Sports Spectrum Podcast

Today Sports Spectrum begins a seven week series called "I ONCE WAS" where athletes share their transformation story of going from lost to found. This podcast takes you deeper into each athlete's "I ONCE WAS" story and today we begin our series with Super Bowl LII MVP and current NFL QB Nick Foles.  You can watch Nick's "I ONCE WAS" video here. You can order "I ONCE WAS" merchandise here. 

Tyler Clutts is a former NFL fullback who played eight seasons of professional football. After going undrafted out of Fresno State, Clutts went undrafted in 2008 and signed with the Edmonton Eskimos of the CFL. Then it was on to the Utah Blaze of the Arena League in 2010, followed by a stint in the UFL with the Sacramento Mountain Lions. In 2011, Clutts got the call from the NFL and signed with the Cleveland Browns. His NFL journey saw him make stops with Chicago, Houston, Miami and the Dallas Cowboys. Today on the podcast, we sit down with Tyler Clutts to discuss individualism in today's sports world and what it means to tame the tongue as a follower of Christ. 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. 

Beginning October 3, Sports Spectrum will introduce a brand new 7-week video series called "I ONCE WAS" featuring athletes sharing their stories of transformation.  Jade McCarthy introduces you to our new series and is joined by Jason Romano to discuss the heart behind "I ONCE WAS." You can learn more and watch all of the "I ONCE WAS" videos here at SportsSpectrum.com/IOW.

Jaccob Slavin is an All-Star defenseman with the Carolina Hurricanes. He was originally selected by Carolina in the fourth round of the 2012 NHL Draft. After a collegiate career at Colorado College, Slavin began his pro journey and made his NHL debut on November 20, 2015. In 2017, Slavin signed a seven-year contract extension with the Hurricanes and in 2020, was named to his first All-Star team. One year later, he won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy presented each year to the National Hockey League "player to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability.  Today on the podcast, we welcome back Jaccob Slavin to talk about his story of fatherhood, adoption, his role as a leader with Carolina, his desire to glorify God and what discipleship looks like for him.  Listen here to our interview with Jaccob Slavin from May 2017. 

Jeff Kemp is a former NFL quarterback who played 10 years of pro football from 1981-1991 with the Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks and Philadelphia Eagles. He had his best season in 1984, where he led the Rams to a 10-6 record and a playoff berth.  Growing up in the 1960's, Jeff Kemp watched his father Jack Kemp win multiple AFL championships as a quarterback with the Buffalo Bills. Jack Kemp was also a well known politician who went on to run for president. Jeff, post-playing career, is now a motivational speaker and author, and an ambassador for the Fatherhood CoMission.  Today on the podcast, we talk to Jeff about his NFL playing career, playing with Hall of Famers Joe Montana, Eric Dickerson, Jerry Rice, Steve Largent and Reggie White, the parallels of football and faith and why Jeff knew his post-playing career calling was to go into ministry.   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.

Hunter Henry is a tight end with the New England Patriots. He was originally selected in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Chargers and played his first five seasons with SD/LA. In the Spring of 2021, he signed a three-year contract with New England and in his first year with the Patriots, caught a career-high nine touchdown passes. In college, Henry was a standout tight end with the University of Arkansas, winning the John Mackey Award in 2015 for the nation's best tight end. Today on the podcast, we talk to Hunter Henry about becoming a father, discovering his "new why," what it means to play for an audience of one, and the importance of finding his identity outside of football. 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. 

Dustin Nickerson is a comedian and calls himself the "the world’s most average person.” He has performs over 300 shows a year and his videos have been viewed over 20 million times. He has appeared on Comedy Central, Hulu, Fox, and Netflix alongside Kevin Hart. His stand-up comedy special, Overwhelmed, which was produced by KevOnStage, was one of the highest-rated comedy specials on Amazon Prime and has been viewed over 125,000 times on YouTube. He and his wife Melissa host the popular Don’t Make Me Come Back There podcast and in June 2022, Dustin released his new book How to be Married (to Melissa). On today's podcast, we talk to Dustin about his career as a comedian, his love for Seattle sports, performing in minor league stadiums and why he performs clean as a standup comedian.  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.

Skip Schumaker is currently a coach with the St. Louis Cardinals. He was originally selected in fifth round of the 2001 MLB Draft by the Cardinals and four years later, made his big league debut with St. Louis against the Red Sox. He would go on to play 7 years with St. Louis from 2005-2012 and was a member of the 2011 World Series championship team.  After a season with the Dodgers and two more with the Reds, Schumaker's playing career ended in 2016 and he would turn to coaching a year later, being named as the first base coach of the San Diego Padres in December of 2017. He spent four seasons with the Padres before being hired back to St. Louis as their bench coach in November 2021.  Today on the podcast, we talk to Skip about returning to St. Louis as a coach in 2022, coaching his legendary former teammates (Pujols, Wainwright, Molina), growing in his faith, the impact Adam Wainwright had on his Christian walk, and blooming where he is planted. 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.

Mike Weller is the associate professor of athletic training at Cedarville University in Ohio. He is helping lead Cedarville’s program to new heights with the start of the Master of Athletic Training degree, which launched in June 2022. Beyond Cedarville, he has served as the staff athletic trainer for the Cincinnati Bengals training camp since 2011. He also has worked for the National Football league as the eyes in the sky during Bengals football games to alert team medical staff about potential concussions. 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.

James Mitchell is the Team Chaplain and Coordinator of Organization Life Enrichment with the Tennessee Titans. He is entering his fifth season with Tennessee in 2022. Prior to joining the Titans, Mitchell worked at Duke University as the Director of Football Development for the Blue Devil Gridiron Program for nine years from 2009-18. From 2003-09, he served six years s the team chaplain at the University of Tennessee, working with the football, and men's and women's basketball programs. He has also served as  a national director of outreach for Pro Athletes Outreach, where he worked in conjunction with both the NFL and MLB. Today on the podcast, we talk to James Mitchell about his role with the Titans and his desire to see his players and coaches grow as men, as husbands and in their faith. We also talk to James about discipleship and helping others grow in the word of God.  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.