Heart of a Fan

What does it mean to be a fan of El Tri or a Liga MX club — when you live miles away from the stadium, across the border, in a country that doesn't always feel like home?In this second episode of Flags of Our Fans, we follow the heartbeat of Mexican soccer fans living in the U.S., exploring how dual identities shape the way they love the game. These are the fans who chant in Spanish at American bars, raise their kids in rival kits, and carry generations of pride and memory with them — even when the world tells them they don’t belong.With voices from across Pancho Villa’s Army and Liga MX fan communities, this episode dives deep into the emotion, politics, and passion of immigrant fandom. We hear stories of family, resistance, cultural tradition, and what it means to support your team from somewhere else. Featuring perspectives from Mexican-American fans, cross-border club supporters, and a special upcoming segment with California State Senator Maria Elena Durazo, who brings her immigrant journey full circle through the lens of sport and solidarity.🔗 Subscribe and listen at heartofafan.org🧡 Follow @HeartOfAFanPod for more stories, quotes, and community prompts

What happens when the only professional sports team left in Connecticut — the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun — faces threats of relocation?In this episode of Heart of a Fan, we explore why women’s basketball in Connecticut is more than just a game. Fans of the Connecticut Sun share what this team means to them, how UConn basketball culture shaped their WNBA loyalty, and what would be lost if the franchise left Mohegan Sun Arena.You’ll hear lifelong fans reflect on how fandom builds identity, memory, and resilience:Why the Sun are essential to Connecticut’s team identity and culture.How women’s basketball provides visibility, tradition, and healing.What fan rituals reveal about loyalty, resilience, and the future of the WNBA.This is more than basketball — it’s one of those sports stories that shows how sports fandom creates belonging, connection, and community at a time when loneliness is at an all-time high.🔗 Visit heartofafan.org to explore companion case studies, reports, and ways to share your own fan story.🔗 Subscribe and listen at heartofafan.org🧡 Follow @HeartOfAFanPod for more stories, quotes, and community prompts📬 Join the newsletter to be part of future episodes

In the debut episode of Flags of Our Fans, we travel to Los Angeles to hear from sports fans, supporters’ groups, and community leaders standing on the frontlines of resistance. From tenant rights organizers to passionate American Outlaws chapters, these voices reveal how sports fandom can be a rallying point for courage, connection, and justice.You’ll hear powerful firsthand stories from advocates confronting ICE raids, fighting for affordable housing, and protecting their neighbors. From MLS and NWSL stands to NBA, NHL, WNBA, NFL, and MLB fan communities, these supporters are proving that identity and belonging go far beyond the scoreboard.This episode shines a light on the intersection of fandom, activism, and identity—reminding us that the stands can be as much a place of solidarity as they are a place of sport. Whether you’re a lifelong fan or new to the terraces, this is a story about the power of fans to stand united when it matters most.🔗 Subscribe and listen at heartofafan.org🧡 Follow @HeartOfAFanPod for more stories, quotes, and community prompts📬 Join the newsletter to be part of future episodes

In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans faced more than physical destruction—it faced the loss of identity, tradition, and community. But in parks, rec centers, stadiums, and stands, the comeback quietly began.In this episode of Heart of a Fan, we explore how sports helped heal a city—not just through the Saints’ return to the Superdome, but through the voices of youth coaches, community organizers, and neighborhood fans. From the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club to NORD to high school fields across the region, we hear what it meant to come back together through fandom.This is a story about what happens when cheering isn't just about the score—it's about survival, pride, and rebuilding what matters most.🔗 Subscribe and listen at heartofafan.org🧡 Follow @HeartOfAFanPod for more stories, quotes, and community prompts📬 Join the newsletter to be part of future episodes

What is a fan embassy—and how can it help fans feel safer, more welcome, and more connected during the 2026 World Cup?In this special prelude to Flags of Our Fans, we sit down with Thomas Concannon of the Football Supporters’ Association to explore the purpose and power of fan embassies: pop-up support hubs run by supporters, for supporters. From safety advice to finding your people in a new city, fan embassies are about more than travel—they're about belonging.As we head into a tournament that raises big questions about nationalism, safety, and identity, this episode lays the foundation for what’s ahead in the docuseries. We explore how national supporters groups like the American Outlaws, Pancho Villa’s Army, and The Voyageurs can use fan embassies to build a better tournament experience—especially for immigrant, first-time, and vulnerable fans.🔗 Subscribe and listen at heartofafan.org🧡 Follow @HeartOfAFanPod for more stories, quotes, and community prompts📬 Join the newsletter to be part of future episodes

What does it mean to be proud in a stadium where you’re not always welcome?In this special Pride Month episode, we sit down with LGBTQ+ fans who are reclaiming space in the stands—even as the world outside grows more hostile. From grassroots movements like PrideRaiser to the deeply personal weight of safety, inclusion, and chosen family, this episode explores what it means to show up when you’ve been pushed out.Guests include:Kate Fasco, a queer supporters’ group leader creating safer spaces from the ground upDan Ryan, lead engineer behind Prideraiser, on the emotional power of visibilityDr. Travers, sociologist and author, on trans inclusion, women’s sports, and the backlash against progressThis isn’t just a celebration. It’s a call to protect the communities that keep fandom human.Whether you’re in the front row or fighting from the sidelines—this one’s for you.🔗 Subscribe and listen at heartofafan.org🧡 Follow @HeartOfAFanPod for more stories, quotes, and community prompts📬 Join the newsletter to be part of future episodes

What do sports fandom and religion have in common?In this episode of Heart of a Fan, we explore how faith shows up in sports—from game-day prayers to lifelong belief in a team that keeps letting you down. With Pope Leo XIV—a Chicago native, Villanova alum, and White Sox fan—now leading the Catholic Church, the line between spiritual devotion and sports devotion feels thinner than ever.We’re joined by:Dr. Jeffrey Scholes, professor of religious studies and director of the Center for Religious Diversity and Public Life, who unpacks the rituals, myths, and emotional pull that connect sports to faith.Jordan Lazowski, editor of Sox On 35th, who shares how the White Sox community is reacting to having one of their own in the Vatican—and why sports fandom may be the most spiritually honest identity we have.Whether your sacred space is a stadium, a pew, or the spot on your couch where you wear your lucky jersey—this episode is for you.🔗 Subscribe and listen at heartofafan.org 🧡 Follow @HeartOfAFanPod for more stories, quotes, and community prompts 📬 Join the newsletter to be part of future episodes

In this special episode of Heart of a Fan, host Matthew Barry sits down with Rebecca Davis—co-director of the Netflix documentary Join or Die—to explore the power of community, the decline of civic life, and why sports fandom might be the last great space for belonging in modern America.Based on the groundbreaking research of Harvard political scientist Robert Putnam (Bowling Alone), this conversation dives into what we’re really losing when we stop joining clubs, cheering together, or showing up for one another—and how we can rebuild that connection through student sections, supporters’ groups, and small acts of togetherness.Whether you're a lifelong fan or just feeling the weight of isolation, this episode is for anyone who believes in the power of showing up—for your team, your community, and your future.🎧 Featuring: – Why social capital matters more than ever – How fandom functions as modern civic life – The story behind Join or Die and its mission – What teams, fans, and institutions can do to rebuild trust📍Watch the film: joinordiefilm.com 🎥 Now streaming on Netflix 🌐 Learn more: heartofafan.org

Men are lonelier than ever — and often afraid to talk about it. Could fan communities be part of the cure?In 2023, the NYT asked: Is the cure for male loneliness out on the pickleball court? It sparked a meme. But behind the jokes is something serious: men struggling with connection, stigma, and silence.This week on Heart of a Fan, we ask: Can sports fandom — tailgates, group chats, road trips, and emotional highs and lows — offer something more?Hear from fans like James Eastman, Thomas “Grim” Brannon, Nafis Ricks, and Jaguars Fan of the Year Tyler Derby on how their fan communities became a lifeline. We also explore the “online disinhibition effect” — why fans sometimes attack their own — and how we can build more emotionally honest fan spaces.💛 This episode is dedicated to Raiders fan Kelsey Ramos. Please consider donating to her family and to Grim’s cancer fundraiser via the links below.—Donate & support featured fans: → https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-kelsys-kids-through-their-loss → https://gofund.me/ada6e76bLearn more or share your own story: → heartofafan.orgFollow @HeartOfAFanPod on all platforms.

What does it really mean to make sports fandom accessible? In this episode, we sit down with three powerful voices—disability advocate and hockey fan Chanel Keenan, KultureCity Executive Director Uma Srivastava, and Raiders superfan Keith Smith—to explore the physical, sensory, and emotional barriers that can keep fans from fully joining the stadium experience.From navigating stadium layouts and sensory overload to rethinking outdated systems and design assumptions, this episode explores the difference between being ADA-compliant and truly inclusive. We also dive into the social model of disability, the emotional power of communitas, and why exclusion from shared fan experiences severs more than just attendance—it severs connection.Because fandom is more than watching a game. It’s memory. It’s belonging. It’s community. And everyone deserves a seat at the game.If you have a story about how you’ve built a community through sports fandom or wish to record your own unique story of fandom,  please feel free to reach out to us at our website, heartofafan.org. If you’ve enjoyed what you just heard, please consider subscribing to get new stories in your inbox every other Tuesday.🎧 New episodes every other Tuesday on Spotify, iTunes, or heartofafan.org.

Want to grow a women’s sports team the right way? This episode gives you the blueprint.With expansion on the horizon for leagues like the WNBA, NWSL, and PWHL, the real challenge isn’t just where the next team lands — it’s how to build a fanbase that actually sticks. In this episode of Heart of a Fan, Matthew Barry sits down with Lauren Teague, Dr. Ceyda Mumcu, Jennifer Garrett, and Shea Dawson for a crash course on how to grow women’s sports fandom with authenticity, consistency, and community.From debunking outdated marketing tactics like “Pink it and Shrink it” to exploring Visibility Theory and Social Adaptation Theory, we unpack what’s working, what’s not, and what it’ll take to make women’s sports part of the mainstream — for good.If you care about the future of sports, fandom, and representation, this is one you don’t want to miss.

Five years removed from empty arenas, we ask: what did we lose — and what did we learn?The pandemic changed everything, including how we experience sports. In this special episode, Heart of a Fan reflects on the impact of COVID-19 on fans, teams, and communities — from the silence of canceled seasons to the surprising growth of online connection and fan creativity.Through stories from across sports, we look back at how fans adapted, grieved, rebuilt — and what the future of community looks like in a world forever changed.

In this episode of Heart of a Fan, we dive deep into the emotional and social impact of the Philadelphia Eagles' Super Bowl victory. This wasn't just a win on the field—it was a victory for a city, a community, and fans around the world.We explore the powerful concepts of Collective Effervescence, Basking in Reflected Glory (BIRGing), and the Emotional Benefits of Shared Experiences, all through the lens of Eagles Nation. From fans celebrating with strangers on Broad Street to those honoring loved ones who couldn't be there, this episode captures the heart and soul of what it means to be a Philadelphia Eagles fan.Join us as we share fan stories, expert insights, and a deep look into how sports victories create lifelong memories and a sense of belonging.🎧If you have a story about how you’ve built a community through sports fandom or wish to record your own unique story of fandom,  please feel free to reach out to us at our website, heartofafan.org. If you’ve enjoyed what you just heard, please consider subscribing to get new stories in your inbox every other Tuesday.🎧 New episodes every other Tuesday on Spotify, iTunes, or heartofafan.org.

What does it mean to build a Black-centered fan space — and what happens when you do? In this episode, Heart of a Fan features leaders from Black Diamonds and Comets SC to talk about what it means to center Black identity in soccer fandom. From challenging stereotypes to building joy-first spaces, this conversation unpacks the complexity, beauty, and resistance that lives at the intersection of Blackness and sports fandom.This is about making room for everyone — and building new tables when the old ones don’t fit.If you have a story about how you’ve built a community through sports fandom or wish to record your own unique story of fandom,  please feel free to reach out to us at our website, heartofafan.org. If you’ve enjoyed what you just heard, please consider subscribing to get new stories in your inbox every other Tuesday.🎧 New episodes every other Tuesday on Spotify, iTunes, or heartofafan.org.

Here is what we've seen/received from the supporters groups and fan organizations of Los Angeles. Please give what you can to help those dealing with the effects of the LA Wildfires:https://secretlosangeles.com/available-resources-for-those-affected-by-socal-wildfires/https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1eaSXTYlLY_spJ-_w43ac55qu6X4YtgApgRGfads3cM4/htmlview#https://x.com/Mosaic1781/status/1877948274990006732https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-luis-and-his-family-after-the-altadena-fire?attribution_id=sl:6474574e-ba2e-4b4e-8399-adc405077e4a&lang=en_US&utm_campaign=fp_sharesheet&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=twitterhttps://x.com/LARoyalArmy/status/1878198780144586911

These fans don’t just wear the jersey — they’re enshrined for their dedication. Meet the Pro Football Ultimate Fan Association (PFUFA), a group of NFL superfans who have been recognized for their passion, character, and impact in their communities. In this episode, Heart of a Fan explores what it means to be “ultimate” — not just in gear or volume, but in how you show up for your team and the people around you.It’s about more than face paint — it’s about heart.If you have a story about how you’ve built a community through sports fandom or wish to record your own unique story of fandom,  please feel free to reach out to us at our website, heartofafan.org. If you’ve enjoyed what you just heard, please consider subscribing to get new stories in your inbox every Tuesday.🎧 New episodes every Tuesday on Spotify, iTunes, or heartofafan.org.

To kick off the new season of #HeartOfAFan, join Matthew Barry as he shares some notes with you on the project's first year and what we have planned for this upcoming year!If you have a story about how you’ve built a community through sports fandom or wish to record your own unique story of fandom,  please feel free to reach out to us at our website, heartofafan.org. If you’ve enjoyed what you just heard, please consider subscribing to get new stories in your inbox every Tuesday.🎧 New episodes every Tuesday on Spotify, iTunes, or heartofafan.org.Newsletter Sign Up: http://eepurl.com/i5jcVcInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/heartofafanpod/Twitter: https://x.com/HeartOfAFanPodYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HeartofaFanPod

If you are interested in donating to the Maldonado family, please click on the link here: https://mealtrain.com/zrm14dThe beauty of college football isn’t just the playoff — it’s the chaos, the culture, and the Sickos who love it. In this episode of Heart of a Fan, we dive into the wild world of college football fandom with Matt Brown (Extra Points) and representatives from the Sickos Committee. From obscure bowl games to online inside jokes, we explore how fandom thrives in the margins — where chaos reigns and community builds.This is a love letter to the diehards, the late-night watchers, and anyone who knows there’s more to college football than just the bluebloods.If you have a story about how you’ve built a community through sports fandom or wish to record your own unique story of fandom,  please feel free to reach out to us at our website, heartofafan.org. If you’ve enjoyed what you just heard, please consider subscribing to get new stories in your inbox every Tuesday.🎧 New episodes every Tuesday on Spotify, iTunes, or heartofafan.org.

Across the pond, football means something different — but no less passionate.In this episode, Heart of a Fan explores the NFL’s growing fanbase in the UK through the lens of the London Games. From lifelong British supporters of American teams to new fans just finding their footing, we dig into how the NFL has built community far from home — and why it’s working.This is a story about time zones, tailgates, meat pies instead of wings, and how fandom translates across borders.If you have a story about how you’ve built a community through sports fandom or wish to record your own unique story of fandom,  please feel free to reach out to us at our website, heartofafan.org. If you’ve enjoyed what you just heard, please consider subscribing to get new stories in your inbox every Tuesday.🎧 New episodes every Tuesday on Spotify, iTunes, or heartofafan.org.

A fanbase in mourning. A team forever changed. When Columbus Blue Jackets star Johnny Gaudreau tragically passed away, the entire hockey community was shaken — but none more than the fans who had grown with him, believed in him, and called him one of their own. In this episode of Heart of a Fan, we explore how grief ripples through a fanbase and how people process loss when it’s tied to someone they may never have met, but deeply felt.This is a story about collective heartbreak, the intimacy of fandom, and what it means to find comfort in the crowd when words fall short.If you have a story about how you’ve built a community through sports fandom or wish to record your own unique story of fandom,  please feel free to reach out to us at our website, heartofafan.org. If you’ve enjoyed what you just heard, please consider subscribing to get new stories in your inbox every Tuesday.🎧 New episodes every Tuesday on Spotify, iTunes, or heartofafan.org.

The WNBA’s rise isn’t just about one team — but the 2024 Liberty brought it to life. The WNBA has been building something special — and in 2024, the New York Liberty brought that momentum to a full roar. This episode of Heart of a Fan explores how the league’s growth, culture, and community have evolved over time, and how the Liberty’s championship run became a touchpoint for a generation of fans.From merchandise to media coverage, from OG supporters to brand-new believers, we track how far the league has come — and where it’s headed next.If you have a story about how you’ve built a community through sports fandom or wish to record your own unique story of fandom,  please feel free to reach out to us at our website, heartofafan.org. If you’ve enjoyed what you just heard, please consider subscribing to get new stories in your inbox every Tuesday.🎧 New episodes every Tuesday on Spotify, iTunes, or heartofafan.org.

86 years of heartbreak. One unforgettable championship. And a fanbase that changed forever. In this special 20th-anniversary episode, Heart of a Fan reflects on the 2004 Boston Red Sox and what it meant for fans to finally see the curse broken. From decades of pain to the pure catharsis of that October run, this episode is a tribute to the generational suffering — and generational joy — that made it all matter.Whether you lived through the comeback or inherited the heartbreak, this is about what happens when “next year” finally becomes “this year.”If you have a story about how you’ve built a community through sports fandom or wish to record your own unique story of fandom,  please feel free to reach out to us at our website, heartofafan.org. If you’ve enjoyed what you just heard, please consider subscribing to get new stories in your inbox every Tuesday.🎧 New episodes every Tuesday on Spotify, iTunes, or heartofafan.org.

What happens when the internet turns your fandom into content — and your pain into punchlines? In this episode of Heart of a Fan, we explore the culture of being a New York Mets fan in the age of memes. Through humor, heartbreak, and hard-won loyalty, we reflect on what it means to support a team that’s often the butt of the joke — and how fans reclaim the narrative on their own terms.From viral gifs to emotional investment, this is a conversation about online identity, resilience, and the love that lives beneath the laughs.If you have a story about how you’ve built a community through sports fandom or wish to record your own unique story of fandom,  please feel free to reach out to us at our website, heartofafan.org. If you’ve enjoyed what you just heard, please consider subscribing to get new stories in your inbox every Tuesday.🎧 New episodes every Tuesday on Spotify, iTunes, or heartofafan.org.

In the heart of every fan is a special bond that they share with their loved ones over a team. In this episode, we’ll be looking at one bond between a mother and her daughter over the Boston Bruins, and how that bond is continuing to inspire.If you are able to, please consider making a donation in honor of Shannon McCarthy to:Hockey Fights Cancer: https://www.v.org/campaigns/25-years-hockey-fights-cancer/Mass General Hospital: https://giving.massgeneral.org/donateIf you have a story you would like to share with us, please visit us at heartofafan.orgThis episode was produced and edited by Jake Fenner________________________________________________________________________________________________Track: "Clear My Mind Instr"Music provided by https://Slip.stream Free Download/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/wvILabTrack: "FCC", Genuine ColourMusic provided by https://Slip.stream Free Download/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/6a6Bq5Listen on Spotify: https://go-stream.link/sp-genuine-colourTrack: "Now You Know"Música fornecida por https://Slip.stream Download grátis/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/iZ79VOTrack: "Old Polaroids", EazyMúsica fornecida por https://Slip.streamDownload grátis/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/ibSQshOuça no Spotify: https://go-stream.link/sp-eazyTrack: "Stripper Running Late"Music provided by https://Slip.streamFree Download/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/tnrPyR

Hockey isn’t a traditional Latino sport — but in Vegas, the community is making it their own.Hockey’s Latino fanbase is growing, and nowhere is that more evident than in Las Vegas. Heart of a Fan continues Latinos en la Grada with a look at how Latino fans are embracing the sport, building a unique fan culture, and proving that passion for hockey isn’t limited to one background.From Spanish-language broadcasts to family-centered fandom, this episode highlights the rise of Latinos in the NHL and why the Vegas Golden Knights are leading the way.🎧 New episodes every Tuesday on Spotify, iTunes, or heartofafan.org.

The NFL has millions of Latino fans — so why aren’t their voices more amplified? The Latino fanbase is one of the fastest-growing in the NFL, bringing unmatched energy and cultural traditions to stadiums across the country. But despite their presence, their stories often go unheard.In this episode, Heart of a Fan continues Latinos en la Grada by diving into the pride, passion, and challenges of being a Latino NFL fan. From tailgate traditions to the impact of Spanish-language broadcasts, this conversation explores what makes the Latino NFL experience unique.Twitter: https://x.com/HeartOfAFanPodInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/heartofafanpod/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@heart.of.a.fan

Oakland’s Latino fan community is fighting for more than just a team — they’re fighting for a city’s identity. Oakland has long been a home for passionate, diverse sports fans — and its Latino community has played a vital role in shaping that culture. In this episode, we continue Latinos en la Grada by focusing on how Latino fans in Oakland are rallying around their teams, their traditions, and their city in the face of uncertainty and relocation.This is a story about unity, culture, and what it means to fight for something bigger than sports.Twitter: https://x.com/HeartOfAFanPodInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/heartofafanpod/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@heart.of.a.fan

Latino sports fans bring energy, passion, and culture to the stands — and yet, their stories are rarely told.The first installment of Latinos en la Grada explores the rich cultural traditions that Latino fans bring to sports. From chants and songs to community gatherings, this episode highlights the soul of Latino fandom and how these traditions create a unique and powerful game-day experience.Featuring passionate voices from across sports, this conversation dives into what it means to be Latino in the stands — and why representation in fan culture matters.Twitter: https://x.com/HeartOfAFanPodInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/heartofafanpod/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@heart.of.a.fan

Sports give us stories — and sometimes, they help us hold on to the ones who told them to us. In this special bonus episode, Prem Aithal shares the deeply personal story of how sports became a lasting bond between him and his father. Through wins, losses, and everything in between, this is a reflection on how fandom becomes more than just a pastime — it becomes part of our relationships, our memories, and the way we connect across generations.If you’ve ever tied a team to a loved one, this one will resonate.

How do you build a fan culture that’s about more than just the game? The Northern Guard shows us how.Detroit City FC’s Northern Guard isn’t just a supporters’ group — it’s a movement. In this episode, Heart of a Fan explores how this rowdy, passionate, and deeply community-driven collective has built something bigger than just matchday cheers. We dig into what makes Detroit’s soccer culture unique, why independence matters, and how a group of fans turned their club into a cultural institution.If you wish to learn more about the Northern Guard and their charitable initiatives, feel free to visit them at noonelikes.us or on social media @northernguard or @NGSDetroit________________________________________________________________________________________________Track: "Alone Alone", OveruMusic provided by https://Slip.stream Free Download/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/lg9umWListen on Spotify: https://go-stream.link/sp-overuTrack: "Thankful", Call It KismetMusic provided by https://Slip.stream Free Download/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/d20AH2Track: "Stripper Running Late"Music provided by https://Slip.stream Free Download/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/tnrPyRTrack: "Now You Know"Música fornecida por https://Slip.stream Download grátis/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/iZ79VOTrack: "Old Polaroids", EazyMúsica fornecida por https://Slip.stream Download grátis/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/ibSQshOuça no Spotify: https://go-stream.link/sp-eazy

These past couple of months have been significant for the growth of women’s sports in North America. Much has already been covered on the growth of the WNBA thanks to its star studded rookie class, the growing media coverage, and how women’s sports leagues could evolve in the future.This episode is going to be looking at another women’s sports league that has caught the attention of sports fans in the last year. Right now, The Professional Women’s Hockey League is winding down its inaugural season as Boston and Minnesota play in the first version of the Walter Cup Finals. Six teams made up with rosters of Olympians and former college athletes have brought in sellout crowds in multiple instances, not to mention the thousands that tune in on YouTube to stream these games.Now, this is something that I’m not fully knowledgeable in and the last thing I’d want to do is undersell or make assumptions about these stories. In order to tell these stories properly, I brought in Angelica Rodriguez of the Ice Garden to share her perspective from her last decade of covering this sport, its multiple professional iterations, and what the PWHL could evolve into.If you’re interested in seeing more of Angelica's work, be sure to follow her on Twitter @ReinaDeLaIsla and to read more of her insights on the game, read the Ice Garden, an independent blog focused entirely on women’s hockey._______________________________________________________________________________________________Track: "Old Polaroids", EazyMúsica fornecida por https://Slip.stream Download grátis/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/ibSQshOuça no Spotify: https://go-stream.link/sp-eazyTrack: "Hold On To Me 001 Instr"Music provided by https://Slip.stream Free Download/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/SnELoHTrack: "Alone Alone", OveruMusic provided by https://Slip.stream Free Download/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/lg9umWListen on Spotify: https://go-stream.link/sp-overuTrack: "Dusk Calling", Call It KismetMusic provided by https://Slip.stream Free Download/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/RISjerTrack: "Frugality", EazyMusic provided by https://Slip.stream Free Download/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/s3FWROListen on Spotify: https://go-stream.link/sp-eazyTrack: "Bleeding Heart 001 Instr"Music provided by https://Slip.stream Free Download/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/t6UBErTrack: "Thankful", Call It KismetMusic provided by https://Slip.stream Free Download/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/d20AH2Track: "dgah 85", T-PainMusic provided by https://Slip.stream Free Download/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/wT3swUListen on Spotify: https://go-stream.link/sp-t-pain

If you remember our episode on fashion in sports from a couple weeks ago, you were introduced to fans like Lauren Teague and Pete Rogers, who came up with their own solutions to address problems they’ve seen in this vertical. This week’s guest has been turning old jerseys into incredible custom jackets, puffer vests, and even brand new jerseys while outfitting some of the biggest names in Boston sports. If you’re interested in seeing more of Ben Weiner's work, be sure to follow him @sportsstiches on Instagram or visit his website, jeanius-jackets.com________________________________________________________________________________________________Track: "Hold On To Me 001 Instr"Music provided by https://Slip.stream Free Download/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/SnELoHTrack: "Clear My Mind Instr"Music provided by https://Slip.stream Free Download/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/wvILabTrack: "Bleeding Heart 001 Instr"Music provided by https://Slip.stream Free Download/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/t6UBErTrack: "Alone Alone", OveruMusic provided by https://Slip.stream Free Download/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/lg9umWListen on Spotify: https://go-stream.link/sp-overuTrack: "Frugality", EazyMusic provided by https://Slip.stream Free Download/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/s3FWROListen on Spotify: https://go-stream.link/sp-eazyTrack: "FCC", Genuine ColourMusic provided by https://Slip.stream Free Download/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/6a6Bq5Listen on Spotify: https://go-stream.link/sp-genuine-colourTrack: "Now You Know"Música fornecida por https://Slip.stream Download grátis/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/iZ79VOTrack: "Old Polaroids", EazyMúsica fornecida por https://Slip.stream Download grátis/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/ibSQshOuça no Spotify: https://go-stream.link/sp-eazy

 For the last 6 years, JW Cannon was behind one of the most recognizable brands in sports philanthropy at the American Cancer Society. Campaigns that you’ve seen every game day from NFL’s Crucial Catch to the NHL’s Hockey Fights Cancer, JW has a hand in building. Today, he’s going to give us a look at how sports fandom can drive tangible good. From charitable efforts to brand partnerships that actually matter, this conversation bridges the gap between fan loyalty and social action.It’s about using the platform we have — as fans — to build something bigger than ourselves.________________________________________________________________________________________________Track: "FCC", Genuine ColourMusic provided by https://Slip.stream Free Download/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/6a6Bq5Listen on Spotify: https://go-stream.link/sp-genuine-colourTrack: "dgah 85", T-PainMusic provided by https://Slip.stream Free Download/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/wT3swUListen on Spotify: https://go-stream.link/sp-t-painTrack: "Frugality", EazyMusic provided by https://Slip.stream Free Download/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/s3FWROListen on Spotify: https://go-stream.link/sp-eazyTrack: "Now You Know"Música fornecida por https://Slip.stream Download grátis/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/iZ79VOTrack: "Sauna Sweat", EazyMúsica fornecida por https://Slip.stream Download grátis/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/Ls2vu9Ouça no Spotify: https://go-stream.link/sp-eazyTrack: "Stripper Running Late"Music provided by https://Slip.stream Free Download/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/tnrPyR

As we’ve covered in the last month of this show, the bond between a team and its community can be sacred and profound. With an arena serving as a gathering place, fans from the community and even the world can come together to build relationships and memories that last a lifetime. However, this week’s episode, sadly, is covering what happens when that bond is broken.Now, what seems to get lost in headlines like this are the people that are affected by this. People will be out of jobs, local businesses will suffer, and the fans: the fans that have dealt with rebuild after rebuild, rumor after rumor of their team leaving, are now without the gathering place, that common thread that brought them all together.This week, I spoke with four fans of the Coyotes to share their stories of this team: how it’s brought them together with loved ones, gave them a community to root for, and now, how do you support a burgeoning hockey community that’s now lost its team? _______________________________________________________________________________________________Please consider making a donation to one of the many Arizona youth hockey programs if you are able to:Guide to Youth Hockey In Arizona: https://www.adhlhockey.com/parent-resources/guide-to-arizona-youth-hockey/9197Arizona Kachinas: https://www.arizonakachinas.com/________________________________________________________________________________________________Track: "Clear My Mind Instr"Music provided by https://Slip.stream Free Download/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/wvILabTrack: "Bleeding Heart 001 Instr"Music provided by https://Slip.stream Free Download/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/t6UBErTrack: "FCC", Genuine ColourMusic provided by https://Slip.stream Free Download/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/6a6Bq5Listen on Spotify: https://go-stream.link/sp-genuine-colourTrack: "Hold On To Me 001 Instr"Music provided by https://Slip.stream Free Download/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/SnELoHTrack: "Now You Know"Música fornecida por https://Slip.stream Download grátis/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/iZ79VOTrack: "Old Polaroids", EazyMúsica fornecida por https://Slip.stream Download grátis/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/ibSQshOuça no Spotify: https://go-stream.link/sp-eazyTrack: "Sauna Sweat", EazyMúsica fornecida por https://Slip.stream Download grátis/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/Ls2vu9Ouça no Spotify: https://go-stream.link/sp-eazy

What happens when a championship isn’t just about winning — but about carrying a story forward? We revisit the powerful fan story that started with Episode 2 — and take it even deeper. Mary Brown joins Heart of a Fan to reflect on what it means to be part of a legacy fan community, and how the UConn Huskies fandom has shaped her journey across generations, grief, and growth. This episode is about what happens after the moment — and why some stories stay with us long after the final buzzer. _______________________________________________________________________________________________Track: "Hold On To Me 001 Instr"Music provided by https://Slip.stream Free Download/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/SnELoH

In the heart of every fan, is that indispensable piece of merch they use to showcase their fandom. It can be that classic ball cap, a vintage jersey from a wacky 90s redesign, or that tried and true graphic tee. Some people use them as fashion statements, collectible items, or everyday staples in their wardrobe. In this episode, I’m  speaking with two fans who are trying to change how they showcase their fashion. One has designed jerseys that are unique to his city at a price point everyone can afford, and another has started a platform to help pass your fashion to those fans who could use it, instead of just throwing it away.Pete Rogers - Banner 18: https://shopbanner18.com/Lauren Teague - FANWAGN:  https://www.fanwagn.com/If you have a story about how you’ve built a community through sports fandom, please feel free to reach out to us at our website, heartofafan.org. This episode was produced and edited by Jake Fenner._______________________________________________________________________________________________Track: "Down the Blackhole", Birdo Music provided by https://slip.stream Download / Stream: https://get.slip.stream/MnTy6u (https://get.slip.stream/MnTy6u) Track: "Autumn Harvest", Call It Kismet Music provided by https://slip.stream Download / Stream: https://get.slip.stream/WDtTK1 (https://get.slip.stream/WDtTK1) Track: "P1 135", T-Pain Music provided by https://slip.stream Download / Stream: https://slip.stream/tracks/74489dd3-ce28-455f-8a67-1c5a29753d1c?utm_source=attribution (https://slip.stream/tracks/74489dd3-ce28-455f-8a67-1c5a29753d1c?utm_source=attribution) Track: "Act", Overu Music provided by https://slip.stream Download / Stream: https://get.slip.stream/rr0ll2 (https://get.slip.stream/rr0ll2) Track: "Reflections In Glass" Music provided by https://slip.stream Download / Stream: https://slip.stream/tracks/2f9fe4e9-8f78-4c50-bada-5209ed16f154?utm_source=attribution (https://slip.stream/tracks/2f9fe4e9-8f78-4c50-bada-5209ed16f154?utm_source=attribution) Track: "Moping Home" Music provided by https://slip.st ream Download / Stream: https://slip.stream/tracks/a1fcfe86-5cb9-4ea6-955d-cc565e74a2c0?utm_source=attribution (https://slip.stream/tracks/a1fcfe86-5cb9-4ea6-955d-cc565e74a2c0?utm_source=attribution) Track: "Running Down" Music provided by https://slip.stream Download / Stream: https://slip.stream/tracks/a5b46039-d355-47ab-8ea0-874eef6d073e?utm_source=attribution (https://slip.stream/tracks/a5b46039-d355-47ab-8ea0-874eef6d073e?utm_source=attribution)

In the heart of every fan, is a second home that they can call their own. Every night, it hosts one of the craziest parties of the week with drums, chanting, and dancing. That second home can go by multiple names: The Garden, The Linc, The Shoe, The Coliseum.This week’s episode involves a fanbase that went through the ultimate home renovation, from having those home originally be a high school field to now having their home be the first stadium built exclusively for women’s sports.If you have a story you would like to share with us, please visit us at heartofafan.org_______________________________________________________________________________________________Track: "Clear My Mind Instr"Music provided by https://Slip.stream Free Download/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/wvILabTrack: "dgah 85", T-PainMusic provided by https://Slip.stream Free Download/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/wT3swUListen on Spotify: https://go-stream.link/sp-t-painTrack: "Old Polaroids", EazyMúsica fornecida por https://Slip.stream Download grátis/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/ibSQshOuça no Spotify: https://go-stream.link/sp-eazyTrack: "Now You Know"Música fornecida por https://Slip.stream Download grátis/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/iZ79VO

In the heart of every fan is a special bond that they share with their loved ones over a team. In this episode, we’ll be looking at one bond between a mother and her daughter over the Boston Bruins, and how that bond is continuing to inspire.If you are able to, please consider making a donation in honor of Shannon McCarthy to:Hockey Fights Cancer: https://www.v.org/campaigns/25-years-hockey-fights-cancer/Mass General Hospital: https://giving.massgeneral.org/donateIf you have a story you would like to share with us, please visit us at heartofafan.orgThis episode was produced and edited by Jake Fenner________________________________________________________________________________________________Track: "Clear My Mind Instr"Music provided by https://Slip.stream Free Download/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/wvILabTrack: "FCC", Genuine ColourMusic provided by https://Slip.stream Free Download/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/6a6Bq5Listen on Spotify: https://go-stream.link/sp-genuine-colourTrack: "Now You Know"Música fornecida por https://Slip.stream Download grátis/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/iZ79VOTrack: "Old Polaroids", EazyMúsica fornecida por https://Slip.stream Download grátis/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/ibSQshOuça no Spotify: https://go-stream.link/sp-eazyTrack: "Stripper Running Late"Music provided by https://Slip.stream Free Download/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/tnrPyR

In the heart of every fan, there’s a deeply personal connection they share with their team. For some, it can be a bonding experience they shared with their loved ones, an incredible first game that they’ll never forget, or it brings them back to a period in their lives where times were simpler.  This week’s episode encapsulates all three of those facets, as we look at a fanbase that is looking to recreate these experiences for kids that may not have the chance to experience it.If you have a story you would like to share with us, please visit us at heartofafan.orgTrack: "Old Polaroids", EazyMúsica fornecida por https://Slip.stream Download grátis/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/ibSQshOuça no Spotify: https://go-stream.link/sp-eazy

 What happens when a city’s teams keep leaving — but the fans stay? This episode is a love letter to Oakland and those who refuse to let the soul of their community be erased.Oakland has lost multiple professional teams, but it hasn’t lost its heart. In the debut episode of Heart of a Fan, host Matthew Barry explores the deep-rooted passion and resilience of Oakland sports fans. You’ll hear why rooting for this city is about more than loyalty — it’s about identity, history, and holding onto something no front office can take away.This is a story about fans who stay — and about the meaning of showing up, even when your team doesn’t. Track: "FCC", Genuine ColourMusic provided by https://Slip.stream Free Download/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/6a6Bq5Listen on Spotify: https://go-stream.link/sp-genuine-colour