Sports Spectrum Podcast

Roger Powell Jr. was named the head coach of Valparaiso University's men's basketball program on April 7, 2023. Previously, he served as an assistant coach with Gonzaga University under coach Mark Few from 2019-2023 and with Vanderbilt from 2016-2019. He played collegiately at the University of Illinois and was a part of three Big Ten titles and three Sweet Sixteen berths. In his senior season, he helped the Illini to a 37-2 record and a berth in the national championship game against North Carolina.  Today on the podcast, we talk to Roger Powell Jr about his new opportunity as a head coach at Valpo, his pivot from playing to coaching, surrendering his life to Christ as a preacher in college and building a culture of trust.  Sign up for our Sports Spectrum Magazine and receive 15% off a 1-year subscription by using the code PODCAST15 http://SportsSpectrum.com/magazine 

Terrell Fletcher played eight seasons in the NFL with the Chargers from 1995-2002. He was selected in the second round of the 1995 NFL Draft by the Chargers after a stellar college career at the University of Wisconsin. During his senior year with the Badgers, he rushed for 1,476 yards and 12 touchdowns and was named the 1995 Hall of Fame Outback Bowl MVP. After retirement, Fletcher went to seminary and spent more than a decade serving as a pastor in California.  Today on the podcast, we talk to Terrell Fletcher about turning 50 years old, the advice he'd give to his younger self, his favorite NFL God moment and the importance of continuing to develop as a follower of Christ. Sign up for our Sports Spectrum Magazine and receive 15% off a 1-year subscription by using the code PODCAST15 http://SportsSpectrum.com/magazine 

Dave DesRochers is a former NFL offensive lineman with the Seattle Seahawks. He was selected in the 12th round of the 1988 NFL Draft by Seattle after playing college football at San Diego State.  Today Dave is the founder and CEO of the 1st and Goal Project and Vice President of the NFL Players Association Orange County, CA chapter.  Dave has a powerful story of overcoming addiction and finding purpose after 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 

Ben Hartsock played 10 years in the NFL as a tight end with the Colts, Titans, Falcons, Jets and Panthers. He was selected in the third round of the 2004 NFL Draft by Indianapolis after a stellar career at Ohio State, where he helped the Buckeyes to the 2002 national championship.  After retiring from the NFL, Ben pursued broadcasting and is currently a college football commentator with SiriusXM on College Sports channel 84 and Big 10 Radio channel 372.  Today on the podcast, Ben Hartsock shares about his RV experience, kicking dreams in high school, college football traditions, the Michigan/Ohio State rivalry, catching passes from Peyton Manning and Tom Brady and what he's learning from God right now about identity and value in Christ.  Sign up for our Sports Spectrum Magazine and receive 15% off a 1-year subscription by using the code PODCAST15 http://SportsSpectrum.com/magazine 

Jon Acuff is a speaker, entrepreneur, podcast host and a New York Times bestselling author with his books “Do Over” and “Start.” Acuff is also an Inc. Magazine Top 100 Leadership Speaker. His latest book, "All It takes Is a Goal" releases September 12.  Today on the podcast, Jade McCarthy talks to Jon Acuff about his new book, the importance of having goals, ditching regret and the importance of tapping into our full potential. Sign up for our Sports Spectrum Magazine and receive 15% off a 1-year subscription by using the code PODCAST15 http://SportsSpectrum.com/magazine 

Austin Reed is a quarterback at Western Kentucky University. In 2022, he led the nation in passing yards with 4,744 yards to go along with 40 touchdown passes and eight rushing touchdowns. He was the 2022 New Orleans Bowl MVP where he threw for 497 yards and 4 touchdown passes to lead the Hilltoppers to a 44-23 win over South Alabama.  Prior to arriving at Western Kentucky, Reed led West Florida with 4,084 passing yards and 40 touchdowns and helped his team to a Division II national championship.  Today on the podcast, we talk to Austin Reed about his goals for 2023, his NFL future, the difference between between confident and cocky, fighting the performance complex and living out God's purpose in his life.  Sign up for our Sports Spectrum Magazine and receive 15% off a 1-year subscription by using the code PODCAST15 http://SportsSpectrum.com/magazine 

Paul Long is the President and Founder of Kappa Studios.  Brad Silverman is the Chief Creative Officer of Kappa Studios.  Today they share their story of Kappa Studios and why their hope is to continue to glorify God and share stories that inspire and uplift and point to Jesus.  Their latest project is the inspirational new movie "ICAN" which releases September 22, 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 

Brian Burton is a former division one college basketball coach who currently serves as a college basketball analyst for ESPN. His previous coaching stops included Utah, IUPUI, Fresno State, Lamar, UTEP and Abilene Christian.  Brian is also the president of basketball operations with RISING COACHES, an organization dedicated to empowering, educating, and supporting basketball coaches at all levels, helping them develop their skills and advancing their careers. Today on the podcast, Brian Burton shares about his positivity on social media, the pivot he made from coaching to broadcasting, using the platform of basketball to share his faith and why hope, optimism and truth are what he lives by. Sign up for our Sports Spectrum Magazine and receive 15% off a 1-year subscription by using the code PODCAST15 http://SportsSpectrum.com/magazine 

Colin Ford is an actor who stars alongside Dennis Quaid in the new movie "The Hill," in theaters August 25. Ford plays former pro baseball pitcher Rickey H ill and tells the extraordinary story of overcoming a degenerative spinal disease to become a baseball phenomenon.  Ford has been an actor since he was a child and starred as the voice of "Jake and the Neverland Pirates" on Disney Channel as well as Marvel's Captain Marvel and "We Bought a Zoo" with Matt Damon and Scarlett Johansson.  Today on the podcast, we talk to Colin Ford about training to be a baseball player for his new movie, the importance of his faith in God, the scripture he most clings to, being star struck acting alongside Matt Damon and his favorite sports movie. Sign up for our Sports Spectrum Magazine and receive 15% off a 1-year subscription by using the code PODCAST15 http://SportsSpectrum.com/magazine 

Ty Montgomery is a running back in the NFL with the New England Patriots. He was selected in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft by the Packers and played four seasons with Green Bay before being traded to Baltimore in 2018. He would move on to the Jets for a season, the Saints for two season and then to New England in 2021. In college, he was a First-Team All Pac-12 with Stanford and a consensus All-American in 2013. His foundation, My Ten Percent, supports and empowers the forgotten youth in society by giving them hope for a future that they desire and faith that what they desire is possible. Today on the podcast, we talk to Ty Montgomery about his journey with Christ, escaping the cycle of shame, processing failure, using his platform of football to help others and his recent trip to Israel. Sign up for our Sports Spectrum Magazine and receive 15% off a 1-year subscription by using the code PODCAST15 http://SportsSpectrum.com/magazine 

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