Running her Own Game

M O L L Y   B L O O M

JR: Take yourself back to your skiing days. Did you ever think your life would take a turn toward poker?

MB: Unequivocally, no. I thought I knew who I was and where I was going, but life had other plans.

JR: Once you got immersed in the world of high-stakes underground poker, did it become an addiction or a high?

MB: I started as a waitress, and within eight months, I was running my own games. I had intimate access to fascinating people—from artists to politicians, sports legends, and some of the most brilliant minds in business. The conversations were riveting, and I soaked it all in, filling volumes of journals with what I was learning. I was also running a company, managing millions of dollars and big personalities. I learned about hospitality at the highest level, how to make people feel valued, and how to cultivate trust and loyalty. In the beginning, it was a rich, valuable experience, but over the years, it became something else—it turned dark. I saw the underbelly of organized crime, the con world, and I watched lives, including my own, unravel.I started to crave the high on the days I didn’t host a game, and by the time I started the New York game, I was fully addicted to the money, the thrill, and even the danger. It was never enough.

JR: Was there ever a point where you thought, “I’m in too deep”?

MB: Strangely, no—at least not at first. In the beginning, I made some gutsy moves that shouldn’t have worked, but they did. I learned from observing the game that risk is a critical piece of life. The more comfortable I got with it, the more I pushed the envelope. I started to think—mistakenly—that I could solve any problem. So even though the warning signs were everywhere, it wasn’t until a hitman for the mob broke into my apartment, put a gun in my mouth, and told me I worked for them now, that I knew I was in trouble. He also, chillingly, informed me that they had located my family and warned that if I didn’t cooperate, they’d hurt them. A few months later, the FBI raided my game and took all my money, and two years after that, I was arrested by 17 FBI agents in full SWAT gear. So, yeah, at that point, I definitely knew I was in too deep. LOL

JR: Dealing with high stakes can sometimes trigger unexpected behavior. Was there ever a time a player became violent with you, and if so, how did you diffuse the situation?

MB: In the beginning, I was shocked. Most of the players were so wealthy that their losses were a rounding error. My mom taught me about empathy, and she said that the true test is being able to empathize with people who seem deplorable. This might seem weak, but I’ve found there’s tremendous strength in being kind and open-hearted, no matter how hard or savage the world gets.

When I looked past their reactive behavior, I realized it was often driven by fear. Once I understood that, I knew if I could help them feel safe, it would almost always diffuse the bad behavior. Money is tied to survival, so that visceral reaction makes sense—except for those who have worked on their mind and learned not to get hijacked by emotions.

JR: After everything fell apart, how did you mentally recover and move on with your life?

MB: It was a process. First, I had to take responsibility for my life—both the good and the bad. I had done some hard and smart things, but I had also been reckless and selfish. And even though some things weren’t my fault (like getting injured at the Olympic qualifiers), I still held onto them. Being unflinchingly accountable, and letting things go allowed me to start forgiving myself. I began meditating daily, worked a 12-step program, mentored young women, and read a library of books on how to change, reinvent, and move through hard emotions without numbing myself. I became very strong internally, which was helpful, because 2 years later I was arrested by 17 FBI agents and thrown into a very public and very serious federal indictment. 

JR: What or who influenced you to write a memoir?

MB: My life was pretty dismantled. I was 35, millions of dollars in debt, a convicted felon, and the tabloids were reducing my career to “a girl who sent out invites.” I knew I needed to take control of the narrative and do something to repair my reputation and financial situation. It’s not a good look to be living with your mom while all your friends are finding success, getting married, and having kids. I decided to write a memoir and try to get my favorite screenwriter (and the highest-paid screenwriter in Hollywood) to adapt it. It was a three-billion-to-one shot—and it worked. It still amazes me because Aaron is just so prolific, and there were some really powerful people trying to kill the film.

JR: When Aaron told you he wanted to adapt your book into a film, what was your reaction?

MB: Shock, followed by the first real seedling of hope—not the kind I had been manufacturing just to keep going, but genuine hope—and deep gratitude.

JR: When Jessica Chastain, in my opinion, the best actress of our time, was cast to play you, what was your reaction?

She’s a masterclass. Her range, sensibility, choices, and striking balance of strength and vulnerability are captivating. I wanted it to be her, and when she signed on, it was a huge moment.

JR: How accurate was the movie to what actually happened?

MB: It was very accurate, uncharacteristically so. I worked closely with Sorkin to develop the script. Watching it was an intense experience, imagine watching all your heartbreaks, triumphs, your most terrifying and vulnerable moments with an audience of 2000 people. 

JR: After Molly’s Game, you tapped back into your initial passion for sports and went on to be the executive producer and host of two seasons of a podcast called Torched. How was that experience?

MB:Torched is one of my favorite things I’ve ever done. I love, love, love telling other people’s stories. I’m biased, but I think there’s nothing like it, and sports is one of the richest tapestries for stortelling—the dreams, the work in the dark, the underdog stories, the heartbreakers. I adored telling these stories with the incredible team at Film Nation, Gilded Audio, and Stitcher. It was a dream team.

JR: Do you see yourself diving back into the sports world in some capacity?

MB: Soccer mom? Just kidding. Sports will always be a part of my life until I physically can’t participate, especially skiing.

JR: You’re in a different phase of life now, with a beautiful daughter and a new environment. Professionally, what does the future hold for you?

MB: I have so many things I want to do. I want to “revillage” parenting. Moms—and parents in general—are trying to raise kids alone, with limited resources, and without the proper governmental, medical, or corporate support. It’s led to a mental health crisis for parents and children. 

I’m also writing another book, and I’m focused on raising a strong, kind child.. Once Fiona is in school, I’ll dive into a new career or cause.

JR: You’ve lived such an interesting life, filled with highs and lows. If you could go back and change one thing about your past, what would it be and why?

MB: I’d whisper to my parents, “This is all going to be okay.” I feel terrible for what I put them through. But the rest, I would leave—I learned so much, and it’s been quite an epic adventure.