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Sporting KC Show Podcast: Johnny Russell talks Game of Thrones, saving turtles and goal scoring

The Sporting KC Show, held throughout the season on Sports Radio 810 WHB, is now available on Spotify and iTunes. With Nate Bukaty and Carter Augustine hosting the weekly podcast, Sporting fans now have a place to go to catch up on club storylines, player achievements, guest interviews and more.




Sporting Kansas City forward Johnny Russell saves baby turtles, loves Game of Thrones, lauds Gianluca Busio and likes the direction his team is headed as the calendar approaches May.


That’s the CliffsNotes version of Russell’s appearance on The Sporting KC Show Podcast which dropped a new episode Tuesday night on Sports Radio 810 WHB.


In addition to catching up with Russell on all things Sporting—plus how he found his new pet turtle and his anticipation for the final season of Game of Thrones—host Nate Bukaty welcomed co-host Carter Augustine who has been announcing matches this week at the 2019 Generation adidas Cup in Frisco, Texas.


Among the highlights:


  • 3:22 – Sixteen-year-old Gianluca Busio made more history in Sunday’s 2-2 draw with the Red Bulls, scoring in his third straight game.
  • 5:40 – Sporting finally have full week to prepare for a league match, but can they recover emotionally from their Concacaf Champions League exit?
  • 10:45 – Johnny Russell joins the show with his newly found pet turtle, whom he saved on the training grounds at Pinnacle.
  • 14:36 – Russell shares his thoughts on the Game of Thrones season premiere (spoilers not included) and likens the show’s characters to some of his teammates.
  • 22:00 – Russell reflects on the recent impact of Busio, whom he believes is well beyond his years both on and off the field.
  • 26:40 – Russell discusses the challenge of bouncing back after crashing from the Concacaf Champions League.
  • 31:34 – Carter Augustine joins the show to provide an update on the Generation adidas Cup, an elite youth tournament featuring the Sporting KC Academy and other prestigious U-17 sides from across the globe, and preview Saturday’s match against the San Jose Earthquakes.


Sporting will face San Jose at 9 p.m. CT Saturday with live coverage from Avaya Stadium on FOX Sports Kansas City, FOX Sports Midwest Plus, FOX Sports GO, Sports Radio 810 WHB and ESPN Deportes KC 1480 AM.


Listen to the full podcast below.