Against All Odds

In this episode of the Against All Odds Podcast, Matt sits down with former opponent, former teammate, and now current teammate, A'kwafei Ajeakwa to hear his story about how he made it to the professional level after being cut from his high school team at age 14, his experience playing abroad in England and Spain, and how he started the successful clothing company, Pala Design. AJ's seemingly impossible journey is sure to inspire and any player. Really excited for you guys to hear his story!  

A'kwafei, or AJ, has played at the D2 level for Chico State University, Biggleswade FC in England, Orange County Blues FC, San Antonio FC, Colorado Switchbacks FC, and now the Tulsa Roughnecks FC.

In this podcast Matt sits down with fellow Roughnecks teammate, DJ Dean, to hear about how he went from playing soccer in high school to being recruited to the University of Central Arkansas. They discuss his decision to drop out on move-in day, and how that all lead to him signing his first professional contract with the Tulsa Roughnecks. 

A lot has happened since Episode 10: Christmas, New Year’s, A Trip To Ottawa, and big life changes. Matt and Mimi go in depth about their last few weeks and also explore some major millennial problems. Technology and entrepreneurship can sometimes take a toll on other aspects of life. Can you relate?

Absolutely loved sitting down with Oliver Maroney of the Positionless Podcast! This was my (Matt's) first ever guest appearance and I had an absolutely amazing experience going over our time playing together back in the early stages of our youth careers, how I got recruited to the collegiate level, my transition to the pro level, and my journey of vlogging and documenting my career on YouTube and Instagram. Great episode with a completely different dynamic than what you guys are used to! 

In this episode, Matt sits down with his parents to discuss Matt's childhood, upbringing, and differences between siblings. In addition, Matt asks his Mom and Dad about their specific parenting style, regrets in life, happiest moments, and much more. Don't miss this unique episode of the Against All Odds Podcast!

With the holidays upon us, a lot of people are bound to get off the healthy lifestyle bandwagon. Why does that happen? Matt and Mimi discuss their experiences with quitting and losing motivation. They also discuss Mimi's first home decor products and their plans for Christmas.

Most of you enjoyed our previous interactive podcast, so we decided to do it again, this time with just Matt. On Instagram Live he asked his followers to bring up any point, question, or topic. Listen to this podcast to hear how it went, and also be sure to follow Matt Sheldon on Instagram, @MattSheldon23.

Listen to this episode to hear all about the ins and outs of professional trials. Matt records this podcast (without Mimi) while actually on trial for a USL team. He goes over how he prepared for it physically, his diet, mental preparation, and even the sacrifices of missing out on his college reunion. Matt even shares how he preformed today on his first day of the trial. This is an extremely rare behind the scenes look at the professional world, did you take anything away from it?

After returning from Thanksgiving in Hawaii, Matt and Mimi reflect on the vacation. The week off from soccer did Matt’s body some good, but now is he ready for his upcoming trials? Listen to this episode to hear the behind the scenes of combines and trials, and to find out if Matt is mentally and physically prepared for what lays ahead.

In this episode, Matt dives straight into some thought provoking questions. Mimi and Matt agree that this is their favorite podcast to date, and hope you too enjoy thinking about life on a deeper level... and don’t worry, there’s some soccer stuff too!