NPLH Studio

Jake Nolan is the Co-Founder of Sefton Park Rangers and Creative Agency, All Our Friends.

He shares the club's evolution, from its founding to the meaningful impact it has on both the local area and Jake himself and how his experiences with the club opened the doors to creative projects within Liverpool and beyond.

We also explore the delicate balancing act of fatherhood and work, why pursuing a feeling trumps pursuing a pay check and the rewards that come with risks.

Enjoy!

__

Send caffeine.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alexis James is a freelance writer, journalist, and podcaster, focussing on human stories from the fringes of sport and society.

Used to asking the questions for countless pieces over a two-decade career, including several pieces for NPLH Magazine, he switches seats to answer a few.

From placements in local news as a teen to BBC features and much in between, Alexis shares some of the realities of a professional freelance career and the role 'bread and butter' writing plays in long-form creative pursuits such as his book Unsung, an anthology shining a spotlight on the men and women in the shadows of sport and Off-Field, a monthly newsletter featuring tales from the fringes of sport.

It hasn't always been easy, if ever, but his chosen path has scratched the dual itch of a career in journalism and a desire to connect with and share people's stories.

Enjoy!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The football podcast that isn't about football will be back on Tuesday 12 November, 2024. I'm taking a little break to spend some time with my new family and get the boys on some drills and ready for West Ham's academy.

In the meantime, there's plenty of gold in this resource we've built, most recently with SEASON ZINE founder, Felicia Pennant.

See you on the other side.

JF

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Felicia Pennant is, in my friend Madison's words, the real deal. After speaking with her for an hour, I'm inclined to agree.

A self-confessed book worm as a kid, she shares her journey from hiding out in the library to leading the line with the seminal football and fashion platform SEASON zine.

Felicia highlights the importance of adding value through her work whilst providing a platform for others to share theirs, how knowledge and confidence go hand-in-hand and why the presence of ego in a creative isn't such a bad thing.

All that and more whilst sipping on a Diet Coke!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. In New Hampshire, a movement to impact a thousand lives began with a simple Instagram post

Despite the lush green forests and quaint towns of the Granite State, the football scene is pretty barren. Well, it was until Chris Pinkham and Yusufu Juma set out to change that in the form of Beech Street FC.

Through a love for their community and a desire for change, they provided a platform unlike anything the state had seen, saving good players from falling through the system's cracks and giving them a sense of purpose and belonging in the process.

It started with football but it's already so much more than that, its impact and legacy setting a standard for all those that follow.

Enjoy!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

** Please excuse audio imperfections **

Mike Geddes has worn many hats throughout a varied career, from his beginnings as a BBC journalist to co-founding football club Oakland Roots and lots more in between.

But beyond the titles, his focus lies on the impact he can make.

His journey is a blend of passion and purpose, whilst searching for balance between the demands of his professional life with the importance of family.

Mike's story is one of intentionality, driven by the belief that the work we do, whether on a global or local scale, should matter.

Enjoy!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cody McCullough is a multi-faceted creative with a client list to make your eyes water – EA Sports, MLS, Adidas, Venezia, it goes on... and on. Incredible to think it all began with a basic camera and a speculative message to the SoccerBible socials!

He discusses his 'say yes now, figure it out later' approach, his experiences of the creative industry within the game, how they've impacted his enjoyment of it and the feelings this evokes, offering a view on where it all goes from here and what that looks like for him.

Pre-dating the career, traditional North American sports played a pivotal role in his youth before Danny Dyer's Football Factory exposed him to a world he instantly knew he wanted to live in – one that's ultimately about human connection and impacting others.

By his own admission, the landscape isn't perfect, but he loves it and he's in it for the long haul.

Enjoy!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eric Beard is, on paper, a Creative Director and the final co-Founder on my Where is Football, bingo card.

Off paper, he's a creative in the purest sense of the word, prioritising collaboration and connection which is not only at the root of the Where is Football platform, but his creative output across the board.

Whether working for global brands, such as EA or Nike, collaborating on freelance projects or simply just creating, his approach is consistent - finding the fun in it.

Eric shares how the practice of gratitude informs his view on both work and life and stresses the importance of creating space to exist for yourself before clocking in for the various roles we play in our lives.

Enjoy!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zito Madu is a man very much marching to the beat of his own drum. 

Growing up in Nigeria, football played a prominent role in his life and nothing changed when moving to the US in 1998; A successful college career with the University of Detroit preceded signing for USL’s Detroit City before heading to Turkey’s second division.  

It’s here it all gets interesting. 

Wanting to learn about himself outside of the game, he walked away from it – in a professional capacity – to pursue a path of creativity and exploration of the self.

With writing his vehicle of choice, Zito has driven a road of unknowns since, embracing opportunities when he spots them and never fearing a pivot when the answer is ‘No’ to the question ‘Does this feel right?’

As he says, ultimately it’s about how you feel. What is the consequence of ignoring that? 

Enjoy!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

EL Johnson is a multi-disciplined creative with a co-founders list as long as your arm: the 2 Cents FC podcast, Forty One Magazine and it's football-focussed creative studio and MLS Next Pro's The Town FC all wear his fingerprints.

A self-taught creative with an unorthodox route into the football space, EL discusses the entrepreneurial inspirations behind his stable pursuits, the challenges of juggling ambition and workload with parenthood and the importance of honouring his younger self throughout it all.

Enjoy!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.