Shows
Book InHeart of Darkness - Joseph ConradPublished in 1899, Heart of Darkness tells the story of Marlow, a sailor, who is sent on a mission up the Congo River to find out what has happened to the brilliant agent, Kurtz. The story is closely based on Joseph Conrad's own time in the Congo nine years earlier, an experience which scarred him both mentally and physically for the rest of his life. Barely 100 pages long, the novel has cast a giant shadow over western literature ever since, and haunts our consciousness of colonial guilt and racism. Dense and hypnotic, half narrative and half dream, it is one...
2025-08-141h 07
NPLH Studio86. Dakota Fox GrafDakota Fox Graf is a photographer with one of the less conventional routes into the industry, having swapped the front line of combat for the side lines of Major League Soccer.With a big interest in health and fitness and little interest or involvement in the game beyond the odd kindergarten kick about and a few World Cup games on TV whilst serving in Afghanistan, the path he’s on could not have been on his radar. But indifference towards the game evolved into infatuation when landing a performance coach internship at Columbus Cr...
2025-03-181h 03
NPLH Studio85. Tommie Battle IIITommie Battle is an NYC-based self-taught and published Black photographer specialising in portrait, photojournalism, and sports photography.In this episode he opens up on life as a kid in a military family, how the experiences that came with it shaped his life and how, along the way, Roberto Baggio planted a seed that would bloom into not only a passion for the game but a career in it.The NYCFC photographer also discusses the importance of tuning into your younger self, practicing self-care, and checking those around you are doing the same.
2025-03-111h 10
NPLH Studio84. Drake RambergDrake Ramberg needs little introduction, but I'll give him one anyway.An Oregonian born and raised in the vicinity of Nike HQ, he would go on to spearhead the brand's drive into the football space, revolutionise kit design, and build a legacy over the next three decades. Over to Drake. Enjoy! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2025-03-0456 min
NPLH Studio83. Maya StephenMaya Stephen is the definition of a versatile creative with an appetite for change.Born in Florida and made through her experiences in New England, California and now New York, Maya is a flowing tap of self-expression using football, fashion, poetry and photography as both a means to create and reinvent.She also has a flagrant disregard for limits; those set by the self and imposed by others.All in, the perfect example to follow for the young people of New York, where she is currently Director of Programs at...
2025-02-2551 min
NPLH Studio82. Dan KingA break from the norm to share the work of a creative from another landscape.Dan King is not a football photographer. But he is aware of the game and the quality of his work needs to be seen so we’re golden!His route into photography will be familiar to some and inspiring to others. Unfulfilled in his day job as a website designer he set some intentions for change – ditch the boring stuff and focus on what he loved. Cycling.So, he bought a ticket for an event, borr...
2025-02-181h 01
NPLH Studio81. David Furzer-JonesDavid Furzer-Jones is co-Founder of Cult Kits, the destination for football fans to find their favourite shirt.David discusses the brands evolution, from a side-grind blog to the extensive archive of iconic jerseys we see today, as well as his own journey running parallel to it.We touch on nostalgia and its role as one of the pillars of the brands identity and how walking your own path, with intention, delivers fulfilment and sets and example – he wanted a job in football so went out and made one!Plenty of go...
2025-02-111h 01
NPLH Studio80. Gabriel NavaGabriel Nava is a multi-faceted creative from Riverside, California.Growing up playing the game and following Barcelona, it’s little surprise his creative talents have found a home in the game, with both his photographic and graphic design skillset positioning him as a double threat in the landscape.Gabe walks us through his early days in the game, why following the creative path is important to him and what he’s prepared to do to stay on it.Oh, and how he’s bankrupting himself on T90 archive pieces and car-to...
2025-02-0455 min
NPLH StudioEditor's Note | Next Fixture 4th FebruaryI’m taking a short break to spend time with my boys and will be back on Tuesday, 4 February, with more conversations from the legends shaping the football landscape. Until then, there’s plenty to catch up on—dive in and enjoy!JF Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2025-01-0600 min
NPLH Studio79. Matthew StithUS photographer Matthew Stith is a creative shunning the concept of boundaries. A broken foot in college put his goalkeeping gloves on ice, guiding his hands away from the ball and towards a camera.When opportunity knocked—through a friend in MLS—Matthew seized it, setting off on a path that’s more about discovery than destination. For him, photography is just one medium to explore the world, with football acting as the lens that brings it into focus.Through the Football Case Study, Matthew connects with people a...
2024-12-241h 01
NPLH Studio78. Lucas MendesLucas Mendes is what you would call a multi-faceted talent in the football landscape — professional player, club owner, and community builder decorating a CV belying his 26 years.In this episode, we explore his journey, from his roots in the D.C. United Academy system to how he’s using Virginia Dream FC not just as a football club giving a platform to players, but a creative house giving a collaborative vehicle to artists, building a club culture that inspires both on and off the field.Enjoy! Hosted on A...
2024-12-1052 min
NPLH Studio77. Richard GordonRichard Gordon a photographer/director and Co-Founder of Forty One Magazine and its football-focussed creative studio. Rich shares how the '94 and '98 world cups opened his heart to the game, his gateway into photography and when these two passions finally caught up with each other, giving rise to a creative career spanning over a decade. Rich's career is built on both passion and a drive to push himself as a creative whilst wedging the door open to those following behind. A storyteller at heart, through Forty One, he not...
2024-12-0358 min
NPLH Studio76. Jenny SimmonsJenny Simmons’ story is one of passion, purpose, and paving the way for meaningful change.Whether it's pursuing progress or practicing the transformative power of manifesting, following her vision and creating impact has always been the common thread. We discuss her journey from Lancaster to playing college football in the U.S, before landing at Nike where her time on the Jordan brand steered her towards mindset coaching and, ultimately, where we find her today, beginning a new chapter with MANON – a consultancy focused on empowering black and brown women in the football spac...
2024-11-2650 min
NPLH Studio75. Jake NolanJake Nolan is the Co-Founder of Sefton Park Rangers and Creative Agency, All Our Friends.He shares the club's evolution, from its founding to the meaningful impact it has on both the local area and Jake himself and how his experiences with the club opened the doors to creative projects within Liverpool and beyond. We also explore the delicate balancing act of fatherhood and work, why pursuing a feeling trumps pursuing a pay check and the rewards that come with risks. Enjoy!__Send caffeine.
2024-11-1957 min
NPLH Studio74. Alexis JamesAlexis James is a freelance writer, journalist, and podcaster, focussing on human stories from the fringes of sport and society.Used to asking the questions for countless pieces over a two-decade career, including several pieces for NPLH Magazine, he switches seats to answer a few. From placements in local news as a teen to BBC features and much in between, Alexis shares some of the realities of a professional freelance career and the role 'bread and butter' writing plays in long-form creative pursuits such as his book Unsung, an anthology shining a spotlight...
2024-11-121h 25
NPLH StudioEditor's note | Next Fixture 12 Nov 2024The football podcast that isn't about football will be back on Tuesday 12 November, 2024. I'm taking a little break to spend some time with my new family and get the boys on some drills and ready for West Ham's academy.In the meantime, there's plenty of gold in this resource we've built, most recently with SEASON ZINE founder, Felicia Pennant.See you on the other side.JF Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2024-09-2700 min
NPLH Studio73. Felicia PennantFelicia Pennant is, in my friend Madison's words, the real deal. After speaking with her for an hour, I'm inclined to agree. A self-confessed book worm as a kid, she shares her journey from hiding out in the library to leading the line with the seminal football and fashion platform SEASON zine. Felicia highlights the importance of adding value through her work whilst providing a platform for others to share theirs, how knowledge and confidence go hand-in-hand and why the presence of ego in a creative isn't such a bad thing.
2024-09-161h 03
NPLH Studio72. Beech Street FCA journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. In New Hampshire, a movement to impact a thousand lives began with a simple Instagram postDespite the lush green forests and quaint towns of the Granite State, the football scene is pretty barren. Well, it was until Chris Pinkham and Yusufu Juma set out to change that in the form of Beech Street FC.Through a love for their community and a desire for change, they provided a platform unlike anything the state had seen, saving good players from falling through...
2024-09-101h 00
NPLH Studio71. Mike Geddes** Please excuse audio imperfections **Mike Geddes has worn many hats throughout a varied career, from his beginnings as a BBC journalist to co-founding football club Oakland Roots and lots more in between. But beyond the titles, his focus lies on the impact he can make.His journey is a blend of passion and purpose, whilst searching for balance between the demands of his professional life with the importance of family.Mike's story is one of intentionality, driven by the belief that the work we do, whether on...
2024-09-0352 min
NPLH Studio70. Cody McCulloughCody McCullough is a multi-faceted creative with a client list to make your eyes water – EA Sports, MLS, Adidas, Venezia, it goes on... and on. Incredible to think it all began with a basic camera and a speculative message to the SoccerBible socials!He discusses his 'say yes now, figure it out later' approach, his experiences of the creative industry within the game, how they've impacted his enjoyment of it and the feelings this evokes, offering a view on where it all goes from here and what that looks like for him.Pre-dating the...
2024-08-271h 22
NPLH Studio69. Eric BeardEric Beard is, on paper, a Creative Director and the final co-Founder on my Where is Football, bingo card.Off paper, he's a creative in the purest sense of the word, prioritising collaboration and connection which is not only at the root of the Where is Football platform, but his creative output across the board. Whether working for global brands, such as EA or Nike, collaborating on freelance projects or simply just creating, his approach is consistent - finding the fun in it. Eric shares how the practice of gratitude...
2024-08-201h 06
NPLH Studio68. Zito MaduZito Madu is a man very much marching to the beat of his own drum. Growing up in Nigeria, football played a prominent role in his life and nothing changed when moving to the US in 1998; A successful college career with the University of Detroit preceded signing for USL’s Detroit City before heading to Turkey’s second division. It’s here it all gets interesting. Wanting to learn about himself outside of the game, he walked away from it – in a professional capacity – to pursue a path of creativity and explorati...
2024-08-131h 10
NPLH Studio67. EL JohnsonEL Johnson is a multi-disciplined creative with a co-founders list as long as your arm: the 2 Cents FC podcast, Forty One Magazine and it's football-focussed creative studio and MLS Next Pro's The Town FC all wear his fingerprints. A self-taught creative with an unorthodox route into the football space, EL discusses the entrepreneurial inspirations behind his stable pursuits, the challenges of juggling ambition and workload with parenthood and the importance of honouring his younger self throughout it all. Enjoy! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2024-08-061h 00
NPLH Studio66. Ian & Sarah HarkesIan Harkes is a professional footballer currently playing for New England Revolution in MLS. Sarah Teegarden-Harkes enjoyed her own professional playing career with stints in the US, Sweden, France and Scotland before heading down a new path in 2022 with non-profit Boston Scores. Sharing experiences of their respective professional landscapes, they walk through the realities of maintaining a relationship whilst living apart, Sarah's transition away from the game and how their individual and combined experiences led to the formation of Simply Sublime. Through the platform, they're not only sharing their own...
2024-07-301h 17
NPLH Studio65. Eduardo VillalobosPhotographer Eduardo Villalobos' journey began in a way you're unlikely to guess: photographing a snowman on an iPhone 7!It wasn't long before he picked up a 'real' camera in 2016 as a way of becoming closer to the game he loved and the trajectory remained sharp, first shooting local high school teams before skipping several steps on the experience ladder and answering an ad to shoot in MLS.A sure sign of self-confidence in a young man who backs his ability and knows where he wants it to take him. The...
2024-07-2359 min
NPLH Studio64. Diego HurtadoBorn in Bogotà, Colombia, Diego Hurtado grew up knowing two things; hustle and football. So it's no surprise he earned money in the playground and became an academy player in his teens. Injury and an ultimatum from an impatient coach coincided with his Mum's move to the US and he had a decision to make: stay in Colombia, alone, and hopefully recover in time, or head to Miami for a fresh start. He chose Miami and a journeyed career around the USL followed.Despite hints his path lay elsewhere, with f...
2024-07-161h 27
NPLH Studio63. Kaitlin MaroldPhotographer Kaitlin Marold grew up wanting to be a Police officer, seeing it as an opportunity to connect with and help her local community.A stop watch and one second kept that dream from turning into a reality and sent her down a path that would not only open up the game she loves but lead her to the top of the Rockefeller Centre and a shoot with USWNT's Emma Hayes. It's been a quick climb but not an easy one with late nights, long drives and lots of steps outside of her...
2024-07-091h 06
NPLH Studio62. Ed CowburnEd Cowburn is Founder and Design Director of Acid FC, the brand with football undertones rooted in creative culture. You're joining the conversation after some off the record catching up to learn of Ed's pathway from studying Law and Accounting and a career in insurance to designing this seasons kits for his beloved Leeds United. It's quite the leap with Lance Armstrong and David Bellion playing supporting roles in a creative career now in it's twentieth year. Ed walks us through that change of direction, the motivations driving his career...
2024-07-021h 25
NPLH Studio61. Zack GoldmanZack Goldman is Co-Founder of the wonderful Where is Football platform and founder of Tiger 11, the agency working with football's most creative teams, leagues and brands to build their sporting, marketing, and operational strategies. Needless to say we don't really talk about any of that in great detail. Instead, Zack share's his learnings from a career that started at Oxford United in England and has since taken him around the world to collaborate with the likes of Adidas, Nike, MLS and Japan's J-League.With a career built in alignment with...
2024-06-2553 min
NPLH Studio60. Sam RoblesSam Robles left Brazil for the United States as a teenager and went on to become one of the finest photographers in the world. How? Falling in love with a camera at his friends house and chance meetings with an established photographer had something to do with it. But not everything...Sam's journey highlights the rewards of hustle, risk taking and seizing opportunities when you see them. A little bit of 'immigrant mentality' didn't hurt either. He walks us through the route from working 7 days a week at a car...
2024-06-181h 05
NPLH Studio59. Emily MarroccoArtist, Emily Marrocco began painting just before the pandemic which, looking at her work, is both incredible and encouraging for anyone thinking about picking something up for the first time. Emily shares the realities of living with ADHD, how it impacts her art and the work in progress of flipping the diagnosis on its head to see it as a super power to be harnessed.Initially drawn to landscapes, Emily quickly shifted into portraiture and out of her comfort zone – something we learn she isn't averse to doing, be it international business trips at...
2024-06-111h 11
NPLH Studio58. Ali WilliamsAli Williams is arguably one of the busiest folks in showbiz. FootballCo's Brand Strategist walks us through a career taking in NWSL's Gotham FC, San Diego Wave and Angel City as well Adidas and MLS. But not before we meet her dog, Fester. Yes, that's him in the background not a motorbike passing by her apartment. Growing up in football-loving Portland, it was perhaps inevitable the game would play some sort of role in her life but, over the course of this chat it's clear football IS her life. It...
2024-06-041h 01
NPLH Studio57. Pablo Bayona SapagPablo Bayona Sapag is Editor-in-Chief and co-Founder of CLUBELEVEN, the digital media publication connecting football fans across North America. Born in Peru to a Peruvian father and Chilean mother he was destined to be passionate about something. Unsurprisingly that was football. Pablo shares his love of storytelling, the opportunistic origins of CLUBELEVEN, formed with brother Gabriel, and how it would ultimately lead him away from a career in medicine. Imagine having to tell your parents, who happen to be doctors!But the heart wants what it wants and it's to...
2024-05-281h 06
NPLH Studio56. Killian PageKillian Page is a Boston born, San Francisco based Director, Photographer and Producer.If you're not familiar with the name, don't worry he hadn't heard of me either. But you will have seen his work with San Francisco City FC.Killian details his childhood discovery and love of photography before sports and all the other things that go with being a teen temporarily re routed his path until re-arming himself with a camera whilst studying Industrial Psychology on the West Coast.Post college he continued shooting whilst...
2024-05-211h 04
NPLH Studio55. Pete HoppinsPete Hoppins has a career path to pique your interest. After studying fashion in Northumbria UK, he found himself in London designing for Box Fresh. Wanting a change, he shouted "I'm a designer, get me out of here" and headed to Amsterdam for a role at Nike. They packed him off to Portland, Oregon where he'd eventually become Design Director for the sporting behemoth. Then he sacked it all off to run a pub!From creating designs for football's elite to creating community in his adopted home...
2024-05-141h 15
NPLH Studio54. Aaron DurandAaron Durand is the Sports Marketing Manager at Avery Dennison and arguably the nicest guy in showbiz. He explains the role Avery Dennison plays within football and beyond (spoiler alert - they're everywhere) and gives a fascinating insight into how they can and will change the way the game is watched.We also rewind through career stints at Twitter, Adidas and youth counselling, and chat dogs, family, photography, and Andrei Kanchelskis. Lots to take away throughout on career opportunities, work ethos, relationships and personal growth. Enjoy!
2024-05-071h 34
NPLH Studio53. Casey PeckioIf you know Virginia Dream and Vermont Green you’ll know the work of Casey Peckio; the US designers fingerprints are on the output of both clubs, not least Virginia. Their 2024 jersey release (you know the one) had all of our eyelashes fluttering in their direction and Casey shares details on the process behind it, why he works with clubs like these, how they push him as a creative and what this path gives him that playing the game didn’t. He also offers his perspective on seeking growth in his field, the benefi...
2024-04-301h 07
NPLH Studio52. Sarah Van VoorenAs co-founder of Atoot, the grassroots non-profit using football to empower young girls of rural Nepal, Sarah Van Vooren is doing what I’d call God’s work. And the good news is she’s not the only one! Sarah shares the origins and mission of Atoot along with the impact it and other organisations like it has on the individuals involved and the communities they are a part of. For good measure, she walks us through her own route into the ‘sports for development’ landscape which though has seen her work in countries su...
2024-04-231h 07
NPLH Studio51. DiDi HaračićDiDi Haračić is the goalkeeper for NWSL side Angel City.With a job like that it’d be easy to wrap up the intro there. But DiDi lives somewhat of a double life – when she’s not stopping shots, she’s taking them.Off pitch, DiDi finds peace (and therapy) through her lens, the ocean and often a combination of the two. We talk about both her photographic and football journeys, their similarities and how the foundation laid by her parents armed her with a resilience to meet the challenges...
2024-04-1655 min
NPLH Studio50. Tarek PertewAside from being an incredibly handsome man, Tarek Pertew is CEO and co-founder of NYC Footy, the co-ed league initially formed 'for fun' back in 2010. Fourteen years on, Footy has not only consolidated itself in the city, but has grown into the largest amateur league in the United States whilst only existing inside the boundaries of the Big Apple. For now, at least!Tarek discusses the off-pitch battles that come with running the league, the cost to not only his own experience of the competition, but his health, how he finds balance (sometimes, an...
2024-04-091h 14
NPLH Studio49. Maximilian MansfieldMack Mansfield is President and CEO of USL newcomers Brooklyn Football Club and Executive Director of Two Bridges Football Club, a non-profit dedicated to enriching New York’s inner-city youth through a first-class soccer environment, intense academic preparation, and leadership development.But before that, he was a young player with a dream of becoming professional and that dream took him to Germany with stints at the academies of Schalke and Cologne.Mack shares the impact that dream ending had on his mental health, the career path it then led him down back in th...
2024-04-0249 min
NPLH Studio48. Jordan JesolvaEnjoying the podcast? Support the show with caffeine here. Jordan Jesolva is one third of Neighborhood Sports Club, the creative collective using football, fashion and art to build community for the people of Oakland, California. That’s pretty cool, but we don’t really talk about that.Instead, Jordan shares the origins of her football love story, that playing professionally was the only option she ever saw for herself and how that dream was met with constant opposition from her body.No bitterness in sight...
2024-03-261h 09
NPLH Studio47. Amy DrucquerEnjoying the podcast? Support the show with caffeine here. This week I’m joined by This Fan Girl founder Amy Drucquer. And occasionally her coffee machine.Amy charts her journey from childhood match days with her dad and the sense of belonging that came with those, to the wilderness years of early adulthood when football stadiums no longer felt like home. Knowing this wasn’t a feeling unique to her and with a creative itch to scratch, Amy began an ambitious photographic project across the country to re-ad...
2024-03-1957 min
NPLH Studio46. Dylan AutranDylan Autran is one third of creative Collective Neighborhood Sports Club.A childhood desire to carve a career as a player saw him collect a few stamps on his passport via France, Finland and Norway.It was in the latter where the early seeds of NSC were sewn and a flight home to California, to turn out for hometown club Oakland Roots, would open the doors back to a childhood when football wasn’t about finding the next contract, but a vehicle for creative expression and a gateway to connection and community.
2024-03-1254 min
NPLH Studio45. Nikita TapariaThis was an easy one for me.I asked Nikita Taparia how one comes to live a dual life as a mechanical engineer and prolific photographer in the NWSL. She did the rest.From early exposure as a child, taking photos of friends and its role in her studies, Nikita details how the medium, a love of geometry and a helping hand from Geography would open up the game to her in a way she’d never imagined - or anyone else for that matter. In time, it would take her...
2024-03-051h 11
NPLH Studio44. Max OrnstilMax Ornstil is a former pro athlete turned entrepreneur and creative from Oakland, California. He shares the challenges of transitioning from a life with a very clear path and identity, to one without either as one third of the creative collective Neighborhood Sports Club. Falling in love with the game aged five, Max lived out his boyhood dream in exchange for a number of sacrifices along the way only for someone else to tell him when the dream was over. Where that door closed, a world of possibilities opened and, as...
2024-02-271h 06
NPLH Studio43. Paul DesbaillettsPaul Desbaillets is a Canadian entrepreneur, media personality and founder of the charity GOAL. Our first conversation came in the midst of the pandemic, when his podcast, The 1st Half was in its embryonic stages. Picking up four years later, the show, his businesses and the charity continue to thrive and it only took about 4 minutes of this call to understand why.Paul details how life in hospitality lends itself well to building a successful podcast, the karmic origins of the charity, why community is key and his take on wha...
2024-02-2051 min
NPLH Studio42. Andrea VílchezAndrea Vílchez is a Florida-based photographer at the beginning of what promises to be an exciting career.Still four months from graduation at the time of recording, Andrea already boasts a portfolio of work from the NWSL, WNBA and MLS, not to mention the Grand Prize Award of Club Eleven’s North American Soccer Photograph of the Year contest – congratulations! She shares her family's journey from Nicaragua to Florida, how the game helped her adapt to life in a new country and how picking up a camera for the first time opened up tha...
2024-02-1358 min
NPLH Studio41. Daniel SandisonDaniel Sandison is best known in the football space for founding seminal indie magazine MUNDIAL, way back in 2014. We spoke at the very beginning this year about the early days of the publication, how it evolved from a spare-time project to an internationally recognised brand over the following decade, and adjusting to life after the mag. But there’s plenty more to his story than the successes of MUNDIAL. Dan shares how his creative journey began with a love of film and wanting to make them, before heading to university to study it and...
2024-02-0654 min
NPLH Studio40. Jacqui McAsseyJacqui McAssey is founder of GIRLFANS, the photo zine pushing for increased female fan visibility, as well as a leading voice on female representation through campaigns with Nike, Liverpool and COPA90. As well as the progress made during 10 years of GIRLFANS, we discuss the early influence of Liverpool’s victory parades during the 80s, the importance of play in formative years and activism through creative output.A self-confessed non-academic student with a GCSE in needlework, we learn how she went on to become a senior lecturer in Fashion and communication at Liverpool John...
2024-01-3057 min
NPLH Studio39. Nathen McVittieNathen McVittie is a Creative Strategist across the sports, gaming, music and entertainment spaces.In the football landscape his fingerprints can be found on the work of well-known brands such as FIFA, MLS, Nike and Adidas, along with leading clubs such as Chelsea, Liverpool and Man City. He’s also co-founder and Creative Director of Where is Football – one of the most respected independent outlets in the game.But we don’t really talk about any of that. Instead, we touch on trauma, its impact on life choices, photography as an outlet, the import...
2024-01-231h 34
NPLH Studio38. Geoff GouveiaUS artist Geoff Gouveia takes us through his journey from cutting his teeth on the unloved buildings of Riverside, CA to working with leading brands such as FIFA and Adidas.He recalls how an inspirational trip to Brazil in 2014 during a crossroads in his career planted the seeds for a change in direction and how he set about making that happen on his return home –including cross country flights for coffee!Geoff’s career shows us how backing yourself publicly and an air of tenacity are often as important as artistic ability, if not...
2024-01-161h 01
NPLH Studio37. Corey PellattCorey Pellatt is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Versus, the media platform championing football and its influence on music and culture. Corey shares the influences and inspiration behind his chosen career path, the circumstances and mission behind the creation of the influential platform, and the responsibilities that come with it. There’s also sound advice on self-care, the importance of fulfilment in your work and connecting with passions outside of it. __A quick reminder that NPLH is more than a podcast.Once you’ve Hit the...
2024-01-0946 min
NPLH StudioEditor's note | Back 9 Jan 2024'NPLH In Conversation With...' returns on Tuesday 9 January. If this is your first visit, there's plenty to catch up with from 2023 including Naomi Accardi, Ted Philipakos, Devin L'Amoreaux, Sonya Kondratenko, and many more. Thank you for the support. See you on the other side. JF---A quick reminder that NPLH is more than a podcast.Visit nplhmag.com where you can enjoy online reads, subscribe to our weekly newsletter and browse our ever growing collection of magazines, prints, and...
2023-12-1901 min
NPLH Studio36. Maximilian HetheringtonMaximilian Hetherington talks through his career stages, starting with his first camera - a gift from his grandfather – right up to a recent shoot with a leading Premier League Club, how he got there, how he approaches his craft, and how a teenage setback fuels the hunger to succeed in his second calling. This is a conversation in its purest form; full of tangents, vulnerability and insights into the life and motivations of a leading creative.——A quick reminder that NPLH is more than a podcast.Visit nplhmag...
2023-12-121h 08
NPLH Studio35. Daniel KobinI’m speaking with Daniel Kobin, a commercial, lifestyle and sports photographer based in North Carolina.It’s hard to believe he only began his photography journey 5 or so years ago having made the switch from a career in marketing, yet it’s the experience in that field which is often a useful tool in his approach to shooting now.Daniel is candid about his regular meetings with imposter syndrome and anxiety, which had him questioning if he was even a photographer a few years into the profession – and how that juxtaposes with an under...
2023-12-0552 min
NPLH Studio34. Ted PhilipakosTed Philipakos is the Creative Director, and President of Athens Kallithea.Ted’s work and its footprint on the football landscape needs little, if any introduction.It’s what lies beneath this which forms the basis of our conversation as he shares the impact of childhood holidays to his ancestral home of Greece, the world of possibility they opened his eyes to, and how those formative years provide the foundation of much of the work we see today. A foundation of community, connection, and just wanting to make things a little better.
2023-11-2843 min
NPLH Studio33. Ryan ArambulaDesigner Ryan Arambula talks us through his playing days with Charleston Battery and how the physical impact of the game closed the door on a USL career, but a love of design opened up the game to him in a way he hadn’t imagined. A phone call took him from Myrtle Beach to Venice Beach and he soon found himself at the epicentre of a West Coast cultural movement where his two passions, football and design, could play out together on VBFC’s concrete paradise.Opportunities followed, one on the form of Kylia...
2023-11-2154 min
NPLH Studio32. Matthew DingleWith today’s countless avenues into a photography career Matthew Dingle's journey began in the somewhat traditional, all-American surrounds of his high school newspaper.What was initially an excuse to get out of class quickly became a conduit to his creative side, exposing a career path worth pursuing.Whilst COVID derailed plan A, it presented him with a Plan B. Fast-forward a few short years and Matthew regularly finds himself on the touchline of Atlanta United’s Mercedes-Benz stadium, as well as on the inside of Arsenal’s most recent US tour....
2023-11-141h 04
NPLH StudioPhil GallowayArtist Phil Galloway details his early career in the education system and how, despite the sense of fulfilment in having a meaningful impact brought, there was an underlying feeling he should be doing something else. A drunken twitter rant would set the wheels of change in motion and a supportive family, paired with an inner desire to not be left with a feeling of regret, saw his dream edge closer to reality.A client list including Nike, BT Sport, Puma and Bleacher Report to name just a few suggests any threat of a ‘wha...
2023-11-071h 07
NPLH StudioDave FlanaganDave Flanagan walks us through his first job as an illustrator, which just happened to be with his boyhood club and how, Obsessed with two things as a kid, football and art, it was perhaps inevitable the two would eventually cross.He shares how experimenting during some pandemic enforced downtime resulted in the holy grail of commissions with Nike, how and where he finds inspiration, the Importance of creating something different, and the difficulty of doing so in an increasingly competitive landscape.Dave has enjoyed a long career working with some big clubs...
2023-10-311h 03
NPLH StudioMike CarranzaMulti-faceted Californian creative Mike Carranza shares his gratitude for the parents who gave him the freedom to explore a career path no one in his family had trodden and how his successes in the industry have inspired those around him to tread a similar path themselves. He explains how timing, dealing with failure, and being ready for opportunity took him from a $60 pay check to a client list boasting Adidas, Umbro, and MLS.Mike opens up on his his introverted nature, how it conflicts with his role as a photographer, and what he’d b...
2023-10-2454 min
NPLH StudioJeremie RoturierPhotographer Jeremie Roturier explains how it was never his goal to become one but how, driven by a passion to share the game as he sees it, he found himself working with hometown club FC Annecy, collaborating with the French Football Federation, and feeling the intensity of Marseille’s Velodrome during a Coupe de France shock. Believing there’s more to the bright lights of elite-level football, Jeremie documents the realness and rawness of the game’s lower reaches and long-forgotten pitches, and uses his creativity as a vehicle to create connection, extending beyond football to the une...
2023-10-1759 min
NPLH StudioPete MartinCreative Director Pete Martin walks me through his early obsession with football which led him from the touchlines of Bristol City’s Ashton Gate to his role as Creative Director of SoccerBible – via a brief stint at Adi Dassler's house!He speaks candidly on overcoming creative setbacks, the importance of openness and vulnerability, and his hunger to be the best in his field and what he feels is needed to achieve that. Enjoy the episode!____A quick reminder that NPLH is more than a podcast.Visit...
2023-10-101h 02
NPLH StudioNicole ChuiArtist Nicole Chui talks us through her introduction to embroidery and how it would serve not only as a creative outlet, but a tool for self-expression and, ultimately, pave the way for her career as an artist and collaborations with Adidas, Nike, and Manchester United to name a few.She shares the importance of community in her life, manifested in the form of Baesianz FC, a London-based team for women, trans, and non-binary people of Asian heritage, as well as overcoming lack of self-belief, trusting the mistakes, and being grateful for family.--
2023-10-031h 07
NPLH StudioMarcus MarrittThis week I speak with illustrator, Marcus Marritt. Marcus speaks with pride and passion of his role as a goalkeeper and the responsibilities that come with it, seeing it as a means to act selflessly and be of service to others on the field, mirroring his approach to life off of it. We also touch on his family heritage, passion for cinematography and its influence on his artistic style, and the importance of spending as much time as you can doing what makes you feel good. Enjoy! Hosted...
2023-09-2649 min
NPLH StudioSoho WarriorsI'm joined by the founding General's of Soho Warriors, Matt and Chris Dent. They walk me through the origins and inspiration behind England's first creative football club, it's role in their lives, how it provides a welcoming community for its players and, coupled with a display of supreme self-belief, opened the doors to Dent Studio: asked during a potentially career-defining pitch whether they backed themselves to "get this done", they answered "Yes" and haven't looked back. Enjoy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2023-09-1954 min
NPLH StudioJared SoaresThis week I speak with Jared Soares. Jared details the injury which took him away from the game that had dominated his life, the change of direction towards photography, influenced by his mum, and how, via publications such as Time Magazine, the New York Times, and many others his second love would eventually lead him back to his first, as a photographer, story teller and now, Creative Director of Virginia Dream. Enjoy! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2023-09-1257 min
NPLH StudioMike Miles-BoardmanI speak with Mike Miles-Boardman, illustrator and founder/director of Visually Speaking, and my old team mate!Mike walks me through the early days of his career, when you could swap a pint for a job at Reebok, the route to his current position, and touches on some of the personal hurdles worked through along the way. All things I should really have been aware of given I've known him for 14 years.We cover a lot, from self-worth and finding alignment to career wins, and the losses. It went where it went which...
2023-09-0554 min
NPLH StudioWillem de KamThis week I'm joined by Dutch photographer, Willem de Kam. Willem shares how pursuit of a career in graphic design indirectly guided him towards photography, the importance of both building trust and showing respect in the success of his Feyenoord projects, and expresses gratitude for the unexpected doors his camera has opened. Enjoy! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2023-08-2953 min
NPLH StudioMark JohnsonThis week, I speak with leading creative, Mark Johnson. Mark talks us through his route into the profession and takes us on a wander through his imagination, giving an insight into the processes behind some of his most impressive work, including the one that had him hoping the Police didn't pass by! Enjoy! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2023-08-2253 min
NPLH StudioPatrycja JerzakIn this episode I speak with a triple threat in footballer, photographer, and Football is Everywhere co-founder, Patrycja 'Pato' Jerzak. We discuss life as a player, recovering from long term injury, creating meaningful content, both building and immersing herself in community, and more. Enjoy! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2023-08-1551 min
NPLH StudioRobby SmuklerI'm joined by Icarus FC founder, Robby Smukler. Robby talks us through the childhood curiosity that planted the seeds of this unique jersey brand, turning his passion into a full-time business, the challenges it brings, how overcoming them builds confidence, and why community is at the brands core. Enjoy! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2023-08-0851 min
Bite-Sized Business LawJoseph Sponholz on Maximizing Corporate Performance and Other Lessons from the OutbackToday we sit down with Joseph Sponholz, Fordham Law alumnus (‘97) and partner at L.E.K. Consulting, to talk about a question applicable to companies of all sizes: how to make the most of the current moment in the corporate landscape. Before taking up his roles as Managing Director, Partner, and Head of Major Capital Projects at L.E.K. in Australia, Joe practiced law in the U.S. where he represented professional sports, and then as a high-level advisor in the business world. Joe shares insights about his career path, current position and location in Sydney, his role as...
2023-07-1150 min
NPLH StudioEditor's noteAs the second half of 2023 begins I reflect on the first, who I've spoken with, and what I've learned about them and from them.I'm pressing pause but will be back on Tuesday 8 August. See you then. JF Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2023-07-0409 min
NPLH StudioNeil JamiesonIn this episode I speak with my NPLH collaborator Neil Jamieson, the creative mastermind behind The Sporting Press.We touch on his early career in publishing, his role as Creative Director of ESPN – and its impact – as well as the formation of Sporting Press, and the fulfilment it brings – even though he's pretty much given up on sleep!The nicest, and busiest man in showbiz.Enjoy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2023-06-271h 26
NPLH StudioMatt BrackenMatt Bracken is founder of both the Wild and Free Foundation (WFF), a non-profit organisation founded in 2014 whose mission is to create increased goodwill for rhino conservation by empowering youth and communities through sport and economic opportunitiesIn 2016, the Rhino Cup Champions League was formed to help with that mission – a story we told in Issue 9: Divine Intervention (2021)Matt runs us through the tournaments growth and impact on Mozambique and beyond in the two years since we spoke. It's grown!Enjoy! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy fo...
2023-06-2059 min
NPLH StudioTagwa MoyoTagwa Moyo is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Darby Magazine, the indie platform shining a light on football in Canada and North America. We discuss the brands origins, the challenges and responsibilities that come with it, what's next and more. Enjoy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2023-06-1353 min
NPLH StudioNaomi AccardiNaomi Accardi is an industry leading multi-disciplined creative. She shares the origins of her love for Inter Milan, how her childhood influences gave her the confidence to pursue her own creative desires and how meeting a lack of professional fulfilment, coupled with an element of opportunity guided her towards her true calling at the intersection of football and fashion. Enjoy! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2023-06-061h 16
NPLH StudioLucas Capozzi-ShanksLucas Capozzi-Shanks is a New York based Creative Director turned North American soccer anthropologist.This year saw the Tens Club founder make a creative pivot with Scenes NY. Lucas tells us why that was important to him on a personal level, the never ending learnings that have come from launching a clothing range (check out those shorts!), why and when it's important to make changes in your creative output, and more.Enjoy! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2023-06-021h 07
NPLH StudioGiacomo CosuaIn this episode I speak with Italian photographer, Giacomo Cosua. We touch on many points of a career that grew from dreams of life as a journalist in his hometown of Venice and has taken him from the red carpets of the city's film festival to the touchlines of Serie A, first with Venezia and now current champions, Napoli – via an unexpected encounter with Japanese whalers in the Antarctic!Enjoy! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2023-05-261h 05
NPLH StudioSam RichardsonIn this episode I speak with Sam Richardson, Senior Visual Designer of The Athletic. We discuss his early and humbling introduction to the industry, aswell benefit from his advice for anyone taking their firsts steps, as a designer or otherwise.After overcoming the twin shock of learning Sam isn't in fact American, but has ended the unofficial 5 year ban on anything Spurs related appearing in NPLH, I enjoyed learning of his approach to failure and creative blocks that, I believe, could be helpful to anyone. Enjoy! Hosted on...
2023-05-191h 03
NPLH StudioDevin L'AmoreauxIn this episode I speak with US photographer, Devin L'AmoreauxWe work through his early days in the profession to pitch side at the World Cup final in Qatar, somehow touching on Frank Ocean and Justin Bieber along the way.Devin shares what it takes to reach the top of the game, displaying an enviable self-confidence in the process. At the heart of it all though, is an appreciation of the life he finds himself in and an understanding that ultimately, beyond the photographs and the elite athletes, it's all...
2023-05-031h 28
NPLH StudioSonya KondratenkoSonya Kondratenko is one of football's leading creatives. We discuss perfectionism, finding acceptance in the creative process, her route into the game and more. Enjoy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2023-04-191h 11
NPLH Studio07. Lee NashI speak with Glory Magazine co-founder and Creative Director, Lee Nash on the challenges of running a magazine, the lessons that come with it and why we do it at all. Lee also explains the decision-making behind the controversially received Qatar issue and emotional impact of the stories covered both there and in war-torn Ukraine. Subscribe to our newsletter here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2023-04-051h 00
NPLH StudioLouis Wickett-PadghamLouis Wickett-Padgham dedicates both his working and personal lives to those with learning disabilities. A path which lead to the formation of Southwark Stars Disability FC. You can donate to the club here https://southwarkstars.co.uk/donate/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2023-03-2245 min
NPLH StudioEthan WhiteEthan White is a former MLS footballer (Philadelphia Union, DC United, NYC FC) turned photographer and creative director.We discuss his early career as an athlete, the harsh realities that came with it, and the teenage passion that provided a fulfilling life outside of it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2023-03-0852 min
NPLH StudioKyle MartinoKyle Martino is a former USMNT midfielder turned entrepreneur. Having founded The Over Under Initiative, a non-profit dedicated to improving access to sport in urban neighbourhoods, Kyle believes he's making more of an impact than would have been possible had he been successful in his bid for the US Soccer presidency in 2018, and it's hard to argue. At the route of his motivation to bring the beautiful game to the masses across the United States, is a boy who just loves playing. I hope you enjoy our conversation.
2023-02-2249 min
NPLH StudioAleksandar JasonAleksandar Jason is the current photographer of A League side, Melbourne City. In 2022 he travelled to Qatar to document his beloved Socceroos and counts New Balance and Cult Kits amongst a glittering list of clients. We discussed his early steps in the industry, what it takes to stay at the top of it, and more. Enjoy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2023-02-0859 min
NPLH Studio02. Jon CrossI first spoke with Jon for the ninth issue of NPLH Magazine, back in October 2020. The focus of that conversation was Kennedy Park FC, the community pickup team formed by Jon and friend, Hany, in the Portland area of Maine, New England, on a patch of concrete normally occupied by basketball players.In this conversation, we touch on Jon's life leading up to his arrival in Maine: the early promise of childhood and the pressures of following full scholarship-achieving siblings, recreational drug use leading to an addiction that took him away from the game, recovery, football's...
2023-01-2552 min
NPLH Studio01. Matthew BarrettHello, I'm Joseph Fordham, and this is 'NPLH in conversation with...', the podcast where we speak with interesting and influential people within the football landscape.In this episode I speak with Matthew Barrett, co-founder of Goal Click, the social platform inspiring understanding of one another through football. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2023-01-0947 min
NPLH StudioAlyse LaHue, General Manager of NJ/NY Gotham FC (NWSL)NJ/NY Gotham FC General Manager, Alyse LaHue, joins Charlotte Dukes to discuss building trust with the clubs local communities of New York and New Jersey, and the hard conversations that came with it, female representation in managerial positions, the continued growth of NWSL throughout the pandemic, and more.
You can follow @gothamfc on Instagram and Twitter
Interview by Charlotte Dukes Tw: @charlvtte
Visit nplhmag.com for online features and details of our printed magazine
2021-03-3038 min
NPLH StudioRomina Calatayud, Founder and CEO of Girls United FARomina Calatayud is the Founder and CEO of Girls United FA, a non-profit organisation bridging the gap between sport and education. Romina talks us through the formation of the organisation and rapid growth, why it's important to follow the causes you believe in, and what's next.
You can follow @girlsunitedfa and @romina.calatayud on Instagram and Twitter
Interview by Charlotte Dukes Tw: @charlvtte
Visit nplhmag.com for details on our printed magazine
2021-02-1743 min
NPLH StudioRomina Calatayud | Founder & CEO of Girls United Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2021-01-2544 min
NPLH StudioJames Grimes | Founder, The Big Step Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2020-11-3036 min
NPLH StudioCeylon Andi Hickman, Head of Impact & Female at Football Beyond BordersSpeaking to Charlotte Dukes, Ceylon Hickman discusses her journey through the grassroots landscape and into an elite centre of excellence, the impact of its closure on her life and her subsequent route back into the game, both as a player and through her pivotal role working with young people for the charity Football Beyond Borders.
2020-11-2552 min
NPLH StudioCeylon Andi Hickman | Head of Impact & Female Participation, Football Beyond BordersThis episode was recorded and published in November 2020 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2020-11-2352 min
NPLH StudioJames Grimes, founder of The Big StepDavid Bevan speaks with James Grimes, founder of the anti-gambling harm campaign group, The Big Step. James speaks openly of his route to addiction, the defining moment of it, and how he has rebuilt his life since. Teaming with Gambling With Lives, James is now tackling the influence of gambling sponsorship with football, head-on.
2020-10-1136 min
NPLH StudioKaren Dobres, elected Director of Lewes FCCharlotte Dukes speaks with Lewes FC Co-Director, Karen Dobres, about her unorthodox journey into football and her tireless efforts for equality within the game, both on and off the pitch.
2020-10-0553 min
NPLH StudioKaren Dobres | Director, Lewes FCThis episode was recorded and first published in October 2020 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2020-10-0553 min