Priscilla Shirer steps into this episode with honesty, humor, and hard-won faith. Sam, Clif, and Priscilla go deep—into stories of calling, what surrender to God really looks like, and how loss can open space for peace and perspective. Priscilla, who calls teaching the Bible her joy, shares how a knack for “talking too much” became a calling once surrendered to God. Together they talk about parenting, not out of a playbook, but through presence, integrity, and the courage to show up in good seasons and in grief. She opens a window into her family’s rhythms, the margin she’s learned to carve out after losing her mother, and how small, steady choices build a legacy. If you’re worn out by perfection or looking for hope that’s anchored in reality, pull up a seat at the table.

Some of the major standout moments:

• Priscilla recounts surrendering her gift for communication, remembering her father’s challenge: “If you would just surrender this thing…not get rid of it, just surrender this thing to the Lord, it could be exactly what He’s wired you for.”
• With vulnerability, Priscilla shares how ten family losses in six years, including her mother and cousin, became both a test of faith and a catalyst for living with gratitude and trust in God’s timing—“stop and smell the roses” is now a lived-out practice.
• She gives voice to the tension of raising sons as athletes and men of character, encouraging families to focus less on perfection and more on consistency, even if that means sometimes pulling out question cards to help break the ice at dinner.
• Priscilla calls coaches and parents to the crucial work of “separating for them their identity from their sport,” pushing back on a culture that ties worth to performance.
• Stepping onto a movie set for “War Room” stretched Priscilla far outside her comfort zone, turning a one-time adventure into a new avenue for ministry and impact.

Her closing word is a testimony to God’s steady hand: “He is faithful…when everything else is crumbling or disintegrating or in some way disappointing…the rock behind all of that is that He’s faithful.”

Links to checkout:

• Going Beyond Ministries: https://www.goingbeyond.com
• The Armor of God by Priscilla Shirer: https://www.amazon.com/Armor-God-Priscilla-Shirer/dp/1430040270
• God is Able by Priscilla Shirer: https://www.amazon.com/Able-10th-Anniversary-Priscilla-Shirer/dp/1430083077/
• I Surrender All by Priscilla Shirer: https://www.amazon.com/I-Surrender-All-Priscilla-Shirer/dp/B0CSVG9QVW/

Connect with Sam:

• Website: https://www.samacho.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thesamacho
• X: https://x.com/thesamacho
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesamacho/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesamacho/
• YouTube: ⁨https://www.youtube.com/@TheSamAchoPodcast

Book Sam to speak at your event: https://www.samacho.com/speaking

Read Sam's books:

• Let the World See You: https://www.samacho.com/resources/let-the-world-see-you
• Change Starts With You: https://www.samacho.com/resources/change-starts-with-you

In this episode, Sam and Clif sit down with Vincent Rey—a former linebacker who rose from undrafted free agent to team captain, and now serves as the Cincinnati Bengals chaplain. Vincent shares firsthand what it’s like to navigate identity, purpose, and loss when the roar of the crowd quiets and football isn’t the center anymore. Together, they open up about faith that fills the space left when performance fades, relationships that sharpen, and what it really means to own your journey—on and off the field.

Key Highlights:

• Vincent unpacks the shift from “you are what you do” to discovering a deeper identity rooted in Christ, especially during his challenging transition from player to chaplain.
• Through stories of locker room culture and coach expectations, the guys tackle the trap of making performance an idol and the freedom that comes from seeking God’s approval over chasing affirmation from coaches, crowds, or even teammates.
• Vincent reflects on pushing through a significant ankle injury during his last NFL season, wrestling with uncertainty, and learning to trust God when there are more questions than answers.
• The conversation gets practical about money, as Vincent introduces the “What’s your number?” principle—challenging athletes to take responsibility, ask hard questions, and steward their finances biblically instead of outsourcing every decision.
• Treating every moment as a job interview comes to life in Vincent’s story—he explains how character, consistency, and even the way you shake hands matter as much as stats on a depth chart.
• Vincent shares the beauty of marriage and premarital counseling in his chaplain work, describing the bond as a living picture of Christ’s faithfulness to His people and calling athletes to relationships shaped by humility, honesty, and growth.

References:

• Proverbs 27:17 – “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”
• Colossians 3:23 – “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.”
• Romans 12:2 – “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
• Built 4 Winning by Jeff Friday (Vincent Rey is highlighted as embodying the four foundational pillars): https://www.amazon.com/Built-Winning-Crossing-Between-Business-ebook/dp/B0B8F869NV

Connect with Sam:

• Website: https://www.samacho.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thesamacho
• X: https://x.com/thesamacho
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesamacho/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesamacho/
• YouTube: ⁨@TheSamAchoPodcast⁩

Book Sam to speak at your event: https://www.samacho.com/speaking

Read Sam's books:

• Let the World See You: https://www.samacho.com/resources/let-the-world-see-you
• Change Starts With You: https://www.samacho.com/resources/change-starts-with-you

In this episode, Sam Acho and Clif Marshall welcome Josh Harrison—two-time MLB All-Star, proud Cincinnati native, and a man grounded by faith, family, and relentless joy. Josh breaks down the reality of thirteen seasons in the majors: the grind, the setbacks, the unseen work, and the gratitude for every step. He shares how a rough junior year and the wisdom in 1 Peter 5:6 forged his humility, how his mother’s words—“big don’t mean bad”—shaped his identity, and why baseball never defined his purpose. With authenticity and fire, Josh opens up about the profound role of mentors, living out “iron sharpens iron” at Ignition, and stepping boldly into “Brittany season” to support his wife and kids in life after baseball.

Key highlights
• Josh Harrison’s path from Cincinnati Bearcats to thirteen MLB seasons and two All-Star selections, earning respect through hustle, athleticism, and genuine joy.
• Facing adversity: being sent down five times in one season, recovering from injuries, and enduring a junior-year slump transformed through 1 Peter 5:6 and unwavering family support.
• Core moments: his first walk-off hit on Mother’s Day with his mom and grandmother present; breaking up Rich Hill’s no-hitter with a walk-off home run; receiving MLB’s Heart and Hustle Award.
• Defining identity beyond the game: why Josh insists baseball doesn’t define him—character, faith, and family are what truly matter.
• “Big don’t mean bad”—how early lessons from his mother and competing against his older brothers fueled a fearless, competitive edge.
• What “Brittany season” really means—stepping into an active, supportive role for his wife’s dreams and his family’s future, embracing life’s next chapter with purpose and humility.
• The lasting impact of Clif Marshall’s mentorship and Ignition’s “iron sharpens iron” culture, plus the brotherhood built with teammates like Andrew McCutchen.

References
• 1 Peter 5:6 (Scripture Josh leaned on during adversity; inscribed on his gloves and wristbands)
• Ignition Athletics; “iron sharpens iron” with Clif Marshall: https://ignitionapg.com/
• The Beat Mom Magazine by Brittney Kelley Harrison: https://www.thebeatmom.com/
• Walk-off home run breaking up Rich Hill’s no-hitter: https://www.mlb.com/news/harrison-s-walk-off-hr-ends-hill-s-no-hitter-c250122390