Amazing Greats: Crazy great Jesus stories.

Former Seattle Mariners outfielder Braden Bishop lived the dream every young baseball player imagines—making it to the Major Leagues.   Braden  achieved that dream in unforgettable fashion. His very first Major League game came in Tokyo when he replaced Ichiro Suzuki during the baseball icon's emotional farewell. It's the kind of debut Hollywood would reject for being too unbelievable. Y...

One of the unexpected blessings of hosting Amazing Greats has been discovering that many of our guests’ stories don’t end when we stop recording. In fact, some of the most remarkable chapters happen after the interview is over. Over the past four years, we’ve had the privilege of sharing the testimonies of athletes, authors, musicians, actors, and business leaders, whose lives have been shaped by...

From Childhood Trauma to Healing Hope with Becky Nordquist How do you trust God after childhood abuse, devastating loss, and years of unanswered questions? In this deeply moving episode of Amazing Greats, Christian recording artist, author, speaker, and filmmaker Becky Nordquist shares her remarkable journey from childhood sexual abuse and suicidal despair to healing, faith, purpose. and ultimatel...

A storm with towering waves has a way of stripping life down to what’s real. When Dr. Arnie Cole found himself staring up at water he was sure would kill him, every confident system he’d built collapsed in seconds and a raw, honest prayer rose in its place. That night didn’t just save his life. It rerouted it, launching a late-in-life faith story that still shapes how he thinks about purpose, beha...

What if your greatest impact doesn’t come from center stage… but from the bench? In this powerful conversation, Brandon Bakke—author of Lessons from the Bench —shares how a life spent outside the spotlight can actually shape championship teams, strong leaders, and lasting faith. Drawing from his journey as a Division 1 athlete under legendary coach Jerry Tarkanian, Brandon unpacks the hidden value...

On this episode of Amazing Greats , we sit down with Dr. Steve Osborne, a lifelong scientist whose identity was built on evidence, research, and reason—until those very tools led him somewhere he never expected. From a childhood with no faith framework to earning a PhD in experimental psychology, Steve’s journey is one of grit, intellect, and relentless pursuit of truth. But everything began to sh...

In this powerful episode of Amazing Greats , I sit down with pastor, professor, and now author Doug Hankins to unpack a topic that impacts nearly half of America—but is often misunderstood in the church: singleness. Drawing from his new book Still Single, Still Called , Doug challenges cultural and church narratives that treat singleness as a problem to be solved rather than a calling to be embrac...

A lot of people know Jim Ryun as the high school kid who became a three-time Olympian and set a world record for breaking the 4 minute mile (that held for 36 years) and the guy who later served five terms in Congress. We wanted to go deeper than the highlight reel and ask what he’s built that’s lasted the longest: the Jim Ryun Running Camps, now entering year 51, and the simple system that keeps s...

He was building momentum in the clubs, getting attention in Hollywood, Vegas the  hottest comedy clubs and even had a sitcom in the works, then one church invite flipped everything. Clean comic Nazareth joins us to tell the true story of hearing “come as you are,” giving his life to Christ, and making the bold Monday-morning decision to walk away from the old path so God could redefine his purpose...

In this powerful episode of Amazing Greats , singer-songwriter, author, and original First Call member Bonnie Keen  joins us for a raw and hope-soaked conversation about her extraordinary journey. For those who may not know, First Call  was one of the most iconic vocal groups in Contemporary Christian Music during the ’80s and ’90s — known for their tight harmonies, innovative arrangements, and a...

The Coach's Calling Join us for an inspiring conversation with Jessie Craig , a phenomenal coach from the TCU Women's Basketball staff who helped steer the team to a historic "Cinderella" season. This episode goes beyond the court, charting Coach Craig's incredible 4,000-mile personal and professional journey from her homeschooled, Christian roots in Fairbanks, Alaska , to...

When you meet Gonzaga University basketball coach R-Jay Barsh, one thing is clear—he’s a live wire for Jesus. In this inspiring episode of Amazing Greats, we dive deep into the journey of a man whose passion for the game is matched only by his passion for Christ. From his early days in High School and Tacoma Community College to leading college teams across the country and now coaching alongside l...

When Nuka Hart answered God’s call to lead Free Wheelchair Mission , she stepped into a global movement that has transformed more than a million lives — one wheelchair at a time. As CEO, Nuka blends her deep faith with bold leadership to bring hope and mobility to people who might otherwise be forgotten. In this episode of Amazing Greats , Nuka shares her personal faith journey, the moments that c...

Imagine not making your high school varsity basketball team, standing just 5’7”, and thinking your dream of making it in the game you love is unrealistic. That was Ryan Carr’s reality. But what seemed hopeless, was really the beginning of a bigger story—one that would take him from writing a bold letter to coaching legend Bobby Knight, to working side-by-side with Larry Bird, and eventually to his...

What happens when a commercial airline pilot hears God’s call to take flight on a mission bigger than himself? Ted Greenfield went from teacher, TV producer, and FAA employee to the founder of Invisible Angels —a nonprofit airline that provides free transportation to survivors of human trafficking. His journey is filled with unexpected turns, divine provision, and miracles that only God could orch...

In this gripping episode of Amazing Greats , we sit down with renowned cinematographer and documentarian Michael Lienau, whose life was forever changed by the eruption of Mount St. Helens, May 18 1980. At just 20 years old, Michael found himself trapped at ground zero with a small film crew during the volcano’s second major blast—an ordeal that turned into a four-day fight for survival. From melte...

The operating room is his happy place.  Doing God's healing work with the audio backdrop of Contemporary Christian music and an occasional Bible quiz with his surgical staff.  Dr. Robert Kayal has build a "one stop" orthopedic care empire.  The 20 Kayal Orthopedic Centers in New Jersey and New York were born out of  his love of God, love of people, gifted hands, and an innate desire...

Steve Siler has written hundreds of songs , nine of them were #1 Christian Contemporary songs and 45 of them top 10. His songs have been recorded by some of the countries biggest stars...Kenny Loggins, Smokey Robinson, Patty Labelle, the Oak Ridge boys and others. To say the very least his song wrting skills are a true gift from God. Born out of his love of music at a very early age, combined with...

Hearing Christian stories in their triumphs and challenges is always inspiring.  In this episode we're tracking the journey of musician, songwriter, worship team member and church planter, Jesse Butterworth.  While many Christian lives start with their roots in early family life, most blossom later as we grow, mature and come to a true relationship with Jesus, in a real way.  And every story...

His music career exploded within a year.  From being a camp worker, councilor and worship leader at the Catholic Damascus summer camp in Ohio to world renown Christian Music artist...24 year old Seph Schluter's life long love of Jesus unfolds in this episode of Amazing Greats.    "Counting My Blessings" was his breakout song and has been streamed over 100 million times in English an...

Starting her entrepreneurial journey at the age of 15, Nicole Jansen utilizes her wealth of experience and divine guidance to empower leaders. She collaborates with small family-owned businesses, large franchise groups, and major corporations. In this episode, Nicole reveals her top 3 leadership skills, highlights common leadership errors, and much more. Beyond offering practical advice on cultiva...

God "shows off" with powerful miracles in the lives and stories of his people.  And that is what the Amazing Greats podcast does;  shares those stories.  Joe Wankelman's story is an inspiring showcase of God's goodness.  From a childhood of drama with his mother pretty much disappearing and his dad self focused, he was mostly raised by a caring grandmother.  Joe didn't rea...

Suffering can be the gateway to a deeper relationship with God.  For Jimmy Pena, it was a defining moment, that changed everything.  It was the beginning of a climb up his second mountain.  A lifelong Christian....his relationship with Jesus and his life purpose made a 180 degree pivot after a devastating diagnosis and health crisis.  At first it resulted in his questioning everything, re-working...

Bill Yeargin leads a billion dollar boat and marine supply super company on a culture of service. Service to the industry, yes, but just as important is the service to his 2000 employees as well as serving humanity through dozens of mission trips to underprivileged communities in countries around the world.  Correct Craft was founded 100 years ago with a mission to "build boats for the glory...

Dave Dravecky, a left-handed major league pitcher who played for the Padres and Giants, brings his infectious zest for life and his compelling life narrative to this episode. He recounts his personal faith journey, starting from a seemingly mystical encounter with God on a playground at the age of 12, a memory that has stayed with him for over 50 years. His path to a deeper connection with God was...