Sports Spectrum Podcast

Nicole Mendes is a two-time softball national champion with the Oklahoma Sooners. As the Big 12 Freshman of the Year in 2017, she led the Sooners in batting average and stolen bases on the way to a Women's College World Series title. After her junior year in 2019, Nicole had knee surgery and missed most of the 2020 season. This year, she returned to the Sooners lineup as a redshirt senior and led OU to the 2021 Women's College World Series title. During the 2021 WCWS, she hit .318 with 5 extra-base hits and stored a team-high eight runs. For her efforts, she was named to the all-WCWS tournament team. Nicole is also a member of the Mexican Olympic Softball team and will be competing for a Gold Medal starting in July in Tokyo, Japan. Today on the podcast, we talk to Nicole about her faith in Christ, getting baptized and growing in her walk with the Lord. She also shares her emotions in winning a second national title with OU and preparing for the Summer Olympics in Tokyo. --- If you enjoyed this podcast with Nicole Mendes, we know you'll love these conversations as well: - Patty Gasso, Oklahoma Sooners Softball Coach - Sydney Romero, Former Oklahoma Sooners Softball Champion 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. 

Max Garcia is entering his 7th season in the NFL as an offensive lineman. He was selected in the 4th round of the 2015 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos. In his first professional season, Max was a part of a Super Bowl winning team when the Broncos beat the Panthers 24-10 in Super Bowl 50. In college, Max played was a starter at the University of Maryland for two years and then transferred to the University of Florida, where he was a team captain. After playing four NFL seasons with the Broncos, Max signed with Arizona in 2019 and is entering his third season with the Cardinals.  On today's podcast, Max Garcia shares what it was like to be a part of a Super Bowl winning team in his rookie season, the excitement surrounding the 2021 Cardinals, the phone call he received from Peyton Manning after being drafted, how a moment in college turned his journey of faith around and the importance of building community with other believers.  --- If you enjoyed this podcast with Max Garcia, we know you'll love these conversations as well: – Geremy Davis - NFL Wide Receiver – Justin Forsett and Matt Forte – Life After the NFL 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. 

Danielle Herzlich is an Army veteran, fitness expert and survivor of abuse. She is also the wife of former NFL linebacker Mark Herzlich. Today on the podcast, we talk to Danielle about her story of overcoming sexual abuse, her passion for justice, why she and her husband are involved with IJM (International Justice Mission) and her desire to represent Jesus by serving others. Go to IJM.com/Slavery to learn more about the International Justice Mission, the reality of slavery and human trafficking and how you can join the fight.    

The Phoenix Suns are the 2021 Western Conference champions and in the NBA Finals for the first time since 1993. Today, we bring to you a conversation with their head coach Monty Williams as he shares his testimony of faith in Christ and how God has guided him during the highs and lows of life.  **Interview originally recorded September 2019** 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. 

Ricky Pierce played 16 NBA seasons from 1982-1998 with nine different teams including the Milwaukee Bucks and Seattle Supersonics. He was originally selected 18th overall in the first round of the 1982 NBA Draft by the Detroit Pistons. In 1984, he joined the Bucks and was named the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year twice in 1987 and 1990.  In 1991, he was named to the NBA's Eastern Conference All-Star team and five days after playing in the All-Star Game,he was traded from Milwaukee to Seattle for Dale Ellis.  Pierce was known as one of the best mid-range shooters in the NBA and averaged 14.9 points per game in his 16 year career. In 1989-90, he averaged 23.0 ppg without starting a single game, an NBA record. Today on the podcast, Ricky takes us back to playing in the NBA's golden eras of the 80's and 90's, what it was like to play against Michael Jordan, who he thinks the best shooter in NBA history is, how is faith in the Lord has evolved since his playing days and why God is now the most important thing in his life.  --- If you enjoyed this podcast with Ricky Pierce, we know you'll love these conversations as well: - Avery Johnson - Former NBA Player/Coach - Kristen Ledlow, NBA Host/Reporter 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. 

Ebo Elder is a former professional boxer with a career record of 22-3 including 14 by knockout.  Today the former WBO NABO Lightweight champion talks about his boxing journey, praying for his opponent after knocking him out, walking away from boxing, writing a book and pursuing ministry. You can learn more about Ebo by checking out his website here. You can purchase his new book "The Great Comeback" here.  Watch Ebo knockout his opponent and then pray for him here. 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. 

Ashley Brewer is a host for ESPN’s newly reimagined SportsNation as well as anchoring SportsCenter and contributing to other studio shows and programming.   Prior to joining ESPN in March 2020, Brewer served as weekend anchor and host for ABC7 in Los Angeles, covering the Dodgers in the World Series, Rams in the Super Bowl, and other major sporting events, in addition to co-hosting The Bachelor Winter Games on ABC. She began her career as a college football sideline reporter for Cox 7 and weekend sports anchor at KGUN-9, the ABC affiliate in Tucson, Ariz. She attended the University of Southern California, where she was a member of the varsity women’s swimming team. She was a standout swimmer at Chaparral High School in her native Scottsdale, Az., and her brothers and sisters were college athletes as well.  Today on the podcast, we talk to Ashley about her new role at ESPN, how God worked through her during a personal dark time in life in 2020, covering Kobe Bryant in Los Angeles and why she devotes time to mentoring young women in the broadcasting business.  --- If you enjoyed this conversation with Ashley Brewer, we know you'll love these podcasts as well: - Ashley Brewer from 2018 - Dan Orlovsky – ESPN Football Analyst 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. 

Scotty Walden is the head football coach at Austin Peay University. He's the youngest head football coach in Division One at 31 years old. After a football career that saw him play quarterback in college at the Division Three level, he went into coaching and became a college football head coach at just 26 years old with East Baptist University (D-III). At the time of his hiring to East Baptist, he was the youngest college football head coach in America.  After one season at East Baptist, Walden became the receivers coach at Division 1 Southern Miss. In 2019, he was promoted to Co-Offensive Coordinator and in 2020, became the interim head coach for four games before taking the Austin Peay job in October 2020.  Today on the podcast, we talk to Scotty Walden about coaching spring football games in 2021 at Austin Peay, how the Lord led him through his coaching decisions, why unity is the secret to success in college football and how he's handled being the youngest head coach in division one college football.  --- If you enjoyed this conversation with Scotty Walden, we know you'll love these podcasts as well: - Indiana high school coach Marc Davidson on winning Indiana state title, battling cancer, trusting Jesus - Bryce Drew - Grand Canyon University Men's Basketball Coach  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. 

Michael Thomas has played 8 seasons in the NFL with the Houston Texans, New York Giants, Miami Dolphins and San Francisco 49ers. He played his college football at Stanford and went undrafted in 2012. After stint on the practice squad with the Niners, he would make his NFL debut in December 2013 with the Miami Dolphins against the New England Patriots and intercepted a Tom Brady pass in that game.  Thomas would establish himself as a mainstay on special teams and in 2018, was named to the NFL's Pro Bowl. He was named as an All-Pro Special Teams Ace with Pro Football Focus three times and was named to Pro Football Focus's 2010's All Decade Team on special teams.  Off the field, Michael earned his Master's Degree in Business Administration from the University of Miami Business School and in 2016, was named the "Good Guy" award winner from the Pro Football Writer's Association for his work assisting and cooperating with the media.  Today on the podcast, Michael Thomas shares how his life has changed welcoming his third child, his recovery from a torn pectoral in 2020, how Christ became Lord of his life, leaning on his faith after losing his mother and sister, and why it is so important for Michael to be more than an athlete.  --- If you enjoyed this conversation with Michael, we know you'll love these conversations as well: - Nate and Lexi Solder  - Shaun Alexander and Chris Broussard on Biblical Manhood 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. 

Manny Randhawa is currently a baseball reporter based in Denver for MLB.com. A member of Baseball Writers Association of America, Manny is also the author of "The Blake Street Bombers," a book about the 1990's Colorado Rockies home run hitters.  Today on the podcast, Manny shares his incredible story of going from being an atheist to follower of Christ and how God now guides his life.  --- If you enjoyed this podcast with Manny, we know you'll love these conversations as well: - David Stein - From Jewish Atheist to Follower of Christ - Former Rockies and Pirates manager Clint Hurdle 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.