S3 E13 Every Day Is Sunday | Ken Belson

S3 E13 Every Day Is Sunday | Ken Belson

From Cocktails With Friends by Cocktails with Friends

October 31, 2025 · 35 min · Season 3 · Episode 13

About this episode

Bob Cutler interviews Ken Belson about his book 'Every Day Is Sunday' and the business of the NFL.

S3 E13 Every Day Is Sunday | Ken Belson In this episode, Bob Cutler welcomes Ken Belson, longtime New York Times writer and author of Every Day Is Sunday, a deeply reported look into the business of the NFL. Over a Yuzu Suntory Sour and a plate of umami popcorn, they explore Belson's journalism roots, his time living in Japan, and how his career evolved from teaching English abroad to chronicling the rise of one of America's most powerful institutions. The conversation is equal parts newsroom war story and sports business masterclass. Key Topics The Business of the NFL Belson breaks down how a combination of TV rights, free agency, and salary caps reshaped the league in the early '90s, transforming it into a Fortune-500-level enterprise that now defines Sunday culture in America. Storytelling and Access Through years of covering sports and global crises, Belson illustrates the power of firsthand reporting—being present for the unscripted, human side of power, whether in NFL boardrooms or disaster zones. Whiskey, Culture, and Humanity From Negronis to Japanese whiskey, Belson finds that drinks often unlock stories. His belief that "what did you drink?" can humanize any source…

People in this episode

Host: Bob Cutler

Guest: Ken Belson

Topics covered

  • NFL business
  • journalism
  • sports
  • storytelling
  • cultural insights

Keywords

  • NFL
  • journalism
  • Ken Belson
  • Bob Cutler
  • Every Day Is Sunday
  • sports business
  • storytelling
  • Yuzu Suntory Sour

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: New York Times

Books & works: Every Day Is Sunday

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