Mario Andretti was born in Italy during World War II. At 8 years old, he and his family spent time in a refugee camp in Italy before moving to the United States. The Andretti family settled in Nazareth, PA where Mario and twin brother Aldo discovered the nearby Nazareth Speedway. Lying about their age and experience, the brothers began racing at age 19 sharing one car and one helmet. Racing quickly became a passion and led to a career that prospered in the 1960s. He raced all discplines and won NASCAR's Daytona 500 in 1967 and the Indianapolis 500 in 1969. He raced Formula 1 in the 1970s and 1980s and returned to IndyCar winning the Pocono 500 in 1986. He watched his sons Michael and Jeff and grandson Marco follow in the family business that was built into Andretti Global. A member of numerous halls of fame, Andretti recounts his life including the moment he and his family passed the Statue of Liberty on their way from Italy. He remembers some of the big wins and also takes us behind the wheel for his crash at the 2003 Indianapolis 500 during testing. He also shares the enjoyment he gets out of his family's successes and why he's still involved with the sport. Plus, he gives us his take on whether or not racing is a sport. 

Nick Mangold grew up in Ohio, the oldest of four kids with three sisters. He was all-state in football while also wrestling and competing in the shot put. A highly recruited offensive lineman, Mangold chose Ohio State over Notre Dame despite his mom's wishes that he'd play for the Fighting Irish. A three-year starter at center for Jim Tressel, Mangold was a member of the 2002 National Championship team for the Buckeyes and won three Fiesta Bowls including his senior season defeating Notre Dame. The Jets made him the 29th overall pick in 2006 and he played his entire 11-year career in New York where he was a 7-time Pro Bowler who committed just 20 penalties in 164 games. At one time the highest paid center in the NFL, Mangold officially retired in 2018 and was inducted into the Jets Ring of Honor in 2022. Mangold remembers his journey and recounts his recruiting process along with the draft process. He also describes the role of a center in the offense, how his wrestling career helped his football career and his welcome to the NFL moment. Mangold also tells us what it was like playing with a revolving door of quarterbacks in New York and why he never entertained going anywhere else. Plus, Mangold gives us his take on being eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Now the owner of Mangold's 74 BBQ Sauce (https://www.mangolds74bbq.com/), he shares how the business began, the cause it benefits and the sauces that are named after his four kids.

Julius Hodge grew up in Harlem and was named after NBA Hall of Famer Julius Erving. He fell in love with basketball after his dad took him to a New York Knicks game against Magic Johnson and the Los Angeles Lakers as a kid. Hodge's game flourished in high school where he was a McDonald's All-American and the New York State Mr. Basketball. He grew up a Syracuse fan but spurned the Orangemen for NC State where he played for Herb Sendek. In Raleigh, Hodge was a two-time All-American and the ACC Player of the Year as a junior. He was a first-round pick of the Denver Nuggets in 2005 and played alongside several future Hall of Famers. After 3 years in the NBA, Hodge spent 8 years playing overseas plus 2011 playing for the Antigua and Barbuda national team. After retiring, Hodge embarked on a coaching career with time spent as an assistant coach at Buffalo, Santa Clara (for Sendek), San Jose State and Arkansas Little Rock. This summer, Hodge was named head coach at Division II Lincoln University in Pennsylvania. Hodge shares his journey including the unusual way he decided to attend NC State. Plus, he talks about the ACC rivals and adversaries like Chris Paul with whom he had an altercation during his time at State. Hodge also recounts the drive-by shooting during his rookie season that changed his perspective on life and tells us what he learned from his time playing overseas. Hodge also gives us insight on his kids and their own hoop dreams.

Joe Theismann grew up in South River, NJ where he was often found outside playing basketball, baseball or football. After he convinced his mom to allow him to play organized football, he teamed up with future Hall of Famer Drew Pearson at South River High School and became a star. Highly recruited, Theismann initially committed to NC State before eventually signing with Notre Dame and head coach Ara Parseghian. An injury led to him becoming the starting QB his sophomore year and he became an All-American his senior season in 1970. Before that year, his last name was pronounced "Theesmann". But Notre Dame PR man Roger Valdiserri convinced him to change the pronunciation of his name to rhyme with the Heisman Trophy. While he finished second that year for the award behind Jim Plunkett and ahead of Archie Manning, the name stuck.  In 1971, he was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the NFL and the Minnesota Twins in MLB. After failed negotiations with the Dolphins, Theismann signed with the Toronto Argonauts in the CFL. Following three seasons in Toronto, the Washington Redskins obtained Theismann's rights. Waiting his turn at quarterback, Theismann returned punts to stay fresh. He eventually became QB1 with Washington where he led them to the Super Bowl XVII championship over the Dolphins. His playing career came to an end in 1985 after a gruesome injury on Monday Night Football. Broadcasting, speaking and even acting all followed along with charitable work with St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital. In this episode, Joe recounts the many twists and turns of his career. He tells us why Don Shula wasn't his biggest fan, why his injury was a blessing and why St. Jude's has a special place in his heart. He also shares stories from the Super Bowl season and his teammates "The Hogs" and "The Smurfs" - a group he calls "characters with character". Plus, he remembers what it was like hosting the first season of "American Gladiators" and shares why he wore the single bar facemask. (For more on Joe Theismann and you can help his efforts with St. Jude's visit https://www.joetheismann.com/autographs).For more on the "American Gladiators", watch Episode 90 featuring Dan "Nitro" Clark: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlSmGTln55g&t=34s

Tony Silvagni was born in Pennsylvania, but moved to Kure Beach, NC when he was 5. That move led to a love of the water and surfing. Silvagni gravitated to longboard surfing, idolizing surfing legend Kelly Slater. His professional career has taken Silvagni around the world where he has won numerous championships and placed 5th in the world in 2023. Back home in North Carolina, Silvagni owns and operates a surf school and puts his marketing degree from the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) to good use. Silvagni also organized numerous charities to support his community and was recently inducted into the Wrightsville Beach Hall of Fame. In this episode, Silvagni shares his journey and tells us where the best waves are. He also recounts how he once taught surf lessons to President Barack Obama's Secret Service agents while living in Hawaii. Plus, he explains what it means to be regular or goofy footed, what hang ten means and what animal he had a close encounter with one day in the water.

Bob Kendrick grew up in the small town of Crawfordville, Georgia. In 1980, he accepted a basketball scholarship to play at Park College in Parkville, Missouri making his way to the Midwest for the first time. Following a 10-year newspaper career, Kendrick began his tenure with the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, MO in 1998 and was named President in 2011.  Since then, Kendrick has had many roles and responsibilities including historian and fundraiser. In this episode, Kendrick tells us about the founding of the Museum in 1990 with the help of former Negro Leagues player Buck O’Neil and shares what made O’Neil a special person. He also recounts the names and stories from the Negro Leagues including Oscar Charleston, Willie Mays, Cool Papa Bell, Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson and others. Kendrick gives his thoughts on the treatment endured by black players of the past and the lack of black players playing baseball today.  Plus, he tells us about the growing respect for the Negro Leagues with stats added to MLB records and the focus of the leagues in the recent MLB game at Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama. Kendrick also tells us how the inclusion of Negro League players in a video game has done more to promote the Negro Leagues than anything else.

Josh Rawitch is a Los Angeles native who grew up playing baseball and idolizing the Los Angeles Dodgers. He attended Indiana University thinking he would be the next Vin Scully and instead became Scully's "boss" during his 15 years working for the Dodgers rising to Vice President of Communications. Rawitch also spent a decade working for the Arizona Diamondbacks ss Senior Vice President of Content and Communications before he was named President of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in September of 2021. As just the 8th president in the 85 years of the Hall, Rawitch recently took part in his 3rd induction ceremony in Cooperstown, NY where the Class of 2024 included former Dodger Adrian Beltre'. He tells us what makes the Hall so special and remembers moments around the game's greats like Johnny Bench. We hear about some of the Hall's exhibits including a new exhibit coming next July highlighting the Japanese influence on the national pastime. Rawitch also tells us how the Hall decides what new items to collect such as a Shohei Ohtani bat and Paul Skenes' All Star Game hat. Along with his love of baseball, Rawitch also tells us about his infatuation with the Dave Matthews Band which he's seen more than 70 times in concert.

Lance Parrish was born in Pennsylvania and grew up in California where he was a three-sport star in high school. With an offer to play football at UCLA, Parrish was drafted in the first round by the Detroit Tigers in 1974 and decided to start his professional career. While making his way through the minor leagues, Parrish had a brief stint as a "bodyguard" for singer Tina Turner, a story that attracted much attention at the time. He made his MLB debut in September of 1977 and had a somewhat memorable first hit during his second game. He became the starting catcher in 1979 and the Tigers started to come together when Sparky Anderson took over as manager that same season. It all led to 1984 when the Tigers began the season 35-5 on their way to 104 wins and the team's first World Series title in 16 years. Now a special assistant to the Tigers GM, Parrish looks back at his 19-year career that included 8 All-Star appearances, 3 Gold Glove awards, 6 Silver Slugger awards and the nickname "The Big Wheel" given to him by broadcaster Mel Allen. He also tells us what it was like to catch Jack Morris' no-hitter in the fourth game of the 1984 season and setting the homerun record for American League catchers. The stories and more are also shared in "The Enchanted Season" co-written by Tom Gage and published by Triumph Books (https://www.triumphbooks.com/the-enchanted-season-products-9781637275641.php).

Dre' Bly grew up in Chesapeake, VA raised by parents who were long-time educators. Bly played multiple sports as a kid highlighted by baseball and football. A fan of Michael Jordan and the Tar Heels, Bly chose to play at North Carolina over schools like Virginia, Virginia Tech and Syracuse. Playing for coaches Mack Brown and Carl Torbush, Bly was a three-time First Team All-American. As a freshman, he led the country with 13 interceptions and was named ACC Rookie of the Year. (In 2014, Bly was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.) In 1999, the St. Louis Rams drafted Bly in the 2nd Round starting what would be an 11-year career in the NFL. He won a Super Bowl (XXXIV) and lost a Super Bowl (XXXVI) with the Rams before signing with the Detroit Lions as a free agent in 2003. The cornerback was a two-time Pro Bowler with the Lions before spending time with the Denver Broncos and the San Francisco 49ers. Following his playing days, Bly coached youth sports in the Charlotte, NC area before coaching back at his alma mater along with the NFL. He's returned to Charlotte as Defensive Analyst for the Charlotte 49ers, coaching alongside his son Trey who is a student assistant. In this episode, Bly shares his journey and the role his parents and coaches played in his career. He tells us about a special bond he shares with former rival, turned teammate Torry Holt. He also tells us what it means to be in several halls of fame and what the future holds for him in coaching.