Urban Pitch Podcast - The Beautiful Game of Life

By Urban PitchSociety & Culture Sports Soccer

Urban Pitch Podcast - The Beautiful Game of Life episodes

June 25, 2024 163. Live Breathe Futbol Founder Ebun Olaloye
We've seen plenty of footy-inspired fashion brands pop up over the last few years as the beautiful game's influence in the sartorial world has increased. But one of the labels that has been around for quite some time is Live Breathe Futbol, which was founded in 2011 by Ebun Olaloye.
From a college passion project to a full-fledged brand coming off a major partnership with Major League Soccer, Olaloye's dedication to his craft and willingness to take risks has paid off handsomely. On the latest episode of the Urban Pitch Podcast, we sit down with him to discuss some of those risks, his vision for the brand, and the music he currently has in rotation.
Timestamps
(01:04) How Ebun stays organized during incredibly busy stretches and rapid growth
(09:45) The origins of LBF, and landing a collection with MLS
(24:47) The growth of fashion in football
(27:00) Urban Pitch's origins
(33:20) The music Ebun currently has in rotation
Cast
Hosts: Ramsey Abushahla, Julio Monterroza, & Brigitte Flores
Producer: Roy Cho
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47 min
June 18, 2024 162. The Vibes Surrounding USMNT and Mexico Heading into Copa America 2024
The 2024 Copa America is upon us! On the latest episode of the Urban Pitch Podcast, Ramsey and Julio sit down to discuss the chaos surrounding the United States and Mexico following a pair of less-than-stellar friendly tuneups against CONMEBOL opponents.
Timestamps
(02:08) The vibes surrounding the USMNT entering the 2024 Copa America
(27:10) Mexico's frustrations and El Tri's chances at Copa America
(34:09) The fan disparity at USMNT home matches
Cast
Hosts: Ramsey Abushahla, Julio Monterroza, & Brigitte Flores
Producer: Roy Cho
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42 min
June 11, 2024 161. AJ Ajeakwa on Playing Pro Football, Working With Nike, and Storytelling Through Design
He's a former pro footballer turned corporate pro with the product creation team for global football at Nike. But above all, AJ Ajeakwa is a storyteller. His brand Mahwa Studios has adopted the motto "All We Have Are Memories," and Ajeakwa has done his best to illustrate his life experiences through each release. We sit down with the talented creative to discuss his pro soccer journey, transitioning to Nike, and the challenges and rewards of creating your own brand.
Timestamps
(01:23) The Nike Mercurial Superfly "SoCal" boot
(07:52) AJ's journey growing up in LA and playing soccer
(23:00) Getting a chance to work at Nike and his own brand, Mahwa studios
Cast
Hosts: Ramsey Abushahla, Julio Monterroza, & Brigitte Flores
Producer: Roy Cho
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41 min
June 04, 2024 160. A New Women's Super League and the Death of the Superstar Footballer
A new women's soccer league is coming to the United States this summer, and we couldn't be more pumped for it. The USL Super League has made waves over the past few weeks with announcements of schedules, celebrity owners, and new player signings. Kicking off in August, the league has earned Division I status from U.S. Soccer and will compete at the same level as the NWSL. We discuss the new league's ambitious plans, and what we can expect when it kicks off in a few months.
Elsewhere, we get into the Kylian Mbappe move and the star power that he commands, which is a rarity in today's football landscape. The mega-star footballer isn't quite what it used to be, but in Mbappe's case, he still has the juice. We get into all of this and more on the latest episode of the Urban Pitch Podcast!
Timestamps
(00:59) The 2nd Annual Urban Pitch Golf Invitational
(08:12) The USL Super League kicking off
(29:28) Kylian Mbappe and the death of the superstar footballer
(42:17) Our Champions League Picks
Cast
Hosts: Ramsey Abushahla, Julio Monterroza, & Brigitte Flores
Producer: Roy Cho
Subscribe to our newsletter for more interviews and latest news on street football, freestyle, and urban culture, read more about soccer culture on our website, and follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook.

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49 min
May 28, 2024 159. The Best and Worst Kits at the EUROs and Copa America
Last week, we dove into the upcoming summer of footy, featuring among other tournaments, the EUROs and Copa America. This week we stay in that zone, but shift our focus onto the kits we'll be seeing on the pitch. From some absolutely stunning designs to those that could use another go around, we take a look at the best and worst EURO/Copa America kits on the latest episode of the Urban Pitch Podcast! In addition, we discuss the latest mental health-centered collection from our friends at Forward Madison, who were nice enough to send us over some pieces.
Timestamps
(00:30) The Forward Madison Mental Health collection
(10:41) Our favorite kits at the 2024 EUROs and Copa America
(27:20) Mexico's roster controversy
Cast
Hosts: Ramsey Abushahla, Julio Monterroza, & Brigitte Flores
Producer: Roy Cho
Subscribe to our newsletter for more interviews and latest news on street football, freestyle, and urban culture, read more about soccer culture on our website, and follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook.

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41 min
May 21, 2024 158. Giroud to LA, and a Packed Summer of Footy
As the temperatures in the northern hemisphere rise, so does the anticipation for what is sure to be a fantastic summer of football. Between the Copa America, EURO 2024, and the Paris Olympics, we have a packed slate of international tournaments that we can't wait to take in. On the latest episode of the Urban Pitch Podcast, Ramsey and Julio sit down to discuss the highly anticipated competitions, as well as a certain French superstar who'll be making his way to LAFC later in the summer.
Timestamps
(04:05) Olivier Giroud coming to LAFC
(07:27) The "MLS is a retirement league" narrative
(18:32) Which neighborhood in LA would Giroud fit in best?
(21:53) The summer of footy
Cast
Hosts: Ramsey Abushahla, Julio Monterroza, & Brigitte Flores
Producer: Roy Cho
Subscribe to our newsletter for more interviews and latest news on street football, freestyle, and urban culture, read more about soccer culture on our website, and follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook.

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49 min
May 14, 2024 157. Sam Fisher Returns!
Since we last spoke to Sam Fisher in August 2022, a lot has changed. The biggest update: She was called up to the El Salvador National team, and made her debut at the Gold Cup, where she scored the team's first goal in the competition.
Then came the not-so-good news. After returning from international duty, she was released from the Chicago Red Stars, and is currently in the market for a new club team (although she said there are a few options looming).
Such is the life of a pro athlete. One moment you might be celebrating your biggest accomplishment, only to turn around and face a setback. But Fisher has her eyes ahead to the future, and has been training non-stop since she's returned to Southern California. She re-joins the show (in person this time!) to discuss her experience with the Salvadoran national team, bouncing back from getting released, and what her goals are over the next few years.
Timestamps
(01:45) Sam's selection to the El Salvador national team
(10:57) Making her debut at the Gold Cup
(16:22) Getting released from the Chicago Red Stars and bouncing back
(26:14) Looking for a new club and staying focused on training
(30:50) Pupusas and the local cuisine in El Salvador
(35:24) What's on her music playlist and the goals she has for the next few seasons
Cast
Hosts: Ramsey Abushahla, Julio Monterroza, & Brigitte Flores
Producer: Roy Cho
Subscribe to our newsletter for more interviews and latest news on street football, freestyle, and urban culture, read more about soccer culture on our website, and follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook.

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46 min
May 07, 2024 156. The Shirtless Plantain Show
With a multitude of hosts and a vast breadth of topics covered, The Shirtless Plantain Show has been one of our favorite podcasts and platforms in the soccer space for some time now. So when we heard they joined the BLEAV network, we had to link up.
Tosin and Coach join Ramsey and Julio for a discussion about American soccer culture vs. European football culture, the global spread of the game, and our favorite kits of all time.
Timestamps
(02:13) The global nature of the Shirtless Plantain Show, and keeping up with all of the top leagues (18:40) How soccer culture has grown in the United States
(21:50) How the Shirtless Plantain Show network came to be
(28:50) Is the push to capitalize on the US soccer market becoming overdone?
(40:42) What's on our current playlists
(48:30) Our favorite kits of all time
Cast
Hosts: Ramsey Abushahla, Julio Monterroza, & Brigitte Flores
Producer: Roy Cho
Subscribe to our newsletter for more interviews and latest news on street football, freestyle, and urban culture, read more about soccer culture on our website, and follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook.

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57 min
May 01, 2024 155. Drake vs. Kendrick, USMNT's Chances Without Dest, & Angel City FC's Big Moves
It's been another busy week in the soccer culture-verse. From Sergino Dest's devastating injury to Angel City FC's big moves, we cover some of the biggest stories in American soccer, in addition to what's been dominating the headlines in the hip-hop world: The Drake vs. Kendrick beef.
Timestamps
(01:34) Angel City's big moves
(16:53) Sergino Dest's injury and the USMNT's chances at Copa America without him
(32:44) LA Galaxy: Contenders?
(35:27) The Kendrick vs. Drake beef
Cast
Hosts: Ramsey Abushahla, Julio Monterroza, & Brigitte Flores
Producer: Roy Cho
Subscribe to our newsletter for more interviews and latest news on street football, freestyle, and urban culture, read more about soccer culture on our website, and follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook.

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47 min
April 23, 2024 154. The Town FC Co-Founder Min Park
Starting a new pro sports team is never easy, no matter the level. But minor league clubs can be especially tough, as margins become smaller. The Town FC, which recently announced it would become the San Jose Earthquakes' MLS Next Pro affiliate, is all too aware of these challenges.
Teaming up with the Earthquakes gives The Town FC some stability in its early days, and it also allows the Earthquakes to have a fully-focused operation for its second team, rather than having to split the work with the first team. The Bay Area has also seen a fair share of its sports teams depart, so early stability is especially important for fans looking for new teams to support.
The Town FC co-founder Min Park joins the latest episode of the Urban Pitch Podcast to discuss how the team is looking to establish itself in the Bay's sports landscape, creating a culture and identity, and becoming as sustainable as possible, so that the club will be here 30-plus years from now.
Timestamps
(01:30) Min's journey to becoming successful and what it was like for him growing up in the Bay Area (05:11) The decision to partner with the Earthquakes and building the Town FC's identity and brand (16:48) The Bay Area sports landscape and how it's evolved over the years
(23:45) Challenges of owning a soccer team
(27:58) Visions of the future for The Town FC and trying to make the team as sustainable as possible (37:28) Co-existing alongside the Oakland Roots
(44:00) The Bay-LA rivalry
Cast
Hosts: Ramsey Abushahla, Julio Monterroza, & Brigitte Flores
Producer: Roy Cho
Subscribe to our newsletter for more interviews and latest news on street football, freestyle, and urban culture, read more about soccer culture on our website, and follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
48 min