The Section 1904 Podcast

Darren Smith

In pursuit of smart conversations since 2004. The Section 1904 Podcast is a 20-year radio career, distilled for small batch consumption. Quality over quantity. Made in San Diego. dsmithshow.substack.com

  1. hace 2 días

    Bienvenido, Elias Achouri

    Before the match against FC Dallas on Saturday, SDFC introduced their latest signing and the third Designated Player in Club history, Elias Achouri. Achouri isn’t a well known name but was a very good player on an FC Copenhagen team that won the Danish Superliga & Danish Cup and played for Tunisia in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He’s expected to slot in at left wing when his visa situation is settled and complete a front line with Anders Dreyer and Marcus Ingvartsen. After his press conference, I had the chance to speak 1-on-1 with Achouri about his introduction in San Diego and how he sees himself fitting in with the club. We also talked about his belief in the project and how he’s excited to embrace our bi-national region after spending time in Monterrey, Mexico during the World Cup. It’s unclear when we will see Achouri on the field for a match but he is training with the club at the Performance Center and is expected to be a contributor down the stretch of the 2026 season. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dsmithshow.substack.com

  2. hace 2 días

    Mikey Varas Pregame

    It was different looking game against the Colorado Rapids with a disappointing ending and an all-too-familiar feeling. The Rapids did what Dallas, Portland, LAFC and Cincinnati have done to the Azul y Chrome - take points in stoppage time. A whopping EIGHT points dropped by goals conceded after the 90th minute. Here is Mikey Varas’s pregame interview that will be heard on the Kickoff Show today at 6pm. We recapped the Rapids game, including a very interesting update on the VAR decision late in the match and then previewed the game against Peter Musa and FC Dallas. The conversation also turns to San Diego’s newest signings, Elias Achouri and Dagur Dan Thorhallsson, as Varas discusses what each player brings to the squad and how they fit into SDFC’s style of play. You’re invited to join us on for the broadcast on AM 760 or the IHeartRadio App by clicking here. Adrian Garcia Marquez and I are on the call. You can also listen to our broadcast with the TV feed by locating the “Home Radio English Language” icon on the lower right hand corner of the screen. AppleTV makes each home radio broadcast available as an alternative. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dsmithshow.substack.com

    Mikey Varas Pregame

  3. hace 5 días

    Mikey Varas Pregame

    We’re back! The second half of the MLS season begins on Wednesday for San Diego Football Club and it is a MUST WIN GAME. Ok, maybe a bit much but it feels significant. Why? Let’s look at the Western Conference Standings It’s a six pointer. Win and you’ve cleared yourself from the Rapids but a loss and you’re behind them in the standings. It’s time to get moving. San Diego Football Club had a lot of time to regroup and recover from the physical and mental toll those first 15 matches AND Concacaf Champions Cup took on them. The club plays Colorado 60 days after their last match before the break. To put that in perspective, the club had on offseason of 66 days from Western Conference Championship Game until the first match against Pumas. Here is Mikey Varas’s pregame interview that will be heard on the Kickoff Show. We talked about how the club managed the break, overall health (welcome back Jeppe) and the additions of Gabriel Pirani & Ian Murphy, plus what stands out to him about the Rapids. You’re invited to join us on for the broadcast on AM 760 or the IHeartRadio App by clicking here. Adrian Garcia Marquez and I are on the call. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dsmithshow.substack.com

  4. 21 jul

    "This Should Be A Podcast"

    I’ve had countless conversations with my buddy, Nate Abaurrea, through the years. Whether these conversations are enjoyed in Tijuana with tequila or via text, someone will likely suggest at the end of them that it “should have been a podcast”. So that’s what we did on Monday. Nate and I reflected on the 2026 World Cup and how we balance the joy produced by the tournament with the uncomfortable reality of the political fuckery surrounding it. We discussed how the matches, atmosphere and shared fan experiences can still be thrilling even while acknowledging the bigger issues off the field. “Yo Fumando Porro y Tomando Vinoooo” will last forever as will the memories provided by Leo Messi, Erling Haaland, Vozinha's saves and countless others. The episode included our favorite moments from the tournament, the performances and scenes that made this World Cup memorable, and why we didn’t jump on the “everyone hates Argentina / the World Cup is rigged” narrative. It was a conversation about loving the game while still being honest about everything around it. The duality of being a sports fan in 2026. We also talked about the Final and the predictable reaction to it, what takeaways there were from the overall experience with special shoutouts to Gilberto Mora of Club Tijuana and Lamine Yamal. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dsmithshow.substack.com

    "This Should Be A Podcast"

  5. 17 jul

    Spain vs Argentina

    There have already been 102 matches played at the 2026 World Cup. Only two remain. On this episode, ESPN’s Eric Gomez and I spent almost all of our time talking about one of them - and it wasn’t the third-place game. A quick aside: I think the Bronze Medal Match often gets an unfair rap. For many countries, it’s a meaningful opportunity to end the tournament with a win. But when you’re France or England? Yeah, these are two teams that arrived expecting to lift the trophy and it has to feel a bit embarrassing to drag yourself onto the pitch for this one.. If it were the USMNT or El Tri, though? We’d both happily take it. Alas… Instead, our focus was on Sunday’s Final. We broke down Spain’s 2-0 semifinal win and explained why we pushed back against the idea that it was “boring.” To us, it was a masterclass in Spanish soccer identity. Spain knows exactly who they are, and that’s a standard every nation with World Cup ambitions should aspire to. We also dissected Argentina’s 2-1 victory over England, including Thomas Tuchel’s insane tactical approach. How does Argentina continue to find ways to win on the biggest stage? And after everything we’ve already said over the years, is there anything left to add about Lionel Messi? One of the Final’s most compelling storylines is the connection between Spain and Messi through La Masia, FC Barcelona’s legendary academy. Spain’s squad features seven La Masia graduates, all chasing a World Cup against the academy’s most notable and decorated alum. Will those relationships matter once the match kicks off, or will Spain continue to show the emotional discipline that’s defined its tournament? We also spent some time discussing Mexico’s future under Rafa Márquez, put a bow on the Flo Balogun saga, and talked about one unexpected way this World Cup has helped soccer grow in the United States. Enjoy the Final. It has all the makings of a classic This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dsmithshow.substack.com

    Spain vs Argentina

  6. 9 jul

    Salas or Miller?

    (This is the audio-only podcast version of Thurdays’s MartyTimeTV / Section 1904 joint venture. You can find and subscribe to this podcast on Apple and Spotify and right here on Substack by clicking the button below. To watch this episode on YouTube, click here) The Padres are hovering around .500 and the Trade Deadline Clock is ticking. On Thursday, we were joined by MLB.Com's AJ Cassavell, who discussed whether postgame manager press conferences actually matter or if they’re simply part of the daily baseball theater. We also touched on the Padres’ biggest trade deadline questions: Buyers or Sellers? Is it more likely Preller trades Ethan Salas or Mason Miller? (Probably neither but roll with us) And with the club fighting to stay relevant at home and in the standings, what’s really at stake over the next few weeks as the deadline approaches? Are we really looking forward to a Padres vs Marlins series? Why does Cassavell think the Padres have a better chance of making the postseason than Fangraphs… …or BaseballReference.Com? There’s also some World Cup talk! We discussed the USMNT’s disappointing exit against Belgium and the subsequent criticism of Christian Pulisic. Is the scrutiny actually a sign that soccer has reached a new level in the American sports landscape? If the nation’s best player is being analyzed like an NFL quarterback or NBA superstar, does that mean the sport has finally broken through? We have certainly come a long way since 2014. Also, a look at what actually went wrong for the U.S. and whether the attention surrounding this World Cup represents real growth for soccer in America. We closed with a few thoughts on the quarterfinals, Messi, Salah and how much VAR - and maybe all replay in sports - is ruining the most important moments. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dsmithshow.substack.com

  7. 7 jul

    Fading Friars

    (This is the audio-only version of Tuedays’s MartyTimeTV / Section 1904 joint venture. You can find and subscribe to this podcast on Apple and Spotify and right here on Substack by clicking the button below. To watch this episode on YouTube, click here) Minutes after Lionel Messi’s latest reminder to the soccer world that he’s the greatest of all time, we started this podcast. One of us tried to keep the convo centered on the World Cup to discuss why this tournament has been such a success - even after the USMNT and El Tri losses - and how Messi continues to captivate the sport, even at this stage of his legendary career. The other wanted to talk about the Padres latest reminder that they have hit the skids and don’t seem capable of pulling themselves out of this tailspin. While the World Cup has been must-see television, the Padres have become almost unwatchable. After a lifeless 8-0 loss, San Diego has continued its slide in the standings, raising even more questions about a team that looks flat, uninspired and searching for answers. We also talked the extended leadership vacuum within the organization, whether the absence of a clear ownership voice has become a bigger issue than many realized, and whether Craig Stammen’s demeanor is a positive or negative. Bad stretch, or are the Padres revealing exactly who they are? Plus, is there still reason to believe this team can turn things around before it’s too late, or has the season reached a tipping point? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dsmithshow.substack.com

    Fading Friars

  8. 2 jul

    Host Nations Advance

    (This is the audio-only version of Thursday’s MartyTimeTV / Section 1904 joint venture. You can find and subscribe to this podcast on Apple and Spotify and right here on Substack by clicking the button below. To watch this episode on YouTube, click here) World Cups are better when the host nation goes on a run. Multiply that by three and we are living in an unprecedented moment of North American soccer joy and prosperity. The 2026 FIFA World Cup has been massive for Canada, Mexico & the United States, with all three host nations advancing to the Round of 16. ESPN’s Eric Gomez is back to describe what it has meant in Mexico City, fans hilariously getting into the "spirit", the generational run to a Quinto Partido and how El Tri has followed Javier Aguirre’s lead to FOUR clean sheet wins in four matches. We also discussed the USMNT’s convincing performances and the growing belief that Mauricio Pochettino’s squad is capable of making a deeper tournament run. Of course, we also covered the Folarin Balogun red card, the use (misuse?) of VAR in that moment and the media reaction to the sending off, which has been widespread. So what’s next? Can Mexico find a way past England at altitude? Does the USMNT have what it takes to knock off Belgium in a rematch from the 2014 World Cup? How depressed will we be when this World Cup is over? Enjoy this World Cup edition of Thursday’s podcast. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dsmithshow.substack.com

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In pursuit of smart conversations since 2004. The Section 1904 Podcast is a 20-year radio career, distilled for small batch consumption. Quality over quantity. Made in San Diego. dsmithshow.substack.com

Información

  • Creador
    Darren Smith
  • Años de actividad
    2026
  • Episodios
    57
  • Clasificación
    Explícito
  • Copyright
    © Darren Smith
  • Mostrar sitio web
    The Section 1904 Podcast

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