The Outfield Podcast: Recent Episodes
Matt Lichtenstadter
Episode 32 features former Finnish pro hockey player Janne Puhakka in his first English language podcast! Janne talks about his journey through the sport, what's he done since retiring and more including:3:10: Who is Janne Puhakka?10:50: When did he start to realize that his sexuality was different?12:45: Is the hockey culture in Finland different or similar to the one in North America?18:30: Experiences in the QMJHL 24:45: What was it like to turn pro at that point in his life?32:00: Coming out publicly37:30: Writing a book40:45: Working with EA Sports in Finland49:45: What would he do to make hockey culture more accepting in Finland?Enjoy the show!Intro and outro music is "Thinking It Over" by Lee Rosevere, from his album "Music for Podcasts 5": freemusicarchive.org/music/Lee_Rose…For_Podcasts_5
Episode 31 features broadcaster Josh Eastern, who has called games in the NWSL, USL, PHF and more. In this show, he talks about his journey to understanding himself in broadcasting as well as:9:20: His coming out story15:45: Understanding what it meant to be an out sports broadcaster 24:45: What does it feel like to be an out broadcaster calling games with out players in them?41:15: Being an out broadcaster calling hockeyEnjoy the show!Intro and outro music is "Thinking It Over" by Lee Rosevere, from his album "Music for Podcasts 5": freemusicarchive.org/music/Lee_Rose…For_Podcasts_5
Episode 30 features Brian Zapp of Miami Ohio, a newly out bisexual baseball player. In this show, he talks about his journey self acceptance and coming out in baseball and more including:
3:45: Who he is and how he got into baseball 8:15: Understanding his sexuality while becoming more invested in baseball 19:45: Beginning to come out and what sparked him to do so 32:15: Driving back to Canada from school after making his Instagram post 37:30: Attempting to date someone while closeted 49:45: Experiencing a full season as an out player
Enjoy the show!
Intro and outro music is "Thinking It Over" by Lee Rosevere, from his album "Music for Podcasts 5": freemusicarchive.org/music/Lee_Rose…For_Podcasts_5
Episode 29 features ABC Australia broadcaster Corbin Middlemas, who talks about his journey as a gay man in Australian sports media and more, including:
6:20: How he feels in sports media after being out for nearly four years 10:45: His journey in getting into sports media 17:40: Coming to understand his sexuality in a heteronormative sports world 31:00: Some of his stories in coming out to his friends and family, and later publicly 47:15: Covering Australian sports, particularly the AFL, where out athletes are few and far between 1:05:45: How does he cover controversies around homophobic language in sports?
Enjoy the show!
Intro and outro music is "Thinking It Over" by Lee Rosevere, from his album "Music for Podcasts 5": freemusicarchive.org/music/Lee_Rose…For_Podcasts_5
Episode 28 features Utica Comets broadcaster Jason Shaya, who came out as gay in October. On this show, we talk about his journey in broadcasting, his love of hockey and more including:
2:45: Growing up and getting in hockey 9:50: Getting into broadcasting, starting in wrestling 17:20: Coming to understand his sexuality 32:15: At what point did he feel comfortable talking about his sexuality in general? 35:10: How did he get Bob McKenzie to write his public coming out story?
And much more. Enjoy the show!
Intro and outro music is "Thinking It Over" by Lee Rosevere, from his album "Music for Podcasts 5": freemusicarchive.org/music/Lee_Rose…For_Podcasts_5
Episode 27 features newly out pitcher Kieran Lovegrove, who talks about his experiences in minor league baseball, coming out and more including:
5:45: From being born in South Africa to a love of baseball 16:15: Coming to understand his sexuality 29:15: Did he ever feel uncomfortable as a bisexual man in a baseball clubhouse? 36:00: The story of his alcoholism and his suicide attempt 1:01:35: Kieran's theories on human sexuality 1:27:00: Making minor league baseball better and healthier 1:43:00: How can baseball do better for out people in the sport?
And plenty more. This is a long show but I promise it's worth listening to the whole thing. Enjoy the show!
Intro and outro music is "Thinking It Over" by Lee Rosevere, from his album "Music for Podcasts 5": freemusicarchive.org/music/Lee_Rose…For_Podcasts_5
Episode 26 features newly out baseball player, country musician and activist Bryan Ruby, who talks about his whirlwind after coming out publicly in September in baseball and beyond, plus these topics:
6:00: Bryan's upbringing in sports and baseball 20:00: What kept him closeted for so long 36:15: Playing baseball all around the world 45:45: His most memorable coming out story 51:15: Breaking into country music and whether he sees differences in the worlds of baseball and country music 1:05:45: Starting Proud to Be In Baseball 1:22:45: What is his advice for young queer players in baseball struggling to be themselves
Enjoy the show!
Intro and outro music is "Thinking It Over" by Lee Rosevere, from his album "Music for Podcasts 5": freemusicarchive.org/music/Lee_Rose…For_Podcasts_5
Episode 25 features baseball writer Nick Stellini, and on this show, we talk about these topics and more:
4:10: Starting off in film school before going to journalism 8:15: Understaning his sexuality and his own journey 20:00: Feeling comfortable accepted in the world of baseball 31:00: Talking about the two pro players who have come out in the last month 40:30: Being more public about your sexuality for visibility in the sports media space 55:00: Pride nights in baseball
Enjoy the show!
Intro and outro music is "Thinking It Over" by Lee Rosevere, from his album "Music for Podcasts 5": freemusicarchive.org/music/Lee_Rose…For_Podcasts_5
Episode 24 features former USWNT midfielder and current broadcaster Lori Lindsey. On this show, we talk about these topics and more:
9:15: Her coming out process 17:15: The evolution of women's soccer in the US along with the evolution of the prominence of out women 22:45: Being driven to make the USWNT 32:30: Getting into broadcasting 43:30: What she wants non sports broadcasters to learn about sports broadcasting
We also touch on Carl Nassib's coming out, the USWNT's prospects at the upcoming Olympics and more. Enjoy the show!
Intro and outro music is "Thinking It Over" by Lee Rosevere, from his album "Music for Podcasts 5": freemusicarchive.org/music/Lee_Rose…For_Podcasts_5
Episode 23 features out soccer writer from the Athletic UK Adam Crafton. He talks about his experiences covering soccer in Britain as an out man and:
9:30: His experience understanding his sexuality 18:15: Becoming a sports journalist 32:30: Writing his recent story about the LGBTQ community in Poland ahead of the Europa League Final 43:00: Writing stories about the LGBTQ community in soccer as part of the few out journalists covering it 50:15: Reminiscing about the closeted gay player Twitter acount that turned out to be a hoax and what we learned from that 1:06:15: Is there a story about the community in soccer that Adam wants to get to in the future?
Plus more. Enjoy the show!
Intro and outro music is "Thinking It Over" by Lee Rosevere, from his album "Music for Podcasts 5": freemusicarchive.org/music/Lee_Rose…For_Podcasts_5
Episode 22 features hockey agent Bayne Pettinger, who recently came out. With Bayne we talk about these topics and more:
17:00: Becoming an agent after working for Hockey Canada 20:30: His journey of self-discovery for his sexuality 30:15: Having support from Connor McDavid, Sidney Crosby and others in his coming out process 42:40: What would you do if you had total control in how hockey responds to its LGBTQ+ community?
Enjoy the show!
Intro and outro music is "Thinking It Over" by Lee Rosevere, from his album "Music for Podcasts 5": freemusicarchive.org/music/Lee_Rose…For_Podcasts_5
Episode 21 features Joanna Lohman, a former US Women's National team player and current coach, activist and much more. On the show, we talk about these topics and more:
8:40: A direct legacy of the 99'ers 12:15: Going through those first women's leagues 21:00: coming out after being engaged to a guy at 21 28:45: Can we connect the visibility of the US Women to the number of LGBTQ+ identifying individuals going up? 33:30 how does it feel to be an inspiration for those coming out? 44:50: advice for guys coming out
Buy her new book "Raising Tomorrow's Champions" here: https://rtcsoccer.com/
Intro and outro music is "Thinking It Over" by Lee Rosevere, from his album "Music for Podcasts 5": freemusicarchive.org/music/Lee_Rose…For_Podcasts_5
Episode 20 features Jonathan Kliment, the broadcaster for the FPHL's Elmira Enforcers, the only out broadcaster at any level of hockey. On this show we talk about this and more:
12:00: A non-traditional broadcasting path and a different kind of coming out process 24:30: How did his sexuality interact with his burgeoning broadcast career? 40:45: How he deals with the locker room 46:20: Going to Outsports to tell his story
Enjoy the show!
Intro and outro music is "Thinking It Over" by Lee Rosevere, from his album "Music for Podcasts 5": freemusicarchive.org/music/Lee_Rose…For_Podcasts_5
Episode 19 features Gordie Mitchard, a former club hockey player and referee. He talks about his experiences in a sport he loves, but a sport that also made him feel unwelcome as well as:
8:40: How did he keep playing hockey even with the culture around him? 14:30: Hearing hockey's language differently as an official versus a player 20:40: his coming out story 30:00: The importance of having out LGBTQ people stay in the sport despite its problems 41:30: Seeing how Hockey dealt with Yanic Duplessis' coming out 55:00: advice to people who want to come out in hockey
Come for the talk about hockey culture, stay for the jokes about Iowa football. Enjoy!
Intro and outro music is "Thinking It Over" by Lee Rosevere, from his album "Music for Podcasts 5": freemusicarchive.org/music/Lee_Rose…For_Podcasts_5
Episode 18 features Jeff Rueter, a soccer writer for the Athletic that recently came out publicly as bisexual. In this show, we talk about his recent public coming out and more:
2:40: Jeff's story 9:15: Being married to a bisexual woman 13:45: Coming out not just for visibility, but to be authentic for readers and listeners and to push sports media in a better direction 35:00: The story from San Diego and Phoenix Rising involving Collin Martin being called a homophobic slur 45:30: What does USL plan on doing to prevent incidents like this from happening again?
Enjoy the show!
Intro and outro music is "Thinking It Over" by Lee Rosevere, from his album "Music for Podcasts 5": freemusicarchive.org/music/Lee_Rose…For_Podcasts_5
Episode 17 features Jason Ball, a former Australian rules football player who founded Pride Cup, an organization trying to eradicate homophobia in Australian Sports. On this show, we talk about this topic and more:
7:30: His experiences as a closeted footy player 18;45: deciding to take an even bigger step with Pride Cup 26:15: where is Australian sport, particularly footy, when it comes to homophobia, and what has been done to change that culture? 34:10: Helping establish the AFL's yearly Pride Game 41:30: Trying to establish an AFL Pride Round
And more. Enjoy the show!
Intro and outro music is "Thinking It Over" by Lee Rosevere, from his album "Music for Podcasts 5": freemusicarchive.org/music/Lee_Rose…For_Podcasts_5
Episode 16 features Rhiannon Walker, a bisexual journalist who covers the Washington Football Team for the Athletic. On this show, we talk about these topics and more:
6:15: Growing up, and coming out, in the DMV 23:45: Her experiences being bisexual 34:00: How her coming out experience made her a better journalist 50:15: Being an out black woman in a straight white man's world 56:30: Her thoughts on out athletes and covering out athletes 1:05:30: Looking back on her journey to get where she is now 1:16:00: The biggest differences in covering the NFL during a pandemic
And more. Enjoy the show!
Intro and outro music is "Thinking It Over" by Lee Rosevere, from his album "Music for Podcasts 5": freemusicarchive.org/music/Lee_Rose…For_Podcasts_5
Episode 15 features Derrick Gordon, the first D1 men's basketball player to come out as gay, and the first to ever make the NCAA Tournament with 3 different teams. On this show we talk about that and more:
9:30: His family, especially his twin 17:30: Playing against Kyrie Irving, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist in high school 26:20: Locker room experiences in basketball 30:15: Derrick does what we all wish we could have done 46:00: The ups and down of his coming out 49:33: Why did his teammates tease him as they did? 55:20: Relationship with basketball 59:00: Coming out as he did 1:09:50: How did it feel after he came out? 1:19:55: Does Derrick think his sexuality prevented him from getting a NBA chance? 1:28:00: How would he help a professional basketball player in their coming out process?
Enjoy the show!
Intro and outro music is "Thinking It Over" by Lee Rosevere, from his album "Music for Podcasts 5": freemusicarchive.org/music/Lee_Rose…For_Podcasts_5
Episode 14 features former Division II kicker and current club hockey player Adam Fyrer. Adam has a unique story including coming out to multiple hockey teams, and in this show, he talks about that and more:
3:15: Adam's introduction 13:40: Coming of age in high school 21:50: Playing hockey in high school, leaving it for football in college, then coming back to it 26:15: Differences between the football and hockey locker rooms 34:30: Coming out to a second hockey team, and why it was more difficult the second time 46:30: Has the locker room language affected his love of the game? 59:15: How different were the two locker rooms in terms of their culture? 1:02:00 How would his coming out story have changed if he stuck with football?
Enjoy the show!
Intro and outro music is "Thinking It Over" by Lee Rosevere, from his album "Music for Podcasts 5": freemusicarchive.org/music/Lee_Rose…For_Podcasts_5
Episode 13 features former Nebraska kicker Eric Lueshen who is now one of the foremost advocates for LGBTQ people in sports. On this show, we talk about that and more:
5:00: Growing up in small town Nebraska 8:15: Coming out in high school 22:00: The ups and downs of coming out to the Nebraska football team 30:20: Why he felt he didn't get a chance to play? 40:45: Going from getting a PhD to advocacy 56:00: How he reacted to a former coach and current Nebraska football staffer's homophobic comments 1:02:30: Why have there been so many out football players? 1:16:20: What does pride mean to Eric?
And much more. Enjoy the show and Happy Pride! Intro and outro music is "Thinking It Over" by Lee Rosevere, from his album "Music for Podcasts 5": freemusicarchive.org/music/Lee_Rose…For_Podcasts_5
Episode 12 features Pac-12 Networks broadcaster Kate Scott, not only the first woman on this show but one of the few out women in sports media. On the show, we talk about:
4:30: Growing up in California's Central Valley 7:10: Getting into sports and finding out about sports broadcasting 13:00: Kate's journey to understanding her sexuality 21:15: Starting as a traffic reporter 27:45: Her public coming out at KNBR 38:20: The draw of play-by-play 45:00: Mentioning the stories of out athletes during broadcasts, doing it or not?
And more. Enjoy the show!
Intro and outro music is "Thinking It Over" by Lee Rosevere, from his album "Music for Podcasts 5": freemusicarchive.org/music/Lee_Rose…For_Podcasts_5
Episode 11 features former Marian hockey player Brock Weston, who is one of the rare current or former hockey players to come out. He has one of the most interesting coming out stories yet told on this show.
On the show: 14:50: How many LGBTQ people was he exposed to in his small town? 18:30: The language used in small towns and the language used in hockey 23:00: When did you start hearing anti-gay slurs in hockey? 31:00: Oh by the way, Brock had COVID-19 36:20: His process in understanding his sexuality? 41:05: How the language of hockey can hurt, even for those who don't know their own sexuality yet? 45:15: Why did his teammates gossip about his sexuality behind his back, and why? 55:10: His coming out speech to his team 1:05:15: His teammates asking questions to him about being gay 1:07:30: Writing his public story 1:12:35: Hockey is a small world parts 1-10 1:22:30: What would Brock say to gay hockey players and potential allies?
Apologies for the echo on Brock's audio for the first 13 or so minutes. That's a snafu on my part. Enjoy the show!
Intro and outro music is "Thinking It Over" by Lee Rosevere, from his album "Music for Podcasts 5": freemusicarchive.org/music/Lee_Rose…For_Podcasts_5
Episode 10 features UCLA assistant softball coach Kirk Walker, who has been out since 2005. In this show, we talk about:
5:00: Kirk's journey through life and softball 19:20: Why softball? 24:30: Was softball an escape from questions about his sexuality? 27:10: Why he resented being labeled as a gay coach, and why that subsequently changed 38:45: Being a gay man in women's sports, and being involved in the two different world of LGBTQ people in sports 50:00: Equality Coaching Alliance & Go Space 58:00: The most impactful coming out stories to him
And much more. Enjoy the show!
Intro and outro music is "Thinking It Over" by Lee Rosevere, from his album "Music for Podcasts 5": freemusicarchive.org/music/Lee_Rose…For_Podcasts_5
Episode 9 of the Outfield Podcast features newly out college basketball coach Matt Lynch, who talks about his journey as a gay man coaching in all levels of college basketball, what pushed him to come out now and more:
14:45: Getting into coaching 22:00: The process of getting his first job 32:30: Importance of connections 39:00: Coming out in basketball 49:00 Coming out to player 1:01:30: Why come out at this time?
Enjoy the show!
Intro and outro music is "Thinking It Over" by Lee Rosevere, from his album "Music for Podcasts 5": freemusicarchive.org/music/Lee_Rose…For_Podcasts_5
Episode 8 of the Outfield Podcast features Chris Mosier, transgender athlete and advocate talking about his personal story and advocacy for his community and more including:
7:00: Chris' Life Growing Up 14:00: Beating Stereotypes 18:15: Hollow victories while not out 21:20: Why he never told anyone when his birthday was 28:20: Why is there so much resistance to the transgender community from certain groups 37:00: Rewriting rules at the IOC 42:10: Chris' view on Zaya Wade and the impact of that story
Enjoy the show!
Intro and outro music is "Thinking It Over" by Lee Rosevere, from his album "Music for Podcasts 5": freemusicarchive.org/music/Lee_Rose…For_Podcasts_5
Episode 7 of the Outfield Podcast features Alex Reimer, an editor at Outsports, host as CBS Sports Radio and formerly of WEEI in Boston. He has a great story to tell, and in the show we talked about:
5:45: Family life and upbriging 13:10: Coming Out 18:50: Working at WEEI 31:15: Leaving WEEI to go to politics 37:10: Coming to Outsports and back into sports media 46:00: Overnight sports talk radio 48:45: Where are LGBTQ people in sports now and where are we going?
Enjoy the show!
Intro and outro music is "Thinking It Over" by Lee Rosevere, from his album "Music for Podcasts 5": freemusicarchive.org/music/Lee_Rose…For_Podcasts_5
Episode 6 features Zach Sullivan, a defenseman for Manchester Storm of the EIHL, who just came out as bisexual. He talks about his experiences in hockey, his story, why he decided to come out now and much more. Enjoy the show!
Intro and outro music is "Thinking It Over" by Lee Rosevere, from his album "Music for Podcasts 5": freemusicarchive.org/music/Lee_Rose…For_Podcasts_5
Our even longer awaited fifth episode features Ben Pereira, who works in Diversity and Inclusion at Minor League Baseball, and we talk about his job, setting up Pride nights across the minors and more. Sorry for the wait. Enjoy the show!
Intro and outro music is "Thinking It Over" by Lee Rosevere, from his album "Music for Podcasts 5": freemusicarchive.org/music/Lee_Rose…For_Podcasts_5
Our long awaited fourth episode features one of two openly gay male professional soccer players in the world: Andy Brennan. We go over Andy's life in soccer, his coming out process and what he thinks about being out in the sport and in Australia. Enjoy the show!
Intro and outro music is "Thinking It Over" by Lee Rosevere, from his album "Music for Podcasts 5": freemusicarchive.org/music/Lee_Rose…For_Podcasts_5
Our third episode features Eric Bach, a student broadcaster at Michigan State who talks about his life in a small Michigan town as a high school QB, being gay and coming to grips with his sexuality, and his life now as a broadcaster and referee. Enjoy the show!
Make sure to subscribe to the show on iTunes, Stitcher, here, and all of your favorite podcasting platforms!
Intro and outro music is "Thinking It Over" by Lee Rosevere, from his album "Music for Podcasts 5": freemusicarchive.org/music/Lee_Rose…For_Podcasts_5
Our second guest on the Outfield Podcast is Rory Molleda, DC United's player care manager, who talks about being openly gay in major league soccer, his relationships with players including Wayne Rooney, and much more. Enjoy the show!
Make sure to subscribe to the show on iTunes, Stitcher, here, and all of your favorite podcasting platforms!
Intro and outro music is "Thinking It Over" by Lee Rosevere, from his album "Music for Podcasts 5": freemusicarchive.org/music/Lee_Rose…For_Podcasts_5
Welcome to the brand new Outfield Podcast, a podcast about the LGBTQ in sports. Our first guest is Dan Trainor, host of the Same Team Podcast, and we talk about his journey, his show and the future for LGBTQ people in sports. Enjoy the show!
Make sure to subscribe to the show on all your favorite podcasting platforms!
Intro and outro music is "Thinking It Over" by Lee Rosevere, from his album "Music for Podcasts 5": http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Lee_Rosevere/Music_For_Podcasts_5