Over the Ball Soccer Podcast: Celebrating the World's Game from an American Perspective

Celebrating the World's game from an American perspective

Welcome to the Over the ball soccer podcast

Celebrating the World's Game from an American Perspective.

Tune in every week to America’s fastest growing soccer podcast hosted by comedian and ex-pro Kevin Flynn and Dave Gallego as they celebrate the World’s Game from an American Perspective. The boys at OTB delve into everything soccer from the latest action in the Premier League to the surging growth of the MLS, from the hysteria leading up to the 2024 World Cup to excitement, controversy and news coming from the USMNT and USWNT. OTB’s expert hosts analyze the latest news, controversies, sensational plays, and standout moments of the week. With their immense knowledge and unwavering passion, these two soccer players turned obsessive fans leave no topic untouched. Step onto the pitch weekly with OTB and experience the world’s game like never before.

Over the Ball Soccer Podcast: Kevin Flynn and Dave Gallego

EPISODE

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July 24, 2024

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Elizabeth Rusch

While Kevin’s lost at sea, Dave talks to author Elizabeth Rusch about her new book, ‘A Greater Goal: The Epic Battle for Equal Pay in Women’s Soccer and Beyond’ to explore the fight for equality in women’s soccer, the challenges faced by the women’s national soccer team, and the need for a coach for the men’s team. Elizabeth shares the inspiration behind the book, which was her sister’s experience fighting for a girls’ varsity soccer team in high school and the lack of opportunities for women in professional soccer. She highlights the unequal pay and treatment of the USWNT compared to the USMNT, the challenges they faced in their fight for equal pay, and the role the equal pay deal has had on the ongoing struggle for gender equality in sports. Dave also digs into the ongoing USMNT search for a head coach, rumors about Kevin De Bruyne’s departure from Man City, Caleb Wiley’s signing, transfer rumors, Mexico’s coaching changes, and the MLS All-Star Game.

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Your "Over The Ball" Hosts

Kevin Flynn

Kevin Flynn is a stand-up comedian, actor, television host, and Founder/Executive Director of the Nantucket Comedy Festival, which benefits Stand Up and Learn, a comedy education program that teaches kids confidence, creativity, and communication skills through the medium of stand-up comedy.

After graduating from the University of Massachusetts where he was captain of the soccer team, Kevin went on to play three years of professional soccer in the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL).  Following his soccer career, Kevin transitioned from pro-athlete to professional sportscaster, host and entertainer.  He covered World Cup Soccer for Fox Sports, ESPN and ABC. Flynn’s Sports Figure show on ESPN received the POLK Award for excellence in children’s programming.

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Dave pic 2 Over the Ball Soccer Podcast

Dave Gallego

Dave, like all of us is a huge sports fan hailing from Long Island, NY. Being the son of two European parents, father from Spain, mother from England , it would’ve been “illegal” in his household to not play soccer. As such, he developed a keen interest in the sport. He brings a sometimes brash and opinionated style of commentary to the podcast not always being so politically correct. When not watching soccer, Dave works in sales at NBC Universal. He also keeps busy playing music. He is active in two bands, Jerry and the Newcomers and classic rock band The Haze.

recent OTB EPISODES

Over the Ball Soccer Podcast: Kevin Flynn and Dave Gallego

EPISODE

201

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August 16, 2022

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Kevin and Chris

From Tuchel and Conte going nose-to-nose at the end of the Chelsea and Tottenham match, to Jessie March’s brilliance at Leeds, to Christian Pulisic’s possible loan move to Newcastle United, Kevin and Chris sift through the week’s hottest action, biggest controversies, and most surprising moves on this edition of Over The Ball. | Ep. 201

Great Links and Resources for:

Kevin and Chris

Over the Ball Soccer Podcast: Kevin Flynn and Dave Gallego

EPISODE

200

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August 9, 2022

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Kevin and Chris

This week Kevin joins us from over the pond where he is performing his one-man show, “Fear of Heights”, all month at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, while Chris somehow escapes LMU’s pre-season workouts for a moment or two to discuss how difficult it is to watch soccer in Europe, Gareth Bale’s sterling performance this last week for LAFC, insights gained from the Premier League’s first week, and Jesse Marsch’s Leeds team becoming a favorite for US soccer fans. That, and more, on this week’s episode of Over The Ball. | Ep. 200

Great Links and Resources for:

Kevin and Chris

Over the Ball Soccer Podcast: Kevin Flynn and Dave Gallego

EPISODE

199

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August 2, 2022

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Kevin and Chris

Kevin calls in from Edinburgh, Scotland, where he is performing at the Festival Fringe to pay tribute to Bill Russell, Chris gives an inside look at Juventus F.C., the boys discuss the appeal and popularity of the NWSL, and skewer Ronaldo for his most recent antics at Manchester United. That and so much more on this week’s episode of Over The Ball. | Ep. 199

Great Links and Resources for:

Kevin and Chris

Over the Ball Soccer Podcast: Kevin Flynn and Dave Gallego

EPISODE

198

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July 26, 2022

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Kevin and Chris

Kevin takes a break from Nantucket and Chris from pre-season prep to discuss the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, a red hot Toronto FC, Bale’s performance at LAFC, Haaland’s impact on Man City, Lewandowski Barcelona adventures, and Ronaldo’s whining toward Manchester United, amongst other ramblings. | Ep. 198

Great Links and Resources for:

Kevin and Chris

Over the Ball Soccer Podcast: Kevin Flynn and Dave Gallego

EPISODE

197

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July 19, 2022

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From Nantucket to the Bundesliga

Hot off a successful week hosting the 16th annual Nantucket Comedy Festival, OTB host Kevin Flynn discusses the week’s biggest soccer news with United Soccer Coaches Division II Coach of the Year in 2021 and OTB co-host Chris Chamides. Join Kevin and Chris as they explore the Nantucket lifestyle, USWNT’s upcoming game with Canada, comparing the challenges that face the USMNT vs. the USWNT, Lewandowski heading to Barcelona and its impact on the Bundesliga, and everything soccer from an American perspective. | Ep. 197

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From Nantucket to the Bundesliga

Over the Ball Soccer Podcast: Kevin Flynn and Dave Gallego

EPISODE

196

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July 6, 2022

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Lawrie Mifflin

Soccer pioneers come in all shapes, sizes, and genders. As a student athlete at Yale, Lawrie Mifflin paved the way for Title 9 and NCAA girls sports in the early 70’s and then rolled that into a career in sports journalism. Lawrie covered the NY Cosmos and numerous World Cups at a time that female sports reporters were non-existent. Kevin and Chris sit down with Lawrie to celebrate the life and career of soccer’s first female reporter on this episode of Over the Ball. | Ep. 196

Great Links and Resources for:

Lawrie Mifflin

Over the Ball Soccer Podcast: Kevin Flynn and Dave Gallego

EPISODE

195

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June 29, 2022

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Paul Carr

This week, with Chris Chamides on location doing 2022-2023 recruiting, Kevin goes solo with one of OTB’s favorite guests Paul Carr to discuss the recent announcement of the US cities that have been chosen to host the 2026 World Cup games. Could this be the biggest World Cup audience to date? Kevin and Paul kick that ball around on this episode of Over the Ball. | Ep. 195

Great Links and Resources for:

Paul Carr

Over the Ball Soccer Podcast: Kevin Flynn and Dave Gallego

EPISODE

194

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June 14, 2022

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Chris Chamides

This week Chris joins Kevin as he’s traveling on the movie set of the upcoming film “Teaching While Black”, for a down and dirty talk on all things World Cup, their reaction to Wales Coach Rob Page’s inflammatory comments about their forthcoming game against the USA being “winnable”, loving words about Chris’s favorite defender, Chiellini, and a scholarly discussion on the role of mentoring in NCAA soccer, plus a few hilarious rants from Kevin and Chris. An episode not to be missed. | Ep. 194

Great Links and Resources for:

Chris Chamides

Over the Ball Soccer Podcast: Kevin Flynn and Dave Gallego

EPISODE

193

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June 8, 2022

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Michael Winograd

On this week’s episode of OTB, Kevin and Chris pick the brain of Michael Winograd. Ex-collegiate player, ex-pro player, accomplished lawyer, past U.S. Soccer Presidential candidate, and supportive father of a recently recruited college-bound son, about the growing complexities of the college recruiting process and the demands now being put on aspiring young soccer players gunning to play in the pros.

Great Links and Resources for:

Michael Winograd

Over the Ball Soccer Podcast: Kevin Flynn and Dave Gallego

EPISODE

192

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June 1, 2022

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Jim Trecker

Back in the late ’60s and early 70’s there was a vision for what American Soccer would look like. One of the men the newly formed NASL turned to to help guide it was a young NY Jets Executive by the name of Jim Trecker. On this week’s episode of OTB, Kevin and Chris talk to Jim about those early years, working with Pele, what type of soccer player Joe Namath would have been, and the growth of the World’s game in the U.S.A.

Great Links and Resources for:

Jim Trecker

Over the Ball Soccer Podcast: Kevin Flynn and Dave Gallego

EPISODE

191

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May 17, 2022

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Professor Steven Bank

In a landmark labor agreement that guarantees equal pay, U.S. Soccer, and top players agree that the men’s and women’s national teams will receive the same pay when competing in international tournaments. Join Kevin and Chris as they speak to UCLA’s Professor Steven Bank to get the legal lowdown.

Great Links and Resources for:

Professor Steven Bank

Over the Ball Soccer Podcast: Kevin Flynn and Dave Gallego

EPISODE

190

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May 17, 2022

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Paul Gardner

Kevin and Chris help celebrate the 92nd birthday of a true living soccer legend, Soccer America’s Paul Gardner. Having covered eight FIFA World Cups, ten FIFA Under-17 World Cups, and interviewed the game’s greatest players like Pele, Carlos Veja, Franz Beckenbauer, and Diego Maradona, Paul has also overseen the transformation of the game inside the U.S.A. from the late ’60’s to today. Don’t miss this legendary OTB episode.

Great Links and Resources for:

Paul Gardner

Over the Ball Soccer Podcast: Kevin Flynn and Dave Gallego

EPISODE

189

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May 9, 2022

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The Douglas Brothers

Some call him the happiest player of all time. Others call him the most agile. But nearly everyone calls him the greatest ball-handler the game has ever seen. Join Kevin and Chris as they speak to the Douglas Brothers about the making of their new documentary “Ronaldinho: The Happiest Man in the World” – streaming exclusively on the new FIFA+ streaming platform app.

Great Links and Resources for:

The Douglas Brothers

Over the Ball Soccer Podcast: Kevin Flynn and Dave Gallego

EPISODE

188

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May 3, 2022

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Sasho Cirovski

In this episode of Over The Ball, Kevin and Chris discuss Kevin’s locker room antics, this week’s games, and the Premiere players that make them feel old. The boys think they’ve gotten stood up by NCAA coach Sasho Cirovski, only to grab him off the golf course to discuss the latest negotiations with the NCAA about scheduling and a switch to the “21st Century Model”.

Great Links and Resources for:

Sasho Cirovski

Over the Ball Soccer Podcast: Kevin Flynn and Dave Gallego

EPISODE

187

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April 26, 2022

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PHD. Jonathan Scheiman (FitBiomics) and MLS Defender, Tim Parker (Houston Dynamo FC)

Athletes in every sport are exploring the performance-enhancing benefits of vitamins, supplements, and nutraceuticals as a way of fighting fatigue, increasing muscle performance and increasing human metabolism. So this week OTB sits down with PhD. Jonathan Scheiman, co-founder & CEO of biotechnology company FitBiomics, and MLS Defender Tim Parker of the Houston Dynamo FC, to discuss their use of next-generation probiotics to increase overall gut health as a way of optimizing athletic performance and propel athletes to their highest potential.

Great Links and Resources for:

PHD. Jonathan Scheiman (FitBiomics) and MLS Defender, Tim Parker (Houston Dynamo FC)

Over the Ball Soccer Podcast: Kevin Flynn and Dave Gallego

EPISODE

186

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April 5, 2022

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Mike Woitalla & Paul Carr

On this episode of OTB, Kevin and Chris welcome TWO guests to the show, Soccer America Senior Editor Mike Woitalla and TruMedia Sports Director of Content Paul Carr. They all talk about the 2022 World Cup Final Draw, and the level of competition the US will face in Group B.

Great Links and Resources for:

Mike Woitalla & Paul Carr

Over the Ball Soccer Podcast: Kevin Flynn and Dave Gallego

EPISODE

185

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March 30, 2022

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Paul Carr

On this episode of OTB, Kevin and Chris talk about the debacle at the Oscars, the tactics employed by the USMNT in their 5-1 route of Panama. They’re then joined by TruMedia Sports Director of Content Paul Carr, who brings his statistical insights on everything from individual aerial duels to the FIFA rankings that determine the World Cup draw as the national team goes into its final qualifier.

Great Links and Resources for:

Paul Carr

Over the Ball Soccer Podcast: Kevin Flynn and Dave Gallego

EPISODE

184

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March 25, 2022

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Mike Woitalla

On this special edition of OTB, Kevin welcomes Soccer America’s Senior Editor Mike Woitalla for some quick analysis of the USMNT draw vs Mexico at Estadio Azteca.

Great Links and Resources for:

Mike Woitalla

Over the Ball Soccer Podcast: Kevin Flynn and Dave Gallego

EPISODE

183

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March 22, 2022

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Jim Piddock

On this episode of OTB, Kevin and Chris talk FA Cup, El Clasico between, and the mounting injuries plaguing the USMNT as their final CONCACAF qualifiers. They are then joined by actor, writer, and producer Jim Piddock to talk about his love of Crystal Palace FC, his new book Caught With My Pants Down, not recognizing Rudi Völler, and other stories from his long and varied career.

Great Links and Resources for:

Jim Piddock

Over the Ball Soccer Podcast: Kevin Flynn and Dave Gallego

EPISODE

182

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March 15, 2022

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Chris Chamides

On this episode of OTB, Kevin and Chris talk Ronaldo’s record-breaking hat trick and his legendary work ethic, Jesse Marsch’s first Premier League win and the difficulties that American coaches face in the United Kingdom. Then they dig into the growth mode mindset that Chris has taken through the game, from his beginnings on dirt fields in Brooklyn to playing and coaching Division I soccer.

Great Links and Resources for:

Chris Chamides