We were lucky to catch up with Zach Schumaker recently and have shared our conversation below.
Zach, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
My name is Zach Schumaker, but most people know me as SchuZ. I was born and raised in Arizona, and it’s been quite a journey to get to where I am today.
One thing I know for certain: God’s hand has been on my life. I wouldn’t be where I am—or more importantly, who I am—without Him.
I started out running a basketball show, which I launched as a junior in high school. That was my focus for several years. Eventually, I expanded into boxing coverage, and that passion led me to launch a daily boxing show alongside my basketball content.
But as Jesus continued to transform my life, I realized something deeper: I like sports, but the only One I truly love is Jesus. As my faith grew, so did my desire to share it. That’s what led me to create the Path of the Cross Podcast, which is quickly becoming my primary focus.
I’m someone who doesn’t live for the approval of man. I live for the approval of God. That means I’m not for sale, and I don’t do fluff. I’m not here to sugarcoat truth or chase popularity. I’m here to be raw, real, and rooted in what’s right—no matter the cost.
I believe the world is starving for authenticity, and I’ve made it my mission to bring that into every space I step into. Whether it’s faith, sports, culture, or conversation—I want people to get the truth, not a polished performance.
And while I can’t control how others operate, I do my best to never be outworked. I’m committed to excellence, but more than that, I’m committed to obedience—to doing what God has called me to do with everything I’ve got.
I’m a versatile person. I love being informed and involved in many areas of life. That’s not always the most conventional path in a world that preaches niche specialization—but I’ve found joy in exploring all corners of culture, and I’ve chosen to follow that passion with purpose.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
Pivoting is something I’m in the middle of right now. I don’t have a formal announcement to make just yet—but one is coming soon.
That said, pivoting isn’t new to me. I’ve done it more than once.
I’ve pivoted in what I cover—switching sports, shifting focus—but more than that, I’ve pivoted on the deepest level: my entire life.
August 3, 2022, is a date I reference often. That’s the day Jesus changed everything for me. You want to talk about a pivot? That was the moment my entire worldview shifted. The way I saw the world, the way I lived in public and in private, who I was at my core—it all changed.
And from that one transformation came many others. Because when you truly surrender your life to Jesus—when you pick up your cross and follow Him—there’s no option but to pivot. You can’t stay the same.
No pivot in my life will ever be more significant than that one. And while I’m still a work in progress, that first year after giving my life to Christ reshaped me more than I ever thought possible.
There is no pivot more real, more raw, or more necessary than the one where you give your life to Jesus. Everything else flows from that.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
I used to have a clear answer to that question. But as I’ve already shared, my life changed—and with that, so did my plans.
Proverbs 16:9 says, “A man’s heart plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.” That’s how I live.
I have goals, aspirations, and dreams—some that people might even call crazy. But the truth is, I don’t control my steps. I can’t decide which domino falls or when. I’m not capable of shaping tomorrow, or even the next moment.
What I can do is stay aligned with what God has called me to. I can work hard, stay faithful, and allow Him to use me as a vessel for His Kingdom.
So if you ask me what my big mission is with my shows, it’s simply to glorify God.
If I impact just one life, and that’s all God asks of me, then I’ve succeeded. But if He calls me to reach many—or even the entire world—then I’ll respond like Isaiah did in Isaiah 6:8: “Here am I. Send me!”
My life isn’t mine anymore. It belongs to the Father. And I’m here to follow wherever He leads.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Instagram.com/zachschumaker
- Facebook: Facebook.com/zach.schuz.schumaker
- Linkedin: Linkedin.com/in/zachschumaker
- Twitter: X.com/ZachSchumaker
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@zachschumaker?si=cw48tmEeRq6Q2bma
- Other: TikTok: tiktok.com/@zachschumaker
