Outstanding Authors

Vicki Mayk: Outstanding Author

sweedo37@gmail.com (Nicholas Sweedo) — Sat, 20 Feb 2021 17:59:00 +0000

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 Thomas

Conversation:

Total run time: 38:24

3:59 - Why Vicki wrote this book

8:35 - My relationship with Matt

15:35 - My memories of Owen, including when he broke our window with a bb gun

21:38 - Penn professor Adam Grant on how Owen was special

25:28 - Football as a brotherhood, and if any changes to football should be made

32:05 - Impressions of Parkland School District

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Andrew Selee: Outstanding Author

sweedo37@gmail.com (Nicholas Sweedo) — Sun, 12 May 2019 03:48:00 +0000

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 wall
18:51 - Impact of anti-immigrant rhetoric
21:24 - Mexican president Obrador
23:05 - Best places in Mexico to visit

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The embedded player works best in Google Chrome. You can download the mp3 by clicking here, and the podcast is available in iTunes.

George Vecsey: Outstanding Author

sweedo37@gmail.com (Nicholas Sweedo) — Sun, 21 Jan 2018 17:30:00 +0000

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 book
10:07 - The great fans from Trinidad and Tobago
12:53 - US vs. Brazil: July 4, 1994
14:49 - The joy of traveling
20:12 - Best player, team, and national anthem
28:11 - Alternatives (or lack thereof) to penalty kick shootouts
31:39 - The state of American soccer
38:35 - Baseball talk, including best players and Hall of Fame voting
46:01 - The future of American football
48:14 - Crossing paths with Donald Trump

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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:

Leonardo's elbow on Tab Ramos in USA vs. Brazil
Zinedine Zidane's masterful '98 World Cup Final
The New Zealand national anthem

Pen Densham: Outstanding Screenwriter

sweedo37@gmail.com (Nicholas Sweedo) — Sun, 03 Dec 2017 05:45:00 +0000

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 Hood
10:36 - The Robin Hood soundtrack
14:13 - Starting the movie with the Crusades
18:30 - Alan Rickman as the Sheriff of Nottingham
23:25 - Kevin Costner's performance
25:41 - Sean Connery's cameo
27:56 - His work on Rocky II

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The embedded player works best in Google Chrome. You can download the mp3 by clicking here, and the podcast is available in iTunes.

J.W. Rinzler: Outstanding Author

sweedo37@gmail.com (Nicholas Sweedo) — Thu, 12 Jan 2017 05:33:00 +0000

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 Lucasfilm
10:31 - CGI and its effect on quality
14:58 - Temple of Doom and Last Crusade
18:33 - Crystal Skull
23:10 - Indy 5
25:35 - George Lucas
33:06 - J.W.'s current projects
35:12 - Joined by special guest Joe Passman to talk all things Indiana Jones

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The embedded player works best in Google Chrome. You can also download the mp3 by clicking here, and the podcast is available in iTunes.

Erik Kirschbaum: Outstanding Author

sweedo37@gmail.com (Nicholas Sweedo) — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 16:49:00 +0000

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.

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Randall Jahnson: Outstanding Screenwriter -- The Mask of Zorro

sweedo37@gmail.com (Nicholas Sweedo) — Wed, 29 Jun 2016 04:47:00 +0000

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: 53:47

Listen to this song first to get in the right mood for the podcast.

0:01 - introduction
1:23 - getting involved with the Zorro project and meeting Steven Spielberg
12:41 - researching Zorro, Joaquin Murrieta, and the history of California
21:38 - working on the script
32:43 - more writers brought in
44:29 - Zorro goes to Spain (almost)
52:52 - epilogue

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The embedded player works best in Google Chrome. You can also download the mp3 by clicking here, and the podcast is available in iTunes.

Casey FitzRandolph, Olympic Legend

sweedo37@gmail.com (Nicholas Sweedo) — Tue, 17 May 2016 03:05:00 +0000

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 skater
10:22 - short track vs. long track
17:51 - the gold medal ceremony
22:15 - the advice he'd give young athletes
23:28 - his family's book, No Stone Unturned
28:48 - Epilogue

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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.

Ken Reed: Outstanding Author

sweedo37@gmail.com (Nicholas Sweedo) — Wed, 30 Mar 2016 04:34:00 +0000

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: 50:56

0:01 - introduction
0:51 - Ken's background and involvment with League of Fans
8:05 - taxpayer funded stadiums
11:33 - concussions and CTE
21:18 - fighting in hockey
24:13 - lack of opportunity in youth sports
28:55 - coaching and empowering athletes
37:44 - college sports and the NCAA
46:45 - possibility of a National Sports Commission
50:08 - epilogue

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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?!

Steve Skrovan: Outstanding Director

sweedo37@gmail.com (Nicholas Sweedo) — Wed, 27 Jan 2016 02:02:00 +0000

Film:
An Unreasonable Man
Visit 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: 1:09:09

0:01 - introduction
1:25 - Steve joins in and we discuss An Unreasonable Man
15:10 - 2000 Presidential Election
30:34 - Ralph and hypomania
36:30 - origin of the Ralph Nader Radio Hour
1:07:13 - denouement and "Stand up, Rise up"

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The embedded player works best in Google Chrome. You can also download the mp3 by clicking here, and the podcast is available in iTunes.

John Considine: Outstanding Author

sweedo37@gmail.com (Nicholas Sweedo) — Sat, 16 Jan 2016 03:40:00 +0000

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: 1:02:17

0:01 - introduction
1:27 - early childhood
14:07 - acting career
25:39 - MacGyver
1:01:24 - epilogue

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The embedded player works best in Google Chrome. You can also download the mp3 by clicking here, and the podcast is available in iTunes.

Marty Sklar: Outstanding Author

sweedo37@gmail.com (Nicholas Sweedo) — Sun, 03 Jan 2016 01:33:00 +0000

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 Marty
1:51 - Marty and my Dad join in and Marty explains why he wrote the book
6:08 - Listen to the Land song
8:55 - Mickey's Ten Commandments
10:11 - Trinidad Ruiz and cast member enthusiasm
12:32 - Alex Haley and the Equatorial Africa pavilion
15:06 - Herb Ryman and Ryman Arts
17:34 - Fort Wilderness and River Country
19:44 - Michael Eisner/Roy Disney feud
22:47 - overcrowding at Disney parks
24:56 - what happened to the "Disney's America" park
26:59 - 1964 New York World's Fair
30:17 - farewell and epilogue

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The embedded player works best in Google Chrome. You can also download the mp3 by clicking here, and the podcast is available in iTunes.

Jim Thorpe: Olympic Legend / Kate Buford: Outstanding Author

sweedo37@gmail.com (Nicholas Sweedo) — Fri, 18 Dec 2015 17:09:00 +0000

Book:
Native American Son, The Life and Sporting Legend of Jim Thorpe

Author:
Kate Buford

Contact:
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: 52:01

0:01 - Introduction and short background on Jim
2:38 - Kate joins in and we talk about Jim's early life
10:14 - the Carlisle Indian School
18:00 - Jim is stripped of his 1912 Olympic gold medals
24:27 - pro football and baseball
31:07 - Jim's personality
38:04 - the burial controversy
51:00 - epilogue

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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.