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

Bestselling author and screenwriter Jerry Stahl chats with Trey Elling about NEIN, NEIN, NEIN: ONE MAN'S TALE OF DEPRESSION, PSYCHIC TORMENT, AND A BUS TOUR OF THE HOLOCAUST. Topics include: Why he decided to go on a Concentration Camp bus tour a few years ago (0:25) Coming to terms with his own depression many years ago (1:12) The added challenge of placating Hollywood while on the bus tour (3:23) Investing in digitally hip luggage before the trip (5:15) Keeping it real on Spielberg’s Schindler’s List while in Kraków (8:18) Feeling a “heavy peace” throughout the trip, including at a Kraków synagogue’s cemetery (10:49) Nazi porn fetish rabbit holes, no pun intended (12:13) One of the many endearing characters on the tour bus through Poland and Germany (15:09) An annoying, hipster influence at Auschwitz (17:59) Modern Auschwitz’ cafeteria scene (20:08) A Dresden, Germany restaurant that would keep kids in line with a fake executioner (23:00) A pit stop in Munich, during Oktoberfest (26:51) The “Bitch of Buchenwald” (29:27) The Nuremberg courtroom being climactic and anti-climactic at the same time (38:36) Concentration Camp fatigue syndrome (40:23) Unique elements at Dachau’s Concentration Camp (41:19)

Retired four-star Admiral James Stavridis chats with Trey Elling about TO RISK IT ALL: NINE CONFLICTS AND THE CRUCIBLE OF DECISION. Topics include: John Paul Jones continuing to fight a battle that was seemingly lost (1:43) Lieutenant Stephen Decatur 'cutting out' in Tripoli Harbor (3:08) An amazing example of risk-taking from the US Civil War (4:46) Gut instinct as an element of good decision making (6:37) "Cool Hand" George Dewey and the challenges he overcame with his fleet entering Manilla Bay in 1898 (7:10) A heroic example of risk-taking from a low-ranking figure at Pearl Harbor (10:02) Admiral William "Bull" Halsey as an example of risky decision-making leading to tragic consequences (13:23) The saddest example of lose-lose decision-making in the book (17:42) Rear Admiral Michelle Howard and her team's rescue of Captain Jim Phillips from Somali pirates (22:19) An unfortunate example of decision-making, relating to the start of the Covid-19 pandemic (27:06) A good example of risk-taking in the face of conflict from Jim's career (31:48)

One of Hollywood's brightest, young filmmakers Cooper Raiff chats with Trey Elling about CHA CHA REAL SMOOTH. Raiff wrote, directed and starred in the film, which is available now on Apple+. Topics include: Having a hamster as a costar in the film (1:23) How his sister serves as an inspiration in CHA CHA REAL SMOOTH (1:45) Directing actors of a variety of ages (2:47) "Brown Eyed Girl" (4:09)

Legendary musician Don McLean chats with Trey Elling, ahead of his show at the Paramount Theatre in Austin, celebrating the release of "American Pie" 50 years ago. Topics include: What the show consists of (2:33) The key to a good story (4:03) How he handled the success of "American Pie" poorly (8:24) Exploring a variety of themes and styles with his music over the past 50 years (13:55) Bob Dylan disliking the likelihood that he's the jester character in "American Pie" (17:01) The government's role in many of the horrific events from the 1960s that the song discusses (22:49) The assassination of JFK in 1963 (23:33) Considering the song was inspired by his belief that the world was headed in a terrible direction, was his prediction correct? (29:25)

Actor, writer, producer, and standup comedian Marlon Wayans chats with Trey Elling, ahead of his live shows in Austin, Houston, and San Antonio. Topics include: Whether he has a preferred type of venue to perform standup (1:39) What he loves about standup that is unique from making movies and tv shows (2:58) Has his brother Damon helped him evolve as a standup (5:26) What it'll take to get Eddie Murphy to perform standup again (6:55) The key to capturing Richard Pryor's vulnerability in an upcoming project where he's playing the legendary comedian (8:00) Whether he has a good Bill Murray story from their time shooting On the Rocks together (10:18) Playing the legendary figure George Raveling in a new film on Nike's pursuit of Michael Jordan, directed by Ben Affleck (13:09) Could a movie like White Chicks get made in 2022 (14:33)

Following their conversation on Dr. Rolle's new book, THE 2% WAY, Dr. Rolle and Trey Elling discussed several social issues that have been swirling around the world of college and pro sports. Topics include: Is the school song for the University of Texas racist? (1:49) Should Florida State University consider replacing the Seminoles mascot? (7:28) The "Redskins" nickname and high schools flying the Confederate flag (10:04) People clinging to symbols (11:35) To watch/hear our chat on THE 2% WAY, click HERE.

Former NFL player and current pediatric neurosurgeon Dr. Myron Rolle chats with Trey Elling about THE 2% WAY: HOW A PHILOSOPHY OF SMALL IMPROVEMENTS TOOK ME TO OXFORD, THE NFL, AND NEUROSURGERY. Topics include: An explanation of the 2% way (0:45) Why examining one's foundations is important for fulfilling potential (2:26) What his mummy was like during his childhood (4:13) His dad's response to Myron kicking another kid's butt for calling him the n-word (6:12) The benefit of adopting his father's stoicism as an adult (7:43) The influence of Dr. Ben Carson's book, Gifted Hands (9:53) The opportunities and experiences his football talent afforded him at prestigious prep high schools (12:03) Why he decided to play football and attend college at Florida State University (16:08) An epiphanous moment at a San Francisco Denny's when the Seminoles were prepping for a bowl game in the Bay Area (20:48) Starting a program to assist the young people within the Seminole tribe in Florida (25:08) Lessons learned from initially failing to qualify for the Rhodes Scholarship (29:48) The exhilaration of winning the Rhodes Scholarship (33:29) Why he chose to pursue the Rhodes Scholarship over an NFL career, following his junior year at Florida State (35:12) Wonderful advice he received from Dr. Ben Carson the weekend before heading to Oxford (39:31) The biggest benefit from his time at Oxford (42:17) How he became better from the disappointment of sliding to the sixth round of the NFL draft (45:02) Spending the offseason after his rookie year representing the Clinton Global Initiative in Africa (47:25) Why his time in the NFL may have been cut so short (50:17) The biggest regret about his time in the league (54:00) Why 'community' and 'vision' were most important when selecting his residency hospital at Harvard Mass General Hospital (56:05) What his wife Latoya means to him (1:02:05) His opinion on college athletes finally being allow to profit off of Name, Image, and Likeness (1:05:49)

Multiple Sclerosis ambassador and motivational speaker Tyler Campbell chats with Trey Elling about THE BALL CAME OUT: LIFE FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FIELD. Topics include: Tyler's goal with the book (3:00) The thing that caused him to let his guard down a bit as a kid (4:36) Growing up as an African American in an affluent, predominantly white community (7:13) How the discovery of football helped him (12:15) An mistake that derailed his life as a junior in high school (15:29) How his mom and dad reacted to that mistake (19:37) Ending up at Pasadena City College in California (27:02) Getting that full ride to play at San Diego State (30:10) Swallowing his pride in making a name for himself on special teams (33:03) The terrifying details of his first experience with Multiple Sclerosis (35:03) Continuing to play football through this debilitating condition (41:08) Becoming an ambassador for MS and a highly sought-after public speaker (46:48) Inheriting Earl's skill as a public speaker (50:18) The key to a good story (52:14) What his mom means to him (54:51) What his dad means to him (55:44) What his wife means to him (56:37)

Former world champion debater Bo Seo chats with Trey Elling about GOOD ARGUMENTS: HOW DEBATE TEACHES US TO LISTEN AND BE HEARD. Topics include: Bo's goal with the book (0:27) Why disagreement is valuable in human interaction (2:30) Bo's outright avoidance of conflict changing in 2005 (4:52) The importance of topic analysis for debate (10:38) Why 'truth' and 'importance' are debate's two burdens of proof to convince a listener (15:49) Counterclaims as an embodiment for justifiable hope, according to Aristotle (28:14) Why rhetoric has such a negative connotation, and what good rhetoric looks like (32:02) Four qualifications that determine whether an argument is worth pursuing (37:02) How to disarm a name-calling bully in a debate (44:46) The greatest lesson he learned while coaching debate (48:10) Side-switching as another tool to prepare for debate (54:42)

Everybody Loves Raymond creator and Somebody Feed Phil creator/host Phil Rosenthal chats with Trey Elling, ahead of his appearance at the ATX TV Festival. The fifth season of Somebody Feed Phil is out now on Netflix!