MLSPA Career Conversations

In a new episode of Career Conversations, Chad Barrett joins Tristan Bowen to share his transition from professional soccer to a career in logistics and sales after retiring. Chad breaks down how he entered a new industry without prior experience by leveraging the skills he built as a player like an ambitious mindset, resilience, the ability to navigate failure, and emotional discipline, which set him up for success.“Athletes are the best salespeople because of our work ethic, our ability to take the ‘no’s’ and keep going, and our ability to turn criticism and negativity into something positive.”Chad also shares practical steps for active and retired players pursuing a career in sales, and encourages athletes to finish their degree.The views and opinions expressed in the MLSPA’s Career Conversations Series are those of the individual guests and do not necessarily reflect those of MLSPA. The life and career experiences, advice, and insights shared are personal and provided for informational purposes only

What does it take to become a performance engineer and help others reach their full potential? In today’s Career Conversation, Jed Zayner joins Tristan Bowen to break down his journey and the mindset behind his work. From pushing clients beyond their comfort zones to advocating for lasting personal growth, Jed shares what really means to live with purpose, reminding players that true success starts with curiosity and asking the right questions.The views and opinions expressed in the MLSPA’s Career Conversations Series are those of the individual guests and do not necessarily reflect those of MLSPA. The life and career experiences, advice, and insights shared are personal and provided for informational purposes only

In Episode #24 of Career Conversations, Ryan Finley joins Tristan Bowen to dive into his journey into franchising after playing professionally for nearly a decade. Now a KidStrong Franchise Owner, Ryan explains why franchising and entrepreneurship are accessible and successful paths for players who are planning to retire, or have already transitioned out of the game. He also shares how he continues to apply the skills he developed during his playing career on a daily basis.As advice for active players, Ryan encourages them to connect with professionals working in fields that interest them: “People are very generous with their time when professional players ask, they’ll take the time to sit down and help you.” Networking is key.The views and opinions expressed in the MLSPA’s Career Conversations Series are those of the individual guests and do not necessarily reflect those of MLSPA. The life and career experiences, advice, and insights shared are personal and provided for informational purposes only

This week’s Career Conversation follows Ricky Lewis' path from professional soccer to Vice President of Sales in the medtech world. Ricky and Tristan Bowen discuss the most transferable skills players bring to corporate careers including coachability, perseverance, adaptability, and a strong work ethic. Ricky also opens up about balancing fatherhood, community impact, and personal growth along the way.The views and opinions expressed in the MLSPA’s Career Conversations Series are those of the individual guests and do not necessarily reflect those of MLSPA. The life and career experiences, advice, and insights shared are personal and provided for informational purposes only

An artist on and off the field! In Episode 22 of Career Conversations, Tristan Bowen and Charlie Rugg discuss his journey to becoming an artist and entrepreneur. Charlie shares how his passion for painting grew after retirement, the challenges he has faced transitioning into entrepreneurship, and how he has developed routines to stay creative and disciplined.He also emphasizes the importance of active players finding career paths outside of soccer to make the transition off the field smoother.The views and opinions expressed in the MLSPA’s Career Conversations Series are those of the individual guests and do not necessarily reflect those of MLSPA. The life and career experiences, advice, and insights shared are personal and provided for informational purposes only

What are things that might get overlooked during a playing career that could actually have a lasting impact after retirement? In this episode of Career Conversations Tristan Bowen and Lamar Neagle dive into the small but powerful habits that make a big difference in easing the transition to life off the field -  like building a professional network while still playing, creating a LinkedIn profile, and earning certifications. Lamar, who is now a financial advisor and real estate investor, also shares why financial education is essential for both current and former players, and explains the power of investing whether in stocks, real estate, or retirement accounts like a 401(k).The views and opinions expressed in the MLSPA’s Career Conversations Series are those of the individual guests and do not necessarily reflect those of MLSPA. The life and career experiences, advice, and insights shared are personal and provided for informational purposes only

Interested in transitioning into coaching or content creation? In this new episode, Chris Kanopka joins Tristan Bowen to share his journey from a 14-year playing career to retirement, and how he became a goalkeeper director and full-time content creator. Kanopka talks about how he leveraged coaching opportunities at the academies while still playing and encourages current and former players to stay open to new possibilities and think outside the box.In honor of his father Walter F. Konopka’s contributions to the game of soccer, Konopka and his brother launched a fundraising campaign to support renovations at the Walter F. Konopka Soccer Complex in Oak Park, Toms River, New Jersey. Visit https://www.wfksoccercomplex.com/ for more information.The views and opinions expressed in the MLSPA’s Career Conversations Series are those of the individual guests and do not necessarily reflect those of MLSPA. The life and career experiences, advice, and insights shared are personal and provided for informational purposes only.

In the first Career Conversations episode of the year, Tristan Bowen and Saad Abdul-Salaam sit down to discuss entrepreneurship and the importance of staying open to opportunities beyond soccer. Saad shares how he has navigated personal challenges, built his own business, coached youth, and found balance between life, fatherhood, and mental health.The views and opinions expressed in the MLSPA’s Career Conversations Series are those of the individual guests and do not necessarily reflect those of MLSPA. The life and career experiences, advice, and insights shared are personal and provided for informational purposes only.

On this episode of Career Conversation, Tristan sits down with Nat Borchers to discuss how professional athletes are uniquely qualified to enter the field of real estate and details some of the ins and out of making commercial real estate work. The views and opinions expressed in the MLSPA’s Career Conversations Series are those of the individual guests and do not necessarily reflect those of MLSPA. The life and career experiences, advice, and insights shared are personal and provided for informational purposes only.

It's never too early to start laying the groundwork for a smooth transition. In this episode of Career Conversations, Tristan Bowen talks with Sean Davis about the early stages of transitioning out of the game and what steps you can take to help prepare yourself for your own post playing career.The views and opinions expressed in the MLSPA’s Career Conversations Series are those of the individual guests and do not necessarily reflect those of MLSPA. The life and career experiences, advice, and insights shared are personal and provided for informational purposes only.

Working in media is like being on a soccer team, just on a different field. In this new Career Episode, Tristan Bowen and Sacha Kljestan discuss key factors to consider when transitioning into the media industry. As a studio host, Sasha offers advice for players nearing retirement, from finding mentors to developing their own voice in this new career path.The views and opinions expressed in the MLSPA’s Career Conversations Series are those of the individual guests and do not necessarily reflect those of MLSPA. The life and career experiences, advice, and insights shared are personal and provided for informational purposes only.

In this episode of Career Conversations, Tristan Bowen speaks with Kevin Friedland and discusses how Kevin pivoted from a planned second career as a coach to his current career. Along the way Kevin draws comparisons to his life now and his life as a player coach and how his on field experiences helped prepare him for his career transition.The views and opinions expressed in the MLSPA’s Career Conversations Series are those of the individual guests and do not necessarily reflect those of MLSPA. The life and career experiences, advice, and insights shared are personal and provided for informational purposes only.

Are you ever truly prepared to retire from the game? Dylan Remick joins Tristan Bowen to discuss the difficult decision all players eventually will face - whether due to injury or personal choice. Listen for more on how Dylan navigated that decision and where he is now in his post-playing career. The views and opinions expressed in the MLSPA’s Career Conversations Series are those of the individual guests and do not necessarily reflect those of MLSPA. The life and career experiences, advice, and insights shared are personal and provided for informational purposes only.

Tristan Bowen is joined by Kory Kindle for a conversation on his post playing career path - and how those paths often aren't linear. Listen in to hear more about Kory's journey from soccer to physical therapy, to now working on a healthcare AI startup. The views and opinions expressed in the MLSPA’s Career Conversations Series are those of the individual guests and do not necessarily reflect those of MLSPA. The life and career experiences, advice, and insights shared are personal and provided for informational purposes only.

Tristan Bowen is joined by former player Cameron Porter for a conversation about his journey from the field to the world of venture capital, and the parallels between the highs and lows of the game and the business world. The views and opinions expressed in the MLSPA’s Career Conversations Series are those of the individual guests and do not necessarily reflect those of MLSPA. The life and career experiences, advice, and insights shared are personal and provided for informational purposes only.

Heath Pearce joins Tristan Bowen on Career Conversations for a discussion on knowing when it's time to step away from the game, reinventing himself in the media space and his passion impacting the sport through his post-playing career. The views and opinions expressed in the MLSPA’s Career Conversations Series are those of the individual guests and do not necessarily reflect those of MLSPA. The life and career experiences, advice, and insights shared are personal and provided for informational purposes only.

Tristan Bowen sits down with John Wilson for a candid conversation about how the challenges of his pro career prepared him for his current role as Player Engagement and Welfare Director for Charlotte FC.The views and opinions expressed in the MLSPA’s Career Conversations Series are those of the individual guests and do not necessarily reflect those of MLSPA. The life and career experiences, advice, and insights shared are personal and provided for informational purposes only.

In this episode of Career Conversation, Tristan Bowen sits down with Dr. Robbie Russell to discuss preparation for the "next thing" in life. Which for Robbie Russell involved transition form the playing field to the medical field.The views and opinions expressed in the MLSPA’s Career Conversations Series are those of the individual guests and do not necessarily reflect those of MLSPA. The life and career experiences, advice, and insights shared are personal and provided for informational purposes only.

Tristan Bowen welcomes Mike Chabala for a conversation about life "off the ball" as well as the importance of mentorship, and being intentional in all that you do.The views and opinions expressed in the MLSPA’s Career Conversations Series are those of the individual guests and do not necessarily reflect those of MLSPA. The life and career experiences, advice, and insights shared are personal and provided for informational purposes only.

Tristan Bowen welcomes Evan Whitfield for a conversation about his experience transitioning from the playing field to law.The views and opinions expressed in the MLSPA’s Career Conversations Series are those of the individual guests and do not necessarily reflect those of MLSPA. The life and career experiences, advice, and insights shared are personal and provided for informational purposes only.

In this conversation, Ethan White chats with Tristan Bowen about turning your passion into a profession and the importance of not only giving yourself a runway to life after the game, but also utilizing your experiences as an athlete to open doors.The views and opinions expressed in the MLSPA’s Career Conversations Series are those of the individual guests and do not necessarily reflect those of MLSPA. The life and career experiences, advice, and insights shared are personal and provided for informational purposes only.

In this conversation, Mariano Trujillo chats with Tristan Bowen about the challenges of transitioning from a soccer career. Listen in as he describes how his personal key to making it smoother is transferring skills developed from soccer like work ethic and discipline into daily life. The views and opinions expressed in the MLSPA’s Career Conversations Series are those of the individual guests and do not necessarily reflect those of MLSPA. The life and career experiences, advice, and insights shared are personal and provided for informational purposes only.

Life after soccer is still a game, just with different rules. In this episode of career conversations, Justin Morrow shares how leveraging opportunities as an active player can provide experiences that empower a successful post-playing career.The views and opinions expressed in the MLSPA’s Career Conversations Series are those of the individual guests and do not necessarily reflect those of MLSPA. The life and career experiences, advice, and insights shared are personal and provided for informational purposes only.

In a new episode of Career Conversations with Tristan Bowen, Victor Ulloa shares the importance of having a strong network and leaning on a community of retired players for support while navigating the challenges that can come after hanging up the boots. The views and opinions expressed in the MLSPA’s Career Conversations Series are those of the individual guests and do not necessarily reflect those of MLSPA. The life and career experiences, advice, and insights shared are personal and provided for informational purposes only.

Interested in working in the media industry? Jalil Anibaba and Jimmy Conrad join Tristan Bowen for a special episode focused on the foundations of building a media career, and the practical advice you need to hear. The views and opinions expressed in the MLSPA’s Career Conversations Series are those of the individual guests and do not necessarily reflect those of MLSPA. The life and career experiences, advice, and insights shared are personal and provided for informational purposes only.

Bobby Warshaw joins Tristan Bowen on Career Conversations. The views and opinions expressed in the MLSPA’s Career Conversations Series are those of the individual guests and do not necessarily reflect those of MLSPA. The life and career experiences, advice, and insights shared are personal and provided for informational purposes only.