Show Notes
Episode 68: ONE WORD at a TIME with John Miller, Author, Producer, and Former Wall Street Journal Correspondent
About The Guest
John Miller is a journalist, author, and baseball historian. He grew up in Belgium with American parents who were professional musicians. With a deep love for journalism and baseball, he pursued a career as a journalist and eventually landed a position with the Wall Street Journal. After leaving the Journal, he produced a PBS documentary on a mining town and is currently working on a book about legendary Hall of Fame manager Earl Weaver.
Summary
John Miller, a journalist and author, shares his journey from working at the Wall Street Journal to pursuing his passion for storytelling and baseball. After leaving the Journal, he embarked on a six-month wandering period, exploring different career paths and finding clarity in his desire to continue working as a journalist. He produced a documentary on a mining town and began writing for America, a monthly magazine. He is currently working on a book about Earl Weaver, a legendary baseball manager. Through his experiences, John has learned the importance of embracing failure, adapting to change, and finding meaning in his work.
Key Takeaways
- John’s passion for journalism and storytelling began at a young age, influenced by his parents’ musical background and his love for reading the newspaper.
- He pursued a career in journalism and played baseball in college, combining his two passions.
- After leaving the Wall Street Journal, John went through a period of uncertainty and exploration, considering different career paths and finding clarity in his desire to continue working as a journalist.
- He produced a documentary on a mining town, highlighting the complexity and cultural impact of industries like mining.
- John’s experiences have taught him the importance of embracing failure, adapting to change, and finding meaning in his work.
Quotes
- “I wanted to do something deeper about the country and for my own kind of journalistic journey.” – John Miller
- “I respect the grief a lot more… I think you can’t understand the politics of this country without understanding that grief.” – John Miller
- “Perseverance does not make sense if you’re not willing to adapt and change.” – John Miller
Connect
| Timestamp | Summary |
|---|---|
| 0:00:00 | Introduction and background of John Miller |
| 0:03:40 | John’s career as a journalist and author |
| 0:05:32 | John’s move to Pittsburgh and career shift |
| 0:09:41 | John’s film project on a small town in West Virginia |
| 0:10:40 | John’s writing for America magazine and current book project |
| 0:11:59 | Transitioning out of baseball and finding new passions |
| 0:14:01 | Finding deeper meaning in the mining industry |
| 0:15:39 | Lessons learned from West Virginia and Pittsburgh |
| 0:17:59 | Understanding the grief and cultural impact of job loss |
| 0:19:51 | The importance of listening and avoiding political bias |
| 0:21:53 | Honoring local historians and defending journalism |
| 0:23:04 | Writing Earl Weaver’s obituary and finding a new calling |
| 0:24:08 | John felt a stirring to present something to the world. |
| 0:25:41 | John had the idea to write a book about Earl Weaver. |
| 0:26:13 | Earl Weaver was an early adopter of analytics in baseball. |
| 0:27:31 | John faced rejection when pitching his book idea. |
| 0:30:51 | John learned the importance of storytelling through failure. |
| 0:32:26 | Baseball careers can take a toll on personal relationships. |
| 0:33:11 | John second-guessed leaving the Wall Street Journal. |
| 0:35:14 | Setbacks and adversity lead to personal development and growth. |
| 0:35:36 | Failure to find clarity in twenties led to empathy and self-sufficiency. |
| 0:36:52 | Being open to unexpected events and finding centeredness. |
| 0:37:14 | Working on a bio of Earl Weaver and doing economic reports. |
| 0:38:32 | Be curious, study difficult subjects, and pursue storytelling and journalism. |
| 0:39:43 | Importance of quality journalism and curiosity in service of public good. |
| 0:40:34 | Decimation of local newspapers and need for local news networks. |
| 0:41:59 | Soundtrack: Paul Simon’s Graceland and Jacques Brel’s mournful songs. |
| 0:42:41 | Unfinished goals: having children, publishing a book, and planting a tree. |
| 0:43:26 | Closing remarks and upcoming episodes. |