Totally Booked with Zibby: Episode Summary Featuring Brooke Bentley & Julia Whelan on "Sideline Confidential"

Episode Title: Brooke Bentley & Julia Whelan, SIDELINE CONFIDENTIAL
Release Date: February 3, 2025
Host: Zibby Owens
Guests:

• Brooke Bentley: Author of Sideline Confidential, former television anchor, award-winning sports reporter, and advocate for local nonprofits.
• Julia Whelan: Renowned audiobook narrator with over 600 narrations, founder of AudioBrary, and recipient of multiple awards including the Audiophile Magazine's Lifetime Achievement Golden Voice Award.

1. Introduction

Zibby Owens opens the episode by introducing her guests, Brooke Bentley and Julia Whelan, highlighting their impressive backgrounds and latest collaborative work, Sideline Confidential. She sets the stage for an in-depth discussion about the novel, its audiobook adaptation, and the innovative approach Julia has taken with her company, AudioBrary.

2. Guest Backgrounds

Brooke Bentley shares her rich history in sports journalism, including her tenure with the Houston Texans and her academic accomplishments. She emphasizes her transition from media to authoring Sideline Confidential, a novel inspired by her experiences navigating a predominantly male environment in professional sports.

Julia Whelan discusses her illustrious career in audiobook narration, detailing her extensive portfolio and the accolades she has received. She also introduces her venture, AudioBrary, aiming to revolutionize the audiobook industry by ensuring narrators receive royalties and providing a direct-to-consumer distribution model.

3. Exploring "Sideline Confidential"

Brooke Bentley delves into the genesis of Sideline Confidential. She explains, “[04:07] Brooke Bentley: …I wanted to write about how it's so hard for young women to jump into the sports media world. It is a very much a man's world, and it's just tricky for young women to navigate.” Drawing from her personal experiences as the first female media member to travel with an NFL team, she illustrates the systemic obstacles women face, which are central themes in her novel.

She recounts her initial challenges, such as being assigned her own bus to games, a situation mirrored in the novel where the protagonist, Blake, faces similar professional hurdles. Brooke clarifies that while the book is fictionalized, it reflects broader industry issues, including toxic team cultures and the sexism prevalent in NFL organizations.

4. The Collaboration Between Brooke and Julia

The collaboration between Brooke Bentley and Julia Whelan began when Brooke reached out to Julia after discovering her work through Zibby's social media. Brooke mentions, “[05:57] Brooke Bentley: …I thought this would just be a dream for her to give Blake a voice.” Julia adds, “[06:35] Julia Whelan: …as soon as I read it, I fell in love with it.” Their mutual admiration and respect for each other’s work led to a seamless partnership, resulting in the successful audiobook adaptation of Sideline Confidential.

5. Introducing AudioBrary: Revolutionizing Audiobook Publishing

Julia Whelan elaborates on her company, AudioBrary, stating, “[08:31] Julia Whelan: …AudioBrary is seeking to fix kind of two problems in audio publishing: narrators don't get royalties, and we are a direct to consumer distribution channel.” She criticizes the traditional model where narrators do not receive royalties despite the industry's substantial revenue growth, noting that “publishers made $2 billion in audio alone last year” while narrators remain uncompensated adequately.

AudioBrary’s model ensures that narrators benefit financially from their work and that consumers have a direct line to support creators without significant cuts taken by traditional distributors. This approach not only empowers narrators but also fosters a sustainable ecosystem for audiobook production.

6. Progress and Challenges for Women in the NFL

Brooke Bentley provides an insightful analysis of the evolving landscape for women in NFL operations. “[12:12] Brooke Bentley: …since the Washington team scandal in 2020, there has been an increase of over 140% of women entering the NFL on the football operations side.” She highlights the significant strides made, including women attaining executive and coaching positions previously dominated by men.

Brooke reflects on her personal experiences, such as being the sole woman in rooms during NFL events, and contrasts them with the present where women are now integral to team operations and strategy. This transformation underscores the shifting cultural dynamics within the NFL, fostering a more inclusive and diverse environment.

7. Crafting the Audiobook: Julia’s Narration Process

The discussion transitions to the creation of the Sideline Confidential audiobook. Julia Whelan shares her meticulous approach: “[17:45] Julia Whelan: …we had a very extensive conversation about character choices, pronunciations. This is when she gave me a primer on football.” Despite not being a football fan herself, Julia immerses herself in the subject matter to authentically portray each character’s voice and nuances.

She emphasizes the importance of character consistency, especially when characters reappear after long intervals in the narration. “[18:38] Julia Whelan: …I have clips that I'm referencing to remember their voices.” Julia’s dedication ensures that listeners experience a seamless and engaging audiobook, where each character is vividly brought to life.

8. Promoting AudioBrary and Future Projects

Julia Whelan introduces new features on AudioBrary, such as gifting specific projects through the platform. “[26:37] Julia Whelan: …we are finally getting the gifting capability set on the AudioBrary website.” This feature allows users to gift audiobooks directly, enhancing the platform’s appeal as an ideal gift option.

Brooke Bentley discusses the positive reception of the audiobook adaptation, noting that listeners often feel a stronger connection to the story through Julia’s narration. “[24:40] Brooke Bentley: …the audiobook really triggers that more so than maybe the written book.” She also hints at her upcoming projects, including a novel focused on the intense culture of youth sports in Texas.

9. Advice for Trailblazers

In the concluding segment, both Brooke Bentley and Julia Whelan offer inspiring advice for individuals venturing into uncharted territories:

• Brooke Bentley: “[29:14] … remind myself, I'm not alone. There's so many other women trailblazers, and you do it for each other.” She emphasizes the power of community and collective support in overcoming challenges and forging new paths.

• Julia Whelan: “[30:11] … understanding your why, why you're doing something. … follow them when they really interest you.” Julia advises staying true to one’s purpose and being open to unexpected opportunities, as her own career trajectory exemplifies the benefits of embracing unforeseen paths.

10. Conclusion

Zibby Owens wraps up the episode by congratulating Brooke and Julia on their collaborative success with Sideline Confidential. She encourages listeners to engage with AudioBrary, sign up for newsletters, and support both the book and the innovative audiobook platform. The episode concludes with warm holiday wishes and a reminder to continue supporting authors and narrators.

Notable Quotes

• Brooke Bentley on Writing the Novel:
  “[04:07] …I wanted to write about how it's so hard for young women to jump into the sports media world. It is a very much a man's world, and it's just tricky for young women to navigate.”

• Julia Whelan on AudioBrary’s Mission:
  “[08:31] …AudioBrary is seeking to fix kind of two problems in audio publishing: narrators don't get royalties, and we are a direct to consumer distribution channel.”

• Brooke Bentley on Changes in the NFL:
  “[12:12] …since the Washington team scandal in 2020, there has been an increase of over 140% of women entering the NFL on the football operations side.”

• Julia Whelan on Narration Process:
  “[19:45] …if I could just do like one book a month that would help cover some costs. And I had my tutoring job and I was doing on camera work and I was doing pickup screenplay writing … but I just fell in love with this work.”

• Advice from Brooke Bentley:
  “[29:10] …there's so many other women trailblazers, and you do it for each other.”

• Advice from Julia Whelan:
  “[30:11] … understanding your why, why you're doing something. … follow them when they really interest you.”

Final Thoughts

This episode of Totally Booked with Zibby offers a rich exploration of the intersection between sports journalism, female empowerment, and innovative audiobook publishing. Brooke Bentley’s candid reflections on her journey and Julia Whelan’s pioneering efforts with AudioBrary provide valuable insights for listeners interested in literature, sports, and the evolving landscape of audiobook narration. The collaborative spirit and shared commitment to empowering creators and diverse voices make this episode a compelling listen.