Podcasts about other serious business

This week's book case: Emmitt Till's murder has been a seminal moment in American history ever since it occurred in 1955. Wright Thompson's new book “The Barn: The Secret History of a Murder in Mississippi” looks at the horror through a whole new prism. Thompson loves his native land of Mississippi but is haunted by the barn where Emmitt Till was murdered. Why is it that we still know so little about one of the ugliest chapters in the history of American race relations? Tune in and find out. Books mentioned in this week's podcast: The Barn: The Secret History of A Murder in Mississippi by Wright Thompson Pappyland: A Story of Family, Fine Bourbon and the Things that Last by Wright Thompson The Cost of These Dreams: Sports Stories and Other Serious Business by Wright Thompson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ryan speaks with Wright Thompson about his work studying the convergence of sports and culture, the evolution of society in conjunction with people's emotional regression, why history is less distant than we think it is, and more.Wright Thompson is an author and journalist who covers the intersections of sports and culture. Thompson has written for ESPN.com and ESPN The Magazine on topics like auto racing, MMA, bullfighting and more. Thompson wrote The Cost of These Dreams: Sports Stories and Other Serious Business and recently released the New York Times bestselling Pappyland: A Story of Family, Fine Bourbon, and the Things That Last. Wright's work can be found on his website www.wrightthompson.com, and on Instagram @wrightthompsonbooks.✉️ Sign up for the Daily Stoic email: https://dailystoic.com/dailyemail

As protests continue in cities across the nation we examine the role of Homeland Security in preserving the safety of America's cities and citizens.Then, those seeking reform and an end to systemic racism are marching and shouting to be heard. We look closer at the role of civil unrest as an agent of change.Plus, in today's book club, a Mississippian who is one of the most read sportswriters in the country tells us about his book, “The Cost of These Dreams.”Segment 1:Earlier this week, President Donald Trump addressed the nation from the Rose Garden - speaking on the weekend of protests that erupted throughout the country. Nearby, just outside the gates of the White House, in Lafayette Park, armed police began forcibly clearing the streets of unsuspecting protesters who had been gathered for hours. That move, which was ultimately done to clear a way for the President to have a photo op at St. John's Episcopal Church, is now under scrutiny from the House's Committee on Homeland Security. Mississippi Representative Bennie Thompson, who chairs the committee, is requesting a briefing from the Secret Service regarding the abrupt decision to clear the park. He discusses the request and the role of Homeland Security with our Michael Guidry.Segment 2:The nation is on the eve of its second weekend of widespread protests following the death of George Floyd. Protesters are marching and shouting in the streets of American cities demanding their calls for reform be heard. C.J. Lawrence is an attorney and CEO of Black with No Chaser - a media outlet focusing on social advocacy. He is also the chairperson of Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba's Officer I.D. Taskforce assigned to address police brutality. He tells our Desare Frazer protests are acts of unrest meant to amplify the need for change.Segment 3:This week's book club author is one of the most successful sportswriters in the country. As a senior writer for ESPN, Wright Thompson has the distinction of having his articles read by more people in the history of ESPN Magazine. Born and raised in the Mississippi delta, Thompson lives in Oxford now. We revisit a conversation from last spring upon the release of his book, “The Cost of These Dreams: Sports Stories and Other Serious Business.” Wright tells us about narrowing down thousands of sports profiles to the final 14 in the book. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

On this episode, I’m going to replay an interview I did Wright Thompson back in October of 2013. Thompson’s first book was just released by Penguin Books this week. It’s titled "The Cost of These Dreams: Sports Stories and Other Serious Business." It consists of 14 of Thompson’s previously published stories for ESPN. That includes the two stories that I talked with Wright about on this episode of the show – "Michael Jordan Has Not Left the Building," and "The Losses of Dan Gable." Thompson’s profile on legendary wrestling coach Dan Gable is a perfect example of how and why reserved people open up to him. The Dan Gable story came up right on the heels of Thompson’s profile of NBA legend Michael Jordan. That’s the story that leads of the book. With the Jordan story, Wright said he kept thinking of the classic Esquire profile on Ted Williams, which was written by Richard Ben Cramer. That story was titled “What Do You Think of Ted Williams Now.” “That story is very much a North Star, and the thing I’ve always wanted to do, always, is write that story,” Thompson says. “I knew going in that they’re only a couple of athletes famous enough to make that even possible.” The book is fantastic, of course. And it’s no surprise to me that after one week of sales, it’s already showing up at No. 4 on the New York Times Best Seller list for paperback nonfiction.

Whatever you're looking for to start your week, we've got it! From information on saving lives to moms sharing how they knew they were done having kids--add to that ESPN Magazine's Wright Thompson giving behind the scenes glimpses at some of your favorite sports figures in his book "THE COST OF THESE DREAMS: Sports Stories and Other Serious Business" and then sprinkle in some laughs, and you've got another fun morning of morning show listening!

Wright Thompson, senior writer for ESPN, gives a behind-the-scenes look at Urban Meyer, Tiger Woods, and others in his book, "THE COST OF THESE DREAMS: Sports Stories and Other Serious Business"

On The Gist, Mueller’s report (or much of it) is bound to go public. In the interview, Wright Thompson has his place on the Mount Rushmore of sports writers, and his signature form is the profile. Tiger Woods, Lionel Messi, Michael Jordan and the like are fascinating in their relationship to fame, but also in their ordinary flaws. “On some level these stories are all about exploring whether or not there is even such a thing as free will,” Thompson says. “I’m fascinated by the way things in our past continue to exert gravitational pull on us now.” Wright’s new book, a collection of his past work, is The Cost of These Dreams: Sports Stories and Other Serious Business.  In the Spiel, a list of all the non-scandals hitting the Democratic 2020 candidates so far. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On The Gist, Mueller’s report (or much of it) is bound to go public. In the interview, Wright Thompson has his place on the Mount Rushmore of sports writers, and his signature form is the profile. Tiger Woods, Lionel Messi, Michael Jordan and the like are fascinating in their relationship to fame, but also in their ordinary flaws. “On some level these stories are all about exploring whether or not there is even such a thing as free will,” Thompson says. “I’m fascinated by the way things in our past continue to exert gravitational pull on us now.” Wright’s new book, a collection of his past work, is The Cost of These Dreams: Sports Stories and Other Serious Business.  In the Spiel, a list of all the non-scandals hitting the Democratic 2020 candidates so far. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices