Sports Spectrum Podcast

Chris Nikic is the first person with Down Syndrome to complete an Ironman Triathlon. Today, Chris and his dad Nik share their inspirational story and why they want to help others achieve their dreams and overcome mental hurdles.  --- Looking for a holiday gift idea? Order our new devotional book: "The Increase 52 Week Devotional: Inspiring Stories of Faith from the World of Pro Sports."

Johnny Shelton is in his 9th season as the team chaplain of the Baltimore Ravens. He joins us today to talk about pastoring with the Ravens, what discipleship looks like within the organization and the gratification that comes from seeing a player begin a journey with Jesus. --- Looking for a holiday gift idea? Order our new devotional book: "The Increase 52 Week Devotional: Inspiring Stories of Faith from the World of Pro Sports."

Lee De Leon is the Deputy Athletic Director with Middle Tennessee State. He's also the President and Co-Founder of ADs4Christ, a non-profit organization that develops current and future collegiate athletic directors through spiritual growth and fellowship. Lee has had previous stops at Louisiana-Lafayette, Abilene Christian, Purdue, New Mexico, Arizona and LSU.  Today on the podcast, we talk to Lee about his role with ADs4Christ and why he felt compelled to start this ministry for people in the role that he's been in.  --- 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.

Sydney McLaughlin is a two-time Olympic Gold Medal track and field athlete. In the summer of 2021, Sydney set a world record time of 51:46 seconds in the 400 m hurdles in winning gold. She also was a member of the 4x4000 m relay team that captured gold. In 2016, she qualified for the Rio Olympics before her senior year of high school and became the youngest athlete to make the American Olympic track and field team since 1980. At the age of 17, Sydney was on the cover of Sports Illustrated and was deemed as "one of the most dominant high school athletes ever." She was named the Gatorade National Female Athlete of the Year in 2015-16 and 2016-17. Her father Willie was a semi-finalist in the 400 m in the 1984 Olympic Trials and her mom was also a high school runner. On this episode of the podcast, we talked to Sydney about winning Olympic Gold, getting engaged to her fiancé Andre, how her journey of faith has evolved and why she wants to live only for the approval of Christ. --- Looking for a holiday gift idea? Order our new devotional book: "The Increase 52 Week Devotional: Inspiring Stories of Faith from the World of Pro Sports."

Quarterback Drew Stanton is our guest today to talk about winning a Super Bowl ring with the Buccaneers in 2020, keeping the door open if a team called in 2021, and his work with Water Mission, a Christian engineering company that provides access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene solutions in developing countries and disaster areas. You can learn more and donate to Water Mission's cause at their website: WaterMission.org. 

Today on this Football Friday podcast, Jade McCarthy talks to Arizona Cardinals Ring of Honor inductee Carson Palmer about his retirement from football, watching NFL games with his kids, how his faith guided him in his career and his role with Compassion International's Fill the Stadium campaign. We are presented today by Compassion International. Check out http://FillTheStadium.com to learn how you can help a child in need --- Looking for a holiday gift idea? Order our new devotional book: "The Increase 52 Week Devotional: Inspiring Stories of Faith from the World of Pro Sports."

Stan Johnson is the mens basketball coach at Loyola Marymount University in California. Born in Liberia, West Africa, Stan played his college basketball at Southern Utah and Bemidji State before embarking on a coaching career that would take him to such schools as Cal State Northridge, Utah, Drake, Arizona State and Marquette.  On March 20, 2020, he was named Loyola Marymount's head basketball coach, his first head coaching job. In his first season, he led his team to a 13-9 record and the Lions finished in the top three of the West Coast Conference standings for the first time since 2005-06 and posted a winning record in the WCC for the first time since 2011-12. Today on the podcast, we talk to coach Stan Johnson about his faith in Christ, how it guides him as a coach, what leadership looks like to him and staying the course on the journey.  --- Looking for a holiday gift idea? Order our new devotional book: "The Increase 52 Week Devotional: Inspiring Stories of Faith from the World of Pro Sports."

Scott Drew is the men's head basketball coach at Baylor University. In 2020-21, he led the Baylor Bears to college basketball's national championship.  Today on the podcast, Scott Drew shares what the last few months as national champions have been like, what it means to have a culture of J.O.Y and why God has brought him and kept him as Baylor's coach.  --- 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.

Greg Stier is the founder of Dare 2 Share Ministries and the author of the new book UNLIKELY FIGHTER: The story of how a fatherless street kid overcame violence, chaos and confusion to become a radical Christ follower. The book releases Nov. 9, 2021 Today on the podcast, we talk to Greg about his new book, his incredible story of overcoming violence and becoming a follower of Christ and how his desire now to share Jesus with everyone he comes in contact, led him to write his new book and to begin his ministry Dare2Share.  --- 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 on the podcast, Brock Huard talks to his former teammate Matthew Hasselbeck about being inducted into the Seahawks Ring of Honor, the 2021 NFL season, how the Lord guided his career and the spiritual journey he's been on. --- Pre-order our new book: "The Increase 52 Week Devotional: Inspiring Stories of Faith from the World of Pro Sports." --- 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.