Song: ‘This is Shangrila’ - Mother Love Bone

Hi.

It’s been tough to wrangle my thoughts this week, so writing has been a bit of a showdown between me and the blinking cursor on the screen. It brings me no joy to report that the blinking cursor’s got hands.

Anyway, I was finally able to get some stuff out, which has helped. So I’m hoping to face my nemesis, the cursor, a bit more this weekend to even the score. Before all that, there’s a piece below I’d like you to read about the sadness of this generation of USWNT players neglecting the platform built by iconic teams of the past. There’s also a new episode of Diaspora United, in which Sylvs from Shea Butter FC joined me for a deeper conversation about humanity, and what real leadership looks like.

I’ve also included an uppercut of an article from Jude Wanga that centers on U.K. politics, but the analysis and writing is so sharp that it’s relevant everywhere, especially this side of the Atlantic. And in an extreme downshift, there’s a Hey Spirits chat with new Washington Spirit goalkeeper, Sara Wojdelko, who had a pet axolotl named Roxy.

Of course we end with the woso to watch this week, and a social media thing you need to see. Alright, enough blabbering. Onto the #content…

by Me

by Jude Wanga

Sylvs joined me for a discussion about U.S. Soccer, Emma Hayes, and the players missing an opportunity to use the platform previous generations fought for and used.We get into the legacy of prior generations' use of the platform, who silence hurts, and how the next generation can find their voice.

We chatted with one of the newest Spirits, Sara Wojdelko (aka Wojo)! We got into how she became a goalkeeper, entering the league without a draft, axolotls, Rainforest Cafe, and more.

Diabolical behavior.