Explore every episode of the podcast San Diego FC: Behind the Flow

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s the summer of 2024 — four months since the announcement that MLS is finally coming to San Diego, and just over six months until SDFC takes the field for their first-ever game.

Join us behind the scenes to see what it takes to launch a sports organization from scratch; hear what the soccer-loving people of San Diego really think — and meet the man whose job it is to actually build the team: 33-year-old rookie Sporting Director, Tyler Heaps.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s September 2024. The national sports press has gathered at Snapdragon Stadium for the unveiling of San Diego FC’s first-ever head coach — Mikey Varas.

As he prepares to face the media and the fans, we delve into the club’s hiring process and hear from those behind the decision to bring Mikey to America’s Finest City.

Coming off a tumultuous two-week stint as interim USMNT coach, we find out why they believe he’s the right man for the job — despite his lack of top-tier experience...

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So, what does it take to win the rights to become Major League Soccer’s 30th team? And who would pay half a billion dollars to do it?!

In this episode, we explore the unlikely partnership behind SDFC: Right to Dream — a revolutionary global soccer group — and the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation — the first Native American owners in men’s professional sports.

It’s a story that bridges cultures, spans 8,000 miles and 20,000 years, and came together to bring MLS to San Diego.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

San Diegans love their sports teams — but there’s also been more than a little heartbreak over the years. It’s a history littered with false dawns and tragic endings, not least when it comes to soccer teams.

The job SDFC faces is simple: unite seven fragmented supporter groups under one banner, and appeal to a city of passionate fans in time for match day one. But with a 35,000-seat stadium to fill, they better get a move on.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mikey and Tyler start strategizing on how to build a Right to Dream club, true to the organization’s philosophy, while representing the people of Southern California.

But before they can start thinking about players and tactics, they set off on a whirlwind world tour of the Right to Dream network. They visit Ghana, Egypt, and Denmark to see what lessons they can bring home to San Diego.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s November 2024, less than three months until SDFC play their first-ever game — and they only have six players on their roster. But in a few weeks’ time, they’ll have an opportunity to change that with the MLS Expansion Draft and SuperDraft.

Tyler and Mikey now focus on how to build a team that can play in the Right to Dream style — while winning games straight out of the gate.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Right to Dream has landed in Southern California with a bold plan to revolutionize youth development. But is everyone happy to see them?

San Diego is known as a hotbed of soccer talent — home to some of the nation's top youth clubs, each with their own way of doing things.

We meet the SDFC staff who are out in the community, working to win hearts and minds, preparing the ground for the club’s first academy program.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we step inside the Right to Dream Academy: San Diego.

With ambitions to be the most advanced facility of its kind in North America, the clock is ticking to get it ready for their first wave of student-athletes in 2025.

We meet the club’s team of scouts — the largest in MLS — and learn what they’re doing differently in order to unearth the next generation of soccer stars… on both sides of the US–Mexico border.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s January 2025, and just weeks before SDFC embarks on its maiden season.

The training facility at Singing Hills finally opens its doors — just in the nick of time! But not before pausing to celebrate the land and the people who made it possible.

As Tyler puts the finishing touches on his playing squad, we join Mikey and his new players for their very first training session… the countdown to kickoff has begun!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s draft day — and Tyler’s big date with destiny! The SDFC recruitment team braces for a whirlwind 48 hours of wheeling and dealing as they look to lock down the spine of their first-ever team via the MLS Expansion Draft.

But after weeks of careful planning, it all goes out the window when the unprotected player list finally goes live. There are some big names on there — and some big decisions for them to make.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As San Diego FC pauses at the halfway point of their dream debut season, Behind the Flow kicks off a new run of weekly episodes — discussing every twist of the second half.

Adrian Garcia Marquez returns to host, joined by ESPN’s Katia Castorena and San Diego Sports 760’s Darren Smith, as they break down the season’s highs, lows, and landmark moments so far.

Plus, CEO Tom Penn reflects on the emotion of opening night — and why he was more than ready for those chants echoing through Snapdragon Stadium.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

San Diego FC’s bold, risk-taking style has taken MLS by storm — but what does it really mean to play the Right to Dream way? Behind the Flow dives into the tactics and culture that have powered SDFC to the top of the Western Conference.

Adrian Garcia Marquez, ESPN’s Katia Castorena, and San Diego Sports 760’s Darren Smith unpack the methods behind this “relentless” football, with insights from Head Coach Mikey Varas, Assistant Coach Frank Hjortebjerg, and captain Jeppe Tverskov.

Plus, the crew looks ahead to a huge showdown with Phil Neville’s Portland Timbers — before next week’s deep dive into fan culture across MLS.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As San Diego FC’s debut season pushes into a crucial playoff race, Behind the Flow dives into a landmark first meeting with the San Jose Earthquakes — and the mentality that’s kept SDFC on top of the Western Conference.

Adrian Garcia Marquez is back in the chair, alongside ESPN’s Katia Castorena and San Diego Sports 760’s Darren Smith, as they unpack the “next man up” resilience that’s powered a five-game road winning streak and assess the arrival of new signing Cory Baird.

Plus, we go inside SDFC’s scouting “stress test” process with Assistant Sporting Director Mark Prizant, and hear from rookies Ian Pilcher and Manu Duah on their rapid rise from college to MLS starters in the Right to Dream system.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From his unveiling at the Shell to his first goal at Snapdragon, Hirving “Chucky” Lozano has quickly become the face of San Diego FC. This week, Behind the Flow goes beyond the headlines to hear from the man himself — the Mexican superstar whose arrival has electrified the city.

Adrian García-Márquez is joined by ESPN’s Katia Castorena and San Diego Sports 760’s Darren Smith to reflect on San Diego’s Hispanic Heritage Night and the inaugural Baja Cup before diving into Lozano’s exclusive interview. Chucky opens up about the powerful bond he already feels with the San Diego faithful, what daily life is like for his family in the city, and the real story behind his famous nickname.

With nearly 45% of San Diego’s residents identifying as Hispanic or Latino, Right to Dream saw the border region as the perfect place to build a club that reflects the city’s cultural mix. And with stars like Lozano leading the way, San Diego’s Mexican heartbeat is already impossible to ignore.

Finally, the crew turn their attention to the Californian rivalry — with San Jose up next, could San Diego sweep the Golden State in their inaugural season?

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From thirty strangers to the top of the West, San Diego FC’s debut season has been shaped by one man: Head Coach Mikey Varas. This week, Behind the Flow steps off the pitch and into the dugout to uncover the story of San Diego’s first head coach — his Chilean-American roots, his coaching journey, the inspiration he’s drawn from football’s biggest names, and the philosophy that drives his bold style of play.

Adrian García-Márquez is joined by ESPN’s Katia Castorena and San Diego Sports 760’s Darren Smith to unpack Varas’s impact on and off the field. We unlock the archives to revisit interviews with Mikey over the past year, reflect on how he’s grown into the role, share what we’ve observed at training sessions, and recount some of our own experiences with him. Guardian journalist John Muller also joins us to discuss his in-depth article on San Diego’s record-breaking build-up play — and why it already ranks among the very best in world football.

From locker-room moments to leadership lessons, we ask: What makes Mikey Varas so effective, and just how far can he go in the game?

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After a week dedicated to goals, Behind the Flow flips the script to spotlight the galácticos who stop them: the San Diego FC defense.

Adrian García-Márquez is joined by ESPN’s Katia Castorena and San Diego Sports 760’s Darren Smith to break down the numbers, the partnerships, and the personalities behind one of MLS’s most compelling back lines.

We hear from the McSmash Brothers — Chris McVey and Paddy McNair — on chemistry, consistency, and defying expectations; from 19-year-old Oscar Verhoeven on the mentality it takes to step up as part of the youngest back line in league history; and from CJ dos Santos — the rottweiler at the door — on competition, resilience, and his mantra: register, release, refocus.

Plus, a look ahead to Hispanic Heritage Night against Minnesota and a cross-border clash with Club Tijuana.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From the outset of San Diego FC's season, hope was laid at the feet (and head) of Scandinavian sharpshooter Marcus Ingvartsen. But with him sidelined, the team has had to find alternatives at the number nine position. And with 54 goals so far — tied for the most in MLS this season — it’s clear those alternatives are working.

In this episode, Adrian García-Márquez, Katia Castorena, and Darren Smith break down the options Mikey Varas has turned to in attack — from Tommy Ángel to Alex Mighten to Onni Valakari, scorer of the club’s first-ever goal at Snapdragon. The question: no striker, no problem?

We hear from Sporting Director Tyler Heaps on the blueprint that shaped this squad, and sit down with MVP-elect Anders Dreyer to talk style, culture, and his growing bond with Hirving “Chucky” Lozano. Plus, we revisit that win at BMO and, with ten SDFC players called up for international duty, look ahead to the playoff push and the long-term future of the attack.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Behind the Flow turns the spotlight on the lifeblood of the game: the fans. From the blueprint of the Portland Timbers Army to the birth of San Diego’s own Frontera SD supporters’ union, we explore how culture in the stands is shaping the club on and off the pitch.

We hear from SDFC CEO Tom Penn, Timbers Army 107 founder Fernando “Nando” Machicado and Frontera SD’s Matt Buse on uniting supporter groups under one voice.

Plus, 19-year-old Luca Bombino, the LA local boy and LAFC academy graduate now tearing it up for SDFC. He shares his pride and determination as he prepares to face his parent club in one of the season’s fiercest fixtures - and one both sets of fans are desperate to win!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fresh from breaking MLS expansion records for most wins and points in a single season, San Diego FC are in celebration mode — and so are we.

This week, Behind the Flow brings you something special: the full, unedited conversation with Hirving “Chucky” Lozano.

A few weeks ago, Chucky featured in our Hispanic Heritage episode — but so many of you asked to hear the whole interview, we just had to share it.

Speaking in Spanish (with translations from Adrian García-Márquez and Katia Castorena), Chucky opens up about his love for San Diego, family life in the Finest City, his on-field partnership with Anders Dreyer, and his hopes for the future with SDFC. And yes… he finally tells us how he got that nickname.

Adrian is joined by ESPN’s Katia Castorena and San Diego Sports 760’s Darren Smith to relive the record-breaking 4–2 comeback against Houston Dynamo, reflect on what the expansion milestone means for the club, and introduce this special sit-down with the face of the franchise.

From mischief at Pachuca to tears at The Shell, from national hero to San Diego’s heartbeat — this is the Chucky Lozano special.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When San Diego FC first unveiled their look, it sparked debate. Some called the badge AI-generated, others dismissed the shirt as a dud. But in just a few months, both have become symbols of a club finding its identity.

This week, Behind the Flow dives into the story of the brand. Adrian García-Márquez is joined by ESPN’s Katia Castorena and San Diego Sports 760’s Darren Smith to relive the December 2024 kit reveal, hearing from fans who picked up their jerseys that night — and comparing those first impressions with the voices we captured at Snapdragon just weeks ago. 

We also sit down with Seb Morua — the man behind San Diego’s crest, colors, and chrome — to uncover how research, culture, and design combined to create a modern, global football identity. “You start by listening,” Seb explains, as he takes us through how the Flow’s circular symbolism, community insights, and design choices came together — and how the crest launch broke the MLS single-day merch sales record.

From the fans to the floodlights, from the crest to the chrome, this episode explores how a look became a legacy for San Diego FC.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.