Crowns Over Trophies

Noah Brogdon

Crowns Over Trophies is a podcast for athletes who want more than wins, awards, and recognition. Presented by Dynamic Sports Training (DST), this show delves into the deeper purpose of sports and how athletic journeys intersect with God’s greater plan—hosted by Noah Brogdon. Through this platform, we’ll share real stories from professional, college, former, and high school athletes, along with insights from coaches and spiritual leaders. Each episode connects faith, mental performance, and physical training—challenging athletes to stop chasing worldly trophies and start pursuing an eternal crown built on character, service, and purpose.  1 Corinthians 9:24–27 "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. [25] Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we receive an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified." You’ll hear discussions on: Sports were created to build character and learn life lessons. Mental performance practices that align with biblical teachings Devotionals and reflections for athletes on a faith journey The science of training, resilience, and discipline Building faith-centered athletic communities through DST Using your God-given gifts to give back and lead others Crowns Over Trophies is for athletes who want to train hard, compete with excellence, and live for something greater than the scoreboard.

Episodes

  1. Aug 27

    Ep. 06 | The Messy Middle of Becoming a Man with Mat Yelvington

    In this episode of Crowns Over Trophies, Noah sits down with Mat Yelvington for a wide-ranging conversation about what it takes to form boys into godly men in a culture that's lost its footing on identity. About Mat: Mat Yelvington is a Licensed Professional Counselor, executive coach, business strategist, and men's discipleship leader based in Houston, Texas. He is the founder and Practice Director of Shade Tree Counseling Center, an integrated Christian counseling practice, and serves as Head of Strategy and Operations at PROVEN Recruiting Platform. His work spans private practice, organizational consulting, athletic development, and community leadership — including high school men's discipleship, Young Life ministry, and board service. Across every arena, Mat operates from a single conviction: intentional formation is the most important work any leader will ever do. He believes most leaders are so consumed managing outcomes they never get around to shaping people — and that the cost of that gap shows up not just in organizations, but in families, communities, and the next generation of men. The conversation opens with Mat's own salvation story and what led him to build Shade Tree Counseling around integrating biblical truth with clinical psychology. From there, Noah and Mat dig into male identity itself — what it means, how culture and feminism have reshaped the conversation around it, and why so many men are stuck in what Mat calls "the messy middle." That sets up the heart of the episode: intentional formation. Mat unpacks why forming a man is not passive or accidental, but requires deliberately shaping the mind, body, and soul together — and how mourning and identity formation are more connected than most people realize. The conversation then turns to parenting and adolescence — how a childlike faith gets shaped early, why today's "rescue culture" is quietly crippling teenagers, and why risk-taking and struggle are essential, not optional, to a young person's development. Mat explains how over-rescuing kids robs them of the very pain that builds spiritual and emotional maturity, and how a parent's own spiritual maturity directly shapes the way they raise and discipline their children. Finally, Mat and Noah bring it back to sports — how outcome-obsessed youth athletics are forming (or malforming) a generation of boys, why perspective matters so much in the high school years, and how coaches can use their platform to build character instead of just chasing wins. The episode closes with a look at the relationship between emotions and beliefs, and how to hold both truth and feeling without letting one override the other. Takeaways: Intentional formation shapes mind, body, and soul togetherMale identity has been reshaped by cultural and feminist influenceThe "messy middle" is a real and necessary stage of a man's developmentMourning and identity formation are deeply connectedOver-rescuing teenagers robs them of essential growth through struggleRisk-taking is critical to healthy adolescent developmentA parent's spiritual maturity shapes how they parent and disciplineYouth sports today are more outcome-driven than character-drivenCoaches have a real opportunity to form character, not just resultsEmotions and beliefs must be balanced, not pitted against each other Resources: If you'd like to explore counseling services with Mat or learn more about Shade Tree Counseling, follow this link https://shadetreecenter.com/ for more ways to connect, schedule a consultation, or learn about their approach.

  2. Aug 27

    Ep. 05 | Faith, Failure, and Finding Joy in Baseball with Logan Henderson

    In this episode of Crowns Over Trophies, Noah sits down with Logan Henderson, a Houston-raised pitcher now playing in the Milwaukee Brewers organization, for a conversation about identity, resilience, and what it means to find joy in the game without losing yourself in it. Logan's love for baseball started young, but it was college that turned it into something bigger than a game — a proving ground for both his skill and his faith. As he climbed toward the professional level, that faith was tested in ways he didn't expect. Injuries forced him to sit still, face uncertainty, and ask a harder question: who am I when the game is taken away? Rather than letting that season break him, Logan leaned into it — building a pregame routine to steady his mind, learning to treat failure as fuel instead of a verdict, and surrounding himself with a community that pointed him back to what mattered most. Through it all, one conviction kept anchoring him: trusting God's plan, even when the outcome wasn't visible yet. Noah and Logan dig into the tension every athlete faces — chasing excellence while resisting the trap of tying your worth to performance. What does it look like to work hard and still hold the game loosely? How do you coach "heart posture" into young athletes before results ever enter the picture? And what's left of your identity when the sport is stripped away? This episode is for anyone chasing a scoreboard, a title, or a trophy, and wondering if there's something steadier to build on. Logan's answer is simple: the game is a gift, not a god — and joy, not just performance, is what makes it worth playing. Takeaways: Logan's journey in baseball began at a young ageCollege was a pivotal moment for his baseball careerFaith played a significant role in his personal growthInjuries tested his faith and identityBuilding a pregame routine helped him manage anxietyYoung athletes should embrace failure as part of growthCommunity and mentorship are crucial for developmentTrusting in God is essential during challenging timesFinding joy in the game matters more than performanceLogan emphasizes the importance of heart posture in sports

  3. Jun 12

    Ep. 04 | When Everything Falls Apart: Finding God Behind Bars with David Trickett

    In this episode of Crowns Over Trophies, Noah sits down with David Trickett, founder of CHARM Prison Ministry (Christ's Hope and Reconciliation Ministry), for a raw and redemptive conversation about identity, faith, and what it truly means to be transformed. David's journey began on the athletic field, where his entire sense of self was wrapped up in sports. When injury took that away, he was left with nothing to stand on — a lukewarm faith that couldn't hold him, a pursuit of pleasure that left him empty, and a slow unraveling that eventually landed him in prison. But prison became the place where everything changed. Behind bars, David encountered the message of grace in a way that finally reached him — not religion, but a real relationship rooted in the fear of God and the reality of the cross. That encounter sparked a complete transformation: a disciplined mind, a reordered spirit, and a testimony that would become the foundation of his ministry. Now through CHARM Prison Ministry, David brings that same message of hope and reconciliation to incarcerated men and women, walking alongside them through discipleship, accountability, and the sacred work of rebuilding a life. David serves the Houston Christian High School football team as their lead chaplain along with Noah. Noah and David explore the deeper questions that surface in brokenness — What are we really chasing? What does it mean to rest in God's presence? How do we hear His voice? And why is Good Friday the only foundation worth building on? This is a challenge to anyone chasing the trophies of this world, trusting in self-help culture, or living a faith that's never caught fire. David's message is simple: Jesus is the main point — and until we understand what He paid, we won't understand why it changes everything. If you'd like to support CHARM's Prison Ministry , follow this link https://charmprisonministry.org/ for more ways to explore the ministry, give,or serve.

  4. May 18

    Ep. 03 | Finding Strength Through Uncertain Seasons with Stanley Tucker

    In this episode of Crowns Over Trophies, Noah sits down with Stanley Tucker, professional baseball player in the Boston Red Sox organization, for an honest conversation about faith, family, adversity, and learning to trust God through uncertain seasons. Stanley reflects on growing up in a family deeply rooted in sports, playing both football and baseball throughout his childhood before eventually pursuing baseball at the next level. From the outside, the path looked clear — but during the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, everything slowed down. For the first time, Stanley found himself wrestling with questions about identity, purpose, and faith beyond the game. Throughout the episode, Stanley shares how isolation and uncertainty forced him to move from simply growing up around faith to developing a personal relationship with God for himself. He opens up about the role his family played during difficult seasons, the importance of staying grounded through adversity, and how honest prayer became a turning point in his spiritual growth. This conversation goes beyond sports, exploring what it looks like to trust God when the future feels unclear, remain rooted through disappointment, and find peace in something deeper than performance. Key Topics: • Faith during uncertain seasons • Identity beyond sports • Family, community, and support systems • Navigating COVID as an athlete • Honest prayer and spiritual growth • Trusting God’s timing through adversity This episode is a reminder that difficult seasons can either distance us from God or deepen our dependence on Him — and that true strength is often built in the waiting. Presented by Dynamic Sports Training (DST).

  5. Apr 1

    Ep. 02 | Scripture, Science, & Mental Health with Haley Chapa

    In this episode of Crowns Over Trophies, Noah interviews Haley Chapa, a licensed professional counselor associate (supervised by Adrienne Gonzalez, LPC-S) and the on-staff sports counselor at Dynamic Sports Training. Haley shares her mental health journey and explains how God has guided her to her current position. The conversation explores the connection between identity, faith, and sports, highlighting the transformative process of discovering purpose beyond athletic success. It discusses how sports influence personal identity and how faith acts as a guiding force in developing a deeper sense of purpose and self-understanding. The discussion emphasizes the importance of finding identity and purpose in Christ, moving beyond sports to embrace a greater, eternal purpose. It also highlights the importance of aligning scripture with personal struggles and challenges, demonstrating the relevance of biblical literacy in addressing modern issues and experiences. The conversation underlines the value of community and confession, showing how sharing struggles and receiving support can be powerful. Additionally, it covers themes of obedience and honor in faith, stressing the importance of understanding and applying these principles. Moreover, the connection between scripture and science in mental performance is also discussed. Takeaways: • Identity and Faith • Sports as a Platform for Identity and Faith • The Importance of Biblical Literacy and Community • Obedience and Honor in Faith Resources: Shade Tree Counseling - https://shadetreecenter.com/ Haley's Contact - Haley@shadetreecenter.com DST Training Inquiries - https://www.dynamicsportstraining.com/

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

Crowns Over Trophies is a podcast for athletes who want more than wins, awards, and recognition. Presented by Dynamic Sports Training (DST), this show delves into the deeper purpose of sports and how athletic journeys intersect with God’s greater plan—hosted by Noah Brogdon. Through this platform, we’ll share real stories from professional, college, former, and high school athletes, along with insights from coaches and spiritual leaders. Each episode connects faith, mental performance, and physical training—challenging athletes to stop chasing worldly trophies and start pursuing an eternal crown built on character, service, and purpose.  1 Corinthians 9:24–27 "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. [25] Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we receive an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified." You’ll hear discussions on: Sports were created to build character and learn life lessons. Mental performance practices that align with biblical teachings Devotionals and reflections for athletes on a faith journey The science of training, resilience, and discipline Building faith-centered athletic communities through DST Using your God-given gifts to give back and lead others Crowns Over Trophies is for athletes who want to train hard, compete with excellence, and live for something greater than the scoreboard.