Sports Spectrum Podcast

Episode 289 Adam Weber is the pastor of Embrace Church in South Dakota. The church was started in 2006 and has since grown to 6 campuses in two states and in 2017 was dubbed the fastest growing church in America.  A huge fan of the Cincinnati Bengals, Adam is also a writer, and released his first book "Talking With God" in 2017. He is also the host of "The Conversation," a podcast that features Adam interviewing other influencers in the Christian world.  On this episode of the podcast, we dive into Adam's obsession with the Cincinnati Bengals, rooting for a team that's never won a Super Bowl, how the idea came about for him to start a church at age 24, why prayer doesn't have to be so difficult, and the burden that he's been wrestling with lately. For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 288 Dave Dravecky's story is one of hope, courage and perseverance in the midst of dark and overwhelming uncertainty. In 1988 Dave was at the top of his game and life. Not only did he have a wonderful family but he was reaching his all-star peak playing the game of his childhood dreams. His 5-1 opening day victory over the Dodgers was overshadowed later that fall by the discovery of cancer and the removal of half of the deltoid muscle in his pitching arm. For baseball fans worldwide Dave Dravecky etched his name into history on August 10, 1989. Defying all odds, after battling cancer in his pitching arm, Dave came back to pitch once again in the Major Leagues. People were on their feet cheering and anticipating the game while he stretched and warmed up. He became an inspiration not only to cancer fighters, but to all who needed hope that day. As Dave took the mound, no one could deny the miracle that was taking place. After being told by his doctors, "Short of a miracle, you'll never pitch again," Dave pitched a 4-3 win for the San Francisco Giants. Sadly, Dave's comeback was short-lived. Five days later, in Montreal, Dave threw " the pitch that could be heard round the world." Dave's arm had split in two. As he tumbled to the ground, his mind filled with doubt and fear. Little did he know that the dream he had since he was a little boy, was simply a platform for his purpose to share hope with the suffering around the world. Dave's triumphant defeat of the cancer and his return to the game of baseball is chronicled in his award winning book, Comeback, which has sold more than 650,000 copies. After Dave's comeback and fall from the mound, with the weakened bone, the cancer returned yet again. The arm was not going to get better at this point so Dave decided to retire from his dream, the game of baseball, in November of 1989. Slowly the treatment and the cancer ate away Dave's arm and simultaneously his career. Radiation treatment after radiation treatment resulted in a staph infection that placed a hole in the middle of his arm exposing bone. Finally, the arm along with Dave's shoulder blade and left side of his collar bone had to be amputated for fear the cancer would spread and take Dave's life. Because of the overwhelming response to their story and their desire to walk along side others who suffer, Dave and Jan founded Dave Dravecky's Outreach of Hope, a nonprofit organization in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The Draveckys realized through their own experiences that one cannot battle cancer alone, so they have created this ministry to bring hope for those who hurt. On this episode of the podcast, we hear Dave's incredible story of a major league career cut short, hearing the word "cancer" for the first time, trusting God, doubting God, and how his faith ultimately saw him through his recovery. For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com  

Jon Gordon is the author of 18 books, including five best-sellers: “The Energy Bus,” “The Carpenter,” “Training Camp,” “You Win in the Locker Room First” and “The Power of Positive Leadership.” His latest book, “The Power of a Positive Team” released in June of 2018. Gordon and his leadership principles have been featured on the Today Show, CNN, CNBC, the Golf Channel, Fox and Friends and in numerous magazines and newspapers. His clients include the Los Angeles Dodgers, Atlanta Falcons, L.A. Clippers, Miami Heat, Pittsburgh Pirates, Los Angeles Rams and Clemson football program. On this Throwback Thursday edition of the podcast from June of 2017, Jon shares in Episode 13, how he came to faith in Christ in his early 30's.  For more on Jon, check out his website, http://JonGordon.com 

Episode 287 Nick Mingione was named the head baseball coach of the Kentucky Wildcats on June 13, 2016. Prior to his time in Kentucky, he was an assistant coach with Mississippi State from 2009-2016.  In 2017, Mingione's first in Lexington, he led the program to the NCAA Tournament Super Regionals for the first time ever and was named SEC and National Coach of the Year.  That success has carried over to the MLB Draft, where Mingione and and his staff's ability to groom players for a professional career has led to 21 players being selected in the past two MLB Drafts, the most of any program in the country. The 13 Cats taken in 2018 also ranked as the most in the nation.  On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Coach Mingione about the daily grind of being a baseball coach, how he views success as a coach, coaching for Christ, the key to recruiting the "right" players, and how he came to the Lord.  For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 286 Brad Soderberg is an assistant coach for the Virginia Men's Basketball team and helped the Cavaliers to their first ever National Championship earlier this month in Minneapolis.  Soderberg arrived at Virginia after serving as head coach of Lindenwood University for six seasons from 2009-15. He also served as head coach at Saint Louis (2002-07), South Dakota State (1993-95) and Loras College (1988-93).  He coached at Wisconsin for six years from 1995-2001 where he started as an assistant coach under Tony Bennett's father, Dick. Soderberg helped the Badgers advance to four NCAA Tournaments, including the 2000 Final Four, and one NIT appearance. In 2000-01, Soderberg took over as the interim head coach early in the season, and along with assistant coach Tony Bennett, guided Wisconsin to an 18-11 overall record and NCAA Tournament appearance. Soderberg was the first Wisconsin coach since 1911 to win his first eight games, and the first to lead the Badgers to the NCAA Tournament in his first year. He also spent one year as an assistant coach at Saint Louis in 2001-02 under former Washington head coach Lorenzo Romar.  On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Brad about winning the National Championship, having his family with him to celebrate in Minneapolis, how faith played a role in shaping the culture within the team, what he's learned both on and off the court from Coach Tony Bennett.  For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

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 death of his brother, his favorite Herm Edwards story, and why mentorship was so important in his development as a man and a follower of Jesus.  For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

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, he produced the hit animated film The Star and the hit film Miracles from Heaven. Along with his work as a producer, Franklin is the author of the upcoming book The Truth About Men, to be published in February 2019, as well as The Hollywood Commandments, New York Times bestseller The Wait (co-written with his wife, award–winning actress Meagan Good) and Produced by Faith. On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Devon about his new movie Breakthrough, faith in Hollywood, how Stephen Curry got involved in the movie, faith in Hollywood, why Jesus' message is still appealing to a mass audience in 2019, and the role sports has played in his life. For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

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 soccer squad as a senior. Winning was her thing in high school as she garnered a combination of 17 team and state championships during prep career and was also named valedictorian of her graduating class. On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Carsyn about life as a married lady, where her faith took shape, how God helped her through injury setbacks last year, and why the Lord's timing is more perfect than anything she could put together on her own.  For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com