Speak from the Heart

In Episode 28 of Speak From the Heart, we honor the life and legacy of Preacher Tim Mills. Preacher Tim served as the University of the Cumberlands baseball team chaplain, an FCA ambassador, and pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Harlan, Kentucky. While my personal interactions with him were limited, his impact on our team, community, and countless individuals was undeniable. After learning of...

Success in sports often gets measured by stats, playing time, and recognition. But what happens when your journey includes waiting, development, and learning that your value comes from something greater than the game itself? In this episode of Speak From the Heart, I sit down with Ball State defensive back Cole Earlewine. Cole shares his journey from Fishers, Indiana, to Division I football, navig...

Baseball is a game built around failure. Slumps, pressure, self-doubt, and expectations can either break you or shape you — and learning how to respond mentally is just as important as physical ability. In this episode of Speak From the Heart, I sit down with Levi “Chevy” McAllister, catcher at UAlbany and founder of Block and Recover Co., a faith-based performance and wellness brand centered arou...

Gymnastics can look perfect from the outside — the routines, the scores, the performances under the lights. But behind the scenes, there’s pressure, doubt, sacrifice, and the constant challenge of finding your identity beyond performance. In this episode of Speak From the Heart, I sit down with University of Georgia gymnast Brooke Gleichowski, a standout on beam, host of the Beam Boldly podcast, a...

In this episode of Speak From the Heart, I sit down with Slater Schield, a versatile baseball player who’s faced adversity, navigated the transfer portal, and stayed committed to his dream while growing in faith. Slater’s story reminds us that even when things feel uncertain, God is always faithful. If you’ve ever felt overlooked…If you’ve ever faced setbacks that felt unfair…If you’ve ever questi...

In this episode of Speak From The Heart, I talk about the “Big Time Lies” we often believe about ourselves—and how they quietly shape the way we live, think, and chase success. From feeling like we are what we feel, what people say about us, or even what we do, it’s easy to get caught in a cycle of performance, comparison, and constant approval-seeking. But when we start building our identity on t...

In this episode of Speak From The Heart, I dive deep into what it really means to live with purpose from my own experience, and how shifting your perspective can change everything. Life doesn’t always go the way we planned. There are setbacks, confusion, and moments where you question what you’re even doing. But sometimes, it’s not your situation that needs to change… it’s how you see it. If you’v...

In this episode of Speak From the Heart, I sit down with Pierce George, a pitcher in the Chicago White Sox organization, to talk about the faith behind his baseball journey. Pierce grew up in Austin, Texas, competing at powerhouse Lake Travis High School in one of the most talent-rich baseball areas in the country. As a two-sport athlete playing both football and baseball, Pierce developed the dis...

God is fair. Life is unfair. Don’t get the two mixed up. In this episode of Speak From the Heart, I talk about a truth that a lot of people wrestle with—especially when life hurts, plans fall apart, or prayers feel unanswered. Life does not always feel fair. Sometimes it feels brutal, confusing, and completely out of our control. But that does not mean God is unfair. If you’ve ever asked, “Why me?...

From walking on at a junior college after a COVID-shortened senior year, to chasing the Division I dream, to having that dream taken away when he least expected it — Thomas Collins’ story is one of resilience, refinement, and trusting God when the road keeps changing. In this episode of Speak from the Heart, Thomas, an infielder from Newnan, Georgia, opens up about the long road that shaped him be...

From growing up with a love for the game, to taking a nontraditional path through junior college, to competing at the Division I level at Eastern Kentucky University — Boone Shevey’s journey is a story of consistency, humility, and faith lived out daily. In this episode of Speak from the Heart, Boone, a catcher and first baseman at EKU and a leader within FCA Baseball, opens up about the moments t...

From growing up in Corbin, Kentucky, to chasing the dream of college baseball, to walking through a season where the opportunity he worked for never came — Mark Prewitt’s story is one of patience, perseverance, and trusting God when the plan falls apart. In this episode of Speak from the Heart, Mark, a right-handed pitcher and President of FCA at the University of Pikeville, opens up about the uns...

From growing up in Boca Raton, Florida, to becoming one of the most prolific shooters in high school basketball history, to navigating a non-linear college journey across multiple programs — Chase Johnston’s story is one of surrender, identity, and bold faith. In this episode of Speak from the Heart, Chase opens up about the moments that shaped him beyond the record books: falling in love with the...

From growing up in Kentucky, to becoming a record-breaking wide receiver at Western Kentucky, to hearing his name called in the NFL Draft — Malachi Corley’s journey has been shaped by humility, relentless work, and unwavering faith. In this episode of Speak from the Heart, Malachi opens up about the parts of his story that don’t always make headlines: being overlooked in the recruiting process, ch...

From growing up in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to becoming one of the top dual-threat quarterbacks in the state, to navigating injuries, high-level competition, and stepping into a new chapter at the University of Houston — Zeon “Z” Chris’s journey has been defined by perseverance, leadership, and faith. In this episode of Speak from the Heart, Z opens up about the parts of his story that don’t show u...

From growing up in Detroit, Michigan, to becoming a four-star recruit and one of the top defensive backs in his class, to navigating the highs and lows of college football at Wisconsin and stepping into a new chapter at Syracuse — Amare Snowden’s journey has been marked by patience, perseverance, and faith. In this episode of Speak from the Heart, Amare opens up about the parts of his story that d...

From growing up in Warner Robins, Georgia, to playing Division I baseball at Mercer, Ole Miss, and now Virginia Tech, Treyson Hughes’ journey has been shaped by perseverance, humility, and an unwavering trust in Jesus. In this episode of Speak from the Heart, Treyson opens up about the foundations that formed him — family, faith, and the lessons learned at Houston County High School — and how thos...

This one is for you, Uncle Drew. If you’ve ever felt unseen, unworthy, or too far gone — please hear this: you are loved, you matter, and your life has purpose. Lean on God and believe that He has a plan for your life. Keep going. Keep believing. If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available. Call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

From being an undersized 9-hitter with big dreams, to touching mid-90s and earning a Division I opportunity at Siena College, Joey Laurer’s baseball journey was built on patience, relentless work, and belief. In this episode of Speak from the Heart, Joey Laurer — also known as 60ERAGuy — opens up about the parts of his story most people never see: losing feeling in his throwing hand, being told it...

From becoming a four-star recruit and one of the top athletes in the country, to winning a national championship at the University of Michigan, to stepping into a new chapter at UNLV, Alex Orji’s journey has been shaped by transition, patience, and trust. In this episode of Speak from the Heart, Alex shares the parts of his story most people never see: navigating changing roles, learning humility...

Growing up in Somerset, Kentucky, Kaiya Sheron went from a small-town athlete with big dreams to becoming one of the most recognized quarterbacks in the state. From Friday nights under the lights at SHS, to signing with the Kentucky Wildcats, to finding a new chapter at UT Martin, Kaiya's journey is one of grit, growth, and learning to trust God through every high and every valley. In this epi...

From growing up in a small town in Morris, Illinois, to becoming the No. 1 player in the entire state of Illinois, to hearing his name called in the 6th round by the Texas Rangers and stepping into the world of professional baseball at just 19 — Jack Wheeler’s journey is one marked by talent, discipline, and most importantly… unwavering faith. In today’s episode, Jack opens up about the real story...

From losing his senior season to COVID…To navigating coaching changes at EKU…To finding purpose, identity, and God’s direction back home at Cumberlands—Clay Shelton’s journey is one of faith, perseverance, and trusting God even when the path doesn’t make sense. In this episode, Clay opens up about his start in Williamsburg, the challenges of college baseball, questioning his future, leading his te...

From losing his senior season to COVID…To navigating coaching changes at EKU…To finding purpose, identity, and God’s direction back home at Cumberlands—Clay Shelton’s journey is one of faith, perseverance, and trusting God even when the path doesn’t make sense. In this episode, Clay opens up about his start in Williamsburg, the challenges of college baseball, questioning his future, leading his te...

Welcome back to Speak From the Heart — the series where athletes open up about their faith, their struggles, and the ways God has moved through their lives on and off the field. In today’s episode, I sit down with Jonathan “Sunshine” Luders — former D1 infielder at Seton Hall and now the unicycle-riding second baseman electrifying the Banana Ball world as a member of the Texas Tailgaters. From his...