This week on Soccerish, Christine and Lori unpack the season’s most explosive penalty moment Thomas Muller's overtime goal for the Vancouver Whitecaps —was it actually clear and obvious or just really, really unlucky for St Louis City? We dive into the referee world, where one decision can trigger a cascade of group texts, Monday-morning blowups, and reassessments that make you second-guess everything.

Then there's 40,000+ fans cramming into Oracle Park for Bay FC vs. Washington Spirit—proof the NWSL isn’t just growing, it's booming.

And finally: Jill Loyden joins the mic. Yes, the former USWNT keeper and founder of The Keeper Institute, but also one of the sharpest analysts in the booth—heard everywhere from ESPN and CBS to ION and NWSL. She’s here to dismantle how goalkeeping is actually being taught—science-backed, coach-first, and built to make every kid think, “Yeah, I want to be that last line.”

Refereeing chaos. Stadium-shaking crowds. A kicker (in the literal and metaphorical sense). That’s your episode.

⏱️ Time-Coded Highlights

00:00 – Welcome back: Christina vs. Lori on a controversial Vancouver penalty call 🎥

00:54 – Oracle Park packs 40,000 fans for Bay FC vs. Washington Spirit ⚽🔥

02:40 – Women’s sports boom: rugby shout-out & Christina’s unlucky sports weekend

04:30 – The penalty breakdown: was it clear & obvious or just “unfortunate”? 🤔

06:10 – Lori: “It doesn’t look like a penalty to me” → Christina confirms no-penalty

08:15 – VAR debate: who initiated contact and was the defender allowed that space?

12:20 – Christina on “robot referees” vs. refs who feel the game 🧠

14:02 – Inside the referee world: one mistake sets off a storm of texts & calls 📱

16:30 – Education over punishment: how refs review clips every Monday/Wednesday

19:20 – Why NWSL & USL refs need full-time status (and still aren’t paid like it)

20:25 – Jill Loyden joins: from USWNT keeper to world domination at TKI 🧤

24:00 – Jill’s path: small-town NJ → Hope Solo’s teammate → coach & founder

27:10 – Building The Keeper Institute: from South Jersey to a national brand 🌍

29:45 – The evolution of goalkeeping: shot-stopper era is over, playmakers rise

32:10 – Why England is ahead in keeper development & what the U.S. must fix

33:45 – Jill on training coaches, not just kids: a science-based “coaching college”

37:50 – Success markers: curiosity, bravery, and goalies who want to learn more

40:17 – “Rising tide lifts all ships” – how better coaching raises everyone’s level

42:09 – Who played in every U.S. pro league? Lori reveals the short list 📜

43:30 – Heather Mitts vs. Marta: Christina’s unforgettable yellow-card story 😅

45:01 – Jill’s big picture: building coaches early to change U.S. goalkeeping

46:37 – Would you toss the penalty cheat-sheet water bottle into the stands? 💦

48:09 – Jill: “I don’t care about winning anymore, only development”

49:15 – Farewell to Jill: “One of the best humans in the game” ❤️

50:30 – Christina on goalkeeper initiatives & corporate partners fueling change

51:56 – Looking ahead: Labor Day matches, CBS game, and the grind of ticket sales

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It was supposed to be scripted. We had stats, notes, a plan and even a quiz. Then Julie Foudy showed up.

This week on Soccerish: a serious debate about Vegas bookies and plant survival, a nod to Emma Hayes’ calm rebuild and cultural reset of the USWNT, and a philosophical discussion about who does what in a bar fight. Also: Connecticut fireside chats, wine math, how Julie is coping with her daughter leaving for college and why “Soccerish” is the only name that captures this kind of freewheeling conversation.

What did you expect when Christina, Lori and Julie got together? Oh we forgot, there's a running joke about Christina's financials too. And then there's Julie's broadcasting boo-boo....hot mics are dangerous.

⏱️ Time-Coded Highlights

00:00 – “Welcome to… not Gourish!” – Lori and Christina unveil Soccerish

00:40 – Lori: “It means everything we want it to mean” – redefining the show’s scope

01:11 – Christina vs. Werther’s (or “Weathers”) 🍬

01:18 – Christina shows off her gifted plant: El Jefe 🌱

01:48 – “Will this plant survive?” → the first official Soccerish prop bet

03:08 – Girls’ trip at Ojai with Sarah Spain, Aliyah Boston & more ✨

04:14 – CBS talent meeting takeaways: people want more referee talk

05:28 – Julie Foudy appears on screen 🎉

06:06 – Julie on her daughter leaving for college (tears, stories, first day feels)

08:13 – Sarah Spain in a dark alley → “She’s had some bar fights, no question”

09:04 – Roles in a hypothetical bar fight: protector, joker, getaway driver

10:02 – Lori’s “Summer of Lori”: Copa América, Euros, endless games

12:55 – Foudy’s hot-mic college cup story: “Put a pitchfork in her” 🔥

13:59 – KC vs Orlando meltdown, 100° heat, 9-hour delay

15:18 – Christina: “I’m just doing the financials” (again) 💸

16:03 – Lost medals & dirty trophies: why hardware belongs “to the people”

18:16 – Trophy boat parade: beer, tequila, and Mayor Jane chugging 🚤🏆

19:28 – Why Christina built the Tampa Bay Sun when no option existed

19:57 – Fun fact: Lori played in every U.S. women’s pro league but one

22:25 – Early NWSL locker rooms: “basically like a high school gym”

23:11 – From sportsplex chaos to Portland’s world-class facilities

24:20 – Christina on referee abuse, policy, and leaving education behind

25:10 – Christina name-checked in Anson Dorrance’s NCAA email 💥

26:54 – EPL flashback: was that a foul or just keeper weakness?

27:45 – Planning a Soccerish live show around Alex Morgan’s Philly send-off

29:28 – Foudy recalls Becky Sauerbrunn’s surprise ESPNW honor

32:06 – Emma Hayes’ calm rebuild: freedom, joy, and intentional culture reset

34:07 – Foudy signs off: “Congrats y’all on Soccerish!” 🎙️

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Before everything changes, Christina and Lori want to say thank you—and look back on the best moments from Season 1 of The Soccer Podcast USA.

In this special episode, we’ve divided our favorite clips into four chapters that show the full range of what makes this show unique: surprise guests and unexpected twists; deeply personal stories that reveal the heart behind the game; serious rants and rule debates that prove we know our stuff; and offbeat, weird moments that you won’t find anywhere else.

Whether it made you laugh, think, or say “Wait, did that actually happen?” — these are the moments that defined our first season.

Chapter Breakdown:

1. It’s Surprising — Surprise guests, unexpected moments, and playful unpredictability.
2. It’s Personal — Vulnerability, passion, and stories that reveal the human side of the game.
3. It’s Serious — Rants, rules, and hard takes that prove we’re as smart as we are fun.
4. It’s Different — Offbeat, spontaneous, and wonderfully weird moments that define our unique voice.

Stick around until the end for a sneak peek at what’s coming next. New name? New vibe? New definition of “soccer”? We’re still figuring it out — but we promise it’ll be Soccerish.

New episodes return August 21st. Subscribe now so you don’t miss it.

01:11 – Lori meets her “work husband” Chris Wittyngham

02:15 – Jenn Hildreth drops in—CBS crew reunion vibes

03:30 – Mike Grella joins fresh off the pitch

04:00 – Christina on retaliation, lost assignments, and finding a voice through TV

05:19 – Lori: “Different levels of the same fight—WNBA, AFCON, CONMEBOL”

05:40 – Coaching, leadership, and the emotional toll of being ‘always on’

08:06 – Deciding to step away from pro soccer

09:06 – Dislocating her shoulder in her final games

09:45 – A family tragedy shifts her priorities

10:22 – Choosing to be present for loved ones

10:40 – Lori’s backyard goal and pretending to be Tony Meola at age 10

11:45 – Posters on the wall—men’s and women’s teams

12:11 – Why breaks matter: “We’re all human”

13:25 – The Sports Bra origin story: TVs, tears, and women’s sports front-and-center

15:26 – Leaving a legacy: “Better than I found it”

17:18 – Shannon Boxx on Netflix winning Women’s World Cup rights

18:08 – FIFA finally separates women’s and men’s rights—“Wake up, FIFA!”

18:14 – Brazil players speak out: “Enough is enough”

20:16 – Handball controversy vs. Mexico—Christina breaks it down

22:31 – “Is it natural?”—bracing falls vs. deliberate handling

23:49 – VAR delays and decision-making explained

26:33 – The ‘Shut Up, Sandra’ mindset

29:07 – Birth of ‘Shut Up, Steve’ for the USMNT

29:25 – Old people candy: Werther’s Originals nostalgia

30:53 – Corn vs. flour tortillas—this could end friendships

32:36 – Philly taco trucks and Italian Market finds

33:11 – Airline sponsor dreams and the “Phoebe the Flamingo” airport

34:19 – “Have you been taken by aliens?” text mid-recording

34:46 – Final sign-off: “It’s not just soccer—we’re learning about everything”

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57 matches in 31 days. A Copa América final. Extra time. Travel. Studio. MLS. Leagues Cup. Euros.

Was it a world record? Maybe. Either way, it was The Summer of Lori.

Christina and Lori look back on a ridiculous July, celebrate Trinity Rodman's emotional return, and hype the Seattle-Portland rivalry ahead of a huge NWSL weekend.

Oh—and yeah, this is the end of Season 1.

We’re not done. But something is changing. A new name. A new look. A new season. Coming soon.

🎧 Subscribe now to follow what happens next.

#Soccerish #NWSL #TrinityRodman #LoriLindsey #ChristinaUnkel #WOSO #CopaAmerica #Euros2025

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

Before she was a U.S. national team star, Lori Lindsey was a kid in the backyard pretending to be Tony Meola—mullet and all. In this episode, Christina and Lori sit down with the U.S. Soccer Hall of Famer for a funny, honest, and far-reaching conversation that spans generations of the game.

🎧 Topics include:

– Why today’s penalty takers are crumbling—and what’s changed in goalkeeping

– How Tony would’ve thrived in the modern game (but not the 300 dives a day)

– What keeps him coming back to the mic—and whether coaching still calls

– Cheat sheets, stutter steps, and the science (and stress) behind modern PKs

It’s a mix of nostalgia, insight, and big energy from three voices who’ve helped shape American soccer on and off the pitch.

📺 Watch full episodes on YouTube

🔗 Follow us on Instagram, TikTok

#TonyMeola #LoriLindsey #ChristinaUnkel #Soccerish #Goalkeeper #USMNT #WOSO #SoccerPodcast #PenaltyKicks #MulletEra

⏱️ Time‑Coded Highlights:

00:00 – England wins the Euros—but Lucy Bronze’s fractured tibia steals the headlines

01:34 – Lori: “It’s heroic—but what message does it send to young players?”

03:51 – Christina: “We need to talk about pain, glory, and responsibility”

05:24 – Chloe Kelly’s penalty routine has entered the cultural chat

06:55 – Special guest Tony Meola joins from a familiar hotel room

09:52 – Christina confesses: “I wanted to be Tony Meola as a kid” 🧤

11:39 – Tony: “Penalties today are harder—goalkeepers have evolved”

13:01 – Lori: “There’s more pressure than ever on women’s players now”

15:29 – What’s on that water bottle cheat sheet? Tony breaks it down

17:44 – Tony: “We didn’t even defend the middle of the goal back in my day”

20:24 – How Tony stumbled into broadcasting (and nailed it)

23:31 – Lori: “What keeps you in the game?” Tony: “The people.”

26:23 – Coaching comeback? Tony still feels most at home on the grass

28:39 – Reinventing adrenaline: Lori, Christina, and Tony on booth vs. pitch

31:30 – Tony on goalkeeping evolution: “I’d have thrived today”

33:17 – “45 minutes—still no hands!” The state of keeper training today

35:06 – Should we ditch penalties? Christina and Tony say no way

36:55 – Christina: “Tampa fans want shootouts—we want the drama”

38:01 – What Tony’s watching: MLS playoffs, EPL chaos, and Serie A heartbreak

39:39 – Christina: “We both won titles this summer—now it’s your turn, Tony”

40:22 – Mullet confirmed: Christina Googles 90s Tony Meola for the win

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In this episode of The Soccer Podcast USA, Christina Unkel and Lori Lindsey connect the dots between protests across women’s sports—from the WNBA All-Star shirts and the USWNT’s equal pay campaign to the emotional stand taken by Brazilian players at Copa América. Christina shares a personal story about the real consequences of speaking out as a FIFA referee—and how leaving that role gave her the freedom to use her voice. Lori breaks down Ann-Katrin Berger’s gravity-defying save at the Euros 2025 quarterfinals and the mentality behind elite goalkeeping. Plus: a guest cancellation turns into a poop story, All-Star Games get a fashion makeover, and how culture, courage, and sport keep colliding in 2025.

⏱️ Time‑Coded Highlights:

00:00 – No guest this week—just Lori, Christina, and a poop emergency 💩

01:14 – Shoutout to Jill Loyden: advocate, goalkeeper, and game-changer

03:39 – Christina: “I still feel like an imposter—even after winning a championship”

04:50 – Tampa Bay Sun's players get a five-week mental reset before the new season

06:29 – Can we revive the I-4 Derby? Fans want it, Florida needs it

07:11 – Euros shine, AFCON & Copa lag behind—why global women's soccer isn’t equal

08:17 – Lori: “It’s disheartening and infuriating—enough is enough”

10:06 – Christina on U.S. vs global disparities: “Some are fighting for rights, some for water”

11:42 – What real accountability would look like in international women’s football

13:21 – Christina couldn’t even get into WNBA All-Star events: “Women’s sports? Sold out.”

15:29 – From Pacers to Fever: How fans grow into women’s sports—and profit from it

17:11 – Lori: “You speak out together—because there’s power in numbers”

19:02 – Christina: “I was retaliated against for advocating as a referee”

22:13 – Giving voice to the voiceless: why Christina went into TV

24:47 – Copa América Femenina: talent, emotion, chaos—and not enough support

26:27 – VAR, adrenaline, and Berger’s epic save vs France 🔥

29:27 – Lori on Sweden’s PK meltdown: “They didn’t even practice penalties?”

31:52 – Lucy Bronze wraps her own leg mid-match. Is this the new normal?

33:01 – “The best save I’ve ever seen”—why Berger’s moment is already iconic

34:21 – A cancer survivor at 34, Berger proves greatness has no age limit

35:53 – Can elite goalkeepers let teams play riskier, higher lines?

36:43 – Lori on tournament burnout: “You crash—then you rise again”

39:26 – Christina: “You can’t sneak out anymore—being a women’s footballer means fame”

39:48 – All-Star Games: fashion, culture, and zero defense 🏀

41:32 – Why All-Star weekends matter: cross-pollination, merch, and megawatt panels

44:07 – Would you rather play the best of your league—or a global powerhouse?

46:29 – Lori’s tournament reset: semi-finals, Copa, and then…NWSL returns

47:28 – Christina: “Boxing Day is sacred. Let’s keep it that way.” 🎁

48:05 – Tactics on the wall? Nah, just hotel art—kind of 😄

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

This week on The Soccer Podcast USA, while the global game fixates on the $2 billion Club World Cup, the Women’s Euros, and an MLS season that never sleeps—we took a different path.

We went to Minnesota.

To a club built in a park.

Powered by over 5,000 community owners.

Run by a group of people that wanted to prove you don’t have to be rich or male to run a team. 

🎙️ Christina Unkel and Lori Lindsey sit down with co founder Andrea Yoch and Head Coach Jen Larrick of Minnesota Aurora FC to talk about what’s really growing the game.

This episode also kicks off our new short-form series: Grassroot Truth—real stories from the front lines of American soccer that reveal where women’s football is, how far it’s come, and what still needs to change.

📌 In this episode:

– Grassroot Truth: Crystal Dunn changed in a porta potty

– Grassroot Truth: 5,000 fans in 5 days

– What it means to be professional—even when players aren’t paid

– The NIL collective, recruiting culture, and training at 8am

– And yes… the Lori Lindsey doll is real, and it’s watching.

This is where the future starts—not with money, but with mission.

#GrassrootTruth #MinnesotaAurora #WomensSoccer #TheSoccerPodcastUSA #LoriLindsey #ChristinaUnkel #USWNT #NWSL #USL #ClubWorldCup #WomensEuros #CrystalDunn

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This week, it’s the classic standoff: player vs. referee.

Christina Unkel (former FIFA ref) and Lori Lindsey (former USWNT midfielder) go head-to-head over a Gold Cup handball call—one says deliberate, the other says natural fall. Jacqui Oatley joins the fray with all the charm, prep, and broadcasting wisdom you’d expect from one of the sharpest voices in the game.

Also in this episode:

– Should you time your emails to avoid freaking people out?

– Why Switzerland and Finland are turning heads at the Euros

– What the BBC got weirdly wrong about Germany

– And how Jacqui went from trademark enforcement to national broadcast booths—via a friend's floor.

There’s no script. Just real talk, real stakes, and real relationships from inside the game.

🎧 Hosted by Christina Unkel & Lori Lindsey

Subscribe now. The name of the show might change—but the vibe definitely won’t.

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Jenny Nguyen didn’t set out to start a movement. She just wanted to watch women’s sports on TV. When no one else created that space, she did—and called it The Sports Bra.

The tagline said it all: We Support Women.

In this episode, Jenny shares the real story behind the country’s first bar dedicated to women’s sports. It started as an idea and a pun. It became a national symbol of visibility, equity, and joy.

You’ll hear:

• The quiet moment when she sat alone in the bar and cried, realizing what she’d built
• How she came up with the name
• What it’s like to build a business where the mission matters as much as the margin
• Why representation on the screen—and behind the bar—still matters

This isn’t just a story about sports. It’s about building something that didn’t exist—and discovering how many people were waiting for it.

📺 Watch more: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSoccerPodcastUSA

🎧 Listen & follow on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts

📣 Follow us on Instagram @thesoccerpodcastusa | TikTok: @soccerpodusa

💬 Share the episode, leave a review, and help keep these stories alive.

#TheSportsBra #WeSupportWomen #WomensSports #JennyNguyen #TitleIX #SupportWomen #TheBarIsReady

⏱️ Time‑Coded Highlights:

00:00 – Surprise! Lori’s the guest, Jenny Nguyen’s the co-host—kind of 😅

01:14 – Jenny: “We’ll forget this episode… but Instagram will remember”

01:43 – Meet Jenny Nguyen, founder of The Sports Bra – the first bar for women’s sports

03:59 – The Starting Five: Portland, Vegas, Indy, St. Louis & Boston 🏙️

05:47 – Jenny on growing up in Portland’s women’s sports scene

07:45 – “We were ISO fans”: why The Sports Bra became a community hub

10:18 – Lori invites Jenny to a CBS Thorns game—maybe

11:10 – “Portland is women’s sports”—Christina explains why

13:09 – Can you really play only women’s sports at a bar? Jenny says yes

15:21 – Jenny: “I underestimated everything about The Sports Bra”

18:26 – Franchising without losing soul: Jenny's plan for community-first growth

25:12 – Lori: “You walk in and feel at home—no matter the city”

26:13 – How a pun became a movement: the naming of The Sports Bra

29:42 – The quiet moment Jenny cried under the trophy wall 🥹

32:40 – The raucous moment: FaceTiming The Bra after the Thorns won it all

35:31 – Dream soccer position? Jenny’s a 5’3” goalkeeper 🧤

37:03 – Jenny: “Women’s soccer is just getting started. You ain’t seen nothing yet.”

39:27 – “We’re building a 10-layer cake”: the rise of women’s sports fandom 🎂

40:21 – Bonus: The Sports Bra is headed to London! 🇬🇧

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Christina missed her triathlon.

Why?

🏆 She won a championship

🚤 Led a boat parade

🎥 Invested in a Hershey’s documentary

🗣️ Spoke at a mayor’s convention

💀 And then... she was dead (spiritually)

Lori? She’s training for a half marathon she has zero plans to run.

Also: she’s wearing a hat that says “Freaks.”

What starts as a conversation about fitness quickly unravels into:

• Inventing a Tuesday Morning Half Marathon (with no police)
• Secretly racing retirees on the bike trail
• Gas station barbecue rituals
• Italian piazzas… in Kansas City?

Then broadcaster Nate Bukaty joins the show to explain how KC became the unlikely architectural engine of the 2026 World Cup — and why the world should stop sleeping on the Midwest.

⏱️ Time‑Coded Highlights:

00:00 – Lori’s hat says Freaks; Christina thinks it says Thanks 😅

01:14 – Christina’s WHOOP stats are back in the green: post-championship recovery

04:22 – Why she skipped the sprint triathlon (hint: boat parades + movie deals)

06:08 – “Make Tampa the Mecca of Women’s Sports” — Christina’s plan

07:14 – Lori trains for a half-marathon she has no plans to run 🏃‍♀️

08:34 – Christina proposes an unstructured half-marathon… on a Tuesday

10:29 – “No FIFA, ice cream every day”: a former ref gets real

11:01 – Surprise guest: Nate Bukaty enters the chat

12:23 – How Kansas City went from soccer afterthought to World Cup host

13:24 – The Women’s World Cup watch party that sparked a franchise

15:08 – Interviewing the mayor on the 29th floor 🏙️

16:05 – KC is the global hub for sports architecture (yes, even Wembley)

17:14 – Gas station BBQ and Kansas City hospitality

17:57 – KC’s stadium piazza takes inspiration from Italy 🇮🇹

18:41 – Lori: “That part of town is all Italian—makes sense”

19:18 – Nate’s mission: ride the World Cup wave and tell KC’s story

21:07 – Nate’s Spanish is good enough for MLS post-match interviews 🇲🇽

23:33 – Christina: “Don’t ride the wave—build the base” 🌊

26:42 – What if your city isn’t hosting the World Cup? Build a toolkit

27:35 – No one knows the Club World Cup is happening… unless you’re Latino

28:55 – Why U.S. Soccer should market to the fans already showing up

29:58 – Lessons from the Club World Cup: who’s really buying the tickets?

31:31 – Christina heads into budget season while the staff goes dark

33:01 – Sam Meza gets her USWNT call-up thanks to actual minutes played

36:32 – Lori: some NWSL teams will scrimmage boys clubs to stay sharp

38:41 – Why Tampa’s next season is a full marketing reset

40:43 – Women’s Euros preview: Lori heads to LA, Christina slips a name 🤐

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