Sports Spectrum Podcast

BONUS EPISODE   Boston Celtics forward Semi Ojeleye joins us to share how he's coping with the pandemic, how faith in Jesus has sustained him, why he hasn't watched the Michael Jordan documentary yet and what he's hoping will happen with the return of the NBA.   For more stories of sports and faith, check out http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 492   Cat Osterman is one of the most decorated softball players ever. She was a standout pitcher in college at the University of Texas where she ended her college career with records in wins, strikeouts, ERA, WHIP and innings pitched.  She still owns the NCAA Division One record for perfect games and is top-10 in wins, strikeouts, shutouts and no-hitters.    As a member of the Longhorns softball team, Osterman was named Big 12 Pitcher of the Year all four years she played and is a 2-time ESPY Award winning for the top collegiate female athlete (2005, 2006).   In 2004, she led USA Softball to an Olympic Gold Medal, teaming with the likes of Jennie Finch to lead America to victory. In 2008, she helped Team USA to a Silver Medal and in 2012, was inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame.   In 2018, she un-retired from softball to make one more push for a Gold Medal with Team USA at the Summer Olympics, now expected to be played in 2021.    On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Cat about unretiring from softball, how her approach changes with the Olympics now being moved to 2021, when she made Christ a priority in her life, the struggle with identity, and the difference between religion and relationship.    For more stories of sports and faith, check out our website - http://SportsSpectrum.com 

BONUS EPISODE   Super Bowl LII MVP Nick Foles and 2-time Super Bowl champion Chris Maragos join the show to talk about their new podcast "The Mission of Truth" and why they wanted to venture into doing their own show. We also talk about faith, football, their unique relationship and why the wives are the real heroes.    You can subscribe to Nick and Chris' "Mission of Truth" podcast here.    For more stories of sports and faith, check out http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 491   Jeff Scott is the head football coach with South Florida, having been named to the position in December of 2019.  He spent the previous 11 years as an assistant coach with Clemson, where he was a part of 5 straight College Football Playoff appearances and two national championships (2016, 2018).   On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Jeff Scott about his new role with South Florida, how he's coaching amidst a pandemic, the lessons he's learned during Covid-19, his journey of faith and the impact Coach Dabo Swinney had on Jeff's walk with Christ.    For more stories of sports and faith, check out our website - http://SportsSpectrum.com. 

ESPN Football Analyst and former NFL quarterback Dan Orlovsky returns to Sports Spectrum to share his thoughts on covering football during the pandemic, the importance of living your faith out with others, having an impact on his kids' lives and how to handle Twitter bullies properly.   For more stories of sports and faith, check out http://SportsSpectrum.com. 

Episode 490   Jon Ackerman is the managing editor for Sports Spectrum, in charge of the organization’s magazine and website. He joined the team in 2017 after more than 14 years in sports media. He covered six Olympics for NBCOlympics.com, and has also worked as a writer and editor for NBC Sports, Universal Sports, Back9Network and more.   After giving his life to the Lord at age 25 in a small church in Stamford, Connecticut, Ackerman saw God work in his career and life in ways that only He can. And it prepared him and his wife, Shannon, for trials that only God could help them endure.   After having a healthy baby girl, the Ackermans became pregnant again nearly a year and a half later. But at a 13-week ultrasound appointment, they were told, “Your baby is incompatible with life.” Though they couldn’t completely comprehend the implications of that statement at the time, their world was rocked. In March 2016, they met their son and after a few breaths on his mother’s chest, he went to be with the Lord. The couple became pregnant again soon thereafter, but were given the same diagnosis at the 13-week ultrasound. They met their second son in January 2017. More or their boys’ story is told here.   Jon and Shannon were able to bring home a second healthy child in May 2018, through the help of in vitro fertilization (IVF). However, a second child through IVF, a baby girl, was lost due to miscarriage in June 2019.   On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Jon about working in sports ministry, giving his life to the Lord, and the story of how he and his wife clung to God during the trials of losing two children at birth and another to miscarriage.   * Interview recorded prior to coronavirus outbreak.   For more stories of sports and faith, check out our website http://SportsSpectrum.com   

Episode 489   * Interview recorded prior to coronavirus outbreak.   Lorenzo Alexander played 13 NFL seasons with the Redskins, Cardinals, Raiders, and Bills. He played his college football California University but went undrafted coming into the league in 2005. His NFL career saw him play through 2019 before retiring after this past season.   On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Lorenzo about the decision to retire, how he's grown in his faith during his time in Buffalo, the pain that he would experience each week as an NFL linebacker, how the death of Sean Taylor impacted Lorenzo to begin his journey with Christ and why it is the best decision he's ever made.    For more stories of sports and faith, check out our website http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 488   Anthony Tolliver is a professional basketball player in the NBA with the Memphis Grizzlies. He came to the NBA as an undrafted free agent out of Creighton and signed with the San Antonio Spurs in 2008. Since then he has played for eleven different franchises in his 12 seasons and played in 711 career NBA games.    On the podcast today, we talk to Anthony about his crazy 2019-2020 NBA season, the pandemic putting a halt to sports, staying in shape, trusting in Christ during this uncertain time, and his favorite Kobe Bryant memory.    For more stories of sports and faith, check out our website http://SportsSpectrum.com 

BONUS EPISODE   Jake Reed is a pro baseball pitcher in the Minnesota Twins organization. Janie Reed is Jake's wife and a member of the USA Olympic Softball team.    On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Jake and Janie about the pivot that they have had to make during the coronavirus outbreak. Jake shares what that moment was like being in spring training with the Twins, having to pause his baseball journey and how God has shown himself to him during this time. Janie shares what that new preparation looks like for her readying for Tokyo and the now 2021 Summer Olympics.    For more stories of sports and faith, check out http://SportsSpectrum.com. 

Episode 487   Rachel Baribeau is a professional encourager. She is the founder of "Changing the Narrative," a movement promoting positive mental health and encouragement for for students, professionals and parents to create an individual legacy of purpose, passion and platform. On this episode of the podcast, we welcome Rachel back to the show to talk about finding purpose in her pain, how the loss of her mom brought her closer to Jesus, why she's passionate about helping student athletes and how the Lord helped her through a dark time in her life.    Rachel was also a guest on Episode 41 of the podcast that you can listen to here or anywhere podcasts are found.   For more stories of sports and faith, check out our website http://SportsSpectrum.com.