Blessed2Play: Recent Episodes
EWTN
“Blessed 2 Play” is sports radio with heart & soul! Uncovering the role that faith plays in the lives of athletes and sports professionals, host Ron Meyer shines a spotlight on the world of sports and the motivation behind life on and off the field.
This week’s guest is Antonio Soave a former pro soccer player who will help recap the 2023 Women’s World Cup. We’ll also talk about the proper perspective youth should have, in light of faith, when admiring professional athletes.
This week’s guest is Mike Suter, a former defensive back on the Penn State National Championship football team. Host Ron Meyer talks with Mike about is career at Penn State and how his Catholic faith guides him daily.
This week’s guest is Erik Rosales, Capitol Hill correspondent for EWTN News Nightly. Host Ron Meyer talks with Erik about his playing collegiate baseball and how faith determined his path from secular news to his work now for EWTN.
This week’s guest is Clare Hanson who in her first year of coaching Benedictine College Women’s Lacrosse won a national championship. Host Ron Meyer talks with Clare about how the team’s culture of faith assisted with a remarkable achievement.
This week’s guest is Krista Steele a track and cross-country athlete who competed for South Dakota State University. Host Ron Meyer talks to Krista about her collegiate running career and integrating her Catholic faith in her everyday life.
This week’s guest is Amy Lawrence a well-traveled veteran and pioneer of sports radio and television and the host of CBS Sports Radio’s late-night program, “After Hours with Amy Lawrence.” Host Ron Meyer talks with this Amy about her career in sports radio and how her faith shapes who she is.
This week’s guest is Cincinnati Bengals Senior Defensive Assistant coach Mark Duffner. A Bengals assistant from 1997-2002, Mark Duffner returned to Cincinnati's coaching staff in '19 as senior defensive assistant. He now enters his 28th season as an NFL coach, and 12th with the Bengals. Host Ron Meyer talks with Mark about his long career coaching in the NFL and the importance the Catholic faith has in his life.
This week’s guest is Cesar Markovic the head men’s soccer coach at Ave Maria University. After a long tenure coaching division one soccer, where he won more than 150 games, coach Markovic is focused on building athletic and spiritual excellence at AMU.
This week’s guest is Brent Suter who pitches for MLB’s Colorado Rockies. Host Ron Meyer talks with Brent about his rise to the highest level of pro baseball and how he incorporates his faith on and off the baseball diamond.
This week’s guest is Amy Seago. One of the longest-tenured coaches at the College of Charleston, Coach Seago is in her 20th season at the helm of the Cougar track and field and cross-country programs. Host Ron Meyer talks with Amy about her passion for coaching student athletes and how the Catholic faith guides.
This week’s guest is Emily Curlett a women’s professional hockey player who played her collegiate hockey at Robert Morris University and Ohio State University. Host Ron Meyer talks with Emily on how Catholicism brought her to a deeper faith life.
This week’s guest is Doug Rosfeld Chief of Coaching Staff for the NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals. Host Ron Meyer talks with Doug about his rise in the coaching ranks and why the Catholic faith has assisted in forming him to be the man he is today.
This week’s guest is Danielle Breen who competed as a gymnast for the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers. Host Ron Meyer talks with Danielle about her career as a consistent contributor to her team and why faith is a staple in her life.
This week’s guest is Dan Venezia a former pro baseball player in the Minnesota Twins organization. Host Ron Meyer talks with Dan about a harrowing experience with the covid virus that brought him to a deepening of his Catholic faith.
This week’s guest is Jake Wieneke a professional football player who plays in the Canadian Football League (CFL). Host Ron Meyer talks with Jake about his career on the gridiron and the importance the Catholic faith has in his life.
This week’s guest is Kane Waselenchuk widely known as the greatest professional racquetball player of all-time. His 134 match unbeaten streak is a record that may stand the test of time. Host Ron Meyer talks with Kane about his career on the court and how faith defines his life.
This week’s collegiate spotlight show features Jacqueline Duarte a cross country/track and field athlete at the University of Southern California. Ron talks with Jacqueline about why faith is paramount in her life as a student athlete.
This week’s guest is Mike Sutter, a former defensive back on the Penn State National Championship football team. Host Ron Meyer talks with Mike about is career at Penn State and how his Catholic faith guides him daily.
This week’s guest is Erik Rosales, Capitol Hill correspondent for EWTN News Nightly. Host Ron Meyer talks with Erik about his playing collegiate baseball and how faith determined his path from secular news to his work now for EWTN.
This week’s guest is J.J. Niekro, a professional baseball player in the Atlanta Braves organization and the son of former major leaguer pitcher Joe Niekro and nephew of Hall of Fame pitcher Phil Niekro.
This week’s guest is Jillian Stafford, a current member of the UCLA track and field team. Host Ron Meyer talks with Jillian about being dedicated to her sport and her faith life.
This week’s guest is Cincinnati Bengals Senior Defensive Assistant coach Mark Duffner. A Bengals assistant from 1997-2002, Mark Duffner returned to Cincinnati's coaching staff in '19 as senior defensive assistant. He now enters his 28th season as an NFL coach, and 12th with the Bengals. Host Ron Meyer talks with Mark about his long career coaching in the NFL and the importance the Catholic faith has in his life.
This week’s guest is Antonio Soave, a former pro soccer player, who promotes peace through soccer around the world. Host Ron Meyer talks to Antonio about the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and how the Catholic faith and soccer can form lasting life lessons to young athletes.
This week’s guest is Michael McGlinn, former Notre dame football player under coach Lou Holtz. Host Ron Meyer talks with Michael about his time playing for the Irish and why he decided to start a new work that promotes Eucharistic adoration thru storytelling.
This week’s guest is Cesar Markovic the head men’s soccer coach at Ave Maria University. After a long tenure coaching division one soccer, where he won more than 150 games, coach Markovic is focused on building athletic and spiritual excellence at AMU.
This week’s guest is Brent Suter who pitches for MLB’s Colorado Rockies. Host Ron Meyer talks with Brent about his rise to the highest level of pro baseball and how he incorporates his faith on and off the baseball diamond.
This week’s guest is Amy Seago. One of the longest-tenured coaches at the College of Charleston, Coach Seago is in her 20th season at the helm of the Cougar track and field and cross-country programs. Host Ron Meyer talks with Amy about her passion for coaching student athletes and how the Catholic faith guides.
This week’s guest is Bob Crable a consensus all-American linebacker at the University of Notre Dame who went on to play pro football in the NFL with the NY Jets. Host Ron Meyer talks with Bob about his journey to the NFL and why his faith led him to teach religion in high school.
This week’s guest is Emily Curlett a women’s professional hockey player who played her collegiate hockey at Robert Morris University and Ohio State University. Host Ron Meyer talks with Emily on how Catholicism brought her to a deeper faith life.
This week’s guest is Jake Wieneke a professional football player who plays in the Canadian Football League (CFL). Host Ron Meyer talks with Jake about his career on the gridiron and the importance the Catholic faith has in his life.
This week’s guest is Tony Bozzela the women’s head basketball coach at Seton Hall University. Despite an extended stay in the hospital due to contracting COVID-19, Bozzella turned in one of his finest coaching performances during the pandemic-stricken 2020-21 season. Ron talks with Tony how his Catholic faith guided him thru this harrowing time.
This week’s guest is Ben Steele, former NFL player who is now the assistant offensive line coach with the NFL’s Denver Broncos. Host Ron Meyer talks with Ben about his career in football and why the Catholic faith is an essential part of his life.
This week’s guest is Nick Foligno, who plays left wing for the NHL’s Boston Bruins. Host Ron Meyer talks with this NHL veteran about his time in pro hockey, which spans over a decade and how the Catholic faith provided support for some of life’s challenges.
This week’s guest is J.J. Niekro, a professional baseball player in the Atlanta Braves organization and the son of former major leaguer pitcher Joe Niekro and nephew of Hall of Fame pitcher Phil Niekro.
This week’s guest is Michael Wozniak who plays football at St. John’s in Collegeville, MN. Michael is a finalist for the National Football Foundation- Campbell Trophy, given to a scholar athlete in collegiate football. Host Ron Meyer talks to Michael about this prestigious recognition and the importance of a Catholic education.
This week’s guest is Antonio Soave, a former pro soccer player, who promotes peace through soccer around the world. Host Ron Meyer talks to Antonio about the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and how the Catholic faith and soccer can form lasting life lessons to young athletes.
This week’s guest is Sister Stephanie Baliga, a former division one cross-country runner at the University of Illinois, now a Franciscan Sister of the Eucharist, who is also known as the running nun. She heads a charity team that runs in the Chicago Marathon every year — and has raised over $1 million for a inner city food pantry.
This week’s guest is Mike Lynch the Head Women’s Soccer coach at Belmont Abbey College. Host Ron Meyer talks with Mike about developing a winning culture while committing to excellence and virtue at a Catholic college
This week’s B2P collegiate spotlight show features Matt Russel a track athlete at the University of North Dakota. Host Ron Meyer talks with Matt about the integration of sports and his Catholic faith at the division 1 level.
This week’s guest is Jillian Stafford, a current member of the UCLA track and field team. Host Ron Meyer talks with Jillian about being dedicated to her sport and her faith life.
This week’s guest is Katie Kampen who competed in the SEC as a member of the LSU women’s volleyball team. Host Ron Meyer talks with this division 1 athlete about integrating faith with her athletic pursuits.
This week’s guest is Dominque Dawes, she was a 10-year member of the U.S. national gymnastics team, the 1994 U.S. all-around senior National Champion and a three-time Olympian. Host Ron Meyer talks with Dominque about her competitive gymnastic career and journey into the Catholic church.
This week’s guest is Luke Vercollone, a former professional soccer player, who is doing pro-life work with an organization that is helping mothers to make a decision for life.
This week’s B2P collegiate spotlight show features Matt Masker a quarterback for the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers. Host Ron Meyer talks with this Catholic athlete about growing up in Nebraska and playing for one of college football’s storied programs with faith at his side.
This week’s guest is Kelsey Harrington a NCAA division 1 volleyball player at Stephen F Austin University. Ron talks with Kelsey about competing on the volleyball court and why the Catholic faith helps keep her grounded in her everyday life.
This week’s guest is Brad Seng, a former professional triathlete and now head Triathlon coach at the University of Colorado. Host Ron Meyer talks with Brad about being a champion faith filled Catholic athlete and coach.
This week’s guest is Chuck Kyle the head football coach of St. Ignatius in Cleveland, Ohio. Now in his final season, host Ron Meyer talks with one of the country’s most respected and accomplished high school football coaches; ranked 6th greatest high school coach of all-time by MaxPreps.
This week’s B2P collegiate spotlight show features University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) volleyball player Hannah Ammerman. Host Ron Meyer talks with the Hannah about excelling at the division one level and the role faith plays in her life.
Join Ron Meyer as he discusses faith and football with Jerry Schmitt; - Head Coach of the Duquesne Dukes
This week’s guest is Brittany Bock, former University of Notre Dame and professional soccer player. Brittany has dealt with adversity as an athlete and shares her struggles and perspective when difficulties arise and only faith can get you through those challenges.
This week’s guest is Nick Foligno, who plays left wing for the NHL’s Boston Bruins. Host Ron Meyer talks with this NHL veteran about his time in pro hockey, which spans over a decade and how the Catholic faith provided support for some of life’s challenges.
This week’s guest is Ben Steele, former NFL player who is now the assistant offensive line coach with the NFL’s Denver Broncos. Host Ron Meyer talks with Ben about his career in football and why the Catholic faith is an essential part of his life.
This week’s guest is former ESPN producer Jason Romano who talks with host Ron Meyer about his book “Live to Forgive”. Jason tells the story of the work God did to help him forgive his alcoholic abusive father.
This week’s guest is Devlin “Duck” Hodges a professional football player who played in the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers and now in the Canadian Football League (CFL). Host Ron Meyer talks with Devlin about rising to the highest level of his profession while keeping his Catholic faith at the forefront.
Join Ron Meyer as he talks with Colorado State Ram Soccer's Haylee Blach) about her faith.
This week’s guest is Landry Weber who played division one football for the Kansas State Wildcats. Host Ron Meyer talks with Landry about life on the gridiron and why he chose to enter a Catholic seminary as the next step in his life.
This week’s guest is Kane Waselenchuk widely known as the greatest professional racquetball player of all-time. His 134 match unbeaten streak is a record that may stand the test of time. Host Ron Meyer talks with Kane about his career on the court and how faith defines his life.
This week’s guest is Jim Pieczynski, author of The Doubleday Code. Host Ron Meyer talks with Jim about the parallels between the sport of baseball and Catholicism.
This week’s guest is Samantha Kelley a former division one soccer player at the University of Connecticut. She is the founder and creator of Fierce Athlete, a catholic organization that promotes true femininity in sports. Host Ron Meyer talks to Samantha about some of the challenges women athletes face on the competitive landscape.
This week’s guest is Luke Vercollone, a former professional soccer player, who is doing pro-life work with an organization that is helping mothers to make a decision for life.
This week’s B2P collegiate spotlight show features Matt Masker a quarterback for the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers. Host Ron Meyer talks with this Catholic athlete about growing up in Nebraska and playing for one of college football’s storied programs with faith at his side.
This week’s guest is bestselling author Michael Ortman. Host Ron Meyer talks with Michael about his new book “Opening Day 50:50” one game, one fan a history of baseball stories.
This week’s guest is Thomas Wurtz, current director of Varsity Catholic. Host Ron Meyer talks with Thomas about bringing faith to athletes on the college campus and some of the challenges the lie ahead in competitive athletics
This week’s guest is McKenzi Weber who played division one volleyball at Kansas State. Host Ron Meyer talks with McKenzi about competing as a volleyball player in the Big 12 and why her Catholic faith was an important part of her life as a collegiate athlete.
This week’s guest is Mike Smith who has been one of the leading jockeys in U.S. Thoroughbred racing history and was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2003. Mike won the most Breeders' Cup races of any jockey. In 2018, Smith rode Justify to the Triple Crown, becoming the oldest jockey to win the title at age 52. Host Ron Meyer talks with Mike about his prestigious riding career and how his Catholic faith guides him in his everyday life.
This week’s guest is Bailey Landry, a two-time All-American for the LSU Tigers softball team. Landry led the Tigers to three Women's College World Series appearances in 2015, 2016 and 2017. She later went on to play professional softball. Ron talks with Bailey about her rise to softball dominance and why her Catholic faith is essential in her everyday life.
This week’s guest is Major League Baseball’s Pittsburgh Pirates Pitcher Trevor Williams. Host Ron Meyer talk’s with Trevor about his road to the show and the importance the Catholic faith is to this big league hurler. (This is an encore of the 04/22/17 show.)
This week’s B2P collegiate spotlight show features Matt Russel a track athlete at the University of North Dakota. Host Ron Meyer talks with Matt about the integration of sports and his Catholic faith at the division 1 level.
This week’s guest is Mike Lynch the Head Women’s Soccer coach at Belmont Abbey College. Host Ron Meyer talks with Mike about developing a winning culture while committing to excellence and virtue at a Catholic college.
This week’s guest is Andrew Fowler, who talks with host Ron Meyer, about the Knights of Columbus release of a four-part online series exploring the historical connection between the fraternal organization and America’s pastime, baseball.
This week’s guest is Andrew Fowler, who talks with host Ron Meyer, about the Knights of Columbus release of a four-part online series exploring the historical connection between the fraternal organization and America’s pastime, baseball.
This week’s guest is Jim Pieczynski, author of The Doubleday Code. Host Ron Meyer talks with Jim about the parallels between the sport of baseball and Catholicism.
This week’s guest is Jim Pieczynski, author of The Doubleday Code. Host Ron Meyer talks with Jim about the parallels between the sport of baseball and Catholicism.
This week’s B2P collegiate spotlight show features University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) volleyball player Hannah Ammerman. Host Ron Meyer talks with the Hannah about excelling at the division one level and the role faith plays in her life.
This week’s B2P collegiate spotlight show features University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) volleyball player Hannah Ammerman. Host Ron Meyer talks with the Hannah about excelling at the division one level and the role faith plays in her life.
This week’s guest is Tony Bozzela the women’s head basketball coach at Seton Hall University. Despite an extended stay in the hospital due to contracting COVID-19, Bozzella turned in one of his finest coaching performances during the pandemic-stricken 2020-21 season. Ron talks with Tony how his Catholic faith guided him thru this harrowing time.
This week’s guest is Tony Bozzela the women’s head basketball coach at Seton Hall University. Despite an extended stay in the hospital due to contracting COVID-19, Bozzella turned in one of his finest coaching performances during the pandemic-stricken 2020-21 season. Ron talks with Tony how his Catholic faith guided him thru this harrowing time.
This week’s guest is Kevin Wells former MLB sportswriter with the Tampa Bay Rays and author of “Priest and Beggar”. Host Ron Meyer talks with Kevin about being a beat writer for a MLB team and why he wrote a book on the life of venerable Aloysius Schwartz.
This week’s guest is Kevin Wells former MLB sportswriter with the Tampa Bay Rays and author of “Priest and Beggar”. Host Ron Meyer talks with Kevin about being a beat writer for a MLB team and why he wrote a book on the life of venerable Aloysius Schwartz.
This week’s guest is former ESPN producer Jason Romano who talks with host Ron Meyer about his book “Live to Forgive”. Jason tells the story of the work God did to help him forgive his alcoholic abusive father.
This week’s guest is former ESPN producer Jason Romano who talks with host Ron Meyer about his book “Live to Forgive”. Jason tells the story of the work God did to help him forgive his alcoholic abusive father.
Join Ron Meyer as he discusses faith and football with Jerry Schmitt; - Head Coach of the Duquesne Dukes!
Join Ron Meyer as he discusses faith and football with Jerry Schmitt; - Head Coach of the Duquesne Dukes!
This week’s guest is Devlin “Duck” Hodges a professional football player who played in the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers and now in the Canadian Football League (CFL). Host Ron Meyer talks with Devlin about rising to the highest level of his profession while keeping his Catholic faith at the forefront.
This week’s guest is Devlin “Duck” Hodges a professional football player who played in the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers and now in the Canadian Football League (CFL). Host Ron Meyer talks with Devlin about rising to the highest level of his profession while keeping his Catholic faith at the forefront.
This week’s guest is Brad Soderberg, University of Virginia Men’s Assistant Basketball Coach. Host Ron Meyer talks with Brad about being part of the coaching staff that help lead the Cavaliers to a National Championship and why the Catholic faith is instrumental in his life.
This week’s guest is Brad Soderberg, University of Virginia Men’s Assistant Basketball Coach. Host Ron Meyer talks with Brad about being part of the coaching staff that help lead the Cavaliers to a National Championship and why the Catholic faith is instrumental in his life.
This week’s guest is Sister Stephanie Baliga, a former division one cross-country runner at the University of Illinois, now a Franciscan Sister of the Eucharist, who is also known as the running nun. She heads a charity team that runs in the Chicago Marathon every year — and has raised over $1 million for a inner city food pantry.
This week’s guest is Sister Stephanie Baliga, a former division one cross-country runner at the University of Illinois, now a Franciscan Sister of the Eucharist, who is also known as the running nun. She heads a charity team that runs in the Chicago Marathon every year — and has raised over $1 million for a inner city food pantry.
This week’s guest is Brian Basile who has coached high school, college and professional football. Brian made his mark on coaching during his time in professional indoor football with the Pittsburgh Power of the Arena Football League. Host Ron Meyer talks with Brian about incorporating his Catholic faith in coaching young athletes. This is an encore of the 11/28/21 show.
This week’s guest is Gil Hodges, Jr. Host Ron Meyer talks with Gil Jr. about a new documentary “Soul of a Champion” that chronicles the life of his father Gil Hodges, former Brooklyn Dodger and NY Mets Manager, who became a World Series champion.
This week’s guest is Bob Crable a consensus all-American linebacker at the University of Notre Dame who went on to play pro football in the NFL with the NY Jets. Host Ron Meyer talks with Bob about his journey to the NFL and why his faith led him to teach religion in high school. (This is an encore of the 10/03/21 show.)
This week’s guest is Baltimore Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh. Harbaugh is widely respected for his intense work ethic and is considered one of the best head coaches currently in the NFL. He has led the Ravens to 82 wins (including playoffs) since his tenure began in 2008. I’ll talk with this Super Bowl winning coach about his path to the NFL and how faith shapes his life on and off the gridiron
This week’s guest is Kyle Murray, the strength and conditioning coach for Western Michigan football. Host Ron Meyer talks with Kyle about physically preparing the collegiate athlete for game day and why practicing the Catholic faith is essential for him to be at his best.
This week’s guest is Gil Hodges, Jr. Host Ron Meyer talks with Gil Jr. about a new documentary “Soul of a Champion” that chronicles the life of his father Gil Hodges, former Brooklyn Dodger and NY Mets Manager, who became a World Series champion.
This week’s guest is Brian Basile who has coached high school, college and professional football. Brian made his mark on coaching during his time in professional indoor football with the Pittsburgh Power of the Arena Football League. Host Ron Meyer talks with Brian about incorporating his Catholic faith in coaching young athletes.
This week’s guest is Jim Heim, sports agent and founder of Heroic Athletic Leadership Organization (HALO). Host Ron Meyer talks with Jim about developing athletes into leaders with character. (This is an encore of the 05/16/21 show)
This week’s guest is Andrew Fowler, who talks with host Ron Meyer, about the Knights of Columbus release of a four-part online series exploring the historical connection between the fraternal organization and America’s pastime, baseball.
This week’s guest is Richard Lane, a Catholic evangelist, and son of NFL Hall of Famer Dick “Night Train” Lane. Host Ron Meyer talks with Richard about his dedication to preaching the Gospel and his father’s rise to NFL stardom.
This week’s guest is Mike Smith who has been one of the leading jockeys in U.S. Thoroughbred racing history and was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2003. Mike won the most Breeders' Cup races of any jockey. In 2018, Smith rode Justify to the Triple Crown, becoming the oldest jockey to win the title at age 52. Host Ron Meyer talks with Mike about his prestigious riding career and how his Catholic faith guides him in his everyday life.
Today’s guest is Mike McCoy. Mike graduated from the University of Notre Dame where he played football and was a Consensus All-American. He was chosen UPI Lineman of the year and was sixth in the Heisman Trophy balloting his senior year. He was the #1 draft choice of the Green Bay Packers where he played defensive tackle. He played eleven years in the NFL – seven with Green Bay, two with the Oakland Raiders and two with the New York Giants. Host Ron Meyer talks with Mike about his football career and his work talking to young people in Catholic schools across America.