Advertise on podcast: Against All Odds

Big thank you to Jordan Adebayo-Smith for hopping on this week's episode of the podcast! You guys can check him out on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/adebayosmith_/?hl=en

Big thank you to Carlos Herrera for hopping on the podcast! Carlos has an incredible story of grinding through junior college and the division 2 level, then spending years playing NPSL and USL2 football before finally getting his chance at the professional level at 24 years old. 

Big thank you to Haruki for coming on the this episode of the podcast! Follow Haruki's Journey on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/haruki_ymzk88/?hl=en

Huge thank you to Sean Mann for sitting down to discuss the future of the USL with me today in this special episode of The Against All Odds Podcast! Sean Mann is one of the co-founder, co-owner, and CEO of Detroit City FC. Today we sit down and discuss the future of the USL with regards to Pro/Rel, Division One, and DCFC!

Big thank you to Darren Smith for coming on the podcast this week! You guys can follow him here: https://www.instagram.com/darrensmithofficial?igsh=MXJ4b3M4MGYwMjdpcQ==   Timestamps: 0:00-11:29 - Intro and Rapid Fire Questions 11:29-31:35 - Growing up in Cape Town, South Africa and developing a love for track and soccer 31:25-54:28 - The Controversy behind Darren Signing his first professional contract 54:28-1:11:33 - Struggling to get minutes in the PSL and trying to find a coach that believes in him 1:11:33-1:18:34 - Being told to pursue a different career by the CEO of a professional football club 1:18:33-1:58:55 - Finding success on and off the field in Finland 1:58:55-2:13:38 - Playing in Morocco and then heading back to Finland 2:13:28-2:31:00 - Settling into Detroit and the USL as well as Three Final Questions

Big thanks to J-Boogie for coming on the podcast! You can follow him on instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/jaychaps/?hl=en   Timestamps: 0:00-8:19 - Introduction and Rapid Fire Questions 8:19-19:28 - Growing up in outside of Toronto 19:28-35:18 - Canada Youth National Team and Early Pro Trials 35:18-47:31 - Playing Collegiate Soccer at Michigan State 47:31-57:52 - Signing an MLS Homegrown Contract with Toronto FC 57:52-1:09:54 - Playing for Inter Miami FC 1:09:54-1:19:40 - Jay's experience with the Canadian National Team 1:19:40-1:33:48 - Signing to play overseas for Dundee FC 1:33:48-1:43:21 - Going 6 months as a Free Agent before Signing with Colorado Switchbacks 1:43:21-1:51:48 - Signing with Hartford Athletic and loaned out to Charleston Battery 1:51:48-2:03:47 - First impressions with Detroit City FC 2:03:47-2:10:16 - Final Questions and Outro

Big thank you to Jeciel Cedeño for hopping on this episode of the Against All Odds Podcast! Be sure to follow Jeciel below: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jecielcedeno/?hl=en   Timestamps: 0:00-8:33 - Introduction and Rapid Fire Questions 8:33-30:00 - Playing Street Football in Guayaquil, Ecuador 30:00-38:28 - Moving to New Jersey, but Struggling to Find a Team 38:28-47:20 - Bouncing Around Different Youth Teams in New Jersey 47:20-52:57 - Moving Back to Ecuador to Join a Football Academy 52:57-1:02:52 - Signing an Academy Contract with NY Red Bulls 2 1:02:52-1:09:18 - Facing Rejection by NY Red Bulls 2 1:09:18-1:34:41 - Entering the Real World. Working 9 to 5 Jobs to Get By... 1:34:41-1:44:40 - Signing His First Professional Contract with Hartford Athletic 1:44:40-1:50:50 - Being Traded Twice in Two Years (Hartford to Oakland, Oakland to Detroit) 1:50:50-1:56:52 - Final Three Questions

Big thanks to Victor Bezerra for hopping on this week's episode! Vic's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vbezerra7/?hl=en   Timestamps: 0:00-11:04 - Introduction and Rapid Fire Questions 11:04-25:06 - Growing Up in Downtown Chicago 25:06-33:09 - Training with Bastian Schweinsteiger and Chicago Fire as a Teenager 33:09-40:04 - Taking a Gap Year to just Train with Chicago Fire First Team 40:04-1:04:57 - Attending Indiana University and Transitioning to College Soccer 1:04:57-1:18:17 - Signing a Homegrown Contract with Chicago Fire 1:18:17-1:28:45 - Heading out on Loan to Detroit City FC 1:28:45-1:40:25 - Final Questions and Outro

Big thanks to Michael for hopping on this episode of the podcast! You can follow Michael on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/mbryant12/?hl=en   Timestamps: 0:00-10:45 - Rapid Fire Questions 10:45-24:53 - Growing up in Portola Hills, California 24:53-39:23 - Playing D3 at Elmira College in New York 39:23-50:45 - Transferring to Northwest Nazarene 50:45-1:13:31 - Dropping out of College and playing for Orange County FC (NPSL) 1:13:31-1:20:47 - Signing First Professional Contract with Cal United Strikers in NISA 1:20:47-1:53:43 - Climbing up to the USL Championship and signing with Detroit City FC 1:53:43-1:58:01 - Final Questions

Big thanks to Brett Levis for hopping on today's podcast! Be sure to follow him here: https://www.instagram.com/brettlevis/?hl=en Timestamps: 0:00-9:52 - Intro and Rapid Fire Questions 9:52-34:24 - Growing up in Saskatoon 34:24-37:57 - Playing at the University of Saskatoon 37:57-50:57 - Signing with the Vancouver Whitecaps 50:57-1:00:33 - Tearing his ACL in his MLS Debut 1:00:33-1:09:21 - Rebounding from Injury and Returning to play with the Whitecaps 1:09:21-1:34:27 - Playing for Valour FC in the Canadian Premier League 1:34:27-1:43:32 - Signing to Play at FC Tulsa, then Traded to Detroit City FC 1:43:32-1:56:20 - Finding his Rhythm at Detroit City FC 1:56:20-2:05:58 - Final Few Questions and Outro

Big thanks to Murph for hopping on this episode of the podcast!  Follow him below: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jvmurph14/  Twitter: https://x.com/jvmurph_14?s=21&t=d-DEeWcblanHdLjyKyZvpg    Timestamps: 0:00-10:22 - Intro and Rapid Fire Questions 10:22-22:51 - Developing as a Youth Player in New Jersey 22:51-29:19 - Getting Called up to the US Youth National Team 29:19-36:20 - Trialing with West Brom, Man U, and Sheffield Wednesday 36:20-45:37 - Specifics of Murph’s trial with Manchester United 45:37-1:05:21 - Signing his First Professional Contract with Sheffield Wednesday 1:05:21-1:10:44 - Leaving Sheffield Wednesday to Play for LAFC in the MLS 1:31:41-1:21:50 - Dropping down to play with Arbroath in the Scottish Championship 1:26:05-1:31:35 - Training back at home during Covid then Signing with RGV Toros 1:31:35-1:39:21 - Leaving RGV to sign with the new USLC expansion team, Monterey Bay FC 1:39:21-1:46:12 - Signing to play at Detroit City FC 1:46:12-1:59:10 - Final Questions and Outro

Big thanks to Ryan Williams for coming on this week's podcast!   Timestamps: 0:00-11:16 - Intro and Rapid Fire Questions 11:16-35:58 - Struggling with his small stature in English Academies 35:58-48:18 - Starting to lift weights and joining Chester City 48:18-1:05:16 - First Contracts and Training with the First Team of Chester City 1:05:15-1:21:16 - Semi-Pro stints with Colwyn Bay, Llandudno, and Rhyl in Wales 2nd Tier 1:21:16-1:40:39 - Signing a Professional Contract with Morecambe FC in League Two 1:40:39-1:47:06 - Jumping up to play Championship Football with Brentford FC 1:47:06-1:55:38 - Walking Away from Brentford to play for Inverness in Scotland 1:55:38-2:02:33 - A Random Text leading to an Opportunity with Ottawa Fury in Canada 2:02:33-2:07:38 - Flying Across the World to Play in the Brazilian Serie B 2:07:38-2:19:33 - Back home with Tranmere Rovers then back to the USL with Hartford Athletic 2:19:33-2:36:24 - Signing to play in Sweden with AFC Eskilstuna in the Superettan in Sweden 2:36:24-2:43:56 - Once again returning to the USLC with Detroit City FC 2:43:56-2:53:42 - Final Questions for Ryan and Outro

Big thanks to Rutzy for hopping on the podcast! Give him a follow here: https://www.instagram.com/connorrutz/?hl=en   Timestamps 0:00-14:37 - Intro and Rapid Fire Questions 14:37-31:44 - Youth Soccer in Michigan 31:44-43:25 - Attempting to Play D1 or D2 College Soccer Despite Poor Grades 43:35-50:44 - Spending Two Years at a Junior College 50:44-1:00:08 - Grinding out Two Years at a D2 Program 1:00:08-1:21:23 - Attending Professional Trials and Combines 1:21:23-1:41:41 - Settling in with Detroit City 1:41:41-1:47:39 - Last Few Questions of the Pod

Big thanks to Daniel for hopping on this week's podcast! You can check his Instagram out here: https://www.instagram.com/danielespeleta/?hl=en Timestamps: 0:00-8:21 - Intro and Rapid Fire Questions 8:21-36:45 - Bouncing around as a child in Georgia, Costa Rica, and Washington 36:45-43:39 - Moving Back to Costa Rica and Playing for C.S. Urugauy de Coronado 43:39-57:06 - Meniscus Injury and Deciding to Play Collegiately in the States 57:06-1:16:43 - Four Years of College Soccer at Creighton University 1:16:43-1:31:30 - Professional Trials at Sporting KC, Union Omaha, LA Force, and Albion SC 1:31:30-1:38:36 Moving Back to Costa Rica and Signing with Municipal Grecia 1:38:36-1:50:12 - Leaving to Go on Trial with Detroit City FC 1:50:12-1:56:43 - Final Questions and Outro

Timestamps 0:00-7:34 - Introduction and Rapid Fire Questions 7:34-30:05 - Family, Youth Footy, and Becoming a Goalkeeper 30:05-40:20 - Rebelling Against Parents, Skipping College, to Trial with Xolos and Chivas 40:20-47:24 - Signing first Professional Contract with Chivas 47:24-52:45 -  Getting Rocks Thrown at Him in the Third Division of Mexico 52:45-1:08:33 - Invited to Train with the First Team of Chivas 1:08:33-1:17:07 - Loaned out again to Tepa then Training in Isolation Due to Covid 1:17:07-1:25:42 - Signing his Release from Chivas to return to play in the States 1:25:42-1:30:11 - Going on Trial with Sacramento Republic 1:30:11-1:45:01 - Stepping Away from Football and Considering Retirement 1:45:01-1:56:40 - Getting Offered a Professional Contract by Sacramento Republic 1:56:40-2:01:29 - Leaving Sacramento to Sign with Detroit City FC 2:01:29-2:15:27 - Final Questions and Outro