The Sports Refuge Podcast: Recent Episodes
Earl Holland | The Sports Refuge
From Delaware ... almost live! This is the show where host Earl Holland interviews guests about their connection with sports, journalism, pop culture and more.
Set your coordinates and lock in your location for your sports escape.
Dave Whigham’s passion for baseball extends beyond the realm of playing.
The former college and professional pitcher has branched out in his hardball path in a number of capacities that include being a former professional scout and presently as the founder and owner of the Delmarva Aces Baseball Academy and travel team.
In this episode, Whigham joins host Earl Holland Jr., to talk about his love for baseball, traveling the world to play and teach the game, and his time as a professional scout in the Baltimore Orioles organization.
There will also be a discussion on pitching, establishing an entity like the Delmarva Aces, and how he was able to return to the mound following a devastating and near-fatal injury caused by a line drive to the head.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter.
You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
Andre Collins’s basketball resume is one that the most die-hard basketball player would aspire to replicate.
The Crisfield, Maryland, native competed and won championships at the prep, college, and professional levels of basketball.
But what’s more impactful is what he’s done following his post-basketball career as an entrepreneur and community leader.
In this episode, Collins joins host Earl Holland to discuss his basketball journey and how he gave back to the game that gave him so much as well as his hometown.
Collins also discusses the impetus of the annual anti-bullying event called “Dre Day.”
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio, and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
No one is more passionate about his D.C. sports teams than David Cabrera.
And the only thing that Cabrera is more passionate about is his family, as he is a doting husband and father of three daughters.
In this episode, Cabrera joins host Earl Holland to discuss his love for Washington sports, fatherhood, and his career path outside the field of journalism.
Cabrera will also discuss the impetus behind his football-centric podcast, where he talks about all things Washington Commanders.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio, and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
Pro wrestling is something that has its share of skeptics and believers.
With its larger-than-life characters, its good versus evil battles, and unique storylines, it is one of the most popular forms of entertainment, along with movies and television.
In this compilation episode, host Earl Holland talks with various guests about their love for interest in wrestling.
Guest excerpts include:
Brian Banks from Episode 7: Piledriver
Kevin McGarrity and Mike Brittingham from Episode 20: Diamonds and Rings
Diamond Holton from Episode 21: Pens and Words
Mike Gordy from Episode 32: The Road Warrior
Linwood Outlaw and Andre Watson from Episode 62: Dre and Wood’s Wrestling Adventure
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio, and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
The bond between a father and son is one of the strongest.
Those relationships have been immortalized in various media such as music and movies.
The lessons and stories passed down through the years are part of strengthening that relationship.
In this episode, host Earl Holland Jr. sits down with his father, Earl Holland Sr., to discuss his experiences growing up and attending school during segregation; and why he served in the United States Marines.
Earl Sr. will also share his thoughts on his beloved Oakland Raiders, why he doesn’t have a smartphone, and offer some advice to his son about being a new dad.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio, and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
It’s a celebration! Not only is it our 100th episode, but it is also time to talk about all things football-related ahead of the big game between the Los Angeles Rams and Cincinnati Bengals.
In this episode, host Earl Holland does double duty with two football-themed interviews.
The first with jersey aficionado Ben Penserga as they discuss the announcement of the rebranding of the former Washington Redskins into the new Washington Commanders.
In the second half of the show, Holland talks with Tim “The Beard” Stewart of the “Awthentik and the Beard” sports podcast about sports betting and some of the prop bets often found in the Super Bowl.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio, and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
Two-thousand twenty-one was a year of transition as many people were in the process of returning to a sense of normalcy following a pandemic-filled 2020 that drastically altered much of the way we lived.
During the past year, it was also a time for good conversation with many of the guests who appeared on the Sports Refuge Podcast.
In this episode, host Earl Holland shares excerpts of some of his favorite episodes from 2021 featuring interviews from guests including Vanessa Junkin, Kelly Cullen, Destiny Morgan Davis, Victoria Robinson and Scott Johnson, and Jenny Hopkinson.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio, and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
Each summer, the village of Cooperstown, New York, transforms into a bustling city as it welcomes thousands of fans who visit the National Baseball Hall of Fame Museum.
This pilgrimage is due to the hall of fame's yearly enshrinement of its newest class of inductees.
With the 2022 ballot including former players like Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, David Ortiz, Alex Rodriguez, and Curt Schilling, the high-profile names are a who's who of controversy.
As many of the players had a checkered history, the jury was out on whether they (and others) would earn their plaques.
In this episode, host Earl Holland is joined by a panel of baseball fans who give their thoughts on what makes a hall of famer.
The panelists will also opine on potential hall-worthy players no longer on the ballot in addition to sharing their unofficial Cooperstown ballot.
Roundtable guests include Dave Hudson, Brandon Berns, Megan Kim, Veronica Day, Brandon Riggin, and Therran Dennis.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio, and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
With the National Football Conference’s playoff brackets set, the opportunity to hoist the George Halas Trophy and clinch a spot in Super Bowl LVI is up for grabs.
Join host Earl Holland as he talks with fans of the teams competing for a spot in the “Big Game.”
Fan representatives include:
San Francisco 49ers fan Jeffrey Scott
Philadelphia Eagles fan Tom Rader
Arizona Cardinals fan Joseph Comeau
Los Angeles Rams fan Donald Johnson
Tampa Bay Buccaneers fan Byron Taylor
Dallas Cowboys fan Quincy Peaker
Green Bay Packers fan Hunter Quinn
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio, and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
Seven teams vying for the AFC Championship and a shot at the Vince Lombardi trophy are ready for a lengthy playoff run.
Which of the seven teams will be hoisting the Lamar Hunt Trophy and representing the AFC in Super Bowl LVI?
Join host Earl Holland as he talks with fans of the teams competing for a spot in the “Big Game.”
Fan representatives include:
Pittsburgh Steelers fan Chris Weiss
New England Patriots fan Terrence Blackwell
Las Vegas Raiders fan David Elliot
Cincinnati Bengals fan Rich Wills
Buffalo Bills fan Scott Martino
Kansas City Chiefs fan Keith Abbott Jr.
Tennessee Titans fan Jason Bruce
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio, and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
As the National Football League added additional playoff spots in each of the conferences to expand postseason field.
But even with the extra playoff spot, there were still teams that ended up missing out.
In this episode, host Earl Holland talks with fan representatives of the teams that just missed the cut in the NFC playoffs.
The teams represented are:
Minnesota Vikings: David Kraus
New Orleans Saints: Amanda Gruss
Washington Football Team: David Cabrera
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
With the addition of a playoff spot in the American Football Conference postseason, there were greater opportunities for teams to vie for a run at the Lamar Hunt and Vince Lombardi trophies.
But even with the extra playoff spot, there were still teams that ended up missing out.
In this episode, host Earl Holland talks with fan representatives of the teams that just missed the cut in the AFC playoffs.
The teams represented are:
Baltimore Ravens: Mike Brittingham
Denver Broncos: Lisa Burkhart
Indianapolis Colts: Spenser Tilus
Los Angeles Chargers: Greg Bassett
Miami Dolphins: Brandon Berns
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
Kristian Blake has always had a love for R&B music. But recently, he’s found a greater interest in more classical music styles such as jazz.
For Blake, who performs with family members as part of a musical group “Klassic Soul,” his enthusiasm for music was put to the test at one point following an illness that left him without his voice for nearly a year.
In this episode, Blake joins host Earl Holland to discuss fatherhood, his changing tastes in sports, and how his interest in jazz music grew. Blake will also offer his take on some of the most unpopular R&B opinions.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
“Ball is Life” is the perfect way to describe the devotion, obsession, and passion for the game of basketball.
For many of the guests in this episode, their hardwood exploits tell the story of their basketball journeys, with many of their stories ranging from triumphs and great achievements to disappointments and cautionary tales of deferred dreams.
Join host Earl Holland in this best-of-episode featuring some of his previous interviews as he talks basketball with a number of guests including:
· Baltimore native Linwood Outlaw and a discussion about the NBA
· Courtney Kief and how the former basketball star coached her alma mater to its first regional title since 1992
· Matthew Lang and his hoop dreams playing in the hotbed of Prince George’s County, Maryland, and the story of how he was a camp counselor for a future NBA star
· Former prep star Dayona Godwin’s story of how the 2,000-point scorer became a key player at the Division I level as a walk-on
· Paul Butler, former radio personality and TV newscaster, discussing what it was like to not only coach with his former high school coach Butch Waller but also being able to coach his own son at his alma mater
· Brie Jackson, the White House reporter for Hearst News, sharing how her hoop dreams led to an opportunity to play at the University of Maryland
· Greg Bozman’s passion for the game led to a journey playing for two Division I programs and, ultimately, coaching at the high school level.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio, and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
October has arrived, and it means more than just the change of weather and leaves falling from the trees.
It’s also the final sprint of a months-long marathon of the Major League Baseball season, culminating with the World Series.
From spring training to the dog days of summer and the final weekend, several teams were vying for a postseason ticket, with some able to make it and others ending up on the outside looking in.
In this episode, host Earl Holland talks with fans representing the teams in the postseason hunt as they discuss their team’s paths while giving their World Series predictions.
They are as follows:
· San Diego Padres - Tierra Murguia
· Cincinnati Reds - Bobby Olsen
· New York Mets - Brandon Berns
· Philadelphia Phillies - Brian Banks
· Oakland Athletics - Chris Posadas
· Toronto Blue Jays - Phil Chinnery
· Seattle Mariners - Edward Holland
· St. Louis Cardinals - Willie Marx
· Los Angeles Dodgers - Sergio Arambula
· New York Yankees - Vinny Varadarajan
· San Francisco Giants - Jon Hernandez
· Houston Astros - Rich Swift
· Milwaukee Brewers - Hunter Quinn
· Tampa Bay Rays – Megan Kim
· Atlanta Braves - David Kraus
Who will be the one to take home the Commissioner’s Trophy? The race is on.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio, and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
Sometimes, necessity is the mother of invention.
That was the case when three friends — Willie Marx, Ben Stecker, and Michael Michaud — sought to fill a void with the loss of sports during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
As leagues suspended their seasons and postseason tournaments were halted, the friends came up with an idea to not only but add a wrinkle to it with their own season-long historical fantasy sports league.
In this episode, host Earl Holland talks with Marx, Stecker, and Michaud about how the three built their venture, Encore Fantasy Games, from the ground up and how their historical fantasy leagues work.
The trio will also discuss the creative process and the growing pains they’ve seen with Encore Fantasy Games, their future aspirations for the website, and much more.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
Jenny Hopkinson has two passions – journalism and ice hockey, both of which she became interested in at a young age.
Starting out creating her own newspaper that she would distribute to family members, Hopkinson parlayed that into a decade-long career that included nearly five years at The Politico before ultimately stepping away from journalism a few years ago.
Hopkinson’s on-ice exploits alternated over several periods of her life, including her youth, in college at the University of Maryland to the present as a member of the Washington Wolves C Team.
In this episode, Hopkinson drops in to talk with host Earl Holland about her path in journalism, her departure from the medium, and what it’s like being a recovering journalist.
Jenny also discusses her hockey influences, the relationships she’s been able to establish through the game while also giving her take on what makes the Olympics so great.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
While Donta Finney doesn’t follow a particular religion, he follows a philosophy of spiritual positivity.
Born from his discipline in both martial arts, namely kar-do-Jitsu Ryu, and his background in weightlifting, he has blended the two in his career as a personal trainer.
In this episode, Finney joins host Earl Holland to discuss his most recent experiences, including his return to his native Maryland following a three-year stint living in Florida.
Finney also gives his thoughts on some of the most common misconceptions about martial arts, the importance of positive motivation, and much more.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
Thomas Banks, Kristian Blake, and Korey Collick share a passion for R&B music, but that’s not all they share.
They are also fathers, husbands, black men, and close friends of mine.
In this episode, I talk with Thomas, Kristian, and Korey about recent events in their lives, their families, and life lessons and experiences.
We’ll also discuss R&B music, what it’s like being a father, Kristian’s auditions for “The X Factor” and “The Voice,” and much more.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
Running can be a painful endeavor if you ask Vanessa Junkin.
The wear and tear Junkin accrued training for marathons has led to running injuries ranging from the traditional shin splints up to the fracture of her ribs.
But one of Vanessa’s most painful experiences stemmed from being struck by a car while on an evening run late last year.
In this episode, Junkin joins host Earl Holland to discuss that harrowing moment and how the rest of her 2020 running goals were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Vanessa will also discuss her experiences as a journalist and how she found an interest in writing.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter.
You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
When Destiny Morgan Davis narrowed her choices for college, one of her options was a college in Florida, far away from her native Eastern Shore of Maryland.
Ultimately, she opted to attend Wesley College in Delaware to pursue a major in sports management. Later on, Davis would eventually make her move to Florida in a much better place in her life.
In this episode, Davis talks with host Earl Holland about her path from playing high school and college sports, pursuing a career in sports management, and ultimately, finding a passion for art and painting and having the opportunity to put her work on display.
Davis also discusses her thoughts on her alma mater being acquired by Delaware State University, the importance of having good mental health, and more.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
In the heat of battle, the ones who are standing to your left and right are not just your battle buddies but your compatriots.
During his days of playing in the Honda Campus All-Star Challenge competition, Earl Holland competed alongside several teammates and eventual friends as they took part in the fast-paced battle of wits among members of 64 historically black colleges and universities.
And as the years go by, the memories from those experiences remain, often as colorful as the instanced occurred.
In this episode, Holland talks with a panel of former HCASC competitors from the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore’s academic team to talk about what led them to UMES, how they became part of the team, their memorable experiences playing at the National Championship Tournament, and more.
Panelists include:
Elden Hawkes, player (1996-2001) and coach (2002 to 2008)
Mumbi Thandi-Kamiru, player (2000-2004)
Matthew Lang, player (2000-2004)
Janiece Blackmon, player (2003-2006)
Mark DeMorra, player (2004-2007)
Christina (Sutton) Junior, player (2005-2009)
Fred Stephens, player (2005-2009)
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter.
You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
When you think of summer, what’s the first thing that comes to mind?
Is it warm weather? Trips to the beach? Baseball games? What about sitting on the porch or deck with a nice cool drink?
While all of those things are good examples, nothing best represents summer more than a cookout.
In this episode, host Earl Holland takes the summer staple of the barbecue and transforms it into an all-out food free-for-all by implementing a fantasy draft.
Guests taking part in the selection process include Jennifer Brannock-Cox, Charlie Cox, Sherice Holland, and Stephanie “Sunshine” Williams.
Whose summer party would you end up attending? The only way to find out is by listening.
Following the draft, our draft guru, Brad Wilkins, give his hard-hitting analysis and draft grades.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter.
You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
Victoria Robinson and Scott Johnson are from two different worlds – one is from Washington D.C. area, and the other is a native New Yorker.
Those two worlds collided one faithful day in a freshman class at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. The two have been close ever since while forming a sibling-like bond and remaining in constant contact.
In this episode, Robinson and Johnson discuss their friendship, how they arrived at UMES, and their experiences at the historically black college.
Victoria and Scott will also discuss how their interest in sports was impacted by the pandemic and other factors.
Other topics include Robinson's interest in painting, the story of Johnson's destination wedding, and much more.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter.
You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio, and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
Kenny Brown and Linwood Outlaw first met as freshmen roommates at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.
Since then, the two have had a friendship for more than 20 years that included being classmates, suitemates, as well as members of a study group who spent long nights bonding.
In this episode, Brown and Outlaw discuss what drew them to UMES and why they became English majors.
The two will also discuss some of their favorite and challenging teachers and classes. They’ll also discuss their experiences interning in the journalism field and more.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter.
You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio, and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
Softball is in Kelly Cullen’s blood.
As part of a family of softball players, Cullen has loved the game of softball since she made the switch from little league baseball.
It was a passion that not only led to opportunities playing at the recreational, travel, and high school levels, but at the Division I college level as well as she earned a walk-on spot at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.
But then, after her freshman year in college, she walked away from the sport citing disillusionment.
The hiatus from the game allowed her to find that lost spark for softball that led to a return to the competitive aspect of the game.
In this episode, Cullen talks with host Earl Holland about her softball journey, in addition to what led to her decision to play Division I softball.
Kelly also shares why she pursued criminal justice as a major in college, a big lifestyle change, and why, as a softball player, she has a minimal interest in watching baseball.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter.
You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio, and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
The NBA Playoffs are underway, and the pursuit of the Larry O’Brien Championship is on!
In celebration of the playoffs, we’ve reached out to the fans of the teams in the playoff hunt to get their thoughts on their run to the playoffs and their NBA Finals predictions.
In this episode, host Earl Holland talks with fan representatives from the following teams:
Western Conference:
Golden State Warriors: Thomas Banks
Los Angeles Lakers: Chuck Oshurak
Portland Trail Blazers: Seth Morrigan
Dallas Mavericks: Patrick Mesa
Los Angeles Clippers: Sergio Arambula
Denver Nuggets: Tony Colianni
Phoenix Suns: Anthony Bartholomew
Utah Jazz: David Kraus
Eastern Conference:
Charlotte Hornets: Patrick Champion
Washington Wizards: Colby Price
Boston Celtics: Nate King
Miami Heat: Derek Young
New York Knicks: Vinny Varadarajan
Brooklyn Nets: Daniel Granada
Philadelphia 76ers: Linwood Outlaw
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter.
You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio, and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
Television has been a medium that has seen its share of evolutions in technology, programming content, and the way it’s consumed and disseminated.
And while what you see on TV has changed from its early days, there’s always been one constant when it comes to what you see on TV – it’s what you hear as well.
In this episode, join host Earl Holland and guests Ben Penserga, Brad Wilkins, and Mark DeMorra as they compile their lists of their favorite Television themes spanning a variety of genres and eras.
What themes show up on their lists?
Which ones didn’t make the cut?
The answers may surprise you.
For more on Movies & A Meal, follow @Moviesandameal on Twitter.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
The music of the movies can often be as iconic as the movies that they appear in.
Sometimes, those songs can even reach greater heights than the movies be earning an Oscar nomination.
In this special crossover episode, Earl Holland, Ben Penserga, and Brad Wilkins compile their boards for an Oscar-themed draft selecting their favorite winning songs from the past 50 years.
Is there a dark-horse favorite? Will Disney songs rule the day? What non-winning songs will make the list?
The results might surprise you.
For more on Movies & A Meal, follow @Moviesandameal on Twitter.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
It's said that variety is the spice of life.
Whoever said that surely hasn't done a taste test of 10 different hot sauces in one setting.
That's what Earl Holland and his guest, Edward Holland Sr., did in this episode as they put their taste buds (and common sense) on the line by running the gamut of spicy sauces.
Topics of conversation include sports, life, and their thresholds of spiciness.
Sauces in the taste test include:
Dawson's Hot Sauce
Shaquanda's West Indian Curry Hot Sauce
Satan's Rage
Angry Goat
Hell Fire Detroit
Da Bomb Evolution
Elijah's Xtreme Regret
DaBomb Beyond Insanity
Pucker Butt
Hot Ones: The Last Dab Apollo
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter.
You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio, and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
Greg Bozman's basketball journey began as a young boy playing in the backyard with his older brother and ultimately led to him playing at the highest level of college basketball – Division I.
But during Bozman's time playing college ball, what we now know as 'stretch-four,' a big man that could shoot from long range with deadly accuracy, wasn't even in its embryonic phase, let alone its infancy; relegating the 6-foot-8-inch Crisfield, Maryland native to a traditional post player.
This dissatisfaction, along with other events, led to Bozman playing at two Division I programs, before returning home to Somerset County Maryland.
But even after coming home, his passion for the game still burned as it eventually led to him coaching at the high school level while maintaining a rigorous daily shooting routine.
In this episode, Bozman shares his passion for basketball with host Earl Holland in addition to discussing what led to his arrivals and departures from two Division I programs, the lessons he learned from those experiences, and how he found his way into the coaching ranks.
Bozman also talks about the player he ever faced, what's it like being the athletic director of two schools at the same time in one county, and more.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter.
You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio, and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
Every professional team has a definitive look and color scheme that are synonymous with a particular player or period of time.
While not all of them make it to the annals of throwback-worth jerseys, there are ones that are timeless.
In this episode, self-professed jersey collector Ben Penserga joins host Earl Holland to discuss their favorite jerseys, the cyclical nature of uniforms, and more.
Penserga will also go in-depth about his podcast, 'Movies & A Meal' as well as a recent milestone his show recently reached.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter.
You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio, and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
Meredith Esguerra turned to astrology during a tough time in search of a better understanding of her circumstances in life.
In her experience in learning astrology and tarot reading, Esguerra has gained a greater appreciation of the study and its potential influence on human affairs and the natural world.
In this episode, coinciding with host Earl Holland's birthday, Esguerra returns to not only discuss how she has handled the COVID-19 pandemic but to analyze Holland's natal and solar return charts.
Meredith will also participate in a test of sports trivia ranging from a variety of categories.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter.
You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio, and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
Steve Wagner is not your ordinary dentist. How many dentists do you know that know the real names of the members of the group N.W.A.?
In addition to that, Wagner's path to being a dentist as well as owning and running his own practice by the age of 30, was a far-from-ordinary one.
In this episode, Wagner discusses with host Earl Holland how he found an interest in medicine, what it was like earning an undergrad as a young father while attending the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and, eventually, is doctorate of dental sciences from the University of Maryland School of Dentistry.
Also, Wagner will discuss is passion for the Baltimore Orioles and the Washington Football Team.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter.
You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio, and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
Kuartez James started his coaching career in the high school and Pop Warner ranks in Berlin, Maryland, as an extension of his love for football.
James's passion for helping young athletes led to the creation of his program, Recruit University, whose mission is to help aspiring athletes earn the opportunity to play college sports.
In this episode, James discusses how his interest in coaching and how putting players in the best position to succeed led to developing his recruiting program. He will also discuss what led to putting that knowledge to paper and becoming a published author.
In addition to James telling his story, he will also share some advice for parents and student-athletes about what they can do in the recruiting process.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter.
You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio, and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
With baseball, there's a romanticism that is unmatched by any other sport.
There's no other sport where the numbers are more meaningful than in “America's Pastime.”
And there's no more hallowed place than Cooperstown and the Baseball Hall of Fame, which announced its 2021 class on January 26.
Who will share the stage with 2020 electees Derek Jeter, Larry Walker, Ted Simmons, and the late Marvin Miller?
Will players of the steroid era languishing on the ballot finally have their day?
Will any of the new nominees transcend to baseball immortality?
In this episode, host Earl Holland is joined by a panel of baseball fans who give their thoughts on what makes a hall of famer. The panelists will also opine on potential hall-worthy players no longer on the ballot as well as their choices for this year's class.
Guests on the fan panel include Ben Penserga, Therran Dennis, Vinny Varadarajan, Jeff Scott, Veronica Day, and Brandon Berns.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter.
You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio, and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
While the NFL Playoffs opened with 14 teams vying for the Vince Lombardi Trophy, 16 other teams sat at home.
Among those 16 teams playing golf or going fishing were several teams who had a legitimate shot to make the playoffs in the final weeks of the regular season – the New York Giants, Dallas Cowboys, Minnesota Vikings, Las Vegas Raiders, and Miami Dolphins.
In this bonus episode, host Earl Holland talks with fans of the teams that just missed the cut for the postseason:
NFC:
Dallas Cowboys: Matthew Lang
New York Giants: Vinny Varadarajan
Minnesota Vikings: David Kraus
AFC:
Miami Dolphins: Darryl Davis
Las Vegas Raiders: Kenny Brown
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter.
You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio, and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
Fourteen teams enter, one team leaves as champion.
The NFL Playoffs arrive with an expanded format with two additional teams vying for the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
In this episode, host Earl Holland talks with fans representing the teams in the playoff field.
Joining the show are fans representing:
NFC:
Green Bay Packers: Therran Dennis
New Orleans Saints: Enaka Beteck
Seattle Seahawks: Jeremy Metzger
Washington Football Team: Ramel Fields
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Donta Finney
Los Angeles Rams: Donald Johnson
Chicago Bears: Cameron Kemp
AFC:
Kansas City Chiefs: Jeffrey McCoy
Buffalo Bills: Corey Seyler
Pittsburgh Steelers: Jackie and Ben Jennings
Tennessee Titans: Jason Bruce
Baltimore Ravens: Carl Anderton
Cleveland Browns: Jean Goblinger
Indianapolis Colts: Chaudre Johnson
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter.
You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio, and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
The Year 2020 brought great promise before the era of COVID-19 threw the year into a tailspin and made simple activities such as getting together with friends while creating a “new normal.”
This year has also provided more opportunities to tell the stories of those who have a strong connection with sports.
In this episode, join host Earl Holland as he brings back some of the most intriguing interviews from the past year with guests including Matthew Lang, Benny Panella, Nicole and Veronica Day, Mitchell Northam, and Thomas Banks, Kristian Blake, and Korey Collick as they discuss several topics.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter.
You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio, and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
At the plate, there’s no comparable pressure than trying to hit a launched baseball at a high velocity, which is why Chaudre Johnson thrived at it.
For Johnson, a three-sport high school athlete, the impact of baseball left an indelible mark.
In this episode, Chaudre sits down with his uncle, and host, Earl Holland, to discuss his passion for baseball. The Maryland native also shares how he became a fan of the Boston Red Sox, Indianapolis Colts, and Los Angeles Lakers.
Johnson will also discuss one of his most memorable athletic achievement that occurred on the hardwood instead of the diamond.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
Election day in the United States is here!
And as voters head to the ballot box and exercise their civic duties, Earl Holland and the hosts of the “Movies And A Meal Podcast,” Ben Penserga, Brad Wilkins and Keith Demko, review a movie that is the right fit for election season, the 2003 film “Head of State” starring Chris Rock.
In this episode, Holland, Penserga, Wilkins, and Demko discuss the movie's significance, how the movie showed parallels to the presidential elections in 2008 and 2016, some of the most memorable lines and moments in the movie as well as how it compares with other movies of the same ilk.
For more on Movies & A Meal, follow @Moviesandameal on Twitter.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
Despite an eight-year age difference, Nicole and Veronica Day share a unique bond not limited to just a birthday, but a love for baseball, including the Baltimore Orioles.
But while the two sisters also have a lot of things in common, they have their different tastes, which include Nicole's love for ice hockey and K-Pop music as well as Veronica's love for reggaeton and their love of various football teams.
In this episode, Nicole and Veronica join host Earl Holland to discuss how they became baseball fans, their visits to Orioles FanFest, and their thoughts on the dearth and decline of black players in MLB.
The Days will also discuss their musical preferences, how Nicole became a fan of hockey and K-Pop music, and their celebrity lookalikes.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
Matthew Lang has a passion for many things, including basketball, literature, and the pursuit of knowledge.
But one of his greatest ambitions is to become a published author.
In this episode, Lang and host Earl Holland discuss Lang’s basketball experiences, including his time as a camp counselor for future NBA MVP and world champion Kevin Durant as well as his participation in the Honda Campus All-Star Challenge, the competition featuring Historically Black Colleges and Universities in a battle of wits.
Matt will also share his aspirations on being a published author, his thoughts on the former Washington Redskins name controversy as well as his advice for the graduated high school class of 2020.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
The past couple of years have been full of change for Mitchell Northam.
Northam has had changes in his job, his location, and even relationship status. But the one thing that has remained consistent is his “hustling” ways as a freelance writer working for various outlets, including NCAA.com.
In this episode, Northam shares with host Earl Holland his experiences working at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, his move from Georgia to North Carolina, and his recent engagement.
Mitch will also discuss how he’s adapted to living in North Carolina, how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected his writing pursuits, and his thoughts on “The Last Dance” documentary.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
Put on your self-lacing sneakers, grab your hoverboard, and set your destination to July 3, 1985.
Join Earl Holland, Mark DeMorra, and the hosts of the “Movies And A Meal” Podcast — Ben Penserga, Brad Wilkins, Keith Demko — as they go back in time revisit “Back to the Future” in this crossover episode.
Topics of discussion include an examination of the iconic characters and the actors who portrayed them, the influence the movie had on the reviewers, the hidden darker aspects of the film, and whether the film’s producers should release the “Eric Stoltz Cut” of the film.
For more on Movies & A Meal, follow @Moviesandameal on Twitter.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
Linwood Outlaw and Andre Watson share a lot of bonds.
Not only were the two graduates of the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore, they were roommates and classmates who also pursued careers in the field of journalism.
But a big connection Outlaw and Watson share is their love for pro wrestling. As a result, the two have attended several major wrestling events, including the Super Bowl of wrestling, WrestleMania, on several occasions.
In this episode, Outlaw and Watson discuss what goes into planning a WrestleMania trip as well as their experiences going to other events such as the debut episode of All-Elite Wrestling: Dynamite and the AEW Full Gear Pay-Per-View event in Baltimore, Maryland.
Linwood and Andre also discuss their thoughts on wrestling and some overlooked stars in the WWE title scene.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
Summer has arrived bringing warm weather, the opportunity to finally go outside, and, of course, cookouts.
Let’s face it, summers and cookouts go together.
Whatever you call it, it’s the perfect blend of test kitchen, potluck, and social gathering, which is much needed in a world filled with mandated social distancing.
In this episode of The Sports Refuge Podcast, we combine two parts of summer – sports and cookouts – for the social event of the season: a mock fantasy draft for our dream barbecue.
Participating in the draft are:
• Earl Holland Jr, host of The Sports Refuge Podcast and Sports Refuge blogger
• Ben Penserga, co-host of the Movies & A Meal Podcast
• Brandon Wilkins, co-host of the Movies & A Meal Podcast
• Vanessa Junkin, creator of the running blog, “She Runs by The Seashore”
• Jeremy Cox, staff writer, Bay Journal
• Jennifer Brannock-Cox, assistant professor, Communication Arts Department, Salisbury University
The draft consists of three rounds, followed a “free agency” round featuring three picks for items not already selected in the draft.
Whose plate will reign supreme? Find out.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
As a part of the Stephen Decatur girls basketball team in Berlin, Maryland, Dayona Godwin was the focal point of a team that won two Bayside South conference titles.
Following a prep career that included winning player of the year honors as a sophomore and scoring 2,000 points, Godwin continued her basketball career at the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore as a walk-on.
In this episode, Godwin discusses with host Earl Holland the level of competition at the high school and the Division I college levels, why she chose to play at UMES, and how Kobe Bryant influenced her style of play.
Godwin also shares her aspirations post-basketball and how the COVID-19 outbreak impacted both her team’s run for a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournament title and her graduation.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
As a three-sport star and one of the most decorated female athletes in the history of Snow Hill High School, Courtney Kief has put together a resume of accolades, including earning a spot in the inaugural class of her alma mater’s athletic hall of fame.
After achieving so much as a player, Kief added to her accomplishments as a coach leading the Snow Hill girls basketball team to its first regional title since 1992.
In this episode, Kief discusses her athletic background with host Earl Holland as well as how she became interested in the sport of basketball.
Courtney also goes into how she got into teaching and, eventually, coaching, what it’s like coaching at her alma mater, and the lead up to Snow Hill winning the regional title.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
Hunter Parsons’ journey to a professional baseball career comprises of three factors: his family, his faith, and a fastball that clocks in at more than 95 miles per hour.
It was his family that inspired him to follow his dreams of playing in the pros.
It was the very same high-velocity fastball that led to him being selected twice in the MLB Amateur Draft in 2014 and 2018.
And his faith helped him overcome tough times playing baseball at the University of Maryland, ultimately leading to a rebound.
In this episode, Parsons discusses his path to the pros, including making the transition from pitching at a private school to the public school and getting on the radar of professional scouts and college coaches.
Hunter, who pitched at the University of Maryland, will also discuss the culture shock of playing in New York as well as his expectations for his first full professional season.
Parsons will also give his advice to anyone looking to pursue a career as a professional athlete.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
There’s one thing that Hollywood studios and scriptwriters have had difficulty translating to the big screen – movies based on games.
Unlike from duds like “Battleship” to “Super Mario Bros,” few films were able to make the jump to being a cult classic, for all the right reasons, like the 1985 adaptation of the board game “Clue” led by an all-star cast including Christopher Lloyd, Martin Mull, Eileen Brennan, and Tim Curry.
In this bonus episode, Sports Refuge podcast host Earl Holland discusses Clue and other mystery movies with the “Movies & Meal Podcast,” Ben Penserga, Keith Demko, and Brad Wilkins.
For more on Movies & A Meal, follow @Moviesandameal on Twitter.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
Mathew and Josh Shockley’s bond goes beyond just being brothers. They have been business partners for a long time.
The Snow Hill, Maryland natives drew and created comic book art since a young age, which led to the creation of their own comic book company, PLB Comics.
In this episode, Mat and Josh discuss their interest in creating comic books, the creative process in releasing new editions, and how the PLB Comics name was coined.
The Shockleys will also discuss how they got into running cross country, their appearances in a “runaway” hit movie, Mat's brewing career change, and more.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
Dustin Kuras is an encyclopedia of sports knowledge. Kuras’s vast knowledge led him to an opportunity to put it to the test on the game show, “Sports Jeopardy!” where the competition was decided on the final question.
In this episode, Kuras speaks with host Earl Holland, his opponent on the show, about his run. Dustin also explains his road to the show and his behind-the-scenes experience.
Kuras, a Michigan native, also discusses his beloved Detroit sports teams and how he manages his sports fandom as his family grows.
Dustin also addresses his passion for professional wrestling in addition to discussing his work on the business end of a budding dental practice run by his wife, Dawn.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
Philadelphia sports fans are known for saying what’s on their minds and Benny Panella is no different.
The difference between Panella and other Philadelphia sports fans is that he has the outlet to voice his opinions with his own podcast, “The Pat and Benny Show,” which focuses on sports in the “City of Brotherly Love.”
In the conclusion of a two-part interview, Benny and host Earl Holland discuss the second iteration of the XFL, what it’s like being a Philadelphia sports fan as well as the impetus of the “Pat and Benny Show.”
Panella will also give important advice to anyone who aspires to be in the radio business.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
At 26 years old, Benny Panella has already accomplished a lot in his radio career.
Panella, not only works as an on-air personality for iHeartRadio Delaware but also hosts the country music show "Nashville's Next," in addition to the Philadelphia sports podcast, "The Pat and Benny Show.”
Benny has been able to balance these roles while also working on the sales side of the medium.
In this episode, part one of a two-part interview, Panella and host Earl Holland discuss how Benny first got interested in radio at a young age, his thoughts on the future of the medium, and much more.
Benny will also discuss his wrestling fandom and what’s needed to revitalize a stale industry.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
When it comes to describing Malika Yates, the best word that personifies her is “inspirational.”
Yates has accomplished much in her life, including landing acting spots in movies, voice acting gigs, and opportunities to become a professional cheerleader.
What’s even more inspirational is her recovery from a traumatic brain injury and cognitive concussion, which she sustained more than two years ago that has dramatically altered her life.
In this episode, Yates discusses her background in cheerleading and dancing with host Earl Holland in addition to her recovery.
Yates will also discuss how her lifelong interest in the environment led to her role as Elite Miss Delaware Earth, being on the pageant circuit, and much more.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
When Vinny Varadarajan tried out for the game show “Sports Jeopardy!” little did he know he was about to start a run that would not only put him in the record books among “Jeopardy!” contestants at the time but among some of the most successful winners in game show history.
Varadarajan set the record for most wins in “Sports Jeopardy!” history with 15 consecutive victories between Oct. 2015 and Feb. 2016. That run cemented him among notable game show winners such as Ken Jennings, Lt. Thom McKee, John Carpenter, Michael Larsen, and, most recently, James Holzhauer.
In this episode, Varadarajan joins host and fellow "Sports Jeopardy!" winner Earl Holland to discuss his interest in trivia, how he tried out for the show, and his entire experience during the run.
Vinny also talks about being a New York sports fan, being able to experience the championship celebrations of the Washington Nationals and Washington Capitals as a resident of the Washington D.C.-Metropolitan area, and much more.
You can follow Vinny Varadarajan on Twitter at @Exit130.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
The NFL Playoffs are here, and the chase for the Vince Lombardi Trophy is on.
There are plenty of fans of teams in this year’s chase that are ready for a possible run to Super Bowl 54 in Miami on February 3, 2020.
Which team has the best chance to win it all? Everyone has an opinion.
In this episode, host Earl Holland talks with fans representing the teams in the playoff field.
Joining the show are fans representing:
NFC:
San Francisco 49ers: Edward Holland Sr. and Jeffrey Scott
Green Bay Packers: Jill Fredel
New Orleans Saints: Gavaughn Trower
Philadelphia Eagles: Jeff Taviano
Seattle Seahawks: Dave Hudson
Minnesota Vikings: Deondrea Purnell
AFC:
Baltimore Ravens: Rick Manick
Kansas City Chiefs: Artie Abbott Jr.
New England Patriots: Terrence Blackwell
Tennessee Titans: Jason Bruce
Buffalo Bills: Andre Smith
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
Indeed, there’s a movie for every season. The glut of Christmas-themed films is a perfect example of that.
Those types of movies can have a place in our hearts and minds.
So, while it can be objective as for what makes a great movie, having various perspectives is a good thing to have.
In this crossover episode featuring the “Movies and a Meal” podcast crew host Earl Holland as well as Ben Penserga, Brad Wilkins, and Keith Demko give their Top-10 list of Christmas and holiday flicks.
Where will your favorite movie end up on our lists? Where do modern classics fall? Does Die Hard count as a Christmas movie?
The only way to find out is to listen.
For more on Movies & A Meal, follow @Moviesandameal on Twitter.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
In the heat of competition, some performers rise to the challenge, while others wilt under the spotlight.
During her time playing in the Honda Campus All-Star Challenge, Meredith Esguerra had a killer mentality and competitive fire hidden under her demure appearance.
For Esguerra, how she came to be a part of the team as well as what led her to the University of Maryland Eastern Shore felt like it was fate.
In this episode, Esguerra, a California native, shares with host Earl Holland, why she came to the East Coast school and what it was like attending an HBCU.
Esguerra recalls her time participating in HCASC, how she prepared for its competitive aspect. In addition to that, she'll talk about how, following her days playing HCASC, she tried to fill the void for trivia and competition.
Meredith also discusses how an interest in astrology led to a new outlook on life.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
If you think Sports Refuge Podcast host Earl Holland's knowledge is limited to sports, you should see his other side.
In this special crossover episode, Holland guests on the Mocha Minutes Podcast with host Stephanie Williams to discuss several pop culture subjects.
Topics of discussion include the death of comedian John Witherspoon, comments made by singer John Legend on his relationship with Kayne West, and the release of West's new album "Jesus is King."
To hear the complete discussion as well as more episodes of the Mocha Minutes Podcast, click here.
For more on the Mocha Minutes Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
Hot takes have become a part of the conversation of sports.
With the advent of sports talk radio and the “embrace debate” philosophy, there has been a greater emphasis on the hot take.
But as a result, it has become a tired trope.
With the culture of sports changing, possibly for the worst, what is there to do?
In this episode, host Earl Holland shares his thoughts on the change in the climate of sports discussion, his take on all things sports, while discussing topics such as the World Series, his Washington Redskins, and more.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
Die-hard baseball fan. Sports memorabilia collector. Chef.
While all of those things best describe Jeffrey Scott, two other things come to mind most – husband and new father.
In this episode, Scott, with host Earl Holland, discusses how baseball is not only a passion but a "religion.” The native Marylander also addresses how h came to be a die-hard San Francisco 49ers fan.
Jeff will also talk about how he became a fan of collecting sports memorabilia and how the birth of his daughter, Lola, made an impact in his life.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
Success for Carmen Frazier has been the result of finding the right place to be.
After a year of playing Little League baseball, she made the switch to softball, which led her to the opportunity to play the sport on the college level.
After playing Division I softball at Coppin State University for one year, Frazier moved on to the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.
It was at UMES where she found her niche as a member of the Hawks softball team and her career path to being a news producer at WJLA-TV in Washington, D.C.
In this episode, Frazier discusses with host Earl Holland how those changes made an impact in her life as well as how attending a Historically Black College shaped her experiences.
Carmen also discusses what it’s like working behind the scenes in the television newsroom environment as well as how she began her own T-shirt design company, “Make A Statement.”
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
Optimism paired with experience and hard work has taken Brie Jackson a long way.
Since playing her last Division I college basketball game at the University of Maryland, Jackson left her hoop dreams behind to pursue a journalism career.
It was that path in journalism that prepared her for her current role as White House correspondent for Nexstar Media.
In this episode, Jackson and host Earl Holland discuss how Jackson became interested in journalism and her career progression to becoming a White House correspondent.
Brie will also talk about what it’s like covering the goings-on at the White House and how, in the age of “Fake News,” journalists must be more careful in presenting the news.
Jackson also recalls her time playing college basketball for the Terps as well as how she found a new passion for running.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
In this look back with the hosts of the “Movies & A Meal” Podcast, Earl Holland discusses his list of favorite sports movies with Ben Penserga and Brad Wilkins, followed with a discussion between Holland and Penserga on baseball movies.
Following that, Holland joins Penserga and Keith Demko for some drop-in Chinese buffet food while talking about what movies they’re looking forward to for the remainder of 2019.
For more on Movies & A Meal, follow @Moviesanda on Twitter.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
Video games went from being a part of recreation to transitioning into a pastime before ultimately becoming a global phenomenon that has spanned its own sports leagues and competitions.
And while the medium has transformed, the games themselves have also evolved as several generations of hardware and software have advanced beyond games like “Pong” and “Ms. Pac-Man” to games such as “Minecraft,” “Call of Duty” and “Fortnite.”
Sports video games have also played an impactful role in pop culture as this show’s guests, Brian Banks, and Mark DeMorra discuss.
In this episode, Banks, DeMorra and host Earl Holland discuss their favorite sports video games and much more.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
Although Andre Watson has been a pro wrestling fan since childhood, many of his memorable moments attending live wrestling events have come as an adult.
In the past few years, Watson has attended several big-ticket events including New Japan’s G1 Climax Tournament, multiple Summerslam and Wrestlemania shows as well as All-Elite Wrestling’s Double or Nothing card.
In the second and final part of a two-part interview, Watson talks about what led to his decision to start attending the shows and what preparation and costs involved going to the shows.
Watson also discusses his wrestling memorabilia collection, why he no longer attends deathmatch wrestling shows, and why he ultimately left the field of journalism.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
Andre Watson’s passion for wrestling began at an early age when his great-grandfather took him to wrestling matches during the era of Jim Crockett Promotions.
Since then, Watson has immersed himself into the world of wrestling, becoming an avid fan of the sport. He’s attended various events including the G-1 Tournament, numerous Wrestlemanias as well as traveling on the Chris Jericho “Rock and Wrestling Cruise.”
In this episode, the first of two parts, Watson shares his thoughts on the evolution of wrestling since the early days of his fandom with host Earl Holland.
Andre will address the importance of All-Elite Wrestling and what it needs to do to become a true wrestling alternative to WWE.
Watson will also discuss the significance of Kofi Kingston winning the WWE Championship at Wrestlemania 35, what other wrestlers should be in line for a championship run and much more.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
For Chris Jenkins, wrestling was more than a sport. His two-year stint in the athletic endeavor provided lessons that he has continued to apply in his everyday life.
As a member of Snow Hill High School’s first wrestling team, Jenkins and others, including host Earl Holland, helped establish a culture future wrestlers would continue to build into future successes.
In this episode, Jenkins discusses with Holland what drew him to the sport and how the guidance of then-head coach Mastery Gunnery Sgt. Floyd Gladden directed him to a career in the United States Marine Corps.
Jenkins also shares his experiences running in the Marine Corps Half Marathon, his thoughts on the need for constant learning and much more.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
As a personal trainer, Donta Finney understands the importance of establishing good routines and setting goals.
It's something that extends into his role of father to his two sons, Dylan and Deion.
Now, 12 years later, fatherhood calls again, this time with the recent birth of his daughter, Dakota.
In this episode, Finney talks with host Earl Holland about how parenting has changed since the birth of his first son. Donta also discusses the challenges of raising a daughter.
He'll also talk about the importance of proper dieting, a positive state of mind in the gym and break down the recent Keto diet trend.
Finney will also take part in another game of word association featuring more notable names from the world of martial arts, fitness and more.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
John Easterbrook’s interest in radio began with aspirations of being the play-by-play announcer for his beloved Pittsburgh Pirates.
Although he never fulfilled that dream, Easterbrook has carved out a pretty good niche of his own as a sports reporter at WTOP Radio in Washington D.C. and the play-by-play voice of Salisbury University Football.
In this episode, Easterbrook discusses his radio career with host Earl Holland as well as how he came up with his on-air name, J. Brooks.
Easterbrook also shares his experience working as a producer for the Ripken Baseball show at SiriusXM Radio; what it was like working the now obsolete radio role of the overnight shift and how he started a career in acting with appearances in shows such as “House of Cards” and “VEEP.”
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
As a die-hard Cleveland sports fan, Jean Goblinger has experienced her share of ups and downs.
The gamut of emotions varies from seeing the championship victory of the Cavaliers, the disappointments of “The Drive,” “The Fumble," and the sadness and betrayal as a result of the departure of the first incarnation of the Browns in 1995.
In this episode, Goblinger shares with host Earl Holland her thoughts and optimism on the upcoming Cleveland Browns season.
She'll also give her opinion on whether quarterback Baker Mayfield is the long-term answer to the Browns' path to success.
Goblinger also discusses what it was like losing the first incarnation of the Browns to a move to Baltimore in 1995; what it's like being married to a Pittsburgh Steelers fan; how she fulfilled a childhood dream of becoming a teacher, and more.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
Show your charisma. Project to your audience. Evaluate results. Nose to the grindstone. Stay hustling. Execute. Repeat.
While these tenets are powerful on their own, combined they form the basis of success for Spenser Tilus, a sports broadcast journalist whose has had stints in Colorado, Salisbury, Maryland and currently, West Monroe, Louisiana at KTVE and KARD.
In this episode, Tilus talks with host Earl Holland about his time playing college basketball, his unique path into broadcast journalism and a unique presentation that involved nods to the show, "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia."
Tilus also discusses what it was like playing a role in building a television news sports department from scratch, the importance of telling a good story as a broadcast journalist, and his chance meeting with a national sports personality.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are available.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
Mike Gordy’s career takes him up and down the highways frequently.
As a regional sales manager for Austin Eastciders, Gordy’s travels on the road not only provide interesting experiences but a lot of time listening to music, books and of course, podcasts.
As a guest on a podcast, Gordy joins host Earl Holland to talk about a variety of topics, including his travels, his favorite teams growing up – the San Francisco 49ers and San Francisco Giants - and his interest in combat sports such as mixed martial arts and boxing.
Gordy also shares his thoughts on performance-enhancing drugs, the length of games in football and baseball as well as a discussion his favorite pro wrestlers and much more.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
When talking to Paul Butler, his smooth, booming delivery and laid-back demeanor are the first things you’ll notice.
Those dulcet tones, which Butler cultivated for more than a decade as an on-air radio personality before embarking on a nearly two-decade career as a TV news and sports anchor as well as a stint as the Carolina Panthers’ sideline reporter for the NFL on FOX.
In this episode, Butler, now the director of communications and community outreach for the Wicomico County Board of Education in Salisbury, Maryland, recounts his unique story about his career in radio and how he made his transition to television broadcasting with host Earl Holland.
Butler also discusses how the introduction of social media and the internet into the field of journalism mirrored the introduction of rap music in the format Top 40 radio and how the concepts were broached.
Butler will also share how a more competitive and passionate side of his personality comes out when he’s on the sidelines coaching basketball in addition to describing what it was like to have the opportunity to watch and coach his son, Paul III during his time playing basketball at the senior Butler’s alma mater, Wicomico High School.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
Baseball and movies share a bond in popular culture that spans more than a century.
They both draw crowds, are entertaining, and take the spotlight in the summer months.
And as shown in the past, when the two are combined, they make great and sometimes iconic memories.
In this episode, host Earl Holland and guest, Ben Penserga of the “Movies and a Meal Podcast,” discuss the 30th anniversary of the releases of “Field of Dreams,” and “Major League,” and the importance of those baseball movies on pop culture.
Penserga and Holland will discuss some of their favorite and least favorite baseball movies as well as the evolution of baseball movies from those released in theaters, to documentaries such as Ken Burns' “Baseball,” and up to ESPN’s 30-for-30 series and SB Nation’s Beef History and Collapse series.
Holland and Penserga also pitch their dream baseball-themed movies and projects.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
At one time, T.J. Bryant used football as an outlet to calm his rambunctious nature as a youth.
Now, he uses that same game as a means of teaching life lessons on and off the field.
As the coach of the Salisbury Rhinos 12-and Under youth football team, Bryant imparts wisdom to his players, much of it based on his own past experiences.
In this episode, Bryant discusses with host Earl Holland how he fell in love with the game of football, how it changed his life as well as how he got interested in coaching the sport.
Bryant also shares some of the advice he gives to his players, the increased emphasis of proper football fundamentals and the importance of safety in youth football.
He also discusses who some of his early influences in football were, what it was like being a Miami Dolphins fan in the heyday of Dan Marino and much more.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
Jonathan Howard is proof positive that there’s life after print journalism.
Howard, a former sportswriter, took an extremely different course in his career that led to him through Seattle, Washington; Baltimore, Maryland and New York City before earning his master’s degree from Morgan State University’s transportation and urban infrastructure program.
In this episode, Howard discusses with Earl Holland about his initial path and interest in writing and journalism and what led to his early departure from it at the age of 26.
Howard will also share how he became a fan of both the Baltimore Orioles and New York Mets and how they each have a familial connection to him as well as comparing the differences between living in Seattle, Baltimore, and New York City.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
Terrence Blackwell and the sport of wrestling go hand in hand.
It was a pairing that was a natural fit as Blackwell became a star at his alma mater Snow Hill High School in Snow Hill, Maryland setting what was then a program record of 124 wins before ultimately becoming an assistant wrestling coach at Snow Hill.
For someone now completely hooked by the sport, Blackwell needed to be convinced in his early days to pursue wrestling as a freshman.
In this episode, Blackwell and host Earl Holland discuss what it was like wrestling at Snow Hill close to 20 years apart and the differences between their practice regimens.
Blackwell also elaborates on what it’s like making the transition from wrestling to becoming a coach and his philosophy on instructing his players.
Blackwell and Holland will also discuss the topic of boxing, mixed martial arts, and other combat sports as well as dream match-ups, the growth in interest in combat sports and the methods used in promoting those sports.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
There are many sides to Thomas Banks.
Banks is a fan of horror movies, performs stand-up comedy and recently became an avid bowler.
But there’s also a serious side to Banks as well.
He recently took part in a family reunion more than two decades in the making as he was able to connect with his late father’s family.
The homecoming allowed Banks to fill a major void in his life as he recently became a father himself.
In this episode, Banks discusses the reunion with host Earl Holland as well as how he got into performing stand-up comedy.
Thomas will also discuss his aspirations in becoming a professional bowler, what it’s like being a sports fan in South Florida and more.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
Each morning, Ricky Pollitt would start his day reading the sports section of The Daily Times newspaper.
Now, Pollitt’s work graces the very same pages of that same Salisbury, Maryland publication.
Pollitt’s career in sports journalism has been part of a lifelong connection to athletics that’s also included doing play-by-play at his alma mater, Salisbury University.
In this episode, Pollitt discusses with host Earl Holland about what it’s like working as a sports reporter during a time where newsrooms are decreasing in size as well as some of his sports role models and influences.
Pollitt also recounts his experience being the son of a public official, as his father Rick held various positions for more than two decades, including Wicomico County Executive for two terms.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
The holidays are the best time for families to get together.
And there’s no better holiday for a family reunion than Christmas. The Christmas holiday is also the time the NBA takes the spotlight.
In this episode, host Earl Holland guides listeners through segments recorded at his family home in Newark, Maryland on Christmas 2018 featuring appearances from various family members including his brother Edward Holland Sr., cousin Therran Dennis, and nephew Chaudre Johnson.
Among topics discussed are the NBA and the game’s evolution, and what past stars could thrive in this era of “the Association.” Other topics include NFL predictions, Major League Baseball and more.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
Sports and movies are just two of the things ingrained in our culture.
So, when the two are combined, it can be a unique marriage.
And like with all movies, there are good ones, bad ones, and memorable ones (famous or infamous), which Ben Penserga and Brad Wilkins, two of the co-hosts of the podcast, “Movies & A Meal,” can attest to.
In this episode, Penserga and Wilkins join host Earl Holland to share their favorite sports films as well as discuss a recent list released by the website Vulture of its 50 greatest sports movies.
Ben and Brad will also discuss how they came up with the format of “Movies & A Meal,” with co-host Keith Demko, while also giving their predictions for the 91st Academy Awards.
You can find the Movies & A Meal podcast, here.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
2018 was a milestone year for Vanessa Junkin when it came to her running goals.
She set a new personal best in kilometers run while becoming a certified running coach. Junkin also ran races in several states including Vermont, West Virginia, and Virginia.
In this episode, Junkin discusses her running accomplishments from 2018, including meeting 2014 Boston Marathon winner Meb Keflezighi, as well as her role as a BibRave pro and some of the gear and devices she’s been able to test out.
Junkin also talks with host Earl Holland about her previous experiences as a journalist and the transition from journalism to public relations as well as her interest in craft beers and becoming a “cat mom.”
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
Writing has always come naturally to Diamond Holton.
A love for writing poetry blossomed into interest and passion for sports writing, including her current role as a contributor for the SB Nation blog, “Bullets Forever,” which covers the Washington Wizards and Washington Mystics.
In this episode, Holton talks with host Earl Holland about several topics, including attending her first live sporting event, her chance meeting with one of her writing and journalistic inspirations, Jemele Hill, and how the Washington, D.C. native became a fan of the New England Patriots.
She’ll also discuss her dream sports writing job, and the impact Venus and Serena Williams had on the sport of tennis, and whether Serena Williams or Tiger Woods is the most dominant individual athletes in the 21st Century.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
Mike Brittingham and Kevin McGarity first met each other as eight-year-olds when they became next-door neighbors.
Since that time, the two have become best friends sharing various experiences ranging from attending sporting events together all the way to being softball teammates.
In this episode, McGarity and Brittingham discuss their football fandom before the arrival of the Baltimore Ravens, their thoughts on the Orioles’ rebuilding process under new GM Mike Elias and manager Brandon Hyde, and what it’s like going to games to Memorial Stadium in Baltimore and they give their experiences visiting the “Old Gray Lady of 33rd Street.”
They’ll also share their thoughts and memories of watching pro wrestling, how the medium has changed over the years, what major wrestling event they’re looking forward to attending this year, and their experiences playing rec league softball.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
What do you get when you combine unapologetic and unfiltered with laid-back and cool?
You get this week’s guests, Edward Holland Sr. and Therran Dennis, who are participating in a group conversation.
In this week’s episode, Holland and Dennis sit with host Earl Holland to discuss various topics, including their thoughts on some of the most overrated quarterbacks in the NFL, the rise of E-sports, and how they compare to playing video games in old-school arcades.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
What happens to a dream deferred? Sometimes, it can dry up like a raisin in the sun.
Other times, the wait can pay off, and Towson University receiver Shane Leatherbury can attest to this. Leatherbury was named First-Team All-Colonial Athletic Association after a 67-catch, 885-yard and seven-touchdown season after being a walk-on two seasons ago.
Prior to that, the former high school quarterback played a season of football at Division II Seton Hill, before ta
king a year off.
In this episode, Leatherbury discusses his path to playing football at the Football Championship Subdivision level, how he made the jump from Division II, and what he did in the year between to prepare himself for the transition.
Leatherbury also talks about some of his influences, the best athlete he’s played against, the best piece of advice he received, and more.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
It's the most wonderful time of the year as host Earl Holland joins Ben Penserga, Keith Demko and Brandon Wilkins of the "Movies & A Meal Podcast" as they give their list of their favorite Christmas and holiday songs.
Will it be "Jingle Bell Rock," "White Christmas," or "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer?"
Join in a listen to the musical merriment!
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
Philadelphia and Boston are home to two of the most passionate fan bases there are.
Being a big Philadelphia sports fan living in Boston, Jeff Taviano is experiencing the best of both worlds.
In this episode, Taviano discusses what it's like being a Philly sports fan and the transition to moving to Boston, the reputation that Philadelphia fans have, and which of the two cities has the most historical impact on America.
Jeff will also discuss his time as a pitcher, his interest in sports betting and Las Vegas, his thoughts on an expanded College Football Playoff, and his love of fishing.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
As a personal trainer, you have to know the importance of providing guidance and accountability.
So when a situation occurs such as the one that killed University of Maryland football player Jordan McNair in the summer of 2018, someone with the expertise in conditioning and fitness like Donta Finney is compelled to chime in on the issue.
Finney, who becomes the first repeat guest on the show, sits down again with host Earl Holland to give his thoughts on the fallout in College Park, Maryland.
In this episode, Finney and Holland discuss a variety of topics. Some of them include the importance of portion control, the effectiveness of vitamins and supplements as well as free-range foods.
Finney will also talk about whether white bread or whole grain is better, his favorite version of Superman, and what protein you should be wary of eating on a consistent basis.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
Talking sports has always come naturally for Mykell Ramos.
The Washington D.C. native, and host of the podcast, "Rolling with Ramos," has been able to use her innate ability to get her foot in the door as an aspiring sports journalist.
In this episode, Ramos sits down with host Earl Holland to give her insight into the journey of her budding career as well as a discussion on some of her influences and mentors in the industry.
Ramos also converses about what it's like attending a historically black college with a football program and gives her thoughts on the annual Celebration Bowl featuring HBCUs.
She'll also talk on the issue of what it's like being an African-American woman in the field of journalism, and the importance of making a name for yourself in the field of sports journalism.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
It's been said that numbers never lie. Especially in sports.
Numbers are not only a way to recognize your favorite player and as a way to represent success, but now, they're being used to as a means to measure value and sometimes, determine future performance.
Even with all the data and metrics that are given through things such as sabermetrics and advanced statistics, there can sometimes be more at play says Mark DeMorra.
DeMorra, who has a background in STEM, including astrophysics, mathematics, and robotics, gives an outsider's view to the use of advanced statistics in sports.
He'll also discuss his interest in poker and blackjack, and the link mathematics plays in all of them. DeMorra also addresses his fondness for the character James Bond, and his thoughts on the differentiation between what's a sport, a game, and competition.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
Unfiltered. Unapologetic. Real.
Edward Holland, Sr., likes to speak his mind regardless of what the issue is, and is often unwavering in his stance.
That goes with everything ranging from his choice in his favorite movies, favorite foods, or his favorite sports teams.
In this free-flowing and lengthy interview, Edward Holland sits down with his brother, host Earl Holland, to give his take on various topics in the sports world including sports parents, participation trophies, and what is and isn't a sport.
Eddie also touches on how he became a fan of his favorite teams such as the Seattle Mariners, San Antonio Spurs, and the San Francisco 49ers; his unconventionally favorite sports movie, and his thoughts on controversies surrounding Nike and Colin Kaepernick, and the Papa John's and its former business partnership with the NFL.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
In the world of broadcast news, it's more than just looking the part.
While some people may look at being a television anchor and reporter as a glamorous job, you also have to do the hard work that comes with it.
Two-time Sports Emmy-winning sportscaster Scott Abraham, of WJLA 7 in Washington, D.C., sits down with host Earl Holland to discuss the nature of the business.
In this interview, Abraham talks about his path to becoming a television sportscaster, some of his sportscasting influences, how fatherhood has changed him, and what it's like to be married to a fellow broadcast journalist.
Abraham will discuss his time running track at the Division I level, some of the most down-to-earth athletes he's covered, and the challenges among journalists today in an era of social media and "Fake News."
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
Sports can be an escape, a hobby, and a career. However, sports is also a form of entertainment.
The athletic competition, scripted or unscripted, can sometimes rival other forms of amusement. In part two of an interview with Linwood Outlaw, Outlaw talks about one of his favorite forms of entertainment – professional wrestling.
Outlaw discusses how he became a wrestling fan, and what it's like attending the Super Bowl of wrestling, "Wrestlemania."
The Baltimore native also discusses how the football-crazy town dealt with its withdrawal from the sport between the departure of the Colts in 1984 and the 1995 announcement that the NFL would return to "Charm City."
Outlaw also discusses his time in journalism and what led to his interest in writing.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
Linwood Outlaw is a true-blue Baltimore sports fan, cheering feverishly for his hometown Ravens and Orioles.
But when it comes to his choice of NBA teams, his heart belongs to the "City of Brotherly Love," as he's been a die-hard Philadelphia Seventy-Sixers fan since the days of Charles Barkley, and later, Allen Iverson.
In this episode, the first of two parts, Outlaw discusses how he became a Sixers fan, the comparison between Allen Iverson and LeBron James in his first stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the level of competition in the NBA.
Outlaw also addresses his thoughts on the evolution of basketball including the use of the three-point shot and the decline of the big man, and the dream NBA Finals matchup.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
In New York City, there's no shortage of options for sports fans. It's a virtual Noah's Ark with two sets of teams in each of the five professional major league sports.
If you ask what Scott Johnson's rooting interest is, he'll tell you where his allegiances lie.
In this episode, Johnson talks about what it's like being a sports fan in New York, his collection of jerseys, and his travels with friends to various stadiums across the country.
Johnson also discusses how he became a fan of the Jets and Mets, what it's like dating a fan of rival teams in the same city, and how he got into performing stand-up comedy.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
For Brian Banks, pro wrestling fandom is something that has spanned generations.
A result of watching the combination of sports and entertainment at an early age, it's one of the things that he's an avid fan of – next to baseball.
In this episode, Banks and host Earl Holland discuss Banks' passion for wrestling, how he's seen it evolve over the years, and what he says to people who call wrestling "fake."
Banks also talks about his time playing Division I baseball at the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore, his thoughts on the DH rule, and the one sporting event he wants to attend live.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
Collecting isn't anything new to Ben Penserga. He comes from a family of collectors.
What's his collection of choice?
Sports memorabilia.
Penserga has an abundance of sports keepsakes ranging from autographs, minor league baseball caps, and numerous sports jerseys.
In this episode, Penserga and host Earl Holland talk about what the impetus was for Penserga's collecting habits, as well as what makes an item have sentimental value.
Penserga also talks about what teams in sports have the best and worst designs, his thoughts on what should and shouldn't go on a hot dog and his favorite place to get one, and the one autograph that he regretted missing out on.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
Describing Therran Dennis as from out of left field wouldn't be an insult.
It's something he embraces.
Not only does the adage describe his personality, but it was the position he was accustomed to when playing baseball.
In this episode, host Earl Holland and Dennis, his cousin, discuss the state of sports talk radio today, Dennis's interest in both baseball and soccer, and the NBA in general.
Dennis also gives his take on the importance of announcers in sports broadcasts, the debate between hockey and soccer, and the use of advanced statistics in baseball.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
Some people hustle pool. Some people hustle cars. But have you ever heard of the man who hustles writing jobs?
Meet Mitchell Northam, a reporter with the Atlanta-Journal Constitution. In addition to his current duties covering North Fulton County news, Northam has written for a number of outlets including SBNation, Fansided, ProSoccerUSA, and USA Today.
In this episode, Northam and host Earl Holland will discuss Northam's foray into journalism, how basketball became one of his favorite sports to cover, his love of hip-hop music, and the misconceptions that come along with being a journalist.
Northam also talks about the lost art of movie soundtracks, the event he'd love to cover as a reporter, and how he received the moniker of "Primetime Mitch."
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
What do the two practices of martial arts and personal fitness have in common?
Both involve improvement through repetition and a level of discipline.
They also form the perfect marriage as Donta Finney can attest to. Finney, who has a background in Kar-do-Jitsu-Ryu and weightlifting, blended the two disciplines as a part of "Mixed Martial Fitness," which helps people live better and healthy lives.
In this episode, host Earl Holland and Finney discuss how Finney became fascinated with the martial arts and weightlifting, his favorite martial arts movies, and what songs are on his workout playlist.
Finney will also participate in a fitness word association game, discuss his favorite cheat food, and talk about what historical figure he'd love to meet.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
Running can be a hobby, a way to relieve stress, and a lifestyle.
Just ask Vanessa Junkin.
Running has been Junkin's passion since high school. She has raced around the country, including races in six states, which she chronicles in her blog, "She Runs By the Seashore."
Through her blogging, Junkin has become a BibRave Pro, where she tests new running products and shares her race experiences through social media.
In this episode, host Earl Holland chats with Junkin about her road to running, her career in journalism, and her current role as the assistant director of marketing and communications for the Wicomico County Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism.
Junkin will also discuss her most memorable sports experience, her favorite music to run to, and cookies.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.
How do you get to be on an MLB field without playing, umpiring, or illegally trespassing? By becoming a member of a major league groundskeeping crew, like Jeff Fleetwood has.
Fleetwood, a teacher, and baseball coach at Mount Vernon High School in Alexandria, Virginia, is living the dream as he takes the field with the Washington Nationals grounds crew.
His forays into coaching and as a grounds crew member are a continuation of a diamond dream starting from playing baseball at both the high school and Division I college levels.
Fleetwood and Earl Holland discuss Fleetwood's baseball journey, what it's like being a baseball coach, and what it's like to attend the Army-Navy Game and how it's different from any other college football game.
For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter.
Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.
You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook.
For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.