We talk about everything from Hogan’s record-breaking WCW deal to the NWO’s cultural crossover with hip-hop, Monday Night Wars, and Dennis Rodman. If you're a wrestling fan, this is a must-watch.

Timestamps:
1:15 - Current WWE
2:21 - John Cena turning Heel
3:35 - Watching Wrestle as a kid
5:23 - Hulk Hogan Signing to WCW
10:52 - Hulk Hogan & Pop Culture
12:02 - Hulk Hogan v. Andre The Giant
13:21 - Record Deal for Hulk Hogan
17:24 - The Formation of NWO
18:02 - Hulk Hogan joins NWO
24:22 - Trash throwing Trash in WCW
29:10 - Hip-hop's Influence on NWO
35:01 - Dennis Rodman Joining the NWO
37:34 - NWO growing too large
40:14 - Monday Football v. Monday Night Wars
42:44 - NWO International Impact on Culture
48:12 - Sting (Anti-Hero) v. NWO (Cool)
51:17 - DX's Impact on Culture
52:44 - How the book came together
55:32 - Writing Process for the book
57:23 - Getting the interviews for the book
57:44 - Meeting Eric Bischoff
1:01:03 - Writing the Book as a journalist
1:03:50 - Rapid-Fire Wrestling Fan

📘 Buy Marc Raimondi’s Book – Say Hello to the Bad Guys
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/734430/say-hello-to-the-bad-guys-by-marc-raimondi

Places to find more from Marc Raimondi:

Twitter/X: https://x.com/marcraimondi
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marcraimondisports/?hl=en

👇 Download our new social book club + book networking app
www.bookumapp.com

This Podcast is to brought you by Bookum - The book communities NEW and BEST way to host dynamic online book clubs.

Download the App and Start your Book club today at www.bookumapp.com

Catch all of conversations live on the Bookum App Nooks!

Welcome to another episode of the Creators Talk Podcast!

In this conversation, we dive deep with Sam Fox, Senior Director of Content Creation & Strategy at HarperCollins. With a background at Teen Vogue and Condé Nast, Sam brings a unique perspective on storytelling, marketing, and building inclusive book communities. From her journey as a dancer to shaping innovative book marketing campaigns, she shares priceless insights for authors and content creators alike.

Timestamps:
1:02 - Growing Up a Dancer
2:46 - Combining Dance and Storytelling
4:30 - Marketing Books
5:37 - Getting into Reading
8:44 - Working at Teen Vogue
11:45 - Books are Political
13:22 - Children's & YA Book Campaigns
14:34 - Shelves and the City
18:45 - Diversity at Creators Brand Trips
21:03 - Working with creators with small and larger following counts
22:23 - ROI on Creator Events
26:44 - On Community
29:12 - How Should Authors Market Online
32:11 - Introverted Authors Tips for Marketing
34:45 - Summer in the City Campaign
37:12 - Book Content Trends
39:44 - Signing with a Literary Agent
43:42 - Separating Publishing Brain vs. Creative Brain
47:05 - Writing Process & Perfect Day of Writing
48:33 - Last, Now, Next Books
49:54 - Rapid Fire Book Questions
51:04 - What Would You Like to See More of in the Book World?
51:26 - What Would You Like to See Less of in the Book World?

Places to find more from Sam Fox and other links:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sambamfox/?hl=en
Epic Reads: https://www.instagram.com/epicreads/?hl=en
William Morrow: https://www.instagram.com/williammorrowbooks/?hl=en
Avon: https://www.instagram.com/avonbooks/?hl=en
The Book Was Hotter Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@TheBookWasHotter/videos
@TheBookWasHotter


Books Mentioned by Sam:
Holes by Louis Sachar (A Childhood Favorite)
The Giver by Lois Lowry (A Childhood Favorite)
Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson (A Childhood Favorite)
The Baby-Sitters Club by Ann M. Martin (A Childhood Favorite)
The Clique (Series) by Lisi Harrison (A Childhood Favorite)
Gossip Girl by Cecily von Ziegesar (A Childhood Favorite)
John Green Books (A High School Favorite Author)
Animal Farm by George Orwell (High School Literary Canon)
To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee (High School Literary Canon)
Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace (High School Literary Canon)
Marilyn Robinson (College Favorite Author)
Joan Didion (College Favorite Author)
Virginia Woolf (College Favorite Author)
Bright Young Woman by Jessica Knoll (Last Read)
Can't Get Enough by Kennedy Ryan (Currently Reading)
Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert (Next Read - Pride Month)
Winging It With You by Chip Pons (Next Read - Pride Month)
The Message by Ta-Nehisi Coates (A Book Not Enough People Are Talking About)
Nothing Burns as Bright as You by Ashley Woodfolk (A Book Sam Gifts Often)
Carly Fortune (Author Sam Always Buys)
Let Them Stare by Jonathan Van Ness and Julie Murphy (A book We Should Get From the Book Store This Weekend)

Sam’s Summer Dance Playlist:
So Excited by Janet Jackson
Independent Women Pt. 1 by Destiny’s Child
Stronger by Britney Spears

Current Favorite TV Shows:
Forever
Overcompensating
Adults

Download our social book club and book networking app Bookum at www.bookumapp.com

This Podcast is to brought you by Bookum - The book communities NEW and BEST way to host dynamic online book clubs.

Download the App and Start your Book club today at www.bookumapp.com

Catch all of conversations live on the Bookum App Nooks!

In this episode of the Author Talks Podcast, we sit down with legendary sports biographer Roland Lazenby, the bestselling author behind definitive basketball books on Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Jerry West.

Roland shares behind-the-scenes stories, family histories, and pivotal basketball moments that shaped the modern NBA, from the Showtime Lakers to Jordan’s shoe deal to the rise of LeBron James. If you’re a fan of NBA history, storytelling, or great biographies, this is one you don’t want to miss.

⏱️ Timestamps
1:20 - NBA Finals
1:37 - Jerry West, Michael Jordan, Kobe and Magic Comparisons
5:35 - Family Histories of Magic Johnson, Jerry West, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan
12:27 - Telling Magic’s Whole Story
18:28 - Magic Johnson’s Positionless Basketball Style
20:12 - The Showboat Era of Basketball
21:33 - Harlem Globetrotter Influence
24:20 - High School Magic Johnson
27:30 - What Made Magic, MJ, West and Kobe Great
28:45 - Weight Training Back in the Day
31:55 - Magic Johnson’s Injury History
34:55 - Magic Johnson vs. Larry Bird National Championship
37:35 - The NBA Before Magic & Bird
42:27 - Magic Johnson & Michael Jordan Rivalry
50:08 - Michael Jordan Freeze Out & Charles Tucker
52:28 - Michael Jordan Shoe Deal & Sonny Vaccaro
57:02 - Magic Johnson HIV Announcement
58:20 - LeBron James’ Place in History
59:33 - MJ vs. Magic: 1991 NBA Finals
1:02:10 - Jerry Krause and the Bulls
1:06:20 - Larry Bird & Celtics vs. Magic & Lakers
1:12:00 - Jerry Buss & Magic Johnson
1:14:23 - Showtime Lakers Legacy
1:20:25 - Roland Lazenby’s Writer’s Toolkit

📘 Magic: The Life of Earvin "Magic" Johnson
https://www.amazon.com/Magic-Life-Earvin-Johnson/dp/1250248035

📘 Michael Jordan: The Life
https://www.amazon.com/Michael-Jordan-Life-Roland-Lazenby/dp/031619476X

📘 Showboat: The Life of Kobe Bryant
https://www.amazon.com/Showboat-Life-Bryant-Roland-Lazenby/dp/1478940417

📘 Jerry West: The Life and Legend of a Basketball Icon
https://www.amazon.com/Jerry-West-Life-Legend-Basketball/dp/0345510836

Follow Roland Lazenby:
Twitter (X): https://x.com/lazenby
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rllazenby
Author Page: https://celadonbooks.com/authors/roland-lazenby/

Discover more author interviews and book clubs at: https://www.bookumapp.com

This Podcast is to brought you by Bookum - The book communities NEW and BEST way to host dynamic online book clubs.

Download the App and Start your Book club today at www.bookumapp.com

Catch all of conversations live on the Bookum App Nooks!

2x Super Bowl Champion Malcolm Jenkins joins Bookum Author Talks Podcast to discuss life after the NFL, building generational wealth, and why owning your voice matters now more than ever.

In this wide-ranging conversation, Jenkins shares stories about his draft day moment, the pressures of leadership, founding businesses while still playing, and his latest writing and art projects. From football to philanthropy, from Substack to real estate, this is a masterclass in reinvention.

This episode is to brought you by Bookum - The book communities NEW and BEST way to host dynamic online book clubs.

Download the App and Start your Book club today at www.bookumapp.com

Timestamps:
0:00 Intro
1:02 Identity
3:02 Growing up in New Jersey
4:14 On Becoming a Writer
5:40 New Writing Project
8:02 Owning Your Voice
9:55 Draft Day Moment
11:47 Leadership Skills
17:20 Player Coalition & Protesting
18:55 Jalen Hurts
21:55 Malcolm Jenkins Foundation
23:33 What does Impact look like?
25:58 Athletes in Business (Not going broke)
28:57 Winning Super Bowls
31:04 Tom Brady Foreword
31:24 On the Book
33:13 Making an Impact
36:33 Writing Process
38:32 An Art Piece not Enough People Are Talking About
40:32 Last Play of the Super Bowl
41:56 Founder’s Toolkit
42:25 Writer’s Toolkit

Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations with creators, changemakers, and visionaries @bookum

Places to find Malcolm Jenkins:
Substack “Love, Art & War”: https://malcolmjenkins27.substack.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/malcolmjenkins/
X: https://x.com/MalcolmJenkins
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/malcolmjenkinsnfl
Website: https://malcolmjenkins27.com/

📘 Get Your Copy of What Winners Won't Tell You by Malcolm Jenkins: https://whatwinnerswonttellyou.com/

This Podcast is to brought you by Bookum - The book communities NEW and BEST way to host dynamic online book clubs.

Download the App and Start your Book club today at www.bookumapp.com

Catch all of conversations live on the Bookum App Nooks!

In this episode of The Bookum Nook Show, Book marketing strategist Stephanie Moon shares what’s working right now to help authors sell more books. Whether you’re self-published or traditionally published, this episode covers how to drive real sales, build an online presence, land media, and market your book with confidence.

If you’ve ever wondered when to start marketing, how to overcome shyness, or what publishers actually do (and don’t), this conversation will clarify your next steps.

Connect with Stephanie Moon
Website: https://www.stephmoonco.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmoonco/?hl=en

Download Bookum — the new social book club and book networking app
https://www.bookumapp.com

Timestamps
1:03 – Growing up reading
2:04 – Reading to her kid
2:46 – Marketing a cookbook
3:39 – Getting into book marketing
5:45 – Advice on book marketing
8:30 – What the book marketing department actually does
10:00 – What your publisher is responsible for
11:54 – Getting over being shy as an author
14:02 – Stephanie’s process for helping authors
15:32 – When to start marketing your book
16:40 – What success looks like
17:34 – What actually drives sales for authors
21:54 – Book campaigns that worked
24:01 – Guerrilla marketing for books
26:40 – Landing podcasts and media
31:58 – Finding your voice online
34:20 – Building community
37:20 – Market as much as possible
41:00 – Last, now, next books
43:10 – Working with Stephanie
44:16 – What she wants to see more of in the book world
45:33 – What she wants to see less of

New episodes weekly for authors, readers, and book creators make sure to subscribe ⁨@bookum⁩

This Podcast is to brought you by Bookum - The book communities NEW and BEST way to host dynamic online book clubs.

Download the App and Start your Book club today at www.bookumapp.com

Catch all of conversations live on the Bookum App Nooks!

In this interview, USA Today's Clare Mulroy talks about the world of book news, trends, recommendations, and the changing media landscape. She discusses her path into book reporting and the future of journalism in the book world, along with her passion for literature and media.

Timestamps:

1:04 - Hunger Games
2:02 - Midnight Releases
4:02 - Early Reading
5:35 - Becoming A Book Reporter
7:33 - What is Good Journalism?
9:03 - Getting into Book Blogging
10:33 - Advice on News Reporting
12:33 - Book Trends
14:34 - Genre Blending
16:40 - How Niche is too Niche
18:05 - The Growth of Online Reading
21:02 - How to Decide What to Report?
22:33 - SEO for Journalism
24:34 - Chasing Good Stories as a Journalist
25:33 - Feature Articles
27:12 - Developing Voice as a Writer
28:45 - Perfect Day of Writing and Writing Process
30:05 - Reading to Help Writing
31:03 - Reading Schedule
33:11 - Backlist vs. Frontlist Books
34:00 - Balancing Work Reading vs. Fun Reading
36:06 - Overcoming Writer’s Block
37:54 - Listening to Music While Writing
38:49 - Last, Now, and Next Books
41:09 - Rapid Fire Book Questions
45:50 - What Would You Like to See More of in the Book World?
46:25 - What Would You Like to See Less of in the Book World?

Places to find more from Clare:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/claremmulroy/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clare-mulroy/
USA Today: https://www.usatoday.com/staff/7713150001/clare-mulroy/

📚 Books Mentioned:

Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros (Midnight Release)

Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins (Midnight Release)

Intermezzo Sally Rooney (Launch Event)

Magic Tree House (Early Books)

Rainbow Fairy Books (Early Books)

Flotsam by David Wiesner (Early Books)

Series of Unfortunate Events (Early Books)

1984 (Dystopian Book Trends)

I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman (Dystopian Book Trends)

Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler (Dystopian Book Trends)

My Documents by Kevin Nguyen (A Current Read)

My Friends by Fredrik Backman (Upcoming Read)

Big Little Lies (Cape Cod Style Books)

Wait by Gabriella Burnham (Cape Cod Style Book)

Matyr! by Kevah Akbar (A Book You Wish You Could Read for the First Time Again)

The Color Purple by Alice Walker (A Book That Changed Your Worldview)

The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami (A Book to Get From the Bookstore This Weekend)

This Is a Love Story by Jessica Sulfer (A Book to Get From the Bookstore This Weekend)

Stop Me If You've Heard This One by Kristen Arnett (A Book to Get From the Bookstore This Weekend)

This Podcast is to brought you by Bookum - The book communities NEW and BEST way to host dynamic online book clubs.

Download the App and Start your Book club today at www.bookumapp.com

Catch all of conversations live on the Bookum App Nooks!

How good was Larry Bird really? In this interview with author and historian Randy Mills, we go deep into Larry Bird’s high school days in Indiana, his sudden rise to stardom, his time at Indiana State, and the rivalry that shaped basketball history with Magic Johnson.

We also discuss how Bob Knight nearly coached Bird, why Boston was the perfect city for his pro career, and some wild, rarely-heard stories from Bird’s youth. If you’re a basketball fan, a Celtics diehard, or love uncovering sports legends’ early days—this is for you.

🎙️ Randy Mills is the author of As If By Magic, a deep dive into Bird’s high school career and Indiana basketball.

0:54 – March Madness
2:04 – Meaning of the Book Title
4:20 – What Clicked for Larry Bird
8:20 – Larry Bird’s Coaches
12:35 – Mark Bird
15:12 – When Did Larry Bird Beat Mark in Basketball?
17:12 – Indiana Basketball
19:08 – Larry Bird’s Play Style in High School
26:55 – Larry Bird’s Defense
28:30 – Larry Getting Into Weights
30:30 – Dealing With Pressure
32:14 – Indiana State – Larry Bird
42:50 – How Good Was the Competition in High School?
44:55 – Bob Knight & Larry Bird
47:20 – Unknown Stories of Larry Bird
54:00 – Crazy Stat Lines
57:33 – Magic Johnson & Larry Bird
1:01:00 – Larry Bird in Boston
1:03:40 – Boston vs. Lakers Rivalry
1:04:03 – Writing Process
1:13:00 – What Should Be in a Writer’s Toolkit?

📘 Get the book: https://www.amazon.com/As-If-Magic-Indiana-Basketball/dp/1681572311

https://brpressbooks.com/product/as-if-by-magic/

Subscribe for more interviews with authors, creators, and cultural legends.

This Podcast is to brought you by Bookum - The book communities NEW and BEST way to host dynamic online book clubs.

Download the App and Start your Book club today at www.bookumapp.com

Catch all of conversations live on the Bookum App Nooks!

Ever wondered how books actually get published—and how to market them in today’s social media world? In this episode, we sit down with Megan (BooksNblazers) of Penguin Random House to break down the book publishing process, content creation, and how authors can grow online.

Whether you're an aspiring author, book content creator, or just curious about the inner workings of publishing, Megan shares it all.

⏱️ Timestamps
0:57 – Books That Have Shaped Megan’s Life
2:02 – Scholastic Book Fair Nostalgia
2:50 – Getting Into Publishing
3:06 – Roles in Publishing Explained
7:00 – Starting in Book Marketing
8:44 – How to Break Into Publishing
10:27 – Becoming a Book Content Creator
12:24 – Building a Bookish Community
14:01 – How Book Collaborations Work
15:05 – Book Influencer Programs (Explained!)
20:02 – Why Authors Need a Social Presence
21:55 – How to Find Your Readers Online
23:50 – Current Trends in Book Marketing
25:55 – The Evolution of Social Media + Publishing
27:23 – Last, Now, Next Book Recs
27:56 – 3 Life-Changing Books
28:43 – What Makes a Great Story?
29:11 – Rapid-Fire Book Q&A
32:03 – What She Wants More of in the Book World
32:50 – What She Wants Less of in the Book World

📚 Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more publishing insider convos @bookum interviews with authors and content creators, and behind-the-scenes of the book world.

Download Bookum to join our Book Club Community, start your own and connect through books at www.bookumapp.com

🔔 Follow Megan: https://www.instagram.com/booksnblazers/
🎙️ More from us: @bookum ​

This Podcast is to brought you by Bookum - The book communities NEW and BEST way to host dynamic online book clubs.

Download the App and Start your Book club today at www.bookumapp.com

Catch all of conversations live on the Bookum App Nooks!