Sports Spectrum Podcast

Episode 192 Mike Tolbert played 10 years in the NFL with the Chargers, Panthers and Bills. He was undrafted in 2008 coming out of college at Coastal Carolina, but quickly signed a free-agent contract with San Diego. After 4 years with the Bolts, Tolbert signed a contract with the Carolina Panthers, where he would play 5 seasons, be named to three Pro Bowls, and was named First Team All-Pro in 2013 and 2015.  Tolbert finished up his NFL career in 2017 with the Buffalo Bills, where he helped the club to the playoffs for the first time since 1999.  On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Mike about his decision to call himself a "former" NFL running back, the story of how he almost died after being born, growing up without a father, coming to faith in Christ, and how he stayed connected to Jesus during his NFL career, and what it was like to walk into the weight room for the first time as an NFL rookie.  For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 191 Reza Zadeh was born in Iran in 1977. He came to the United States in 1980 at the age of 3.  Through his teen years in high school, Reza was focused on football and school but it was during his time at Colorado State in college that he was first introduced to Jesus Christ.  Today, he's the chaplain for the Denver Broncos and working for Athletes in Action ministering to college athletes at various schools across the state of Colorado. In part 2 of our conversation, Reza tells us what his Iranian family's reaction was when they heard his son had become a Christian, why community and establishing relationship with people allows us to share our faith, what the biggest spiritual battles he's seen athletes struggle, and how he gets fed in his spiritual life when so much of what he's doing is feeding others.  For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 190 Reza Zadeh was born in Iran in 1977. He came to the United States in 1980 at the age of 3.  Through his teen years in high school, Reza was focused on football and school but it was during his time at Colorado State in college that he was first introduced to Jesus Christ.  Today, he's the chaplain for the Denver Broncos and working for Athletes in Action ministering to college athletes at various schools across the state of Colorado. In part 1 of our conversation, Reza shares his powerful testimony of coming to faith in Christ at college, why he came to the USA from Iran with his family and why ministering to pro and college athletes is something he has a passion for.  For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 189 Matthew Boyd is a pitcher with the Detroit Tigers. After playing his college ball at Oregon State, Boyd was selected in the 6th round of the 2013 MLB Draft by the Toronto Blue Jays.  He made his MLB debut on June 26, 2015 against the Texas Rangers. One month later, on July 30, he was traded to Detroit as part of the David Price deal.  Boyd earned his first MLB victory on August 5, 2015 against Kansas City. In 2018, Boyd had his best season yet, starting 31 games, 170 innings, 159 strikeouts and led the team in wins with 9. A contributor to Sports Spectrum's INCREASE articles, Boyd and his wife Ashley started a non-profit in 2018 called "Kingdom Home" where young people in Uganda are rescued from sex trafficking, gender based violence, forced child marriages and abandonment and given the safety they need while being raised up with the love of Jesus Christ.  On this episode of the podcast, we talk with Matthew about his 2018 season, how his faith has shaped him throughout his MLB career, the crazy 2015 season that saw him get married and live in 5 different cities after being traded, and why he felt compelled to start a non-profit and help those in Uganda who are in need. For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Katie Lentz is currently an administrator for MLB’s Baseball Assistance Team, a charitable organization that assists members of the baseball family in need of financial, medical or psychological assistance. But this story isn’t about baseball, it’s about survival. Katie should have died after being hit, head on, by a drunk driver. She suffered multiple fractures including two broken femurs, a broken tibia and fibia, a broken left wrist, nine broken ribs, a lacerated liver, ruptured spleen and bruised lung. But she didn't die. She lived and her story is incredible. In this Throwback Thursday edition of the podcast, Katie shares the story of the mysterious priest who showed up at the site of her wreckage while she was trapped in her car.  You can listen to the entire interview of Episode 18 of the podcast here.  For more, log on to SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 188 Wesley Woodyard plays linebacker for the Tennessee Titans in the NFL. He was originally undrafted in 2008 coming out of Kentucky, where he was two-time First Team All-SEC in 2006 and 2007. In 2008, he signed with the Denver Broncos, where he played five seasons and helped Denver to a Super Bowl berth in 2013. In 2014, he signed with the Tennessee Titans and is now in his 5th season in Nashville. This season, he has helped the Titans to a 5-4 start and had 20 combined tackles and 2.5 sacks in wins over Dallas on Monday Night Football and New England. On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Wesley about the Titans recent success, playing through injuries, what faith looks like in the Tennessee locker room, how his faith has evolved since coming to the NFL, leading the team's chapel for the first time and his biggest spiritual challenge this season. For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 187 Trevor Knight played quarterback at Oklahoma from 2012-2015. He was the 2014 Sugar Bowl MVP after throwing for 348 yards and 4 touchdowns in a 45-31 win over Alabama. In 2016, he transferred to Texas A&M, where he threw for 19 touchdown passes and ran for 10 touchdowns in his senior season. After not being selected in the 2017 NFL Draft, Knight signed a deal with the Arizona Cardinals before getting released right before the season began. After a stint on the Falcons practice squad, he underwent back surgery. Knight will return to football in the Alliance of American Football spring league that makes its debut in the spring of 2019. In part 2 of our conversation, we talk to Trevor about being recognized on College Gameday by pop singer Katy Perry, how faith played a role in his decision to transfer from Oklahoma to Texas A&M, what he learned from Carson Palmer and Matt Ryan and how missions trips to Haiti impacted his life in a powerful way.  For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 186 Trevor Knight played quarterback at Oklahoma from 2012-2015. He was the 2014 Sugar Bowl MVP after throwing for 348 yards and 4 touchdowns in a 45-31 win over Alabama.  In 2016, he transferred to Texas A&M, where he threw for 19 touchdown passes and ran for 10 touchdowns in his senior season. After not being selected in the 2017 NFL Draft, Knight signed a deal with the Arizona Cardinals before getting released right before the season began. After a stint on the Falcons practice squad, he underwent back surgery. Knight will return to football in the Alliance of American Football spring league that makes its debut in the spring of 2019.  In part 1 of our conversation, we talk to Trevor about returning to football after being out for over a year, where his faith journey began, how he dealt with the news of his father's cancer diagnosis in high school, dealing with adversity and how he was able to fight temptations during his time in college.  For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com

Episode 185 Kevin McCadam played 5 seasons in the NFL with the Falcons and Panthers. He was selected in the 5th round of the 2002 NFL Draft by Atlanta where he would play 4 seasons before signing in Carolina in 2006.  He played his college football at Virginia Tech where he starred at safety for the Hokies. In 2007, his NFL career was over after being released by the Jaguars in the preseason.  But it was what happened to his life after retirement that changed him forever.  Kevin is now the assisting pastor at Calvary Chapel in Morgantown, West Virginia. On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Kevin about his NFL journey, playing with Michael Vick, winning a playoff game at Lambeau Field, coming to faith in Christ after his playing days and leaving the sports world to go into ministry full-time in West Virginia.  For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

James Brown is the host of CBS Sports' NFL Today show and joined us on Episode 17 of the podcast back in June of 2017.  Since February 2006, JB has served as host for the CBS Television Network’s NFL pre-game show, THE NFL TODAY. He has also hosted the Network’s Super Bowl pre-game show for its coverage of Super Bowl XLIV (2010) and for Super Bowl XLI (2007). On this Throwback Thursday edition of the show, we bring back JB's story of how he shares his faith in the workplace.  You can listen to the entire interview of Episode 17 of the podcast here.  For more, log on to SportsSpectrum.com