The Pickup Game

In the penultimate episode of Season 1 of The Pickup Game, I am joined by Rob Blackman and Juan Sanguinetti. The World Cup has been divisive for some, polarizing for others, and enthralling for many. It has brought countless people from diverse backgrounds together to celebrate our differences, something those of us in New York experience daily.

In episode 22 of The Pickup Game , Joe Cogan of Parkit Management talks to me about the Goals for Good competition, the World Cup fever engulfing the U.S., and rewarding simple actions for the people who need it most.

In Episode 21 of The Pickup Game, I sit down with David Briggs, an architect, a painter, and a player aiming to still be on the pitch at 70. David takes us through his love of radio, the spaces between buildings, Milan Kundera, the power of religion and Caravaggio's use of prostitutes as models for his figures.

In Episode 20 of The Pickup Game, I chat with Johnny Gandelsman, a violinist, producer, MacArthur Fellow, and founding member of Brooklyn Rider. Our conversation ranges from the World Cup and Marjane Satrapi's views on two countries at war, to the love of New York and lifting people up in times of need.

In Episode 19 of The Pickup Game, I chat with Mark O'Brien, a pickup game player for the past 62 years. We talk about Bob Marley's pickup game at Battersea Park, the politics surrounding the World Cup, and his recommended summer read, Home and Away by Karl Ove Knausgård @karl.ove.knausgard and Fredrik Ekelund, a captivating book told through email exchanges about the beautiful game. Mark also co-f...

In Episode 18 of The Pickup Game, I visit Digital Island Studios near the Flatiron, where I speak with its owner, Bill Siegmund. Bill, a Hawaii native, talks about recording live music, falling in love with Chelsea Football Club through Punch magazine, the pageantry of the World Cup, and the growing fear of traveling to the US.

In Episode 17 of The Pickup Game, I sit down with Tom Montague, a British American who grew up and studied in Michigan and has called New York City home for the past 15 years. We talk about holding on to what makes us who we are, the tarnished "special relationship" between our two countries, and the shame of politics poisoning a global event that was built to celebrate our differences.

In episode 15 of The Pickup Game , I hang out with David Slarskey, a lawyer, a teammate, and a one-time playwright, but ultimately a philosopher. Our conversation is a play written in three acts: conflict, merit, and the values of both success and failure.

In episode 15 of The Pickup Game , I sit down with Lorin Wertheimer for a conversation that spans his brush with British royalty, defining moments of boyhood, writing for soap operas and reality TV, and powering through creative roadblocks.

In episode fourteen of The Pickup Game , I speak with Saral Kochar, our friend from Delhi. Saral left Delhi at the ripe age of 17 for London. From the capital of the United Kingdom, he traveled to Hong Kong before settling in New York. He started his own business after working in the textile industry as far afield as Bangladesh. The culture he has acquired throughout his rich trajectory rubs off o...

In episode thirteen of The Pickup Game , I speak with Tom Crawford, a British native of Norfolk and father of two. We discuss the accessibility of the game and how it places you just a handshake away from communities you might never otherwise reach.

In episode twelve of The Pickup Game , I sit down with Neil Parchment, a Jamaican New Yorker with three children. We speak about the tragic events of September 11, 2001, raising children, and speaking Patois. Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3RtN1lMjkS6xsC8qwX33Dc Apple podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-pickup-game/id1871153963 I Heart Radio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/2...

In episode eleven of The Pickup Game , I sit down with Roland Lewis, a nonprofit leader involved with Habitat for Humanity and the Waterfront Alliance. We talk about the agonizing love of teams, the wars that surround us, and how community and inclusivity hold everything together.

In the tenth episode of The Pickup Game , I speak with Daryl Kessler. He is a sports fan, lover of the arts, and lawyer. We discuss the beauty of the game, the tragic loss of his teenage son Milo, and the power of community. We also discuss the upcoming World Cup and how it fits into current times. You can find the podcast Milo Time , hosted by Daryl Kessler and Lisa Cohen, on every platform. It i...

In the ninth episode of The Pickup Game , I speak with Remy Lupica president of the Brooklyn Football Foundation. We discuss the rich history of football/soccer in Brooklyn, the fan experience, Major League Soccer (MLS), the United Soccer League (USL), the US Open Cup, and the upcoming World Cup. We also touch on the philosophy of Eric Cantona and playing with Fidel Castro. It's a rich insight...

New episode dropping March 12th! In the eighth episode of The Pickup Game , I speak with Jared Fontaine @theideaofmachines , a lawyer and musician. We speak about growing up in the outskirts of Philadelphia, studying in Japan, working in Italy, and the importance of consuming time to feed the heart. Music in this podcast is Rāngr from @theideaofmachines 's album Rāngr.

In our seventh episode of The Pickup Game , I speak with Sujay, an organizer of the pickup game and community leader. We speak about his upbringing in Hong Kong, identity, belonging, how we're perceived by others, and raising children in a diverse landscape. Music in this episode is “Calling” by Marija Rasa @ em___er from her Album “Fog”.

In the sixth episode of The Pickup Game, I'm speaking with Ehi Uwa, born in Brooklyn and raised Nigerian. We speak about blizzards, white flight, racism, getting a drink with Ian Wright, Zohran Mamdani's love for the game, and the global power of differences. Music used in this podcast is "Joromi" by Sir Victor Uwaifo. 

In the fifth episode of The Pickup Game , I speak with Charles Donaldson, a Jamaican-American low-income housing lawyer and Arsenal fan. We speak about immigrant identity, being a New Yorker, the rising fear of the political climate, childhood memories, and the necessity of having a band of brothers. Our intro is composed by Jared Fontaine of @theideaofmachines. Write to us at info@pickup.nyc

I speak with Kinan Azmeh, a Syrian-American clarinetist, composer, artist, subject of a feature documentary and lover of the beautiful game. We spoke about travel bans, devastation, Damascus, New York City, and the ephemeral poetic beats of life.  Kinan's music is enigmatic, poetic, and wonderfully cinematic. In a world turned upside down, it's refreshing to be exposed to optimism in a for...

I'm speaking with Andy McAllister, a 5th generation Brooklynite. We talk about the circle of life, religion, and tugboats.

I’m speaking with José Manuel Simián, a lawyer, journalist, storyteller, father of three, and goalkeeper, who also serves as Director of Marketing at Huge.

In this inaugural episode, I speak with John Schafer, radio host at public radio and author.