![Champions Podcast Episode 14 - Blake Koch, former Nascar Driver]()
September 15, 2020
In this episode Blake talks about:
- how he believed in God as a Kid, but wasn’t discipled and didn’t attend church regularly
- When Blake was 16 his dad had a great testimony and he started sharing it with Blake and that was huge for him. “Who knows where I’d be now if it wasn’t for my dad.”
- Dad was a big Hollywood producer. He had everything you could want. Big houses, cars, money. But he was just lost and wasn’t happy. Then he changed. God got a hold of his heart and removed everything from his life. He went broke, lost his house, lost his cars, and surrendered and went on to a life of following Jesus. God needed to strip everything away from him to get his attention.
- Parents were divorced when he was 2. Lived mainly with mom. She was a single mother working 9-5 and barely getting by.
- On weekends when he’d be at dad’s he would get anything he wanted, but at mom’s, she was happy to provide food.
- Even though his dad lost everything he knew God would provide and that has really worn off on Blake.
- From 20 years old on, any decision Blake had to make, he would call his dad and they would pray. Every race they would pray, before every practice, they would pray. Now as an entrepreneur, they pray prior to every meeting.
- COME TO JESUS AHA MOMENT - Going to college, starting to party a bit, starting to drink too much here and there, and was kind of distant from God. He admits he was trying to control his life. He was living with his girlfriend at the time. He woke up on a Sunday and was feeling a little rough and his girlfriend said they should go to church. He was working and making good money and was at church and the pastor talked about trying to live life on your own and how that's not something you want to do. When it came time to give he reached in his wallet and grabbed all the cash he had and put it in the offering. Still to this day doesn’t know how much he gave but knows he was working money and wanted to surrender it to God. From that moment on he bought his own Bible, got into a small group, went to church regularly, and now is on fire from the Lord.
- He attended a Drivers Bible study on race day when he came into NASCAR, and was able to get plugged into a good group of guys who were on the same mission and loved the Lord.
- Grew up racing dirt bikes. Racing cars at 20. Drove a race car for the first time for fun and then decided he wanted to be a NASCAR driver cause it was fun.
- Growing up, NASCAR driver was not a dream growing up. had never watched NASCAR till 2007, drove the car in 2008.
- Got engaged at 24, moved to NC to pursue racing in 1 bedroom apt from Florida. Was hired to drive in the Xfinity series in 2011. Did that whole year and things were looking good. 2012 signed with a new team and had a big sponsor and after 1st race sponsor pulled out.
- Got a job driving his friend Trevor Barnes motor home to NASCAR races. They were buddies, and he stayed with him, they were in the same bible study. Blake started spotting during the race.
- One of his other buddies Josh wise couldn’t make it to a race and suggested they have Blake ride. He did it, did well, and then gets more opportunities and he hired again
- 2016 he had a big sponsor come on board, started a racing team, started driving and made playoffs, and finished 6th in the championship.
- Talks about the emotional toll of being on a team, then let go, then on a team, then let go.
- He shares experiences speaking at Promise Keepers.
- Talks about walking with his team owner through putting his faith in the Lord
- Shares about starting Filter Time and how he partnered with Dale Earnhardt Jr.
- https://www.filtertime.com/
- Talks about his car catching on fire in a race at Talladega
- Talks about his Dad’s book the firsthour.com
![Champions Podcast - Episode 10 - Paul Tesori- PGA Tour Caddie]()
February 20, 2020
In the 10th episode of the Champions Podcast, hosts Mike Rubin and Coach Phil are joined by PGA Tour caddie Paul Tesori. Paul currently caddies for Webb Simpson. Here are some notes from the episode. Please rate, review and share the podcast so that more people can hear the amazing ONLY God testimonies.
- Talks about growing up in the church but how he slowly walked away from faith as he entered college. He calls it the 3 G’s, girls, golf and good times!
- Working for Shawn O’Hara and he was doing well. He was considered one of the top caddies in the world, but was still feeling completely empty. He had money, homes, relationship with a girl he wanted but nothing filled the whole inside. Summer of 2010 he decided to do something about it. He was the reason for the broken relationship sand broken problems and he was baptized. That was his transformational moment
- Talks about how once he was saved he thought everything would get better, but it didn’t
- Talks about how Webb Simpson won the ACC Championship and that was his goal as a college player, his senior year he won, he had accomplished what he set out to do and woke up the next morning and had this massive feeling of sadness and depression and didnt know what it was. But later was told by a mentor that this is what it was like to have an idol, accomplish and idol and realize that the idol will never satisfy us
- Talks about how he got into being a caddie and what a day in the life of a caddie looks like
- Talks about his son Isaiah who has Down syndrome
- He talks about the Tesori Family Foundation. Raised almost $1 mil since 2014. All Star Kids Clinics for kids with Special Needs. Visit at tesorifamilyfoundation.org
![Champions Podcast - Episode 9 - LaMorris Crawford - Cincinnati Bengals Team Chaplain]()
October 29, 2019
In episode 9, Mike interviews LaMorris Crawford, the team chaplain for the Cincinnati Bengals. In this episode, LaMorris talks about:
- Growing up in the projects and his mother being murdered when he was 10 months old
- By 11 years old, he was in a gang
- The basketball court was his refuge from a life of turmoil
- "Christianity is not about behavior modification, but heart transformation"
- "Salvation is not an event but a person"
- "Our job is to believe that God will do His job"
- "There's so much pressure for winning, that coaches aren't being present."
- "Some plant, some water, but God gives the increase."
- "Our job is to put the hands of menin the hands of God"
- "The cross was not a tragedy, it was an accomplishment"
This is an amazing episode that we trust God is going to do mighty things through. Please subscribe, like, leave a review and share. We want to make sure we get these incredible ONLY God testimonies in places that people can hear and be impacted by.
LaMorris' Instagram - @lamorris_crawford
![Champions Podcast - Episode 8 - Mo Isom Former LSU Soccer Star (Part 2)]()
September 17, 2019
In episode 8, Mike and his guest co-host and wife Shannon share the second part of their interview with former LSU soccer star Mo Isom. Some of the notes from part 2:
- Mo shares about a year of depression and anxiety and how she was searching for, "Any sin sized piece to fill the God-sized hole in my heart."
- She shared how God literally used wrecking her to capture her heart.
- Psalm 46:10- "Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.
- "Jesus didn't die on the cross for my sins. He died on the cross BECAUSE of my sins"
- She shares about how one of the ways the enemy can distract us is by not allowing us to face any adversity so it causes us to not understand a need for God, Jesus or the still small voice.
- "At the core, I am a sinner in need of a savior"
- One question many of us ask is what does the faith walk cost me? It doesn't matter cause look at what I gained.
- One of the places Mo gained community was through the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA)
- "We are not just here, we are His.
- Verses that have impacted Mo
- Psalm 46:10- Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.
- John 16:33- I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.
- Romans 5:3-5- Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
- She shares about her journey trying out for LSU football
- We have another Eli Wants to Know and Coaches Corner.
This is a jam-packed episode that we trust God is going to do mighty things through. If you enjoy listening, please subscribe, like, leave a review and share. We want to make sure we get these incredible ONLY God testimonies in places that people can hear and be impacted by.
September 2, 2019
In episode 7, Mike and his guest co-host and wife Shannon interview Mo Isom. Mo is a former LSU soccer star, and NY Times best selling author. She travels the world speaking and is also a blogger. Mo’s testimony is so incredible that we had to break this up into two parts. In part one, she shares how she handled the pressure of being a student-athlete at one of the top college programs in the country. The shares about the crazy highs and lows of her freshman year at LSU that included a 90-yard goal that landed her on SportsCenter’s Top 10 plays and the lows of her father taking his life while she was home for Christmas break and much more. Give it a listen, share with a friend, and please, leave a review!
June 1, 2019
In the sixth episode of the Champions Podcast hosts Mike Rubin and Coach Phil are joined by Ritchie Palacios, former Towson University baseball player and current member of the Cleveland Indians organization. Ritchie shares what it was like during draft day, how his faith grew during college, the benefits of having a brother who plays in professional baseball as well (Josh, with the Toronto Blue Jays organization), how he has relied on his faith while recovering from a torn labrum.
We also have another edition of Eli Wants to Know and Coaches Corner!
![Champions Podcast – Episode 3 – Luke Wollet]()
March 2, 2019
In the third episode of the Champions Podcast, our hosts Mike Rubin and Coach Phil are joined by Luke Wollet, former Kent State and New Orleans Saints safety. Luke shares his incredible faith journey, and talks about the career-ending battle with drug addiction. We get our second segments of "Eli Wants to Know" and "Coaches Corner". Some interesting nuggets from our conversation with Luke:
*"I am thankful that God transformed one of the greatest pains and darkest times into a purpose."
* He talks about how one "innocent" decision to take a percocet to help with pain, turned into a full blown heroin addiction.
* He talked about running to the bathroom to get high during a workout with the New Orleans Saints.
* "The football mentality of handling your own problems. You got yourself into something, you get yourself out."
* "The number one thing the enemy wants is for us to be isolated"
* Coach Phil shared the mindset of many coaches, "We don't want to know as coaches, we want to win and if I know, then I have to do something about it."
* "Winning can't be the goal, it has to be the byproduct."
* Luke talks about getting to the point where he felt like the world would be better without him here and then the divine appointment of his father driving four and a half hours and showing up at his door that night.
* "I didn't have the courage to ask for help, but thank God I had the courage to accept it."
* Being told to read Esther 4:14 and the impact of that.
* "It's relationship over religion"
Bible Verses Discussed
* James 4:8a - Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. (ESV)
* Romans 10:9 - because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (ESV)
* John 10:10 - The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. (ESV)
Miscellaneous
*Banyan Treatment Center: https://www.banyantreatmentcenter.com/ (888)- 493-4429
*Standing in the Presence of Greatness by David Kohout Buy on Amazon
* Jordan B Peterson - YouTube page . Podcast
*To learn more about FCA www.fca.org
*To financially champion FCA in Southwest York County, PA my.fca.org/mikerubin
February 6, 2019
In the second episode of the Champions Podcast, our hosts Mike Rubin and Coach Phil are joined by Washington Redskins punter and University of Oklahoma graduate Tress Way who shares his faith journey. We also get the first segment of “Eli Wants to Know” and “Coaches Corner”.
Some interesting nuggets from our interview with Tress
- He shares how he navigated temptation in high school
- “God’s Word is a giant love letter”
- He shares the athletic accomplishment that he is most proud of.
- “People often compare their realities with other peoples highlights
- He talks about the importance of getting on your knees and crying out to God
- He talks about the role FCA played in keeping him out of trouble
- “If they claim their identity is in Christ, then everything should follow suit with that.”
- The Bri and Tress Engagement video- Click this link
- What’s Your Bid game - Currently sold out of Amazon. Keep your eye out for version 2.0 coming soon.
