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Six years ago, the  started as a simple idea — to share the incredible stories of people connected to Cedarville University who are making an impact across the globe. Today, that vision has grown into a worldwide platform, reaching listeners in 132 countries and surpassing 100,000 downloads that amplifies the voices of those who transform industries and communities for the Gospel. 

From a Paralympic champion to frontline border agents, an ESPN analyst to world-class educators, the podcast is amplifying voices that are shaping industries and communities with excellence. More than just a Cedarville University initiative, the podcast is a testament to the power of faith and perseverance that has blossomed, according to The Podcast Host, into one of the top 25% podcasts worldwide—reaching the milestone of 100,000 downloads on March 15, 2025.   

Through perseverance, assisted by a small team of editors and technical supporters, the Cedarville Stories podcast went from just 378 listeners in the first month’s programs to now averaging nearly 2,000 downloads per month, with over 3,300 downloads in February 2025 alone. 

While most of the podcast’s audience is in the United States (83%), the remaining 17% of listeners hear the programs from 52 other countries, including the Philippines, Canada, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates and Germany. The podcast also has reached listeners in the largely unreachable regions of Iran and Oman, Nepal and the war-torn country of Ukraine. 

Reaching far beyond a promotion of Cedarville University, these podcasts serve as a platform for encouragement through telling the stories behind the lives of Christians committed to excellence. 

Founded and hosted by Mark D. Weinstein, executive director of public relations at Cedarville, the Cedarville Stories podcast launched in 2019 as an audio-only program. In January 2025, it expanded to include a video component, broadening its reach and impact.  

“The Cedarville Stories podcast truly is an example of how God uses ordinary people to tell an amazing story that points back to him,” said Weinstein. “The only way to explain how a small, niche podcast like Cedarville Stories could experience that volume of listeners is God. He’s done immeasurably more through the podcast than I could have imagined.” 

The concept of hosting a Cedarville podcast originated when Weinstein participated in a two-year leader development program at Cedarville led by Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Loren Reno, professor of management. The program provided guidelines and principles through class lectures from Cedarville's senior leadership team. The program also required each student to create a campus project that would benefit the university. 

Weinstein selected a podcast that would feature individuals connected with Cedarville University who have impacted the world or their field. 

This vision turned into the Cedarville Stories podcast, with the first episode premiering on September 11, 2019 with Reno as its first guest. The inaugural episode delved into Reno’s life as a retired three-star general in the United States Air Force, his current role as advisor to Cedarville University President Thomas White and his commitment to humility through leadership excellence.   

“I love making things happen, empowering people, encouraging them and affirming them from behind the scenes,” said Reno. “The podcast had to start with someone, and I was honored to share my story. Since then, it has shared many wonderful stories of Cedarville faculty, staff and alumni. With Mark as host, the podcast asks the right questions to bring their stories to life.” 

Over the six years since the podcast began by telling Reno’s story, the podcast has now become a beacon of inspiration, connecting hundreds of individuals and their experiences with listeners worldwide.  

In the podcast’s most downloaded episode, , professor of nursing at Cedarville for over 38 years, shared his story helping future nurses study for — and pass — the NCLEX exam preparation courses. Cedarville alumna , a two-time USA gold medal Paralympic athlete, shared her story of overcoming trials and hardships enroute to claiming a gold medal in the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris.  

Other episodes have featured the stories of alumni who have , a student who , faculty who’ve  and  and even the story of a . This story of Haley Good was also featured on the CBS Evening News with Nora O’Donnell weeks after the podcast.  

But the success of the Cedarville Stories podcast stems from more than just the interviews and accomplishments. It comes from crafting each episode to highlight the greater story of God’s work in the lives of faithful servants who are making a profound impact on the world. 

“I am often asked to name my favorite podcasts, which is nearly impossible,” added Weinstein. “Instead, my mind goes to the hundreds of individuals who have remarkable life and faith stories and knowing that all of these individuals, in some way, have a connection to Cedarville University. That’s truly amazing to me.” 

The podcast can be heard on most popular platforms, including  and  with the video format also available on  As long as Cedarville students, graduates and faculty continue to impact the world with faith and excellence, the podcast will continue to proclaim their stories for God’s glory. 

Cedarville University, an evangelical Christian institution in southwest Ohio, offers undergraduate and graduate programs across arts, sciences, and professional fields. With 6,384 students, it ranks among Ohio's largest private universities and is recognized by The Wall Street Journal as being among the nation’s top three evangelical universities. Cedarville is also known for its vibrant Christian community, challenging academics, and high graduation and retention rates. Learn more at .