Mike Safo

Joined today by MLB All-Star and veteran Steve Trachsel.  Steve and I chat about growing up in California, why he chose Long Beach State and then going to the college World Series with Jason Giambi.  We touch on where he was when he got the call from the Cubbies that he goes drafted, rocketing through the minors and walking into a locker room with Grace, Dunston and Ryno.  We talk about playing in...

Joined today by podcaster and New York Times best-selling author, Jeff Pearlman.  Jeff and I talk about him leaving NYC for the West Coast, what food he misses and what Cali does better.  We reminisce about growing up and idolizing old school sports writers and getting his dream job at Sports Illustrated at just 24 years old. Jeff looks back on leaving SI to work for Newsday and then making the tr...

Joined today by award winning film director and my childhood friend and teammate, Reinaldo Marcus Green.  Rei and I talk about growing up, playing baseball together and how we argued over the Yankees and Mets. Rei talks about being a hot young rookie director and being given the script for “King Richard”, why it resonated so much with him and why he knew he needed to direct the film. He shares his...

Joined today by NYC streetball legend, Jack “Black Jack” Ryan. Jackie and I talk about being one of the hottest recruits coming out of high school and why his stubbornness and hard-headiness put him in 3 different high schools and 4 different colleges before quitting in a quest to be a streetball legend. Jack tells us about his superstar daughter Morgan, her signing a letter to go play at Pace, pl...

Joined today by NFL veteran and Super Bowl champion, Desmond Bishop. Des talks about growing up in California, rooting for the 49ers and who were the players he looked up to. We discuss why he wasn’t recruited out of high school, why he choose the elite San Francisco as his JUCO and the decision to go to Cal over USC after being an All-American from JUCO.  Desmond talks about how he didn’t know ab...

Joined today by newlywed, documentary producer and Kentucky basketball legend, Cameron Mils. Cam talks about his new family, the courting of his wife Susan, the best and worst parts about marriage and how he outkicked his coverage. We talk about the return of Coach Tubby Smith to the Commonwealth, the first thing Coach said to him, and what it meant to see Coach for the first time in forever. Came...

Joined today by creator of "Cemetery Dance" and best-selling author of the hit book "Chasing the Boogeyman", Richard Chizmar. Richard and I talk about Baltimore sports and why he's leaning his allegiance to the Virginia Cavaliers. We chat about his incredible new book, when he knew he had a hit and the idea to make himself the main character. He tells us where the idea of the book came from, the d...

Joined today by podcaster, travel writer, author and former assistant of Anthony Bourdain, Laurie Woolever. Laurie and I talk about her 2 new books: World Travel: An Irreverent Guide and of course, Bourdain: The Definitive Oral Autobiography. We hear why she chose to write the book in an oral format, all of the interviews she conducted and how she actually put this project together. First, we hear...

Joined today by former Kentucky Wildcat, New York Knick and current star of the Sun Rockers in Japan, Josh Harrellson. Josh and I talk about living in Asia, learning a new language and the safety and beauty of Japan. He talks about being a family guy, raising his daughter, welcoming his new son, and what silly things his daughter makes him do. We chat about Missouri, being a Cardinals fan, and the...

Joined today by basketball coach, traveler and author of the new book, “Zen and the Art of Coaching Basketball: Memoir of a Namibian Odyssey”, Ben Guest. Ben talks about quitting his job and what made him write this book, the process of being a self-publisher and how he wants to grow this into his own business. This being Ben’s first “real” book, we chat about the process of making it, why now was...

Joined today by NYPD PBA President, Police Officer Patrick Lynch. Pat and I talk about his childhood growing up in Queens, and how being a city worker was a route he knew he wanted to take. We hear about why Officer Lynch decided to raise his right hand and join the NYPD. Pat shares about graduating the police academy, getting stationed in Williamsburg in the 90th Precinct and how different it was...

Omar’s coming… BACK to the Mike Safo podcast… the iconic actor Michael K. Williams, aka “Omar” from The Wire and “Chalky White” from Boardwalk Empire” stopped by Jack Demsey’s to join Lee Abbamonte and myself for some shenanigans.  Growing up, he was the furthest thing from a gangster kid and now the hipsters are taking over his beloved Brooklyn. Mike talks about his infamous roles as Chalky, and...

Omar’s coming… BACK to the Mike Safo podcast… the iconic actor Michael K. Williams, aka “Omar” from The Wire and “Chalky White” from Boardwalk Empire” stopped by Jack Demsey’s to join Lee Abbamonte and myself for some shenanigans.  Growing up, he was the furthest thing from a gangster kid and now the hipsters are taking over his beloved Brooklyn. Mike talks about his infamous roles as Chalky, and...

Joined today by 17 year NFL veteran and Super Bowl winning QB, Brad Johnson. Brad and I talk about his former roommate John Lynch being inducted into the Football Hall of Fame, spending the weekend in Canton and the parties he was attending. Brad talks about his trick basketball and football shots on TikTok that went viral, and what got him to start doing them. We chat about growing up in basketba...

Joined today by New York Times bestselling author Erik Larson. Erik and I recorded at Legends in NYC and talk about the status of “Devil in the White City” being produced into a HULU original after the rights were purchased by Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese. We talk about the behind the scenes of writing a book, how he knows it’s finished, if he feels pressure or relief when the final draft...

Joined today by celebrity Psychic and Medium Chris Medina. Chris talks to me about the challenges of growing up in California with a Mexican mother and an Apache Indian Father. He shares how he knew he had this special gift at the age of 4 years old and how his family not only encouraged him, but were also entertained by his talents. Chris opens up about spending time in a bubble as he battled all...

Joined today by author of one of the best sports books of the year, The Wax Pack, Brad Balukjian. Brad and I talk about his friendship with The Iron Sheik, why the proposed book idea didn’t happen and how their relationship is now. He shares what inspired him to grab a pack of 1986 Topps baseball cards, open and it and travel the country with the plan of interviewing the ball players. We chat abou...

Joined today by author of the incredible book “Knicks of the Nineties: Ewing, Oakley, Starks and the Brawlers that Almost Won It All”, Paul Knepper. Paul and I chat about growing up in the Big Apple, why he moved to the Lone Star State and what he misses the most about New York City. He talks about this being his first book, what made him want to tackle the subject and the difficulties of writing...

Joined today by former Yankee, MLB Veteran and current head coach for the Princeton Tigers baseball team, Scott Bradley. Scott and I chat about the Jersey Shore, where he grew up and his favorite beach down there. We hear about getting draft 2 times and why he didn’t sign with the Twins and decided to go to the University of North Carolina. He describes his time down at Chapel Hill with Michael Jo...

Joined today by author and legendary graphic designer, Todd Radom. Todd and I talk about growing up in NYC, what has changed the most and what food he craves now that he’s in Upstate NY. Todd talks about his obsession with logos and uniforms at a young age, and what draws him to the color schemes and intricate details. We talk about the Red Sox New Patriots day uniform, the ever changing NBA city...

Joined today by Barstool sports writer and host of the “Short Porch” podcast, Eric Hubbs. Eric talks about growing up down in Jersey, where he partied down the shore and what made him take his talents to Syracuse University. We chat about his time at the ‘Cuse, how he got the gig at Barstool and how he slowly became the go-to Yankees guy for the company. Hubbs and I talk about the 2021 Knicks, how...

Joined today by the Boston Herald's award winning reporter and New York Times best-selling author, Dave Wedge. Dave talks about growing up in Boston, his updated and re-released Tom Brady book, (“12”), and his thoughts about watching Brady hoist the Lombardi trophy as a member of the Buccaneers. Dave shares his passion for music and the interviews he has conducted with the legends in the field, su...

Joined today by media personality, motivational speaker &  6-time World Powerlifter and bodybuilding champion, C.T. Fletcher. Since it is a workout show, "Big Dave" Alvarez, a World Bench-press Champion, joins me as co-host. C.T. shares his story about moving to Compton at a young age, his difficult upbringing and why he joined the Army.  C.T. speaks about his relationship with his father and how...

Joined today by investigative journalist, podcaster and best-selling author, Patrick Radden Keefe. Patrick and I talk about his long form podcast "Wind of Change" and what inspired him to do it. Known for his investigative journalism, we talk about one of his most famous pieces, "Anthony Bourdain's Moveable Feast". We hear about how he got the assignment, traveling to Vietnam with Bourdain after h...

Joined today, calling all the way from Mazar-e Sharif, Afghanistan, the founder and head tour guide of LetsBeFriendsAfghanistan.com, Noor. Noor and I discuss how he started giving tours of his country as a volunteer and how all the negative news and press about Afghanistan inspired him to start a tour company to show the positive side. He tells us how the beautiful pictures he posted of his countr...