HONOR RADIO: Episode #034
Guests: Joe Kennedy  – Author ‘Average Joe’ (USMC ret.)
Jeremy Dys – Senior Counsel – FirstLiberty.org

HONOR RADIO: Coach Joe Kennedy & Jeremy Dys

This podcast will tell the story of how Joe Kennedy, a USMC 20-year veteran and a high school football coach has provided millions of Americans more religious liberty in more than a half century.

In 2008, the newly minted Coach Kennedy committed to God that he would give thanks after every game – win or lose – for the opportunity to be a football coach and for his players. It was soon after this and after retaining his attorneys who specialize in religious First Amendment rights to free speech cases called, FirstLiberty.org. They asked the school to make a religious accommodation and we first became acquainted with Coach Kennedy.

His story went viral and weeks later Coach Kennedy was terminated days before the final varsity game. Coach Kennedy would file a charge of religious discrimination with the Bremerton School District, and this is what started the 8-year battle that took this discrimination and First Amendment case to the Supreme Court. In 2022, It upheld his right to take a knee in quiet, solitary prayer after games. But this wasn’t only a victory for one coach in Washington state. It has a nationwide impact on public-school teachers, employees, and coaches, who are now free to live out their faith in public. This win overturned a prior ruling that harmed religious freedom for decades and set a major precedent for our First Freedom moving forward.

We followed this case to the Supreme Court winning gavel and had Coach Kennedy on our HONOR RADIO podcast back in 2018. We decided it was time to catch up with Coach Kennedy and it was awesome that he invited his First Liberty attorney, Jeremy Dys on this powerful podcast.
Turn it up and if need be, get your notepads handy. This podcast is going to fire you up!

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HONOR RADIO: Episode #033
Guest: Sgt. Marcus Chischilly (USMC ret.)
GySgt. Freddy Torres (USMC

HONOR RADIO #33

HONOR RADIO – Marcus Chischilly & Freddy Torres  |  USMC 3rd Battalion 5th Marines | Friends of The Honor Bowl

It brings us great pride to welcome these two great Marines and dear friends to Honor Radio. Welcome US Marines, Gunnery Sgt. Freddy Torres (active) and Sgt. Marcus Chischilly (ret.). Both served under the 3rd Battalion/5th Marines, and both received Purple Hearts from wounds they suffered while in combat. Freddy suffering a gunshot wound to his right leg that hit his femoral artery which caused him to almost bleed out on the battlefield. He underwent multiple surgeries with doctors telling him he would never walk again. He would prove them wrong.

We also introduce Sgt Marcus Chischilly who is from Navajo Indian ancestry. As a rifleman Marcus was wounded by an IED blast two weeks into his deployment. The blast would take his right leg and left him with severe injuries to his left leg and arm.  Both Marines would struggle with recovery but would find healing in a life of ongoing service, family, and faith.

We invited these two inspirational warriors on the podcast because their stories are more than compelling and inspirational. Also, for the past ten years these two Marines have inspired thousands of athletes, coaches, and community by being our keynote speakers during The Honor Bowl Football Showcases pregame locker room Moto Talks. Over the years that we have been performing the Honor Bowl and these two have been visiting our locker rooms we have had hundreds of coaches and athletes tell us that the stories of sacrifice, brotherhood, and commitment that they hear from these two individuals is easily the most powerful speeches they have ever heard in any locker room setting before.

We are honored to have Freddy and Marcus on our show today. Please join us as we listen to their inspiring stories of resilience, recovery, and the future.

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HONOR RADIO: Episode #032
Guest: Jordan Stevenson
US Navy (ret.) Author: Unstoppable
https://headshotjordan.com/

HONOR RADIO #32

HONOR RADIO – JORDAN STEVENSON “UNSTOPPABLE”: In honor of Veterans Day weekend, we taped a podcast with our dear friend and warrior, US Navy (Ret), Jordan Stevenson. His story will have you sitting on the edge of your seat and completely captivated. Jordan was a Navy EOD Tech and was seriously wounded by being shot in the head while deployed in Afghanistan. Jordan is a walking miracle and shares his lengthy battle with recovery. Listen as he describes awakening from a medically induced coma for the first time completely alone, learning to speak and walk again, the loss of his leg and the phantom pain this created, the pain of addiction, the suicide of his friend and military commander, to now living a life as a respected motivational speaker, author, and using his platform to educate military veterans about suicide awareness. You will love this episode of Honor Radio.

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HONOR RADIO: Episode #031
Guest: Gretchen Catherwood
Darkhorse Lodge
https://www.darkhorselodge.org 

HONOR RADIO #31

Gretchen Catherwood: Co-Founder Darkhorse Lodge

This podcast is one of the most powerful we have ever done. Meet Gretchen Catherwood, co-founder of Darkhorse Lodge. A peaceful retreat in eastern Tennessee for combat veterans from all branches of service. We talked and remembered with Gretchen as she told the story of her son, Alec Catherwood who was killed in action, and how she and her husband produced the idea of the lodge. Gretchen is a great woman of passion, character, and strength. We have been following her story for 13/yrs. and it was great to get caught up with her and hear about the grand opening of the lodge and what more is to come. Statistics from the Department of Defense say that we’re losing 22 veterans a day to suicide. We hope this podcast inspires you and please share with loved ones from any walk of service who may need a place to go to reunite, bond, heal, and find peace again.

Special tribute for Carlos Gonzalez – USMC Special friend

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HONOR RADIO: Episode #029
Guest: Lance Von Vogt
VP Athletics
Jessup University

HONOR RADIO #29

Lance Von Vogt – VP Athletics
Jessup University

Coach Von Vogt has been a friend of Honor Radio for many years. Recently we talked with Coach V about his story as a highly respected championship basketball coach and Athletic Director. Lance’s life has been full of ups and downs but his story of perseverance through tough times will inspire you. Recently, Lance took over the role of VP of Athletics at Jessup University and has personally overseen the university’s athletic program expansion from the highly recognized NAIA to the vaulted and respected NCAA. As the university continues to expand its athletic program it’s because of this man’s hard work and leadership. Lance is a man of great passion, enthusiasm, and a strong man of faith. We hope this interview inspires you.

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HONOR RADIO: Episode #030
Guests: Steven Silva & Rudy Schmoke
Professional Photographers
MaxPreps | Scorebooklive.com

HONOR RADIO EPISODE 30

Steven Silva & Rudy Schmoke – CBS MaxPreps Photographers:

Over the years and since the creation of The Honor Bowl we have been blessed to have our games photographed by some of the best sports photographers in the game. These professionals use their lens to capture the action and tell the story, and for the Honor Bowl they capture the backstage meaning of The Honor Bowl. In our opinion, Steve and Rudy are two of the best in the business. Every year they attend the Honor Bowl and in this episode, you will learn why. Many times, the photographers go unnoticed, but not to us. We value these men and want you to have a chance to meet them. Enjoy!

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HONOR RADIO: Episode #028
Guests: Mitch Stevens
Senior Editor
Scorebooklive.com

HONOR RADIO EPISODE 28

Mitch Stephens is an award-winning sportswriter and columnist. He spent 16 years in the Bay Area Newspaper Group and several years as a freelancer before landing as The San Francisco Chronicles prep editor in 2002. In 2007 he accepted a national columnist post with CBS/MaxPreps.com and the following year took on both the MaxPreps and Chronicle roles. In 2023, Mitch became the Senior Editor for Scorebook Live.

Mitch has been a friend of The Honor Group nonprofit’s start and The Honor Bowl HSFB showcase creation. He is a humble man of great character, and you will witness this on this podcast. We dove deep into speaking to Mitch and you will enjoy the conversations. You will see and hear not only Mitch’s thoughts about the changing landscape of high school sports. But you will also learn more about what helped Mitch get his start as a sportswriter years ago, and how he supported and honored his older sister, Cally Ann’s death from cancer. This man is a legend, and we were honored that Mitch opened his life to us and our audience.

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HONOR RADIO: Episode #028
Guests: Matt Logan
Head Football Coach
Centennial High School | Corona, CA

HONOR RADIO (EPISODE 28)

This is a compelling podcast featuring, Coach Matt Logan.  Coach Logan is the Head Football coach of the Centennial Huskies out of Corona Ca. In our humble opinion, this school’s high school football program is arguably one of the best “public” school football programs in all of America. When we first met Coach Logan back in 2013, he was still hurting from the tragic death of his wife, Donna from breast cancer in 2007. She sadly left him with three daughters. Soon after this untimely death we became acquainted with Coach Logan and came to love the man and how he managed a successful football program while also raising three teenage daughters. Coach Logan is a patriot, a family man, and a loyal leader. When he heard of The Honor Bowl he wanted his team in the showcase and we found an opponent for him. Since then, under his steady leadership, the Centennial program remains consistently at the top of annual nationwide football polls. The man is a born leader, father, (new) husband, and an amazing football coach. Please listen to this compelling podcast as we discuss life, love, and of course, football.

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HONOR RADIO: Episode #025
Memorial Day
Host: Mark Soto
Kevin Graves
Hope Ramirez
Patty Schumacher

Here is a chance to listen to three Gold Star parents, who share the grief of raising a son and having each give the ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedoms. Freedom is not free. Memorial Day is the ONE day that America gives respect to those who have died in war. Yes, BBQs and family times are special, but remember those who have given us liberty as Americans. Kevin Graves, Discovery Bay Father of Army Spc. Joseph Graves, Hope Ramirez, Sacramento. Mother of Army Spc. Ray A Ramirez. Patty Schumacher, Mother of USMC LCpl Victor Dew

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HONOR RADIO: Episode #026
History of The Honor Bowl
Host: Jim McCue – SportStar Magazine
Mark ‘Coach’ Soto
Rick Sutter
Coach Casey Taylor

Listen to a stroll down memory lane as Mark ‘Coach’ Soto, Head Coach Casey Taylor and Rick Sutter talk about the History of The Honor Bowl – America’s finest High School Football Showcase. Since 2010, this event has had over 210 teams from 15 states experience why The Honor Bowl is ‘more than just a football game!’ Jim McCue from SportStar Magazine hosts this audio-only podcast to revisit an article he penned back in 2012 to talk about key moments since the first games were played back in 2010.

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