In Episode 3 of Season 3 Mike welcomes top notch Englishman and dear friend Ian Haynes onto the Podcast for an international discussion of philosophy, soccer/football, music, refreshments and of course, friendship.

Follow the podcast on Twitter: @friendsofmiked

Email the podcast at talkingfriendship@gmail.com

Key moments from the pod:

0:30: Mike welcomes listeners to S3E3 featuring Mike’s good friend Ian Haynes.

1:30: Mike corrects a major omission from S3E1’s discussion of Park Ave in Allen Park, MI and S1E4 guest John Baker.  Mike tries to mend a broken friendship fence with John.

3:15: Mike gives the listeners an update on what’s going on with him, including getting outside more AND getting hooked on the amazing new HBO show “We Own This City” from the creators of the Wire.

5:15: Mike introduces this episode’s guest Ian Haynes and discusses one of Ian and Mike’s mutually favorite musicians in English rocker Billy Bragg.

10:45: Mike welcomes Ian into the actual podcast studio where gives some background on Ian Haynes, the Man, his family, his origins in England and his precocious dog Biggles.

15:45: Ian talks about his best friend over the years (Nigel) and what’s kept their friendship going and how he’s Ian’s anchor for his “northerness”.

17:10: The guys talk about the last time they saw each other as well as their initial connection via the famed Ann Arbor Mug Club (and it’s one by-law).

23:30: Ian gives his philosophy on beer and the local beer scene (spoiler alert: he has strong opinions).

25:50: The guys talk about a recent field trip down to one of their favorite Detroit-based activities: Detroit City FC soccer and fowling in Hamtramck.

27:15: Mike and Ian then transition into discussing one of their true shared passions: soccer/football.

29:55: Ian goes over how he became a supporter of his favorite soccer club: Oldham Athletic.

35:20: Mike gives the listeners the backstory behind how he became a Tottenham fan.

40:00: The guys then proceed to count down each of their top 5 favorite soccer players in their lives and why.

40:40: Colin Bell

44:40: Jurgen Klinsman

47:50: Eric Cantona

52:50: Alexi Lalas

56:40: George Best

1:00:15: Landon Donovan

1:04:30: Denis Irwin

1:08:30: Son Heung-min

1:10:30: Andy Ritchie

1:15:30: Harry Kane

1:18:45: Ian then gives his key to a good friendship.  What an answer it is!

1:20:30: Mike takes Ian through the (not so) Rapid Fire segment, including talking about Ian’s favorite beers, favorite spots to eat in the Ann Arbor/Saline area, and where he wants to travel next with his wife Jane.