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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: September, 2021
Sep 30, 2021

Andy Erwin is a filmmaker and movie producer. He and his brother Jon are part of the filmmaking team known as "The Erwin Brothers." 

His films include Mom's Night Out, Woodlawn, I Can Only Imagine and I Still Believe.

Today on the podcast, we talk to Andy about latest projects, "The Jesus Music" and "American Underdog."

The Jesus Music Documentary releases in theaters October 1, 2021. You can learn more at TheJesusMusic.movie

American Underdog releases in theaters December 25, 2021. 

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Sep 29, 2021

Jason Standridge was selected by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the first round of the 1997 MLB Draft (31st overall). Four years later, he made his MLB debut with Tampa against Texas and would go on to pitch in parts of seven seasons in the Big Leagues appearing in 80 games with Tampa, Texas, Cincinnati and Kansas City.

In 2008, Jason made the decision to pith overseas  in Japan and was there for the next 10 seasons before retiring after 2017. A big part of Jason's journey has been serving and he's currently involved with Water Mission, a Christian engineering ministry that flights the global water crisis. He and his wife Joy have supported the ministry by taking trips to Haiti and Uganda in several refugee camps where Water Mission is serving.

Today on the podcast, Jason shares his story of choosing baseball over football, being recruited by Auburn to play quarterback, his MLB debut, why his faith in Jesus is the most important thing in his life and how playing Japan allowed he and his wife to pursue adoption.

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Sep 27, 2021

Robert Golden played six seasons in the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers from 2012-2017. He went undrafted in 2012 after playing his college football at the University of Arizona and signed as a free agent with Pittsburgh. In 2018, he signed a contract with the Kansas City Chiefs but asked for his release and would retire from the NFL at the age of 27. 

Today, Golden has pivoted to a more purposeful work as the President and CEO of Golden Charter Academy in his hometown of Fresno, California. The school launched in August 2021 and has a mission to inspire powerful young minds.

On the podcast today, we talk to Robert about his strong faith in the Lord and how it guided him from the NFL to wanting to impact the youth in his hometown of Fresno. 

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Sep 25, 2021

Dave Alpern is the President of Joe Gibbs Racing.

Back in the early 1990's, Dave started his career as an unpaid intern selling t-shirts for the newly formed Joe Gibbs Racing Team. Now, three decades later, he’s the president of JGR with more than 500 employees

Dave's new book “Taking the Lead: Winning Business Principles That Fuel Joe Gibbs Racing” released in June 2021

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Sep 24, 2021

Today, Jade McCarthy talks to New England Patriots safety and three-time Super Bowl champion Devin McCourty about the 2021 season, his team’s new QB Mac Jones, playing against his brother Jason in Week 1, overcoming the tragedy of losing a baby and what his growth in God’s Word looks like this season.

Our new football show, "Sports Spectrum's Weekly Slant” streams every Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET during football season, and features interviews and stories at the intersection of football and faith. 

You can watch today's episode with Devin McCourty here

Sep 22, 2021

Jason Wilson is the director of The Cave of Adullam Transformational Training Academy (CATTA), a program of The Union nonprofit founded in 2003. Jason has been featured on The Dr. Oz Show, Today, the Joe Rogan Podcast and CNN.

He received the President's Volunteer Service Award from President Barack Obama for his work with youth in Detroit and was the inspiration for an award-winning episode of the hit TV show This is Us.

Wilson is the author of multiple books including "Cry Like a Man" and his latest release, "Battle Cry."

Today on the podcast, we talk to Jason about what it means to win the war within each of us, why his faith in Christ is what guides him, his journey growing up without a father, why a clear identify and purpose is so important for athletes and what his perfect sports day would be.

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Sep 20, 2021

Brett Phillips is currently an outfielder with the Tampa Bay Rays. He was selected by the Houston Astros in the 6th round of the 2012 MLB Amateur Draft. Five years later, he made his MLB debut on June 5, 2017 with the Milwaukee Brewers. After two seasons with the Brewers, he was traded to Kansas City, where he spent three seasons. In August of 2020, he was once again traded to the Rays and found himself in a pennant race that ultimately saw Tampa win the American League championship.

In October 2020, on the biggest stage at the World Series, Brett Phillips became a baseball hero. In Game 4 against the Dodgers, Phillips found himself at bat in the bottom of the 9th inning with 2 runners on and his team down 1 run. He would line a single to right field and ultimately both runners would score on the hit, giving the Rays a Game 4 World Series 8-7 win.

Today on the podcast, we welcome back Brett Phillips to tell us about his World Series moment, why baseball is fun, how his faith in God leads to the joy that he brings each day on the field and what his MLB All-Star Game correspondent experience was like. 

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Sep 18, 2021

Mike Linch is the pastor of NorthStar Church in Kennesaw, Georgia. The Liberty grad played baseball for 3 seasons in college under former New York Yankees World Series champion Bobby Richardson. 

He is currently a high school baseball coach and a sports chaplain and the host of "LINCH WITH A LEADER" podcast that launched in August 2017. 

Today on the podcast, we talk to Mike Linch about the lessons he learned from playing for a Yankees World Series champion, how sports can be a great way to share the Gospel, leading like Jesus and the difference between 'calling' vs 'hobby.'

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Sep 17, 2021

It's a FOOTBALL FRIDAY and today we talk to Buffalo Bills legend and Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly about the excitement in 2021 with his former team, how he would do playing in today’s game, growing in his faith and the important of telling his cancer story.

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Sep 16, 2021

Jefferson Bethke is a New York Times-bestselling author and speaker who has written five books. In 2012, Bethke’s YouTube video, “Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus,” went viral and has since received more than 34 million views. After the video, he decided to write the book “Jesus > Religion,” which would go on to become a New York Times bestseller.

His latest book, "Take Back Your Family: From the Tyrants of Burnout, Busyness, Individualism, and the Nuclear Ideal" released September 7, 2021. 

On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Jefferson Bethke about his new book, parenting like a coach and involving his kids in sports. 

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Sep 15, 2021

Preston Spradlin is the men's head basketball coach for Morehead State. In 2021, he led the Eagle program to prominence winning the program's first Ohio Valley Conference Tournament championship in 10 years and leading his club to the NCAA Tournament with a 23-8 record. He was named OVC Coach of the Year. 

Spradlin joined Morehead State in 2014 as an assistant coach and became the head coach in 2016. Prior to his time with the Eagles, he spent 5 seasons with the University of Kentucky basketball program and head coach John Calipari. He spent two campaigns (2009-11) as a graduate assistant with the Wildcats before three years as the assistant director of operations (2011-14).  His duties included film breakdown, creating and maintaining playbooks, assisting with opponent scouting and day-to-day operations.

Today on the podcast, we talk to Preston about his historical 2021 season, his testimony of faith in Jesus, how Christ guides him as a coach, coming to work with Kentucky and the impact John Calipari has had on his life. 

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Sep 13, 2021

Christian Ponder is a former quarterback who played six seasons in the NFL. He was selected 12th overall in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings. After spending four seasons in Minnesota, he played two more years with Oakland, Denver and San Francisco before retiring in 2017. 

In college, Ponder was recruited by legendary coach Bobby Bowden at Florida State and was a three-year starter for the Seminoles. In 2010, Ponder was the first Seminole quarterback since Chris Weinke in 1999 to lead his team to victories over both its in-state rivals, Miami and Florida. He also the 2010 Bobby Bowden Award presented to the top student athlete among FBS schools. Ponder graduated from Florida State in two and a half years with a degree in finance and a 3.73 GPA. 

Today on the podcast, Christian shares about his journey of faith, being baptized by Jon Kitna, the spiritual impact of his wife Samantha, and his memories of Bobby Bowden and the legacy he's left. 

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Listen to our conversation with Christian's wife, Samantha Ponder from 2018 here and here

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Sep 11, 2021

Andy Pettitte pitched for 18 seasons with the Yankees and Astros. He is a 5-time World Series champion who pitched from 1995-2013. He holds the MLB record for postseason wins with 19 and has 256 career wins (42nd all-time). 

Today on the podcast, we look back at the 20th anniversary of 9/11 with Andy, who shares his memories as a pitcher with the Yankees and what that time was like for him as a baseball player and as a man of faith. 

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Sep 10, 2021

It's a FOOTBALL FRIDAY and today we talk to 2-time Super Bowl champion and Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB coach Clyde Christensen about the upcoming NFL season, coaching Tom Brady and Peyton Manning and how his faith in Jesus continues to fuel why he coaches football.

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Sep 8, 2021

Paul Maholm is a former MLB pitcher who was selected 8th overall in the first round of the 2003 MLB Amateur Draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates. He made his MLB debut in August of 2005 and threw a gem, pitching 8 shutout innings and earning his first career victory.

In college, Maholm was a standout pitcher at Mississippi State and was inducted into their Hall of Fame class of 2018. After a career that saw him pitch 10 seasons in the Big Leagues, Paul retired after Spring Training 2015. 

Today on the podcast, we talk to Paul Maholm about Mississippi State's 2021 College World Series run, being struck in the face by a line drive in the Minor Leagues, making his MLB debut in 2005, how his faith became real to him in college, how he processed grief in the loss of his mother and a unique moment where he faced a comedy legend while pitching in Spring Training of 2008. 

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Sep 6, 2021

Antwaan Randle El is currently the wide receivers coach for the Detroit Lions. In 2020, he was an offensive assistant coach with
the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and helped his team to a Super Bowl championship. As a player, Randle El was selected in the second round of the 2002 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers and in 2005, he threw a memorable touchdown pass in Super Bowl XL, helping the Steelers beat Seattle 21-10. 

His NFL career spanned four seasons with the Steelers, four seasons with Washington and returned for one final season in 2010 with the AFC Champion Steelers. 

In college, Randle El excelled as a three-sport athlete, playing baseball, basketball and football. But it was his play at quarterback that stood out and saw him named Big Ten Most Valuable Player and First-Team All-American in his senior season of 2001. While at Indiana, Randle El became the first player in NCAA Division I history to pass for 40 career touchdowns and score 40 career rushing touchdowns

Today on the podcast, we talk to Antwaan about his faith in God, living his life to honor Christ, coaching and winning a Super Bowl last year with Tampa and how he hopes to make an impact as a coach with the Lions. 

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Sep 4, 2021

Steve Carter loves Michigan football. Like, REALLY loves Michigan football. He's also an author, pastor, speaker and podcast host. His new book "The Thing Beneath the Thing" is a game-changer and available everywhere books are found. 

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Sep 3, 2021

Mark Richt coached college football for more than thirty years with Florida State, Georgia and Miami. From 1990-2000, he was an assistant coach under his mentor, Bobby Bowden and helped the Seminoles to seven consecutive ACC titles and two national championships in 1993 and 1999.

In 2001, he got his opportunity to become a head coach with the Georgia Bulldogs and for the next 15 seasons, he led the Bulldogs to nine seasons of 10 or more wins and was named SEC Coach of the Year in 2002 and 2005. After his departure from Georgia, he became the head coach of the Miami Hurricanes in 2016 and coached Miami for three seasons and in his second year  he won ACC Coach of the Year after leading his team to their first ever ACC Coastal title. 

After returning from coaching in 2018, Richt became an analyst for the ACC Network and is now a first-time author, releasing his new book in 2021, "MAKE THE CALL : Game-Day Wisdom for Life’s Defining Moments." In July, Mark also announced he had been recently diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. 

Today on the podcast, Mark Richt shares how God has sustained him during his recent announcement of Parkinson's disease, why he wanted to write his first book, and the impact his former coach Bobby Bowden had on his life.

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Sep 1, 2021

Deland McCullough is the current Associate Head Coach and Running Backs coach with Indiana University. For the past three seasons, he was the Running Backs coach with the Kansas City Chiefs and was a member of two AFC Championship teams and helped KC win Super Bowl LIV over the San Francisco 49ers. 

Deland, who is adopted, also has an incredible story of discovering who is birth father is. This story was written in Sports Spectrum's Winter 2020 Magazine and is featured in the new documentary "Show Me the Father" in theaters September 10, 2021. 

On today's podcast, Deland shares about his new role in 2021 with the Indiana Hoosiers football team, what it was like to win a Super Bowl, the lessons he learned as a coach in the NFL and how he began to see God nudging him to share his incredible story of fatherhood in the new documentary "Show Me the Father." 

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