Bird Fans 4 Ever Podcast
Talking all things Redbirds Athletics
Episodes
🏀 BIRD FANS 4 EVER — EPISODE 95! 🏀 Illinois State head coach Ryan Pedon joins Bird Fans 4 Ever for an inside look at what it really takes to build a college basketball season. 🎙️ How do you build a schedule that helps a team grow?
Coach Pedon takes us behind the scenes of scheduling—balancing non-conference opportunities, home-court atmosphere, travel demand...
Bird Fans 4 Ever sits down with one of the greatest defensive backs ever to wear the Redbird uniform — Mike Prior, a standout at Illinois State from 1981–1984 who went on to carve out a remarkable 13‑year NFL career with the Buccaneers, Colts, and Packers. Mike takes us through his journey as a two‑sport athlete, starring not only on the football field but also as a key contributor on the I...
Redbird swim coach Ryan Evans joins the show to talk culture, leadership, and the new era of ISU Swimming. He shares the mindset behind building a connected team. It’s a conversation full of insight, leadership, and the kind of behind‑the‑scenes perspective only a coach can provide. Redbird fans will appreciate the heart, honesty, and passion Coach Evans brings to the program every single d...
Bird Fans 4 Ever Episode 92 spotlights Todd Kagel, a former Illinois State men’s basketball standout whose career from 1988–1993 left a lasting mark on Redbird hoops. Known for his deadly three‑point shooting and his ability to deliver in the final seconds, Kagel became one of those players fans trusted when the game was on the line. A must‑listen for Redbird fans who love reliving the big ...
Hannah Chicken has quickly become one of the most exciting young talents in Illinois State Women’s Basketball — a player whose energy, toughness, and competitive fire will show up every single night. Whether she’s locking down on defense, pushing the pace, or knocking down big shots, Hannah plays with the kind of edge that Redbird fans instantly connect with.
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...
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 Natio...
🏀 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 i...
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, co...
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 Bird...
🎙️ 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 d...
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-...
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, ...
🚨 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 ...
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 chang...
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 outs...
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...
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 ...
🚨 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. 🏈⚖️
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