From NFL Center to Syracuse Project Leader: Mackie McPherson on Identity, Mental Health, and Reinvention On Good News York, host Noah interviews Mackie McPherson, a Syracuse native who played center at CBA and for the Syracuse Orange, served as team captain, and briefly played for the Buffalo Bills. Mackie describes the immense day-to-day NFL pressure and mental health toll, explains the center’s role and on-field communication, and connects sports leadership to teamwork in improv and D&D. He recounts the difficult identity transition after being cut, coaching college football for seven years, and an especially brutal start to 2020 that left him unemployed during COVID, which became a transformative “ego death.” Mackie explains how networking led to a Syracuse University role, progressing to associate director of facility services overseeing multiple departments, and credits his wife, a mental health therapist and former theater stage manager, plus therapy, with helping him build a happier life as he expects a baby boy around Christmas. 00:00 Cold Open Banter 00:11 Meet Mackie McPherson 00:39 Football Journey Highlights 01:34 NFL Pressure And Mental Health 03:13 What A Center Does 04:03 Reading Defenses In Real Time 06:12 Beyond Football Nerd Culture 06:53 Training Mindset In Improv 08:44 Leadership Lessons From Center 10:55 D&D Improv And Reinvention 12:30 Baby On The Way 13:17 Life After The NFL Transition 15:22 Coaching Years And COVID Reset 17:40 Finding A Career At Syracuse 19:17 Project Management At SU 21:12 Facility Services Leadership 22:47 Therapy And Wife’s Influence 26:17 Redefining Success And Advice 28:50 Beyond Grind Culture 30:12 Reinvest In What Lights You Up 30:33 DND Show And Priorities 31:16 Community Shoutouts And Thanks 32:00 Facing Stage Fear 32:54 Wonderful Wednesdays Origin 34:08 From Football To Spotlight 38:02 Improv Curriculum And Adrenaline 40:09 Humiliation Rituals Build Trust 43:11 Wrap Up And Where To Find

Bruce Coville on Writing, Empathy, and Cherishing Oddballs On “Good News York,” the host interviews children’s author Bruce Coville about his career and the impact of books like “Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher” and “My Teacher Is an Alien.” Coville describes writing across formats, his sixth-grade teacher Mrs. Crandall inspiring him (and receiving the dedication), and how “My Teacher Is an Alien” became his breakthrough after years of work. He discusses why negative childhood memories linger, how arts projects and plays matter in schools, and argues that stories teach empathy better than writing to preach lessons. Coville reflects on being an “oddball,” encourages supporting excluded kids, and shares classroom experiences that informed characters. He gives advice to young writers—read, write (keep a journal), and never give up—and previews finishing “The Ghost Saw Red” after decades, with possible self-publishing. 00:00 Dedication Shoutout 00:11 Meet Bruce Coville 00:37 Jeremy Thatcher Love 01:40 Breakthrough Book 02:10 Sixth Grade Spark 02:42 Writing Failures Funny 04:39 Mrs Crandall Moment 05:12 Alien Teacher Origins 06:16 Memories And Doors 08:19 Arts Projects Matter 08:59 Failure Resume Reflection 10:37 Tech In Classrooms 12:02 Teaching Years Recap 12:38 Cherish The Oddballs 14:25 Oddballs In History 14:47 Being A Weird Kid 16:13 Movie Plans And Packaging 17:41 Alien Rumor Inspiration 18:42 Troublemaker Student Story 20:36 Turning One Book Into Series 21:50 Writing the Bad Kid POV 23:16 Empathy Through Story 25:28 Aliens Confront Real World 28:12 Advice for Young Writers 29:37 Journaling as Healing 32:09 Letters From Adult Readers 33:15 Finishing The Ghost Saw Red 38:03 Books vs Influencer Intimacy 40:24 Where to Follow Bruce 40:55 Final Thanks and Outro

Nick-E on Syracuse’s Music Scene, Mental Health, and Building a Career in 2026 On Good News York, host interviews Syracuse, New York artist Nick-E about starting music as a high school freshman, facing both support and ridicule, and using that as fuel to study lyric writing and wordplay. Nick-E describes performing mostly in New York City and Albany, often as an energetic opening act, and explains Syracuse’s diverse local music scene, naming artists like Big Sexy, Skyla Beef, and the VCM crew. He records at Red Brick Recording in Central Square and recommends venues and networking routes such as Song and Dance events and Funk ’n Waffles open mics. Nick-E performs and discusses two songs, “Dark Clouds” (inspired by mental health struggles and recovery after returning home from NYC during COVID) and “Tough Times” (reflecting late high school growth). He cites influences including Mac Miller and pop punk bands, and shares advice on supporting friends, honing craft, and mastering social media and content monetization while keeping a job to pay bills. 00:00 Fuel From Doubters 00:20 Meet Nick E 01:26 First Songs In High School 02:53 NYC Shows And Live Energy 03:41 Syracuse Scene And Shoutouts 05:13 Studios And Getting Involved 06:58 Performing Dark Clouds 10:59 Meaning Behind Dark Clouds 12:50 Influences And Positivity 14:45 Starting Tough Times 15:26 Song Performance Begins 16:07 Hook and Repeat Chorus 16:54 Post Song Reactions 17:06 High School Inspiration 18:14 Support Your Friends 19:48 Inside Joke FMC 20:06 Making Music in 2026 22:03 Finding Local Artists 24:11 Advice for New Musicians 27:22 Funk N Waffles Love 28:36 Where to Find Nick E 29:21 Final Wrap and Thanks