Highlights: 00:00 Cavs' Historic Playoff Sweep 06:57 The Cavs Team Identity and Impressive Depth 19:03 Donovan Mitchell's Leadership and Team Dynamics 25:10 Looking Ahead in the Playoffs 30:44 Browns Draft: Did What they Did Make Sense? 34:11 Why They Took 2 Running Backs 39:34 What Was Missing in the Browns' Draft 51:39 Shedeur Sanders vs. Dillon …

SLR podcast host and writer Amanda Ulrich talks with fellow journalist Rhana Natour about her National Magazine Award-winning story, "Coming to America." That piece, written for The Atavist Magazine last year, tells the story of one teenager from Gaza: 14-year-old Layan Albaz, who lost both of her legs in an Israeli airstrike and traveled to the Un…

Highlights: Cavs vs. Heat: Analyzing Game 1 and what to expect in Game 2 Kenny Atkinson's Coaching: Regular Season vs. Playoffs De'Andre Hunter's lack of Game 1 impact and why the Cavs will need him the rest of the way Jarett Allen's Impact: Rebounding and Scoring Efficiency Ty Jerome's Breakout playoff game and the nation taking notice A listener …

Highlights: Why Terry thinks the Browns agree with him on Travis Hunter as a their top draft pick. Andrew Berry was more candid than usual in the predraft press conference. The history of quarterbacks drafted at number two shows a mixed success rate. The Browns need to avoid forced picks in the draft. Why Joe Flacco's signing signifies a shift away…

Highlights: Terry reflects on the nostalgia and significance of opening day in baseball. The Guardians' ballpark experience is designed to appeal to both traditional and modern fans. Why Terry is sold on Travis Hunter as the No. 2 overall pick to the Browns. A reader asks why Will Howard isn't generating more draft buzz. Terry gets into Kenny Picke…

Highlights: The Browns' ownership acknowledges a significant misstep with Deshaun Watson. Fans often feel powerless in holding ownership accountable for decisions. The current Browns regime is taking a more measured approach to team building. A listener writes in, and says the Browns' decisions should be made with caution, considering the team's hi…

Host and journalist Amanda Ulrich chats with fellow writer Natalia Galicza of Deseret Magazine about her reporting on solitary confinement, the future of long-form journalism, and Natalia's surprise at being selected as a finalist for a National Magazine Award. Read Natalia’s Deseret Magazine story : What’s the future of solitary confinement? This …

Highlights: Email us your opening day memories from years of Cleveland baseball gone by. We'd love to hear your stories at [email protected]. Just put "Terry's Talkin' " in the subject line; Why Terry is concerned about the 2025 Guardians; We break down the 25-man (soon to be 26-man) roster for opening day; Was Monday night's lineup a dress rehe…

Highlights: Send us your Cleveland opening day baseball memories, to [email protected], and put "Terry's Talkin'" in the subject line. We'll read some stories on upcoming podcasts; The Browns QB soap opera continues; A listener asks: Should the Browns trade away a player for a QB with some upside on another roster? What Terry's been thinking abo…

Highlights: Myles Garrett's contract situation reflects the complexities of NFL negotiations. The Joe Flacco Option is still available for the Browns. Why Kenny Pickett is a better fit for the Browns than Dorian Thompson Robinson. Chris Fedor's story on Darius Garland is emerging as a clutch player in critical moments. Darius Garland's season is re…

Highlights: Why the Cavs could hit 70 wins, and why they shouldn't care about it; Evan Mobley is emerging as the prohibitive favorite for Defensive Player of the Year; What the comeback against the Celtics revealed about the Cavs; Comparing this year's Cavs with the LeBron James era; Picking a free-agent QB for the Browns: Who fits? A listener emai…

Highlights: Larry Dolan's undeniable legacy in Cleveland. Why the Cavs aren't liked in Las Vegas to win the NBA title. Ty Jerome has done more than impress this season -- he's made himself a lot of money. A listener joins the bandwagon, says fans should enjoy the current success without overthinking it. The complicated world of trading Myles Garret…

Highlights: The Cavs are coming back strong after the All-Star break. De'Andre Hunter's trade has shaken the team's dynamics. Why Ben Simmons' game was not a fit for the Cavs. Can this version of the Cavs win it all? And would the old version have been able to win it all? Jim Tressel and his new job as Ohio's Lieutenant Governor; Aaron Rodgers and …

Highlights: Myles Garrett says he wants to be traded by the Browns: The case for, and against; Why Browns fans seem to be backing Garrett over his request; The state of the Browns in the eyes of the public; Terry on the similarities and differences between Garrett's request and Kyrie Irving's demand to be traded by the Cavs; A listener asks: What's…

Highlights: News: Dean Wade is out at least a couple of weeks and probably more; A listener asks if the Cavs lost their way during their recent losing streak; What's in common between Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson and 1970s Baltimore Orioles manager Earl Weaver; How many All-Stars should the Cavs have: 3 or 4? Terry has a name to toss into the ring as …

Highlights: The Buckeyes' national championship, and what it says about Ryan Day, the team and Buckeye fans; What we can learn from Ohio State in the best and worst of times; Jim Tressel and how he set the stage for what came next in Columbus; Will Howard has earned newfound respect nationally, and in the eyes of some NFL teams; What the Browns and…

In a new piece for Vanity Fair, author and presidential historian James Robenalt, who has written about commanders in chief from Warren G. Harding to Donald J. Trump, uncovers the full story of JFK and Jackie’s surprising and little-known home video — and what it might say about the late president’s state of mind in his final months. The SLR’s Aman…

The first time Caity Weaver, a staff writer at The New York Times Magazine, heard about the legend of Zozobra, she stumbled upon it almost by accident. Back in 2018, Weaver and her now-husband happened to be visiting Santa Fe, New Mexico, on the sole night of the year when one of the country’s most unique celebrations was taking place. In her lates…

Highlights: The Cavs are gaining national recognition similar to the Warriors; What makes OKC different; What Terry is seeing from the Cavs and Darius Garland; What we're looking forward to when the Cavs face the Thunder on Wednesday night; Who is the Thunder's coach and where did he come from? Why Deshaun Watson's injury allows the Browns to start…

Highlights: Listeners have sent in their favorite Cleveland sports moments of 2024. We have a couple, too; The Browns’ awful season limps to the finish line. What’s next? What Terry wants to see the Browns do after Sunday’s season finale vs. the Ravens; Should fans trust the team of Andrew Berry and Kevin Stefanski to fix this for 2025? Tim Bielik …

This holiday season, we are rereleasing some of our favorite Sunday Long Read Podcast episodes of all time. A few years ago, SLR cofounder Don Van Natta Jr. spoke to his friends and colleagues, Wright Thompson and Seth Wickersham about their careers, finding your voice in writing and share some fun stories : Awakening The Giant (ESPN The Magazine, …

This holiday season, we are rereleasing some of our favorite Sunday Long Read Podcast episodes of all time. Around five years ago, SLR cofounder Jacob Feldman spoke to journalist Jeanne Marie Laskas about her GQ profile of then Presidential candidate Joe Biden, political writing and story ideas. Show notes : To Obama: With Love, Joy, Anger, and Hop…

Highlights Dorian Thompson Robinson is starting for the Browns against the Bengals. The Browns' options in 'distressed quarterbacks' for next season. Dorian Thompson Robinson needs to prove he can stay healthy and effective. The Browns need some explosive offensive players, even if Nick Chubb returns. Penalties, especially pre-snap, have been a maj…

In one of her latest longform articles for ProPublica, reporter Lizzie Presser tells the story of teenagers caught on opposite sides of the drug trade: those who are selling opioids and those who are using them. In an interview with SLR Contributor Amanda Ulrich, Presser talks about her writing and research process and shares her personal reflectio…

Highlights: Don't forget: Email us your favorite 2024 Cleveland sports moments, and your Cleveland sports predictions for 2025. Send them to [email protected]; The Cavs are 21-4 and on pace to potentially surpass their best season record (66-16 in 2008-09) with 68-69 wins; Will casual Cleveland shift their focus to the Cavs? They should; Evan Mo…

Highlights: What happened with Ohio State against Michigan on Saturday? Terry doesn't write a lot about OSU, but we spend a few minutes talking about the state of the Buckeye program and whether Ryan Day should be on the hot seat after another loss to the Wolverines. The Jameis Winston experience was on full display in Monday night's loss the Bronc…

Highlights: We invite listeners to email us with their favorite Cleveland sports moment of 2024, and their Cleveland sports predictions for 2025. Send them to our usual address, [email protected], and put "Terry's Talkin'" in the subject line. We rank the five best Cavs players right now; Why the Cavs keep winning; Is the 3-point crazy NBA good …

Highlights: Terry will talk at the Willoughby Hills Library on Dec. 3 at 6:30 p.m. He'll take questions, sign books and meet fans. The Cavs are entering some rarified air when it comes to winning streaks to start an NBA season; Frogs and "Cavalanches"; What does tonight's showdown vs. the Celtics mean in the big picture? A reader email about Ty Jer…

Highlights: Terry will be at the Willoughby Hills Library on Dec. 3 at 6:30 p.m. He'll take questions, sign books and meet fans. It’s free; The Cavs are 12-0 and entering some elite company when it comes to winning streaks to start an NBA season. We have the list; The story of Ty Jerome and why he's come out of nowhere for this Cavs team; Donovan M…

Highlights: How the 7-0 Cavs are doing it; The biggest surprise for Terry about the Cavs, and his biggest concern going forward; What Donovan Mitchell's postgame praise of Isaac Okoro means for team chemistry long term; A listener asks: Why do fast breaks look so different in the modern NBA? What do the Browns do with the rest of the 2024 season? I…

Why do steakhouses have such a stranglehold on Republicans in Washington D.C.? Washingtonian's Jessica Sidman joined one of the party members to find out and ended up having “the most Washington night of my entire life in Washington.” Ahead of Election Day, SLR Contributor Amanda Ulrich spoke to Sidman about her reporting, getting to the bottom of …

Highlights: The Browns' 29-24 win over the Ravens will long be remembered as a celebration of the life of Jim Donovan, the late voice of the Browns; Listener emails about what Jim Donovan meant to Browns fans everywhere; On the football front, what we learned Sunday about Jameis Winston, the Browns offense, and Deshaun Watson; Terry goes into the n…

Highlights: The state of the Browns after Deshaun Watson's season-ending injury Sunday; The fans who were out of line as Watson was carted off; the players who called them out; and what Tim Couch has to do with it; What should happen next with the Browns; The big decision: Keep Watson and bring him back for another run, or draft a QB of the future;…

Highlights: The Guardians are down 0-2 to the Yankees: What are we learning about them? How Stephen Vogt is managing so far; What to expect from the Guardians in Games 3-5 in Cleveland; Who the Guards should put at catcher and in right field for Game 3; Were the Guardians right to leave Ben Lively off the ALCS roster, although he's been added with …

Highlights: Terry's take on Tarik Skubal of the Tigers, and Emmanuel Clase as the Guardians and Detroit continue their AL Division Series; The Guardians' midseason acquisitions might be the best in baseball, as we've seen so fare in the ALDS; The unexpected defensive skills of Jhonkensy Noel; What Terry thinks of Terry Francona taking over as manag…

Highlights: The Browns are struggling with a 1-3 record and fan frustration is palpable. Did the Browns need a "new" offense? Baker Mayfield's success in Tampa Bay raises questions about his time in Cleveland. The No. 1 most urgent issue facing the Browns; The Guardians are gearing up for the playoffs. Who's their best matchup option? Donovan Mitch…

Highlights: The Guardians have secured their playoff spot. How should they start prepping the pitching staff for the ALDS? The pitching factory, and especially the bullpen, has made all the difference for the Guardians; Would Josh Naylor stay in Cleveland longer-term for a Jose Ramirez-type discount? Not looking back with hindsight, we look ahead t…

Highlights: Jose Ramirez keeps piling up numbers and joining some elite company; If Ramirez doesn't win an American League MVP award, he's still in some elite company: Many Hall of Famers haven't done it. Why Stephen Vogt has had the right touch; What Terry saw in the Browns offense during the win in Jacksonville; Can the Browns get Deshaun Watson …

In this episode, Brad and I discuss our seasons and how they went. They were short and sweet. Brad goes back and forth on GIANT Roosevelt Bulls.By Garrett Weaver

Highlights: How bad were the Browns in Sunday's loss to the Cowboys? Was the offense even worse than the stats look? Why sometimes going from "good to great" means a step back is required first; The special teams star of Sunday's loss for the Browns; We know Deshaun Watson is tough. Does he need to be protected from himself? As Terry saw during tra…

Highlights: Terry has an appearance coming up on Wednesday, Sept. 18, at the Dover Public Library in Dover, Ohio, at 6:30 p.m. You can sign up here. What Matthew Boyd and Alex Cobb have meant to the Guardians' pitching staff; What Alex Cobb's approach to his perfect game says about the Guardians; Kyle Manzardo's arrival; a potential nickname for hi…

Highlights: Terry will be appearing on Thursday (Aug. 29) at the Niles McKinley Library, 6 p.m. It's free. The address is 40 N. Main Street, Niles, Ohio. What can Chris Antonetti and the front office do, if anything, to help the Guardians win the division? Inside the numbers, which are rough; Why Terry thinks the Guardians shouldn't try José Ramíre…

Highlights: Terry will appear Thursday, Aug. 29 at the Niles McKinley Library at 6 p.m. to meet fans and sign books. The library is at 40 N. Main Street, Niles, Ohio. What is going on with the Guardians? The offensive numbers for the Guardians after the All-Star break are not pretty; Where the Guardians hitters rank in MLB in pitches drawn per plat…

Highlights: Terry's next library appearance is Thursday, Aug. 29 at the Niles McKinley Library, 40 N. Main Street, Niles, Ohio, at 6 p.m. Can the Guardians win the AL Central? A listener's theory on what it might take from a starting pitching perspective MLB writers say the Guardians are their No. 7 pick to win the World Series. What's up with that…

In March, after years of work, producer Naomi Despres and screenwriter John Gatins released “Little Wing,” the story of a young pigeon racer, first told by Susan Orlean, in The New Yorker. In this episode of The Sunday Long Read Podcast, Despres and Gatins explain the trials and tribulations of getting an adaptation like this one out into the world…

Highlights: Listeners really don't like the sports cliche "running downhill"; Congratulations to cleveland.com and Plain Dealer reporter Paul Hoynes on being a finalist for the Baseball Writers Association of America Lifetime Achievement Award; The shortstop position: What should the Guardians do with it? Matthew Boyd needs to be called up now; The…

Highlights: A listener cracks down on our on-air cliches; Why the first-place Guardians really needed the All-Star break; Are the Guardians slumping or just need to get out of a slump? The pitcher Terry wants to see the Guardians try to acquire by the trade deadline; Prediction time: A minor league pitcher you might see in a Guardians uniform befor…

Over the last few years, Texas Monthly has had a booming success on the big and small screen, turning impeccable stories into films and TV series. In an interview with The Sunday Long Read’s Jacob Feldman, Texas Monthly’s Executive Producer for TV, films and podcasts, Megan Creydt, explains how it all happened. Show notes : Lawrence Wright’s Texas …

Highlights: Terry runs through the Guardians' five all-stars and tells the story behind each; Some stats on Josh Naylor and his maturation as a hitter; A listener has a comparison for David Fry and his breakout season; Who Terry thinks the Guardians will take No. 1 overall in the MLB Draft on Sunday; Will Darius Garland's game need to start looking…