What drives a person to give up their lifelong dream?In this episode of the Varsity Catholic Podcast, host Brady Stier sits down with the remarkable Fr. Chase Hilgenbrinck: a former D1 soccer player at Clemson University, a professional athlete who competed in Chile, and now a Catholic priest serving as Vocation Director for the Diocese of Peoria, Illinois. Fr. Chase is a beloved speaker and spiritual Father.

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Unlock the secret to transforming athletes and coaches alike by mastering the art of calling them up, not out. This episode reveals how a leadership philosophy rooted in vulnerability, belief, and systemic routines can revolutionize sports, faith, and personal growth. If you've ever wondered how to cultivate resilience, confidence, and authentic leadership in your life, this conversation is your blueprint.

Join Brady Steir as he chats with JP Nerbun, a seasoned coaching expert who has worked with elite athletes, top-tier companies, and faith-driven leaders. JP shares how his journey from basketball dreams to faith-led coaching circles unlocked powerful insights on leadership, belief, and systemized routines that foster growth both on and off the field. Discover how a simple habit like journaling the 'three-two-one' can anchor your purpose and elevate your results.

You'll learn about the four levels of leadership and explore how systemic routines serve as your secret weapon against chaos and complexity in today's game of life.

This episode is perfect for athletes, coaches, faith-inspired leaders, and anyone committed to becoming their best, regardless of circumstances. If you're ready to elevate your leadership, deepen your faith in action, and build systemic routines that produce results, this episode is your playbook. Step into the mindset that keeps you anchored, intentional, and always growing, no matter what game you're playing.

JP Nerbun is a former standout athlete turned leadership coach, author of "Calling Up" and "The Culture System," who coaches coaches, athletes, and faith leaders to unlock their highest potential through transformational leadership. His unique narrative approach, built from over a hundred conversations, makes complex principles relatable and memorable.

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What happens when sports are the only thing keeping you sane? For Dylan Lanoue — a record-breaking triple jumper and four-time NEC gold medalist at Mount St. Mary's University — athletics were more than a passion.

Growing up in a home marked by his father's drug addiction, domestic tension, and constant instability, sport was his escape and his survival. But no amount of wins or PRs could fill the deeper void he was carrying.In this episode, Brady sits down with Dylan to hear his full story: from shooting hoops alone in the backyard just to avoid going inside, to becoming a three-time NCAA qualifier, to his life-changing conversion to the Catholic Church in 2021.

Dylan opens up about the role of a trusted friend, the moment he realized his athletic identity wasn't enough, and how Christ gave him what sport never could — love, belonging, and a reason to compete.Dylan also shares his vision for using AAU basketball to build up young men from broken homes, helping them become the fathers and husbands they never had as examples.

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In this episode of the Varsity Catholic Podcast, Brady and Ry sit down with Ian to talk about one of the hardest lessons in sports and in life: what happens when weakness, injury, and disappointment force you to confront who you really are.

Ian shares his journey through repeated injuries, diabetes, football, lacrosse, and the painful process of letting go of an athletic identity that once defined him. But what looked like defeat became the place where Christ met him most deeply. From losing football, to starting a men’s Bible study, to unexpectedly joining a college lacrosse team late in his college career, Ian’s story is a powerful reminder that God works through weakness — not in spite of it.

This is a conversation about surrender, identity, suffering, brotherhood, and discovering that Christ’s strength is often revealed exactly where we feel weakest.

In this episode: injury and identity • quitting a sport • daily Mass and spiritual renewal • brotherhood in athletics • Christ’s strength in weakness • how God works through setbacks

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The Varsity Catholic Podcast is a production of FOCUS. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.focus.org⁠⁠

In this episode of the Varsity Catholic Podcast, Brady and Ry sit down with Texas softball standout Teagan Kavan to talk about what it really looks like to pursue greatness at the highest level without losing your identity along the way. As a national champion and one of the top players in the country, Teagan shares how her Catholic faith has remained a steady foundation in the middle of pressure, expectations, and success.

From building a team Bible study within a Division I program to navigating the challenges of college athletics, Teagan opens up about the role faith plays in her daily life as an athlete. She reflects on learning to stay present, trusting God in both wins and losses, and discovering that performance was never meant to define her. Her perspective offers a refreshing and grounded look at what it means to compete with purpose.

This conversation is a reminder that even at the highest level of sport, there is something deeper at play. Your worth is not found in stats, awards, or outcomes, but in who you are and who you belong to.

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In this episode of the Varsity Catholic Podcast, Brady and Ry sit down with Savannah Imholte—CrossFit athlete, coach, missionary, and mom of two—to talk about one of the most misunderstood ideas in both sports and the spiritual life: discipline.

From college athletics to CrossFit coaching to raising a young family overseas, Savannah shares how her understanding of working out has evolved—from obligation, to competition, to something deeper: a daily choice that shapes freedom.

Along the way, they unpack the idea that discipline isn’t restrictive—it’s what actually makes freedom possible, and why doing “the next hard thing” can change everything.

If you’ve ever struggled with consistency—in the gym, in prayer, or in life—this episode will challenge you to rethink what discipline is really for.

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Live from SEEK 26, Brady sits down with Seton Hall track & cross country athletes Michael Kelton and Steven Beeman for a conversation about the surprising overlap between faith and endurance sports.

They share their first-ever SEEK experience (opening Mass, the atmosphere, and why conferences remind you you’re not alone), then get real about what running teaches: perseverance, suffering, community, and becoming present to God. From Bible verses they carry into races, to the behind-the-scenes work most people never see (core training, injury prevention, and the “contact sport” side of cross country), this episode hits the heart of what it means to compete well and keep the faith.

You’ll also hear how a simple invitation turned into a team Bible study, why running can become a form of prayer, and what legacy they hope to leave at Seton Hall — in sport, in leadership, and in discipleship.

Key moments: SEEK highs • running as prayer • offering up pain • injuries and surrender • building team culture • leaving a legacy of excellence

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Live from SEEK 26, Brady sits down with MIT football athletes Luke Pelletier and Dominic Hess, plus Varsity Catholic missionary Jakin Miller, for a conversation about what people don’t expect from MIT: a growing Catholic brotherhood inside the locker room.

They talk football at a high-academic school, faith in fraternity life, and what it looks like to go from “a couple guys in a room” to Bible studies so big they had to split. You’ll hear real stories of injuries, doubts, and learning to own your faith—plus how prayer changes pressure moments (including the kicker mindset) and how “incarnational” friendship can transform a team’s culture.

If you’ve ever wished your team had stronger faith, this episode is proof it can start small—and grow fast.

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The Varsity Catholic Podcast is a production of FOCUS. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.focus.org⁠⁠

Topics: SEEK 26 • MIT football • faith & sports • doubt and evidence • injuries and trust • fraternity culture • Bible study growth • leadership and legacy