The morning after the opening night of the NFL Draft is always must-listen sports radio, as stations across the country experience increased listenership tuned in for reaction to the latest name added to their local NFL franchise’s roster. In Atlanta, following a surprising first-round selection of Michael Penix last year, it remained to be seen how impactful the newest addition could be for the “Dirty Birds.” For 92.9 The Game, the buzz surrounding the Falcons’ selection the previous night wasn’t the only news to discuss the next morning, as the station announced Ali Mac would be the latest addition to the radio station, joining The Morning Shift.
A seasoned radio veteran, Mac walked into the doors of 92.9 The Game in a full-time capacity, teaming up with former Atlanta Falcon Mike Johnson and co-host Beau “Squidbilly” Morgan to form The Morning Shift as an enhanced destination for sports fans in Atlanta. Mac’s journey to The Game is unlike many of her contemporaries, where a week of fill-in work one summer caught the ear of Program Director Mike Conti, leading to a phone call earlier this year with an opportunity for an Atlanta-born sports junkie.
“There was a point in time last year where they were having women fill in on the morning shift while Tiffany Blackmon was covering the Olympics,” said Mac. “They brought in different people from radio and media, and I happened to be one of them. That week when I filled in with them, I wondered, ‘This feels good.’ I could see potential with this show.”
The potential that Mac saw in The Morning Shift has taken shape over her first month on the program, bringing her wealth of ideas from previous experiences into the model of the show. Her experience working morning drive on Soft AC and Country music radio stations has provided her with the skill set to insert different concepts into a morning show packed with Falcons, Braves, and all things sports.
“What’s been great is Mike, Beau, and Mike Conti. They don’t say no to any of my ideas. They love everything I’m bringing to the table,” explained Mac. “I bring in a lot of creative energy, and I get to bring in other experience that I have from other formats with interviewing artists. It’s just been great. They don’t turn down any of my ideas, and that’s been the biggest bonus.”
Making The Transition From Music To Sports Talk
Mac’s arrival at 92.9 The Game was due to the departure of Tiffany Blackmon, who was an original member of The Morning Shift when the show launched in March of 2023. Blackmon’s final show with Johnson and Morgan was on April 4 before it was announced that she would be pursuing other opportunities. Mac stated that she has not spoken to Blackmon since her departure to gain any insights on the day-to-day of The Morning Shift. Blackmon spent the last two years balancing morning drive on 92.9 The Game along with her outside duties with CBS Sports and several other media outlets.
“From what I understand, she was burning the candle at both ends, working so much as a sideline reporter and having so many things to do with so much on her plate,” stated Mac.
It’s no secret that making the transition from music radio to sports talk radio can prove to be a difficult one for many. However, Mac insists that because of the initial experience she got to have with Johnson and Morgan last summer due to Blackmon covering the Olympics in Paris, the progression has been less bumpy and more of a smooth evolution.
“I absolutely love it. I don’t feel like there’s been much of a transition,” says Mac. “These guys are solid—just absolutely solid people. Mike has so much knowledge about sports and can handle anything that is thrown his way. Beau, obviously working in radio as long as he has, he’s hungry to be there every single morning, and we’re just having so much fun. I’ve gotten to open up all my creative juices. I’ve created all these games and stuff for them. I love doing that kind of stuff, and I get to highlight what they’re so good at. It’s just been amazing.”
Evolution From Being A Fan To Playing On The Game
Mac is no stranger to the Atlanta sports scene, as her passion bleeds through the speakers every morning. She grew up in the ‘ATL’ cheering on the Atlanta Braves’ run to eleven straight division titles and attended the 1995 World Series. Growing up in a family of Falcons, Braves, Hawks, and Georgia Bulldogs fans, she feels, helps her depth in her approach of entertaining the listening audience.
“The feedback so far—the audience wants to hear more from me. They realize that I do know my stuff when it comes to sports in Atlanta,” Mac noted. “They want to get to know more about what I know about sports, because everybody has known me from the music formats. It’s just a matter of getting more involved in the technical sports talk.”
Atlanta is also home to the Atlanta Dream of the WNBA, which continues to see a surge in interest and viewership over the past couple of seasons. As sports radio stations continue to navigate ways for more discussion surrounding women’s sports to meet the demand for it, Mac understands the importance of her role in catering to the increasing interest.
“It’s so important. I have nieces and I want them to hear about women professional athletes on the radio,” explains Mac. “I’m all about making sure that women get their due when it comes to promoting them on the show and making sure we are talking about them. Little girls’ eyes are on them. We want to make sure we’re talking about them so that they know they have a place in professional sports as well.”
Mac believes the added interest in women’s sports should lead to more women being represented on sports radio stations across the country. She’s seen that more women are being introduced into sports media every day and feels that things are turning toward more inclusion of women in sports coverage.
Finding A New Home With Unwavering Support
What’s most important in Mac’s everyday life is her marriage to Grant McCauley, who serves as the Atlanta Braves reporter for 92.9 The Game and works for several other television and digital outlets. She notes that McCauley has been her biggest proponent and supporter in taking the role with The Morning Shift, knowing that her creativity and energy would add a lot to the program. They support each other with their shared passions for sports and broadcasting, albeit what Mac described as “shift passing in the night,” as Mac works mornings and McCauley works most evenings. In the end, the couple is making the schedule work because of the support they have for one another.
“We both understand each other. Grant and I found each other later in life because we’ve always been career-first. I absolutely support his dreams, and he supports mine,” said Mac. “It’s just been incredible to have my husband as a coworker. I get to interview him every Friday and ask him the nitty-gritty about the Braves. It’s been a very surreal experience, and I absolutely love it.”
With the football season nearing—both college and professional—Mac is looking ahead to a very exciting first year hosting morning drive in a passion-fueled football market like Atlanta. She’s looking forward to having a front-row seat to watch and share her thoughts every morning with the city she calls home, bringing fun and excitement to The Morning Shift.
“I’m having so much fun doing this. It just feels like something’s there, and now I’m in that seat,” said Mac. “I’m not taking it for granted, and this is where I want to be for many years.”
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John Mamola is the sports editor and columnist for Barrett Media. He brings over two decades of experience (Chicago, Tampa/St Petersburg) in the broadcast industry with expertise in brand management, sales, promotions, producing, imaging, hosting, talent coaching, talent development, web development, social media strategy and design, video production, creative writing, partnership building, communication/networking with a long track record of growth and success. Honored to be a five-time recognized top 20 program director in a major market via Barrett Media and honored internally multiple times as station/brand of the year (Tampa, FL) and employee of the month (Tampa, FL). Connect with John by email at John@BarrettMedia.com.
