Sarasota gets its own professional soccer conversation in this episode, as head coach Mika Elavarro and standout player Jonathan Bolanos sit down to preview a new season for Sarasota Paradise Soccer Club. With Vic Cipolla now joining Brad in the host chairs, the episode also marks a shift for the show itself, and the energy carries over into a conversation clearly excited about what's ahead on the pitch.
Elavarro lays out the club's coaching philosophy and what preseason preparation has looked like heading into the year, while Bolanos offers the player's-eye view of what that training actually demands and what the team expects from itself once games start counting. Together they give listeners a genuine behind-the-scenes look at a USL League One club building toward a home opener that both guests clearly want Sarasota to show up for.
The conversation treats the club less as a curiosity and more as a real piece of the city's sports identity, tying Sarasota Paradise's growth to the broader wave of investment and attention the region has seen. Elavarro and Bolanos talk through player development and team expectations with the kind of specificity that suggests this is a program building for the long term, not just a single season.
With the season opener set for March 7 at home, the episode doubles as both an interview and an invitation, closing with the hosts encouraging Sarasota to turn out and support the club as it kicks things off.
Building a Fan Base From Scratch
Elavarro and Bolanos both speak to the challenge of building genuine local support for a USL League One club in a city where professional soccer is still a relatively new proposition compared to more established sports. They describe community outreach as just as important as on-field performance in these early seasons, a recognition that Sarasota Paradise needs both wins and visibility to grow into the kind of club that fills seats consistently.
The conversation also touches on what it takes to develop players at this level, with Bolanos speaking candidly about the daily demands of training and Elavarro outlining how he balances individual development with building overall team chemistry heading into a season everyone involved clearly believes can be a turning point.
What you'll take away
- Sarasota Paradise Soccer Club opens its new USL League One season March 7 at home.
- Head coach Mika Elavarro previews the team's coaching philosophy and preseason preparation.
- Player Jonathan Bolanos gives a player's perspective on team expectations for the season.
- The episode marks Vic Cipolla's arrival alongside Brad as a Sarasota SpeaX co-host.