

Sports Spectrum Podcast
Sports Spectrum
Sports Spectrum is an interview driven podcast hosted by former Chicago Bears Pro Bowl running back Matt Forte.
Each episode, Forte will bring you stories and conversations at the intersection of sports and Jesus.
Each episode, Forte will bring you stories and conversations at the intersection of sports and Jesus.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 25, 2023 • 31min
LPGA tour pro Angela Stanford on winning golf majors, living out her faith and overcoming loss
Angela Stanford is a professional golfer on the LPGA Tour. Since turning pro in 2000, she has had eight professional wins including seven on the LPGA Tour. In 2018, she won the Evian Championship and achieved her dream of winning her first LPGA Major championship. A standout golfer in college at TCU, Stanford was a four-time All-American with the Horned Frogs and the 1999 WAC player of the year. She has also been a member six U.S. Solheim Cup teams and was recently named assistant U.S. captain of the 203 Solheim Cup team. Today on the podcast, we talk to Angela about her golf career, winning that first LPGA Major, what it means to live out her faith on the LPGA tour and why she wanted to honor her mom by starting the Angela Stanford Foundation. Looking for faith/sports gift ideas? Check out our new Increase store with Sports Spectrum apparel, gifts, devotionals and more. http://TheIncrease.com

Jan 23, 2023 • 35min
St. Louis Cardinals Gold Glover Tommy Edman on baseball, faith and growing in Christ
Tommy Edman is an infielder with the St. Louis Cardinals. After a stellar college career at Stanford, Edman was selected in the sixth round of the 2016 MLB Amateur Draft by St. Louis and made his MLB debut a few years later in 2019. In 2021, Edman won a Gold Glove for his defensive effort at second base. In 2022, he hit .265 with 13 home runs, 57 RBIs, 31 doubles, and 32 stolen bases. Today on the podcast, we talk to Edman about his journey with Christ, the impact teammates in St. Louis have had on his faith, being a switch-hitter and how he approaches the highs and lows of a long MLB season. Looking for faith/sports gift ideas? Check out our new Increase store with Sports Spectrum apparel, gifts, devotionals and more. http://TheIncrease.com

Jan 22, 2023 • 45min
Former SF Giants General Manager Bobby Evans on winning three World Series and serving with Compassion International
Bobby Evans was the San Francisco Giants General Manager from 2016-2018. He first joined the Giants organization in 1994 and spent 24 years total with San Francisco's front office. During his time there, he was a member of three World Series championship teams in 2010, 2012 and 2014. Today on the podcast, we talk to Bobby about his long and winding road in the game of baseball, his favorite memory from Game 7 of the 2014 World Series and why his faith in Jesus has guided him to serve with Compassion International. Looking for faith/sports gift ideas? Check out our new Increase store with Sports Spectrum apparel, gifts, devotionals and more. http://TheIncrease.com

Jan 20, 2023 • 43min
Former NFL player Heath Evans on football, discipleship and living a life dedicated to Jesus Christ
Heath Evans is a former NFL player who was selected in the third round of the 2001 NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks. He would play 10 seasons with the Seahawks, Dolphins, Patriots and Saints and won a Super Bowl in 2009 with New Orleans. After retiring, he started a broadcasting career at NFL Network that lasted from 2012 until his firing in 2017. He is now doing work with his company "Built Ready" fighting to help men master biblical manhood both spiritually and physically. Today on the podcast, we talk to Heath Evans about his spiritual transformation that has seen him going from a fan to a follower of Jesus Christ. Evans also talks about his valley moments, including a divorce and a firing from his broadcasting job at NFL Network and how these moments have helped shape him as a dad and husband today and why he is all in on growing as a Christ follower. Looking for faith/sports gift ideas? Check out our new Increase store with Sports Spectrum apparel, gifts, devotionals and more. http://TheIncrease.com

Jan 18, 2023 • 52min
2-time World Series champion pitcher Jason Grimsley on addiction, pain, hope, redemption and God's grace
Jason Grimsley is a former professional baseball pitcher who played 17 years in Major League Baseball with seven different teams. He was originally selected in the 10th round of the 1985 MLB Draft by the Phillies and made his MLB debut four years later, in September of 1989. In 1999 and 2000, Grimsley was a member of the New York Yankees World Series championship teams. He pitched his last game in May of 2006 with the Diamondbacks. In November 2022, Jason released his first book, "Cross Stiched: One Man's Journey from Ruin to Restoration." Today on the podcast, we talk to Jason about his MLB career, his journey to the big leagues, becoming a Christian, overcoming addiction and what it means to find restoration. 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 now. http://SportsSpectrum.com/newsletter

Jan 16, 2023 • 28min
Veronica Burton on life in the WNBA, growing in her faith and trusting in God's plan
Veronica Burton is a WNBA player with the Dallas Wings. She was selected seventh overall in the first round of the 2022 WNBA Draft after a stellar career at Northwestern that saw her named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year three times. In her senior season with Northwestern, she averaged 18 points, 4.3 assists and led the nation at 3.8 steals per game. She was named Third-Team All-American in 2022 by the AP and won the WBCA Defensive Player of the Year. Today on the podcast, we talk to Veronica about her first season in the WNBA, the growth she's seen in her faith, the importance of community and the importance of family. Looking for faith/sports gift ideas? Check out our new Increase store with Sports Spectrum apparel, gifts, devotionals and more. http://TheIncrease.com

Jan 15, 2023 • 39min
Gari Meacham on a baseball life with her husband Bobby and serving Christ with Water Mission in Uganda
Gari Meacham is an author, speaker, baseball wife and nonprofit CEO who has written multiple books and co-hosts the "Gutsy Faith" podcast. Gari's husband Bobby Meacham is a coach in the Colorado Rockies orgranization and is a former professional baseball player who played six seasons with the New York Yankees in the 1980's. Today on the podcast, Gari tells stories of growing up in pro baseball, trusting in God amidst uncertainity and why she wanted to partner with Water Mission to help bring clean water to people in Uganda. You can learn more about the great work Water Mission is doing and sow into their ministry by clicking on their website -- http://WaterMission.org

Jan 13, 2023 • 43min
Former NFL tight end Jacob Tamme on prayer, Super Bowl losses and bible studies
Jacob Tamme is a former NFL tight end who played nine seasons with the Colts, Broncos and Falcons from 2008-2016. He was a part of three different Super Bowl teams and caught a touchdown pass in the 2013 AFC Championship game to help Denver beat New England. In college, Tamme was a standout tight end at the University of Kentucky and in 2018, was inducted into their Athletics Hall of Fame. Today on the podcast, we talk to Jacob Tamme about prayer in the NFL, reaction to the Damar Hamlin incident on Monday Night Football, lessons from Tony Dungy and bible studies with Peyton Manning. Looking for faith/sports gift ideas? Check out our new Increase store with Sports Spectrum apparel, gifts, devotionals and more. http://TheIncrease.com

Jan 11, 2023 • 45min
College basketball referee Nate Harris on using his platform to share the Gospel
Nate Harris is a division one college basketball referee. He started officiating as a junior in high school and worked his way up through high school and eventually college basketball where he currently works in the Pac-12, Mountain West, Big Sky and WAC. In January of 2020, Nate and his wife Jessica, founded MND Ministries, where he is helping equip and disciples local referees in a relationship with God. Today on the podcast, we talk to Nate Harris about representing Christ as a college basketball official and using the platform of a referee to help equip others in their faith. Looking for faith/sports gift ideas? Check out our new Increase store with Sports Spectrum apparel, gifts, devotionals and more. http://TheIncrease.com

Jan 9, 2023 • 34min
Missouri State Men's Basketball coach Dana Ford on prayer, trust and becoming a true believer in Christ
Dana Ford is the head men's basketball coach at Missouri State University. Ford arrived as the head man for the Bears in March 2018 and 4 years later, he led his program to 23 wins, a 13-5 record in the Missouri Valley Conference, culminating in an NIT berth. It was the program's most wins since 2011 and the 10th best in team history. The Fords are also the founders of the Rebound Foundation which raises funds and awareness to help renew and restore women who have experienced a life of domestic abuse. The foundation provides a stable home and fresh start to abuse victims and their children. The Rebound Foundation currently provides homes in Springfield, Missouri., and Chicago, Illinois. Today on the podcast, we talk to Dana Ford about his coaching routine, becoming a true follower of Jesus, trusting in God during difficult storms and why he and his wife founded Rebound Foundation. Looking for faith/sports gift ideas? Check out our new Increase store with Sports Spectrum apparel, gifts, devotionals and more. http://TheIncrease.com