The new book, ‘The Queen of Katwe’ tells the story of a girl from a Ugandan slum who found solace in chess. Bill talks with the author, Tim Crothers.

Before the Iron Curtain fell, hockey players from countries under Soviet leadership defected for the chance to play in the United States. Tal Pinchevsky’s ‘Breakaway: From Behind the Iron Curtain to the NHL’ tells these players’ stories and sacrifices. He talks with Bill about this period in hockey history.

Gwendolyn Oxenham traveled the world with an open mind and a soccer ball. The former Duke University player documented her experiences as she explored new countries and interacted with strangers using the universal language of sport. Bill Littlefield speaks with Oxenham about ‘Finding the Game: Three Years, Twenty-Five Countries, and the Search for Pickup Soccer.’

Tyler Hamilton’s new book details his life in the world of professional cycling and the pressures to use performance-enhancing drugs in order to win on the global stage. Bill Littlefield spoke with Hamilton and his co-author Daniel Coyne about ‘The Secret Race.’

Football in the 1970s has been mythologized in countless books and documentaries. Kevin Cook’s latest book is another foray into the strange and wild world of football before it became America’s pastime. He joins Bill Littlefield.

In the wake of the massive scandal at Penn State and the death of Joe Paterno, author Joe Posnanski’s just-released biography of Paterno has taken on special significance. Bill Littlefield offers his take on the new biography.

Basketball has been called “poetry in motion.” A new collection of essays examines the intersection of hoops and verse. It’s called “Fast Break To Line Break” and Todd Davis, the editor, and contributor Jack Ridl join Bill Littlefield.

What makes Kenyans so dominant when it comes to distance running? Biology? Passion? Necessity? Adharanand Finn writes about it in his new book ‘Running With The Kenyans’ and discussed the African nation’s running success with Karen Given.

Athletes have always held a special place in society, both for what they accomplish and how they affect culture. Author Stephen Amidon’s new book, ‘Something Like The Gods,’ explores the scope of athletes’ impact throughout history, and he joins Bill Littlefield to discuss it.

Long before there was an Olympic Village, before there was pin trading and medal counts, there were the ancient Olympics. Bill Littlefield speaks to author Neil Faulkner about his book “A Visitor’s Guide To The Ancient Olympics.”