Olympic gold medalist Shawn Johnson East joins Shannon Spake on Sons and Daughters for a powerful conversation about perfection, pressure, commitment, motherhood, and life after the Olympic spotlight. Shawn opens up about becoming “America’s girl” during the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the pressure of being seen as perfect, and the reality behind the polished Olympic stories fans saw on television. She reflects on growing up as a shy kid who found confidence inside the gymnastics gym, the coach who p...
Jun 10, 2026•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 15
Joey Fatone joins Shannon Spake on Sons and Daughters for a candid conversation about life before, during, and after NSYNC. Joey opens up about growing up in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, moving to Orlando, discovering theater, working at Universal Studios, and the early moments that shaped him long before he became part of one of the biggest boy bands of all time. Shannon and Joey also discuss the real story behind boy band fame, the business lessons he learned during the NSYNC years, his work on Boy ...
Jun 03, 2026•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 14
This week on Sons and Daughters, Shannon Spake sits down with one of motorsports broadcasting's most recognized voices, Fox Sports reporter and play-by-play trailblazer Jamie Little. The episode opens with Shannon and Jamie taking a moment to honor Kyle Busch's life, sharing personal memories, behind-the-scenes stories, and heartfelt reflections on what his sudden passing means to everyone in the racing world. Jamie opens up about covering the Indianapolis 500 just days after learning of Kyle's ...
May 27, 2026•1 hr 27 min•Ep. 13
Joe Tessitore joins Shannon Spake on Sons & Daughters for a deeply personal conversation about the moments that shaped him long before ESPN, Monday Night Football, WWE, boxing, horse racing, and college football made him one of the most recognizable voices in sports. In this episode, Joe reflects on his childhood, the loss of his sister Dana, the survivor’s guilt that followed, and the serious football injury that became a turning point in his life. He also shares the story of Brother Aloysi...
May 20, 2026•55 min•Ep. 12
Kirby Smart joins Shannon Spake on Sons & Daughters for a personal conversation about the moments, people, and decisions that shaped his life long before he became the head coach of the Georgia Bulldogs. Kirby opens up about growing up as the son of a high school football coach, the influence of his father, his late offer to play football at Georgia, meeting Peyton Manning on a recruiting visit, getting cut by the Indianapolis Colts, and the identity crisis that followed when his playing car...
May 13, 2026•51 min•Ep. 11
Steve Wojciechowski joins Shannon Spake on Sons and Daughters for a powerful conversation about the origin story behind “Wojo.” Before he became a Duke basketball legend, National Defensive Player of the Year, longtime assistant under Coach K, Marquette head coach, and Olympic gold medal-winning coach, Wojciechowski was a kid from Severna Park, Maryland, trying to figure out where he belonged. In this episode, Wojo opens up about growing up as the son of a longshoreman, the youth coach who chang...
May 06, 2026•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 10
Brett Raymer from Animal Planet's TANKED Opens Up About Prison, Losing Everything, and Why He Wouldn't Change a Thing | Sons and Daughters with Shannon Spake. Brett Raymer, the man behind one of Animal Planet's longest-running reality TV shows, sits down with Shannon Spake for one of the most honest conversations you'll hear from a TV personality. Before the celebrity fish tanks, before building custom aquariums for Kevin Hart, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal, Tracy Morgan, and Anthony Davis, and ...
Apr 29, 2026•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 9
Ricky Carmichael joins Shannon Spake on Sons and Daughters for one of the most honest conversations of his career. Known as the GOAT of motocross and supercross, Carmichael opens up about the grind behind his dominance, the burnout that almost made him quit, and the moment he realized he had to change everything to reach his full potential. This episode dives into parenting, pressure, work ethic, and what truly matters after the championships are over. If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to be...
Apr 22, 2026•1 hr 24 min•Ep. 8
Julia Cole didn’t plan this career… it found her. From writing poems and a 500-page novel as a kid in Texas to singing national anthems and eventually headlining her own tour, Julia’s journey into country music wasn’t traditional. It was built step by step through experience, heartbreak, and figuring it out in real time. In this episode of Sons and Daughters, Julia opens up about the moments that shaped her, from growing up in a competitive family to chasing a creative writing dream at Vanderbil...
Apr 15, 2026•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 7
Megan Olivi’s career wasn’t planned; it unfolded. In this episode of Sons and Daughters , Megan opens up about growing up in a tight-knit family, navigating uncertainty in college, and walking away from a future in politics to chase something completely different. From early mornings in New York newsrooms to finding her place in the world of MMA and sports broadcasting, her story is about trusting the next step even when the final destination isn’t clear. She shares what it was like growing up w...
Apr 08, 2026•58 min•Ep. 6
On this episode of Sons and Daughters, Shannon Spake sits down with Laura Rutledge to unpack the untold story behind her rise to ESPN. Before the NFL sidelines, before the spotlight, Laura was chasing a completely different dream: becoming a professional ballerina. After years of training, international travel, and sacrifice, she faced a reality she didn’t expect… she wasn’t going to make it. What followed was a complete identity shift. Laura opens up about failure, anxiety, imposter syndrome, m...
Apr 01, 2026•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 5
On this episode of Sons and Daughters, Shannon Spake sits down with legendary football coach Jon Gruden to talk about the origin stories that shaped their lives and careers. From growing up around football at Notre Dame to becoming one of the most recognizable coaches in the NFL, Gruden shares how discipline, routine, and obsession with the game built his path. He opens up about his daily habits, why he still wakes up before 4AM, and why he believes he may not be done coaching just yet. Shannon ...
Mar 25, 2026•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 4
Four-time Pro Bowler, Lombardi Award winner, and NFL Hall of Famer Chris Spielman sits down with Shannon Spake for one of the most raw and honest conversations you'll ever hear from an elite athlete. Chris goes beyond the highlight reels, talking about growing up with coach Sonny Spielman, learning discipline and love at the same time, and discovering that the obsession that made him great on the field was also the thing he had to conquer at home. He opens up for the first time publicly about th...
Mar 18, 2026•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 3
Coach Mike Krzyzewski, one of the greatest coaches in the history of sports, sits down with host Shannon for an unforgettable episode of Sons and Daughters. In this deeply personal conversation, Coach K goes beyond the banners and gold medals to talk about the moments, people, and life lessons that shaped who he really is. From growing up in inner-city Chicago to a Polish family that pushed him toward West Point against his will, Coach K opens up about the "best decision he never made," the wisd...
Mar 11, 2026•56 min•Ep. 2
On this episode of Sons & Daughters, host Shannon Spake sits down with one of her closest friends and longtime colleague, Marty Smith, for a deeply personal conversation about origin, loss, and identity. Marty opens up about growing up in Pearisburg, Virginia, the values instilled in him by his parents, and how losing his mother at just 22 years old reshaped his confidence, faith, and sense of self. From Appalachian roots to becoming one of the most recognizable voices in sports media, Marty...
Mar 04, 2026•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 1
Hosted by Shannon Spake, Sons & Daughters is a new weekly podcast built around something we all have in common: an origin story. Each episode goes beyond the headlines and highlight reels to explore the people, moments and relationships that shaped who our guests became – long before anyone knew their name. Full episodes drop every Wednesday starting on March 4, with some heavy hitters lined up out of the gate, including championship basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski and ESPN’s Marty Smith. H...
Jan 23, 2026•42 sec
