San Diego FC: Behind the Flow

iHeartPodcasts
  • 5.0 (10)
  • SOCCER
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

San Diego F.C. is a club being built from the ground up - in record time. But joining as the 30th team for MLS’ 30th year, they aren’t here to make up the numbers. They've got a plan to rock American soccer to its foundations.   Join local boy, and network sportscaster Adrian Garcia Marquez as we go behind the scenes to meet the people involved in their race to build a brand, grow a fanbase and recruit a team from scratch.   This is Behind the Flow - the origin story of San Diego F.C.

  1. 1D AGO

    Episode 21: The Devil’s in the Data – SDFC on the Inside: Turning Numbers into Wins

    With Decision Day and the playoffs approaching, Behind the Flow takes a brief pause from the action on the field to explore how San Diego FC are using data to empower decisions — turning raw numbers into real-world results, with people at the heart of it all. Adrian García-Márquez is joined by ESPN’s Katia Castorena and San Diego Sports 760’s Darren Smith to dig into the rise of analytics in football, the stats that actually tell a story, and why at SDFC the numbers never replace human judgment — they amplify it. We hear from Head Scout Sean Howe, who fell in love with finding the right jigsaw pieces for the puzzle — explaining how, despite all the stress-testing, dossiers, and data models, it’s still the people and their mentality that matter most. Then, Harry Jamieson, Head of Football Development, takes us inside the club’s data operation — from short, sharp “walkout” meetings to the live booth at Snapdragon Stadium, where every run, touch, and decision is tagged and sent to the bench in real time. Finally, the team preview Decision Day at Portland Timbers — and why the result could shape San Diego’s playoff path and mindset heading into the postseason. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    30 min

  2. OCT 9

    Episode 20: Hirving “Chucky” Lozano – Family, Football and Finding Home in San Diego

    Fresh from breaking MLS expansion records for most wins and points in a single season, San Diego FC are in celebration mode — and so are we. This week, Behind the Flow brings you something special: the full, unedited conversation with Hirving “Chucky” Lozano. A few weeks ago, Chucky featured in our Hispanic Heritage episode — but so many of you asked to hear the whole interview, we just had to share it. Speaking in Spanish (with translations from Adrian García-Márquez and Katia Castorena), Chucky opens up about his love for San Diego, family life in the Finest City, his on-field partnership with Anders Dreyer, and his hopes for the future with SDFC. And yes… he finally tells us how he got that nickname. Adrian is joined by ESPN’s Katia Castorena and San Diego Sports 760’s Darren Smith to relive the record-breaking 4–2 comeback against Houston Dynamo, reflect on what the expansion milestone means for the club, and introduce this special sit-down with the face of the franchise. From mischief at Pachuca to tears at The Shell, from national hero to San Diego’s heartbeat — this is the Chucky Lozano special. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    33 min

  3. OCT 2

    Episode 19: The SDFC Brand – Crest, Colours and Chrome Uniting a Community

    When San Diego FC first unveiled their look, it sparked debate. Some called the badge AI-generated, others dismissed the shirt as a dud. But in just a few months, both have become symbols of a club finding its identity. This week, Behind the Flow dives into the story of the brand. Adrian García-Márquez is joined by ESPN’s Katia Castorena and San Diego Sports 760’s Darren Smith to relive the December 2024 kit reveal, hearing from fans who picked up their jerseys that night — and comparing those first impressions with the voices we captured at Snapdragon just weeks ago.  We also sit down with Seb Morua — the man behind San Diego’s crest, colors, and chrome — to uncover how research, culture, and design combined to create a modern, global football identity. “You start by listening,” Seb explains, as he takes us through how the Flow’s circular symbolism, community insights, and design choices came together — and how the crest launch broke the MLS single-day merch sales record. From the fans to the floodlights, from the crest to the chrome, this episode explores how a look became a legacy for San Diego FC. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    30 min

  4. SEP 25

    Episode 18: Our Heartbeat – Mexico’s Influence and Hirving “Chucky” Lozano Joins the Show

    From his unveiling at the Shell to his first goal at Snapdragon, Hirving “Chucky” Lozano has quickly become the face of San Diego FC. This week, Behind the Flow goes beyond the headlines to hear from the man himself — the Mexican superstar whose arrival has electrified the city. Adrian García-Márquez is joined by ESPN’s Katia Castorena and San Diego Sports 760’s Darren Smith to reflect on San Diego’s Hispanic Heritage Night and the inaugural Baja Cup before diving into Lozano’s exclusive interview. Chucky opens up about the powerful bond he already feels with the San Diego faithful, what daily life is like for his family in the city, and the real story behind his famous nickname. With nearly 45% of San Diego’s residents identifying as Hispanic or Latino, Right to Dream saw the border region as the perfect place to build a club that reflects the city’s cultural mix. And with stars like Lozano leading the way, San Diego’s Mexican heartbeat is already impossible to ignore. Finally, the crew turn their attention to the Californian rivalry — with San Jose up next, could San Diego sweep the Golden State in their inaugural season? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    32 min

  5. SEP 18

    Episode 17: The Coach Who Made San Diego Flow – The Inside Story on Mikey Varas

    From thirty strangers to the top of the West, San Diego FC’s debut season has been shaped by one man: Head Coach Mikey Varas. This week, Behind the Flow steps off the pitch and into the dugout to uncover the story of San Diego’s first head coach — his Chilean-American roots, his coaching journey, the inspiration he’s drawn from football’s biggest names, and the philosophy that drives his bold style of play. Adrian García-Márquez is joined by ESPN’s Katia Castorena and San Diego Sports 760’s Darren Smith to unpack Varas’s impact on and off the field. We unlock the archives to revisit interviews with Mikey over the past year, reflect on how he’s grown into the role, share what we’ve observed at training sessions, and recount some of our own experiences with him. Guardian journalist John Muller also joins us to discuss his in-depth article on San Diego’s record-breaking build-up play — and why it already ranks among the very best in world football. From locker-room moments to leadership lessons, we ask: What makes Mikey Varas so effective, and just how far can he go in the game? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    46 min

  6. SEP 11

    Episode 16: The Backline Boys — McSmash Brothers, Youth Rising & the Rottweiler at the Door

    After a week dedicated to goals, Behind the Flow flips the script to spotlight the galácticos who stop them: the San Diego FC defense. Adrian García-Márquez is joined by ESPN’s Katia Castorena and San Diego Sports 760’s Darren Smith to break down the numbers, the partnerships, and the personalities behind one of MLS’s most compelling back lines. We hear from the McSmash Brothers — Chris McVey and Paddy McNair — on chemistry, consistency, and defying expectations; from 19-year-old Oscar Verhoeven on the mentality it takes to step up as part of the youngest back line in league history; and from CJ dos Santos — the rottweiler at the door — on competition, resilience, and his mantra: register, release, refocus. Plus, a look ahead to Hispanic Heritage Night against Minnesota and a cross-border clash with Club Tijuana. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    42 min

  7. SEP 4

    Episode 15: Goals, Goals, Goals — The Art of Attacking Soccer with Anders Dreyer and Tyler Heaps

    From the outset of San Diego FC's season, hope was laid at the feet (and head) of Scandinavian sharpshooter Marcus Ingvartsen. But with him sidelined, the team has had to find alternatives at the number nine position. And with 54 goals so far — tied for the most in MLS this season — it’s clear those alternatives are working. In this episode, Adrian García-Márquez, Katia Castorena, and Darren Smith break down the options Mikey Varas has turned to in attack — from Tommy Ángel to Alex Mighten to Onni Valakari, scorer of the club’s first-ever goal at Snapdragon. The question: no striker, no problem? We hear from Sporting Director Tyler Heaps on the blueprint that shaped this squad, and sit down with MVP-elect Anders Dreyer to talk style, culture, and his growing bond with Hirving “Chucky” Lozano. Plus, we revisit that win at BMO and, with ten SDFC players called up for international duty, look ahead to the playoff push and the long-term future of the attack. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    40 min

  8. AUG 28

    Episode 14: Beat LA! — Fan Culture, Rivalries & the rise of Frontera SD

    Behind the Flow turns the spotlight on the lifeblood of the game: the fans. From the blueprint of the Portland Timbers Army to the birth of San Diego’s own Frontera SD supporters’ union, we explore how culture in the stands is shaping the club on and off the pitch. We hear from SDFC CEO Tom Penn, Timbers Army 107 founder Fernando “Nando” Machicado and Frontera SD’s Matt Buse on uniting supporter groups under one voice. Plus, 19-year-old Luca Bombino, the LA local boy and LAFC academy graduate now tearing it up for SDFC. He shares his pride and determination as he prepares to face his parent club in one of the season’s fiercest fixtures - and one both sets of fans are desperate to win! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    43 min
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San Diego F.C. is a club being built from the ground up - in record time. But joining as the 30th team for MLS’ 30th year, they aren’t here to make up the numbers. They've got a plan to rock American soccer to its foundations.   Join local boy, and network sportscaster Adrian Garcia Marquez as we go behind the scenes to meet the people involved in their race to build a brand, grow a fanbase and recruit a team from scratch.   This is Behind the Flow - the origin story of San Diego F.C.

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  • Episodes
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    San Diego FC: Behind the Flow

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