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It’s your favorite player’s favorite show.
Welcome to New Ground, where the conversations hit different.
Hosted by Allen Hopkins Jr. and Jalil Anibaba, this is where the locker room opens up. These are melanin-rich conversations about life, soccer — footy, whatever you want to call it — and the real stories that shape the game in America.
From Major League Soccer to the USMNT pipeline, from player identity to leadership, culture, pressure, and purpose — nothing’s off limits. This isn’t media-trained soundbites. It’s lived experience. It’s perspective you only get from the guys who’ve been in it.
Allen and Jalil sit down with current and former pros, coaches, creatives, and culture-shifters to unpack the moments you didn’t see on the highlight reel — the setbacks, the locker room truths, the growth behind the grind.
If you love the game beyond the scoreboard, this show is for you.
Real players. Real perspective. New Ground.
| Episode | Date |
|---|---|
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082: Eddie Johnson was American's first inner-city star
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May 22, 2026 |
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081: Who is your favorite player of all-time? And which American player had the best season in Europe?
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May 15, 2026 |
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080: Julian Zakrzewski Hall says his fellow New Yorkers have that “grit”
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May 08, 2026 |
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079: Everyone be scoring goals like crazy. Was the 2022 World Cup Final a sign of what we see today?
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May 01, 2026 |
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078: USMNT & MLS Legend Cobi Jones has always been larger than life
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Apr 25, 2026 |
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077: Ousseni Bouda ditched school and set up his path to the MLS
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Apr 17, 2026 |
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076: Pelé, Ronaldo, Zidane: Who is the best right-footed players of all-time?
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Apr 10, 2026 |
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075: Sounders' Antino Lopez says he'll take 3 straight clean sheets over a hat trick
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Apr 03, 2026 |
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074: Pochettino’s USMNT Roster Nearly Set for World Cup?
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Mar 27, 2026 |
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073: Congrats to the GOAT as Messi Scores His 900th Goal
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Mar 20, 2026 |
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072: Champions League Always Delivers the Drama
|
Mar 13, 2026 |
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071: Arsenal Fans Hold Your Breath, All Love to the USWNT
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Mar 06, 2026 |
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070: Is LAFC the Early Frontrunner After Beating Inter Miami CF?
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Feb 27, 2026 |
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069: Racial Abuse Towards Vini Jr. is a Gianluca Prestianni Issue
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Feb 20, 2026 |
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068: Bad Bunny and Seahawks Dominate Super Bowl, Croix Bethune to KC and the NWSL Comeup
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Feb 13, 2026 |
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067: From Young Prospect to World-Class Player: The Resilience That Defines a Future Star
|
Feb 06, 2026 |
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066: The Surprising Impact of Preseason Results on MLS Season Success
|
Jan 30, 2026 |
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065: What the African Cup of Nations Reveals About Continent-Wide Pride and Unity
|
Jan 23, 2026 |
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064: How Preseason Clarity and Intentionality Make or Break Your Soccer Season
|
Jan 16, 2026 |
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063: Kicking off 2026 - We're Ready for a Huge Year of Footy for American Culture
|
Jan 09, 2026 |
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062: Best of New Ground 2025: Kei Kamara, Calen Carr, Darian Jenkins, Maurice Edu
|
Dec 19, 2025 |
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061: Messi's Inter Miami CF Wins MLS Cup and World Cup Draw in DC
|
Dec 12, 2025 |
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060: Inter Miami CF v Vancouver Whitecaps FC: MLS Cup Final Preview
|
Dec 05, 2025 |
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059: Tayvon Gray on Prepping for the Intra Miami CF and His Rise in the MLS
|
Nov 28, 2025 |
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058: Sparking USMNT Confidence and Hope, MLS Conf Semifinals
|
Nov 21, 2025 |
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057: Michael Lahoud is Found His Voice and Walks In His Own Power
|
Nov 14, 2025 |
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056: Darian Jenkins Knows How to Work Hard and Play Hard
|
Nov 07, 2025 |
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055: USL Championship Playoff Preview, Revisiting Pa-Modou Kah and Khano Smith
|
Oct 31, 2025 |
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054: Revisiting our Vancouver Whitecaps FC conversations
|
Oct 24, 2025 |
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053: Brian Anunga's Journey From Cameroon and the Transition to a Winning Organization
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Oct 17, 2025 |
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052: Why Coaching Excellence in MLS Is Better Than Ever in 2025
|
Oct 03, 2025 |
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051: DeAndre Yedlin is a Grounded Father, Author, and Footballer
|
Sep 26, 2025 |
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050: 1 Year on New Ground!
|
Sep 19, 2025 |
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049: Alex Freeman carved his own path and brought the game to his family
|
Sep 12, 2025 |
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048: How Seattle Sounders built most respected MLS Dynasty through class and consistency
|
Sep 05, 2025 |
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047: How Small Shifts in Mindset and Playing Free Lead to Big Outcomes
|
Aug 29, 2025 |
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046: Max Bretos is the Most Interesting Man in American Soccer
|
Aug 22, 2025 |
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045: Kickin It with All-Stars Miles Robinson, Maurice Edu, and Gyasi Zardes
|
Aug 15, 2025 |
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044: Kei Kamara escaped civil war in Sierra Leone and owes everything to Soccer
|
Aug 08, 2025 |
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043: Tesho Akindele Sees Himself as a Brand
|
Aug 01, 2025 |
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042: LIVE from Austin! New Ground with the 2025 MLS All-Star Game Pre-Show
|
Jul 23, 2025 |
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041: 2025 MLS Midseason Check-in
|
Jul 18, 2025 |
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040: Gyasi Zardes' longevity in pro soccer and the power of earning respect
|
Jul 11, 2025 |
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039: Jordan Allen says emotional intelligence is key for coaches
|
Jun 27, 2025 |
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038: Turning Pain into Power: How Athletes Leveraged Their Platform for Change
|
Jun 20, 2025 |
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037: Hidden leadership secrets of Issa Tall that transformed the Columbus Crew
|
Jun 13, 2025 |
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036: Lamar Neagle from Federal Way redefined what it means to succeed in soccer
|
Jun 06, 2025 |
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035: At age 14 Calen Carr traveled by himself to train in Brazil
|
May 30, 2025 |
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034: Baky Soumaré's seamless move from footy to high-end design
|
May 16, 2025 |
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033: Brian White earned April Player of the Month leading the Vancouver Whitecaps FC
|
May 09, 2025 |
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031: Luis Robles holds the record of 183 consecutive MLS games played
|
Apr 25, 2025 |
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030: Tiger Fitzpatrick of NY Red Bulls is all about player development and GA Cup
|
Apr 18, 2025 |
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028: George Campbell stays steady while things constantly move around him
|
Apr 04, 2025 |
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027: Chris Armas brings Bronx toughness and earned his National Soccer Hall of Fame spot
|
Mar 28, 2025 |
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026: Omar Gonzalez wonders what happened to the Mexican team that kicked his a$$ as a kid
|
Mar 21, 2025 |
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025: Lorne Donaldson brings 3 decades of coaching experience & Caribbean swag
|
Mar 14, 2025 |
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024: Coach Jeremy Hall is prioritizes connecting with players and building relationships
|
Mar 07, 2025 |
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023: Jayden Nelson is 2025's Matchday 1 Breakout Star
|
Feb 28, 2025 |
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022: Darlington Nagbe can't remember a time when he wasn't good at soccer
|
Feb 21, 2025 |
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002: Emeka Eneli loves defense, table tennis, and eating jallof from the deep freezer
|
Sep 27, 2024 |