Sports Spectrum Podcast

Sarah Jackson is the founder and executive director of Casa de Paz, a hospitality home in Denver, Colorado. Casa’s family of more than 2,000 volunteers ministers to immigrants and families separated by detention with visits, meals, shelter and transportation and emotional support through the arduous process of reunification. Sarah’s mission is to help end the isolating experience of immigrant detention one simple act of love at a time.  On the podcast today, we talk to Sarah about her journey in serving others, why she wrote her new book "The House that Love Built" and how volleyball has helped her find her true purpose.  Learn more about Sarah's work at casadepazcolorado.org

Episode 529 Roy Helu Jr is a former NFL running back. He was selected in the fourth round of the 2011 NFL Draft by Washington and played four seasons in D.C. In college, Helu was a standout running back with Nebraska rushing for over 1,100 yards and 10 touchdowns in his junior and senior seasons. By the time he graduated in 2011, he was fourth on the Huskers all-time rushing list, and broke Nebraska's single-game rushing record by rushing for 307 yards and scoring three touchdowns vs. Missouri on October 30, 2010. After coming to the NFL, Helu was named to the Pro Football Weekly/Pro Football Writers of America all-rookie team, rushing for 640 yards, along with 49 receptions for another 379 yards and three total touchdowns. Upon retirement in 2016, Roy is now in seminary to become a pastor and helped plant a church in Nebraska. On today's podcast, we talk to Roy about what led him to planting a church, his testimony of coming to faith in college, working through depression and anxiety and what that transition was life after the NFL. Follow us on social media Twitter: @Sports_Spectrum Instagram: @Sports_Spectrum

Episode 528 Drew Boe is the founder and president of Managers on a Mission (MOAM). Drew has spent time in sports management both in the college and pro levels, working for the University of Minnesota, Virginia Tech, the Arizona Cardinals and the San Diego Chargers.  MOAM's desire is is to walk alongside every future leader of sport in order to properly prepare and equip these individuals for the unique challenges, pressures and temptations of the sports industry. Their ultimate goal is to challenge young people to pursue a life of true significance and purpose through an improved understanding of their salvation through Jesus Christ. On today's podcast, Drew shares his heart behind MOAM, why he started it, and how a mission trip to Rwanda opened his eyes to what God's true calling on his life was.  Follow Managers on a Mission on Instagram: @managers_on_a_mission Follow us on Instagram: @Sports_Spectrum

Episode 527 Thomas Morstead is entering his 12th season as the punter for the New Orleans Saints. He is a Super Bowl champion and a Pro Bowler.  He is the author of the new book "The Middle School Rules of Thomas Morstead" that he wrote with Sean Jensen.  On today's podcast, we talk to Thomas about why he wanted to write his new book, his maturity during his college years at SMU, going from being the young guy to the veteran teacher in the NFL and why it has been on his heart to give back to sick children through his "What Will Give Will Grow" foundation.    Follow Thomas on Instagram: @ThomasMorstead Follow Sports Spectrum on Instagram: @Sports_Spectrum

Episode 526 Dylan Thompson is entering his third season with the Detroit Lions as the team's character coach. In his current role, Thompson is responsible for a variety of programs within team development, where he assists athletes with their transition into the NFL, as well as providing off-the-field support both during and following their careers. Thompson played college football at the University of South Carolina under coach Steve Spurrier. In his senior season, he threw for 3,564 yards with 26 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in leading the Gamecocks to an Independence Bowl victory over the Miami Hurricanes.  On this podcast, we talk to Dylan about faith, football, his role with the Lions, playing for Steve Spurrier in college and the importance of mentors in our lives.    Follow Dylan on Twitter: @DylanPThompson Follow Sports Spectrum on Twitter: @Sports_Spectrum

Episode 525 Dean Inserra is the founding and lead pastor of City Church in Tallahassee, Florida, where he leads the vision and preaching. Dean was called to start a church in his hometown of Tallahassee when he was the Student Body President at Leon High School.  Dean graduated from Liberty University and attended Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY. He holds a MA in Theological Studies from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and is pursuing a D.Min from Southern Seminary.    Dean is an advisory member of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission's Leadership Council with the Southern Baptist Convention. He is also a member of Baptist 21.  His latest book, The Unsaved Christian, released in March of 2019 and explores those who say they are Christian but don't have a relationship with Christ.  On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Dean about what an "Unsaved Christian" is, his journey to planting and starting his own church, and his passion for sports including a love affair with the New England Patriots and Tom Brady.  Follow Dean on Twitter - @DeanInserra Follow Sports Spectrum on Twitter - @Sports_Spectrum

BONUS Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger appeared recently on our sister podcast "Table Forty" with former MLB World Series champion Matt Holliday and his wife Leslee to talk about Ben's faith journey, regrets he has from earlier in his career and the importance of being a good teammate.    Table Forty is part of the new Sports Spectrum Podcast Network. You can subscribe to Table Forty right now.  APPLE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/table-forty/id1505637930 SPOTIFY:  https://open.spotify.com/show/5CX8kSHxkgvS3EFfKzrXqq?si=inBIz6wtSY6Xw1qgx_rWYQ  

Episode 524 Karen Kingsbury and her husband Don are our guests today on the podcast. Karen is a #1 New York Times bestselling novelist with more than twenty-five million copies of her award-winning books in print. Her last dozen titles have topped bestseller lists and many of her novels are under development with Hallmark Films and as major motion pictures. Her Baxter Family books are being developed into a TV series slated for major network viewing sometime in the next year.   In her former life, Karen was a sports writer for the Los Angeles Times in the 1980's and covered stars like Magic Johnson and Wayne Gretzky. Her husband Don is a longtime basketball coach who most recently served as an assistant coach with Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville.    On today's podcast, we talk to Karen and Don about their journey of marriage, Karen's success as a writer, how sports has played a role in their life and how Covid-19 presented Karen a unique opportunity with the release of her new book.   Follow Karen on twitter: @KarenKingsbury Follow Sports Spectrum on twitter: @Sports_Spectrum

BONUS EPISODE   Austin Davis is a pitcher with the Philadelphia Phillies. He was selected in the 12th round of the 2014 MLB Draft by Philadelphia and four years later, in June of 2018, he made his MLB Debut for the Phillies against the Cardinals.   Davis spent time in 2019 with the Phillies and their AAA club, Lehigh Valley and was rewarded for his pitching by being named as an International League All-Star in AAA.    On this episode of the podcast, Austin shares what he's been learning during the pandemic, being selected by the Phillies, his favorite stories from his minor league journey and what that day was like when he made his MLB debut.    Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/sports_spectrum.

Episode 523 Ryan Young played five seasons in the NFL from 1999-2003. He was selected in the seventh round of the 1999 NFL Draft by the New York Jets. He would play three seasons with the Jets before being selected second overall in the 2002 NFL Expansion Draft to the Houston Texans. After injuries in Houston, he would sign with the Dallas Cowboys and his former coach Bill Parcells. In college, Young was a two-time All-Big 12 selection at Kansas State under coach Bill Snyder. He played in three bowl games during his career with the Wildcats including Cotton Bowl and Fiesta Bowl. Today, Ryan holds the title of "Pastor and Minister of Evangelism" at The Hills Church in Ft. Worth, Texas. On this episode of the podcast, we talk with Ryan about his journey from football to ministry, his favorite Bill Parcells story, his battle with depression and suicide as well as the racial unrest in our country amidst a global pandemic.   Follow Ryan on twitter: @ryanicoach Follow Sports Spectrum on twitter: @Sports_Spectrum Follow Jason Romano on twitter: @JasonRomano