A Cup of bELieve Podcast

On this Season 3 finale of A Cup of bELieve Podcast, host Eric LeGrand marks a pivotal moment for the show, sitting down in person with a guest for the very first time as he welcomes fellow New Jersey native Daria Berenato, known to the sports entertainment world as Sonya Deville. A proud product of Shamong Township, New Jersey, Daria spent a decade in WWE competing on SmackDown and Raw, serving as an on-screen authority figure, and capturing the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship. A former MMA fighter who transitioned into sports entertainment through WWE's Tough Enough competition, Daria has since built a career that extends well beyond the ring as an actress, entrepreneur, and media host whose story is one of resilience, authenticity, and the courage to forge her own path. Two New Jersey natives. One unforgettable conversation.

On this episode of A Cup of bELieve Podcast, host Eric LeGrand sits down with Rutgers Football head coach and one of the most important people in his life, Greg Schiano. A New Jersey native and the winningest coach in Rutgers Football history, Coach Schiano has built a remarkable career in the game of football, but his relationship with Eric LeGrand defines far more than his coaching legacy. When Eric suffered his spinal cord injury on October 16, 2010, Coach Schiano was by his side immediately. And he never left. From being present constantly during Eric's extended hospital stay, to signing him to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a gesture of love and respect, to Coach Schiano and his wife Christy donating $250,000 to name a spinal cord treatment room in Eric's honor, Coach Schiano has shown time and again that some bonds run much deeper than the game. This is their story, in their own words.

On this episode of A Cup of bELieve Podcast, host Eric LeGrand sits down with WWE Superstar Charlotte Flair, and the woman behind the superstar, Ashley Fliehr.

The daughter of legendary WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair, Ashley has carved out a legacy entirely her own, becoming a 14-time women's world champion, a two-time Women's Royal Rumble winner (the first woman ever to accomplish that feat) and one of the most decorated performers in the history of sports entertainment. A second-generation wrestler, author, actress, and philanthropist, Ashley's journey from Charlotte, North Carolina, to the top of WWE is a story of resilience, identity, and the courage to step out of a legendary shadow and create one of the greatest legacies in wrestling history.

On this episode of A Cup of bELieve Podcast, host Eric LeGrand speaks with Mike Breen, the legendary voice of the NBA. A Fordham University graduate and proud New Yorker, Mike has served as the lead play-by-play announcer for NBA games on ESPN and ABC since 2006, calling the NBA Finals a record 20 times, more than any broadcaster in league history.

A Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, three-time Sports Emmy winner, and the signature voice of the New York Knicks on MSG Network, Mike Breen has spent four decades bringing basketball's biggest moments to life, including his iconic "BANG!" call that has become one of the most recognizable phrases in sports broadcasting history.

On this episode of A Cup of bELieve Podcast, host Eric LeGrand speaks with two-time Paralympic gold medalist Ezra Frech. A track and field phenom born with congenital limb differences, Ezra won double gold at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, claiming the 100 meters and high jump T63 titles within 24 hours, the latter setting a new Paralympic record. A motivational speaker, disability rights advocate, and co-founder of Angel City Sports, Ezra made history at USC as the first above-the-knee amputee recruited to a Division I track program before turning professional with Adidas. At just 20 years old, he is already one of the most compelling figures in the world of sport, and his sights are firmly set on the 2028 Paralympic Games in his hometown of Los Angeles.

On this debut episode of A Cup of bELieve Podcast's third season, host Eric LeGrand speaks with award-winning journalist, NFL analyst and Emmy Award winner Mina Kimes. A senior writer and television analyst at ESPN since 2014, Mina has become one of the most respected voices in sports media, hosting The Mina Kimes Show featuring Lenny, serving as a lead analyst on NFL Live, and appearing regularly on First Take, Get Up, and SportsCenter. A Yale graduate who began her career as an investigative journalist at Fortune and Bloomberg, Mina's path to becoming a premier NFL voice is a story of reinvention, relentless preparation and the power of passion.

On this episode of A Cup of bELieve Podcast, host Eric LeGrand speaks with director, producer, writer and actor Peter Berg. With an incredible directorial resume that includes projects such as Friday Night Lights, Lone Survivor, Patriots Day and most recently American Primeval on Netflix, Peter Berg is a New York City native who is globally acclaimed for his incredible versatility and ability to thrive in every aspect of the film industry. A Cup of bELieve Podcast is presented by Teachers Insurance Plan of New Jersey and sponsored by MobilityWorks.

On this episode of A Cup of bELieve Podcast, host Eric LeGrand speaks with legendary sports journalist Tom Rinaldi. A winner of 16 Sports Emmy Awards, 7 Edward R. Murrow Awards, 3 Associated Press Awards and a USA Today Feature-of-the-Year Award, Tom Rinaldi has covered virtually every high-level sports event. Known for his incredible storytelling and powerfully emotional style of reporting, Rinaldi also conducted the first in-person feature with Eric LeGrand for ESPN College GameDay following his injury. A Cup of bELieve Podcast is presented by Teachers Insurance Plan of New Jersey and sponsored by MobilityWorks.

On this episode of A Cup of bELieve Podcast, host Eric LeGrand speaks with Doug Ellin. A screenwriter, producer and director, Doug Ellin received worldwide acclaim for his work on the hit HBO series, Entourage. He served as the executive producer, director and head writer for the show, and he also later wrote, directed and produced a film adaptation of the series in 2015. Ellin has written screenplays for additional films and has new projects in the works as well. He can also be found on the "Is That Something You Might Be Interested In Podcast" and "Victory the Podcast." A Cup of bELieve Podcast is presented by Teachers Insurance Plan of New Jersey and sponsored by MobilityWorks.

On this episode of A Cup of bELieve Podcast, host Eric LeGrand speaks with Eric Howk of Portugal. The Man.

Eric Howk reflects on his journey of growing up in Alaska before moving to Seattle at 18-years-old to chase his music dreams. While on that mission, Howk suffered a freak accident at the age of 25 that left him paralyzed from the mid-chest down. Howk and LeGrand exchange personal stories about managing the challenges that come with life in a wheelchair, while still not allowing that disability to derail them from pursuing their ultimate aspirations. A Cup of bELieve Podcast is presented by Teachers Insurance Plan of New Jersey and sponsored by MobilityWorks.