The Engel Angle

Chuck Long was little recruited when coming out of high school, but he went to the University of Iowa where he became one of the top quarterbacks in the nation. He was a first round draft pick of the Detroit Lions in 1986, and an elbow injury changed what could have been a solid career. He went into coaching, and currently works as an offensive coordinator for the XFL's Arlington Renegades. He talks to Mac about his college career, playing for the Lions when they were horrible, and the state of quarterbacking today versus his era.

He grew up in east Fort Worth, Texas and he went on to become a successful "serial entrepreneur" in cars, reality TV, restaurants and motor sports. Richard Rawlings is the man behind the Discovery Channel's hit show, "Fast N' Loud." He is the man behind the successful Gas Monkey Garage, which has branched into bars and restaurants and other arms of retail. He is an original American success story.

He is the son of sports casting royalty, Baseball Hall of Famer Marty Brennaman. Thom Brennaman created his own way in broadcasting and was a top voice calling NFL, MLB and major college football games as well as serving as the voice for the Chicago Cubs, Arizona Diamondbacks and Cincinnati Reds. Brennaman worked with Jerry Springer, Harry Caray, Marty Brennaman, called countless major events, and had a hot mic screwup that has not stopped him, but did change his career. He talks to Mac about all of it.

Marty Turco played 11 seasons in the National Hockey League, and in 2002-'03 he set the NHL single season record for lowest goals against average by a goalie, 1.73. He was one of the best players to ever play at the University of Michigan and its power hockey program. Turco joined the Dallas Stars in 2000 as the backup goalie, and eventually became the No. 1 man a few years later. He was an All-Star several times, a member of Team Canada for the Winter Olympics, but Turco's legacy in hockey exceeds any statistics. When you look at the sheet of ice, and see those two lines extend from the back of the goal to the boards, they are there because of Marty Turco. His ability to handle the stick and puck was such it killed offense to the point that the NHL felt it had to change the rules, and the ice, to negate his skill.

In the mid 1990s, Dr. Jeffrey Wigand was a bio chemist working for a large tobacco firm in Kentucky. He went on to become one the world's most well known whistleblowers after he revealed "inside" information that America's tobacco industry deliberately manipulated cigarettes to be more addictive. His story, and specifically the struggle to air his interview on the CBS show "60 Minutes" was the subject of the 1999 Academy Award nominated film, "The Insider," which featured Russell Crowe and Al Pacino. Wigand joins Mac to talk about that experience as well as the state of the tobacco industry, whistleblowing, and the dangers he sees from legalizing marijuana.

Sebastian Junger is one of America's top journalists, and foremost war correspondents. He is known for his best-selling book, "The Perfect Storm." He has written other best-selling books, such as "War," and produced the Academy Award nominated documentary, "Restrepo." He talks with Mac about America's pullout from Afghanistan, his new book, "Freedom," and a near-death experience that you don't want to miss.

Roman Popadiuk was born in Austria to Ukranian parents who emigrated to the United States in the 1950s. He went on to build a successful career, with a speciality in foreign service relations for the U.S. government. After the fall of the USSR, he was appointed America's first ambassador to the Ukraine. In his conversation with Mac, Popadiuk estimates why Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine, and forecasts a bad ending for Putin.
Also, because it's Christmas time, Mac gives a shoutout to all of the moms and dads who bring Santa Claus to life.

Mac's guest is one of the most influential people in the history of modern America sports. Agent Leigh Steinberg began his career in the mid 1970s, and went on to set the standard for an entire industry. He also is famously the inspiration for the movie, Jerry Maguire.

He's a college dropout whose career started in mixed martial arts when there was no money, and today Freddie Poole is a working Hollywood stuntman and stunt director. Mac also explains why the latest Taylor Swift album let him down.

Maria Sakkari is one of the best tennis players in the world. She's currently No. 5 in the world, and is always in the contention to win a grand slam. She joins The Engel Angle to talk tennis, a little travel, her hair bun, Greek mythology, Giannis, and a lot of other topics in a wide-ranging interview.

Kasey Pipes wrote speeches and was a policy adviser and strategist for both Gov. Arnold Schwarznegger and President George W. Bush. Pipes also wrote books on President Eisenhower and Nixon. Now he's a consultant, and an expert on the current political scene. In this episode of The Engel Angle, Pipes talks with Mac Engel about the upcoming primary elections, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, January 6th, and writing a speech for the President of the United States.

Veteran, award-winning ABC News correspondent Mireya Villareal has reported on the U.S. - Mexico border for several years. She joins Mac to discuss the divisive issue, and she has to correct him on the pronunciation of her name

Former Marine and CIA employee Nicholas Reynolds joins The Engel Angle to talk to Mac about his new book, "Need to Know: World War II and the Rise of American Intelligence." Reynolds is a CIA historian and former curator at the CIA Museum. How did the CIA start, what was its original function, and is it still an effective agency? That, and Mac admits that even though he hates stuff, he has too much of it.

Rich Ohrnberger played in the NFL for five seasons, and played in a Super Bowl with the New England Patriots. Injuries ended his career. He gets real about Tom Brady, and coach Bill Belichick. Currently a member of the sports media, and living in San Diego, Ohrnberger further details a now viral story about the time he intentionally wrecked his car rather than be late for a Patriots practice. He also admits he had no clue what to do with his first NFL check.

For the second consecutive summer major college athletics has a dramatic announcement; last year it was Oklahoma and Texas leaving the Big 12 for the SEC, and this year it's USC and UCLA leaving the Pac-12 for the Big 10. Long time sports announcer, and a timeless voice of college football, Tim Brando talks to Mac about the future of college football.

The price of gas is strangling the world, and specifically the American consumer. Does the President affect this price at all? Why is it just so high, and when is it coming down? To answer these questions and provide insight is Pegasus Resources CEO George Young.

Mike Bibby was the 2nd overall pick in the 1998 NBA Draft, and he played in the league through 2012. He was the starting point guard for a Sacramento Kings team in 2002 that lost to the Kobe Bryant/Shaquille O'Neal L.A. Lakers in the Western Conference Finals that was one of the best playoff series in league history. He's coaching now and aspires to reach the college or pro ranks. In this episode, he talks about players today managing their money, that famous series with the Lakers, and who the best player he ever played with - LeBron James or Chris Webber.

Holocaust survivor Tibor Spitz was born and raised in Czechoslovakia. He lived there during WWII, and avoided a near certain death when his family fled to live in a forest. After the war ended, he remained in Czechoslovakia and became an engineer. He eventually escaped communist Soviet Union in the 1960s, and settled in upstate New York. In his visit with Mac Engel, Spitz discusses the lost lessons of the Holocaust, the similarities of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and why he is not mad at God.

Also, Mac Engel addresses the crisis in men's locker rooms: Full front male nudity.

Mac Engel also warns people who buy, or own, SUVs what they are really driving, and pleads to sports TV producers to return us to the '80s.

Mac Engel talks to Major Attaway, a veteran of stage, TV and voice actor who with more than 1,500 appearances in Disney's Broadway production of Aladdin is its longest tenured Genie.

Engel also provides a Valentine's Day anecdote about the time he received a Valentine's Day from ... a teacher.