Jim Amberger

In the fourth episode of season 2 of The Pickup Game, I speak with Reginald Louissaint, a fellow countryman. This episode was recorded on November 3rd, during the US midterm elections.We speak about what it means to be French and about contesting the Français de souche (FDS), or “French by origin” (those without traces of foreign ancestry). We also discuss the protests in France and the elections in Brazil, Serbia, and the US.

In episode 3 of season 2 of The Pickup Game, I speak with Jordi Brescó a Catalan journalist based in Jerusalem who reports on Israel and the West Bank.He is the author of Rivalidades crónicas (Chronicle Rivalries), which chronicles the history of lesser-known rivalries in the world of football. Politics, history, cities, and identity are the ingredients in a feisty cocktail of local derbies. There is more than meets the eye, and Jordi unpacks this phenomenon in European football culture.

In the next episode of The Pickup Game, I introduce Manolo Celi: a filmmaker, artist, and musician. We dive into the rabbit hole of AI creation, the ability to lose, dictators, the Terminator, and the midterm elections.

In the inaugural episode of season 2, I speak with Jim Amberger, a firefighter who comes from a line of firefighters. We talk about discovering the city through the people who take us on unknown paths, what 9/11 means to the ladder companies, the reputation of New Yorkers, and the potential tragedies of clear skies.

Conversations with Kinan Azmeh, Tom Crawford, Charles Donaldson, and John Schaefer.Transcript:I’ve learned about  the true depth of this game which is the people who play it. And in this podcast, I would like to introduce themand introduce their stories. If you want me to describe pure moments of happiness and satisfaction, it can be yes, playing Carnegie Hall and scoring a nicely collectively built goal.There's room to be a team player, and there's room to be a solo artist. And I think in soccer you have that too. There are a lot of people from a lot of backgrounds in that gamethat I wouldn't necessarily meet outside of that setting. When I was younger, you worried about the cops. Now, I got to worry about someone saying, you know what? I'm going to peel away layers of your background to see if I can revoke your citizenshipand kick you out of the country. First season of The Pickup Game ends with this show. What's your plan going forward? To concentrate The Pickup Game on these little communities and hopefully connect them all.

It’s not every day that I get interviewed by New York Public Radio’s John Schaefer at WNYC. At the beginning of the year, I started a podcast about the pickup game in New York City. Through a series of interviews, it became a portrait of the city. Our diverse players transcend societal divisions and politics, discussing everything we loved and feared in a shared environment. In this interview, I talk about my origins, my work, my discovery of art in the game, and looking to the future of bridging communities.

In the penultimate episode of Season 1 of The Pickup Game, I am joined by Rob Blackman and Juan Sanguinetti. The World Cup has been divisive for some, polarizing for others, and enthralling for many. It has brought countless people from diverse backgrounds together to celebrate our differences, something those of us in New York experience daily.

In episode 22 of The Pickup Game, Joe Cogan of Parkit Management talks to me about the Goals for Good competition, the World Cup fever engulfing the U.S., and rewarding simple actions for the people who need it most.

In Episode 21 of The Pickup Game, I sit down with David Briggs, an architect, a painter, and a player aiming to still be on the pitch at 70. David takes us through his love of radio, the spaces between buildings, Milan Kundera, the power of religion and Caravaggio's use of prostitutes as models for his figures.

In Episode 20 of The Pickup Game, I chat with Johnny Gandelsman, a violinist, producer, MacArthur Fellow, and founding member of Brooklyn Rider. Our conversation ranges from the World Cup and Marjane Satrapi's views on two countries at war, to the love of New York and lifting people up in times of need.