#538: Evan Ratliff on USMNT fandom, AI voice clones, Brek Shea

Journalist Evan Ratliff joins Belz to talk about his fascinating new podcast, Shell Game, which has some poignant USMNT-related moments in it. He also expresses his affinity for 2011 Brek Shea, talks about going incognito to a WC qualifier in Salt Lake City when he was doing the famous WIRED vanishing act, and explains how he thinks the USMNT is in need of a couple Clint Mathis or Jermaine Jones-style characters.Here's the Grant Wahl story he referenced: https://grantwahl.substack.com/p/on-the-doorstep-to-doha?r=1ggkr&utm_campaign=post&utm_source=On%20the%20Doorstep%20to%20Doha&utm_medium=iosAnd here's the link to Shell Game, which I do recommend: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shell-game/id1753117762 Skip the ads! Subscribe to Scuffed on Patreon and get all episodes ad-free, plus bonus episodes. Patrons at $5 a month or more also get access to Clip Notes, a video of key moments on the field we discuss on the show: https://www.patreon.com/scuffedCheck out our store, where you can get Scuffed hats and sweatshirts and other stuff: scuffedpodcast.com/storeAlso, check out Boots on the Ground, our USWNT-focused spinoff podcast headed up by Tara and Vince. They are cooking over there, you can listen here: https://boots-on-the-ground.simplecast.comAnd check out our MERCH, baby. We have better stuff than you might think: https://www.scuffedpodcast.com/store  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.