BONUS EPISODE
Chris Broussard is currently the co-host of "The Odd Couple" on FOX Sports Radio and is a commentator of various FOX Sports and FS1 telecasts.
For almost more than a decade, Chris worked as an NBA insider with ESPN and ESPN the Magazine.
Chris is also the founder of K.I.N.G. Movement, a national Christian men's organization that seeks to strengthen men in their Christian faith by providing support, accountability, teaching, fellowship and brotherhood.
On today's show Chris joins us to look back at the 10 year anniversary of LeBron James' decision on ESPN, reporting on that story, remembering Stuart Scott, broadcasting amidst Covid-19 and the importance for him to filter his thoughts and responses to the current racial climate through the lens of his faith in Christ.
Follow Chris on Instagram: @ChrisBroussard
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Episode 519
Art Warren is a pitcher with the Seattle Mariners. He was selected in the 23rd round of the 2015 MLB Draft by Seattle after playing his college ball at the University of Cincinnati and Ashland University.
His pro baseball career began in 2015 but a year earlier, he had Tommy John surgery and was told he may never be able to pitch again.
After five years of minor league baseball that saw him go through cities like Bakersfield, Modesto, Peoria and Little Rock, Warren would make his MLB debut on September 12, 2019 against the Cincinnati Reds. In September, he pitched six games total and allowed zero runs, 2 hits, 2 walks and struck out five in 5.1 innings. He also notched his first MLB win on September 27, 2019 against Oakland.
On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Art about his journey of baseball and faith. Art walks us through how he’s staying ready during the pandemic, the awesome story of making his MLB debut last September, how switching a walk-out song helped him find purpose and why he believes he’s pitching on borrowed time.
Follow Art on Twitter: @Arthur_Warren
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Episode 518
Andy Erwin is a filmmaker and storyteller and is half of the filmmaking duo The Erwin Brothers with his brother Jon. Erwin began his career as a teenager working for ESPN as a camera operator in his hometown of Birmingham, Alabama. As a sports cameraman, Erwin worked with ESPN College Football Primetime, FOX NFL, and the NBA covering events such as the X Games and the Super Bowl.
In 2002, Andy founded a production company with his brother Jon. After working on commercials and music videos, the brothers turned to developing feature films and have created features such as OCTOBER BABY, MOM'S NIGHT OUT, WOODLAWN and the 2018 smash hit I CAN ONLY IMAGINE.
In 2020, the Erwin Brothers released the film I STILL BELIEVE on March 13, the same weekend that the global pandemic was declared.
On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Andy about his journey to filmmaking, how ESPN and a desire to work in sports helped jumpstart his career, why he wanted to make films of faith, and what the Lord has taught him during this pandemic.
Follow Andy on Instagram: @ErwinbroAndy
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BONUS EPISODE
Josh Lindblom is a pitcher with the Milwaukee Brewers. He was selected in the 2nd round of the 2008 MLB Drafty by the Los Angeles Dodgers. He made his Major League debut on June 1, 2011 against Colorado.
After stints in Philadelphia, Texas and Oakland, he would take his professional baseball talents to Korea and the KBO (Korean Baseball Organization). In 2018, he went 15-4 with a 2.88 ERA and in 2019, he went 20-3 with a 2.50 ERA and would be named the KBO Most Valuable Player for 2019.
On today's episode, we talk to Josh about staying prepared during a pandemic, how his faith has remained constant during the quarantine, questioning God's plan when his daughter was born and how his perspective on baseball has changed and evolved over the past three years.
Follow Josh on Twitter - https://twitter.com/JoshLindblom52
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Episode 517
Steve Carter is a pastor and speaker and co-hosts the "Home Team" podcast with ESPN personality Samantha Ponder and NFL player Sam Acho.
Steve has been a pastor for many years and in 2016, released his first book "This Invitational Life: Risking Yourself to Align with God’s Heartbeat for Humanity."
On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Steve about his love affair with Michigan football, the NBA, Michael Jordan and when we'll see sports again. Steve also shares how his faith took shape, what he learned going through dark moments in his life, growing up without a dad, standing up for what is right, and the importance of leading with humility and integrity.
Follow Steve on Instagram: @SteveRyanCarter
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Episode 516
Andre' Davis played nine seasons in the NFL from 2002-2010. He was selected in the second round of the 2002 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns. He would spend three seasons in Cleveland, one in New England, one in Buffalo and then four seasons in Houston until retiring after the 2010 season.
He played his college football at Virginia Tech, where he teamed with Michael Vick to form a dangerous QB/WR tandem that helped the Hokies to a 22-2 record including a trip to the National Championship game in the two seasons Vick and Davis played together.
When he came to the NFL, Davis made his mark as a kick returner and brought back 3 kickoffs for touchdowns in 2007 with Houston.
On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Andre' about his journey from Virginia Tech to the NFL, the overseas trip to Rwanda that he was on with his wife as the Global Pandemic was beginning, playing with Michael Vick in college, and the physical and mental struggles he's worked through since retirement.
Follow Andre' on Instagram: @1AndreDavis
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Episode 515
Maurice "Moe" Williams is currently the team chaplain of the Jacksonville Jaguars. His time in Jacksonville began in 2001 when he was selected in the second round of the NFL Draft by the Jaguars. He would go to play nine seasons in Jacksonville, starting 100 of a career 105 games.
In high school, Williams was a USA Today High School All-American in 1996 and played his college football at Michigan where he helped the Wolverines to a national championship in 1997.
After returning in 2010, Moe felt called to ministry and is now ministering to the Jaguars players and staff as their team chaplain through Athletes in Action.
On this episode of the podcast we talk to Moe Williams about the unique challenges presented to him in his current role during these uncertain times, how he went from being a player to a chaplain with the same team, his work with Athletes in Action and how he's found victory beyond the competition and the pain and injuries he's felt on his journey as an NFL offensive lineman.
Follow Sports Spectrum on Twitter: @Sports_Spectrum
Episode 514
Matthew Driscoll is in his 10th season as the head basketball coach at North Florida. The 3-time Atlantic Sun Coach of the Year has seen a ton of success for his program since arriving in 2009 including three Atlantic Sun regular season championships, and led his club to their first ever trip to the NCAA Tournament in 2015.
In 2019-2020, North Florida was 21-12 including a 13-3 record in the A-Sun and had a great opportunity to go to the Big Dance before the postseason was cancelled due to Covid-19. For his efforts, Driscoll was named the 2020 Atlantic Sun Coach of the Year.
Prior to North Florida, Driscoll had coaching stops as an assistant at Wyoming, Clemson and Baylor.
On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Mathew Driscoll about the lessons he's learned in seeing his 2019-2020 season come to an abrupt end due to the pandemic. We also hear how he came to Christ and how that journey of faith shapes him and molds him each day as a coach and as a man.
Follow Coach Driscoll on Twitter: @UNFBBALL
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BONUS EPISODE
Keith Smith is a fullback with the Atlanta Falcons. 2020 will be his 7th NFL season. He was originally undrafted in 2014 after playing his college ball at San Jose State.
The Dallas Cowboys signed Keith in 2014 and he was converted from linebacker to fullback. In 2016, he helped Ezekiel Elliott win the NFL rushing title and contributed to a Cowboys team that tied a team record with 13 regular season wins.
After his stint with the Cowboys ended in 2017, he came to the Raiders for one season in 2018 and then signed with Atlanta. In 2020, he signed a 3-year contract extension to remain with the Falcons.
Follow Keith Smith on Instagram: @beef31
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Episode 513
Patrick Fraher has been an NBA referee since 2001. He has officiated over 1,100 regular season games and over 50 playoff games in his 19 NBA seasons. In 2015, he officiated the NBA All-Star Game in New York City.
Prior to joining the NBA, Fraher officiated for seven years in the CBA where he worked the Finals and All-Star Game and also spent four years in the WNBA.
He attended the University of Minnesota, where he was awarded the Evans Scholarship and graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering.
On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Patrick about being scheduled to referee the Utah vs Oklahoma City game in March that was suspended and led to the postponement of the NBA season. We also hear how he became an NBA referee, his favorite Michael Jordan story, and his incredible story of coming to faith in Christ at age 43.
For more stories of sports and faith, check out http://SportsSpectrum.com
Follow us on Instagram: @Sports_Spectrum
BONUS EPISODE
John O'Leary is a walking miracle. In 1987, John O’Leary was a die-hard St. Louis Cardinals baseball fan. He was also a curious nine-year-old boy. Playing with fire and gasoline, John created a massive explosion in his home and was burned on 100% of his body.
He was given a 1% chance to live.
And live he did.
With the help of a St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame broadcaster, and his love for baseball, John was able to survive and even more than that thrive in life.
John is now a motivational speaker and author, sharing his incredible story. His new book, “ON FIRE: The 7 Choices to Ignite a Radically Inspired Life” was an instant #1 National Bestseller selling 30,000 copies in the first 3 weeks. In May of 2020, John released his second book "In Awe: Rediscovering Your Childlike Wonder to Unleash Inspiration, Meaning and Joy."
On today's podcast, we talk to John about his new book, why that childlike wonder is something we all should look to rediscover, his love for baseball and how he's found joy amidst the global pandemic.
Follow John on Instagram: @JohnOLeary.Inspires
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Episode 512
Christian Taylor is a U.S. track and field athlete. He is the two-time reigning Olympic champion in the triple jump, winning gold at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London and the 2016 Rio Olympics. He is also the current world champion in the event, taking gold at the 2019 World Championships in Doha, Qatar.
At the age of 17, Taylor became the triple jump champion and long jump bronze medalist at the 2007 World Youth Championships, and then established himself as a top-level triple jumper at the University of Florida. He won back-to-back NCAA indoor titles and consecutive NCAA outdoor championships in 2010 and 2011.
On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Taylor about the 2020 Summer Olympics being postponed, what training looks like during a pandemic, and why it was important for him to walk the walk and not just talk the talk when it came to being a follower of Christ.
Follow Christian on Instagram: @Taylored2Jump
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BONUS EPISODE
Jon Gordon is an author and speaker who has written more than 20 books including "The Energy Bus," "The Power of Positive Leadership" and "The Carpenter."
His latest book is called "The Garden: A Spiritual Fable About Ways to Overcome Fear, Anxiety, and Stress and releases everywhere June 30, 2020.
Gordon and his leadership principles have been featured on the Today Show, CNN, CNBC, the Golf Channel, Fox and Friends and in numerous magazines and newspapers. His clients include the Los Angeles Dodgers, Atlanta Falcons, L.A. Clippers, Miami Heat, Pittsburgh Pirates, Los Angeles Rams and Clemson football program.
On this episode of the podcast we talk to Jon about his faith fueling him to write his new book "The Garden," the 5 D's that can sabotage us, the audibles Jon has had to call during this pandemic and why it's important for us to not take the "bait of hate."
Follow Jon on Instagram: @JonGordon11
Follow Sports Spectrum on Instagram: @Sports_Spectrum
Episode 511
Paula Faris is a longtime journalist and current television correspondent for ABC News. She's also the host of the ABC podcast Journeys of Faith. From 2014 to 2018, Faris was co-anchor of Good Morning America Weekend. She also was co-host of The View for seasons 19-21.
Her new book "Called Out" released in April of 2020 and tells the story of Paula climbing the fast track of journalists and working all the way up to anchor on Good Morning America until she decided she needed to pursue her true calling and walk away from her dream jobs.
On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Paula about why she left two dream jobs, what it means to pursue her true calling, her incredible love for Michigan football, the unique bond she had with her father over sports and how she lives out her faith at a large corporation like ABC News.
Follow Paula on Twitter: @PaulaFaris
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Episode 510
Avery Johnson is an NBA champion who played 16 years in the NBA from 1988-2004. In college, he was a two-time SWAC player of the Year at Southern but would go undrafted in 1988. He would make his NBA debut in 1988 with Seattle but truly made his mark as a player when he came to San Antonio in 1995 where he would average a career-high 13.4 points per game and help the Spurs to playoff berths in 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001.
In 1999, he helped the Spurs to an NBA championship and in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, Johnson hit the game-winning shot in giving San Antonio a 78-77 win and the franchise's first world title.
After retiring following the 2003-04 season, Avery would become an assistant coach with Dallas and a year later, he was named the head coach of the Mavericks. In his first year as an NBA coach, he led his club to the Western Conference championship and a trip to the NBA Finals against the Miami Heat. That yea he was named 2006 NBA Coach of the Year. One season later, he led the Mavericks to a club record 67 regular season victories.
Avery would have two other coaching stops with the Nets in the NBA from 2011-2013 and in college at the University of Alabama from 2015-2019. His number 6 is retired by the Spurs and in February of 2009, he was inducted into the San Antonio Sports Hall of Fame.
On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Avery about his journey of faith in Christ, how he lived out that faith as an NBA player, his favorite Michael Jordan story, the teachable moments from ESPN's Chicago Bulls documentary "The Last Dance," and how he's been coping with life during the pandemic.
Follow Avery on Twitter @CoachAvery6
For more stories, check out http://SportsSpectrum.com
Episode 509
Ricardo Allen is a defensive back for the Atlanta Falcons. He was selected in the 5th round of the 2014 NFL Draft (pick 147) by Atlanta in 2014 out of Purdue. He quickly became a starter and helped the Falcons to the NFC Championship and a berth in the Super Bowl in 2016.
In August of 2018, Allen signed a three-year contract extension with Atlanta and after suffering an achilles injury in 2018, he returned in 2019 to have a productive season and was named as the Falcons' 2019 Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee.
In April of 2015, Ricardo and his wife Grace were married and together, they have three children and host their own podcast - "All in with the Allens."
On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Ricardo and Grace about their journey of faith, their NFL draft experience, how a difficult loss in Super LI actually helped shape Ricardo in a positive way, and the importance in investing in their marriage.
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Episode 508
Todd Gongwer is an author, speaker, entrepreneur and former college coach who is passionate about helping others discover their purpose in leadership and life. He is the author of the best-selling book "Lead ... for God's Sake!"
His expertise in the area of leadership and team dynamics come from over twenty-five years of a wide range of experiences spanning the world of business and athletics. He’s held senior positions in companies ranging from entrepreneurial start-up to public entity while also serving as an assistant college basketball coach for one of the winningest small College programs in the country during the 1990’s.
Todd's message has been featured in numerous publications such as ESPN the Magazine, ESPN.com, YahooSports, and Grantland. In addition, his powerful messages are impacting leaders from Fortune 500 companies, small businesses, major universities, professional sports teams, school districts, and churches throughout the country.
On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Todd about leadership, lessons on turning 50, pivoting during a pandemic, why we should all strive to be Joe the Janitor, and the importance of aligning our pursuits with God.
For more stories of sports and faith, check us out at http://SportsSpectrum.com
BONUS EPISODE
On June 17, 2015, nine people were murdered in a race motivated mass shooting at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina. Sharonda Coleman Singleton was one of those people who were killed.
Her son, Chris Singleton joins us today to remember that horrific day, the conversations he was having on race 5 years ago and why they continue to be important conversations to have today. Chris shares why his faith in Christ has helped fuel him to continue sharing his mother's memory and why forgiveness has truly given him freedom to not hold on to bitterness and anger.
BONUS EPISODE
Matt Holliday played 15 MLB seasons with the Rockies, A's, Cardinals and Yankees. The 7-time All-Star won a World Series with St. Louis in 2011 and won two National League pennants in 2007 with the Rockies and 2013 with the Cardinals.
The 2007 NLCS MVP last played with the Rockies in 2018 and is now coaching baseball at Oklahoma State.
Matt and his wife Leslee join us today to talk about their marriage, starting a new podcast together, adjusting to life after baseball and why Matt says he doesn't like the word "retire."
The new podcast "Table Forty" by Matt and Leslee is part of the Sports Spectrum Podcast Network and available to download and listen to for free everywhere podcasts are found.
Episode 507
Jim Schlossnagle is the baseball coach for Texas Christian University in Ft. Worth, Texas He arrived at TCU in 2004 and has compiled an impressive resume that includes 770 career victories and five NCAA Super Regional Appearances and four straight College World Series appearances.
In 2015 he was named Big 12 Coach of the Year and Baseball America's National Coach of the Year in 2016. His 2020 club was 11-4 until Covid-19 cancelled the rest of their season.
On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Jim Schlossnagle about his journey of faith, how he's handling the cancellation of the 2020 NCAA baseball season, what he's learned from his children as they battle a retinal disease, how Micah Ahern has impacted his life and the importance of relationships.
For more stories of sports and faith, check out http://SportsSpectrum.com
Episode 506
Jim Morris is a former MLB player, who's life was portrayed in the Disney movie "The Rookie" back in 2002. His rise to professional baseball's pinnacle was one of the most improbable stories you'll ever see.
Originally selected fourth overall in the 1983 amateur draft (January Secondary) by the Milwaukee Brewers, Jim would suffer arm injuries during his brief four year minor league career that saw him only reach the Single A level.
Morris would retire, move to Big Lake, Texas and become a teacher and high school baseball coach. In the spring of 1999, Morris made a promise to his high school team that he would try out for an MLB team if his club won the District Championship. His team would win and Morris kept his promise to attend a Tampa Bay Devil Rays tryout. That tryout turned into an incredible story that saw Jim make his MLB debut at the age of 35 on September 18, 1999 against the Texas Rangers in his hometown state.
Jim would retire after pitching two seasons in the Majors and write his autobiography "The Oldest Rookie." That book would turn into a Disney movie and Jim Morris' life would be portrayed on the big screen by actor Dennis Quaid. In June 2020, Jim would release his new book "Dream Makers: Surround Yourself with the Best to be the Best" and continues to speak and share his story with audiences across the country.
On this episode of the podcast, we talk with Jim Morris about his new book, being portrayed in the movie "The Rookie," what he learned about forgiveness in the relationship with his father, overcoming health issues and using his story to bring glory to God.
For more stories of sports and faith, check out http://SportsSpectrum.com
BONUS EPISODE
Mary Pierce is one of the most decorated female tennis players of the past 30 years. She made her tennis debut in March of 1989 at the age of 14 and would go on to a storied career that saw her win two Grand Slam singles championships, 1995 Australian Open, the 2000 French Open and two Grand Slam doubles titles at the 2000 French Open (Doubles) and 2005 Wimbledon (Mixed Doubles).
In 2019, she was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame after a career that saw her high ranking reach as high as No. 3 in the world after defeating Conchita Martinez to win the French Open on June 10, 2000. She is the first Frenchwoman in the Open era and the first French player since Yannick Noah in 1983 to win the French Open title.
On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Mary Pierce about the 20th anniversary of her winning the French Open, forgiving her father after strained relationship for many years, the journey to faith in Christ, and her desire to give back and serve in today's generation.
Follow Mary on Twitter - @_MaryPierce
Check out http://SportsSpectrum.com for more stories of sports and faith.
Episode 505
Known as one of today’s most gifted comedians, Michael Jr. brings laughter and understanding to audiences all over the world. He has spent a significant portion of his career making laughter commonplace in uncommon places such as homeless shelters and prisons, in addition to empowering his audiences with an appearance in Sony Pictures' feature film War Room as well as a starring role in his latest film Selfie Dad, which is available June 19 on Premium Video on Demand.
Michael has performed on some of the biggest media platforms including The Tonight Show, "The Late, Late Show, Oprah, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Comedy Central, BET, CNN and many others.
On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Michael Jr. about his new movie Selfie Dad, becoming a comedian, why he desired to keep his content clean and for all ages, his powerful testimony of coming to faith in Christ and his love for Detroit sports.
For more stories on sports and faith, check out http://SportsSpectrum.com
BONUS
Tony Boselli is a former Jaguars offensive lineman who played seven seasons in Jacksonville. He was selected in the first round (2nd overall) in the 1995 NFL Draft out of USC and was the first ever draft pick by the Jaguars.
Although his playing career was cut short due to injury, Boselli was named to five Pro Bowls in his seven seasons and was a three-time First Team All-Pro.
Today, Boselli is a broadcaster, calling games for the Jaguars and doing national broadcasts for Westwood One.
On this episode of the podcast, we learn about Tony Boselli's journey of faith and the impact teammates like Mark Brunell had on him. He also shares his incredible story of overcoming Covid-19 and what the Lord showed him during his time in the hospital.
For more stories of sports and faith, check out http://SportsSpectrum.com
Episode 504
Cody Hollister is currently playing wide receiver in the NFL with the Tennessee Titans. He played his college ball at Arkansas, where he would play in 29 games with 12 starts. As a senior (2016), Cody shared the team's Special Teams MVP award with punter Toby Baker after tallying eight tackles on the punt and kickoff teams.
Hollister would go undrafted in 2017 and later sign with the New England Patriots.
He would spend the 2017 season on the practice squad and in 2018, he suffered a back injury that kept him on New England's non-football injury list. He was a member of the Pats 2018 Super Bowl winning team that defeated Los Angeles 13-3.
In 2019, he signed with the Tennessee Titans and he was promoted to the active roster on November 10, 2019 in a game against Kansas City. In week 13, he caught had his first two NFL receptions in a win against Indianapolis.
His twin brother Jacob is also in the NFL, currently playing tight end with the Seattle Seahawks.
On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Cody about his powerful journey to Jesus, the bond he has with his twin brother Jacob, his struggle with depression and anxiety in college at Arkansas, how he remains content in an uncertain football career. Jacob is also a musician and plays an original song "May the Lord" at the end of our conversation.
For more stories of sports and faith, check out http://SportsSpectrum.com