What if speed is only half the story and the real engine is conviction? We sit down with Calgary Colts running back Zion Dogbe Brown to explore how faith, family, and relentless preparation turn raw talent into purposeful impact. From growing up in a home with ten siblings and a single mother to leading on the field with a calm, explosive style, Zion shows how character is built in community and proven under pressure.

Zion opens up about the spiral of worry after missing a day of prayer and how Scripture reframed guilt as a gift that points us back to what matters. He shares how team Bible studies create space for honesty and accountability, and why opposition in the locker room often signals that light is doing its work. We dig into the artistry of playing running back—pace, patience, and vision—and how humility keeps the spotlight aimed upward by mentoring the next generation. His take: excellence becomes worship when we give away what we’ve been given.

The conversation turns practical and specific: off-season nutrition, measured weight gain and a lean cut to unlock burst, hydration, protein, creatine, and the unglamorous work of cooking and finishing every plate. Zion sees his body as a temple and his routine as stewardship, not vanity. He credits mentors who modelled discipline across roles and special teams, and he pays it forward through one-on-one mentorship that turns potential into progress. Along the way, you’ll hear rapid-fire fun—oxtail love, Leon Bridges on the playlist, and a verse that keeps him grounded.

If you’re a Christian athlete, a coach, or anyone navigating pressure with purpose, this story will meet you where you are: honest about struggle, bold about growth, and clear about where the glory goes. Subscribe, share with a teammate, and leave a review to help more listeners find conversations that move faith from the sideline to the centre. What part of Zion’s playbook are you taking into your week?

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Pressure can polish or crush, and Gary Steffes has felt both. We sit down with the former pro hockey forward to trace a journey from stat-chasing and panic on the ice to a grounded identity that fuels calm, courage, and consistent performance. Gary opens up about the moment his confidence cracked, the sports-psych “band-aids” that helped but didn’t heal, and the encounter with Jesus that rewired what success means—shifting from playing for approval to competing from acceptance.

Gary breaks down the core framework behind Pure Encouragement, the ministry he launched to help athletes and leaders live confident, victorious lives in Christ. We dig into the three pillars—intimacy with Jesus, identity in Christ, and inside-out living—and why the order matters. If you’ve ever tried to “think positive” while carrying anger, shame, or comparison, this conversation shows why soul work unlocks mental toughness and elevates performance. We also explore practical mentorship, building a band of brothers, and creating communities where accountability feels like protection, not punishment.

You’ll hear a vivid game 7 championship story, lessons in resilient leadership, and simple ways to realign body, mind, and spirit so your training actually sticks. Whether you’re an athlete, coach, parent, or just feeling the strain of high expectations, Gary’s tools and testimony offer a path away from fear and into purpose. Want tangible next steps? Check out the Pure Encouragement podcast, two-minute Monday videos on YouTube, and resources at pureencouragement.org to start building confidence that lasts. If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a teammate, and leave a rating so more people find these conversations—what’s one belief about performance you’re ready to trade for truth?

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What happens when your greatest fear becomes the catalyst for your life's purpose? For Jerry Schemmel, Colorado Rockies play-by-play broadcaster, surviving a catastrophic plane crash in 1989 wasn't just a traumatic experience—it became the defining moment that led him to faith and transformed his approach to broadcasting.

With raw honesty, Jerry shares how the crash that claimed many lives, including a toddler sitting just in front of him, forced him to question everything about his existence. Having no spiritual foundation at the time, this moment of crisis became his crossroads. The following year, Jerry found Christ and discovered that his broadcasting career wasn't about personal achievement but about using his platform to demonstrate faith in action. From small Kansas radio stations to the major leagues—spending 20 years in NBA broadcasting before securing the coveted Rockies position at age 50—Jerry recognizes each step as divinely orchestrated.

Beyond the broadcast booth, Jerry's faith propelled him into remarkable endurance challenges. What began as therapeutic cycling after the crash evolved into riding across America multiple times for charity. In 2015, he won the two-person division of Race Across America, considered the world's toughest bicycle race, which became the subject of a documentary called "Godspeed." Through these adventures, Jerry found additional avenues to share his story and faith.

Perhaps most powerfully, Jerry offers perspective for anyone facing their own trauma: "Everybody has their own plane crash. We all get knocked down, and what we have to do is turn to God to pick us back up. And when we turn to God and He helps us back up, we are better than we were before we got knocked down." With his Rockies contract ending and his future uncertain, Jerry demonstrates the peace that comes from genuine surrender: "Be as humble as you possibly can be and just let God work in your life."

Join us for this profound conversation about faith, purpose, and finding meaning through life's most challenging moments. Whether you're a sports enthusiast or someone searching for hope amid difficulty, Jerry's journey reminds us that our greatest trials often become our greatest testimony.

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What happens when an Olympic athlete approaches their sport not just as a career, but as a calling? Melissa Lotholz, two-time Olympic bobsledder, takes us behind the scenes of her remarkable journey from farm kid to international competitor while revealing how faith provides the foundation for both her athletic excellence and personal resilience.

Melissa dismantles the common assumption that high-performance sport and spiritual life must exist in separate realms. "My first year, someone told me 'You're a Christian? That won't last long here,'" she recalls. Yet her story proves otherwise, demonstrating how athletic pursuits can become spiritual practices when approached with intention. With refreshing candor, she articulates how physical training becomes worship, competition becomes ministry, and team dynamics become opportunities for living out gospel values.

The conversation dives deep into the psychological challenges unique to Olympic athletes—from the pre-competition anxiety of hurtling down ice tracks at breakneck speeds to the post-Games emptiness when years of structured training suddenly end. "It doesn't make the suck less sucky," Melissa admits with characteristic authenticity, "but you're quicker to ask, 'Why so downcast, O my soul? I will praise him yet.'" Her practical approaches to mental health, spiritual grounding, and community building offer wisdom applicable far beyond the bobsled track.

Whether discussing her technical role coaching 30% of Canada's national team while still competing herself, or revealing her memorization of Psalm 1 as preparation for Olympic qualification, Melissa demonstrates how purpose transcends performance. Her insights about "staying the course" through disappointment, celebrating faithfulness over success, and finding God's presence in daily disciplines rather than just emotional highs provide a masterclass in spiritual resilience.

Listen now for a rare glimpse into the intersection of elite sport and authentic faith. How might your own work—whatever it may be—become an expression of worship? What would change if you approached your greatest challenges with the courage to "feel the fear but do it anyway"? Melissa's story might just transform how you view your own journey.

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Matt Cline's story begins with a single hit on the ice that changed everything. As a former Western Hockey League player with the Chilliwack Bruins, Cline suffered a career-ending concussion that left him with debilitating headaches for six years. But what initially seemed like the tragic end to athletic dreams became the catalyst for profound spiritual transformation and purpose.

Through raw vulnerability, Matt shares how his identity had been completely wrapped up in hockey until that pivotal moment. Just five days after his injury, a team chaplain spoke words that would become prophetic: "What you're going through right now, you don't know what God is doing, but two years from now, you'll look back and see God working in your life." This moment marked Klein's surrender to a deeper faith.

The journey from hockey player to ministry leader wasn't immediate or straightforward. Cline ventured into business for several years before experiencing what he describes as a supernatural encounter where God called him to start what would become Restored Ministries – an organization helping men find freedom from pornography addiction and sexual brokenness. With disarming honesty, he shares his own struggles with porn addiction and how bringing these secrets into the light led to discovering and healing from sexual trauma he had experienced as a teenager.

What makes Matt's perspective so powerful is his counterintuitive approach to consequences. Rather than viewing them negatively, he sees them as essential catalysts for transformation. "When you face extreme consequences," he explains, "you ain't going back to it." Through Restored Ministries' confidential groups, one-on-one coaching, and resources, men find spaces where they can be "fully known and fully loved" – experiencing the acceptance and healing that breaks addiction's power.

For athletes, coaches, and anyone struggling with hidden shame, Cline's message offers hope that our greatest disappointments often become pathways to our true calling. His story demonstrates that nothing – not career-ending injuries nor sexual addiction – can separate us from God's purpose. Visit restoredministriesca to learn more about finding freedom and purpose beyond shame.

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What happens when God redirects your NHL dreams? For Rob Globke, former NHL player turned hockey chaplain, surrendering his professional aspirations led to an unexpected journey of purpose and fulfillment.

Growing up in Detroit as the oldest of five brothers, Globke's path seemed straightforward - excel at hockey and build a long NHL career. As a high second-round draft pick, everything pointed toward success on the ice. But God had different plans that would challenge conventional definitions of achievement and worth.

During his sophomore year of college, Globke encountered Hockey Ministries International through his agent's recommendation. At a camp in Windsor, Ontario, he experienced something transformative: the seamless integration of faith and hockey. "I was just blown away that never in my life had I seen hockey and the Christian message intertwined so well," he recalls. For someone accustomed to feeling like "the Christian guy on the team, kind of the oddball," this revelation proved life-changing.

The defining moment came during a 12-hour bus ride in Germany, lying on the floor with teammates' legs draped over him, listening to a sermon through foam headphones. Despite pursuing an MBA and having various career options, Globke felt an undeniable call to ministry that eventually led him to join Hockey Ministries International full-time after retiring from professional hockey.

Today, Globke serves as a chaplain, supporting athletes who struggle with identity tied to performance rather than inherent worth. "You are who you are because of what Christ has done for you, not what you can do," he explains, countering the prevailing mentality in professional sports. Through voluntary chapel programs, he creates spaces for players to explore life's deeper questions in comfortable, conversational settings.

What's your true source of identity? Join us as Rob Globke shares powerful insights about faith, purpose, and finding fulfillment beyond the scoreboard. Whether you're a hockey fan or someone searching for meaning beyond professional achievements, this conversation offers perspective-shifting wisdom about what truly matters.

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What does it mean to find your purpose right in your own backyard? For professional hockey player Claire Butorac, the answer lies in Minnesota's frozen rinks and the faith journey that guides her career both on and off the ice.

Growing up in Minnesota's unique community-based hockey model gave Claire the rare opportunity to represent her hometown from youth leagues through high school graduation. Now as a professional player for Minnesota in the PWHL, she's living a full-circle moment – competing at the highest level while simultaneously coaching at her alma mater, Andover High School. This dual role reveals something profound about Claire's character: while hockey is her profession, mentoring young players might be her true calling.

Claire candidly shares the challenges of professional women's hockey, including walking into training camp without a contract, simply hoping to earn a roster spot. During these uncertain moments, her faith becomes her anchor. "I pray a lot, I journal a lot," she explains, describing how writing helps process the anxiety that comes with her competitive nature. This spiritual foundation, instilled by her mother from childhood, surfaces in surprising ways – like writing "Fear is a liar" on her hockey stick as a powerful reminder during games.

The highlight of Claire's professional career came when she scored an overtime playoff winner in front of her hometown crowd. Yet even when describing this triumphant moment, she emphasizes the relationships that made it meaningful – teammates celebrating in the locker room and family members with tears of joy in the stands. This perspective exemplifies how Claire views hockey not as a platform for personal glory, but as a vehicle for connection, mentorship and purpose.

As women's professional hockey continues growing, athletes like Claire Buderak offer a refreshing template for what success can look like when paired with faith and community investment. Have you considered how your talents might serve purposes greater than personal achievement? Claire's journey reminds us that sometimes our greatest impact happens close to home.

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What happens when your identity becomes completely wrapped up in what you do? Professional hockey player Aaron Luchuk takes us on a journey through the extreme highs and lows of elite sports, revealing profound wisdom about finding purpose beyond performance.

Aaron shares the electrifying moment of scoring the game-winning goal in the Memorial Cup championship—a dream scenario for any hockey player. Yet it's what he learned through disappointments that truly transformed his perspective. "My dad always said you don't want to be Aaron Luchuk, hockey player. You want to be Aaron Luchuk who plays hockey," he explains, highlighting a distinction that's relevant whether you're an athlete or not.

The conversation takes a fascinating turn when Aaron reveals how his biggest career setbacks—being drafted later than expected and losing his NHL contract during COVID—ultimately led to his greatest blessings, including meeting his wife in Orlando. "I would trade my entire hockey career a million times over to meet my wife and to now have my beautiful baby girl," he reflects, demonstrating how our deepest disappointments can become unexpected pathways to joy.

Perhaps most movingly, Aaron describes discovering Deuteronomy 31:6 mysteriously written above his locker stall before a playoff game—a verse that would become his lifelong anchor: "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you. He will never leave you nor forsake you."

Whether you're navigating career challenges, wrestling with identity questions, or simply love stories of purpose found through adversity, Aaron's journey offers both inspiration and practical wisdom for separating who you are from what you do.

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