Marcus Thompson is a long-time Golden State Warriors beat reporter and Bay Area News Group sports columnist and currently writes for The Athletic. Growing up, he was fascinated by two things: words and Bay Area sports teams. In our conversation, he highlights teachers and other adults in his life that encouraged him to lean into writing, including sportswriter Michael Silver. From 1971 to 2019, the Warriors called Oracle Arena in Oakland home until moving to the swanky new Chase Center in San Francisco. Marcus notes that the brand of the Warriors was built on the accessible and communal nature of basketball and details the grassroots momentum of the team. He shares why he thinks the marketing and communication missteps have left fans feeling slighted, abandoned, and priced out of their beloved team. We talk about how this uprooting parallels a lot of what’s happening in our community. I’ve been vocal about the shift in demographics, gentrification, and rising cost of living in the Bay Area, and as an Oakland native, Marcus has experienced it, too. Finally, we discuss why it’s so valuable for young athletes to learn the art of storytelling. He explains what's required of them these days, including an element of branding and taking ownership over your narrative. Listen in to hear our conversation about how local sports teams often reflect the cultural dynamics of their community, and so much more. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Castbox, or on your favorite podcast platform. Topics Covered: ● How Marcus became a sportswriter ● Ways that the Oakland sports teams mimic the story arc of Oakland, especially the Warriors ● Marcus’ take on the decision to move the Warriors from Oakland to San Francisco ● Solutions to bridge economic and cultural gaps in the Bay Area ● Why it’s so important for athletes to know how to articulate and express their story Guest Info: ● Marcus' Instagram ● Marcus' Twitter ● Marcus Thompson - The Athletic Follow Me: ● My Instagram ● My LinkedIn ● My Twitter ● Art Heals All Wounds Website ● Art Heals All Wounds Instagram ● Art Heals All Wounds Twitter ● Art Heals All Wounds Facebook ●