The Soccer Ladder with Li & Me

Talent gets young players noticed, but what keeps them progressing? In Episode 38 of The Soccer Ladder, Megan sits down with Miguel Gallardo — former professional goalkeeper, MLS analyst on Apple TV, and Executive Director of South Orlando Soccer Club — to talk about what really separates players as they move through the youth soccer pathway. Miguel shares what he sees up close in youth developmen...

MLS veteran Kei Kamara has built an incredible career in soccer, but his impact goes far beyond the field. In this special conversation for The Soccer Ladder with Li & Me, Kei shares the heart behind the Kei Kamara HEARTshapedhands Foundation, his commitment to giving back, and why using his platform to help others is so important to him. From his journey in professional soccer to the work he...

Former MLS and U.S. Men’s National Team midfielder Dax McCarty joins The Soccer Ladder for a special conversation filmed during MLS All-Star Week. After nearly two decades playing at the professional level, Dax shares the lessons he believes matter most for young players trying to grow in the game. We talk about leadership and why accountability may be one of the most important qualities a young c...

Real Madrid and Germany star Antonio Rüdiger joins The Soccer Ladder for a special conversation from the United Nations in New York City. Antonio shares the heart behind the Antonio Rüdiger Foundation, why giving back is so important to him, and his commitment to creating opportunities and making a difference beyond the football pitch. A powerful conversation about using football, influence, and o...

Former professional player, Olympian, and MLS on Apple TV Studio Analyst Kaylyn Kyle joins me during MLS All-Star Week for a special conversation on The Soccer Ladder. Kaylyn shares her perspective on what separates players as they move through the game, the importance of mindset and resilience, and what young athletes can learn from the challenges they face along the way. We also talk about a que...

In Episode 37 of The Soccer Ladder, Megan and Liam sit down with Lou Ruffien, French Youth National Team player, Paris FC academy standout, and incoming Harvard Women's Soccer student-athlete. After representing France at the UEFA U-17 European Championship and FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup, Lou shares what it's really like to compete at the highest levels of youth soccer, adapt to li...

In Episode 36 of The Soccer Ladder, Megan and Liam sit down with Matteo Masucci, founder of Juventus Academy Los Angeles, entrepreneur, coach, and creator of innovative AI-powered coaching technology. Born and raised in Italy, Matteo shares his journey from professional soccer and sports science to building one of the premier youth development environments in the United States alongside Alessandro...

In Episode 35 of The Soccer Ladder, Megan and Liam sit down with soccer legend Tab Ramos. A three-time FIFA World Cup player, Olympian, former U.S. U-20 Men’s National Team Head Coach, and MLS Head Coach, Tab shares lessons from decades at the highest levels of the game. In this episode we discuss: ⚽ Playing in three FIFA World Cups ⚽ What players ages 12–15 should focus on right now ⚽ Why tech...

A conversation on access, opportunity, and using soccer to change communities. Hosts Megan Liam About This Episode In Episode 34 of The Soccer Ladder , we sit down with Janine Willis , former Canadian Women’s National Team player and Board of Directors member for Soccer in the Streets (@soccerstreets). From her journey playing at Princeton and with the Canadian National Team to now helping lead on...

A conversation on player pathways, local talent, and building the next generation through community. Hosts Megan  Liam About This Episode In Episode 33 of The Soccer Ladder , we sit down with Jose Angulo (@j_angulo), Scout and Manager of Youth Partnerships for the New York Cosmos (@nycosmos). A North Jersey native from Paterson, Jose Angulo’s journey through the local soccer scene led him to a pro...

A conversation on fueling youth athletes, building longevity, and mastering the fundamentals of performance. Hosts Megan Liam About This Episode In Episode 32 of The Soccer Ladder , we’re joined by Dr Marc Bubbs (@Drbubbs), a performance nutritionist working with professional and Olympic athletes across elite sport, including @canadabasketball , @usmnt , and @underarmour . With over 20 years of ex...

A conversation on development, pressure, longevity, and building the next generation of players. Hosts Megan  Liam About This Episode In Episode 31 of The Soccer Ladder , we are joined by Jozy Altidore (@jozyaltidore) — a U.S. Men’s National Team veteran who signed professionally at just 16 and built a career across Europe and MLS. Now stepping into a new chapter, Jozy Altidore is focused on devel...

 A behind-the-scenes look at elite preparation, mindset, and what young players can learn from the highest level of the game.  About This Episode In Episode 30 of The Soccer Ladder , we are joined by Jesús Pérez (@jpp_71), assistant coach of the U.S. Men’s National Team (@usmnt) and longtime collaborator of head coach Mauricio Pochettino (@pochettino). With the next World Cup on the horizon, Jesús...

A behind-the-scenes look at how the world’s top athletes fuel performance, recovery, and longevity — and what youth players and parents can learn from elite nutrition strategies.  About This Episode In Episode 29 of The Soccer Ladder , we dive into one of the most overlooked pillars of performance: nutrition . We’re joined by Dan Motchman , a private performance chef who works with some of the top...

In this episode of The Soccer Ladder , hosts Megan Linke (@meganlinkeofficial) and Liam Linke (@liamlinke18) sit down with Amir Lowery — former professional player, D.C. native, and founder of Open Goal Project . Amir shares his powerful journey from playing professionally in MLS and USL to returning home to Washington, D.C., where he’s now working to dismantle barriers in youth soccer and create...

In Episode 27 of The Soccer Ladder , we’re joined by Jeroen Chantrain , a Belgian youth coach who has worked at two of the most iconic clubs in European football — RSC Anderlecht , Belgium’s most successful club, and Royal Antwerp FC , the oldest club in the country. Jeroen brings a rare inside look at elite European player development , sharing how top academies think about technical skill, menta...

Local Football, Access, and the Future of the American Player Pathway In Episode 26 of The Soccer Ladder, Megan sits down for a solo-hosted conversation with the voice behind  ⁨@TheExchangeFc⁩   a platform deeply rooted in local football culture and grassroots storytelling. With Liam at school for the day, this episode becomes a deep dive into the local soccer ecosystem, access to the game, and ho...

This one really is legendary — we’re welcoming our first-ever NWSL player to The Soccer Ladder ! In this episode, we’re joined by Haley McCutcheon of the Orlando Pride , and she brings such real, grounded insight into what it takes to develop, stay mentally strong, and build a career that lasts. Also… quick behind-the-scenes moment: I usually record with Liam, but I accidentally scheduled studio t...

This week on The Soccer Ladder , we’re joined by Bryan Jordan (@bj_6) — former LA Galaxy winger, two-time MLS Cup champion, and one of the hardest-working pros of his era. From grinding through trials to sharing a locker room with David Beckham, Landon Donovan, and Robbie Keane , Bryan gets real about what it actually takes to climb — and stay on — the ladder. What we cover From LA kid to pro: Gro...

In this inspiring episode of The Soccer Ladder, we sit down with Mike Chabala (@michaelchabala) — former Houston Dynamo defender, two-time MLS Cup Champion, and founder of @sphere.club — to explore the full-circle journey from professional athlete to purpose-driven entrepreneur. ⚽️ From playing in Europe at just eight years old, to earning his way onto one of the best teams in MLS history, to now...

This week on @thesoccerladder , hosts @meganlinkeofficial and @liamlinke18 sit down with Chijioke Akujuobi (@choppaholic5) — the creator and host of @victorychatterpodcast / @victorychatterpod — for a powerful conversation on mindset, mentorship, and what it really takes to make it in the world of soccer. From street soccer in Texas to playing professionally in Denmark,  Chijioke’s story is one of...

Guest: Fre Frans, former pro defender turned coach at RWDM Brussels 📲 IG: @frefrans In this inspiring and globe-spanning episode, we sit down with Belgian footballer and coach Fre Frans (@frefrans), who shares his journey from debuting at 17 in Belgium’s top league to coaching one of the youngest squads in Europe today. Fre played professionally for clubs like Lierse SK , Beerschot , and Partick...

MLS veteran. U.S. National Team defender. College champion. Youth trainer. In this episode, A.J. DeLaGarza opens up about what it really takes to have a 14-year career in Major League Soccer—and the moments on and off the field that shaped him most. From Maryland to Miami, and Galaxy to Gold Den, A.J. shares the mindset, heart, and leadership it takes to stay at the top, adapt through change, and...

In this episode, Megan Linke sits down with Tristan Bowen , the first-ever MLS homegrown player , who went pro at just 17 with LA Galaxy. From training alongside icons like David Beckham and Landon Donovan to launching a media brand that gives voice to the athlete journey—Tristan’s story is filled with real-world lessons for players and parents alike. Inside the episode: How Tristan’s path to LA G...

This week on The Soccer Ladder , we dive into the physical, mental, and emotional performance demands of elite youth soccer with Ruben Cisneros (@rubencisneros), the U15 Academy Performance Coach for Chicago Fire FC . From boxing roots to building top-level athletes, Ruben shares his full-circle journey back to the Fire, where he now helps shape future pros from the inside out. ⚽️ What We Cover:...