July 13, 2025 • 47 mins
A Note from Jacob: 375 podcast episodes! I never expected to record 375 interviews when I first sat down with reality TV and pop culture commentator Brent Wolgamott in November 2019. I never thought that best-selling authors, an Emmy-nominated director, Emmy-winning journalists, podcast hosts, Reality TV icons, a Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee, a Tony-winning producer, and viral social media sensations would take the time out of their schedules to share their stories with me and my audience.
Thank you to all my guests and their respective media teams who trusted my platform; I am genuinely grateful. Most importantly, I want to thank you, the listeners, who checked out my conversations. I appreciate all of you, and I hope that we can continue this journey together for the next 375 episodes.
I am beyond thrilled to welcome back my honorary podcasting older brother, actor and comedian Scott Yager, and welcome first-time guest “The Godfather” Mark Long for the 375th episode of The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast.
Scott hosts the Challenge Mania Podcast. He, along with his co-host, three-time The Challenge champion, Derrick Kosinski, breaks down the happenings of the long-running MTV show The Challenge and sits down with cast members to discuss their time on the reality TV competition. Cara Maria Sorbello, CT Tamburello, Frank Sweeney Fox, Johnny Bananas, Jonna Mannion, Paulie Calafiore, Rachel Robinson, Tony Raines, Tula “Big T” Fazakerley, Veronica Portillo, and Wes Bergmann are some of the cast members who sat down with Scott and Derrick for in-depth conversations. He also co-hosts both Disney Mania and Survivor Mania with co-host Lindsay Arber, while giving his takes on the wrestling world on The Heel World. Derrick and Scott also host Challenge Mania Live, a traveling live show where they bring cast members to meet fans and share stories about their time on the show.
One of Challenge Mania Live’s frequent guests (and occasional Challenge Mania Live co-host) is Reality TV icon Mark Long. Nicknamed “The Godfather,” Mark became a household name 30 years ago when he was among the first group of young adults to travel across the country on Road Rules: USA – The First Adventure. Four years later, he competed on The Challenge’s sophomore season, where he won as a part of Team Road Rules. In 2002, Mark returned to The Challenge to co-host the first incarnation of Battle of the Seasons with Eric Nies. He won his second championship on Battle of the Sexes and made it to the finals of both The Gauntlet 2 and The Duel II. Over his career, Mark won 35 daily challenges, two eliminations, and earned $81,184.
Mark was instrumental in organizing the viral “We Want OGs” campaign, which paved the way for The Challenge: All-Stars, a show that brought together cast members from the original Real World and Road Rules series. He competed in two seasons, made it to two finals, won four daily challenges, and three eliminations. Mark serves as one of the show’s executive producers.
On Sunday, July 27, Scott and Mark will host a special edition of Challenge Mania Live at the Brea Improv that will celebrate Road Rules’ thirtieth anniversary. Confirmed panelists include Robinson, Portillo, Tina Barta, Darrell Taylor, Shane Landrum, Susie Meister, Katie Cooley, and Kefla Hare.
On the 375th episode of The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast, Scott Yager and Mark Long preview the upcoming celebration, The Challenge: Vets vs. New Threats, and I asked if The Challenge would adapt an America’s Got Talent Golden Buzzer twist to the show.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/jake-s-take-with-jacob-elyachar--4112003/support.
Thank you to all my guests and their respective media teams who trusted my platform; I am genuinely grateful. Most importantly, I want to thank you, the listeners, who checked out my conversations. I appreciate all of you, and I hope that we can continue this journey together for the next 375 episodes.
I am beyond thrilled to welcome back my honorary podcasting older brother, actor and comedian Scott Yager, and welcome first-time guest “The Godfather” Mark Long for the 375th episode of The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast.
Scott hosts the Challenge Mania Podcast. He, along with his co-host, three-time The Challenge champion, Derrick Kosinski, breaks down the happenings of the long-running MTV show The Challenge and sits down with cast members to discuss their time on the reality TV competition. Cara Maria Sorbello, CT Tamburello, Frank Sweeney Fox, Johnny Bananas, Jonna Mannion, Paulie Calafiore, Rachel Robinson, Tony Raines, Tula “Big T” Fazakerley, Veronica Portillo, and Wes Bergmann are some of the cast members who sat down with Scott and Derrick for in-depth conversations. He also co-hosts both Disney Mania and Survivor Mania with co-host Lindsay Arber, while giving his takes on the wrestling world on The Heel World. Derrick and Scott also host Challenge Mania Live, a traveling live show where they bring cast members to meet fans and share stories about their time on the show.
One of Challenge Mania Live’s frequent guests (and occasional Challenge Mania Live co-host) is Reality TV icon Mark Long. Nicknamed “The Godfather,” Mark became a household name 30 years ago when he was among the first group of young adults to travel across the country on Road Rules: USA – The First Adventure. Four years later, he competed on The Challenge’s sophomore season, where he won as a part of Team Road Rules. In 2002, Mark returned to The Challenge to co-host the first incarnation of Battle of the Seasons with Eric Nies. He won his second championship on Battle of the Sexes and made it to the finals of both The Gauntlet 2 and The Duel II. Over his career, Mark won 35 daily challenges, two eliminations, and earned $81,184.
Mark was instrumental in organizing the viral “We Want OGs” campaign, which paved the way for The Challenge: All-Stars, a show that brought together cast members from the original Real World and Road Rules series. He competed in two seasons, made it to two finals, won four daily challenges, and three eliminations. Mark serves as one of the show’s executive producers.
On Sunday, July 27, Scott and Mark will host a special edition of Challenge Mania Live at the Brea Improv that will celebrate Road Rules’ thirtieth anniversary. Confirmed panelists include Robinson, Portillo, Tina Barta, Darrell Taylor, Shane Landrum, Susie Meister, Katie Cooley, and Kefla Hare.
On the 375th episode of The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast, Scott Yager and Mark Long preview the upcoming celebration, The Challenge: Vets vs. New Threats, and I asked if The Challenge would adapt an America’s Got Talent Golden Buzzer twist to the show.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/jake-s-take-with-jacob-elyachar--4112003/support.
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