167. Max Ornstil

Urban Pitch Podcast - The Beautiful Game of Life

Most sports fans grow up rooting for their hometown teams. But few ever get to actually play for them. Max Ornstil is part of that select few.

The Oakland, California native got a chance to play for the Oakland Roots, and ended his eight-year professional career with the club in 2022. In the two years since, he's been busy establishing his brand, Neighborhood Sports Club.

In addition to some of the coolest merch and apparel out there, Neighborhood Sports Club is about building community through the beautiful game and various art forms. The latest NSC project was 'Dare to Dream,' a short film recounting Ornstil's journey through pro soccer, visualized in a letter to his younger self. We sit down with Ornstil to discuss his love for the game, life after retirement, and all the things he's working on with Neighborhood Sports Club.

Timestamps

(01:33) Max's journey over the past two years after retiring from pro soccer
(16:30) What it's like growing up playing soccer in the Bay Area, and the personal connection to his short film
(22:25) Getting to play for his hometown club, the Oakland Roots
(32:12) Neighborhood Sports Club
(45:54) The music in Max's rotation

Cast

Hosts: Ramsey Abushahla, Julio Monterroza, & Brigitte Flores

Producer: Roy Cho

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