How Soccer Explains Leadership Podcast What Makes a Leader? with Wells Thompson, Co-Founder of Soccer Resilience and Former MLS Midfielder - RECAST
In Episode 188, we are re-casting our conversation with Wells Thompson, Former MLS midfielder and 1st Round Draft Pick, Co-Founder of Soccer Resilience, husband, and father. This was our most downloaded episode of 2025 and Top 2 for both Paul and me. In this episode, he talked with Paul and Phil about his journey from childhood adversity to the MLS, his struggles with identity and mental health, his faith journey and his personal why relating to that journey, his difficulties transitioning to life after soccer, why left Soccer Resilience after founding and leading it for a few years, and a lot of wisdom regarding true leadership. They also discuss how soccer and other sports are incredible classrooms, and how he is learning deep life lessons every single day as a stay-at-home dad, husband, and father of athletes. The interview is full of vulnerable moments, personal stories, and practical advice. Specifically, they discuss:
· How Wells developed his passion for soccer, leadership, faith in God, and how he went from rolling with the wrong crowd, getting into drugs, and not being recruited to college to playing for Wake Forest and getting drafted 5th in the MLS Draft (7:30)
· Lessons he learned in his pro career (17:10)
· His transition to life after soccer (20:51)
· His personal why, vulnerability as a superpower, and how he is living out his life purpose (27:58)
· The revelation that caused him to leave Soccer Resilience (32:44)
· How Soccer Resilience got started, some of the great things coming out of it, and how starting/running a business is like working to be a pro soccer player (and a couple great quotes from Nelson Mandela and Billy Graham) (36:39)
· How he went from not making ODP to playing professional soccer, how that is relevant to the parenting of his kids while they are playing sports, and what we can learn from his journey (43:39)
· Balancing pushing our kids to be the best they can be and learning life lessons from sports without getting too involved (especially at the wrong time or place) and/or forcing them to play sports they don't want to play (52:11)
· What actually goes into being a pro athlete (55:30)
· What he didn't learn as a pro athlete (hint: it is very relevant to this podcast) (57:25)
· Leadership from the bench (1:02:26)
· Lessons that he has learned from the game that he uses in his marriage and parenting (1:04:31)
· What he has watched, read, or listened to that has impacted his thinking on how soccer explains life and leadership (1:07:58)
Resources and Links from this Episode
· Coaching the Bigger Game Program
· Phil's email for DISC Training
· Wrestling with Angels: A True Story of Addiction, Resurrection, Hope, Fashion, Training Celebrities, and Man's Oldest Sport, John Hanrahan
· Main Street Millionaire: How to Make Extraordinary Wealth Buying Ordinary Businesses, Codie Sanchez