Growing up in Central Queensland, being an AFL footballer was probably the least likely path talented sportsman Zac Smith could have imagined he would find himself on. But after being signed as one of the Gold Coast Suns first contracted players and featuring in 124 matches across a career spanning more than a decade, the Biloela born ruckman retired as one of Queensland's greatest home grown players. On this episode of the show, Zac reminisces on a playing career which saw him have a meteoric rise to fame after only playing his first game of Australian Rules football at 15. He shares about the mental battles he faced fighting injury, getting through tough times when the Suns first came into the competition and how his faith helped him overcome a series of challenges both on and off the field.
Caitlin Bettenay had a meteoric rise in the volleyball world, becoming the youngest player to make the Senior Australian Women’s team just three years after taking up the sport. A short time later, she found herself on a full scholarship to NCAA Division 1 Portland State University where she continued to excel and develop her craft. Wanting to explore opportunities to play beach volleyball, Caitlin made the switch in 2017 and hasn't looked back since, regularly featuring amongst the medals since claiming silver in her first appearance on the Australian National Tour. Now also a regular on the international beach volleyball scene, the Sunshine Coast local shares about the crucial role her faith plays in her life, how hard she has had to work to reach the top and some of the valuable lessons she has learnt along the way.
Hard hitting Brisbane Heat and Qld Fire cricketer Ellie Johnston burst onto the scene in October 2022, with a devastating WBBL half century which propelled her side to victory against the Melbourne Stars. Still a teenager at the time, that innings saw her marked as one to watch, as she continues to develop her game and receive additional opportunities on the big stage. On the eve of the 2023-24 Australian domestic cricket season, the rising star shares the unlikely story of how she started playing the game, what it's like playing with some of her heroes and just how far women's sport has come in recent years. She also speaks about the special bond she has with fellow state squad member Ruth - who happens to be her cousin - and the importance of her faith as a professional athlete.
Jeremy Kendle made a name for himself while helping his team to a national championship while at College, but his basketball career could easily have come to an end before tasting that level of success. A tenacity and fierce determination to succeed in his chosen sport saw the Indiana (USA) native return to the court following an injury-ravaged three year spell which would have been too much for lesser men. In this episode, 'JK' takes us through the professional journey he has been on in a career spanning four continents and more than a decade at the top level. He shares how he ended up in Australia after stints in Morocco and Switzerland, the profound impact finding faith has had on him, and preparing for life after playing (which isn't slated to be anytime soon!)
Sam Harper was identified as a prodigious cricket talent from an early age, captaining Victoria and representing Australia's Under 19s team. Just twelve months after making his first-class debut however, the wicketkeeper batsman suffered a severe concussion after being hit in the head by an opponents bat. Harper has since gone on to experience the highest of highest with the Melbourne Renegades, part of the Big Bash winning side which came back from an impossible position to defeat crosstown rivals the Melbourne Stars in the final. In this episode of the show Sam shares about his love for the game and people he has met through it, how he has dealt with highs and lows throughout his career, as well as answering some listener questions.
Jesse Sene-Lefao has forged a successful career as a rugby league player in both the NRL and UK Super League as a powerful prop and hard running second rower. Things weren't always easy for the gentle giant however, being forced to wait five years for an NRL debut after first entering the Panthers system as a youngster. Listening to him share about his journey, it doesn't take long to understand Jesse's positive outlook and determination have played a huge role in him achieving all that he has both on and off the field. In this episode, Jesse talks about some of the challenges he has faced throughout his career, looks back fondly on the time spent at Castleford Tigers and discusses some of the lessons rugby league has taught him which are now being applied to his business pursuits.
Connor Bond burst onto the Australian track and field scene in 2022, finishing 10th in the 100m at the Under 20 World Champions where he missed the final by 0.01 seconds. Competing in Open age competition for the first time in the 2022-23 season, the 19 year-old continued to make rapid progress which culminated in a sixth placing in the 100m at the Australian Athletics Championships. In this conversation Connor discusses the impact his famous rugby family has had on his athletic career, his love for track and field, as well as the role his Christian faith plays in his life.
Mark Tipple joins me for an interesting conversation to talk about his sports management agency 'Unlshd Sports'. Still in its infancy, the agency already boasts one of the NRLW's biggest stars in Roosters premiership winner and World Cup champion Liv Kernick. Mark opens up about how he came into the industry, some of the challenges he has faced to date and busts some myths about what his role entails exactly. He introduces us to some of the stars we can expect to see playing NRL in the next few years, reveals exactly what goes on during contract negotiations and tells us what sets one player apart from another in high-level sport.
Emmy award-winning producer Jason Romano lived the dream for 17 years at ESPN, working in sports broadcasting with the world leader and meeting many of his heroes. While he loved his work, the New Yorker reached a point where he longed for more. Enter Sports Spectrum. Birthed by NBA legend Julius "Dr. J" Erving in 1985, Sports Spectrum has the stated mission of being the place "where sports and faith connect" and has been Romano's employer for the past six years. Jason discusses his time at ESPN, taking a giant leap of faith to leave his dream job, meeting his heroes and the fulfilment he gets from being able to bring his christian faith into the sporting world.
Growing up as a member of the Pacific Islander community in the southern suburbs of Brisbane, Ray Moaga always valued having good people around him. In sports, family and faith settings the sense of connection was something which he treasured. It was almost inevitable Ray would find himself working to help others. The sports mad Samoan jumped at the opportunity to work with the New Zealand Warriors squad when they were based in Australia during the 2022 NRL season and has more recently begun working with QLD Netball and the QLD Firebirds. In this wide ranging conversation we discuss the role of a chaplain within a professional sporting organisation, what it is like moving between roles and some of the moments where Ray has been able to make a difference by bringing a different atmosphere into secular environments.
Hannah Johnson excelled at hockey as a teenager - competing at the national level - but she always knew she had more to offer her teammates than athletic ability alone. Taking on the responsibilities of a team chaplain before she ever knew what that was, it was almost as if Hannah was destined to work with high level athletes as a friend, confidant and counsellor. Now working primarily within the Olympic and Paralympic sports which the majority of athletes are not funded for, the founder of Sports Care Australia has impacted athletes at numerous international sporting events including Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games and World Championships. On this episode of the show, Hannah shares what she does and the impact she has on high performance athletes from right across the globe.
Alan Tongue was widely acknowledged as one of the hardest working players in rugby league, during his 220 match NRL career. A man who let his actions on the field do the talking, the man from country New South Wales led the Canberra Raiders for five years and was named the Dally M Lock of the year and Captain of the Year at the conclusion of the 2008 season. The hard-tackling forward left an indelible mark on the 'Green Machine' upon retiring in 2011, but he has continued to make an impact since hanging up the boots. Developing programs for young people in juvenile justice centres and working with the NRL to write a 'Voice Against Violence' program which is now delivered internationally, the 2017 ACT Australian of the Year nominee has reached hundreds of thousands of people. On this episode of the show, Tongue discusses what he did to be the man everyone wanted to play with, what has driven him both on and off the field, and the role his christian faith played in the journey.
Brad Walton is widely regarded as one of the best muay thai fighters in Australia, boasting a range of state, national and international titles. His journey into the world of competitive sport hasn't been easy however. In this episode, 'The Weapon' - as he is affectionately known - opens up on the personal challenges he has overcome to reach the pinnacle of his sport. From losing both of his parents as a youngster, to battling substance abuse issues and a stint in prison, nothing is off limits. Brad discusses what the future looks like for him with his new found faith and hopes his inspirational story can help others overcome the challenges they may be facing.
Few people embody the saying 'live life to the fullest' like Elana Withnall. A talented athlete from childhood, 'Lani' has tried her hand a numerous sporting pursuits and represented Australia at three of them - Athletics, Bobsleigh and Rugby Sevens. She hasn't always had it easy however, overcoming many injuries and other challenges which would have seen others throw the towel in. With an unshakeable faith and belief in herself however, the girl hailing from 'Old Bar' continues to chase her dream of becoming an Olympian. Determined to live her life with more 'WOWs' than 'what if's', Lani's journey has also seen her compete on Australian Ninja Warrior, become a qualified sports journalist and inspire thousands as a social media influencer. Listen to her speak for more than a couple of minutes and you will be inspired to squeeze everything out of life and make the most of the talents and opportunities you have been given.
Shaun Hart was a fan favourite for the Brisbane Lions during the 1990s and early 2000s, highly regarded for his tenacity and for playing well above his size. The tough midfielder endured the lowest of lowest with the Brisbane Bears in the early 90s - collecting back-to-back wooden spoons - before being part of the first AFL team in history to win three consecutive premierships in 2001, 2002 and 2003. Known for the trademark headgear he wore, Hart was the first player from the club to a win a Norm Smith medal (after being named best on ground in the 2001 GF), is a Lions life member and was named in the Lions team of the decade (1997-2006). Once dubbed the most selfless player in the AFL by legend Leigh Matthews, he retired at the end of the 2004 season after suffering a sickening collision with teammate Daniel Bradshaw in the clubs preliminary final victory against Geelong. On this episode of the show, the pint-sized left footer discusses the struggles he faced in the early days of his career, as well as the life changing encounter which changed the way he viewed the world and looked at himself as a footballer. He sheds some light on what it means to be a team player, his continual pursuit to improve and some of the fears he faced despite seemingly having it all.
In this Parkrun special, James Hansen takes us through the journey which has seen him go from Little Athletics to being the first athlete to stop the clock at an Australian Parkrun course in less than 14 minutes, completing the course in 13:53 minutes. The Tasmanian has overcome a huge number of physical and emotional setbacks over the course of his career, yet continues to go from strength to strength. From battling severe anxiety whenever he faced the starters gun, to dealing with the disappointment of falling agonisingly short of a place in the Australian team at the Commonwealth Games in 2018, his mental toughness is admirable. There have been times when his body has failed him as well. James was heavily restricted by a bad back injury which left him barely able to walk for a period, let alone run. And just a year prior to breaking the Australian Parkrun record , a blood clot was discovered on his brain which meant he had to take a break from doing what he loved. Yet 2022 was the most successful year of his life. James smashed his PBs across a range of distances, won numerous big races and claimed a place in Australian Parkrun history as the first man to go under 14 minutes. His dream of making the Australian Olympic team for Paris 2024 is well and truly alive!
James Hansen probably shouldn't even be running, let alone breaking records. The Tasmanian has overcome a huge number of physical and emotional setbacks over the course of his career, yet continues to go from strength to strength. From battling severe anxiety whenever he faced the starters gun, to overcoming substance abuse problems and dealing with the disappointment of falling agonisingly short of a place in the Australian team at the Commonwealth Games in 2018, his mental toughness is admirable. There have been times when his body has failed him as well. James was heavily restricted by a bad back injury which left him barely able to walk for a period, let alone run. And just a year prior to breaking the Australian Parkrun record with a blistering time of 13:53, a blood clot was discovered on his brain which meant he had to take a break from doing what he loved. Yet 2022 was the most successful year of his life. James smashed his PBs across a range of distances, won numerous big races and claimed a place in Australian Parkrun history as the first man to go under 14 minutes. His dream of making the Australian Olympic team for Paris 2024 is well and truly alive!
The A-League, Australia’s pre-eminent football competition, has gone ahead in leaps and bounds over the past decade or so, in no small part thanks to the influx of talented foreign players who have raised the standard of the league. One of those players is Brisbane Roar legend Henrique, who joined the club in 2009 and retired as the second leading scorer in the history of the franchise a decade later. The 'slippery fish', as he was affectionately known by Roar fans, calmly slotted the winning penalty to secure the club's first championship in 2011, before playing a leading role in two more title-winning campaigns. Henrique discusses what it was like growing up in football mad Brazil, how he ended up in Australia and gives an insight into some of the significant moments over the course of his career. In this open and honest conversation, football fans get to know the A-League great and gain an insight into some of the influences which played an important role over the course of his career.
Hundreds of thousands of people play cricket right across the world, but very few make it to the highest level, let alone represent their country in four World Cups. That is what Stephan Myburgh has done however, moving to the other side of the world to make his dream of becoming an international cricketer a reality. After feeling as though he had missed an opportunity in the country of his birth, South African born Myburgh was given a second chance when thrown a lifeline by the Netherlands and didn't the hard hitting opening batsman take it with both hands. Retiring after the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia, the left hander signed off his professional career having represented his adopted home in white ball cricket on 67 occasions, with his international career spanning 12 years. He scored 1,442 runs in those matches with nine half centuries, the highlight of his career coming when named in the International Cricket Council (ICC) team of the year at the 2014 World Cup where he finished as the third leading runscorer, including a record breaking 17 ball half-century against Ireland which propelled his side to the next stage of the tournament.
Jason Fiddes has worked with professional sporting organisation for more than a decade, firstly with the Brisbane Broncos and most recently the NZ Warriors and the National Rugby League as a player wellbeing and education officer. With first hand experience of the pressures professional athletes face, he provides a fascinating insight into the environment our sporting heroes live in. From the Broncos heartbreaking grand final loss to the North Queensland Cowboys in 2005 to living in a Covid bubble with the Warriors, there is little Fiddes hasn't seen. Jason shares his journey from a troubled youth into the professional sports setting, some of the key moments along the way and strong influences which have played a pivotal role in his career. He tells us about some of the initiatives the NRL has implemented to deal with mental health amongst playing groups, some of the great things rugby league players are doing in the community which don't usually get any attention, and sheds some light on life inside the NRL's Covid bubble.