Big Stories

Almost a year before Kansas State stepped on the field against rival Iowa State in Ireland, Wildcat quarterback Avery Johnson dedicated the 2024 season to his former high school principal, Chris Botts. The Maize High School boss has a rare form of cancer, and Johnson was hoping to raise money for Botts every time he scored a touchdown. The plan worked better than expected. In this podcast episode,...

BYUradio’s Big Stories podcast is getting even bigger. Host Cleon Wall and the Big Stories team will continue telling the inspirational tales from across the Big 12—but now, they’re also diving into the biggest moments on the field and court. Since it’s Week Zero and three Big 12 teams are kicking off the season—including Kansas State and Iowa State in the legendary “Farmageddon” rivalry—we’re spo...

We've wrapped up another amazing season of the Big Stories podcast! ????️ Join producer/host Cleon Wall and producer Whitney Sheffield as they share their favorite moments from Season 2. We invite you to listen to this special episode and catch up on all our Seasons 1 and 2 episodes. Don't forget to leave us a rating and review wherever you listen to podcasts. Your feedback means the world to us....

Season 2 of Big Stories will wrap up next week. In the meantime, the team wanted to share with you one of our other great podcasts from BYU SportsNation and BYUradio. It's Deep Blue and hosted by Jason Shepherd. In this episode, we feature former BYU Football quarterback Max Hall. He shares his powerful journey—from battling drug addiction to rebuilding his life and founding a recovery center to h...

Eric Weddle, former University of Utah and NFL safety, built his career on hard work, resilience, and his personal mantra, "Let's be great today." After 14 seasons with the San Diego Chargers, Baltimore Ravens, and Los Angeles Rams—capped by a stunning Super Bowl LVI victory—Weddle now leads as the head football coach at Rancho Bernardo High School in California. Off the field, he’s a devoted husb...

Tony Achille has loved hockey since he started playing at age 3. Even after being diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma at 15, he never stopped playing. In this podcast episode, we share Tony's story of resilience and determination. With the unwavering support of his family, friends, and coaches, Tony achieved his dream of playing college hockey at Arizona State University. Now cancer-free, Tony gives...

Robert Golden lost his passion for playing football after his father's death. So, what would he do next? Teach kids to "Be Golden." This podcast episode highlights how the former Arizona Wildcat started the Golden Charter Academy near his old neighborhood in Fresno, CA. This innovative school, in partnership with the Fresno Chaffee Zoo, focuses on environmental stewardship. Through hands-on learni...

Most young athletes dream of playing college and professional sports, and Wayne Simien was no exception. He not only played basketball for the Kansas Jayhawks but also achieved the pinnacle of success by winning an NBA championship with the Miami Heat. However, Wayne chose to leave it all behind. In this podcast episode, he shares his journey of faith in Jesus Christ and explains why he decided to...

When Bill Snyder arrived at Kansas State, the Wildcats were the worst team in college football—winless in 27 straight games. But, through his relentless dedication and a culture built on caring for his players, he led one of the most remarkable turnarounds in sports history. Along the way, Snyder touched the lives of many K-State Football fans through personalized notes. In this podcast episode, S...

After an impressive career at the University of Kansas and in the NFL, Darrell Stuckey faced a career-ending injury that forced him to step away from the game he loved. Instead of dwelling on what was lost, he found a new purpose—using his faith, resilience, and hard-earned wisdom to guide the next generation. Now back at KU as a coach, Stuckey is helping young athletes navigate adversity and stri...

Fred Snowden, a.k.a. "The Fox," made history as the first African American head basketball coach at a major university, taking the helm at the University of Arizona in 1972. Facing racism, death threats, and countless challenges, Snowden persevered and turned Tucson into a basketball town. His groundbreaking leadership paved the way for future generations of African American coaches, leaving a las...

2024 was a remarkable year for Kyle and Landon Bono. The father-son duo led their baseball team to victory, clinching the Little League World Series trophy after defeating Chinese Taipei. The Bono name is synonymous with baseball. From Mike and Sheila Bono’s early days as a “baseball couple” to their twin sons, Kyle and Ryan, playing for the UCF Knights, baseball has shaped every aspect of their l...

Payton Washington, a standout member of Baylor University's Acrobatics and Tumbling squad, is known for her breathtaking performances and fierce competitive spirit. Her journey is nothing short of miraculous. Just months before moving to Waco, Payton survived a life-threatening shooting that left her with severe injuries. Despite the odds, she made a remarkable recovery, leading her team to a nati...

Oscar Robertson was the consummate, all-around basketball player, but he was much more than a guy known as Mr. Triple-Double. In this episode of the Big Stories podcast, Robertson and others share the lessons Oscar learned in childhood, including receiving his first basketball from his mother and how "The Big O" was a changemaker even though he was quiet and shy. Guests: Oscar Robertson - Former C...

Assane Diop compares his journey to play basketball at the University of Colorado as a seed growing in foreign soil. It all started with his father pushing him to play basketball as a pre-teen. So how did this Senegalese seed end up in the Rocky Mountains? In this Big Stories podcast episode, Diop recounts how Greg and Denise Willis made him an offer he could not refuse and how he excelled in the...

According to University of Utah president Taylor Randall, the university is built on three pillars: inspire, innovate, and serve. In this episode, we share the journeys of two individuals who embody these values. Adrian Portillo overcame bone cancer as a freshman and, with no family history of higher education, pursued his dream of becoming a doctor. Abe Bakhsheshy, an immigrant from Iran who lost...

Taylor Roe is one of the most decorated athletes in Oklahoma State Track & Field's history. A fierce competitor on the track, Taylor’s journey was shaped by overcoming self-doubt, anxieties, and emotional hurdles leading up to race day. From pre-race tears to triumphant finishes, Taylor’s story is a compelling look at elite athletes' mental and emotional challenges. Guests: Taylor Roe - Former Okl...

When JJ Van Niel became the head coach of Arizona State women’s volleyball, the program was in a tough spot—coming off three straight losing seasons and dealing with a depleted roster. How Van Niel helped turn the Sun Devils around is not quite as remarkable as how he transformed himself from working in the world of high finance to becoming a head volleyball coach. It's an episode you don't want t...

Big Stories will have more great tales from the Big 12 coming up on January 6th. We will chronicle the Arizona State women's volleyball coach who left the high world of finance to coach his favorite game, the University of Arizona basketball coach who became the first African-American coach at a major university, the former Kansas basketball player who quit professional basketball to bring people...

Noah Guzman, a defensive back for the University of Houston, has taken the meaning of “early riser” to a whole new level. Noah’s morning starts at 4:30 a.m. with cold water splashes, a book on self-improvement, and a quiet moment of reflection. But don’t let the calm fool you—he’s an intense competitor who’s overcome serious challenges to play the game he loves. In this podcast episode, Noah shows...

Maddie McLaughlin dreamed of playing at the highest level as a young girl. A debilitating battle with Lyme disease in high school almost crushed that dream. In this podcast episode, Maddie recounts how she returned to full health and defied all odds by playing at Arizona State University and then professionally. Guests: Maddie McLaughlin - former ASU volleyball player, professional volleyball athl...

University of Kansas offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes almost gave up coaching college football. Jeff didn't feel like he could coach and spend quality time with his family. In this podcast episode, Jeff and wife Sheri share how they've survived the craziness of the coaching world to keep their family tight. The couple also share the emotional story of adopting his youngest daughter, Jada, and how...

The lives of former Utah Football safety Steve Tate and wife Savanna were changed forever once their son Hayes arrived. He was diagnosed with brain cancer and died when he was only 20-months old. The grief of losing their son still affects them till this day. Amid that grief, the Tate’s work to help the families of pediatric cancer patients through their Hayes Tough foundation. In this podcast epi...

Tiffany and Tim Sahaydak both have impressive soccer backgrounds—from Tiff’s experience as a U.S. Women’s National Team player, Olympic gold medalist, and World Cup champion, to Tim’s career as a professional player in Major League Soccer. While it's rare to see married couples coaching together, their complementary strengths have helped them build a strong, competitive, family-oriented culture at...

In this episode, we highlight the incredible career of Rob Glass, Oklahoma State’s Assistant Athletic Director for Speed, Strength, and Conditioning. While he’s known for building elite athletes, Glass’s character shines when directing the power-lifting competition for Special Olympics Oklahoma's Summer Games. Guests: Rob Glass - OSU Assistant Athletic Director Laurie Glass - Rob's wife Madi Mador...