November 25, 2021
I’m a writer in the 2020s, which means wearing many hats: storyteller, editor, producer, author, and media strategist. The industry demands versatility, and I’ve embraced it. Give me any story that needs telling, and I’ll find the right way to tell it.
Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to collaborate with some of the biggest names in media and sports – ESPN, Texas Monthly, Nike, Wildsam – but what excites me most isn’t the client list; it’s the stories themselves.
Each project presents a new challenge, a new perspective to explore, a new way to connect with audiences.
Behind the Camera: The Serena Williams Story
My latest adventure has been co-producing “In the Arena: Serena Williams,” an 8-part documentary series coming to ESPN in July 2024. It’s been a mammoth undertaking – imagine diving into more than 100,000 pieces of archival footage and conducting over 24 hours of interviews with Serena herself. When the Tribeca Film Festival selected our documentary, it felt like validation for all those late nights piecing together the narrative threads of her remarkable life. From the first development meetings to the final edits, I’ve helped shape how we tell the story of one of sports’ most iconic figures.
From Screen to Page
But documentaries are just one medium for storytelling. Last year, I collaborated with Gotham Chopra on our book “Religion of Sports: Navigating the Trials of Life Through the Games We Love.” The project allowed me to explore how sports transcend mere competition, becoming a lens through which we understand our own lives. Watching it climb the bestseller lists reminded me why I fell in love with storytelling in the first place – its power to touch people’s lives and shift perspectives.
The Art of the Long Read
Between these larger projects, you’ll find me editing the Sunday Long Read newsletter, where I help curate some of the best longform journalism out there. I also contribute my own pieces about sports, BBQ, and music to various outlets. There’s something special about Texas BBQ culture that keeps drawing me back – it’s as much about the stories and personalities as it is about the food.
Academic Foundations
My foundation in storytelling was built at the University of Texas, where I pursued degrees in journalism and Plan II as a 40 Acres Scholar. That interdisciplinary education taught me to approach stories from multiple angles, something that proves invaluable in today’s media landscape.
The Thread That Connects
People often ask me how I navigate between such different mediums – from documentaries to books to articles. The truth is, the core principles remain the same: find the humanity in the story, respect your subjects, and never forget who you’re writing for. Whether I’m crafting a documentary about Serena Williams or writing about a pit master’s journey to barbecue perfection, my goal is to make you feel something, to help you see the world from a different perspective.
Looking Forward
I’m based in Austin, Texas, a city that perfectly matches my approach to storytelling – it’s creative, unconventional, and always evolving. As our media landscape continues to transform, I’m excited to keep pushing boundaries and finding new ways to tell the stories that matter.
But enough about me – let’s talk about your story. Because in this business, the next great narrative is always just around the corner, waiting to be told.