So, is this thing on?

USL From the Pitch contributors Jake Fenlason and Austin Martz hit the studio to bring you the first episode of their new venture, the Outside the Box podcast.

True to their "People with stories, not just players in sport" motto, the debut episode features a candid conversation with Saint Louis FC teammate, Phanuel Kavita, who shares his personal and inspirational path to professional soccer.

A native of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kavita took a break from his reported 8,000 calorie per day regimen to join the lads and detail his harrowing journey from his home to a refugee camp in the West African nation of Benin, before eventually making his way to the United States.

With the debatable presence of an accent, Kavita explains how soccer served as both an oasis and an avenue of osmosis into a new culture, and how the game has, and continues to provide new opportunities such as the one the trio currently shares in The Gateway City in 2018.

Hit the play button below to listen to the entire conversation and be sure to stay tuned to USLSoccer.com and From the Pitch for more of Jake and Austin uncovering the untold stories from around the league.

MORE FROM THE PITCH