Maximillian Potter

Maximillian Potter is a best-selling author and a Contributing Editor to Vanity Fair. He has been a staff writer and/or editor at Philadelphia Magazine, Premiere, Details, GQ and Esquire; and he has contributed to Outside and The Atlantic, among other publications.

Potter has written two books: "The Opposite of Woe: My Life in Beer and Politics," the memoir of Colorado Governor and Democratic Presidential / U.S. Senate Candidate John Hickenlooper, published in May 2016; and "Shadows in the Vineyard: The True Story of the Plot to Poison The World's Greatest Wine," published in July 2014. "Shadows" began as an article for Vanity Fair.

“Shadows in the Vineyard” is now in development for a limited series, which will co-star Noah Wyle and Judith Light, who are also executive producers. Potter is adapting his book to script, along with executive producers Peter Cambor and John Stuart Newman. Producing partners are Landmark Studio Group and District 33.

The New York Times selected "Shadows" as a best wine book of 2014, writing: "A rare book that transcends the narrow interests of wine lovers.” In its review, The Daily Beast, called it: “a gripping crime drama…and Potter does excellent work in fleshing out both the involved players and the historical context of the Burgundy region and its oenophiles.”

In its critique of “The Opposite of Woe,” Kirkus Reviews wrote: “Colorado's high-profile governor submits an unconventional autobiography. All this entertains wonderfully. ... It’s difficult to imagine a more unusual preparation for public life than the one ably recounted here.”

Before working on Hickenlooper’s memoir, Potter served as the Senior Media Adviser & an award-winning speechwriter to the governor, and since has consulted as a media strategist for pubic and private sector leaders and organizations.

From 2004 to 2013, while he was Executive Editor of 5280, Denver's city magazine, it emerged as a city magazine of national interest, and was a finalist for the National Magazine Award—the most prestigious prize in magazine journalism—six times. Two of those National Magazine Award nominations were for stories Potter wrote. Folio, trade publication of the magazine industry, described Potter as a "Publishing Innovator to Watch."

His writing has received accolades including the Military Reporters & Editors First Place and the Silver Gavel—the American Bar Association's highest recognition for legal reporting—and he was a finalist for a GLAAD Award. Judges for the Michael Kelly Award described his work as "beautifully written, ambitious in intent, and-most of all—fearless in pursuit of truth." His writing has been included in several "Best American" anthologies; most recently, "Next Wave: America's New Generation of Great Literary Journalists."

In March 2019, The Atlantic, published an investigative report Potter co-wrote with Alex French, “Nobody Is Going To Believe You,” about A-list Hollywood director Bryan Singer and a pattern of sexual misconduct allegations, spanning two decades and in which the alleged victims were teenagers. It was a story originally commissioned by Esquire.

Potter is a graduate of Allegheny College, with a BA in English/Creative Writing; Northwestern University, where he got his MS in Journalism, and he was a fellow at the Knight Digital Media Center's Multimedia Program at UCLA, Berkeley. Potter has been an adjunct faculty member in the Journalism Department at the University of Colorado, where he taught feature writing to undergrad and graduate students.

A native of Philadelphia, Potter lives in Los Angeles and is always looking for an excuse to return to Burgundy.

Richard Stayskal

Richard Stayskal is a Marine, Purple Heart recipient and a Green Beret. After being diagnosed with cancer, Richard has been fighting for accountability within the military.

Natalie Khawam’s Law Firm Website: Click Here

Max’s Vanity Fair Article: Click Here