EP68: ONE WORD at a TIME with John Miller, Author, Documentarian, and Former Correspondent of the Wall Street Journal

Becoming UnDone with Toby Brooks

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

Support the show

Becoming Undone is a NiTROHype Creative production. Written and produced by me, Toby Brooks. If you or someone you know has a story of resilience and victory to share for Becoming Undone, contact me at undonepodcast.com. Follow the show on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn at becomingundonepod and follow me at TobyJBrooks. Listen, subscribe, and leave us a review Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.