Defenders of the Banc - The LAFC Podcast

Send us a text

Welcome to Episode 19, where Filly and The Scarf are back at it after the mid-week debacle in Canada. What a difference a game makes, as the Black and Gold right the ship against the Sounders!

In this Episode, the Defenders recap the exciting statement win at The Banc over Seattle. With the 4-1 victory, LAFC stands firmly atop the Western Conference and widens their goal differential even further. Hear all about each of the four goals, another MVP performance by Carlitos, a hat-trick of assists for Mark-Anthony Kaye, a rebound performance by Christian Ramirez, the return of Lee Nguyen, and so much more!

Also in this episode, the boys get a little help from Panda and Scarfette (and many others) in pulling off the first official Defenders of the Banc tailgate! Free tacos by Chef Zo, free beer by Riley's Brewing, and the Instagram Live raffle of a Golazo scarf and a 2019 Parley jersey were just some of the highlights of an amazing Easter Sunday at The Banc. 

It's the first Defenders episode with Filly, The Scarf, Panda, and Scarlet ALL on the same episode! Happy birthday to Kilimanjaro Steve, congrats on the triumvirate of teammates making the MLS Team of the Week, and Happy Easter to all of The Defenders who listen to and support our podcast! Please enjoy Episode 19 of Defenders of the Banc!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Send us a text

Welcome to Episode 18 of Defenders of the Banc, with your boys Christian "Filly" Filimon and "The Scarf" J.R. Lebert. In this episode, we prove that you can't win them all in our recap of LAFC's first loss of the season. 

It was a tough night north of the border for the Black and Gold, falling 1-0 to the Vancouver Whitecaps. Hear all about the unique lineup rolled out by Coach Bob, the LAFC connection manning the bench for Vancouver, and our thoughts on what we could have done differently to keep our undefeated season going.

In addition to the game recap, it wouldn't be a Defenders episode without our birthdays! Find out which great American financier has ties to Carnegie, Rockefeller, the Titanic, and Filly! Will the boys be able to find a wrestling-related birthday this week? (Yes.) Does Filly really attempt impressions of both Daffy and Donald Duck? (Also, yes.) This Day in LAFC History focuses on a former MLS Rookie of the Year's small stint in the Black and Gold while Filly and The Scarf highlight the two different watch parties they attended. The first official tailgate inches ever closer while Filly takes a moment to remember his grandmother. 

Enjoy our 18th episode of The LAFC Podcast for the People, Defenders of the Banc!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Send us a text

It's time for Episode 17 of Defenders of the Banc! Episode 16 has barely cooled, but here we are with our next episode, fresh from Filimonster Studios in beautiful Burbank, California. 

Filly and the Scarf are (finally!) back together and it's apparently time to haze the new kids! FC Cincinnati makes their maiden pilgrimage to Banc of California Stadium, and it's safe to say it didn't go well for Major League Soccer's shiniest new toy. Hear the boys give a full recap of the 2-0 home win against the boys from the Queen City. 

Also on the episode, Filly and The Scarf are joined by Amanda Miknuk, one of the principle figures at Riley's Brewing and daughter to LAFC Falconer, Ken Miknuk. Riley's Brewing is sponsoring the first official Defenders of the Banc tailgate before the April 21st home game against the Sounders. Learn all about the wonderful happenings at Riley's, then join the boys for an Easter beverage at the tailgate!

Rounding out the episode, the Defenders look ahead to the Gold Cup matches that will be played at The Banc in June and their LAFC ties (we're looking at you, Peter-Lee!), they go through their customary birthdays and This Day in LAFC History, including a very special birthday shoutout for the incomparable Max Bretos, and somehow, The Scarf manages to find an LAFC tie-in with the new Star Wars: Episode 9 trailer. Yes, really. Enjoy Episode 17 of Defenders of the Banc.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Send us a text

Welcome to Episode 16, Capital Punishment! With Filly and The Panda on their whirlwind media tour of New York and Indiana, it was up to The Scarf and Scarfette to hold down the fort. With a little technical difficulty, the next episode is FINALLY here, albeit a few days late. But... this week you'll get not one, not two, but THREE (!) episodes of Defenders of the Banc! 

Here in Episode 16, we recap the beatdown in DC on the 23rd anniversary of the very first MLS game. It was supposed to be a matchup of heavyweights, but it's safe to say DC suffered an early TKO. Hear all about the incredible 4-0 victory!

In addition to the big win, hear Defenders break down the USL (United Soccer League) and their various affiliations with LAFC. Nine players with LAFC ties are currently playing professionally in USL's top two divisions. We also make a quick check of LAFC news, we explore the beatdown of Belgium at the Banc by the USWNT, we touch on the Canadian Premier League (yes, it's real, and a former LAFC player is in it!), we celebrate the release of season two's Parley jersey, and wish a very happy birthday to LAFC's own Mohamed El-Munir. Join Scarf and Scarfette on the latest episode of Defenders!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Send us a text

Welcome to Episode 15, The Pillage of Smurf Village! Finally, The Scarf... has come back... from Peru! The boys catch up on all things LAFC as well as their usual birthdays and "This Day In LAFC History" segments, and so much more!

In Episode 15, Christian and J.R. breakdown the beatdown that was a 5-0 victory over the San Jose Quakes on the road. Re-live every stunning detail, from Tyler Miller's first clean sheet of the season to the MLS Player of the Week performance by our captain, Carlos Vela. In addition, the boys highlight a possible NEW supporters group for military veterans, they bring you all the details on a great watch party at The Slidebar in Fullerton, and they pull back the curtain on the first official Defenders of the Banc tailgate, happening April 21 before the home game against Seattle. 

Of course, no episode would be complete without a wrestling reference courtesy of Filly, a mention of Obi-Wan Kenobi by Scarf, and a look at the top of the standings in the Western Conference five games in to the season! Finally, the boys make their LLC official, reveal the first ever DOTB scarf, and pay a short tribute to Los Angeles legend Nipsey Hussle. What more could you ask for?

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Send us a text

Where in the world is JR “The Scarf” Lebert? In this episode we feature two important women in our lives as cohosts, @lafcnina (Scarfette) & @amandabrooke32 the (Panda). We recap the RSL game and that magical goal in stoppage time by @walkerzimmerman. We also talk briefly about the Pandas LA Marathon Run, some important information regarding the LAFC family, and highlight the watch party happening down in OC for the San Jose game. Get ready to hear Filly try to hold his own against the ladies behind DOTB! 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Send us a text

Welcome to Episode 13, the post-Scarf's birthday episode! Before The Scarf heads off to Peru for 10 days, the boys wanted to get one more episode up for the fellow Defenders of the Banc.

In Episode 13, Filly and The Scarf preview the "Avenge the Banc" game against Real Salt Lake coming up on Saturday, March 23rd, they highlight the five national team call-ups from LAFC's roster, they recap the incredible Scarf-designed scarf launch event held at LAFC HQ on March 20th, and they discuss their two guest hosts on Episode 14! 

Of course, there is always so much more than the main segments in a Defenders of the Banc episode! Filly and The Scarf discuss the virtues of the Julius Peppers shot from FreePlay, they wish a very happy birthday to both William Shatner and Captain James T. Kirk, they bring back the popular "Wait, What?" segment, and they wish happy travels to both The Panda and LAFC Pat as they run 26.2 miles next weekend without anyone chasing them. 

All that and an early birthday shout out to Alejandro Guido can be yours, here on Episode 13. Enjoy!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Send us a text

Three games into the season, and LAFC is still undefeated! However, leaving Yankee Stadium after our first game against NYCFC on their turf leaves us with that same feeling we had after last year's 2-2 draw. 

On Episode 12, hear Filly and The Scarf's complete game recap of our second consecutive 2-2 draw with NYCFC. The Defenders also cover a good bit of news regarding our "unofficial official" USL team, Phoenix Rising FC. Five LAFC players currently reside in the Valley of the Sun, including Javi Perez, Josh Perez, Lamar Batista, Tristan Blackmon, and show favorite Shaft Brewer, Jr. We also cover Wayne Rooney's hat trick against hated "rival" Real Salt Lake and FC Cincinnati's first MLS win against our foes from the north, Portland. 

Rounding out the podcast, we wish a very happy birthday to team owner Mia Hamm Garciaparra, we thank the Cuervos for being wonderful hosts to Filly during their watch party at El Tejano, and we cordially invite all of our listeners out to a special scarf launch for LAFC and The Scarf's collaboration on his birthday, Wednesday, March 20th at LAFC HQ! We hope you all enjoy Episode 12 of Defenders of the Banc!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Send us a text

Game number two equaled win number two as LAFC took it to the Portland Timbers at the Banc for a 4-1 victory!

On Episode 11, learn all about the incredible win over Portland from Filly and The Scarf, from the early goal by Mark-Anthony Kaye to the late red that put the Timbers a man down and essentially put the match away. 

Also on the episode, we wish a happy birthday to Chuck Norris (and his beard), we congratulate Javi Perez on officially joining the ranks of the Black and Gold, we marvel over a new scarf for sale at LAFC HQ, and we hope for the best as Lamar Batista begins his loan to Phoenix Rising FC. 

Finally, we remember Gerardo "Gerry" Escobedo. Much more than part of the security staff at Banc of California Stadium, Gerry was a friend to both of us at Defenders of the Banc and a large reason why the Banc felt like home. Gerry, your kind heart and warm nature will be missed, but we know you had a fantastic view of this victory. Rest in Peace, Gerry. 

This episode is dedicated to the memory of Gerardo "Gerry" Escobedo, July 15, 1969 - February 12, 2019.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Send us a text

The season has started, and what a first game it was! In what will be a whole season of firsts for Filly and The Scarf, it's time for our first post-game wrap-up podcast. 

From the energy at the Christmas Tree Lane tailgate to the 94th minute, hear the boys recap everything that went into and onto (Beer on Dio, really?) our last minute win against Sporting Kansas City, 2-1. 

Also on Episode 10, we wish a happy birthday to THREE former or current LAFC players (and Mama Scarf!), we welcome Peter-Lee Vassell to the pitch for the first time in Black and Gold, we congratulate Jordan Harvey on his HUGE milestone, and we look forward to our upcoming home match against Portland. 

Finally, The Scarf has some major breaking news about designing his own scarf with LAFC to be sold at HQ and voting in the LAFC Scarf Hall of Fame, Filly sings the Diego Rossi song WAY too many times, and we show some love to Watts Stix and his new video for "My Home" featuring The 3252. Please enjoy the 10th episode of Defenders of the Banc!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.