"Soccer is the vehicle, but character is the destination."

This week, we sit down with London native, sports science expert and the director of coaching for the El Dorado Hills Soccer Club... Glenn Shepherd.

Glenn’s journey took him from the elite swimming pools of Europe to the sidelines of Stamford Bridge with Chelsea FC, and eventually to the heart of the ⁠El Dorado Hills Soccer Club ⁠(EDHSC).

Glenn spent years at Chelsea analyzing the best players on earth, but today, his focus is on making the world a better place by providing an awesome experience for our local youth.

He joins Nick Clark, All-American Goalkeeper, Division 2 National Champion & co-founder of Spotted Dog Yoga & SUP, to break down how EDHSC is redefining the "youth sports experience" by prioritizing mentorship, fun, and holistic development over the scoreboard.

In this episode, we dive deep into:

• The EDHSC Mission: Why creating a world-class environment is about building better humans, not just better athletes.

• The Science of Fun: Why "joy" is the secret ingredient to performance and how Glenn is bringing that intentionality to our local fields.

• The Coaching Gap: How Glenn and EDHSC are mentoring local coaches to ensure every child—from recreational to competitive—has a leader they can look up to.

• The Power of Belonging: How a local soccer club becomes the heartbeat of a town like El Dorado Hills, providing a "third space" where kids can grow, fail safely, and find their confidence.

• The "Dreamer" Mindset: Glenn’s advice to young players on how to put their "mind and soul" into something they love to achieve their biggest goals.

Whether you're a soccer parent, a dedicated coach, or a community leader, this conversation is a powerful reminder of why we show up every week! It’s about more than soccer—it’s about the future of our community.