Sports Spectrum Podcast

Charlotte Smith is a North Carolina basketball legend and the head basketball coach for Elon University. She played her college basketball with the University of North Carolina was named the Most Outstanding Player at the 1994 Final Four and in the national championship game, she hit the game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer to give her team a 60-59 win over Louisiana Tech.  Smith would go on to play professional basketball in the WNBA from 1999-2006 and then went into coaching. She was named head coach at Elon in June 2011 and led the Phoenix to their first ever NCAA Tournament bid in 2017.  Today on the podcast, we talk to Charlotte Smith about her March Madness moment, hitting a game-winning three to win the national championship in 1994, the platform that God has given her after that shot and her desire as a coach and author to see players and coaches spend time in prayer.  Charlotte's new book "When Athletes Pray" is available here - https://www.whenathletespray.org/ 

Yan Gomes is a catcher with the Chicago Cubs. He was selected in the 10th round of the 2009 MLB Amateur Draft by the Blue Jays and three years later, he made his MLB debut in May of 2012 with Toronto. His baseball journey has taken him from Toronto to Cleveland, Washington, Oakland and Chicago.  In 2018, Gomes was named to the American League All-Star Game and in 2019, he was a member of the Washington Nationals World Series championship team where he caught the final out to secure a Game 7 victory.  Today on the podcast, Jade McCarthy talk to Yan Gomes about the evolution of his faith, helping other teammates in their journey, being baptized and going from fan to follower of Jesus. Looking for faith/sports gift ideas? Check out our new Increase store with Sports Spectrum apparel, gifts, devotionals and more. - http://TheIncrease.com 

Miles Burris played 3 seasons in the NFL with the Raiders after being selected in the 4th round of the 2012 NFL Draft.  In 2017, after his career was cut short due to injury, Miles went into acting and has appeared in many projects seen on Netflix, Disney+ and NBC.  Today on the podcast, we talk to Miles about his journey to the NFL, pivoting to acting and living as a believer in Hollywood.  --------------------------------------------------------------- Receive our 10-day Sports Spectrum Devotional written by professional athletes for FREE when you sign up for our Sports Spectrum Weekly Email Newsletter. Sign up here.  http://SportsSpectrum.com/newsletter 

Grace Lyons is a shortstop with the Oklahoma Sooners softball program. She was a member of the 2021 and 2022 WCWS national championship teams. She was a NFCA First Team All-American in 2022 and in 2021 and 2022 was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year.  Rylie Boone is an outfielder with the Oklahoma Sooners softball program and also a member of the 2021 and 2022 WCWS national championship teams. She was named to the 2022 Women’s College World Series All-Tournament Team and voted a two-time Academic All-Big 12 First Team in 2021 and 2022.  Today on the podcast, Jon Ackerman talks to Grace Lyons about being the spiritual leader of the Oklahoma Sooners softball program and her desire to disciple and mentor those who can carry the torch after she finishes up her playing career. We also talk to Rylie Boone about growing in her faith and when Jesus became real to her.  ----------------------------------------------------------------- Looking for faith/sports gift ideas? Check out our new Increase store with Sports Spectrum apparel, gifts, devotionals and more.  - http://TheIncrease.com 

Jordy Bahl is a pitcher with the Oklahoma softball program. In her first season of 2022, she dominated her freshman campaign going 22-1 with a 1.09 ERA and 205 strikeouts in 33 appearances. She was a 2022 NFCA First Team All-American and named the 2022 NFCA Division 1 Freshman of the Year.  JT Gasso is an assistant coach with the Oklahoma Sooners softball program under his mother Patty Gasso. His primary responsibilities include the Sooner offense as well as working with OU's outfielders. Gasso is in his eighth season with Oklahoma.  Today on the podcast, we talk to Jordy Bahl about her dominant freshman season and growing in her faith as a college softball player. In our second conversation we talk to JT Gasso about his journey at OU as a coach and the lessons learned from his Hall of Fame coaching mother.  ----------------------------------------------------------------- Looking for faith/sports gift ideas? Check out our new Increase store with Sports Spectrum apparel, gifts, devotionals and more.  - http://TheIncrease.com 

Patty Gasso is the head softball coach at Oklahoma University in Norman. She joined the program in 1995 and has led her program to six College World Series championships. Over the past two seasons, Oklahoma has won two consecutive WCWS championships and their record in that time frame is an unbelievable 105-7.  Gasso is a four-time NFCA National Coaching Staff of the Year and a 14-time Big 12 Coach of the Year and in 2012, was named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame.  Today on the podcast, we begin a series of interviews with members of Oklahoma's softball program as we traveled to Norman and sit down first with the coaching legend about her journey at Oklahoma, trusting in her faith to guide her as a coach and how she sees her team staying grounded amidst all of the success they've had.  --------------------------------------------------------- Looking for faith/sports gift ideas? Check out our new Increase store with Sports Spectrum apparel, gifts, devotionals and more. --- http://TheIncrease.com 

Beth Moore is an author, speaker and Bible teacher. She is the founder of Living Proof Ministies. Her new book "ALL MY KNOTTED LIFE" is out now.  Receive our Sports Spectrum Devotional written by professional athletes for FREE when you sign up for our Sports Spectrum Weekly Email Newsletter. Sign up here. http://SportsSpectrum.com/newsletter  Looking for faith/sports gift ideas? Check out our new Increase store with Sports Spectrum apparel, gifts, devotionals and more. http://TheIncrease.com 

Jacob and Cody Hollister are twin brothers currently playing in the NFL. Jacob is a tight end with the Las Vegas Raiders, while Cody is a wide receiver with the Tennessee Titans.  Both brothers entered the league in 2017 with the New England Patriots and played two seasons together, winning a Super Bowl in 2018 when the Patriots defeated the Rams 13-3 to win Super Bowl LIII.  Today on the podcast, we talked with Cody and Jacob Hollister about their unique relationship as twin brothers playing in the NFL, the support that they have for each other, how Jesus guides both of their lives and the trip they went on in 2022 to the Holy Land in Israel. -------------------------------------------------- Looking for faith/sports gift ideas? Check out our new Increase store with Sports Spectrum apparel, gifts, devotionals and more. -- http://TheIncrease.com 

Courtney Delks is a former women's college basketball player at Purdue University where finished eighth on Purdue’s all-time scoring list (1,674). She also finished as the all-time leader in three-pointers made (240) and free-throw percentage (90.6%), and fourth in three-point percentage (39.7%). For her efforts, Courtney was named First Team All-Big Ten and played in four straight NCAA National Tournaments.  As a player at Oak Hill High School, Courtney led the Golden Eagles to a four-year record of 97-9, including two state championship appearances.She was named 2010 Indiana High School Miss Basketball and Indiana Gatorade Player of the Year. Today on the podcast, we talk to Courtney about her love for Jesus, using the sport of basketball to point people to the Gospel, being a spiritual leader as a college basketball player and why she started the Compete Training Academy.  ------------------------------------------------------------------- Looking for faith/sports gift ideas? Check out our new Increase store with Sports Spectrum apparel, gifts, devotionals and more. -- http://TheIncrease.com 

Dionne Miller is a sports anchor and reporter with ABC 7 Eyewitness News in Chicago. Since her arrival in October 2014, she has high profile events including the Chicago Cubs 2016 World Series run as well as reporting from the White House when the team met President Obama in 2017.  Prior to her arrival in Chicago, she served as host for Fox Sports Ohio, primarily covering pre and post- game shows for the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2010-12. In addition, she served as college football sideline reporter for the Big Ten Network and had stints in Columbus, Ohio, Billings, Montana and Burlington, Vermont. Today on the podcast, we talk to Dionne about her journey in broadcasting, trusting in God to guide her steps, covering the Cubs 2016 World Series run and why surrendering to Jesus is her ultimate priority.  ------------------------------------------------------------ Receive our 10-day Sports Spectrum Devotional written by professional athletes for FREE when you sign up for our Sports Spectrum Weekly Email Newsletter. Sign up here.  http://SportsSpectrum/Newsletter