#273: God Using Radio Legend Bear O'Brian, After Cancer & Major Heart Surgery

He's been on the radio for more than 40 years, many of those in the Columbus GA area! His voice and name (and face) make him a local celebrity. And he's outspoken about his love for Jesus! Back on air after a scary battle with cancer and open heart surgery, Bear O'Brian (real name is Wade Collier) opens up about his struggles and tells radio/life stories as the latest guest on the "Run The Race" podcast that you hopefully will/do subscribe to.

(2:30) We start with how Bear got his nickname, being a role model, putting God on the backburner when he had radio success, and a breakthrough moment of faith (at an Iowa hotel, when he was a traveling comedian) that changed his life.

(9:33) Is he allowed to talk about his Christian faith on the radio? Bear gets emotional when talking about what a listener told him in Montgomery about God using him. And this broadcaster's been doing the daily "Inspiration of the morning" for close to 30 years: https://bearsinspirations.homestead.com/?fbclid=IwY2xjawPL_H1leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFtSnU1VHJMNzJlRlZjNkhuc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHg9JydtRhshgck1MKzL3mTt0o_s0MXHDzSz2IXQbnnisoES0SttVpo_Oc-Sk_aem_hJPbb0f7ZC-3pVMTAXQwng

(21:17) Back on air a month+ ago, Bear talks about how his heart and cancer challenges began. He gave his fear over to God before what ended up being an 18 hour quadruple bypass heart surgery. How important was his faith through the health scares which included 6 rounds of chemo to get rid of his non Hodgkins lymphoma cancer? God holding his hand and not letting go! (31:31) And after doing his radio show from home, he finally gets to go back into the renovated studio soon.

(35:30) Losing 72 pounds amidst the cancer/heart problems, the wakeup call his Bear wanting to walk more and eat good enough to not gain that weight back. Part of that involves seasonings.

(40:16) His radio career started in 1978, through several southeastern states, but what's kept him in this business this long? He also transformed from a party guy to a DJ that does it God's way now. He gives some tricks of how he's so personal on air...and answers what his future in radio may look like, a job he loves, blessed to have many that listen. I close out the episode in prayer.

On your journeys of fitness and faith, we are helping you stay motivated to be stronger physically and spiritually on the new RUN THE RACE podcast. Host Jason Dennis - veteran WTVM news anchor, marathon runner and missionary, will talk to experts and people with inspiring stories as we dig deeper into the mind, body and soul.