There are coaches who win games, and there are coaches who change lives. Mark Hoffman spent 46 years doing both, but ask the people who know him best and they’ll tell you the scoreboard was never the point. From small-town football fields to classrooms and communities across Ohio, Coach Hoff built a reputation for demanding excellence while never losing sight of the person behind the player.

Hosts Dan Schmidt, Ben Spahr, and special guest host Shawn Ruebush sit down with Coach Hoff to explore the lessons that shaped him long before he became one of the most respected coaches in the region. He shares stories from his upbringing, the family values that became his foundation, the mentors who influenced his path, and the experiences that formed his approach to leadership, discipline, and service.

The conversation goes far beyond football. Mark reflects on coaching at 12 different schools, adapting to changing generations, and why standards still matter in a world that often looks for shortcuts. He also opens up about helping students facing difficult circumstances, advocating for kids who needed someone in their corner, and the responsibility adults have to notice what others miss.

At the heart of the episode is Coach Hoff's simple but powerful mission for every player he coached: be a good citizen, be a good man, and be a good dad. It's a philosophy that reaches far beyond sports and offers a blueprint for building stronger families, teams, and communities.

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A lot of people can tell you what combat looks like. Fewer can tell you what happens when the war follows you home.

Caleb Hutcheson spent his deployment in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, conducting route clearance missions as a combat engineer. Every day meant searching for hidden IEDs where a single mistake could cost lives. He shares what it was like driving the Buffalo, surviving an explosion beneath his vehicle, and discovering a second device nearby that could have made an already terrifying situation even worse.

But this conversation goes far beyond Afghanistan. Caleb opens up about the difficult transition back to civilian life, the depression that crept in after military service, and the identity crisis that can come when you go from having a clear mission to wondering where you belong. He discusses alcohol, dark thoughts, comparison, and the spiritual battles that often happen long before anyone else notices.

Caleb also shares how faith became more than something he believed. Through conviction, surrender, Bible study, prayer, and unexpected opportunities, God began redirecting his life toward ministry. What started as small steps of obedience eventually led him to Bible college and serving at Community of Faith Church in Lewisburg, Ohio.

Hosts Dan Schmidt and Ben Spahr sit down with Caleb Hutcheson for an honest conversation about combat, purpose, faith, resilience, and finding hope when life looks fine on the outside but feels empty within.

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What happens when the thing you've built your identity around gets taken away?

Carson Brower shares a story that goes far beyond baseball. Born with VATER syndrome affecting his right arm, Carson grew up learning how to adapt, solve problems differently, and push through obstacles most people never have to face. Those lessons eventually helped him achieve his dream of becoming a Division I pitcher at Bellarmine University, but the greatest challenges of his life weren't on the field.

Inspired by Jim Abbott, Carson became obsessed with finding ways to make what others viewed as a disadvantage work at the highest level. He takes us through growing up in Eaton, Ohio, the frustrations and victories that came with doing everyday tasks differently, and the moment he returned to baseball after walking away from the game at age 12.

Hosts Dan Schmidt and Ben Spahr dive into the darker side of competitive athletics as Carson openly discusses the depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts that developed when his identity became tied to performance. He shares the phone call from his mother that changed everything, the community that rallied around him, and how his faith in Christ helped him rebuild his foundation when baseball could no longer define who he was.

The conversation also explores the wrist injury that ultimately ended Carson's pitching career, the difficult decision to prioritize his long-term future over one more season, and the perspective he carries today about gratitude, purpose, pressure, and resilience.

If you've ever struggled with identity, mental health, adversity, faith, athletics, or finding your purpose beyond achievement, this episode will stay with you.

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At five years old, Mason Shrout made a decision that most kids only dream about.

He was going to play Division I basketball.

What followed was years of sacrifice, long drives, early mornings, pressure, criticism, and expectations that most people never see. Mason grew from a kid in rural Ohio into Preble County's all-time leading scorer, a historic Final Four participant, and eventually a Division I athlete at Purdue Fort Wayne. But the road was anything but easy.

In this episode, Mason shares what it was like growing up with strict parents who pushed him to be his best, the AAU experiences that humbled him early, and the criticism he faced after making the decision to reclassify. He explains how he learned to block out negativity, trust the people closest to him, and use doubt as motivation instead of allowing it to become a limitation.

Mason also takes us behind the curtain of the recruiting process, the pressure of being one of the most talked-about athletes in the area, and why he chose loyalty to his community over opportunities that could have taken him elsewhere. He reflects on the unforgettable Final Four run at UD Arena and the lessons learned from carrying expectations on and off the court.

Hosts Dan Schmidt and Ben Spahr then dive into the realities of college athletics, including balancing a demanding Mechanical Engineering degree with Division I basketball, redshirting, fighting through disappointment, and learning how comparison can rob athletes of joy and purpose. Mason also discusses his faith journey, baptism, and how staying grounded in something bigger than basketball has helped him navigate success, setbacks, temptations, and pressure.

This episode is about much more than sports. It's about identity, resilience, humility, discipline, and what happens when the dream you've chased your entire life finally becomes reality.

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A fighter jet drops out of the clouds at 300 miles an hour, the controls stop responding, and the pilot has seconds left to decide what to do. David Wheeler lived through that moment and what happened next still challenges everything he thought he knew about life, purpose, and survival.

In this episode of BeTempered with Dan Schmidt and Ben Spahr, David takes us from his 1950s Cincinnati childhood and early fascination with aviation to flying the Air National Guard F-100 Super Sabre while balancing life as an architect and family man. He breaks down the intense reality of pilot training, low-level flight routes, military discipline, and the medical obstacles he had to overcome just to earn the chance to fly.

Then everything changed.

David walks us through the terrifying seconds of his fighter jet crash and the unexplainable peace he experienced as the aircraft went down. He describes hearing what sounded like singing, feeling overwhelming love, and waking up with questions that would shape the rest of his life.

We also explore what it means to live a “second life,” how trauma can transform purpose, and why David eventually returned to the crash site decades later searching for answers. The conversation expands into prison ministry, servant leadership, radical forgiveness, hospice experiences, faith, and the moments that quietly redefine what matters most.

Whether you love aviation stories, military history, leadership lessons, near-death experiences, or conversations about faith and meaning, David’s story stays with you.

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A single decision at 100 miles per hour can ripple through families, friendships, faith, and the rest of your life. In Episode 106 of BeTempered, hosts Dan Schmidt and Ben Spahr sit down with Tony Talbert to unpack the night a drunk driver changed everything. What started as a celebration of his friend David’s recovery journey through addiction and service ended in tragedy just minutes from home, leaving Tony and his wife Donna carrying grief, trauma, and questions that don’t disappear when the headlines fade.

Tony opens up about the realities of PTSD, survivor’s guilt, panic, flashbacks, nightmares, and the pressure many people feel to “move on” before they’re actually healed. He shares how EMDR therapy, honest prayer, and eventually visiting the young man responsible for the crash became part of a healing process that challenged everything he thought he knew about justice, forgiveness, and redemption.

Then the conversation takes a turn none of us expected. On a freezing day in Richmond, Indiana, a homeless man asks Tony for help and leaves behind a freshly cut green crown of thorns. Weeks later, Tony receives a message he believes came directly from Jesus, and suddenly the nightmares stop. What follows is a powerful conversation about faith, suffering, purpose, and the kind of charity that restores dignity instead of creating dependency through practical support, accountability, and love.

This episode is raw, emotional, hopeful, and deeply human.

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What happens when your normal life disappears overnight? In this episode of BeTempered, hosts Dan Schmidt and Ben Spahr sit down with Kateryna Tabota to hear the real human side of the Ukraine war through the eyes of a wife, mother, and woman of faith. Her story moves from growing up in post-Soviet Ukraine, to serving in the medical field, to suddenly facing air raid sirens, uncertainty, and separation from family as war closes in around them.

Katya opens up about raising children during chaos, leaving Ukraine for Poland while her husband was legally required to stay behind, and the emotional weight of wondering if your family will ever be reunited again. She shares how faith became her anchor during the fear, confusion, and constant uncertainty surrounding everyday life.

The conversation also dives into the unexpected moments that changed everything. A scooter accident eventually creates the medical exemption that allows her husband to reunite with the family. Church relationships and the United for Ukraine sponsorship program lead them to Ohio, where complete strangers prepare a home for them before they ever arrive. From beds and groceries to a full tank of gas, Katya reflects on the kindness that helped her family begin rebuilding their lives in America.

Dan, Ben, and Katya also talk about culture shock, learning English through customer interactions, rebuilding a career through nail licensing, and the hope of returning to medicine in the United States someday. It’s a conversation about resilience, faith under pressure, family sacrifice, and gaining a deeper appreciation for freedoms that are often taken for granted.

This episode will challenge perspective, deepen gratitude, and remind listeners how powerful faith and community can become in life’s hardest moments.

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Two years later, we decided to turn the cameras around and let Brian Ballenger ask the questions. This episode pulls back the curtain on the real story behind the BeTempered podcast, how a mindset shift, a weight loss journey, and the idea of tempered glass became the foundation for something much bigger. Strength is not built in comfort. It is built through pressure, heat, failure, and choosing to keep going anyway. What started as a simple experiment turned into a movement centered around faith, resilience, discipline, and conversations most people are afraid to have out loud.

Dan Schmidt, Ben Spahr and Shawn Ruebush open up about the moments they still wrestle with doubt, the pressure of staying authentic, and the messages from listeners that remind them these stories truly matter. They reflect on how hearing the testimonies of guests over the past two years has changed the way they see addiction, trauma, recovery, and the people around them. This conversation dives deep into vulnerability, grace, imposter syndrome, forgiveness, and why being fully present in everyday life can completely reshape relationships, faith, and purpose.

The episode also gets practical. The guys talk about parenting in a digital world, social media boundaries, smartphone restrictions, and why uncomfortable conversations inside the home matter more now than ever before. They connect discipline to consistency through daily routines, early mornings, and intentional habits that build stronger families and stronger communities. They also share what is ahead for the BeTempered Foundation, the BeTempered Standard for schools, and local outreach efforts like Care Cycle and hygiene support initiatives.

If BeTempered has ever encouraged you, challenged you, or helped you feel less alone, share this episode with someone who needs it. Subscribe, leave a review, and help us continue spreading stories that remind people they are capable of more than they think.

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A bowl of porridge does not look like a life plan, but for Dennis Alejo it was the first glimpse of something different. Sitting down with hosts Dan Schmidt and Ben Spahr, Dennis walks through a childhood in the Philippines shaped by hunger, instability, and survival. Introduced to alcohol at eight and working just to eat, long term thinking was not part of the equation. It was day to day, moment to moment.

What begins to change his life is not a single breakthrough but people. Small acts of kindness. Mentors who keep showing up. A faith that slowly moves from something he hears about to something he lives out.

Dennis shares what it was like leaving a system where poverty feels constant and stepping into the United States where structure, planning, and opportunity can actually change outcomes. He reflects on a defining moment with a retired US Marine who told him he would one day be a pastor in America, and what it took over the next decade to see that become real.

The conversation also gets practical. Dennis talks about building a digital marketing agency with purpose and connecting that work to Kingdom Legacy Ministries so business fuels real impact. Through that mission, thousands of children are fed each month, kids are given the chance to return to school, and young people are trained with digital skills that create opportunity that multiplies.

This episode is about identity, forgiveness, and the idea that the fire you walk through can become the strength you carry. It is a story about breaking cycles, finding purpose, and choosing to build something that outlives you.

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Some people know what to say when life is smooth. This episode is for when it isn’t. When work feels heavy, marriage feels strained, and you’re quietly asking yourself, “Is this all there is?”

Joe Swartzel joins us with a story that doesn’t hide from the hard parts. A longtime bricklayer known for his smile, Joe shares what that smile has carried through. A childhood marked by constant moving and a mother who was legally blind shaped his sense of responsibility early. Sports, mentors, and coaches helped build his foundation, but life eventually tested everything he thought he knew.

Joe opens up about walking through divorce, raising kids across two homes, and the weight that comes with trying to hold things together when it takes two people to save a marriage. He takes us to a defining moment. Standing under a massive moon after a night of drinking, asking God if life was really meant to be nothing more than work and weekends. That question led to a turning point. Not a quick fix, but a real surrender that changed the direction of his life.

We also talk about what healing actually looks like after divorce. What kids like Justin and Kristen carry quietly. Why blended families need guidance, patience, and grace instead of judgment. Joe and his wife Lisa now use their story to serve others, creating space for people walking through addiction, brokenness, and rebuilding.

This is a conversation about faith that shows up in the middle of the mess. About resilience that isn’t loud, but steady. And about what real community looks like when people choose to walk with each other instead of turning away.

If this episode speaks to you, share it with someone who needs it. These are the stories that remind us we’re not alone.

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