Bennett Candland didn't think he was good enough to play college basketball. He got cut from his freshman team, didn't try out sophomore year, barely played junior and senior year, and had exactly zero people looking at him coming out of high school.

So how did he end up playing at Southern Virginia University, serving a mission in Alabama, training Army bomb disposal units, and now working with Air Force Special Warfare operators in Las Vegas?

One conversation at a time. One decision at a time. And one principle he made long before he ever needed it: lean into the gospel, even when you can't see why.

This episode goes deep. Bennett opens up about what it was actually like being an LDS athlete in Maryland and Pennsylvania — where the basketball culture was about as far from gospel standards as you can get, where his social life with teammates was basically nonexistent because of the choices he refused to make, and where he watched those same teammates come to practice still recovering from weekends he wanted no part of.

We talk about his mission to the Deep South, how it turned a shy kid who could barely communicate into someone who now coaches elite military operators and earns their respect in the first five minutes. We talk about SVU, the revenge tour that brought him there, the professor who called him before a test he was about to sleep through, and what it meant to be there when all three Candland brothers were on campus at the same time.

And at the end, Bennett drops some of the most straight-shooting advice this podcast has ever heard — no preachiness, no script, just a guy who's lived it telling you exactly what he wishes someone had told him.

"No one cares about the beginning of the movie. They care about the end. So wherever you're at — start committing to it right now."

🎧 Listen now and share this with a young athlete who needs to hear it.
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#FaithAndAthletics #LeanIntoTheGospel #MissionLife #FaithFamilySports #LDS

This one is special. Jake McMahon is one of my closest friends and his family's conversion story to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one of the most powerful things I've heard in a long time.

It starts with a Catholic family from the Midwest, a mom quietly searching for truth, a dad who refused to answer the door for missionaries, and a fourteen year old boy who walked into the Salt Lake tabernacle and felt something he'd never felt before. One minute. Broken English. A brand new missionary from Peru bearing her testimony to a family who didn't even know what a testimony was.

And that one moment rippled into everything. Baptisms. Missions. Temple sealings. A dad who went from hiding from missionaries to becoming one of the most influential young men leaders his ward has ever seen. Kids who still text Jake's dad to this day because of the impact he had on their lives.

We also get into Jake's mission to Barcelona, what it taught him about discipline and Christ, balancing faith and family with kids, the importance of teaching agency over obligation, disc golf — yes, disc golf — and his single most powerful piece of advice for youth:

Prioritize Christ. In whatever way that looks like for you in that moment. It all works out when you do.

This is exactly the kind of conversation this podcast exists for. Don't miss it.

📲 Share this episode with someone who needs to hear it today.
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#ConversionStory #FaithAndFamily #PrioritizeChrist #FaithFamilySports #LDS

My six year old son buried his head in my chest and cried for fifteen minutes after the US lost to Belgium. He understood exactly what it meant. The question is — did the national team? 😤

Because the face of US soccer sat on that bench with a blank expression. And then in his postgame interview said "I get to go rest now."

Nine years after Taylor Twellman asked "what are we doing" — I'm asking the same question. And I don't think we're any closer to an answer.

In this episode I'm holding nothing back. I'm talking about the lack of heart and emotion from the USMNT after one of the most deflating losses in recent memory. Talking about entitlement — in the national team, in the youth system, in the culture we've built around this game in the United States. I'm talking about paywalls keeping kids from watching the game, rec leagues costing over a hundred dollars, and individual training sessions running two hundred bucks an hour for seven year olds. We're talking about a youth system that is running exactly as intended — and that's the problem.

But there's light too. There are kids like my son A'nue all over this country who are passionate about football in a way that gives me real hope. And this World Cup — for all its controversy — has shown what this game can do when it's played with freedom and joy.

So "what are we doing?" And more importantly — what do we do next?

🎧 Listen, share, and let me know your thoughts — find the rest of the podcast on Instagram @sahdadpodcast🔗 All links at linktr.ee/sahdadmedia

#USMNT #WorldCup #SAHDadPodcast #AmericanSoccer

This one's a conversation I've been looking forward to for a long time. Cort is one of my closest friends and one of the most genuine people I know — and this episode did not disappoint.

We covered a LOT. From the deeply personal — Cort opens up about his decision not to serve a mission, what led to that choice, and how his faith has continued to grow in a way that works for HIM — to the everyday chaos of raising multi-sport kids while trying to keep faith and family at the center of it all.

Cort and his wife Autum have figured out something that I think a lot of families are quietly searching for: how do you honor the Sabbath when your kids have tournaments? How do you let your kids explore every sport they love without burning them out? And how do you stay grounded in your faith when life is pulling you in twelve directions at once?

Their answer? Make Sunday feel different. Rotate who picks dinner. Watch a movie together. Talk in the car on the way to the game. Simple things that add up to something real.

We also talk about Southern Virginia University, getting out of your comfort zone, why multi-sport athletes are almost always better athletes, and how Cort's son went from watching hockey on TV one night to dragging the whole family onto the ice — including Cort, who broke his jaw learning to skate. 🏒

And at the end, Cort drops some of the most straightforward and powerful advice I've heard on this podcast: find what YOU believe, follow it, and the rest will fall into place.

If you've got kids in sports and you're trying to figure out how faith fits into all of it — this one's for you.

🎧 New episodes every week | Faith. Family. Sports.
📲 Follow us @sahdadpodcast
🔗 linktr.ee/sahdadmedia

#SAHDadPodcast #FaithFamilySports #FaithAndAthletics #MultiSportAthletes #ParentingAndFaith

This World Cup has been one of the most exciting I can remember — but it's also reminded me of something bigger than the scoreline.

We see twenty-six of the best footballers in the world on every roster and it's easy to forget they're human beings outside of the 90 minutes.

Christian Eriksen's second cardiac arrest just before this tournament was a gut check for that — a reminder that these athletes carry real fears, real conditions, real faith, while still showing up to do what they love.

In this episode, I'm tying together threads from a few of my favorite guest conversations — work ethic, humanity off the pitch, and finding joy in the journey — and connecting them to what I'm seeing play out on the World Cup stage right now.

I also open up about where this podcast is headed: from a show built around helping youth athletes with recruiting journeys, into something bigger — real conversations about faith, athletics, and mental health, and how those pieces are meant to work together, not against each other.

If you're a parent, an athlete, or just someone trying to figure out how faith fits into the rest of your life, I think this episode will resonate.

💬 Drop a comment — what's a moment from this World Cup that reminded you these athletes are human too?

#WorldCup #FaithAndSports #SAHDadPodcast #MentalHealthAwareness #ChristianEriksen #USMNT #FaithFamilySports

Unlock Joy in the Journey: Transform Your Life with Logan and Joe!

Most people overlook one of the most powerful keys to living a fulfilled life — learning to find joy in the journey, even amidst uncertainty and change. Logan and Joe dive deep into the importance of reevaluating your beliefs, passions, and purpose, especially during life's toughest moments, and how doing so unlocks greater happiness and clarity.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone feeling lost, overwhelmed, or stuck in routine — whether you’re questioning your faith, balancing athletic pursuits with faith, or navigating a quarter-life crisis.

Logan shares his transformative experience of stepping back from church to rebuild his relationship with God on his terms and how it completely shifted his perspective on love, worthiness, and authenticity.

We break down tangible tactics for cultivating resilience, such as embracing imperfection, living in the present, and finding joy in small wins each day. Logan opens up about confronting mental health struggles, the power of therapy, and shifting focus inward to realign with your core values. You’ll discover his unique approach to balancing career, fitness, and faith, and his insights on how movement and wellness can serve as anchors during turbulent times.

Why does this matter? Because life's unpredictable turns demand a mindset that’s rooted in self-awareness, purpose, and joy. Whether you’re a young athlete, a college student, or a seasoned adult rethinking your path — this episode will inspire you to reframe struggles as opportunities for growth and to embrace the ongoing journey of becoming your best self.

Tune in if you're ready to challenge assumptions, prioritize inner peace, and build a resilient mindset rooted in love and authenticity. Logan's story is a reminder that the most meaningful growth often begins where fear or doubt once resided. This is essential listening for anyone committed to aligning their life with purpose and finding happiness along the way.

🎧 Listen now and start your journey of self-discovery!

Wyatt Burrows is an assistant coach at Eastern Kentucky University and with the Samoan U17 Women's National Team. In this episode, we dig into his non-traditional road into coaching, the role of faith in his career, analytics vs. feel-based coaching, building culture at every level, and how he thinks about coaching women vs. men.

Timestamps:

• 00:18 — Intro
• 01:21 — Wyatt's current roles at EKU & Samoa U17
• 02:30 — A non-traditional background: rugby, no soccer pedigree
• 04:39 — Dropping out of school & jumping up the ladder fast
• 05:49 — School vs. career: the debate for young coaches
• 07:28 — Why analytics? Coaching without having played
• 09:37 — The power of being willing to be wrong
• 10:42 — Embracing discomfort as the key to growth
• 15:26 — Faith, humility, and how religion shapes his coaching
• 18:52 — Sleeping in his car & trusting God provides
• 20:37 — Biggest similarities & differences across coaching levels
• 23:34 — Why culture looks the same from U13 to professional
• 24:05 — Favorite coaching environment: why international wins
• 26:47 — How EKU builds culture with a 4-person staff
• 29:35 — Coaching women vs. men: what actually changes
• 30:12 — Mental health in collegiate athletics
• 32:24 — The psychology of tone when coaching women
• 36:53 — Five years, countless experiences — hectic but fulfilling
• 38:45 — When the grind has to give way to real life
• 39:57 — US Soccer World Cup roster reaction: Diego Luna & Tanner Tessmann
• 44:22 — One piece of advice for the next generation

US World Cup Roster Breakdown — My Honest Thoughts |

The US Men's National Team World Cup roster is officially out and I'm breaking it all down — the good, the bad, and the controversial. From Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie's strong cases to make noise in the tournament, to a backline that has me genuinely worried, I'm sharing my unfiltered takes.

In this episode:

0:00 Intro

2:34 Starting with the positives

3:05 Christian Pulisic breakdown

4:12 Balogun, Haji Wright & the front line

6:22 Why Weston McKinney is our best player heading into this World Cup

9:03 Backline concerns

12:49 Goalkeepers

14:23 Hot take: Tyler Adams as a single six makes me nervous

16:00 Where is Diego Luna? Why I think he got done dirty

18:17 My BIGGEST beef: Where is Tanner Tessman??

20:31 The Yunus Musah conversation nobody's having

21:41 My predicted starting eleven

Drop your thoughts in the comments — I want to hear who YOU think should start and whether you agree with any of these takes. This is gonna be a fun World Cup. 🏆

#usmnt #ussoccer #2026worldcup #soccerthoughts #rosterbreakdowns

What does it really take to balance faith, family, and coaching at the highest level?

Here's a behind-the-scenes look at Payden Pemberton’s journey.

Drop a 🙌 if you’re about that balancing act or tag a coach or athlete who needs to hear this!

Growing up in Utah, Payden shares how his faith and love for soccer shaped his path, but how he also faced and overcame challenges balancing it all. From childhood competitions with his brothers to overseas soccer adventures in Australia, his stories reveal that resilience, faith, and support systems are key to thriving in both sports and life.

He emphasizes that success is rooted in impact and follows a family motto: "Do good and be very good at what you do".

Whether coaching a top NCAA DIII program or navigating personal growth, his approach is about intentionality and continual review.

What are your biggest challenges balancing passion and purpose? Drop your thoughts below. 🤔

Maybe this inspires your next step, whether in sport, faith, or both!

If you would like to contact Payden, feel free to email him!

[email protected]

#balanceinlife #faithandfootball #growthmindset #coachingjourney #impactfulliving

Just a few quick thoughts I had while at church today.

Have you ever felt like you're in your own "wandering in the desert" phase? Do you feel like you are right now??

I know that each of us will go through those moments but that's the key isn't it, we will GO THROUGH them. Those moments don't define our story, they don't define who we are.

Learn to keep going. Don't ever let your desert get the best of you and keep going until you find your promised land.

Much love!

PEACE!