NPLH Studio

Ian Harkes is a professional footballer currently playing for New England Revolution in MLS.

Sarah Teegarden-Harkes enjoyed her own professional playing career with stints in the US, Sweden, France and Scotland before heading down a new path in 2022 with non-profit Boston Scores.

Sharing experiences of their respective professional landscapes, they walk through the realities of maintaining a relationship whilst living apart, Sarah's transition away from the game and how their individual and combined experiences led to the formation of Simply Sublime.

Through the platform, they're not only sharing their own stories but opening the door for others to do the same and building a community along the way.

Over to Ian and Sarah...

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Photographer Eduardo Villalobos' journey began in a way you're unlikely to guess: photographing a snowman on an iPhone 7!

It wasn't long before he picked up a 'real' camera in 2016 as a way of becoming closer to the game he loved and the trajectory remained sharp, first shooting local high school teams before skipping several steps on the experience ladder and answering an ad to shoot in MLS.

A sure sign of self-confidence in a young man who backs his ability and knows where he wants it to take him.

The smart money is on him getting there.

Over to Eduardo...

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Born in Bogotà, Colombia, Diego Hurtado grew up knowing two things; hustle and football. So it's no surprise he earned money in the playground and became an academy player in his teens.

Injury and an ultimatum from an impatient coach coincided with his Mum's move to the US and he had a decision to make: stay in Colombia, alone, and hopefully recover in time, or head to Miami for a fresh start.

He chose Miami and a journeyed career around the USL followed.

Despite hints his path lay elsewhere, with false starts at the NY Cosmos and Las Vegas Lights, his determination to play was in constant battle with the instability of the landscape.

But, opportunity knocked, awakened something in Diego and presented a new pathway to explore – sports apparel.

Diaza Football was born and, thanks to that same determination from his playing days and a little entrepreneurial magic, has not only grown but is flourishing, with designs worn by amateurs across the US and the likes of Ronaldinho and Kakà.

Diego's journey highlights the rewards that come not only with focus and discipline, but in taking risks and seizing opportunities when you see them.

He may be done playing, but life is still very much about all he ever knew; hustle and football.

Enjoy!

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Photographer Kaitlin Marold grew up wanting to be a Police officer, seeing it as an opportunity to connect with and help her local community.

A stop watch and one second kept that dream from turning into a reality and sent her down a path that would not only open up the game she loves but lead her to the top of the Rockefeller Centre and a shoot with USWNT's Emma Hayes.

It's been a quick climb but not an easy one with late nights, long drives and lots of steps outside of her comfort zone.

But through shooting and supporting her beloved NYCFC she's found all of the things she was looking for in the force; connection, community and the ability to be of service to that community – all with the added bonus of not having to polish her boots!

Enjoy!

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JF

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Ed Cowburn is Founder and Design Director of Acid FC, the brand with football undertones rooted in creative culture.

You're joining the conversation after some off the record catching up to learn of Ed's pathway from studying Law and Accounting and a career in insurance to designing this seasons kits for his beloved Leeds United.

It's quite the leap with Lance Armstrong and David Bellion playing supporting roles in a creative career now in it's twentieth year.

Ed walks us through that change of direction, the motivations driving his career longevity, his visions for the next stage of it and the weight of responsibility around those Leeds kits - especially the third!

Enjoy!

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Zack Goldman is Co-Founder of the wonderful Where is Football platform and founder of Tiger 11, the agency working with football's most creative teams, leagues and brands to build their sporting, marketing, and operational strategies.

Needless to say we don't really talk about any of that in great detail.

Instead, Zack share's his learnings from a career that started at Oxford United in England and has since taken him around the world to collaborate with the likes of Adidas, Nike, MLS and Japan's J-League.

With a career built in alignment with his values and grown holistically through relationships, Zack's perspective offers an opportunity to reframe how we see football; not as the be all and end all, but as an accessory to what we're ultimately all looking for – community and connection.

Enjoy!

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Sam Robles left Brazil for the United States as a teenager and went on to become one of the finest photographers in the world.

How? Falling in love with a camera at his friends house and chance meetings with an established photographer had something to do with it. But not everything...

Sam's journey highlights the rewards of hustle, risk taking and seizing opportunities when you see them. A little bit of 'immigrant mentality' didn't hurt either.

He walks us through the route from working 7 days a week at a car wash to shooting for Sports Illustrated and a literal locked door at Under Armour metaphorically opening one on the floor below that would take him around the world with The Players Tribune.

A dream job that doesn't come without great sacrifices. But he doesn't see any other option.

Over to Sam

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You can support the podcast as a subscriber or caffeine donor at nplhmag.com

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Artist, Emily Marrocco began painting just before the pandemic which, looking at her work, is both incredible and encouraging for anyone thinking about picking something up for the first time.

Emily shares the realities of living with ADHD, how it impacts her art and the work in progress of flipping the diagnosis on its head to see it as a super power to be harnessed.

Initially drawn to landscapes, Emily quickly shifted into portraiture and out of her comfort zone – something we learn she isn't averse to doing, be it international business trips at the age of 21, or swerving the home-from-home comfort of London in favour Manchester when leaving Australia two years ago.

That move and the complications that came with it temporarily pulled her away from the canvas. Passing time in a job unaligned with her heart she found herself in a 'Fuck this' moment, quit on the spot and did what she came here to do – pursue a career in painting.

Over to Emily...

Enjoy!

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You can support the podcast as a subscriber or caffeine donor at nplhmag.com

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Ali Williams is arguably one of the busiest folks in showbiz.

FootballCo's Brand Strategist walks us through a career taking in NWSL's Gotham FC, San Diego Wave and Angel City as well Adidas and MLS. But not before we meet her dog, Fester. Yes, that's him in the background not a motorbike passing by her apartment.

Growing up in football-loving Portland, it was perhaps inevitable the game would play some sort of role in her life but, over the course of this chat it's clear football IS her life.

It didn't quite work out on the pitch (more on that later), but a trip to Old Trafford reminded Ali there was more to the game than playing it. Returning home to her college paper, she assigned herself as beat writer for Real Salt Lake and hasn't looked back.

From then 'til now, Ali's storytelling has not only impacted the way she enjoys the game, but helped shape the experience of countless people throughout the stages of her career.

Over to Ali.... and Fester.

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You can support the podcast as a subscriber or caffeine donor at nplhmag.com

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

Pablo Bayona Sapag is Editor-in-Chief and co-Founder of CLUBELEVEN, the digital media publication connecting football fans across North America.

Born in Peru to a Peruvian father and Chilean mother he was destined to be passionate about something. Unsurprisingly that was football.

Pablo shares his love of storytelling, the opportunistic origins of CLUBELEVEN, formed with brother Gabriel, and how it would ultimately lead him away from a career in medicine. Imagine having to tell your parents, who happen to be doctors!

But the heart wants what it wants and it's to our gain as the platform and it's talented nationwide roster of contributors continue to deliver untold and inspiring stories from the American game.

Enjoy!

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You can support the podcast as a subscriber or coffee donor at nplhmag.com

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