Bird Fans 4 Ever Podcast
Talking all things Redbirds Athletics
91 episodes
latest
fortnightly cadence
English language
Explicit rating
https://birdfans4ever.com/?feed=podcast
Episodes
Reading the feed…
Talking all things Redbirds Athletics
Reading the feed…
BF4E: Sammi Cenek’s Redbird Legacy Sammi Cenek’s story is one of grit, loyalty, and the kind of quiet toughness that defines true Redbird greatness. A Peoria standout who grew up dreaming of being a D1 soccer player, Sammi committed early. She stayed through coaching turnover, culture shifts, and adversity, and became one of the most reliable anchors in the program. Her journey is a masterclass in trusting the process and believing in the place you call home. Moreover, as a sophomore, Sammi’s season was cut short by a broken foot in the first match against Indiana. The moment could have derail
Bird Fans 4 Ever sits down with Illinois State University Athletics Director Dr. Jeri Beggs for a wide‑ranging conversation about the present and future of Redbird athletics. Dr. Beggs shares insight into her leadership approach, the evolving landscape of college sports, and the strategic priorities shaping ISU’s. From facility upgrades to student‑athlete support to the heartbeat of Redbird Nation, this episode gives fans a front‑row seat to how decisions are made at the highest level. Whether you’re a longtime supporter or a new member of the flock, this conversation offers a rare look behind
🏀 BirdFans4Ever Podcast – Episode 88 | Noah Cleveland The hometown kid is home. In Episode 88 of the BirdFans4Ever Podcast, we sit down with Illinois State’s newest Redbird, Noah Cleveland, the talented transfer from Illinois Wesleyan, to hear one of the most unique recruiting journeys you’ll ever hear. Noah shares: 🔴 His incredible path to IWU and from Illinois Wesleyan to Illinois State. 🏡 What it means to represent his hometown as a Redbird. 🏀 A breakdown of his game and what ISU fans can expect from him this season. 🎯 His goals for the upcoming year and why he believes this team has t
Kathy Schniedwind is a true trailblazer in Illinois State Athletics. As the first female athletic trainer in ISU history, she spent more than three decades shaping the health, recovery, and performance of Redbird student‑athletes. From working alongside legendary coaches to mentoring future trainers, Kathy’s impact reaches far beyond the sidelines. Her dedication, compassion, and professionalism helped define sports medicine at Illinois State—and her legacy was cemented with her induction into the Percy Family Hall of Fame. In this episode, we sit down with Kathy to explore her journey, the at
Pat Gregory has been a cornerstone of Illinois State Athletics Strength and condition in 1980’s. Coach Gregory’s unwavering dedication, steady leadership, and genuine commitment to helping others succeed. Whether it was in weight room, or running through Normal, Coach Gregory’s presence has always meant guidance, growth, and heart. In this episode of BirdFans4Ever, we sit down with Pat to reflect on his journey, the athletes he’s impacted, and the Strength and condition legacy he’s built within the ISU Athletics. It’s a conversation filled with insight, gratitude, and funny Redbird stories.
🎙️ Episode 85 of the Bird Fans 4 Ever Podcast is now available! We're joined by Illinois State women's basketball great Ellen McGrew. A two-time Laurie Mabry Award winner, All-Gateway Conference selection, and member of the historic 1989 Redbird team that remains the only ISU women's team to win an NCAA Tournament game, Ellen shares stories from her outstanding career in Normal. We discuss her path to Illinois State, her playing days under Jill Hutchison, and the lifelong impact of being a Redbird. 🔴🐦 Listen now! #BirdFans4Ever #ISUWBB #BackTheBirds #RedbirdNation
Tonight on Bird Fans 4 Ever, we’re talking Illinois State basketball and the changing landscape surrounding Redbird hoops with Brennan White from Illinois State University and Jason Higdon from Empower The Nest. We’ll discuss NIL, roster building, player retention, recruiting, and what the future looks like for Illinois State basketball as college athletics continues to evolve. From behind-the-scenes support for student-athletes to the challenges facing mid-major basketball programs in today’s environment, this is a conversation Redbird basketball fans won’t want to miss. Please welcome Brenna
NEW EPISODE ALERT – Birdfans4ever Episode 83 is LIVE and you don’t want to miss this one! We sit down with QB Tommy Rittenhouse and WR Daniel Sobkowiscz — two of the key offensive playmakers who helped lead the Redbirds on their incredible run to the FCS Championship Game. From their journeys to Illinois State to breaking down the unforgettable 2025 season, these teammates share it all: How they found their way to ISU Behind-the-scenes stories from a championship-caliber season Their perspectives on the biggest games and clutch moments What it felt like to compete on the national stage A sneak
🚨 NEW EPISODE 🚨 Hey BirdFans! 🔴⚪️ Episode 82 of Bird Fans 4 Ever is live and we’re joined by former Illinois State guard Elyce Knudsen! We talk about: 🏀 Her basketball journey from Millikin to Illinois State 🔥 Her playing style and approach to the game ⭐ The first moment at ISU when she realized, “this is Division I basketball” 👀 How watching Paige Robinson helped influence her path to becoming a Redbird A great conversation looking back at Elyce’s Redbird journey. 🎧 Listen now! #BirdFans4Ever #BackTheBirds #ISURedbirds
This episode highlights Brian Gant, one of the toughest and most reliable Redbird weak‑side linebackers of the 1980s. The fast, instinctive defenders who could flip momentum with a single play. Together, Gant’s career and the legacy of ISU’s weak‑side linebackers make for another great episode celebrating Redbird football history.
BirdFans4Ever Podcast #80 is here! A special one for Redbird fans — Jeff Harris joins the show along with return guest Matt Taphorn from Jon’s playing era! Jeff dives into how he found his way to ISU, the games that still stick with him, and what it was like when the three-point line arrived during their junior year and changed everything. You can feel the warmth in this conversation — the stories, the laughs, the memories. Don’t miss this one, Birds fans #RollBirds #ISURedbirds #BirdFans4Ever
Episode 79 is LIVE! Birdfans4ever Podcast welcomes this week’s guest Jeff Bidwell — Missouri Valley aficionado, host of the brand new podcast Morning in the Valley, and the voice of Murray State Men’s Basketball! In this episode, we dive deep into the Missouri Valley Conference preseason predictions for men’s basketball. Jeff gives us an outsider’s perspective on Illinois State University’s chances this year — why they could win the league… and why they might not. Jeff also provides a sneak preview of Murray State, from a brand-new coaching staff to a completely retooled roster, and which play
BirdFans4Ever Episode 78 We sit down with Chase Walker to talk about his recruiting journey and how he made his way to ISU! Chase shares how he developed his unselfish play, learned to anticipate offenses, and how the coaching staff is helping him grow into his role as a Redbird. We also dive into memorable matchups — including playing against one of his best friends vs. Ohio, plus standout games vs. UIC and Incarnate Word — and relive winning the CBI Championship last year! #BirdFans4Ever #RedbirdHoops #IllinoisState #RollBirds
We’re flying high with Landon Wolf! 🏀 From his days at UNI to the transfer portal and finally landing at Illinois State, Landon shares the inside story—how he first saw ISU and its fans from the other side, the games that still give him chills, and what’s racing through his mind when he throws down a dunk on someone. Plus, we dig into the fire of the Bradley vs. ISU rivalry and how he came to feel its full heat. Listen now and catch every Redbird detail! 🎧
🚨 Bird Fans Forever – Episode 76 🚨 Charles Calhoun II shares his Redbird journey—from being recruited for defense to thriving on the offensive line. He mastered run blocking, protected QBs, and fulfilled a promise to his grandfather by becoming an attorney. 🏈⚖️
🎙️ Birdfans4ever – Episode 75: Brandon Lieb Talks Leadership, Culture, and the Road Ahead 🏀 In this special 75th episode of Birdfans4ever, we’re joined by Brandon Lieb, a graduate student and leader on the Illinois State men’s basketball team. In this episode, Brandon opens up about: The team culture at Illinois State and how it’s progressed during his time here His thoughts on the schedule and returning to Illinois for an exhibition game against his former school The team’s mindset, goals, and expectations for the upcoming season Being a leader and how his role evolved when he was injured l
🎙️ Bird Fans 4 Ever Episode 74 features a true Redbird legend: Dave Schumer, who started all four years from 1986 to 1989 for Illinois State. In this episode, the hosts dive into Schumer’s impressive collegiate career, including: 🏈🏆 Second Team All-MVC honors during his junior year 🏈🏆 First Team All-MVC selection as a senior 🛡️ Durability & Excellence: Starting every season for four straight years is no small feat, especially in the physically demanding world of college football. 🧠 Reflections on leadership, consistency, and what it meant to wear the ISU jersey for four straight seasons
🎙️ **New Episode Drop – Birdfans4ever Podcast!** 🟥🐦 We’ve got a **special guest** joining us this week — **Landon Moore** is in the building! The hometown favorite and former St. Francis (PA) and Butler guard is bringing his talents back to **Normal** for his final college season with **Illinois State Men’s Basketball**! In this episode, Landon opens up about: 🏀 Why he chose to finish his career at **ISU** 🧠 What being a **senior leader** means to him and how he’s helping guide the younger Redbirds 🛡️ How playing in the **Big East** sharpened his defensive mindset — and why he’s ready to
We’re joined by Trevor Arbogast, founder of @RDB1Media, and Ty Pence, standout player for @redbird_mbb! Trevor dives into how and why he launched the go-to blog for all things Illinois State Athletics And together, he and Ty talk about their awesome new apparel collab — where 75% of profits go straight to the 1998 Club, helping raise NIL $ for the ISU Men’s Basketball team This one’s for the true BirdFans Listen now — link in bio! #BirdFans4ever #ISURedbirds #RDB1Media #TyPence #NIL #CollegeHoops #SupportTheSquad #Episode72 #GoBirds
🎙️ BirdFans4Ever Podcast Ep. 71 is LIVE! We’re joined by @Malachi_P5 to talk: 🔴 His journey to Illinois State 🎯 Chasing the ISU season FT% record 🏆 The Redbirds’ unforgettable CBI run & CHAMPIONSHIP win! Don’t miss this one! 🔗👇 BirdFans4Ever #RedbirdHoops #RollBirds
We’re soaring into a milestone episode with not one, not two, but three incredible guests from the Illinois State University Gymnastics team! Alana Laster, Jaye Mack, and Sara Wabi are all standout athletes and 2025 NCAA Regional Qualifiers, and they’re joining us to talk about their journey, their season, and what it means to represent ISU on the national stage. Trust us—you don’t want to miss this one. Available now on YouTube and all major platforms. BirdFans4ever #illinoisstateuniversity #redbirdgymnastics #NCAARegionals
Bird Fans 4Ever — Episode 69 is live! This week’s guest: Brennan White, representing Fly With Us—the Illinois State Women’s Basketball NIL Collective. We talk NIL, Brennan’s journey to Illinois State, the many facets of his job, and how Fly With Us is changing the game for ISU athletes. Don’t miss it. #BirdFans4Ever #FlyWithUs #RedbirdNation
We sat down with ISU Men’s Basketball Captain Dalton Banks for one of our most inspiring conversations yet. After transferring from SIU, Dalton faced a tough but transformational journey — from uncovering a lingering injury to rebuilding his game and mindset. He opens up about leadership, the winning culture at ISU, and what it meant to go out as a CBI Champion. This one’s for anyone who believes in comebacks, team culture, and finishing strong. #Birdfans4everPodcast #ISUMBB #DaltonBanks #CBIChamps #RedbirdNation #CollegeHoops #Leadership
New Podcast Episode Dropping Now! In this special episode of BirdFans4Ever, Dan Muller takes us behind the scenes to talk about Shoes That Fit — a charity that’s close to his heart, providing brand-new shoes to kids in need. Listen as we highlight this incredible cause and how YOU can help make a difference! WWW. shoesthatfit.org #BirdFans4Ever #ShoesThatFit #RedbirdNation #GiveBack
We’re flying high with 2025 Redbird commit Tyreek Coleman on this episode! Illinois 1st Team All-State guard Tyreek talks about his journey to becoming a Redbird, what made Illinois State University the right fit, and how he brings lockdown defense, deadly 3s, and elite playmaking to the court! Don’t miss his full recruiting story! ️️ 3&D GUARD ALERT! Roll Birds!! #Birdfans4ever #RedbirdBasketball #ISU #TyreekColeman
