St. Mark’s Episcopal Church will continue its popular Fully Alive Speaker Series on Sunday, February 9 at 9AM. American sports radio personality and New Canaan resident Chris “Mad Dog” Russo will be the guest speaker. In conversation with the Rev. Peter Walsh, he will share reflections on the importance of play from his life lived in the world of sports.

Christopher Russo, known as “Mad Dog”, is an American sports radio personality best known as the former co-host of the widely popular Mike and the Mad Dog sports radio show with Mike Francesa, which was broadcast on WFAN in New York City and simulcast on the YES Network. Russo is now with Sirius XM Radio and is in charge of his own channel, Mad Dog Radio. He hosts an afternoon radio show, Mad Dog Unleashed.

Russo’s rise in popularity happened rapidly. Russo joined WFAN in December 1988, as an overnight, weekend and fill-in host. He caught the attention of former WFAN Morning Show Host, Don Imus. Imus brought Russo on board the Imus in the Morning show as the Sports Reporter. By early 1989, his work on Imus led to Russo getting his own regular weekend show on Saturday Mornings. WFAN paired up Russo with Mike Francesa, who at the time was a co-host on the mid-morning show. The show was dubbed Mike and the Mad Dog and launched in 1989. Francesa and Russo’s show quickly became the signature show for WFAN, as well as among the most influential sports talk shows in the country. Last year Russo signed a new four-year contract with SiriusXM, where he’s been since 2008 after leaving WFAN and his former partner Mike Francesa. Russo will continue to host his daily show, “Mad Dog Unleashed,” weekdays from 3 to 6PM on Mad Dog Sports Radio (channel 82 on SiriusXM).

Fully Alive is free and open to all. It features a host of compelling speakers throughout the year who will explore the difference Christ makes in particular aspects of our lives, including family, work, money, sex, play, and more. Fully Alive will include other offerings throughout the year, including regular weekday classes, retreats, a special course for high schoolers, quiet days, and concerts.

The 9AM Fully Alive forum and the Sunday 10AM service can be live-streamed via the St. Mark’s website at www.stmarksnewcanaan.org. Recordings on demand are also available to watch on the website or the St. Mark’s YouTube channel. For more information or to view a schedule of upcoming speakers, please visit the St. Mark’s website at www.stmarksnewcanaan.org, call the St. Mark’s Church Office at 203.966.4515, or email info@stmarksnewcanaan.org.