Podcast Summary: "Relatable with Allie Beth Stuckey"

Episode 1252 | Sage Steele on Her New Faith Journey & Finding Her Husband
Date: October 10, 2025
Host: Allie Beth Stuckey
Guest: Sage Steele

Episode Overview

In this heartfelt episode, Allie welcomes longtime broadcaster and journalist Sage Steele to discuss her journey of faith, love, resilience in adversity, and family life after her high-profile departure from ESPN. Fresh from her wedding, Sage shares deeply personal stories about rediscovering herself, building a Christ-centered relationship, and making hard choices—both professionally and personally—that led to healing and growth. The conversation offers encouragement to listeners navigating their own seasons of change or hardship.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Finding Love Again in Midlife

Timestamp: 02:11 – 07:27

• Sage shares her unexpected journey into a second marriage:
  After divorce and sending her youngest off to college, Sage didn’t expect to fall in love again, meeting her now-husband Dave at a veteran’s charity event in Nashville. Their families had a long, coincidental connection through their parents’ military service.
• Instant connection, deep conversation:
  “It was two to three hours straight. It was like no one else was in the room. It hit me about halfway through, and something like the butterflies hit.” — Sage Steele, 05:45
• Quick Engagement:
  From meeting in November 2024, to getting engaged in April 2025, and married by September:
  “Was I afraid of judgment at times... Yes, I was. And then it’s like, who cares? Like, I know this is my person for many reasons beyond his charm and good look, it was so much deeper than that immediately.” — Sage, 06:52

2. Dating After Divorce: Surrender and Honesty

Timestamp: 08:46 – 14:56

• Long-distance dating helped them connect deeply over the phone:
  Hours-long conversations led to authentic sharing early on, with both Sage and Dave being upfront about their past, faith, and desires for the future.
• Turning point in surrendering to God:
  After a difficult date, Sage surrendered her dating life to God:
  “I said, Lord, please don’t bring me anybody until you bring me somebody. And make it really obvious, because I’m kind of an idiot. And that was January 1, 2024... It took nine, ten months to meet Dave, but everything in my life changed because I believe now it was really the first time I gave up control and let go and just let God.” — Sage, 12:12
• Faith as a priority in a relationship:
  “When he asked me one night...what was really important to me...the first thing I said was someone to walk this faith journey with me because I didn’t want to do it alone...” — Sage, 13:17
• Allie reflects on the freedom found in surrender:
  “That’s like a very freeing place to be, but a hard place to get to for those of us who really like to try to control the outcomes.” — Allie, 14:30

3. Sage’s Evolving Faith Journey

Timestamp: 17:42 – 24:34

• Catholic roots and expanding spiritual habits:
  Sage discusses her upbringing as a proud Catholic but expresses a hunger to go deeper in scripture and Christian living.
• Barriers and blessings:
  She and her husband did not wed in the Catholic Church due to divorce/annulment rules; they embraced a non-denominational Christian ceremony instead.
  “I still consider myself Catholic, but I am figuring out so much more and asking questions about things that I think are missing…We were never really encouraged to dig deep in the Bible.” — Sage, 17:48
• Building daily Biblical habits:
  She and Dave integrate daily scripture reading and prayer, holding each other accountable:
  “Every day we start…we do it, and one of us reads it to the other and we break it down…and how can we apply it?” — Sage, 21:30
• Overcoming intimidation at reading the Bible:
  Allie and Sage relate on the practical struggles and creative solutions for keeping Scripture part of daily life, even in busy seasons.

4. Parenting Young Adults & Fostering Sibling Relationships

Timestamp: 28:47 – 41:30

• Parent-child friendship post-childhood:
  Sage discusses her three children (aged 19–23), how her relationship shifted from authority to friendship, and the unique personalities and needs of each.
• Blended families and modeling healthy love:
  “My kids have gotten to witness their mother finding love again…being treated like a princess by this man...our relationship has changed...It was worth all the hard work.” — Sage, 33:21
• Helping siblings stay friends:
  Sage credits having her kids close together in age, honest conversations, and emphasizing lifelong loyalty:
  “Someday when I’m gone, it is only you. You only have each other. So be kind...” — Sage, 37:49
• Advice to parents of little ones:
  Support sibling closeness by fostering empathy, leveraging humor, and reminding them of future adult bonds.

5. Honoring Parents and Family Heritage

Timestamp: 42:23 – 48:41

• Sage’s parents: Role models of perseverance and faithfulness:
  Married 54 years, they overcame significant obstacles as an interracial couple in the 1970s.
  “My mom was told to choose between her family or my dad...At 22 years old, she had to make that decision. I’m in awe of her and that strength...” — Sage, 44:23
• Enduring connection:
  Sage shares how her parents supported her through divorce, scandal, and career crises. Her dad’s ongoing cancer battle has further deepened their mutual reliance and love.

6. Standing for Truth in the Public Eye: ESPN/Disney Controversy

Timestamp: 50:57 – 68:06

• Forced COVID vaccine and professional consequences:
  Sage recounts being suspended for commenting on the vaccine mandate, suffering public backlash, and ultimately leaving ESPN.
  “I was suspended for speaking up about being forced to take the COVID vaccine in order to keep my job at Disney...I did it and I complied. And then I talked on a podcast about it...that was the beginning of the end.” — Sage, 50:59
• Workplace double standards:
  She details the unequal treatment between herself and colleagues sharing more left-leaning views on air.
• Decision to stand up and sue Disney:
  “Do I stand up for myself to the point of filing a lawsuit against Disney? That was the scary moment...if I am preaching about standing up...and then being quiet, I’m just as bad as everybody else.” — Sage, 54:13
• Parenting through adversity:
  Her children became witnesses and judges of her courage and resolve.
  “Mom, it’s about time you stood up for yourself.” — Sage’s son, 58:56
• Resolution and reflection:
  The lawsuit was settled out of court after a long, stressful ordeal. Sage notes that the public stand, though costly, validated her values and inspired private support:
  “It was cool to realize...this is so much bigger. And what a blessing that I got to be the one at that moment…” — Sage, 67:36

7. Skincare, Aging, and Living Authentically

Timestamp: 68:06 – 73:26

• Beauty advice with humor and humility:
  Sage credits genetics, health, beef tallow, and kindness to herself for her youthful look; she’s stopped striving for perfection or cosmetic procedures.
  “Honestly, I feel like I probably look healthier now because I’m healthier internally and I’m being kinder to myself...I finally know that no matter what and how I look...God loves me. He made me this way.” — Sage, 71:36 & 73:07
• Owning one’s appearance and being a model to her daughters:
  “When you sit in front of a camera for your whole career and are judged based on what you look like...I realized this is not who I want to be, and this is not who I want my daughters to be…So several years, I just stopped, like, forget it.” — Sage, 68:55

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “When you know, you know.” (Sage, 07:20)
• “It took nine, ten months to meet Dave, but everything in my life changed because...I finally did [let go and let God] at 51, and look what happened.” (Sage, 12:25)
• “The conversations were really beautiful from the beginning. And because I was, you know, so much older, I just thought, what the heck? Let’s not hold back and just be super honest.” (Sage, 11:09)
• “The friendship is everything…You only have each other. So be kind like you’re doing already.” (Sage, 37:54)
• “It was maybe dumb from a financial perspective...but that’s why when I pulled that trigger...I knew with the lawsuit first of all, I knew there was no going back.” (Sage, 66:21)
• “I finally worked so hard on the inside...through my faith...that I finally know that no matter what and how I look...God loves me.” (Sage, 73:07)

Conclusion / Episode Takeaway

Sage Steele’s story is one of resilience, vulnerability, and growth. Her candid reflections on love, career pressure, surrendering to God, and navigating public scrutiny provide encouragement to listeners struggling with fear or uncertainty. Both practical and profound, her wisdom on building strong family ties and staying grounded in faith amid adversity reinforces the show’s ethos: standing for truth, honoring one’s principles, and trusting God at every stage.

Where to Find Sage Steele

• Podcast: The Sage Steele Show (YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts)
• Instagram: @sagesteele

Summary by: [Relatable with Allie Beth Stuckey Podcast Summarizer AI]