Sports Spectrum Podcast

Episode 440 Jaelene Hinkle plays professional soccer for the North Carolina Courage in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). She was selected seventh overall in the 2015 NWSL Draft by the Western New York Flash. Playing the defender position, Hinkle starred in high school at Valor Christian in Highlands Ranch, Colo., where she was a Parade High School All-American and named first-team all-state. She has played the last five seasons in the NWSL, the first two with Western New York and the last three with North Carolina, which has won three consecutive NWSL Shields (best regular-season record) and the past two NWSL championships. On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Hinkle about her journey to pro soccer, winning the NWSL title again in 2019, where her journey with Christ began, and facing scrutiny for standing up for her faith. For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 439 Rodney Pryor plays professional basketball in the NBA's G League with the Salt Lake City Stars. He played his college basketball at Robert Morris, where he helped his squad to an NCAA tournament berth in 2015. In 2016-17, he transferred to Georgetown, where he led the team in scoring (18.0 ppg) and started all 32 games for the Hoyas.  In 2017, after not getting selected in the NBA Draft, he decided to continue his pro basketball career and is currently in his third season in the NBA's G League.  On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Rodney about his basketball journey and his desire to achieve his dream of playing in the NBA. Rodney's passionate about his faith in Christ and shares with us his testimony and why he believes the platform that he has been given is to glorify the Lord.  For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 438 Brad Mann is the founder of Livin’ The Dream, an organization that aims to positively influence people through the game of basketball. Comprising of youth teams, camps, clinics and leagues, LTD uses the game “to develop goodwill in order to lead people to God and to help them discover their God-given dreams.” Mann played at various levels of basketball. He was a McDonald’s All-American nominee at Riverton High, as he set school records in points, rebounds, and blocks, and still remains the Kansas high school all-time leader in career rebounds. He went on to play Division I basketball at the University of Missouri-Kansas City for three years, transferring after his junior season to Missouri Southern State University. He helped lead that team to the NCAA Division II Final Four and the best record in D-II. After college, Mann toured internationally with Athletes In Action to play against top-level professionals, and he later signed a contract to play professionally for the Fargo Beez and the Salina Rattlers of the International Basketball Association (IBA). Now, Mann is a USA Certified Youth Basketball Coach. He is also an ordained minister that holds a degree in communications and oversees the day-to-day operations of Livin’ The Dream. On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Mann about starting Livin’ The Dream, intersecting his love for basketball with his love for God, overcoming cancer twice, and how sports ministry has changed over the years. For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 437 Jonathan Stewart played 11 seasons in the NFL with the Carolina Panthers and New York Giants. He was selected in the first round (13th overall) by the Panthers in the 2008 NFL Draft.  In college, Stewart was a two-time First-Team All-American running back in 2006 and 2007 with the University of Oregon and won the 2007 Sun Bowl MVP after rushing for a career-high 253 yards in the game.  After coming to the NFL, Stewart would become the Panthers all-time leading rusher after rushing for over 7,300 yards and 58 touchdowns in 10 seasons and made the Pro Bowl in January 2016.  After one injury riddled season in New York with the Giants, Stewart announced his retirement in April 2019 after 11 seasons.  On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Jonathan Stewart about his transition to retirement, living his faith out as an NFL player, the experience of playing in the Super Bowl, and why he calls himself a "convicted competitor."  For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 436 Cory Procter is a former NFL offensive lineman who played six seasons with the Lions, Cowboys and Dolphins. He played five years in Dallas from 2006-2009 and then his final season with Miami in 2010.  In college, Procter won a NCAA 1-AA championship in 2001 with Montana and was a Division 1-AA All-American in 2004. He was undrafted coming into the NFL and signed with Detroit, before the Cowboys signed him off of the Lions' practice squad in 2005.  Cory is now a prominent speaker and owns his own wealth management business Pro Capital.  On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Cory Procter about playing for the Dallas Cowboys, blocking for Tony Romo, being raised Mormon in the LDS church and then the crisis of faith in his life after a family tragedy that led him to come to faith in Jesus Christ.  For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

BONUS EPISODE Markus Howard is a senior guard for the Marquette men's basketball team. In his junior year, Howard was named the 2019 Big East Player of the Year, averaging 25.0 points per game. In 2019-20, Howard has continued his scoring ways, averaging 26.8 points per game (as of Jan. 9), leading the nation in scoring. He became Marquette's all-time leading scorer earlier this season, and in a November win over USC, Howard scored 51 points — becoming just the third player to score 50 points in a game in three straight seasons (joining Wayman Tisdale and Pete Maravich). On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Howard about his senior year at Marquette, the 51-point game, where his faith journey began, and how a missions trip to Costa Rica urged him to help start an FCA chapter at his school. For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 435 Morolake Akinosun is an USA Olympic Sprinter. She began her career in college at the University of Texas where she was a four-time NCAA 4 x 100 champion and the winner of a gold medal at the 2013 USA Junior Championships in the 100m.  She is only the second woman ever to score in four events at an NCAA Outdoor Championships in consecutive seasons. In 2015, she won a Gold Medal at the Pan American Games (4 x 100 m relay). In 2016 she won a Gold Medal at the Olympics in Rio (4 x 100 m relay) and in 2017, won a Gold Medal at the World Championships (4 x 100 m relay).  A year later in January of 2018, Morolake suffered a ruptured achilles injury that sidelined her for all of 2018 and half of 2019. She was able to return and in the Fall of 2019, earned a Bronze Medal at the World Championships (4 x 100 m relay). On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Morolake about overcoming adversity, finding purpose, training for the 2020 Olympics, living for Christ and walking that faith out on the Olympic stage.  For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 434 Esther Fleece Allen is an author and speaker. Her first book, "No More Faking Fine" was a bestseller when it was released in 2017 and now, she's releasing her second book "Your New Name" on January 14, 2020.  A graduate of the Oxford Center for Christian Apologetics and currently in seminary, Esther grew up in a life of abandonment, neglect and brokenness. She's since overcome her difficult adolescence and now shares her story with tens of thousands of people who are struggling with life's setbacks.  On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Esther about her new book project, forgiving her parents, how NFL players have helped her on her journey and why we should not be identified by our performance.  For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 433 Brent Suter is a pitcher with the Milwaukee Brewers. He was selected in the 31st round of the 2012 MLB Draft by Milwaukee after playing college baseball at Harvard and four years later, he made his MLB debut - August 19, 2016. In May of 2018, Suter hit his first career home run off of Corey Kluber but just 2 months later, he had Tommy John surgery. He returned from rehab to pitch in the Major Leagues in September of 2019 and performed well enough to make the postseason roster and pitch in the Wild Card playoff game loss to the eventual World Series champion Washington Nationals. On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Brent Suter about his recovery from Tommy John, pitching in the postseason, that time he hit a home run, how he came to faith in Christ, and of course, his love of impressions. Brent might be the funniest guy we've had on the podcast.  For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 432 Brad Lomenick is the author of two books including "H3 Leadership" and "The Catalyst Leader." He is a business entrepreneur, speaker and leadership advisor.  For many years, Brad served as the president of Catalyst and the director of the Catalyst Leadership Conference. He also hosted the Catalyst Podcast and has been featured in TIME magazine, the Washington Post, Fox News, CNN and many other outlets.  On this episode of the podcast, we talk with Brad about leadership, the early days of podcasting, growing up with a high school football coach father, interviewing former OU coach Bob Stoops, and why being a constant learner is vital to leadership.  For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com