Big Stories

2024 was a remarkable year for Kyle and Landon Bono. The father-son duo led their baseball team to victory, clinching the Little League World Series trophy after defeating Chinese Taipei. The Bono name is synonymous with baseball. From Mike and Sheila Bono’s early days as a “baseball couple” to their twin sons, Kyle and Ryan, playing for the UCF Knights, baseball has shaped every aspect of their lives. For some, it’s just a game. For the Bono family, it’s a way of life.

Guests:

Kyle Bono- Former UCF and professional baseball player

Ryan Bono- Former UCF baseball player

Sarah Bono- Kyle's wife

Landon Bono- Kyle and Sarah's son

Mike Bono- Dad

Sheila Bono- Mom

Kim Bono Kintner- Sister and daughter

Mickey Bono- Brother and son

Rich Wallace- UCF Baseball Head Coach

Payton Washington, a standout member of Baylor University's Acrobatics and Tumbling squad, is known for her breathtaking performances and fierce competitive spirit. Her journey is nothing short of miraculous. Just months before moving to Waco, Payton survived a life-threatening shooting that left her with severe injuries. Despite the odds, she made a remarkable recovery, leading her team to a national championship and becoming a beacon of inspiration.

Guests:

Payton Washington: Member of Baylor’s Acrobatics and Tumbling Team

Felicia Mulkey: Baylor Acrobatics and Tumbling Head Coach

Keyona Huebel: Payton’s best friend and former teammate

Oscar Robertson was the consummate, all-around basketball player, but he was much more than a guy known as Mr. Triple-Double. In this episode of the Big Stories podcast, Robertson and others share the lessons Oscar learned in childhood, including receiving his first basketball from his mother and how "The Big O" was a changemaker even though he was quiet and shy.

Guests:

Oscar Robertson - Former Cincinnati and NBA Basketball player

Mari Robertson - Oscar's daughter

Julian Gibson - Robertson family friend, part of team Oscar Robertson

Tay Baker - Former Cincinnati Assistant Basketball coach.

Carl Bouldin - Former Cincinnati Basketball player

Assane Diop compares his journey to play basketball at the University of Colorado as a seed growing in foreign soil. It all started with his father pushing him to play basketball as a pre-teen. So how did this Senegalese seed end up in the Rocky Mountains? In this Big Stories podcast episode, Diop recounts how Greg and Denise Willis made him an offer he could not refuse and how he excelled in the classroom and the basketball court to end up with the Buffaloes Basketball team.

Guests:

Assane Diop - University of Colorado Basketball player

Greg and Denise Willis - Assane's U.S. Legal Guardians

Tad Boyle - University of Colorado head basketball coach

Steve Englehart - University of Colorado strength coach

Grady Whitt - University of Colorado basketball player

According to University of Utah president Taylor Randall, the university is built on three pillars: inspire, innovate, and serve. In this episode, we share the journeys of two individuals who embody these values. Adrian Portillo overcame bone cancer as a freshman and, with no family history of higher education, pursued his dream of becoming a doctor. Abe Bakhsheshy, an immigrant from Iran who lost both parents to violence, dedicated his life to teaching ethics and leading with integrity.

Guests:

Taylor Randall - President, University of Utah

Abe Bakhsheshy - Ethics Professor, David Eccles School of Business

Adrian Portillo - Medical Student, Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine

Taylor Roe is one of the most decorated athletes in Oklahoma State Track & Field's history. A fierce competitor on the track, Taylor’s journey was shaped by overcoming self-doubt, anxieties, and emotional hurdles leading up to race day. From pre-race tears to triumphant finishes, Taylor’s story is a compelling look at elite athletes' mental and emotional challenges.

Guests:

Taylor Roe - Former Oklahoma State University Track and Field athlete

Jennifer Roe - Taylor's mom

T Roe- Taylor's dad

Dave Smith - Oklahoma State Track and Field and Cross Country Head Coach

When JJ Van Niel became the head coach of Arizona State women’s volleyball, the program was in a tough spot—coming off three straight losing seasons and dealing with a depleted roster. How Van Niel helped turn the Sun Devils around is not quite as remarkable as how he transformed himself from working in the world of high finance to becoming a head volleyball coach. It's an episode you don't want to miss.

Guests:

JJ Van Niel- ASU Volleyball Head Coach

Mary Shroll- ASU Volleyball Libero

Geli Cyr- ASU Volleyball Outside Hitter

Maddie McLaughlin- Former ASU volleyball player

Big Stories will have more great tales from the Big 12 coming up on January 6th. We will chronicle the Arizona State women's volleyball coach who left the high world of finance to coach his favorite game, the University of Arizona basketball coach who became the first African-American coach at a major university, the former Kansas basketball player who quit professional basketball to bring people to God, and so many more great tales.

Noah Guzman, a defensive back for the University of Houston, has taken the meaning of “early riser” to a whole new level. Noah’s morning starts at 4:30 a.m. with cold water splashes, a book on self-improvement, and a quiet moment of reflection. But don’t let the calm fool you—he’s an intense competitor who’s overcome serious challenges to play the game he loves. In this podcast episode, Noah shows that hard work, resilience, and a little faith led to one last chance to play college football for the Houston Cougars

Guests:

Noah Guzman - Houston Football Defensive Back

Yvette Guzman - Noah’s mom

George Guzman - Noah’s dad

Kevin McAdam - Houston Assistant Strength Coach

Joseph Manjack - Houston Wide Receiver

Donovan Smith - Houston Quarterback

Jamal Morris - Houston Linebacker

Maddie McLaughlin dreamed of playing at the highest level as a young girl. A debilitating battle with Lyme disease in high school almost crushed that dream. In this podcast episode, Maddie recounts how she returned to full health and defied all odds by playing at Arizona State University and then professionally.

Guests:

Maddie McLaughlin - former ASU volleyball player, professional volleyball athlete

Peter McLaughlin - Maddie's Father

Mary McLaughlin - Maddie's Mother

JJ Van Niel - ASU Volleyball Head Coach

Amy Pauly - Orlando Valkyries Head Coach

Geli Cyr - ASU Volleyball player

Carly Graham - Former Orlando Valkyries Teammate

Jill Gillen - Former Orlando Valkyries Teammate