It’s been a few weeks since we last shipped a factory-fresh episode of the PawedCast, but we’re back to drop off this audio present that discusses the news that’s happened since early in the month.

However, we start with an update on The Mane Land’s current situation with regard to whether or not we are going to be able to continue service in 2026. Right now, we’re remaining optimistic amidst several people offering to help out. We’re going through some “practice recaps” from prospective writers and trying to determine who can help us on the editing side. We would love to keep going, but we are spread far too thin to carry on as we have in the past. If you want to get involved, here’s what we’re talking about and what to do if you’re in a position to help.

After our update, we discuss some difficult departures, as veteran defenders Rodrigo Schlegel and Kyle Smith have both left the club. Schlegel will always own one of the most iconic moments in Orlando City history, and we will miss the Lions’ agent of chaos. Smith was a good soldier (sorry, soldado), and we’ll miss his hustle, determination, and willingness to do whatever it takes to help the club.

We also touched upon the fact that the Lions will be playing in three competitions next season, with entry in both the U.S. Open Cup and the Leagues Cup to go along with their MLS participation. We rank the order of importance and you will not be surprised at our rankings.

Players didn’t just leave Orlando City. Some arrived, too. We discuss the Lions’ 2026 MLS SuperDraft haul and the way they spent their plethora of first-round picks. We also welcome MLS U22 Initiative player Tiago from Brazil ahead of the 2026 season. Additionally, we tell you who is pretty much done with the exception of the official announcements.

OCB also released some news, with Head Coach Manuel Goldberg getting his option picked up for 2026 and midfielder Justin Hylton signing a two-year MLS NEXT Pro deal with the Young Lions.

Finally, our mailbagbox was extremely full and featured a trivia mini-marathon. You’ll be able to see how your guesses stack up against ours. We also had a fun question about a missing remote and a horrifying hypothetical. Remember, if there’s anything — and we do mean anything — you want us to address on the show, just ask us by tweeting it to us at @TheManeLand with the hashtag #AskTMLPC, or hitting us up on Bluesky Social with that same hashtag.

Note: we are now in our off-season podcast schedule, which is guaranteed to give you at least one episode per month but we will only be weekly if/when news warrants it. We’ll also return for at least one more show to say goodbye if things don’t work out for us to continue, but we are hoping it doesn’t come to that!

Be sure to rate and review our show wherever you get your podcasts. Remember, we’ll read any five-star reviews we get on Apple Podcasts on the next show.

If you’d like to support our independent writing and podcasting efforts, we’d love to have you as a subscriber or donor over at our Buy Me a Coffee site.

Here’s how No. 514 went down:

0:15 – A word about our future and while we’re staying optimistic about getting the help we need, we are by no means out of danger. Plus, more bad news as we say goodbye to a few Lions.

28:24 – The good news is who is arriving, who might be arriving soon, and OCB happenings.

40:45 – A full mailbagbox leaves us as satisfied as a big Christmas dinner.

Happy holidays to you all and thank you for your support all year long (and in years past)!

[Note: This episode was recorded Monday night, prior to the Pride signing Hailie Mace on Tuesday.]

The Orlando Pride are coming off back-to-back NWSL semifinal appearances, and much of the credit for that just walked out the door. Haley Carter is leaving her post as the club’s vice president of soccer operations and sporting director to pursue other opportunities. It was not welcome news, as Carter has done well to help install the right kind of culture with the Pride — one that shows the utmost respect for the players and protects them from the kind of things that have given the NWSL a few black eyes over the years. Her legacy is turning Orlando into a place players want to play and turning a perennial doormat into one of the better clubs in the league, both on and off the pitch.

After our discussion about Carter’s departure, we discussed Emily Sams playing for the USWNT in her club’s home stadium and her thoughts on Carter’s departure.

Our mailbagbox basically just wants to dunk on the Washington Spirit for this episode, but at least Washington got to the final game. That said, it probably hurts worse to lose a final than a semifinal, so…yeah. Remember, you can ask us anything by hitting us up on Twitter at either @TheManeLand or @SkoPurpSoccer and using the hashtag #AskSkoPurp. You can use that same hashtag and hit @TheManeLand.bsky.social up on Bluesky. Or you can visit our show page, scroll down, and fill out the handy form. We’d also appreciate any ratings or reviews you can leave wherever you get your podcasts, and if you do that on Apple Podcasts, we’ll find them easily and read them on the show.

After our mailbagbox, we went through the Pride’s end-of-season contract status update. Orlando has 23 players under contract for 2026 (24 with Tuesday’s signing of Hailie Mace), and we tell you who is and isn’t on the squad at the moment. There weren’t a ton of surprises, but we will miss Carson Pickett’s golazos and Simone Charley’s fire.

We’re in our off-season schedule now, so we’ll be back at least monthly, and as often as news requires.

If you’d like to support our independent writing and podcasting efforts, we’d love to have you as a subscriber or donor over at our Buy Me a Coffee site.

Here’s how Episode 111 went down:

0:15 – Haley Carter built a thing and then let it go, because if you love something, you set it free. Yeah, let’s go with that.

11:53 – Our mailbagbox just wants the Washington Spirit to feel shame.

21:52 – All player contract statuses are accounted for. We wish Ally Watt good luck in Denver (except when she plays Orlando).

We’re checking in early this December, although it probably won’t be our only show of the month. Alex Freeman keeps giving us stuff to talk about. The young fullback dazzled the crowd in Tampa with his brace against Uruguay for the U.S. Men’s National Team. That performance made him Man of the Match, but it was just one aspect of a great year that got him named as a finalist for U.S. Male Player of the Year. The competition is tough, but Orlando City’s Homegrown defender has a good shot at bringing home even more hardware in a magical 2025.

We also discussed the Luis Otavio rumors as the 18-year-old central midfielder is reportedly finalizing an MLS U22 Initiative deal to join the Lions for the 2026 season. We’re watching with great interest after Cesar Araujo’s departure.

Our mailbagbox asked how contracts are going to work with the change to a fall/spring MLS calendar and which Lions and dishes we want at our Thanksgiving feast. Remember, if there’s anything — and we do mean anything — you want us to address on the show, just ask us by tweeting it to us at @TheManeLand with the hashtag #AskTMLPC, or hitting us up on Bluesky Social with that same hashtag.

After the mailbagbox, we discussed Robin Jansson re-signing with the Lions through 2027. The captain is back, and it sounds like he helped restructure his deal in a way that will help the club conduct the off-season business Ricardo Moreira wants to complete. Always the team player, our captain.

Finally, we looked at Orlando City’s 2026 MLS schedule. The Lions start and finish at home, must play Atlanta on short rest twice, and will face San Diego FC for the first time.

Note: we are now in our off-season podcast schedule, which is guaranteed to give you at least one episode per month but we will only be weekly if/when news warrants it.

Be sure to rate and review our show wherever you get your podcasts. Remember, we’ll read any five-star reviews we get on Apple Podcasts on the next show.

If you’d like to support our independent writing and podcasting efforts, we’d love to have you as a subscriber or donor over at our Buy Me a Coffee site.

Here’s how No. 513 went down:

0:15 – Alex Freeman is a finalist for U.S. Male Player of the Year on the heels of his brace against Uruguay in Tampa, and Luis Otavio may be on his way to Orlando.

13:31 – The mailbagbox is seasonal this time out!

26:05 – Robin Jansson is staying in Orlando and the 2026 schedule is out early.