Back with another solo episode - this one is about what i've learned throughout my career. This isn't just sports broadcasting related, it's applicable to all positions in the industry!

TIMESTAMPS:

00:22 - 10 things i’ve learned during my 10 year career in the sports industry

01:09 - #1 “Love what you do + you’ll never have to work a day in your life” is BS

05:16 - #2 Don’t think you can’t get a job in an industry that you don’t have formal education in

08:30 - #3 The great thing about technology these days is that if you want a job that doesn’t exist yet, YOU CAN DO IT

12:19 - #4 Be authentic, don’t try to fit in a box

18:26 - #5 Who you are > what you know

20:14 - #6 Be easy to work with

22:12 - #7 People don’t really tell you how much you’ll have to sacrifice

27:18 - #8 Your idea doesn’t need to be perfect before you execute it - JUST START

31:22 - #9 Don’t look at what people are doing and think, “When I get to that point, I’ll be happier” because you won’t be

34:27 - #10 Use your story, your experiences to connect with others. We all have a story - don’t shy away from it being part of your work

"Every single day, week, there's a question mark of self doubt but I also think that's what sort of drives me." - Lori Waran, President of NASCAR's Richmond Raceway. 🏁

WE'RE BACK!!! 2024 brought lots of big changes in my life + career - but now that i'm finally settled into a more normal routine, i'm ready to get the pod running again!

I'll be doing a mix of solo episodes + guest episodes moving forward.

This episode is all about my journey to get to where I am now - enjoy! 🫶

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 - Intro

00:22 - WE'RE REVIVING THIS POD!

01:25 - Introducing myself - how I got into sports + journalism

08:00 - First step in my career: studying journalism in college (University of Maryland - go terps!)

14:27 - Next step: reporter + videographer for D.C. United in MLS

18:14 - Next step: freelancing opportunities

19:00 - 2024 WAS MY YEAR 🥳 from becoming a full-time freelancer to accepting a new job with CBS Sports Golazo Network

31:35 - How this podcast will look moving forward

In this episode, i’m highlighting a soccer club in the DMV (D.C., Maryland Virginia - NOT THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES). Frederick Skyline C.F. competes in the UPSL, which is in the 4th tier of the American Soccer Pyramid. I speak with owner of the club, Joel Ramirez, who talks about his journey in starting a new soccer club. He's also president of Skyline Soccer Union, an organization that makes soccer affordable for the youth.

TMESTAMPS

00:00 - Intro

00:22 - Claudia gives a brief background about this episode

02:29 - Introduce Joel Ramirez, Owner of Frederick Skyline C.F. How did he start the club?

05:28 - How the message, philosophy + values of the club is implemented?

06:56 - How the semi-pro club balances being competitive but also being a safe space for its players

09:06 - How the club is a safe space for Joel

11:02 - How he navigates the challenges + self doubt

13:24 - What he’s learned about himself along the way

15:32 - How the city of Frederick + Frederick Skyline support one another

16:33 - Is it intimidating for Joel being the youngest in the room?

17:21 - Joel’s connection to Frederick

19:19 - Did he ever hesitate in starting Frederick Skyline?

20:17 - Joel also started Skyline Soccer Union to give opportunities to kids to play

23:26 - Why did he start Skyline Soccer Union?

25:10 - What does a normal day look like for Joel + what are his roles with the clubs

28:24 - What’s the long term goal for Frederick Skyline?

29:18 - Running the business side of the club

31:05 - 3 questions to get to know Joel better

31:13 - Question #1: What is a memory you treasure?

32:09 - Question #2: How would you define success?

33:00 - Question #3: How do you hope to be remembered?

I'M GOING TO TST!!! (aka The Soccer Tournament) It's a 7v7 winner-takes-all tournament in Cary, North Carolina from June 5-10. The prize? A MILLION DOLLARS 💸 I'm going down to work with Luis Nani's team - Nani FC - to create content for their social channels + mine. LET'S DO THIS! This interview is with the team's Head Coach, Fabio Ivan Barros - he's a former player + now part of the coaching staff of Mount St.Mary's women's soccer team. We did the same interview in English + Spanish.

TMESTAMPS

00:00 - Intro

00:22 - Claudia talks about going down to TST (The Soccer Tournament) in North Carolina to work with Luis Nani’s Team. What is TST + what will I be doing there?

07:45 - Interview in English starts

07:49 - Why was Nani FC formed?

09:09 - What value does Nani see in participating in the tournament?

10:08 - What is Nani FC’s goal in the tournament? Besides the million dollar prize!

10:49 - Players on the roster + how everyone’s different backgrounds will contribute into a successful team

12:21 - How did the team recruit their players?

13:28 - How are Fabio + Nani feeling about their team?

14:08 - Fabio’s playing + coaching background

15:24 - What will the team do leading into the games to build chemistry?

16:31 - Excitement over the tournament + what fans can expect from Nani FC

17:50 Interview in Spanish starts

17:54 - Por qué Nani creó su propio equipo?

19:34 - Qué valor ve Nani en participar en el torneo?

20:28 - Cuál es el objetivo del Nani FC en el torneo? Además del premio del millón de dólares!

21:22 - Jugadores en la plantilla + cómo los diferentes orígenes de cada uno contribuirán a un equipo exitoso

22:04 - Experiencia como jugador y entrenador de Fabio

23:21 - Qué hará el equipo antes de los juegos para encontrar su química?

24:25 - Lo que los aficionados pueden esperar del Nani FC

TIMESTAMPS: 

00:00 - Intro

00:22 - Welcome in Lauren Markwith, Presenter, Host + Content creator

01:25 - What she’s been up to the past couple years

04:45 - Importance of having multiple skills

07:14 - Working on her personal brand while building brands for companies

09:15 - Being her authentic self when creating content

11:26 - How she takes care of her mental health while running social media channels

13:16 - Growth of women’s soccer coverage

14:46 - What’s contributed to the growth?

16:07 - What else can be done to continue growing it?

18:00 - Is it up to women to keep growing women’s soccer?

20:29 - The shift from traditional journalism to social media host

24:00 - How she found her niche

25:44 - Representing Latinas in sports

29:45 - 3 questions to get to know Lauren better

30:11 - Question #1 :How would you define success?

31:52 - Question #2: If you could live in a country, which would it be?

33:13 - Question #3: How would you describe yourself to some who doesn’t know you?

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 - Intro

00:22 - Welcome in Michelle Sanchez, Bilingual soccer reporter covering Austin FC

00:49 - Growing up in Texas + her journalism background

06:41 - Highlighting the “nitty gritty old-school journalism” in Spanish-league TV

09:01 - How times have changed for reporters 

14:30 - How the way reporters dress has evolved

16:00 - Claudia’s personal story about how important it is to have multiple skills

18:02 - How Michelle has adapted over the years

21:26 - Journalist vs Entertainer vs Influencer

30:50 - Opportunities for Latinx coverage in sports 

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 - Introduction

00:22 - Welcome in Gaby Lozada, Director of Communications for Tampa Bay Rowdies

01:42 - Her background, growing up in Minnesota + where her love for sports came from

05:40 - How she got into the sports industry

12:11 - Getting a job she almost didn’t apply for

15:59 - What her job with Minnesota United was like

17:55 - Feeling like herself in that role because she was able to fully embrace being Latina + using her Spanish

18:54 - The difficulties faced when speaking Spanish with people from different countries + having to translate on the fly

25:23 - The difficulties faced as a women in sports

31:00 - How to navigate through those moments of self-doubt

33:00 - While you may face issues with players, the majority of them understand what we do + help us out

35:56 - Everything she learned in her first year working with Minnesota United

37:00 - How are Latinas in PR unique? What do they bring to the table?

44:48 - 3 questions to get to know Gabby better

45:38 - Question #1: When’s the last time you surprised yourself?

49:36 - Question #2: What are you still prove to yourself?

51:20 - Question #3: The best compliment you’ve received?

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 - Introduction

0:22 - Welcome in Jill Aguilera - Pro soccer player + player for the Puerto Rico Women’s National Team

1:00 - How she got scouted for Puerto Rico Women’s National Team

3:41 - Her Puerto Rican heritage

4:30 - What her dad thinks of her representing PR

6:26 - Her favorite part about PR

7:34 - Puerto Rican food

8:37 - Growing up in a Latin community in California

12:28 - Did she ever consider playing another sport besides soccer?

14:10 - Growth of Puerto Rican soccer at the national level

19:58 - Growth of women’s soccer in the U.S. + her experience as a women’s athlete

23:34 - Navigating through self-doubt

27:25 - Finding hobbies outside of her career

29:15 - Fashion, thrifting + game day fits

33:20 - Go-to outfit

35:59 - 3 questions to get to know Jill Aguilera Better

36:15 - Question #1: What are you still trying to prove to yourself?

37:08 - Question #2: Something you wouldn’t want to change about yourself?

37:50 - Question #3: The best compliment you’ve received?

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