The Coach J Podcast

The episode of the Coach J Podcast is a follow up recording with Jim Rouches (Episode 38) where he goes in-depth about the things that he witnessed, and the inhumane environment during his time in prison.  Please be warned that some of this message is not appropriate for children under 16.  The purpose of the episode is not for shock value, but to further explain how a life of drugs and prison can slowly chip away holding onto any sense of hope.  And only through a miracle are you able to overcome! 

This episode of the Coach J Podcast is a follow up to our interview with Jim Rouches on Episode 38.  In this recording, Jim takes us on a dive into what it feels like to have lost ALL hope in life and to feel convinced that God made a mistake with him and he was worthless.  Jim recalls what it was like on the floor of solitary confinement after 29 years of addiction and incarceration and having lost everything in his life, including a will to live.  If you or anyone you know has struggled with substance abuse, alchoholism, or has felt like they have lost hope in finding peace, this is a must listen.

Consider it joy when you go through various trials.  Is that really possible?  In this interview we talk with Brody Malone who is currently one of the best Men’s Gymnasts in the world.  Brody shares his life with us and goes in depth about the serious trials that he and his family have endured.  He also shares with intimate feelings about how being the best in the world wasn’t enough and left him feeling empty inside.  Through his success in gymnastics, as well as the deep valleys of tragedy in his life, we hope that you are encouraged when you hear how these events have positively shaped Brody and led him to a deeper relationship with Jesus.

Jim Rouches struggled for almost 30 years with a serious drug addiction, rage, darkness, emptiness, and loneliness.   At the end of this struggle, Jim found himself on the floor of a jail cell in solitary confinement completely broken and suicidal.  What happened next is truly incredible and miraculous.  Jim’s freedom from the bondage to drugs, and the new life that he was given is a story that anyone struggling with addiction, no matter how bad or how long, should listen to.   And now today, the impact that Jim is having, through his Faith, on thousands of addicts is inspiring.  I feel that it’s appropriate to share some of the lyrics to a song called Made for More (live featuring Jenn Johnson), by Josh Baldwin.   I encourage you to listen to the song in it’s entirety.  Here are some of the lyrics: I know who I am, cause I know who You are.   The cross of salvation was only the start.  Now I am chosen, free and forgiven.  I have a future, and it’s worth the living.  Cause I wasn’t made to be tending a grave, I was called by name.  Born and raised back to life again, I was made for more. So why would I make a bed in my shame when a fountain of Grace is running my way?   I know I am yours and I was made for more.    Thank you, Chad

Part 2- In this second part of the interview we follow up with Eli Ace, founder of Nexen Construction, in November of 2024 where he is 10 months into a company wide Sabbatical with no money, no work, employees leaving and tired of being furloughed, and the world telling him that enough is enough: "Just go back to work.”  But  Eli’s faith is incredible and encouraging.   It is a great testimony to listen to what he has gone through over the last 10 months and the lessons that God has revealed to him in the biggest valley of his life. 

Part 1- Eli Ace (born as Elia Aseav) is a refugee from Kazekstan, where his Grandfather and Great-Grandfather were martyred for their steadfast believe and faith in Jesus Christ.  His family came to the United States and Eli quickly learned from his father how to make a living in the world of construction.   Years later Eli was led to start a construction business, Nexen Construction, which he grew in short time to a $10M business and one of the fastest growing businesses in Central PA.  In this first part of 2 interviews, we listen to Eli and how he was led by God to take his entire business and all the employees on a 1 year sabbatical which was internally called Serve 24.   It all sounded good and was well planned out for 6 years.  And then Eli embarks on this journey, and NOTHING goes according to plan.

In this episode of the Coach J Podcast, we talk with Crystal Park whose Mother was a drug addict and chose drugs over her daughter.   Crystal experienced a lifetime of extraordinary events in just a short 21 years and after one devastating death, ended up going from never touching drugs to a full blown heroin addict where she actually was dead for a short period of time from and overdose.  Her drug addiction ender her up in prison where she finally surrendered to God’s mercy and grace which led her to a new life.  Through the outreach of a local church, Crystal has matured and thrived as a follower of Jesus and overcome the demons that haunted her past.  She is a living testimony to the healing power of God.

Shane Manney is the founder of a nonprofit humanitarian aid organization called 5 Stones International.  5 Stones is the product of Shane’s miraculous experience that he had in active duty combat in the Marines during the invasion of Iraq.  Left with no heavy ammo, in one of the most dangerous areas of the war zone, Shane was forced to lean heavily on his relationship with God to protect him and his fellow soldiers.   The details of that experience are eye opening.   But the result of the next 20 years of his life are even more fascinating to see how Shane courageously stays faithful to God and the mission of 5 Stones International.  Truly an inspiring story of what it looks like to not just hear from God and His purpose for you, but to have the courage to follow. 

This episode of the Coach J Podcast is the 3rd of 3 speakers who delivered messages at our April 21, 2024 Sunday Olympic Service which was hosted by Kyle Snyder and the Coach J Organization.   This was the first live service event that we promoted on the Sunday after the conclusion of the 2024 Olympic Team Trials for Wrestling.   We had about 200 people in attendance, live worship music and 3 speakers.   This episode is the final speaker, Pastor Don Frederick, who was introduced by Kyle Snyder.   Don’s message is a beautiful and colorful answer to the question:  “WHO IS GOD? 

This episode of the Coach J Podcast is the second of 3 speakers who delivered messages at our April 21, 2024 Sunday Olympic Service which was hosted by Kyle Snyder and the Coach J Organization.   This was the first live service event that we promoted on the Sunday after the conclusion of the 2024 Olympic Team Trials for Wrestling.   We had about 200 people in attendance, live worship music, and 3 speakers.   This episode is the second speaker, Pastor Dave Dernlan, who I had the honor of introducing.  Brother Dave delivers a message from 1 Tim 2: 1-7 and the power of heartfelt and sincere prayer first in our lives, and then God led actions second.  He ties into his message the incredible story about Winston Churchill and how it relates to all of us being saved twice by the same family.  Enjoy Brother Dave Dernlan!

This episode of the Coach J Podcast is the first of 3 speakers who delivered messages at our April 21, 2024 Sunday Olympic Service which was hosted by Kyle Snyder and the Coach J Organization.   This was the first live service event that we promoted on the Sunday after the conclusion of the 2024 Olympic Team Trials for Wrestling.   We had about 200 people in attendance, live worship music and 3 speakers.   This episode is the first speaker, Barry Lynch, who was introduced by Coach Brandon Slay.   Barry gives a detailed and emotional message about how we define ourselves and where we get our value from.   I hope you enjoy this message by Barry and strongly encourage you to listen to Barry’s full podcast interview.

If you, or someone you know has ever struggled with alcohol or substance abuse, and they can’t find victory over the addiction, this is a must listen.  In this episode of the Coach J Podcast, former Penn State 2X All American Wrestler, and 3X OH State Champion, Clint Musser takes us through a very detailed and raw journey of what his life looked like before he started drinking and then down the path of alcohol addiction that led him to consider ending his own life.  Like all of God’s family that finally surrenders, there is a very happy ending.   Seeking perfection without  a foundation of God is a dangerous path.

In this episode of the Coach J Podcast I talk to Jarrett Dickey who is not a household name as an athlete or coach.  But if you are a youth coach, or know a youth coach, this interview could be extremely impactful.  We have all heard the saying “It’s not all about winning”.  So then what is it really about?  Jarrett shares the impact and wisdom that God has had on his coaching style and how that has helped him develop a mentality of coaching as his ministry.  He gives us an understanding about what it’s all really about and how he has been able to make a serious impact on all of the kids and other coaches around him.

Have you ever watched what happens when a parent becomes obsessed with their son or daughter’s success in sports?  In this episode of the Coach J Podcast we talk to Jack Galloway, whose son Nathan was a 3X Pennsylvania State Champion.  We dive into the obsession that Jack had with his son’s success and also into the emptiness, and loneliness, that Jack felt after each championship.  But there’s a happy ending!  Jesus chased him down.  Listen to the miraculous experience that Jack had as he was close to death in a hospital, and then how he was led to a Christian music concert where he began his new life as a follower of Jesus. 

Have you, or someone you know faced incredible abuse or adversity.  There is hope.  Meet Alan Blyweiss, former sparring partner for guys like Mike Tyson, Riddick Bowe, Larry Holmes and other top Heavyweight World Champions.  If Alan’s story was made into a movie, you would watch it and think that there’s no way this could be true.  Born as a herion baby, only to be molested, abused and abandoned by his adopted Mother.  Then he turns to the streets as a 9 year old gang banger in the worst part of DC.  His life is filled with abuse, abandonment, addiction, crime, violence, darkness and 50 years of hell.   But nothing that Jesus can’t overcome. 

Dan Nold, the pastor of Calvary Harvest Fields in Boalsburg, PA is a former Division III College Football player and has been coaching people to get in the game for over 30 years at Calvary.  In this episode, Dan shares about his upbringing in a in South Dakota, the challenges of going to college, and how his humility ultimately led him to becoming a pastor in central PA.  We also hear from Dan on the biggest challenge he faces in leading a church in today’s society and how getting Covid in 2020 led him to a vision of what God asked of him.  Enjoy the interview with Pastor Dan Nold, and “Get In The Game!”

Chad Dubin is the host of the Coach J podcast. In this episode Chad shares his personal testimony and reflects on some insights from our first year of interviews.

In this episode of the Coach J Podcast, we talk with Maddie Nolf, a former professional soccer player and current coach for Penn State Women’s soccer.  Maddie is the wife of another guest on the podcast, Jason Nolf, and is the first National Champion in that household!  Maddie’s testimony paints a picture of what it means to seek and hear from God.  At the height of her professional soccer career, God told Maddie to lay it down, and against the desires of her flesh and the temptations of this world, she stayed faithful.  Her decision doesn’t seem to make a lot of sense…..until you hear the impact that it had on Maddie, her marriage, and the joy of her relationship with Jesus. 

Tyler Berger is a 4X State Champ and 3X All-American wrestler at the University of Nebraska.  In this interview, Tyler shares his journey with God and how the path was never easy or straightforward.  Tyler is transparent about where his heart was as he transitioned from High School to College and now to his pursuit of making the Olympic team.  He also gives some incredible insight on what it takes to train and compete without fear and free.   

In this episode of the Coach J Podcast, we hear from David McFadden the first ever 4X All American wrestler at Virginia Tech.  David shares from his heart a journey that started with his Grandmother's Sunday Italian dinners, through some very dark times, and finally the mentors that had a profound impact on his life and relationship with God.