The Free Press
The Free Press App Is Here!
NewslettersSign InSubscribe

Share this post

The Free Press
The Free Press
A Cold Email Got Me My Job—and an Afternoon with Gay Talese
A Cold Email Got Me My Job—and an Afternoon with Gay Talese
Portrait of the author, around when her email address was farwellchic3@aol.com.
Everyone says networking is the key to success. For me, it’s been notes to perfect strangers.
By Olivia Reingold
08.09.23 — Culture and Ideas
333
1,104

Share this post

The Free Press
The Free Press
A Cold Email Got Me My Job—and an Afternoon with Gay Talese

My caller ID read: “Gay Talese.” 

The byline I had once pinned on my wall was now flashing across my phone. 

Just one day earlier, I’d emailed his publisher on a whim—I’d been rereading Talese’s iconic 1966 Esquire profile of Joe DiMaggio, the former Yankees star and husband to Marilyn Monroe, on the subway ride home. I’d forgotten how good it was—the way…

Enjoying the story?
Enter your email to read this article and receive our daily newsletter.
Already have an account?
Sign In
Olivia Reingold

Olivia Reingold is a staff writer at The Free Press.She has cocreated and executive produced Matthew Yglesias’s podcast, Bad Takes. She got her start in public radio, regularly appearing on NPR for her reporting on indigenous communities in Montana. She previously produced podcasts at Politico, where she shaped conversations with world leaders like Jens Stoltenberg.

Tags:
Culture
Comments
Join the conversation
Share your thoughts and connect with other readers by becoming a paid subscriber!
Already a paid subscriber? Sign in
More in Culture
For Free People.
LatestSearchAboutCareersShopPodcastsVideoEvents
Download the app
Download on the Google Play Store
©2025 The Free Press. All Rights Reserved.Powered by Substack.
Privacy∙Terms∙Collection notice

Share