Sports Spectrum Podcast

Emily Waldon is a baseball reporter and evaluator with Baseball America. She began covering the beat in 2015, beginning with the Class-A West Michigan Whitecaps and moving on to include affiliates from the Gulf Coast League to Triple-A Toledo. Emily transitioned to 2080 Baseball in 2016, focusing on entry-level scouting and player evaluation, video content and player features. She's also covered the Tigers with The Athletic.  Today on the podcast, Cole Claybourn talks to Emily Waldon about her career as a writer, helping bring awareness to minor league baseball, and how she's been trusting in God since her cancer diagnosis a few months ago.  Looking for a great gift idea? Order our new devotional book: "The Increase 52 Week Devotional: Inspiring Stories of Faith from the World of Pro Sports." 

Jason Roy is the lead singer of the band Building 429. He started the band in the late 1990's and released their first album in 2004. Since then, they have produced nine albums and was awarded a GRAMMY in 2013 as well as winning the award for BMI Christian Song of the Year in 2013 with "Where I Belong." RIAA-certified gold single, "Where I Belong," further became one of the longest running Christian No. 1's in Billboard's history at 15-weeks and has over 246-million accumulative audience impressions.  Their latest single "Don't Worry" is out now everywhere music is found.  On today's podcast, Jason Roy shares about his love for sports, finding out Albert Pujols wanted to use his music in a game, what the world of touring is like, and his desire to honor God with the music he makes.  Looking for a great gift idea? Order our new devotional book: "The Increase 52 Week Devotional: Inspiring Stories of Faith from the World of Pro Sports." 

Daniel Grothe is the associate senior pastor at New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He's also a former division one college basketball player at Oral Roberts University.  Daniel's new book "The Power of Place" is available now everywhere books are sold.  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. Looking for a great gift idea? Order our new devotional book: "The Increase 52 Week Devotional: Inspiring Stories of Faith from the World of Pro Sports." 

Leger Douzable played ten NFL seasons as a defensive lineman with the Jets, Titans, 49ers, Jaguars, Bills, Titans, Rams and Giants. He was undrafted after coming out of college as an All-Conference USA selection at Central Florida.  After retiring in 2017, Douzable went into broadcasting and currently doing work covering college football and the NFL with SNY and ESPN.  Today on the podcast we talk to Leger Douzable about his faith in Christ, leaning on God when life throws you curveballs, pursuing his broadcasting career, being thankful for his one playoff game he played in and what it means to fully place your trust in the Lord.  Looking for a great gift idea? Order our new devotional book: "The Increase 52 Week Devotional: Inspiring Stories of Faith from the World of Pro Sports." 

Kristy McPherson is an LPGA Tour Pro who has had 17 career top-10 finishes in her 19 year career. She played college golf at South Carolina University and earned seven victories in her four year college career. She was awarded the Honda Inspiration Award which is given to a collegiate athlete "who has overcome hardship and was able to return to play at the collegiate level." Growing up, McPherson was diagnosed with Still's Disease at age 11 (juvenile idiopathic arthritis) and was confined mostly to bed and unable to walk for a year, she was told she would no longer be able to compete in any sport that required jumping or running. Kristy overcame that and in 2008, she recorded six top-10 finishes, and finished 47th on the official money list. In 2009, McPherson recorded a T-2 in a LPGA major, the Kraft Nabisco Championship, followed by a T-5 three months later at the next major, the LPGA Championship. Today on the podcast, we talk to Kristy about overcoming Still's Disease, living for Jesus, being baptized, and her professional golf future.  Looking for a great gift idea? Order our new devotional book: "The Increase 52 Week Devotional: Inspiring Stories of Faith from the World of Pro Sports." 

Luke Weaver is a pitcher with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He was selected in the first round of the 2014 MLB Amateur Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals after a stellar college career at Florida State University. In August of 2016, he made his MLB debut with the Cardinals and was named the Cardinals 2016 Minor League Pitcher of the Year.  After two more seasons in the Majors, Weaver was traded on December 5, 2018 to the Arizona Diamondbacks with Carson Kelly and Andy Young in exchange for Paul Goldschmidt.  Today on the podcast, we talk to Luke Weaver about preparing for the 2022 season, trusting in God amidst uncertainty, being discipled and mentored in St Louis by Adam Wainwright, the shock of being traded to Arizona and using his baseball glove as a way to share his faith.  Learn more about Luke's gloves at AriaGloves.com. Looking for a great gift idea? Order our new devotional book: "The Increase 52 Week Devotional: Inspiring Stories of Faith from the World of Pro Sports." 

Vance Pitman is the lead pastor of Hope Church in Las Vegas. He is the author of multiple books including his latest, "The Stressless Life."  Today on the podcast, we talk about how to live a stressless life in 2022, church planting, where his love for Alabama football comes from and why Las Vegas is a great place to live out the intersection of sports and faith.  Looking for a great gift idea? Order our new devotional book: "The Increase 52 Week Devotional: Inspiring Stories of Faith from the World of Pro Sports." 

Ben Roethlisberger played 18 seasons as the quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers from 2004-2021. He announced his retirement from the NFL in late January 2022 after a career that saw him lead Pittsburgh to three Super Bowls, winning two championships and being selected to six Pro Bowls. At the time of his retirement, he was fifth all-time on the NFL passing yardage list (64,088) and eight all-time on the NFL passing touchdowns list (418).  Today on the podcast, we talk to Ben Roethlisberger about retirement, turning 40 years old, what it was like to live out his faith as an NFL player, using the platform of football to give back and the decision he made to be baptized a few years ago.  Looking for a great gift idea? Order our new devotional book: "The Increase 52 Week Devotional: Inspiring Stories of Faith from the World of Pro Sports." 

Matt Sayman is a former Baylor Men's Basketball player and the current head high school basketball coach in Texas. He received a full scholarship from Baylor and played basketball there from 2000-2004. After remaining with the program following a shocking scandal in the off-season before his senior year, Matt would go on to break the Baylor career record for games played (118). Today on the podcast, Matt Sayman shares how he was able to navigate the 2003-04 Baylor basketball season amidst a shocking scandal, what he learned during the difficult moments, forgiving his former coach, his connection with former Cowboys QB Tony Romo, and the powerful moment of surrendering to Jesus.  Looking for a great gift idea? Order our new devotional book: "The Increase 52 Week Devotional: Inspiring Stories of Faith from the World of Pro Sports." 

Jake Boss Jr is the head baseball coach for the Michigan State Spartans, In 13 seasons at MSU, Boss has compiled a 359-302 (.543) record. His 359 wins are the most over a 13-year span in program history. Five of the 10 winningest seasons in MSU history have come under Boss’ direction. He has guided the Spartans to 30-win seasons in seven of the last 11 completed seasons, as well as the Big Ten regular-season championship in 2011 and the NCAA Tournament in 2012. During Boss’ tenure at Michigan State, MSU has had 35 selections in the Major League Baseball Draft, including three or more in six of the last 11 years. His father, Jake Boss Sr. is a longtime baseball coach who was inducted into the Lansing Sports Hall of Fame in 2009.  Today on the podcast, we talk to Jake Boss Sr about the lessons learned from his father, playing baseball in March in cold weather, living his faith out as a coach and the responsibility he believes he has as a leader of young men at Michigan State.  Looking for a great gift idea? Order our new devotional book: "The Increase 52 Week Devotional: Inspiring Stories of Faith from the World of Pro Sports."