Joseph Bien-Kahn
@josephbienkahn.com
Senior Editor at Esses Magazine
sports, movies, odd desert stuff, fire, adventure!
bylines: NYT Mag, NY Mag, Rolling Stone, Bloomberg, GQ, SI, Wired...
jbienkahn@gmail.com
sports, movies, odd desert stuff, fire, adventure!
bylines: NYT Mag, NY Mag, Rolling Stone, Bloomberg, GQ, SI, Wired...
jbienkahn@gmail.com
Pinned
Island Time - Believer Magazine
I call Don Nelson from my rental car, which I’ve parked by some food trucks near the Kahului Airport. It rings through, which means I’m welcomed to the island by a sardonic voicemail: “Hey, you’ve rea...
www.thebeliever.net
Interested in outlaw country, weed brownies, feuding with billionaires, the early NBA, playing Gin Rummy on a weekday afternoon, and what it feels like to die?
I went to Maui to profile Don Nelson for The Believer!
@thebeliever.net
www.thebeliever.net/island-time/
I went to Maui to profile Don Nelson for The Believer!
@thebeliever.net
www.thebeliever.net/island-time/
Reposted by Joseph Bien-Kahn
My pal and freelancer extraordinaire @charleylocke.bsky.social and I are working on a cool project to help other full-time freelancers and wanna-be full-time freelancers make it work financially, so STAY TUNED. 🤭
That good “writers should talk honestly about money” post inspired me to calculate how I made my income this year. I made more from writing than usual, but not enough! (I encourage others to do this and post the results!)
51% book
23% writing
11% teaching
8% speaking
7% consulting/brand work
51% book
23% writing
11% teaching
8% speaking
7% consulting/brand work
December 29, 2025 at 3:58 PM
My pal and freelancer extraordinaire @charleylocke.bsky.social and I are working on a cool project to help other full-time freelancers and wanna-be full-time freelancers make it work financially, so STAY TUNED. 🤭
Niners are down their best three defensive starters. What’s the Bears excuse?
December 29, 2025 at 3:43 AM
Niners are down their best three defensive starters. What’s the Bears excuse?
“I like memes.” — Chris Collingsworth
December 29, 2025 at 3:35 AM
“I like memes.” — Chris Collingsworth
Is Brock Purdy underpaid???
December 29, 2025 at 2:20 AM
Is Brock Purdy underpaid???
Reposted by Joseph Bien-Kahn
Since there are no rules anymore, what's stopping LeBron from winning the National Championship this year and making $100 million in NIL money?
www.on3.com/news/chicago...
www.on3.com/news/chicago...
Chicago Bulls two-way player Trentyn Flowers receiving college interest
Chicago Bulls two-way player Trentyn Flowers is receiving interest from college programs, including the likes of Kentucky, Kansas, others.
www.on3.com
December 28, 2025 at 10:08 PM
Since there are no rules anymore, what's stopping LeBron from winning the National Championship this year and making $100 million in NIL money?
www.on3.com/news/chicago...
www.on3.com/news/chicago...
Reposted by Joseph Bien-Kahn
I just think it’s so much cooler and more interesting to try to be the best audio show rather than the shittiest television show
‘Painful to hear!’ How podcasts’ rush to video is turning them into dreadful listens
‘Painful to hear!’ How podcasts’ rush to video is turning them into dreadful listens
From Joe Marler’s visual-only stunts to the incomprehensible shuffling sounds Steven Bartlett recently subjected headphone users to, dodgy audio experiences are on the rise
www.theguardian.com
December 28, 2025 at 4:01 AM
I just think it’s so much cooler and more interesting to try to be the best audio show rather than the shittiest television show
If you’re in the fantasy Super Bowl with Jamyr Gibbs, Jared Goff and Ladd McConkey in your lineup, just know: you are loved
December 27, 2025 at 11:43 PM
If you’re in the fantasy Super Bowl with Jamyr Gibbs, Jared Goff and Ladd McConkey in your lineup, just know: you are loved
They just keep running this storyline back, huh?
the flight of the billionaires www.nytimes.com/2025/12/26/t...
A Wealth Tax Floated in California Has Billionaires Thinking of Leaving
www.nytimes.com
December 26, 2025 at 11:55 PM
They just keep running this storyline back, huh?
Reposted by Joseph Bien-Kahn
Dean Martin, born Dino Paul Crocetti, son of Italian immigrant Gaetano Crocetti
Frank Sinatra, son of Italian immigrants Antonino Sinatra and Natalina Garavanta
Merry Christmas to everyone except Stephen Miller and his enablers and handlers
Frank Sinatra, son of Italian immigrants Antonino Sinatra and Natalina Garavanta
Merry Christmas to everyone except Stephen Miller and his enablers and handlers
December 26, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Dean Martin, born Dino Paul Crocetti, son of Italian immigrant Gaetano Crocetti
Frank Sinatra, son of Italian immigrants Antonino Sinatra and Natalina Garavanta
Merry Christmas to everyone except Stephen Miller and his enablers and handlers
Frank Sinatra, son of Italian immigrants Antonino Sinatra and Natalina Garavanta
Merry Christmas to everyone except Stephen Miller and his enablers and handlers
I think these movies suck, but also think that people react to someone giving as much of a fuck as James Cameron about these things. The Marvel movies stopped being bankable once that intangible “give a fuck” went away. It’s why AI movies won’t work.
Salute, Big Jim. Not for me, but good for you…
Salute, Big Jim. Not for me, but good for you…
Looks like Avatar's got a good shot at a $2 billion total globally when all is said and done. It's arguably a more bankable franchise than the Avengers at this point.
December 26, 2025 at 6:37 PM
I think these movies suck, but also think that people react to someone giving as much of a fuck as James Cameron about these things. The Marvel movies stopped being bankable once that intangible “give a fuck” went away. It’s why AI movies won’t work.
Salute, Big Jim. Not for me, but good for you…
Salute, Big Jim. Not for me, but good for you…
It’s beginning to look slightly less like Christmas…
December 26, 2025 at 6:24 PM
It’s beginning to look slightly less like Christmas…
🗣️
The Lions are just sticking up for creatives by trying to lower Netflix's stock price so much that it kills the Warner Bros deal. Some of you "allies" could learn a lot from them 🤔🤔🤔
December 26, 2025 at 3:58 AM
🗣️
If you somehow both drafted Bill Croskey-Merritt and are starting him in the Fantasy Championship, you’re 1) a madman and 2) should buy lotto tickets ASAP
December 25, 2025 at 7:58 PM
If you somehow both drafted Bill Croskey-Merritt and are starting him in the Fantasy Championship, you’re 1) a madman and 2) should buy lotto tickets ASAP
Reposted by Joseph Bien-Kahn
Extremely funny to call the pope “holier-than-thou”
December 25, 2025 at 4:05 AM
Extremely funny to call the pope “holier-than-thou”
Reposted by Joseph Bien-Kahn
Reposted by Joseph Bien-Kahn
staffer: you talked to the little girls?
trump: sure did, real fuckin creepy just like you asked
staffer: what
trump: sure did, real fuckin creepy just like you asked
staffer: what
Trump: I am fine. You sound beautiful and cute. How old are you?
Caller: I am eight
Caller: I am eight
December 24, 2025 at 11:10 PM
staffer: you talked to the little girls?
trump: sure did, real fuckin creepy just like you asked
staffer: what
trump: sure did, real fuckin creepy just like you asked
staffer: what
Reposted by Joseph Bien-Kahn
Enjoyed being interviewed by @sarahenni.bsky.social for @thebeliever.net about a wide variety of things, including my odd little career path, sports television, the NFL, etc
Check it out here
www.thebeliever.net/an-interview...
Check it out here
www.thebeliever.net/an-interview...
An Interview with Mina Kimes - Believer Magazine
For most of my life, I was a die-hard sports fan who considered SportsCenter as much a part of a balanced breakfast as a bowl of Wheaties. But then I turned thirty, got divorced, moved to a new city, ...
www.thebeliever.net
December 18, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Enjoyed being interviewed by @sarahenni.bsky.social for @thebeliever.net about a wide variety of things, including my odd little career path, sports television, the NFL, etc
Check it out here
www.thebeliever.net/an-interview...
Check it out here
www.thebeliever.net/an-interview...
Apples are getting too big
December 24, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Apples are getting too big
I like the everyone in the sports world has agreed: we gotta clear our entire schedule for Cal vs Hawaii tonight
December 24, 2025 at 3:15 PM
I like the everyone in the sports world has agreed: we gotta clear our entire schedule for Cal vs Hawaii tonight
Reposted by Joseph Bien-Kahn
My father-in-law is watching a YouTube channel where a guy looks for and sometimes finds old silver dimes; his catchphrase is "it's dime time." As far as I'm concerned my father-in-law is the only person using YouTube properly.
July 18, 2023 at 2:24 AM
My father-in-law is watching a YouTube channel where a guy looks for and sometimes finds old silver dimes; his catchphrase is "it's dime time." As far as I'm concerned my father-in-law is the only person using YouTube properly.
This was my first year editing and first year with something like a full-time job in journalism. Esses Mag! Here's are the stories I'm most proud of...
First: for @katestorey.bsky.social at @rollingstone.com, I tried to put a face to LA's private firefighters: www.rollingstone.com/culture/cult...
First: for @katestorey.bsky.social at @rollingstone.com, I tried to put a face to LA's private firefighters: www.rollingstone.com/culture/cult...
The Private Firefighters On Call for the Californians Who Can Afford Them
Andrew Sarvis of West Coast Water Tenders on the LA fires and the demand for private firefighers in Malibu and the Palisades.
www.rollingstone.com
December 23, 2025 at 5:35 PM
This was my first year editing and first year with something like a full-time job in journalism. Esses Mag! Here's are the stories I'm most proud of...
First: for @katestorey.bsky.social at @rollingstone.com, I tried to put a face to LA's private firefighters: www.rollingstone.com/culture/cult...
First: for @katestorey.bsky.social at @rollingstone.com, I tried to put a face to LA's private firefighters: www.rollingstone.com/culture/cult...
Reposted by Joseph Bien-Kahn
I had three print mag stories in ‘25, which remains the second coolest thing ever. The first is making new writer friends who become regular friends. Shoutout @josephbienkahn.com, @essesmag.com and Tavio Nuvolari, the wild Italian who whupped the Nazis in der haus.
Subscribe here: www.essesmag.com
Subscribe here: www.essesmag.com
December 23, 2025 at 4:04 PM
I had three print mag stories in ‘25, which remains the second coolest thing ever. The first is making new writer friends who become regular friends. Shoutout @josephbienkahn.com, @essesmag.com and Tavio Nuvolari, the wild Italian who whupped the Nazis in der haus.
Subscribe here: www.essesmag.com
Subscribe here: www.essesmag.com
Reposted by Joseph Bien-Kahn
‘It’s not a part time job.’
Oof.
Scott Pelley and Sharyn Alfonsi absolutely leveled Bari Weiss at an emergency 60 Minutes staff meeting today.
Oof.
Scott Pelley and Sharyn Alfonsi absolutely leveled Bari Weiss at an emergency 60 Minutes staff meeting today.
December 22, 2025 at 9:50 PM
‘It’s not a part time job.’
Oof.
Scott Pelley and Sharyn Alfonsi absolutely leveled Bari Weiss at an emergency 60 Minutes staff meeting today.
Oof.
Scott Pelley and Sharyn Alfonsi absolutely leveled Bari Weiss at an emergency 60 Minutes staff meeting today.
Is Phil Rivers a Top-10 QB?
December 23, 2025 at 1:29 AM
Is Phil Rivers a Top-10 QB?
Reposted by Joseph Bien-Kahn
“My dad always wanted me to be the worst on every team, because that was my way of knowing I had to get better”
—Natalie Nakase, interviewed by Alan Chazaro
www.thebeliever.net/a-short-inte...
—Natalie Nakase, interviewed by Alan Chazaro
www.thebeliever.net/a-short-inte...
A Short Interview with WNBA Coach Natalie Nakase - Believer Magazine
Natalie Nakase has led a life of basketball firsts. She became the first woman basketball player to have her jersey retired by her alma mater, Marina High School in Huntington Beach, California. She w...
www.thebeliever.net
December 21, 2025 at 6:13 PM
“My dad always wanted me to be the worst on every team, because that was my way of knowing I had to get better”
—Natalie Nakase, interviewed by Alan Chazaro
www.thebeliever.net/a-short-inte...
—Natalie Nakase, interviewed by Alan Chazaro
www.thebeliever.net/a-short-inte...