

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

Oct 9, 2018 • 34min
London Fletcher, 4-time Pro Bowl Linebacker (Part 2)
Episode 166 London Fletcher played 16 seasons in the NFL with the Rams, Bills and Redskins from 1998-2013. He is a 4-time Pro Bowler who was a member of the 1999 Rams team that won Super Bowl XXXIV. He played his college football at Division III John Carroll where he was an All-American. He was undrafted in 1998 and signed with the Rams as a free agent. He would make the team out of training camp and never miss a game in his entire 16 year career. He’s one of only 5 players in the history of the NFL to play in over 250 consecutive games. (256) London is currently working at CBS Sports as an NFL analyst and just recently was named a nominee for the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2019. In part 2 of our two-part podcast, we talk with London about making it to the NFL after playing Division III college football, playing in 256 consecutive games and if there was ever a time that he almost missed a game due to an injury. We also hear his testimony of coming to faith in Jesus Christ during his time in the NFL with the Bills. For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com

Oct 8, 2018 • 25min
London Fletcher, 4-time Pro Bowl Linebacker (Part 1)
Episode 165 London Fletcher played 16 seasons in the NFL with the Rams, Bills and Redskins from 1998-2013. He is a 4-time Pro Bowler who was a member of the 1999 Rams team that won Super Bowl XXXIV. He played his college football at Division III John Carroll where he was an All-American. He was undrafted in 1998 and signed with the Rams as a free agent. He would make the team out of training camp and never miss a game in his entire 16 year career. He's one of only 5 players in the history of the NFL to play in over 250 consecutive games. (256) London is currently working at CBS Sports as an NFL analyst and just recently was named a nominee for the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2019. In part 1 of a two-part podcast, we talk with London about being nominated for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, growing up in a very tough environment in Cleveland, Ohio, how he overcame family tragedy to pursue a football career.

Oct 5, 2018 • 19min
Demario Davis, New Orleans Saints Linebacker
Episode 164 Demario Davis is a linebacker with the New Orleans Saints. He was selected in the third round of the 2012 by the New York Jets where he played 4 seasons before signing a deal with the Browns. In 2017, he was dealt back to the Jets where he had a career year with 135 combined tackles and 5 sacks in starting all 16 games. In March of 2018, Davis became an unrestricted free agent and signed a 4-year deal to come to Louisiana and play with the Saints. In Week 4 of the season against the Giants, Demario's 11 tackles and 2 sacks helped the Saints to a 33-18 win over New York. For his efforts, he was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week. On this episode of the podcast, we talk with Demario about his transition to New Orleans, faith in the Saints locker room, social justice and why he's a part of the Players Coalition. For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com

Oct 3, 2018 • 36min
Ryan Carpenter, Vegas Golden Knights NHL player
Episode 163 Ryan Carpenter is a hockey player with the Vegas Golden Knights in the NHL. He played his college hockey at Bowling Green University in Ohio where he won the BGSU Rookie of the Year in 2012. In March of 2014, he was signed as an undrafted free agent by the San Jose Sharks and joined their minor league club in Worcester, MA. He made his NHL debut in December 12, 2015 with San Jose and would remain on the roster in the postseason as the Sharks made the Stanley Cup Finals. In 2016-17, he played in 11 games for the Sharks and signed a 2-year deal in June of 2017. A few months later, in December of 2017, he was placed on waivers by San Jose and picked up the next day by the Vegas Golden Knights where he would thrive and help lead the expansion club to an improbable Stanley Cup Finals run. On this episode of the podcast, we talk with Ryan about his hockey journey, being a part of a Stanley Cup Finals run with Vegas, what trusting in God looked like to him during uncertain times, how he came to faith in Christ and his favorite NHL moment. For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com

Oct 2, 2018 • 26min
Sam Ponder, ESPN NFL Host (Part 2)
Episode 162 Samantha Ponder is the host of Sunday NFL Countdown on ESPN during the football season. She began her career at ESPN with their Longhorn Network in 2011. Prior to her current role on Sunday Countdown, she had been a staple as a reporter on ESPN's College Gameday and college football broadcasts. In 2012, she married former NFL QB Christian Ponder is since then, has given birth to three children, two girls and a boy. In part 2 of a two-part conversation, Sam shares the amazingly crazy story of how she met her husband Christian, whether she likes social media, what the Lord is teaching her and the Bible verse that has stayed with her through the years. For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com

Oct 1, 2018 • 28min
Sam Ponder, ESPN NFL Host (Part 1)
Episode 161 Samantha Ponder is the host of Sunday NFL Countdown on ESPN during the football season. She began her career at ESPN with their Longhorn Network in 2011. Prior to her current role on Sunday Countdown, she had been a staple as a reporter on ESPN's College Gameday and college football broadcasts. In 2012, she married former NFL QB Christian Ponder is since then, has given birth to three children, two girls and a boy. On part 1 of a two-part conversation, we talk to Sam about balancing motherhood with her broadcasting career, making the transition from College Gameday to Sunday NFL Countdown, growing up with parents who are missionaries, and speaking out on issues as her platform has evolved over the years For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com

Sep 28, 2018 • 40min
Leslee Holliday, Baseball Wife
Episode 160 Leslee and Matt Holliday have been married for 17 years. She is the mom to four children, 3 boys and a girl. On this episode of the podcast, we talk with Leslee Holliday about being a baseball wife, how she reacted when her husband Matt decided he wanted to play baseball again, where her faith in Christ began, what a WAG is in baseball, and how she stays grounded in Christ when life gets chaotic and uncertain. For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com

Sep 26, 2018 • 32min
Alex Kiriloff, Minnesota Twins Prospect
Episode 159 Alex Kirilloff was selected in the first round of 2016 MLB Amateur Draft by the Minnesota Twins out of high school. He is one of the top prospects in baseball and at the top of the list of players to watch for in the next few years as he continues his pro baseball journey. In 2017, he missed the entire season due to recovery from Tommy John surgery but returned to the diamond in 2018 where he tore up Class A ball both in Cedar Rapids and then Fort Myers. His total stats for 2018 included a .348 average, with 20 home runs and 101 RBI. He also helped Fort Myers to the Florida State League championship after hitting .362 in just 65 games with the Miracle. On this episode of the podcast, we talk with the highly touted prospect about his dominant 2018 season, dealing with the hype of being a top prospect, playing in the 2018 MLB Futures Game, how Jesus Christ guides him each day, what marriage has been like for him after tying the knot at age 18 and the time he got "star struck" as a pro player. For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com

Sep 25, 2018 • 41min
Jimmy Spencer, Uninterrupted Head of Athlete Relations/Content - Part 2
Episode 158 Jimmy Spencer has been the head of athlete relations and content at the Uninterrupted since November 2015. He has covered the NBA for over a decade with such publications as the Sporting News, FOX Sports and Bleacher Report. In part 2 of our interview with Jimmy, we hear his incredible story of faith in Christ, how he lives that faith out in the workplace, the state of Christian athletes and why he is starting a new podcast that will allow athletes to talk about the thing that matters most to them. For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com

Sep 24, 2018 • 22min
Jimmy Spencer, UnInterrupted Head of Athlete Relations/Content - Part 1
Episode 157 Jimmy Spencer has been the head of athlete relations and content at the Uninterrupted since November 2015. He has covered the NBA for over a decade with such publications as the Sporting News, FOX Sports and Bleacher Report. In part 1 of our interview with Jimmy, we talk about having LeBron James as a boss, his favorite LeBron story, what its like working for the Uninterrupted and why giving athletes an opportunity to tell compelling stories is something he's passionate about and how they go about selecting athletes to tell their story. For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com


