The Sports Refuge Podcast

All that Jazz with Kristian Blake

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.

The Basketball Episode

“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.

Sports Refuge 2021 MLB Playoff Preview

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.

Sweet Fantasy with Willie Marx, Ben Stecker and Michael Michaud of Encore Fantasy Games

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.

Going for the Gold with Jenny Hopkinson

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.

The Tao of Donta with Donta Finney

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.

R&B Mixtape Volume 2 with Thomas Banks, Kristian Blake and Korey Collick

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.

Pain and Gain with Vanessa Junkin

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.

Sunshine State of Mind with Destiny Morgan Davis

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.

Friends For Life: The HCASC Reunion Episode

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.

Second Annual Sports Refuge Cookout Draft

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.

Friends at First Sight with Victoria Robinson and Scott Johnson

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.