Six months before the crash that would end his driving career, Darrell Gwynn chose a charity for his sponsor to support and personally put the decal on his race car. He had no idea that, less than a year later, that same organization would help save his life.

A Top Fuel legend with 18 Top Fuel wins, 28 NHRA national event victories, nine Top Fuel records and a place among the 50 greatest drivers in NHRA history, Darrell Gwynn’s story starts long before the trophies.

On this episode of Sons & Daughters, we go back to the beginning. Darrell talks about learning to drive his dad Jerry’s ill-handling dragster at just seven years old, road trips to questionable tracks across the South, and the father-son partnership that meant Jerry was there for every single one of Darrell’s runs down the quarter mile.

We get into Darrell’s incredible 1990 season, which was shaping up to be his championship year, the exhibition run in England that changed everything, and the unbelievable chain of events that unfolded while Darrell was still in the hospital.

But this story doesn’t end with the crash.

Darrell opens up about finding a new purpose outside the driver’s seat, the second act he built for himself, and the people who helped him get there. He also shares the story behind his new photo book, Fortunate Son: My Life in Photos, releasing September 4.

This is a story about drag racing, but at its heart, it’s about a father and son, an unimaginable turning point, and finding a way forward when the life you knew changes forever.

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Colin Cowherd knew he wanted to be a sportscaster at 7 years old.

Growing up in Grayland, Washington, population 847, Colin’s mom gave him a tape recorder, and he started taking it to Mariners, Seahawks and Washington Huskies games to practice calling the action. That childhood obsession eventually became a career that took him from an AMC Pacer and a baseball convention in San Diego to the Radio Hall of Fame and, eventually, building The Volume, the media company he owns today.

On this episode of Sons & Daughters, Colin talks about the moments that shaped his career, including advice from a stranger at a casino bar that he still remembers 40 years later, leaving ESPN, his biggest fear on the air, and why being unprepared scared him more than being wrong.

He also opens up about his health scare, his approach to hiring, and what he’d tell the 7-year-old kid who first picked up that tape recorder.

It’s a conversation about knowing what you want early, staying ready when the opportunity comes, and building something that’s truly your own.

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Leah Pruett’s racing career is full of moments that started with a little bit of fear, a lot of uncertainty, and a decision to say yes anyway.

When Leah posted that she was stepping away from racing to finish school, someone commented and offered her a ride in a Pro Mod. She was terrified, but said yes. That one unexpected opportunity helped put her on a path to the NHRA’s Top Fuel ranks.

Years later, burnout forced Leah to step back and reevaluate everything. Her crew chiefs and sponsors needed a change, and she did too. What could have been the end of one chapter instead became part of the story behind Tony Stewart Racing Nitro.

Leah gets candid about becoming a mom, what it was like to step away from the car, and the importance of having a plan for when she was ready to come back. She also opens up about Tony Stewart’s role throughout it all and how he supported her without ever making her feel like she had to choose between racing and starting a family.

Host Shannon Spake sits down with 13-time Top Fuel winner and 19-time NHRA race winner Leah Pruett for a conversation about burnout, motherhood, ambition, and the unexpected moments that can completely change the direction of your life.

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Some names are synonymous with generational talent all across sports — Griffey, Earnhardt, Curry — and there's no denying that our guest today belongs in that elite list. Brittany Force comes from a line of racers and continues to blaze paths throughout her career, following in the footsteps of her father, John Force.

Recently, the first female to break the 340mph barrier has stepped away from racing to pursue starting a family. She discusses the difficulties of making the decision with Shannon, and how it's different from how men in the sport balance both their career and being a father. Being a mother of twins, Shannon provides insight into how being a mother in the sports industry is a superpower.

What we learn about Brittany is that, though her father is the legendary John Force, her dreams were not always to be a racer. She actually started racing much later than most do, after chasing the dream of wanting to be an English teacher ... talk about a complete 180. 

So how does Brittany Force, a sister, daughter, and wife, go from wanting to work in a school setting to setting speed records? That's what we aim to learn today on Sons & Daughters.

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In sports, we often see the athletes as heroes, titans, and giants amongst regular people -- especially in the case of 7'0" Kentucky Basketball standout and former NBA player, Willie Cauley-Stein. But what we don't often see is the adversity that all these men and women face off the court, field, or track. And Willie's story is no different.

The path that brought Willie from high school football star to becoming a basketball standout may have looked like climbing a mountain to some, but there was a secret shadow lurking on the trail he was blazing. 

Willie recently publicly opened up about his battle with drug addiction and why he felt now was the time to be vulnerable about his past. Shannon Spake, who once covered Kentucky's Men's Basketball team where she met our guest, dives into his story of rising to the pressure of one of the greatest sports institutions in college athletics, his sobriety story, and the last words his grandma spoke to him that changed his life for good.

How did Willie Cauley-Stein, a kid from a town of less than 800, become a basketball phenom, and with a heart to match his stature? Find out with us on today's episode of Sons & Daughters.

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Mitch Covington’s path to Monster Energy was anything but traditional.

Before becoming the Chief Partnership Officer behind deals with athletes like Tiger Woods, Lewis Hamilton, Rob Gronkowski, Ronda Rousey, and Kurt Busch, Mitch was chasing a dream of becoming an Air Force fighter pilot, rebuilding after failure, and eventually finding his way into the world of motorsports.

On this episode of Sons and Daughters, Mitch shares the unbelievable stories behind his journey: the mistake that ended his pilot career, becoming an accidental motocross dad, helping build Monster Energy’s racing empire, jumping into the ocean to save a phone with Michael Jordan’s number, and how Monster made history with its groundbreaking Big 12 naming rights deal.

It’s a story about taking unexpected turns, turning setbacks into opportunities, and how a kid from Vernon, Alabama became one of the most influential people in sports marketing.

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Before Maddi Gordon became one of NHRA's fastest-rising stars, she watched her dad survive one of the scariest crashes of his career. That moment changed everything.

Maddi joins Shannon Spake to share the story behind her journey from working on her family's Funny Car as a crew member to winning in Top Fuel. She talks about the crash that delayed her own racing career, how her family discovered what caused it, and why those lessons made the entire class safer. She also shares how COVID unexpectedly changed the direction of her life, why she never believed Top Fuel was actually possible, and what it meant when Ron Capps called with an opportunity she never saw coming.

From wrenching on race cars with her sister to becoming one of the newest faces of NHRA, Maddi's story is about far more than driving fast. It's about family, hard work, earning every opportunity, and proving that the path to the driver's seat isn't always a straight line.

If you're a fan of NHRA, drag racing, motorsports, or stories about perseverance, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

For more content head to our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@sonsanddaughterspod

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From a small-town kid in Kannapolis, North Carolina, dreaming of becoming a pilot to a country artist chasing his dreams in Nashville, Kameron Marlowe’s journey is filled with hard work, heartbreak, and a few life-changing “small miracles.”

On this episode of Sons & Daughters, Shannon Spake sits down with Kameron to talk about the moments that shaped him, from growing up in a hardworking family and finding his voice through songwriting to the phone call that changed everything when he was discovered for The Voice. Kameron opens up about his love for sad songs, turning personal experiences into music, and how heartbreak, family struggles, and self-doubt have influenced the artist he is today.

Kameron also shares stories from his path to Nashville, the teachers and mentors who believed in him early on, the sacrifices his family made along the way, and the unexpected moments that helped push his career forward. From leaving everything behind to chase his dream in Music City to learning how to navigate the highs and lows of the music industry, Kameron reflects on what it took to build a career while staying grounded.

Plus, Kameron talks about his new music, finding inspiration in his marriage, the lessons he’s learned through the toughest moments of his career, and the people who helped him become the person and artist he is today.

For more content head to our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@sonsanddaughterspod

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Sophie Cunningham has always been someone who embraces exactly who she is. In this episode of Sons & Daughters, Shannon Spake sits down with the Indiana Fever guard to talk about the journey that brought her from growing up on a Missouri farm to becoming one of the WNBA’s most recognizable personalities. Sophie opens up about the viral finger-pointing moment that recently took over social media, what was really happening on the court, and why she’ll always stand by being true to herself.

Sophie shares what it’s been like joining the Indiana Fever, playing alongside Caitlin Clark, and navigating a level of attention unlike anything she’s experienced before. She talks about dealing with criticism, finding confidence in who she is, and why she’s never been afraid to speak up for herself or the people around her.

But this conversation goes far beyond basketball. Sophie reflects on the family that shaped her, the lessons she learned growing up on a Missouri farm, the challenges that changed her perspective, and the faith that keeps her grounded. From her early days chasing a dream to becoming one of the WNBA’s most talked-about players, this episode reveals the person behind the jersey and the story that made Sophie Cunningham who she is today.

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Darius Slay joins Shannon Spake for one of his most honest and emotional conversations yet. Before he became a Super Bowl champion, six-time Pro Bowler, two-time All-Pro, and one of the NFL's most respected cornerbacks, Slay was a kid from Brunswick, Georgia, trying to beat the odds.

In this episode, he opens up about growing up surrounded by violence, being raised by his grandmother, the reality of his mother having him at just 13 years old, becoming a father himself at just 15 years old, and the coach who convinced him he had what it took to make it to the NFL.

Slay shares how his son completely changed the course of his life, why he believes fatherhood saved him, and the lessons he learned on his journey from junior college to Mississippi State and eventually to a 13-year NFL career. He also reflects on his decision to retire, why it was important to walk away on his own terms, his favorite memories from the NFL, and why he's ready to dedicate this next chapter of life to his family.

This is the story behind the football player, the husband, the father, and the man known as Big Play Slay.

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