The Outfield Podcast

Episode 35 of the Outfield Podcast features Tim Koleto, 2022 Olympic Silver Medalist for Japan in team figure skating who is someone I’ve wanted to interview on this show for a long time and finally got to do. We go over a lot of interesting stuff in this show including:

7:00: Getting into figure skating as a child and realizing that it could become a career

13:30: The crazy injury that changed his career

20:30: Understanding his queerness through a trip to conversion therapy (content warning)

33:30: Finally making it to the Olympics, but the weirdest Olympics of them all

44:30: Not having a medal ceremony until Paris 2024

52:10: Coming out stories to friends and family and eventually publicly

58:00: A truly great discussion on Tim not seeing himself in the out male figure skaters of his youth, and a discussion on what being bisexual is for both of us

1:06:30: Tim’s thoughts on two male Japanese volleyball players coming out

1:11:00: The mandatory Heated Rivalry question!

Thanks for reading The Outfield Podcast! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

This Substack is the new home of the podcast, so be sure to subscribe to it to get notified when new episodes come out. If you subscribed to the show via Apple Podcasts and Spotify, you should still get new episodes in your podcast feeds. Enjoy the show and please give it a five star review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify!

Apple Podcasts:

Spotify:

Follow me on social media @MattsMusings1 on Bluesky and Twitter and @mattlichtenstadter on Instagram.

Intro and outro music is “Thinking It Over” by Lee Rosevere, from his album “Music for Podcasts 5”: https://freemusicarchive.org/music/lee-rosevere/music-for-podcasts-beats/thinking-it-over/

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theoutfieldpodcast.substack.com

Episode 34 of the Outfield Podcast features out English soccer broadcaster Mike Minay, who has an interesting journey to the gantries of English and European soccer as an out man with a lot to talk about including:

7:00: Dreaming of becoming a play-by-play announcer

13:45: Radio vs. TV commentary

23:50: Figuring out his sexuality and coming to understand it personally and professionally

37:00: Feeling welcome at games and in sports that sometimes don’t love you back because of homophobic comments

43:25 Some of Mike’s favorite coming out stories

51:00: Did Mike find it challenging to become the commentator he’s become with no one out before him?

1:04:00: Does Mike worry about getting homophobic comments on social media because of his commentary?

1:07:20: A few quick questions to end the show

Thanks for reading The Outfield Podcast! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

This Substack is the new home of the podcast, so be sure to subscribe to it to get notified when new episodes come out. If you subscribed to the show via Apple Podcasts and Spotify, you should still get new episodes in your podcast feeds. Enjoy the show and please give it a five star review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify!

Apple Podcasts:

Spotify:

Follow me on social media @MattsMusings1 on Bluesky and Twitter and @mattlichtenstadter on Instagram.

Intro and outro music is “Thinking It Over” by Lee Rosevere, from his album “Music for Podcasts 5”: https://freemusicarchive.org/music/lee-rosevere/music-for-podcasts-beats/thinking-it-over/

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theoutfieldpodcast.substack.com

After a very long wait for a new episode, the Outfield Podcast returns with a great guest: Mitch Brown, who became the first player in the history of Australian Rules Football to come out as bi. There’s a lot to talk with him about, including:

3:30: Mitch has had a very busy last seven or so months since coming out publicly. What’s all that been like?

15:15: Mitch’s long journey through football to understanding himself and his place outside of it

37:30: What is it like to be a very public advocate in wanting to change a sport like footy for the better?

47:30: Should there be different punishments for not just players but coaches and front offices when players use slurs on the field? How can the culture change at a more grassroots level?

58:00: Being a bi man in a relationship with a woman

1:02:45: Mitch’s thoughts on Leigh Ryswyk coming out as gay recently

1:06:30: The mandatory Heated Rivalry segment, even if it is short

Thanks for reading The Outfield Podcast! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

This Substack is the new home of the podcast, so be sure to subscribe to it to get notified when new episodes come out. If you subscribed to the show via Apple Podcasts and Spotify, you should still get new episodes in your podcast feeds. Enjoy the show and please give it a five star review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify!

Apple Podcasts:

Spotify:

Follow me on social media @MattsMusings1 on Bluesky and Twitter and @mattlichtenstadter on Instagram.

Intro and outro music is "Thinking It Over" by Lee Rosevere, from his album "Music for Podcasts 5": https://freemusicarchive.org/music/lee-rosevere/music-for-podcasts-beats/thinking-it-over/

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theoutfieldpodcast.substack.com

Episode 32 features former Finnish pro hockey player Janne Puhakka in his first English language podcast! Janne talks about his journey through the sport, what's he done since retiring and more including:

3:10: Who is Janne Puhakka?
10:50: When did he start to realize that his sexuality was different?
12:45: Is the hockey culture in Finland different or similar to the one in North America?
18:30: Experiences in the QMJHL
24:45: What was it like to turn pro at that point in his life?
32:00: Coming out publicly
37:30: Writing a book
40:45: Working with EA Sports in Finland
49:45: What would he do to make hockey culture more accepting in Finland?

Enjoy the show!

Intro and outro music is "Thinking It Over" by Lee Rosevere, from his album "Music for Podcasts 5": freemusicarchive.org/music/Lee_Rose…For_Podcasts_5

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theoutfieldpodcast.substack.com

Episode 31 features broadcaster Josh Eastern, who has called games in the NWSL, USL, PHF and more. In this show, he talks about his journey to understanding himself in broadcasting as well as:

9:20: His coming out story
15:45: Understanding what it meant to be an out sports broadcaster
24:45: What does it feel like to be an out broadcaster calling games with out players in them?
41:15: Being an out broadcaster calling hockey

Enjoy the show!

Intro and outro music is "Thinking It Over" by Lee Rosevere, from his album "Music for Podcasts 5": freemusicarchive.org/music/Lee_Rose…For_Podcasts_5

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theoutfieldpodcast.substack.com

Episode 30 features Brian Zapp of Miami Ohio, a newly out bisexual baseball player. In this show, he talks about his journey self acceptance and coming out in baseball and more including:

3:45: Who he is and how he got into baseball
8:15: Understanding his sexuality while becoming more invested in baseball
19:45: Beginning to come out and what sparked him to do so
32:15: Driving back to Canada from school after making his Instagram post
37:30: Attempting to date someone while closeted
49:45: Experiencing a full season as an out player

Enjoy the show!

Intro and outro music is "Thinking It Over" by Lee Rosevere, from his album "Music for Podcasts 5": freemusicarchive.org/music/Lee_Rose…For_Podcasts_5

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theoutfieldpodcast.substack.com

Episode 29 features ABC Australia broadcaster Corbin Middlemas, who talks about his journey as a gay man in Australian sports media and more, including:

6:20: How he feels in sports media after being out for nearly four years
10:45: His journey in getting into sports media
17:40: Coming to understand his sexuality in a heteronormative sports world
31:00: Some of his stories in coming out to his friends and family, and later publicly
47:15: Covering Australian sports, particularly the AFL, where out athletes are few and far between
1:05:45: How does he cover controversies around homophobic language in sports?

Enjoy the show!

Intro and outro music is "Thinking It Over" by Lee Rosevere, from his album "Music for Podcasts 5": freemusicarchive.org/music/Lee_Rose…For_Podcasts_5

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theoutfieldpodcast.substack.com

Episode 28 features Utica Comets broadcaster Jason Shaya, who came out as gay in October. On this show, we talk about his journey in broadcasting, his love of hockey and more including:

2:45: Growing up and getting in hockey
9:50: Getting into broadcasting, starting in wrestling
17:20: Coming to understand his sexuality
32:15: At what point did he feel comfortable talking about his sexuality in general?
35:10: How did he get Bob McKenzie to write his public coming out story?

And much more. Enjoy the show!

Intro and outro music is "Thinking It Over" by Lee Rosevere, from his album "Music for Podcasts 5": freemusicarchive.org/music/Lee_Rose…For_Podcasts_5

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theoutfieldpodcast.substack.com

Episode 27 features newly out pitcher Kieran Lovegrove, who talks about his experiences in minor league baseball, coming out and more including:

5:45: From being born in South Africa to a love of baseball
16:15: Coming to understand his sexuality
29:15: Did he ever feel uncomfortable as a bisexual man in a baseball clubhouse?
36:00: The story of his alcoholism and his suicide attempt
1:01:35: Kieran's theories on human sexuality
1:27:00: Making minor league baseball better and healthier
1:43:00: How can baseball do better for out people in the sport?

And plenty more. This is a long show but I promise it's worth listening to the whole thing. Enjoy the show!

Intro and outro music is "Thinking It Over" by Lee Rosevere, from his album "Music for Podcasts 5": freemusicarchive.org/music/Lee_Rose…For_Podcasts_5

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theoutfieldpodcast.substack.com

Episode 26 features newly out baseball player, country musician and activist Bryan Ruby, who talks about his whirlwind after coming out publicly in September in baseball and beyond, plus these topics:

6:00: Bryan's upbringing in sports and baseball
20:00: What kept him closeted for so long
36:15: Playing baseball all around the world
45:45: His most memorable coming out story
51:15: Breaking into country music and whether he sees differences in the worlds of baseball and country music
1:05:45: Starting Proud to Be In Baseball
1:22:45: What is his advice for young queer players in baseball struggling to be themselves

Enjoy the show!

Intro and outro music is "Thinking It Over" by Lee Rosevere, from his album "Music for Podcasts 5": freemusicarchive.org/music/Lee_Rose…For_Podcasts_5

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theoutfieldpodcast.substack.com