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

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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.

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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!

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

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In this episode of the Founders Talk Podcast, Morgan DeBaun, CEO of Blavity Inc. AfroTech and author of our April Founders Club Book Pick Rewrite Your Rules, shares powerful insights on entrepreneurship, lasting success, and building wealth.

Morgan discusses how to rewrite the rules for success, balancing intensity and joy, the secrets to avoiding burnout, and why originality is key to attracting attention in business. She also goes into the importance of mastering growth and navigating the challenges of building Blavity into a game-changing company.

Timestamps:

0:01 – Intro
1:15 – Dreaming Beyond Boundaries
3:08 – Being a Change in the World
4:45 – Balancing Intensity and Joy
6:35 – Mastering Your Growth
8:24 – Avoiding Burnout
10:04 – The 6 Pillars of Stability & Freedom
13:02 – The Early Days of Blavity
15:48 – The Power of Originality
17:04 – Thinking in Terms of Data
17:50 – Mergers and Acquisitions
19:01 – Travel Noire
19:55 – Selling a Black Company
21:23 – Liquidity Events for Black Companies
23:54 – AfroTech
25:00 – Black Economic Wealth
25:57 – The Wealth Code
27:47 – Rich vs. Wealthy
28:44 – Shifting to a Wealth Mindset
30:33 – Stop Following the Rules
32:44 – Fundraising & Rewriting Your Rules
33:18 – Risk vs. Stability
36:31 – Hiring & Managing a Company
38:38 – Writing the Book
41:05 – Rapid Fire Questions
42:18 – What Should Be in a Founder’s Toolkit?

Buy Morgan's book, Rewrite Your Rules: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/738848/rewrite-your-rules-by-morgan-debaun/

More from Morgan:
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/morgandebaun/
Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/morgandebaun/
Blavity - https://blavity.com/

About Bookum:
Bookum is a social book club and book networking app for book content creators, authors and readers. Join our community to connect, share, and discuss the books that inspire you: 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 exclusive interview, Will Packer, NY Times Bestselling Author of Who Better Than You?, shares invaluable insights on film financing, dreaming big, and developing healthy arrogance for success. As a blockbuster film producer, Will has grossed over $1 billion worldwide at the box office, with 10 movies opening at #1, including:

Stomp The Yard
Girls Trip
About Last Night
Think Like A Man
Ride Along 1 & 2

Will opens up about his career journey, the importance of building your brand, how to make movies on a budget, and what it really takes to succeed in Hollywood. He discusses the mindset behind healthy arrogance, why you need it to succeed, and how to use it to build confidence in any room you walk into. Whether you're an entrepreneur or filmmaker, this interview will help you think bigger and challenge the limits you place on yourself.

Timestamps:

0:01 - Intro
1:26 - Building Your Brand
3:20 - "If Poem"
5:13 - Ramen Noodle Days
10:40 - Making Movies on A Budget
12:18 - Time Goals vs. Money Goals
16:18 - Think Like A Man Book Adaptation
22:10 - On Building A Team
25:33 - Meeting his Wife at Essence Fest
30:00 - Writing the Book
31:02 - Rapid Fire Questions

Get Will Packer’s Bestselling Book: Who Better Than You? - https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/735558/who-better-than-you-by-will-packer/

Start Your Book Club with the Bookum App: Download here www.bookumapp.com – Our Book of the Month for March is Who Better Than You?

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!