Sports Spectrum Podcast

Episode 320 Jefferson Bethke is a New York Times-bestselling author and speaker who has written three 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. He has since released two more books: “It’s Not What You Think” and “Love That Lasts” with his wife, Alyssa. On this episode of the podcast, we talk with Bethke about his love for baseball and the Seattle Mariners, dealing with sudden fame, coming to faith as a high schooler, and doing ministry with his wife. For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 319 Johnny Quinn is an author and speaker who went from NFL football player to Olympic bobsledder.  He is the author of the book "PUSH: Breaking Through the Barriers" which was released in February of 2018.  In college, Johnny was a wide receiver with North Texas, where he was a member of 3 Sun Belt Conference championship teams, ultimately being inducted into the North Texas Hall of Fame in 2011. Cut three times from NFL teams, Johnny lost 2.6 million dollars in NFL contracts and blew out his knee. Then he became an Olympian for the United States of America. Johnny is just the third person ever to have played in the NFL and have competed in the Winter Olympics. (Herschel Walker/Jeremy Bloom were the others) On this episode of the podcast, we talk with Johnny about his crazy journey from football to bobsledding, becoming a new Dad, his pursuit of an NFL career, the viral moment at the Olympics (it's not what you think), and what it looks like to stand for Christ and live unashamed for Him.  For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Inky Johnson is a motivational speaker, author and former college football player with the University of Tennessee. He joined us back in May of 2018 on Episode 112 of the show to talk about his journey of faith, how the worst day of his life actually turned into the best day of his life, why it’s important to have a “relationship” with God, why there’s a lesson and blessing in everything that happens for us, and how he’s seen people impacted by the message of his story. On this THROWBACK portion of the interview, Inky shares the moment he realized that his message, his trial, his story, could actually impact and help other people.  Listen to the entire interview with Inky Johnson from Episode 111 here. 

Episode 318 Lauryn Williams is an Olympic gold medal-winning sprinter and an Olympic silver medal-winning bobsledder. She is one of six athletes to have won a medal in both the Summer and Winter Olympic Games, as well as the first American woman to do so. At the age 20 in her first Olympics (after winning gold medals at the junior world championships, Pan American Games and NCAA Championships), Williams won the silver medal in the women’s 100-meter dash at the 2004 Athens Games. She went on to win gold in that event at the 2005 World Championships, where she also won gold in the 4x100m relay. Two years later at the 2007 Worlds, she won another relay gold while finishing second in the 100m. Williams also competed in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, but left without a medal. She placed fourth in the women’s 100m, and the U.S. women were disqualified from the 4x100m relay due to a dropped baton. Williams and the U.S. women redeemed themselves by winning 4x100m relay gold at the 2012 London Games, the final Summer Olympics for Williams. She then shifted her focus to bobsled in 2013, and teamed up with veteran driver Elana Meyers, who had won a bronze medal at the 2010 Vancouver Games. Williams helped push her to silver at the 2014 Sochi Olympics. In March 2019, Williams released her first book, “The Oval Office,” to provide actionable advice on how you can succeed at building a career as a professional athlete. On this episode of the podcast, we talked to Williams about her journey to the Olympics, coming to faith in Christ, and trusting Him through the tough moments of her life. For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 317 Matt Mooney is a former college basketball player who played at Air Force, South Dakota and, most recently, Texas Tech. His one season with the Red Raiders saw him make second-team All-Big 12, the Big 12 All-Defensive team and the 2019 Final Four All-Tournament team in helping Texas Tech reach its first-ever national championship game, where it lost in overtime to Virginia. Mooney scored 22 points in Tech’s 61-51 win over Michigan State in the national semifinals, and he finished with 10 points in the loss to Virginia. On this episode of the podcast, we talk with Mooney about the thrill of victory, responding to defeat with grace, NBA draft preparation, playing in the Final Four, coming to faith in Christ, and living that out on college basketball’s biggest stage. For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 316 Jade McCarthy is an Emmy-Award winning sports commentator. For 5 years, she was an anchor at ESPN, working on shows such as SportsCenter and NFL LIVE. She was released from her job at ESPN as part of a larger group of layoffs, on April 26, 2017. Prior to ESPN, Jade had broadcasting stops in Springfield, MA, Huntsville, AL, Philadelphia, PA and Boston, MA.  In the Fall of 2018, she returned to broadcasting, working for NBC Sports Boston as a host on its Patriots coverage.  On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Jade about her broadcasting journey and how her faith in Christ grew after being let go by ESPN.  For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 315 Shawn Purdy is a former pro baseball player. He played his college baseball at the University of Miami in Florida. After being selected three times in the MLB Amateur Draft in 1987, 1989 and 1990, he signed with the Angels after being selected in the 16th round of the 1991 draft. After pitching for eight seasons in the minor leagues from 1991-1998, he retired at the age of 29. Today, Purdy is the dad to three kids, all playing sports at a high level. His daughter, Whitney, plays softball at Southeastern University. His son, Brock, plays quarterback at Iowa State and was the Big 12 True-Freshman of the Year in 2018. His youngest son, Chubba, is a four-star high school QB recruit entering his senior year in 2019. On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Shawn about his pro baseball journey, coming to faith in Christ in 1995, being a father to three kids who play elite sports, raising them up in the Lord, and the importance of keeping Christ at the center, even as they pursue their sports dreams. For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Dr. Tony Evans is the founder and senior pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas, founder and president of The Urban Alternative, chaplain of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks, and author of more than 100 books, booklets and Bible studies. He joined us on Episode 129 of our show to talk about his work with the Dallas Cowboys, how he got started in sports ministry, where the state of faith is in the NBA and the biggest spiritual battles athletes face. On this THROWBACK edition, we hear Dr. Evans share about the church's current role in the climate we're living in today and what his biggest regret is in his ministry.  You can listen to the entire interview from Episode 129 in July of 2018 here. 

Episode 314 Aubree Munro is a member to Team USA's softball team and a 2-time NCAA National Champion with the Florida Gators.  She has played in the 2016 and 2018 WBSC Women's World Championship, winning the Gold Medal both seasons. In 2018, she hit .389 with 3 HR, and 8 RBI.    On this episode of the podcast, we talk with Aubree about winning back to back national titles, the booming popularity of women's softball, her testimony of faith in Christ, being baptized 3 years ago and why she felt compelled to pray out loud during an at bat for Team USA against Japan last year.    For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 301 Beth Guckenberger is Executive Director of Back2Back Ministries, an international orphan care ministry serving abandoned, orphaned and impoverished children in Mexico, Nigeria, India and Haiti.  Since Beth and her husband Todd co-founded the international ministry in 1997, Back2Back has been providing care for today and hope for tomorrow through its proven five-point Child Development Model.  They strive to provide holistic care, meeting each child’s spiritual, physical, educational, emotional and social needs that they might overcome their life circumstances and break free from the cycle of generational poverty. This care is accomplished through a talented staff and national partners in each country as well as numerous individuals, churches and corporate partners, over 450 child sponsors and around 2500 mission trip guests each year. A gifted story-teller, Beth is the author of Reckless Faith (Zondervan, 2008), Relentless Hope (Standard Publishing, 2010), 5 books in the Storyweaver Series (Standard Publishing) and Start With Amen (Thomas Nelson, 2017.) She serves on the board of David C Cook Publishing and also Christian Leadership Alliance. She travels and speaks regularly at national conferences, youth gatherings, retreats, and churches. She draws from her field experience as a missionary, ministry director and parent for illustrations of biblical concepts.  Her topics include, but are not limited to, orphan care, missions, ministry, parenting, marriage/intimacy, and general faith. Beth and Todd lived in Monterrey, Mexico for over 15 years and together have raised 10 children (biological, foster, and adopted). She is a graduate of Indiana University with a BA in Education. On this episode of the podcast, Beth shares with us her heart for missions, what led her to Monterrey, Mexico, why she believes starting prayers with "Amen" is vital to our communication with God, her work with the Cincinnati Reds and how her adopted son born with Cerebral Palsy is now a wide receiver playing college football.  For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com