Mike Behind the Mic: Curt Bloom

April 27, 2023 marked 12 years since the devastating tornado outbreak in Alabama. 

Mike Dubberly got a chance to talk with former Alabama All-American Defensive Lineman and Co-Captain Shannon Brown, who's now the principal at Liberty Middle School in Madison, Alabama.  On April 27, 2011, Shannon lost his daughter Loryn in the EF-4 tornado that hit Tuscaloosa.  The college student was pursuing her dream of attending the University of Alabama and now, endowment scholarships have been created in her honor. 

Here's Shannon's conversation with Mike Dubberly. 

Several recent violent incidents have prompted legal questions. Just recently, there was the incident in North Carolina where a neighbor shot a young girl and her father after she retrieved a basketball that went into the neighbor's yard.  Before that, a homeowner shot a 16 year old who mistakenly went to the wrong address and rang the doorbell.  In New York, a 20 year old woman was killed after a homeowner shot at a car turning around in his driveway.  And two Baylor cheerleaders were shot when they accidentally tried to get into the wrong car. Also in Dadeville, Alabama, six people are now arrested in a mass shooting at a 16^th birthday party. Prominent attorney Eric Guster joined Mike Dubberly for the latest Mike Behind the Mic podcast with legal analysis.  

Pro Football Hall of Famer and NFL Fox Sunday analyst Howie Long joined Mike Dubberly on the Mike Behind the Mic podcast recently to talk about the USFL season two (Howie is also an analyst for the USFL on FOX broadcasts). The former LA/Oakland Raiders defensive lineman also shared what it was like to be a former teammate of Auburn legend Bo Jackson out of McCalla.

The Major League Baseball season is underway and if you watch, you'll notice some big changes.  The league has implemented a pitch clock (much like a shot clock in basketball), and other changes in an effort to speed up the game, generate more offense and attract more viewers and fans. 

In this week's Mike Behind the Mic podcast, Mike Dubberly talks with former Major League Baseball player Josh Rutledge, a former All-SEC shortstop at Alabama out of Cullman. Josh not only gives his opinion on the rule changes, but also offers an interesting take on "travel ball" for youth league players and discusses his "better half" Laura Rutledge of ESPN and the SEC Network. 

February 24, 2023 marked one year since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.  To get perspective on the war, Mike Dubberly talks with retired U.S. Sgt. Alex Drueke of Tuscaloosa, Alabama.  Drueke, along with another U.S. veteran Andy Huyhn of north Alabama were both captured in Ukraine by Russian forces while helping train Ukranian soldiers.  They were in Russian captivity for 104 days before being released as part of a prisoner swap brokered by Saudi Arabia.  Retired Sgt. Drueke shares what he witnessed and endured and why he believes U.S. aid to Ukraine is not only necessary, but paramount to averting something far worse. 

Former Green Bay Packers, Dallas Cowboys safety and Alabama football legend George Teague joins Mike Behind the Mic with his thoughts on Tom Brady retiring and how he rates Brady compared to quarterbacks he played with and against, including Brett Favre and Troy Aikman. Teague also gives his pick for the Super Bowl which airs Sunday February 12 on WBRC FOX6 News.

In this latest episode of Mike Behind the Mic, Mike Dubberly talks with longtime diet and nutrition expert, Dr. Beth Kitchin to get more insight into the Best Ranked Diets of 2023.  This is a list put out every year by the U.S. News and World Report and Dr. Kitchin breaks down some the top-ranked diets, diving into research to see which ones could be the best for you.

A lot of people have been expressing concern for the long-term health of Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa after it was announced he was entering the NFL's concussion protocol for the second time this season.  Mike Dubberly talks with former 'Bama and NFL player George Teague to get his thoughts, but also speaks with the Executive Director of the Alabama Head Injury Foundation, David Powell, who shared some insight on concussions and candid remarks on Tua's determination to continue his playing career. 

In this week's episode of Mike Behind the Mic, Mike Dubberly talks with actor Marcelle LeBlanc of the Birmingham area, now a student at Auburn University. You might've seen her in the early seasons of the popular Netflix series Cobra Kai, but most recently she has starred as Mary Ellen in the surprisingly successful, The Waltons Homecoming. Now, Marcelle is back as Mary Ellen in The Waltons Thanksgiving. She talks about what it's like working with actor Richard Thomas, who of course played John Boy in the original show from the 1970's, The Waltons, which follows the family trying navigating the Depression Era living in Virginia. Marcelle discusses how this newer version relates to common values that family members of all ages can relate to, even in the 21^st Century.