{"podcast":{"title":"US Rugby Happy Hour","slug":"us-rugby-happy-hour-5908060","podcast_index_feed_id":5908060,"rss_url":"https://feeds.megaphone.fm/COMG3470110308","website_url":"https://americanrugbyrising.com/","image_url":"https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/f3eec480-f25e-11ee-9426-af54d548641e/image/d46025ae63b05c34dd2fcd43c7c1f94e.jpg?ixlib=rails-4.3.1&max-w=3000&max-h=3000&fit=crop&auto=format,compress","author":"Bill Baker","episode_count":201,"summary":"US Rugby Happy Hour, hosted by the dynamic duo of Bill Baker of American Rugby Rising and John Fitzpatrick of Rugby Morning, is a captivating blend of insightful rugby discussions, entertaining banter, and a celebration of the sport’s spirit. With their wealth of knowledge and infectious enthusiasm, Bill and Fitzy create an engaging space for rugby enthusiasts to connect and revel in the game’s glory. Whether delving into the latest matches or sharing anecdotes with special guests, this live show is a must-attend for anyone passionate about rugby, offering a delightful intersection of camaraderie and sports analysis. Guests have included head coaches Gary Gold, Rob Cain and Mike Friday. USA Eagles Joe Taufete’e, Greg Peterson, Kate Zackary, Hope Rogers, Christian Dyer, and Hall of Famers, Dan Lyle and Todd Clever. Major League Rugby stars Mitch Wilson, Nick Civetta, Connor Mooneyham and former MLR Commissioner, George Killebrew. Those covering the news too, including Brian Ray of Americas Rugby News and Wendy Young of YSC Rugby. Join us live on Facebook and Youtube (show days and times vary), or catch the Podcast replays right here! Follow @AmerRugbyRising on Twitter and @American…","last_synced_at":"2026-07-17T10:22:16.169424+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/us-rugby-happy-hour-5908060"},"episode":{"title":"Rugby Culture & MLR Championship Preview: Chicago vs. California | The National Maul & Ben Holden","slug":"rugby-culture-mlr-championship-preview-chicago-vs-california-the-national-maul-ben-holden","published_at":"2026-06-19T00:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/us-rugby-happy-hour-5908060/rugby-culture-mlr-championship-preview-chicago-vs-california-the-national-maul-ben-holden","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/us-rugby-happy-hour-5908060","url":"https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pscrb.fm/rss/p/traffic.megaphone.fm/COMG6156620886.mp3","audio_url":"https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pscrb.fm/rss/p/traffic.megaphone.fm/COMG6156620886.mp3","summary":"Join us for an expert breakdown of the MLR Championship between the Chicago Hounds and California as we chat with rugby journalist Martin Pengelly and announcer Ben Holden. Subscribe to our channel for the latest US rugby analysis and interviews: [Link to Channel] In this episode, we preview the upcoming MLR final, discuss the evolution of American rugby club culture with Martin Pengelly, and get a behind-the-scenes look at broadcast preparation from Ben Holden. Don’t miss out on our analysis of the Chicago Hounds' historic season! Chapters: 00:00 Intro & Eagles Overseas Legacy 03:20 Martin Pengelly: The National Maul & Rugby Culture 13:13 Father's Day Special & Unfinished Memoir 15:35 MLR Championship: Chicago vs. California Outlook 17:37 Ben Holden: MLR Broadcasting & Talent 23:26 The Realities of Live Sports Broadcasting 29:28 Calling a Championship Match 37:25 Predictions & Final Thoughts #MLR #USARugby #ChicagoHounds #RugbyPodcast #TheNationalMaul #BenHolden #RugbyChampionship —————————————— Connect with US Rugby Happy Hour: Twitter: https://x.com/AmerRugbyRising Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/americanrugbyrising/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmericanRugbyRising/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@americanrugbyrising Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@americanrugbyrising BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/americanrugbyrisin.bsky.social LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3OjEHf8 🎧 Listen to this and previous episodes of US Rugby Happy Hour on Youtube and your favorite podcast player today! iHeart: bit.ly/3A43Tff Apple: bit.ly/3Uuj9u7 Spotify: bit.ly/3ZxjAa0 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkYbnIvt-gI&t=2s Like, follow, and subscribe and please leave a comment!! Check out americanrugbyrising.com for the latest on your USA Eagles, schedules, news and more,…","meta_description":"Join us for an expert breakdown of the MLR Championship between the Chicago Hounds and California as we chat with rugby journalist Martin Pengelly and ann…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":2801,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/us-rugby-happy-hour-5908060/episodes/rugby-culture-mlr-championship-preview-chicago-vs-california-the-national-maul-ben-holden/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/us-rugby-happy-hour-5908060/rugby-culture-mlr-championship-preview-chicago-vs-california-the-national-maul-ben-holden.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}