In this episode of the One Soccer Nation Podcast, host Kareem Rae speaks with Bassam Naim, Director at ANB Futbol Academy, to discuss the remarkable 16-year journey of the ANB International ID Camp and its impact on Canadian soccer.Since 2006, ANB has been a bridge for youth players in Canada to gain international exposure, especially in Europe. Bassam shares how the camp was built to provide continuity, development, and global scouting opportunities—without requiring young players to travel abr...
Jul 09, 2025•6 min
In this exclusive episode of the One Soccer Nation Podcast, host Kareem Rae sits down with renowned international sports lawyer Enric Ripoll to explore the legal engine driving the world’s most popular game. With over 20 years of experience spanning Spain, Europe, and now the U.S., Enric shares his personal journey from the mountains of Spain to Miami’s legal scene, his role in the historic €222M Neymar-PSG deal, and why sports law is far more than just contracts and transfers. Key Topics Covere...
Jul 06, 2025•57 min
In this high-impact episode of The One Soccer Nation Podcast, host Kareem Rae connects with Jaime Domínguez, Director of Content and Communications at World Football Summit (WFS) — one of the premier global platforms for football business networking and thought leadership. Jaime shares his inspiring journey from cosmetics marketing to global football, detailing how a passion for the beautiful game led him to shaping the speaker lineups and programming at major events across Madrid, Hong Kong, Ne...
Jul 05, 2025•49 min
Welcome back to The One Soccer Nation Podcast, sponsored by ConFut USA! In this powerful episode, host Kareem Rae sits down with Nathan Krum, Vice President of Marketing and Sales at Miami FC (USL Championship), to explore the future of soccer in the U.S. and the club’s bold $272 million mixed-use development project in Homestead, Florida. Nathan shares: His 20+ year journey in sports, from internships to NASCAR to USL Insights on Miami FC’s $272M multi-sport performance hub The club’s strategy ...
Jun 20, 2025•43 min
In this episode of The One Soccer Nation Podcast, host Kareem Rae sits down with Rodrigo Grillo, a rising sports legal professional from Brazil, to explore how passion, persistence, and purpose led him from Brazil, São Paulo to the University of Miami School of Law. Rodrigo shares his journey of transitioning from estate planning in Brazil to pursuing his dream of working in global sports law. He discusses why Miami is uniquely positioned as a growing international hub for sports, the difference...
Jun 20, 2025•31 min
In this episode of the One Soccer Nation Podcast, host Kareem Rae sits down with Antonio Paz, Vice President of Business Development at Absolute Sport, a global soccer travel company specializing in unforgettable fan experiences across the world's biggest football events. Antonio shares: His incredible journey attending 10 consecutive FIFA World Cups From Maradona’s iconic 1986 win to Messi’s historic 2022 triumph What it’s really like to attend a World Cup match vs. club matches like MLS or EPL...
Jun 20, 2025•15 min
In this powerful episode of the One Soccer Nation Podcast, co-host Channing Chasten sits down with longtime friend and former teammate Ryan Flood, a professional footballer currently with Phoenix Rising FC. Ryan opens up about his unique journey—bypassing college to chase a professional career, developing his craft across continents in Brazil, Japan, Ireland, and the USL Championship, and overcoming the emotional and mental challenges that come with being a pro athlete. Topics Covered: Growing u...
Jun 20, 2025•30 min
In this powerful episode of The One Soccer Nation Podcast, hosted by Kareem Rae and sponsored by Confut, we sit down with Felipe Alvarez — Co-Founder and President of Futbol Sin Barreras -- to hear how he's transforming lives through soccer in Colombia. Felipe's shares how a legacy started by his grandfather in an underserved Colombian community has evolved into an international foundation that has already impacted over 300 youth players, with plans to reach more than 1,000 in the next year. Fro...
Jun 18, 2025•18 min
In this episode of the One Soccer Nation Podcast, host Kareem Rae sits down with Spencer Collum, a key executive at Fort Lauderdale United FC, to talk about how this rising club is reshaping the South Florida soccer scene. From humble beginnings to launching a fully professional men’s team in USL League One, Spencer shares Fort Lauderdale United’s journey, including: Their 7,000-seat stadium on the NSU campus Competing in the USL Super League (women’s) and USL2 (men’s) The club’s mission to brea...
Jun 17, 2025•21 min
Welcome to The One Soccer Nation Podcast! Today, our host Kareem Rae sits down with Matt Valentine and Sam Morton. Matt is the Chairman & Co-Founder of Atlético Dallas, and Sam is the Chief Commercial Officer & Co-Founder. In this episode, we dive deep into the foundational vision behind launching a USL Championship club in North Texas. Matt and Sam share how their complementary roles drive the club’s growth—from building a competitive team to establishing a sustainable sports organizati...
May 22, 2025•1 hr 14 min
Welcome to The One Soccer Nation Podcast! Today, our host Kareem Rae sits down with Rob Uvanovic, the Executive Director at Miami SCORES. In this inspiring episode, Rob shares how his international experience across 15+ countries has shaped his leadership philosophy and passion for soccer-driven social impact. We explore the unique Miami SCORES model that blends soccer, poetry, and service-learning to empower youth, especially in underserved communities. Rob discusses the challenges of launching...
May 13, 2025•53 min
Welcome to The One Soccer Nation Podcast! Today, our host Kareem Rae sits down with Hugh Roberts II, the CEO & Founder of BackYardFooty and an 11-year professional soccer player who recently made history as the all-time minutes leader in USL Championship history. In this episode, Hugh opens up about the mindset and motivation that fueled his remarkable longevity in the game, the inspiration behind BackYardFooty’s raw and authentic content, and how he juggles the dual demands of being both an...
May 01, 2025•56 min
Welcome to The One Soccer Nation Podcast! Today, our host Kareem Rae sits down with Ethan Zohn. Ethan is the Co-Founder of Grassroot Soccer, a global adolescent health organization that leverages the power of soccer to educate and inspire young people to live healthier lives. In this episode, Ethan shares his incredible journey—from playing professional soccer and winning Survivor: Africa, to battling cancer and using his platform to create real social change. Tune in for an inspiring conversati...
Apr 16, 2025•41 min
Welcome to The One Soccer Nation Podcast! Today, our Co-Host Kaela Hansen sits down with Samantha Rosette, a Professional Soccer Player at Brooklyn FC. Samantha's journey has taken her across the globe, from Kazakhstan to Lithuania to France, before returning home to make history with Brooklyn FC—the first professional women’s soccer team in NYC. In this episode, we discuss how her international experiences have shaped her career, the impact of Brooklyn FC, and her work with The Players Network ...
Mar 18, 2025•24 min
Welcome to The One Soccer Nation Podcast! Today, our host Kareem Rae sits down with Chris DeVolder, Senior Principal and Director of Sports + Rec + Entertainment at HOK. In this episode, we explore the evolution of soccer-specific stadiums, the role of sustainability in sports architecture, and how modern venues are enhancing fan experiences. Chris shares insights on balancing tradition with innovation, urban development strategies, and the impact of technology on stadium design. We also discuss...
Mar 02, 2025•1 hr 7 min
Welcome to The One Soccer Nation Podcast! Today, our co-host Kaela Hansen sits down with Jess Silva, the Head Coach of Brooklyn FC's women’s team. Jess has built an incredible coaching career, with experience in Canada, France, and now New York. As the first woman in Canada to earn a UEFA A License, she has broken significant barriers in a male-dominated coaching industry. In this episode, Jess shares insights from her journey, including her time at FC Metz, where she navigated the challenges of...
Feb 14, 2025•29 min
Welcome to The One Soccer Nation Podcast! Today, our host, Kareem Rae, sits down with Jordan Wilson, a former professional soccer player and current analyst at OneSoccer.In this episode, Jordan takes us through his incredible journey—from growing up in Mississauga, Ontario, and playing youth soccer with Erin Mills SC to earning multiple accolades at Cornerstone University. He shares insights on playing professionally in England and Denmark, returning to Canada with York United in the Canadian Pr...
Feb 11, 2025•48 min
Welcome to The One Soccer Nation Podcast! Today, our co-host Kaela Hansen sits down with Croix Soto, a standout center-back for AFC Toronto. Croix has had an inspiring journey from playing college soccer at the University of Oregon to competing in the NWSL with teams like the North Carolina Courage, Kansas City Current, and Houston Dash. In this episode, she reflects on how her college experience shaped her, the challenges and lessons from her NWSL transition, and the personal and professional a...
Feb 11, 2025•26 min
Welcome to The One Soccer Nation Podcast! In this episode, host Kareem Rae sits down with Chad Stender, Managing Partner at SeventySix Capital. Chad shares insights into the world of venture capital and sports innovation, revealing how SeventySix Capital identifies and supports the most promising startups in sports tech, media, and entertainment. Discover portfolio success stories, like VSiN, Vigtory, and Team Whistle, and learn how the Athlete Venture Group bridges the gap between athletes and ...
Jan 23, 2025•58 min
Welcome to The One Soccer Nation Podcast! Today, our host Kareem Rae sits down with Steve Livingstone, the President & CEO of Sporting Club JAX. In this episode Steve dive deep into the journey of launching Sporting Jax, from its inception to its community impact and future aspirations. They discuss how Steve navigated the challenges of starting a professional soccer club, engaged the local Jacksonville community, and integrated a $1,000,000,000+ mixed-use development into the club’s strateg...
Jan 17, 2025•53 min
Welcome to The One Soccer Nation Podcast! In this episode, host Kareem Rae sits down with Katya Gulina, Head of Marketing, and Guilherme von Cüpper, CEO of Bridge for Talents Academy. Together, they delve into the origins of Bridge for Talents Academy and the inspiration behind its creation. Discover how the academy’s mission has evolved over time and what makes its talent development approach unique. Katya and Guilherme share insights into the core values and philosophy that guide the academy, ...
Jan 17, 2025•34 min
Welcome to The One Soccer Nation Podcast! In this episode, our host Kareem Rae sits down with Dennis Gerkes, the CEO of Gerkicks, a prominent platform in the soccer community. Dennis shares his inspiring journey into the world of soccer content creation and the story behind founding Gerkicks. We dive into his strategies for building a significant social media presence on platforms like Instagram and YouTube, his approach to creating fresh and engaging content for soccer fans, and the impact of s...
Jan 16, 2025•37 min
Welcome to The One Soccer Nation Podcast! In this episode, host Kareem Rae sits down with Luis Calderon, the Chief Operating Officer of GotSport. With over 15 years of experience in the sports industry and 10 years in software, Luis shares how his passions merged to shape his impressive career. Dive into his journey as COO of GotSport, where he balances strategic leadership and operational excellence. Explore how technology is revolutionizing soccer, GotSport’s impact on empowering global commun...
Jan 15, 2025•31 min
Welcome to The One Soccer Nation Podcast! Today, our host, Kareem Rae, sits down with Tom Perros, the Founder of SIEGE Sponsorship. Tom brings 22 years of experience in strategic consulting, sponsorship valuation, and partnership marketing. In this episode, Tom shares his journey into the world of sports and entertainment sponsorships and discusses building fan engagement, aligning brands with soccer audiences, and driving revenue growth for emerging clubs. From innovative strategies for interna...
Dec 28, 2024•57 min
Welcome to The One Soccer Nation Podcast! Today, our host Kareem Rae sits down with Guilherme Von Cüpper, the CEO of Berlin Sports. Guilherme shares his remarkable journey from sports law to business consulting and talent management, offering insights into his role at Berlin Sports and beyond. From discovering emerging soccer stars and navigating legal challenges in the football business to exploring the impact of globalization and technology on scouting, this episode dives deep into the evolvin...
Dec 20, 2024•55 min
Welcome to The One Soccer Nation Podcast! Today, our host, Kareem Rae, sits down with Ryan Cardwell. Ryan is the Head of Commercial at RealMetric Analytics, a company at the forefront of revolutionizing football scouting and recruitment with data-driven solutions. Join us as we explore Ryan's journey in the beautiful game, his insights from the World Football Summit, and his expertise in consulting investors on football club investments in the UK and US. We'll dive into the evolution of analytic...
Dec 11, 2024•1 hr 9 min
Welcome to The One Soccer Nation Podcast! Today, our Podcast Co-Host Kaela Hansen sits down with Addie Merrick, a professional soccer player for Carolina Ascent FC in the USL Super League. In this episode, Addie reflects on her journey from making her professional debut with North Carolina Courage in 2020 to becoming a key player for several NWSL teams, including Racing Louisville, Kansas City Current, and Utah Royals. She shares insights into the challenges of transitioning from college to the ...
Dec 08, 2024•34 min
In this episode of The One Soccer Nation Podcast, host Kareem Rae sits down with Arno Harmsen, a visionary leader in the sports turf industry. Arno is the CEO of GrasMeesters, CEO of TurfTalents North America, and Co-founder of the DrainTalent Company. Together, they explore Arno's inspiring journey, his founding vision behind multiple innovative ventures, and his philosophy of blending technology, sustainability, and nature to transform sports turf management. Tune in as they discuss key indust...
Nov 30, 2024•53 min
Welcome to The One Soccer Nation Podcast! In this episode, our host Kareem Rae sits down with Paul Hamburger, Chief Executive Officer of Admiral Sports. Paul shares his incredible journey in the world of soccer, leading the revitalization of Admiral Sports—an iconic brand with a legacy dating back to the 1970s as one of the pioneers of replica soccer kits. We delve into the inspiration behind Admiral's innovative 3D design software for custom apparel, the keys to forming long-term partnerships w...
Nov 26, 2024•49 min
Welcome to The One Soccer Nation Podcast! Today, host Kareem Rae sits down with Matt Rizzetta, Chairman of North Sixth Group. Matt shares his inspiring journey into the world of soccer, discussing North Sixth Group's investments in clubs like Campobasso FC, Dagenham & Redbridge, and Brooklyn FC. From revitalizing Campobasso FC's storied legacy to positioning Brooklyn FC as a competitive force in American soccer, Matt dives into the challenges, opportunities, and community impact of his work....
Nov 26, 2024•51 min
