From the New York Times bestselling author of Charlie Hustle and Fly Girls comes one of America's greatest sports stories: the improbable rise of Larry Bird and the Indiana State Sycamores.In the fall 1974, Larry Bird-one of the greatest players to ever pick up a basketball-was lost, and in danger of slipping away.He had dropped out of Indiana University, spurning legendary Hoosiers head coach Bobby Knight. He returned home to French Lick, a tiny town in the second poorest county in Indiana, and he got a job hauling trash.It could have ended right there for Bird, were it not for two men: Bob King, an old coach with bad knees, and Bill Hodges, a man who knew what it was like to be poor and overlooked. In the spring of 1975, during one of the darkest chapters of Bird's life, King and Hodges convinced Bird to leave French Lick and play basketball at Indiana State University, a college that couldn't even fill its arena, much less compete with Bobby Knight. Then, while no one was watching, King and Hodges built a team of players around Bird who were just like him: they were castoffs and leftovers, ready to work.Four years later, in March 1979, this unheralded team would put together one of the greatest seasons in American sports history. By the time it was over, more than 50 million people would tune in to watch the Indiana State Sycamores play in the NCAA finals against Magic Johnson and Michigan State.What happened that night would change college basketball and the NBA. Perhaps more importantly, it would change the members of this hardscrabble team, binding them together forever. In some ways, their one shining moment would never end.Drawing on exclusive, in-depth interviews with players, coaches, and staffers, New York Times bestselling author and PEN American award-winning biographer Keith O'Brien offers a stirring account of the mighty Indiana State Sycamores. With its unforgettable ensemble cast, Heartland is more than just a sports book. It's the story of a group of young men who achieved the greatest feat of all: immortality.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/arroe-collins-like-it-s-live--4113802/support.

History Nerds United
Larry Bird at Indiana State University with Keith O'Brien

History Nerds United

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 3, 2026 31:56


Send a textLet's talk about a legend! Keith O'Brien joins me to talk Heartland: A Forgotten Place, an Impossible Dream, and the Miracle of Larry Bird.Buy HeartlandCheck out Keith's websiteSupport the show

Pod of Fame
Heartland: A Forgotten Place, an Impossible Dream, and the Miracle of Larry Bird with Keith O'Brien

Pod of Fame

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 2, 2026 45:22


Jim welcomes award-winning journalist and New York Times best-selling author Keith O'Brien to discuss his new book, “Heartland: A Forgotten Place, an Impossible Dream, and the Miracle of Larry Bird." First, Keith and Jim discuss Larry Bird's unsung supporting cast on the 1979 Indiana State team (14:42). Next, they cover the "what if" scenario of Larry Bird playing all four seasons of his college career for Bobby Knight at Indiana University, before deciding who the GOAT of Indiana basketball is between John Wooden, Larry Bird, and Oscar Robertson (19:06). Finally, they debate whether we will ever see another Larry Bird again in college basketball (40:06).

Lance McAlister
2-26-26 Lance with Keith O'Brien

Lance McAlister

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2026 10:06


Keith joins Sports Talk to discuss his new book Heartland: A Forgotten Place, an Impossible Dream, and the Miracle of Larry Bird.

Lance McAlister
2-26-26 Lance with Keith O'Brien

Lance McAlister

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2026 10:06 Transcription Available


Keith joins Sports Talk to discuss his new book Heartland: A Forgotten Place, an Impossible Dream, and the Miracle of Larry Bird. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Le Batard & Friends - STUpodity
Set 1: How Larry Bird Became Larry Legend

Le Batard & Friends - STUpodity

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2026 29:45 Transcription Available


Keith O’Brien joins Stugotz to discuss his upcoming book Heartland: A Forgotten Place, an Impossible Dream, and the Miracle of Larry Bird, a deep dive into the roots, rise, and lasting legacy of Larry Bird. O’Brien shares untold stories about Bird’s upbringing in small-town Indiana and reveals how close we came to never knowing the story of Larry Bird, who could have faded into obscurity after leaving Bobby Knight’s Indiana program. Could a 1978–79 Indiana State team happen in today's college basketball, and why were the Sycamores never able to capitalize on having one of the best basketball players ever? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Live from the Book Shop: John Updike's Ghost
EP9: The French and French Lick

Live from the Book Shop: John Updike's Ghost

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2026 35:08


This episode includes, among other things, "the most French thing editor Chris could find on the Internet." Can you guess which book that might be for? If not, you better listen, because we've got four very different books, despite two of them being written by women named Rebecca. Maybe we should do an episode in the future where all the books are written by someone with the same first name! Or one where all of them are set in Ipswich, MA! Put a pin in that. Anyway, this fortnight, we read: "Murder Bimbo," by Rebecca Novack "The Memory of Babel," by Christelle Dabos "Family Drama," by Rebecca Fallon "Heartland: A Forgotten Place, an Impossible Dream, and the Miracle of Larry Bird," by Keith O'Brien What sound effects did we give each of these books? You'll just have to listen and find out! Oh, and if you're listening to this before March 10, 2026, you should come to the Beverly Farms Library and hear us chat with Keith O'Brien!

Daly Dose Sports
Daly Dose 02-25-26 Our interview with author Keith O'Brien

Daly Dose Sports

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 25, 2026 33:50


This week on the Daly Dose, we're officially tipping off our March Madness prep with a deep dive into the legend of the "Hick from French Lick."We are thrilled to welcome New York Times bestselling author Keith O'Brien to discuss his cinematic new book, Heartland: A Forgotten Place, an Impossible Dream, and the Miracle of Larry Bird.Here's what's on deck:The Making of a Miracle: Keith pulls back the curtain on the research and grit required to capture the soul of 1970s Indiana.We relive the magic of Indiana State's lightning-in-a-bottle season that changed college basketball forever.We look at the profound personal hurdles and "forgotten" upbringing that forged Larry Bird's legendary mental toughness.Keith also shares one specific, never-before-heard story that perfectly encapsulates why there will never be another No. 33!

Moments with Marianne
The Impossible Dream with Dirk Smith

Moments with Marianne

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 14, 2026 33:55


What would faith look like if living in a place where owning a Bible could cost you your freedom? Tune in for an inspiring discussion with Dirk Smith on his new book The Impossible Dream: The Unstoppable Journey of God's Word Behind the Iron Curtain and Beyond.Moments with Marianne airs in the Southern California area on KMET1490AM & 98.1 FM, an ABC Talk News Radio Affiliate!  https://www.kmet1490am.comDirk Smith, co-author of The Impossible Dream, serves as EEM Vice President, following his highly successful tenure as a development officer with his alma mater, Harding University. An accomplished manager, he earned experience in business development with an eye for revenue building through positions with firms like Jackson & Coker in Dallas, Texas, and T. Williams Consulting serving clients in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York. He has a bachelor's degree in Mathematics and an MBA with a focus on Organizational Development and Ethics. At EEM, Dirk oversees fundraising and marketing efforts as well as assists with U.S. operations. He is an experienced presenter and storyteller and loves sharing the stories of what God is doing through the ministry of EEM. https://theimpossibledreambook.com/ https://eem.orgLearn more about publishing your book, publicity services, and show opportunities at: https://www.mariannepestana.com 

Imagination Skyway
Leslie Iwerks | Disneyland Handcrafted | Walt Disney's Impossible Dream

Imagination Skyway

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 8, 2026 24:59


Disneyland Handcrafted documentary debuts January 22, 2026 on Disney Plus and Disney YouTube, and I had the extraordinary opportunity to interview filmmaker Leslie Iwerks at the Walt Disney Studios Lot in Burbank, California about her new film. "Disneyland Handcrafted reveals the extraordinary artistry and grit it took hundreds of craftspeople to bring Walt Disney's impossible dream project of Disneyland to fruition – from groundbreaking to Opening Day on July 17, 1955." (Disney Plus). "An Oscar and Emmy nominated filmmaker, Leslie Iwerks comes from a family steeped in Disney legacy. The granddaughter of Ub Iwerks (Walt Disney's original animator and designer/co-creator of Mickey Mouse) and the daughter of Don Iwerks (a Disney camera technician and inventor), Leslie is the producer and director of the new documentary film." (Disney Parks Blog) To plan a trip, be sure to work with KMV Travel.   Get bonus content, ad-free episodes, and more at patreon.com/imaginationskyway.   Tag me and join the conversation below. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@imaginationskyway Instagram: www.instagram.com/imaginationskyway Facebook Group (ImagiNation): https://www.facebook.com/groups/imaginationskyway Facebook: www.facebook.com/imaginationskyway TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@imaginationskyway  Threads: https://www.threads.net/@imaginationskyway Twitter: www.twitter.com/skywaypodcast Email: matt@imagineerpodcast.com  How to Support the Show Share the podcast with your friends Rate and review on iTunes - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-imagineerpodcasts-podcast/id1244558092 Join our Patreon Group - https://www.patreon.com/imaginationskyway Purchase merchandise - https://www.teepublic.com/stores/imagineer-podcast?ref_id=8929 Enjoy the show!