SportSpiel: Recent Episodes
SportSpiel
The Players' Podcast - including feature interviews from the stars of sport | Hosted by Alasdair Hooper and Will Moulton | Get in touch at sportspielpod@gmail.com
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On the final episode of this series of SportSpiel we cross into the world of Muay Thai and speak to recently-crowned WBC world champion Ellie Harber.
That victory was the 12th title claimed by the 18-year-old from Watford in a variety of martial art disciplines and was her first success in an adult tournament, which saw her win four fights in four days as she went on to secure gold in her maiden senior world championships.
Despite her young age Ellie has come a long way since her first venture into a gym. Not only has the sport provided her with a platform to excel it has proved to be a vital way for her to control her anger and find a way of expressing herself.
What’s more, she’s also let her sport do the talking to quieten the bullies who tried to ridicule her earlier on in life.
Quite simply Ellie is one of an exciting generation of young female athletes proving sport is for them – and for everyone. No doubt she is a superstar in the making.
DISCLAIMER: The audio at the beginning of this interview is unfortunately low quality but improves just after the two-minute mark.
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Additional thanks to the Athlete Media Group for helping to organise this interview
Music: Otis McDonald
This episode of SportSpiel is a very special one, as we delve into an important subject that is still in its infancy in terms of understanding – becoming a mum during your athletic career.
Taking part in the discussion is long-time friend of the podcast, British Trampolinist Laura Gallagher, as well as England and GB Hockey star Jo Pinner who have both done just that, given birth to their first child in the last 14 months.
With both now on their way back to the top of their sport, they explain just what it takes to become a mum while competing as an athlete – from deciding when to have a child during your career, to the physical toll pregnancy, giving birth and raising a newborn takes on the body.
The pair also explain how inspiration from other athlete mums has helped them on their individual journeys and they delve into how they balance training and childcare.
There’s also the very non-linear process of returning to sports in the first place, essentially having to start again after becoming mums, and so much more more.
Both Laura and Jo talk incredibly openly about their experiences on a topic that still requires plenty of discussion – for context UK Sport’s maternity policy was only introduced in the last year.
We hope you enjoy listening and learning from this very special podcast.
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Credits
Image: Getty Images
Music: Otis McDonald
Scotland Rugby’s vice-captain Helen Nelson is one of the most crucial individuals in the squad.
With 55 appearances for the national team to her name she’s been a vital cog as the team looks to progress and improve – striving for bigger goals each time.
With the latest edition of the Women’s Six Nations soon to get underway – with Scotland playing Wales on March 23rd – it’s another opportunity to put that progress to the test.
In this episode of SportSpiel we look ahead to the upcoming Six Nations with Helen – who plays her club rugby with Loughborough Lightning – as well as talking about the journey this Scotland team has been on.
But there’s also a chance to look at Helen’s own journey – from first trying out rugby at the age of six, to becoming a member of the Scottish Alpine ski team, as well as returning to rugby at university after being turned down for football.
As so happened, that university experience helped set her up on the path she’s currently on – and now it’s just as much inspiring the next generation in rugby as it is trying to improve in the here and now.
That’s also something Helen knows all too well – the absence of any true female sporting role models when she was younger was, in her mind, something that could well have had an impact on her as she struggled with body image issues.
It’s another lesson in just how important seeing women’s sport can be. After all – seeing it is believing it.
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Credits
Image: With thanks toClaire Jones
Additional thanks to the Athlete Media Group for helping to organise this interview
Music: Otis McDonald
Aged just 20, Lilli Ives Campion is widely regarded as one of the brightest prospects in English women’s rugby.
And if it hadn’t been for one seemingly innocuous moment, she might never have even tried the sport to start with.
Ever since then Lilli has gone from strength to strength within the game, making her Premiership Women’s Rugby debut for Loughborough Lightning at just 17 years old.
Now her prospects are continuing to look up as she has joined the senior England squad for training camps this season, including ahead of the upcoming Women’s Six Nations – with England’s first game against Italy on Sunday, March 24.
In this podcast episode Lilli tells us all about her journey so far in rugby, including leaving home at 16 so she could combine her studying with playing.
She also talks about being an ambassador for rugby’s leading mental health charity LooseHeadz and also why she is so excited about what is to come in the sphere of women’s sport – including why the next 10 years are so crucial.
With women’s rugby making its own waves in recent years, the potential is vast for the future, as well as other areas of women’s sport.
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Credits
Image: With thanks to Loughborough Lighting and Talent Athlete Group
Music: Otis McDonald
Despite being in her early 20s, Liv Thomas has already experienced a lot in her sporting career.
The GB and England lacrosse midfielder had to wait two years for her England debut, thanks to the Covid pandemic, but after finally earning that first cap she would go on to win a World Cup bronze in triple overtime.
But the difficulties would rear their head again, with Liv rupturing her ACL and tearing her meniscus. From the second she felt it, she knew something bad had happened – and it’s an injury she is still working to come back from eight months on.
That brings in one of the most challenging aspects of being an athlete in her position, as she manages the physical, financial and organisational demands of trying to be at the top of her sport but also needing to have a full time job.
For some athletes an injury like that is devastating enough in terms of severity. But many are able to be afforded much more regular time with physios than someone needing to work at the same time.
But Liv’s motivation is still as strong as ever and there’s another carrot driving her on for more in the future – the 2028 Olympic Games.
Lacrosse will be returning to the Olympic stage for those Games in Los Angeles with the IOC approving its inclusion back in October 2023.
For someone like Liv that represents an incredible opportunity and the chance to fulfil a dream, to become an Olympian.
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Credits
Image: With thanks to Liv Thomas
Music: Otis McDonald
Don’t die wondering – that’s Laura Siddall’s motto – and it’s a phrase you can see applied to so much of her life as a pro athlete.
Laura now is a hugely successful British triathlete but her path into professional sport came relatively late in life.
While sport was always important growing up she would go on to do a degree in Mechanical Engineering before taking a gap year as an officer in the British Army.
She would go on to work in the corporate world and moved to Sydney in Australia back in 2007 on a two-year assignment. Then came triathlon, a sport she tried out a year after moving to Australia and with great success.
After progressing from a rookie to securing four amateur world champion titles she took the plunge in 2013 and decided to become a pro, going full time in 2014 and moving to San Francisco to chase the dream.
She is now a four-time Ironman Champion, which includes winning Ironman Australia for three consecutive years (2017, 2018, 2019), Ironman New Zealand (2018), and also becoming the ETU European Long Distance Champion in 2018.
These days, as she marks 10 years as a professional, she is based primarily in Boulder in the USA where she is coached by fellow Brit Julie Dibens – but the recent past has brought her significant hurdles.
Most notably, last year, Laura was hit by a car during the bike leg at Ironman Brazil. It knocked her unconscious and left her with a slight brain bleed and concussion.
The journey back has been a battle of the mind just as much as it has been physically, and there have been questions about where her journey goes from here. But that phrase – don’t die wondering – is still present in her decision making.
As also becomes clear in this podcast, Laura is a passionate advocate for women’s sport and is both an athlete ambassador for the Women’s Sport Trust as well as being a member of their Unlocked programme back in 2022.
Quite simply she is an inspiration to many regardless of what your involvement is in sport – and perhaps we all need a little bit of that motto in our lives.
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Credits
Image: With thanks to Laura Siddall
Music: Otis McDonald
Isla Mackenzie is on a mission – to inspire the next generation as she chases her dream of being a racing driver.
Her early life is world’s away from what it looks like now. She grew up on a dairy farm on the Isle of Lewis, in the Scottish Outer Hebrides and she was driving anything she could as soon as she was old enough to reach the pedals – be it quad bikes or tractors, and she drove a car for the first time at the age of 12.
Isla comes alive with speed – a description given by her mum – and a passion for motorsport was always there.
Fast forward to now and she finds herself fulfilling that passion, in her role as a Dyno Technician for the Mercedes F1 Team, the team that seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton currently races for.
But, while the engineering side of her life is seriously impressive, her true calling is to race herself – and the talent is there.
She has been fast-tracked from karts to single seaters, she signed with IMC Motorsport and, in 2023, there were opportunities in the Monoposto Formula 3 championship.
Her journey has also been the subject of a BBC documentary – the episode Fast Track to Gloryin the series Our Lives – which details just how determined she is to succeed. But it also shows just how seriously she takes inspiring the next generation of female racers, something that is evident in this podcast.
It’s a long-talked about issue, and while Isla undoubtedly wants to succeed for herself, the chance to pave the way for others adds all the extra fuel to the fire that she will ever need.
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Credits
Image: With thanks to Isla Mackenzie
Additional thanks to the Athlete Media Group for helping to organise this interview
Music: Otis McDonald
Ben Gallagher is a remarkable individual. After serving in the British Army for over 16 years, his life was turned upside down in 2019 when he was shot numerous times on active duty.
Ben would sustain blast and fragmentation injuries to his upper torso and arms as a result of that incident – and without a doubt his body armour saved his life.
What followed was a number of operations and extensive surgery to reconstruct his left arm, while he now also has surgical injuries to both legs.
But this was all just the beginning of an immense battle.
What happened to Ben was utterly traumatic and, along with a long period of rehabilitation, he felt lost, isolated, unable to come to terms with what happened and he would have suicidal thoughts. Subsequently he would also be diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Ben’s journey – and turnaround since then – has been remarkable – and sport has played a key part in it. He can now say he’s represented his country at the 2023 Invictus Games – winning gold in the Men’s IR6 4-minute endurance row and bronze in the men’s IRB3 crit cycle race.
And another major achievement could be on the horizon – the Paris 2024 Paralympics.
Ben’s journey in rowing, which began with simply using rowing machines for exercise has developed into something so much more.
He has raced at the British Rowing Indoor Championships and he is now classified with British Rowing – on the GB Para-Rowing World Class and Paralympic Academy Programme with reaching those Paris 2024 Games very much the aim.
This is just a snapshot of what Ben has achieved, as you’ll hear in this podcast there has been so much else along the way and he is also an ambassador for our charity partners The Mintridge Foundation.
Quite simply you’ll be hard pushed to find someone with a more inspiring message than this army veteran.
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Credits
Image: With thanks to Ben Gallagher
Additional thanks to The Mintridge Foundation for helping to organise this interview
Music: Otis McDonald
Beth Gill is one of Britain’s – and the world’s – leading canoeists. In 2022 she became C1 short course Marathon World Champion and she’s hoping to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in the C2 500m Sprint.
Remember, while there’s been women’s kayak events, women’s canoeing events only first arrived at the Olympics for Tokyo 2020.
But there’s much more to Beth than just her sport as she has become a passionate advocate for raising awareness over the pollution in our rivers and waterways, as well as their ecological importance.
The situation is serious. To put it into perspective, Beth says that in training its almost expected by some that you will get sickness bugs along the way. That can’t be acceptable.
In this episode of SportSpiel, Beth explains why she is so passionate about this issue, as well as how it inspired her choice to take up a university course in this area.
She also explains what individuals can do to try and make a difference in their daily lives, with current practices needing to change.
There’s also time to delve into Beth’s journey in canoeing, which hasn’t always been smooth sailing.
She transitioned to the sport in 2014 via the Girls4Gold programme – with her first experience in a canoe not getting off to the best start – but she also recalls being dropped from her canoeing programme five years ago, something that has taught her valuable lessons and helped her get back to where she is today.
Now, the Olympic Games in Paris are firmly in her sights.
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Credits
Image: With thanks to British Canoeing and canoephotography.com/Bence Vekassy (ICF)
Additional thanks to the Athlete Media Group for helping to organise this interview
Music: Otis McDonald
British weightlifter Mercy Brown has been on an extensive journey in her sporting career. But the comeback is very much on.
The 26-year-old Londoner is an exciting talent and secured gold in the 2022 British Weightlifting Championships.
But, unfortunately, her year didn’t pan out as expected despite that promising start and indication that the potential is very much there.
Throughout her rollercoaster ride in the sport there have had to be breaks for Mercy to prioritise her own self-care and mental wellbeing.
There is no substitute for looking after yourself as best as you can and it is all part of that personal development.
She also admits, in this episode of SportSpiel, about how tough it has been losing her coach of so many years, after he passed away.
Part of that connection was that he had a team of lifters who looked like her and she emphasises just how important it is to know an individual’s culture.
But what shines from Mercy throughout this interview is how much she cares and how important it is to give back.
Whether it’s helping to support her own Afro-Caribbean community, or looking to change the nonsensical stereotype that strength sports are masculine, she has that inner drive to make a difference.
That has helped see her become part of the Women’s Sport Trust’s famed Unlocked programme and she’s now a firm fixture in what she calls an army of people looking to change women’s sport for the better.
Going forward now is where the comeback comes into play. Tournaments are booked in and Mercy is ready to get competing regularly again.
But, while she admits she’s nearer the end of her career than she is to the start she is determined to give her absolute all in the next couple of years.
With the talent and commitment she has that success is likely to follow, and she might just be appearing on that Olympic stage soon enough.
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Credits
Image: With thanks to Mercy Brown
Music: Otis McDonald
Brendan Creed has discovered a lot about himself since he first represented his country back in 2017.
By his own admission he is a massive perfectionist, but he used to let it ruin his game.
Dealing with mistakes has been a key change in the England and GB Hockey star and he has worked closely with his team psychologist on his journey.
But that has also come at the same time as having to deal with tournament disappointment along the way.
From being named as a reserve for two World Cups, to coping with injuries, and plenty more hurdles throughout, it hasn’t been easy.
Not only has that experience changed his opinion on the topic of psychology as a result, but Brendan has also changed his outlook on himself and his sport.
It’s a journey many athletes can go through as they learn so much about their mindset and how to grow.
Despite the disappointments, the 30-year-old’s passion for hockey has never wavered.
In this interview on SportSpiel, Brendan explains why representing his country will never just be a job to him and how he constantly drives to be the best he can be.
For him, the objective of simply getting selected for your country doesn’t compute. Why would you not push yourself to be the best you can be?
He also explains how hockey can sell itself better to the general public, in an age where many sports are trying to capture the imagination and gain new fans.
He also tells us why he ventured into podcasting himself after setting up the Lets Stick Together show with team-mate Phil Roper.
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Image: GB Hockey
Music: Otis McDonald
After leaving school at the age of 18, Lauren Torley had barely touched a rugby ball.
But fast-forward to now and things are very different. Few will have predicted that just five years later she would have represented England at a home Commonwealth Games and been named as one of the most exciting prospects around – but that’s exactly what has happened.
It has been a whirlwind career so far for the speedster as she has rapidly risen to the top of the women’s game plying her trade for the England Sevens and GB Sevens as well as Harlequins in the Premier 15s.
She was a keen athlete throughout her life and had always dreamed of achieving one thing – representing her country in a sporting capacity.
It didn’t matter which sport and it was all she’d ever wish for. At the age of 22 she achieved it.
But while the journey so far may sound like one of non-stop positives, that isn’t the case. It has been far from easy.
In Lauren’s first game of contact rugby, she suffered a serious injury while she has also had to contend with the global pandemic and the subsequent disruption that brought.
And, when you think about it, she has had to learn a game while playing against some of the finest rugby players in the world. That’s one way of being dropped in the deep end.
Lauren may be relatively inexperienced compared to those around her, but her ability is clear for all to see.
She now has her eyes set on one day becoming an Olympian, and with her accomplishments so far, that looks like it could well become a reality.
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Credits
Image: With thanks to Lauren Torley
Music: Otis McDonald
Netball used to be one of the most important things in Nat Panagarry’s life – but that has all changed.
Last year Nat’s wife Katie was diagnosed with stage four clear cell cancer and life as they knew it was turned upside down.
Suddenly playing netball for England and Loughborough Lightening paled into insignificance for Nat compared to what she and her wife were facing.
Unsurprisingly it has been a rollercoaster journey for the pair. There have been hospital appointments, chemotherapy and they have both had to tackle hurdles no one in their 30s expects to face.
As Nat admits in this SportSpiel podcast episode, there were moments of anger. Many in their situation would ask – why them? They were no different.
But there have also been moments of hope and happiness. In November the pair tied the knot and the countless messages of support they have received as they share their journey on social media have been overwhelming.
Throughout it all playing netball for Loughborough does still play a key part in Nat’s life.
Now that the 2023 Netball Super League season is back up and running that’s become very apparent, although she openly admits her approach is different.
In many ways it’s also unknown as she embarks on her first full campaign balancing everything off the court as well.
What is unmistakeable in this episode is Katie’s inspiration and the hurdles the couple face together are also a key reminder of the larger things in life.
It also serves as a reminder of how much you can take from the person you love the most regardless of how tough the situations are.
While the focus now is very much on Katie’s battle with the disease, Nat and her wife are determined to raise as much awareness as possible.
One charity who perform such vital work in that area is Look Good Feel Better, who are partnering with England Netball for the return of their annual charity netball tournament on Sunday, March 26 to raise awareness and funds for the charity.
Taking place at Warwick University, the tournament is open to teams looking to battle it out with an amazing cause in mind.
With incredible prizes and goody bags on offer it’s a perfect opportunity to raise awareness for such a vital charity.
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For more information on the Look Good Feel Better netball tournament visit: https://lookgoodfeelbetter.co.uk/charity-netball-tournament/
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Credits
Image: With thanks to Nat Panagarry/England Netball
Music: Otis McDonald
British track cyclist Milly Tanner has had a whirlwind last few years, and she’s determined to leave her mark.
The 24-year-old switched from swimming to cycling back in 2017 through UK Sport’s talent transfer programme ‘Discover your Power’ – a gruelling process in itself as you’ll hear in this SportSpiel interview– but she hasn’t looked back since.
A bronze medal at the 2021 World Championships in the team sprint, a silver in the same event at the 2020 European Championships, as well as competing at the Commonwealth Games last year are just some of the highlights.
But as is so often the case in the world of elite sport, it has been a rollercoaster at times.
There’s highs, there’s lows and there are days where you really have to grind to get through.
For those in British Cycling there is also the pressure of living up to some of the greats that have come before – think Jason and Laura Kenny, Chris Hoy and many, many more.
But cycling still retains that community feel and when Milly faced her first big setback – not making the most recent team for the World Championships – it was another legend in Victoria Pendleton who provided the right advice at the right time.
In this podcast Milly openly takes us through her journey into cycling, from battling back from setbacks, to initially feeling like she had to catch up after arriving in the sport relatively late.
But she also takes us through some of the causes that are close to her heart, and helped lead to her joining the pioneering Unlocked programme run by the Women’s Sport Trust.
From period poverty to body image, these are just some of things Milly wants to use her voice to raise awareness of – and is part of the legacy she wants to leave from her time in elite sport.
In a world that’s so dominated by social media and comparisons, these are messages that need to be heard.
Milly also takes us through the influence the military has in her life, including how important the impressions you leave on people are, as well as her aims in the future as she looks to fulfil her potential.
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Credits
Image: SWPix
Music: Otis McDonald
Cricketer Fi Morris has learned a lot at the age of 29. From making her county championship debut at the age of 14, to top scoring for her team in the first ever women’s Hundred final, there’s plenty to celebrate.
But it has been far from an easy ride for the all-rounder. An incident in her early 20s led to a severe decline in her mental health and well-being, which she struggled to admit and accept.
That decline led to her taking a two-year break from cricket as – in her own words in this SportSpiel interview – she ‘went off the rails a bit.’
With the introduction of regionalised professional contracts in the women’s game, Fi also struggled to cope with the pressure after she was offered one.
But throughout it all, Fi has learned some valuable lessons as she finds herself in a stronger place – ultimately to embrace what you love.
She has now recently moved to North West Thunder, to play alongside former SportSpiel guests Kate Cross and Alex Hartley, and Fi reveals how that move has given her a new lease of life.
She also explains in this podcast how the women’s game can continue to grow, her new business venture and how she became a mentor for our wonderful charity partner The Mintridge Foundation.
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Credits
Image: With thanks to Fi Morris
Music: Otis McDonald
Additional thanks go to The Mintridge Foundation for helping us secure this interview
London Dynasty Cheer has grown exponentially in a ridiculously short time, and Joanna Haeger and Grace Lowe are key parts of that.
This week’s podcast guests are the directors of LDC, as well as being athletes and coaches at the cheerleading club, and what began as a project in 2020 is now unrecognisable.
With the initial aim of recruiting 23 athletes the growth of LDC has rocketed and the club now boasts in excess of 200 members as well as five competitive, one elite and two recreational teams.
What’s more, they also have both national champs and Grand Champs victories under their belts.
Joanna and Grace explain how LDC managed to achieve all this in spite of the Covid pandemic that has dominated much of the club’s existence.
They also explain all about the sport, which can bring about many misleading connotations.
When you think of cheerleading you might think of American sports, pom poms and all sorts of performing. This isn’t it.
Competitive stunt-based cheerleading is very different. It’s fast, dangerous, jaw-dropping, skilful and any other adjective you can think of.
But above all else there is an amazing community spirit bringing all backgrounds together. After all, that’s what sport should be all about.
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Image: With thanks to London Dynasty Cheer
Music: Otis McDonald
Linn Sandstrom is one of the most determined individuals you will ever meet in sport.
Currently ranked ninth by the WBA, the boxer has won three straight title fights – the WBC Australasia Title, WBA Asia Title and most recently the WBA inter-continental title won in October last year.
In her words she is on a mission to never be “mediocre or average”. But it has been far from an easy – or conventional – journey for her.
Born in Brazil, raised in Sweden and now living in Australia, Sandstrom’s route into boxing is unique.
In Sweden she was a professional table tennis player, winning a number of Swedish titles along the way.
However, due to the lack of opportunities on offer – and issues with finance on the women’s side – she left the sport before finding her new path into boxing.
This is where Sandstrom the fighter really comes into her own. While her exploits in the ring are attracting plenty of attention there have been many doubters along the way questioning this former table tennis player.
By her own admission it has been a tough road dealing with that negativity, but what was initially used as fuel to the fire is irrelevant these days. Those doubters have been proved well and truly wrong.
Sandstrom is now on a mission to become a world champion and that hunger is so evident in this interview.
If hard work is rewarded as it should be then there’s no doubt we’ll be seeing a lot of her in the boxing world.
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Credits
Image: With thanks to Linn Sandstrom
Music: Otis McDonald
British Olympic runner Amy-Eloise Markovc has plenty to be proud of over the last two years of her career.
The 27-year-old became European indoor champion for the 3000m back in 2021, made her Olympic debut in Tokyo, came fourth in the 5000m at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and she also broke the British two mile record in 2021 too.
That’s just a brief list of some of her achievements – there’s many more – and while Amy is understandably proud of her accomplishments, in what she calls a crazy last two years, there’s still a nagging sense of that untapped potential.
It’s something many athletes can relate to, the never-ending quest to consistently reach your maximum.
With 2023 now here it’s something Amy will continue to strive for as she looks to make even more progress in her athletics journey.
In this SportSpiel podcast interview Amy talks about her mission to try and unlock that potential – something that is easier said than done – with so much of it based on training and coaching changes as well as learning to protect her own mental energy – a tough balancing act.
Amy also shares a mad episode in her life where she almost didn’t qualify for the Olympics thanks to some cones, it’s a story takes some sinking in!
We also explore the progression and potential of women’s sport and why greater research is needed into periods.
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Image: Team GB and Sam Mellish (with thanks to Team GB)
Music: Otis McDonald
The SportSpiel podcast is back with a brand new series of podcasts, starting from Tuesday, January 24, 2023.
It’s been a busy last year for the pair of us, thanks to work, life and everything in between. But we’ve always wanted to get the podcast back up and running and now we have with a new schedule.
Starting from January 24th we will be releasing a new podcast every week as part of a winter/spring series in 2023. We will then be returning with a summer/autumn series of episodes later in the year.
We’re both really excited to continue what the podcast was always intended to do – tell athlete’s stories properly. Now more than ever we’ve seen the potential with areas such as women’s sport and other previously undervalued sports, and that has never sat right with us.
So we’re back with our athlete interviews to bring you closer to these amazing individuals regardless of what sport they do. All that matters is they have a brilliant story to tell or a passionate message to share. That’s what we value on this podcast above all else – in-depth storytelling and who better to bring that to you than the athletes themselves.
We’ve recorded a preview episode to give you a little snippet of what’s coming, and a bit of a life update, but above else we hope you all enjoy what we’ve got coming. Sharing and spreading the word is always appreciated!
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Music: Otis McDonald
Alasdair Hooper hosts the latest episode of SportSpiel with rising Scottish cycling star Anna Shackley.
The 20-year-old seemingly came out of nowhere back in 2021 when – then aged 18 – she signed for esteemed cycling team SD Worx.
Prior to that she had mostly been focusing on the track with the British national programme, winning multiple Scottish junior national titles before winning the elite British points race and team pursuit titles in 2020.
But during lockdown her coach reached out to the SD Worx team manager and that’s where the journey, and subsequent upward trajectory stemmed from.
Fast forward to now and the rider is focusing on the road and has an Olympics appearance under her belt, after she was picked as the only support rider for Lizzie Deignan at the Tokyo games.
But there is no doubting Shakley’s talent and enthusiasm for learning as she aims to develop her skills even more.
In this interview the rider talks all about that quick rise, being involved at an Olympic Games unlike any other as well as her love for scotland – and the scottish weather – among plenty of other topics.
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Credits
Image: Getty Sport
Music: Otis McDonald
With thanks to SD Worx for help setting up this interview
Alasdair Hooper and Will Moulton host SportSpiel’s Review of the Year 2021.
The past 12 months have proven to be another turbulent year as we began 2021 in lockdown and end it with the emergence of Omicron.
But from a sporting sense, there was so much to shout about with many fans being treated to moments of greatness.
While many events were unrecognisable – a fan-less Olympic Games as an example – the athletes showcased their dedication once again and gave us some sense of escapism.
In this episode Alasdair and Will look back on the year in sport as they talk through their nominees and winners in four categories – best sporting moment (5:30), most inspiring moment (22:17), team of the year (39:59) and athlete of the year (xx:xx).
Whether it’s a celebration of England’s Red Roses, or reminiscing on the remarkable Emma Raducanu, these are SportSpiel’s highlights of another topsy-turvy year.
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Music: Otis McDonald
Alasdair Hooper hosts the latest episode of SportSpiel featuring British kiteboarder Aaron Hadlow.
While it may be a powerful description, it’s fair to say Aaron is something of a pioneer in his sport.
The 33-year-old is a five-time world champion and has been dominant in kiteboarding since 2004.
But the transformation the sport has experienced in that time has been massive and Aaron has played a key part in that.
The enthusiasm he has for pushing his sport shines through in this podcast interview, the passion is unmistakeable and that’s obviously a key factor to his success when he has been involved for so long.
Aaron spoke to SportSpiel in the lead-up to the Red Bull King of the Air competition, taking place between November 18 and December 3 out in Cape Town in South Africa.
It’s a competition Aaron has won twice, in 2015 and 2016, and he will certainly be looking to reclaim his crown.
But away from that competition he gives us a rundown all about his sport in this podcast episode as well as how it has made him into the man he is today.
He also tells how much he’s changed over the years, the key lessons he learned during periods of injury as well as how much further the sport can progress in the future.
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Music: Otis McDonald
Image: Craig Kolesky
Will Moulton hosts the latest episode of SportSpiel with returning guest - and Paralympic champion - Laura Sugar.
For most people the chance to represent your country in just one sport would be enough.
But Laura has had the chance to do it across three different events.
After playing hockey for Wales, and then transitioning into athletics where she represented Team GB at the Rio Paralympics, she then became a world-class para-canoe athlete.
At Tokyo 2020, barely 24 months after setting her first paddle in the water in anger, she became Paralympic champion before going on to win a world title just two weeks later.
In her return to the podcast we focus on how her saying 'yes' has helped her achieve that incredible double gold.
The Mintridge Foundation ambassador also talks about the need to increase awareness around para-sport and disabilities in general, and how we can help children realise that elite athletes are human - and what they do can be emulated.
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Music: Otis McDonald
Will Moulton hosts the latest episode of SportSpiel with Olympic gold medallist Kate French.
The Modern Pentathlon star was part of a historic moment at Tokyo 2020 when her gold medal, along with fellow Brit Joe Choong’s own brilliant win, meant it was the first time a nation had claimed victory in both the men’s and women’s event.
The fierce competitor is a humble individual however, in her words, while some people may excel in one of the five disciplines within Modern Pentathlon she likes to say she’s ‘average in all of them’.
What certainly isn’t average is what Kate French has been able to do for her sport and that only looks set to continue in the future. On this episode of the podcast, she tells all about how she got into one of the most unique sports in the world and how spending time with a previous Olympic medallist inspired her to drive for the sport’s greatest stage.
She also gives us a detailed rundown of how she took gold out in Tokyo and why it is so important to inspire the next generation.
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Image credit: Team GB
Music: Otis McDonald
Modern pentathlete Joe Choong was one of the stars of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
The 26-year-old stormed to victory to become the first ever British man to win gold in the Modern Pentathlon.
It came after fellow Brit Kate French won gold in the women’s event to make it a truly historic moment – the first time a nation has won both.
For Joe that completed a mammoth journey, from – in his words – messing up at Rio 2016, to having to deal with the pandemic and all the stresses and mental battles that came with it. But Joe is not going to let this moment pass by – it’s one he wants to seize so he can push Modern Pentathlon as a sport far and wide.
Momentum is a powerful thing after all and that incredible performance out in Tokyo could help pave the way for the next stars of the sport to come through.
It was a real pleasure to welcome Joe onto this episode of SportSpiel, as we touch on the journey to gold, the mental battles that came with it and the Modern Pentathlon brotherhood.
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Credits
Image credits: UIPM World Pentathlon / Virág Buza
Music: Otis McDonald
Alasdair Hooper hosts the latest episode of SportSpiel with Tokyo 2020 silver medalist Mallory Franklin.
The canoe slalom paddler has every right to be recognised for what she has achieved in her sport.
In 2018, she became Britain’s most successful female canoeist and she is a former C1 European and World Cup champion. She followed up that Tokyo silver medal with a K1 World Cup silver medal at the start of September.
Behind the scenes however she is a real perfectionist, and that can sometimes be a real detriment to how much pressure you put on yourself and the anxiety that goes with it. When lockdown one hit at the start of the pandemic, that enforced break led Mallory into unpicking the reasons behind that anxiety and getting her mind into a better place.
Much of this episode homes in on the mental side as Mallory opens up and takes us through her journey to appreciating and being in the moment, as well as learning to separate self-worth from your performance.
She also tells us about the equality journey women’s C1 has come on as well as the importance of sport as a whole.
For someone who grew up as the ‘kid that wouldn’t say yes to the register’ her sport has played a vital role in making her the person she is today.
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Credits
Image credits: With thanks to British Canoeing
Music: Otis McDonald
Alasdair Hooper hosts the latest episode of SportSpiel with former Peterborough United footballer Bobby Copping.
Just over a year ago, in July 2020, the Peterborough youngster went up for a routine header in training.
He landed and his vision went. He’d suffered a mini seizure and went on to spend four days recovering in hospital.
The defender hoped it was a one-off incident and he fought his way back to full fitness. But, in his comeback game, he went for a header in the warm-up and it happened again.
At the age of 19 Bobby was forced to retire as a result. Unsurprisingly, that was an incredibly tough thing to deal with having worked so hard up until that point in his career only for it all to be turned upside down.
With one header it had all ended.
Bobby takes us through those events in this episode of the podcast as well as the incredible mental challenge that came after that sudden retirement.
But he has also worked relentlessly to move forward in life and, with the help of Peterborough United, he has plenty of roles within the club to keep him busy.
He’s also using his experiences as a force for good and earlier this year launched the Bobby Copping Foundation, with the aim to become an independently funded organisation to help players, their families and staff in elite sport.
He has also recently become an ambassador for our charity partners The Mintridge Foundation as he tries to spread his message further.
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Credits
Image credits: With thanks to the Bobby Copping Foundation
Music: Otis McDonald
Will Moulton hosts the latest episode of SportSpiel with GB Wheelchair Basketballer Sophie Carrigill.
Ten years ago, at the age of 16, Sophie was involved in a car accident that changed her life forever.
She initially struggled with the change to her identity but she has since transformed herself into a motivational, and inspirational, individual.
Sophie is one of the stars of the British Wheelchair Basketball team and has played a key role in their rise, including a World Championship silver medal as well as their first ever Paralympic semi-final at Rio 2016.
But she also plays a key part off the court as a driver for greater accessibility, inclusion and opportunity for disabled people in sport and life.
She's also a passionate advocate for equality for female athletes.
Her efforts have been recognised far and wide - her inclusion in the Forbes 30 under 30 list is just one example of that - and she was also among the first cohort of athletes in the Women's Sport Trust's Unlocked programme.
Throughout it all she has show that anyone can follow their dream regardless of what stands in their way.
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Credits
Image credits: With thanks to Sophie Carrigill
Music: Otis McDonald
Sonny Pike was the wonderkid that had it all. He was the gifted young footballer destined to be a star, until it all came crashing down to earth.
His reputation during the 1990s exploded and there was immeasurable hype that came with it.
Dutch giants Ajax had swooped on him, he was touted as English football’s Diego Maradona and his legs were insured for £1million at the age of 11.
Coca Cola, McDonald’s and Paul Smith all queued to sponsor him, and he appeared on TV shows like Fantasy Football and Blue Peter. But bubbles tend to burst. If his rise to fame was quick, then the speed with which it was all taken away was double time.
It all unravelled to such a point where the footballing boy wonder was stood on top of a bridge – known locally as Suicide Bridge – contemplating ending it all aged 15.
These days Sonny Pike is a London taxi driver living in Hertfordshire, and he runs his own football academy just off the M25.
Sonny is the ultimate cautionary tale for child footballing prodigies and now he is telling his own side of the story in an explosive new book that was released on May 27.
He exposes the reckless ambition, the broken promises, and the lost innocence that no one really saw when he was always in the media.
He also details the way it all fell apart, the spiral into depression and how he has built his life back up to where it is today.
This is the story of the greatest footballer that never was.
Sonny Pike: The Greatest Footballer That Never Was, published by Reach Sport, is on sale now. Save 25% from reachsportshop.com
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Credits
Image credits: With thanks to Reach Sport and Sonny Pike
Music: Otis McDonald
Alasdair Hooper hosts the fifth and final Mental Health Awareness Week episode all about mental health and nature.
Joining the podcast for the discussion are GB steeplechaser Iona Lake and Christina Colmer McHugh, the Director of Moodbeam.
Considering the last year we have faced, with the ongoing Covid pandemic, many of us have spent more time indoors than ever before.
It's no surprise, then, that this year the theme of Mental Health Awareness Week is nature.
Listen to the podcast below
Research from the Mental Health Foundation found that 45% of people had reported being in green spaces had been vital for their mental health and this is the topic we are tapping into on this episode - to find out just how vital the great outdoors is.
Christina and Iona also share their own experiences and their own ways of helping to balance their mental health.
If you are struggling with your mental health here are some organisations who can help
- Samaritans: Phone 116 123, 24 hours a day, or email jo@samaritans.org, in confidence
- Childline: Phone 0800 1111. Calls are free and won't show up on your bill
- PAPYRUS: A voluntary organisation supporting suicidal teens and young adults. Phone 0800 068 4141
- Depression Alliance: A charity for people with depression.
- Students Against Depression: A website for students who are depressed, have low mood, or are suicidal.
- Bullying UK: A website for both children and adults affected by bullying.
- Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM): For young men who are feeling unhappy. Helpline 0800 58 58 58
Mental Health Awareness Week is hosted by the Mental Health Foundation. You can find more information and support it here - https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/campaigns/mental-health-awareness-week
Visit Moodbeam here - https://moodbeam.co.uk/personal
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Credits
Image credits: With thanks to the Mintridge Foundation and Christina Colmer McHugh
Music: Otis McDonald
Alasdair Hooper hosts the fourth Mental Health Awareness Week episode all themed around mental health and sport in the LGBTQ community.
Joining the podcast for the discussion are Karina Murray, of Sporting Pride Ireland, Assistant Editor at Goal, Emma Smith, and also Martin Stark, the CEO and founder of the World Gay Boxing Championships.
Of course, being from the LGBTIQ+ community doesn't mean you will automatically have issues with your mental health.
However, a recent Stonewall study found that over the previous year half of LGBTIQ+ people had experienced depression and three in five had experienced anxiety.
One in eight LGBTIQ+ people aged 18-24 had attempted to end their life and almost half of trans people half thought about taking their life. Each one of our guests also has their own story to tell.
For Mark, he didn't come out until the age of 27 and he came close to dying in 2017 from Addison's Disease, an experience that prompted him to take a self-defence class and then boxing that has made him the man he is today.
Karina also struggled to find out who she was growing up, but it was the LGBT clubs in Ireland where she really came to understand and accept who she was.
For Emma, she came out in 2019 as transgender and explains in this episode how she came to discover her own identity.
This is an incredibly in-depth episode but by sharing their stories, and their advice, it will hopefully help someone who may find themselves in a difficult situation.
If you are struggling with your mental health here are some organisations who can help
- Samaritans: Phone 116 123, 24 hours a day, or email jo@samaritans.org, in confidence
- Childline: Phone 0800 1111. Calls are free and won't show up on your bill
- PAPYRUS: A voluntary organisation supporting suicidal teens and young adults. Phone 0800 068 4141
- Depression Alliance: A charity for people with depression.
- Students Against Depression: A website for students who are depressed, have low mood, or are suicidal.
- Bullying UK: A website for both children and adults affected by bullying.
- Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM): For young men who are feeling unhappy. Helpline 0800 58 58 58
Mental Health Awareness Week is hosted by the Mental Health Foundation. You can find more information and support it here - https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/campaigns/mental-health-awareness-week
Visit MindOut, the LGBTQ mental health service here - https://mindout.org.uk/ Visit Sporting Pride Ireland here - https://www.sportingpride.ie/
Find out more about the World Gay Boxing Championships here - https://www.worldgayboxingchampionships.org/
Follow Martin Stark here - https://www.instagram.com/gayboxingchamp/?hl=en
Follow Emma Smith here - https://twitter.com/emmasmithjourno
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Credits
Image credits: With thanks to Martin Stark, Karina Murray and Emma Smith
Music: Otis McDonald
Alasdair Hooper hosts the third Mental Health Awareness Week special episode with commentator Chris Murphy on addiction recovery, depression and Sporting Chance.
Chris knows what it’s like to decide to make the unthinkable decision.
At the heart of it was a crippling gambling addiction, after first placing a bet at the age of 17, as well as a battle with depression.
For years the gambling and the depression consumed him and it eventually culminated in Chris deciding to take his own life.
Thankfully that unsuccessful attempt sparked things into action and led to his road to recovery.
But recovery is tough, really tough, and if there’s one key message Chris wants to get there you don’t just magically get better.
There are relapses, those battles still linger, but considering where Chris is now he has made some inspiring progress.
Chris is also the Gambling and Education Facilitator at Sporting Chance, the charity that was set up by former Arsenal Captain Tony Adams who himself battled with addiction.
It provides services to professional sportspeople who are in need of mental health support, whether that is addiction related or anything else, and it has proved to be a vital lifeline for so many.
This episode is a really powerful listen, as Chris goes into depth about what happened to him, but there is so much to take away by listening to his story.
If you are struggling with your mental health here are some organisations who can help
- Samaritans: Phone 116 123, 24 hours a day, or email jo@samaritans.org, in confidence
- Childline: Phone 0800 1111. Calls are free and won't show up on your bill
- PAPYRUS: A voluntary organisation supporting suicidal teens and young adults. Phone 0800 068 4141
- Depression Alliance: A charity for people with depression.
- Students Against Depression: A website for students who are depressed, have low mood, or are suicidal.
- Bullying UK: A website for both children and adults affected by bullying.
- Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM): For young men who are feeling unhappy. Helpline 0800 58 58 58
Mental Health Awareness Week is hosted by the Mental Health Foundation. You can find more information and support it here - https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/campaigns/mental-health-awareness-week
Visit Sporting Chance here - https://www.sportingchanceclinic.com/
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Credits
Music: Otis McDonald
Alasdair Hooper and Will Moulton host the second of our Mental Health Awareness Week episodes all about mental health in the media.
Joining them are Ryan Conway, The Athletic's Derby County writer, Tommy Wathen, the Sport Social Media Editor for the Mirror, Express and Star, as well as Rebecca Myers of The Sunday Times.
Working in journalism and the media comes with incredible opportunities. The days are fast-paced, you get to speak to remarkable people and you can make a difference with your voice or your words.
But it also comes with significant struggles - the long hours, risk of burnout, stress and also social media abuse.
Mental health in journalism isn't often talked about but - particularly in the pandemic - it's something that needs a spotlight shone onto it.
It's one of the reasons why the website Newsbreak was created during the pandemic as a place for journalists to share their mental health stories. There hasn't been a proper conversation and, with most of us trading newsrooms for our homes, isolation has also been a battle. In this podcast episode we look to unpick some of the mental health issues in the media as we all try and share some practical advice for what has worked for us, as well as how we individually cope with social media, which can be toxic at times.
Above all, even those days where you struggle, the chances are you are not along and journalists can help each other during these unprecedented times.
If you are struggling with your mental health here are some organisations who can help
- Samaritans: Phone 116 123, 24 hours a day, or email jo@samaritans.org, in confidence
- Childline: Phone 0800 1111. Calls are free and won't show up on your bill
- PAPYRUS: A voluntary organisation supporting suicidal teens and young adults. Phone 0800 068 4141
- Depression Alliance: A charity for people with depression.
- Students Against Depression: A website for students who are depressed, have low mood, or are suicidal.
- Bullying UK: A website for both children and adults affected by bullying.
- Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM): For young men who are feeling unhappy. Helpline 0800 58 58 58
Mental Health Awareness Week is hosted by the Mental Health Foundation. You can find more information and support it here - https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/campaigns/mental-health-awareness-week
Visit Newsbreak here - https://takeanewsbreak.com/
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Music: Otis McDonald
Alasdair Hooper and Will Moulton host the first episode of our Mental Health Awareness Week series on addiction with Russell Pearce and Patrick Foster.
Addiction is a major problem in the UK and former Welsh boxer Russell, and former cricketer Patrick, know that better than most having suffered from alcohol and gambling addictions respectively.
In Russell's case his addiction essentially cost him is gambling career while for Patrick, his gambling pushed him into almost doing the unthinkable.
To sum up the state of the problem, in the first nine months of 2020 deaths from alcohol hit record levels in England and Wales - 5460.
That is a 16.4% increase on the same period in 2019.
In July 2020, a House of Lords report titled 'Gambling Harm - Time for Action' found that half of adults in the UK gamble at least once a month.
A third of a million UK citizens are 'problem' or 'disordered' gamblers and it is estimated that for every problem gambler, six other people are harmed by the breakup of families, crime, losing jobs, losing homes or a death.
In this episode both Russell and Patrick will use their own experiences to help us understand some of the issues at play better.
They have incredibly powerful stories to tell but they both are also in a position where they can now help others - Russell currently helps recovering alcoholics with the charity Kaleidoscope while Patrick is the Director of Educational Programmes at EPIC Risk Management.
If you are struggling with your mental health here are some organisations who can help
- Samaritans: Phone 116 123, 24 hours a day, or email jo@samaritans.org, in confidence
- Childline: Phone 0800 1111. Calls are free and won't show up on your bill
- PAPYRUS: A voluntary organisation supporting suicidal teens and young adults. Phone 0800 068 4141
- Depression Alliance: A charity for people with depression.
- Students Against Depression: A website for students who are depressed, have low mood, or are suicidal.
- Bullying UK: A website for both children and adults affected by bullying.
- Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM): For young men who are feeling unhappy. Helpline 0800 58 58 58
Mental Health Awareness Week is hosted by the Mental Health Foundation. You can find more information and support it here.
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Image credits: With thanks to Russell Pearce and Patrick Foster
Music: Otis McDonald
Alasdair Hooper hosts this episode of SportSpiel with guest Emily Borthwick.
The high jumper had quite the debut for Team GB as she starred at the European Indoor championships back in March this year.
She recorded a four-centimetre personal best of 1.91 to qualify for the high jump final and finish eight in Europe.
But at the heart of that insane result – combined with the hard work and the determination – was the mental side of the game.
As Emily puts it in this episode it was the decision to just be good.
Prior to her third attempt at the Indoors her coach Fuzz Caan told her to ‘change her emotion, not her technique.'
That emphasised just how much the performance was down to the mental side – and it all clicked into place.
On this podcast Emily takes us through that performance, and how everything mentally is now clicking into gear after years of just missing out and 'holding herself back'.
She also tells us what her aims are for the future and also her role with Totally Runable, a vitally important project which helps schools close their Gender Sport Gap.
From mental health, to body image, to social media image, there's a lot that goes into increasing the sport participation levels for young girls.
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Image credit: Sam Barnes
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Alasdair Hooper hosts the latest episode of SportSpiel with 2018 MXGP World Champion Jeffrey Herlings.
In this wide-ranging chat the motocross star takes us through his childhood and the horrifying crash that derailed his 2020 season.
Herlings was the red-hot favourite for last year’s MXGP world championship title but it all changed in September when he was involved in that head-first crash in free practice at the Grand Prix of Citta di Faenza in Italy. The impact was so powerful the Dutchman was unable to move, and he lay motionless on the track. In his words he thought that was going to be game over and that he might have been paralysed. Thankfully – Herlings’ injuries were not as bad as first feared, he was incredibly lucky and he knows it. But that crash has changed his outlook on life, and his outlook on how he approaches racing for the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team. With the 2021 campaign scheduled to start in a couple of months all focus is now on winning the world championship again, but as Jeffrey explains in this episode it’s about enjoying things a lot more now rather than putting an intense amount of pressure back on his shoulders.
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Watch Jeffrey Herlings' episode on Red Bull's MX World here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sd6rW_9Twi0
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Images: Red Bull Content Pool
Music: Otis McDonald
Will Moulton hosts the latest episode of SportSpiel with Saracens and England star Zoe Harrison.
In a wide-ranging interview with the Women's Six Nations now underway, Zoe discusses her experiences of playing rugby at school and getting one over the bullies in recent years.
From her perspective one vital piece of advice is to not take any notice of those trying to put you down.
Zoe also takes us through how much women's rugby has grown and also what it's like in England camps, including the odd bit of Xbox.
She also talks about England in the Six Nations as well as the postponed Rugby World Cup, now set to be held in in 2022.
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Images: With thanks to The Mintridge Foundation and Zoe Harrison
Music: Otis McDonald
T38 sprinter Sophie Hahn has already achieved so much by the age of 24.
Back in 2018 her gold medal in the T38 100m at the Commonwealth Games meant she became the first female track and field athlete to win the grand slam - namely holding gold medals in the same event from the Paralympics, World Championships, European Championships and also the Commonwealths.
Her rise has been rapid, ever since she was first inspired to take up the sport off the back of the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
From there Sophie quickly became one to watch, winning gold in the T38 100m World Championships in 2013.
2016 was arguably the year she announced herself to even more British sports fans with that gold at Rio 2016 in particular.
Fast forward to now and she is the proud owner of a Paralympic gold, seven World golds, six European golds and also two world records to boot.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, many would be happy enough to settle for just that but Sophie is not one of those individuals. This is an athlete driven to win time and time again, and to keep retaining those gold medals whenever she competes.
That is exactly the mission looking ahead to Tokyo 2020 later this year, although Covid means no overseas fans will be allowed to travel to the games.
But with just home fans, or no fans, Sophie Hahn will be determined to deliver and become even more of a role model than she already is.
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Katie Milner is one determined racing driver making waves in motorsport.
She is the first female to be on the McLaren Driver Development Program, was the first female Junior Saloon Car Champion in 2016 and she also won the inaugural British Women Racing Drivers gold star driver award.
But, as she has moved up through the motorsport ranks, questions about being a women in motorsport inevitably come along.
But that isn't something that phases her.
In Katie's view,'we all look the same, we've got our helmet and overalls on, so we should all be classed as racing drivers'.
In this episode of SportSpiel the racer joins the podcast in an exciting week, where it was announced she would be racing for Team Rocket RJN in the British GT Championship.
It's the perfect way to get 2021 up and running after the disruption of 2020 caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
It's been a long wait to finally get back out on the track, but that looks to finally be coming to an end soon.
She also explains in this episode just how much an idol her dad - Jonny Milner - is to her thanks to his own successful career in rallying. If there's one main thing he's taught her over the years, it's to never give up.
That lesson has definitely come in useful at various stages, particularly with a disruptive pandemic ongoing.
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Image credit: With thanks to McLaren
Music: Otis McDonald
Deaf footballer Fil Kamps has had quite the career.
He’s competed for Great Britain at the World Cup, the Deaflympics and he is also a British Deaf Football Cup, English Deaf Football Cup and English Deaf Football League winner.
That’s a lot of success to enjoy, and to be proud of, for the now 27-year-old. Turning out for his country in particular – a dream he had held ever since he was a boy - is a particular highlight.
But the journey to realising your dream is never a straight one, and for Fil it was no different. There are always plenty of bumps and plenty of setbacks along the way.
For Fil, one particular moment stands out strongly to this day as he was one of the final players cut from the GB squad ahead of the European Championships in 2015.
It was a gut-wrenching moment, it broke him and felt like he had let others down.
But that setback arguably fuelled the comeback – as he went on to work even harder, desperate to achieve his dream and turn out to play football for his country. With that hard work and relentlessness he eventually achieved it.
But, at the age of just 24, Fil was forced to retire from football due to injury - an abrupt end to a career that had given him so much until that point.
Three years on he admits he is still struggling to fill that void left behind by the absence of football.
He does keep himself busy, as an ambassador for The Mintridge Foundation as well as roles with Kent County Council, the Kent Disability League and also as chairman of Fulham's deaf team.
But, in terms of finding something that provides the same electric passion as playing football, there is still some management to go.
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Image credit: With thanks to Fil Kamps
Music: Otis McDonald
Alasdair Hooper and Will Moulton host a special episode of SportSpiel all about Time to Talk Day.
Joining the show to mark the day - held on February 4 - are British Olympic trap shooter Georgina Roberts as well as England and Northampton Saints rugby star George Furbank.
Brought to you in association with The Mintridge Foundation and the Royal Agricultural University, also joining the show for this episode is Lewis Bebb, RAU's Student Union President, and Charlie McMenemy, the SU's Campaigns and Welfare Officer.
During this episode our guests will explore the importance of Time to Talk Day as well as pick apart the issues of mental health awareness, particularly during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
With so many of us having our lives completely changed, lockdown has had a huge mental health impact on everybody in one way or another.
But ultimately throughout the conversation one point remains absolutely clear - it is always good to talk.
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Image credit: With thanks to The Mintridge Foundation
Music: Otis McDonald
Extended thanks go to The Mintridge Foundation and The Royal Agricultural University
Alasdair Hooper hosts the first SportSpiel episode of 2021 with Northampton Saints and England full-back George Furbank.
The last 12 months have been quite the ride for the 24-year-old. Just under a year ago - January 20, 2020 to be exact – he received his first call up to the England squad for the Six Nations before making his debut against France for Eddie Jones’ side.
After that rapid rise to the international setup he has become one of the players to watch – but of course this last year has been anything but smooth thanks to a certain global pandemic.
To sum that up, the day we recorded this episode George was on his final day of self-isolation after a positive covid test – one of many positives that led to Northampton Saints temporarily having to close things down.
That’s just one of a number of frustrations that many of us are finding ourselves living with now that we’re back in the third national lockdown.
On this episode of the podcast George tells what it’s been like having to juggle sport with all things pandemic – but he also tells about his own development as a player, from starting out initially to that whirlwind call up to the England team.
And, as an ambassador for the Mintridge Foundation, he is someone who knows all too well what the power of sport can do. With kids across the country now facing home schooling again – physical exercise can’t be pushed to the side as a result of that.
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Image credit: With thanks to The Mintridge Foundation
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Alasdair Hooper and Will Moulton host SportSpiel's Review of the Year 2020.
The past 12 months have proven to be a year like no other - as major sporting events were cancelled and our lives were completely altered - but one constant has been the enjoyment of sport in our lives.
For many of us it has kept us going and there have still been some fantastic highlights to look back on this year, despite the pandemic's unpredictability.
In this episode Alasdair and Will look back on the year in sport as they talk through their nominees and winners in four categories - best sporting moment (10:25), most inspiring moment (27:03), team of the year (41:25) and athlete of the year (56:23).
From the fantastic England Rugby performances, to Lewis Hamilton, to football coming back, these are SportSpiel's highlights of a truly unique year.
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Will Moulton hosts the latest episode of SportSpiel with GB Hockey stars Emily Defroand and Tess Howard.
Like many athletes both Emily and Tess were gearing up towards Tokyo 2020, along with the rest of the GB Hockey team - a competition that would be the pinnacle of their careers.
Of course, the global pandemic had other ideas with the Olympic Games postponed until next year.
But rather than let that delay disillusion them, the GB squad have turned that into a huge positive. It means they will have another year to prepare to fight for a medal at consecutive Games.
On this episode both Emily and Tess explain how they have used the time to educate themselves on social injustices and explore other passions outside of the playing field.
Both of them are part of the Women's Sport Trust's #UNLOCKED campaign and they have also each launched exciting individual projects - Tess' Freesolo Hockey, and Emily's popular Cuppa N Natter podcast.
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Images: With thanks to GB Hockey
Music: Otis McDonald
Changing Lives FC are a football team with a story. Every training session, and during every game, you can hear around a dozen different languages – that’s because each member of the squad is a migrant, refugee or asylum seeker. All of them have fled war, terror or they are in desperate search for a better life. They are all young men who would be extremely vulnerable if left to fend for themselves. Joining us on this podcast is their manager David Simmons, a PE teacher living in Harlow, in Essex, who is also the founder of Changing Lives Community Services – a project dedicated to keeping vulnerable youngsters out of the hands of gangs and violence. David is no stranger to extraordinary journeys – he was once threatened by a six-year-old with a knife, which is partly what motivated him to step up and make a difference. But this football team has been a challenge like no other. Getting a group of players who don’t all speak the same language is difficult enough in itself but that’s made all the more harder by the discrimination that swirls them. According to David, the team have been plagued by incidents of racist abuse and further discrimination from some opponents – he has even had to invest in a video camera he feels he needs to protect his players. As David says – racism is still happening every Sunday, and it’s something that needs kicking out of the game.
*NOTE *
SportSpiel also approached the Harlow and District Football League for a response but received it after episode production had concluded. You can find the response below:**League secretary, Alvyn Charles, said: "I am deeply saddened to hear that Mr Simmons has made these comments about the racism his team has experienced.
"The two incidents that have been brought to my attention by Mr Simmons were deemed on both occasions to not be of a racist content. As HDFL is a multi-cultural league, if there were any forms of racism we instruct all teams that if/when it occurs we have procedures in place and always have informed the Essex FA who themselves would conduct their own investigation."
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Images: With thanks to Changing Lives FC
Music: Otis McDonald
Will Moulton hosts this episode of SportSpiel with We are Girls in Sport founders Caroline Kings and Jo Wimble-Groves.
The pair have an identical vision on the importance of sport to girls and that was how We are Girls in Sport was born in early 2020.
The global movement looks to share the stories and remarkable achievements of girls and women in every sport you could possibly imagine.
Put simply, you have to seem them to be them and through that ethos We are Girls in Sport are looking to increase the participation and retention of females in sport.
There has been such a growth in women's sport recently - now is the time to keep pushing it more than ever.
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Will Moulton hosts this latest episode of The Women's Football Diary with Leicester City midfielder Remi Allen.
In her third appearance on the podcast Remi reflects on the last few months as she returned to Leicester City 10 years after leaving the club where she first came through.
Much has changed since then as Leicester are now a full-time professional outfit after being taken over by King Power and coming under the same banner as the men.
In this episode she takes us through the move back to her old team as well as leaving Reading without being able to say a proper goodbye.
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Image credit: With thanks to Remi Allen
Music: Dan Henig
Alasdair Hooper hosts the latest episode of The Women's Football Diary with Aston Villa defender Anita Asante.
The England international, and former Arsenal and Chelsea player, is one of the most successful players around but her journey has coincided with plenty of personal realisations along the way. Right now she is homing in on the norm, or rather society’s perception of what is normal. That ranges from body image to the current situation around the Black Lives Matter movement and is why she says those perceptions need to change. She’s had plenty of personal experience with going against the perceived norm - she knew herself that she was different from an early age, but it wasn’t until her football career took her outside of this country that she actually openly came out to her parents. A large part of that was that word again – the norm.
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Image credit: With thanks to Jules PR
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Alasdair Hooper and Will Moulton host a special discussion episode on body image in women's sport, in association with The Mintridge Foundation and Limitless.
Joining us to pick apart the issue and share their own experiences are Olympic gold medal-winning Great Britain hockey captain Kate Richardson-Walsh as well as England Rugby internationals Justine Lucas and Zoe Harrison.
Body image is an incredibly complex issue that impacts so many in sport and society - and it's widespread. Just last week MPs warned that closing gyms during lockdown led to rise in people feeling insecure about their bodies.
According to an online poll by the Women and Equalities Committee two-thirds of under-18s and 61 per cent of adults feel negative or very negative about their body image most of the time.
Throughout this discussion so many things come to light - the problems with kit, the pressure to look a certain way and also the stereotype for women that being muscly means you might be gay.
But ultimately there is one massive takeaway everyone should be able to agree on. It's time we stopped forgetting about women in sport.
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Extended thanks go to The Mintridge Foundation and Limitless for organising this podcast
Music: Otis McDonald
Alasdair Hooper hosts the fourth episode of The Women's Football Diary with West Ham United defender Maz Pacheco.
The USA scholarship system has long been a huge draw for promising women’s footballers in this country – but Pacheco did things her own way. Eleven days after signing for West Ham in the summer, the left-back graduated from Sheffield University with a law degree. That was the culmination of three years of incredibly hard work. A law degree is no easy feat anyway but it was made much harder by the fact she was playing professionally for Reading in the WSL during those last two years.
But at the heart of that dedication, other than obviously wanting it for herself and her family, was to prove to other players that you didn’t have to go the States to get an education and play football. Pacheco herself even turned down a scholarship at Harvard in order to pursue her career at home.
Ultimately that decision also shows the pull power the WSL has in this country – not only is the league attracting players from abroad now, but it is also keeping players here.
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Image credit: With thanks to Forte Sports Management
Music: Dan Henig
Alasdair Hooper hosts the third episode of The Women's Football Diary with former Wolfsburg, PSG and FC Rosengard forward Ella Masar.
Masar is currently on one of the biggest journeys of her life right now as she currently gets to grips with being a mum for the very first time alongside her partner, Real Madrid defender Babett Peter.
Their son was born earlier in September and, just as with any new parents, it is sure to be challenge particularly with the small matter of a global pandemic still going on in the background.
But Masar has already experienced massive challenges in her life – from struggling to accept her own sexuality by the age of 25 to the difficulties presented in her teenage years where money was tight, and her mum was battling with bipolar disorder.
But throughout it all Masar has always held on during the tough times for that light at the end of the tunnel.
In this podcast we spoke a matter of days before the US international was due to give birth and it’s clear just how much the 34-year-old has learnt from her incredible life experiences already.
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Image credit: With thanks to Doyenne Sport
Music: Dan Henig
Alasdair Hooper hosts the second episode of The Women's Football Diary with Reading and former Chelsea defender Deanna Cooper.
In the podcast, Cooper reflects on her journey in football from being a 'nobody' in football to becoming the surprise package of the WSL Spring Series for Chelsea.
But after that high came a devastating ACL injury which ruled her out for a majority of the following season - and it proved difficult to break back into the Blues' starting XI.
Now with her new side, Cooper has grown a lot as a player and person as Reading aim to push to new heights with a wealth of impressive signings.
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Image credit: With thanks to Deanna Cooper and Reading
Music: Dan Henig
Alasdair Hooper hosts the first episode of The Women's Football Diary with Wales' record goalscorer Helen Ward.
In an open conversation the Watford captain tells us about her career, including the biggest challenge of them all - motherhood.
The 34-year-old is a mum of two and also explains just how tough it was to get back to playing after becoming a mum in the first place.
Ward also tells us about life in lockdown and how the Welsh setup has changed in her time with the national team.
She also talks about Watford's aims for the season and how body image issues in women's football have gone under the radar.
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Image credit: With thanks to NA Sport
Music: Dan Henig
Extended thanks goes to NA Sport for their help in securing this interview
Will Moulton hosts this latest episode of SportSpiel with Scotland Rugby stars Rhona Lloyd and Sarah Bonar.
Alongside their exploits in rugby the duo are also known for hosting the Women Who Sport podcast, designed to raise the platform and showcase the journeys of talented women in sport.
In this episode the pair take us through their sport and what makes it truly inclusive for everyone regardless of their body size as well as touching on their own personal careers.
They also talk about the aims of Women Who Sport and what platform the podcast has given them.
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Image credit: With thanks to Rhona Lloyd and Sarah Bonar
Music: Otis McDonald
Open water swimmer Alice Dearing is often asked the same questions about being the black swimmer from Britain. According to figures from Sport England, 95% of black adults and 80% of black children in England do not swim. Meanwhile just 1% of registered competitive swimmers with Swim England identify as black or mixed race. Those numbers mean that 23-year-old Alice has essentially become the poster girl for black swimming. It’s a role she takes in her stride. She co-founded the Black Swimming Association in March this year and has teamed up with SOUL CAP, a black-owned brand that creates larger swimming caps for those with larger hair. In light of the Black Lives Matter movement too, questions about race and equality are rightly on the agenda. For Alice that means talking about those issues whenever it arises but it’s something that shouldn’t really exist in the first place. In this podcast Alice also takes us through her most challenging moment when she was taken off of funding and left the national swimming centre back in 2017. As she says, her self-worth was wrapped up in swimming and that was a lesson she probably needed. She also talks about sexism in women’s sport and the pressures from society that dictate sportswomen should look a certain way.
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Image credit: With thanks to Alice Dearing
Music: Otis McDonald
When you ask Livvy Breen what her biggest challenge has been the answer is almost like a reflex - Rio 2016 Going into those Paralympic Games, Livvy was one of the breakout stars to watch but things didn’t exactly go to plan. Yet from that lowest low came her highest high. The Rio experience led to her changing coach, changing her training location and essentially changing her life. 10 months later she became World Champion. These days Livvy is one of the most recognisable British athletes and has been a fighter right from day one. But even with the weird circumstances we find ourselves in right now with all things coronavirus, even now the 24-year-old is doing what she can to raise awareness. Her particular focus right now is on face masks, something we all have to get used to, but face masks make it very difficult if you’re deaf and reliant on lip reading, just like Livvy. In this episode Livvy takes us through these important issues, the high and lows of her career and she explains why you should always keep fighting no matter what.
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Image credit: With thanks to Olivia Breen
Music: Otis McDonald
This weekend's episode of SportSpiel is a little bit different - but arguably one of our most important shows.
On July 10 we hosted a live panel organised by our wonderful charity partners The Mintridge Foundation as part of their 28NotOut campaign – all about Mental Health and sport.
The event was held to raise money for the Max Hunter fund, and Max was a hugely important person to a lot of people.
Tragically last year he died by suicide at the age of just 28.
So that was one of the aims of this live panel – to normalise the conversations around mental health and the benefit of sport. Helping us do that were four amazing panellists.
First up we had England Rugby and Leicester Tigers star Dan Cole who told us about some of his own experiences as well as plenty of rugby conversation along the way – from the highs of the 2019 World Cup to the lows of the 2015 tournament and battles with injury.
As well as Dan we were also joined by psychotherapist Gemma Saggers, Liam Durkin from the Papyrus charity who focus on the prevention of young suicide and also Dan Griffin from Stamford Rugby club who was a close friend of Max.
There’s a lot to learn from this live panel and we hope you enjoy the evening as much as we did.
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Alasdair Hooper and Will Moulton host this special episode with former cricketer Patrick Foster as part of The Mintridge Foundation’s #28NotOut – raising money for the Max Hunter Fund.
This is one of the most eye-opening and honest accounts we have ever hosted on this podcast as Patrick takes us through his journey with a severe gambling addiction.
It’s an addiction that has plagued his life for years and drove him to the brink of suicide.
But it all changed with a truly vital phone call to his brother – and that’s what led him down the road to recovery.
Now the ambassador for The Mintridge Foundation uses his experiences to educate others to the dangers and also to push for a greater understanding of mental health.
That’s the overall message we want to send as part of #28NotOut – to normalise these types of conversations.
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Music: Otis McDonald
Katie Taylor needs no introduction to sports fans. The two-weight World Champion is a boxing pioneer, transcends her sport in ways few can match and has inspired thousands of people. One of those thousands was a 16-year-old Shamrock Rovers footballer who dreamt of playing for Arsenal - Gráinne Walsh. After meeting Taylor, the now 24-year-old was inspired to take up the sport and, just four years later, they were competing on the same team as each other.
It's the perfect example of how a role model can change what you want from life.
Gráinne's own career is also picking up pace after winning bronze at the 2019 European Games in Minsk.
The dream is now very much centred on Olympic qualification - a dream that remains alive after a ruptured thumb ligament in January this year.
For Gráinne, she was incredibly thankful when Tokyo 2020 became Tokyo 2021.
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For tickets and information about our #28NotOut event with England Rugby star Dan Cole click here - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/28-not-out-mental-health-sport-panel-with-sportspiel-tickets-107528791510?aff=ebdssbonlinesearch
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Credits
Image credits: With thanks to Gráinne Walsh
Music: Otis McDonald
Depression, anxiety, stress and self-doubt – these are just some of your mind’s monsters.
It’s something Hazel Gale is all too familiar with, having been plagued by her doubting voice during her boxing and kickboxing career.
The voice is one thing, but it’s the impact it has on the rest of the body that proved to be her undoing.
Hazel was petrified of looking weak and that fear took over. It resulted in overtraining, chronic fatigue, stress and depression.
Eventually boxing ‘broke her’.
Today, Hazel is a cognitive hypnotherapist having discovered the form of therapy when she was at her lowest. She’s also the author of the book The Mind Monster Solution: How to overcome self-sabotage & reclaim your life.
She’s now in a position to help others tame their own mind monsters, but it’s been a long road to get to this position.
MessagesFor more information on cognitive hypnotherapy and Hazel’s book you can do so here - https://hazelgale.com/
For tickets and information about our #28NotOut event with England Rugby star Dan Cole click here - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/28-not-out-mental-health-sport-panel-with-sportspiel-tickets-107528791510?aff=ebdssbonlinesearch
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Image credits: With thanks to Greg Funnell and Hazel Gale
Music: Otis McDonald
Will Moulton hosts this SportSpiel feature interview with England cricketers - and best friends - Alex Hartley and Kate Cross.
Together Alex and Kate host the No Balls podcast and they give us an insight into how their popular podcast came about.
We also hear the origins of some of the more unique features of their show - such as the ever-popular relationship advice. Their friendship may be best described as a 'car crash' by Kate - after it started with an actual car crash - but the inseparable pair also explain just how important their relationship is.
No matter how difficult something is, they always have their friendship to lean on.
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Music: Otis McDonald
Alasdair Hooper and Will Moulton host the 100th episode of SportSpiel.
To mark the occasion this edition of the podcast is a special compilation show made up of six interviews that had an impact on us and on our listeners.
They are interviews where we learned something for the first time, where we were taught how to battle back in the face of adversity and how the word 'no' doesn't have to mean 'no'.
They are stories that needed to be told, and stories that required immense bravery to open up about.
With the world now completely changed thanks to a virus, they are messages we could all do with hearing right now.
Featuring:
Beth Dobbin - Listen to the full interview here
Sammi Kinghorn - Listen to the full interview here
Ruth Fox - Listen to the full interview here
Marilyn Okoro and Laura Sugar - Listen to the full interview here
Stacey Copeland - Listen to the full interview here
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CreditsMusic: Otis McDonald
Alasdair Hooper hosts this SportSpiel feature interview with Middlesex and Scotland cricketer Olivia Rae.
Life in coronavirus lockdown has had an impact on everyone, but what happens when you’ve put so much effort towards achieving your dream of playing your sport professionally and then this happens?
On this edition of the podcast, Olivia takes us through exactly that.
After working so hard towards becoming a professional player everything is now on hold thanks to the current situation we all find ourselves in
But this is just a small part of the conversation on this episode, as Olivia takes us through the mental health and anxiety battles she has gone through over the last few years.
She’s in a positive place now, but that wasn’t the case a few months back.
Here she details what happened to her and – more importantly – how she managed to build herself a support network to help herself out of it.
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Image credit: With thanks to Middlesex Cricket
Music: Otis McDonald
Will Moulton hosts this SportSpiel feature interview with former British athlete Jenny Meadows.
In the first episode recorded since the UK-wide lockdown was imposed the World and European 800m medalist tells all about life right now in these unprecedented times.
But the Olympian also takes us through her role with social enterprise Totally Runable.
Together with fellow Olympian Emily Freeman, Jenny is launching a new initiative aimed at inspiring girls to get active.
The poster campaign on crowdfunding site Kickstarter asks supporters to pledge anything from £3 up to £5,000 to be a part of the project with rewards for those who pledge
The aim is to raise a total of £6,000 that will allow the team to share photos of girls aged 10-15 doing sports they love with an initial round of 2,500 UK primary schools, aiming to help close the Gender Sport Gap.
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A special thank you to goes to Totally Runable for their ongoing work
Music: Otis McDonald
Alasdair Hooper hosts this SportSpiel feature interview with basketball player, poet and campaigner Asma Elbadawi.
From a very young age, Asma has always been someone to highlight any inequalities she saw. As it says in her Twitter bio, reframing stereotypes is part of who she is.
To many people she is the person who successfully campaigned for the International Basketball Federation to allow the hijab.
As she says in this episode, she never wanted someone younger than her to say they couldn’t compete in the sport because they weren’t allowed to wear the hijab.
If you take it back even further, to when Asma was younger, she never saw women – specifically muslim women – in sport. The restrictions in place were a large part of the reason as to why that was the case.
It takes a lot for someone to recognise those issues in the first place but it also takes a lot for someone to make a move and change them.
That’s what Asma Elbadawi did - she fought for, and made, those changes.
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A special thank you to The Mintridge Foundation for helping us secure this interview
Music: Otis McDonald
Alasdair Hooper and Will Moulton are joined by GB sailor Eilidh McIntyre for their live show at SuperPod 2020 in Southampton.
During their chat Eilidh opens up all about her career and partnership with Hannah Mills, as the 25-year-old prepares to make her Olympic debut in Tokyo.
But there's also a great deal of reflection on the pain that came before that, namely missing out on Rio 2016. That is something that still fuels Eilidh and is a time in her life that she admits broke her.
Throughout the show Eilidh also talks all about what it takes to be a successful team - her and Hannah are 2019 World Champions in the 470 class - and she also talks about how she deals with the pressure of expectation.
There's also chat on the influence of her dad Mike, who won Olympic gold in Seoul 1988, as well as the best places to sail across the globe.
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Find our more about the More than a Medal event with Marilyn Okoro here - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/more-than-a-medal-an-evening-with-olympic-medallist-marilyn-okoro-tickets-99512859642?aff=ebdssbdestsearch
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A special thank you to The Mintridge Foundation for helping us secure this interview
Thank you to SuperPod for hosting the event
Music: Otis McDonald
Will Moulton hosts the latest SportSpiel feature interview with Middlesex County Cricket batsman Stevie Eskinazi.
For Mintridge Foundation ambassador Stevie, one thing that has proved vital in his career is momentum.
It was key when Middlesex won the 2016 County Championship and it also played a part when they got relegated a year later, although a crossbow arrow also played its part.
In his conversation on the podcast Stevie explains the passion he has for his work with Mintridge and he also explains how he became a professional cricket player virtually overnight as well as moving to London without knowing a single person.
The two also discuss England's World Cup winning men's team and what that could do for the popularity of the sport in this country as well as the impact of The Hundred.
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Find our more about SuperPod 2020 and get your tickets here: https://www.superpod.co.uk
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A special thank you to The Mintridge Foundation for helping us secure this interview
Music: Otis McDonald
Alasdair Hooper presents the latest SportSpiel feature interview with Welsh Olympic Trap shooter Georgina Roberts.
The 22-year-old is very much an athlete who knows what she wants. She wants to change the state of play, take her sport to new levels and rewrite age-old gender-based stereotypes. For some people shooting is considered a dangerous activity – not even a sport in some people’s eyes – and it’s certainly not a place for women. Except that’s all wrong and the Women of the Future award winner is on a mission to tell people that. But having that ambition to transform the fortunes of a ‘neglected’, niche sport is one thing. Having the belief in yourself is something very different but that’s what has emerged from Georgina’s rollercoaster 2019. The British shooter had to take time out from the sport. There was no training and no major competitions and that’s because family came first. Her dad has been suffering from cancer and last year it spread. The 22-year-old took the decision to move back home, get a full-time job and help care for her dad. It’s been tough but that also forced Georgina to focus on herself just as much as she has had to focus on her family. That has led to her accepting herself for who she is and taking huge strides with her personal development. Now The Mintridge Foundation ambassador is ready to take on the world.
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Donate to Georgina's fundraising page for the Big Vitality Half here: https://themintridgefoundation.charitycheckout.co.uk/pf/georgina-roberts
Donate to Alasdair's fundraising page for the Big Vitality Half here: https://themintridgefoundation.charitycheckout.co.uk/pf/alasdair-hooper
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Visit Georgina's website here: https://www.gtroberts.co.uk
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A special thank you to The Mintridge Foundation for helping us secure this interview
Image credits: With thanks to Georgina Roberts
Music: Otis McDonald
Isle of Man gymnast Grace Harrison had a well-thought-out plan after her historic achievements at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games. But that plan didn’t pan out as expected. Instead it ended in retirement at the age of 23. In 2014, Harrison became the first Manx female gymnast to make it to a Commonwealth Games final at the age of 19. Following that piece of history, she immediately targeted the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games as her next big goal. Injuries, however, dismantled that dream and threw a curveball in the direction of the gymnast. It was something the Mintridge Foundation ambassador struggled to come to terms with but, incredibly, it was a serious bout of illness – namely Sepsis – that set her on the road to recovery.
In this episode the former gymnast takes us through that historic achievement as well as her struggle to come to terms with her retirement.
She also tells us all about that battle with sepsis, how it shaped her life and what her identity is today.
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Donate to Alasdair's fundraising page for the Big Vitality Half here: https://themintridgefoundation.charitycheckout.co.uk/pf/alasdair-hooper
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Credits
A special thank you to The Mintridge Foundation for helping us secure this interview
Image credits: With thanks to The Mintridge Foundation
Music: Otis McDonald
Will Moulton presents the first SportSpiel feature interview of 2020 with Olympic bronze medalist Marilyn Okoro and GB T44 Sprinter and Paracanoe athlete Laura Sugar.
In this episode The Mintridge Foundation ambassadors and athletes talk about their ambitions to represent Team GB in Tokyo this summer.
In our chat Laura explains her transition from hockey to athletics and then to canoeing as a chance viewing at London 2012 made her realise she could actually compete in parasport.
We also talk to Marilyn about receiving her bronze medal 10 years after winning it and her career so far and in the future.
But both athletes have something in common - they have used the power of no to prove the doubters wrong.
The pair also talk about their work with The Mintridge Foundation and the vital role the charity has to play.
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A special thank you to The Mintridge Foundation for helping us secure this interview
Music: Otis McDonald
Alasdair Hooper and Will Moulton are joined by talkSPORT's Jackson Cole and Love Sport Radio's Kieran Wellington for SportSpiel's Review of the Year 2019.
On the last episode of 2019 the panel review the year in sport while dishing out awards in eight important categories.
In doing so they look to celebrate outstanding sporting moments, inspirational characters and the athletes that gave us goosebumps.
The categories on this episode:
- Funniest moment
- Unsung moment
- Worst moment
- Best moment
- Inspirational athlete of the year
- Athlete to watch in 2020
- Team of the year
- Athlete of the year
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Alasdair is running the Vitality Big Half on March 1 in aid of The Mintridge Foundation. Donate here: https://themintridgefoundation.charitycheckout.co.uk/pf/alasdair-hooper
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Music: Otis McDonald
Will Moulton presents this SportSpiel feature interview with rising British Taekwondo star Rebecca McGowan.
There has been a consistent stream of talent coming through the ranks of the sport in the UK - names such as Jade Jones, Bianca Walkden and Lutalo Muhammad are just three of them.
But one person who is well on her way to making a name for herself is the Scottish-born teenager Rebecca.
In this episode the up-and-coming talent tells us all about her journey through the sport and what it is like to train and compete against some of the very best talent there is out there.
She also talks about the role she can play in dispelling the myth that women are not suited to combat sports.
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Image credits: With thanks to Rebecca McGowan and British Taekwondo
Music: Otis McDonald
Team GB trampolinist Laura Gallagher presents a special SportSpiel episode as she interviews her teammates Bryony Page, Kat Driscoll and Izzy Songhurst.
On this edition of the show Laura helps to give us a valuable insight into the team ahead of the 2019 Trampoline World Championships, which run from November 28 to December 21 in Tokyo.
In part one (3:07) Laura chats with Kat Driscoll - a legend of the sport who has been her teammate for the best part of 10 years.
They talk all about her life in trampolining and experiencing London 2012, as well as what she would do if she met Lewis Hamilton tomorrow.
In part two (22:09) Laura speaks with Izzy Songhurst, the youngest women's team member.
They delve into how tough it is to transition to the senior world and they talk about Izzy's comeback following a serious recent injury.
In part three (50:47) Laura speaks with Rio 2016 silver medalist Bryony Page, who became the first British trampolinist to win an Olympic medal out in Brazil.
The pair look back on that memorable moment from the Games and her journey that led up to the remarkable success.
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Image credits: With thanks to Bryony Page, Laura Gallagher and British Gymnastics
Music: Otis McDonald
Alasdair Hooper and Will Moulton present SportSpiel’s November discussion episode.
On this edition of the show they go through and pick apart some of the biggest talking points in sport.
In part one (5:02) the pair look at the inaugural Women's Football Weekend and what impact it will have long term.
With a huge effort to get the game in people's faces they ask what we can learn from this first edition of the initiative.
In part two (25:28) they look at serious breaches of discipline after NFL player Myles Garrett ripped the helmet off an opponent before hitting him over the head with it on Thursday night.
They also look at the fall out from the drink-driving crash involving three Derby County players and why different punishments were dished out to those involved as well as trying to figure out how you can get greater consistency of punishment across all sport.
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Music: Otis McDonald
There's been no shortage of shocks in Dartford, home of the London City Lionesses. The brand-new FA Women’s Championship side are currently second in the league – with five wins in seven games.
According to their team captain Ellie Mason, things are looking very positive. The club was created after the decision, at the end of last season, by Millwall Lionesses to break away from Millwall and go it alone. That saw the birth of London City, an independent side without any ties to a men’s team at all.
In this episode Ellie tells us about the unique mission this club have set themselves, to prove that you can make it as an independent women's club.
She tells us how they've shocked everyone so far and why, despite only being a few months old, people can keep expecting to be shocked.
The 23-year-old defender also tells us about her career so far and just why football is so important to society, women and young girls who want to get involved.
MessagesThanks go to Next Gen Sport Solutions for setting up the interview with Ellie Mason. For more information about the sports management company for female athletes go to: https://nextgensport.co.uk
Thanks also go to Sue Anstiss and Promote PR for naming us in their list of eight recommended sports podcasts - https://www.promotepr.com/news/8-sport-podcasts/
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Image credit: With thanks to Next Gen Sports Solutions
Music: Otis McDonald
Great Britain’s women’s basketball team are working wonders.
The side secured a historic fourth-placed finish at the 2019 EuroBasket in July, which came off the back of England’s surprise silver medal at the Commonwealth Games in 2018.
Quite simply, they are punching above their weight with the resources they have at their disposal.
Yet, for those working in and around GB Basketball, as well as at Basketball England, it’s time for things to change.
On this episode, Will Moulton speaks to the head coach of the GB Women's team Chema Buceta as well as CEO of Basketball England Stewart Kellett.
In the show they touch on the reasons why the side are punching so far above their weight as well as the frustration over a lack of recognition and media coverage.
They also discuss the desire to capitalise on this success and the launch of the All Girls campaign - designed to inspire more girls and women to get involved with the sport of basketball.
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Image credit: With thanks to Promote PR
Music: Otis McDonald
Alasdair Hooper and Will Moulton present SportSpiel's October discussion episode.
On this edition of the show they go through the biggest headlines and pick apart the most important questions in the news.
In part one (6:31) the pair look at racism and football fandom after several high-profile incidents of racial abuse both abroad and in the UK.
In the discussion they try and analyse the root causes and look at what can be done to stamp out the abuse.
In part two (35:00) they look back at mental health in sport as several high profile athletes chose to share their own personal struggles around World Mental Health Day, including England Hockey's Suzy Petty.
Finally, in part three (50:56) they look at athletes who excelled in more than one sport after former Chelsea and Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech starred in his ice hockey debut.
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Music: Otis McDonald
Jamaican diver Yona Knight-Wisdom is something of an anomaly in his sport.
As the Leeds-born athlete says himself, he is almost two metres tall, is a ‘heavy diver’ and he’s black. That isn’t something you see very often.
But despite the stereotype he is writing history in Jamaican sport.
Not only was he the first Jamaican diver to medal at an international diving event, he was also the first Jamaican - and first to represent a Caribbean island - at the Olympics in diving.
On this episode Yona takes us through the reasons why we don't often see people like him in his sport. The Leeds-born athlete also explains why he took the Jamaican route - quite simply he wouldn't be diving now if he hadn't.
He also tells us about the tough lessons he learnt after Rio 2016 as well as the story behind his own podcast The Athlete's Voice.
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You can find The Athlete's Voice on Apple Podcasts here - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-athletes-voice/id1417298918
Credits
Image credit: With thanks to Yona Knight-Wisdom
Music: Otis McDonald
Alasdair Hooper and Will Moulton are joined by journalists Julia Cook and Ollie Godden for SportSpiel's September discussion episode.
On this edition of the show the panel go through the biggest headlines and pick apart the most important questions.
In part one (6:07) it's all about the IAAF World Championships and whether Doha - the capital of Qatar - is a suitable venue after horrible scenes during the women's marathon.
With attendances far from full, it raises doubts as to why the event is being held in the city at all.
In part two (21:08) the panel look at social media and body shaming after runner Eilish McColgan recently called out the trolls on her own account.
Finally, in part three (37:09), the four look at the cloud that is doping after the latest twist involving the Russian Anti Doping Agency
NotesMake sure you catch our cameo in the short documentary One Voice, One Mic - the Rise of Podcasting
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Music: Otis McDonald
Lizzie Simmonds is one of Britain’s most successful swimmers. She is a double European Champion, a 13-time British Champion, a double Olympian and a Commonwealth silver medallist – that’s just a short list of her achievements.
The 28-year-old retired from the sport back in July 2018 but things have been far from simple since then. When you’ve lived for most of your life as an elite athlete – chasing targets and aiming to go as fast as you can – there is a massive void to fill when you take it away. That’s proved to be particularly challenging for Lizzie as she struggled to come to terms with her loss of identity. Not only that, but the current vice chair of the BOA Athletes' Commission also admits to struggling with her emotions at competitions - too often she would believe her self-worth as a person was wrapped up with her success in the pool.
In this feature interview Lizzie speaks to Alasdair Hooper all about her life after sport – the identity crisis, the battle with self-worth, and also the challenges of seeing your body change once you retire. But, through the hardship, the 28-year-old has learnt a lot and she is ready to pass on her knowledge to the next generation.
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Credits
Image credit: With thanks to Lizzie Simmonds and The Mintridge Foundation
Music: Otis McDonald
British trampolinist Laura Gallagher has transformed into a completely different person.
In her first appearance on SportSpiel the 2017 British Champion bravely opened up about the mental health struggles she faced that subsequently led to her break from the sport.
In particular there was a nagging sense that she hadn't fulfilled her potential and that she felt like a failure.
But fast forward to now and Laura is in a completely different place and has closed a door.
Speaking with Will Moulton she talks about the response from friends and family following her mental health admission and her efforts to close the door on that part of her life.
She also talks her new main aim - qualifying for her first Olympic Games in Tokyo next year.
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Credits
Image credit: With thanks to Mike Driscoll andLaura Gallagher
Music: Otis McDonald
Alasdair Hooper and Will Moulton are joined by Goalball UK star Sarah Leiter on episode 40 of SportSpiel.
Feature Interview
On our feature interview section (2:42) Alasdair speaks to Sarah who is not only a talented athlete, but also a junior doctor after graduating from the University of Cambridge.
In her chat on the podcast Sarah explains about life growing up with albinism, and having only 10 per cent of her vision, but also how it has come to define her.
Despite the challenges - particularly trying to play sport in school PE - Sarah is now one of the most inspiring athletes around after trying out goalball following London 2012.
With Tokyo 2020 approaching, Sarah takes us through the British goalball team's attempts to qualify for the Paralympics after narrowly missing out in 2016 and there's also conversation on the importance of making women's sport as visible as possible.
Part Two
Alasdair and Will present the news round-up (30:35) as they go through some of the important headlines that caught their eyes, including the Nike's policy change over pregnant athletes and the first concussion substitute in cricket.
In our discussion topic this week (47:56) we look at the England Rugby World Cup squad as Eddie Jones picks a squad with some notable omissions.
Lastly we hold the latest round of Ask Alasdair (1:01:43) where Will asks Alasdair, and then the listeners, a sports trivia question.
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Credits
Image credit: Photo 1 - Goalball UK, Image 2 - IBSA Goalball and Julie Laramie Photography
Music: Otis McDonald
Alasdair Hooper and Will Moulton are joined by Rugby League official and Leeds Rhinos' star Caitlin Beevers on episode 39 of SportSpiel.
Feature Interview
On our feature interview section (4:29) Will speaks to Caitlin who has already achieved so much at the age of 17.
As part of Leeds Rhinos she already has two consecutive Challenge Cup victories - in 2018 and 2019 - and she has also been selected as part of the England squad for the Downer World Cup Nines in Sydney and the historic trip to Papua New Guinea.
But Caitlin is no stranger to history having become the first female to ever referee a Rugby League game at Wembley Stadium last year.
This is a game-changing athlete paving the way for other girls in her sport.
Part Two
Alasdair and Will present the news round-up (34:20) as they go through some of the important headlines that caught their eyes, including the latest in the Caster Semenya case, the conclusion of the Women's Ashes and the possibility of a female British and Irish Lions team.
In our discussion topic this week (51:00) we look at gambling advertising after the introduction of a voluntary ban during pre-watershed live sporting action was introduced.
We debate the effects it will have and ask if we're treating gambling addiction as seriously as we should be.
Lastly we hold the latest round of Ask Alasdair (1:05:47) where Will asks Alasdair, and then the listeners, a sports trivia question.
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Credits
Image credit: With thanks to Caitlin Beevers
Music: Otis McDonald
Will Moulton hosts a Netball World Cup special of the podcast with Australia's Jo Weston and Liz Watson plus New Zealand's Shannon Saunders.
The 2019 Netball World Cup gets underway in Liverpool on Friday, July 12 with anticipation building at home and abroad.
While the home nations will be hoping to enjoy their own success, two nations vying for glory will be Australia and New Zealand.
On this special episode of SportSpiel, Will gets an insight from both camps as he speaks with Jo Weston (1:23) and Liz Watson (18:04) from the Aussie Diamonds.
Finally he speaks with Silver Ferns' Shannon Saunders (35:33) as the countdown to the tournament draws ever closer.
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Credits Music: Otis McDonald
Alasdair Hooper and Will Moulton host the fifth FIFA World Cup Special ahead of the start of the 2019 tournament in France.
This year's competition looks likely to get more coverage than ever before, thrusting women's football into the spotlight.
And it really is about time.
In part one of this episode (1:42) Alasdair and Will talk about the development in social media towards women's football and what else still needs to change.
In part two (16:53) the two talk about how France 2019 must be used to help develop grassroots and sport at the youth level, particularly for girls with just eight per cent aged 11 to 18 meeting the chief medical officer's guidelines for daily activity.
It's a worrying figure that sorely needs to change. Can France 2019 do that?
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Credits Music: Otis McDonald
Alasdair Hooper and Will Moulton are joined by Sportsbeat and Love Sport Radio's Ella Jerman to look ahead to the FIFA Women's World Cup.
In our fourth special episode ahead of France 2019, the podcast turns to analysis before the competition gets underway on Friday, June 7.
In part one (3:19) we look at England and how their preparations have gone ahead of their first game against Scotland.
We discuss how they might line-up and we also take a look at Shelley Kerr's Scotland team, who could well be underdogs in France.
In part two (29:44) we turn our attention to the World Cup as a whole and give our tournament predictions, including who we think will be a breakout star, who will be top scorer and who will ultimately win.
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Credits Music: Otis McDonald
Will Moulton hosts the third FIFA Women’s World Cup special with Reading's Players' Player of the Season, and returning guest, Remi Allen.
The countdown is well and truly on for the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup in France and the excitement is building.
As Remi is someone who has played against, and played with, some of the Lionesses squad members she takes us through the team position by position and player by player.
With her expert analysis we get a true appreciation of the versatility this England team has at its disposal.
There is a lot to be excited about if you are a Lionesses fan.
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Credits
Image credit: With thanks to Remi Allen
Music: Otis McDonald
Alasdair Hooper hosts the second FIFA Women’s World Cup special with former England international defender Laura Bassett.
As the 2019 World Cup approaches Laura is one player who knows exactly what it takes to perform.
The defender - who announced her retirement from the game today- was one of the key components of the team that finished third in Canada four years ago.
But she also knows all about the lows of tournament football as the Lionesses were knocked out in the semi-final against Japan in 2015 following her last minute own goal.
In her interview on the podcast we look ahead to the tournament and speak about what it takes to manage yourself in a major competition.
There is also time to speak about her new life in Orlando, becoming a mum for the first time and she gives us her predictions for France 2019.
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Credits Image credit: With thanks to Laura Bassett
Music: Otis McDonald
Additional thanks goes to our friends at The Mintridge Foundation for helping to arrange this interview.
Alasdair Hooper hosts the first FIFA Women's World Cup special with England international and Wolfsburg goalkeeper Mary Earps.
With the 2019 World Cup proving to be such a vital competition the Lionesses stopper is understandably delighted to be part of it.
As part of the squad jetting out to France, the 26-year-old gives us an insight into preparations and the atmosphere within the camp.
Mary also tells us about how easy it is to get lost in the bubble of social media, how the work of manager Phil Neville has developed the players and we also explore the wider issues of promoting the women's game.
On top of that there is also time to discuss how far Mary's game has come on since her move to Germany and we also chat about whether the female game should consider smaller goals.
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Credits Image credit: Lynne Cameron for the FA
Music: Otis McDonald
Will Moulton hosts a Netball World Cup special of the podcast with Northern Ireland international Niamh Cooper, England star Jade Clarke and Scotland's Emily Nicholl.
With 50 days to go ahead of the start of 2019 Netball World Cup in Liverpool (12-21 July) the excitement is starting to grow.
The sport has a renewed focus on it like never before thanks in part to England's efforts in securing Commonwealth Gold in 2018.
With the game changing tournament looming Will speaks with Niamh (1:33), Jade (21:31) and Emily (35:40) to get a sense of perspective from their specific camps.
They also chat about the the impact the tournament could have as well as the changing nature of netball itself.
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Credits Music: Otis McDonald
Alasdair Hooper and Will Moulton are joined by two-time Paralympic gold medalist Danielle Brown MBE on episode 38 of SportSpiel.
Feature Interview
On our feature interview section (5:25) will chats to the inspiring 31-yer-old about her career in archery and her role with The Mintridge Foundation.
The duo chat about winning two Paralympic golds, with the second coming off the back of a nail-biting final, as well as the origin of that trademark pink hat.
But Danielle also talks about the difficulties she has had to endure through sport, namely the reclassification test that she failed in 2013 meaning she could no longer compete.
Not only did she have to face up to the fact of a life away from the sport, but the test she went through was also 'humiliating' and 'incredibly painful'.
Part Two
Alasdair and Will present the news round-up (38:46) as they go through some of the important headlines that caught their eyes, including the women's ice hockey boycott in North America, the NFL's latest move to grow their influence in London, and Liberty Media's failure to deliver on Formula 1 promises.
In our discussion topic this week (56:46) we analyse the England Women's World Cup squad selected for the tournament in France.
We look at those who missed out and also what the pioneering announcement on social means for the game as a whole.
Lastly we hold the latest round of Ask Alasdair (1:11:27) where Will asks Alasdair, and then the listeners, a sports trivia question.
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Credits
Image credit: With thanks to Danielle Brown and The Mintridge Foundation
Music: Otis McDonald
Alasdair Hooper and Will Moulton host a special episode of the podcast to celebrate two years since the first SportSpiel episode aired.
Episode 1, featuring British fencer James-Andrew Davis, was launched on April 20, 2017 and the show has come a long way in that time.
On this special episode Alasdair and Will look back on how the show has evolved (2:19) and we discuss when we first realised all sport matters - a key message the podcast looks to promote (6:28).
We then have a look back at some clangers on the show from the past year (14:36) and our podcast highlights (23:56).
To finish off we have some thank you's to throw out to people who help make the show what it is (48:27).
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Music: Otis McDonald
Alasdair Hooper and Will Moulton are joined by Badminton England prospect Hope Warner on episode 37 of SportSpiel.
Feature Interview
On our feature interview section (4:48) interviewer Yashas Mudumbai chats to Hope Warner all about her life in the sport of badminton.
The pair talk about her rapid rise through the ranks with the 17-year-old currently training with some of the very best in the country.
But despite that the prospect still has her moments of doubt, and tells the podcast about he she overcomes the feelings of occasionally not wanting to train or to just go home.
She also tells how she was first introduced to the sport and why her sporting role models are so important to her.
Part Two
Alasdair and Will present the news round-up (26:57) as they go through some of the important headlines that caught their eyes, including Hannah Dines' revealing piece on vulva surgery, the success of British weightlifting and British Canoeing's 'culture of fear'.
In our discussion topic this week (44:03) we look at the furore surrounding Australian rugby international Israel Folau who looks set to be sacked after posting homophobic comments on social media.
England international Billy Vunipola has also landed in hot water as a result of the fallout.
We also hold the latest round of Ask Alasdair (53:59) where Will asks Alasdair, and then the listeners, a sports trivia question.
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Credits
Image credit: With thanks to Hope Warner
Music: Otis McDonald
Will Moulton hosts a football special episode of the podcast with Reading FC Women midfielder Remi Allen.
The 28-year-old is currently plying her trade at Reading in the WSL - the top tier of the women's football pyramid in England.
After finishing fourth last season - and scooping a host of individual awards at the end of it - all attention soon turned to the current campaign with the WSL now a fully professional entity.
But for Remi there are a number of important issues close to her - all of which she talks about in this episode.
That includes her ongoing battles with mental health, and how it will always be a part of you, as well as the social media vitriol women's football can be on the receiving end of.
Slowly but surely attitudes are starting to change.
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Credits
Image credit: With thanks to Remi Allen
Music: Otis McDonald
Alasdair Hooper hosts a boxing special episode of the podcast with Scottish boxer Hannah Rankin.
Having grown up on a sheep farm in Scotland the 28-year-old classical musician has now set her sights on becoming her country's first ever boxing world champion.
Since turning professional in 2018 it's currently six victories in nine bouts with the highlight being her victory that earned her the WBC silver super middleweight title.
In this wide-ranging interview Hannah takes us through her life as a professional freelance bassoonist as well as her sport, which helped her cope with grief when she suddenly lost her mum to cancer shortly after taking it up.
She tells us about her time in the limelight where she faced American Claressa Shields and she also takes us through the challenges of being a female in boxing - from sexism to funding.
There is also the small matter of her upcoming fight on June 15 where she will fight Sarah Curran in Paisley for the IBO Super Welterweight title.
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Credits
Image credit: With thanks to Hannah Rankin
Music: Otis McDonald
Will Moulton hosts a Six Nations special episode of the podcast with Scottish Rugby international Jade Konkel.
In the third of our Six Nations specials – in collaboration with The 52 Blog and Caytoo - Will chats to Jade about the tournament so far.
In a wide ranging interview the pair discuss Jade's pathway into the game and her influence off the pitch.
There's also conversations on tattoos and wrestling with her brothers.
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Credits
Image credit: With thanks to Caytoo and Scottish Rugby
Music: Otis McDonald
Will Moulton hosts a gymnastics special episode of the podcast with 2017 British trampoline champion Laura Gallagher.
In this special Laura reveals all about the mental struggles that led to her break from the sport prior to claiming her maiden individual British title in 2017.
Having won team European and World gold medals in 2013 and 2014 respectively, struggles with injury, confidence, identity and her mental health soon took over.
After reaching the lowest point of her career, Gallagher took the decision to step away from trampolining in late 2016 but she was totally unaware that the problems were seeping into her personal life as well as her sporting life.
In particular she struggled with the nagging sense she hadn't fulfilled her potential.
But eventually things started to turn around, thanks to a job interview, a new-found relationship with her boss and the rediscovery of her love of sport.
Now she is back as a full-time athlete, and the journey to qualify for her first Olympic Games has already begun.
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Credits
Image credit: With thanks to Laura Gallagher
Music: Otis McDonald
Will Moulton hosts a Six Nations special episode of the podcast with Irish Rugby international Leah Lyons.
In the second of our Six Nations specials - in collaboration with The 52 Blog and Caytoo, Will and chats to the Harlequins star about the tournament so far.
The pair also talk about wealth of issues including body shaming on social media and being a role model to young girls.
They also discuss the rise of the women's game in Ireland and how Leah's dad had to set up a girl's section at the club where her rugby journey first began.
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Credits
Image credit: With thanks to Caytoo and Irish Rugby
Music: Otis McDonald
Alasdair Hooper and Will Moulton are joined by England Netball's record appearance holder Jade Clarke on episode 36 of SportSpiel.
Feature Interview
On our feature interview section (5:03) Jade talks to the podcast about that incredible and ground breaking Commonwealth Games gold medal won by England Netball in 2018.
The record appearance maker also tells us about the Quad Series in January, the upcoming World Cup in Liverpool this year and how her and the rest f the team aspire to be role models.
She also takes us through her own netball career and how she achieved more than she ever thought she could.
Part Two
Alasdair and Will present the news round-up (25:36) as they go through some of the important headlines that caught their eyes, including Laura Muir's record breaking mile and how things are shaping up ahead of the start of the Formula 1 season.
In our discussion topic this week (40:29) we touch on the controversial issue of Caster Semenya as the South African runner challenges a proposed IAAF rule that would see women in track events - from 400m up to the mile - who are DSD (Differences of Sexual Development) athletes required to keep their testosterone levels below a prescribed amount.
We also hold the latest round of Ask Alasdair (57:04) where Will asks Alasdair, and then the listeners, a sports trivia question.
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Credits
Image credit: With thanks to Jade Clarke
Music: Otis McDonald
Alasdair Hooper and Will Moulton are joined by British Short Track speed skater Ethan Treacy on episode 35 of SportSpiel.
Feature Interview
On our feature interview section (4:57) interviewer Yashas Mudumbai makes his podcast debut by speaking to Ethan Treacy of GB Short Track.
In their chat the pair talk about Ethan's journey in the sport as well as the family influences he has - his brothers Farrell and Niall are GB speed skaters.
After making his Olympic debut at PyeongChang 12 months ago, there is still plenty more Ethan wants to achieve but things are arguably much more difficult this time around.
Following UK Sport's decision to pull funding for short track, the skater talks about his reaction upon hearing that decision and how the team are coping now.
Part Two
Alasdair and Will present the news round-up (25:36) as they go through some of the important headlines that caught their eyes, including England's cricket woes, barrier-breaking Kendall Coyne Schofield, and the decision to strip Malaysia of hosting the World Para Swimming Championships.
In our discussion topic this week (41:57) we look at the depth of talent in the ranks of British female winter sport in a week where Charlotte Bankes, Izzy Atkin, Menna Fitzpatrick and Jen Kehoe all came away with medals.
Is this as good as it has ever been?
We also hold the latest round of Ask Alasdair (53:26) where Will asks Alasdair, and then the listeners, a sports trivia question.
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Will Moulton hosts a Six Nations special episode of the podcast with five members of the England Rugby team - Jess Breach, Leanne Riley, Lark Davies, Jo Brown and Katy Daley-McLean.
In the first of our collaborative episodes with The 52 Blog and Caytoo, Will and the five Red Roses chat ahead of the start of the 2019 Six Nations tournament on Friday, February 1.
England will be looking to avenge their loss last year to France and the team are back with a bang.
On this episode Jess, Leanne, Lark, Jo and Katy discuss their hopes for this year's competition and how they have found the first month of being full time professionals.
They also talk about being role models for people across the country and there is also time to find out who is the best baker and who is the best singer in the squad.
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Image credit: With thanks to Caytoo and England Rugby
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Alasdair Hooper hosts a BMX Special with British Cycling athlete, and World Class Programme member, Charlotte Worthington.
The last 12 months have proved to be quite a year for the 22-year-old from Manchester.
She started 2018 working 40 hours a week as a chef but ended it as part of British Cycling's BMX team - with BMX Freestyle Park set to make its Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020.
Making the Games is Charlotte's long term goal but there is plenty more to achieve in the short term - both in terms of workload and perfecting her skills.
With the discipline's inclusion at the Olympics bound to increase its coverage, Charlotte is also making waves in a sport widely considered a man's world.
While peoples' perceptions may be geared towards the man's side of BMX, Charlotte is showing everyone that the girls are just deserving of their place in the spotlight.
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Alasdair Hooper and Will Moulton are joined by guest presenter - and Olympic gold medalist - Shona McCallin as well as Norman Cook and Bob Warnock of Scottish Tug of War on a packed episode 34 of SportSpiel.
Feature Interview
On our feature interview section (4:15) interviewer Lewis Michie makes his podcast debut by speaking to Norman Cook and coach Bob Warnock from Scottish Tug of War.
The trio chat about their sport - what they refer to as the ultimate team sport - as well as looking back on some of their fondest memories.
With the Scottish Tug of War team picking up 20 World Championship gold medals in various categories there's plenty of success to look back on and all eyes are currently on the upcoming British and Irish Indoor Championships on February 2 and 3.
With the tournament scheduled to take place at Piperdam, in Dundee, the Scottish team can look forward to home advantage but also have to manage the extra pressure that comes with it.
Part Two
Alasdair, Will and Shona present the news round-up (24.28) as they go through some of the important headlines that caught their eyes, including more WADA controversy, the retirement of Katherine Copeland and a look ahead to the Netball World Cup.
In our debate topic this week (39:58) we look at whether Premier League clubs are pricing poorer children out of being mascots after a report on second-tier Swansea City charging £478 for the experience.
Extra Time
Alasdair and Will hold a question and answer session with guest presenter, England hockey star and Olympic gold medalist Shona McCallin (51:15).
In the session Shona looks back on a 2018 to forget, after it was blighted by concussion, with all eyes now set on the future and getting back to playing hockey.
We also hold a new feature called Ask Alasdair (1:12:17) where Will asks Alasdair, and then the listeners, a sports trivia question.
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check out the Jumps Racing Podcast - The perfect companion on the road to the Cheltenham Festival. https://www.jumpsracing.co.uk
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Image credit: With thanks to Scottish Tug of War and Shona McCallin
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Alasdair Hooper and Will Moulton are joined by British 400m runner Amy Allcock on episode 33 of SportSpiel.
Feature Interview
On our feature interview section (3:51) Alasdair speaks to British runner Amy Allcock after a breakthrough year in 2018.
The 25-year-old - by her own admission - was relatively late on the scene in terms of committing to her sport at university but with a personal best at the Anniversary Games this summer everything is finally falling into place.
In her chat on the podcast she discusses the crucial moments and battles on her pathway to where she is now - one of the 114 British athletes on the World Class Programme.
From trying to get over a fear of running with lactic, to accepting that she will be sick after races, a lot of what Amy has had to work on is on the mental side.
But alongside her coach, and with some helpful words from her dad regarding commitment to her sport, the lap times have steadily become faster and faster.
Part Two
Alasdair and Will present the review of 2018 (36:13) in the final show before the new year.
In their look back over the past 12 months they pick their main contenders in the following categories:
- Funniest moment
- Unsung moment
- Most inspirational moment
- Controversial moment
- Worst moment
- Best moment
- Favourite SportSpiel moment
- Athlete to watch in 2019
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Image credit: Melissa Gresswell / Instagram: @lissgphotography
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Alasdair Hooper and Will Moulton are joined by racing driver Emily Glanvill on episode 32 of SportSpiel.
Feature Interview
On our feature interview section (3:15) Alasdair chats to Emily about her life in motorsport.
The Scottish racer is just 19 but has a wealth of talent and is showing great potential for the future - in 2016 she won the Teenage Cancer Trust scholarship and in 2017 she was selected for the Scottish Motor Sports Academy.
In this interview Emily takes us through her journey in motor sport and how it brought the best out of her, considering she was a naturally shy individual beforehand.
She also tells us what it means to be a female racer in a largely male-dominated sport and she talks about how the sport helped her come back from a tough moment in her life when her school was suddenly closed, leader her mother - a teacher at the school - losing her job.
With the new women only W Series also generating plenty of headlines Emily gives us her opinions on the concept and she details the challenges facing every driver as they look to climb the ladder - and it's mainly funding.
Perhaps we should maybe be looking at the finance side of things rather than someone's gender.
Part Two
Alasdair and Will present the news round-up (44:25) as they go through some of the important sports headlines from the past couple of weeks, including updates on the shortlist of drivers named that could be in the running to take part in the W Series as well as a welcome funding boost from UK Sport for a variety of British sports ahead of Tokyo 2020.
In our debate topic this week (54:59) we look at a defining week for the future development of women's football. While French DJ Martin Solveig's remarks may have taken much of the headlines it shouldn't be forgotten that Ada Hegerberg was announced as winner of the first ever women's Ballon d'Or.
The Offside Rule podcast and The Guardian collaborated to bring us the 100 best female footballers on the planet this week, Visa signed a seven-year deal with UEFA to become the first sole sponsor of women's football and there was the small matter of England being announced as hosts of the European Championships in 2021.
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Image credit: Emily Glanvill and This Strath Girl Can
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Alasdair Hooper and Will Moulton are joined by the co-founder of Totally Runable Natalie Jackson on episode 31 of SportSpiel.
Feature Interview
On our feature interview section (5:24) Will chats to Natalie about Totally Runable as well as the idea behind the #SeeSportyBeSporty campaign.
The premise of the campaign - devised by Natalie and former Olympic sprinter Emily Freeman - is a simple one, too increase the visibility of women's sport in the media.
Totally Runable conducted their own research into this lack of visibility, buying a copy of each of the UK’s top newspapers once a month between July 2017 to June 2018.
Of all the photos they saw, 17 per cent depicted sporting action or players but just 2.9 per cent were of women.
Part Two
Alasdair and Will present the news round-up (19:37) as they go through some of the important sports headlines from the past couple of weeks, including updates on the 2026 Winter Olympics bids, rugby referee Sara Cox's historic moment and a vital settlement on concussion in the NHL.
In our debate topic this week (35:52) we look at the changes at the top of the Premier League as Chief Executive Richard Scudamore is replaced by Susanna Dinnage. We look at the challenges facing the incoming head of the league and we also react to the news Scudamore is set to receive a £5million parting gift from the 20 clubs.
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Alasdair Hooper hosts a Judo Special ahead of the 2018 IBSA Judo World Championships with British team member Jack Hodgson.
The Rio 2016 Paralympian is one of the more experienced members of the British Judo team selected to compete at this year's World Championships.
However, the run up to the tournament has been far from smooth for the 22-year-old who recently underwent elbow surgery.
Hodgson has had to contend with a disrupted training programme for the last while but his determination to compete is clear for all to see - as is his love for the sport.
As a youngster, when he started to lose his sight, Hodgson was told he wouldn't able to do any type of sport but watching the visually impaired athletes at the London 2012 Paralympics told him differently.
Now, following one of the toughest periods in his time as a professional athlete, Hodgson is hoping to apply that same level of commitment as he eyes up medal-winning success in the short and the long term.
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Alasdair Hooper hosts a Judo Special ahead of the IBSA Judo World Championships with British team member Evan Molloy.
The 19-year-old from Devizes is the youngest member of the eight-strong British team being sent to the 2018 World Championships in Odivelas, Portugal (held from November 16-18).
However, though Molloy may be one of the more inexperienced members he has more than enough determination.
Having only started the sport aged 13 after his parents wanted him to lose a few pounds the teenager instantly took it.
In his words, judo turns him into a different beast.
Just 18 months later he was catching the eye at the national level and his subsequent rise has been rapid.
The IBSA 2018 World Championships represents another fantastic learning opportunity for the Wiltshire judoka in his quest for the ultimate goal - to one day become a Paralympic medalist.
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Image credit: Mike Varey, elitepix
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Alasdair Hooper hosts a Sunday Times Sportswomen of the Year Awards Special with the founder of the Mintridge Foundation Alex Paske.
Alex was always a keen hockey player growing up and set herself dreams of one day playing for England.
However, after she failed to make the grade at an England under-16 trial - due to the pressure - she fell out of love with the game and struggled mentally with the personal failure.
By her own admission she never truly got better until she set up the Mintridge Foundation in 2015 - and her work has now been recognised with a nomination in the Grassroots Awards category at this year's Sportswoman of the Year Awards.
While the November 1 awards night is fast approaching, Alex tells her own story on this episode as well as exploring the important work Mintridge does in bridging the gap between elite sport and young people.
The foundation may only be three years old now but there is plenty more to come.
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Image credit: With thanks to Alex Paske
Music: Otis McDonald
Alasdair Hooper, Will Moulton and episode five guest Niki Kovacs are joined by mental health advocate and cyclist Ryan Anderton on episode 30 of SportSpiel.
Feature Interview
On our feature interview section (4:10) guest interviewer Niki chats to Ryan ahead of his incredible challenge - to cycle 4802 miles in 21 days around the coast of Britain.
During their conversation Ryan - aka ReCycleYourself - talks about his daunting challenge, with all proceeds going to the charity Mind, but also about his own battles with his mental health.
At the age of 30 he attempted to commit suicide in Blackpool but now, eight years later, Ryan is using the power of cycling to better himself and pass the message on to others.
Part Two
Alasdair, Will and Niki present the news round-up (34:05) as they go through some of the important sports headlines from the past couple of weeks, including news from the Invictus Games, the ongoing mess at USA Gymnastics and what's been happening at Six Day London.
In our debate topic this week (52:52) we ask if Christian Wade has been let down by rugby with the 27-year-old Wasps winger deciding to quit the sport in order to pursue a career in American Football.
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Image credit: Ryan Anderton
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Alasdair Hooper and Will Moulton are joined by mental health activist, environmental campaigner and blogger Lizzie Carr on episode 29 of SportSpiel.
On our feature interview section (3:44) Will chats to Lizzie - better known as Lizzie Outside to her followers - about paddleboarding, saving the environment and her cancer diagnosis aged just 26.
The adventurer has three world records to her name, having become the first woman to stand up paddle board the length of England, the English Channel and New York’s Hudson River completely unsupported.
But behind the sport there is someone with an incredible story and a burning desire to save the ocean through her initiative Plastic Patrol.
Part Two
Alasdair and Will hold the news round-up (26:53) as they go through some of the biggest sports headlines from the past couple of weeks, including those that got plenty of attention as well the news that might passed some people by.
In our debate topic this week (47:14) we ask if it is right to have a women-only motorsport championship following the announcement of the arrival of the W Series.
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Image credit: Joel Caldwell
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Alasdair Hooper hosts a special SportSpiel episode - the 50th ever produced - and is joined by British speed skating star Elise Christie.
The 2017 World Champion is one of the best short track speed skaters in the world and has enjoyed phenomenal success.
However, in conjunction with her phenomenal talent the self-declared 'goofball' has also endured her fair share of ups and downs with much of it aired in full public view at the Winter Olympics.
With every medal achieved on the World and European stage it appears they have been countered by ticking every box of bad luck at the Olympics including falls, disqualifications, injury and social media abuse.
In this special episode Elise talks in great depth about her life in speed skating, from starting out as a kid, to her Winter Olympic lessons to becoming the best in the world.
We also talk about the dangers of social media, the prospect of competing in long track as well as what life is like with – and now without – her best friend Charlotte Gilmartin in training and competition.
What comes out in this interview is an athlete who is as bubbly and entertaining as she is talented and – no matter what the haters on social media might say – you can’t keep this goofball down.
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Image credit: Martin Holtom
Alasdair Hooper and Will Moulton are back to bring you episode 28 of SportSpiel.
In our first segment we discuss:
- WADA's controversial decision to reinstate Russia's anti-doping agency (3:58)
- The hero that is Kristina Vogel (19:18)
Our feature interview section on this episode is with the second most capped player in England Rugby history Tamara Taylor (24:23).
Since making her debut aged in 2005, the 36-year-old has won six Six Nations titles – all of which have been Grand Slams – and was part of the first English team to reach number one in the world rankings in 2017 as they completed a historic away series victory over New Zealand.
She was a key component of the team that claimed the 2014 Rugby World Cup title, has appeared at three other showpiece events and was also named 2017 RPA Player of the Year, shortly after making her 100th international appearance.
With 115 international caps now to her name she is also using her status as a renowned international athlete to encourage others to get more involved in women's sport.
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Image credit: With thanks Tamara Taylor
Alasdair Hooper and Will Moulton are back to bring you episode 27 of SportSpiel.
In our first segment we discuss:
- Serena Williams, Alize Cornet and sexism in tennis (2:20)
- What is wrong with England Cricket's batting? (13:51)
Our feature interview section on this episode is with Scottish sabreur Antony Shek (28:32).
A former teammate at university with host Alasdair Hooper, Tony decided to take his fencing to the next level and set a challenge of getting to the 2018 Commonwealth Games this November in Canberra.
Through balancing studies, earning an income and increasing his training regime Tony soared up the rankings to become 23rd in Britain and third in his country.
A matter of weeks ago he received the good news he was hoping for when he heard about his call-up to the Scotland team for the games - but it has been far from easy.
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Image credit: Scottish Student Sport
Alasdair Hooper and Will Moulton are back to bring you episode 26 of SportSpiel.
In our first segment we discuss:
-
The manic nature of the football transfer window and if it prevents young English players from progressing (2:29)
-
The legacy of the 2018 Women's Hockey World Cup as the Netherlands triumph (20:20)
Our feature interview section on this episode is with British wheelchair basketball star and Paralympian Amy Conroy (34:36).
At the age of 25, Amy has developed into one of the finest talents in her sport and has enjoyed plenty of success on the international stage.
But away from the sport lies an incredibly inspiring story as Amy was diagnosed with osteosarcoma shortly after losing her mother to cancer.
Despite going through chemotherapy Amy's leg had to be amputated but her comeback since has been nothing short of amazing.
In her interview on the podcast Amy explains what it was like to hear about her diagnosis, how she got into the sport of wheelchair basketball and she also talks about the special bond she shares with her dad.
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Image credit: SA Images and British Wheelchair Basketball
Alasdair Hooper and Will Moulton return to bring you episode 25 of SportSpiel.
In our first segment we discuss:
-
What have we learnt from the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia? (2:34)
-
Are Wimbledon, and tennis as a whole, in need of modernisation? (22:05)
Our feature interview section on this episode is with European gold, Olympic bronze and World silver medalist Emily Diamond. (32:20)
Before the inaugural Athletics World Cup in London, Emily took time out to chat to the show all about her career in athletics.
While there have been medal successes the highs naturally come with the lows, with mental strength and striving to better yourself two of the biggest challenges the 27-year-old has faced.
As Emily keeps pushing, to be the best that she can be, she is also looking to share her experiences with the younger generation with one message shining through above all - sport should not be a punishment.
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Image Credit: British Athletics/Getty Images
Will Moulton hosts a special episode ahead of the Women's Hockey World Cup, which begins at the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre in London on July 21.
With hosts England hoping for success on home turf Will speaks to one of the call-ups to the England squad, Kathryn Lane.
From initially believing she might not be good enough to represent her country hard work has paid off for the 23-year-old and she is now focussed on helping her nation achieve success.
In her chat on the podcast Kathryn talks all about her time in the sport, her hockey-orientated family and also everything that comes with being part of one of the fastest growing sports in the country.
There is also chat on cat cuddling!
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Alasdair Hooper and Will Moulton bring you episode 24 of SportSpiel.
In our first segment we discuss:
- If Lizzie Deignan is right to say Chris Froome's reputation has been tarnished (3:16)
- The 2018 FIFA World Cup kick-off, including Messi v Ronaldo, teams we are looking forward too and our hopes for England (11:41)
Our feature interview section on this episode is with record-breaking sprinter Beth Dobbin. (28:39)
After missing the Commonwealth Games by one hundredth of a second Beth has burst back onto the scene and broke the 34-year-old Scottish 200m record at the start of June.
The 23-year-old explains what breaking the record felt like but also opens up and expands on her battle to manage her epilepsy after a seizure as a teenager left her unable to walk and talk.
She describes how she manages her time working two jobs at Loughborough University and the influence of her dad, Jim, a former professional footballer.
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Alasdair Hooper and Will Moulton bring you episode 21 of SportSpiel.
In our first segment we discuss:
- If England Rugby Head Coach Eddie Jones' training methods are far too punishing (3:35)
- Zinedine Zidane's Real Madrid resignation (15:00)
- The WSL restructure and the winners and losers (22.04)
- The two most improbable finalists in this year's Stanley Cup final (30.51)
Our feature interview segment in this episode is with sailor Anna Burnet (40:23).
The up-and-coming British Sailing team member tells the show all about how she got into her sport and the battle she faces in fighting for a place at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
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In our final Mental Health Awareness special hosts Alasdair Hooper and Will Moulton turn from interviewers to interviewees.
After a week talking to sports stars about their mental health the podcast hosts turn the questioning on themselves and speak out about their own experiences.
For both it is the first time they have spoken openly about it and it also serves as a real lesson as to how hard it is to reveal all.
For someone, somewhere, we hope it helps.
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Alasdair Hooper hosts the fifth of our six Mental Health Awareness Week specials.
On this episode we are joined by Harrogate Town footballer Chloe Bellerby who recently walked from Leeds to London in aid of the mental health charity Mind.
Now 18 years of age Chloe has plenty to look forward to with a fast-approaching football scholarship in the USA coming up.
But relatively recently her depression and self-worth was so low she tried to take her own life by overdosing.
Now she has turned her hand at speaking out on mental health for young people and - by walking the 195 miles from Leeds to London - she has raised over £10,000 for charity.
In this episode Chloe tells us all about her own story, and the struggles she faces, but also her road to recovery - including a vital role played by a very special PE teacher.
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Will Moulton hosts the fourth of our six Mental Health Awareness Week specials.
On this episode we are joined by Great Britain and England hockey star Shona McCallin.
As part of the the Rio 2016 gold medal winning team Shona's profile has risen but with that comes plenty of struggles.
Social media in particular plays an important part and, thanks to its prominence in every day society, it can easily take over all of our lives.
In this episode Shona tells us about her relationship with social media, which she has blogged about heavily, and the impact it can have when you live your life in the virtual world.
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Alasdair Hooper hosts the third of our six Mental Health Awareness Week specials.
On this episode we are joined by the founder of Tough Girl Challenges and the host of the Tough Girl podcast Sarah Williams.
Tough Girl Challenges has gone from strength to strength since it was set up by Sarah in 2014 but it has been far from easy.
The podcast may now be nominated for the Women's Sports Trust Be a Game Changer awards but the journey it has taken to get there has required mental resilience.
Additionally the physical challenges Sarah has put herself through, as well as the countless inspirational women she has interviewed, makes her a perfect person to give us an insight into mental health.
From the fear of failure - to what it takes to be successful - Sarah openly discusses her own struggles.
She also explains what she has learnt from that first day she decided to pack up a regular job in finance and tell the stories of inspirational women instead.
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Alasdair Hooper hosts the second of our six Mental Health Awareness Week specials.
On this episode we hear from Essex-based powerlifter Sophia Ellis who has battled back from crippling eating disorders.
While Sophia may now be the embodiment of a fit and healthy person, from the age of 16 she has had to cope with anorexia and bulimia.
In this episode she tells us just what that is like to deal with but also relays just how violent the disorder can be.
She also tells us about the help that was on offer but also how she has bounced back to become a social media motivator for vegans and others who may be coping with similar mental battles.
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Alasdair Hooper hosts the first of our six Mental Health Awareness Week specials.
On this opening episode we hear from footballer Ruth Fox who has very recently become an inspirational spokesperson after suffering from severe depression.
The 19-year-old Cambridge United player released an e-book at the start of the year The Unseen Battle: One young footballer's struggle off the pitch.
The book details every inch of her battle with her own brain and has proved to be the catalyst for her recent propulsion into the media spotlight.
She is open about the help she received - or lack of it in some cases - and also about self-harming and her suicidal thoughts.
In this special episode Ruth takes us through her life in open and honest detail.
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Introducing the SportSpiel Mental Health Awareness Week specials.
From May 14 we will be bringing you 6 episodes in 6 days talking all things mental health with a variety of special and inspiring people.
May 14: Ruth Fox May 15: Sophia Ellis May 16: Sarah Williams May 17: Shona McCallin May 18: Chloe Bellerby May 19: Alasdair Hooper & Will Moulton
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Alasdair Hooper hosts a judo special with 2014 Commonwealth Champion and World bronze medalist Nekoda Smythe-Davis.
The 25-year-old tells the podcast about how she got into the sport and how she has risen from not believing she could qualify for an Olympics to becoming a world bronze medalist.
She also tells about her upbringing on a London estate and her role in inspiring the next generation.
With the European Championships coming up Nekoda also previews the tournament and takes us through her 2014 Commonwealth win.
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Alasdair Hooper hosts a judo special with 2014 Commonwealth Champion Natalie Powell.
In her one-on-one interview on the podcast Natalie takes us through her journey in judo as well as becoming the first British female to be ranked world number one.
Ahead of the European Championships she gives us an insight into her training and preparation.
She also takes us through the biggest challenges she has faced including managing severe migraines.
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Alasdair Hooper and Will Moulton host a special episode of the podcast to celebrate SportSpiel's first birthday.
One year ago today (April 20) the very first episode featuring James-Andrew Davis was released.
On this special episode Alasdair and Will look back at the first year of SportSpiel by revisiting that very first day as well as the talented, amazing guests that have been on.
There's also a nod to some of the highlights of the past year as well as some clangers and bloopers.
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Alasdair Hooper and Will Moulton bring you episode 21 of SportSpiel.
In our first segment we discuss:
- Our highlights and talking points from the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games (2:52)
Our feature interview segment in this episode is with Olympic bronze medalist Sally Conway (34:05).
The British judo star joined the show to tell use all about her career in sport as well as the aftermath of winning a medal at Rio 2016. She also discusses having to choose between hockey and judo when she was younger and she looks ahead to the upcoming European championships.
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Alasdair Hooper hosts a Commonwealth Games Special with Team England boxer Cheavon Clarke.
Gold Coast 2018 will be Cheavon's second Commonwealth Games after he represented Jamaica at Glasgow 2014. However, there is far more to the man than simply what happens in the ring.
Cheavon has experienced two near-death experiences and that has given him a completely different outlook on life.
In this one-on-one interview he tells us what life was like growing up in Jamaica and in Kent, how he found his way into boxing, driving an HGV for two years and playing Call of Duty with Usain Bolt.
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Alasdair Hooper and Will Moulton bring you episode 21 of SportSpiel.
In our first segment we discuss:
- England's dismal display against New Zealand in their first test (2:24)
- Manchester United's decision to finally launch a women's team (8:45)
- Gareth Southgate's comments on racist abuse suffered by England national sides on social media (15:30)
- Our outstanding display award (20:05)
- Our feel good story award (21:34)
Our feature interview segment in this episode is with Olympic gold medalist and England hockey star Giselle Ansley (23:47).
With the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games rapidly approaching Giselle takes us through England's preparation and what they hope to achieve in Australia, including settling a score from the 2014 Games.
She also tells us about her decision between becoming a professional hockey player or a cricket player, how an application to the Great British Bake Off didn't quite come off and how the sport of hockey - and women's sport - has grown since Britain won gold at Rio 2016.
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Alasdair Hooper and Will Moulton bring you episode 20 of SportSpiel.
In our first segment we discuss:
- The new UK Athlete Classification Code (4:47)
- What have we learnt from the Formula 1 testing? (11:33)
- Our outstanding display of the week award (18:36)
- Our feel good story of the week award (21:52)
Our feature interview segment in this episode is with Keith Antoine, one of the most highly regarded coaches in athletics (23:22).
After working with the likes of Denise Lewis, Darren Campbell and Stef Reid - and now coach to British Paralympic star Richard Whitehead - Keith joins the show to explain his thoughts on the much talked about para sport classification system.
He gives us his take on the culture of blame and finger pointing, the select committee hearings and what the International Paralympic Committee need to do now. Keith also explains what truly makes an athlete successful in the world of para sport.
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Will Moulton hosts a Winter Paralympics Special with British skier and medal hope Millie Knight.
PyeongChang will be Millie's second Paralympic Games after she initially represented Britain in Sochi as a 15-year-old and the team's flag bearer.
In this episode the now 19-year-old takes us through what it was like to lose her sight and why skiing was always going to be the sport for her.
Combined with her scout, Brett Wild, the pair are in serious medal contention in South Korea and she is on a mission to deliver and inspire.
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Alasdair Hooper and Will Moulton are joined by freelance journalist Alys Bowen to bring you episode 19 of SportSpiel.
In our first segment we discuss:
- The British highlights at the Winter Olympics (3:45)
- The PyeongChang 2018 moments that made us say 'wow' (23:33)
- Our favourite moments from the Games (29:55)
- The OAR and drugs after two athletes test positive (34:55)
Our feature interview segment in this episode is with British para skier Chris Lloyd (37:04).
Chris will be competing at his first Winter Paralympics, which begin on March 9, and he tells us about how he has come back from a life-changing rally car crash in 2011. Through perseverance he has managed to fight his way back into sport and will hope to make an impact on skis once his Paralympic campaign gets underway.
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Alasdair Hooper hosts the eighth SportSpiel Winter Olympics special as we tick down to PyeongChang 2018 in style.
In this episode we are joined by British figure skating stars Penny Coomes and Nick Buckland who have qualified for their third games against all the odds.
In the summer of 2016 Penny suffered a fall in training and broke her kneecap into eight different pieces.
She was told the injury could put an end to her skating career and she soon had to go through a gruelling rehabilitation process.
For Nick, he felt powerless on the side but did all he could to support his partner through the journey that lay ahead.
Through hard work and perseverance the pair managed to get back to competing and amazingly qualified for their third games with medal success now the target.
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Will Moulton hosts the seventh SportSpiel Winter Olympics special as we tick down to PyeongChang 2018 in style.
On this episode we are joined by skeleton racer Laura Deas as she takes us through her journey to this year's games.
After the disappointment of not making it to Sochi 2014 the racer explains just how she bounced back this time around.
Laura also details how she found her way into skeleton, why her equestrian background continues to help her and she also tells us what it is like to take part in one of the most exhilarating sports around.
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Alasdair Hooper hosts the sixth SportSpiel Winter Olympics special as we tick down to PyeongChang 2018 in style.
On this episode Alasdair is joined by the Associate Senior Writer of The Hockey News Matt Larkin to delve into the National Hockey League's decision to refuse to allow players to participate in this year's Winter Olympics.
NHL players had been allowed to represent their countries for the last five games but, back in April 2017, the league took the decision not to allow them to compete this time around.
From the players' perspective the decision was not well received and the full extent of the fallout is yet to be seen.
In this episode Alasdair and Matt go through the motives behind the NHL no-show and they also look at the potential problems that could arise for league executives and star players - could lockout be on the cards?
Matt also gives us the lowdown on what we can expect in this year's ice hockey tournament and who we should be keeping an eye on.
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Alasdair Hooper hosts the fifth SportSpiel Winter Olympics special as we tick down to PyeongChang 2018 in style.
On this episode alpine skier Charlie Guest chats about her journey to get to her first Olympics after suffering a career-threatening injury in 2014.
The Scot broke her back in a training crash just over three years ago but amazingly returned to the snow after just six weeks.
The after-effects of that injury have stayed with her but it has all been pushed to the back of her mind as Olympic qualification become the main goal.
As she makes her Winter Olympics debut in PyeongChang she gives a valuable insight into her journey and explains how the determination to become the best in her sport will keep driving her no matter what - or who - stands in her way.
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Alasdair Hooper hosts the fourth SportSpiel Winter Olympics special as we tick down to PyeongChang 2018 in style.
On this episode short track speed skater Charlotte Gilmartin returns to the podcast to tell us about her qualifying journey.
Since Charlotte spoke to us back in July a combination of painful injuries proved to be a major hurdle as she tried to qualify for her second Olympics.
However, she persisted throughout and eventually ended up making it to South Korea.
This time around, with the experience of Sochi 2014 to turn to, the aim is to make an impact on the track and the 27-year-old tells us just how much effort goes into performing at your best.
From training, all the way down to checking messages from your loved ones and from people on social media, everything matters.
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Alasdair Hooper and Will Moulton bring you the third SportSpiel Winter Olympics special as we tick down to PyeongChang 2018 in style.
In this episode we take a look at some of the key talking points ahead of the games:
- Have the Russian dopers won after the latest decision from the Court of Arbitration for Sport? (2:49)
- Russian speed skater Olga Graf's defiant stance (8:41)
- North and South Korea's unification for the women's ice hockey (12:52)
- Who to keep an eye out for during the games (18:52)
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Alasdair Hooper hosts the second SportSpiel Winter Olympic special as we tick down to PyeongChang 2018 in style.
On this episode we are joined by British biathlete Amanda Lightfoot who has add a difficult journey to the games.
Thanks to federation upheaval in April, Amanda has had to organise pretty much everything in her quest for qualification - all while maintaining a full time training regime.
It has been far from easy but the hard work has more than paid off.
In this one-on-one interview Amanda tells us all about her sport, the journey she has taken to get to PyeongChang 2018 as well as how her military experience has proved invaluable.
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Alasdair Hooper hosts the first SportSpiel Winter Olympic special as we tick down to PyeongChang 2018 in style.
On this episode we are joined by Britain's number one ski cross athlete Emily Sarsfield who will be attending her first Olympic Games at the third attempt.
It has been far from an easy journey for Emily to realise her Olympic dream as she missed out on the Vancouver 2010 games after suffering a career threatening injury during the test event.
However, for Sochi 2014 there was to be more agony as she was controversially not selected by Team GB for the games.
After falling out of love with her sport for a while she soon dug in and, through sheer persistence, gave it one last try. This year she made it.
In this one-on-one interview Emily takes us through those setbacks, explains why she loves her sport and tells us how much she has put in to make her dream a reality.
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Alasdair Hooper and Will Moulton are joined by 2017 SJA Student Sportswriter of the Year Katie Smith to bring you episode 18 of SportSpiel.
In our first segment we discuss:
- England's disastrous Ashes tour in Australia (3:09)
- The Australian Open and the controversy surrounding Margaret Court (13:24)
- Saudi Arabia's decision to allow women into football stadiums for the first time (29:08)
- Our outstanding display of the week award (33:10)
- Our feel good story of the week award (35:01)
Our feature interview segment in this episode is with 2014 Commonwealth gold medalist, and current CEO of British Fencing, Georgina Usher (36:40).
Georgina tells us all about her career as an Epee fencer, how becoming a mother changed her approach to competing as well as the current challenges she faces as CEO of the national governing body. She also gives us an update on the funding situation in the sport and explains why involvement in any sporting activity is so important for women.
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Alasdair Hooper and Will Moulton bring you episode 17 of SportSpiel, a podcast full of sporting discussion and feature interviews.
In our first segment we discuss:
- Our best, worst, funniest, most memorable, game-changing and most inspirational moments of 2017 (2:32)
- Our outstanding display of the week award (25:45)
- Our feel good story of the week award (27:33)
Our feature interview segment in this episode is with British steeplechaser Rosie Clarke (29:39).
Rosie discusses her unusual path into the sport and the rapid progress she has made since switching to the steeplechase just 18 months ago. She also tells us what it takes to become an elite athlete - particularly in terms of dietary requirements - as well as whether genetics have a part to play in competitive success.
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Alasdair Hooper and Will Moulton bring you episode 16 of SportSpiel, a podcast full of sporting discussion and feature interviews.
In our first segment we discuss:
- Who should or shouldn't be in the running for BBC Sports Personality of the Year (2:41)
- Is the IOC's ban on Russia competing at the 2018 Winter Olympics all it seems? (14:11)
- Our Outstanding Display of the Week Award (20:46)
- Our Feel Good Story of the Week Award (22:24)
Our feature interview segment in this episode is with T44 long jump world champion Stef Reid (24:33).
In a wide-ranging interview Stef discusses her career so far and about finally claiming the gold medal she always wanted during the 2017 World Para Athletics Championships.
She also takes us through the accident that led to her becoming an amputee, how she coped mentally with such a drastic change, being accepted by the British fans and how her Christian faith has helped her throughout her life.
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Alasdair Hooper and Will Moulton bring you a SportSpiel Special looking at some of the biggest sports talking points from the past fortnight.
Here is what is included in today's discussion podcast:
- Stonewall's rainbow laces campaign - what more needs to happen to support LGBT fans and players? (2:12)
- Was this year's Formula One season a colossal disappointment? (10:24)
- Does the BBC's Price of Football study show greed is still paramount at the top end of football? (19:44)
- After Michael Carrick's revelation over his heart condition is screening as important as we think it is? (27:14)
- Introducing our Outstanding Display of the Week and our Feel Good Story of the Week Awards! (31:47)
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Alasdair Hooper and Will Moulton bring you episode 15 of SportSpiel, a podcast full of sporting discussion and feature interviews.
In our first segment we discuss:
- The awkward - and blatant - sexism on show at the ATP Next Gen Finals launch event (2:56)
- The incredible recovery of cyclist Vicky Barnes after a shocking crash left her with severe, paralysis-threatening injuries (8:01)
- If Patrice Evra's ill-advised kung-fu kick at a fan spells the end of his footballing career (12:12)
Our feature interview segment in this episode is with British boxer Stacey Copeland (17:24).
One week on from her third fight since turning professional, the Mancunian remains undefeated and is paving the way at the forefront of women's sport. In a wide-ranging interview she tells us how a terrible botched knee operation led to her decision to become a professional fighter, why she has youngsters at her fights instead of the customary ring girls as well as her time spent in France helping child refugees.
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Alasdair Hooper and Will Moulton bring you episode 14 of SportSpiel, a podcast full of sporting discussion and feature interviews.
In our first segment we discuss:
- Elise Christie's deserved Sportswoman of the Year Award (2:16)
- Ellie Downie's Young Sportswoman of the Year triumph (7:22)
- Hannah Cockroft's shocking revelations about Para classification tests (9:46)
- The Best FIFA Football awards - a glamorous ceremony for the men but not quite the same for the women (17:43)
Our feature interview segment in this episode is with England Rugby star Kay Wilson (25:11).
After announcing her surprise retirement from international rugby earlier in October, the wing tells us why she made her decision. She also looks back on the highlights of her stellar career and takes us through the heartbreak of losing the 2017 World Cup final to New Zealand.
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Alasdair Hooper and Will Moulton bring you episode 13 of SportSpiel, a podcast full of sporting discussion and feature interviews.
In our first segment we discuss:
- Will Qatar be stripped of the 2022 FIFA World Cup (2:16)?
- Are we obsessed with medal table success after British Swimming had to apologise for the creation of a 'climate of fear' amongst Paralympic athletes (11:57)?
Our feature interview segment in this episode is with Jack Rutter - the captain of the England cerebral palsy football team (18:38).
As a promising youth player at Birmingham City the defender's professional career was taken away from him as an 18-year-old on one fateful night. He talks about the impact it had on his life and the way he bounced back proudly in the face of adversity.
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Alasdair Hooper and Will Moulton bring you episode 12 of SportSpiel, a podcast full of sporting discussion and feature interviews.
In our first segment we discuss:
- Is England's Ashes squad selection one of the weakest we've seen (2:15)?
- Should Ben Stokes be stripped of the England vice-captaincy and will he be on the Ashes tour (10:00)?
- Is British Bobsleigh's latest announcement just a glimmer of good news in a swirl of controversy (12:57)?
Our feature interview segment in this episode is with British rifle shooter Jen McIntosh - Scotland's most decorated female athlete in Commonwealth history (18:04).
She tells us what it's like competing against her sister, living up to her mother's own medal success as well as looking ahead to the fast-approaching Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in 2018.
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Alasdair Hooper and Will Moulton bring you episode 11 of SportSpiel, a podcast full of sporting discussion and feature interviews.
In our first segment we discuss:
- Why is Chris Froome not revered and hailed in the same way as other British stars?
- Should Russia be banned from the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics?
Our feature interview segment in this episode is with British sprinter Reece Prescod who shot into the public eye with his seventh-placed finish in the 100m at the London 2017 World Championships. At just 21 years of age he has been nominated for the European Athletics male rising star award but it could have been so different.
Reece tells us about his career, racing against Usain Bolt and Justin Gatlin in that 100m final, why he credits the 'dark times' for where he is now and why he could so easily be an estate agent instead.
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Image credit: British Athletics/Getty
Alasdair Hooper and Will Moulton bring you episode 10 of SportSpiel, a podcast full of sporting discussion and feature interviews.
In our first segment we discuss:
- England's shock defeat to the West Indies in the second Test
- Heartbreak for England in the Women's Rugby World Cup final
- The Badminton World Championships and if UK Sport funding should be reinstated
- The ongoing saga between Eniola Aluko, Mark Sampson and the FA
Our feature interview segment in this episode is with Belfast Giants forward Colin Shields. The 37-year-old has enjoyed a stellar career in ice hockey as he is both the Giants and Great Britain's all-time record goalscorer. He joins us to discuss his impressive achievements, being awarded a testimonial by his club and the new-look expanded Elite League ahead of the new season.
There is also chat about his career in North America, becoming just the second British player ever to be drafted by an NHL team, and why the 2004 lockout may have hindered his chances of stepping up to NHL level.
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Alasdair Hooper and Will Moulton bring you episode 9 of SportSpiel, a podcast full of sporting discussion and feature interviews.
In our first segment we discuss:
- The end of the glittering careers of Mo Farah and Usain Bolt
- Were the London crowd right to boo Justin Gatlin - shouldn't other drug cheats get the same treatment?
- The IAAF's decision to bar Isaac Makwala from the 400m final because of 'norovirus'
- With the return of the Premier League has the art of defending died a horrible death?
- Scotland and Wales' impressive performances at the EuroHockey games
Our feature interview segment in this episode is with snowboarding star Katie Ormerod. Despite being just 19 years old, Katie has already claimed X Games medals and became the first ever British woman to win a Big Air World Cup in 2017.
As the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics approach the West Yorkshire native is targeting big success at the games and is fast becoming a household name in the UK. With an important year on the horizon she tells us about her preparations, how she has come back from injury and she gives us a unique insight into a sport where riders are making jumps that are bigger than the size of a house.
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Alasdair Hooper and Will Moulton bring you episode 8 of SportSpiel, a podcast full of sporting discussion and feature interviews.
In our first segment we discuss:
- Adam Peaty's global dominance
- If the England Women's Cricket World Cup triumph can be a springboard for the sport
- Managing team-mates and the role of team orders in Formula 1
Our feature interview segment in this episode is with 2014 Rugby World Cup-winning star Marlie Packer. With the 2017 World Cup due to start on August 9 in Ireland the hopes are high that England can retain their title. Marlie looks ahead to the upcoming tournament and gives us an insight into what it takes to be a part of the world's best team. She also tells just how she juggles playing rugby with being a plumber.
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Alasdair Hooper and Will Moulton bring you episode 7 of SportSpiel, a podcast full of sporting discussion and feature interviews.
In our first segment we discuss:
- If 2019 will be the last ever British Grand Prix at Silverstone
- British success at the World Para Athletics Championships including a gold medal and world record for friend of the show Sammi Kinghorn
- England cricket's highs and lows - a damaging Test defeat for the men but a World Cup final for the women
Our feature interview segment in this episode is with Winter Olympian and short track speed skater Charlotte Gilmartin. After representing Great Britain at Sochi 2014, Charlotte has gone from strength to strength and has enjoyed a hugely positive 2017 with a European bronze coming her way amongst other accolades. With the 2018 Olympic qualifiers just weeks away all eyes are focused on making the grade and bouncing back from a disappointing World Championship result back in March.
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Alasdair Hooper and Will Moulton bring you episode 6 of SportSpiel, a podcast full of sporting discussion and feature interviews.
In our first segment we discuss:
- Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton coming together in Azerbaijan
- Dan Evans' failed drugs test, John McEnroe comparing Serena Williams and Petra Kvitova's comeback
- The England U21s losing to Germany on penalties
- The British & Irish Lions Test defeat to the All Blacks
- Would you refuse an invite to Donald Trump's White House like the Golden State Warriors?
Our feature interview segment in this episode is with Paralympic wheelchair racing star Sammi Kinghorn.
After a severe injury that left her paralysed from the waist down the Scot is taking her sport by storm with three European gold medals and a World Championship bronze. In this interview she talks about the impact the accident had on her, the success she has enjoyed so far and her aims for the future.
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Alasdair Hooper and Will Moulton bring you episode 5 of SportSpiel, a podcast full of sporting discussion and feature interviews.
In our first segment we discuss:
- The America's Cup and what next for Britain
- The Pittsburgh Penguins retaining the Stanley Cup
- The hockey internationals and Alex Danson's 100th goal
- England's Under-20 World Cup heroes
- Who is the best value goalkeeper?
Our feature interview segment in this episode is with cyclist Niki Kovacs - someone who has had to face numerous battles in order to ride a bike.
After being diagnosed with a childhood condition, being involved in a hit-and-run and suffering a host of injuries she successfully fought of each challenge to compete at prestigious Six Day events and other competitions around the globe.
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Alasdair Hooper and Will Moulton bring you episode 4 of SportSpiel, a podcast full of sporting discussion and feature interviews.
In our first segment we discuss: - Fernando Alonso's Indy 500 adventure - Tiger Woods' latest challenge - Arsene Wenger staying on at Arsenal - Real Madrid's Champions League triumph - English hockey clubs' European success - Who has the most embarrassing name in sport?
Our feature interview segment in this episode is with Wales international hockey player Beth Bingham. We discuss her unconventional journey into the sport, winning 50 caps for her country and managing training with studying.
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Alasdair Hooper and Will Moulton bring you episode 3 of SportSpiel, a podcast full of sporting discussion and feature interviews.
In our first segment we discuss: - Maria Sharapova - should she have a French Open wildcard? - Shamed sprinter Ben Johnson putting the 'roid' in android - Women's FA Cup final - Manchester City show how it's done - Are the Washington Capitals sport's chief chokers?
Our feature interview segment in this episode is with former West Ham United captain Stacey Little who has just retired after her spell with C & K Basildon. We discuss her life in football, playing under Julian Dicks, hopes for the future and making her dad proud.
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Alasdair Hooper and Will Moulton bring you episode 2 of SportSpiel, a podcast full of sporting discussion and feature interviews.
In our first segment we discuss: - Anthony Joshua - is he the greatest? - Notts County Ladies' liquidation - Sulley Muntari banned after racial abuse - Premier League goal of the season - Athletics world records to be removed?
Our feature interview segment in this episode is with up-and-coming Kent cricketer Ollie Robinson. We discuss his life in cricket, interactions with stars of the game and his hopes for his future career.
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Alasdair Hooper and Will Moulton bring you episode 1 of SportSpiel, a podcast full of sporting discussion and feature interviews.
In our first segment we discuss: - British and Irish Lions squad - PFA awards and team of the year - Formula 1 season so far - James Cracknell
Our feature interview segment in this episode is with British Olympic fencer, and 2014 European foil champion, James-Andrew Davis. We discuss his life, career, competing at two Olympic games and the ongoing problem of the funding cut to British fencing.
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Image credit: Courtesy of British Fencing/Wilkinson Sword