MLSPA Career Conversations

MLS Players Association
  • 5.0 (1)
  • CAREERS

Join host Tristan Bowen as he chats with former Major League Soccer players about their transition to a career off the field. Presented by the MLSPA 90'+ Network.

  1. JAN 30

    Chris Konopka - Coaching and Content Creation

    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.

    41 min

  2. JAN 16

    Saad Abdul-Salaam | Coaching and Entrepreneurship

    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.

    43 min

  3. 12/05/2025

    Nat Borchers | Real Estate

    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.

    39 min

  4. 11/21/2025

    Sean Davis | Early Transition

    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.

    37 min

  5. 11/07/2025

    Sacha Kljestan | Media & Broadcasting

    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.

    35 min

  6. 10/24/2025

    Kevin Friedland | Retail Licensing & Manufacturing

    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.

    30 min

  7. 10/10/2025

    Dylan Remick | Consulting & Operations

    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.

    31 min

  8. 09/19/2025

    Kory Kindle | Entrepreneurship

    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.

    26 min
See All (20)

About

Join host Tristan Bowen as he chats with former Major League Soccer players about their transition to a career off the field. Presented by the MLSPA 90'+ Network.

Information

  • Creator
    MLS Players Association
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    20
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 MLS Players Association