Stay ConnectedSports Spectrum brings you stories and conversations at the intersection of sports and Jesus.
On Tuesday, former Chicago Bears pro bowl running back Matt Forte hosts TUEDAY MORNING RB.
On Friday, we feature a guest from the world of sports to share their Jesus story.
Copyright: © Sports Spectrum
Episode 525
Dean Inserra is the founding and lead pastor of City Church in Tallahassee, Florida, where he leads the vision and preaching. Dean was called to start a church in his hometown of Tallahassee when he was the Student Body President at Leon High School.
Dean graduated from Liberty University and attended Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY. He holds a MA in Theological Studies from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and is pursuing a D.Min from Southern Seminary.
Dean is an advisory member of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission's Leadership Council with the Southern Baptist Convention. He is also a member of Baptist 21.
His latest book, The Unsaved Christian, released in March of 2019 and explores those who say they are Christian but don't have a relationship with Christ.
On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Dean about what an "Unsaved Christian" is, his journey to planting and starting his own church, and his passion for sports including a love affair with the New England Patriots and Tom Brady.
Follow Dean on Twitter - @DeanInserra
Follow Sports Spectrum on Twitter - @Sports_Spectrum
BONUS
Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger appeared recently on our sister podcast "Table Forty" with former MLB World Series champion Matt Holliday and his wife Leslee to talk about Ben's faith journey, regrets he has from earlier in his career and the importance of being a good teammate.
Table Forty is part of the new Sports Spectrum Podcast Network. You can subscribe to Table Forty right now.
APPLE:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/table-forty/id1505637930
SPOTIFY:
https://open.spotify.com/show/5CX8kSHxkgvS3EFfKzrXqq?si=inBIz6wtSY6Xw1qgx_rWYQ
Episode 524
Karen Kingsbury and her husband Don are our guests today on the podcast. Karen is a #1 New York Times bestselling novelist with more than twenty-five million copies of her award-winning books in print. Her last dozen titles have topped bestseller lists and many of her novels are under development with Hallmark Films and as major motion pictures. Her Baxter Family books are being developed into a TV series slated for major network viewing sometime in the next year.
In her former life, Karen was a sports writer for the Los Angeles Times in the 1980's and covered stars like Magic Johnson and Wayne Gretzky. Her husband Don is a longtime basketball coach who most recently served as an assistant coach with Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville.
On today's podcast, we talk to Karen and Don about their journey of marriage, Karen's success as a writer, how sports has played a role in their life and how Covid-19 presented Karen a unique opportunity with the release of her new book.
Follow Karen on twitter: @KarenKingsbury
Follow Sports Spectrum on twitter: @Sports_Spectrum
BONUS EPISODE
Austin Davis is a pitcher with the Philadelphia Phillies. He was selected in the 12th round of the 2014 MLB Draft by Philadelphia and four years later, in June of 2018, he made his MLB Debut for the Phillies against the Cardinals.
Davis spent time in 2019 with the Phillies and their AAA club, Lehigh Valley and was rewarded for his pitching by being named as an International League All-Star in AAA.
On this episode of the podcast, Austin shares what he's been learning during the pandemic, being selected by the Phillies, his favorite stories from his minor league journey and what that day was like when he made his MLB debut.
Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/sports_spectrum.
Episode 523
Ryan Young played five seasons in the NFL from 1999-2003. He was selected in the seventh round of the 1999 NFL Draft by the New York Jets. He would play three seasons with the Jets before being selected second overall in the 2002 NFL Expansion Draft to the Houston Texans. After injuries in Houston, he would sign with the Dallas Cowboys and his former coach Bill Parcells.
In college, Young was a two-time All-Big 12 selection at Kansas State under coach Bill Snyder. He played in three bowl games during his career with the Wildcats including Cotton Bowl and Fiesta Bowl.
Today, Ryan holds the title of "Pastor and Minister of Evangelism" at The Hills Church in Ft. Worth, Texas.
On this episode of the podcast, we talk with Ryan about his journey from football to ministry, his favorite Bill Parcells story, his battle with depression and suicide as well as the racial unrest in our country amidst a global pandemic.
Follow Ryan on twitter: @ryanicoach
Follow Sports Spectrum on twitter: @Sports_Spectrum
Follow Jason Romano on twitter: @JasonRomano
BONUS EPISODE
Devin McCourty is a 3-time Super Bowl champion and 2-time Pro Bowl safety with the New England Patriots.
He was selected by New England in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft and has spent his entire career with the Patriots.
On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Devin about the 2020 offseason, Tom Brady, Cam Newton, and how God has been his steady guide for him and his wife Michelle during a very difficult time that saw the loss of their stillborn baby girl Mia.
Episode 522
Chris Ferguson plays quarterback at Liberty University. He transferred to the program after spending the previous three seasons at the University of Maine.
The 6’3″, 235 quarterback won the starting job at Maine as a redshirt-freshman and as a sophomore led Maine to a 10-4 record and a spot in the national semifinals. He suffered a season-ending foot injury in the sixth game of the 2019 season.
On today's podcast. we talk to Chris about his decision to transfer to Liberty, how he's been staying working out during the pandemic, growing up in a family with nine sisters and how he has coped with the highs and lows in life.
Follow Chris on Instagram: http://instagram.com/cferg17/
Follow us on Sports Spectrum: http://instagram.com/sports_spectrum
Episode 521
Sal Giardina is currently a professional baseball player in the Atlanta Braves organization. He was selected in the 31st round of the 2014 MLB Draft by the Braves out of Lynn University in Florida.
Since becoming a pro baseball player, Sal has grinded it out through his minor league journey with stops in Rome, NY, Pearl, Mississippi and Gwinnett County, Georgia. Last year, he suffered a tear of his UCL in a spot pitching appearance and had Tommy John surgery in June of 2019.
On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Sal Giardina about love for fishing, continuing to chase his MLB dream, how the pandemic has brought him closer to his the Lord and his crazy pro baseball journey that takes him from playing, coaching, the phantom DL, injuries and even a bus crash.
Follow Sal on Instagram: @SGiardina21
Follow Sports Spectrum on Instagram: @Sports_Spectrum
Episode 520
LaMorris Crawford is the team chaplain of the Cincinnati Bengals. Born on the south side of Chicago, Crawford was brought into a life of poverty, gangs, drugs and violence. His mother gave birth to him at the age of 16 and was shot to death at the age of 17. LaMorris’ Dad was nowhere to be found and to this day, he’s never met his own father.
Amazingly, LaMorris escaped his tough upbringing and was able to become the first person in his family to graduate from college.
Today, Crawford, along with his wife Megan have four beautiful children, and they serve as the team chaplains for the Cincinnati Bengals. He has a passion for preaching, communicating clearly and effectively God’s word by sharing with others how the Lord can also do an incredible work in their lives.
On this episode of the podcast, we talk to LaMorris about trusting in God after being diagnosed with Covid-19, how he's ministering to his players during this pandemic and what he wants everyone to know about the healing power of Christ.
Follow LaMorris on Instagram: @LaMorris_Crawford
Follow Sports Spectrum on Instagram: @Sports_Spectrum
BONUS EPISODE
Chris Broussard is currently the co-host of "The Odd Couple" on FOX Sports Radio and is a commentator of various FOX Sports and FS1 telecasts.
For almost more than a decade, Chris worked as an NBA insider with ESPN and ESPN the Magazine.
Chris is also the founder of K.I.N.G. Movement, a national Christian men's organization that seeks to strengthen men in their Christian faith by providing support, accountability, teaching, fellowship and brotherhood.
On today's show Chris joins us to look back at the 10 year anniversary of LeBron James' decision on ESPN, reporting on that story, remembering Stuart Scott, broadcasting amidst Covid-19 and the importance for him to filter his thoughts and responses to the current racial climate through the lens of his faith in Christ.
Follow Chris on Instagram: @ChrisBroussard
Follow Sports Spectrum on Instagram: @Sports_Spectrum
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