Urban Pitch Podcast - The Beautiful Game Of Life

Year in and year out, the El Trafico derby between LAFC and LA Galaxy fails to disappoint us. Whether it's exciting action on the pitch or the raucous fans in and out of the stadium, the rivalry game is a must-watch every time. The latest edition was no different, as a 2-1 LAFC victory rife with controversy and heated play thrilled us all (except for maybe Galaxy fans upset at that penalty decision). On this episode of the Urban Pitch Podcast, the crew dissects everything that went down both on and off the pitch in the latest showdown between the two Los Angeles clubs. Timestamps (01:23) Another wild El Trafico derby match (14:30) Healthy banter amongst the fans (29:40) John McCarthy's return to BMO and LAFC fans paying respect to former players (40:02) The latest El Trafico tifo Cast Hosts: Ramsey Abushahla, Julio Monterroza, & Brigitte Flores Producer: Roy Cho Subscribe to our newsletter for more interviews and latest news on street football, freestyle, and urban culture, read more about soccer culture

We're one month into the 2024 NWSL season, and to no one's surprise, there's been a ton of chaos so far. From raucous crowds to shocking moments, there's been plenty of action to take in through the league's first set of matches. We link up with friend of the pod Jessica Black to recap some of the biggest storylines from the 2024 season so far, while also looking ahead to what we can expect moving forward. Timestamps (02:31) The start of the NWSL season so far -- wild opening matches and new atmospheres (09:41) Angel City FC's identity on the pitch (16:55) Portland Thorns in trouble? (19:22) Teams at the top of the table: Kansas City and Chicago (25:54) Gotham FC's mid-table start (29:30) NWSL new expansion locations? (50:00) Angel City's offensive struggles (56:00) Bold predictions for the 2024 season Cast Hosts: Ramsey Abushahla, Julio Monterroza, & Brigitte Flores Producer: Roy Cho Subscribe to our newsletter for more interviews and latest news on street football, freestyle, and urban culture, read mor

There are many moving parts in the world of fashion. From a consumer perspective, we're focused on trends, brands, and what's currently in— and that's enough to keep anyone busy. But for those in the industry itself, there's a million more things to worry about. With the help of designer Christian Ferretti and The Football Boutique founder Tony Magaña, we get some insight into what goes on behind the scenes in the world of fashion, and how soccer always seems to be a relevant influence across the entire space. Timestamps (02:43) Christian's background in fashion (07:52) What makes the football kit so appealing to fashion designers (14:40) How Tony and Christian fell in love with soccer (18:14) The nature of jersey releases (27:20) Thoughts on current trends in fashion (34:50) Christian's do's and don't for fashion (40:00) Pieces to watch for at The Football Boutique and what Tony looks for when sourcing new pieces (43:40) What's on their playlists Cast Hosts: Ramsey Abushahla, Julio Monterroza, & Brigitte

Since joining the Portland Timbers academy at the age of 13, goalkeeper Hunter Sulte has steadily risen the ranks, and made his first-team debut at the age of 19 in 2021. Now looking to become a full-time starter with the Timbers, Sulte will spend the 2024 season on loan to USL Championship side Indy Eleven, where he will compete for the team's starting role and gain valuable experience. We sit down with the promising prospect to discuss his youth days in Alaska, what it was like making the move to Portland away from his family at a young age, and some of the wildest things he's heard from fans while in the net. Timestamps (01:08) Being on loan to Indy Eleven and going back and forth to Portland (04:52) Growing up in Alaska, and picking soccer in a hockey-dominated state (14:34) Getting acclimated to Indianapolis and joining Indy Eleven (21:28) The growth of MLS, and the wildest crowds he's played in front of (27:02) The expectations and goals he's set for himself this season with Indy Eleven (32:38) What's o

Angel City FC center back Paige Nielsen has not only emerged as one of the team's most dependable players, but she's also had a massive role in the team's chemistry. Whether it's showing off her dance moves or amping up the pregame playlist, it's enough to earn her the title of ACFC director of vibes. We sat down with the NWSL veteran to discuss her time with Angel City, her outlook for the 2024 season, and co-hosting the In These Cleats podcast alongside comedian and soccer super-fan Tien Tran. Timestamps (01:20) Paige Nielsen's role as Angel City's executive director of vibes (05:55) The team's competitive spirit and preparing for the 2024 season (20:38) Her experience at 'The Offseason' reality show (25:20) The range of ages within Angel City FC and interacting with the younger players (34:30) Her fitness regimen and taking new supplements (38:57) Starting the In These Cleats podcast (48:25) What's on Paige's playlist Cast Hosts: Ramsey Abushahla, Julio Monterroza, & Brigitte Flores Producer: Roy Cho S

Jamar Ricketts doesn't have a typical journey to the professional ranks. He wasn't a highly touted recruit — he only played one year of varsity soccer in high school — yet he was able to blossom into a professional prospect while in college at California State University, Northridge, and earn a contract with the San Jose Earthquakes after being selected with the 14th pick in the MLS Super Draft. But he's not ready to say he's made it yet. Getting to the pros was just another item on his career goal checklist, and now he's focused on staying there and making an impact with his new team. He joins the latest episode of the Urban Pitch Podcast to discuss his underdog journey, getting adjusted to the pro ranks, and the vibes in the San Jose Earthquakes locker room. Timestamps (01:16) Growing up in New Jersey, attending St. Benedict's prep, and only playing one year of varsity soccer (14:30) Committing to CSUN to play collegiate soccer (29:13) Making the adjustment to the pro ranks and the vibes in the Earthquakes

DC United reporter Claudia Pagán joins the latest episode of the Urban Pitch Podcast to discuss her journey in sports and sports media, the importance of Latino and Latina voices in MLS coverage, and her new upcoming Dímelo podcast, which we are honored to be one of the first guests on! (03:55) The vibes at the LAFC 2024 home opener (09:49) Claudia Pagán joins the show (12:17) How Claudia got into soccer and sports media growing up in the DMV (27:51) Starting the Dímelo Podcast (39:54) Latino and Latina representation in sports media (50:37) Claudia's favorite music artists and what she's currently listening to Cast Hosts: Ramsey Abushahla, Julio Monterroza, & Brigitte Flores Producer: Roy Cho Subscribe to our newsletter for more interviews and latest news on street football, freestyle, and urban culture, read more about soccer culture on our website, and follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook.

As the new MLS season kicked off over the weekend, we had a chance to finally see some of the new kits in person and in action. We went through some of our favorites on the latest episode of the Urban Pitch Podcast, just before we had a chance to chop it up with one half of the Holding the High Line Podcast, Matt Pollard! Holding the High Line does an amazing job covering the Colorado Rapids, and as a fellow BLEAV pod, we had to link up to get a glimpse at what the Rapids gameday experience is like. He drops recommendations and tips, while also describing why Colorado might be the most underrated away days destination in the league. Timestamps (02:00) Our thoughts on the new MLS kits (16:29) Matt Pollard of the Holding the High Line Podcast joins the show (19:03) The Rapids' new home shirt and Matt's favorites from across the league (24:50) The fan experience at Colorado Rapids home matches (43:08) Our tips for an away days trip to LA Subscribe to the Holding the High Line Podcast to stay updated with their l

MLS is back! After a hectic offseason, we're finally getting into the action this week, and we couldn't be more excited. To take a look at what lies ahead for this year, we enlist the help of Eli Lesser, an MLS expert and social media superstar. We discuss which teams had the biggest offseasons, dish out hot takes, and predict which team will win the 2024 MLS Cup. Timestamps (01:59) The biggest movers in the MLS offseason (11:00) Chicharito's era at Galaxy and the growing rivalry between Liga MX and MLS (19:55) Griffin Dorsey's status as the MLS community GOAT (25:38) MLS hot takes 36:35 Inter Miami's disastrous preseason tour (49:32) Our picks for the MLS Cup winner Cast Hosts: Ramsey Abushahla, Julio Monterroza, & Brigitte Flores Producer: Roy Cho Subscribe to our newsletter for more interviews and latest news on street football, freestyle, and urban culture, read more about soccer culture on our website, and follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook.

It was another wild week in the world of football, and two-thirds of the Urban Pitch Podcast broke it down on the latest episode! With Brigitte out, Ramsey and Julio sit down to discuss the rumors of blue cards coming to the game, the recently announced 2026 World Cup schedule, and more young footballers choosing MLS over lower-tier European leagues. Timestamps (01:00) Blue cards coming to football? (09:08) The 2026 World Cup schedule release (24:33) Atuesta's return to LAFC and more young players choosing MLS over European leagues Cast Hosts: Ramsey Abushahla, Julio Monterroza, & Brigitte Flores Producer: Roy Cho Subscribe to our newsletter for more interviews and latest news on street football, freestyle, and urban culture, read more about soccer culture on our website, and follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook.

On the latest episode of the Urban Pitch Podcast, the crew sits down to discuss some of the latest headlines in the soccer-verse, including USWNT captain Lindsey Horan's latest comments on American soccer fans, big-time NWSL signings, and why LAFC fans have been able to trust the process for so long. Timestamps (02:21) Lindsey Horan's comments about American soccer fans and U.S. Soccer culture (18:29) Bay FC's major signings in Deyna Castellanos and Asisat Oshoala (24:25) Angel City adding Messiah Bright and Rocky Rodriguez (27:41) MLS and NWSL kit leaks on EA FC (34:34) Inter Miami's Saudi Arabia tour (42:36) LAFC's signing announcement and trusting the process Cast Hosts: Ramsey Abushahla, Julio Monterroza, & Brigitte Flores Producer: Roy Cho Subscribe to our newsletter for more interviews and latest news on street football, freestyle, and urban culture, read more about soccer culture on our website, and follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook.

To many video game aficionados, Kacee Anderson lives the dream. She's made a career out of playing video games, most notably the FIFA/FC series, and has had opportunities to work with some of the world's biggest names and clubs in the world of football and gaming. Add onto that an ambassador and content creator role with Manchester City, and things become even more dream-like. But there is a certain grind to the streamer lifestyle, and Kacee didn't get here by accident. Prior to making the jump into streaming full time, she'd stream for hours after her day job with the Chicago Fire, not leaving her a lot of spare time to do much else. Now that she's broken through, she's not slowing down either. We sit down with Kacee, aka Chi_Kacee, to discuss her origins in the world of gaming, the commitment to women's football in FC 24, and advice on making it into the streaming space. (01:45) The growth of the eSports world over the past few years, and her introduction into the world of video games (11:40) Jumping into t

The Urban Pitch Podcast crew is back with a fresh new episode, discussing Dallas' viability as a World Cup final venue, the NWSL draft and new young players being signed, Lionel Messi's controversial FIFA Best Men's Player of 2023 award, and Yasiin Bey's recent comments about Drake being a pop artist rather than a hip-hop artist. Timestamps (00:53) Julio and Brigitte's dry January experience (07:39) Our thoughts on the World Cup Final being in Dallas (23:49) NWSL offseason: The draft, new signings, and the youth movement across the league (35:24) Lionel Messi's FIFA Best Men's Player of 2023 award (40:50) Is Drake a pop artist? Cast Hosts: Ramsey Abushahla, Julio Monterroza, & Brigitte Flores Producer: Roy Cho Subscribe to our newsletter for more interviews and latest news on street football, freestyle, and urban culture, read more about soccer culture on our website, and follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook.

It might be the offseason for both the NWSL and MLS, but that doesn't mean there isn't still plenty to talk about when it comes to either league. As the winter hot stove continues to heat up, we discuss some of the moves that USMNT players have made, in addition to the outlooks for Angel City FC and LAFC — who still have a few questions remaining on their respective rosters. Timestamps (02:57) LAFC and Angel City FC's offseason moves (18:37) USMNT players on the move — are non-European transfers steps down for MLS players? (34:46) MLS kit leaks Cast Hosts: Ramsey Abushahla, Julio Monterroza, & Brigitte Flores Producer: Roy Cho Subscribe to our newsletter for more interviews and latest news on street football, freestyle, and urban culture, read more about soccer culture on our website, and follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook.

In the first Urban Pitch Podcast episode of the new year, the crew gets into the latest happenings across the soccer-verse, including LAFC's newest big signing Hugo Lloris, the massive offseason from Gotham FC, and the drama between U.S. Soccer and MLS. Timestamps (00:30) A happy new year from the Urban Pitch Podcast (05:09) Hugo Lloris' arrival in Los Angeles (15:05) John McCarthy moving from LAFC to LA Galaxy (23:24) Gotham FC's massive offseason and some potential Angel City FC moves (33:39) MLS pulling out of the U.S. Open Cup Cast Hosts: Ramsey Abushahla, Julio Monterroza, & Brigitte Flores Producer: Roy Cho

She's back! After becoming a free agent in the offseason, NWSL star Sarah Gorden recently announced she'd be re-signing with Angel City FC. The veteran center back joins the latest episode of the Urban Pitch Podcast to discuss free agency, making the transition from Chicago to LA, and her fabulous fashion game. Timestamps (02:00) The NWSL's embrace of free agency and her massively successful 2023 season (10:26) Angel City's mid-season turnaround to make the 2023 NWSL Playoffs (15:00) Growing up in Chicago and making the move to LA (21:44) Getting drafted to her hometown team, the Chicago Red Stars (23:54) How Sarah describes her style and the importance of fashion to her (35:17) Getting to train with Gisele and Alyssa Thompson (39:54) Her music playlist (42:47) Her work with her non-profit HoodSpace (47:53) What she's got going on in the offseason Cast Hosts: Ramsey Abushahla, Julio Monterroza, & Brigitte Flores Producer: Roy Cho Subscribe to our newsletter for more interviews and latest news on street fo

Wherever Jeremy Ebobisse has gone in his career, he's made sure to make an impact in the community. It's a testament to the 26-year-old's character that he's been a fan favorite in multiple cities. Since truly breaking out onto the scene in 2018, Ebobisse has also been one of the most dependable strikers in MLS, scoring double digit goals three times throughout his career. The promising No. 9 joins the latest episode of the Urban Pitch Podcast to discuss his career journey, how he's connected with communities from Portland to San Jose, and the non-profits he's partnered up with to make an impact beyond the touchlines. Check out Jeremy's King Jebo foundation to learn more about how he's giving back to various communities across the country. Timestamps (01:42) How the offseason is going and what he's working on (07:23) Growing up in the DMV, and what it was like playing soccer in Maryland (12:41) Training at Fulham FC's academy (23:14) Going the college route vs. signing a professional contract and making the t

Calm and chill. From our interview with St. Louis City SC right back Akil Watts, those are the two best words to describe him. But don't get it twisted — he's a competitor through and through. After a promising youth career that saw him feature on the United States U17 World Cup squad, Watts has made stops in Mallorca, Louisville, and now St. Louis, where he was a part of one of the biggest surprises of the MLS season. St. Louis City SC took the league by storm in its debut season, finishing in first place in the Western Conference. Watts featured in 18 regular season matches for St. Louis, recording one assist while also contributing to one goal in the U.S. Open Cup. He wants to get on the scoring train more often next year, and hopes to continue his success in the league next season. We sit down with the promising young defender to discuss his career journey, his time in MLS, and the all-important pregame outfits. Timestamps (01:19) Akil's origins in the game, where he started and how he progressed through

The gulliest podcast duo in the game, Alexis Guerreros and Christian Polanco, aka the Cooligans, have been putting out some of the funniest soccer analysis and content since they started in 2015. We caught up with both of them in 2019 for an interview on the website, but a lot has changed since then — both with them and soccer culture in America. We discuss some of those changes, their growth, and what lies ahead for them on the latest episode of the Urban Pitch Podcast! Timestamps (05:09) The biggest changes in American soccer culture and media in the past few years (16:39) The NYC footy scene (24:15) Their origins and how they've grown (35:37) Doing stand-up comedy sets with their busy schedule (38:00) The new MLS playoffs format (41:24) Inspiring more people to get into the soccer media space Cast Hosts: Ramsey Abushahla, Julio Monterroza, & Brigitte Flores Producer: Roy Cho Subscribe to our newsletter for more interviews and latest news on street football, freestyle, and urban culture, read more about

It's another solo episode of the Urban Pitch Podcast, and the crew discusses the latest USMNT escapades: An unconvincing aggregate victory against Trinidad and Tobago to advance to the Nations League semis and qualify for the Copa America, Sergiño Dest's temper tantrum, and where the team ranks among South American nations. In addition, they get into the recent skirmish between Brazil and Argentina fans, and the "Last Dance" friendly between Ronaldo and Messi. Timestamps (00:34) Brigitte's adventures at ComplexCon (13:45) The USMNT's Nations League quarterfinal match against Trinidad and Tobago (19:05) Where does the US rank among CONMEBOL nations? (25:14) The Brazil-Argentina skirmish (29:29) One last Messi-Ronaldo showdown: will it be worth watching? Cast Hosts: Ramsey Abushahla, Julio Monterroza, & Brigitte Flores Producer: Roy Cho Subscribe to our newsletter for more interviews and latest news on street football, freestyle, and urban culture, read more about soccer culture on our website, an