Work Samples

Stop asking me what sport I play. is a personal column that challenges the casual way people talk about athletics—especially the word play. Drawing from life as a former Division I runner and current triathlete, I explain that endurance sports aren’t built around entertainment or highlight-reel moments, but around invisible, repetitive work and constant internal pressure. The piece explores how that one word quietly separates “real sports” from the ones people don’t fully understand—and why endurance athletes deserve language that treats their discipline as legitimate without needing translation.

A long-form enterprise piece examining compulsive exercise in endurance sports through reporting, research, expert interviews — and personal experience. The story reveals how a culture of discipline and toughness can blur into anxiety-driven training, where rest feels threatening and stopping feels like failure. Through psychological research, medical evidence, and athlete testimony, the piece exposes the hidden mental-health crisis behind overtraining: the illusion of control, the fear of stillness, the physical and emotional cost, and the difficult, ongoing process of recovery. It’s an exploration of obsession disguised as dedication — and the quiet resistance required to step away.

A press-conference style feature highlighting MLB.com reporter Steve Gilbert during his guest appearance at the Walter Cronkite School. The piece blends news reporting with profile elements, capturing Gilbert’s insights on covering the Arizona Diamondbacks, navigating ethics, managing negativity in sports media, and building relationships inside the clubhouse. It also spotlights the origin of his motivational newsletter Win Your Day, which began as a gesture of gratitude and has grown into a 3,500-person community. The release offers a clear, informative look at Gilbert’s career, his philosophy as a journalist, and the positivity he brings to the game.