We’re back after a brief World Cup break and ready to debrief. We’re sharing our experiences, favorite moments, and biggest surprises from the tournament, including what it was like attending games, interacting with fans, and experiencing the atmosphere in person. Listen along and see how your World Cup takeaways compare to ours, from favorite players and games to the moments that surprised us most.

Valentina and Rory welcome Miranda Bernal, who shares her journey through soccer from a young age to her experiences in high school and the challenges of choosing a path forward to college athletics. Miranda discusses the importance of mentorship, the impact of burnout, and the life lessons learned from playing soccer, including self-discipline and the value of open communication. Our conversation emphasizes the need for support systems for young athletes.

It's almost World Cup time! Join us in a fun conversation as we talk about our all time world cup favorites and what has made the tournament so special. We look forward to the upcoming weeks and how we think the World Cup will pan out.

In this episode, we shift from Eman’s playing journey to the experiences that shaped him as a coach. Eman walks us through how he first got into coaching, and what he loves about working with youth soccer players. He also breaks down the different leagues and pathways in youth soccer right now, offering his perspective on what each environment provides and how families can navigate them. Eman shares the advice he gives players who are considering college soccer and why fostering a genuine love for the game at a young age is essential for long‑term growth. This episode is full of practical insight for anyone trying to better understand the youth soccer landscape from a coach’s point of view.

Join us for a conversation with Eman Vallejo as he reflects on his journey through youth soccer, from local club beginnings all the way to elite level club soccer. Eman shares how differences between smaller and larger clubs, coaching influences, support systems, and personal challenges shaped both his development as a player and his perspective on the game today. Eman also reflects on some of the most memorable moments from his playing career and shares advice for younger players trying to find their own path through the game.

Join our invaluable and heartfelt conversation with Pilar Bernal, a dedicated soccer mom and sports parent. Pilar shares her firsthand experiences from 20 years of supporting her two daughters throughout their youth soccer journey across various levels and even countries. Discover the unique challenges, lessons, commitments, and character-building aspects of youth sports from a parent's perspective.

Relax and enjoy this week’s conversation where we share our personal takes on themes and questions we hear all the time in the youth soccer space, along with a few general hot takes you've definitely debated on. As always, we want to hear your thoughts as well.

Happy Easter weekend! Join another fun, lighthearted conversation to get to know us a little better through a game of "Would You Rather'".. you're invited to ask more or share your own answers!

In this episode, we talk through what it really looks like if you haven’t been recruited yet. From sophomores just starting to think about college to seniors with no offers, we break down realistic options, share our own experiences, and offer practical ways to take action. The goal is to bring clarity to the process and reinforce that your path doesn’t have to look like everyone else’s to be successful.

Our conversation on youth soccer tryouts offers transparent insights for parents and players on real expectations, honest thoughts on preparation, and how to handle outcomes positively. We both share our personal experiences that helped us navigate the tryout process with confidence and resilience and we emphasize our belief in every experience being a valuable step forward.