Dummy: Interviews with smart people about soccer

Introducing The Double Pivot, hosted by Mike Goodman and Michael Caley. The Double Pivot is for people who want smart commentary with a healthy dose of analytics to back it up. First up: the Copa América, and why Argentina’s 2 to 1 odds to win it is a tad, shall we say, crazy. Mike and Mike also discuss what they’ll be watching for in the early matches, what to make of the USMNT right now, and touch on a few predictions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Wednesday in the Guardian, Les Carpenter published a story about the ways poor and marginalized youths are excluded from playing soccer and the implications for the professional game. Les joins Bobby, George, and Greg Howard of the New York Times, who has written extensively about race and sports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

George and Bobby are joined by Nando Vila and Bécquer Seguín to recap the Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid seasons as the capital city rivals head into the Champions League Final. We then hear from Lawrence Cann, founder and CEO of Street Soccer USA, an organization that uses the sport to empower underserved communities across the United States. Finally, the hosts Tika-Talka about possible mutiny in Manchester, and three dads involved in a 1970s Cosmos v. Rowdies game. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

George and Bobby talk about the excitement of the US Open Cup with thecup.us editor Josh Hakala. Then George talks to Ben Grossman who explains that companies want to sell to millennials and millennials like soccer, so... $$$. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on the podcast, Bobby tells George about getting his first red card as a pro, for accidentally kicking another guy in the face. Then Kristan Heneage joins discusses Newcastle’s relegation and George shares a short interview he did over the weekend in Trinidad. Finally, in Tiki Talka, the founder of Four Square proposes a new path to pro/rel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's show George talks to Juan Villoro about his book, God is Round. Then, Bobby joins George to interview Yael Averbuch about her favorite number 10. Finally, George speaks with Duncan Revie about SoccerEx. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Danny takes questions from Twitter (and George) covering topics like the first things he looks for as a scout, why even perfectly healthy Arsenal reserves find it hard to build their careers after leaving the club, and how do players communicate with each other when the stadium is too loud for them to hear what their teammates are saying. Also: we apologize for the relatively poor state of Danny‘s audio quality, but it’s definitely worth listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

George and Bobby are joined by Danny Karbassiyoon and Zito Madu who share their diverse experiences in pursuing soccer careers abroad. Danny also gives us an inside glimpse of being in the practice sessions during one of the greatest eras of Arsenal’s history as he discusses his new book, “The Arsenal Yankee,” while Zito talks about his personal development as both a player in Turkey and a writer online. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jen and George are in Orlando for Dash vs. Pride, and they have an announcement: As of this week, the Mixxed Zone has its very own podcast feed! Please go to iTunes, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts and subscribe to it. All you have to do is search for The Mixxed Zone. Thanks! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

George and Bobby are joined by James Appell to discuss his understanding of the strange, yet fascinating aspects of Russian football. He also shares his direct experiences with FC Krasnodor’s owner Sergey Galitskiy when he wrote his recent piece, “Oligarch Angel.” Finally, the hosts Tika-Talka about what kind of coach George would be, Leeds United’s new ticket-purchasing policy, and the unfortunate creep of racism into North American soccer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bobby speaks to George about signing with the Harrisburg City Islanders of the USL and the fresh challenges of joining a new club. They are then joined by poet Rowan Ricardo Phillips, who attempts to describe the artistry of Messi’s play and personality. Finally, George and Bobby briefly Tika-Talka about Tim Howard’s exit from Everton and fantasy soccer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

George and Bobby are joined by writer Mina Kimes to discuss her piece in ESPN the Magazine about AdvoCare and other controversial Multilevel Marketing schemes in the world of sports. They then speak to author Mark Haskell Smith to talk about his favorite Number 10, Cuauhtémoc Blanco. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the spirit of Leicester City’s current Premier League run, George and Bobby are joined by Kristan Heneage to discuss the 1994–95 Blackburn Rovers championship-winning season and the state of the English game at the time and now. We then hear from Khalida Popal, who shares her inspiring story about her time with the Afghanistan women’s national team, her move to Denmark, and her efforts in releasing a national team uniform with a built-in hijab. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on DUMMY, George and Bobby discuss the everyday realities of searching for a club as an unattached player. They are then joined by renowned soccer journalist Grant Wahl, who shares what it was like to cover FIFA’s presidential election. Finally, George and Bobby speak with Aaron Gordon about ‘The Replay,’ a project that allows fans to review and re-live some fantastic games of the past. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on DUMMY George, David and Bobby discuss the upcoming FIFA presidential election. Then, on The Play, Yael Averbuch joins George and Bobby to dissect Tobin Heath’s goal against Canada in the final game of the CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Tournament. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices