Urban Pitch Podcast - The Beautiful Game of Life

Co-founder of 5ASIDE Media  and WavyFooty, and founder of Vino Vriday and Vino Conversations⁩, Gabriel Guisado has been making big moves in the soccer and culture space in recent years. His most recent Vino Vriday event hit Los Angeles, and we caught up with him while he was in town to discuss the growth of soccer culture in the United States, R&B's different eras, and the ongoing comparisons...

As we near the end of the 2024-25 international football season, there's been a hot stove of storylines firing from all corners of the globe. We start things off in the United States, where the Vancouver Whitecaps have continued a surprise dominant campaign by advancing to the finals of the CONCACAF Champions Cup over Inter Miami. In addition to Vancouver's success, we discuss the issues at Inter...

The 2026 World Cup is going to be different. Three host nations and 48 participating teams are perhaps the most notable changes to the tournament's format, but, as purveyors of all things soccer culture, one new addition has piqued our interest the most: a Super Bowl-style halftime show during the final. FIFA president Gianni Infantino has called it a "can't-miss event," and many have sp...

Episode 200 of the Urban Pitch Podcast is here, and it's a special one. We wanted to discuss the evolving soccer culture in the United States, and couldn't think of two better people to do it with than Denise Jones and Eli Lesser! Having both been in the soccer and media spaces for quite some time, both Denise and Eli have a unique insight and voice on all things soccer, and they join us for a fun...

A fourth-round pick in the 2024 NWSL Draft, Madison Curry quickly went from unheralded prospect to everyday starter for Angel City FC in her rookie season. After signing with the Seattle Reign in free agency ahead of the 2025 season, her journey as a starter continues, having played in every minute of the team's first three games. She's found a new home in Seattle, one where she can flourish in a...

The USMNT's recent CONCACAF Nations League crash out once again shows that there's still plenty of work cut out for this "Golden Generation." We break down the loss to Panama in the semis, then get into if the squad needs to go all-out in the Gold Cup. Then, we get into the upcoming Club World Cup and the opening stages of the US Open Cup! (00:33) The USMNT's loss to Panama and the team'...

As the 2025 NWSL season kicked off last weekend, the action on the pitch was only matched by the hype surrounding the new jersey releases. We go through each team's new jersey and rank them in a tiered list. Where did your team end up? (01:50) Some background behind the 2025 NWSL kits (07:17) Our rankings of each NWSL kit Cast Hosts: Ramsey Abushahla, Julio Monterroza, & Brigitte Flores Produc...

"New year, new me." That's the mantra that 17-year-old Angel City FC forward Casey Phair has going into the 2025 NWSL season. The youngest player on the team, Phair was understandably a bit shy throughout her rookie season, but now with a year of experience under her belt, she's ready to make an impact in year two. She joins the Urban Pitch Podcast to discuss her growth as a player durin...

The last time we had Jeremy Ebobisse on the podcast, he was bagging goals for the San Jose Earthquakes. Just over a year later, he's made the trip to Southern California with LAFC, where he's already scored a pivotal goal in the club's 2025 season opener. He re-joins the Urban Pitch Podcast to discuss his move to LA, the vibes in the LAFC locker room, and helping those around him to succeed as muc...

The 2025 MLS season kicked off over the weekend, which means we got a slew of new kits to parse over. We take a look at some of the best and worst new releases, while also looking ahead at what should be another fantastic season. In addition, we go over the recent USL division 1 application news, and take a look at if the country is ready for another top flight. Could pro/rel finally be coming to...

Holding down the back line for Brooklyn FC in the USL Super League, Allison Pantuso and Samantha Rosette have been valuable veteran presences for the new club in the startup league. Currently sitting in first place heading into the spring half of the 2024-25 season, Brooklyn has emerged as one of the strongest clubs both on and off the pitch in the Super League. They drop by the Urban Pitch Podcas...

Since making his debut with the Portland Timbers at 18 in 2017, Marco Farfan has become a staple in MLS, and has found a solid role with FC Dallas. He joins the latest episode of the Urban Pitch Podcast to discuss turning pro while he was still in high school, his thoughts on the 2025 season, and the challenges of playing for a new coach. Timestamps (00:55) Preseason vibes and the hype for the 202...

The winter transfer window has heated up, with big moves on both the men's and women's side of things. After an injury-filled spell at Al-Hilal in the Saudi Pro League, Neymar is making his return to Brazil and his childhood club, Santos. Elsewhere, Naomi Girma became the first million-dollar transfer in women's soccer, joining Chelsea and bolstering a super-team that also features fellow USWNT st...

A founding member of Ambiente Central, one of LA's hottest events, Henrry Rza has become a sought after DJ and expert vibe curator over the past few years. He's also a passionate footy fan with supreme ball knowledge, and he joins the squad to discuss some of his favorite soccer moments, controversial VAR calls, and his love for Arsenal, in addition to starting Ambiente Central and uniting LA's vi...

Fresh off her retirement announcement, Katie Johnson returns to the Urban Pitch Podcast! The last time we spoke to her, she was on the San Diego Wave, but shortly after our discussion she returned to her hometown and joined Angel City FC. We discuss her two-year stint in Los Angeles, in addition to what went into her decision to retire, her new journey in pilates, and what she is currently listeni...

From major tournaments to surprising league title races, 2025 has plenty in store for the world of football. On the latest episode of the Urban Pitch Podcast, we break down what we're most hyped for, before getting into the Ball Brothers' hit "Tweaker," and the athlete-musician crossover. Timestamps (00:10) The wildfires in Los Angeles (02:06) What we're looking forward to in 2025 (15:23...

Making her professional debut at 26, Darielle O'Brien's pathway to the professional ranks was far from typical. After playing collegiately at UC Riverside, she spent the next few years playing semi-professionally with United City FC in Southern California, still searching for an opportunity to play at the pro level. In 2024, she'd get her shot. With the Summer Olympics enlisting numerous players a...

From moving to Mexico as a teenager to play for the Xolos academy to making his MLS breakthrough with Sporting Kansas City, it was never a straightforward path to the pro ranks for Robert Castellanos. Now a free agent with multiple options in front of him as he's proven his value on the pitch, Caste joins the crew to discuss the lessons he's learned, the adversity he's faced, and how that's prepar...

After a decade in the doldrums, the LA Galaxy are finally MLS champions once more. Their record sixth Cup was the product of a front office turnaround, a trove of dynamic attacking players, and a grit that allowed the club to grind to a white-knuckle final victory over the New York Red Bulls. We discuss what went into the Galaxy's return to the top, in addition to other LA team moves, and the Chri...

2024 was a fantastic year for soccer, and now that we're reaching its conclusion we wrap up some of our favorite memories from the jam-packed calendar. In addition, Brigitte recounts her recent trip to Colombia, where she took in a fierce derby match between Atletico Nacional and Independiente Medellin. Timestamps (01:08) Brigitte's Colombian excursion (26:09) Looking back at 2024: Our favorite mo...

It was another wild week in the world of soccer. We get into Tata Martino's surprise resignation, the USMNT's resounding victory over Jamaica in the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinals, and Christian Pulisic's controversial goal celebration. (00:55) What we're thankful for (03:05) Tata Martino out at Inter Miami (19:19) USMNT's victory over Jamaica and Christian Pulisic's goal celebration (29:46...

With an uncompromising commitment to Latina fashion, Hija de tu Madre has quickly become a staple in communities across the globe. Founder and head designer Patty Delgado has used her experiences growing up in Los Angeles and its surrounding areas to create a brand that showcases Latina culture in a vibrant style. Her brand's momentum has led to a handful of high profile collaborations, including...

At just 19 years old, Niko Tsakiris already has a wealth of experience both for club and country. He made his first team debut with the San Jose Earthquakes as a homegrown player at just 16, and has since blossomed into a key player for the club. For the United States, Tsakiris has featured for the United States youth national team in multiple tournaments, including the 2023 U-20 World Cup, and 20...

Dodgers are World Series Champs, LA Galaxy is cruising, and LAFC won the MLS Western Conference — it's a good time to be in Los Angeles. Ramsey and Julio get into the latest LA happenings, including a new album from Tyler, the Creator, before getting into the thick of the Ballon d'Or controversy and the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs! Timestamps (00:37) The Dodgers winning the World Series and LA being the...

If you're a fan of soccer, you've probably come across Aaron West at some point or another. Whether it's his video work with COPA 90, covering the 2019 Women's World Cup with FOX, or his current position on the CBS Sports Golazo Network, Aaron has brought his unique insight, sense of humor, and sartorial acumen to countless outlets and mediums. On the latest episode of the Urban Pitch Podcast, we...