Outstanding Authors

Author:Vicki Mayk is the author of Growing Up on the Gridiron, a book about Owen Thomas, a student and football player at the University of Pennsylvania who committed suicide.  Owen was also my next-door neighbor. Matt, Morgan, Owen, Kathy, and Tom ThomasConversation:Total run time: 38:24 3:59 - Why Vicki wrote this book 8:35 - My relationship with Matt15:35 - My memories of Owen, including when he broke our window with a bb gun21:38 - Penn professor Adam Grant on how Owen was special25:28 - Football as a brotherhood, and if any changes to football should be made32:05 - Impressions of Parkland School DistrictYour browser does not support this audio The embedded player works best in Google Chrome.  You can download the mp3 by clicking here, and the podcast is available in iTunes.

Author:Dr. Andrew Selee is the president of the Migration Policy Institute and the author of Vanishing Frontiers: The Forces Driving Mexico and the United States Together. Conversation:Total run time: 26:21  2:38 - US and Mexico as highly integrated neighbors  7:26 - The "Mexican Dream": Americans moving to Mexico  9:32 - Current state of immigration, including caravans and the border wall18:51 - Impact of anti-immigrant rhetoric21:24 - Mexican president Obrador23:05 - Best places in Mexico to visitYour browser does not support this audio The embedded player works best in Google Chrome.  You can download the mp3 by clicking here, and the podcast is available in iTunes.

Author:George Vecsey is an author and former columnist for the New York Times. We talk about his experience covering soccer detailed in his book Eight World Cups.  Visit George online at georgevecsey.com, and follow him on twitter @georgevecsey. Conversation:Total run time: 55:13  2:29 - The state of soccer coverage in America in 1982  6:41 - Turning his experiences into a book10:07 - The great fans from Trinidad and Tobago12:53 - US vs. Brazil: July 4, 199414:49 - The joy of traveling20:12 - Best player, team, and national anthem28:11 - Alternatives (or lack thereof) to penalty kick shootouts31:39 - The state of American soccer38:35 - Baseball talk, including best players and Hall of Fame voting46:01 - The future of American football48:14 - Crossing paths with Donald TrumpYour browser does not support this audio The embedded player works best in Google Chrome.  You can download the mp3 by clicking here, and the podcast is available in iTunes.Additional Links:Leona

Screenwriter:Pen Densham is a screenwriter, author, director, and producer. We talk mostly about Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, which he co-wrote and produced and which I recently profiled. He also wrote the book Riding the Alligator: Strategies for a Career in Screenplay Writing.Conversation:Total run time: 41:02  1:41 - How he got started on Robin Hood10:36 - The Robin Hood soundtrack14:13 - Starting the movie with the Crusades18:30 - Alan Rickman as the Sheriff of Nottingham23:25 - Kevin Costner's performance25:41 - Sean Connery's cameo27:56 - His work on Rocky IIYour browser does not support this audio The embedded player works best in Google Chrome.  You can download the mp3 by clicking here, and the podcast is available in iTunes.

Author:J.W. Rinzler is a former editor at Lucasfilm where he wrote several books including the one we'll be discussing on this podcast, The Complete Making of Indiana Jones.  You can purchase the book on Amazon and can visit J.W. on his website.Special Guest:Joseph Passman is an Iraq War Veteran, a PhD candidate, a childhood friend, and a seeker of fortune and glory.Conversation:Total run time: 53:15  2:20 - How J.W. got started at Lucasfilm10:31 - CGI and its effect on quality14:58 - Temple of Doom and Last Crusade18:33 - Crystal Skull23:10 - Indy 525:35 - George Lucas33:06 - J.W.'s current projects35:12 - Joined by special guest Joe Passman to talk all things Indiana JonesYour browser does not support this audio The embedded player works best in Google Chrome.  You can also download the mp3 by clicking here, and the podcast is available in iTunes.

Author:Erik Kirschbaum is a correspondent for Reuters based in Germany.  His latest book is Soccer Without Borders: Jürgen Klinsmann, Coaching the U.S. Men's National Soccer Team and the Quest for the World Cup, on sale at Amazon. Conversation:Total run time: 41:10  0:47 - How Erik met Jürgen Klinsmann and how the book came about. 12:17 - Klinsmann's competitive side and how he deals with criticism.17:21 - The time Klinsmann asked the ref not to give his opponent a red card.21:42 - Klinsmann's job security and future.26:03 - Ways to improve the U.S. men's national team.33:13 - The atmosphere at a European soccer match.38:18 - What Germans think about the U.S. Presidential election.Your browser does not support this audio The embedded player works best in Google Chrome.  You can also download the mp3 by clicking here, and the podcast is available in iTunes.

Writer:Randall Jahnson is a screenwriter who worked on The Mask of Zorro, one of my favorite movies of all time.  He lives in Portland but teaches screenwriting to clients throughout the world.  Learn more about Randall at his website randalljahnson.com.Conversation:Total run time: 53:47Listen to this song first to get in the right mood for the podcast.0:01 - introduction1:23 - getting involved with the Zorro project and meeting Steven Spielberg12:41 - researching Zorro, Joaquin Murrieta, and the history of California21:38 - working on the script32:43 - more writers brought in44:29 - Zorro goes to Spain (almost)52:52 - epilogueYour browser does not support this audio The embedded player works best in Google Chrome.  You can also download the mp3 by clicking here, and the podcast is available in iTunes.

Olympian:Casey FitzRandolph is an Olympic long track speed skater who competed in the '98, '02, and '06 Winter Olympics.  He won the gold medal in the 500 meters at the '02 Salt Lake City Games. You can visit him online at his official website CaseyFitz.com.Book:No Stone Unturned, written by Jessie Garcia, is the story of the FitzRandolph family.  It is available through Amazon.Conversation:Total run time: 29:28  0:01 - Introduction and background on Casey  1:34 - Casey talks about what makes a good speed skater10:22 - short track vs. long track17:51 - the gold medal ceremony22:15 - the advice he'd give young athletes23:28 - his family's book, No Stone Unturned28:48 - EpilogueYour browser does not support this audio The embedded player works best in Google Chrome.  You can also download the mp3 by clicking here, and you can listen in iTunes through both the Olympic Legends and Outstanding Authors podcasts.

Book: How We Can Save Sports: A Game Plan - available for purchase on Amazon.Author:Dr. Ken Reed is the sports policy director of League of Fans, an organization dedicated to reforming sports at all levels of society.  Follow him on Twitter at KenReedLofF.Conversation:Total run time: 50:560:01 - introduction0:51 - Ken's background and involvment with League of Fans8:05 - taxpayer funded stadiums11:33 - concussions and CTE21:18 - fighting in hockey24:13 - lack of opportunity in youth sports28:55 - coaching and empowering athletes37:44 - college sports and the NCAA46:45 - possibility of a National Sports Commission50:08 - epilogueYour browser does not support this audio The embedded player works best in Google Chrome.  You can also download the mp3 by clicking here, and the podcast is available in iTunes.  And my apologies for the faint clicking noise in the background -- shall I blame Garageband or an infestation of crickets in the MacGyver Project studios?!

Film: An Unreasonable ManVisit the film's website (which includes ordering information for the DVD) Radio Show/Podcast:"The Ralph Nader Radio Hour"Visit the show's website (which includes every episode for listening or download).The show is also available in iTunes.Director:Steve Skrovan has worked as stand-up comic and as a writer for Everybody Loves Raymond. His 2007 film, An Unreasonable Man, is a documentary about the life and legacy of Ralph Nader, and Steve currently co-hosts a weekly radio show with David Feldman where they discuss political issues with Ralph and other guests.Steve isn't technically an author, but he's a writer and director and so I thought it would be applicable to my podcast.  Plus as I say in the episode introduction, it's my podcast and I can do what I want! Conversation:Total run time: 1:09:090:01 - introduction1:25 - Steve joins in and we discuss An Unreasonable Man15:10 - 2000 Presidential Election30:34 - Ralph and hypomania36:30 - origin of the Ralph Nader R

Book: Improvising: My Life And Show Business, available on Amazon.Author:John Considine, television/film actor and writer.  Check out his author facebook page and his fiction book entitled A War.  And here is a written Q and A I did recently with him about his time on MacGyver.Conversation:Total run time: 1:02:170:01 - introduction1:27 - early childhood14:07 - acting career25:39 - MacGyver1:01:24 - epilogueYour browser does not support this audio The embedded player works best in Google Chrome.  You can also download the mp3 by clicking here, and the podcast is available in iTunes.

Book: One Little Spark!, available on Amazon.Author:Marty Sklar, former president of Imagineering and Disney Legend who has participated in the opening of all 11 Disney theme parks.Conversation:Total run time: 32:59.  My Dad, Walter, took part in the conversation also. 0:01 - Introduction and short background on Marty1:51 -  Marty and my Dad join in and Marty explains why he wrote the book6:08 - Listen to the Land song8:55 - Mickey's Ten Commandments10:11 - Trinidad Ruiz and cast member enthusiasm12:32 - Alex Haley and the Equatorial Africa pavilion15:06 - Herb Ryman and Ryman Arts17:34 - Fort Wilderness and River Country19:44 - Michael Eisner/Roy Disney feud22:47 - overcrowding at Disney parks24:56 - what happened to the "Disney's America" park26:59 - 1964 New York World's Fair30:17 - farewell and epilogueYour browser does not support this audio The embedded player works best in Google Chrome.  You can also download the mp3 by clicking here, and the podcast is ava

Book: Native American Son, The Life and Sporting Legend of Jim ThorpeAuthor:Kate BufordContact:Visit Kate at her website, check out her blog, and follow her on twitter at katebuford.  Her book can be purchased on Amazon.Conversation:Total run time: 52:010:01 - Introduction and short background on Jim2:38 -  Kate joins in and we talk about Jim's early life10:14 - the Carlisle Indian School18:00 - Jim is stripped of his 1912 Olympic gold medals24:27 - pro football and baseball31:07 - Jim's personality38:04 - the burial controversy51:00 - epilogueYour browser does not support this audio The embedded player works best in Google Chrome.  You can also download the mp3 by clicking here, and you can also listen in iTunes by clicking either of the following podcast links (Olympic Legends / Outstanding Authors).Additional Links:An episode of Native America Calling where the Jim Thorpe burial controversy is discussed.