The Soccer Ladder with Li & Me

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:...

In this episode of The Soccer Ladder , we sit down with John Davis —co-founder of @ULETEsports , one of the top multi-sport performance centers in the country—to unpack what it really takes to build elite athletes today. From growing up on cow-patch soccer fields in Texas to building a world-class training facility guided by faith, vision, and a generational entrepreneurial spirit—John shares the...

🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts! In this special father-son episode of The Soccer Ladder , we sit down with the Daughtridges—a powerhouse duo in both soccer and entrepreneurship. Roark shares what it’s like training with the DC United Academy, balancing school, practice, and friendships, and how he mentally resets after setbacks on the field. Meanwhile, Ryan offers a unique parent per...

In Episode 15 of The Soccer Ladder , we welcome a true American soccer icon: ⁠@michaelbr4dley⁠ — former USMNT captain, two-time World Cup player, MLS Cup champion with Toronto FC, European veteran, and a leader who’s played the game at every level, around the world. Michael sits down with Lee and Megan to share his journey from growing up on the sidelines with his dad, legendary coach Bob Bradley,...

In this high-energy episode of The Soccer Ladder , we’re joined by the inspiring brothers behind @game_awareness , the Canadian-based trainers revolutionizing youth soccer with cutting-edge awareness training. From scanning and shoulder checks to creating elite-level soccer IQ, these coaches are showing young players what it really takes to stand out on the pitch—not just with skill, but with visi...

In this can’t-miss episode of The Soccer Ladder, we sit down with Michael Parkhurst @mikeparkhurst3—former USMNT captain, MLS Cup champion, European pro, and co-founder of @beyondgoalsmentoring—to go deep on the sacrifices, mindset, and structure required to go pro and stay pro. Whether you’re an academy parent, a player chasing the dream, or a coach shaping the next generation, this episode is fi...