NPLH Studio

Zack Goldman is Co-Founder of the wonderful Where is Football platform and founder of Tiger 11, the agency working with football's most creative teams, leagues and brands to build their sporting, marketing, and operational strategies. Needless to say we don't really talk about any of that in great detail. Instead, Zack share's his learnings from a career that started at Oxford United in England and has since taken him around the world to collaborate with the likes of Adidas, Nike, MLS and Japan's J-League.With a career built in alignment with his values and grown holistically through relationships, Zack's perspective offers an opportunity to reframe how we see football; not as the be all and end all, but as an accessory to what we're ultimately all looking for – community and connection. Enjoy!____You can support the podcast with caffeine here

Sam Robles left Brazil for the United States as a teenager and went on to become one of the finest photographers in the world. How? Falling in love with a camera at his friends house and chance meetings with an established photographer had something to do with it. But not everything...Sam's journey highlights the rewards of hustle, risk taking and seizing opportunities when you see them. A little bit of 'immigrant mentality' didn't hurt either. He walks us through the route from working 7 days a week at a car wash to shooting for Sports Illustrated and a literal locked door at Under Armour metaphorically opening one on the floor below that would take him around the world with The Players Tribune. A dream job that doesn't come without great sacrifices. But he doesn't see any other option. Over to Sam____You can support the podcast as a subscriber or caffeine donor at nplhmag.com

Artist, Emily Marrocco began painting just before the pandemic which, looking at her work, is both incredible and encouraging for anyone thinking about picking something up for the first time. Emily shares the realities of living with ADHD, how it impacts her art and the work in progress of flipping the diagnosis on its head to see it as a super power to be harnessed.Initially drawn to landscapes, Emily quickly shifted into portraiture and out of her comfort zone – something we learn she isn't averse to doing, be it international business trips at the age of 21, or swerving the home-from-home comfort of London in favour Manchester when leaving Australia two years ago. That move and the complications that came with it temporarily pulled her away from the canvas. Passing time in a job unaligned with her heart she found herself in a 'Fuck this' moment, quit on the spot and did what she came here to do – pursue a career in painting. Over to Emily...Enjoy! _____You can support the podcast as a subscriber or caffeine donor at nplhmag.com

Ali Williams is arguably one of the busiest folks in showbiz. FootballCo's Brand Strategist walks us through a career taking in NWSL's Gotham FC, San Diego Wave and Angel City as well Adidas and MLS. But not before we meet her dog, Fester. Yes, that's him in the background not a motorbike passing by her apartment. Growing up in football-loving Portland, it was perhaps inevitable the game would play some sort of role in her life but, over the course of this chat it's clear football IS her life. It didn't quite work out on the pitch (more on that later), but a trip to Old Trafford reminded Ali there was more to the game than playing it. Returning home to her college paper, she assigned herself as beat writer for Real Salt Lake and hasn't looked back. From then 'til now, Ali's storytelling has not only impacted the way she enjoys the game, but helped shape the experience of countless people throughout the stages of her career. Over to Ali.... and Fester. _____You can support the podcast as a subscriber or caffeine donor at nplhmag.com

Pablo Bayona Sapag is Editor-in-Chief and co-Founder of CLUBELEVEN, the digital media publication connecting football fans across North America. Born in Peru to a Peruvian father and Chilean mother he was destined to be passionate about something. Unsurprisingly that was football. Pablo shares his love of storytelling, the opportunistic origins of CLUBELEVEN, formed with brother Gabriel, and how it would ultimately lead him away from a career in medicine. Imagine having to tell your parents, who happen to be doctors!But the heart wants what it wants and it's to our gain as the platform and it's talented nationwide roster of contributors continue to deliver untold and inspiring stories from the American game. Enjoy! ___You can support the podcast as a subscriber or coffee donor at nplhmag.com

Killian Page is a Boston born, San Francisco based Director, Photographer and Producer.If you're not familiar with the name, don't worry he hadn't heard of me either. But you will have seen his work with San Francisco City FC.Killian details his childhood discovery and love of photography before sports and all the other things that go with being a teen temporarily re routed his path until re-arming himself with a camera whilst studying Industrial Psychology on the West Coast.Post college he continued shooting whilst working for sustainable footwear brand IndoSole. When the pandemic hit, rather than taking cover in the relative safety of the corporate environment, he took a shot at full-time photography.He shares the roles of both building relationships within his community and the support of his network in his successes to date, how to add structure to the unstructured freelance landscape – including the odd semester at the University of Youtube, and the three main requirements of turning your creative skills into a sustainable, professional business.At the heart of it all, collaboration, connection and community are the bedrock of everything he does.Enjoy!You can support the podcast at nplhmag.comShow note: The documentary referenced at the tail end of the episode is titled 'They'll Love Me When I'm Dead', with the subsequent film titled 'The Other Side of the Wind'. Both are available to watch on Netflix

Pete Hoppins has a career path to pique your interest. After studying fashion in Northumbria UK, he found himself in London designing for Box Fresh. Wanting a change, he shouted "I'm a designer, get me out of here" and headed to Amsterdam for a role at Nike. They packed him off to Portland, Oregon where he'd eventually become Design Director for the sporting behemoth. Then he sacked it all off to run a pub!From creating designs for football's elite to creating community in his adopted home via the Toffee Club, Pete found fulfilment and balance whilst finding his way around a sink full of dishes. Entrepreneurship has brought a different set of challenges than those of the corporate environment but Pete shares how the lessons learned in that career help him navigate running the Away Days brewing Co. as well as his design consultancy, Home and Away. Enjoy! _______You can support the podcast as a subscriber, with caffeine funds or grabbing a magazine at nplhmag.com

Aaron Durand is the Sports Marketing Manager at Avery Dennison and arguably the nicest guy in showbiz. He explains the role Avery Dennison plays within football and beyond (spoiler alert - they're everywhere) and gives a fascinating insight into how they can and will change the way the game is watched.We also rewind through career stints at Twitter, Adidas and youth counselling, and chat dogs, family, photography, and Andrei Kanchelskis. Lots to take away throughout on career opportunities, work ethos, relationships and personal growth. Enjoy! ______You can support the podcast and its growth at nplhmag.comShow notes: Stutz is the documentary we couldn't place and is available to watch on Netflix

If you know Virginia Dream and Vermont Green you’ll know the work of Casey Peckio; the US designers fingerprints are on the output of both clubs, not least Virginia. Their 2024 jersey release (you know the one) had all of our eyelashes fluttering in their direction and Casey shares details on the process behind it, why he works with clubs like these, how they push him as a creative and what this path gives him that playing the game didn’t. He also offers his perspective on seeking growth in his field, the benefits of collaboration and why he’s excited at the prospect of topping his latest efforts rather than daunted by it. But not before we discuss the importance of long distance running, the nuisance of hay fever and brilliance of Bruce Springsteen. Enjoy!____You can support the podcast and its growth as a subscriber or caffeine donor at nplhmag.com