Large market:
-March to the Match: it's paid for by MLS yet there's no pulling punches and avoiding difficult topics (although their current "break" is a little convenient with CBA drama going on but it's an off season break so it also make sense). With Matt Doyle and Nick Firchau leaving it'll be an almost entirely different podcast soon.
-Soccer Morning is fantastic and hard hitting, Haddon Davis asks rough questions to important people and doesn't mind being aggressive about it, while still being charming and diplomatic. He covers soccer wherever it may be, but with an emphasis on America. Like all soccer podcasts the NASL gets shit on regularly but Jason is the only host on any large market podcast that admits he underestimates the league. He's gradually respecting the league and often defends it from cheap shots. Wonderful show that is refreshingly consistent and regular.
-Best Soccer Show is also acceptable if you've listened to all the Soccer Morning episodes and need more Jason, but cohost Jay keeps me clicking away. Jay shits on NASL and is crude in an off-putting way. He brings a very balanced opinion to counter Jason's but he's all Archer/South Park references and middle school dick jokes. Mind you, I don't care about crass and offensive humor but frat guy cliches that a rape joke now and again turn me off.
Narrower Market:
-Du Nord is mentioned a lot by us MNUFC fans because they cover NASL and MNUFC but it's almost a disservice to marginalize them as local. Bruce and Wes have a unique dynamic that tempers tongue-in-cheek cynicism with quick-witted insight. They cover everything American but lend more time to NASL than any other show. A knowledgeable podcast with wit and humor.
-Seeing Red is mentioned a lot here by non-Redbull fans because it's so well done. I don't care about NYRB at all but here I am again and again tuning in. I was moved by the Petke call-in and jeered the Town Hall meeting. It's another rare team-specific podcast that grabs ears nationally.
Podcasts I've tried and given up on:
-Extra Time Radio I've repeatedly come back to again and again to try to like but it's the most MLS-homer podcast paid for by MLS. They disrespect every other league in the world that isn't MLS or USL (though USL is really just ignored) and tow the company line doggedly. They've mastered the art of nondissent by feigning disagreement and arguing opposing points but always find their way back to agreeing that whatever MLS does is ultimately right. Take the turf discussion, they'll have someone talk about and side with players and Simon will say the players are whiny, then after awhile they'll all decide that, "Hey Seattle seems to be doing great on turf so it must not be that big of a deal if teams don't switch." This is every discussion. Always. Seriously, I bet they call the players greedy if the CBA goes south. I stopped listening after the episode where they sided with Ali Curtis the day after Petke was fired AND threw Ibarra under the bus with the conspiracy theory bullshit for the fifth time. No thanks.