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.

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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.

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In this special episode of Heart of a Fan, host Matthew Barry sits down with Rebecca Davis—co-director of the Netflix documentary Join or Die—to explore the power of community, the decline of civic life, and why sports fandom might be the last great space for belonging in modern America.

Based on the groundbreaking research of Harvard political scientist Robert Putnam (Bowling Alone), this conversation dives into what we’re really losing when we stop joining clubs, cheering together, or showing up for one another—and how we can rebuild that connection through student sections, supporters’ groups, and small acts of togetherness.

Whether you're a lifelong fan or just feeling the weight of isolation, this episode is for anyone who believes in the power of showing up—for your team, your community, and your future.

🎧 Featuring:
– Why social capital matters more than ever
– How fandom functions as modern civic life
– The story behind Join or Die and its mission
– What teams, fans, and institutions can do to rebuild trust

📍Watch the film: joinordiefilm.com
🎥 Now streaming on Netflix
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