FCFC Podcast | LAFC | It Never Rains LA

Raised in East Hollywood, multitalented musician, artist, and entrepreneur Shavarsh "Shavo" Odadjian describes his experiences growing up on North Kingsley Drive. We get into his experiences growing up Armenian-American in 80s and 90s Los Angeles, his long-distance skateboarding commutes to Venice, and, of course, his path to becoming the bassist and songwriter for iconic LA band System of a Down. Touching on how he's crystalizing his cannabis enthusiasm with his brand 22Red, we also get into how his LAFC-anthem "Reppin' The City" (ft. Cypress Hill & DJ Flict) came about and his future musical explorations with his North Kingsley project.

Yahoo Sportswriter Andy Deossa joins us in the backyard to give us insight on covering the LA sports scene as a Colombian American journalist. Andy mostly waxes poetic about his true love for Independiente Medellín and his unfortunate affections for Boston-area sports teams.

AC wanted this one bad. Over digital screens the young king from the valley walks us through a local POV of North Hollywood: restaurants, parks, kickbacks. Hosts go round table after that to detail journeys from cities on both coasts.

Doug of the District of Columbia joins us for a special "Supporters Across the Country" pod. We talk his independent supporter group for both the Washington Spirit and DC United ala the Rose Room Collective. Also discussed: Wazza's time in DC Juan Soto, and the advent of go-go.

To celebrate the launch of King Kendrick's new album (Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers), Slim, Spice, Dweez talk through their earliest Kendrick memories. Dweez flexes the fingers and the knowledge on the boards all night, so get ready for a look into Pg Lang on a music-heavy episode.

Battling jetlag and butter overconsumption, Spice returns from the city of love with stories of seeing Messi and eating croissants. Dweez also recounts a story where he ran alongside a tour bus for many miles because some French women waved at him.

Christian Lau joins us in the backyard to talk about the future of the stadium experience for LAFC and beyond.

@Rastagari brings the vinyl to the backyard to talk about DJing, growing up Belizean, and how he got his start with the 213 Tribe, Expo Originals, and the Black and Gold Viny Club. Also discussed: fit checks, adidas collabs, and the education sector in Los Angeles.

Designer, runner, cousin ,@thedirtyboy joins us in the backyard to discuss creating a race for LA, never paying for a marathon bib, and solutions for chaffing.

German from LAFC Bonestorm joins us in the backyard to talk about memes, his roots in Boyle Heights, and the role of politics in sports.

Atlanta holds a special place in our hearts as do the supporters we met there. Greggo of FTCUTD and Skye join us on virtual screens to talk through soccer in the South and how Black culture is shaping the beautiful game in both MLS and the NWSL.

Danny Chediak, founder of Third Rail NJ, joins us on the pod to regale us through drowning in champagne dreams in Portland after his beloved NYCFC won the MLS Cup. He also takes us through what support looks like without a stadium.

Long time listener, first time guest, Tetlo of the Krew, drops by the backyard and educates FCFC on the dark underworlds of professional running and LA real estate.

In this FCFC time capsule, our younger 2020 unvaccinated selves discuss what may lay ahead for this year and beyond. Tune in for an hour of wild, confusing, and downright irresponsible predictions on everything from the winner of Euro 2020 winner to if Frank Ocean would have no music by now.

Dr. Midnight (Ryan Wallerson) joins us via digital screen to take us back through his jaunt of the Europine continent while covering the Euros 2020/21 in Copenhagen. Welcome to study abroad with FCFC.

Dweez spent the summer away from his beloved cohosts Spice and Slim in Japan. Halfway through his trip he spent a week in Hiroshima, enjoying all the city had to offer from history to sports to culinary delights. Take a ride with Dweez and his host Ippei as they uncover what makes Hiroshima such a singular place and why you should pencil it in as a footballing destination to visit when you take your own trip to East Asia.

Mike Ramirez aka Deejaymike91 (@MichaelRamirezPhoto) brought his entourage to the backyard to discuss deejaying during the pandemic and what it's like being the tallest photographer in the North End.

We are honored to have the third 3252 President + VP (KC + Su) stop by the backyard for their first official State of the Union. We spill some tea and wine to talk 3252 priorities during their term, weird church Halloweens, and we end with a PSA from our new president to PUT YOUR PHONES AWAY when in the North End. Thank You.

On episode 101, Stadium Benny stops by the backyard to discuss what makes the great arenas across the world great. We hit him with a million questions on his own travels across the Middle East, Africa, and the bayous of New Orleans. ***Near the end of the epi, Benny lays down a challenge to the “Good People of Los Angeles”.

Thank you for sticking with us 100 times. The boys in the back talk through some of our favorite FCFC moments and plot the next hundred ahead.

Julio Soriano was a friend of ours who passed on to the next great footy field in the sky about two weeks ago. Always an avid listener of FCFC, he'd send us DMs talking through specific things he heard on the pod. After months of planning to get him on as a guest, it was all a wash. And then we found his blog. A 9-part look into “Why LAFC?”, “Why Los Angeles?”, “Why Julio?” — all the questions we would've asked had we had him in person. We're thankful for our brother's words. For our listeners, we hope you enjoy the Soccer and LA Chaos, as told by one Julio Javier Soriano. #JulioForever His blog entries about the club he loved is here: https://soccerandlachaos.blogspot.com/ The songs playing under his stories are from his playlist here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1cWwMIYYScOlctktUYZgba

From room 608 at the Hyatt Regency, we talk Atlanta: Away. In this episode, you'' find grades for 3252 traveling support, as well as the many strip clubs of Atlanta. And finally, we remember our friend, Julio, who tragically passed the weekend of the match. We love you, Julio. This is the first of many dedications to you.

FCFC family member, Alex Cervantes, stops by the loft to share new job tidings. We discuss the first tailgate back, what a full capacity life looks like, and reco some personal projects. Follow @proxywarpresents on IG ✨

Dweez is in Japan for an extended length of time so we brought in Benny Blanco (Dweez Cousin) to take us through his life-threatening accident that unlocked some new doors and perspective. Also, there's a scary fentanyl encounter.

Presenting a very special private shopping episode at Saturdays Football with our Patreon patrons! We talk to Michael, Max, Cam, Mat, Deech, Albert, Rastagari, Ben, and Edwin about kits they bought, kits they loved. AC also predicts Erling Haaland is coming home to LAFC.

Uli Roman, one of the great Los Angeles storytellers, joins us in the backyard to share soju and talk through the inspirations behind the kind of content we see from LAFC.

The Asian Avengers join us in the backyard to talk first Expo Original memories. The group discuss the Asian American supporter experience and what we can do to help Stop Asian Hate.

The FCFC Fashion episode brings together two seismic forces in menswear today. We welcome our friends Richard Brooks (@picturesinthemail) and Jason Soho Kim to the backyard to talk kits, supporting the homeys, and the beautiful world of brands.

Our friends Deech and Luis drop by the backyard to talk bikes, beers, and the butt muscles required to start a cycling club in the middle of the end of the world.

Hernan and Brian of the wildly popular channel WeAreAustinTV drop by the backyard just hours before their club’s first kickoff. They talk about footy culture inside the football church of Texas, their hopes and dreams for season 1, and extend an invite to the traveling Black and Gold in July.

The leaders of Rebellion 99 join us on digital screens to talk through the opening days of Angel City FC. Lindsay, Mane, and Tory get us up to speed on their football history, their relation to LA's beautiful game, and the need to fight today’s ugliness to keep tomorrow's romance for the beautiful game alive.

We welcome Mat Davis of @SaturdaysFootball on the pod just a couple weeks before the opening of the Saturdays Football Vintage Kit Shop and Clubhouse in Highland Park. Mat fills in some of our gaps in LA football history and talks about meeting Shakira at the Camp Nou.

This is a clip from our recording yesterday as we sat with the news of the hate crime mass shooting in Atlanta that left eight women dead, six of them Asian. We talk through America's history of violence against Asian folk and how we get this to stop. Please support the orgs doing the work for healing and justice: @CCEDLA, @hateisavirus, @aapiwomenlead, @advancingjustice_aajc Rest in Peace. We will not forget. Delaina Ashley Yaun Xiaojie Tan Daoyou Feng Julie Park Hyeon Jeong Park

Your favorite designer's favorite designer — we have LAFC Geoff on the pod to talk design inspiration behind our favorite visuals from the club. Geoff keys us on in some 2021 design rumors, getting DM'd by PSG, and his addiction to FUT.

We welcome Director and friend of the pod, Orson Oblowitz to talk about his upcoming film “The Five Rules of Success”. Orson talks about his love for the characters on Hollywood Blvd, directing English hardman Vinnie Jones, and undercover K-Town locales. 
 You can purchase a ticket to the drive-in premiere of his film at the Arena Cinelounge below: https://ticketing.uswest.veezi.com/purchase/5618?siteToken=3vp3z3atn89cgq5wy1xww9a1rc

Hana and Julie of @bulgogipod stop by to give Spice and Slim some much needed relationship advice. We talk VIA personality quizzes, self-love in the South Bay, and the green flags of quarantine dating.

Jerry, your host, your friend, your insider into all things podfathering, joins us over digital screens to recall some “Heart of LAFC” origin stories. We also get into Jerry’s new role at San Diego Loyal and talk about what would happen if his son ever began supporting Carson.

The woman behind the lens and editing suite of your favorite LAFC content joins us on the podcast. Lauren Terry talks goalie stories, the infamous staff game at the BaseLA, and a very special “save the date”.

This week we clink a virtual glass with footballer, podcaster, and reporter Christine Kwon. We discuss Bob Bradley's *alleged burner account, strong family calves, and how her playstyle is equal parts Iniesta and Son Heung Min.

Find the full audio from Keaton, Young Dweez and more FCFC goodies at patreon.com/fcfcpod

Keaton Michael Cashier, cannabis advocate, 42 Originals, owner of a home petting zoo joins us for FCFC 2021. We talk footy in the Valley, Keaton’s dartboard prowess, and the healing power of flower.

Join the FCFC family on a whiskey tour through the backwoods of Tennessee all the way to Scottish Highlands. Drink and talk all things booze with us and the North End's spirit shaman, Jonathan Reimer. Spirits in order of appearance: 1. Tennessee backwoods moonshine (any unflavored white whiskey from blended grains) 2. Yellow spot 12 year aged pure pot still Irish whiskey (any 12 yr pot still Irish whiskey) 3. Kilbrin Irish whiskey (any non-pot still Irish whiskey) 4. Col EH Taylor Kentucky Straight Bourbon (any Kentucky STRAIGHT Bourbon) 5. Col EH Taylor Straight rye (any straight rye) 6. Weller Special Reserve Wheated Bourbon (any wheated bourbon) 7. Mortlach 15yr Highland Single Malt Scotch (any 15 Speyside Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky) 8. Ardbeg Corryvwrecken Islay Single Malt Scotch (any Islay single malt scotch whisky)

Our first Korean language episode has Josh and Slim at wit’s end trying to translate the very meaningful Korean football experiences of the one, the only Hyuntae AKA @HarryPhoto_KR. Harry goes into detail on his previous life as kit man, club photographer, and team driver for the K-League 2 team: Bucheon FC and provides insight on the footy history of the Republic of Korea.

We are gathered here today for the union of two podcasts in the middle of another damn lockdown. The Defenders of the Banc graciously join us on Digital screens to talk origin stories, recommendations, and our fondest memories of Christmas Tree Lane. We also get to pay a small tribute to the late, great Diego Maradona. Make sure to catch Part 2 of our interview on the Defenders of the Band channel: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/defenders-of-the-banc-the-lafc-podcast/id1445820638

365 days ago, there was a fever dream to publish a podcast on Thanksgiving 2020 with all our best predictions for the upcoming year. For your listening pleasure, the FCFC Time Capsule. There are some things we got wrong. Some things we really right on, but at the end of the day, this was truly dumb af. Shouts to Dweez running the 100 he said he would, and AC moving into his own spot. And a very Happy Thanksgiving to you, our listeners.

Spice goes solo with this shotgun pod from the Mexico v Korea watch party this past weekend. From a safe social distance, we get insight from TSG’s diverse supporter base on the 3-2 result. Interviews include: Slim, Sujin, Brenda, Fernando, Ernie, Slippy, and Deech. Thank you to Biergarten for hosting.

Welcome to FCFC Book Club, a monthly discussion around an important book to the black and gold community. This week, our hosts come to terms with an Asian American Reckoning, as we discuss Cathy Park Hong’s “Minor Feelings”.

Off back-to-back LA championships, we decided to have Creepz and Jeremy, of Koreatown infamy, join us in the backyard for a night of Henny-drinking, koala-hating, and basking in the glow of a Dodgers chip. The guys run us through what Koreatown was like growing up, how Creepz got his name, and an FCFC exclusive on the next FC Dorsum collab. Raise your turkey legs to the sky, this one’s been a long time coming. For Creepz' hate-filled rant on Koala bears: subscribe to patreon.com/fcfcpod

He found the page. Our very first patron. The man responsible for the “Forever Faithful” banner holding it down in the North End, Formidable Fernando, joins us in the backyard. Fernando actually drove from his home of Palm Springs to join us in Expo Park to talk imposter syndrome, sneaking into Coachella, and how he became FCFC’s very first patron. Subscribe today: patreon.com/fcfcpod

On FCFC this week David Kim, Congressional Candidate for LA’s 34th District gets the backyard treatment. From a safe social-distance, we talk to David about righteous Korean rage, running a campaign during COVID, and the night he was moved to tears by his nomination to lead the MacArthur Park Neighborhood Council. November 3rd. Vote Local.

As we reach DEFCON levels of anxiety or apathy around election season, we have Jeff Weiss of theLand Magazine and writer Ben Grenrock to talk local FCFC issues. The two walk us through what’s at stake for the city of Los Angeles in this election both locally and nationally. Come with us to the voting booths as we work through some LA trauma. Stay Safe. Please Vote. + Support and read independent Journalism: theLAndmag.com Voter Guide: https://thelandmag.com/elections-2020-los-angeles-california-voter-guide/