Buckeye Brotherhood with Bill Rabinowitz: Inside Ohio State's Title Run and the Craft of Sports Writing

Sports writer Bill Rabinowitz joins me to unpack his new book Buckeye Brotherhood, the people-first stories from Ohio State's national championship season, and what it really takes to build a career in sports media today. We cover interviewing 50+ players and coaches, the leadership arc of Ryan Day, and why great reporting starts with listening. If you love Ohio State or you want to sharpen your sports-writing game, this one will hit. In this episode:  The human stories behind the Buckeyes' championship run How to break into sports media in 2025 and build audience on your own terms Listening to understand vs listening to reply Preparing under pressure and telling hard stories the right way Why Ohio State football unites an entire state Five takeaways People first, plays second. The best football stories are human stories. Listening is your edge. It unlocks trust and better reporting. Preparation reduces nerves and clarifies decisions. You can build a writing career if you are excellent and consistent. Resilience and identity fueled Ohio State's run, not just scheme. Chapters 00:00 Intro 03:00 Bill's path in journalism 06:45 Breaking in today 08:40 The power of listening 12:35 Why Ohio State unites Ohio 13:30 Making Buckeye Brotherhood 18:55 Telling Ryan Day's story 21:05 Unsung players, big moments 27:30 Substack and paying for real journalism 41:00 Wrap and resources Resources Book: Buckeye Brotherhood (search on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Triumph Books) Bill's Substack: billrabinowitz.substack.com  About The Gametime Guru Nine years running, I interview sports figures from around the world to deliver a panoramic view on sports. Former athletes, die-hards, and casual fans all walk away with something useful. Enjoy the show? Follow, rate the podcast, and share this episode with a Buckeyes fan or an aspiring sports writer.