How Soccer Explains Leadership Podcast

In Episode 176, we are recasting our recruiting episode with our very own Paul Jobson, who now is Director of Atletico Dallas Youth-Central Texas after his retirement from coaching at Baylor Futbol, when he talked with Phil about how players, parents, and coaches can navigate the recruiting process with more excellence. Specifically, he covers: ·      How the recruiting process should be a fun "ge...

In Episode 175, we are recasting our conversation with Keith Tozer, Commissioner of the Major Arena Soccer League, Coach of the US Futsal National Team, MISL coach and player in five decades, the first-ever pick in the MISL Draft, and a Hall of Famer in multiple hall of fames, who talked with Paul and Phil about what he has learned over the course of his five-decade long career playing and coachin...

In Episode 174, we are recasting our interview with Andrew Simpson, Mindset Coach, Author of Athlete! I'm Talking to You: 7 Mindset Hacks to Dominate in Sports and Life and The Youth Truth: Coaching & Parenting in Today's Crazy Youth Sports World , and Founder of Player's Fitness & Performance ("PFP"), who talked with Paul and Phil about some mindset hacks that can help us develop and rebuild, if...

In Episode 173, Phil and Paul discuss their highlights from the second half of HSEL's Season 12, which included Frank Kelly, Sean Miller, Roman Khripunov, and Paul Caliguiri, as well as some other topics they have been pondering lately. You don't want to miss some great leadership nuggets on vulnerability, perseverance, humility, hard work, integrity, and creativity. If you're loving the show (or...

In Episode 172, Paul Caligiuri, OCFC Manager, US Nat'l Soccer Hall of Famer, Former USMNT defender/midfielder and pro player in US and Germany, one of the first Americans to play professionally in Europe, and the unlikely scorer of the "shot heard 'round the world," talks with Phil and Paul about his remarkable journey from a passionate young soccer enthusiast to a defining figure in U.S. soccer h...

In Episode 171, Roman Khripunov, Executive Director of Revival Sport and Facilitator for the North American Sport Movement, talks with Phil and Paul about his incredible journey from Uzbekistan to the United States, navigating the challenges of being a refugee and how he developed his passion for using soccer as a tool for ministry and community building. Roman shares personal stories of coaching,...

In Episode 170, Sean Miller, founder of Upper 90 HQ, talks with Phil and Paul about his entrepreneurial journey that started with filming soccer games, leading to the creation of his video company that serves soccer teams and players around the US. Sean dives into his personal story, emphasizing how faith and soccer have influenced his leadership and shift in life priorities. He discusses the chal...

In Episode 169, Frank Kelly, CEO of Kelly Benefits, Former Cornell Lacrosse and Football player, and Author of Influence and the Creator's Game , talks with Phil and Paul about his extensive experience in sports, business, leadership, and ministry, and how his faith journey has deeply impacted all facets of his life. Frank shares personal stories from his athletic journey, his involvement with FCA...

In Episode 168, Phil and Paul discuss their highlights from the first half of HSEL's Season 12, as well as some personal and professional updates. They talk about their conversations with Wells Thompson, Don Williams, and Brad Kenney, as well as their "Extra Time" episode, delving into topics like vulnerability, what it takes to become a pro athlete, navigating the changing college soccer landscap...

In Episode 167, we are recasting our interview with Pete Kipley, Founder of Bolta Soccer, Music Producer and Songwriter, in which he talks with Phil about his journey from being a music producer to opening a soccer training facility in Nashville. He discusses the similarities between the music and soccer worlds, emphasizing the importance of mentality, culture, and leadership in both fields. Pete...

In Episode 166 of How Soccer Explains Leadership, hosts Phil Darke and Paul Jobson discuss the intersection of youth soccer, leadership, priorities, and family values. Through personal and professional experience, they address the importance of aligning family priorities with athletic commitments. They emphasize the benefits of learning from losses, balancing sports and family life, and enabling k...

In Episode 165, Brad Kenney, Founder and Executive Director of Soccer Chaplains United and Colorado Rapids Chaplain, talks with Phil about he has blended his passion for soccer, ministry, and leadership. Brad shares his personal story of his transition from high school soccer player to college videographer to Chaplain for the Colorado Rapids over two decades ago. They dive into Brad's experience i...

In Episode 164, we have another great interview with Don Williams, SRUSA Head of Operations for the Americas and former college coach at every level. He talks with Paul and Phil about modern trends impacting youth soccer and college recruitment. They explore the implications of the transfer portal, the challenges and opportunities related to international player recruitment, and how these transfor...

In Episode 163, we are kicking off Season 12 with a conversation with Wells Thompson, Former MLS midfielder and 1 st Round Draft Pick, Co-Founder of Soccer Resilience, husband, and father. He talked with Paul and Phil about his journey from childhood adversity to the MLS, his struggles with identity and mental health, his faith journey and his personal why relating to that journey, his difficultie...

In Episode 162, Paul and Phil have a great conversation about their 2024 highlights, including their favorite ministry and family moments, as well as the most impactful books, movies, podcasts, and HSEL episodes they have enjoyed this year. They also discuss the current youth and college soccer landscape, particularly how we can make it more about the kids and young adults playing the game. No dou...

In Episode 161, we are wrapping up 2024 with our top 13 highlights (plus a bonus clip as our gift to you) from each of our interviews this year. As we step into 2025, we're showcasing powerful takeaways from our guests, which highlight key principles of leadership that transcend soccer and apply to every area of our lives. There is even more wisdom packed into the full interviews, so be sure to ch...

In Episode 160, we are recasting our interview with Peter Greer, President/CEO of HOPE International and former Messiah College footballer, who talked with Paul and Phil about his path from Messiah College to alleviating poverty with Hope International, how he built in accountability to ensure that he puts his family first, why it is so important to be grateful for everything and entitled to nothi...

In Episode 159, we are recasting our conversation with Steven Axtell, Head Coach of Cortland University Men's Soccer, former Cortland goalkeeper, husband, and father, when we talked about lessons learned from his playing and coaching career, leadership lessons gleaned from his coaches, his thoughts on playing multiple sports, how he is using lessons from the game in his family, why he doesn't thin...

In Episode 158, we are re-casting our conversation with Don Williams, Head of Operations for the Americas for Sports Recruiting USA and former coach at all levels of soccer, who talked with Phil about the #1 tool college coaches use to find recruits, how soccer players can find the "right fit," the recruiting implications of the small world of college and pro soccer, "punching coaches in the nose"...

In Episode 157, we are recasting our interview with Margueritte Aozasa, UCLA Women's Soccer Head Coach, former Stanford Women's Soccer Assistant Coach, and former Santa Clara University Defender/Midfielder, who talked with us about her incredible first season at UCLA, during which she became the first coach to win a National Championship in her first year as a head coach, what mission and personal...

In Episode 156, we are recasting our episode with David Ricca, NJ Youth Soccer Innovate to Grow Consultant, Founder/President of Just Live Soccer, 9/11 Survivor, Soccer Resilience Ambassador, Member of 2010 World Cup Media & Marketing team, former soccer player, coach, and scout, former MLS Liaison, former CBS Manager, and former Morgan Stanley Financial Advisor, who talked with Phil about how he...

In Episode 155, we are recasting one of our favorite interview of all time, going back to last year when Phil and Paul interviewed Graham Daniels, Ph. D., Director of Cambridge United, Director of Christians in Sport, and former player for Cambridge United and Cardiff City, about the "Pray, Play, Say" discipleship/leadership method, his personal why, his incredible testimony of how he came to his...

In Episode 154, we are recasting our episode with Dan Abrahams, Sports Psychologist, best-selling author of four books, Founder of the Dan Abrahams Soccer Academy and The Sport Psych Show Podcast, and former pro golfer, who talks with Phil about his sports psychology work, his books, and his podcast, the concepts of "Teamship" and motivational climate, extrinsic vs. intrinsic motivation, pre-faili...

In Episode 153, we are going way back to the first half of our first season and recasting one of our most impactful and most downloaded interviews. In this conversation, Eric Pfeiffer, Founder and Senior Consultant of MPWR Coaching and Collegiate Soccer Player, talks with Phil about emotional intelligence, dealing with insecurities, self-love, permission to fail, the journey of growth, conflict re...

In Episode 152, we are recasting our episode with Keeley Hagen, Colorado State Head Coach, former assistant coach at University of Texas and University of Tennessee, former USWNT, Sky Blue FC, and Atlanta Beat player, 3-time All-American defender at University of Tennessee, and wife, in which she talks with Phil and Paul about what drives her to lead her players with excellence, lessons learned fr...