Shirtless Plantain Show

We spoke to the talented Tommie Battle about Man City, working for NYCFC, fatherhood and being a creative.We got to talking about his son meeting Raheem Sterling, the growth of football in America, music, movies, and career advice.Tommie is one of the best photographers out here and he is a brilliant creative mind.https://tommiebattle.com/

This week’s guest is the homie Justin, a Chelsea fan and creative talent.We spoke about FIFA, getting into soccer, the highs and lows of being a Chelsea fan, the growth of soccer in America, working in Portland, being a black creative, the perils of the ad industry, partying with Jusuf Nurkić, and a whole lot more,

We spoke to the talented Jenny Chiu about life, football, and #WOMENSWEAR.We learned about her journey from El Paso to CBS, including playing for the Mexican U17 women team, North Carolina, working in the MLS and how she became the on-air personality we see today.She told us about her football career, her favorite celebrations, and much more.Twitter- jennyachiuInstagram: jennyachiuYoutube:ChexicanChiu

We took a mini-break but we are back baby where the love at?!No guest this week, just us talking about football, conspiracy theories in football, bad refs, Liverpool’s blip. Arsenal vs the refs, the state of the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, Ligue 1, Champions League, and MLS.We promise no Senegalese or Roy Keane were harmed in making this episode.Enjoy 🤝

This week we spoke to Nekias Duncan, one of the best basketball writers and minds out here.We spoke about ALL things basketball, including Trady McGrady, how he became a writer, his favorite team and how he got into soccer, and how he sees the sport growing in America.Nekias is a very smart guy and we are appreciative of his time.@NekiasNBA@basketballnews

We spoke to Alex Stewart from TIFO/ The Athletic and it was an absolute pleasure.Learned about his love for Southampton, Ralph Hasenhüttl, football, his favorite books, Maya Moore, and what got him into his career.Alex is an amazing guy, definitely check out TIFO and The Athletic, they are doing amazing things.Twitter- TifoFootball_Instagram- tifofootball_

Happy New Year!We hope that you and yours are well.There was no guest on this week, it was just us talking about football, what we have seen this season, players to watch and we handed out awards.

Our guest this week is Les Owens aka GoodkidManCity.Les is an OG Manchester City, before the takeover, he explained to us how he became a Man City fan and fell in love with football.This episode is very heavy on football, we spoke about scouting, Micah Richards, City legends, 93:20, Pep and his legacy and a host of other football related topics.You can follow him on Twitter @goodkidmancity and follow the sauce report @saucereport9320.

We spoke to the talented Nick Bailley aka NICKSAYSGO.We spoke about his love for Everton, football, and how he got into the sport.In addition to that, we spoke about his site, NICKSAYSGO, and what inspired him to get involved with lifestyle blogging.There was obviously a lot of #MENSWEAR talk, a lot of #culture talk.It was a great conversation with a man who is incredibly talented.Nicksaysgo.comIG- NicksaysgoTwitter- NICKSAYSGO

We spoke to the lovely and talented Justin Block.What a great soul he is, we learned about his journey from Complex to Nike. He talked to us about how he became a Liverpool fan, what got him into football, and writing.Justin gave career advice, life advice, and how great it is living in Portland. Twitter- JBlock49Instagram- jblock49

We spoke with the lovely Natasha Henry about her career, her love for football, and Arsenal.Natasha is a wealth of knowledge and knows her stuff. She gave career advice, gave flowers to some legends and we had a great time speaking to her.Twitter- NatashaSHenry.

We spoke to Complex's own Rawan Eewshah about life, football, being a Barcelona fan, the complexities of being a first-generation immigrant living in the states, and dating a Real Madrid fan.Learned about what she does for a living, her creativity, what her favorite rappers are, and her love for Jennifer Lopez.Twitter- RawanInstagram- rawan_esha

We spoke to YC and Trey, two amazing black men who currently work for Desus and Mero and Vice, respectively.We spoke about life, love, quarantine, and football.This episode is everything we are about, the intersection of life and football..Enjoy the episode 💫

We spoke to Dutch football legend, Rocky Hehakaija about growing up and playing football in The Netherlands.Rocky has inspired a generation of female footballers, she is a pioneer, an icon and we were so happy to speak with her. She shared her story, her background, what inspires her, and the knee injury that led to a new path.We learned about her football heroes, being a street football, her love for Ajax, traveling the world, and giving hope to others.She also started her own foundation Favela Street Foundation as she does a lot of for the game, including scouting for Nike and a Stadium Speaker for the KNVB.Instagram- Rocky.hehakaija

We spoke to Felipe Cardenas from The Athletic about his journey into covering football.Felipe told us about the grind from advertising/ marketing/ PR to starting his own blog. We spoke about his home, Colombia, and the amazing footballers that the country has given us with.In addition, we learned about his college soccer days, covering Atlanta United, the growth of the MLS and soccer in America, the talents to look out for, and his career highlights.Felipe is an amazing guy who blessed us with so many gems and we wish him the very best.https://theathletic.com/author/felipe-cardenas/Twitter- FelipeCar

We spoke to Olu Alege, a creative extraordinaire.Olu talked about growing up in NYC/Bronx, playing basketball, being a Lakers/Kobe Bryant fan as well as his impact on his life.Olu has also started his own agency called "No Noise". We spoke about the difficulties of being a black creative in a world where we create but do not receive credit but with his agency, how he is bridging that gap, we spoke about his marriage and finding the one.We also spoke about the impact soccer has had on his life, his love for Man Utd, going to Old Trafford for the first time and watching the World Cup.

We spoke to Christine Cupo, one of the best football minds we know about life, football and everything in between.She told us about her journey to become a fan of the beautiful game to becoming an Arsenal and Juventus fan. We learned about living in NYC during a pandemic/ quarantine while trying to stay fit as well her background in art.Christine also is a Soccer pickup organizer, she taught us about the difficulties during these times, her famous dog Gigi blessed us. Twitter- CCupoInstagram- MissCupo

This week's guest is an icon in the making, we spoke to DJ, Producer and football aficionado Conducta.We learned of his deep love for Arsenal and football, what got him into music, working with AJ Tracey to create the iconic track "Ladbroke Grove."In addition, Conducta spoke about how his Nigerian background shaped him into the man he is, spoke about his football kit collection, Kiwi records, his first magazine cover and what is next for him.Instagram- conductaukTwitter- ConductaUK

We spoke to former USMNT, Bundesliga, and MLS all-star Heath Pearce.He told us about his journey to the professional ranks, from Modesto, California, to Bradenton, Florida to Portland, Oregon to Scotland, to Denmark to Germany and back to America, Heath had a very exciting professional career.We learned about his career off the pitch, which includes DJing FIFA 13's launch in NYC, playing with Thierry Henry, playing against Sergio Aguero, Lionel Messi Ronaldinho, David Beckham, Frank Lampard, Wayne Rooney, David Villa, Xavi, Iniesta, Dirk Kuyt and CONCACAF memories.

We spoke to legendary photographer Mel D. Cole about his love for football, travelling to Rome, becoming a photographer, advice for people creating and we spoke about legendary SOB nights.Mel D. Cole told us about legendary SOB nights, hanging out with Kid Cudi, some of his favourite shots and his agency Charcoal Pitch F.C. Big shoutout to Black Arrow FC.Twitter- meldcoleInstagram- meldcolemeldcole.com

Ethan White is the perfect picture of who are at the Shirtless Plantain Show, an intersection of culture, football, #MENSWEAR, art and whatever else you want to throw in there.We learned about his journey from youth football to playing at the prestige University of Maryland program, to playing for his local team DC United, to Philadelphia Union to NYCFC.He told us about playing for Patrick Vieira with teammates such as Andrea Pirlo, Frank Lampard, and David Villa. We spoke about his early retirement in pursuit of a career in photography.In addition, we spoke about the lack of representation in media, racism in the MLS and his next career steps.Follow him on Instagram- ethanwhite and Twitter- EthanWhite15https://t.co/OPesYc4q7Y?amp=1(Please excuse the wind noise!)

A footballer, a creative and all-around great man, Warren Creavalle.We spoke to Philadelphia Union's own Warren Creavalle about his journey to the MLS including his stops in Houston and Toronto, his creative brand, and working with his wife, designing the MLS Black Lives Matter T-shirt, MLS black players coalition, and playing in the bubble.Warren also told us about playing for Guyana and visiting his homeland.You can follow him on Twitter- warrenspeak and Instagram- _creavalle

We spoke to Sonja Cori Missio, a Toronto-based writer who often covers Canadian, Italian, and Swiss soccer.We spoke about her introduction to soccer; her love for Udinese and Toronto FC. We also spoke about the importance of representation, more women's voices in the sport, and what she does to make that a reality.In addition, we talked about the Toronto Raptors, Canada's growth as a soccer country, the greatness that is Canadian Women's soccer and World Cup 2026.We found about her love for The Wire, The Spice Girls, UK Grime, and her lucky boots.

Astead is someone you should pay attention to, especially in this political season, a great guy who had the pleasure of speaking to.We spoke with NY Times political reporter about his career, going to Marquette and being in a class with Jimmy Butler and Jae Crowder, how FIFA made him fall in love with soccer and Tottenham, and the current political climate.

We spoke to David The Host, whose journey has been anything but usual. From Baltimore to Australia to Amsterdam, his journey has taken from American football to brushing shoulders with the elite of the elite in European football.He has attended Champions League finals, the World Cup, interviewed some of your favorite current and previous footballers. He used to work for 433, one of the biggest football publications, his story is one of hard work, perseverance and great things happen to great people.

We spoke with the legend that is Grant Wahl.Grant spoke about Bob Bradley, his career at Princeton, his career at Sports Illustrated, David Beckham, the MLS, going to the men's and women's World Cup, the state of soccer in America, and his short collection.Grant has been a major voice in soccer for the last two decades and he is not letting up.He was an amazing person to speak to and gave advice to aspiring journalists.

We spoke to owner and chief creative officer of Live, Breathe, Futbol (LBF) Ebun Olaloye about his journey from Nigeria to New Jersey to Philadelphia.Ebun talked to us about starting the business in 2010, the ups and downs of starting your business, the lessons that he has learned along the way.Ebun also spoke to us about his love for Arsenal, football, the city of Philadelphia and connecting football to culture.