Sports Spectrum Podcast

Morris Michalski is a former basketball coach who serves with Athletes in Action as a basketball specialist. His role is to work with various basketball programs around the country at the high school, college and pro level as a life coach and mentor.  Known as "Coach Mo" to everyone he comes into contact with, his desire is to serve for the good of the game, the growth of its people and to the glory of God.  Today on the podcast, Coach Mo shares his journey to Christ, how the game of basketball is a great way to share the Gospel, and his role with Athletes in Action.  Looking for a great gift idea? Order our new devotional book: "The Increase 52 Week Devotional: Inspiring Stories of Faith from the World of Pro Sports." 

St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright and his wife Jenny join the show today to discuss their marriage, the decision for Adam to return to the mound in 2022 and how the important role of faith in their relationship.  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.

Shawn Johnson is the pastor of Red Rocks Church in Denver, Colorado. His new book "Attacking Anxiety" is available now.  Looking for a great gift idea? Order our new devotional book: "The Increase 52 Week Devotional: Inspiring Stories of Faith from the World of Pro Sports." 

Jason Adam is a professional baseball pitcher who spent the 2021 season with the Chicago Cubs.  He made his MLB debut May 5, 2018 with the Kansas City Royals and in 2019, pitched with the Blue Jays in Toronto. In 2020 and 2021, he was with the Cubs, splitting time with the big league club and their AAA affiliate in Iowa.  Today on the podcast, we talk to Jason Adam about his time with the Cubs, the gruesome injury he suffered in early 2021, trusting in God's plan and the amazing comeback he made to return to the mound before the end of the season.  Looking for a great gift idea? Order our new devotional book: "The Increase 52 Week Devotional: Inspiring Stories of Faith from the World of Pro Sports." 

Sam Acho is the author of "Let the World See You" and a football analyst with ESPN. Sam played nine years in the NFL as a pass rusher with the Cardinals, Bears, Bills and Buccaneers.  Learn more about rhe great work IJM is doing by going to IJM.org/SuperBowl. Looking for a great gift idea? Order our new devotional book: "The Increase 52 Week Devotional: Inspiring Stories of Faith from the World of Pro Sports." 

Kai Crutchfield is a senior guard with the NC State Women's basketball team. She joined the Wolfpack in 2017 as a freshman after a stellar high school career that saw her win NCBCA District 5 Player of the Year and All-State First Team in 2016-17. Ranked as the 82nd overall player in her class, Crutchfield has helped NC State to a Sweet Sixteen berth in 2018, 2019 and 2021.  Away from the court, Crutchfield is an entrepreneur and has started her own apparel line called "Scripted Apprl" with the goal of putting faith into fashion. Today on the podcast, we talk to Kai Crutchfield about her role as a college basketball player, her strong faith in Jesus and how that faith led her to start her own apparel line with "Scripted Apprl." Looking for a great gift idea? Order our new devotional book: "The Increase 52 Week Devotional: Inspiring Stories of Faith from the World of Pro Sports." 

Mark Appel was the number one overall pick in the 2013 MLB Amateur Draft by the Houston Astros. In 2015, he was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies and at the age of 26, stepped away from baseball in 2018. After a few years away from the game, he announced he was making a comeback to chase his MLB dream and return to pitch professionally. He would appear in 23 games with the Phillies AA and AAA minor league affiliates striking out 60 batters in 71 innings pitched.  In college, Mark was a standout pitcher for the Stanford Cardinal where he won National Pitcher of the Year in 2012 and in 2013 was named the Pac-12 Conference Scholar Athlete of the Year.  Today on the podcast, we talk to Mark Appel about chasing his MLB dream, returning to pitch after 3 years, his viral social media post from September 2021, and whether he is going to continue his pitching career.  Looking for a great gift idea? Order our new devotional book: "The Increase 52 Week Devotional: Inspiring Stories of Faith from the World of Pro Sports." 

Justin Forsett is a former Pro Bowl running back in the NFL who played nine seasons with the Ravens, Seahawks, Colts, Texans, Jaguars, Broncos and Lions.  He joined us on Radio Row at Super Bowl LVI in Los Angeles to talk about his NFL identity, his faith in Jesus, his work with Hustle Clean and the Bible verse that he's been meditating on.  Looking for a great gift idea? Order our new devotional book: "The Increase 52 Week Devotional: Inspiring Stories of Faith from the World of Pro Sports." 

Bill Curry is a two-time Super Bowl champion who played 10 seasons in the NFL with the Packers, Colts, Oilers and Rams.  He participated in Super Bowl I, III and V and played for legendary coaches Vince Lombardi and Don Shula. As a coach, Curry was the head football coach at Georgia Tech, Alabama and Kentucky, winning the 1989 Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year award.  Today we talk to Bill Curry about Super Bowl 56, what it was like playing in the first ever Super Bowl, the faith of Vince Lombardi and his final NFL season in 1974 as a member of the Los Angeles Rams.    WATCH a special Super Bowl edition of Sports Spectrum's "Weekly Slant" with Bill Curry, Nick Foles and Dan Orlovsky here. 

Chicago Bears QB Nick Foles joins Jade McCarthy to share about the lessons learned from the 2021 season, preparing for his post-playing career, his Super Bowl memories with the Eagles and his prediction for Super Bowl LVI.    WATCH a special Super Bowl edition of Sports Spectrum's "Weekly Slant" with Bill Curry, Nick Foles and Dan Orlovsky here.