What is a fan embassy—and how can it help fans feel safer, more welcome, and more connected during the 2026 World Cup?

In this special prelude to Flags of Our Fans, we sit down with Thomas Concannon of the Football Supporters’ Association to explore the purpose and power of fan embassies: pop-up support hubs run by supporters, for supporters. From safety advice to finding your people in a new city, fan embassies are about more than travel—they're about belonging.

As we head into a tournament that raises big questions about nationalism, safety, and identity, this episode lays the foundation for what’s ahead in the docuseries. We explore how national supporters groups like the American Outlaws, Pancho Villa’s Army, and The Voyageurs can use fan embassies to build a better tournament experience—especially for immigrant, first-time, and vulnerable fans.

🔗 Subscribe and listen at heartofafan.org
🧡 Follow @HeartOfAFanPod for more stories, quotes, and community prompts
📬 Join the newsletter to be part of future episodes

What does it mean to be proud in a stadium where you’re not always welcome?

In this special Pride Month episode, we sit down with LGBTQ+ fans who are reclaiming space in the stands—even as the world outside grows more hostile. From grassroots movements like PrideRaiser to the deeply personal weight of safety, inclusion, and chosen family, this episode explores what it means to show up when you’ve been pushed out.

Guests include:

• Kate Fasco, a queer supporters’ group leader creating safer spaces from the ground up
• Dan Ryan, lead engineer behind Prideraiser, on the emotional power of visibility
• Dr. Travers, sociologist and author, on trans inclusion, women’s sports, and the backlash against progress

This isn’t just a celebration. It’s a call to protect the communities that keep fandom human.

Whether you’re in the front row or fighting from the sidelines—this one’s for you.

🔗 Subscribe and listen at heartofafan.org
🧡 Follow @HeartOfAFanPod for more stories, quotes, and community prompts
📬 Join the newsletter to be part of future episodes

What do sports fandom and religion have in common?

In this episode of Heart of a Fan, we explore how faith shows up in sports—from game-day prayers to lifelong belief in a team that keeps letting you down. With Pope Leo XIV—a Chicago native, Villanova alum, and White Sox fan—now leading the Catholic Church, the line between spiritual devotion and sports devotion feels thinner than ever.

We’re joined by:

• Dr. Jeffrey Scholes, professor of religious studies and director of the Center for Religious Diversity and Public Life, who unpacks the rituals, myths, and emotional pull that connect sports to faith.
• Jordan Lazowski, editor of Sox On 35th, who shares how the White Sox community is reacting to having one of their own in the Vatican—and why sports fandom may be the most spiritually honest identity we have.

Whether your sacred space is a stadium, a pew, or the spot on your couch where you wear your lucky jersey—this episode is for you.

🔗 Subscribe and listen at heartofafan.org
🧡 Follow @HeartOfAFanPod for more stories, quotes, and community prompts
📬 Join the newsletter to be part of future episodes