Sports journalist Steve Goldberg joins the show to share his incredible stories covering the 1986 World Cup, witnessing Diego Maradona's 'Hand of God', sneaking into a Bayern Munich tryout, and the early days of Charlotte soccer history with the Carolina Lightnin'.

The first whistle of the 2026 MLS season is finally here.

In this high-speed "espresso shot" episode, we’re joined by MLS on Apple TV broadcaster Jessica Charman to preview the league’s curtain-raiser: Charlotte FC at St. Louis CITY SC.

Jessica has been a part of the Charlotte story since Day 1 and now brings her expert play-by-play lens to the national booth. We’re breaking down everything you need to know about the clash at Energizer Park in our signature 90-second "Matchday Sprints."

• The 30,000-Foot View: Why CLT vs. STL is the perfect tactical chess match to kick off the new year.

• Tactical Deep Dive: How Dean Smith's Charlotte FC plans to weather the the unknown of a St. Louis squad with Yoann Damet.

• The X-Factor: The players Jessica believes will dictate the rhythm of the entire broadcast.

• The Personal Sip: Jessica shares a 90-second "behind-the-mic" story from her journey as the first female radio color commentator in MLS history to the Apple TV booth and her 2025 MLS Apple on location debut in Chicago with Ian Joy.

• The Golden Goal: One bold, non-scoreline prediction for what the headlines will say on Sunday morning.

  
  

  Match Details:

  📅 Saturday, Feb 21

  ⏰ 2:30 PM ET / 1:30 PM CT

  📺 Watch: MLS on Apple TV

  🎙️ On the Call: Jessica Charman & Ian Joy

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  Grab your coffee. The season starts now.

  
  

The playoff run has continued for Charlotte FC with a penalty kick shootout win in Game 2! Now back to The Bank for Game 3 on Friday Night, Nov. 7. MLS Season Pass Play-by-Play Announcer Tony Husband joins the show to talk about the match he will be calling.

US Soccer Hall of Famer and MLS Season Pass Studio and Match Analyst Marcelo Balboa joins the show to share his insights on Charlotte FC after Game 1 and leading in to Game 2.

Welcome to this special episode of the Charlotte FC Podcast — Charlotte FC 2025: A Look Back at the Season and the Playoffs Ahead.

As the regular season wraps up and the postseason comes into focus, I wanted to do something a little different. I reached out to some friends and familiar voices of the show to get their perspective on Charlotte FC’s journey this year.

You’ll hear from Will Palaszczuk, Danny Bramlette from the Charlotte Soccer Show, Tom Bogert, MLS announcer Tony Husband, Ross Smith, and Kacey White — all sharing their thoughts on what’s stood out most this season.

On this episode, we’re joined by one of the most recognizable and respected voices in American soccer broadcasting—Steve Cangialosi, play-by-play announcer for MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. With years of experience calling some of the league’s biggest moments, Steve helps us break down everything at stake heading into MLS Decision Day 2025, as Charlotte FC hosts the Philadelphia Union.

With a top-four finish and a home playoff match on the line, we dive into the storylines and pressure points that will define this matchup. Steve shares insight on:

• What makes Philadelphia one of the league’s toughest tests heading into the postseason.

• What Charlotte FC needs to do to finish out strong this season.

It all comes down to this—win, and Charlotte FC locks in a top-four finish.

X: @CangyApple

On this episode we talk with Gary Dicker, Crown Legacy FC Head Coach. Gary was appointed as Crown Legacy FC’s second head coach in November 2024, bringing with him a wealth of experience from a 15-year professional playing career and a recent stint coaching in the Premier League 2 with Brighton & Hove Albion’s U-21s.

In this conversation, Gary reflects on his path from player to coach, the mentors and moments that defined his football philosophy, and how he’s translating those lessons into the Charlotte FC system. He discusses the differences between European and American player development, the balance between winning and growth, and the importance of patience in building a club’s identity from the ground up.

It’s a thoughtful look at the process of building — as a leader, as a mentor, and as someone still learning in a new football culture.

Today’s episode is a special one, because we’re doing a crossover with our sister podcast, Side Story Sports, where we dive into the behind-the-scenes moments and people who make sports happen.

We’re thrilled to welcome back Joe LaBue, who was with Charlotte FC as our President for the first three years and played a pivotal role in shaping the club from the ground up. Since then, Joe has transitioned to the University of Maryland, where he now serves as the Deputy Athletic Director and Chief Revenue Officer.

In this episode, we’ll hear from Joe about his journey, what it takes to build and run a club, and how his experiences at Charlotte FC are influencing his next chapter in college athletics.

X: JCLaBue