This episode of What's Up Wake goes behind the mic with Carolina Hurricanes play-by-play announcer Mike Maniscalco. Mike shares how his love of sports turned into a career in broadcasting, from student radio and television to calling Hurricanes games and covering some of the biggest moments in franchise history.

Mike talks about what makes hockey one of the hardest sports to call, the preparation that goes into every game, and how he learns from both his best and worst broadcasts. He also opens up about working alongside Trip Tracy, the importance of having chemistry with your broadcast partner, and what it is really like to call a game live with thousands of Caniacs reacting to every moment.

The conversation also looks back at the Hurricanes’ run to the Stanley Cup Final, including the emotional moment when Mike and Trip realized the team had finally reached the championship series. Mike shares what makes Carolina’s fan base so special, why he considers the Lenovo Center one of the loudest buildings in the NHL, and how the Hurricanes have helped turn North Carolina into a true hockey town.

Mike also discusses being named the 2025 North Carolina Sportscaster of the Year, why he hates hearing his own voice, and the surprising fact that despite his job requiring him to be extremely outgoing, he is actually very shy.

The episode wraps up with a What's Up Roundup lightning round covering the hardest Hurricanes player name to say, Jordan Martinook’s personality, the game Mike would love to call in sports history, his favorite catchphrase stories, which player he would call in an emergency, and who he would choose to sound the siren before a Hurricanes game.

00:00 Smart Shades Intro
00:10 In Home Window Consults
00:38 Local Sponsor Spots
01:52 Meet Mike Maniscalco
02:57 Early Sports Dreams
04:39 Buffalo Hockey Roots
06:13 Breaking Into Radio
07:28 Advice For Broadcasters
08:20 Calling Hockey Fast
09:19 Prep And Repetition
12:47 Live Mistakes And Fun
14:08 Broadcast Partner Chemistry
15:25 Inside The Canes Crew
16:56 Caniacs And Game Atmosphere
22:30 Stanley Cup Booth Cam
25:28 Team Bonds And Loyalty
26:28 Calling Big Games Calmly
27:04 Playoff Moments That Stand Out
28:20 Athlete Mindset And Consistency
29:28 Game Six Vegas Nerves
31:22 Sportscaster Of The Year Honor
32:15 Shy Off Mic Reality
34:56 Lightning Round Hurricanes Picks
39:20 Dream Siren Sounders
40:58 Season Wrap And Thanks