Hello Rapids Fans and Happy Thanksgiving! For those of you sitting in traffic, stuck on an airplane, or looking for an escape from dinner table political arguments with that opinionated relative, we are here for you. This week, Red is joined by Mark Turner (https://lastwordonsoccer.com/author/markturner/), founder of the Back Chat Show and Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC beat writer for Last Word on Soccer. We do a full breakdown of the Rapids and Switchbacks coming affiliation for 2019.

Substitute Mark introduces the Switchbacks and breaks down their brief history in the USL. We discuss how the Boys in Black got to where they are and the current state of the squad going into 2019 in a Rapids affiliation context. The lads talk about the potential symbiotic relationship the two clubs hope to develop and the pros and cons of the affiliation. Mark gets us caught up on what Switchbacks head coach Steve Trittschuh (https://www.switchbacksfc.com/trittschuh) has been doing since leaving the Rapids as an assistant and what he's like as a coach. Matt breaks down what Brian Crookham as Switchbacks general manager looks like.

The guys also discuss the Switchbacks stadium situation, Pride Soccer's budding relationship with the Rapids Development Academy, and where Colorado Springs fits in the everchanging USL landscape. Oh, and Mark trolls the USMNT over the loss to England last week.

This episode is jam-packed with content and insightful nugget and will be informative for supporters of either club going into the first year of this relationship.

If you like what you heard from Mark, find him on Twitter here (https://twitter.com/LWOS_COS) and his writing here (https://lastwordonsoccer.com/author/markturner/). Shameless plug: If you want to check out his other podcast, Dads and Diabetes, they're on iTunes (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/dads-and-diabetes/id1442185444?mt=2). Follow them on Twitter here (https://twitter.com/DadsandDiabetes) or like them on Facebook here (https://www.facebook.com/DadsandDiabetes/?ref=br_rs).

If you like the show, please consider subscribing wherever you get your podcasts, reviewing the show on said podcatcher, and telling other Rapids fans about it. It really does help. Follow us on Twitter @rapids96podcast. You can email the show at [email protected].