My New Favorite Futbolista by NBC Sports

08.04.2023

Meghan Klingenberg: Now is the time to invest in female athletes

As a bonus treat for our listeners, we're flipping the tables and having My New Favorite Futbolista host (and World Cup champion) Meghan Klingenberg answer questions from Andy Slavitt, the host of In the Bubble. Klingenberg discusses leading the charge...

07.31.2023

Lauren Holiday on Team USA’s World Cup mindset

How will Team USA handle the adversity they are facing at the Women’s World Cup? Olympic and World Cup champion Lauren Holiday discusses with soccer content creator Megan Reyes in this bonus episode of My New Favorite Futbolista recorded in...

07.19.2023

How Team USA phenom Sophia Smith strengthens her mental health

Sophia Smith, the reigning NWSL MVP, has become an advocate for student-athlete mental health after losing her best friend and Stanford teammate Katie Meyer to suicide. Hear from: Sophia Smith Michael Wilson (Sophia’s boyfriend and Arizona Cardinals WR) Dr. Robin Scholefield (Associate Director of...

07.19.2023

How teenage phenom Linda Caicedo overcame ovarian cancer

18-year-old Colombian forward Linda Caicedo, who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer when she was just 15, is now one of the sport’s most electric goal scorers. Hear from: Linda Caicedo Herlinda Alegría (Linda’s mother) Diego Vasquez (Linda’s former coach) Rafael Murillo (Linda’s former coach and...

07.12.2023

Naomi Girma: Team USA’s first-gen trailblazer

Naomi Girma, the first player of Ethiopian descent on the U.S. Women’s National Team, hopes to make it easier for first-generation Americans to succeed. Hear from: Naomi Girma Seble Demissie (Naomi’s mother) Girma Aweke (Naomi’s father) Episode reporter: Darnay Tripp (NBC San Diego) Rigo Villalobos (Telemundo San...

07.12.2023

Panama’s Marta Cox picks up the pieces after losing her mother

Panamanian midfielder Marta Cox, who recently lost her mother unexpectedly, finds ways to keep her mother’s memory alive on the pitch. Hear from: Marta Cox Raiza Gutiérrez (Marta’s longtime coach) Episode reporter: Roxanne Vargas (NBC and Telemundo Miami) Watch the episode HERE. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy...

06.28.2023

Team USA’s Sofia Huerta and Ashley Sanchez: Am I Mexican enough?

Sofia Huerta and Ashley Sanchez, who are poised to be the only two Mexican Americans to represent the U.S. at the World Cup, are grappling with their hybrid identities. Hear from: Sofia Huerta Ashley Sanchez Karina Rodríguez (Mexican national team and Ashley’s collegiate teammate) Ralph...

06.28.2023

Call me Estefanía Banini, not the “female Messi”

Argentina’s Estefanía Banini, who is nicknamed the “female Messi,” is using her platform to advocate for equality for female soccer players in Latin America. Hear from: Estefanía Banini Andrés Cantor (Telemundo Deportes) Eduardo Pérez (Estefanía’s former coach) Episode reporter: Isabella Echeverri (Colombian national team) Watch the episode...

06.21.2023

Becky Sauerbrunn: Team USA's "moral compass"

World Cup champion Becky Sauerbrunn, who due to injury will not feature in this year’s event, has an important story to tell. Sauerbrunn describes herself as an “introvert,” but she proudly steps out of her comfort zone to advocate for...

06.21.2023

Soccer’s silent superstar Christine Sinclair opens up

Canada’s Christine Sinclair, soccer’s all-time international goal scoring leader, has always let her stellar play do the talking for her...until now. Sinclair opens up about gender equity, multiple sclerosis and more. Hear from: Christine Sinclair Diana Matheson (Two-time Olympic medalist, Canada) Steph Yang (The...

06.14.2023

Crystal Dunn: Soccer's super mom

Team USA’s Crystal Dunn, who returned to competitive soccer less than four months after giving birth to her son Marcel Jean, shares how she juggles her career and motherhood. Hear from:Crystal DunnPierre Soubrier (Crystal’s husband)Dr. Stacy T. Sims (Exercise physiologist and...

06.14.2023

Rocky Rodriguez’s complicated American Dream

Costa Rica’s Raquel “Rocky” Rodríguez, the 2016 NWSL Rookie of the Year, faced unexpected obstacles when she decided to immigrate to the U.S. Hear from:Rocky RodríguezGrettel Cedeño (Rocky’s mother)Sivianni Rodriguez (Rocky’s father)Episode reporter:Valeria Aponte Feliciano (NBC and Telemundo Philadelphia)Read more about...

06.01.2023

Who should you root for at the FIFA Women’s World Cup?

My New Favorite Futbolista will introduce you to the World Cup’s most inspiring soccer players and the causes they champion. New episodes hosted in English by World Cup champion Meghan Klingenberg and in Spanish by Mexico’s Janelly Farías will drop...

11.22.2022

Ferran Torres: Score by rescuing stray dogs

Ferran Torres (Spain and FC Barcelona), a proud advocate for rescuing stray dogs, is determined to get dogs off the streets through adoption and education Hear from: Ferran Torres (Spain, FC Barcelona) Nikki Tibbles (Founder Wild at Heart Foundation) Check out the video feed. Escucha en...

11.21.2022

USMNT: Pass gun reform, now

The U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team used its platform to demand that Congress do something about gun violence in America Hear from: Chris Murphy (U.S. Senator from Connecticut) Alejandro Bedoya (USMNT) Gregg Berhalter (USMNT) Mark McKenzie (USMNT) Chris Richards (USMNT) DeAndre Yedlin (USMNT) Walker Zimmerman (USMNT) Dr. Amy Bass...

11.17.2022

DeAndre Yedlin: Kicking homophobia out of soccer

DeAndre Yedlin (USMNT and Inter Miami CF) is a proud LGBTQ ally who is determined to make soccer more inclusive after hearing homophobic slurs on the pitch Hear from: DeAndre Yedlin Landon Donovan (USMNT legend and San Diego Loyal SC head coach) Collin Martin...

11.15.2022

Mark-Anthony Kaye: Why I stand with single mothers

Mark-Anthony Kaye (Canada and Toronto FC), who was raised by a single mother, is partnering with Single Mothers Outreach to provide single mothers with resources to successfully raise their families Hear from: Mark-Anthony Kaye Novelette Kaye (Mark-Anthony’s mother) Yorleni Sapp (Single Mothers Outreach) Check out...

11.10.2022

José Cifuentes: Educating soccer’s ‘forgotten’ kids

José Cifuentes (Ecuador and LAFC), who had to choose between pursuing soccer or a formal education, wants to make it easier for future generations of soccer players to finish their studies Hear from: José "Cifu" Cifuentes Cristian Reinoso (Fútbol Estudio) Monserrat Creamer (Former Ecuadorian...

11.08.2022

Paul Arriola: F--- Cancer

Paul Arriola (USMNT and FC Dallas) shares what he learned about maintaining mental health during a two-year stretch in which he lost two loved ones, had a third diagnosed with stage four lung cancer and suffered a major injury. Hear from: Paul...

11.01.2022

Chris Richards: Stop Being Racist!

Chris Richards (USMNT and Crystal Palace), who grew up in the city (Birmingham, Alabama) that Martin Luther King, Jr., once called “the most thoroughly segregated city in the United States,” is using his platform to fight racism in soccer Hear from: Chris...

11.01.2022

Julián Araujo: Fighting for Farmworkers

Julián Araujo (Mexico and LA Galaxy), who comes from a family of farmworkers, is using his voice to advocate for more equitable policies in the agriculture industry Hear from: Julián Araujo Lupe Araujo (Julian’s mother) Jorge Araujo (Julian’s father) Diana Tellefson Torres (Executive director of...

10.20.2022

Who should you root for at the FIFA World Cup?

My New Favorite Futbolista will introduce you to the World Cup’s most inspiring soccer players and the causes they champion. New episodes hosted by former Colombian striker Juan Pablo Ángel and LX News host Eric Alvarez will drop November 1...

02.02.2022

Colby Stevenson was millimeters away from death

Freeskier Colby Stevenson is thankful to be back on the snow after suffering a traumatic brain injury in a life-threatening car crash Hear from: Colby Stevenson John Michael Fabrizi (Colby’s friend and passenger) Bobby (Colby’s father) and Carol (Colby’s mother) Dr. Billie Schultz (Mayo Clinic...

01.26.2022

Team USA battles climate change

Winter athletes including Brock Crouch, Jessie Diggins and David Wise are determined to do something after seeing the effects—and consequences—of climate change first-hand Hear from: Jessie Diggins (Olympic cross-country skiing gold medalist) David Wise (Two-time Olympic ski halfpipe gold medalist) Brock Crouch (Snowboarder) Michael Bennet...

01.19.2022

Indigenous hockey player Abby Roque competes for more than Team USA

Hockey star Abby Roque will become the first Native American woman to represent the U.S. in ice hockey at a Winter Olympics Hear from: Abby Roque T.J. Oshie (Washington Capitals right winger) Jim Roque (Abby’s father) and Chief Larry Roque (Abby’s uncle) John Ferroni (Abby’s...

01.12.2022

Curling stars: It is time to diversify the sport

Olympic champion John Shuster, Super Bowl champion Vernon Davis, USA Curling’s Monica Walker and other curling enthusiasts are teaming up to create pathways to diversify the sport Hear from: John Shuster (Two-time Olympic curling medalist) Vernon Davis (Super Bowl champion) Monica Walker (USA Curling...

01.05.2022

Timothy LeDuc, figure skating’s non-binary trailblazer

Figure skater Timothy LeDuc (they/them), the first openly gay athlete to win a U.S. national pairs title, will become the first publicly out non-binary athlete to compete at a Winter Olympics Hear from: Timothy LeDuc Ashley Cain-Gribble (Timothy’s figure skating partner) Tara Lipinski (1998...

12.15.2021

The Winter Olympics’ first Winter

Aerials skier Winter Vinecki, who is set to become the first Winter Olympian named “Winter,” raises money for prostate cancer research to honor her late father Hear from: Winter Vinecki Dawn Estelle (Winter’s mother) Dr. Jeffrey Karnes (Mayo Clinic Urology) Read more about Winter Vinecki...

12.08.2021

The ShibSibs want to diversify book publishing

Maia and Alex Shibutani already boosted representation on the ice, becoming the first ice dancers of Asian descent to earn an Olympic medal, and now the “ShibSibs,” as they are affectionately called, are determined to increase representation off the ice...

12.06.2021

Who should you root for at the Winter Olympics?

The Winter Olympics season of My New Favorite Olympian will introduce you to the most inspiring members of Team USA and the issues they champion. New episodes hosted by Apolo Ohno, Team USA's most decorated Winter Olympian, and NBCLX storyteller...

07.07.2021

Olympic dreams are no slam dunk

Why Kareem Maddox left his dream job at 30 to pursue another dream—representing Team USA in 3x3 basketball at the Tokyo Olympics—and what he’s going to do now that his Olympic dream didn’t work out. Plus, find out how athletes...

06.23.2021

Alix Klineman thinks it’s time to destigmatize women’s health, period

Beach volleyball phenom Alix Klineman is not embarrassed to talk about birth control and how she sustains peak athletic performance throughout her menstrual cycle Hear from: Alix Klineman April Ross (two-time Olympic medalist and Alix’s partner) Teddy Purcell (former NHL player and Alix’s boyfriend) Dr....

06.16.2021

Caroline Marks’ body positivity journey

Surfing phenom Caroline Marks reveals how she went from a self-conscious 15-year-old rookie to an 18-year-old confident enough to pose for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue Hear from: Caroline Marks Sarah Marks (Caroline’s mother) Elizabeth Daniels (Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of...

06.09.2021

World’s fastest epidemiologist Gabby Thomas

Sprinter Gabby Thomas, a Harvard graduate pursuing a master’s in epidemiology at the University of Texas amidst a global pandemic, is determined to make the nation’s healthcare system more equitable for African Americans Hear from: Gabby Thomas Evelynn Hammonds (Harvard Professor) Jennifer Randall (Gabby’s...

06.02.2021

Nathan Adrian’s testicular cancer battle

Olympic swimming champion Nathan Adrian is determined to redefine masculinity after being diagnosed with testicular cancer Hear from: Nathan Adrian Hallie Adrian (Nathan’s wife and former Stanford diver) Rowdy Gaines (3x Olympic champion and NBC Olympics analyst) Dr. Mark Litwin (UCLA Health) For more on Nathan...

05.14.2021

Who should you root for at the Tokyo Olympics?

My New Favorite Olympian will introduce you to the most inspiring members of Team USA and the issues they champion. New episodes hosted by Olympic trailblazer Ibtihaj Muhammad and NBCLX storyteller Ngozi Ekeledo will drop every Wednesday beginning June 2. See...

02.05.2021

The legend of Bud Grant

Perhaps the most interesting man in Minnesota, Bud Grant played basketball for the Minneapolis Lakers before becoming a Hall of Fame head coach for the Minnesota Vikings. Sunday Night Football’s Michele Tafoya, a longtime Minnesota resident, explores how Grant became...

01.21.2021

My favorite Kobe story

Kobe Bryant’s closest confidants share their favorite Kobe memory so we can better understand how and why Kobe became Kobe. You will hear previously untold tales from Hall of Famers and Olympic champions, WNBA superstars and other influential figures in Kobe’s...

01.14.2021

Gayle Sierens, the first woman to call an NFL game

How did Gayle Sierens become the first woman to call play-by-play of an NFL game, and why did it take 30 years for another woman to do the same? Sunday Night Football reporter Michele Tafoya investigates by talking to Sierens, her broadcast partner...

11.19.2020

Jon Gruden, the coach worth trading for

Why did the Raiders trade head coach Jon Gruden, and why did they spend $100 million to bring him back? Michele Tafoya, the longtime Sunday Night Football sideline reporter, unmasks Gruden by talking to his closest confidants and "Chucky" himself. Guests...

07.16.2020

The Bill Belichick you don’t know

Bill Belichick’s closest confidants reveal the side of the New England Patriots head coach the public doesn’t get to see. Guests include: Doug Flutie (Heisman Trophy winner) Rodney Harrison (two-time Super Bowl champion) Charlie Weis (Former Patriots offensive coordinator) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and...

07.09.2020

The mysterious disappearance that changed a Super Bowl

Barret Robbins in his own words—from prison—revealing the real reasons why he disappeared and missed playing in the Raiders’ loss in Super Bowl XXXVII. Guests include: Barret Robbins Tim Brown (Heisman Trophy, Pro Football Hall of Fame) Bill Romanowski (four-time Super Bowl champion) Amy Trask...

06.25.2020

Marathon on ice

How the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins survived seven hours of playoff hockey as they battled in the longest game of the NHL’s modern era Guests include: Brian Boucher (Flyers goalie) Bob Boughner (Penguins defenseman) Keith Jones (Flyers forward) Chris Therien (Flyers defenseman) Ron Tugnutt (Penguins...

06.18.2020

Sean Taylor, the NFL superstar we didn’t get to know

Untold stories that explain why the NFL’s biggest stars revere Sean Taylor, the Washington Redskins safety who was killed at 24 while protecting his family Guests include: Landon Collins (three-time Pro Bowl safety) Joe Gibbs (Pro Football Hall of Fame) Jonathan Vilma (three-time Pro...

06.11.2020

The uniform craze that revolutionized college football

How the University of Oregon ignited a fashion arms race across all sports, both collegiately and professionally, by going from having Donald Duck as its mascot to trendsetting Nike uniforms that attracted five-star recruits to Eugene. Guests include: Mike Bellotti (former Oregon...

05.28.2020

Michael Jordan: "I'm Back"

How a two-word fax from Michael Jordan changed the course of NBA history, plus never-before-heard stories about his secret workouts with another NBA team Guests include: David Falk (Jordan’s longtime agent) Tim Hardaway (five-time NBA All-Star) LeBron James (three-time NBA champion) Steve Kerr (eight-time NBA...

05.26.2020

TRAILER: Mike Tirico introduces Sports Uncovered

Mike Tirico introduces Sports Uncovered, the newest podcast series from NBC Sports that will shine a fresh light on the most unforgettable moments in sports. The debut episode, "I'm Back," will explore how a two-word fax from Michael Jordan changed...

03.18.2020

Trailer for Michael Jordan: 'I'm Back' coming May 28

“I’m back.” You remember the two-word fax from Michael Jordan announcing his return to the NBA, but there is much more to the story that you don’t know. Subscribe to Sports Uncovered right now to get “I’m Back” automatically downloaded...