Ted Lasso's Cristo Fernández: Fútbol Is Life, and It's Never Too Late to Dream

Ted Lasso's Cristo Fernández: Fútbol Is Life, and It's Never Too Late to Dream

Author: Jeff Utecht & Tricia Friedman July 20, 2026 Duration: 19:02

You know him as Dani Rojas on Ted Lasso. He's also a professional footballer with El Paso Locomotive FC, a filmmaker, and now the author of a bilingual picture book, Fútbol Is Life! / ¡Fútbol es vida!, illustrated by James Rey Sanchez.

But before all of that? He was a life insurance salesman who sold nothing for a year. 

This conversation is about what happens between the dream and the arriving. About injuries that turn out to be redirections. About why "be curious, not judgmental" might be the most useful thing we can teach — and keep learning ourselves.

In this episode:

  • (00:01) The gotcha question: is Cristo actually a superhero?
  • (01:27) The family example: why "the more you give, the more you receive"
  • (03:32) What team sports teach us about not being the star
  • (04:19) Injuries, rejection, and becoming a hustler: "I love when someone tells me no"
  • (09:22) The market scene: remembering to pause and notice
  • (10:31) What Dani Rojas reminds Cristo about joy
  • (12:55) Embracing where you come from as a superpower
  • (14:09) Collaboration, and never thinking you know everything
  • (16:30) Why a children's book is the perfect format for dreaming big

Quotes worth stealing:

"I love when someone tells me no. It might not be no here, but it might be yes somewhere else."

"Aim for the moon. If you don't hit the moon, you hit a star. And if you don't hit a star, you hit some space dust — and that's fine too."

"There's not one single way of being Mexican or being American or being Latino. We all bring something great to the table."

Links:


Ever feel like the conversation around education moves faster than a school day? Shifting Schools: Conversations for K12 Educators is here to slow things down just enough for a meaningful dialogue. Hosted by practicing educators Jeff Utecht and Tricia Friedman, this podcast creates a necessary space for teachers and administrators to dig into the real work of modern teaching. Instead of just theory, you’ll hear from fellow practitioners and thought leaders who are navigating the same challenges you face daily. The discussions move beyond surface-level trends to unpack practical strategies and tools that can be adapted for your own classroom or school. Whether it’s rethinking assessment, integrating technology with purpose, or fostering a more inclusive learning environment, each episode is grounded in the shared goal of improving outcomes for every student. Tuning in feels less like another professional development requirement and more like a candid staff room conversation with colleagues who get it. This is where the abstract ideas about educational change meet the concrete reality of the K-12 world, offering actionable insights for anyone committed to the craft of teaching. Find Shifting Schools wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts for a regular dose of perspective and practical ideas.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Shifting Schools: Conversations for K12 Educators
Podcast Episodes
Will this be the summer of vibe coding? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:32
In this episode of Shifting Schools, Jeff and Tricia talk about vibe coding: the emerging practice of using AI tools to help turn prompts, sketches, hunches, and half-formed ideas into working prototypes. They look at wh…
Meredith Walker on Why "Be Yourself" Isn't Enough [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:36
What do we really mean when we tell young people to "be yourself"? In this episode, Tricia Friedman speaks with Meredith Walker, co-founder of Smart Girls with Amy Poehler and author of Be Yourself and Other Bad Advice.…
How to build a story one ingredient at a time with Keala Kendall [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:49
Join us as Keala Kendall, author of the compelling gothic novel That Which Feeds Us, takes us through her creative process, the importance of representation in storytelling, and how horror can serve as a mirror to societ…
Dr. Brittney Cooper on Picture Books, Collaboration, and Love [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:49
This week, Tricia Friedman welcomes Dr. Brittney Cooper to the podcast to talk about her new picture book, Mama Says I'm Fine, illustrated by Tamisha Anthony. The conversation explores the story behind the book, the emot…
Why Patricia Cornwell Still Believes in Stories [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:03
Patricia Cornwell joins Tricia Friedman for a conversation about memory, writing, curiosity, forensic science, and the memoir she never expected to write. In this episode, Cornwell reflects on the childhood experiences t…
Great gifts for Teacher Appreciation Week [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:42
This week Jeff and Tricia share their five top gifts to celebrate the special educator in your life. They take you through why these five gifts celebrate creativity, learning, wellness, and show personal recognition duri…
What we learn when we listen to students [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:06
What happens when you stop talking about students and start talking with them? In this episode, Jeff Utecht sits down with high schoolers and asks a question most adults skip: what do you actually need from school right…