Sports Spectrum Podcast

Episode 565 Grant McCasland leads the North Texas Men's Basketball team as their head coach. In his first season with North Texas (2017-18), he led them to the CBI (College Basketball Invitational) championship. He has won 20 games in every season he's coach at the Division One level. In 2019-20, he led UNT to a 20-11 finish and a first place 14-4 record in Conference USA.  Prior to arriving at North Texas, coach McCasland spent time at Baylor as an assistant coach under Scott Drew and held head coaching positions at Midland, Midwestern State and Arkansas State. He also played college basketball at Baylor from 1995-1999.  On today's podcast, we talk to Grant McCasland about embracing the pause during the pandemic, finding peace amidst the chaos, the importance of being a part of a men's group and the importance of keeping basketball from becoming an idol. Follow Coach McCasland on Twitter: @UNTCoachGMac   For more stories of sports and faith, check out our website http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Today we bring to you the very first episode of a new show on the Sports Spectrum Podcast Network called "Recalibrated." Hosted by Mallory Brown, wife to former NFL running back Donald Brown, "Recalibrated" features the untold stories from pro athlete wives and other anointed leaders in and around the local church.   SUBSCRIBE EVERYWHERE PODCASTS ARE FOUND:  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7rwtATkqISHCuJjdrNjjm6 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/recalibrated/id1537851639   

Episode 564 Kenny Luck is a best selling author of twenty three books for men. His latest book, “Dangerous Good: The Coming Revolution of Men Who Care” released in August 2018. Kenny has made men's ministry his calling and his purpose is to revolutionize men's ministry, free men spiritually and empower a men's movement worldwide. Luck is the president of "Every Man Ministries,"  founded in 2000 to revolutionize men’s ministry, free men spiritually and ignite spiritual health worldwide. He is currently the Leadership Pastor at Crossline Church in Laguna Hills, California. Prior to Crossline, he was the Men’s Pastor at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California from 1997-2014. On today's podcast, Kenny shares how sports was his salvation, why we do unhealthy things to gain acceptance, the importance for Christ followers to speak up against injustice and the importance to be connected with a community.   You can learn more about Every Man by checking out their website EveryManMinistries.com.   For more stories of sports and faith, check us out at http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 564 Brandon Knight is an NBA guard who has played eight seasons with the Pistons, Bucks, Suns, Rockets and Cavaliers. He was selected in the first round (8th overall) of the 2011 NBA Draft by Detroit. He was named to the NBA's All-Rookie First-Team in 2012 after averaging 12.8 ppg.  Growing up in Florida, Brandon was a 2-time Gatorade National Player of the Year in high school at Pine Crest (Ft. Lauderdale). He made the decision to attend the University of Kentucky with coach John Calipari and in his one season with the Wildcats, he led them to the Final Four and was named First-Team All-SEC in 2011.  After coming to the NBA and spending two seasons in Detroit, he was traded to Milwaukee in 2013. After being traded again in 2015 to Phoenix, Brandon would sign a 5-year deal to continue playing with the Suns. Injuries would limit Knight's play and he was traded again in 2018 to Houston and then again traded to Cleveland in 2019. One more trade in 2020 saw Brandon move from Cleveland to Detroit, where he would finish the 2020 season before the pandemic abruptly ended the Pistons regular season.  Today on the podcast, we talk to Brandon Knight about his NBA season ending because of the pandemic, playing against LeBron James and Kobe Bryant, connecting with Christ during the pandemic through prayer and fasting and how he views success.  Follow Brandon on Instagram: @BrandonKnight For more stories on sports and faith, check out our website http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 563 Niki Noto Palmer is an Atlanta based TV personality. She is currently working as an anchor and reporter on Atlanta's CW covering sports. She's been affiliated with ESPN, SEC Network, HLN, Fox Sports South, CBS Sports Network and many other media outlets.  Prior to her work in television, she worked with the Atlanta Falcons and the Tennessee Titans. Niki has experience appearing as talent for commercials and promotional videos as wetland has covered large events like the NCAA Final Four, the NCAA Frozen Four and numerous Atlanta Falcons home games.  She is currently the host of the Sidelines and Storylines Podcast where she cultivates conversations with people in the sports world on the sidelines and storylines of life. On today's show, we talk to Niki about her desire to serve in teen ministry, her journey of reporting on sports, meeting her future husband, answered prayers in her career, and how she lives her faith out every day.  Follow Niki on Instagram: @NikiNotoPalmer For more stories of sports and faith, check out our website http://SportsSpectrum.com

Today on the podcast we welcome John Bevere, author of the new book "X: How to Multiply Your God-Given Potential."  John and his wife Lisa are the founders of MESSANGER INTERNATIONAL, an organization established to teach, reach and rescue.  He is the author of 22 books including the international bestseller "The Bait of Satan." John and his wife Lisa also host the "Conversations with John and Lisa Bevere" podcast.  Today, we talk to John about his new book, his love for sports, how playing tennis in college at Purdue prepared him for ministry and the craziest food eating experience he's ever had in another nation. Follow John on Instagram: @JohnBevere For more stories of sports and faith, check out our website http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 526 Geremy Davis was selected in the 6th round of the 2015 NFL Draft by the New York Giants out of the University of Connecticut. In college with the Huskies, he set UCONN/FBS records with 165 career receptions and 2,292 career receiving yards. He caught a pass in every game he played in college.  After coming to the NFL, he would spend one season with the Giants before signing with Chargers in 2016. After four seasons with San Diego/Los Angeles, he would sign a new contract in March of 2020 with the Detroit Lions. However he was one of the teams final cuts on September 1, 2020.  He's currently a free agent hoping to land with an NFL team.  On today's podcast, we talk to Geremy about what that uncertain NFL life is like, staying ready for a team to call him, the life sermon he would preach, his struggle with prayer and why he wants to point others toward Jesus on his Instagram page.  Follow Geremy on Instagram: @GDay85 For more stories of sports and faith, check out http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 561 Lauren Sisler is a sideline reporter covering college football for ESPN. She joined ESPN in 2016 after being named Best Sports Anchor by the Alabama Associated Press in 2014 and 2015. The former Rutgers gymnast also covers SEC football for AL.com in Alabama.  In 2003, while a freshman on a gymnastics scholarship at Rutgers, Sisler unexpectedly lost both of her parents, George and Lesley Sisler, to prescription drug overdoses within hours of each other. Today, Lauren is dedicated to spreading awareness about the dangers of addiction and the devastation it can cause for the addict, their loved ones and the community. She currently serves as a board member for the Addiction Prevention Coalition in Birmingham, Alabama and is on the Speakers Bureau for the Shelby County Drug Free Coalition.  On today's podcast, we talk to Lauren Sisler about being a sideline reporter during the pandemic, getting married and being baptized in 2020, the powerful story of losing her parents to addiction and how she came to the realization that her story could help and encourage others. Follow Lauren on Twitter: @LaurenSisler For more stories of sports and faith, check out http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 560 Andre Levrone Jr is a former high school, college and pro football player. He was a standout wide receiver in high school, helping Our Lady of Good Counsel High School win four straight Maryland state championships.  In college, he attended University of Virginia where he would play in 22 games, catching 46 passes for 864 yards and 8 touchdowns.  After finishing his college career, Andre would go undrafted in the NFL but sign a contract with the Baltimore Ravens. He would spend parts of three seasons with Baltimore, Carolina and Jacksonville before retiring at the age of 25 in 2020.  On today's podcast, we talk to Andre about walking away from the NFL dream before the dream could happen, why it's important for him to read God's word out of adoration and not obligation and how his faith in Christ was tested multiple times after suffering injuries in high school and college.    Follow Andre on Instagram: @DreistheWay   For more stories of sports and faith, check out http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Steve Skipper is one of the most prolific artists in the realms of sports, civil-rights, equestrian, portraiture and Christian artwork. He has shattered barriers of race and education in the art world. He's the first African American to complete artwork sanctioned by NASCAR, the University of Alabama, PGS and PBR. His work is hanging on permanent display in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, College Football Hall of Fame, Alabama Sports Hall of Fame and the Lyndon B Johnson Presidential Library.  The upcoming documentary "COLORS OF CHARACTER: An Artist's Journey to Redemption" shares the extraordinary journey of Steve Skipper. You can learn more by visiting http://ColorsofCharacterMovie.com.  Today on the podcast, we talk to Steve and hear his incredible story of growing up in the 1960's as a gang member and drug addict, and how his faith in Jesus Christ led him to a new life as a prolific artist.  For more stories of sports and faith, check us out at http://SportsSpectrum.com.