Urban Pitch Podcast - The Beautiful Game of Life

Year in and year out, the El Trafico derby between LAFC and LA Galaxy fails to disappoint us. Whether it's exciting action on the pitch or the raucous fans in and out of the stadium, the rivalry game is a must-watch every time. The latest edition was no different, as a 2-1 LAFC victory rife with controversy and heated play thrilled us all (except for maybe Galaxy fans upset at that penalty decisio...

We're one month into the 2024 NWSL season, and to no one's surprise, there's been a ton of chaos so far. From raucous crowds to shocking moments, there's been plenty of action to take in through the league's first set of matches. We link up with friend of the pod Jessica Black to recap some of the biggest storylines from the 2024 season so far, while also looking ahead to what we can expect moving...

There are many moving parts in the world of fashion. From a consumer perspective, we're focused on trends, brands, and what's currently in— and that's enough to keep anyone busy. But for those in the industry itself, there's a million more things to worry about. With the help of designer Christian Ferretti and The Football Boutique founder Tony Magaña, we get some insight into what goes on behind...

Since joining the Portland Timbers academy at the age of 13, goalkeeper Hunter Sulte has steadily risen the ranks, and made his first-team debut at the age of 19 in 2021. Now looking to become a full-time starter with the Timbers, Sulte will spend the 2024 season on loan to USL Championship side Indy Eleven, where he will compete for the team's starting role and gain valuable experience. We sit do...

Angel City FC center back Paige Nielsen has not only emerged as one of the team's most dependable players, but she's also had a massive role in the team's chemistry. Whether it's showing off her dance moves or amping up the pregame playlist, it's enough to earn her the title of ACFC director of vibes. We sat down with the NWSL veteran to discuss her time with Angel City, her outlook for the 2024 s...

Jamar Ricketts doesn't have a typical journey to the professional ranks. He wasn't a highly touted recruit — he only played one year of varsity soccer in high school — yet he was able to blossom into a professional prospect while in college at California State University, Northridge, and earn a contract with the San Jose Earthquakes after being selected with the 14th pick in the MLS Super Draft. B...

DC United reporter Claudia Pagán joins the latest episode of the Urban Pitch Podcast to discuss her journey in sports and sports media, the importance of Latino and Latina voices in MLS coverage, and her new upcoming Dímelo podcast, which we are honored to be one of the first guests on! (03:55) The vibes at the LAFC 2024 home opener (09:49) Claudia Pagán joins the show (12:17) How Claudia got into...

As the new MLS season kicked off over the weekend, we had a chance to finally see some of the new kits in person and in action. We went through some of our favorites on the latest episode of the Urban Pitch Podcast, just before we had a chance to chop it up with one half of the Holding the High Line Podcast, Matt Pollard! Holding the High Line does an amazing job covering the Colorado Rapids, and...

MLS is back! After a hectic offseason, we're finally getting into the action this week, and we couldn't be more excited. To take a look at what lies ahead for this year, we enlist the help of Eli Lesser, an MLS expert and social media superstar. We discuss which teams had the biggest offseasons, dish out hot takes, and predict which team will win the 2024 MLS Cup. Timestamps (01:59) The biggest mo...

It was another wild week in the world of football, and two-thirds of the Urban Pitch Podcast broke it down on the latest episode! With Brigitte out, Ramsey and Julio sit down to discuss the rumors of blue cards coming to the game, the recently announced 2026 World Cup schedule, and more young footballers choosing MLS over lower-tier European leagues. Timestamps (01:00) Blue cards coming to footbal...

On the latest episode of the Urban Pitch Podcast, the crew sits down to discuss some of the latest headlines in the soccer-verse, including USWNT captain Lindsey Horan's latest comments on American soccer fans, big-time NWSL signings, and why LAFC fans have been able to trust the process for so long. Timestamps (02:21) Lindsey Horan's comments about American soccer fans and U.S. Soccer culture (18...

To many video game aficionados, Kacee Anderson lives the dream. She's made a career out of playing video games, most notably the FIFA/FC series, and has had opportunities to work with some of the world's biggest names and clubs in the world of football and gaming. Add onto that an ambassador and content creator role with Manchester City, and things become even more dream-like. But there is a certa...

The Urban Pitch Podcast crew is back with a fresh new episode, discussing Dallas' viability as a World Cup final venue, the NWSL draft and new young players being signed, Lionel Messi's controversial FIFA Best Men's Player of 2023 award, and Yasiin Bey's recent comments about Drake being a pop artist rather than a hip-hop artist. Timestamps (00:53) Julio and Brigitte's dry January experience (07:3...

It might be the offseason for both the NWSL and MLS, but that doesn't mean there isn't still plenty to talk about when it comes to either league. As the winter hot stove continues to heat up, we discuss some of the moves that USMNT players have made, in addition to the outlooks for Angel City FC and LAFC — who still have a few questions remaining on their respective rosters. Timestamps (02:57) LAF...

In the first Urban Pitch Podcast episode of the new year, the crew gets into the latest happenings across the soccer-verse, including LAFC's newest big signing Hugo Lloris, the massive offseason from Gotham FC, and the drama between U.S. Soccer and MLS. Timestamps (00:30) A happy new year from the Urban Pitch Podcast (05:09) Hugo Lloris' arrival in Los Angeles (15:05) John McCarthy moving from LAF...

She's back! After becoming a free agent in the offseason, NWSL star Sarah Gorden recently announced she'd be re-signing with Angel City FC. The veteran center back joins the latest episode of the Urban Pitch Podcast to discuss free agency, making the transition from Chicago to LA, and her fabulous fashion game. Timestamps (02:00) The NWSL's embrace of free agency and her massively successful 2023...

Wherever Jeremy Ebobisse has gone in his career, he's made sure to make an impact in the community. It's a testament to the 26-year-old's character that he's been a fan favorite in multiple cities. Since truly breaking out onto the scene in 2018, Ebobisse has also been one of the most dependable strikers in MLS, scoring double digit goals three times throughout his career. The promising No. 9 join...

Calm and chill. From our interview with St. Louis City SC right back Akil Watts, those are the two best words to describe him. But don't get it twisted — he's a competitor through and through. After a promising youth career that saw him feature on the United States U17 World Cup squad, Watts has made stops in Mallorca, Louisville, and now St. Louis, where he was a part of one of the biggest surpri...

The gulliest podcast duo in the game, Alexis Guerreros and Christian Polanco, aka the Cooligans, have been putting out some of the funniest soccer analysis and content since they started in 2015. We caught up with both of them in 2019 for an interview on the website, but a lot has changed since then — both with them and soccer culture in America. We discuss some of those changes, their growth, and...

It's another solo episode of the Urban Pitch Podcast, and the crew discusses the latest USMNT escapades: An unconvincing aggregate victory against Trinidad and Tobago to advance to the Nations League semis and qualify for the Copa America, Sergiño Dest's temper tantrum, and where the team ranks among South American nations. In addition, they get into the recent skirmish between Brazil and Argentin...

While there have certainly been a litany of sports movies over the years, an alarmingly few of them have been focused on soccer. With some exceptions, Hollywood has largely ignored the beautiful game and world's most popular sport. However, 'Next Goal Wins,' directed by Taika Waititi, made its theatrical release last week, and that got us thinking, what are some of our favorite films centered arou...

After hosting the past three World Cup finals in the United States, Los Angeles could miss out on the tournament entirely when it returns in 2026. The UP Podcast crew gets into the battle for Los Angeles, in addition to the MLS Cup Playoffs and the apparent end of Chicharito's time with the LA Galaxy. Timestamps (02:40) Is the 2026 World Cup going to miss Los Angeles? (22:57) The MLS Cup Playoffs...

Like many of us, Jessica Black wasn't quite sure what was in her future during the early stages of the pandemic. A creative mind by nature and a die-hard Arsenal fan, she did what came naturally — created a few social media accounts and started talking about the team she loved. Her passion for her team resonated with fellow Gunners and EPL fans, and her She Knows Arsenal channel has nearly 20,000...

Before LAFC had a first team, Nathan Ordaz was a part of the club. Rising through the youth ranks all the way up to the first team, Ordaz has shown plenty of promise despite still being in his teens. The 19-year-old forward has scored twice for LAFC, with both goals coming in back-to-back Leagues Cup matches. Despite playing alongside an extremely talented crop of attacking players, Ordaz has seen...

It's a music-centric episode of the Urban Pitch Podcast, and friend of the show and multi-talented music artist Feefa drops by to share some knowledge about his time in the industry, how coming up with Kool & the Gang taught him about the ins and outs of creating music, and some of his favorite artists today. Timestamps (03:00) Feefa's background in music as a performing artist, writer, and pr...