Committee: Open Mic with Spencer Hall

Birthday Dubs, Roster Drops and a Side of Spice

Susannah is joined by Chicago Stars midfielder and Committee member Brianna Pinto for today’s show! 00:15 - Intro and a Happy Birthday to Brianna! 01:37 - Brianna sees family on the road and gives a small peek at the Pinto Family Group Chat 05:58 - Chicago Stars earn a much needed victory on Brianna’s birthday 10:46 - Sooz is delighted at finding out Brianna met Baby Josie 12:47 - Brianna chats about the World Cup break positively impacting the Stars and her World Cup plans in June 16:21 - Arsenal finally close out and win the Premier League title and Pep Guardiola departs Man City after a decade in command. 21:17 - When Brianna met Pep 23:55 - Tottenham escapes relegation and some beloved Liverpool players have their final goodbyes, to Sooz’s dismay 30:11 - Women’s UCL Final and W CONCACAF Champions Cup Final. Barcelona take down Lyon 4-0 and Club America defeat Washington Spirit 5-3. The impact the UCL Final game leaves for the departing players at Lyon and Barcelona and Brianna gives her flowers to Liga MX Femenil. 38:55 - The USMNT 2026 Final World Cup roster leaks out to the public and reactions to the names called (and not) to the roster. 52:25 - The crew pick out and watch 5 of their favorite roster announcement videos (We apologize now playing the audio for the England announcement, we don’t want to get copyright struck by The Beatles) 01:02:01 - Reality TV Recap, in this case, The Soccer Documentary Recap. Brianna talks her love for Ronaldinho from watching the documentary and Sooz being genuinely starstruck meeting him at Baller League. 01:08:55 - Close Listen to our shows, subscribe our newsletter and socials at: kickbacksoccer.com [http://kickbacksoccer.com] See our First Touch ’26 Preview page for breakdowns on all 48 teams competing this summer: First Touch 26' World Cup Preview [https://kickbacksoccer.com/first-touch-2026-world-cup-preview/]

Committee: Open Mic with Spencer Hall

Susannah welcomes Channel 6 co-founder and Shutdown Fullcast co-host Spencer Hall to today’s episode of Open Mic! 03:04 - Sooz welcomes to Spencer to the show. It’s the first time they’ve spoken in over a decade, going back to their SB Nation days and they reminisce for the occasion. 05:29 - The origin and rise of the Every Day Should Be Saturday college football blog or more commonly known as EDSBS and how that kicked off Spencer’s career 08:17 - Sooz mentions her favorite SB Nation-era project Spencer took part in and leads into some words about participatory journalism 12:27 - Spencer’s relationship with Soccer 15:26 - Excitement level for the 2026 World Cup and how he consumes the matches 20:39 - Relationship (well, lack there of) with the USMNT 23:22 - Why isn’t the U.S. a soccer powerhouse? The Answer Will Surprise You! 25:25 - Memories of 1994, the Colombian National Team and his love for other national teams such as Nigeria and Japan (but not Italy) 33:00 - Atlanta as a Soccer City, its relationship with other sports and with Atlanta United 39:43 - Atlanta’s preparedness (it’s not) for the World Cup 44:52 - Comprehending how visitors will handle the commutes (and why the British NEED to bring sunscreen) 46:39 - Will this World Cup give soccer a boost in the U.S.? 49:41 - Lightning Question Round 50:59 - Close Spencer Hall: @edsbs.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/edsbs.bsky.social] Channel 6: https://channel-6.ghost.io/ [https://channel-6.ghost.io/] Shutdown Fullcast: @shutdownfullcast.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/shutdownfullcast.bsky.social] Listen to our shows, subscribe our newsletter and socials at: kickbacksoccer.com [http://kickbacksoccer.com] See our First Touch ’26 Preview page for breakdowns on all 48 teams competing this summer: First Touch 26' World Cup Preview [https://kickbacksoccer.com/first-touch-2026-world-cup-preview/]

Golf, Beers and Calls For Your Birthday(s)

Susannah is joined this week by Toronto FC, USMNT Defender and Committee member Walker Zimmerman! 00:12 - Intro and a Happy Birthday to Walker! 04:19 - Catch-Up with Walker and welcoming Eloise Hollowell Zimmerman! 12:15 - Walker’s outlook on the Toronto FC season ahead and the incoming World Cup break 15:39 - Columbus Crew fire head coach Henrik Rydström and Austin FC fire sporting director Rodolfo Borrell and head coach Nico Estevez. The duo discuss the impact these firings have on clubs, what it does to players, situations team to team. 25:38 - The NCAA announces an agreement to switch the Men’s D1 college soccer schedule to a fall to spring format in 2027. Walker’s experience as a former college player at Furman University gives insight on this decision and why it’s the right one in Walker’s mind. 32:09 - Sam Sarver is already an MLS legend and Walker remembers a Johnny Cash-inspired celebration 37:45 - We hear your voicemails! Thoughts on Atlanta United, Bianca St-Georges, Philadelphia Union and a brief SEC Football segue 50:03 - The Survivor TV Recap featuring Walker’s appearance on the HBO USMNT documentary series 57:02 - Close Listen to our shows, subscribe our newsletter and socials at: kickbacksoccer.com [http://kickbacksoccer.com] See our First Touch ’26 Preview page for breakdowns on all 48 teams competing this summer: First Touch 26' World Cup Preview [https://kickbacksoccer.com/first-touch-2026-world-cup-preview/]

Celebrating All Of The Wins!

Susannah is joined by NWSL commentator, Soccerwise contributor and Committee member Jordan Angeli for this week’s gathering for the Committee! 00:38 - Intro and recapping Jordan and Sooz hanging out at Baller League in Miami, Florida. 04:41 - GOOD WORLD CUP NEWS: We have been spared from whatever that was that Jelly Roll made thanks to Shakira coming through with a new World Cup anthem. Sooz reads some lyrics from the Jelly Roll song to our confusion. The duo also find out in real-time that an official World Cup tie-in album was made in 2022 (???) and we’re as shocked as you. 14:39 - Adidas released its World Cup short-movie starring Timothée Chalamet, Trinity Rodman, Lamine Yamal and Jude Bellingham and the duo rave over its production quality and details. 20:43 - Admiring the scenes from Venezia FC as they clinched promotion back to Serie A and watching fans celebrating on boats on the Venice river. Sooz also mentions her backstory with Gianluca Busio. 24:03 - Sooz and Jordan celebrate Marie-Louise Eta becoming the first woman to win a men’s Bundesliga match as team manager after Union Berlin defeated Mainz, 3-1. 27:49 - Checking in with Jordan, how the Denver Summit season is going, her surprises from the NWSL season so far and her impromptu role as a Weather Reporter for ION TV. 43:27 - UEFA Women’s Champions League Final Preview. Lindsey Heaps’ final game for Lyon before her move to Denver, Lily Yohannes having a big spotlight in her career right before the 2027 World Cup and is this the last ride for the current Barcelona Femenil squad as we know it? 51:53 - Jordan takes her turn in a World Cup Blind Ranking Game. This time, it’s ranking a selection of 2026 World Cup team crests from 1 to 13. The three host nations plus a mystery selection. A link to the 2026 World Cup team crests is linked below to follow along with the crew. 01:06:31 - Sooz shows off her new 2026 Ivory Coast kit. 01:10:01 - Reality TV Recap and Close - Jordan has started The Madison and was unprepared for how sad it gets. A lot of soccer documentaries are incoming this month on subjects such as Ronaldinho, James Rodriguez, the USMNT and Jamie Vardy. Christo Fernandez signs a contract with El Pasa Locomotive right in time for the World Cup and new season of Ted Lasso. 2026 World Cup Team Crests: https://www.soccer.com/fifa-world-cup [https://www.soccer.com/fifa-world-cup] Listen to our shows, subscribe our newsletter and socials at: kickbacksoccer.com [http://kickbacksoccer.com] See our First Touch ’26 Preview page for breakdowns on all 48 teams competing this summer: First Touch 26' World Cup Preview [https://kickbacksoccer.com/first-touch-2026-world-cup-preview/]

May The Force Be With You, Kei Kamara

Joining Susannah for this week’s Gathering of The Committee is TacticsFreeZone writer and Kickback member Matt Doyle! 00:12 - Opening and May The 4th Be With You, Matt Doyle. With the day here, Matt gives some thoughts on Star Wars, Indiana Jones and Steven Speilberg. 05:01 - Sooz has thoughts and feelings about the slate of announcers hired by Fox for their 2026 World Cup coverage and its lack of American voices. 18:48 - Checking in with Doyle on his independent career, how’s it’s going for him and some advice he leaves for others in the same work space. Doyle also leaves his thoughts on the MLS season so far and his biggest surprises on a team and league level 30:51 - We get BREAKING NEWS as Kei Kamara’s retirement is announced, mid-recording (Thanks, Tommy Scoops!). We celebrate Kamara’s career and success story in life. 35:04 - At the ripe age of 74, Bruce Arena is leading his 5th MLS club into a Supporters Shield contender. We look at his remarkable career and parse the broader coaching tree formed from working in american soccer for over four decades, including current coaches like B.J. Callaghan and Pat Noonan. 49:06 - Previewing UEFA and CONCACAF Champions League & Cup with both competitions in their 2nd legs of the semifinals. The ethical case on why Arsenal should lose this competition. The issues on why MLS teams in the modern era struggle to win CONCACAF constantly and prior missed opportunities. 01:02:56 - Reality TV Recap which is Today, The Other Sports Recap. Sooz and Doyle watched the Kentucky Derby and the former talks about her appreciation and desire to wear one of those giant hats. Doyle talks about his Celtics losing Game 7 of their first round series vs. the Sixers. Doyle also talks about what drink he would be having right now as spring settles in. Subscribe to TacticsFreeZone here: tacticsfreezone.ghost.io [https://tacticsfreezone.ghost.io/] Listen to our shows, subscribe our newsletter at: kickbacksoccer.com [http://kickbacksoccer.com] See our First Touch ’26 Preview page for breakdowns on all 48 teams competing this summer: First Touch 26' World Cup Preview [https://kickbacksoccer.com/first-touch-2026-world-cup-preview/]