Big Stories

BYUradio’s Big Stories podcast is getting even bigger. Host Cleon Wall and the Big Stories team will continue telling the inspirational tales from across the Big 12—but now, they’re also diving into the biggest moments on the field and court.

Since it’s Week Zero and three Big 12 teams are kicking off the season—including Kansas State and Iowa State in the legendary “Farmageddon” rivalry—we’re spotlighting the biggest narrative surrounding each team heading into the 2025 season.

Podcasters:

Damon Fairall - PHNX Arizona Wildcats Podcast

Anthony Totri – PHNX Arizona State Sun Devils Podcast

Ashley Hodge – Sic’m365.com

Ryan Koenigsberg – DNVR Colorado Buffs Podcast

Charlie Walter – Chatterbox Bearcats Podcast

John Walters – Voice of the Iowa State Cyclones/Cy Cast Podcast

Brian Hanni – Voice of the Kansas Jayhawks

John Kurtz – 3Maw Podcast and Open for Business Big 12 Newsletter

Melissa Triebwasser – Frogs Insider Podcast

RC Maxfield – The Red and Black Report Podcast

Adam Eaton – Sons of UCF

Josh Furlong – ksl.com and The Utah Checkdown Podcast

We've wrapped up another amazing season of the Big Stories podcast! ????️ Join producer/host Cleon Wall and producer Whitney Sheffield as they share their favorite moments from Season 2. We invite you to listen to this special episode and catch up on all our Seasons 1 and 2 episodes. Don't forget to leave us a rating and review wherever you listen to podcasts. Your feedback means the world to us. We can't wait to bring you Season 3!

Season 2 of Big Stories will wrap up next week. In the meantime, the team wanted to share with you one of our other great podcasts from BYU SportsNation and BYUradio. It's Deep Blue and hosted by Jason Shepherd. In this episode, we feature former BYU Football quarterback Max Hall. He shares his powerful journey—from battling drug addiction to rebuilding his life and founding a recovery center to help others do the same. Hall also recounts some of the biggest decisions in his life, sharing life lessons he's learned along the way.

Eric Weddle, former University of Utah and NFL safety, built his career on hard work, resilience, and his personal mantra, "Let's be great today." After 14 seasons with the San Diego Chargers, Baltimore Ravens, and Los Angeles Rams—capped by a stunning Super Bowl LVI victory—Weddle now leads as the head football coach at Rancho Bernardo High School in California. Off the field, he’s a devoted husband, proud father of four, and a mentor who inspires his family and young athletes to pursue greatness with passion and purpose!

Guests:

Eric Weddle- Head Football Coach at Rancho Bernardo High School, former Utah Utes and NFL safety

Chanel Weddle- Eric's wife

Gaige Weddle- Eric's son

Brooklyn Weddle - Eric's daughter

Silver Weddle - Eric's daughter

Kamri Weddle - Eric's daughter

Steve Weddle- Eric's dad

Debbie Weddle- Eric's mom

Sean McVay- Los Angeles Rams Head Coach

Tristan McCoy- Assistant Football Coach at Rancho Bernardo High School

Tony Achille has loved hockey since he started playing at age 3. Even after being diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma at 15, he never stopped playing. In this podcast episode, we share Tony's story of resilience and determination. With the unwavering support of his family, friends, and coaches, Tony achieved his dream of playing college hockey at Arizona State University. Now cancer-free, Tony gives back through his Mission 16 fundraiser, inspiring others with his determination and positivity.

Guests:

Tony Achille- ASU Hockey player

Kelly Achille- Tony’s mom

Bob Achille- Tony’s dad

Ryan Achille- Tony’s brother

Greg Powers- ASU Hockey Coach

Matt Pinchevsky- Jr. Hockey Coach

Tim Lovell- Youth Hockey Coach

Robert Golden lost his passion for playing football after his father's death. So, what would he do next? Teach kids to "Be Golden." This podcast episode highlights how the former Arizona Wildcat started the Golden Charter Academy near his old neighborhood in Fresno, CA. This innovative school, in partnership with the Fresno Chaffee Zoo, focuses on environmental stewardship. Through hands-on learning, Golden empowers students to dream beyond sports and break cycles of poverty.

Guests:

Robert Golden- Founder, President, and CEO of Golden Charter Academy, former Arizona Wildcat Football safety and NFL player

Lechet Golden- Robert’s wife

Rolinda Golden- Robert’s mom

CJ Jones- Founder of Golden Charter Academy

Liana Pellegrino- Principle at Golden Charter Academy

John Dohlin- Zoo Director at Golden Charter Academy

Ed Gonzalez- Senior Consultant, Board Chair for Golden Charter Academy

Most young athletes dream of playing college and professional sports, and Wayne Simien was no exception. He not only played basketball for the Kansas Jayhawks but also achieved the pinnacle of success by winning an NBA championship with the Miami Heat. However, Wayne chose to leave it all behind. In this podcast episode, he shares his journey of faith in Jesus Christ and explains why he decided to give up basketball to spread his beliefs on college campuses across Kansas.

Guests:

Wayne Simien - KU Associate Athletic Director, former KU and NBA basketball player

Ryan Hickman - Pastor at Community Church in Topeka, Kansas

John McDermott - Senior Pastor at Morningstar Church in Lawrence, Kansas

AJ Steward - UCLA Football Coach, former KU running back

When Bill Snyder arrived at Kansas State, the Wildcats were the worst team in college football—winless in 27 straight games. But, through his relentless dedication and a culture built on caring for his players, he led one of the most remarkable turnarounds in sports history. Along the way, Snyder touched the lives of many K-State Football fans through personalized notes. In this podcast episode, Snyder reflects on the Cats revival and hears from fans who received his letters.

Guests:

Bill Snyder - Former KSU Football Head Coach

Ross Snyder - Bill’s son

Wyatt Thompson - Senior Director of Sportscasting, Voice of the Wildcats

After an impressive career at the University of Kansas and in the NFL, Darrell Stuckey faced a career-ending injury that forced him to step away from the game he loved. Instead of dwelling on what was lost, he found a new purpose—using his faith, resilience, and hard-earned wisdom to guide the next generation. Now back at KU as a coach, Stuckey is helping young athletes navigate adversity and strive for success, just as he once did.

Guests:

Darrell Stuckey - KU Director of Football Relations, former KU and NFL Football player

Chris Hughes - KU Assistant Director of Inclusive Excellence, former KU football player

Scott Ward - Director of Peak Performance for Kansas Athletics

Sam Burt- Former KU football player

Fred Snowden, a.k.a. "The Fox," made history as the first African American head basketball coach at a major university, taking the helm at the University of Arizona in 1972. Facing racism, death threats, and countless challenges, Snowden persevered and turned Tucson into a basketball town. His groundbreaking leadership paved the way for future generations of African American coaches, leaving a lasting legacy on and off the court. This podcast episode tells the story of a trailblazer who overcame the odds to change the game forever.

Guests:

Stacey Snowden- Fred's daughter

Bob Elliott- former University of Arizona basketball player

Beverley Elliott- Executive Director, African American Museum of Southern Arizona and Bob's wife

Joe Nehls- former University of Arizona basketball player