In this episode of Stone by Stone, host Andrew Swanson sits down with John Dorn, a veteran soccer coach, Chicago soccer legend, and current executive with Peoria City in USL2. John shares his incredible journey—from growing up in Chicago’s Southwest Side to playing in the city’s ethnic soccer scene, transitioning into coaching at a young age, and eventually playing a key role in youth development with the Chicago Fire.

John also opens up about his experience coming out professionally in 2022 and the impact of LGBTQ+ representation in soccer. Plus, we dive into the growth of MLS, the evolving soccer landscape in the U.S., and what the Fire and other clubs can do to better engage with their communities.

🎙 Topics Covered in This Episode:

✅ Growing up in Chicago’s Irish Catholic and multicultural soccer scene

✅ Coaching at 14 and the transition from player to mentor

✅ The evolution of MLS & U.S. soccer development

✅ His time with the Chicago Fire and shaping youth pathways

✅ Coming out as a gay man in the soccer world

✅ His current role with Peoria City and building sustainable soccer projects

✅ The future of the Fire and Chicago soccer culture

Welcome back to Stone by Stone, the Edgewater Castle podcast where we explore the beautiful game from every angle! In this episode, host Andrew Swanson sits down with Ross LeBeau to discuss his journey from growing up in Chicago to playing professional soccer. They dive into the challenges of the U.S. soccer system, the evolution of the game, and what the future holds for young players. Tune in for an insightful conversation filled with passion, nostalgia, and plenty of great stories from the pitch! ⚽🔥 #StoneByStone #SoccerPodcast #ChicagoSoccer #WelcomeToEdgewater #GoRooks #VamosRooks

Welcome back to Stone by Stone! In this episode, host Andrew Swanson sits down with Jake Campbell, founder of the Red Line Supporters Group, to dive deep into Chicago’s thriving soccer culture. ⚽

Jake shares his journey from casual fan to community leader, his experiences with supporting both the Chicago Fire & Red Stars, and the importance of amateur and pickup soccer in growing the game. We also discuss the Fire’s exciting 2025 season, key roster changes, and how you can get involved in Chicago’s supporter scene!

👉 Topics Covered:

✅ Jake’s journey into soccer culture & supporter leadership

✅ How Red Line Supporters are shaping Chicago’s soccer scene

✅ The Fire’s offseason moves & what to expect in 2025

✅ The rise of amateur & pickup soccer in the city

✅ How you can get involved—whether as a diehard fan or casual player

✅ Where to watch the Fire’s season opener & join the fun!

📍 Join Red Line Supporters – https://www.redlinesg.com/join-us

📍 Find RLSG at Weeds Tavern for Fire Watch Parties

📢 Welcome back to the Stone by Stone Podcast! In this episode, host Gareth Mullins, Director of Communications at Edgewater Castle, sits down with Jhamie Chin, Senior Director of Sporting Communications for Chicago Fire FC, to talk about his journey in sports media, the growth of soccer in America, and what it takes to succeed in the industry. ⚽🔥

🔹 Topics Covered:

✔ Jhamie’s background and how soccer shaped his life

✔ The rapid growth of soccer in the U.S. and MLS’s role

✔ His transition from aspiring pharmacist to sports communications

✔ Inside the PR world at Chicago Fire FC

✔ Flying to Switzerland within 24 hours for Xherdan Shaqiri’s signing announcement

✔ The impact of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on American soccer

✔ Advice for breaking into the industry

✔ Fun rapid-fire questions, including dream players to watch live!

In this episode of Stone by Stone, host Andrew Swanson sits down with Ally Schlegel, forward for the Chicago Stars, to talk about her incredible journey from a soccer-loving kid in Colorado to a professional athlete. Ally shares insights on her competitive childhood, college soccer career at Penn State, and the challenges of transitioning to the pros.

She also opens up about her advocacy for gender equity in sports, her experience speaking before the Chicago City Council, and what drives her to keep improving on and off the field. Plus, we wrap up with some rapid-fire questions, including her toughest opponents, dream soccer destinations, and more!

🔥 Topics Covered:

✅ Growing up in Colorado’s strong soccer culture

✅ Her recruitment & success at Penn State

✅ The draft process & transition to professional soccer

✅ Advocating for women’s sports equity

✅ Goals for the upcoming season & leadership growth

#WelcomeToEdgewater #GoRooks #VamosRooks #AllySchlegel #ChicagoStars #SoccerPodcast #StoneByStone #NWSL #PennState #WomenInSports

🎙 Welcome to Stone by Stone – Episode 6!

In this episode, host Tom Arnison sits down with John Garcia, a local video professional and the creator of G in Tech Sports, an Instagram page dedicated to showcasing the best soccer plays in the Chicagoland area.

🚀 What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

🔹 How G & TACC Sports Started – John’s journey from player to content creator

🎥 Content Creation Insights – How John and his brother capture and edit soccer highlights

⚡ The Meaning Behind "G & TACC"

🥅 John’s Soccer Journey – From late starter to competitive goalkeeper

📈 Challenges & Growth – Gaining access to games and growing to 20K followers

👟 Future Plans – Expanding the brand and entering new verticals

🔥 Rapid-Fire Q&A – Goal celebrations, favorite plays to capture, and more!

📲 Follow G&Tacc Sports: @gntacc.sports

📌 Follow Edgewater Castle:

Instagram: @EdgewaterCastle

Twitter: @EdgewaterCastle

Website: www.edgewatercastlefc.com

#EdgewaterCastleFC #FootballStories #StoneByStonePodcast

Welcome to Stone by Stone, the official podcast of Edgewater Castle! 🎙

In Episode 5, host Lauren Hall sits down with Chicago Fire star Kellyn Acosta to dive into his journey from Plano, Texas, to becoming a professional soccer player in the MLS. Kellyn opens up about his experiences as a multiracial athlete, the challenges he faced in his youth, and how he found his identity both on and off the field.

Discover Kellyn's passion for fashion, his mission to empower underprivileged youth through the Kellyn Acosta Foundation, and his exciting plans with Edgewater Castle. Plus, hear his advice for young people looking to make a difference in their communities.

🔗 Highlights of this episode:

Kellyn’s introduction to Edgewater Castle

Growing up in Plano, Texas, and discovering soccer

Overcoming challenges as a youth player

Kellyn’s unique identity and societal perceptions

Launching the Kellyn Acosta Foundation

Advice for young changemakers

Give episode 5 of Stone by Stone podcast a listen - available now!

#StoneByStone #WelcomeToEdgewater🌊🏰 #SoccerPodcast

🏟🎨 Join us on this episode of Stone by Stone as Lauren Hall chats with Alyssa Low, a talented soccer player, muralist, and designer. Alyssa shares her journey from growing up in Long Grove, Illinois, to balancing her love for soccer and art, and how she turned her pandemic passion into a thriving career.

💬 Topics include:

Alyssa’s early influences in art and sports

The challenges and joys of competitive soccer

How soccer shaped her artistic career

Her bold, geometric mural design style

Reflections on gender equity in sports and art

Stick around for rapid-fire questions to learn Alyssa’s favorite pre-game rituals, art supplies, and the soccer memories she cherishes most!

🎙 Welcome to Stone by Stone – Episode 3!

In this episode, host Andrew Swanson chats with DJ Step, the official DJ for the Chicago Fire, about his journey in soccer, music, and community building. From Hartford, Connecticut, to Chicago’s vibrant music scene, Step shares how soccer has influenced his life and career.

🟢 Highlights from this episode:

DJ Step’s soccer roots and high school team ranked fourth nationally.

Moving to Chicago and rebuilding DePaul’s club soccer program.

How a soccer-inspired DJ mix landed him a gig with the Chicago Fire.

Lessons from soccer applied to DJing and building connections in music.

Favorite soccer songs and rapid-fire questions about iconic players.

💬 Join us for an engaging conversation about resilience, passion, and how soccer and music unite communities.

🎙 Podcast Sponsors:

A huge thank you to our sponsors for supporting this podcast and making these stories possible!

📅 Don’t miss future episodes – subscribe and turn on notifications for more incredible soccer stories.

📌 Follow Edgewater Castle:

Instagram: @EdgewaterCastle

Twitter: @EdgewaterCastle

Website: www.edgewatercastlefc.com

#EdgewaterCastleFC #FootballStories #StoneByStonePodcast

🎙️ Welcome to Stone by Stone – Episode 2!