Podcast
Soccer City
Hosted by Soccer City · EN
Two supporters and media pros talk Charlotte as a Soccer City. John Hayes and Daniel Bramlette aka Brams tell fan stories & pay tribute to the Carolinas' best brews. Each episode feels like trading tales over pints at the pub, pour yourself a glass and enjoy!
10episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Championship Mentality for Carolina Ascent & Coach Philip Poole
May 2800:16:07Tap to summarizeWhy mess with a good thing, right? With one more win to go for a USL Super League Championship, Carolina Ascent Coach Philip Poole makes his fourth visit to Soccer City to share some insight on how his team got to this title match, and how they plan to win it. You'll gain a lot from his focus on process over results and how it paid off in the down times. It's for the climb, Baby!
Transcribe →Major Momentum! Charlotte FC Hits High Note Before World Cup Break
May 2700:59:03Tap to summarizeIdan Toklomati's fancy footwork finished off a nice team goal and 10-man Charlotte FC held on thanks to Kahlina denying Carles Gil's Free Kick. It was the perfect way to head into the extended summer break as the World Cup takes center stage. The win also served as Wilfried Zaha's farewell match in Charlotte, which is going to play heavy into the 2nd half of the season once MLS play resumes. John and Danny will break it all down, say farewell to Wilf, hype up Tim Ream's selection to the USMNT, and maybe even a shoutout to new Premier League Champions Arsenal.
Transcribe →Carolina Ascent Go All Out for 2026 Finale!
May 1500:15:26Tap to summarizeThe Carolina Ascent are unbeaten in 10 matches with one game left in the regular season, and they have a massive party planned at ALMS for the occasion. Fullback Jill Aguilera and Coach Philip Poole pop into Soccer City to talk about the win streak, the club's growth in Year 2, the mindset going into the playoffs, and of course the Fan-tastic finale on deck. If there's one soccer team you were betting on to bring hardware to the Queen City this season, this is it, so there's every reason to get on board as the Ascent are just a handful of wins away from a Championship...It's for the Climb, Baby!
Transcribe →The Crown Goes Down to NYC | Decoding the Postgame Pressers
May 1400:41:25Tap to summarizeA lifeless effort from Charlotte FC saw the Crown go down 1-0 at home to NYC FC. What's gone wrong with this club in 2026? Is it just the regular ups and downs of a season? Or is there a deeper rot settling into the locker room?DannyBrams searches for those answers by digging into the postgame commentary from Tim Ream, Dean Smith, and Luca de la Torre. There are definitely hints to be found reading between the lines, let's discover them together!
Transcribe →Carolina Ascent Haven't Lost in 3 Months!
May 700:15:49Tap to summarizeThe hottest team in Soccer City is the Carolina Ascent, unbeaten in 9 straight matches with just two games left in the regular season before their USL Super League Championship chase hits the playoffs. Leading goalscorer Rylee Baisden stops by Soccer City for a chat with Danny Brams about what's led to the streak, how the club is growing more established in Year 2, and how they plan to win it all this time around. She also breaks down her recent game-winning goal that clinched the club's playoff status for the season, and talks about the calmness her teammates feel in late-game, pressure-packed situations. In the end, we even bring her to (happy) tears with a blast from the past that literally no one was expecting! It's for the Climb, Baby!
Transcribe →Lyin' Eyes: Goals & Gaslighting as Charlotte FC Crashes Out vs Orlando City
Apr 2300:58:59Tap to summarizeThe assignment was simple, the understanding was...lacking. Charlotte FC traveled to a nearly empty stadium on a Wednesday night and fell flat on their faces vs the worst team in the MLS Eastern Conference, shipping 4 goals to Orlando City and creating a universe of questions around the club's actual identity in 2026. Danny & John pour themselves a couple strong ones and stare out into all the stars of the sky to try to answer as many of those questions as possible, and what they can't figure out, the Soccer Citizens are there to fill in the gaps. Possibly the Most Important Episode We Have Ever Done, It's For the Crown, BABY!!
Transcribe →Charlotte FC @ NYC FC | Jillian Sakovits visits Soccer City!
Apr 1600:18:43Tap to summarizeCharlotte FC's 2026 campaign hits the road, and Special Guest Jillian Sakovits says there's only one thing they should be focused on for this trip to New York City: Revenge! The Apple TV host and reporter makes her Soccer City debut to preview a massive matchup this weekend, and also gets into her recent experiences working the sidelines at Bank of America Stadium, why MLS needs strong personalities like Dean Smith to always speak their minds, and what Charlotte has to offer when it comes to attracting superstar talent to the squad. The Season Never Sleeps, and it's always For the Crown, Baby!
Transcribe →Charlotte Derby + Zaha's future with CLTFC
Apr 1401:01:10Tap to summarizeThe match we've waited years for is finally just days away...are you ready for it? Hayes & Brams are here to prepare you for Charlotte FC vs Charlotte Independence in the Open Cup Round of 32, and they're joined by very special guest Clay Dimick, captain of the Jacks! Along with previewing the Cup match, they'll dive into the latest social media breadcrumbs being dropped by soon-to-be Free Agent Wilfried Zaha, plus dive into what exactly went wrong in a loss to Nashville last weekend and whether or not it really even mattered in the long run. We got a lot to talk about, it's For the Crown, Baby!!
Transcribe →Red-Hot Crown Welcomes Nash Showdown | Ross Smith of Apple TV Visits!
Apr 901:10:16Tap to summarize2026 Vibes are STRONG in Soccer City as the first-ever Charlotte Derby has been confirmed for the US Open Cup Round of 32, while The Crown rides high on the wings of a wonderful winner from Wilf that secured 3 points last time out at The Fortress.Now, ahead of a titanic showdown vs Nashville, Apple TV's Ross Smith visits with John and Danny for a raucous midweek livestream full of incisive soccer analysis, double-pour brown liquor, and a whole lotta laughs. Special thanks as well the TFOS and Soccer Citizens for the lively and interactive chat all the way through. Lock in for the full hour cuz this one is definitely For the Crown and Up the Jacks all damn day!
Transcribe →Is Charlotte Sexy?
Apr 200:43:50Tap to summarizeJohn & Danny react to Dean Smith's comments about Charlotte not being sexy enough to attract top players in Europe. GM Zoran Krneta echoed that statement in an interview with Backheeled. It's matchweek 6 and struggling Philadelphia Union is coming to the Queen City. Plus, the USMNT is in action over the international break! Will Patruck Agyemang make the final roster?
Transcribe →