It's Hudson River Derby week so Episode 5 of the Hudson River Blue Podcast takes a long look at New York City FC's trip to Harrison, New Jersey to face the Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena.

Before the rivalry match talk, Hudson River Blue's senior editor Andrew Leigh joins hosts John Baney and Mark Radigan to recap his visit to the team's new Midtown Manhattan space dedicated to showing off the future soccer stadium in Willets Point, Queens (tiny replica included), which also meant a chance to speak with New York City FC CEO Brad Sims about the stadium and recent club developments like the change made to the team's badge.

From there on it's all Red Bulls-NYCFC preview, as John and Mark look first at the big implications this match carries for the MLS Eastern Conference playoff race, and how it finds both teams in poor runs of results and looking for some late-season momentum.

The conversation then shifts to how New York City might line up at Red Bull Arena given the forced absences of Santiago Rodríguez and defender Strahinja Tanasijević, and the injury question marks that remain over Birk Risa.

Episode 5 will get you ready for the 29th installment of the Hudson River Derby, and you can find all our coverage, derby and otherwise, at Hudson River Blue. Be sure to also follow us on X and Instagram.

In a very special Episode 4 of the Hudson River Blue Podcast recorded live from the press box at Yankee Stadium, hosts John Baney and Mark Radigan are joined by Hudson River Blue senior writer Matthew Mangam to provide a post-match breakdown of New York City FC's 1-1 draw with Lionel Messi's Inter Miami.

The conversation begins with reactions to the result and what the last-gasp James Sands equalizer could mean for this year's NYCFC squad — could this end up being their version of a season-changing goal? John, Mark, and Matthew also get into Lionel Messi's individual performance, with the Argentine legend kept quiet in front of many people at the game solely to see him play.

Talk then shifts to the surreal experience of watching Messi and Co. play in the Bronx in front of a crowd of 44,738, including discussion about the in-game atmosphere, that Barbie-themed tifo unveiled in the NYCFC supporters' section before kickoff, and the great performance of the NYCFC fans throughout the stadium and even outside the stadium pregame.

Things wrap up with a look ahead to next weekend's Hudson River Derby, which is always big but feels even bigger this time given the closeness of the two rivals in the Eastern Conference table as the MLS Cup Playoffs draw near.

Enjoy this Messi-centric Episode 4 and find more of our coverage at Hudson River Blue. Be sure to also follow us on X and Instagram.

Episode 3 of the Hudson River Blue Podcast arrives during a busy three-match week for New York City FC, so hosts John Baney and Mark Radigan have lots of ground to cover. They start by looking back at another NYCFC lead lost in a road draw with DC United, a decent defensive performance that still wasn't enough to earn a slump-busting win.

John and Mark also discuss the arrival of billionaire Marcelo Claure as part of New York City FC's ownership group before shifting focus to what lies ahead on the field, specifically the two home matches against Eastern Conference rivals Philadelphia Union and Inter Miami CF.

That includes some discussion of the spectacle that awaits when Lionel Messi steps onto the Yankee Soccer Stadium pitch for the first time, which will cost you a pretty penny to see in person — and which will be a big test for a struggling NYCFC side.

The final portion of Episode 3 features a guest appearance from Hudson River Blue's senior editor, Andrew Leigh, who joins John to provide a post-match reaction to the lopsided 5-1 home loss to Philadelphia Union, which made it eight straight MLS matches without a win for NYCFC. What will that heavy defeat mean for New York City as it heads into the final five matches of the MLS season?

Listen to Episode 3 for more on that, and find more coverage at Hudson River Blue. Be sure to also follow us on X and Instagram.