Care More: Why Fandom Connects Us

Care More: Why Fandom Connects Us

July 7, 2026 · 48 min

About this episode

The episode explores the power of fandom and the connections it creates through sports and outdoor adventures.

Why do we care so much about sports, adventures, and the stories we choose to follow? We record right after the Egypt and Argentina world cup game. In this episode, I sit down with award-winning soccer coach and backpacker Jon Schwarze to talk about the power of fandom, connection, and the communities built around the things we love. Jon’s two favorite things are soccer and the outdoors, and his life has revolved around both. From coaching the beautiful game to completing a Pacific Crest Trail yo-yo, he has experienced how a shared passion can bring complete strangers together. We dive into why the World Cup captures the attention of billions, why being a fan gives people a sense of belonging, and why chasing a team, a trail, or an impossible goal might not be that different. At the center of it all is a simple idea: the things that seem like “just a game” or “just a walk” are often the things that create the strongest memories, friendships, and meaning. Support our Sponsors: Sawyer: https://sawyerdirect.net/ Janji (code: Freeoutside): https://snp.link/a0bfb726 CS Coffee: CSinstant.coffee Garage Grown Gear: https://snp.link/db1ba8ab Subscribe to Substack…

Sponsors

Sawyer, Janji, CS Coffee, Garage Grown Gear

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