In this episode of The Varsity Catholic Podcast, host Brady Steir is joined by regular guest Ry Godde to kick off the first episode by diving into their shared love of the Catholic faith and their love of sports, asking the big question: What does it even mean to be a varsity Catholic?.
They break down the appeal of competition and debate the best sports movies of all time, sharing their personal picks like Blind Side, Rudy, Moneyball, Miracle, Sandlot, and Remember the Titans. They discuss the power of transformational coaching, using the example of Coach Carter who sought to teach life lessons, discipline, and excellence, not just win basketball games. Ultimately, they explore the central concept that sport should be a tool that serves us, helping us grow in virtue and leading us toward eternity.
In This Episode You’ll Hear:
🍿 A debate on the "Mount Rushmore" of sports movies, focusing on stories that tug at the heartstrings versus those focused more on the sport itself.
🐘 Personal stories about what first hooked Brady and Ry into sports, including a pink baseball glove and playing baseball with an elephant at the fair.
🧠 Why the stories behind sports—such as family drama and life lessons—are often what make sports movies so beloved.
📈 The key difference between striving to win a perishable crown (trophies) and an imperishable crown (heaven), and the importance of making Christ the center of your life.
🔥 The legacy of Coach Carter, who demanded excellence from his team in the classroom, in their discipline, and in honoring contracts, even if it meant forfeiting games.
💡 The concept that sport is meant to serve us by fostering discipline and excellence, rather than us serving sport, even when that means experiencing humility by being on the bench.
If you're seeking to understand how your love for competition can deepen your faith, or you want to hear stories about coaches who successfully teach excellence both on and off the field, this episode is your guide to how sport can bring us to the masses and lead us to the cross.
Hit follow or subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
LISTEN & FOLLOW US EVERYWHERE:
Listen on Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/4vnHBKphp6xEBUsJNerBdT?si=59poYSVvQVOzj8TOIaHPaQ
Listen on Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-in/id1831854757
Listen on YouTube→https://www.youtube.com/@VarsityCatholicPodcast
----------------------------------------------------------------------
CONNECT WITH FOCUS ON SOCIAL MEDIA:
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/varsitycatholic/?hl=en
----------------------------------------------------------------------
HAVE A QUESTION OR GUEST SUGGESTION?
Email us at varsitycatholic@focus.org or leave a comment!
Join Our Email List → seekreplay.com
For more original content and early releases, please visit seekreplay.com
The Varsity Catholic Podcast is a production of FOCUS. www.focus.org