Sports Spectrum Podcast

Melanie Collins is a sideline reporter covering the NFL for CBS Sports. Each Sunday in the Fall, she covers an NFL game with the broadcast team of Kevin Harlan and Trent Green.  Prior to her time at CBS Sports, Collins worked at the Golf Channel, Yahoo Sports, NBA-TV, Turner Sports and many more after finishing up her college degree at Penn State.  Today on the podcast, we talk to Melanie Collins about her job as a sideline reporter, the work she puts in each week, the Christian conference she attended this summer and why it led her to make a decision to be baptized.  Receive our 10-day Sports Spectrum Devotional written by professional athletes for FREE when you sign up for our Sports Spectrum Weekly Email Newsletter. Sign up here. 

Nick Blankenburg is a defenseman with the Columbus Blue Jackets in the NHL. After going undrafted, he signed with Columbus and made his NHL debut on April 13, 2022. Eleven days later, he scored his first NHL goal on April 24th in a 5-2 victory over Edmonton. In college, Nick excelled at the University of Michigan where he led his team to the Frozen Four his senior year scoring 14 goals with 15 assists in 38 games. In July of 2022,  Nick signed a two-year contact to return to Columbus and continue his NHL career. Today on the podcast, we talk to Nick Blankenburg on his 2022 hockey journey, playing in the Frozen Four, signing with Columbus, making his NHL debut, scoring his first goal and then playing for the United States at the World Hockey Championships. He also discusses his walk with Christ and what it means to play for an audience of one. Receive our 10-day Sports Spectrum Devotional written by professional athletes for FREE when you sign up for our Sports Spectrum Weekly Email Newsletter. Sign up here.   

Al Horford is a member of the reigning Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics. He was selected third overall in the first round of the 2007 NBA Draft by the Atlanta Hawks. After ten seasons with Atlanta, he signed with Boston for three seasons, Philadelphia for one season and then to Oklahoma City for one season before returning to the Celtics in a trade prior to the 2021-22 season.  In the 2022 playoffs, Horford helped lead the Celtics to their first NBA Finals appearance in over a decade. In Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Milwaukee Bucks, he had a playoff career-high 30 points and helped the Celtics to a 116-108 win to even the series 2-2. In the final game of the NBA season, Game 6 of the Finals, Horford had 19 points and 14 rebounds in a Celtics loss to the Warriors.  On today's podcast, we talk to Al Horford about his journey of faith, the excitement he has for the upcoming NBA season, the lessons learned from his father Tito, and the importance of talking about Christ publicly to others.  (EDITOR'S NOTE: Interview was recorded a few days before the Celtics suspension of their head coach Ime Udoka) Receive our 10-day Sports Spectrum Devotional written by professional athletes for FREE when you sign up for our Sports Spectrum Weekly Email Newsletter. Sign up here. 

Today Sports Spectrum continues our seven week series, "I ONCE WAS" where athletes share their transformation story of going from lost to found. This podcast takes you deeper into each athlete's "I ONCE WAS" story and today we hear from two-time MLB Gold Glove winning shortstop Nick Ahmed.  You can watch Nick's "I ONCE WAS" video here. You can order "I ONCE WAS" merchandise here. 

Mike MacIntyre is the head coach of Florida International University's football team. Before coming to FIU, he was with Memphis as their defensive coordinator from 2020-2021 and Ole Miss as their defensive coordinator in 2019.  From 2013-2018, MacIntyre was the head coach at the University of Colorado, where he led the Buffaloes to two bowl games and won the 2016 Grant Teaff National Coach of the Year award for leading his team to a 10-4 mark and their first ever appearance in the Pac-12 Championship Game.  Coach Mac also has five years of NFL coaching experience as an assistant coach with the Dallas Cowboys and New York Jets from 2003-2007.  Today on the podcast, Coach Mac joins us to talk about the importance of Christ in his life, helping his assistant coaches in their growth, his new role at FIU and lessons learned from coaching in the NFL.  Receive our 10-day Sports Spectrum Devotional written by professional athletes for FREE when you sign up for our Sports Spectrum Weekly Email Newsletter. Sign up here. 

Mike Lightfoot is a former college basketball coach who currently is a regional director with the Nations of Coaches. For 30 years, he was the head coach at Bethel College in Indiana, where led his club to three NAIA Division II national championships and four NCCAA national titles.  Lightfoot was a former player and assistant coach at Bethel College under head coach Homer Drew and took over the head coaching job when Drew left for another position. As a head coach, Mike Lightfoot was a six-time national coach of the year and in 2009 was inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame with legendary coach John Wooden.  Today on the podcast, we talk to Mike Lightfoot about his 39 years of coaching, his ministry with Nations of Coaches, the biggest struggle with coaches and why he is guided by his faith in Jesus.  Receive our 10-day Sports Spectrum Devotional written by professional athletes for FREE when you sign up for our Sports Spectrum Weekly Email Newsletter. Sign up here. 

Scott Twardoski is entering his 14th year as an NBA official. He has worked over 600 NBA regular season and playoff games.  Today on the podcast, we talk to Scott about living his faith out as an NBA referee, the 2020 NBA bubble, praying during games, and watching his kids grow in their faith.  Receive our 10-day Sports Spectrum Devotional written by professional athletes for FREE when you sign up for our Sports Spectrum Weekly Email Newsletter. Sign up here. 

Today Sports Spectrum begins a seven week series called "I ONCE WAS" where athletes share their transformation story of going from lost to found. This podcast takes you deeper into each athlete's "I ONCE WAS" story and today we begin our series with Super Bowl LII MVP and current NFL QB Nick Foles.  You can watch Nick's "I ONCE WAS" video here. You can order "I ONCE WAS" merchandise here. 

Tyler Clutts is a former NFL fullback who played eight seasons of professional football. After going undrafted out of Fresno State, Clutts went undrafted in 2008 and signed with the Edmonton Eskimos of the CFL. Then it was on to the Utah Blaze of the Arena League in 2010, followed by a stint in the UFL with the Sacramento Mountain Lions. In 2011, Clutts got the call from the NFL and signed with the Cleveland Browns. His NFL journey saw him make stops with Chicago, Houston, Miami and the Dallas Cowboys. Today on the podcast, we sit down with Tyler Clutts to discuss individualism in today's sports world and what it means to tame the tongue as a follower of Christ. Receive our 10-day Sports Spectrum Devotional written by professional athletes for FREE when you sign up for our Sports Spectrum Weekly Email Newsletter. Sign up here. 

Beginning October 3, Sports Spectrum will introduce a brand new 7-week video series called "I ONCE WAS" featuring athletes sharing their stories of transformation.  Jade McCarthy introduces you to our new series and is joined by Jason Romano to discuss the heart behind "I ONCE WAS." You can learn more and watch all of the "I ONCE WAS" videos here at SportsSpectrum.com/IOW.