Big Stories

BYU Sports
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Big Stories is a show dedicated to telling the incredible and inspiring tales from the Big 12 and beyond. Cleon Wall hosts the Big Stories podcast.

  1. 4D AGO

    UCF: Andrew Cherico - Storytelling with a Smile

    Andrew Cherico grew up in Washington Heights, New York, living with Spinal Muscular Atrophy—a condition that left him in a wheelchair by age nine. While he wasn’t able to play, his passion for sports never stopped growing. When his oldest brother, Roman, died by suicide in 2019, Andrew made a promise: to carry his brother’s name as loudly and proudly as he could. That promise led him to UCF, where he pursued sports journalism despite the challenges. In September 2024, Andrew got his big break—asking Colorado's Coach Deion Sanders a question at a post-game press conference. In this podcast episode, find out what happened next and how it has changed Andrew's life. Guests: Andrew Cherico - UCF Student and Sons of UCF Reporter Trace Trylko - Host and Executive Producer of the Sons of UCF live show If you or someone you know is in crisis, please call, text, or chat with the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988, or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741.

    17 min

  2. 6D AGO

    Catching Up with TCU and Iowa State

    Big Stories host Cleon Wall is joined by Seth Dowdle from the Bleav in TCU podcast and Tyler Carter from the Bleav in Iowa State podcast to break down two of the Big 12’s most intriguing teams. They dive into TCU’s roller‑coaster season, Iowa State’s resilience after tough losses, and what it all means heading into the postseason. Cleon also takes a closer look at the NCAA Tournament bubble picture and which squads are best positioned to snag the No. 1 seed in the Big 12 Tournament. All that and more on this week’s episode of Big Stories.

    22 min

  3. FEB 19

    Feed Drop: Voiceover

    Host Cleon Wall will be back next week with more inspiring and uplifting tales from around the Big 12 conference. But this week, we are featuring one of BYUradio's other great podcasts. It's called Voiceover: Movies That Move Us. In this episode, host Heather Bigley is joined by Rob Taber to discuss the movie Remember the Titans with Denzel Washington and Will Patton. Rob Taber is an associate professor of history at Fayetteville State University. His research areas include Latin America and the Caribbean, the Black Atlantic (1400-1900), Slavery, Revolutions, and African-American History.

    53 min

  4. FEB 17

    What's up with the Knights and Buffs?

    A new podcast format is here—bigger conversations, deeper insights. This week, Jeff Sharon of the Knight Shift podcast helps us navigate UCF’s struggles, while Voice of the Buffs Mark Johnson sheds light on why Colorado's young guys might be on the cusp of something big, just maybe not this year. But host Cleon Wall doesn’t shy away from the biggest storylines: the fallout of Jerome Tang’s firing, tough injury news for BYU’s Richie Saunders, and a new name pushing into the Big 12 Player of the Year race.

    27 min

  5. FEB 12

    More Than a Mascot: TCU's Fight for the Horned Frog

    Texas horned lizards, the spiky, blood-squirting reptiles that inspired TCU's mascot, once filled backyards across the Lone Star State. But since the 1960s, these iconic creatures have been vanishing from their native habitat. TCU is assisting Texas Parks and Wildlife and local zoos in an ambitious conservation effort to bring them back: raising baby horned lizards in captivity, studying their survival, and releasing them into the wild. In this episode, you’ll follow the surprising, hands-on work behind horned lizard conservation—tracking tiny reptiles with radio tags, using hot dogs to target invasive fire ants, and studying the hidden places these little creatures choose to survive. Guests: Dean Williams - Professor of Biology at TCU Kira Gangbin- TCU PhD Candidate

    13 min

  6. FEB 10

    Who Will Win Big 12 MVP and Best Freshman Honors

    Who will take home Big 12 Player of the Year? Will a breakout freshman like BYU’s A.J. Dybantsa or Houston’s Kingston Flemings steal the spotlight? Or will a proven veteran—Texas Tech’s Christian Anderson or J.T. Toppin—rise above the field? Host Cleon Wall breaks down the top contenders for both Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year awards and is glad he doesn't have a vote. We also dive into what’s really going on with BYU basketball and why the Cougars aren’t looking like themselves lately. Then, we wrap up a historic Red Raiders football season with insight from Locked On Texas Tech host Chris Level. All that and more on this week’s edition of The Big Stories Podcast.

    26 min

  7. FEB 5

    Iowa State: Troy Dejoode - The Miraculous Story of the Heart Dad

    Troy DeJoode's life changed forever in May 2010 when a tragic car accident took his five-month-old daughter Claire and five-year-old son Carson. Hours later, he made the agonizing decision to donate both children's organs, not knowing just how much that decision would bless the lives of others. Hundreds of miles away in Utah, five-month-old Landen Bowers was facing multiple health challenges. Born with a failing heart, he had just days to live. His father bought him a stuffed lion from the gift shop, symbolizing the courage Landen would need. Then came the call: a heart was available. Landen's parents accepted Claire's heart, and with it arrived a small stuffed lamb—a final gift from the DeJoode family. Today, Landen is a determined teenager with dreams of becoming an airline pilot. He calls Troy his "heart dad," and the two families remain inseparably connected. Through foundation work, visits, and an enduring friendship, they've transformed unspeakable loss into a legacy of hope, proving that one selfless decision can echo across generations. Guests: Troy DeJoode Tammy and Landen Bowers

    22 min

  8. FEB 3

    Can Anyone Catch Arizona?

    Join host Cleon Wall for the latest edition of Big Stories, featuring the question of whether any team can catch the Arizona Wildcats at the top of the Big 12 basketball standings. Plus, Kansas's Darryn Peterson slightly outshines BYU's AJ Dybantsa in a matchup of NBA draft picks. And we take a look at the surprise teams - BYU and UCF - in the middle of the conference pack. We also have an in-depth conversation about Arizona State football's 2025 season, the impact of injuries, Kenny Dillingham's contract extension, and what's next for the Sun Devils in 2026. Guests: Anthony Totri - PHNX Sun Devils Podcaster

    21 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Big Stories is a show dedicated to telling the incredible and inspiring tales from the Big 12 and beyond. Cleon Wall hosts the Big Stories podcast.

Information

  • Channel
    BYU Sports
  • Creator
    BYUradio
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    103
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 BYU Broadcasting
  • Show Website
    Big Stories

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