If Your Parents Hid Their Culture to Protect You, You Need to Hear This

Chris Armas grew up in a Puerto Rican, Cuban, and Italian household where family, discipline, and hard work came first. In 1970s New York, his parents avoided speaking Spanish at home to protect their children from discrimination — but their culture still shaped everything he became. Now a National Soccer Hall of Fame inductee and head coach of the Kansas City Current, Armas reflects on his journey from Long Island youth soccer to the US National Team and the highest levels of coaching. He shares lessons on identity, leadership, teamwork, and the values that built his career. Topics discussed: 00:00 - Growing up in a Puerto Rican and Cuban household 03:02 - Family values and hard work 05:18 - Soccer’s growth in the United States 07:10 - College soccer and the LA Galaxy 09:09 - Getting drafted into MLS 11:14 - David Beckham’s impact on US soccer 14:10 - Transitioning from player to coach 17:05 - Life after retirement from soccer 20:14 - Coaching from New York to Manchester United 21:10 - How soccer shaped his identity 24:35 - Puerto Rican culture and family traditions 27:14 - Experiencing discrimination growing up 34:04 - Building culture as a coach 39:18 - Entering the Soccer Hall of Fame 42:22 - Advice for young athletes 🔗 CONNECT WITH CHRIS ARMAS: ABOUT CULTURS: Reaching millions annually, CULTURS champions unique cultural identity, transforming culturally fluid populations (multiethnic and/or geographically mobile people like Third Culture Kids) from being invisible outliers to originals. This includes people of culture in the rapidly growing DNA testing-fueled Not Parent Expected (NPE) community. Our world-class, veteran team of researchers and professionals spans five continents. Get social with us: https://www.youtube.com/@CultursPodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/Cultursmag/https://www.facebook.com/cultursmaghttps://www.pinterest.com/cultursmag/ Join the CULTURS community: https://shop.cultursmag.com/products/culturs-membership Original Music by Tommy McMillion, McMillion Entertainment Makeup by Sedrique Olsen Styling by Sonja Henderson