Category Archives: Podcast

USA Handball Talk (Episode 47): Did a Questionable Hiring Process Result in a Lost Wild Card? (Part 1)

Posted on by

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 16:10 — 5.5MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS

In 2018, the IHF Council awarded the USA Men and Women wild card spots for 2025 and 2027 World Championships. This award was made to help the USA teams prepare for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. The award, however, was not 100% guaranteed and included a vague caveat “provided that the USA National Teams have reached a certain performance level” that could be invoked to pull back the award. The first warning that this caveat would be used came on 27 March 2025 when an IHF annoucement awarding a wild card for China quietly omitted any mention of a wild card for the U.S. and was later confirmed on 12 May 2025 when the IHF awarded Croatia the 2nd available wild card for the 2025 World Championships.

While the U.S. Women’s National Team performance has been pretty low for several years it’s my opinion that the IHF decision to not award a wild card to the U.S. was ultimately triggered by a very questionable process to fire and hire a new Women’s Head Coach quickly before the North American & Caribbean Handball Confederation (NACHC) Champions this past April. This podcast (the 1st of 2 parts) breaks down how the hiring process unfolded and what I find questionable.

Here are some links to what was discussed:

  • Strategic Planning History
    • May 2013: Federation Planning: Right Idea, Flawed Execution: Time to Right the Ship: Link
    • August 2018: USA Team Handball Unveils it’s Strategic Plan: That a Really Good Step towards Bigger and Better Developments Link
    • October 2022: Strategic Planning Presentation to USA Team Handball Board of Directors: Link
  • 17 February 2025: USA Team Handball announcement seeking Sr and Jr Women’s Head Coach: Link
  • 17 February 2025: Coach Selection Process Procedures: Link
  • 5 March 2025: Coach Hiring Announcement: Link

If you have any suggestions for future topics that you would like us to consider please let us know on social media.

Don’t miss an episode:

  • Subscribe on YouTube: Link (Earliest Availability)
  • Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes: Link
  • Follow the  Team Handball News podcast on Spotify: Link
  • Or use this RSS Feed to sign up for the podcast in your favorite podcast aggregator: Link
  • And, be sure to check out the podcast archive with interviews and great  handball discussion going all the way back to 2006: Link

USA Handball Talk (Episode 46): San Diego Team Handball’s, Olivier Izacard

Posted on by

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 16:10 — 5.5MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS

In just its second season, the San Diego Team Handball Club took 2nd place in the 2nd division at the USA Team Handball National Championships. One of the club’s founders, Olivier Izacard discusses the formation of the club and their plans for the club. Here are some of the topics we discussed:

  • How the club got started
  • The desire to creat a “club family” similar to his experience in France
  • How the Paris Olympics aided recruitment
  • How the team is mostly San Diego based
  • The demographic challenges of starting a club in the U.S. even in a decent sized metropolitan area like San Diego
  • Plans to start a youth program
  • The possibility of starting a collegiate program at San Diego State or other colleges in the local area.

If you have any suggestions for future topics that you would like us to consider please let us know on social media.

Don’t miss an episode:

  • Subscribe on YouTube: Link (Earliest Availability)
  • Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes: Link
  • Follow the  Team Handball News podcast on Spotify: Link
  • Or use this RSS Feed to sign up for the podcast in your favorite podcast aggregator: Link
  • And, be sure to check out the podcast archive with interviews and great  handball discussion going all the way back to 2006: Link
post

USA Handball Talk (Episode 45): Pitt and DC Diplomats Right Wing, Zachary Greenstein… AKA Greeny

Posted on by

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 16:23 — 13.5MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS

Zach Greenstein led University of Pittsburgh to a D2 title last season and to a 5th place finish this year at College Nationals. He will be playing for the DC Diplomats at Club Nationals and for Volendam in the Netherlands next Fall. We discuss his start with handball, his upcoming European adventure and other handball topics

I sat down with Gary during the Collegiate Championships to learn more about his background and plans for the future. Here are some of the topics we discussed:

  • How he got started playing handball
  • What he likes about the culture of handball
  • His plans to play this fall for Volendam in the Netherlands
  • The challenge of learning to play with resin in Europe
  • How stateside Americans lack handball experience relative to their age when compared to athletes playing handball overseas. And, the need for clubs and national team coaches to weigh their future potential differently.

If you have any suggestions for future topics that you would like us to consider please let us know on social media.

Don’t miss an episode:

  • Subscribe on YouTube: Link (Earliest Availability)
  • Subscribe to the  podcast in iTunes: Link
  • Follow the  Team Handball Handball News podcast on Spotify: Link
  • Or use this RSS Feed to sign up for the podcast in your favorite podcast aggregator: Link

And, be sure to check out the podcast archive with interviews and great  handball discussion going all the way back to 2006: Link

post

USA Handball Talk (Episode 44): West Point and USA Men’s National Team Right Back/Wing, Gary Phillips

Posted on by

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 20:33 — 7.1MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS

Gary Phillips is one of the best prospects to ever come out of a USA Collegiate Handball club. Earlier this month he led West Point to a 17th straight Collegiate Handball title and was selected as the tournament MVP. At the IHF Emerging Nations Championships he was selected to the all star team. An unprecedented accomplishment for a handball athlete still in college.

I sat down with Gary during the Collegiate Championships to learn more about his background and plans for the future. Here are some of the topics we discussed:

  • Air Force upsetting West Point in Pool Play (West Point came back in knockout play to win their 17th straight collegiate championships)
Phillips on attack vs North Carolina; Photo courtesy of Rod Apfelbeck
  • The three players in the past 40 years that had John saying, “Who the hell is that guy…”
  • Playing on the national team with Americans who’ve learned handball in another country
  • Playing at the Jr World Championships in 2023 with “glue” and against more experience goalies
  • Playing with the Sr National Team at the Emerging Nations Championships in March and getting selected as the all-star right wing
  • Playing right back vs playing right wing
  • Gary’s backgound and being recruited to playing QB for West Point football
  • Transititioning from American football to handball
  • West Point competing at Club Nationals in May
  • Gary’s chances of joining the Army’s World Class Athlete Program (WCAP)
  • The challenge Europeans sometime have in properly assessing the potential of stateside Americans who started playing handball at older ages
  • How playing for a top club on a daily basis can accelerate player development

Watch on YouTube or listen/download the mp3 file at the top of the page.

If you have any suggestions for future topics that you would like us to consider please let us know on social media.

Don’t miss an episode:

  • Subscribe on YouTube: Link (Earliest Availability)
  • Subscribe to the  podcast in iTunes: Link
  • Follow the  Team Handball Handball News podcast on Spotify: Link
  • Or use this RSS Feed to sign up for the podcast in your favorite podcast aggregator: Link

And, be sure to check out the podcast archive with interviews and great  handball discussion going all the way back to 2006: Link

post

USA Handball Talk (Episode 43): USA Men’s National Team Center Back, Benjamin Edwards

Posted on by

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 23:46 — 8.2MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS

(Benjamin Edwards at the 2025 World Championships in Norway)

Benjamin Edwards is just 18 years old, but has already played for the the U.S. Men’s national team at the Youth, Junior and Senior levels. During the 2025 World Championships in Norway I sat down with Benji to talk about his handball journey to date and plans for the future..

Here are some of the topics we discussed:

  • Playing for top club, Veszprem in a pre-season tourney
  • Getting started with handball
  • His connection to the U.S.
  • Moving to the Veszprem Academy at age 15
  • Potentially getting “loaned” to another club
  • Playing in Hungary’s 2nd division
  • How USA national teams develop a team spirit
  • Prospects for the U.S. at the 2028 Olympics and beyond

Watch on YouTube or listen/download the mp3 file at the top of the page.

If you have any suggestions for future topics that you would like us to consider please let us know on social media.

Don’t miss an episode:

  • Subscribe on YouTube: Link (Earliest Availability)
  • Subscribe to the  podcast in iTunes: Link
  • Follow the  Team Handball Handball News podcast on Spotify: Link
  • Or use this RSS Feed to sign up for the podcast in your favorite podcast aggregator: Link

And, be sure to check out the podcast archive with interviews and great  handball discussion going all the way back to 2006: Link

USA Handball Talk (Episode 42): A Board Meeting Revelation Explains a Pivotal and Puzzling Judicial Committee Decision

Posted on by

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 18:43 — 19.7MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS

On 12 February, 2025, the USA Team Handball Board of Directors held their monthly meeting and I recorded the open public portion of the meeting. The meeting started out with a seemingly mundane discussion regarding a proposed new member, Margaret Rubin for the Nominating and Governance Committee.

However, I was agape to find out that Rubin, who also serves on the Judiciary Committee had a 7-8 year relationship with USA Team Handball CEO, Michael King. This is relevant because she had played a pivotal role in 3-2 Judiciary Committee decision that prevented the board from reviewing Board decisions that had taken place while Ebiye Udo-Udoma had been improperly removed from the Board. Which, of course, included the infamous 3-2 board decision to remove Martin Branick from the CEO position and immediately replace him with King. The entire sequence of events can be seen here: Link

This podcast focuses on the most recent revelation and some of the inherent problems with the way everthing went down this past summer. Yes, if your “means” to achieve your “ends” is crappy enough… you don’t get the ends you thought you were getting.

Watch on YouTube or listen/download the mp3 file at the top of the page.

If you have any suggestions for future topics that you would like us to consider please let us know on social media.

Don’t miss an episode:

  • Subscribe on YouTube: Link (Earliest Availability)
  • Subscribe to the  podcast in iTunes: Link
  • Follow the  Team Handball Handball News podcast on Spotify: Link
  • Or use this RSS Feed to sign up for the podcast in your favorite podcast aggregator: Link

And, be sure to check out the podcast archive with interviews and great  handball discussion going all the way back to 2006: Link

post

USA Handball Talk (Episode 41): Handball Great, Magnus Wislander

Posted on by

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 3:33 — 1.2MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS

(John Ryan on defense against Magnus Wislander at the 1993 World Championships)

Magnus Wislander played 384 international matches for Sweden and is considered one of the all time great handball players. Two of those 384 matches were against the U.S. at the 1993 World Championships and the 1996 Olympics. He was in Oslo at the 2025 World Championship for Swedish Radio and by chance, we were both asking ourselves the same question: How would the U.S. national team of the 1990s fare against the current U.S. National Team? This short 3:30 minute discussion addresses that question and how the game has changed in the past 30 years.

Commentaries from 2023 comparing the 1993 and 2023 USA National Teams

  • Two Handball World Championships in Sweden Separated by 30 years (Part 1): Nostalgia and and a Little Bit of Deja Vu: Link
  • Two Handball Championships in Sweden Separated by 30 Years (Part 2): From 0% to 83% Dual Citizens- Does that Matter?: Link

Watch on YouTube or listen/download the mp3 file at the top of the page.

If you have any suggestions for future topics that you would like us to consider please let us know on social media.

Don’t miss an episode:

  • Subscribe on YouTube: Link (Earliest Availability)
  • Subscribe to the  podcast in iTunes: Link
  • Follow the  Team Handball Handball News podcast on Spotify: Link
  • Or use this RSS Feed to sign up for the podcast in your favorite podcast aggregator: Link

And, be sure to check out the podcast archive with interviews and great  handball discussion going all the way back to 2006: Link

post

USA Handball Talk (Episode 40): USA Men’s National Team Back Court, Alex Chan

Posted on by

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 27:39 — 9.5MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS

Alex Chan joined the U.S. National Team in 2021 and has been a key contributor ever since. I sat down with Alex during the U.S. rest day after their first match vs Portugal at the 2025 World Championships.

Some of the topics we discussed include his handball career, his time playing for club Cisne and being one of the leading scorers in the Spanish Liga Asobal and playing for his current club, Burgos.

Watch on YouTube or listen/download the mp3 file at the top of the page.

If you have any suggestions for future topics that you would like us to consider please let us know on social media.

Don’t miss an episode:

  • Subscribe on YouTube: Link (Earliest Availability)
  • Subscribe to the  podcast in iTunes: Link
  • Follow the  Team Handball Handball News podcast on Spotify: Link
  • Or use this RSS Feed to sign up for the podcast in your favorite podcast aggregator: Link

And, be sure to check out the podcast archive with interviews and great  handball discussion going all the way back to 2006: Link

USA Handball Talk (Episode 39): USA Team Handball Board of Directors Candidate, Harald Wuesthof

Posted on by

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 13:05 — 12.0MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS

Harald Wuesthof is one of the candidates for an upcoming election for one of the General Membership Director seats on the USA Team Handball Board of Directors. Listen or download the mp3 file at the top of the page or watch on YouTube below.

USA Handball Talk (Episode 38): USA Team Handball Board of Directors Candidate, Viva Kreis

Posted on by

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 11:10 — 10.2MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS

Viva Kreis is one of the candidates for an upcoming election for one of the General Membership Director seats on the USA Team Handball Board of Directors. Listen or download the mp3 file at the top of the page or watch on YouTube below.

USA Handball Talk (Episode 37): USA Team Handball Board of Directors Candidate, Kurt Shaffer

Posted on by

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 17:14 — 19.4MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS

Kurt Shaffer is one of the candidates for an upcoming election for one of the General Membership Director seats on the USA Team Handball Board of Directors. Listen or download the mp3 file at the top of the page or watch on YouTube below.

USA Handball Talk (Episode 36): USA Team Handball Board of Directors Candidate, Richard Hesketh

Posted on by

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 13:18 — 13.4MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS

Richard Hesketh is one of the candidates for an upcoming election for one of the General Membership Director seats on the USA Team Handball Board of Directors. Listen or download the mp3 file at the top of the page or watch on YouTube below.

USA Handball Talk (Episode 35): USA Team Handball Board of Directors Candidate, Aaron Hamm

Posted on by

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 10:28 — 10.0MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS

Aaron Hamm is one of the candidates for an upcoming election for one of the General Membership Director seats on the USA Team Handball Board of Directors. Listen or download the mp3 file at the top of the page or watch on YouTube below.