In this episode, Emily and Kyle give you a practical, local guide to Everett’s official fan zone — the Waterfront Watch Parties at Boxcar Park. If you’ve been wondering how to plug into the energy without tickets or insider knowledge, this is your walkthrough.First, we hear a quick reminder from Tammy Dunn (Snohomish County Sports Commission) on why official fan zones matter: they give visitors and locals a place to gather, watch together, and make a full day out of the experience.Then we go deeper with Cat Soper (Port of Everett) and Tyler Chism (City of Everett) on what the Waterfront Watch Parties are designed to feel like — a family-friendly waterfront festival with a big screen, food trucks, music, and a kid zone — plus the simple logistics that make the day smoother.TakeawaysYou don’t need to be a soccer expert to enjoy an official fan zone — it’s built for everyone.The Waterfront Watch Parties are designed to feel like an Everett waterfront festival, with a soccer theme.The easiest plan is park once, shuttle in, follow the crowd.Small details (like choosing the westbound stop on Hewitt) can save you time and stress.In this episodeWhat an official fan zone is and what it’s meant to provideWaterfront Watch Party dates and the “arrive two hours early” tip for pre-game funWhat you’ll find on-site: big screen viewing, MC + DJs, giveaways, live entertainment, and kid activitiesHow to get there using the free shuttle from Everett Station or Hewitt Avenue (and which direction matters)A simple on-the-ground layout of Boxcar Park: screen location, food truck zone, kid zone, pop-up pitches, and seating areasHow partners across the region make the event possible (Port, City, Sports Commission, transit, community orgs)A quick note for local businesses: be welcoming, be clear, and pick one simple way to join inOfficial fan zone resourceOfficial Seattle FWC26 Fan Zone (Visit Everett):  https://www.visiteverett.com/1525/Official-SEATTLEFWC26-Fan-Zone Call for listenersIf you go to an Everett Waterfront Watch Party, send us a note: what did it feel like, and what surprised you? And you may even see us there.Follow From Pitch to Puget Sound on your favorite podcast app.Sign up for our newsletter with important links from the show.Presented by the Snohomish Podcast Network.History of Soccer is courtesy of Washington State Legends of Soccer. Disclaimer: This podcast is an independent production and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or officially connected to FIFA or the FIFA World Cup.Theme Music from: https://pixabay.com/music/rock-sport-sports-rock-music-368012/

In this episode, Emily and Kyle focus on access and belonging: how people in Snohomish County find their way into soccer through small, real entry points like rec teams, carpools, public spaces, and community programs.First, we hear from Peter Hattrup, former pro and longtime coach, who shares what it looked like to grow up in a different era of the game — including the story of his first “soccer shoes,” and why those early experiences still matter.Then they talk with Alex Ko from Sound Transit about access in the practical sense: how transportation, station support, and wayfinding help everyday residents take part in a major soccer summer. Whether you’re traveling into Seattle or staying closer to home, this episode offers a grounded look at how to plan ahead.TakeawaysAccess is not just about tickets — it’s about belonging.Soccer grows when communities keep building ways into the game.Recreation leagues and affordable entry points matter more than most people realize.Transportation and clear information can be the difference between feeling included and feeling shut out.In this episodeHow soccer becomes something a community can grow into over timePeter Hattrup’s story of early gear, early teams, and learning the game in a different eraWhy recreation-level play is a huge part of access and long-term participationWhat “access” looks like today: watch parties, family-friendly spaces, libraries, museums, and local programsHow Sound Transit is preparing with station support, security, maintenance, and staff ambassadorsWhere to find updated transit maps and guidance for getting around the regionTransit resourceSound Transit soccer tournament resource:  https://www.soundtransit.org/soccertournament Call for listenersKnow someone who thinks this summer won’t really affect Snohomish County? Send them this episode. And if you’re still deciding how you want to take part, this is your reminder: you don’t need a match ticket to be part of the experience. Try a watch party, a fan zone, or a trip into the city just to take in the atmosphere.Follow From Pitch to Puget Sound on your favorite podcast app.Sign up for our newsletter with important links from the show.Presented by the Snohomish Podcast Network.History of Soccer is courtesy of Washington State Legends of Soccer. Disclaimer: This podcast is an independent production and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or officially connected to FIFA or the FIFA World Cup.Theme Music from: https://pixabay.com/music/rock-sport-sports-rock-music-368012/

Catherine closes out her personal series with an honest look at “the messy middle”—the in-between chapter that sits after the hardest seasons and before the next expansive one. She shares what it’s like to live alone in a new city for the first time, to come home to silence after years of chaos, and to navigate deep loneliness while still growing into a career, leadership, and a fuller identity beyond motherhood. Catherine talks about the shifting roles that come with aging parents, adult children, and changing faith, and how isolation can plant seeds of clarity, self-awareness, and direction if you stop running from it. She also shares the surprising freedoms of this season—choice, stillness, journaling, self-care, and learning new things—while holding the real tension of paying bills and planning for the future. She ends by inviting listeners into the next chapter of the show: bringing guests into the room to explore their own messy middles, pivots, and “backwards sweater” moments.💬 What You'll Hear  What Catherine means by “the messy middle” and why it’s lonelier than people admit  Living alone in a new city: silence, stillness, and no built-in community (yet)  The emotional shift of aging parents and the fear of being “orphaned”  How loneliness can plant seeds of clarity, self-awareness, and direction  The freedom of choice after years of caretaking (including the surprisingly big “what’s for dinner?” shift)  Balancing being a mom to adult kids while becoming more of herself  Holding multiple identities at once: mom, partner, leader, and “just a girl” evolving  Staying true to purpose while still paying bills and thinking about retirement  Why uncertainty can be scary *and* exciting—and how to follow the breadcrumbs  How Catherine learned leadership by observing what *not* to do  What’s next for the podcast: inviting guests with different stories into the room✨ Takeaway  The messy middle may feel quiet, lonely, and uncertain—but it can also be the most clarifying chapter of all. If you stop running from the silence, it can show you what you want, who you’re becoming, and what you’re ready to build next.⚖️ DisclaimerThese stories are mine — told through my eyes, my lens, and my lived experience. Each person moves through life in their own way. I own these stories, and I share them to inspire us all to live truthfully, freely, and as our most authentic selves.🌿 Connect with CatherineIf you’re in a messy middle right now, you’re not behind—you’re becoming. Share this episode with someone who’s in a transition season, and send Catherine a message with this: *What’s one “seed of clarity” your lonely or uncertain season is teaching you right now?*Follow Catherine on Instagram to keep following the story.Theme Song Written and Composed by Trevor Lynch and Michaela Dennis and recorded by Trevor Lynch in Chicago ILPhoto: Baumgardner Studio Yakima, WAProduction: Red Trux Productions Snohomish, WA

In this episode, Emily and Kyle connect two big parts of summer 2026: the deep soccer history that makes Western Washington one of the strongest soccer regions in the country, and the real transit planning needed to move people through a major international soccer summer.First, we hear from Peter Hattrup, former pro, longtime coach, and one of the people who has lived Seattle soccer history from the inside. He explains how the original Sounders, local legends, and decades of player development helped build a lasting soccer culture across the region.Then they talk with Alex Ko from Sound Transit about what it takes to move hundreds of thousands of people safely and reliably during a global event. From special Sounder trains to four-minute light rail service and station planning, this episode gives listeners a practical look at how to prepare now.TakeawaysWestern Washington did not suddenly become a soccer region. It has been building this culture for decades.Summer 2026 will feel bigger than a game. For many people, it will feel more like a regional festival.Transit will be a major part of the experience, especially for riders coming from Snohomish County.Planning early will make June much easier, whether you are going to a match, a fan zone, or just moving through the region.In this episodeWhy Seattle and the Puget Sound already have deep soccer rootsHow the original Sounders helped shape the region’s soccer cultureWhy the 1990 and 1994 tournaments were major turning points for soccer in the United StatesWhat the 2026 soccer tournament may feel like for fans, visitors, and local communitiesHow Sound Transit is preparing for six Seattle matchesWhat Snohomish County riders should know about Sounder, Link, and station planningWhy this event is as much a regional operations challenge as it is a sports eventTransit resourceSound Transit Soccer Tournament ResourceCall for listenersKnow someone who still thinks this tournament will not really affect Snohomish County? Send them this episode. And if you are still deciding how you want to take part, this is your reminder: you do not need a match ticket to be part of the experience. Try a watch party, a fan zone, or a trip into the city just to take in the atmosphere.Follow From Pitch to Puget Sound on your favorite podcast app.Sign up for our newsletter with important links from the show.Presented by the Snohomish Podcast Network.History of Soccer is courtesy of Washington State Legends of Soccer. Disclaimer: This podcast is an independent production and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or officially connected to FIFA or the FIFA World Cup.Theme Music from: https://pixabay.com/music/rock-sport-sports-rock-music-368012/

Wil closes out Season 2 with Rebecca Calder, Ph. D., a Navy veteran, Top Gun graduate, researcher, military spouse, and mom raising teenagers. Together they explore what it means to belong when you're carrying multiple identities, and when perfectionism keeps trying to convince you that you have to earn your worth.Becky shares how her view of belonging evolved from performance-based, proving you deserve a seat at the table, to values-based belonging rooted in service, family, faith, and excellence. She also tells a vivid story from early motherhood, watching Top Gun grad flights overhead while holding her Top Gun patch covered in her baby's vomit, as a turning point that helped her see she's more than any single role.The conversation also highlights Becky's doctoral work on psychological capital and burnout. She breaks down the HERO framework: Hope, Efficacy, Resilience, and Optimism; and explains how these internal resources can be developed in leaders and shared across teams to build healthier, more human workplaces.In This Episode, You'll HearWhy belonging can get confused with performance and how that feeds perfectionismWhat it was like being the first female pilot to graduate from Top Gun and why she felt she truly belonged thereThe "Top Gun patch covered in vomit" moment, and what it revealed about identity, transition, and graceLeadership as creating environments where people get support not criticism or unrealistic expectationsPsychological capital: what it is, why it matters, and how it connects to burnoutThe HERO framework: Hope, Efficacy, Resilience, Optimism, and how leaders can build these capacities in othersResilience as "ordinary magic" and why incremental gains matterWhat's next for Becky: speaking, service, and the possibility of a bookMemorable MomentsBecky reframes belonging as knowing your values and creating space for others to live theirs.She describes Top Gun as one of the first places she felt full belonging, because of shared commitment to excellence and growth.The motherhood story lands as a powerful reminder; you can be accomplished and still be in a hard season.Closing AdviceBecky's biggest takeaway for listeners; never lose hope. Keep going. Resilience comes at a cost, but understanding what real resilience looks like can save you.Movie + Music (Walk-up Moment)Movie title: Called to Serve: A Story of Hope and ResilienceWho plays Becky: Charlize TheronTheme song: "Girl on Fire" by Alicia KeysClosing VibeA strong Season 2 finale that reminds us belonging isn't something you earn by being perfect. It's something you build from the inside out through values, service, and the courage to be human.