Sports Spectrum Podcast

Tom Crean is a former college basketball head coach with Marquette, Indiana and Georgia. In 2003, he led Marquette to the Final Four. In 2016, he was the Big Ten Coach of the Year.  Coach Crean joined Jade McCarthy on Sports Spectrum's Transformed podcast recently to discuss leadership, success and faith.  Sign up for our Sports Spectrum Magazine and receive 15% off a 1-year subscription by using the code PODCAST15 http://SportsSpectrum.com/magazine  Listen to more episode of Sports Spectrum's Transformed podcast with Jade McCarthy here. 

LaPhonso Ellis is a former NBA player who was selected fifth overall in the first round of the 1992 NBA Draft by the Denver Nuggets. He would play 11 seasons with Denver, Atlanta, Minnesota and Miami. In his first NBA season, he was named to the 1992-93 All-Rookie First Team.  The Notre Dame graduate had a stellar career in South Bend and was named to Notre Dame's Ring of Honor in 2021. After retirement from playing basketball, Ellis joined ESPN in 2009 and was a college basketball commentator and analyst until June of 2023.  Today on the podcast, we talk to LaPhonso Ellis about living his life for Christ and growing spiritually after becoming a believer early in his NBA career. We also ask him about the experience of seeing his former team, the Nuggets, win the NBA Championship in 2023.  (Today's interview was recorded a few days before LaPhonso lost his job with ESPN on June 30, 2023 and the death of his daughter on July 1, 2023) Listen  HERE to our conversation with LaPhonso's former chaplain Bo Mitchell

Dan Venezia is a former pro baseball player who was selected in the 36th round of the 1993 MLB Amateur Draft by the Minnesota Twins after a stellar college career at Concordia University in New York. He played three seasons of minor league baseball before his career came to an end at the age of 23. Today on the podcast we talk to Dan Venezia about being drafted by the Twins, playing against one of his childhood heroes, surviving two near-death experiences and how that brought him back to Jesus. Sign up for our Sports Spectrum Magazine and receive 15% off a 1-year subscription by using the code PODCAST15 http://SportsSpectrum.com/magazine 

Rece Davis is an on-air personality and host of ESPN's College Gameday. He joined ESPN in March of 1995 and co-anchored SportsCenter for many years before moving to his work on Gameday.  Davis is a graduate of the University of Alabama and began his broadcasting career in Columbus, Georgia and then moved to Flint, Michigan before moving on to ESPN.  Today on the podcast, we talk to Rece Davis about his ESPN journey, the importance of accountability in his faith and the gratitude he has for the family and life he's lived.  Sign up for our Sports Spectrum Magazine and receive 15% off a 1-year subscription by using the code PODCAST15 http://SportsSpectrum.com/magazine 

Welcome to the Sports Spectrum Minute featuring a short clip of inspiration from a previous Sports Spectrum Podcast interview. Today we hear from Atlanta Falcons punter Bradley Pinion. He appeared on Sports Spectrum's Podcast in August 2019.  You can listen to the entire interview here.  Sign up for our Sports Spectrum Magazine and receive 15% off a 1-year subscription by using the code PODCAST15 http://SportsSpectrum.com/magazine 

Billy Hurley III is a PGA Tour champion who turned pro in 2006. His thee tour wins include the 2016 Quicken Loans National, where he defeated Vijay Singh by three strokes. Billy served in the Navy from 2004-2009 and had extended deployment in the Persian Gulf where he held the position of guided missile destroyer's force protection assistant. He was and is currently the only U.S. Military veteran on the PGA Tour.  In November of 2019, Billy had back surgery and has spent the last three years rehabbing with the hopes of returning to the course someday. He is currently the co-host of the Living it up podcast and continues to do work with the Billy Hurley III Foundation.  Sign up for our Sports Spectrum Magazine and receive 15% off a 1-year subscription by using the code PODCAST15 http://SportsSpectrum.com/magazine 

Braya Choquette is a former Baylor University volleyball player who is currently the Girl's Student Minister at Highland Baptist Church in Waco, Texas. She also has called Baylor volleyball games on ESPN+.  During her four year career at Baylor, Choquette earned Academic honors each year and helped her team to four straight NCAA Tournament appearances and an appearance in the national semifinals. Her dad, Melvin Hunt, played basketball at Baylor from 1987-1991 and coached in the NBA for many years.  Today on the podcast, we talk to Braya Choquette about being a faithful servant of God's kingdom, growing spiritually at Baylor, serving on the mission field in Uganda and meeting LeBron James.  Sign up for our Sports Spectrum Magazine and receive 15% off a 1-year subscription by using the code PODCAST15 http://SportsSpectrum.com/magazine 

Kari Pickens is the head women's basketball coach at Ashland University in Ohio. In 2023, she led her team to a perfect 37-0 season and the 2023 NCAA Division II national title. She is the first woman to win a D-II women's basketball title as a player (2013), an assistant coach (2017) and a head coach. Following the season, Pickens was named Women's Basketball Coaches Association D-II Coach of the Year, becoming the first woman to earn both WBCA Coach of the Year and Player of the Year honors, and the first coach in any NCAA division to be both WBCA Coach of the Year and Assistant Coach of the Year. Today we talk to Kari Pickens about shining the light of Jesus in coaching, the struggle in giving glory to God, the importance of prayer walks and the lessons in finishing the season undefeated with a national title.  Sign up for our Sports Spectrum Magazine and receive 15% off a 1-year subscription by using the code PODCAST15 http://SportsSpectrum.com/magazine 

Welcome to the Sports Spectrum Minute featuring a short clip of inspiration from a previous Sports Spectrum Podcast interview. Today we hear from Minnesota Vikings QB Kirk Cousins. He appeared on Sports Spectrum's Podcast in April 2018. You can listen to the entire interview here.  Sign up for our Sports Spectrum Magazine and receive 15% off a 1-year subscription by using the code PODCAST15 http://SportsSpectrum.com/magazine   

Sid Bream is a former MLB player with the Dodgers, Pirates, Braves and Astros. He was selected in the second round of the 1981 MLB Amateur Draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers after playing his college baseball at Liberty University.  He made his MLB debut in September of 1983 with the Dodgers. In 1985 he joined the Pirates and played five full seasons there before joining the Atlanta Braves in 1991. He finished his career in 1994 with the Astros. In Atlanta, he played in two World Series in 1991 and 1992 and scored the game winning run in Game 7 of the 1992 NLCS against Pittsburgh.  Today on the podcast, we talk to Sid Bream about his NLCS moment in 1992, the platform that gave him to share his faith in Jesus and the importance of being a spiritual leader during his MLB playing days.  Sign up for our Sports Spectrum Magazine and receive 15% off a 1-year subscription by using the code PODCAST15 http://SportsSpectrum.com/magazine 

Philip Haywood is the head football coach at Belfry High School in tiny Belfry, Kentucky. He is the winningest high school coach in the state of Kentucky with 472 career wins and eight state championships.  In 2013, he was voted USA Today's Best High School football coach and in 2017 was named coach of the year by the National High School Athletic Coaches Association. He was inducted into the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame in 2016.  Today on the podcast, we talk to coach Haywood about his coaching journey, keeping Jesus first, serving as an FCA huddle leader while coaching football, and the importance of getting a little better each day. Philip Haywood's new book, "Climb the Mountain" released in the Spring of 2023.  Sign up for our Sports Spectrum Magazine and receive 15% off a 1-year subscription by using the code PODCAST15 http://SportsSpectrum.com/magazine 

Blake Anderson is the head football coach at Utah State. In his first two seasons with the Aggies, he's won 17 game and led his club to back-to back bowl games. Prior to arriving in Utah, coach Anderson was the head man with Arkansas State from 2014-2020.  In 2019, Blake's wife Wendy passed away after a battle with breast cancer. In early 2022, his son Cason took his own life at the age of 21.  Today on the podcast, we talk to Blake Anderson about walking through grief, how he's able to press on in the midst of loss and finding purpose in the pain.  Sign up for our Sports Spectrum Magazine and receive 15% off a 1-year subscription by using the code PODCAST15 http://SportsSpectrum.com/magazine  If you or someone you know struggles with suicidal thoughts, you can call the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline 24/7 for free and confidential support. Just dial 988 and someone will be available to help assist. 

Welcome to the Sports Spectrum Minute featuring a short clip of inspiration from a previous Sports Spectrum Podcast interview. Today we hear from 2-time World Series champion Howard Johnson. He appeared on Sports Spectrum's Podcast in May 2020.  You can listen to the entire interview here.  Sign up for our Sports Spectrum Magazine and receive 15% off a 1-year subscription by using the code PODCAST15 http://SportsSpectrum.com/magazine 

Kendrick Bourne is a wide receiver with the New England Patriots. He went undrafted in 2017 after a stellar college career at Eastern Washington. He signed with the 49ers in 2017 and made the final roster as a rookie where he played in 11 games. In 2019, he had 5 touchdown receptions and helped San Francisco to the NFC title and a berth in Super Bowl LIV against the Chiefs. In 2021, he signed with the Patriots and finished with a career-high 55 receptions, 800 yards and five touchdowns. In the Patriots wild card playoff game against Buffalo, he caught 7 passes for 77 yards and two touchdowns.  Today on the podcast, we talk to Kendrick Bourne about his NFL journey, playing in a Super Bowl, his love for Jesus and why it was important him to fully surrender his life to God after hitting a rock bottom moment.  Sign up for our Sports Spectrum Magazine and receive 15% off a 1-year subscription by using the code PODCAST15 http://SportsSpectrum.com/magazine 

Riley Patterson is an NFL kicker with the Detroit Lions. He was traded by the Jaguars to Detroit in May of 2023. Last season, Patterson helped the Jaguars to the AFC South title hitting on 30 of 35 field goals and 36 of 37 extra points to total 126 points.  In the AFC Wild-Card matchup against the Chargers, Patterson hit the game-winning 36 yard field goal with no time left to give Jacksonville a 31-30 victory over the Chargers.  Today on the podcast, we talk to Riley Patterson about going from being released to kicking in the playoffs, focusing on God in the midst of a pressure-filled moment, using his platform to point others to Christ and finding his identity in Jesus and not his performance.  Sign up for our Sports Spectrum Magazine and receive 15% off a 1-year subscription by using the code PODCAST15 http://SportsSpectrum.com/magazine 

Alex Call is a professional baseball player with the Washington Nationals organization. He was selected in the third round of the 2016 MLB Amateur Draft by the White Sox. He was traded to Cleveland in 2018 and after six years in the minor leagues, he made his MLB debut in July of 2022.  In college, Call was a star at Ball State University, winning the 2016 MAC Player of the Year and a Louisville Slugger First Team All-American.  Today on the podcast, we talk to Alex Call about his baseball journey, his desire to follow God's plan, growing in his faith, fighting against performance-based approval, and the experience he had in the Dominican Republic and with Compassion International late in 2022. Sign up for our Sports Spectrum Magazine and receive 15% off a 1-year subscription by using the code PODCAST15 http://SportsSpectrum.com/magazine 

Brandon Carnes is a sprinter for Team USA and a Professional track athlete. He went to college at the University of Northern Iowa.  Sign up for our Sports Spectrum Magazine and receive 15% off a 1-year subscription by using the code PODCAST15 http://SportsSpectrum.com/magazine 

You’ve seen their incredible trick-shot videos. You’ve probably even tried to recreate some of them yourself. Over the last decade, Dude Perfect has become an internet sensation. Each new video either challenges a world record or showcases the guys doing some seemingly impossible things. The best part is that it’s all wholesome content, and at the center of everything they do is a heart to share the Gospel. Tyler Toney and Garrett Hilbert join Scott Linebrink this week to talk about the origin of Dude Perfect and how it evolved into the media empire it is today. Somewhere in the middle, though, the guys made a decision to share the Gospel following an event, and that changed the course of everything they do. Sign up for our Sports Spectrum Magazine and receive 15% off a 1-year subscription by using the code PODCAST15 http://SportsSpectrum.com/magazine    (Interview originally aired on Sports Spectrum's Get in the Game podcast with Scott Linebrink)

Aubrey Kingsbury is a soccer goalkeeper and a member of the USA Women's national soccer team that will compete at the 2023 World Cup beginning July 20.  She's also currently participating in the NWSL with the Washington Spirit and in 2019 and 2021, was named NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year. In college at Wake Forest, she was a three-time All-American and still holds numerous career records including shutouts and games played. Aubrey is a pro athlete ambassador for Compassion International and joins us today to talk about how important Compassion has been to her life and serving others and helping to release kids from poverty.  Learn more about Compassion by going to http://Compassion.com/OneGirl Sign up for our Sports Spectrum Magazine and receive 15% off a 1-year subscription by using the code PODCAST15 http://SportsSpectrum.com/magazine   

John Harbaugh is the head football coach with the Baltimore Ravens. In 2023, he is beginning his 16th season in Baltimore. The 2019 NFL Coach of the Year has 158 career wins with Baltimore and led his club to a Super Bowl title in 2012.  Prior to arriving in Baltimore, Harbaugh spend 9 seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles as an assistant coach from 1998-2006. He holds the record for most coaching road playoff wins with eight.  Today on the podcast, we talk to Coach John Harbaugh about the definition of success, the importance of Christ in his life, investigating the validity of the scriptures, his daily spiritual disciplines, and the excitement he has for the upcoming 2023 NFL season. Sign up for our Sports Spectrum Magazine and receive 15% off a 1-year subscription by using the code PODCAST15 http://SportsSpectrum.com/magazine