A powerful conversation with therapist Ngozi Ashibuogwu on faith, mental health, trauma, and the path to true healing.
 We explore how our beliefs shape our healing journey and why intentional vulnerability matters.
 This episode offers practical tools, hope, and encouragement for anyone seeking emotional or spiritual restoration. 

In this powerful episode of The Sam Acho Podcast, Lamorris Crawford shares his remarkable journey from growing up in the rough streets of Chicago to serving as the team chaplain for the Carolina Panthers. Through his story, Lamorris reveals how faith, identity, and purpose shaped his life and marriage  and how they continue to guide him in the world of professional sports.
He opens up about the challenges of high divorce rates among athletes, the dangers of finding identity in performance, and what it really means to “deflect the glory” back to God. Lamorris and Sam dive deep into conversations on parenting, overcoming adversity, and finding strength through community and faith including Lamorris’s inspiring account of walking alongside his wife through her battle with MS.
Whether you’re an athlete, a parent, or simply navigating life’s challenges, this episode reminds you that true fulfillment comes not from what you do, but from who you are in Christ.

Key Topics:
Faith and identity beyond performance

Marriage and spiritual grounding in sports

Overcoming adversity and the power of community

Parenting, purpose, and protecting what matters most

Living a life that deflects glory back to God

ESPN’s own Dave Pasch opens up like never before from calling some of the biggest games in sports to discovering something far greater off the field. 

He shares his powerful journey from not believing in Jesus to finding unshakable faith, and the moment everything changed. 

Dave also reflects on his time at ESPN, the lessons learned from his closest friend and colleague, and the beautiful memories that still live on  even after loss

In this episode of The Sam Acho  Podcast, Sam and Clif dive deep into what’s been happening in their lives lately.

Sam shares about his recent experiences, his ongoing philanthropy work in Nigeria through Mission Hope, and how he’s seen the goodness of God in every season.

Clif opens up about his new role as Director with D1 Training, his passion for developing athletes, and how faith continues to guide him through new opportunities.

Together, they talk faith, family, football, and finance — and celebrate the power of purpose and gratitude.

✨ Topics Covered:

• Mission Hope in Nigeria and serving others
• Faith and gratitude through transitions
• D1 Training and empowering athletes
• Seeing God’s goodness in everyday life

🎧 Listen, share, and join the conversation with the Sam Acho community!

#Faith #Family #Football #Finance #MissionHope #Podcast #SamAcho #D1Training

Join Sam Acho and Clif Marshall as they sit down with ESPN anchor Jay Harris for an honest conversation about career, family, cancer and faith. Jay opens up about his unconventional path to ESPN, the lessons learned facing prostate cancer, and how he's chosen family moments over professional ambition. With stories from the newsroom and reflections on the legacy of Stuart Scott, this episode delivers hard-earned wisdom, humor, and the kind of real talk that resonates beyond sports. If you’ve ever wrestled with work-life balance, resilience, or the pursuit of purpose, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

Connect with Jay

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jay-harris-jayharrisespn
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayharrisespn/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jayharrisespn/
• X: https://x.com/jayharrisespn/

Connect with Sam 

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thesamacho
• X: https://x.com/thesamacho
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesamacho/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesamacho/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSamAchoPodcast

Book Sam to speak at your event - https://www.samacho.com/speaking

Read Sam's books
Let the World See You - https://www.samacho.com/resources/let-the-world-see-you
Change Starts With You - https://www.samacho.com/resources/change-starts-with-you

Chapters
(00:00) Jay Harris and the Journey to ESPN
(04:43) Saying Yes to Change and Overcoming Doubt
(06:44) Navigating Nerves and Live Television
(09:48) Advice to the Younger Self
(11:40) Facing Cancer and Finding Strength
(18:19) Covering Impactful Moments in Sports
(21:51) Daily Challenges and Embracing Real Life
(24:03) Remembering Stuart Scott’s Legacy
(28:21) Balancing Family and Career
(32:04) Defining True Success and Making Hard Choices
(34:50) Gratitude, Mentorship, and Ongoing Growth

In this episode, Sam Acho and co-host Cliff Marshall sit down with Ed Schilling, Pepperdine University's head basketball coach and seasoned mentor. Coach Schilling opens up about building a culture of faith, navigating tough transitions like being let go from prominent coaching roles, and the importance of keeping family at the center. He shares powerful stories from his career, including his time coaching Kobe Bryant and the lessons drawn from working alongside icons like John Calipari. Tune in for an honest look at leadership, resilience, and the daily habits that anchor success both on and off the court.

Follow Coach Schilling

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ed-schilling-646a577
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachedschilling/
• X: https://x.com/coachschilling

Connect with Sam 

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thesamacho
• X: https://x.com/thesamacho
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesamacho/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesamacho/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSamAchoPodcast

Book Sam to speak at your event: https://www.samacho.com/speaking

Read Sam's books 

• Let the World See You: https://www.samacho.com/resources/let-the-world-see-you
• Change Starts With You: https://www.samacho.com/resources/change-starts-with-you

Chapter Outline
(00:00) Humility and Coaching Influences
(04:18) Spiritual Leadership and Daily Example
(07:38) Faith in Facing Professional Setbacks
(13:30) Balancing Coaching, Family, and Faith
(20:33) Books, Mentorship, and Devotional Habits
(23:05) Lessons from Kobe Bryant
(29:14) Navigating Modern Coaching Challenges
(31:30) Anchoring Success On and Off the Court
(34:35) Fitness, Routine, and Personal Discipline
(38:04) Coaching with John Calipari and Recruiting Insights

In this episode, Sam Acho and Clif Marshall are joined by Kurt Hester, the director of strength and performance for the Houston Cougars football team. Kurt opens up about his remarkable journey growing up in the Louisiana swamps, his award-winning coaching career, and his ongoing battle with stage four cancer. Together, they unpack the power of resilience, the importance of relationships over results, and how faith and mindset fuel Kurt’s fight both on and off the field. If you’re looking for inspiration, wisdom forged through adversity, and honest  conversation, you won’t want to miss this episode.

Connect with and Support Kurt

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hesterkurt/
• X: https://x.com/TheKurtHester
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kurt-hester-69366016
• Support Coach Kurt: https://www.bonfire.com/kurt-hester-is-unbreakable/

Connect with Sam 

• Website: https://www.samacho.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thesamacho
• X: https://x.com/thesamacho
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesamacho/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesamacho/
• YouTube: ⁨https://www.youtube.com/@TheSamAchoPodcast

Book Sam to speak at your event: https://www.samacho.com/speaking

Read Sam's books 

• Let the World See You: https://www.samacho.com/resources/let-the-world-see-you
• Change Starts With You: https://www.samacho.com/resources/change-starts-with-you

Chapter Outline
(00:00) Growing Up in the Louisiana Swamps
(07:05) A Day in the Life during Training Camp
(09:29) Battling Stage Four Cancer with Tenacity
(17:45) Adversity, Mindset, and the Meaning of Unbreakable
(21:12) Relationships over Results in Coaching
(29:43) Reconnecting with Faith through Hardship
(32:05) Building Community and Anticipating the Season

In this episode, Sam Acho sits down with University of Texas football standout Michael Taaffe for an honest conversation about faith, adversity, and what it means to pursue purpose on and off the field. Michael shares his journey from walk-on to All-American, the powerful lessons coaches have taught him, and how personal loss has shaped his drive and perspective. Together, they tackle tough subjects like overcoming setbacks, finding identity beyond athletic achievements, and turning tragedy into positive action. If you’re looking for inspiring stories of resilience, brotherhood, and faith lived out loud, this episode delivers real wisdom for anyone navigating life’s challenges.
 
Connect with Michael

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-taaffe-ab7a87244/ 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaeljtaaffe/
• X: https://x.com/MichaelTaaffe4

Connect with Sam

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thesamacho
• X: https://x.com/thesamacho
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesamacho/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesamacho/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSamAchoPodcast

Book Sam to speak at your event — https://www.samacho.com/speaking

Read Sam's books

• Let the World See You — https://www.samacho.com/resources/let-the-world-see-you
• Change Starts With You — https://www.samacho.com/resources/change-starts-with-you

Chapter Outline
(00:01) The Coaches Who Shape Character
(03:03) Betting on Purpose over Comfort
(04:53) The Power of Texas and Brotherhood
(06:28) Faith as the Foundation
(09:29) Adversity, Loss, and Finding Purpose
(12:46) Honoring Heroes and Advocating Change
(16:45) Building Faith and Brotherhood at Texas
(18:19) Life Verses and Legacy

This week on The Sam Acho Podcast, former NFL Pro Bowler and Buffalo Bills radio voice Eric Wood joins Sam and Clif Marshall for a deeply personal and wide-ranging conversation. Eric reflects on his unlikely journey from overlooked recruit to first-round draft pick, shares candid insights about sudden career-ending adversity, and opens up about work-life balance, faith, and the transformative power of community. With memorable stories and practical wisdom drawn from both the locker room and life after football, this episode is packed with encouragement for anyone navigating transition or searching for purpose beyond achievements. Don’t miss the honest lessons on resilience, generosity, and what truly defines victory.

Connect with Eric

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ewood70/
• X: https://x.com/ewood70
• What's Next with Eric Wood Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/whats-next-with-eric-wood/id1454848755
• Eric's book, Tackle What's Next: https://www.amazon.com/Tackle-Whats-Next-Achieve-Business-ebook/dp/B0BHFF67Z6

Connect with Sam 

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thesamacho
• X: https://x.com/thesamacho
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesamacho/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesamacho/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSamAchoPodcast

Book Sam to speak at your event: https://www.samacho.com/speaking

Read Sam's books 

• Let the World See You: https://www.samacho.com/resources/let-the-world-see-you
• Change Starts With You: https://www.samacho.com/resources/change-starts-with-you

Chapter Outline
(00:01) From Underdog to Louisville Cardinal
(03:14) Finding Community and Giving Back
(05:08) Embracing Louisville Culture and the Kentucky Derby
(06:34) Discovering Confidence and Striving for Excellence
(09:39) Navigating Work-Life Balance and Family Priorities
(13:34) Perspective on Modern Football and Team Predictions
(17:02) Influential Coaches and Lifelong Lessons
(22:02) Faith, Books, and Spiritual Foundations
(23:47) Adversity, Identity, and the Role of Faith
(32:01) Redefining Victory and the Value of Community
(35:55) Accountability, Small Groups, and Lifelong Learning
(37:43) Life Verse and Spreading Joy
(40:24) Financial Stewardship and Lasting Contentment

Priscilla Shirer steps into this episode with honesty, humor, and hard-won faith. Sam, Clif, and Priscilla go deep—into stories of calling, what surrender to God really looks like, and how loss can open space for peace and perspective. Priscilla, who calls teaching the Bible her joy, shares how a knack for “talking too much” became a calling once surrendered to God. Together they talk about parenting, not out of a playbook, but through presence, integrity, and the courage to show up in good seasons and in grief. She opens a window into her family’s rhythms, the margin she’s learned to carve out after losing her mother, and how small, steady choices build a legacy. If you’re worn out by perfection or looking for hope that’s anchored in reality, pull up a seat at the table.

Some of the major standout moments:

• Priscilla recounts surrendering her gift for communication, remembering her father’s challenge: “If you would just surrender this thing…not get rid of it, just surrender this thing to the Lord, it could be exactly what He’s wired you for.”
• With vulnerability, Priscilla shares how ten family losses in six years, including her mother and cousin, became both a test of faith and a catalyst for living with gratitude and trust in God’s timing—“stop and smell the roses” is now a lived-out practice.
• She gives voice to the tension of raising sons as athletes and men of character, encouraging families to focus less on perfection and more on consistency, even if that means sometimes pulling out question cards to help break the ice at dinner.
• Priscilla calls coaches and parents to the crucial work of “separating for them their identity from their sport,” pushing back on a culture that ties worth to performance.
• Stepping onto a movie set for “War Room” stretched Priscilla far outside her comfort zone, turning a one-time adventure into a new avenue for ministry and impact.

Her closing word is a testimony to God’s steady hand: “He is faithful…when everything else is crumbling or disintegrating or in some way disappointing…the rock behind all of that is that He’s faithful.”

Links to checkout: 

• Going Beyond Ministries: https://www.goingbeyond.com
• The Armor of God by Priscilla Shirer: https://www.amazon.com/Armor-God-Priscilla-Shirer/dp/1430040270
• God is Able by Priscilla Shirer: https://www.amazon.com/Able-10th-Anniversary-Priscilla-Shirer/dp/1430083077/
• I Surrender All by Priscilla Shirer: https://www.amazon.com/I-Surrender-All-Priscilla-Shirer/dp/B0CSVG9QVW/

Connect with Sam: 

• Website: https://www.samacho.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thesamacho
• X: https://x.com/thesamacho
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesamacho/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesamacho/
• YouTube:  ⁨https://www.youtube.com/@TheSamAchoPodcast

Book Sam to speak at your event: https://www.samacho.com/speaking

Read Sam's books: 

• Let the World See You: https://www.samacho.com/resources/let-the-world-see-you
• Change Starts With You: https://www.samacho.com/resources/change-starts-with-you