Sarah Spain and Deland McCullough, RUNS IN THE FAMILY: Runs in the Family An Incredible True Story of Football, Fatherhood, and Belonging

Totally Booked with Zibby

Zibby Owens

Connection, Inspiration, Moms, Entertainment, Arts, Reading, Books, Parenting, Literary

4.4 • 602 Ratings

🗓️ 6 August 2025

⏱️ 34 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Emmy and Peabody Award–winning sports journalist Sarah Spain and celebrated football figure Deland McCullough join Zibby to discuss their remarkable new memoir, RUNS IN THE FAMILY: An Incredible True Story of Football, Fatherhood, and Belonging. Deland, now a Super Bowl–winning coach, opens up about his journey from a difficult childhood in Youngstown, Ohio, through college football, fatherhood, and ultimately, the life-changing discovery he unearthed when unsealing his adoption records. Sarah, his co-author, shares how she brought nuance, research, empathy, and emotional insight to Deland’s story. Together, they discuss adoption, identity, chosen family, and the book’s broader message: that our past doesn’t define us, and healing and growth are always possible.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Hi, this is Zibi Owens, and you're listening to Totally Booked with Zibby. Formerly, moms don't have time to read books. In my daily show, I interview today's latest, best-selling, buzziest, or underrated authors and story creators, whose work I think is worth your time. As a bookstore owner, publisher, author, and obviously podcaster, I get a comprehensive
0:24.0	look at everything that's coming out and spend my time curating the best books so you don't
0:29.3	have to.
0:30.3	Stay in the know, get insider insights, and connect with guests like I do every single day.
0:36.2	For more information, go to zibbymedia.com and follow me on
0:39.7	Instagram at Zibby Owens. Sarah Spain and Deland McCalla are the co-authors of Runs in the
0:49.3	family, an incredible true story of football, fatherhood, and belonging. Sarah Spain is an Emmy and Peabody
0:55.4	award-winning sports journalist, the hosts of the I Heart Daily Women's Sports Podcast, Good Game,
1:01.2	with Sarah Spain, and an ESPNW contributor. She has been a jack of all trades in her 14 years at
1:07.0	ESPN as a radio and podcast host, television personality, producer, and writer.
1:12.2	Spain is a graduate of Cornell University, where she completed as a heptathlet and served
1:17.6	as co-captain of the track and field team. She lives in Chicago with her husband Brad and their
1:22.6	three rescue dogs. Deland McCullough is a celebrated football figure who excelled as both a player and coach,
1:28.8	a four-year starter and the all-time rushing leader at Miami University, Ohio.
1:33.2	He was inducted into its Athletics Hall of Fame.
1:35.9	After he led the NFL in preseason rushing with the Bengals,
1:39.2	knee injuries ended his pro career,
1:41.3	which included stints with the Eagles and the CFL's Blue Bombers, where he was a
1:45.0	1999 All-Star nominee. Transitioning to coaching, McCulloch became one of football's premier
1:50.3	running back coaches, helping nearly 20 RBs to 1,000-yard seasons, a five-time national finalist
1:56.6	for top RB coach. He played a key role in the Chief's Super Bowl 54 win.
2:01.6	An author and part of the team that created the Emmy Award-winning E-60 feature identity,
	...

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