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

181

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March 8, 2022

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Alexi Lalas

On this episode of OTB, Kevin and Chris are joined by US soccer great and Fox Sports Analyst Alexi Lalas to talk about Russia’s World Cup ban, the USMNT players who may be compromised by injury in the upcoming qualifiers, the debt that our concacaf opponents owe to the MLS, Alexi’s opinions on the USWNT settlement, his answers to our Five Questions, what it was like to kick Chris in the stomach, and more.

Great Links and Resources for:

Alexi Lalas

Over the Ball Soccer Podcast: Kevin Flynn and Dave Gallego

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180

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March 1, 2022

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Julie Foudy

On this episode of OTB, Kevin talks about hanging out with Larry David, he and Chris discuss this past weekend’s games, and they both welcome two-time World Cup champion and former USWNT captain Julie Foudy, with whom they discuss the recent equal pay settlement, as well as the current state of the team.

Great Links and Resources for:

Julie Foudy

Over the Ball Soccer Podcast: Kevin Flynn and Dave Gallego

EPISODE

179

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February 25, 2022

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Prof Steven A Bank

On this episode of OTB, Kevin has a talk with UCLA Professor of Law Steven A. Bank about the $24 million settlement reached between the USWNT and US Soccer over past pay inequality, as well as the complications of the collective bargaining agreement on which it is contingent.

Call or Text us – 424-229-2247

Great Links and Resources for:

Prof Steven A Bank

Over the Ball Soccer Podcast: Kevin Flynn and Dave Gallego

EPISODE

178

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February 23, 2022

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Skip Gilbert

This week on OTB, Kevin and Chris talk about the women’s national team’s 5-0 win over New Zealand by way of 3 own goals, the differing contract situations of the USWNT vs the USMNT, and the increased utilization of data in coaching and scouting. They then welcome Skip Gilbert, CEO of US Youth Soccer, to talk about player/coach development and the challenges involved in coordinating numerous different youth leagues around the United States.

Call or Text us – 424-229-2247

Great Links and Resources for:

Skip Gilbert

Over the Ball Soccer Podcast: Kevin Flynn and Dave Gallego

EPISODE

177

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February 11, 2022

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Jeff Carlisle

This week on OTB, Kevin and Chris welcome Jeff Carlisle from ESPN to discuss the USMNT and the CONCACAF and MLS, then talk about the recent calls from USWNT players for accountability from US Soccer for their response to abuse and misconduct claims against coaches.

Call us at our new number – 424.229.2247

Great Links and Resources for:

Jeff Carlisle

Over the Ball Soccer Podcast: Kevin Flynn and Dave Gallego

EPISODE

176

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February 4, 2022

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Mike Woitalla

This week on OTB, Kevin and Chris welcome Soccer America’s Mike Woitalla to talk about the USMNT and their cold weather victory in the CONCACAF World Cup qualifier vs Honduras, the strategy behind choosing the location of that match, and the dominance of the Canadian national team of late.

Great Links and Resources for:

Mike Woitalla

Over the Ball Soccer Podcast: Kevin Flynn and Dave Gallego

EPISODE

175

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January 28, 2022

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Chris Chamides

This week we welcomed new co-host Chris Chamides to the pod to discuss the UMSNT’s qualifying win over El Salvador and look ahead to Sunday’s clash with Canada.

Great Links and Resources for:

Chris Chamides

Over the Ball Soccer Podcast: Kevin Flynn and Dave Gallego

EPISODE

174

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January 21, 2022

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Greg Kenney

This week on OTB, we welcome Greg Kenney, a goalkeeping coach and all-around ideas man, who we spoke to about the USMNT’s upcoming qualifiers, the frigid conditions keepers will face there, some potential rule changes to the game in general, and more.

Great Links and Resources for:

Greg Kenney

Over the Ball Soccer Podcast: Kevin Flynn and Dave Gallego

EPISODE

173

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January 14, 2022

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Ian Barker

This week on OTB, Tom Cotter is back to sit in with Kevin and Sam for a conversation with Ian Barker, former (as of this week) director of coaching education for United Soccer Coaches. Together they discuss the upcoming Coaches Convention in Kansas City, how coaching and training have evolved across the ten years Ian spent in the position, and why his next move may be a return to the NCAA game.

Great Links and Resources for:

Ian Barker

Over the Ball Soccer Podcast: Kevin Flynn and Dave Gallego

EPISODE

172

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January 7, 2022

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Mike Woitalla

OTB returns in the new year with a new co-host to welcome in Mike Woitalla, executive editor of Soccer America, to look back on the biggest stories of 2021 as well as all that there is to look forward to in the year ahead.

Great Links and Resources for:

Mike Woitalla

Over the Ball Soccer Podcast: Kevin Flynn and Dave Gallego

EPISODE

171

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December 16, 2021

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Mike Noonan & Eric Krakauer

On a special edition of OTB this week we welcome in Clemson Head Coach Mike Noonan fresh off his program’s national championship win last weekend to get the inside story on his team’s route to the title. We are also lucky enough to be joined by the recently announced, first-ever play-by-play voice of Charlotte FC Eric Krakauer, who discusses the move to MLS from covering international leagues, initial impressions on his new home and soccer community, and why he badly wanted to be a part of the project.

Great Links and Resources for:

Mike Noonan & Eric Krakauer

Over the Ball Soccer Podcast: Kevin Flynn and Dave Gallego

EPISODE

170

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December 9, 2021

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Dave Masur

This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam are joined once again by St. John’s University Head Men’s Coach Dave Masur to discuss this weekend’s College Cup. In addition to breaking down each of the four remaining teams, we hear about how coaches prepare for two games in less than 48 hours, ways the pandemic has changed the NCAA soccer landscape, how foreign players continue to influence the college game and how everything might be upended by a split season.

Great Links and Resources for:

Dave Masur

Over the Ball Soccer Podcast: Kevin Flynn and Dave Gallego

EPISODE

169

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December 2, 2021

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Frank Dell'Apa

This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam are joined by long-time soccer writer for the Boston Globe Frank Dell’Apa to discuss the resurgence of the Revolution, what went wrong in the playoffs, where things stand on a new stadium and the legacy of coach Bruce Arena before breaking down the MLS conference semis and looking ahead to next year’s World Cup in Qatar.

Great Links and Resources for:

Frank Dell'Apa

Over the Ball Soccer Podcast: Kevin Flynn and Dave Gallego

EPISODE

168

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November 24, 2021

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Paul Carr

This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam are joined once again by TruMedia Sports Director of Content and all-around stats guru Paul Carr to discuss the differences between club and international play, who the numbers say should be in net for the USMNT, how data at-large has affected the game itself on the field and if there’s any quantifiable sense to be made of refereeing decisions. In addition, the guys discuss NBC Sports’ massive new EPL deal and an impressive rise in MLS viewership.

Great Links and Resources for:

Paul Carr

Over the Ball Soccer Podcast: Kevin Flynn and Dave Gallego

EPISODE

167

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November 18, 2021

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Mike Woitalla

On OTB this week Kevin, Grayle and Sam are joined once more by Soccer America Executive Editor Mike Woitalla to break down the USMNT games against Mexico and Jamaica including which players stood out, who regressed, the level of officiating and where things stand overall as we reach essentially the half-way mark in CONCACAF qualifying.

Great Links and Resources for:

Mike Woitalla

Over the Ball Soccer Podcast: Kevin Flynn and Dave Gallego

EPISODE

166

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November 12, 2021

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Jeff Carlisle

This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam are joined once again by ESPN writer Jeff Carlisle who is in Cincinnati following the buildup to the USMNT–Mexico showdown to get his take on the big game (as well as the Jamaica match next week) and the future of CONCACAF qualifying in general with an expanded World Cup in 2026. Jeff also shares his thoughts on the upcoming MLS postseason, players to watch and which clubs he thinks could be primed for a run.

Great Links and Resources for:

Jeff Carlisle

Over the Ball Soccer Podcast: Kevin Flynn and Dave Gallego

EPISODE

165

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November 4, 2021

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Ty Keough

This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam are joined by Ty Keough—an All-American at St. Louis University, former NASL and USMNT player, and longtime broadcaster for ESPN, ABC and more—to discuss the evolution of the NCAA game and why he feels Americans aren’t always given a fair shot at the college level, his playing days with the San Diego Sockers and in MISL, and finally how he made his way into broadcasting and why he wishes there were maybe a few less foreign accents covering the game in the US today.

Great Links and Resources for:

Ty Keough

Over the Ball Soccer Podcast: Kevin Flynn and Dave Gallego

EPISODE

164

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October 29, 2021

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Jason Arnold

This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam are joined by Jason Arnold—Vice President of Sporting Business with Capelli Sport and former University of Maryland player—to hear about the growth of the brand and their work at the grassroots level and in the women’s game along with how the soccer lifestyle “brand” in general has managed to infiltrate the mainstream over the last decade.

Great Links and Resources for:

Jason Arnold

Over the Ball Soccer Podcast: Kevin Flynn and Dave Gallego

EPISODE

163

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October 22, 2021

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Rick Davis

This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam discuss the Saudi takeover at Newcastle, some Champions League action and when we might see Pulisic back on the field before being joined by former New York Cosmo and longtime USMNT member and captain Rick Davis to hear about life as a rare American player in the old NASL and sharing the pitch with the likes of Pelé and Beckenbauer before touching on the national team today, how far we’ve come and how far we still have to go.

Great Links and Resources for:

Rick Davis

Over the Ball Soccer Podcast: Kevin Flynn and Dave Gallego

EPISODE

162

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October 15, 2021

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Three Comic Keepers

This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam break down the USMNT qualifying results against both Panama and Costa Rica, and debate Gregg Berhalter’s overall success with the team to date before being joined by the panel of goalie coach Greg Kenney and comedians (and also ‘keepers) Brad Mastrangelo and Graig Murphy to talk about the evolution of the position, rule changes they’d like to see or not see, and the importance of a team naming a true number one starter.

Great Links and Resources for:

Three Comic Keepers