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

Benjamin H. Milligan, an active member of the US Navy SEALs from 2001-2009, chats with Trey Elling about BY WATER BENEATH THE WALLS: THE RISE OF THE NAVY SEALS . The book chronicles the US military special forces and individuals who helped shape what ultimately became the US Navy SEALs.

Food writer Matt Siegel chats with Trey Elling about THE SECRET HISTORY OF FOOD: STRANGE BUT TRUE STORIES ABOUT THE ORIGINS OF EVERYTHING WE EAT . Learn all about the histories of: Vanilla (05:54) Ice cream (09:58) America's connection to apple pie (20:46) Cereal (22:57) Dildo bread (27:03) Corn (31:51) Honey (37:12) Fast food (45:24) Rebranded seafood like whore's eggs (49:12) Olive oil (51:27)

Filmmaker Nick Scown chats with Trey Elling about TOO SOON: COMEDY AFTER 9/11 , which Scown co-directed with Julie Seabaugh. The film examines how September 11th affected the comedy scene, and th comedians and jokes responsible for the artform's rebirth in the weeks, months, and years that followed.

Storytelling expert Frank Rose chats with Trey Elling about THE SEA WE SWIM IN: HOW STORIES WORK IN A DATA-DRIVEN WORLD .

American Ballet Theatre principal dancer James Whiteside chats with Trey Elling about CENTER CENTER: A FUNNY, SEXY, SAD ALMOST-MEMOIR OF A BOY IN BALLET . Questions include: Why write a memoir when he's still got so much life to live? (01:10) What was his relationship with each of his parents like? (3:04) How was his trip to NYC's Lincoln Center as a pre-teen epiphanous? (05:52) Was it difficult c...

Filmmaker Jeremy Elkin chats with Trey Elling about his new documentary, ALL THE STREETS ARE SILENT: THE CONVERGENCE OF HIP HOP AND SKATEBOARDING (1987 - 1997) . Jeremy and Trey discuss some details behind how two seemingly different worlds came together in New York City over a crucial ten-year span in the evolution of each.

Paleo f(x) co-founder Keith Norris chats with Trey Elling about PRIMAL UPRISING: THE PALEO F(X) GUIDE TO OPTIMIZING YOUR HEALTH, EXPANDING YOUR MIND, AND RECLAIMING YOUR FREEDOM . Why is living the paleo life NOT necessarily living like a caveman? What is the paleo diet? How does the paleo way of moving combine how our ancestors moved with evolved exercise principles? How does emotional intelligen...

Experimental social psychologist John Petrocelli chats with Trey Elling about THE LIFE-CHANGING SCIENCE OF DETECTING BULLSHIT . What is bullshit? Why do people bullshit? Who is most likely to peddle bullshit? And how can one properly snuff out bullshit. John and Trey discuss these questions and much more.

Neuroscientist Sue Barry, aka "Stereo Sue", chats with Trey Elling about COMING TO OUR SENSES: A BOY WHO LEARNED TO SEE, A GIRL WHO LEARNED TO HEAR,  AND HOW WE ALL DISCOVER THE WORLD . Questions include: Who is Liam, and how did modern medicine allow him to see after years of being legally blind? (01:46) How does 'museum fatigue' help explain some of Liam's difficulties when initially gainin...

Illustrator & bestselling author Greg Ruth and four-time Oscar nominated actor, screenwriter, director, and bestselling author Ethan Hawke chat with Trey Elling about MEADOWLARK: A COMING OF AGE CRIME STORY. This is the duo's second graphic novel, following the success of 2016's INDEH . In a conversation inspired by the book, the guys discuss the creative process, the challenges of parenting t...

Los Angeles-based writer and bestselling author Geoff Manaugh chats with Trey Elling about UNTIL PROVEN SAFE: THE HISTORY AND FUTURE OF QUARANTINE . The book, coincidentally written before the current pandemic took hold but amended to include the effects of COVID-19, examines the past, present and future of isolation due to unknown perils.

Skateboarder, writer, and Roosevelt University professor Kyle Beachy chats with Trey Elling about THE MOST FUN THING: DISPATCHES FROM A SKATEBOARD LIFE . Questions include: How has the definition of 'fun' evolved, and how does that coincide with the growth of skateboarding? (02:30) Considering how much Kyle gives to skateboarding, what does he get back? (07:18) How do skaters see the world around...

Former undercover law enforcement officer Giovanni Rocco chats with Trey Elling about GIOVANNI'S RING: MY LIFE INSIDE THE REAL SOPRANOS . The conversation includes: Giovanni explains his path to becoming an undercover cop How he initially infiltrated the Italian mob Unexpectedly putting his family in grave danger at his daughter's soccer tournament Continuing to rise through the mafia ranks Accide...

Two-time Grammy-winning blues musician Bobby Rush chats with Trey Elling about I AIN'T STUDDIN' YA: MY AMERICAN BLUES STORY . Questions include: What was it like growing up as a black kid in the deep south in the 1930s and '40s? (02:38) How did a 75-cent ticket to see Muddy Waters perform change Bobby's life? (12:58) When did Bobby realize he was funny enough to use comedy as part of his act? (17:...

Pioneering music educator Joan Koenig chats with Trey Elling about THE MUSICAL CHILD: USING THE POWER OF MUSIC TO RAISE CHILDREN WHO ARE HAPPY, HEALTHY, AND WHOLE . Questions include: What are some ways for parents to connect with their children musically, under the age of 1? (07:09) Regarding musical solutions for an upset baby, what is a strategy known as the first intervention? (13:05) How do t...

Filmmaker Matt Yoka chats with Trey Elling about his new documentary, WHIRLYBIRD: A SPRAWLING L.A. STORY. The film chronicles the rise, fall, and transition of legendary Los Angeles helicopter pilot/reporter Zoey Tur (née Bob Tur). Tur is responsible for well known footage from the '92 LA Riots and OJ Simpson's white Bronco pursuit, as well as popularizing live streams of high speed police chases....

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 Buzzfee...

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 popu...

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...

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...

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 o...

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 pol...

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' su...

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 deci...

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...