SoccerWise - Emergency News Pod On Kickback Committee

Episode Date: July 16, 2025

A Breaking. News. Emergency. Pod. A scoop to end all scoops from big Tommy. What's the scoop? Soccerwise family is growing, as we officially announce Kickback Soccer Media! Soccerwise will be front and center alongside our newest show the Kickback Committee, as Susannah Fuller will host the American soccer group chat with a bunch of soccer friends including Mark-Anthony Kaye, Claudia Pagan, Michele Giannone, & more. They will be bringing that happy hour hang energy on everything from the big goals, to the big ideas, and even big hair. So go follow the Kickback Committee podcast feed at the link below and on all social media platforms.https://linktr.ee/kickbacksoccerhttps://www.instagram.com/kickbackcmte/https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:ciaf7bfernf2qc62qsvehyc6

Alright everybody, well welcome in to a breaking news special episode of soccer wise for a very good reason. I'm alongside of course two favorite co-hosts Jordan Angeli and Tommy Scoops and a special guest who I will get to in just a moment for why we are here. Of course on this show our favorite thing to do is open up the ice cream shop. Tom you pulled us all in because you have some big breaking news. Hit us with the scoop. Let's go. It's a self-serving scoop here. According to sources, SoccerWise is joining forces with a larger team of soccer sickos to create the biggest media company in American soccer history called Kickback Soccer Media.

Whoa, Tom, the ground shaking below me. I cannot believe you hit us with such a big piece of news that I was unprepared for. This is very exciting. We have been working towards this for a very long time. We are creating a larger soccer media platform that we are going to be a central piece of, but it is going to continue to grow. Tom gives us the breaking news. Jordan, you are our analyst in-house. Can you break it down a little bit deeper for us?

Well, when we started this whole thing, Goss, when you really started this whole thing, you came to us with this idea of making something massive, something huge that doesn't just come in one form, that it is touching all these different key points in American soccer. And one of the big parts of that was bringing the people that we love that work in this space together. And I think when this idea came about and Kickback came to us, we were like, this is

perfect. And I love it. I love the combination of what we're going to do, how it is still very authentic to what we've been doing, but it's just going to be on a grander scale. It is exciting to work with people that you know, you love, you're getting to know, and you know have been in this space for a long time and care about this sport so much in the United States.

So I am pumped. I love this scoop. I love the breakdown as well. Next time, I'll get a board, and we can go through X's and O's as you do it. But it is very exciting. And as you said, our ability to do things on a grander scale, we are going to be launching, of course, more shows

inside of this media network that would make it a network. And now I finally get to our special guest here today, our new teammate who is going to be the host of the first show that we are launching. It is going to be called the Kickback Committee on the Kickback Media Network. And it is, of course, Susanna Fuller. What's up, soccer sickos?

Let's go! Oh my gosh, is this really happening? I'm so excited. I am too, mainly because the planning part is done and the fun part is here. You're gonna be hosting our new show, The Committee, starting once a week. We are going to be launching in Austin,

which we will talk about in just a moment, but, Sus, I know we've talked about it a little bit the chance to host the show for you and build a show Talking about the game the way we want it done This is an honestly I Jordan kind of alluded to it as well For me when this idea was first presented to me. It was exciting for many reasons but the biggest part was the the people that were involved because it felt like we're kind of getting the band back together again in some ways. I've worked with all of you in different capacities.

I'm not kidding when I say the collective group that you guys have assembled here to be a part of Kickback Committee are not only like truly like phenomenal soccer brains, but like awesome people and like my favorite soccer friends in the world. And so like to have this opportunity to kind of take the take some of the conversations that we have had like offline and then we get to then present it to a whole new audience is so exciting. And I think it's so needed because so often, I remember when I was first coming into the soccer space, and when I got the job at MLS back in 2016,

this was my first foray into the soccer world. And I was so intimidated. I was so intimidated because it felt inaccessible and I was like, people are, I'm gonna get found out. People are gonna like call me out. She doesn't know what she's talking about. And it was really scary. And then I found this beautiful group of humans

and fellow soccer lover is Gass. Certainly you were one of the biggest leaders in that. That made me feel safe and I was like, oh my gosh, this is fun. And we started to have these like incredible conversations in the experiences that we had covering major league soccer. And I always wanted to make that space like safer for more and more people to have access to it.

Because as we know, this sport is going like this. And with the World Cup coming next year, there's going to be so many eyeballs on soccer. And so for us to be a safe place for people to come and hear the takes, hear the conversations, the discussions that they want to hear, and maybe it's X's and O's, maybe it's Jordan just going in on certain tactics,

maybe it's me riffing on someone's soccer hair. You know, like it's gonna be all of that. Tommy Scoops bringing us all the the wheelings and dealings. I mean, it's there's gonna be something for everyone and I think everything that we do we're gonna come with it with a true passion and a true love and need to grow this sport in North America. And I'm just, I cannot think of a better group of folks to do it with. It's thrilling, honestly. It is exciting. It is something that we've talked about for a long time now of making sure that this is

a place for people who love the game already. But also we want to add to help people come in because of course the next year, two years, five years if we believe that the 2031 World Cup is coming alongside an Olympics are going to be a huge time. And so what we are now able to build as a larger network is going to be entry points for new fans as well as fans, new fans that then want to get deeper or new fans who are interested in trying to figure stuff out. as well as, you know, fans, new fans that then want to get deeper or new fans who are interested in trying to figure stuff out. And of course, we will always have the deep coverage that we do, I think, better than anyone that I'm really, really proud of. And I think many of the things

that we're going to do, as you said, Susanna, are things that are so needed and somewhat don't exist. And one of the big things for us that we're going to try and do is help people get in and start getting their feet wet from a hosting and media point of view. So we're going to try and do is help people get in and start getting their feet wet from a hosting and media point of view. So we're going to have Mark Anthony Kay coming aboard who of course is currently part of the San Jose Earthquakes and Canadian national team player and he's going to be one of our rotating hosts as he gets involved on the media side for the first time. Heath Pierce is going to be involved with us who everyone has seen on TV many times, as well as Claudia Pagan, who has worked alongside many of you at the CBS space. And we will also, of course, have all of our friends that like to

roll through. So don't worry, Doyle and Weeby will be back for many more Golden Boot drafts or whatever else they're going to do. We can get Weeby to do as many best 11s as possible. And many of our friends, Michele Giannone and everyone else that we love to talk about this sport with is going to be involved as well. And Suzanne, we're gonna get to start to like pull the ideas from all these people and say, how do you see the game? Because I think for all of us,

what these group chat conversations that we're gonna now elevate into broadcasts or shows is learning, I think for me, from a lot of different people of like, oh, you see this differently? Oh, you're fascinated by something different. Or you just get a story from someone that you just never expected to get.

Honestly, that's what's so exciting to me is because I'm looking at you three right there, Tom, David, Jordan. Every time I've worked with you guys, I've learned something. And to me, that is the measure of not only a professional, but just somebody who is so engaged and knowledgeable. And so I love it. My favorite thing in the world is when I'm surprised. I've hosted a lot of shows.

And every time I am able to learn something or see something in a different way, see the game in a different way, I think that it makes such a better product for everyone. Because it's going to resonate with somebody. It might not resonate with you, but it's going to resonate with this person. And that's what soccer is all about. That's what we're here.

It's like, let's bring it all together, all perspectives. And I can't wait to like keep learning from you guys and hear your ridiculous takes like it's gonna it's just gonna be so much fun and I can I just add something really quick I think that's the best thing about soccer is everybody like nobody's wrong on their takes really like there are so many ways to see the game and I think that's why it feels like a what did you say I missed it I just made a squeak And I think that's why it feels like a real, what did you say? I missed it. I just made a squeak.

Sometimes takes a little. Yeah, yeah. But in general, you can come in with an idea and it can help somebody see the game so differently. And that's why it's cool to have so many different voices and make it a space where a lot of people feel like, oh, I can come in and say whatever I'm thinking and not feel like, oh, that's going to be wrong, right? It's going to be thought about and discussed in and say whatever I'm thinking and not feel like, oh, that's going to be

wrong, right? It's going to be thought about and discussed in a way that I think is challenging, but also teaches. And one of the things that I've always been passionate about building, and we are still working towards building, but we have a really great project that's coming out right out the gate is everyone's ideas, everyone's input, and so not just hosts. So we have this first touch project that we are working on, and it is going to be on one side, 3% of our revenue as a organization going forward

will always be earmarked towards this, and we are going to work with initiatives and programs that help people get into soccer, whether it's playing or watching, or getting tickets for the first time, whatever it is. That is something we're going to do as an organization. But then the content piece of this that many people will see is we have, you can see it out now already on social media, videos of people talking about how they fell in love with soccer and why soccer and what it is

that connected to it. And we are going to be in Austin, Texas next week for the MLS All-Star Game. And we are going to have a booth there where you can go in and record your answers to these questions that we've had. You guys all already record your answers to and our other good friends that are all connected to this project about why you fell in love with soccer and why you like it so much and what your connection is. And I'm really excited to be able to open up our platform to everyone who's a fan and everyone who's connected and hear those stories. Because to me, there is

nothing better. And Tom, we hung out a week ago in person and I met a lot of your friends and everyone has a soccer story because it's not always standard in the U.S. And all of them are unique and it's so fun as you experience them and you're like oh wow like that was your moment that turns you from I've heard of soccer to I'm a soccer fan. Yeah and again one of the things that I love most about what we're doing here is again like you said the 3% of all revenue to initiate people into being into soccer like I think that's so important it's one thing to just talk about it and and what we're doing. But again, like, I think that's a serious way to really show with our actions

what we're saying and how we try to have fun and give different perspectives. Like, again, all of you guys are incredible. And Sue is like, what you started with saying was talking about the people, the people on here. Like, that is what that's like the north star that I follow in anything I do. I care most about who am I doing it with, what are the relationships, do I trust this person?

Sweet, I don't need many more details. Let's go, I'm in. And I think that this is just another extension of that. Obviously, somebody has to figure out the details and we have a lot of smart people working on that to make it come to life. But I'm 10 toes down. I'm in the trenches for all you guys.

And for everyone out there in Austin, now you know, Tom wants to hear your stories. He wants to hear everything you have to say. Hell yeah! So come out to Haymaker in Austin on Tuesday night, right before or during the Skills Challenge. If you're not going to the Skills Challenge, we are the place to hang out and watch it and just have a good time. It is free, so come whenever and come for a little, come for the whole thing, whatever you end up doing. I'm excited to be on the ground with all of you. I'm excited to hang out in person and I'm excited to get going with this. So we will have our first kickback

committee segment. We will do it live in Austin, all of us together. And then going forward, the show will start coming out and it will be the first of many new projects that we are working on and pushing alongside Soccerwise. Don't worry, everything for Soccerwise is gonna keep coming at you. We are dropping content as often as possible and we're continuing our coverage and this is just an expansion of it.

It's gonna get bigger and it's gonna get better. So thank you to all of you for being here. Thank you, Susanna, for joining us for this one. Thanks for having me, guys. I'm so stoked. Tom and Jordan, I got you guys together again. So we're getting better. We're doing it now twice a year, three times a year.

And maybe next. In real life, soon. Yeah, can't wait. And in person. And I'm going to do an uncomfortable thing for Goss again. Thanks for just thinking bigger than yourself and thinking outside the box because you are creating something that I think we all have hoped for

and we didn't even like really realize that. And so yeah, you get a lot of kudos Goss. So you're welcome. Thank you. Also, I'm probably going to edit this, so that probably won't be okay. Yeah, it better stay in. It better stay in. Maybe Douglas will take over and he can edit this. Douglas will become a main part of the show going forward as well. So thank you, Jordan. I appreciate it.

I appreciate the kind words from all of you. I'm excited to get started. And for everyone out there, we'll talk to you again very very soon.