Podcast
RFK Refugees Podcast
Hosted by RFK Refugees · EN
RFK Refugees is a podcast dedicated to covering all things DC United and Washington Spirit. Since 2017, Ted Meyer and Jon Hoffman have talked every week about DC soccer, bringing the perspective of long-time fans to the broader fan community. This show is for anyone with an interest in either team or someone looking for some group therapy for yet another painful DCU season. At least the Spirit are always good.
31episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
A Man of No Conviction | World Cup, the Spirit Soar & Aaron Herrera Waived
2w ago00:43:20Tap to summarizeWe're back. After a hiatus — and a Riverside studio that updated itself the second we hit record — Jon and Ted return to a weekend with no DC United or Washington Spirit match (World Cup + international break). So we ran a full World Cup roundup, made the case that the Washington Spirit are the best team in town, and broke down DC United waiving Aaron Herrera.The World Cup has us hooked against our will: the USMNT's four-goal outburst, Folarin Balogun climbing the all-time charts, a Christian Pulisic calf scare, Gio Reyna's worldie and the celebration that told on him, plus why Cape Verde, Curaçao and Haiti are the best argument for a 48-team field. Then it's all things Spirit, and a primer on how MLS waivers actually work now that Herrera's on his way out.More DC United news — the stuff for the sickos — is on the $5 Patreon edition.IN THIS EPISODEWelcome back / the new Riverside studio and live on-air troubleshootingJon's hockey injury and a PT's blunt adviceA man of no conviction: the World Cup has usUSMNT score four; Folarin Balogun fourth all-time in US men's World Cup scoringChristian Pulisic dazzles, then the calf scareGio Reyna's worldie vs Paraguay & the celebrationThe 48-team debate: Cape Verde, Curaçao, Haiti — and Italy out againJapan's comeback draw with the Netherlands; Scotland and Japan as dark horsesFox's coverage gets roastedWhy the Washington Spirit are on a rocket shipAaron Herrera waived: how MLS waivers actually workWorld Cup targets for DC + Kevin Paredes a free manWho we want to win vs who'll actually win🎙️ Extended DC United breakdown at the $5 tier: patreon.com/rfkrefugees Vamos. 🔴⚫
Transcribe →He'll Go When He Wants To Go — DC United 4-4 Montreal CF | World Cup Break | RFK Refugees
May 2700:46:30Tap to summarizeDC United draw 4-4 with Montreal CF in their last game before the World Cup break. Four goals scored. Four goals conceded. Dead legs everywhere. Renée Weiler's future is the big conversation — Jon says he's gone after the half season, Ted says end of 2028. Either way, he'll go when he wants to go. Plus the Washington Spirit lose the CONCACAF Women's Champions Cup final 4-3 to Club América in heartbreaking fashion.In this episode:DC United 4-4 Montreal CF: four goals, four goals conceded, the dead legs problem explainedWhy does DC keep blowing leads? It's not complicated — there's no rotation depth Weiler trustsLouis Munteanu looking more settled: less pressing, more facilitatingJared Stroud scores and continues to quietly have a momentLucas Bartlett peaks and valleys — Owusu [confirm spelling] caused problems all nightTai Baribo: quiet game other than the penalty kick goalKeisuke Kurokawa handball: was it a penalty?Sean Johnson: largely not at faultRenée Weiler's future: Jon says half season, Ted says end of 2028"Nothing about this club is sustainable" — Jon's long-term takeCaden Clark heading for the exit in the summer windowAaron Herrera and Gabriel Pirani departure timelinesKevin Paredes out of contract at Wolfsburg — a realistic target?International slot situation and what it means for incoming transfersMauricio Pochettino's phone call controversyWashington Spirit 3-4 Club América: Sofia Cantore screamer, Rose [confirm] takes over, Sandy McIver's difficult momentSpirit still second best in goals conceded in the NWSLBackup goalkeeper discussionVote for who Jon interviews during the World Cup break — get your votes in by June 2ndExtended analysis, roster grades, and full Patreon listener Q&A at the $5 tier: patreon.com/rfkrefugeesFollow us on Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, and Threads @rfkrefugeesVamos.
Transcribe →The Vibes Are Undecided — DC United 1-3 Chicago + 1-1 St. Louis | RFK Refugees
May 1900:42:53Tap to summarizeDC United lose 1-3 to Chicago Fire and draw 1-1 with St. Louis City. The vibes are undecided. Aaron Herrera wants out. Gabriel Pirani's contract is being terminated. Nikola Markovic at right back did not work. But João Peglow scores a late equalizer, Louis Munteanu and Tai Baribo are starting to show something together, and Jared Stroud is quietly having a moment. Jon and Ted break it all down before the World Cup break.In this episode:DC United 1-3 Chicago Fire: Nikola Markovic at right back, Louis Munteanu's back heel assist, the Zickernagel goal, the soft penaltyAaron Herrera officially wants to leave — and Renée Weiler said it out loudGabriel Pirani contract termination: where does he go?Jackson Hopkins: he can only be failed, not failSean Johnson: saves the point against Chicago, rough night on the third goalDC United 1-1 St. Louis City: João Peglow's late equalizer, Tai Baribo's missed header, Louis Munteanu bundling one in... offsideJared Stroud quietly having a momentThe Munteanu-Baribo partnership: something is developingRenée Weiler's brutal press conference honesty: "It astonishes me that people are surprised we lost"Kevin Paredes out of contract at Wolfsburg — could he come home?Caden Clark likely on the way out in the summer windowInternational slot situation and what it means for the transfer windowVangar offside rule debate: Ted is not a fanThe vibes are undecided heading into the World Cup breakExtended analysis and full Patreon listener Q&A at the $5 tier: patreon.com/rfkrefugeesFollow us on Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, and Threads @rfkrefugeesVamos.
Transcribe →We're Not There Yet — DC United 2-2 Nashville SC | Week 9 2026
May 1200:42:00Tap to summarizeDC United go up 2-0 at Nashville. Silvan Hefti gets a red card. Nashville score twice in 14 minutes. DC hold on for a 2-2 draw. It's a monkey's paw. Jon and Ted break it all down plus Chicago on Wednesday and a Washington Spirit update.In this episode:DC United 2-2 Nashville SC: the monkey's paw drawLouis Munteanu scores again — the DP slot is starting to look betterSilvan Hefti red card: Ted referees the refsAaron Herrera: poor performance, 90 minutes Wednesday to prove himselfJackson Hopkins misses two clear chances — he's not a forwardMatti Peltola: steady as everSean Johnson: 3.38 expected goals faced, saved the point lateGabriel Pirani: mutual contract termination reportedly agreedAndy Najar: DC's greatest academy product, still embarrassing us at 33Renée Weiler's sub decisions explainedTai Baribo return: how does the Baribo-Munteanu partnership work?Caden Clark trade value in the summer windowKye Rowles green card updateChicago Wednesday: seven points minimum from the next three gamesWashington Spirit lose in Seattle: Claudia Martinez scores, Trinity Rodman ankle scareSandy McIver: a tough night in goalFull Patreon listener Q&AExtended analysis and Chicago preview at the $5 tier: patreon.com/rfkrefugeesFollow us on Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, and Threads @rfkrefugeesVamos.
Transcribe →Hold Onto It. Treasure It. — DC United 2-0 NYCFC | Week 8 2026
May 500:52:57Tap to summarizeDC United win 2-0 at NYCFC. Louis Munteanu scores twice. First back-to-back wins since October 2024. Fifth place in the Eastern Conference. Jon and Ted are back together and taking full credit. Hold onto it. Treasure it.In this episode:DC United 2-0 NYCFC: the best road performance of the seasonFirst back-to-back wins since October 2024Louis Munteanu: two goals, the partnership with Tai Baribo to comeKeisuke Kurokawa and Jared Stroud: the long throw combinationRenée Weiler buries Pirani again — is he ever playing for DC United again?Brandon Servania's best game of the seasonMatti Peltola and Silvan Hefti: the unsung backboneJackson Hopkins or Aaron Herrera on the right when Baribo returns?DC's open DP slot: winger or eight?Kye Rowles green card situationNikola Markovic vs Lucas Bartlett — not yetCaden Clark trade valueNashville preview: can DC steal a result on national TV?Four games before the World Cup break — how many points?Washington Spirit: Claudia Martinez is a star, Andy Sullivan is backAdrian Gonzalez wins manager of the monthFull Patreon listener Q&AExtended analysis at the $5 tier: patreon.com/rfkrefugeesFollow us on Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, and Threads @rfkrefugeesVamos.
Transcribe →Turning the Dial Up - DCU 4-4 Red Bull New York, DCU 3-2 Orlando
Apr 2800:26:32Tap to summarizeTed is here to break down a wild week that saw 7 goals and 4 points. He talks briefly about the 4-4 draw against the New York Red Bulls that saw the team come back 3 times. He also talks about the wild 3-2 win at home against Orlando including goals from the shiny DP from Romania
Transcribe →Three Stars on the Badge — DC United 0-0 Philadelphia Union ft. Gregory Roche
Apr 2101:25:04Tap to summarizeTed's on vacation so Jon called in Gregory Roche from Pitch Pass for 90 minutes of group therapy. DC United grind out a 0-0 draw against Philadelphia Union, the CSO posts AI-written LinkedIn content that doesn't know how many championship stars are on the badge, and Louis Munteanu's future becomes a very real conversation.In this episode:DC United 0-0 Philadelphia Union: defensively solid, offensively invisibleThe LinkedIn Chronicles: AI-written post cites wrong number of stars on the badgeRenée Weiler sounding like a podcast host in press conferences, not a coachOpen Cup exit vs One Knoxville SC: the beginning of the end for Gabriel Pirani?Was this Weiler's transfer window or the doctor's? Gregory makes the caseThe schizophrenic roster build: great defense, no attacking planLouis Munteanu: Gregory raises the uncomfortable question — is he gone before the end of the season?Silvan Hefti and Aaron Herrera: the right back situation explainedGavin Turner and Caden Clark need more minutes — both hosts agreeNikola Markovic in the six role: working for nowThe Pirani Summer/Fall cycle: it's coming, it always comesLocker room sources: reportedly not well-liked internallyIs the season done and dusted? Gregory says absolutely notEastern Conference reality check: DC United are in a playoff spotHow to actually market this club — Eddie Pope, Clyde Sims, the flagThe academy, Kevin Flanagan, and the talent rich DC areaOrlando preview: yin and yang of MLS mediocrityFull listener Q&AThis week's full episode is on the free feed — no Patreon required.Check out Gregory Roche at pitchpass.comFollow us on Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, and Threads @rfkrefugeesVamos.
Transcribe →He Might Hate Him — DC United 0-1 New England Revolution
Apr 1400:37:57Tap to summarizeDC United fall 0-1 to the New England Revolution and Louis Munteanu still hasn't started a game. Jon has a theory. Renée Wilder won't say. Jon and Ted break down the loss, the Munteanu situation, Aaron Herrera's return, and whether this team should go all in on Wednesday's Open Cup match.In this episode:DC United 0-1 New England Revolution: another clean sheet on the wrong sideThe Louis Munteanu situation: $7 million, still no start, Jon has questionsWhy does Renée Wilder keep starting the same lineup?Gabriel Pirani: grading on a curve per Jason Anderson, still not good enough per JonAaron Herrera returns: solid, five of five on crosses, right role in the systemKye Rowles back: DC's best defensive pairing in yearsTai Baribo out injured — Foot Mob says mid-MayHakim Karamoko: still listed as illness, still no updateMatti Peltola hits the post again — the brand is buildingSilvan Hefti and the goal concededJackson Hopkins as false 9: too close to goal, not his bestGavin Turner off the bench: flying around with something to proveLouis Munteanu's 30 minutes: what we sawWould Renée Wilder get fired or walk away first?Open Cup Wednesday vs one Knocks: full rotation? Jon says yesListener Q&A: Atlanta transfers, Wilder's future, lineup questionsExtended analysis and full Patreon listener Q&A at the $5 tier: patreon.com/rfkrefugeesFollow us on Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, and Threads @rfkrefugees
Transcribe →Jason Anderson, Green Line Soccer
Apr 900:39:40Tap to summarizeJon has a chat with Jason Anderson from Green Line Soccer (https://green-line-soccer.ghost.io/green-line-soccer-intro/) about DC United's season so far and touched briefly on the Washington Spirit's season that is much better than the standings would have you think.
Transcribe →Crash and Burn - DC United 0-4 FC Dallas | Week 6 2026
Apr 700:29:32Tap to summarizeTed is here for a solo show to break down a bad loss to FC Dallas. He talks about what went wrong and what to look for from Rene moving forward. He answers listener questions and relays Cochella recomendations from Jon
Transcribe →