The Sports Refuge Podcast

Broadcast News with Scott Abraham

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.

That’s (Sports) Entertainment with Linwood Outlaw

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.

Talkin’ Basketball with Linwood Outlaw

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.

New York, New York with Scott Johnson

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.

Piledriver with Brian Banks

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.

Tales of the Collector with Ben Penserga

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.

From Outta Left Field with Therran Dennis

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.

Prime-Time Hustle with Mitchell Northam

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.

Getting Fit with Donta Finney

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.

On the Run with Vanessa Junkin

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.

Diamond Dreams with Jeff Fleetwood

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.