America the Beautiful Game
America the Beautiful Game is a podcast about soccer in the US and its relationship with Europe. Each week Dan Rutstein, a former sports journalist and diplomat and now head of International at Orange County Soccer Club, sits down with a new guest to discuss the sport and its growth in this country. We have current and former players, coaches, administrators and those from industries linked to soccer - betting, data, marketing and more. America the Beautiful game is a chance to see soccer in the US from a new angle. Please join us.
Episodes
36 episodes
Matchday 35 - Danny Stone, Orange County SC Head Coach
In a rare crossover episode, we combine American the Beautiful Game and United States of Dramerica and talk about football while drinking whisky.The guest is Danny Stone, head coach of Orange County Soccer Club.He drinks a Glenliv...
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Season 1
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Episode 35
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57:21
Matchday 34 - Peter Moore, Liverpool and Santa Barbara Sky
We talk to the hugely impressive Peter Moore about his transition from CEO of the mighty Liverpool to founding Santa Barbara Sky in the USL Championship.He talks about the growth of opportunities in America, building a club from scratch and...
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Season 1
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Episode 34
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39:27
Matchday 33 - Andrew Fox, Orange County SC defender and trivia legend
We talk to Andrew Fox, Orange County Soccer Club defender and legendary trivia figure.We talk about his unconventional journey to the USL, playing non-league in England, college scholarship in Texas, back to the English Football League befo...
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Season 1
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Episode 33
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55:16
Matchday 32 - Jim McCarthy, founder of Impresario Strategic Services
We talk to soccer ticketing consultant Jim McCarthy.We talk about why top football teams aren’t better at ticketing, the Messi and Caitlin Clark impacts in American sport and how Championship teams in England have their models wrong.We ...
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Season 1
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Episode 32
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46:13
Matchday 31 - Gareth Ainsworth, Wimbledon legend and manager
We talk to former flying winger Gareth Ainsworth about his playing and managerial career.He tells us about his literal baptism of fire at Wimbledon, what he learned there about culture and how he models himself on Diego Simeone.Gareth t...
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Season 1
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Episode 31
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31:19
Matchday 30 - Simon Leslie, owner of Eastbourne Borough FC
We talk to entrepreneur Simon Leslie who took the plunge and bought himself a non-league team.He talks about transforming the business into a media company, bringing in celebrities and overcoming fan resistance.Simon explains why he’s i...
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Season 1
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Episode 30
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31:19
Matchday 29 - Ashley Horsley, Sacramento Republic
I talk to Sacramento Republic boss Ashley Horsley. We talk about the excitement of running a soccer team, what a non-sports job can teach you about sports and what an Open Cup run do for a team.We talk about women in sport, the public natur...
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Season 1
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Episode 29
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44:53
Matchday 28 - Cody Cropper, goalkeeper Orange County SC
Today is Open Cup day and we speak to Cody Copper, former US Youth and MLS keeper now plying his trade for Orange County Soccer Club.He talks about the magic of the cup, returning to an MLS stadium and why the USL is such a growing league.<...
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Season 1
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Episode 28
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46:49
Matchday 27 - Devon Kerr, Broadcaster/Analyst
We talk to ex-player and now leading commentator and analyst Devon Kerr.Together we reminisce about Orange County's 2021 USL Championship victory, the growth of the US game and how much the young American player's experience abroad has chan...
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Season 1
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Episode 27
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1:01:06
Matchday 26 - Mark Donaldson, ESPN commentator and Hearts fan
We talk to the hilarious and fascinating Mark Donaldson, long-time ESPN commentator.We talk to editing radio with a knife, the first team ever to beat the New York Cosmos and writing four sports books.He tells us about his love for Hear...
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Season 1
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Episode 26
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57:52
Matchday 25 - Kevin Baxter, LA Times soccer reporter
We talk to LA Times soccer writer Kevin Baxter.We talk the battle for LA supremacy, the rise and fall of LA Galaxy and his love of Manchester City - and his car.He tells us about his reluctant move away from baseball reporting, how his ...
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Season 1
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Episode 25
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43:04
Matchday 24 - Adam Richman, Spurs superfan, Grimsby shareholder and former Man vs Food host
We talk to the effervescent Adam Richman, former host of Man vs Food and a true football lover.He tells us why he chose Spurs, why he bought shares in Grimsby and why he is the shirt sponsor of charity football side Broadley FC.We go...
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Season 1
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Episode 24
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48:22
Matchday 23 - Ivor Heller, Commercial Director AFC Wimbledon
We talk to legendary AFC Wimbledon Commercial Director Ivor Heller.He talks about the franchising of the club, his involvement from day one and why he fell in love with Wimbledon.He describes the chance sponsorship deal with Football Ma...
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Season 1
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Episode 23
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33:05
Matchday 22 - Ajay Nwosu, CEO Teqball USA
We talk to ex-player, entrepreneur and now Teqball CEO Ajay Nwosu.He explains what Teqball is, why David Beckham loves it and how the best women can beat international male players.He tells us how many MLS, Premier League and even NHL c...
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Season 1
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Episode 22
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31:07
Matchday 21 - Adrian Healey, veteran broadcaster and Austin FC’s lead commentator
We talk to British veteran broadcaster Adrian Healey.He talks about his time calling games for the New England Revolution, ESPN and now Austin FC.We talk about the birth of MLS, PKs vs penalties and the importance and joy of supporting ...
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Season 1
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Episode 21
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51:38
Matchday 20 - Mark Cartwright, USL Sporting Director
We talk to former pro footballer, technical director at Stoke City and now the USL’s Sporting Director.We talk about the potential of the league’s young players, the record breaking transfer of teenage sensation Kobi Henry to France and a p...
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Season 1
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Episode 20
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37:32
Matchday 19 - Jim Piddock, actor, writer, Crystal Palace fan
I talk to actor, writer, producer and transatlantic football fan Jim Piddock.Jim tells us about attending the first ever Galaxy game (with an actor on the bench), the first LAFC game and how much American soccer has moved on since those e...
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Season 1
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Episode 19
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40:56
Matchday 18 - Sanjit Atwal, data-led sports marketing expert and co-founder of Halfspace
Statistics, data and innovation in sport.We talk to Sanjit Atwal, the co-founder of award-winning agency Halfspace.We discuss data-led marketing in sport, how far behind the industry is compared to e-commerce and how he is trying to cha...
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Season 1
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Episode 18
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34:11
Matchday 17 - Rob Kiernan, Orange County, Rangers, Watford
We talk to Orange County Soccer Club defender Rob Kiernan.The former Rangers, Watford and Wigan player talks about making the transition to the US, his memories of playing at Ibrox and helping the next generation of young US players.Rob...
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Season 1
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Episode 17
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34:58
Matchday 16 - Richard Chaplow, Orange County SC interim head coach
We talk to former Burnley, West Brom, Ipswich and Southampton midfielder Richard Chaplow.Now interim head coach at Orange County SC of the USL, the former England U-21 international talks about taking the reins in California, transitioning ...
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Season 1
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Episode 16
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48:28
Matchday 15 - Paul Hardyman, coach, FA Cup finalist
We talk to Paul Hardyman, on secondment with Orange County SC from Rangers. He compares youth development in the US and in the UK, talks about the key lessons for young players and why he's taken on the challenge of working in the USL....
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Season 1
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Episode 15
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46:40
Matchday 14 - Richard Hyde, British diplomat
We talk to Richard Hyde, the British Consul General based in Texas.A keen Liverpool fan, he talks about England's defeat to Italy, the racism that followed the game but then the outpouring of support that followed.We talk about poorly-b...
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Season 1
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Episode 14
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37:28
Matchday 13 - Thomas Enevoldsen, Danish international
We talk to former Danish World Cup player Thomas Enevoldsen about his team-mate Christian Eriksen, what it was like to watch him collapse and see his countrymen play so soon afterwards.He tells about Champions League football, playing in a ...
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Season 1
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Episode 13
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34:30
Matchday 12 - John Green, author, Liverpool fan, AFC Wimbledon owner
We talk to author and passionate football fan John Green.He explains why he detests greed in football, why MLS needs relegation and his disappointment in Liverpool’s participation in the European Super League.John describes the sense of...
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Season 1
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Episode 12
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50:05
Matchday 11- David Mayer, author, podcaster, coach
We talk to David Mayer, author and podcaster, about his playing career with Blackburn and Wigan and then two different Division One colleges, the injuries that ended his career and why he become inspired to give back to the game.We examine ...
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Season 1
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Episode 11
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54:01