When you're lost in the darkness, look for the pod.

Specifically, the Prestige TV podcast on the Ringer podcast network, where we're breaking down every new episode of HBO's The Last of Us.

On Sunday nights, grab your battery and join Van Lathen and Charles Holmes for an instant reaction to the latest episode.

Then head back to the QZ on Tuesdays for a deep dive with Joanna Robinson and Mallory Ruben.

From character arcs to video game adaptation choices, story themes to needle drops will parse every inch of this court of steps coded universe.

Watch out for mouth tendrils and follow along and Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

Hello media consumers. Welcome to the vacation week edition of the press box.

Ryan Curtis of the Ringer here along with producer Erica Servantes.

When I was in Phoenix for Super Bowl week, somebody came up to me and asked,

who is the media reporter you like to read? Of course, I like to read all my sports media covering colleagues.

But when I thought of whose profiles and sentences I look for to really reading for enjoyment,

the name I came up with was Sean McCreish, a features writer at New York Magazine.

And then, as soon as I get back from Phoenix, McCreish publishes this excellent profile of Risa Heller, New York Crisis Communications Bigwig.

So McCreish stopped by the pod to talk about that story about his career, which includes a stint as Maring Doubts editorial assistant and the lure of the media beat.

I look forward to more great sentences. You're Sean McCreish.

All right, Sean. Let's start by talking about your Risa Heller profile. Heller is someone who practices what's called crisis communications.

For those who are not savvy coastal elites, what does crisis communications entail?

Yeah, it's a really strange business. I'm still even having written the piece. I still don't fully understand it.

But she occupies a role that's that sort of always existed in New York, which is something a little like a fixer.

She has this kind of weird six cents for how the media works and kind of how the press sausage gets made.

And basically, if you're a powerful person in New York right now and your life blows up tomorrow, you pick up the phone.

She's one of the first people who you call. She's got this kind of golden rola decks of journalists and she can sort of walk you through what's going to happen to you as your life goes up in flames and hold your hand and hopefully make it a little bit better.

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