Led by NPR host Michel Martin, Offense or Defense? features voices that aren't often heard - former players, spouses and others who have thought deeply about the sport that millions love and others have come to hate.

Guests will include Nate Jackson, former Denver Bronco and author of Slow Getting Up: A Story of NFL Survival From the Bottom of the Pile; Melani Ismail from VH1’s Football Wives and spouse of former Dallas Cowboy player Rocket Ismail; and Nahshon Ellerbe, high school senior and star running back who plans to play for Rice University next fall.

The event will also feature a theatrical performance excerpt from Andrew Hinderaker’s Colossal on football, beauty and brutality. Audiences can also follow and participate in a parallel conversation on Twitter with @NPRMichel and #NPRpresents.

The event will take place in the Hoglund Foundation Theater.