

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

Jun 25, 2021 • 44min
NASCAR Hall of Famer Darrell Waltrip on racing, faith & his unique relationship with Dale Earnhardt
Darrell Waltrip is a NASCAR legend. He is a three-time Cup Series champion (1981, 1982, 1985) and posted a modern NASCAR series record of 22 top-five finishes in 1983, and 21 top-five finishes both in 1981 and 1986. Overall, Waltrip won 84 NASCAR Cup Series races, including the 1989 Daytona 500, and a record five victories in the Coca-Cola 600 (1978, 1979, 1985, 1988, 1989). He began his racing career in 1972 and retired following the 2000 season. In 1989 and 1990, he was voted Most Popular Driver on the Winston Cup Series circuit. In 1998, he was named one of NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers, and in 2012 he was inducted into NASCAR’s Hall of Fame. Today on the podcast, we talk to Waltrip about his incredible racing career, his journey to Jesus, the importance of the Motor Racing Outreach ministry, and how his faith was impacted by the death of Dale Earnhardt in 2001. -- If you enjoyed the podcast with Darrell Waltrip, we know you'll love these conversations as well: - Aric Almirola - NASCAR Driver - William Byron – NASCAR Driver 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.

Jun 23, 2021 • 42min
Former Alabama national champion Taylor Morton on pain, cancer, grief and trusting in God
Taylor Morton is a former University of Alabama football player who currently serves as a student pastor at Valley View Baptist Church in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. He is the author of several books including, "It's Only Pain But it's Real and it Hurts" and "Finding Purpose Through the Pain: Lessons Learned Through Losing Our Son." His football career saw him make Alabama's team as a walk-on and eventually be a part of back-to-back BCS National Championship teams in 2012 and 2013 with the Crimson Tide. But Morton's life has been anything but easy. In 2007, Taylor's brother Trent was tragically killed in a four-wheeler accident. In June 2013, Morton found out he had cancer. Eight years later, in March of 2021, Morton and his wife Linlee lost their baby boy Beckett right before birth. Today on the podcast, Taylor Morton shares how God is sustaining him and his wife after the loss of their son. He also talks about trusting in Jesus in the trials and how he's found joy and hope amidst incredible pain in his life. --- If you'd like to support Taylor and his wife Linlee, you can purchase his new book "Finding Purpose Through the Pain" 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.

Jun 21, 2021 • 44min
WWE HOF'er Jeff Jarrett on discipleship, faith, redemption and baptizing his daughter
Jeff Jarrett is a legend in the professional wrestling business. He is a third generation promoter and has been in the wrestling business for more than four decades. He made his pro wrestling debut in 1986 and reached the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in 1992. Jarrett is a six-time WWE Intercontinental Champion and one of three men to hold both the Intercontinental and European Championships simultaneously. In May of 2021, he launched a new podcast "MY WORLD WITH JEFF JARRETT." Today on the podcast, we talk to Jeff about his strong faith in Jesus Christ, baptizing his daughter, faith in professional wrestling and what it meant for him to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. --- If you enjoyed this podcast with Jeff Jarrett, we know you'll love these conversations as well: - Ted DiBiase - WWE Hall of Famer - James Laurinaitis - Former NFL Linebacker 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.

Jun 20, 2021 • 33min
USA Gold Medalist Kyle Snyder on Olympic training, discipleship and his love for Jesus
Kyle Snyder is a 2016 Olympic gold medal-winning wrestler. He is the youngest Olympic gold medalist and youngest world champion in U.S. wrestling history. He was a three-time NCAA national champion at Ohio State with a career record of 75-5, and ended his college career as the first and only wrestler to win the NCAA, world and Olympic championships as a collegiate athlete. Today we talk to Kyle about preparation for the now 2021 Summer Olympic Games and how his faith has grown since the pandemic postponed the event last year. --- If you enjoyed this podcast with Kyle, we know you'll love these conversations as well: - Kyle Snyder on Sports Spectrum in 2019 - Jim Gruenwald, 2-time Olympic Wrestler, Wheaton College Wrestling 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.

Jun 18, 2021 • 43min
Andrew East and Shawn Johnson East on identity, celebrity, faith and marriage
Andrew East is a former professional football player. Shawn Johnson East is a former Olympic Gold Medalist. Together, they are now creating content on their YouTube channel "The East Family" with over 1 million subscribers. They also host their own podcast "Couple Things with Shawn and Andrew." They were married in April 2016 and their daughter Drew was born in October 2019. Their second child is expected this summer. Shawn's Olympic success saw her come away with a Gold and three Silver Medals in the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics. Since then, she's competed on Dancing with the Stars and written three books. Andrew played college football at Vanderbilt as a long snapper and had stints in the NFL with the Chiefs, Seahawks, Raiders, Rams, Jaguars and Washington. Today on the podcast, we talk with Andrew and Shawn about their engagement at Wrigley Field, the importance of faith in their life, preparing for baby number two, Andrew's NFL debut and stewarding their large platforms well. --- If you enjoyed this podcast with Andrew and Shawn, we know you'll love these conversations as well: - Dave and Ann Wilson - Vertical Marriage - Dan Orlovsky, ESPN NFL 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.

Jun 16, 2021 • 47min
Furman basketball coach Bob Richey on faith, leadership and coaching in the pandemic
Bob Richey is the men's head basketball coach with Furman University. In 2020-21, he led the Paladins to a 16-9 record after a 25-7 record the year before in a season that ended with the global pandemic. In high school, Richey led Florence Christian school to a 28-2 record, a state championship his senior year and was named the 3A State Player of the Year. After playing his college ball at North Greenville, he began his coaching career with Charleston Southern as an assistant coach. After spending 6 years with Furman as an assistant, he was named their head coach in 2017. Today on the podcast, coach Richey talks about coaching in a pandemic, eliminating distractions, trusting in Jesus, being a great leader and the importance of prayer and quiet time in his life. --- If you enjoyed this podcast with Bob, we know you'll love these conversations as well: - Jimmy Dykes - ESPN College Basketball Analyst - Clark Kellogg - CBS Sports College Basketball 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.

Jun 14, 2021 • 34min
Jack Nicklaus II on golf, faith and lessons learned from a legendary dad
Jack Nicklaus II is the first of five children born to Jack and Barbara Nicklaus. His father is a golfing legend, having won 73 PGA Tour pro events including 18 victories in Major championships. Jack II carved out his own golfing journey, attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and was a member of the UNC golf team. After a brief career as a professional golfer, Nicklaus II turned his passion to the golf course and since designing his first golf course in 1991, he has become a leading force in Nicklaus Design, serving as president of the firm and working as both a solo designer and as a collaborator with his father. In 2000, Jack II was named to Golfweek's "40 Under 40," a list of 40 individuals under the age of 40 from the golf industry that the magazine felt would "most likely shape the game--and the business of the game--for the next 10 or 20 or 30 years." His new book "Best Seat in the House: 18 Golden Lessons from a Father to His Son" released May 18. On today's podcast, Jack Nicklaus II shares on his earliest memories growing up the son of a golfing legend, being at UNC with Lawrence Taylor and Michael Jordan, meeting presidents and how faith plays an important role in the Nicklaus household. --- If you enjoyed this podcast with Jack Nicklaus II, we know you'll love these conversations as well: – Matt Doherty - Former UNC Men's Basketball Player and head coach – Bernhard Langer - Two-time Masters 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.

Jun 12, 2021 • 39min
Former MLB player Xavier Scruggs on finding purpose after baseball
Former MLB player Xavier Scruggs joins us today to share about his journey from 19th round draft pick to Korean baseball star and now retired from the game and finding purpose as a dad, husband and media professional. --- If you enjoyed this podcast with Xavier, we know you'll love these conversations as well. - Xavier Scruggs on life in Korea (from 2018) - Dansby Swanson, Atlanta Braves Shortstop 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.

Jun 11, 2021 • 44min
The courageous story of Indiana H.S. hoops coach Marc Davidson on battling cancer, being a state champion and trusting in Jesus
Marc Davidson is the boys high school basketball coach at Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian in Indiana. He is a two-time state champion winning the title in 2019 and 2021. Before coaching, he played basketball in high school under the coaching of his father Don, a member of the Illinois Basketball Association Hall of Fame. He would go on to play college basketball at Illinois under coach Lou Henson and then transfer to Trinity International (Illinois). He would play professional basketball overseas in France for over a decade before retiring in 2006. In October 2020, Davidson was preparing for the upcoming basketball season when doctors discovered a large tumor on his right kidney. Five days later, the tumor, the kidney and 13 lymph nodes in his stomach were removed. A rare cancer was discovered of which there currently is no treatment. He would return to coaching and lead his team to the Indiana 2021 Class 2A state title. Today on the podcast we talk to Marc Davidson about the success he's had as a basketball coach, trusting in God in the midst of a cancer diagnosis and why his purpose is greater than just winning basketball games. --- If you enjoyed this podcast with coach Marc, we know you'll love these conversations as well: - Mitch Mason - UNC Football Chaplain - Lauren Sisler - ESPN College Football 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.

Jun 9, 2021 • 51min
Pastor Dean Inserra on trading believe-in-yourself religion for Christ-centered Christianity”
Dean Inserra is the founding lead pastor of City Church in Tallahassee, Florida. He is also an author of two books, his 2019 release “The Unsaved Christian: Reaching Cultural Christianity with the Gospel” and his latest “Getting over Yourself : Trading Believe-In-Yourself Religion for Christ-Centered Christianity.” Today on the podcast, we talk to Dean about his love for sports. Jason and Dean debate their top-5 QBs of all-time and then we discuss Dean’s new book and why Christians need to get back to living a Christ-centered life and not get caught up in the ‘new prosperity gospel’ message. --- If you enjoyed this podcast, we know you'll love these conversations as well: – Matthew Slater – New England Patriots All-Pro Special Teams Ace – Earl Smith, Warriors and 49ers Team Chaplain 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.