For 26 years, journalist Matt Villano has built his freelance writing career by pursuing true stories, standing up for marginalized voices, and occasionally dressing up as a humongous wine bottle. He also chronicles road trips with his three daughters, in whom he hopes to instill his commitment to kindness, integrity, and service.

We talk about how to build relationships with editors, how quarantine forced him to rethink what exploration means, and why his kids call him "Matty Magic." And why doesn't the game of Life have purple pegs?