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Sports Spectrum Podcast

Launched in 2017 and now with over 5 million downloads, Sports Spectrum's podcast features stories on the intersection of sports and faith. Hosted by former ESPN Senior Producer Jason Romano, new conversations drop multiple times each week.
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Now displaying: December, 2020
Dec 31, 2020

Adam Engel is an outfielder with the Chicago White Sox. He was selected in the 19th round of the 2013 MLB Amateur Draft by the White Sox after playing his college ball at the University of Louisville.

On May 27, 2017, Adam made his MLB debut with Chicago against the Detroit Tigers. In August of 2018, Adam robbed three home runs in a six game span including back-to-back games against the Yankees. In 2020, he hit a career high .295 with 3 HR in 36 games and hit his first career postseason home run in Game 1 of the Wild Card Round against Oakland.

Today on the podcast, Adam shares what playing baseball was like in 2020 during Covid, being tested everyday, playing in front of zero fans, how his faith in Jesus took shape and why he and his wife are giving back through Compassion International's Fill the Stadium initiative

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If you enjoyed this episode with Adam, we know you'll love these conversations as well:

Jennie Finch - Softball Pitching Legend

Chris Burke - Former MLB Player

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Dec 30, 2020

Tiffany Byrd is the Director of Sports Nutrition at Wake Forest University. She is responsible for implementing the day-to-day fueling and hydration needs for all sports at Wake Forest. 

As a student-athlete, Byrd was a member of the 2002 National Championship gymnastics team at Alabama where she twice earned Scholastic All-American honors. 

Byrd holds a Master's Degree in Human Nutrition from the University of Alabama. 

On today's show, Tiffany shares with us some practical steps to implement into our daily lives to help us be healthier and more productive in 2021. We also hear how her faith guides her to wanting to pursue a healthy life. 

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If you enjoyed this episode with Tiffany, we know you'll love these conversations as well:

Episode 377 - Sarah Roberts

Episode 307 - Leah O'Brien-Amico

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Episode 582

Dec 28, 2020

Tim Johnson is the founding pastor of Orlando World Outreach Center in Orlando, Florida. He is also a former NFL defensive lineman who played 10 seasons with the Steelers, Redskins and Bengals. 

He was selected in the 6th round of the 1987 NFL Draft by Pittsburgh after starring in college at Penn State. He was a member of the 1986 Nittany Lions team that won the National Championship and finished undefeated. 

In the NFL, Johnson played three seasons with Pittsburgh and then moved to Washington, where he played six seasons and was a member of the 1991 Super Bowl winning Redskins team. In 1993, he was named to the Pro Bowl and finished his career in 1996 with Cincinnati.

On today's podcast, we talk to Tim Johnson about winning a championship in college and the NFL, the one interception he had in his pro career, playing for coach Joe Gibbs, how he be came a pastor and his desire to reach the fatherless generation with the Gospel. 

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If you enjoyed this episode with Tim, we know you'll love these conversations as well:

Episode 462 - Joe Gibbs

Episode 117 - Jon Gordon

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Dec 26, 2020

Matt Loede is a Cleveland based reporter who has covered sports in Northeast Ohio since 1994. He has covered Major League Baseball, NBA, NFL as well as high school and college events. He's been a part of the Cleveland Indians coverage since the opening of Jacobs/Progressive Field in 1994 and covered LeBron James' two tenures in Cleveland with the Cavaliers. 

In 2020, Matt was named the Associated Press Radio Sports Stringer Lifetime Service Award. 

But today's podcast isn't about sports, its about a different type of battle. At 45 years old, Matt is currently battling Stage 4 Lymphoma, a blood cancer that he was diagnosed with in April of 2019.

Matt has had over 20 chemo treatments and shares on today's podcast how his faith has helped keep him on solid ground during his fight against cancer. 

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If you enjoyed this episode with Bryce, we know you'll love these conversations as well:

Episode 549 - Mark Herzlich

Episode 366 - Tammi Carr

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Dec 24, 2020

Josh Manson is a defenseman and assistant captain for the Anaheim Ducks. He was selected in the sixth round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft by Anaheim, and made his NHL debut in 2014.

In 2016-17, Manson played all 82 games and helped the Ducks to the Western Conference Finals. The next season saw him record a career-high 37 points (seven goals, 30 assists) and average more than 20 minutes of ice time for the first time in his career. He’s averaged 20-plus minutes every year since.

In college at Northeastern (in Boston), Manson was awarded the Hockey East conference’s Best Defensive Defenseman award in 2013-14, and also named to the 2013-14 Hockey East Second All-Star Team.

Josh’s father, Dave Manson, was a first-round pick and played in the NHL from 1986-2002.

Today on the podcast, we talk to Josh Manson about his hockey season being cut short due to the pandemic, becoming a dad for the first time, coming to faith in Christ in 2017, and growing up in a pro hockey household.

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If you enjoyed this episode with Josh, we know you'll love these conversations as well:

Mike Fisher and Matt Hasselbeck

Mike Emrick

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Dec 23, 2020

Rusty is the lead pastor of Real Life Church Ministries in Valencia, California. For over 20 years he has provided visionary leadership and teaching to his churches. 

He is the author of three books including his latest, "AFTER AMEN: What to D When You're Waiting on God," released on October 13, 2020. 

On today's podcast, we talk to Rusty about his love for the Los Angeles Laker, how 2020 became the year of practicing patience, doing the next right thing and why this year has been the toughest season of his pastoring journey. 

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If you enjoyed this episode with Rusty, we know you'll love these conversations as well:

Episode 20 - Louie Giglio

Episode 500 - Derwin Gray

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Dec 21, 2020

Bryce Drew is the men's basketball coach at Grand Canyon University in Arizona. He was named to the position on March 17, 2020. Prior to coming to GCU, he was the head coach at Vanderbilt University from 2016-2019 and his alma mater Valparaiso from 2011-2016. 

In high school, Bryce was a standout player and named Indiana's Mr. Basketball in 1994. At Valpo, Drew's college career saw him win Mid-Continent Player of the Year in back-to-back seasons (1997,98) and hit a very famous game-winning shot to help his team beat Ole Miss in the 1998 NCAA Tournament. 

After college, Bryce was selected 16th overall by the Chicago Bulls in the first round of the 1998 NBA Draft. He played six seasons in the NBA with the Rockets, Bulls and Hornets before moving to coaching. His brother Scott is currently the head coach at Baylor and his father Homer was the longtime coach at Valparaiso. 

Today on the podcast, Bryce shares about his new coaching role at GCU, how often he's asked about the March Madness 1998 buzzer beater, his favorite NBA story, the lesson he learned from being fired and the importance of his faith in Christ.

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If you enjoyed this episode with Bryce, we know you'll love these conversations as well:

Episode 180 - Tony Bennett

Episode 117 - Jon Gordon

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Episode 578

Dec 19, 2020

Browns QB Case Keenum and Patriots 8-time Pro Bowler Matthew Slater join Brock Huard to talk faith, football and using their platforms for a greater purpose. 

You can watch the entire Sports Spectrum Football Special: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiTQGmwfvMU&t=27s  

You can learn more about joining Compassion and Pro Athletes in releasing children from poverty at http://FilltheStadium.com 

You can order Football Sunday 2021 for your church by visiting http://FootballSunday.com

Dec 18, 2020

Vernon Fox played eight seasons in the NFL with the Chargers, Lions, Broncos and Washington. 

He was undrafted in 2002 coming out of Fresno State where he was a two-time First-Team All-WAC.

Following his playing career, Vernon went into coaching and was the head football coach of Faith Lutheran High School in Las Vegas from 2013-2019. He guided his team to a 53-28 record and a Class 3A state championship in his seven years. 

On today's podcast, we talk to Vernon about stepping away from coaching in 2020, his welcome to the NFL moment, playing for legendary coaches Mike Shanahan, Joe Gibbs and Marty Schottenheimer, and how he went from self reliant to God dependent. 

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If you enjoyed this episode with Vernon, we know you'll love these conversations as well:

Episode 326 - Justin Simmons

Episode 126 - Mark Schlereth

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Episode 577

Dec 16, 2020

Adam LaRoche played 12 seasons in the Major Leagues with the Braves, Pirates, Red Sox, Diamondbacks, Nationals and White Sox.  He was selected in the 29th round of the 2000 MLB Draft by the Braves and four years later, made his MLB debut on April 7, 2004 against the Mets. 

During his career, he accumulated 255 career home runs and 1,452 hits. In 2012, he was the Gold Glove and Silver Slugger winner at first base in a season that saw him hit a career-high 33 home runs and 100 RBI. 

Since retirement in 2016, Adam is staying busy as a co-owner of Buck Commander with Chipper Jones, Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean and Willie Robertson. He's also in law enforcement, having went to Police Academy to be deputized in Ft Scott, Kansas. 

Today on the podcast, we talk to Adam about his greatest hunting experience, retiring abruptly in 2016, the importance of being with a community of men and why he has a heart for combatting human trafficking.

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If you enjoyed this episode with Adam, we know you'll love these conversations as well:

Episode 66: Adam LaRoche and Gary Haugen on Human Trafficking

Episode 554: Phil Robertson - Duck Commander Founder

Episode 63: Francis Chan and Adam Wainwright

 

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Episode 576

Dec 14, 2020

Drew Stanton played 14 seasons in the NFL with the Lions, Jets, Colts, Cardinals and Browns. He was selected in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft by Detroit. 

He was a standout quarterback at Harrison High School in Farmington Hills, Michigan and in college at Michigan State. Drew has spent time learning and mentoring quarterbacks in the NFL like Matthew Stafford, Jon Kitna, Andrew Luck, Carson Palmer and Baker Mayfield.  Stanton retired following the 2019 NFL season.

On today's podcast, we talk to Drew Stanton about retirement, adjusting to life without football, coming to faith in Christ and the difficulty of playing the quarterback position in the NFL.

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If you enjoyed this episode with Drew, we know you'll love these conversations as well:

Episode 336 - Matt Forte and Justin Forsett

Episode 96 - Kirk Cousins

Episode 458 - Carson and Maddie Wentz

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Episode 575

Dec 12, 2020

Vikings QB Kirk Cousins joins Brock Huard to talk about his recent hot streak where he's thrown for 16 touchdowns and just 2 interceptions in his last six games in helping his team jump back into the NFC playoff chase.

Kirk also shares how the difficult start brought him closer to the Lord and why he's lended his voice to be a part of Football Sunday 2021 and Compassion International's Fill the Stadium initiative. 

 

You can watch the entire Sports Spectrum Football Special here

You can donate to our friends at Compassion International here.

Sign up for Football Sunday 2021 here

Dec 11, 2020

Episode 574

Pat Combs is a former first round draft pick of the Philadelphia Phillies. He spent 8 seasons in total playing professional baseball with the Phillies and Milwaukee Brewers. 

He was selected in the first round of the 1988 MLB Amateur Draft (11th overall) by Philadelphia and a few months later, he represented his country as a baseball player for Team USA in 1988 and was a part of an Olympic team that won the gold medal in the Seoul, Korea.  One year later, he made his MLB debut with the Phillies against Pittsburgh, going 6 innings and giving up no runs. 

Combs retired from baseball in the mid-1990's and is currently a behavioral analytics consultant for numerous pro athletes, MLB and NFL teams and corporate leaders. His first book, "More Than the Score" released on October 15, 2020.

Today on the podcast, we talk to Pat Combs about his time as an MLB player, his thoughts on the 2020 abbreviated MLB season, coming to Christ at a Phillies chapel service in 1989, pitching against a future Pro Football Hall of Famer in the minor leagues and why he's focused now on sports parenting and youth sports. 

You can order Pat's new book "More Than the Score" here

 

For more stories of sports and faith, check out our website http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Dec 10, 2020

Steve Sonderman is the founder of No Regrets Men's Ministries. His passion is to see every local church have its own ministry to men. He's a regular speaker at men's conferences and consults and leads seminars around the world assisting churches in developing local men's ministries. 

He has worked in professional sports as a chaplain, ministering to athletes and coaches. He is the author of "Mobilizing Men for One-on-One Ministry.

The No Regrets Conference is a one-day event broadcast LIVE on February 6, 2021 at 8:30am CT. You can sign up today and learn more at their website https://www.noregretsconference.org/

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If you enjoyed this episode with Steve, we know you'll love these conversations as well:

Episode 5 - Sam and Emmanuel Acho

Episode 149 - Matt Hasselbeck

Episode 433 - Brent Suter

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Dec 9, 2020

Episode 573

Michael Porter Sr is a basketball coach, father and husband. He has coached the game of basketball for over 20 years, most recently as an assistant coach and Director of Player Development at the University of Missouri and head coach Cuonzo Martin.

His son, Michael Porter Jr. was selected in the first round of the 2018 NBA Draft by Denver and helped lead the Nuggets to the Western Conference Finals in 2020. 

A former University of New Orleans basketball player, Porter Sr and his wife Lisa have eight children including four that played on the University of Missouri's women's and men's basketball teams. 

Today on the podcast, we talk to Michael Porter Sr. about watching his son play in the NBA 2020 bubble, being a parent and mentor to an NBA player, why leading with faith has been a constant, the difference between knowing about Jesus and knowing Jesus, and encouragement he has for other sports parents. Follow Michael on Twitter: @CoachPorter8

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If you enjoyed this episode with Michael, we know you'll love these conversations as well:

Episode 138 - Kristen Ledlow

Episode 552 - Donnie Jones

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For more stories of sports and faith, check out our website - http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Dec 7, 2020

Chris Davis is a first baseman with the Baltimore Orioles. He’s played 13 years in the Major Leagues starting with the Texas Rangers before being traded to Baltimore in 2011. 

Chris led Major League Baseball in home runs in 2013 and 2015 and was named to the 2013 MLB All-Star Game. 

Today on the podcast, we talk to Chris about the highs and lows of his MLB career, his strong faith in Jesus, and why he’s involved with Compassion International’s “Fill the Stadium” initiative. 

 

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If you enjoyed this episode with Chris, we know you’ll love these conversations as well

Episode 383 - Melanie Newman

Episode 442 - Matt Wieters

Episode 194 - Caroline Stanley

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For more stories of sports and faith, check out our website http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Dec 5, 2020

Episode 572

Rob Maaddi has covered Philadelphia sports for the Associated Press since 2000. He's also the author of many books including "Birds of Pray: The Story of the Philadelphia Eagles' Faith, Brotherhood and Super Bowl Victory" and "Mike Schmidt - The Phillies Legendary Slugger."

In 2017, Maaddi launched a radio show called "Faith on the Field" where he interviews athletes and formulates discussions on sports and faith. 

On today's podcast, Rob Maaddi shares what it is like to cover Philadelphia sports, the story of accepting Christ into his life, how he lives his faith out in the secular sports world and why he felt God nudging him to launch a faith and sports radio show. 

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If you enjoyed this episode with Rob, we know you'll love these conversations as well:

Episode 458 - Carson and Maddie Wentz

Episode 85 - A Conversation with the 2017 Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles

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Dec 4, 2020

Episode 571

Emmanuel Acho is a bestselling author of the new book "Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man." He's also the creator and host of the popular YouTube series of the same name.

Acho grew up in Dallas, Texas and played college football at the University of Texas. He was selected in the 6th round of the 2012 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns. His NFL career spanned four seasons with the Browns, Eagles and Giants. Following his playing career, Emmanuel would launch a successful broadcasting career at ESPN and now currently with Fox Sports.

On this episode of the podcast, Emmanuel Acho shares how "Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man" was born, becoming a New York Times bestselling author, the most uncomfortable conversation he's ever had, connecting with Oprah Winfrey and how he's staying grounded in his faith as his platform has increased.

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If you enjoyed this episode with Emmanuel, we know you'll love these conversations as well:

Episode 5 - Sam and Emmanuel Acho

Episode 90 - Andy Mineo and Trey Burton

Episode 546 - Sam Acho

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Dec 2, 2020

Episode 570

Brian Dickinson is an author, speaker and adventurer. In May of 2011, he soloed the summit of Mount Everest, the highest mountain the world. On his descent, Brian became snow blind with his vision not returning for over a month. 

He depicted the story in his book "Blind Descent" released in 2014. Brian holds the record for the highest solo blind descent and has climbed each of the seven summits, the highest peaks of all seven continents. 

Brian spent six years in the United States Navy as a Special Operations Air Rescue Swimmer and did two tours in the Gulf as part of Operation Southern Watch. He's been featured on CNN, Good Morning America, the Huffington Post, the 700 Club and more. 

On today's show, Brian tells the incredible story of climbing Mount Everest, becoming snow blind on his way down the mountain and shares in great detail the emotional connection with God he made in his darkest moment on the descent. 

Follow Brian on Twitter: @BrianCDickinson

 

For more stories of sports and faith, check out our website http://SportsSpectrum.com 

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