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/

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

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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

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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!