Episode 115 - So What IS the XFL Doing Then?
Alt-football fans are becoming IMPATIENT waiting for XFL news including team names and logos…the XFL IS working, but what are they working on? Guests on this week’s podcast include Coach Ron Mckie, former XFL Dragon Ernesto Lacayo, NFL Alumni Academy participant Brian Hill and long-time CFL journalist Rob Vanstone. XFL also sent out updated local activation event invites this week following the postponement of local fan events earlier this month due to Hurricane Ian, could XFL team name announcements coincide with those events? We'll see!
Episode 114 - Back to the XFL's Future
XFL 2020 Houston Roughnecks team president Brian Michael Cooper joins the program for a very special and long-anticipated episode this week! With the XFL returning for version 3.0 in February of 2023, new XFL ownership has made it clear they look to shape the future of the popular alt-football league in their new vision but are there elements that led to XFL 2020’s success that the new league can implement and grow upon? We look “Back to the XFL’s Future” to see what XFL 2023 can learn from XFL 2020.
Episode 113 - Is It Time to Panic XFL Fans?
It is time to panic XFL fans? With the February kickoff of XFL 2023 quickly approaching and LOTS of information still needing to be revealed publicly from the XFL, should fans be concerned? Plus lots of CFL talk this week as we look ahead to CFL week 18 with CFL Hall of Famer Jon Cornish and Tim Baines of the Ottawa Sun.
Episode 112 - An Alt-Football Therapy Session With Mike Mitchell
The XFL has their first batch of quarterbacks allocated for the 2023 season, we are still reeling from the leaked XFL team names and delayed “activations” this week and we have XFL “Insider” Mike Mitchell joining us for a long overdue “therapy session” to break it all down. We talk about the “state of the XFL” as we approach its 2023 February kickoff and get Mike’s thoughts on a crazy week of XFL news, plus Fan Controlled Commissioner Ray Austin drops by the program to preview FCF season 3 and we catch up with Scott Radley of 900CHML to talk CFL Week 17.
Episode 111 - XFL + NFL Alumni Academy = NFL Golden Ticket
XFL team names are coming NEXT week and we’re getting you prepared for the XFL’s big announcement! Plus we’re doing a deep dive into the XFL and NFL Alumni Academy’s partnership with Andrew Murray and talking CFL with Jason Gregor, Andrew Peirson of America’s CFL team the BC Lions, and Mike Moore of the Montreal Alouettes.
Episode 110 - The XFL Is Assembled!
The XFL has announced its FULL 8 team coaching staffs for the 2023 XFL teams and we’re doing a full breakdown and analysis of each XFL coach’s team with XFL Board’s Greg Parks PLUS we have two CFL all-time greats with CFL on TSN’s Rod Smith and the voice of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers Derek Taylor joining us to talk all things CFL Week 15.
Episode 109 - Searching for Hidden Talent
Whom should the XFL and USFL be targeting to sign for their upcoming seasons, how can the XFL and USFL be both entertaining football leagues as well as developmental systems for their players, and where the HECK are our XFL 2023 announcements? We answer these questions and more on this week’s episode with guests Emory Hunt, Eric Merrida of FA Showcase, and David Boles, sideline reporter for the Edmonton Elks.
Episode 108 - Who Should Buy Into the XFL?
The XFL is looking for money, but who should they get to invest? What’s next for the latest cuts from the NFL and which league between the XFL or the USFL should those players be targeting for their next stop? What’s next for the CFL after this crazy week with Gary Stern’s departure from the Montreal Alouettes and the trade of Vernon Adams Jr. to the BC Lions? We tackle all of those questions and more with our slate of guests which includes Brendan Coffey from Sportico, Ric Serritella from NFL Draft Bible, TSN’s Matthew Scianitti, and Cody Grace from the Calgary Stampeders.
Episode 107 - Spring Football’s Identity Crisis
Are the XFL and USFL suffering from identity crises? Is spring football’s player turnover to the NFL sustainable, or interesting for viewers of alternative football leagues? This week on The Markcast we’re talking XFL and USFL player turnover, CFL Week 12, and much more with CFL insider Dave Naylor, Jake Russell of The Washington Post, long-time CFL journalist Marty York and David Côté of the Montreal Alouettes.
Episode 106 - The XFL Is Hiring...A LOT!!!
The XFL is hiring a TON of new people, including social media managers, art directors, and more. Is the XFL spending too much money too fast? I want to hear from you!! Plus Farhan Lalji from TSN, Nathan Rubbelke from the St. Louis Business Journal, and Steve Gera from BreakAway Data all join the show to chat about the world of CFL, XFL, USFL, and more!
Episode 105 - “Next into the Shark Tank, the XFL”
The XFL is looking for more money, TOGETHXR has dropped their trademark lawsuit against the XFL, we’re chatting week 10 of the CFL, previewing the BC Lions traveling to Calgary to face the Stampeders, and interviewing a boatload of people! Daniel Kaplan of The Athletic, Paul Reeths of OurSports Central, Darrin Bauming of Bonfire Sports, former XFL Dragons member Dontez Byrd, BC Lions standout WR Dominique Rhymes and newly signed Calgary Stampeder running back Dedrick Mills all join the show!
Episode 104 - XFL v. USFL: Show Me the Money!!!
This week on The Markcast we’re talking XFL contracts, player pay and season timeline vs. the USFL, CFL week 9, and the shutdown of Major League Football (MLFB) on this eclectic episode with all of your alt-football news! Greg Parks of XFL Board, CFL legend Milt Stegall, Sarah Said of The Parleh, and Simone Eli of WKRG in Mobile, Alabama all join the show!
Episode 103 - XFL Hub v. USFL Hub
XFL insider Mike Mitchell returns to the program to recap and analyze a BUSY week in the alt-football landscape. We cover ALL of the big XFL announcements from the last week including the 8 2023 cities the XFL will be playing in, the venues and coaches attached to those cities, and the XFL’s announcement that they will be housing and training all of their players in Arlington for the first 3 years in a recently announced “hub” format.
Episode 102 - The Markcast LIVE from the XFL Arizona Player Showcase!
We are going LIVE following the latest XFL Player Showcase on Friday, August 22nd at 2pm PST / 5pm EST from Tempe, Arizona to recap the XFL Arizona Showcase with the writers of XFL News Hub! Join Reid Johnson from The Markcast, with Brandon Anderson, Evan Willsmore and Matt Lyons from XFL News Hub as they recap all of the day's events and look forward to the upcoming XFL Town Hall on Sunday, July 24th where we will potentially be learning the team cities, names and venues for the upcoming XFL 2023 season.
Episode 101 - What Do YOU Want From the XFL?
In the upcoming showdown between the XFL and the USFL, we pose an important question in our best Ryan Gosling impression asking: What do you want (from the XFL)? Plus we have an ALL-star lineup of guests this week including Montreal Alouettes owner Gary Stern, James Larsen of USFL Newsroom, Sean Fitz-Gerald of The Athletic, and Sara Orlesky of TSN.
Episode 100 - Advantage USFL?
The USFL has wrapped their “inaugural” season 1 and with the XFL’s return in sight, who has the high ground? We bring on Ben Fischer of the Sports Business Journal and Mark Perry of USFL News Hub (fresh off his appearance at the USFL championship in Canton) to tackle USFL v. XFL, USFL year 2 expansion, and much more. We also preview CFL week 5 and chat all things Canadian football with Kristina Costabile of CFL.ca and Chris Ackie of the Montreal Alouettes.