EAT PRAY BALL

Pro soccer player Emmo Lawrence (@emmo_l) breaks down the curious gap in generational talents on the US Men's Soccer Team between 2015 and 2020 that led to their absence in the 2018 World Cup.

Back with the first podcast after my trip to Qatar for the World Cup and that is the topic of conversation today as @jorgioblamo, @theleandre, @emmo_l and I just finished watching the final before recording this episode. We go everywhere from who the actual G.O.A.T. is and what his legacy leaves as well as a healthy Ronaldo vs Messi vs Mbappe debate before giving our analysis of the game. Should that first PK have been given? We slow down some video footage, so you tell us. we finish off putting together a World Cup XI starting team that is pretty interesting. You don't want to miss, tap on in!

@00kd1 & @theleandre join us in the studio to talk all things world cup. It is night 3 of the tournament and the night before I fly out to the middle east so the energy is particularly elevated on this episode as we talk about the latest story lines of the tournament including match reactions for USA vs Wales and England vs Iran, injuries to more stars, the best kits of the tournament and more. Tap in!

@p.rose__ joins us in the studio along with @_brandon_bell, @jorgioblamo and myself to illuminate us on the great work he is doing at @blackstarsoccer_ making soccer more accessible to underserved communities. We also discuss Ronaldo's latest interview with Piers Morgan clearly wanting out of his situation at Manchester United. This is a great episode, TAP IN!

The OG Noho Bro @jay_jay_210 joins us today to talk his Arsenal talk and as much shit as we give the gunners they deserve their flowers now for their current play and position at the top of the premier league table. Other highlights include LAFC's MLS Cup final, Gerard Pique's retirement and where he leaves his legacy and a few hot takes on the best Brazilian players. TAP IN

 @scsharif_ joins us in the studio for the first time in years to talk about his favorite club, Dortmond, the great players they've produced and their current form playing at some of the biggest clubs around the world. We check in on Erling Haaland's latest injury as well as the growing number of players missing out on the world cup so far. Liverpool's decline is our hottest topic and how important of a role Mane's departure played in their current form. Fun, energetic show today TAP IN!

 @jorgioblamo and I are talking all things Man United today after their latest clash with my team, Chelsea. Ronaldo walking off the field and getting suspended for the latest game, Erik Ten Haag's coaching style, Varane's injury and his chances to play in the world cup and more. I finish off this episode with a little teaser of whats ahead for my trip to Qatar for the 2022 world cup. TAP IN!

 @ash_austin joins us from Houston to talk about his team, Arsenal's, success and depth or lack thereof. We also talk about the status of the Ballon D'or these days, Mbappe's new girlfriend, Mason Greenwood's future and more. Don't let the title of the episode throw you off, if you don't already know how we feel about Everton football club at the moment see what we have to say about them at the end of the show.

Welcoming @_Brandon_Bell in the studio for the first time as he describes to us his nomadic upbringing and its influence on developing his passion for soccer. He, @jorgioblamo and I also discuss feeding into the various sports systems in America as high schoolers and dealing with the politics that surround it, and parlay that discussion into the coaches and players at the professional level and the personalities that need to be managed.

Back after a long Hiatus, we're on the road to the 2022 world cup this winter in Qatar. @jorgioblamo joins me in the studio to talk Portugal, Brazil and other world cup favorites.

Back with our first podcast of 2022 and we are back scrutinizing one of my favorite players, Neymar. Fresh off the new release of his 3 part docu-series, Neymar: The Perfect Chaos @jnogueradevers, @gianinni and I review the series and compare what we saw to our expectations. Make sure to subscribe to never miss an episode of EPB.

 Just ahead of a finals filled weekend with both the Copa America, featuring a Neymar led Brazil team playing at home against Messi's Argentina, and the European Championship seeing hosts, England, face off against Italy @jorgioblamo, @gianinni, @ash_aust1n, @iamthomaspierce and I chat about whether this weekend means anything to most Americans.  We also give predictions on the upcoming games and discuss the huge role race plays in our support of teams and players.  Tap in, this is a fun one.

 Back after a month hiatus ahead of the coldest soccer summer since 2016!  We got the gang in the studio (@jorgioblamo, @gianinni, @jay_jay_210 and @chanogram_) talking European Championship and Copa America predictions as well as whats next for the USA in world cup qualifying and the importance of Oliver Giroud's French legacy. Tap in with us!  

With a crazy announcement on Sunday regarding 12 top European teams signing on to a plan to create their own midweek competition that would rival the UEFA Champions League I sit down with @bennettwolin, @jorgioblamo & @ash_aust1n to get reactions and clarification on what this European Super League would mean in the world of Soccer.

On this episode I sit down with two young players with professional aspirations who are currently members of the LAFC Academy team. @lafc10justinprada, @lucabombino and I chat about their upbringing, their journey and how they stay focused as Covid protocols have kept them away from competition for over a year. Before that chat though, in the first 35 minutes I catch up with the usual suspects, @don_ohanian, @jay_jay_210, @jorgioblamo and a new comer to the podcast, @el_mateo as we analyze the current handball rule, and Zlatan's latest comments about athletes in politics. This episode is a fun one, make sure you SUBSCRIBE to catch all these conversations the moment they drop!!

Champions League is Back!  Apologies for this episode title's misdirect but there was a brief moment tonight where we came to the mutual conclusion that Serena Williams is the GOAT of all sports goats and thought it necessary to stamp in the the title of the show.  Highlights of tonights episode are as follows:Top games of the week:Tottenham vs EvertonKlopp conceding the Prem with 13 games left?Everton have city midweek then Liverpool this weekend, can they stay top 8?Players to highlight:Aubamayang (first hattrick this weekend)Bryan Reynolds (FC Dallas defender transferred for record fee)Neymar (injured at the wrong time again🤦🏽‍♂️Top UCL games to watch out for:PSGxBARÇA (TOMORROW)Athletico x Chelsea (next week)Atalanta  x Real Madrid (next week)Rb Leipzig x Liverpool (all Liverpool has to play for)Sevilla x Dortmund (probably a good underrated game)Porto x JuveLazio x BayernCity x Monchengladbach 

Back in 2021 like we never left and with a brand new guest; @doctorJayWest, a Chelsea fan living in San Francisco joins us and gives great insight as we discuss the following topics:Top games of the week: Tottenham vs LiverpoolLeeds vs Leicester Milan vs InterTeams making/losing progress:ManU (starting to play well)Chelsea? (New coach/playing style)PSG (New coach)Liverpool (looking dominant again)Players to highlight:N'dombele (been balling)Garreth Bale (time for an MLS move?)Thiago Alcantara (how important is he?)Hot topic:  Should social platforms do something about racist comments? If so then what?This after Martial, Tuanzebe, Romaine Sawyer and Reece James shared screen shots of monkey emojis and racial abuse this week.Kit Drip Wars:PSGs New Jordan 4th kit vs Club America's new 3rd kit.

 Here's a question for you; Should Lionel Messi continue to be apart of the G.O.A.T. conversation?  @don_ohanian, @jorgioblamo and I give our brief and very unanimous take on that question while also discussing the state the teams we support respectively, what players we would take from Arsenal (if any) and a couple trips down soccer memory lane.  Also, during the second half of tonight's pod, I give my thoughts on the PSG vs Basaksehir situation and the state of racism in the sport of soccer. 

We're back fresh off a 2 week hiatus @iamthomaspierce, @ash_aust1n, @chanogram and I talk premier league for the first half hour - you know the usual; what's wrong with Arsenal, the unsung greatness of Olivier Giroud and the proliferation of Jose Mourinho's Tottenham.  The second half of tonight's podcast focuses on a conversation around the realities of Covid-19.  Thomas and Juan both share personal stories about their own battles with the virus.  Check it out! 

It's the last international break of the year and Jorge (@Vincentiasfilho), Dale (@daleelliotjr) and I discuss the countries and players that have the best chance of winning the next European and World Cup competitions. Between Jorge and Dale's obsession with Ricardo Quaresma or the search for the next great German number 9, there are a lot of fun questions to unpack this week. But the biggest question of them all is if any Brazilian stars can maintain their greatness after the age of 28? We couldn't prove Dale wrong in this episode but maybe you can. Check it out and hit us on the Eat Pray Ball social handles to let us know what you think!

 Tonight's podcast conspicuously lacks the presence of any Arsenal supporters.  After that 3-0 defeat to Aston Villa it's easy to understand why but it still doesn't stop @chanogram_, @vincentiasfilho and I from roasting them.  Tap in as we talk about that and top takeaways from the last week of football.

Today's podcast title is a bit misleading.  We probably talk about Dele Alli for all of 5 minutes but it should serve as a notice that we really do not see a future for him at Spurs and we would really like to see him land on a team that can actually benefit from his skillset.  On today's episode we focus on voting for the first half as it is one day before the 2020 presidential election.  And for the second half of this podcast we discuss key takeaways from Arsenal vs. Manchester United, the state of two Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona and the hilarious video of Thierry Henry coaching that is going viral. 

On tonight's episode we welcome our newest guest, @don_masaki, an AC Milan fan who has been patiently waiting the Italian giants' return to glory. Together with @ash_aust1n, @vincentiasfilho, @iamthomaspierce & @daleeliottjr we are talking strikers - true number 9's - Lukaku vs. Zlatan! Touching on all of the games from the past week and giving predictions for the upcoming Champions League fixtures. Tap in!

Sitting down with the boys @iamthomaspierce and @vincentiasfilho to talk about the most recent international break and some of the new look teams we saw filled with young talent.  It begs the question; what is our obsession with the next new player?  Has sports and international Soccer always been like this or has the interest on very young talent heightened because of the access we have to players around the world?  Welcome to Eat Pray Ball on another beautiful Monday. Tap in!   

 Just when you thought Man United had the worst week, Liverpool take 7 from Aston Villa!  Tonight we welcome in our newest NoHo Bro, @daleelliottjr, as we talk games and other highlights from the last week of soccer, transfer deadline and the teams who need players.  And stick around for the last segment of the show, we have a discussion on the cultural and regional nuances of the N-Word. @eatprayball  @iamthomaspierce  @vincentiasfilho   @chanogram_  @jay_jay_210  @Ash_Aust1n 

 We have a team of podcasters in today to talk about all the soccer they've watched this past week and the team (or teams) they support.  Can't you only support one team?  We'll talk about that, the effect soccer and sports in general have on pop culture and more. @eatprayball  @iamthomaspierce  @vincentiasfilho   @chanogram_  @jay_jay_210  @Ash_Aust1n 

If you could pay a subscription to watch all of your favorite team's matches would you?  @ash_aust1n and I have been streaming games on different apps for the last decade and on this episode we are talking sports TV contracts and the best ways to stream your games.  Tap in!

Hella soccer topics tonight but we are going to start briefly with how normalized it is to see blatant signs of racism throughout the entire organization of the NFL including the fan base.  It makes me question my own excitement in the fact that the games are finally back.  The English Premier League is also back and we discuss our initial reactions from the first round of matches this opening weekend. Other highlights include:Neymar switching from Nike to PumaCristiano Ronaldo’s Prolific international goal recordKarim Benzema’s legacy as a top striker and what could have been with FranceThe Young American Players Making their mark on the world. Another day kicking it with the Noho Bros, Tap in! Open Audio in New Window

Back for the first episode of this crazy year and it might be the last day of sports in America.  Linked up with my partners, @iamthomaspierce, @vincentiasfilho and @ash_aust1n to discuss our continued exhaustion from the relentless displays of Police Brutality and Racism in America and its ripple effect into world sports.  BLACK LIVES MATTER FOREVER  

Happy New Year my PEOPLE! Before the new decade of 2020 is upon us we must get together one last time to discuss the best players and teams of the decade.  Hopped on Facetime with my boys @jay_jay_210 and @ash_aust1n to finish the year with laughs and good debates.  Open Audio In New Window

Champions League is back and we have a question... Is Zidane anything without Cristiano?  Tonight we discuss other Champions League reactions, Callum Hudson-Odoi's new $150k contract at Chelsea while Pulisic gets no PT, Barcelona's best 11, and the best streaming service to watch games in the US. You're now tuned in.Open Audio In New Window

Should the MLS have playoffs?  Tonight we open with Wayne Rooney's complaints about MLS and Jarred's good idea for what the MLS should do with playoffs.  We also talk about the international break, Neymar's comeback and give predictions on the best teams to win the Euros.  Oh and the Prem is back this weekend! Check us out!Open Episode in New Window

The founders Burbank FC join us for this very special 50th episode!Highlights Include:• Burbank FC - Starting and growing a soccer club and culture in the United States.• Reactions to Eric Cantona's hilariously awkward President's Award speech. • Is David Beckham Overrated?• Our guests name their top 5 strikers of all time.• "Who said dat shit?!" Pep Guardiola or Jose Mourinho • Best groups of the Champions League Draw Ep. 50 (Full Audio) HERE

We got pro soccer player Hailey Harbison (@harbisonhailey) of the North Carolina Courage joining us on the show today!  Hailey signed her first contract last year just before tearing her ACL and joins us to talk about her recovery and what it takes to be a pro.Other Highlights include:Ousmane Dembele - Does he have the right mentality to reach his potential?Big Bet of the Week (25:20) - Will Lacazette start against Liverpool?Young and Hungry - We talk about some top young players to look out for.Favorite team predictions - Liverpool vs Arsenal, Chelsea vs Norwich Episode 49 (Full Audio) Here

La Liga and Serie A start today and Jarred is still yammering on our podcast about how great Toni Kroos is 🙄🙈Special guest @sc_sharif11 joins us for a fun episode where we discuss his top 5 greatest soccer clubs of all time.Other Highlights include:• Top young prospects who never lived up to the hype• Ballon D'or Nominees announced, CR7, Messi & Van Dijk; who should win?• Where to for Neymar; Madrid or Barcelona?• Fifa 20 Looks Amazing

Gearing up for the Prem and we're talking last minute transfers.  Is David Luiz a snake or what?Other Highlights Include:• Same teams new look - How will Arsenal, Chelsea and Man United lineup this weekend• Put some 'Spek on his name - Toni Kroos; legend or good player on great teams?• La Liga - Athletico and Barca looking strong, what about Madrid?Ep. 47 (Full Audio) Here

Matthijs De Ligt Finally Signs for Juventus, but he could've actually gone anywhere, was this a good choice?Today we are talking all things soccer transfers leading up to the start of the season.Highlights Include:• Antione Griezmann      - Is he a headline player?      - Does he start over Suarez• Barça offer $100mil + 2 player to PSG for Neymar - Which players would you pick?• Athletico Madrid Transfers      - Kieran Trippier for £20mil; strange move or makes sense? - Expectations for young Portuguese star Jao Felix at Athletico?• Predictions for Lampard's Chelsea side this season.• Who are the best young English prospects - are they getting paid too much?• Takefusa Kubo - Madrid's new wonder kid signing, is he the real deal or all cap?• Squads most likely to win the Prem & Champions League?Ep. 46 (Full Audio) Here

Hop out that Rari poppin' them perks...We are casting to you fresh off of the intense semi-final matchup between the United States versus England in the World Cup and the Copa America grudge match between Brazil and Argentina.  Joined today by our friend @ash_aust1n, we're discussing what to expect next year from the top European clubs.Other Highlights include:• Summer Signings & Renewed Contracts - Is Marcus Rashford worth €200k a week? - Which teams need new coaches? - Which is a better team for Mbappe, Juventus or Real Madrid?• Kit Drip - We name some Godfathers of on field Drip• What's Next for Neymar?  - His career could deteriorate in Paris but if he returns to Barça he proves he can't do it on his own, what's worse?• Copa America, World Cup & Gold Cup Reactions

Back again with so much to talk about from of all the great tournaments this summer.Today we welcome our guest, Roger Diaz, a fanatic of the game as well as a baller in his own right, who tells us his experience growing up in California playing soccer and joins us in a discussion about VAR and the FIFA definition of the offside rule.Other Highlights Include:•  Copa America - Why Japan and Qatar are randomly included in the South American Tournament - Argentina's Struggles•  Women's World Cup - Our take on the US's excessive celebrations -VAR: (18 reviews and 9 overturns so far in wwc)• Where to watch/ how we are watching all of the summer games - What channel / Platform is best?• Upcoming Matchups - USMNT vs Trinidad (Saturday 6/22 - redemption for US?) - France vs Brazil Women (Sunday 6/23) - USWNT vs Spain (Monday 6/24 - win or go home)• Debate: What is a striker?        - Does a player like Messi fit the role of a Striker        - What is the difference between a Forward and a Striker? Ep. 44 (Full Audio) Here 

Reactions from today's 2019 Europa League Final (mainly from our host Jarred, a pissed off Arsenal fan 😂)Other highlights include:- Transfer talk; the fate of Neymar, Pogba and other top players.- Ranking the top 5 clubs in the world and the top trophies in Europe.- Special guest call in from @Gianinni - Champions League predictionsEpisode 43 (Full Audio) Here

Has Champions League been nuts since it's been back or what?!!Today we're discussing what defines a legend of the game. How big is the list to you?Other Highlights include:•  Champions League reactions: Madrid and PSG out•  Re[al]building: What's next for Madrid?•  Another Jarred fueled Arsenal Rant 🤣Ep. 42 (Full Audio)

Biggest question of the night... who would you rather have, Paul Pogba or Luka Modric?Other Highlights Include:• Jussie Smollett and Chicago PD• Best Winger in the world vs Best Forward, are the positions the same?• Chelsea woes: - Transfer Bans - Abramovich avoiding Great Britian  - Sarri's Future• Which players are stars, which ones are superstars?• Man United; built or bought?Ep. 41 (Full Audio) Here

Have you seen that series on Netflix called You? If not, you should watch it but for now, you'll be lost for the first 10 minutes of this podcast.  Go watch that shit!Other Highlights include:• Heavy midweek games; dropped points in Manchester• Poch's Comments about making the top 4, is he kind of right?• Notable January transfers, good moves or confused *ahem*Boateng Episode 40 Here (Full Audio)

Back in 2019 like we never left with one big question; are American's good at soccer?We discuss whether Christian Pulisic's $73 mil Transfer to Chelsea makes sense and whether or not him being from the States has anything to do with it.Other Highlights include:• Where to watch your favorite games• City v Liverpool:   - Game Reaction   - Jordan Henderson v Fabinho; Who would you start?   - Which team is more likely to drop points to low table teams?• Spending habits of the top 6 Clubs• Man United post Mourihno• KPMG's most valuable players list - Do you agree?• New Year's ResolutionsEpisode 38 (Full Audio) Here

Excuse the noise but we're podcasting live from a sports bar!!Live from The Fox and Hounds in Studio City we're talking soccer with passionate fans and watching one of the most exciting games in the Prem this year. Show Highlights:• Story of John: A disgruntled LA Galaxy fan switching loyalties to LAFC• Julian: An Arsenal fan who's been watching morning games in the pub for years• Debate: Who is the best left back in England?• Good conversation with Ash, a London born Liverpool fanEpisode 39 (Full Audio) Here