THE Soccer Dad-Pod

Episode 171: Mitch Bohnak | SLSG Tournaments Director

For this episode, I took it back to the roots… again. Recorded live from Pavia’s Place in lovely Granites City, accompanied by a couple of cold ones and a killer sausage/pepperoni pie… I had Mitch Bohnak, an east sider, thankfully... not from Collinsville, join me to talk about all things tournaments. From the early money tournaments, to 8 team starters in Alton, to today where over 1200 teams will participate in the SLSG Tournaments across our area this fall and spring.#soccertournaments #midwest #SLSG #youthsoccer #competitive 

Episode 170: Don Tebeau | A Ref's Perspective!

Jarod and I sat down and got a little caught up with a special guest that has the most unique view point on our beautiful game… Don Tebeau… Referee extrordinaire. We get caught up on the recent City results and changes, some US soccer chat, and break down the opinions and views on players, development, and competition from one of the areas standout ref’s. Don’t forget… reviews matter. Go to apple pods or Spotify and drop us some love if you don’t mind.
Let’s go!!!
#referee #respecttheref #playerdevelopment #soccer #ncaa 

Soccer Mom Sunday: Julie Gary

We’re talking Mental Health Awareness and more on Soccer Mom Sunday! Jen Siess was joined by Julie Gary - a former Air Defense Artillery Officer with the US Army, Professor at Washington University, Bureau Chief of Behavioral Health at the City of St. Louis Department of Health - AND, in her spare time, she’s also a SOCCER MOM of her daughter, Jordan, who is a St. Louis University Women’s Soccer Billiken! In this episode, we chatted about parenting that long journey from the days on youth soccer fields to D1 collegiate play, and the immense pressure on athletes today. Julie also shared her family’s unique way of supporting each other emotionally, and shared information on an important mental health resource for all of us, from parents to kids.
 
#soccermom #support #family #resiliency #mentalhealth

Episode 169: Nick Heritier | Swiss National UEFA Coach

Jean Nicholas Heritier… or Nick for me. This Swiss ex pat joined us to talk about his experiences in the Swiss youth to pro scene, his UEFA licensing, his opinion of US soccer development compared to global heavyweights, and an incredible segment addressing the next phase of focus in global soccer… it’s not technical, it’s not tactical, it’s not physical, it’s the last one… Get your brain ready, and let’s go!
#ucl #swisssoccer #development #4pillars #soccerIQ #STLouis #soccerpodcast

Episode 168: Brian Jones

Brian Jones is a flat-out baller. A grinder. And an ace human to boot. This keeper who didn’t fit the profile norms disrupted expectations and had an incredible career that took him to the MLS & Europe for over 8 years as a pro. Transitioning to coaching to give back like so many other STL players of that time, he is now the goalie coach for the USL Championship Charleston Battery. Incredible stories, insight and inspiration in this one… let’s go.
#charlestonbattery #usl #goalie #training #soccerpod

Episode 167: SLU vs. IU | Guests Galore!!!

SLU vs IU in front of 6,000 fans. A crowd that included US Soccer Hall of Famers, a multitude of STL Soccer Hall of Famers, World Cup alum, Olympic alum, hundreds of US caps, and thousands of pro starts… to name a few.
We chatted with City 2’s goalie Czar, a 13 yr SLU coach, the next-gen namesake of the "Heisman" of Soccer, STL City’’s most recent homegrown signing, and a front office fan favorite who made a 48 hr trip up from Tampa… because this game mattered.Let’s go!
#stlcity2 #slumenssoccer #iumenssoccer #ncaad1 

Soccer Mom Sunday: Ashley & Georgia Sullivan | Body Positivity

A story about a mother/daughter, rugby, and BODY POSITIVITY here on Soccer Mom Sunday! Jen Siess from Mine to Define connected with Ashley McCrea Sullivan and her daughter, Georgia. Mom Ashley is no stranger to competition with her own rugby career at the U.S. Naval Academy, US Marine husband, and 5 kids who are multi-sport competitive athletes. But, she found herself in new territory when daughter, Georgia (at age 9), started to question the worth of her own physicality. Listen in for the incredible story about how USA Rugby Sevens Olympian, Ilona Maher, helped to change their celebration of what the female body “looks like” to “what it can DO”… and how the confidence from that perspective has affected everyone in their family (both male and female) in areas like self-scrutiny, nutrition, and even awareness of casual conversation around physical appearance. It’s "Beast, Beauty, Brains" in their house now and forever more!

Episode 166: SIUE vs MSU | College Soccer Rules & More

Today’s episode was live from Guelker Field, on the bluffs at SIUE. The 25th-ranked Cougars hosted Big 10 heavyweights, the Spartans from Michigan State. An overview of the current program, the visitors, a chat with the women’s coach, and a second-half visit from the AD to help explain the new NCAA scholarship and roster rules… it was a blast.
Let’s go!

Episode 165: Travis Brent | Franklin Pierce - National Champ!

Today’s guest is 1 for 1 as a head coach winning the Division 2 National Championship last year with Franklin Pierce University. Travis Brent, a Virginia Beach kid, played his college ball at Marshall, and took his skills to the Netherlands after to play pro Dutch style… AND his Uncle won Wimbledon. Random, I know, but super cool. Check out coach Brent’s philosophy and approach to the game, which based on early returns… is working. Let’s Go!
#ncaa #Division2 #menssoccer #collegerecruiting

Episode 164: Ball Watching Collab | All Things City SC

This episode is a mashup! Our friends Jake and Justin from Ball Watching invited the Soccer Dad Pod crew over to their HQ… the Pitch… to chat all things City SC and a few fringe topics like high school music jams. Since my partners in crime Jarod and Zach were off doing Soccer Dad stuff I called in a super sub, AJ Cochran. We had a blast, solved some problems, predicted the future, and drank some Spatens… enjoy!