PillaTalk Podcast

It's been a tumultuous week for the National Women's Soccer League and currently, the league finds itself in need of direction. This week, Marisa Pilla sits down with former USWNT star and current Angel City part-owner Julie Foudy to discuss the status of the league, and what actionable change needs to happen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week's episode, former USMNT forward and current analyst Charlie Davies stops by to help preview the US's upcoming World Cup Qualifiers and shares his insight on what makes CONCACAF matches a different breed of competition. Come for the analysis, stay for the keys to making the perfect lockerroom playlist. LINKS: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marisa_pilla/?hl=en Twitter: https://bit.ly/3EYLykC TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@marisapilla? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Season 3 of PillaTalk kicks off with the only person that can make waking up early on a weekend morning worthwhile, NBC's Rebecca Lowe! Lowe shares her thoughts on the early Premier League season and hands out some disciplinary action towards soccer conversations she's not too happy with. Plus news and notes from the soccer world for the week of September 20th. Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After a standout rookie year in 2020, OL Reign forward Tziarra King is a star on the rise. She's one of the most engaging players both on and off the field and this week she sits down to discuss the lessons learned from her rookie season that coincided with a global pandemic, the inner workings of the OL Reign locker room, and what exactly goes into those game-day outfits. And yes, she IS as happy as she appears to be on social media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

She is the youngest on-air talent at Fox Sports covering everything from sports betting to the NFL, but Rachel Bonnetta got her start with Toronto FC after winning a Facebook contest of all things. This week, the incredibly talented and hilarious host sits down to talk about her unusual career path, the love she has for MLS fans, and how she became a Cleveland Browns fan. Sit back and enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Over the past few months, Manchester City goalkeeper Zack Steffen has made some memories that will for sure last a lifetime. His first Premier League start, his first Premier League win, and his first Premier League title. The Coatesville, PA native talks about his transition to Man City, the future of the USMNT, and shares his preference between playoffs and relegation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At just 10 years old, Mark McKenzie decided he wanted to be a professional soccer player in Europe. Fast forward just 12 years later and not only has McKenzie fulfilled that goal, but he also won a league trophy in his first season with Genk in Belgium. This week, the former Philadelphia Union defender talks about his experience abroad and how the sacrifices he made at an early age helped him reach new heights as a professional for both club and country. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sometimes it's hard to push yourself out of a comfort zone, especially when that comfort zone is the only team you've ever known in your career. After seven seasons with the Houston Dash, Kealia Watt decided to move away from friends and family to push herself to a new level with the Chicago Red Stars. As Watt begins her second season with Chicago she sat down to give her insight on the 2021 season, reminisce about just how far the league has come, and weigh in on who is the best athlete in her family. Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you're a fan of the NWSL or women's soccer in general, and really - why wouldn't you be, odds are you are familiar with Lynn Williams. Over her nine years in the NWSL she has excelled consistently and has become a regular feature for the USWNT. This week, Williams previews the upcoming 2021 NWSL regular season, dishes about her new podcast with national team teammate Sam Mewis, and looks ahead to the upcoming Olympics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

His voice is one of the most recognizable in the world of soccer and this week, Premier League play-by-play commentator Arlo White sits down to discuss everything from the dumpster fire that was the Super League, to his love for all things Americana, and even his desire for an Oasis reunion. And yes, Ted Lasso was discussed. Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Reigning MLS Coach of the Year Jim Curtin digs into what made the Philadelphia Union one of the best teams in MLS last year and how they can continue to raise the bar in 2021. Plus, is Philly really one of the toughest cities to play for? The Philly native shares his thoughts. And for the first time ever, we play Questions from a Hat sponsored by Talisman! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

He's been an MLS stalwart for over a decade, and now Dax McCarty shares what really went into his decision to join expansion side Nashville SC last season. With the 2021 MLS season set to begin this weekend, McCarty offers his vision for the team going forward and advice for young players in the league. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the season two premiere, Marisa is joined by one of the newest members of the Chicago Red Starts ownership group, ESPN broadcaster Sarah Spain. Sarah dives into her plans and goals for the Red Stars this year, challenging the status quo, and her ideal panel for Around the Horn. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After eight years in the NFL, former wide receiver Greg Camarillo learned first-hand how the label of "athlete" can be so deeply intertwined in your self-perception. Recently, Camarillo shared his thoughts about reforming his identity on Twitter, and his Tweets went viral. This week he shared his story about life in and after the NFL on PillaTalk. Now he sits down with Marisa Pilla to discuss life in and after the NFL. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At the ripe old age of 42, David Ayres made his NHL debut checking in for the Carolina Hurricanes who lost their two goaltenders to injury while playing up in Toronto. Enter Ayres, who helped Carolina secure a 6-3 victory and not only became the first emergency goaltender to win an NHL game, but also a living legend. Ayres sits down with Marisa Pilla to talk all about that whirlwind adventure and how his story has inspired a Disney movie. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From World Cups to Olympic Games to every single professional women's soccer league in the U.S., Lori Lindsey has certainly seen it all. This week on PillaTalk, Lindsey shares some of her favorite memories from her impressive career and even shares which current NWSL team she'd most want to join. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

He's known for his insightful and creative takes both on social media and television, and this week ESPN multi-platform host Mike Golic Jr shares all about his transition from the football field to the broadcast studio and everything in between. We also answer pressing questions like who would make the best NFL boy bad? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Dr. is in the house! One of the all-time greatest, Julius Erving stops by this week to take a look back at his 11-year professional career and share some of his insights on the current NBA season, like which current team he'd love to play for. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jordan Angeli was on the brink of making the USWNT, and then she tore her ACL for the third time in five years. Instead of using her injury as a setback, Angeli instead propelled herself forward into a successful broadcasting career. In this week's episode, Angeli dives into the process of mentally returning from an injury and how she came back better on the other side. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Two-time Pro-Bowler and former All-Pro running back Brian Westbrook was an integral part of the successful Philadelphia Eagle teams of the early 2000s. This week, Westbrook shares his insight on Tampa Bay's Super Bowl LV victory, gives his opinion on the Carson Wentz situation in Philly, and goes in-depth on some of his favorite moments as an Eagle (yes, including that 84-yard punt return). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To celebrate National Girls & Women in Sports Day this week, Marisa sat down with a trailblazing woman who helped paved the way for female sports journalists. Christine Brennan was the first woman to cover sports full-time for the Miami Herald, the first woman allowed in the Washington Football Team's locker room as a reporter, and the first president of the Association for Women in Sports Media. Brennan has covered everything from college football rivalries to summer and winter Olympics and in this week's episode, she shared some of her favorite memories from her impressive career.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chess. A mentally stimulating and frustrating game. Boxing. A physical competition where swift movements and anticipation are key. Put them together and you have a sport that pushes its athletes to reach all-new levels of mental and physical strengths. Chessboxing may still be a niche sport, but champion Matt Thomas is hoping his favorite hobby starts to enamor other athletes around the country who love to be pushed on the board and in the ring. Thomas shares his insights from his championship debut at the Chessboxing World Championship back in 2019, and his time spent on a little reality show called Love is Blind!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The NWHL is just days away from the start of their 2021 season which will operate in a bubble up in Lake Placid, NY. And to lead them into this excitement is newly-named NWHL commissioner Tyler Tumminia. Tumminia may have her roots in baseball, but she's focused on the ice right now - getting the NWHL up and running and making history along the way. For the first time ever, the NWHL will be televised live in the US by a major cable network with their semifinals and finals airing on NBC Sports! Tumminia shares her preparation for the bubble life and how important it is to get this league the audience it deserves.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

She's a fixture on the NFL Network, a football wiz, but more importantly, she's a Philly girl through and through. Colleen Wolfe brings her own style and flair to all of her productions, which is only exemplified by her killer sneaker collection. As a fellow Eagles fan, Wolfe breaks down the recent firing of head coach Doug Pederson and expands on some of the best storylines of the 2020 NFL season.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Vlatko Adonovski started his professional soccer career in the US playing indoor soccer and is now the head coach of the best national team in the world. With his eyes set on gold at this summer's Tokyo Olympics, Andonovski shares the areas where USWNT can improve, and what makes these athletes so remarkable.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

They are the hosts of their own MLS podcast, The Call Up, and they're also two of the most personable, relatable people in sports. Susannah Collins and Jillian Sakovits stop by PillaTalk to chat about all things soccer like Columbus winning the MLS Cup, how the pandemic has changed how we view our broadcasting jobs, and how soccer coverage could be a little more inclusive. Plus, Jill and Sus answer our 2020 crapshoot questions to wrap up this year!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

They're basically soccer broadcasting royalty, and in this episode, JP Dellacamera and Tommy Smyth share some of their favorite stories from their incredible careers that have spanned thousands of matches and almost three decades!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The master of the mute button himself, Tony Reali stops by PillaTalk to share all about how he went from Stat Boy to host of one of the most popular (and unique) sports debate shows on TV.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You've seen her on the sidelines, in the studio, and on the stand-up circuit - now Julie Stewart-Binks shares all about her career in broadcasting and how she's maintained a sense of variety (and creativity) in everything she does.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You've seen her on the sidelines for MLS on FS1 and now you can hear all about her journey through this crazy industry! Katie Witham is one of the most respected reporters in the world of soccer and gives insight on how she's gotten to this point in her career and shared some of her favorite moments along the way!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When it comes to the NWSL, Jasmyne Spencer has seen it all. No, really. She's been with the league since its inaugural season back in 2013 and has helped paved the way for what the league stands for now. Spencer's signature headband got a makeover for the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup that helped her use her platform to stand in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. Her passion for her team, the league, and the game, in general, is infectious. Hope you enjoy our conversation!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After being diagnosed with breast cancer at just 29 years old, professional soccer player Toni Pressley made her triumphant return to the game she loves only a few months after having a double mastectomy back in 2019. Now, Pressley has a new sense of resiliency and perspective that helped her navigate a complicated 2020 season.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

He's been the voice of the 76ers for the last 26 years and is one of the most beloved broadcasters in the city - this week Marc Zumoff sat down to talk all things 76ers and shared some of his favorite memories throughout the years.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When you look up "longevity" in the dictionary, odds are you may find Heather O'Reilly's picture. O'Reilly managed to have a prolific professional career that spanned almost two decades and featured Olympic gold medals and a World Cup championship. She and I sat down and talked through her entire career, what it was like to receive the proverbial torch from the 99'ers and how it felt to pass it on to the next generation of USWNT greats. Hope you enjoy our conversation!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Leadership is such a simple concept but really, one that is hard to define. In this episode of PillaTalk I sit down with Philadelphia Union captain Alejandro Bedoya as we break down what makes a good leader and how he has developed his leadership style over the years.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In my first episode, I catch up with two-time Olympic gold medalist and World Cup Champion, Carli Lloyd! Recovering from an injury and trying to navigate this new "normal" we all find ourselves in, Carli talks about where she sees her future headed, how she's viewed her career up to this point and answers the age-old question: who makes the best cheesesteak in Philly? Hope you enjoy!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices