BeTempered Episode 109 – Identity Beyond Performance with Carson Brower

BeTempered Episode 109 – Identity Beyond Performance with Carson Brower

What happens when the thing you've built your identity around gets taken away? Carson Brower shares a story that goes far beyond baseball. Born with VATER syndrome affecting his right arm, Carson grew up learning how to adapt, solve problems differently, and push through obstacles most people never have to face. Those lessons eventually helped him achieve his dream of becoming a Division I pitcher at Bellarmine University, but the greatest challenges of his life weren't on the field. Inspired by Jim Abbott, Carson became obsessed with finding ways to make what others viewed as a disadvantage work at the highest level. He takes us through growing up in Eaton, Ohio, the frustrations and victories that came with doing everyday tasks differently, and the moment he returned to baseball after walking away from the game at age 12. Hosts Dan Schmidt and Ben Spahr dive into the darker side of competitive athletics as Carson openly discusses the depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts that developed when his identity became tied to performance. He shares the phone call from his mother that changed everything, the community that rallied around him, and how his faith in Christ helped him rebuild his foundation when baseball could no longer define who he was. The conversation also explores the wrist injury that ultimately ended Carson's pitching career, the difficult decision to prioritize his long-term future over one more season, and the perspective he carries today about gratitude, purpose, pressure, and resilience. If you've ever struggled with identity, mental health, adversity, faith, athletics, or finding your purpose beyond achievement, this episode will stay with you. Visit: betempered.com Support the show: patreon.com/betempered Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2386809/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2386809/support]

BeTempered Episode 108 - From Small Town Star to Division I Reality with Mason Shrout

At five years old, Mason Shrout made a decision that most kids only dream about. He was going to play Division I basketball. What followed was years of sacrifice, long drives, early mornings, pressure, criticism, and expectations that most people never see. Mason grew from a kid in rural Ohio into Preble County's all-time leading scorer, a historic Final Four participant, and eventually a Division I athlete at Purdue Fort Wayne. But the road was anything but easy. In this episode, Mason shares what it was like growing up with strict parents who pushed him to be his best, the AAU experiences that humbled him early, and the criticism he faced after making the decision to reclassify. He explains how he learned to block out negativity, trust the people closest to him, and use doubt as motivation instead of allowing it to become a limitation. Mason also takes us behind the curtain of the recruiting process, the pressure of being one of the most talked-about athletes in the area, and why he chose loyalty to his community over opportunities that could have taken him elsewhere. He reflects on the unforgettable Final Four run at UD Arena and the lessons learned from carrying expectations on and off the court. Hosts Dan Schmidt and Ben Spahr then dive into the realities of college athletics, including balancing a demanding Mechanical Engineering degree with Division I basketball, redshirting, fighting through disappointment, and learning how comparison can rob athletes of joy and purpose. Mason also discusses his faith journey, baptism, and how staying grounded in something bigger than basketball has helped him navigate success, setbacks, temptations, and pressure. This episode is about much more than sports. It's about identity, resilience, humility, discipline, and what happens when the dream you've chased your entire life finally becomes reality. Listen now:  https://betempered.com [https://betempered.com] Support the show: https://patreon.com/betempered  Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2386809/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2386809/support]

BeTempered Episode 107 - Surviving an F-100 Fighter Jet Crash with David Wheeler

A fighter jet drops out of the clouds at 300 miles an hour, the controls stop responding, and the pilot has seconds left to decide what to do. David Wheeler lived through that moment and what happened next still challenges everything he thought he knew about life, purpose, and survival. In this episode of BeTempered with Dan Schmidt and Ben Spahr, David takes us from his 1950s Cincinnati childhood and early fascination with aviation to flying the Air National Guard F-100 Super Sabre while balancing life as an architect and family man. He breaks down the intense reality of pilot training, low-level flight routes, military discipline, and the medical obstacles he had to overcome just to earn the chance to fly. Then everything changed. David walks us through the terrifying seconds of his fighter jet crash and the unexplainable peace he experienced as the aircraft went down. He describes hearing what sounded like singing, feeling overwhelming love, and waking up with questions that would shape the rest of his life. We also explore what it means to live a “second life,” how trauma can transform purpose, and why David eventually returned to the crash site decades later searching for answers. The conversation expands into prison ministry, servant leadership, radical forgiveness, hospice experiences, faith, and the moments that quietly redefine what matters most. Whether you love aviation stories, military history, leadership lessons, near-death experiences, or conversations about faith and meaning, David’s story stays with you. Visit https://betempered.com [https://betempered.com] Support the show on Patreon: https://patreon.com/betempered [https://patreon.com/betempered] Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2386809/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2386809/support]

BeTempered Episode 106 - PTSD, Forgiveness, and the Crown of Thorns with Tony Talbert

A single decision at 100 miles per hour can ripple through families, friendships, faith, and the rest of your life. In Episode 106 of BeTempered, hosts Dan Schmidt and Ben Spahr sit down with Tony Talbert to unpack the night a drunk driver changed everything. What started as a celebration of his friend David’s recovery journey through addiction and service ended in tragedy just minutes from home, leaving Tony and his wife Donna carrying grief, trauma, and questions that don’t disappear when the headlines fade. Tony opens up about the realities of PTSD, survivor’s guilt, panic, flashbacks, nightmares, and the pressure many people feel to “move on” before they’re actually healed. He shares how EMDR therapy, honest prayer, and eventually visiting the young man responsible for the crash became part of a healing process that challenged everything he thought he knew about justice, forgiveness, and redemption. Then the conversation takes a turn none of us expected. On a freezing day in Richmond, Indiana, a homeless man asks Tony for help and leaves behind a freshly cut green crown of thorns. Weeks later, Tony receives a message he believes came directly from Jesus, and suddenly the nightmares stop. What follows is a powerful conversation about faith, suffering, purpose, and the kind of charity that restores dignity instead of creating dependency through practical support, accountability, and love. This episode is raw, emotional, hopeful, and deeply human. Listen now at https://betempered.com [https://betempered.com] and support the mission at https://patreon.com/betempered [https://patreon.com/betempered] Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2386809/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2386809/support]

BeTempered Episode 105 - Living Through War and Holding Onto Faith with Kateryna Tabota

What happens when your normal life disappears overnight? In this episode of BeTempered, hosts Dan Schmidt and Ben Spahr sit down with Kateryna Tabota to hear the real human side of the Ukraine war through the eyes of a wife, mother, and woman of faith. Her story moves from growing up in post-Soviet Ukraine, to serving in the medical field, to suddenly facing air raid sirens, uncertainty, and separation from family as war closes in around them. Katya opens up about raising children during chaos, leaving Ukraine for Poland while her husband was legally required to stay behind, and the emotional weight of wondering if your family will ever be reunited again. She shares how faith became her anchor during the fear, confusion, and constant uncertainty surrounding everyday life. The conversation also dives into the unexpected moments that changed everything. A scooter accident eventually creates the medical exemption that allows her husband to reunite with the family. Church relationships and the United for Ukraine sponsorship program lead them to Ohio, where complete strangers prepare a home for them before they ever arrive. From beds and groceries to a full tank of gas, Katya reflects on the kindness that helped her family begin rebuilding their lives in America. Dan, Ben, and Katya also talk about culture shock, learning English through customer interactions, rebuilding a career through nail licensing, and the hope of returning to medicine in the United States someday. It’s a conversation about resilience, faith under pressure, family sacrifice, and gaining a deeper appreciation for freedoms that are often taken for granted. This episode will challenge perspective, deepen gratitude, and remind listeners how powerful faith and community can become in life’s hardest moments. https://betempered.com [https://betempered.com] https://patreon.com/betempered Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2386809/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2386809/support]