Heart of a Fan
For sports fans and enthusiasts, Heart of a Fan explores the deep emotional connection between fans and the teams they love.
Host Matthew Barry shares real stories from across the sports world — from the NFL, NBA, WNBA, NWSL, MLS, MLB, and NHL — spotlighting the fan experiences that make community possible.
Whether it’s lifelong supporters, grassroots organizers, or emerging voices in women’s sports, every episode celebrates sports fandom, supporters groups, and the moments that bring people together in the stands.
If you’ve ever felt the heartbreak of a loss or the joy of cheering your team to victory, this show is for you. Because Heart of a Fan isn’t just about sports — it’s about connection, identity, and belonging.
Follow and discover why Heart of a Fan is more than just a podcast—it's a tribute to what makes sports matter.
Episodes
39 episodes
Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me
What happens when the only professional sports team left in Connecticut — the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun — faces threats of relocation?In this episode of Heart of a Fan, we explore why women’s basketball in Connecticut...
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Season 2
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Episode 16
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1:07:57
Flags of Our Fans: Los Angeles – Fans United Against ICE
In the debut episode of Flags of Our Fans, we travel to Los Angeles to hear from sports fans, supporters’ groups, and community leaders standing on the frontlines of resistance. From tenant rights organizers to passionate American Outl...
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Season 2
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Episode 15
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55:14
The Comeback Begins at Home: How Sports Helped Heal New Orleans
In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans faced more than physical destruction—it faced the loss of identity, tradition, and community. But in parks, rec centers, stadiums, and stands, the comeback quietly began.In this episode of
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Season 2
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Episode 14
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1:01:40
Flags of Our Fans: Prelude — Fan Embassies 101
What is a fan embassy—and how can it help fans feel safer, more welcome, and more connected during the 2026 World Cup?In this special prelude to Flags of Our Fans, we sit down with Thomas Concannon of the Football Supporters’ As...
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Season 2
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Episode 13
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16:22
We Cheer Anyways: Pride in the Stands
What does it mean to be proud in a stadium where you’re not always welcome?In this special Pride Month episode, we sit down with LGBTQ+ fans who are reclaiming space in the stands—even as the world outside grows more hostile. Fr...
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Season 2
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Episode 12
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55:39
Pray for the Win — Faith, Fandom, and Pope Leo XIV
What do sports fandom and religion have in common?In this episode of Heart of a Fan, we explore how faith shows up in sports—from game-day prayers to lifelong belief in a team that keeps letting you down. With Pope Leo XIV
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Season 2
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Episode 11
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27:01
Special Episode – Join or Die: What Fandom Can Teach Us About Saving Community
In this special episode of Heart of a Fan, host Matthew Barry sits down with Rebecca Davis—co-director of the Netflix documentary Join or Die—to explore the power of community, the decline of civic life, and why sport...
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Season 2
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Episode 10
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35:52
Is Fandom the Cure for Male Loneliness?
Men are lonelier than ever — and often afraid to talk about it. Could fan communities be part of the cure?In 2023, the NYT asked: Is the cure for male loneliness out on the pickleball court? It sparked a meme. But behind the...
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Season 2
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Episode 9
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33:40
Everyone Deserves a Seat at the Game
What does it really mean to make sports fandom accessible? In this episode, we sit down with three powerful voices—disability advocate and hockey fan Chanel Keenan, KultureCity Executive Director Uma Srivastava, and Raiders superfan Keith Smith...
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Season 2
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Episode 8
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36:57
How to Build a Women’s Sports Fanbase (The Right Way)
Want to grow a women’s sports team the right way? This episode gives you the blueprint.With expansion on the horizon for leagues like the WNBA, NWSL, and PWHL, the real challenge isn’t just where the next team lands — it’s how to build a...
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Season 2
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Episode 7
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46:36
How COVID Changed Sports Fandom — Five Years Later
Five years removed from empty arenas, we ask: what did we lose — and what did we learn?The pandemic changed everything, including how we experience sports. In this special episode, Heart of a Fan reflects on the impact of COVID-...
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Season 2
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Episode 6
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50:09
Championship Glory, Brotherly Love
In this episode of Heart of a Fan, we dive deep into the emotional and social impact of the Philadelphia Eagles' Super Bowl victory. This wasn't just a win on the field—it was a victory for a city, a community, and fans around the worl...
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Season 2
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Episode 5
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36:15
The Heart of Black Fandom (w/ Black Diamonds and Comets SC)
What does it mean to build a Black-centered fan space — and what happens when you do? In this episode, Heart of a Fan features leaders from Black Diamonds and Comets SC to talk about what it means to center Black identity i...
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Season 2
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Episode 4
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40:33
Lifting Up LA - Community, Identity, and West Coast Fandom
Here is what we've seen/received from the supporters groups and fan organizations of Los Angeles. Please give what you can to help those dealing with the effects of the LA Wildfires:https://secretlosangeles.com/available-resources-for-t...
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Season 2
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Episode 3
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11:58
Fanfare w/ the Pro Football Ultimate Fan Association
These fans don’t just wear the jersey — they’re enshrined for their dedication. Meet the Pro Football Ultimate Fan Association (PFUFA), a group of NFL superfans who have been recognized for their passion, character, and impact in th...
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Season 2
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Episode 2
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56:02
Notes From The Host: Looking Back and Looking Forward
To kick off the new season of #HeartOfAFan, join Matthew Barry as he shares some notes with you on the project's first year and what we have planned for this upcoming year!If you have a story about how you’ve built a community through s...
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Season 2
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Episode 1
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5:26
Bowled Over (feat. Matt Brown and the Sickos Committee)
If you are interested in donating to the Maldonado family, please click on the link here: https://mealtrain.com/zrm14dThe beauty of college football isn’t just the playoff — it’s the chaos, the cult...
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Season 1
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Episode 21
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33:59
The NFL in London - As American as Meat Pies
Across the pond, football means something different — but no less passionate.In this episode, Heart of a Fan explores the NFL’s growing fanbase in the UK through the lens of the London Games. From lifelong British supporters of ...
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Season 1
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Episode 20
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27:17
Comforting Columbus - Grieving Together After Johnny Gaudreau
A fanbase in mourning. A team forever changed. When Columbus Blue Jackets star Johnny Gaudreau tragically passed away, the entire hockey community was shaken — but none more than the fans who had grown with him, believed in him, and...
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Season 1
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Episode 19
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54:19
Ball for All
The WNBA’s rise isn’t just about one team — but the 2024 Liberty brought it to life. The WNBA has been building something special — and in 2024, the New York Liberty brought that momentum to a full roar. This episode of Heart of...
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Season 1
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Episode 18
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44:16
The 2004 Red Sox - A Win for the Generations
86 years of heartbreak. One unforgettable championship. And a fanbase that changed forever. In this special 20th-anniversary episode, Heart of a Fan reflects on the 2004 Boston Red Sox and what it meant for fans to finally ...
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Season 1
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Episode 17
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47:28
Meme the Mets - Laughing Through the Pain of Fandom
What happens when the internet turns your fandom into content — and your pain into punchlines? In this episode of Heart of a Fan, we explore the culture of being a New York Mets fan in the age of memes. Through humor, heart...
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Season 1
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Episode 16
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29:46
Re-Air: Shannon's Story
In the heart of every fan is a special bond that they share with their loved ones over a team. In this episode, we’ll be looking at one bond between a mother and her daughter over the Boston Bruins, and how that bond is continuing to inspire.
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Season 1
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Episode 16
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16:55
Latinos en la Grada: Conquistando el Hielo con los Vegas Golden Knights (Latinos in the Stands: Conquering the Ice with the Vegas Golden Knights)
Hockey isn’t a traditional Latino sport — but in Vegas, the community is making it their own.Hockey’s Latino fanbase is growing, and nowhere is that more evident than in Las Vegas. Heart of a Fan continues Latinos en la Grad...
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Season 1
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Episode 15
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13:04
Latinos en la Grada: Orgullo y Pasión Latina en la NFL (Latinos in the Stands: Latino Pride and Passion in the NFL)
The NFL has millions of Latino fans — so why aren’t their voices more amplified? The Latino fanbase is one of the fastest-growing in the NFL, bringing unmatched energy and cultural traditions to stadiums across the country. But desp...
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Season 1
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Episode 14
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13:50