We Are Chelsea - Maika Hamano and Livia Peng reunited!

Episode Date: September 25, 2026

This is We are Chelsea, the official podcast of Chelsea Women, brought to you in association with Skoda, the official car partner of Chelsea Women and proud supporters of women's sport.https://www.skoda.co.uk/Maika Hamano returns to the WAC podcast after last season's loan at Tottenham Hotspur, delighting everyone at Chelsea, including goalkeeper Livia Peng. The team-mates discuss their pre-season tour of Australia and New Zealand, new additions to the squad and ice-cream, before two furry visitors join the podcast from the charity ‪@dogsforgooduk‬.Comment below your questions and Whistleblower dilemmas! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to We Are Chelsea, the official podcast of Chelsea Women, brought to you in association with Scuder, the official car partner for Chelsea women and proud supporters of women's sport. I'm in Warbank and today, we're back at Cobham to sit down and chat with two players who have been reunited this season. This is We Are Chelsea with Micah Hamano and Olivia Penn. Welcome to the podcast. Welcome, Livia. Welcome, Micah. How are you both today? Good. Great.

Great. Weather is great. Yeah, it's tropical outside. We've got the typical British sunshine. Olivia, we've met a couple of times, but Micah, this is the first time we've had you on the podcast. How's your season going so far? How are you?

Yeah, I'm good. You? Yeah, I'm cracking. Nobody ever asked me that, so I'm like, yeah. Lovely time. You were on loan for part of last season. How does it feel being back at Chelsea? With my friend again and playing some football,

be together. and stick together I bet it's quite nice being back in a familiar space was there anything that you've learned at Spurs that you've brought back to Chelsea with you I had a more I had a playtime more

there and yeah I want to bring energy and some wing that's great Olivia you're happy to have my back so happy I'm so happy yeah it was long six months

no she brings so much energy and positivity and it's just so nice she's back i've just got visions of you sat against the window whilst it's raining imagining mica coming back yeah did you keep in touch when she was in north london yeah we went uh for dinner i think once in london yeah remember yeah um and yeah we still were in touch and like asking how is it going and yeah i was so happy She's coming back. Micah, you've also been joined by your international teammate Manaka here at Chelsea. How is it having her here? I really like it because I can't speak the Japanese.

More fun. I'm going next year, so I feel like I'm going to have to learn some Japanese. We're going? We're doing a few places. We're going to go on tour for like three weeks. And I'm so excited. Have you got any recommendations for me? You should go Osaka.

my hometown. Oh, I went to the Universal Studios there this year. Yeah? But I went for work, so it'll be nice to go and see it outside. Yeah.

You should show her everything. Yeah, we can go next pre-season in Japan. Amazing. We're going to do it. We're going to do a podcast episode in Japan. Micah's going to host. It's going to be like idiot abroad, but better, and we're going to love it.

You had an amazing experience with Japan this year. You scored the winning goal against Australia in the Asian Cup final, what was that like? Dream. It was nice in Australia, morning coffee with teammates and speak some Japanese.

Scoring some goals. Tiki-taka. Speaking of Australia, let's talk a little bit about the pre-season talk as you both went away with the team to Australia and New Zealand. What sort of things did you get up to with tea? while you were there.

We did a lot of things. It was really cool. We went on a sailing boat. That was really nice. We went to the zoo. We went to a lot of coffees. Yeah. Coffee art.

Yeah, because the team's quite big coffee drinkers. As a whole. It comes up nearly every episode. How much everybody loves coffee? Well, I'm not, but... She can't... Just hot chocolate then. Me too.

It's okay. No, it was really nice. We did a lot of things. And I saw Quara's... well yeah yeah they were we couldn't touch though no we couldn't touch them you know how long sleep no how long do they sleep for 20 hours part party i think i might be cool all right damn 20 hours oh did you do any shopping last year in australia no um eggs oggs I like it.

The boots one. Yeah, the boots. What kind of bugs did you go for? Did you go for like a little, because they do like the clog type ones. Were you an ankle clog? Ankle clog. It'd be great for the British weather.

Do you, had either have you been to Australia or New Zealand before? Yeah, for the World Cup, but I was only in New Zealand. So it was, Australia is quite different. Yeah. Than New Zealand. So it was really nice to see.

that as well. What was your favorite thing that you did while you were there? Wow, so many nice things. I think the sailing was so nice and it was really funny because Michael was like, I think you never been on a sailing ball, right? Yeah. And yeah, she was a little bit surprised how the boat was like in this, how do you say it in English? Yeah, angle. And then yeah, she was really scared. It was so scary. I thought like we are gonna die. Yeah, literally. Well, I really like that for anybody that's listening to this and not watching the video,

Micah's been so smiling this whole episode so far and then the minute she said it was scary, her face dropped. So would you go on a sailboat again, Micah, or was that a one and done? Yeah, I can go because I know now. How do they work? I didn't know.

They didn't tell me. Panic over. The boats are fine. Micah, I hear you like ice cream. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. With it being a lot warmer over there,

did you have any ice cream over there or any frozen yogurt or anything like that? I did this summer with my friends. Did. And I won again. But we had a frozen yogurt as well in Australia, no? Yeah. Yeah.

It was nice. It was really nice. It's massive over there, isn't it? They seem to be everywhere. What's your go-to flavor? That place was you can choose, like, anything. Yeah, you can choose everything. Everything.

You can choose the flavor, and then, for me, it's just, like, normal, normal flavor, and then just put everything in it. Yeah, fruits. Brownies. I love brownies. There's a place in London. They've just brought Yochi over. Oh.

I think it's just opened in London. Really? Yeah. Maybe we need to go. Breaking news on the podcast. Yeah. Yochi's open. Wow.

Maybe we need an episode in Yochi? Yeah. Team goes to get frozen yoghuts together. Yeah. I love that. That would be nice. What would you get? Talk me through your dream yote order.

Okay, I would take natural flavor and then kiwi, strawberries, brownies, cheesecake, Kinderbue. yeah I like how much it's really balanced it started yeah yeah exactly

no it has to have both what about you myca yogurt asai salty caramel vanilla um

this is great sweet potato it was sweet potato yeah it was so good I need to get on this it was so good it was so good no

yeah it was really good no I love a sweet potato to get on this and brownie um i'm hungry now yeah maybe that's it that's that's a solid ice cream that sounds great i need to get you two to do my ice cream order from now on yeah we can do that great i'm in the dms like um i don't know give me give me give me the rex have either of you got a favorite memory from tour this time the flight no I'm joking.

Flight was so long. Yeah, the flight was really long. Yeah, he said, how long is the flight to Australia? Almost to land, you know? I think, yeah, even more. Even more. Yeah. 30 hours.

What do you do on a flight normally? What do you go to? Eat, sleep, watch. What were you watching? Yeah, what are you watching? Yeah. I was just sleeping, so. Just out like a lot of the whole flight.

Yeah. Did you watch anything good? Yeah. What did you watch? What's the film or a series? Film, anyone not? Voicemaid for Isabel. Yes, yeah, that one.

Oh, yeah, I've not seen this yet. I have to watch it as well. It's on my watch list. Was it good? How would you rate it? It's like really good sisters, and then one sister did. Yeah. And then she's gonna find out how to survive. have I have I,

the last hard life. I need to watch this film. Yeah, I won't watch it. You've sold it to me. With it being such a long flight,

how did you cope with the jet lag? Well, I was fine. How about you? I was fine, too. Yeah. Oh, so it's just me then. Right.

No, but I think, yeah, a few players were, yeah. It's true. Still, after a few days, it was still not the best. But, yeah,

I don't know. I remember last time at the World Cup, It was so bad for me, but this time, I don't know, I just slept the whole time. Maybe that's the way, too. Just sleep the whole flight. Do you think trips like that are really important for bonding the whole team and all getting to know each other?

Yeah, I think so. We did a picture things, no? Dinner time. Yeah, yeah. Like, you need to choose one picture in your life, and then you need to explain in front of everyone. Yeah, that was really. cool because I think you got to know each player in a different side as well and it was

really cool too. And the emotional too? Yeah it was really emotional. It must have been quite nice to learn something about each member of the team and you've had a lot of new signings this season as well. Is there any of the new signings that have surprised you? They're all really good. They are all really really good. Yeah, of course Monaca is still injured but I think she's going to be a great player or she is a great player as well. What was a question? Did any of the new signings surprise you? Surprise? Surprise me?

Monaco, I think. I talked with her about the Chelsea but I didn't know like actually she's coming. So it was surprised too, no? What was that like when you found out? It must have been so excited to find out that yeah, a friend of yours was coming to join the team. Because I played football since when I was like starting with her. Oh, so you've played with her for a long time then.

Yeah. Yeah. In national team. Yeah, and you know each other quite well. And when they're speaking, Japanese, like, they saw different. They're like screaming through the hole and training ground. And then we're like, who is this? Have you seen a different side of my current.

Yeah, yeah, it's so nice. It's so nice. What was your favorite moment of the tour this time? She or gave it to me presents. Like, you remember? Yeah, I remember. I was, I think, in my room, and then she was like, knock, knock. And then she gave it to me a present.

That's so sweet. Yeah, it was so sweet. Do you want to share with this what it was? Because I was saying, we went to that coffee shop and I was saying, oh, this is so cute. I want to buy next time. And then she bought me. Yeah.

That's so sweet. Oh, that's really hot. You all seem to have such a lovely relationship and a lovely camaraderie. Speaking of which, who made you laugh the most when you're on tour? Who brings the energy? Mervine?

Yeah, Melvin is really, really funny. She has so much energy, it's crazy. But it's so nice, like having someone like her in the team who's just like keeping the energy up and like, yeah, asking questions and just like, being loud and laughing a lot, it's nice. It's nice to see everybody with their own role in the team. Matisse? Matisse. Yeah. Yeah, Sonia and Kamis kids were entertaining as well.

Now, we've got to talk about initiations, because I think it was the first thing I spoke to you about on the podcast when we were together last year. What were the initiations like this year? Were there any good ones? Were there any memorable ones? Everyone was so good. Like, the level was really, really high.

And then in the end, Lola came in. And she was just, like, singing so good. and we were all surprised like oh yeah it was crazy yeah she was so good but like everyone it was yeah it was amazing I bet it's really fun to find out that your teammates have got hidden talents and I've either of you got a party trick or a secret talent that we don't know about not really do you have some no no no I'm very dull What was it like having so many people at the games out there?

Because it was huge, wasn't it? Even though you were at the other side of the world, it must have been really special. Yeah, it was really special. I think having the support even on the other, yeah, part of the world is crazy and so many Chelsea fans. And it was just amazing to see how many fans went to our game. And not only the game, but also, like, when we went to the city

and everyone was so happy we were there and everyone was asking for, yeah, photos. And it was just so nice to see them how happy they are. It must be really cool meeting fans that far across the other end of the world and playing for such a big team. What is that like in your head? Because I know you obviously want to play football for a long time. And then here you are at the other side of the world.

You've got loads of fans over there. That must feel really special. Yeah, it is. And I think it reminds you of why you started football. and like, yeah, loving football. And I think that's why we do it because we love it. And it's just so nice to see, yeah, how many fans we have. We've heard a little bit about your friendship,

but I want to see how well you two actually know each other. Oh, oh. I'm going to ask you a few questions, and you tell me who out of the two of you think the answer is. And I might get you to explain. give us a little insight. Who out of the two of you is more likely to be late? Me.

Yeah. There was no debate there. No. Myra's like, I'll offer myself. Yeah, because at the time, we lived together or like in the same building. But. Yeah, we went with a car together and, yeah.

You know, at one point, Mara and me, we were just saying five minutes, earlier and we came five minutes later and we knew you're at the right time then because you're always like a little bit of it. See I think that's love if you're anticipating yeah I think that's love right there. Yeah who is more likely to cook dinner if he did desert the desert yeah well yeah I think it was more Mara but yeah If it's dinner, I mean Yeah, I cannot cook well

Do you enjoy cooking? Yeah What's your favorite thing to cook? Chicken Rice? Miso soup Oh, I love a miso So, that's solid

We need out We've got so many episode I need us today We need a cooking episode as well Yeah, we want to do that Yeah But I want to do sushi with you You need to show me how to do it

Do you make your own sushi? No because sushi is just like rice and but yeah but so you're the pro yeah yeah maybe your mom needs to show me maybe I need to get used to teach me how to make sushi do you make sushi no who takes longer to get ready I'm really quick you yeah yeah maybe me. Is this where the five minutes comes in? Yeah, exactly. No, I'm really quick. Ten minutes I'm ready. Oh, the dream. Who's more likely to spend their day off watching TV? Both in a lot. No, I think we're both active people. Yeah. How do you spend your day off normally?

Um, different. Just sleep first. And then, um... Nice breakfast. Nice breakfast. Nice. breakfast, go for walk, go to sauna. Yeah. We've heard this. Yeah, a few times together, yeah. We both like it. And then just sometimes go to London, go to musicals. Um, yeah.

Which musicals have you been to now? Moulin Rouge. Yes. Mama Mia. Yes. Wicked. We love Wicked. And I'm going to the Lion King with my cousin this week.

Have you seen it before? No, no. Oh, it's so much fun. I have so much fun. Have you seen it about musicals? Yeah, Lion King in Japan. Oh, nice. But in Japan, it was like three hours or four hours.

What? And then we have like break time between. And the first beat, I was like, focusing. But second part... Then it was too long. Yeah. Yeah, a bit too long sometimes. But it was really nice.

Yeah. I've seen it in London. Is it nice songs as well? It's the same songs as the film with a couple of extra ones but it looks very different to the films. Very good though. Okay, cool.

You'll have so much fun. Nice. This podcast is brought to you by Scudor the official car partner of Chelsea Women and proud supporter of women's sport. It's football season, time for after work training, muddy boots and early morning weekend games. Whether you play five aside,

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But don't just take my word for it though. Search the scooter range today to jump in and see for yourself. Who's more likely to suggest going out or making plans? Yeah, maybe. Yeah, I'm just asking, like, should we do this? Should we do that? Yeah.

What's on the list of things still to do in London? Because we've talked about this when you've been on four. It's a long list. You went to dog yoga? Yeah, Poppy yoga. Yeah, we want to go together as well to Poppy Yoga. And then there was, Cio sent me this the other day. It was like, like river rafting.

Huh? You know, like in the boat. Where are people river rafting in London? I don't know, but she sent me this like 20 minutes. from Waterloo and I was like, let's go. That's so nice. I feel like I need to see this. Where are people going river rafting 20 minutes from Waterloo? Yeah. That sounds so fun. Yeah. River what? Riverafting. It's like in a boat, in the river and then it's like waves and then you go with the boat. You want to come? Yeah. We go. Let's go. That's how it works. We're just like... But we can't get injured, no? No, but it's

fine. How would this boat experience compared to your boat experience? in Australia. Is it less or more scary? Safer. Safer. Arguably one of the most dangerous water activities ever. Yeah, that looks safer.

That looks really safe. Is there anything that you've still got on your list of things to do in London, Micah? In London? Latte art. Lattea. Oh, yeah. I like it.

What, learning how to do it yourself. Yeah. Yeah. Have you tried doing it before? Are you good at it? That's because I want to learn. And that's why we need to learn, yeah. Who is more competitive?

You're really competitive. Yeah, I am. Is it just in football, or you're really competitive with everything? Sometimes I don't really care, but sometimes I really care. We take really serious. Like a card game?

Car game you really care, huh? Or not? Not that much. That looks like someone that really cares. Okay. You as well. Yeah. Yeah, car games is important.

Who would you trust to plan your holiday? Plan your holiday? I think we both could do it. Or? I don't really, I think. Well, I'm trusting Micah to plan my holiday to Japan now. Yeah, I... Because Mike has got the recommendations.

I think so too. I can plan your holiday to Switzerland. I'll take that as well. Yeah. Because a bit of Swiss chocolate. Yeah. Yeah. I feel like between the entire Chelsea team, I could have a lot of good holidays.

I think so too. I could get some great recommendations. Whole world, I think. You were traveling a lot over some break as well, didn't you? Yeah. Yeah, I was in Morocco. Yeah. And Albania.

All over the place. Yeah. Mr. Worldwide. Mike, we've heard you're moving soon. You're moving house. How's that going? How do you know? What can I say?

How? I'm magical. Yeah. Yeah. Are you looking forward to moving? Mm-hmm. How's it going? Have you done much packing?

Yeah. Are you an organized packer or do you just let it all? happen on the day? Before summer I put everything in my storage. Oh so you're so organised yeah yeah during the summer I don't need a house here so I just put and I just gonna receive. Livia obviously you did the move here what was it like what is it like moving from home and then coming here and starting a life over here that's really nice the moving is not so nice I really don't like moving are you organized when it comes to moving.

I try to be, but it's just moving is so exhausting. It's crazy. And then even when I had to pack my things from Germany to here, and then they were stuck on the border, and it was just so complicated. But yeah, now it's really good, and I'm happy I didn't have to move again. Are you going to help Micah move? Are you going to volunteer?

Yeah, I'm here. Whenever you need help, I'm gonna help. I love that. It's so sweet. What's one thing that you can't live without in your home? Things that you can cut. Knife.

Knife. What can't you live without, Micah? Nice. Wait, that was bad. No, that, no, it's okay. Or like rice cooker. Rice cook, I haven't got a rice cooker. I just try and eyeball it.

it worth getting a rice cooker? Much better. Much, much, much. Yeah, but my mom says that as well. It's so much better to have a rice cooker. Maybe I need to invest in a rice cooker. Me too. Yeah.

We love a rice cooker chat. The rice cooker chat is firing up today. What about you live here? What can't you live without? You've got knives on a rice cooker in here. Yeah, my bed, maybe. Oh, yeah, that's true. Bad.

No, but, yeah, the girls, I'm making fun of me because I'm making kuscus all the time. I really love kuskos. I've got to tell you that. It's quite rogue. And maybe then I have to say kuskos because, yeah, that's... So I can't... Rice cooker kuskis.

I can't live without my kuskosk, I would say. And you've been making you kus a lot. What do you put in it? Talk me through. I've never heard the word kuskukes so many times. It now sounds weird. To be honest, we started because Mara was living with me in the same apartment. So we started to do cuscus and we just loved it.

And then we didn't have any other ideas what to cook in the evening. So we keep repeating doing cusscus. And now I'm still doing cusscus all the time. It's so nice. It's just cusscus. This episode is getting more and more random. The longer it goes off. Cucumber, paprika, cuscus.

Feta, tomatoes, then some spices, some lemon, some oil, some badamico. It sounds delicious. With flour? I don't know. Food decided, like, name. That's what I ask myself a lot. And then you put some avocado and some humus, self-made hummus,

and then some self-made bread as well. And then it's perfect. I'm sorry, you're making your own bread? Yeah. Drop the recipe immediately. I can, sorry. We need a cooking show. Livian needs her own cooking show.

It's, no, to be honest, yeah, Cio is teaching me a lot of baking, cooking. stuff so that's incredible we give the credits to her not to me so yeah but we are baking bread a lot so this is nice oh my goodness there's nothing better than a fresh baked bread yeah i think about the scene in ratatui at least once a week where they're cracking the bread yes and they're like oh it's the sound of the bread i just i actually can't the cuscus chat is really not where i thought the podcast was going to go today which is better cuss-c-c-c-or-rise

you can't just say a cuss or something why cuss twice Mike is questioning the language I'm questioning the existence of cos-cose and living is in the corner

baking bread yeah yeah yeah for you rice for me cuss-c-c-cust I would say there's something out there for everybody There's customers out there for Livy. Now, Livyre, how are your studies going?

Have you got time for them amongst all your copious cuss-cust making? That's not the best question. Yeah, I got an exam in two weeks. I think I have to start practicing because, yeah. But it's good you remind me of my studies. You're welcome. It's from here for us. Thank you.

Remind my question. she's moving, remind you to revise. Thank you, thank you. No, it's okay, it's okay. How do you normally prepare for exams? What's your, how'd you get in the zone? Well, when I was younger, I did a lot of, like, I wrote down everything, but now I'm like,

this is useless because it's just, no, it's not, it's not, it's not, it's not, no, it's not useless. No, it's not useless. To be fair, but I don't have the time to do it. So I'm just reading the things and reading again, and then I just, read it before to go to sleep because then I'm like okay in your sleep you're gonna have it in your brain and I just hope it's gonna stay in my brain I think I got told this as a kid though if you read

things before bread before the bed it stays in your head back yeah so that's what I'm doing but I'm not sure about it it might be working yeah we'll see we'll find out yeah Micah can you believe that she's studying and playing football at the same time yeah Michael's like, I'm going for it. We hear about it all the time. But you did the same. You had so many English lessons as well. Yeah.

You were studying. We were studying. Together. Yeah. Yeah. We meet for study lessons. Yeah, because, Micah, you've been learning English whilst you've been here, which is so impressive because you're obviously an amazing football player

and now you're learning a language at the same time. Is it really difficult? Is English a difficult language to learn? I would say, yeah. So we have actually got some special guests coming to join us this episode, some special surprise guests. They might have four legs each.

We're gonna have some dogs on the podcast for the first time ever. Are you both dog people? Mm. Mm. Well, I like dogs, but I could not have a dog. Like I... Me neither.

You could, I think. Really? Yeah. Yeah. But I, like, I'm... I want to go away from home. I want to, like, I don't have the responsibility to have a dog. You've got long training days as well, the pair of you.

Yeah, and to organize everything and how weekend Lucy and everyone who has a dog does it, it's crazy because they have to organize so much or early as well, yeah. I just got a dog and it's like having a baby. Yeah. Like my entire life revolve. around that dog. Yeah. What dog?

What dog? I've got a sausage dog. I thought so. Do I have just looked like the type? I could guess. You could... I've asked you before. Like, what type of dog do you think I have?

If we look towards the rest of the season, Micah, now that you're back at Chelsea, what are you most looking forward to? And the dogs have arrived. Hello. Oh and you've gone straight from the bucket. Hey. Hello.

This is the most exciting episode of the podcast today. At No food. No food. Hello dogs. Oh my goodness. Do we have the dog's names for the podcast? Lila. Lila.

This is Amos. Hey, Amos and Lila. Hey. Welcome to podcast, guys. What's your opinion on Chelsea this season? No opinion. You guys are so cute. Oh, I feel like we're not going to get anything done now

because we've got dogs here. No, it's fantastic. This is the best. I think Micah can't concentrate anymore. Micah's been given a dog. Yeah. What are you both looking forward to most this season just to sort of like finish the podcast off with dogs now?

I think to create some great moments with the team. Of course, winning. games, winning trophies and just have fun. And all at the bridge. And all at the bridge, yeah. It was so nice last weekend and just enjoyed with the fans. And yeah, have fun. Yeah, what about you, Michael?

What are you looking forward to this season? Winning a trophy with everyone. That's so exciting. And what about Amos and Laila? What are you looking forward to this season? That's so sweet. So cute. So sweet. Have either of you got family dogs? Go on.

Lila has opinions and they need to be heard. I was like. Yeah. I love her. Can she come every week? Poppy podcast. It is, it's gonna have to be a puppy podcast now. Dogcast, phenomenal. If we had you both on the podcast at the end of the season, what do you hope that we're talking about?

either both football-wise and not football wise, more cuscus, perhaps. Yeah, cus and sushi. Cuscus, sushi and dogs. And nox. The most random episode of the podcast. Yeah, I want to hear about your river-rafting experience when you come back. Yeah. Well, thank you guys so much.

Thank you. Thank you for coming to join me. Thank you so much. It was Lila as well. Thank you. And hopefully we'll see you again soon this season. Yeah, thank you. Thank you.

Enjoy training, Michael. Thank you for listening to We are Chelsea, the official podcast of Chelsea Women, brought to you an association with Skoda, the official car partner for Chelsea women and proud supporters of women's sport. Remember, if you want to get involved in the podcast this season, comment below your whistleblower stories and any questions. See you next time.