A new independent radio soccer show will make its debut on Saturday morning. Listeners to Seattle Sports Radio 950 KJR will hear Radio Cascadia Live from 9am – 10am.
Jackson Felts aims to make Radio Cascadia Live the best soccer talk show in the country
Jackson Felts, 950 KJR Producer and Sounders Reporter, will host the show and be joined by his regular co-hosts, including Prost Amerika’s Seattle Editor, Steven Agen.
Joining them will be Ari Liljenwall who cover Sounders FC for MLSSoccer.com and Andrew Harvey.
Harvey is the Sounders FC beat writer for SportspressNW, the brainchild of the legendary Seattle sports reporting icon Art Thiel and doubles as the play-by-play voice of S2 and Bremerton’s Kitsap Pumas SC.
Radio Cascadia has been Prost Amerika’s regional sports podcast for over 100 episodes now, alongside its national show Radio MLS.
The cast on Radio Cascadia has changed over that time, beat writers Toby Dunkelberg and Gio Bonanno were instrumental in its growth, assisted by other hosts like Ed Pham and Zach Thatcher.
Agen though has been at the epicenter of its growth, devoting hundreds of hours of work to building the brand.
New show, long history
Radio Cascadia though wasn’t Prost’s first attempt at broadcasting though.
The show, and its name, were inspired by an earlier show called Radio Sounders which appeared on Prost Amerika and later in a podcasted form on KIRO 710 where Prost Editor, Steve Clare was joined by professional radio host and soccer fan Libby Denkmann.
One episode reached cult status way outside the Pacific Northwest Sounders when forward Seb Le Toux recorded a Radio Sounders Special in the KIRO studio after signing for Philadelphia Union and recorded days before he left the Emerald City to embark on his new venture. His skepticism upon being told about the local delicacy of Philly cheese steaks was just one highlight of a memorable show.
The Union communications department knew little about the Frenchman but told Prost they learned all they needed to know after listening to the show, which had been wholly dedicated to his time at Seattle from winning the USL national title in 2007 onwards.
That show ended with the memorable question and answer:
“Seb, tu regrettes quelque chose?”, to which he answered “Non, je ne regrette rien.” Edith Piaf took care of the rest in an emotional ending to Le Toux’s time in Seattle.
The Radio Sounders show ended every episode with the theme tune “Roll on Colombia” with one exception.
The Radio Sounders Show had a two year run in 2010 and 2011
The Dr Who theme was played in memory of beloved Sounders fan Zach Crisman who had sadly passed away days before the show. Crisman had brought many fans to soccer with his enthusiasm and charisma including many of the show’s listeners, but was also a big fan of the English science fiction series.
Traditionally the show would begin with the Muppets version of “Simon Smith and his Amazing Dancing Bear” but only when Sounders FC had won their previous game. This in turn inspired an Emerald City Supporters two-pole, depicting the dancer himself, Fozzy Bear, in an ECS Scarf.
That show never made it beyond the podcast section at KIRO, making tomorrow’s launch even more historic.
The ECS dedicated a two-pole to the the Amazing Dancing Bear
Radio Cascadia is born
Three years ago, Agen decided that Prost Amerika needed a podcast but one that reflected the site’s outreach in the rest of the Cascadia region. Radio Cascadia was born.
Establishing its own independent editorial line separate from Prost Amerika, its reputation grew and caught the attention of Felts who was then ride sharing to Sounders matches with the presenters.
“Late in the 2016 MLS season, I was driving home from a match with Steven (Agen) and Toby (Dunkelberg).
“In a 20 minute or so drive, we dreamed up these audacious visions of me joining their Radio Cascadia podcast as a host and maybe eventually, years down the road, putting it on KJR.
“We sort of laughed that it was a pipe dream, but who knows. I instantly knew Radio Cascadia was something I wanted to be a part of, though.
“I joined Steven on an episode previewing the MLS Cup in early December and actually had the nerve to pick against the Sounders, predicting a 3-2 Toronto win. I’m so happy that I was wrong.”
Early in 2017, Felts finally joined the Radio Cascadia podcast. This also provided a beneficial side effect, allowing it to be recorded at the iHeart Media Seattle studios.
Felts continued:
“I soon found out how well-spoken everyone was in talking about the Sounders. Particularly, Steven, Ari (Liljenwall), and Andrew (Harvey). The guys can talk about and game and club as well as any analyst I’ve ever heard. When the four of us did early shows together, the on-air chemistry developed quick. They all welcomed me so kindly into the Radio Cascadia family.”
Up to that point, this was still a hobby for soccer mad Felts until one day Rich Moore, Senior Vice President of Programming at iHeartMedia Seattle, brought up soccer to Felts.
“Rich mentioned to me in late February that a soccer show would be something I could do at KJR. I eagerly replied, ‘I’m already hosting a podcast that could go live whenever you want.’ He said to bring him a plan and after speaking with Steven, Ari, and Andrew, we drew up the plan for Radio Cascadia Live.”
Moore heard the show and was impressed, sufficiently to award then the 9am Saturday morning slot.
Sounders FC welcome new show
Sounders FC have already welcomed the new show and inaugural guests will include Sounders General Manager Garth Lagerwey and Harry Shipp. The latest views from Head Coach Brian Schmetzer will be a recurring feature.
The last word belongs to Felts who has successfully married independent soccer coverage with live broadcasting in a first for Seattle.
“I am overjoyed to bring Sounders FC talk back to the airwaves of Seattle Sports Radio 950 KJR in the form of a weekly radio show.
“Hosting the show is an exciting opportunity and I am thrilled to bring Steven, Ari and Andrew on as my co-hosts. This isn’t a fanboy soccer show. This is a professional and driven team that will present the best Sounders analysis on a weekly basis with information from covering the club on a daily basis.
“Our goal is to become one of the best soccer radio shows in the nation and we truly believe that is a realistic expectation.”
Also See:
Seattle Times Matt Pentz joins Prost Amerika
Follow Jackson Felts on twitter
