Catch The Spirit

You know that defense wins championships, but did you know it also makes for great podcasts?! Paige Nielsen, Tori Huster, Tegan McGrady and Sam Staab sit down with Craig Hoffman in Utah for a chat about the NWSL Challenge Cup, what makes a great defender, what they love about playing together and plenty of laughs.

Catch The Spirit is presented by WAGS and Sandy Spring Bank.

The Spirit's 2020 Kit here! Purchase it at https://rockvillesoccer.com/shop/club/washington-spirit?product_group=460

Catch The Spirit's Theme Music is produced by Jamarian Bates. It is produced in association with Train With The Best Media and you can find "The Train With The Best Podcast" anywhere you found this one.

Spirit Executive Producer Craig Hoffman is joined by members of the creative team to talk about the making of the 2020 Kit Reveal. Senior Social Media Coordinator Hannah Wagner (who edited the main video), Marketing Director Bernie Koelsch, Technical Director Tchad Moore and video editor Olivia Bonnette talk about how the video came together, their favorite stories from the shoots and a few moments where they didn't quite think they'd make it!

Then hear a can't miss conversation between 1991 World Cup Champion April Heinrichs and Spirit head coach Richie Burke from "The Richie Burke Show" before the team headed to Utah.

You can buy the Spirit's 2020 Kit here: https://rockvillesoccer.com/shop/club/washington-spirit?product_group=460

Catch The Spirit is presented by WAGS.

Catch The Spirit's Theme Music is produced by Jamarian Bates. It is produced in association with Train With The Best Media and you can find "The Train With The Best Podcast" anywhere you found this one.

Spirit winger Jenna Hellstrom talks about her childhood growing up in Canada and how she playing with the boys helped launch her career to Kent State. She then talks about her initial NWSL under Vlatko Andonovski in Kansas City and how that sent her on a path to Sweden before coming back for this season in Washington. Finally, Jenna talks about the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup in Utah.

Catch The Spirit is presented by WAGS. This episode premiered exclusively on Twitch and video of this episode is available there. 

Catch The Spirit's Theme Music is produced by Jamarian Bates. It is produced in association with Train With The Best Media and you can find "The Train With The Best Podcast" anywhere you found this one.

Craig Hoffman previews the upcoming 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup with Kim McCauley and Jason Anderson of All For IX and Red and Black United. They discuss which teams have an advantage in the tournament format, where the Spirit lies in that hierarchy and some of the players to watch in Utah. 

Then Craig is joined by Spirit Assistant Coach Tom Torres to continue previewing the tournament from the inside. Tom talks about how the team has been preparing for its first match against Royals FC, the challenges of scouting with so much player movement and some of the young players that are prepared to make an impact for the club.

Catch The Spirit is presented by WAGS. This episode premiered exclusively on Twitch and video of this episode is available there. 

Catch The Spirit's Theme Music is produced by Jamarian Bates. It is produced in association with Train With The Best Media and you can find "The Train With The Best Podcast" anywhere you found this one.

Kaiya McCullough, her mother Amy Thorne and DCScores Director of Creative Arts and Education Charity Blackwell join Craig Hoffman for a conversation for social justice.

The group discusses how they each experience race in America, how those experiences have shaped them and some of the factors that have contributed to their current, varied levels of understanding. They discuss multiple types of racism, from overt and hateful acts to how systems can and do act in racist ways to unintentional micro-aggressions.

They also talk about interactions with police and how the racial climate in America has shaped those interactions before ending with how they are healing and taking care of themselves during a traumatic time and things people can do to make a difference in the justice and equity spaces.

Catch The Spirit is presented by WAGS. This episode premiered exclusively on Twitch and video of this episode is available there. 

Catch The Spirit's Theme Music is produced by Jamarian Bates. It is produced in association with Train With The Best Media and you can find "The Train With The Best Podcast" anywhere you found this one.

Craig Hoffman is joined by Spirit Owner Steve Baldwin to discuss the announcement of the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup. The tournament will be the first of its kind and make the NWSL the first sports league to return to action in 2020. Steve takes fans inside how the decision was made and what to expect when it starts on June 27th. Plus, Craig gives his take on the tournament and why he thinks the NWSL has positioned itself well for this opportunity.

Chris Gorres then joins Craig to chat with super versatile rookie Natalie Jacobs. They talk about Natalie's many talents from her position-less soccer skills to her piano skills and they even discover how she can clap with one hand!

Catch The Spirit is presented by WAGS. This episode premiered exclusively on Twitch and video of this episode is available there. 

Catch The Spirit's Theme Music is produced by Jamarian Bates. It is produced in association with Train With The Best Media and you can find "The Train With The Best Podcast" anywhere you found this one.

Spirit GK Devon Kerr joins Craig Hoffman and Chris Gorres to talk about her childhood growing up in Canada, her decision to go to and experience at THE Ohio State University and more. Plus, Devon talks about her interests away from soccer including a potential future in broadcasting and how she developed an interest in interior design. 

Catch The Spirit is presented by WAGS. This episode premiered exclusively on Twitch and video of this episode is available there. 

Catch The Spirit's Theme Music is produced by Jamarian Bates. It is produced in association with Train With The Best Media and you can find "The Train With The Best Podcast" anywhere you found this one.

Spirit forward Crystal Thomas joins Craig Hoffman to talk with Ryan Defibaugh, counselor at MBS Performance Counseling and coach with Potomac Soccer Association.

The trio talks about how the brain processes different triggers and how those triggers are affected during quarantine. How can we replace the feelings of joy and success that we usually attain from being with teammates and competing? How do we manage our emotions accordingly and what are some tips to be mentally successfully as we're all at home?

Crystal, Ryan and Craig also talk about grit. What is it? What are its limits? How do we harness mental toughness for self-betterment and how does that definition of what is better change with each individual?

Plus, all three give recommendations on resources they use to stay on top of their game mentally. 

Catch The Spirit is presented by WAGS. This episode premiered exclusively on Twitch and video of this episode is available there. 

Catch The Spirit's Theme Music is produced by Jamarian Bates. It is produced in association with Train With The Best Media and you can find "The Train With The Best Podcast" anywhere you found this one.

Olney, Maryland's own Oguchi Onyewu joins Craig Hoffman and Spirit defender Sam Staab to talk about his career. Both Sam and Oguchi went to Clemson University, so they talk about how each wound up in Upstate South Carolina and how Sam's story involves...a Chile's? 

Plus, the trio discusses what it takes to be a good center back, Oguchi's work with Onyx Elite and his foray into the women's game as a coach/mentor and what they've learned in their careers. Sam and Oguchi also answer each other's questions on everything from their favorite places to play to differences in the east and west coasts.

Catch The Spirit is presented by WAGS. This episode premiered exclusively on Twitch and video of this episode is available there. 

Catch The Spirit's Theme Music is produced by Jamarian Bates. It is produced in association with Train With The Best Media and you can find the TWTB Podcast anywhere you found this one.

Tegan McGrady joins Craig Hoffman to talk about The Imagineering Story on Disney+. The documentary goes behind the scenes of how the Disney Theme Parks, Tegan's first love, were made. 

Craig and Tegan are then joined by the executive producer of the documentary, Leslie Iwerks to talk about the documentary. They also talk about the family nature of Disney, how to tell good stories and more!

Catch The Spirit is presented by WAGS. This episode premiered exclusively on Twitch and video of this episode is available there.