Sports Spectrum Podcast

Episode 285 Kevin Mawae joined the Seattle Seahawks in 1994 as the team’s second round draft pick (36th overall). Over the next 16 seasons, Mawae evolved into one of the greatest centers in the league. Mawae spent his first four seasons with Seattle before signing with the Jets in 1998. He would go on to play eight seasons in New York and then his final four seasons in Tennessee with the Titans.  For his career, Mawae was named to eight Pro Bowls, six of which came after the age of 30 and was a first-team All-Pro six times. He was a member of the NFL 2000's All-Decade team, and also the former NFL Players Association President from 2008-2012. He played his final NFL game at the Pro Bowl in February of 2010.  Currently a football analyst coach at Arizona State under his former Jets head coach, Herman Edwards, Mawae was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2019. On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Kevin Mawae about being inducted into the Hall of Fame, how his faith became real to him after the

Episode 284 Rory MacDonald is Bellator MMA's Welterweight World Champion. On April 27, 2019, he'll defend his title at Bellator 220 against Jon Fitch in a fight that is simultaneously the first round of Bellator's Welterweight Grand Prix. MacDonald fought in the UFC from 2010-2016 before signing a contract in August 2016 with Bellator.  In his 25 total fights, Rory has 20 wins, 7 by knockout, 7 by submission and 5 losses. He's been competing as a professional since he was 16 years old in 2005.  On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Rory about his upcoming fight at Bellator 220, the rigorous training the he puts himself through to prepare for a fight, how Christ got a hold of his life over the past few years after he was headed down a destructive path, and how Easter and Good Friday have taken on new meaning for him. For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Ryan Hall is a retired American long-distance runner who holds the U.S. record in the half marathon. With his half marathon record time (59:43), he became the first U.S. runner to break the one-hour barrier in the event. He is also the only American to run a sub-2:05 marathon (2:04:58 at the 2011 Boston marathon) and represented the U.S at the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games. Ryan is a husband to Sara and has adopted 4 children from Ethiopia. On this Throwback Thursday edition of the podcast, we look back at Episode 19 with Ryan and hear how his faith helped him in his pursuit for Olympic greatness.  You can listen to the entire interview with Ryan Hall on Episode 19 here. Ryan's new book "Run the Mile You're In: Finding God in Every Step" is available now on Amazon and everywhere books are sold. 

Episode 283 DeVon Franklin is an award­–winning film & TV producer, bestselling author, renowned preacher and spiritual success coach. DeVon is the ultimate multi-hyphenate. With a commitment to uplifting the masses through entertainment, Franklin has quickly become a force in the media as well as a leading authority on faith, spiritual wellness and personal development. Beliefnet has called him one of the "Most Influential Christians Under 40," Variety Magazine named him one of the "Top 10 Producers to Watch," Ebony Magazine has distinguished him as one of the "Top 100 Influential African-Americans in America," and even Oprah has called him "a bonafide dynamo...a different kind of spiritual teacher for our times." Franklin serves as President/CEO of Franklin Entertainment, a dynamic multimedia entertainment company with a first-look film deal at 20th Century Fox. As a filmmaker, Franklin is producing the inspirational true story Breakthrough starring Chrissy Metz in theaters Easter of 2019. Additionally,

Episode 282 Carsyn Koch is one of the most accomplished athletes in Cedarville University athletics history and is the first female NCAA All-American at the college in any sport. She was the 2016 and 2017 NCAA Division II Indoor 800 Meter Champion and was a 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials qualifier. In 2015-16, she was named to the USTFCCCA Division II All-America First Team both indoors and outdoors and in 2016-17 she was the USTFCCCA Division II Midwest Region Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year. Injuries kept her from competing in 2017-18 but she returned here in 2019 earning All-America recognition after placing seventh in the 800 meters at the NCAA Division II Women's Indoor Track & Field Championship in March. A native of Maine, Carsyn put together a decorated career at Washburn District High School being named all-state in track & field all four years, four-time Class C individual state cross country champion, member of four Class D state championship basketball teams, and part of Class D state title so

Episode 281 Wayne Simien is a character coach with the Kansas Jayhawks. He played his college ball with KU, where he was a consensus All-America selection and Big 12 Player of the Year in 2005. His success in college led him to become a first-round draft pick in the NBA by the Miami Heat (29th overall). Simien would play two seasons with the Heat and in his rookie season, earned an NBA championship ring as Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O'Neal helped Miami to their first ever championship in the 2006 NBA Finals.  In October 2007, Simien was traded by Miami to Minnesota but never played another game in the NBA. He would play a few more years overseas, before retiring in May of 2009 at the age of 26 to pursue ministry work. On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Wayne in Minneapolis at the Final Four about his role as a character coach, his testimony of faith in Christ, the state of faith in basketball, and the biggest spiritual struggle now in college basketball. For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 280 Nate Solder is an offensive lineman with the New York Giants. He was selected in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots and played 7 seasons with Tom Brady and Bill Belichik in Foxboro. In March of 2018, he signed a new 4-year contract that made him the highest paid offensive lineman in the NFL at the time. A two-time Super Bowl champion, Nate and his wife Lexi have walked through a difficult season of life with their son Hudson, who is battling cancer. They also share a passion to serve and help others and are involved with Compassion International, in helping end the cycle of poverty with children around the world. On this episode of the podcast, Nate and Lexi join us to share about what life was like adjusting from the Patriots to the Giants, watching their former team win the Super Bowl, why they have a heart for helping children in need, and how God has sustained them during their son Hunter's battle with cancer. For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Adam Wainwright is a starting pitcher for the St Louis Cardinals. He’s been a mainstay with the organization now for 13 seasons. He’s a 2-time World Series Champion (2006, 2011), a 3-time All Star and a 2-time Gold Glove winner. Adam isn’t just an elite Major League Baseball player, he’s also a man of faith and has taken his love for Jesus into the mission field to start Big League Impact, a non-profit designed to serve and help those in need both in the USA and overseas. On this Throwback Thursday edition of the podcast, we hear Adam's testimony and how he came to faith in Christ during his pro baseball career at a conference.  You can listen to the entire interview with Adam from Episode 14 back in June of 2017 here.  For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 279 Judah Smith is the pastor of Churchome and the New York Times Best-Selling author of the book "Jesus Is: Find a New Way to Be Human."  In the sports world, Judah has pastored and counseled many athletes and also serves as the chaplain for the Seattle Seahawks.  Judah, along with his wife Chelsea, have partnered with tech company Seventh Spark to create and launch Churchome Global, a free app-based platform that offers users 24/7/365 access to the Churchome community and programming, The app delivers community prayer, pastor-led groups, meaningful and topical conversations with other users, growth classes, charity opportunities, interactive church broadcasts, daily inspirational messages, and more. You can download Churchome Global, here. On this episode of the podcast, we talk with Judah about why he started the Churchome Global app, how sports played a huge role in his life growing up, what the biggest spiritual struggle is for athletes, how he handles "fame," and how Basketball Hall of Famer Tra

Episode 278 Liam Hendriks is a pitcher with the Oakland A's and holds the distinction of being the first Australian born player to ever start an MLB postseason game. He made his MLB debut on September 6, 2011 with the Twins and then pitched in Toronto, Kansas City before arriving in 2016 with the Athletics. On this episode of the podcast, we talk with Liam about what his experience was pitching in Japan with the A's last month, turning 30 years old, his favorite memory from his MLB debut, and why giving back is a non-negotiable in the Hendriks home. For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 277 Jameis Winston just finished his fourth season as quarterback of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was selected number one overall in the 2015 NFL Draft out of Florida State by Tampa after a decorated college career that saw him win the 2013 Heisman Trophy and brought a national title to the Seminoles.  In his first season, Jameis became just the third NFL quarterback to ever throw for over 4,000 yards in his rookie season and was named to the 2016 NFL Pro Bowl as well as the NFL's All-Rookie Team for his 2015 season. In 2016, he became the first QB to ever throw for over 4,000 yards in each of his first two seasons.  An off the field incident caused Jameis to be suspended for the first 3 games of the 2018 season, but he was able to return and start 9 games and throw for almost 3,000 yards and 19 touchdown passes.  On this episode of the podcast, Jameis shares how his faith in Christ has grown and why it is the number one priority for him in his life. He also talks about having a new head coach in Bruc

Episode 276 Pat Williams is a sports treasure. He's spent 51 years in the NBA as an executive and is currently the Senior Vice President of the Orlando Magic. He and his wife Ruth are the parents of 19 children, including 14 adopted children and 17 grandchildren. Pat is a cancer survivor after being diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma in 2011 and being given 2 years to live. In 2012, Pat received the John W. Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award from the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He's also an author, having written 110 books including his latest "Character Carved in Stone." On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Pat about his latest book, having Coach K - Mike Krzyzewski write the forward, how the leadership principles in the book parallel the teachings of Jesus, the story of starting the first NBA Chapel in 1978, and the greatest lesson he's learned in his 50+ years of working in sports. For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Virginia is in the Final Four for the first time since 1984 and coach Tony Bennett has been a big part of this team's success on and off the court.  We talked to Coach Tony Bennett about his journey of basketball and faith in Christ back on Episode 180 on October 31, 2018 here on the podcast and we revisit a portion of that conversation today on Throwback Thursday. For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 275 Caleb Frare was selected in the 11th round of the 2012 MLB Draft by the Yankees. In 2018, he was traded to the Chicago White Sox. After 6 seasons in minor league ball, Caleb achieved his dream and made his MLB debut on September 2, 2018. He would go on to pitch in 11 games for the White Sox last season. Born and raised in Montana, Caleb never played high school ball because his school didn't offer the sport. Instead he played club ball and impressed enough to earn a selection by the Yankees. On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Caleb about preparing for the 2019 season with the White Sox, how injuries and missing 2 full seasons of baseball tested his faith, what it was like to be traded, his concerns with the lifestyle of a minor league baseball player and the crazy story of how he got called up to the Major Leagues.  For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 274 Steve Gomez is the women's basketball coach for the 2018-19 NCAA Division II champion Lubbock Christian University Lady Chaps. Gomez led his club to their second title in four seasons after capturing the championship on Friday March 29 in Columbus, Ohio. The championship game was a thriller, with Lubbock Christian prevailing in double-overtime 95-85 over Southwestern Oklahoma State. A former WBCA NCAA Division II National Coach of the Year, Gomez also led LCU to a title in 2015-16, going a perfect 35-0. An LCU graduate, Gomez was a standout perimeter player for Coach John Copeland in the late 1980s, and to this day, he still holds the school record for career free throw percentage at .855.  He graduated in 1988 with a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Mathematics and consistently used his degree to teach in the classroom while pursuing coaching on the sidelines.  Gomez’s career began at Lubbock Monterey High School where he served as an assistant coach in the men’s basketball program from 1988 to 19

Episode 273 Troy Hudson played 11 seasons in the NBA from 1998-2008 with the Jazz, Clippers, Magic, Timberwolves, and Warriors. He was undrafted after playing his college ball at Southern Illinois and made his NBA debut on October 31, 1997 with Utah.  His best season came in 2002-03 with Minnesota when he averaged 14.2 points and 5.7 assists for a 51 win Timberwolves team. In the playoffs that year against the Shaq and Kobe Lakers, Hudson averaged 23.5 points in the 6 game series. Today, Hudson is the team chaplain for the Timberwolves where he ministers to players before each game. He also is active in youth sports, coaching and training young athletes in the game of basketball. On this episode of the podcast we talk to Troy about his role as an NBA team chaplain, the state of faith in the NBA, the importance of guys like Stephen Curry to use their platform to be bold about Christ, his first NBA game and difference between believing in God and having a personal relationship with Jesus. 

Episode 272 Dave Jauss is the bench coach for the Pittsburgh Pirates and joined Manager Clint Hurdle's staff on October 31, 2012. Now in his 33rd season in professional baseball. In 2011, Jauss worked with the New York Mets as their Coordinator of Staff Development. He also served the Mets as their Major League Bench Coach in 2010 after working in the same capacity under manager Dave Trembley in Baltimore (2008-09) and under manager Grady Little with the Los Angeles Dodgers (2006-07). Prior to joining the Dodgers in 2006, Jauss spent 10 seasons working as a coach, scout and administrator in the Boston organization from 1996-2005. He spent the 1995 campaign as Baltimore's coordinator of instruction before being hired by the Red Sox, where he worked as the minor league field coordinator for two years (2000-2001). His last three seasons with Boston (2003-05) were spent in the role of a Major League Advance Scout. Jauss' start in professional baseball came in 1988 when he managed Montreal's Gulf Coast League team

  Jarrett Payton is a Chicago broadcaster, former NFL running back and the son of legendary Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton. On this Throwback Thursday edition of the Sports Spectrum podcast from November 2017, Jarrett shares about his father's faith and what his walk with the Lord was like after finding out he had cancer.  You can listen to the entire interview, Episode 55 here.   

Episode 271 Prince Amukamara plays cornerback for the Chicago Bears. He was selected in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft by the New York Giants and in his first season, earned a ring when his club defeated the Patriots 21-17 in Super Bowl XLVI.  After spending five seasons with the Giants, Prince went to Jacksonville for a season before arriving in Chicago in 2017.  He played his college ball at the University of Nebraska and was named the 2010 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year.  Born to Romans and Christy Amukamara, both natives of Nigeria, Prince has five sisters named Princess, Promise, Peace, Precious, and Passionate. Prince is of royal Igbo Nigerian descent and his grandfather was the chief Awo-Omamma in the Imo State of Nigeria. Prince is currently next in line to be the chief. On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Prince Amukamara about the 2018 Chicago Bears season, the bond of faith that was cultivated in the locker room, orchestrated on-field celebrations, where his relationship with the

Episode 270 Joe Champion is the founder and pastor of Celebration Church in Austin, Texas. Champion grew up in a football family with his Dad Jim coaching in both the NFL and CFL. While a football player at Louisiana State University, Joe considered following in his father’s footsteps with a career in the National Football League, but entered full-time ministry in 1989 after a life-transforming experience with Christ.  Joe's son Connor has continued the football coaching legacy as an assistant at Arizona State under Herm Edwards. A husband and father of four, Pastor Joe is a globally recognized leader and speaker who serves on the boards of One Hope and Oral Roberts University. He is also part of the Lead Team of the Association of Related Churches (ARC), an international church planting organization. By example, Pastor Joe equips and empowers ministry leaders to take hold of God’s calling on their lives with an emphasis on the importance of maintaining Christ-like integrity and character. On this episode of