Podcast
Cedarville Stories
Hosted by Cedarville University · EN
Cedarville Stories podcast shares the stories of individuals who have been impacted from their experiences at Cedarville University, all for God's glory. Each week you’ll hear unique stories of how Cedarville’s mission of transforming lives through excellent education and intentional discipleship in submission to biblical authority is being lived out in the lives of faculty, staff, students, alumni, and friends of the University.
Listen in each Wednesday and be blessed by some of the amazing ways God is working in and through the lives of the Cedarville family.
43episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
S14:E11 | Sam Sofio: Walking With Lyme, Walking With God
Mar 1800:34:04Tap to summarizeWalking With Lyme, Walking With GodSam Sofio carried a simple dream of attending Christian university where faith wasn’t an accessory but the air everyone breathed. He pictured chapel worship and professors who prayed before class. He also sensed a calling to tell stories that point people to God.Then his health took a hard turn, and money worries crept in.He woke up bone-tired no matter how long he slept. Headaches throbbed behind his eyes, his joints ached, and his mind stayed foggy. Ordinary days started to feel like hills with no summit, and his dream began to look expensive and impossible.Sam refused to pretend it didn’t hurt. He carried his questions to the Lord, sometimes through clenched teeth, and he learned a quiet truth: God never stepped back. In long nights and slow mornings, Sam found the Father near — steady, faithful, and kind.He spent many hours searching for answers. He clicked through articles and forums. He tried to name what was stealing his strength and hope to attend a Christian university. When Lyme disease finally entered the conversation, it brought relief and new complexity at the same time. Treatments took patience, and setbacks took humility. Chronic illness demanded daily courage. Still, God met Sam in his struggles and comforted him so he could comfort others.Little by little, God kept Sam’s dream alive. Doors opened, and provision came when it mattered most. Strength arrived in measured portions — enough for the next step. As the fog lifted just enough to see forward, one path came into focus: the Christian campus he had prayed for.That path led him to Cedarville University. The suffering didn’t end, yet God kept Sam steady through it. Cedarville became the place where Sam could keep healing, learning, and walking with the Lord.Now, Sam studies professional writing and information design as a junior. He hopes, Lord willing, to serve a Christian nonprofit like Samaritan’s Purse after graduating in 2027. He wants to tell on-the-ground stories that help prayer partners and donors see what God is doing.Sam doesn’t waste his scars. He advocates for others battling Lyme disease and other chronic illnesses, speaking up so they don’t feel invisible, and he’s shared his journey in places he never imagined. From a Health and Human Services panel to a conversation with HHS Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr., Sam carries one steady message wherever God sends him: The Lord meets people in suffering, and He stays.https://share.transistor.fm/s/8aeede8bhttps://youtu.be/6y9qK0R8LbY
Transcribe →S14:E10 | Marlee Benson: A Story Bigger Than Football
Mar 1100:32:54Tap to summarizeA Story Bigger Than FootballRedemption opens like a familiar football story — with helmets, stadium lights, and the pressure to win — but quickly clarifies its real focus: Jesus changing lives inside The Ohio State Buckeyes’ program.Available through The Wonder Project on Amazon Prime, this docuseries follows an ongoing spiritual revival that can’t be measured on a scoreboard. Behind it are two unlikely executive producers: Marlee and Matt Benson, a husband-and-wife duo who stepped into filmmaking because they believed the message mattered.When Marlee shared how Redemption became a reality on the Cedarville Stories podcast, she made one thing clear: She and Matt didn’t start as film professionals. Marlee is a 2021 Cedarville University graduate with a degree in communication, and she and Matt are simply people who love sports and Jesus. They were surprised to find themselves telling a story so much bigger than their own experiences.The docuseries idea was sparked at church. Marlee and Matt listened as former Buckeye tight end Gee Scott Jr. shared his testimony, and the idea arrived with clarity. They needed to share what God has been doing in and through these players.Marlee and Matt didn’t have a roadmap, so they prayed. They prayed when they felt unqualified, when the logistics looked impossible, and when the responsibility of representing real people and real faith felt heavy.Then, the prayers started turning into tangible steps. A production company came alongside them. Funding followed in the form of hundreds of thousands of dollars that seemed out of reach for two newcomers. And as the project grew, it gained the backing of former Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Tim Tebow, lending his credibility and support to a story centered on Christ rather than fame.Even with resources, the hardest work stayed relational. Marlee and Matt had to tell the stories of multiple players who stood for Christ without flattening them into slogans. They had to earn trust deep enough for players to share truthfully, not carefully. They chose transparency because the message mattered more than the optics: Jesus transforms lives, and that transformation gives hope in the middle of pressure, performance, and public scrutiny.As the story took shape, Marlee kept noticing how the players talked about prayer: not as a lever to pull for wins but as a way to stay close to God when life doesn’t go the way they want. Gee Scott Jr. puts words to it near the end of the series: People sometimes treat prayer like a path to a national championship, but God doesn’t promise that. What He promises, as Romans 8:28 says, is to work all things together for good for those who love Him, even when the “all things” include delays, doubts, and hard conversations.By the time Redemption was finished, Marlee realized the story had been working on her, too, reshaping how she saw faith in the middle of pressure and performance. Watching players talk about Christ’s joy shook her out of spiritual routine. Their excitement renewed her own faith and reminded her that God still changes people in the present tense.That’s the quiet thread running through the whole project. Two fans stepped forward with open hands, not because they were experts, but because they were willing storytellers for God’s glory. They pursued excellence, faced obstacles honestly, and kept praying through every unknown, driven by the belief that if even one person met Jesus through this story, it would be worth it. And in the end, Marlee and Matt watched God create hope on the screen through testimonies that kept echoing long after the credits rolled.https://share.transistor.fm/s/f5a8343bhttps://youtu.be/tqF2jbZdyAc
Transcribe →S14:E09 | Dr. Megan Brown and Malena Ball: Stocking Classrooms, Building Futures
Mar 400:42:08Tap to summarizeStocking Classrooms, Building FuturesA first-year teacher stands in an empty classroom with a key in her hand and a knot in her stomach. Twenty-six desks. Bare walls. One loud thought: School starts soon, and the room has almost nothing.Dr. Megan Brown, an associate professor of education at Cedarville University, knows that moment well. Coursework can cover research and best practices. Training can shape strong habits. Still, the first year in a real classroom brings a different kind of weight — especially when the space begins as a blank slate.Megan teaches literacy courses to future educators, and she talks plainly about what teaching requires. Learning is hands-on. Students need materials in their fingers so ideas can stick in their minds. Yet school budgets only stretch so far. Families can only do so much. Teachers often fill the gaps with their own money: pencils, tissues, notebooks, cleaning supplies, even backpacks. For a new teacher, those costs add up quickly.That’s where Malena Ball comes in. A 2022 Cedarville graduate with a degree in strategic communication, Malena now serves as marketing director for Crayons to Classrooms. In that role, she helps connect educators to practical, personal support. The Dayton-area nonprofit provides free classroom supplies for teachers in 144 schools, reaching more than 50,000 students through the teachers it serves.Malena has watched teachers push carts down the aisles and still expect a bill. “How much do I owe?” they ask, looking at the price tags left on some items to show their value. Volunteers smile back. “Nothing.” Relief softens shoulders, and gratitude shows up as tears. Being seen does that.Crayons to Classrooms stocks the consumables that disappear by October — glue sticks, erasers, paper, pencils. But Malena calls it more than a resource center. It’s a care center. Teachers find air filters, hygiene products, Band-Aids, sanitizer, and tissues. Those supplies don’t just serve learning. They support dignity, comfort, and confidence.Megan watched one new teacher arrive after visiting her classroom for the first time. Empty room. End of July. No paycheck yet. She left with two full carts squeezed into a small car and a face filled with relief. Now there was something to build with.That “something” reaches far past academics. A spare notebook helps a student keep up. A backpack handed quietly to a child in foster care says, “This is yours.” A pencil offered without a lecture says, “You matter here.”Megan and Malena shared these stories on the Cedarville Stories podcast. Their message? Equip teachers with training, care, and supplies. When teachers feel supported, students feel it too. And that feeling can shape those students’ futures.https://share.transistor.fm/s/7fa1e2bdhttps://youtu.be/_4X2P8hjSuk
Transcribe →S14:E08 | Jeff Rinehart: Secret Service and the Zero-Fail Mission
Feb 2500:37:43Tap to summarizeSecret Service and the Zero-Fail MissionThe U.S. Secret Service lives by a simple standard: zero fail. Every route, every rooftop, and every split-second decision demands excellence because the mission leaves no room for mistakes.Jeff Rinehart has built his career around that expectation. The 1993 Cedarville University graduate has spent nearly three decades with the Secret Service, rising into senior leadership and carrying the weight of protecting the nation and serving its government with quiet professionalism.To most people, the Secret Service looks like dark suits, earpieces, and sunglasses. Rinehart understands the mystique, but he points to something deeper. The heart of the work, he says, is service — service to the United States, to its government, and to the people who rely on it.That sense of purpose demands steady discipline. In a job where one mistake can change history, Rinehart has pursued excellence the way a craftsman pursues a clean finish: by doing the small things right every day. He has protected dignitaries and worked alongside world leaders, but he also recognizes that the agency’s mission stretches far beyond what the cameras capture.The Secret Service investigates cybercrime and financial fraud, and Rinehart speaks about those cases with real conviction. When agents stop someone from draining a senior citizen’s life savings, the work matters. When they track down cyber predators who exploit children online, the reward runs even deeper. He does not glamorize the job. He honors it, and he honors the people it helps.Over the years, Rinehart has stepped up to a wide range of assignments. He served on the presidential detail for President George W. Bush, handled sensitive work as a foreign attaché officer, and built cases as a criminal investigator. Each role demanded the same steady excellence day after day, whether anyone is watching or not.In his current role, Rinehart has helped keep President Donald Trump safe during multiple visits overseas, including trips to Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. Those miles add another layer to the mission: unfamiliar terrain, shifting schedules, and constant coordination with host nations. Still, the expectation never changes. The detail must run clean, the planning must hold, and the team must be ready for anything.Rinehart recently shared his story as a guest on the Cedarville Stories podcast. In his trademark steady way, he made it clear that the Secret Service is more than an image. It is a calling to serve something bigger than oneself and a daily commitment to excellence in a mission where “zero fail” is not a tagline but a promise.https://share.transistor.fm/s/93bc077dhttps://youtu.be/YtBjp1nYnOM
Transcribe →S14:E07 | Payton Eeles and Tanner Gillis: Big League Hopes
Feb 1800:36:42Tap to summarizeBig League HopesPayton Eeles and Tanner Gillis are living their baseball dreams. Both former Yellow Jacket baseball players are moving closer to the major leagues and learning that the climb is rarely clean and never entirely predictable.Baseball is a sport of failure that teaches a person to live between what’s hoped for and what’s in hand. There’s always another series, another chance, and another day to get better. Payton has carried his dream since childhood, the sort of long-held desire that feels as natural as a glove on his left hand. Tanner’s path has required the same steady grit — the willingness to keep showing up, keep competing, and keep believing that today’s work matters even when tomorrow’s roster is unknown.What sets their story apart isn’t just the pursuit but the posture. The game can tempt players to measure life in innings pitched, box scores, and call-ups. Yet Payton and Tanner’s grounding runs deeper. They’ve learned to trust God’s timing the way a good ballplayer trusts the process: staying disciplined, resisting panic, and letting the season unfold one pitch at a time. Some prayers get answered quickly; others develop like a slow-breaking curve — still true, still on the way, still under control.That big-picture perspective came through recently on the Cedarville Stories podcast, where both players reflected on baseball, faith, and the steadying confidence that comes from believing there’s a plan even when the details aren’t visible yet. They shared that when Cedarville friends show up in the stands, it turns the whole thing into something warmer than a career climb. It becomes a reminder that the journey is meant to be carried with others and that gratitude can keep ambition from getting too loud.For Eeles and Gillis, the aim is still the big leagues, but the deeper goal is staying steady — playing hard, staying humble, and trusting the Author of the story to call the right pitch at the right time.https://share.transistor.fm/s/691f2d02https://youtu.be/wTqebZT93_k
Transcribe →S14:E06 | Dr. Jared Pincin: Fantasy Sports and Real Convictions
Feb 1100:37:26Tap to summarizeDr. Jared Pincin: Fantasy Sports and Real ConvictionsSome of the most lasting lessons in life don’t come from classrooms or textbooks but from watching the people closest to you do hard things without complaint. For Dr. Jared Pincin, those lessons were learned early by watching his college-educated father take whatever work was necessary to provide for his family, even when that meant working as a janitor at McDonald’s during a tough recession.Pincin, associate professor of economics at Cedarville University since 2023, isn’t just an expert in market theory. He’s a man shaped by humble beginnings, hard-earned wisdom, and a heart for guiding young people well.Born and raised in Whitehall, Pennsylvania, Jared grew up watching his parents navigate life’s ups and downs with grit and grace. His dad took that janitorial job during an economic downturn. He never showed bitterness or complained; he simply did what was needed to care for his family. That quiet determination left a lasting mark. Jared’s own first job, stocking shelves for Nabisco, became a lesson in humility and trusting God’s timing.His journey into economics began in middle school, sparked by a visiting stockbroker on career day. That interest grew through high school internships and eventually led him to earn a PhD. Though he didn’t initially plan on teaching, the doors to academia opened, and he found joy in the classroom, especially in connecting with students and helping them think deeply about real-world choices.On a recent episode of the Cedarville Stories podcast, Jared shared more than just economic insight. He spoke candidly about his past involvement in fantasy sports and how it gradually led him to question the role of sports betting in his life. What started as a harmless March Madness bracket in high school ended with a suspension and a turning point. Over time, he began to see gambling not just as a financial risk but as a spiritual one.Today, alongside Cedarville colleague Colonel (Ret.) Greg Thompson, he speaks to students about the hidden dangers of sports betting, particularly how easy access and secrecy can foster habits with long-term consequences. It’s not about legalism, he says, but stewardship and wisdom.Jared’s story is one of thoughtful faith, honest work, and a calling to prepare the next generation not just for the workforce but for life.https://share.transistor.fm/s/f745bac4https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-v5CZjqM4I
Transcribe →S14:E05 | Ondrej Plasil: Czech-Born, Christ-Driven
Feb 400:35:15Tap to summarizeFrom Czech Courts to a Global CallingOndrej Plasil grew up in the Czech Republic with a basketball in his hands and a competitive spirit in his heart. The game gave him direction, discipline, and drive. But underneath it all, he was quietly searching for something more.In a country where faith is often absent or minimized, Ondrej didn’t grow up in a strong Christian environment. He knew about God, but the idea of following Jesus personally felt distant. That began to change when he encountered believers who lived differently — people whose lives radiated joy, purpose, and hope that couldn’t be explained by talent or success alone.Through a series of providential moments, Ondrej and his family came to know Christ as Savior, Lord, and Friend. That decision changed everything. His identity was no longer rooted in performance or approval but in grace. His view of life, success, and even basketball was transformed.That journey brought him to Cedarville University, where he’s now a sophomore studying business management. Here, he stepped into a community that nurtures his young faith and challenges him to grow deeper. Surrounded by fellow students who love Jesus and live with boldness, Ondrej found accountability, inspiration, and a renewed sense of calling.What was once a quiet faith became a passionate pursuit. He began to see his gifts and his story as part of something bigger than himself.Ondrej’s dream is bold: to see revival in the Czech Republic. Whether through launching a Christ-centered academy, planting seeds of faith through education, or simply walking faithfully with the people of his country, he longs to be used by God.He shared his story on the Cedarville Stories podcast, offering a glimpse of his hope-filled vision: to be a faithful voice in his homeland, pointing people to the truth of Jesus.Wherever God sends him, Ondrej is ready. He’s living proof that when Jesus captures a heart, everything changes.https://share.transistor.fm/s/da12250ehttps://youtu.be/rqrunn4aGhA
Transcribe →S14:E04 | Leo Brothers: Desert Roots and Gospel Goals
Jan 2800:41:14Tap to summarizeDesert Roots and Gospel GoalsMatthew and Daniel Leo grew up in the Middle East, where sunbaked streets doubled as soccer fields and neighbors quickly became family. Their childhood was filled with the rhythms of daily life, including shared meals, local traditions, and long afternoons chasing a ball through the dust. With parents devoted to humanitarian work, the brothers were immersed in a life of service and shaped by a deep love for people, culture, and faith that would stay with them wherever they went.Now students at Cedarville University, the brothers lace up their cleats as members of the University’s soccer team. But if you ask them, they’ll tell you their identity goes far deeper than their roles on the field or in the classroom. As they shared recently on the Cedarville Stories podcast, they see themselves first and foremost as children of God — young men whose purpose isn’t just to win games but to live lives that reflect Christ.Matthew shared how his identity as a follower of Jesus isn’t something he sets aside when he steps onto the field. When he's playing in front of a crowd or pushing through a tough match, his faith remains central to who he is. The way he competes, responds to pressure, and carries himself flows from that deeper commitment. For him, soccer isn’t separate from his spiritual life; it’s another place where his walk with Christ is lived out.Daniel followed with a heartfelt message for those who may not yet know Christ. He encouraged listeners to explore the Bible with an open heart, describing it as a powerful collection of stories about real people — flawed, broken, and often struggling — who encountered God’s grace. Through those stories, he explained, there’s a clear picture of hope, redemption, and purpose. Both brothers emphasized that a life shaped by faith is not about perfection but about daily trust and living in a way that reflects something greater than themselves.Their future plans? The Leo brothers hope to return to the Middle East after graduation to continue the work their parents started. They want to invest in people, love their neighbors, and serve in a region they still call home.In a world often driven by status or stats, Matthew and Daniel’s story is refreshingly simple and deeply inspiring: two brothers chasing a ball, loving deeply, and running toward a calling far greater than themselves.https://share.transistor.fm/s/aa08bb61https://youtu.be/m9WnRUATlJE
Transcribe →S14:E03 | Gracen Fletcher: Aiming True, Living Fully
Jan 2100:29:46Tap to summarizeAiming True, Living FullyGracen Fletcher grew up under Indiana skies, where the wind danced across hayfields and horses ran free. A farm girl through and through, she learned to saddle up almost as early as she could walk. Her days were filled with muck boots, fiddle strings, and the steady hum of country life. Whether she was training one of her family’s Arabian horses, casting a fishing line at the pond, or hitting bullseyes with her bow, Gracen lived wide awake to the world around her.Her brother got into archery first, and the rest of the family followed. At first, Gracen just tagged along. But the more she shot, the more she found herself hooked. The quiet focus, the feel of the release, the rhythm — archery used the same discipline she’d learned from horseback riding. And just like that, she discovered a lasting passion.By the time she turned 10, Gracen was competing. At 17, she made history in Las Vegas, shooting a perfect 900 — something only a handful of women had ever done. The spotlight turned to her quickly, and, as a result, the Olympic door stood wide open.But another door opened, too.Gracen had long dreamed of earning a degree from Cedarville University, a school with a commitment to faith that matched her own. She thought she'd have to choose: train for the Olympics or attend college. But Cedarville’s new fully online accounting program made it possible to do both.Now, from her family’s farm in Boonville, she balances Olympic-level training with online studies. Her days start early with chapel, continue with coursework, and end with hours of practice in the barn or the field. It's a full life, but one anchored in purpose.Gracen doesn’t see archery as her identity — it’s a gift. She competes with grit, but her aim stays fixed on something higher. Through every arrow and every assignment, she’s living to honor God, knowing He’s the one who gave her these passions to begin with.She recently shared more of her journey on the Cedarville Stories podcast, reflecting on how faith, family, and focus have shaped her both on the range and in the classroom.Gracen’s story is a reminder: Sometimes you don’t have to pick one dream over another — sometimes, with faith and the right fit, you can live both.https://share.transistor.fm/s/49abb142https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2dfe3GFjPo
Transcribe →S14:E02 | Lucy Malmberg: Cradled in a Box, Carried by Faith
Jan 1400:44:14Tap to summarizeLucy Malmberg: Cradled in a Box, Carried by FaithLucy Malmberg’s life began in the shadow of World War II. Born in a refugee camp and carried onto a plane bound for America inside a handmade box, she traveled hidden beneath a blanket with nothing but a handwritten birth certificate and her father’s whispered prayer. Her parents had fled the devastation of Ukraine with no home, no country, and little more than their steadfast faith in Jesus. That improbable journey — marked by desperation, courage, and divine protection — became the opening chapter of a life defined by God’s unwavering faithfulness.From her earliest memories, Lucy recognized God’s fingerprints on every detail of her story. He met her family with miracles both great and small, providing exactly what they needed when they needed it. Through seasons of hardship and abundance, Lucy learned to trust His timing, His provision, and His plan.Pharmacy eventually became Lucy’s calling, but it was never just about medicine. She approached her work as a ministry, caring for the whole person — body, mind, and soul. Together with her late husband, George, she founded Wedgewood Pharmacy and helped build it into one of the nation’s most respected veterinary compounding pharmacies. Yet professional achievement was never her ultimate goal. What mattered most was stewarding the platform God had given her to share the hope of Jesus.Lucy inherited her passion for introducing people to Christ from her father, a man whose ever-present smile opened the door to countless Gospel conversations in grocery lines, gas stations, and diners. She carries that same joyful boldness. More than anything, Lucy longs to live a life that helps populate heaven.When the opportunity arose to invest in Christian pharmacy education, she didn’t hesitate. Her recent $1 million gift to Cedarville University’s School of Pharmacy will equip future pharmacists to serve as both excellent clinicians and courageous ambassadors for Christ. Meeting students whose lives were transformed through the scholarship moved Lucy to tears. For her, it was unmistakable confirmation that God was at work.Lucy recently shared her testimony on the Cedarville Stories podcast. With warmth and humility, she reflected on a life shaped by hardship, hope, and the joy of Jesus. She sees Cedarville as a place where students are not only trained with excellence but also sent out to share the Gospel wherever God leads.For Lucy, that is the legacy that matters most: hearts turned toward heaven, one faithful life at a time.https://share.transistor.fm/s/09c46197https://youtu.be/nd03ddxGU5w
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