The Lost Years of Larry Bird with Keith O'Brien

<p><strong>Guest:</strong> Keith O'Brien, author of <strong><em>HEARTLAND: A Forgotten Place, an Impossible Dream, and The Miracle of Larry Bird</em></strong> by Keith O'Brien (Atria Books, March 3, 2026) <a href="https://amzn.to/47ghvEE">https://amzn.to/47ghvEE</a></p>

<p><strong>Podcast Release Date:</strong> March 7, 2026</p>

<p><strong>Episode Length:</strong> 42 minutes</p>

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<p><strong>EPISODE DESCRIPTION:</strong></p>

<p>Larry Bird is one of basketball's all-time greats, but there's a chapter of his story that's rarely told. Between 1974 and 1979, from his brief time at Indiana University through his magical season at Indiana State, Bird nearly walked away from basketball entirely.</p>

<p>In this episode, Brian O'Leary sits down with journalist and <em>New York Times</em> best-selling author Keith O'Brien to discuss his meticulously researched new book <strong><em>HEARTLAND</em></strong>, which fills in this forgotten narrative with unprecedented detail. Through interviews with teammates, coaches, photographers, and dozens of people who were there, O'Brien paints a vivid portrait of a shy kid from rural Indiana who changed sports history—even though he never wanted the spotlight.</p>

<p>We discuss Bird's poverty-stricken upbringing in French Lick, his time as a garbage collector, his legendary media boycott, the iconic <em>Sports Illustrated</em> photo shoot, and even a softball tournament in which he beat Joe Montana.</p>

<p>This is Larry Bird like you've never heard him before.</p>

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<p><strong>TIMESTAMPS:</strong></p>

<p>[0:00] Introduction and <em>Sports Illustrated</em> covers </p>