Season 5, Episode 41 - 2026 World Cup Special

Season 5, Episode 41 - 2026 World Cup Special

Longtime listeners to Conversations might recall Stephen Miller, a guest with a distinct passion for all things soccer, especially the 2026 FIFA World Cup [https://www.fifa.com/en/tournaments/mens/worldcup/canadamexicousa2026] and the fact that it was being contested in North America. Well, we figured the only fitting way to put a bow on this latest installment of the beautiful game's quadrennial world championship was to invite Stephen back to share his thoughts. And, in true Stephen fashion, he goes above and beyond by recording a pair of his own brief Conversations with guests at his final World Cup Watch Party in his Bellevue, WA, home. So, by all means, listen to Stephen's thoughts, but make sure you stay to hear from his friends Dean Falvey and Dani Neal. Check out Stephen's previous episodes here (S:4, E:20 [https://open.spotify.com/episode/1qr0m8AKPfgYcZmG68JRaY?si=pvsPML2aSFyy7t3xSYK0Pg]), here (S:4, E:72 [https://open.spotify.com/episode/7BLIaEGwxitDNPzzjuZwLw?si=1Bm0JVlSTDOeF1Xp_sitOw]), and here (S:5, E:33 [https://open.spotify.com/episode/56gr3JrPHfN5VzFukv0yXZ?si=ps9tyIVgS8ya02I_VATBVQ]). If you’re enjoying Conversations with Sports Fans, please consider supporting our work ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://thesportsfanproject.com/support-the-sports-fan-project-get-exclusive-benefits-and-recognition/]. For as little as 99 cents a month, generous supporters such as you can keep these episodes commercial-free.

Season 5, Episode 40 - Rob LaCommare

We're joined in this episode by Rob LaCommare, a sports fan almost from the beginning. A Detroit-area native, Rob grew up a fan of the Detroit Tigers [https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/DET/index.shtml] and the Michigan Wolverines [https://mgoblue.com/]. He wound up attending Michigan State University, which rocked his world ... a little ... and has been living in the Columbus, OH, area for over 20 years, which rocked his world ... a lot! He shares what it's been like living behind enemy lines for all these years, as well as what working in a profession that's afforded plenty of travel and, with it, opportunities to visit sports palaces far and wide. During our Conversation, Rob shares recollections from all of it, including a latter-day love: Pickleball [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pickleball] (both playing and spectating). If you’re enjoying Conversations with Sports Fans, please consider supporting our work ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://thesportsfanproject.com/support-the-sports-fan-project-get-exclusive-benefits-and-recognition/]. For as little as 99 cents a month, generous supporters such as you can keep these episodes commercial-free.

Season 5, Episode 39 - Dr. Trey Rogers

We're joined in this Conversation by Michigan State University professor, Dr. Trey Rogers [https://www.canr.msu.edu/people/rogers_john_n_iii]. Dr. Rogers is a professor within MSU's College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and has been since 1988. Along the way, he's fostered a love of turf to countless students and, by the way, has headed up teams of grass geeks who have been responsible for the turf on 17 FIFA World Cup pitches (e.g. fields) including all 16 that have been used for the 2026 tournament throughout North America. Dr. Rogers earned his first World Cup cap, so to speak, in 1994 when his group from MSU developed a strategy to grow grass - and keep it viable - for four World Cup matches played indoors at the Pontiac Silverdome [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pontiac_Silverdome]. This time around Dr. Rogers and fellow Spartans joined forces with one his former students, Dr. John Sorochan [https://experts.utk.edu/experts/john-sorochan/] and his team from the University of Tennessee to create fields befitting soccer's grandest event. Learn about the history, the process, and the technological advances during our time with Dr. Rogers in this Conversation. If you’re enjoying Conversations with Sports Fans please consider supporting our work ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://thesportsfanproject.com/support-the-sports-fan-project-get-exclusive-benefits-and-recognition/]. For as little as 99 center a month, generous supporters such as you are able to keep these episodes coming commercial and sponsor free.

Season 5, Episode 38 - Jared Harman

In this episode we're joined by British Columbia's, Jared Harman. Jared is the CEO and Co-Founder of The One Group Agency [https://www.onegroupagency.ca/], a full-service marketing firm based in Vancouver. A lifelong Canucks' fan, Jared's nearly always been connected with sports. Whether it be as an athlete himself ("I grew up on skates," he notes), a hockey play-by-play broadcaster, the operator of a multi-sport and entertainment venue (Langley Events Centre [https://www.langleyeventscentre.com/]), and, of course, a fan. Among his favorite fan moments are the Toronto Blue Jays going back-to-back as World Series champions in 1992 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1992_World_Series]-93 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1993_World_Series], the San Francisco 49ers' vanquishing the Dallas Cowboys in the 1981 NFC Championship [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Catch_(American_football)#] thanks to Joe Montana to Dwight Clark, and the Vancouver Grizzlies [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vancouver_Grizzlies], a team that provided an affordable option for many fans. If you’re enjoying Conversations with Sports Fans please consider supporting our work ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://thesportsfanproject.com/support-the-sports-fan-project-get-exclusive-benefits-and-recognition/]. For as little as 99 center a month, generous supporters such as you are able to keep these episodes coming commercial and sponsor free.

Season 5, Episode 37 - Mark Griffiths

Our guest this week, Mark Griffiths, is no stranger to Wrexham AFC [https://www.wrexhamafc.co.uk/] soccer fans. He's the voice of the Red Dragons and has been since 1988 when he began commentating calling matches for the local hospital radio station. Through the years, Mark readily admits to having witnessed plenty of - at times - frustrating but almost always mediocre soccer from his home club in northeast Wales. That was until 2020 when the duo of North American actors, Rob Mac [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rob_McElhenney] and Ryan Reynolds [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan_Reynolds], fronted an ownership group that purchased a majority share of the club, launched the docuseries "Welcome to Wrexham, [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14674086/]" and saw the club gain promotion three consecutive years from English football's fifth division to its second (aka the EFL Championship [https://www.efl.com/competitions/efl-championship/]) which is where the current season of "Welcome" finds the club battling for an unfathomable fourth consecutive promotion in the June 25 season-finale. During our visit with Mark we learn about his early years of fandom, how he found his way into the broadcast booth (where he was an unpaid volunteer until just a couple of seasons ago), what life has been like since Mac and Reynolds took over as owners, the ongoing World Cup, and what it was like becoming a viral sensation after this call [https://www.instagram.com/reels/DULU6fDDk5k/] of an added time game-winner by Ollie Rathbone [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oliver_Rathbone]. We also have a walk-on background appearance by Laszlo the Cat who shows a paper bag who's boss as well as Mark's wife, Emma. You're able to follow Mark on Twitter/X here [https://x.com/m_griffiths92] and BlueSky here [https://bsky.app/profile/finalwhistle.bsky.social]. His "Final Whistle" podcast is found here [https://open.spotify.com/show/4kuO5xPusH1Gy2fgTp5PIK?si=74d3e05cdf024599] among other spots. If you’re enjoying Conversations with Sports Fans please consider supporting our work ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://thesportsfanproject.com/support-the-sports-fan-project-get-exclusive-benefits-and-recognition/]. For as little as 99 center a month, generous supporters such as you are able to keep these episodes coming commercial and sponsor free.