
The Religion of Sports
Navigating the Trials of Life Through the Games We Love
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
$0.99/mo for the first 3 months

Buy for $14.99
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Chris Andrew Ciulla
-
By:
-
Gotham Chopra
About this listen
From the sports documentarian and executive producer of the docuseries The Religion of Sports, a memoir-meets-manifesto about the overwhelming power of sports and how they provide meaning and purpose in people’s lives all over the world. Featuring never-before-heard stories about Tom Brady, Simone Biles, Kobe Bryant, Serena Williams, and many more.
Sports is a religion.
No, really. From pilgrimages and cathedrals, gods and fallen angels, holy wars and holy ghosts, organized sports has every aspect of an organized faith. In fact, it might be even better: all it takes to believe is to stand and cheer.
Nobody knows this better than the preeminent sports documentarian Gotham Chopra, who just so happens to be the son of world-renowned spiritualist Deepak Chopra. While his father taught him to find faith through prayer, Gotham felt pulled towards the Boston Garden and Larry Bird instead. Tracing his unique path from being a diehard fan to witnessing miracles alongside the gods of sport, Gotham makes a compelling case for sports as a modern-day faith. And like any worthy religious text, he also doles out wisdom, which comes in the form of never-before-heard stories about some of the biggest names in sports.
Rarely has anyone had such an up-close view of greatness as Chopra, and now, he lets you come with him behind the scenes to learn how legendary quarterback Tom Brady managed the end of his career, gold medal gymnast Simone Biles struggled with the pressure of the Tokyo Olympics, Golden State Warriors sharpshooter Stephen Curry developed the greatest three-point shot of all time, and much more. Chopra weaves together stories from Kobe Bryant, Alex Morgan, LeBron James, Michael Strahan, Shaun White, and more into modern-day parables that unlock secrets of competition—and of life.
“A thought-provoking pleasure for spiritually minded sports fan” (Kirkus Reviews), The Religion of Sports is also for anyone who’s ever believed in something greater than themselves.
Listeners also enjoyed...
-
Belonging Rules
- Five Crucial Actions That Build Unity and Foster Performance
- By: Brad Deutser
- Narrated by: Brad Deutser
- Length: 8 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Leaders have an unprecedented opportunity to overcome the great disconnect between employers and employees by inviting individuals to become part of something bigger than themselves—to belong. Belonging Rules gives leaders the tools, knowledge, and confidence to harness belonging to address the workplace’s most critical challenges.
By: Brad Deutser
-
Never Settle
- Sports, Family, and the American Soul
- By: Marty Smith
- Narrated by: Marty Smith
- Length: 8 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The amazing and blessed life of popular ESPN reporter and correspondent for College GameDay Marty Smith, whose mission in this thoughtful and funny memoir is to return fans to the true soul of sports in this country. Never Settle is the funny but oh, it's true story of how Marty got here, and a revealing look at his journey. Never Settle includes all the best stories and behind-the-scenes moments from Marty's wild life, covering topics including: college football, racing, fathers and sons, and how sports can bring us together.
-
-
Marty Smith did an amazing job with this book
- By Rocky Baker on 08-26-20
By: Marty Smith
-
Who Says I Can't
- The Astonishing Story of a Fearless Life
- By: Rob Mendez
- Narrated by: Zach Hoffman
- Length: 4 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
On paper, Coach Rob Mendez sounds like any other football coach on any other field across America: passionate, authoritative, knowledgeable. But he’s unlike any other coach you know - in fact, he’s probably unlike any other person you know. Born with an extraordinarily rare condition called tetra-Amelia syndrome, Rob has no arms or legs. He moves with the assistance of a custom-made, motorized wheelchair that he operates with his back and shoulders.
-
-
Fantastic!
- By Jennifer on 05-01-23
By: Rob Mendez
-
Surround Yourself with Greatness
- By: Chad Lewis
- Narrated by: Chad Lewis
- Length: 11 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Surround Yourself with Greatness takes listeners around the world while looking through the eyes, mind, and heart of Chad Lewis - a once freckle-faced, four-eyed, skinny teenager who at an early age wrote in his journal, “My goal and quest is to surround myself with greatness...only greatness will penetrate the walls of my heart.”
-
-
Chad Lewis is an inspiration
- By J.B. on 02-19-23
By: Chad Lewis
-
There's No Plan B for Your A-Game
- Be the Best in the World at What You Do
- By: Bo Eason
- Narrated by: Bo Eason
- Length: 7 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In There’s No Plan B for Your A-Game, former pro athlete, playwright, and acclaimed leadership coach Bo Eason shows you exactly what it takes to be the best. His proven tools and training have worked for Olympic medalists, military leaders, best-selling authors, professional athletes, and business executives and their teams.
-
-
Not recommended for parents of young children
- By Brooke on 09-30-19
By: Bo Eason
-
Playing for More
- Trust Beyond What You Can See
- By: Case Keenum, Andrew Perloff
- Narrated by: Case Keenum
- Length: 4 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Case Keenum has traveled one of the most unique paths in the NFL. Recruited by just one college, undrafted, and released three times, Case has overcome every obstacle to become a successful starting quarterback. Keenum shares stories from every stage of his life, starting out as a ball boy for his father’s college team in West Texas, going on to win a state title in high school, and rewriting the NCAA record book at the University of Houston. A devastating knee injury almost derailed his football career, but helped him get closer to the woman who would soon become his wife.
-
-
A must listen!!!
- By Steve R. on 11-11-18
By: Case Keenum, and others
-
Belonging Rules
- Five Crucial Actions That Build Unity and Foster Performance
- By: Brad Deutser
- Narrated by: Brad Deutser
- Length: 8 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Leaders have an unprecedented opportunity to overcome the great disconnect between employers and employees by inviting individuals to become part of something bigger than themselves—to belong. Belonging Rules gives leaders the tools, knowledge, and confidence to harness belonging to address the workplace’s most critical challenges.
By: Brad Deutser
-
Never Settle
- Sports, Family, and the American Soul
- By: Marty Smith
- Narrated by: Marty Smith
- Length: 8 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The amazing and blessed life of popular ESPN reporter and correspondent for College GameDay Marty Smith, whose mission in this thoughtful and funny memoir is to return fans to the true soul of sports in this country. Never Settle is the funny but oh, it's true story of how Marty got here, and a revealing look at his journey. Never Settle includes all the best stories and behind-the-scenes moments from Marty's wild life, covering topics including: college football, racing, fathers and sons, and how sports can bring us together.
-
-
Marty Smith did an amazing job with this book
- By Rocky Baker on 08-26-20
By: Marty Smith
-
Who Says I Can't
- The Astonishing Story of a Fearless Life
- By: Rob Mendez
- Narrated by: Zach Hoffman
- Length: 4 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
On paper, Coach Rob Mendez sounds like any other football coach on any other field across America: passionate, authoritative, knowledgeable. But he’s unlike any other coach you know - in fact, he’s probably unlike any other person you know. Born with an extraordinarily rare condition called tetra-Amelia syndrome, Rob has no arms or legs. He moves with the assistance of a custom-made, motorized wheelchair that he operates with his back and shoulders.
-
-
Fantastic!
- By Jennifer on 05-01-23
By: Rob Mendez
-
Surround Yourself with Greatness
- By: Chad Lewis
- Narrated by: Chad Lewis
- Length: 11 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Surround Yourself with Greatness takes listeners around the world while looking through the eyes, mind, and heart of Chad Lewis - a once freckle-faced, four-eyed, skinny teenager who at an early age wrote in his journal, “My goal and quest is to surround myself with greatness...only greatness will penetrate the walls of my heart.”
-
-
Chad Lewis is an inspiration
- By J.B. on 02-19-23
By: Chad Lewis
-
There's No Plan B for Your A-Game
- Be the Best in the World at What You Do
- By: Bo Eason
- Narrated by: Bo Eason
- Length: 7 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In There’s No Plan B for Your A-Game, former pro athlete, playwright, and acclaimed leadership coach Bo Eason shows you exactly what it takes to be the best. His proven tools and training have worked for Olympic medalists, military leaders, best-selling authors, professional athletes, and business executives and their teams.
-
-
Not recommended for parents of young children
- By Brooke on 09-30-19
By: Bo Eason
-
Playing for More
- Trust Beyond What You Can See
- By: Case Keenum, Andrew Perloff
- Narrated by: Case Keenum
- Length: 4 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Case Keenum has traveled one of the most unique paths in the NFL. Recruited by just one college, undrafted, and released three times, Case has overcome every obstacle to become a successful starting quarterback. Keenum shares stories from every stage of his life, starting out as a ball boy for his father’s college team in West Texas, going on to win a state title in high school, and rewriting the NCAA record book at the University of Houston. A devastating knee injury almost derailed his football career, but helped him get closer to the woman who would soon become his wife.
-
-
A must listen!!!
- By Steve R. on 11-11-18
By: Case Keenum, and others
-
The Road to J.O.Y.
- Leading with Faith, Playing with Purpose, Leaving a Legacy
- By: Scott Drew, Don Yaeger
- Narrated by: Tom Parks
- Length: 7 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Scott Drew, head basketball coach of the NCAA National Championship-winning Baylor Bears, rebuilt a program mired in scandal by instilling a culture of putting Jesus first. The Road to J.O.Y. is packed with leadership and coaching lessons that can equip any leader to make their team a championship team.
-
-
Filled with Joy
- By Tracey C. on 02-13-25
By: Scott Drew, and others
-
Banana Ball
- The Unbelievably True Story of the Savannah Bananas
- By: Jesse Cole, Don Yaeger - contributor
- Narrated by: Jesse Cole, Matt Martucci
- Length: 6 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
For his entire childhood, Jesse Cole dreamed of pitching in the Majors. Now, he has a life in baseball that only he could have imagined: he met the love of his life in the industry; they shaped Savannah, Georgia’s professional team into the league champion Savannah Bananas; and now the Bananas have restyled baseball itself into something all their own: Banana Ball.
-
-
GREAT BOOK
- By heather attaway on 08-12-24
By: Jesse Cole, and others
-
No Excuses
- The Making of a Head Coach
- By: Bob Stoops, Gene Wojciechowski
- Narrated by: Bob Stoops
- Length: 11 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In Stoops's journey from player to struggling graduate assistant to legendary head coach, it becomes clear that his dedication to football is about far more than the sport itself. Big Game Bob, as he is known by adorning Sooners, made a name for himself not only by rebuilding the OU football program and leading the team to multiple conference championships but also by adhering to a strong set of principles at a time when corruption was rampant across the NCAA.
-
-
What a Story!
- By Teacher 4832 on 05-07-20
By: Bob Stoops, and others
-
Finish Strong
- A Father's Code and a Son's Path
- By: Nate Ebner, Paul Daugherty, Urban Meyer - foreword
- Narrated by: Stephen Graybill
- Length: 7 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Nate Ebner and his father were inseparable. From an early age, they worked side-by-side in the family junkyard. Even though Nate was a great peewee football player in football-mad Ohio, he followed his father's passion for rugby and started playing for the same club as his father when he was only 13 years old. But Nate had to face the fact that there was no way to make a living as a professional rugby player in this country. So Nate gave his dad the news that he planned to quit rugby and go out for the football team at Ohio State University, with an eye toward making the NFL.
-
-
Inspiring Story
- By Dawn Ebner on 11-12-24
By: Nate Ebner, and others
-
In the Blink of an Eye
- An Autobiography
- By: Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, Nick Chiles - contributor
- Narrated by: Corey Allen
- Length: 8 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
He is perhaps most well-known for being exiled from the league for praying—instead of standing and saluting the flag–during the playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner” before games throughout the 1995-96 season. Abdul-Rauf’s protest sent shockwaves through the NBA that can still be felt today. With wit and candor, Abdul-Rauf tells the story of how he rose to the top of his game—only to have his career taken away in the blink of an eye when he stood up for his principles.
-
-
The Truth behind the legend!
- By Terry Conry on 12-03-22
By: Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, and others
-
Quiet Strength
- The Principles, Practices, and Priorities of a Winning Life
- By: Tony Dungy
- Narrated by: Tony Dungy
- Length: 5 hrs and 19 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Tony Dungy's words and example have intrigued millions of people, particularly following his victory in Super Bowl XLI, the first for an African-American coach. How is it possible for a coach—especially a football coach—to win the respect of his players and lead them to the Super Bowl without the screaming histrionics, the profanities, the demand that the sport come before anything else? How is it possible for anyone to be successful without compromising faith and family?
-
-
Mama Dill
- By Kelly D on 05-13-17
By: Tony Dungy
-
My Greatest Save
- The Brave, Barrier-Breaking Journey of a World Champion Goalkeeper
- By: Briana Scurry, Wayne Coffey
- Narrated by: Briana Scurry
- Length: 8 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A deeply moving and painfully honest memoir from the trailblazing World Cup-winning, Olympic gold medalist, and US Women’s soccer goalie Briana Scurry, My Greatest Save is a story of triumph, tragedy, and redemption from a woman who has broken through barriers her entire life.
-
-
A true Olympian
- By Caitlin Fry on 08-02-22
By: Briana Scurry, and others
-
Out of the Pocket
- Football, Fatherhood, and College GameDay Saturdays
- By: Kirk Herbstreit, Gene Wojciechowski - contributor
- Narrated by: Kirk Herbstreit
- Length: 12 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Kirk Herbstreit is a reflection of the sport he loves, a reflection of his football-crazed home state of Ohio, where he was a high school star and Ohio State captain, and a reflection of another Ohio State football captain thirty-two years earlier: his dad Jim, who battled Alzheimer’s disease until his death in 2016.
-
-
Great read for true college FB fans
- By Bbmc on 08-30-21
By: Kirk Herbstreit, and others
-
Everyone Can Be a Ninja
- Find Your Inner Warrior and Achieve Your Dreams
- By: Akbar Gbajabiamila
- Narrated by: Akbar Gbajabiamila
- Length: 7 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The beloved host of the NBC hit show American Ninja Warrior draws inspiration from both the fierce competitors on his show and his own unlikely path to success to outline the essential steps to achieving your goals and becoming a modern-day ninja. Akbar Gbajabiamila did not have an easy path to success. One of seven children by Nigerian immigrant parents, he grew up in the Crenshaw district of South Central Los Angeles during the 1980s and ’90s.
-
-
Great story from Akbar
- By Danny on 06-21-19
-
Playing the Long Game
- A Memoir
- By: Christine Sinclair, Stephen Brunt - contributor
- Narrated by: Rachel Cairns
- Length: 6 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
For the first time in depth and in public, Olympic soccer gold-medalist Christine Sinclair, the top international goal scorer of all time and one of Canada's greatest athletes, reflects on both her exhilarating successes and her heartbreaking failures. Playing the Long Game is a book of earned wisdom on the value of determination and team spirit, and on leadership that changed the landscape of women's sport.
-
-
Excellent book, great narration.
- By Margaret Snow on 03-24-24
By: Christine Sinclair, and others
-
The F*It List
- Life Lessons from a Human Crash Test Dummy
- By: Eric Byrnes
- Narrated by: Eric Byrnes
- Length: 15 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This is more than just an audiobook. It's an attitude. It's a mentality. It's a lifestyle. The F*It List is my journey, my life, my lessons, my successes, and my many failures...in my own words. The F*It List forces action. It promotes energy and gives life. It allows you to stand up for what you believe but also helps give perspective on external situations and opinions outside of your control. It's not always comfortable, and in many instances, it is downright scary. Yet, instead of searching for the meaning of life, you will be authentically living it.
-
-
Find something else.
- By David E. on 11-04-19
By: Eric Byrnes
-
Dabo's World
- The Life and Career of Coach Swinney and the Rise of Clemson Football
- By: Lars Anderson
- Narrated by: Jamie Renell
- Length: 6 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Sound interesting? The author thinks so too! Listen to Dabo's World and learn about how Dabo Swinney used his energy, faith, and determination to turn the Clemson Tigers into a football powerhouse.
-
-
Very Basic Retelling
- By Colonel on 12-31-22
By: Lars Anderson