The Women in Sport Podcast: Recent Episodes
The Women in Sport Podcast
The Women in Sport podcast brings together insight, advice and expertise from across the sector to discuss the issues and topics you think are important and affecting women and girls in the UK.
Get in touch with via our support page (https://www.womeninsport.org/research-and-advice/get-in-touch/) and tell us what you want to discuss on the podcast. Join the conversation on social media and follow us @womeninsport_uk
Donate to Women in Sport online. (https://www.womeninsport.org/get-involved/make-a-donation/)
In this episode of the Women in Sport podcast, we sit down with Vicky Gosling OBE, CEO of GB Snowsport to discuss what it was like becoming CEO of a male-dominated sport and her hopes and expectations for the female skiers and snowboarders competing for Team GB at the Winter Olympics.
About Women in Sport
Founded in 1984, Women in Sport is the longest-standing charity in its field with a proud history of securing change for women and girls. At its heart lies a deep understanding of the needs of women and girls in relation to sport and a passion to address the stubborn gender inequalities that still exist.
Based on expert insight, Women in Sport challenges the system, offers solutions and inspires change. Not only do we believe in girls and women having access to fair and safe sport for the joy, fulfilment and lifelong benefits it offers, but we care about this because it can address health inequalities and help society to thrive.
We continue to build strong partnerships with the corporate, sports and leisure sectors, grow our influence in parliament and develop powerful projects. By doing so we have led the field in creating change for teenage girls and challenged the system to better serve women in midlife.
Follow us
Website – Women in Sport – Home
Instagram – @womeninsport_uk
LinkedIn – @Women in Sport
Credits
She Who Dares is a TNT Sports Original documentary, available to stream now on discovery+
Music: Luna Cantina - A Huevo
About Women in Sport
Founded in 1984, Women in Sport is the longest-standing charity in its field with a proud history of securing change for women and girls. At its heart lies a deep understanding of the needs of women and girls in relation to sport and a passion to address the stubborn gender inequalities that still exist.
Based on expert insight, Women in Sport challenges the system, offers solutions and inspires change. Not only do we believe in girls and women having access to fair and safe sport for the joy, fulfilment and lifelong benefits it offers, but we care about this because it can address health inequalities and help society to thrive.
We continue to build strong partnerships with the corporate, sports and leisure sectors, grow our influence in parliament and develop powerful projects. By doing so we have led the field in creating change for teenage girls and challenged the system to better serve women in midlife.
Follow us
Website – Women in Sport – Home
Instagram – @womeninsport_uk
LinkedIn – @Women in Sport
Music: Luna Cantina - A Huevo
In this episode of our Women's Rugby World Cup series, there’s less Carter and more Moore. With Jim on holiday, Brian chats to rugby royalty Maggie Alphonsi MBE. Get the lowdown on preparing for a World Cup final and friendly rivalry about their respective international careers.
About Women in Sport
Founded in 1984, Women in Sport is the longest-standing charity in its field with a proud history of securing change for women and girls. At its heart lies a deep understanding of the needs of women and girls in relation to sport and a passion to address the stubborn gender inequalities that still exist.
Based on expert insight, Women in Sport challenges the system, offers solutions and inspires change. Not only do we believe in girls and women having access to fair and safe sport for the joy, fulfilment and lifelong benefits it offers, but we care about this because it can address health inequalities and help society to thrive.
We continue to build strong partnerships with the corporate, sports and leisure sectors, grow our influence in parliament and develop powerful projects. By doing so we have led the field in creating change for teenage girls and challenged the system to better serve women in midlife.
Follow us
Website – Women in Sport – Home
Instagram – @womeninsport_uk
LinkedIn – @Women in Sport
Acknowledgments
Thank you to VeePod for the technical help and use of the studio to record this podcast.
Music: Luna Cantina - A Huevo
In this episode of our Women's Rugby World Cup series, Brian and Jim sit down with Deborah Griffin, Co-Founder of the first Women's Rugby World Cup tournament in 1991 and current President of the Rugby Football Union
About Women in Sport
Founded in 1984, Women in Sport is the longest-standing charity in its field with a proud history of securing change for women and girls. At its heart lies a deep understanding of the needs of women and girls in relation to sport and a passion to address the stubborn gender inequalities that still exist.
Based on expert insight, Women in Sport challenges the system, offers solutions and inspires change. Not only do we believe in girls and women having access to fair and safe sport for the joy, fulfilment and lifelong benefits it offers, but we care about this because it can address health inequalities and help society to thrive.
We continue to build strong partnerships with the corporate, sports and leisure sectors, grow our influence in parliament and develop powerful projects. By doing so we have led the field in creating change for teenage girls and challenged the system to better serve women in midlife.
Follow us
Instagram – @womeninsport_uk
LinkedIn – @Women in Sport
Acknowledgments
Thank you to VeePod for the technical help and use of the studio to record this podcast.
Music: Luna Cantina - A Huevo
In this episode of our Women's Rugby World Cup series, Brian and Jim discuss what they've enjoyed in the tournament so far, and speak to ex-Welsh rugby player and Gower MP Tonia Antoniazzi about how far women's rugby has come.
About Women in Sport
Founded in 1984, Women in Sport is the longest-standing charity in its field with a proud history of securing change for women and girls. At its heart lies a deep understanding of the needs of women and girls in relation to sport and a passion to address the stubborn gender inequalities that still exist.
Based on expert insight, Women in Sport challenges the system, offers solutions and inspires change. Not only do we believe in girls and women having access to fair and safe sport for the joy, fulfilment and lifelong benefits it offers, but we care about this because it can address health inequalities and help society to thrive.
We continue to build strong partnerships with the corporate, sports and leisure sectors, grow our influence in parliament and develop powerful projects. By doing so we have led the field in creating change for teenage girls and challenged the system to better serve women in midlife.
Follow us
Website – Women in Sport – Home
Instagram – @womeninsport_uk
LinkedIn – @Women in Sport
Acknowledgments
Thank you to VeePod for the technical help and use of the studio to record this podcast.
Music: Luna Cantina - A Huevo
Welcome to our new Women's Rugby World Cup series, Off-Script and Onside, hosted by actor and sports fan Jim Carter, alongside ex-England rugby player Brian Moore.
In this episode, Brian and Jim look ahead to the Women's Rugby World Cup, and with their guest and ex-Scotland rugby player Lisa O'Keefe, discuss what they're hoping for the tournament.
About Women in Sport
Founded in 1984, Women in Sport is the longest-standing charity in its field with a proud history of securing change for women and girls. At its heart lies a deep understanding of the needs of women and girls in relation to sport and a passion to address the stubborn gender inequalities that still exist.
Based on expert insight, Women in Sport challenges the system, offers solutions and inspires change. Not only do we believe in girls and women having access to fair and safe sport for the joy, fulfilment and lifelong benefits it offers, but we care about this because it can address health inequalities and help society to thrive.
We continue to build strong partnerships with the corporate, sports and leisure sectors, grow our influence in parliament and develop powerful projects. By doing so we have led the field in creating change for teenage girls and challenged the system to better serve women in midlife.
Follow us
Website – Women in Sport – Home
Instagram – @womeninsport_uk
LinkedIn – Women in Sport
Acknowledgments
Thank you to VeePod for the technical help and use of the studio to record this podcast.
Edited and mixed by Steven George.
Music: Luna Cantina - A Huevo
This is part two of our two-episode deep dive into why Black British girls fall out of love with sport at such an alarming rate.
Black girls tell us that they want sport to be a ‘safe space’ where they really belong and fit in, but the older they get, the more challenging they find it to continue. Too often they feel unwelcome, singled out and having to contend with racist stereotyping.
In part one, we looked at elite sport. In this episode, our focus is on the grass roots.
Presenter:
Julia George, journalist, broadcaster and former gymnast
Guests:
Lee Bailey isa community engagement manager at the Black Swimming Association, which was founded in 2020 to address a lack of water confidence and skills and reduce drowning among racially diverse communities especially Black Brits.
Bunmi Durowoju is a presenter and leader in tech, a mum of four and a rugby coach and player.
Joanne Oguntimehin is an associate director at Humankind Research. Humankind
conducted our qualitative research with Black British teenage girls, which has inspired this podcast.
About Women in Sport
Because women and girls belongDONATE and support our work here
Founded in 1984, Women in Sport is the longest-standing charity in its field with a proud history of securing change for women and girls. At its heart lies a deep understanding of the needs of women and girls in relation to sport and a passion to address the stubborn gender inequalities that still exist.
Based on expert insight, Women in Sport challenges the system, offers solutions and inspires change. Not only do we believe in girls and women having access to fair and safe sport for the joy, fulfilment and lifelong benefits it offers, but we care about this because it can address health inequalities and help society to thrive.
We continue to build strong partnerships with the corporate, sports and leisure sectors, grow our influence in parliament and develop powerful projects. By doing so we have led the field in creating change for teenage girls and challenged the system to better serve women in midlife.
Follow UsInstagram – Instagram.com/womeninsport_uk
LinkedIn – linkedin.com/company/women-in-sport
TikTok – tiktok.com/@womeninsport
Acknowledgments
Thank you to Whistledown Productions for the technical help and use of the studio to record this podcast.
Edited and mixed by Steven George
Music: Luna Cantina - A Huevo
In the next couple of episodes, we’re focussing on the needs and experiences of Black teenage girls.
Our research shows that they have some of the most positive attitudes to and aspirations in sport. 60 per cent of Black girls aged 13-24 dream of reaching the top in sport, compared to 33 per cent of White British girls.
And yet Black girls are the least physically active groups of girls.
Our latest research - to be published in the spring of 2025 - includes the testimonies of black girls, including, crucially, those who have fallen out of love with sport. We want to know why. And what we can do to prevent this.
Presenter:
Julia George, journalist, broadcaster, and former gymnast
Guests:
Yasmin Clarke started as a bright young tennis star, progressed into coaching and now works as a commentator and counsellor for the Lawn Tennis Association.
Kadeena Cox OBE has won multiple gold medals in athletics and cycling across three Paralympic Games from 2016 to 2024.
Danielle Hogan is the diversity and belonging lead for England Netball. She was a junior England netballer herself and now coaches the under 17s at Birmingham Panthers in the NSL.
About Women in SportWomen in Sport was founded in 1984 and its vision is that no-one is excluded from the joy, fulfilment and lifelong benefits of sport and exercise.
Recognising that gender stereotypes and institutional bias are holding women back in life and in sport, the charity’s purpose is to give every woman and girl the opportunity to take part and inspire her to do so.
If you love what our charity stands for, please do consider making a donation by clicking here. Any donations made before 31 March 2025 will be doubled by a generous donor to mark our 40th Anniversary.
Find out more about us here
Follow UsInstagram – Instagram.com/womeninsport_uk
LinkedIn – linkedin.com/company/women-in-sport
TikTok – tiktok.com/@womeninsport
Thank you to Whistledown Productions for the use of the studio to record this podcast.
Recorded and mixed by Steven George
Music: Luna Cantina - A Huevo
In November 2024 Women in Sport held our 40th anniversary conference in London.
In this episode of the podcast we’ll hear further highlights from the event, featuring a discussion chaired by Dame Katherine Grainger, the new Chair of the British Olympic Association.
Nick Read, managing director of Vitality Programme
Caroline Hawkings, Chief Talent Officer at Savanta
Dan Frumkin, CEO of Metro Bank
Viki Monk, The Collective at Wasserman
These four senior figures in the business world talk about how they have put sport at the heart of their corporate agendas.
The episode is introduced by the journalist and former gymnast Julia George.
About Women in Sport
Because women and girls belongDONATE and support our work here
Founded in 1984, Women in Sport is the longest-standing charity in its field with a proud history of securing change for women and girls. At its heart lies a deep understanding of the needs of women and girls in relation to sport and a passion to address the stubborn gender inequalities that still exist.
Based on expert insight, Women in Sport challenges the system, offers solutions and inspires change. Not only do we believe in girls and women having access to fair and safe sport for the joy, fulfilment and lifelong benefits it offers, but we care about this because it can address health inequalities and help society to thrive.
We continue to build strong partnerships with the corporate, sports and leisure sectors, grow our influence in parliament and develop powerful projects. By doing so we have led the field in creating change for teenage girls and challenged the system to better serve women in midlife.
Follow UsInstagram – Instagram.com/womeninsport_uk
X – x.com/womeninsport_uk
LinkedIn – linkedin.com/company/women-in-sport
TikTok – tiktok.com/@womeninsport
Acknowledgments
Thank you to the Royal Institute of British Architects for hosting our conference.
Thank you to Vitality, Metro Bank and Wasserman for their generous sponsorship of the event.
Edited and mixed by Steven George
Music: Luna Cantina - A Huevo
In November 2024 Women in Sport held our 40th anniversary conference in London.
In this episode of the podcast we’ll hear some highlights from the event, featuring a discussion chaired by Julia George with three high-profile women in sport, talking about their vision for the future – and what makes them mad about the lack of progress towards true equality.
Paula Dunn MBE is the first female head coach appointed by UK Athletics
Lisa O’Keefe MBE is the Secretary General of the International Working Group on Women and Sport
Kelly Simmonds OBE spent thirty years at the Football Association, latterly as the director of the women’s professional game
All of them faced down some kind of prejudice, misogyny or discrimination on their way to the top.
About Women in Sport
Because women and girls belongDONATE and support our work here
Founded in 1984, Women in Sport is the longest-standing charity in its field with a proud history of securing change for women and girls. At its heart lies a deep understanding of the needs of women and girls in relation to sport and a passion to address the stubborn gender inequalities that still exist.
Based on expert insight, Women in Sport challenges the system, offers solutions and inspires change. Not only do we believe in girls and women having access to fair and safe sport for the joy, fulfilment and lifelong benefits it offers, but we care about this because it can address health inequalities and help society to thrive.
We continue to build strong partnerships with the corporate, sports and leisure sectors, grow our influence in parliament and develop powerful projects. By doing so we have led the field in creating change for teenage girls and challenged the system to better serve women in midlife.
Follow UsInstagram – Instagram.com/womeninsport_uk
X – x.com/womeninsport_uk
LinkedIn – linkedin.com/company/women-in-sport
TikTok – tiktok.com/@womeninsport
Acknowledgments
Thank you to the Royal Institute of British Architects for hosting our conference.
Thank you to Vitality, Metro Bank and Wasserman for their generous sponsorship of the event.
Edited and mixed by Steven George
Music: Luna Cantina - A Huevo
It’s August 2024 and this week, the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games begins.
The Paralympics, as we commonly know them, have their roots in the Stoke Mandeville Games, first held in 1948, when only wheelchair athletes competed.
In 1960, they were renamed as the Paralympic Games, and in 1976, para-athletes besides wheelchair users were allowed to compete for the first time.
My guest today was one of those. And she didn’t just compete – she cleaned up.
Monica Vaughan represented Great Britain in swimming at two Paralympics.
Five Gold medals in Toronto in ’76 were followed by four more plus a Silver in Arnhem in Germany in 1980.
By the way, thank you to Stylist Magazine for naming us as one of the best podcasts about women in sport.
Archive info about the Paralympics and Monica Vaughan"From Stoke Mandeville to Stratford" - A History of the Summer Paralympic Games by Ian Brittain
Toronto 1976
Monica Vaughan profile National Paralympic Heritage Trust
About Women in Sport
Women in Sport was founded in 1984 and its vision is that no-one is excluded from the joy, fulfilment and lifelong benefits of sport and exercise.
Recognising that gender stereotypes and institutional bias are holding women back in life and in sport, the charity’s purpose is to give every woman and girl the opportunity to take part and inspire her to do so.
DONATE and support our work here
Find out more about us here
Follow UsInstagram – Instagram.com/womeninsport_uk
X – x.com/womeninsport_uk
LinkedIn – linkedin.com/company/women-in-sport
TikTok – tiktok.com/@womeninsport
Acknowledgments
Thank you to Whistledown Productions for the technical help and use of the studio to record this podcast.
Edited and mixed by Steven George
Music: Luna Cantina - A Huevo
This year marks Women in Sport’s 40th anniversary and we've relaunched our podcast!
This week the world’s top athletes will gather in Paris for the 2024 Olympic Games.
Few of us will ever know what its like to represent our country in elite sport. Fewer still will know the feeling of standing on the podium whilst the national anthem plays.
Joanna Rowsell MBE knows exactly what this is like. She has two gold medals - one from London in 2012 and the other from Rio in 2016 – both in the Team Pursuit.
Add to that, five World Championship titles, multiple World Cup Gold medals and a standing world record, also in Team Pursuit.
Presenter: Julia George
Watch and listen to the BBC commentary of Joanna's moment of Olympic glory:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/olympics/19127475
Copyright BBC 1984
About Women in Sport
Women in Sport was founded in 1984 and its vision is that no-one is excluded from the joy, fulfilment and lifelong benefits of sport and exercise.
Recognising that gender stereotypes and institutional bias are holding women back in life and in sport, the charity’s purpose is to give every woman and girl the opportunity to take part and inspire her to do so.
DONATE and support our work here
Find out more about us here
Follow UsInstagram – Instagram.com/womeninsport_uk
X – x.com/womeninsport_uk
LinkedIn – linkedin.com/company/women-in-sport
TikTok – tiktok.com/@womeninsport
Acknowledgments
Thank you to David Prest at Whistledown Productions for the technical help and use of the studio to record this podcast.
Edited and mixed by Steven George
Music: Luna Cantina - A Huevo
This year marks Women in Sport’s 40th anniversary and we've relaunched our podcast!
It’s July 2024. In just a few weeks, the world’s top athletes will gather in Paris for the 2024 Games.
We’ll be watching on - in wonder - at the human endeavour, the glory and the heartbreak.
What all that feels like is the stuff of dreams for most of us.
Today's guest is a woman who lived that dream.
Tessa Sanderson CBE is a British Olympic icon. She represented Great Britain at six Olympic Games, winning a gold medal in the javelin at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics setting a new Olympic record and making history as the first black British woman to win Olympic gold.
Presenter: Julia George
Watch and listen to the BBC commentary of Tessa's moment of Olympic glory:
1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games - Women's Javelin (youtube.com)
Copyright BBC 1984
About Women in Sport
Women in Sport was founded in 1984 and its vision is that no-one is excluded from the joy, fulfilment and lifelong benefits of sport and exercise.
Recognising that gender stereotypes and institutional bias are holding women back in life and in sport, the charity’s purpose is to give every woman and girl the opportunity to take part and inspire her to do so.
DONATE and support our work here
Find out more about us here
Follow UsInstagram – Instagram.com/womeninsport_uk
X – x.com/womeninsport_uk
LinkedIn – linkedin.com/company/women-in-sport
TikTok – tiktok.com/@womeninsport
Acknowledgments
Follow Tessa on X - x.com/tessasanderson
Thank you to David Prest at Whistledown Productions for the technical help and use of the studio to record this podcast.
Edited and mixed by Steven George
Music: Luna Cantina - A Huevo
This year marks Women in Sport’s 40th anniversary. We've relaunched our podcast to coincide with the 2024 UK General Election.
Women and girls belong in sport. But we are less active than men and boys at every stage of our lives.
27% of women do less than 30 minutes of sporting activity a week. Just 3% of women play in a sports team. 22% fewer girls than boys take part in team sport.
Stigma, prejudice and taboos about sport, gender and health are holding women and girls back.
This episode of our podcast looks at how we help the UK step up and recognise the value and importance of sport to women and girls.
[Warning: There is a section midway through this episode where there's a bit of swearing]
Presenter:
Julia George, journalist, broadcaster and former gymnast
Guests:
Gary Leybourne the CEO of Coach Core, a charity which creates sports coaching apprenticeships across the UK.
Rachel Williams works for Women in Sport in policy and public affairs, managing our relationships with politicians, decision-makers and government.
Dr Bella Smith was labelled ‘not particularly sporty’ at school now she’s a passionate distance runner and is a co-founder of The Well HQ, a movement that aims to help girls and women feel they truly belong in sport.
About Women in Sport
Women in Sport was founded in 1984 and its vision is that no-one is excluded from the joy, fulfilment and lifelong benefits of sport and exercise.
Recognising that gender stereotypes and institutional bias are holding women back in life and in sport, the charity’s purpose is to give every woman and girl the opportunity to take part and inspire her to do so.
DONATE and support our work here
Find out more about us here
Follow UsInstagram – Instagram.com/womeninsport_uk
X – x.com/womeninsport_uk
LinkedIn – linkedin.com/company/women-in-sport
TikTok – tiktok.com/@womeninsport
Thank you to David Prest at Whistledown Productions for the use of the studio to record this podcast.
Recorded and mixed by Steven George
Music: Luna Cantina - A Huevo
This year marks Women in Sport’s 40th anniversary. We've relaunched our podcast to coincide with the 2024 UK General Election.
Women and girls belong in sport. But misogyny is a significant barrier. We believe that when sport includes women and girls it helps tackle health inequalities. In this podcast we’re tackling what needs to be done to eradicate misogyny from sport, and society in general.
Presenter:
Julia George, journalist, broadcaster and former gymnast
Guests:
Fiona Scolding KC has worked in education law for over 20 years, notably as lead counsel to three different investigations at the Independent Inquiry for Child Sexual Abuse.
Ugo Monye is a rugby union international, who was capped 14 times for England and played 241 times for Harlequins, winning the Premiership title in 2012 before retiring in 2015.
Rachel Williams leads our work on developing policy positions and on our relationship with political and policymaking stakeholders across the UK and at all levels of government.
About Women in Sport
Women in Sport was founded in 1984 and its vision is that no-one is excluded from the joy, fulfilment and lifelong benefits of sport and exercise.
Recognising that gender stereotypes and institutional bias are holding women back in life and in sport, the charity’s purpose is to give every woman and girl the opportunity to take part and inspire her to do so.
DONATE and support our work here
Find out more about us here
Follow UsInstagram – Instagram.com/womeninsport_uk
X – x.com/womeninsport_uk
LinkedIn – linkedin.com/company/women-in-sport
TikTok – tiktok.com/@womeninsport
Thank you to Emily Finch at Whistledown Productions for the use of the studio to record this podcast.
Recorded and mixed by Steven George
Music: Luna Cantina - A Huevo
This year marks Women in Sport’s 40th anniversary.
Women and girls belong in sport. But they are less active than men at every stage of their lives. It’s worse if you’re a woman of colour.
Elite male athletes are celebrated for their strength and skill, whilst women are still often discussed in terms of their appearance and their relationships. And their pay and rewards still lag far behind.
In this episode, we’re tackling what needs to be done make sport fair for women and girls, in the playground, on the pitch, and in the boardroom.
Presenter:
Julia George, journalist, broadcaster and former gymnast
Guests:
Ali Donnelly, who is the CEO of More Than Equal, a new organisation which aims to get more women competing at the very top end of motorsport.
Rachel Williams leads Women in Sport’s relationships with politicians and policymakers across the UK and at all levels of government.
Brian Moore is a former rugby union international, who played 64 times for England as a hooker.
About Women in Sport
Women in Sport was founded in 1984 and its vision is that no-one is excluded from the joy, fulfilment and lifelong benefits of sport and exercise.
Recognising that gender stereotypes and institutional bias are holding women back in life and in sport, the charity’s purpose is to give every woman and girl the opportunity to take part and inspire her to do so.
DONATE and support our work here
Find out more about us here
Follow UsInstagram – Instagram.com/womeninsport_uk
X – x.com/womeninsport_uk
LinkedIn – linkedin.com/company/women-in-sport
TikTok – tiktok.com/@womeninsport
More Than Equal Website
Thank you to Whistledown Productions for the use of their studio to record this podcast.
Recorded and mixed by Steven George
Music: Luna Cantina - A Huevo
Minette Batters is President of the National Farmer's Union, the first women to hold the post in the organisation's 115 year history. Alongside leading the NFU, which represents more than 46,000 farming and growing businesses, Minette runs a family farm in Wiltshire.
She chats to us about the impact that sport has had on her life. The skills she acquired through playing team sport at school which has given her the ability to lead a team, communicate effectively and provided her with the resilience to overcome adversity and failure.
Minette also talks about her love of running and her passion for protecting and championing green spaces so that more people are able to enjoy being active in nature.
About Women in Sport
Women in Sport was founded in 1984 and its vision is that no-one is excluded from the joy, fulfilment and lifelong benefits of sport and exercise. Recognising that gender stereotypes and institutional bias are holding women back in life and in sport, the charity’s purpose is to give every woman and girl the opportunity to take part and inspire her to do so.
Find out more about us here
The Rugby League World Cup 2021 made history with Women's, Wheelchair and Men’s teams competing concurrently at the tournament. For the first time in a major tournament all participants were paid the same participation fee and given equal standard of accommodation, transport, and training facilities.
Also, in a watershed moment for the women's game, every match was broadcast live on the BBC and promoted to a new generation of players and supporters.
So, what has this tournament done to inspire change, both at the elite and grassroots ends of the game?
To discuss the legacy of the Rugby League World Cup 2021, we're joined by: England International Jodie Cunningham, Stacey Knight Non-Exec Director, Rugby League World Cup 2021 and Tracey Power the tournament's Social Impact Director.
Thank you to our podcast sponsor CSM Live
Cover Image: SWPix
About Women in Sport
Women in Sport was founded in 1984 and its vision is that no-one is excluded from the joy, fulfilment and lifelong benefits of sport and exercise. Recognising that gender stereotypes and institutional bias are holding women back in life and in sport, the charity’s purpose is to give every woman and girl the opportunity to take part and inspire her to do so.
Find out more about us here
When researching the lives of teenage girls Women in Sport uncovered the powerful relationship that exists between mums and daughters. Teenage girls view their mum or mum figure as someone that they want to be active with, without the fear of judgement. This led to the creation of Women in Sport's #TimeTogether campaign.
We know that:
-
6 out of 10 teenage girls are not meeting the physical activity guidelines of 60 minutes activity per day
-
1.3 million teenage girls opt out of sport when transitioning from primary to secondary school due to puberty, confidence and supportive environments.
-
48% of girls tell us their mum encourages and supports them to be active. Yet women in midlife are time poor
In this episode we'll explore some of the barriers that prevent girls from being active and explore how mums/mum figures can be part of the solution.
We're joined by Kate Nicholson, Head of Insight and Innovation at Women in Sport, Kirsty McNab, CEO Scottish Sport's Futures and her teenage daughter Ella.
About Women in Sport
Women in Sport was founded in 1984 and its vision is that no-one is excluded from the joy, fulfilment and lifelong benefits of sport and exercise. Recognising that gender stereotypes and institutional bias are holding women back in life and in sport, the charity’s purpose is to give every woman and girl the opportunity to take part and inspire her to do so.
Find out more about us here
Two years ago we discovered half as many girls as boys dream of reaching the top of sport - a gap we coined the 'Dream Deficit.'
2022 has put women's sport centre stage. The success of the Lionesses at the Euros was momentous, the passion, talent and positive team dynamic on display was incredible to watch. It was closely followed by a raft of brilliant performances at the Commonwealth Games.
But has the inspirational summer we've had done anything to shift the dial? Can girls now see a place at the top of sport for them?
To discuss the results of Women in Sport's latest 'Dream Deficit' survey I am joined by the charity's CEO Stephanie Hilborne and Hannah Dingley, Academy Manager at Forest Green Rovers.
About Women in Sport
Women in Sport was founded in 1984 and its vision is that no-one is excluded from the joy, fulfilment and lifelong benefits of sport and exercise. Recognising that gender stereotypes and institutional bias are holding women back in life and in sport, the charity’s purpose is to give every woman and girl the opportunity to take part and inspire her to do so.
Find out more about us here
This episode is sponsored by CSM Live
The 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham featured the largest integrated para sport programme in the competition’s history with 42 parasport events across eight sports, with over 350 athletes taking part.
While the growth of parasport at elite level is fantastic, many disabled women and girls face a double discrimination when it comes to sport and exercise.
Now the excitement of the 2022 Games is over the focus has to be on what legacy it can achieve.
On this episode Sarah is joined by former Paralympic swimmer and BBC broadcaster Kate Grey and Emma Wiggs MBE who is a double Paralympic gold medal winner and ten-time World Champion para canoeist!
We talk about:
- How the Commonwealth Games has given parasport a stage and how that's inspired more girls into sport.
- Why para sport must be able to grow as an event in its own right.
- How media has changed the narrative around performance and disability.
- How schools and coaches can foster a more inclusive environment for girls with a disability.
- How we can all play a part in breaking down barriers to activity for disabled women and girls.
About Women in Sport
Women in Sport was founded in 1984 and its vision is that no-one is excluded from the joy, fulfilment and lifelong benefits of sport and exercise. Recognising that gender stereotypes and institutional bias are holding women back in life and in sport, the charity’s purpose is to give every woman and girl the opportunity to take part and inspire her to do so.
Find out more about us here
This episode is sponsored by CSM Live
If you have a dusty bike in your shed this episode will inspire you to pump up the tyres jump in the saddle and feel the wind in your hair...
For women, the humble bicycle is much more than a mode of transport. Over the last century the so called ‘freedom machines’ have helped women gain independence, increased social and political freedom and brought countless hours of joy.
As the American civil rights activist, Susan B. Anthony said: “Let me tell you what I think of bicycling. I think it has done more to emancipate women than anything else in the world. It gives women a feeling of freedom and self-reliance.”
Yet 130 years on from when the first female pioneers took their seats on bikes, women are still facing barriers preventing them from cycling - safety, appearance, time limitations and affordability are still stopping thousands of women from getting in the saddle.
In this episode we speak to author Hannah Ross, whose book 'Revolutions: How Women Changed the World on Two Wheels' brings to life of some of the stories of the remarkable female pioneers who fought not only for their right to ride a bike, but for their freedom.
We discuss:
- How women were perceived in the 1890s when women first began cycling.
- How women dressed on the bicycle and why certain clothes caused a stir!
- How one pioneering women cycled around the world to prove men wrong.
- The role the bicycle played for the suffragettes.
- Why better cycling infrastructure can help get more women on bicycles.
- The hope for the future of female participation in cycling.
Connect with Hannah: Twitter: @HannahVRoss
Instagram: @hannahvross
This episode is sponsored by CSM Live
Donate to Women in Sport
In March 2022 Victoria Evans became the fastest woman to solo row the Atlantic Ocean. An incredible achievement in itself, but one made even more remarkable by the fact that three years prior to setting sail, Victoria had never even been in a rowing boat.
Setting off from the island of Tenerife, Spain on 11 February she battled through a number of difficult moments before arriving at Port St Charles in Barbados in the early hours of 24 March. Inclement weather, sleep deprivation and even a solitary 35th birthday party for one were not enough to hold her back. Her 7-metre boat ‘True Blue’ was all that protected her from waves the height of houses, dark nights, storms, sweltering heat, and 3 miles of ocean underneath her.
In total, Victoria rowed 2,559 nautical miles (4,740 kilometres) in a world record time of 40 days and 19 hours, beating the previous record of 49 days and 7 hours set by fellow UK rower Kiko Matthews back in March 2018.
Victoria also raised £25,000 for Women in Sport as part of her Sea Change Sport campaign, which was set up to draw attention to gender inequality in sport, in particular the barriers that prevent access to sport for women and girls.
In this podcast Tori shares how she prepared both physically and mentally for the challenge, the highs and lows, what life aboard a 7-metre boat is like - including going to the loo, eating and the lack of sleep - and how she is now using her World Record to create a platform for change and to inspire women and girls that they have the power to achieve within.
Donate to Tori's fundraising campaign:
Fundraiser by Victoria Evans : Sea Change Sport Atlantic Row for Women in Sport (gofundme.com)
This episode is sponsored by CSM LIVE
Podcast artwork: Jane Stockdale
Gender stereotypes start at birth. For girls, this can lead to a decline in self-belief from as young as 7 years old. Dads/father figures can play a key role in helping their daughters develop confidence and resilience, but many dads, often unconsciously, place more emphasis on their son's sporting activities. Our research shows that 31% of girls feel supported by their dad, compared to 50% of boys.
The Daughters and Dads Active and Empowered is a free physical activity and education programme for young girls (5-11) and their fathers/father figures who want to be more active together.
Women in Sport delivered the programme in partnership with the EFL Trust, Fatherhood Institute and University of Newcastle (Australia) through funding from Sport England and the National Lottery Fund.
Over the last 3 years we've helped more than 400 girls, dads/father figures to be more active. The programme also saw girls grow in confidence and self-belief.
In this episode we talk to:
- Professor Philip Morgan – founder of Daughters and Dads Active and Empowered at the University of Newcastle in Australia
- Lee Warren – Daughter and Dads project lead at Women in Sport
- Lucy Ridgway – Girls and Women's Officer at Stoke City Community Trust
- Jodie Foxhall-Brown – Stoke City Women's footballer
We discuss why rough and tumble play is just as important for girls as it is for boys, how dads can play a key part in helping their daughters develop vital movement skills and how the programme helps dads become allies for change.
For more information about Daughters and Dads Active and Empowered click here
Donate to Women in Sport
For International Women's Day 2022, Women in Sport has released new research which found that more than one million teenage girls (43%), who once considered themselves ‘sporty’, disengage from sport following primary school.
A fear of feeling judged by others, lack of confidence, pressures of schoolwork and not feeling safe outside were some of the reasons given for not wanting to participate for this group of girls. Body image and puberty are also significant factors.
The need to engage girls in more active lifestyles has never been more urgent. This generation of teenage girls are experiencing worrying mental health issues and report being less happy, more anxious and increasingly dissatisfied with their appearance.
So, what can be done to bring back the joy to the lives of teenage girls?
To discuss this and to look at how we can stop teenagers from feeling and being side lined we’re joined by Tanya Martin, Insight Manager at Women in Sport, Alison Oliver, CEO at Youth Sport Trust, Paul McPartlan CEO of Places Leisure and Shruti Saujani, Senior Manager for Cities & Volunteers at the England and Wales Cricket Board.
Thank you to our podcast sponsor CSM Live
The report Reframing Sport For Teenage Girls - Tackling Teenage Disengagement is funded by Sport England.
For more information on Women in Sport head to:
www.womeninsport.org
The countdown is on to the Winter Olympics, which begins on 4th February, with two weeks of action-packed and exciting competition to look forward to. Many of us will be glued to our TV screens watching the death-defying stunts and tricks on snow and ice.
But with such a high level of risk associated with snowsports, how do you encourage girls and women to overcome the fear factor - whether it’s their first lesson or they’re going for gold?
There is also the issue of accessibility. How does a country, with a lack of alpine regions, increase opportunity and diversity to make snowsports more accessible?
To explore these questions and more, Women in Sport Chief Executive, Stephanie Hilbourne OBE is joined by former Olympic snowboarder Aimee Fuller, Chief Executive for GB Snowsport Victoria Gosling OBE, whose Project Balance Initiative is giving young people the opportunity to learn key transferable skills through skateboarding.
They’re joined by skateboarders Lyndsey McLaren and Amy Ram who both run programmes to encourage women and girls of all ages to join the skate community.
For more information about the projects discussed in this podcast head to:
Project Balance: https://gbsnowsport.com/project-balance-launches-with-aim-to-inspire-inner-city-young-people-with-a-love-for-winter-sports/
Neighbourhood Skate Club: https://www.neighbourhoodskateclub.com/
Girls Night @ BaySixty6 Skate park: https://www.baysixty6.com/
For more information on Women in Sport head to:
www.womeninsport.org
In this podcast we're looking at the challenges of exercising in midlife and how companies and businesses can support their female workforce to be active. We're joined by Carol Bates who set up Crawley Old Girls Football Club, Pippa Andrews, Director at Vitality UK and Victoria Sathasivam from Argent LLP as we talk about the barriers women face and what can be done to grow a healthy, active workforce.
Exercising outside is good for our physical and our mental wellbeing. In partnership with women's outdoor brand Acai, we want to encourage more women to enjoy being active outside. In this episode you will hear from Kasia Bromley, founder of Acai, Becky Adlington, Olympic gold medallist and patron of Women in Sport and Nadia Weigh, from the women's adventure community Adventure Queens.
The trio will discuss the challenges and barriers that women face when exercising outdoors, especially in the winter and how the Bright Friday campaign aims to turn Black Friday on its head and inspire women to don their brightest kit and get outside.
In this episode you will hear from Clare Connor, Head of England Women’s Cricket at ECB, Beth Barrett-Wild, Head of The Hundred Women’s Competition and Female Engagement at ECB and Mark Chapman, Manchester Originals, Trustee for Women In Sport, Broadcaster. Listen to how The Hundred aims to normalise cricket as a sport for everyone from the elite to the grassroots, helping girls across the country to dream and be ambitious in their sporting activity. Scale. Ambition. Visibility. Gamechanger.
In one of our special live editions of the podcast with our sponsors CSM Live, we discussed how an inevitable boost in visibility for women’s sport after the Olympic and Paralympic games can be harnessed to ensure growth and momentum beyond the games.
Every four years female athletes become household names and are thrust into the spotlight during the Olympic and Paralympic games, but how can we ensure that these moments live beyond one summer? How can we support these women’s sport and their athletes after the games and drive commercial investment and media coverage?
We discussed this in a fascinating live event on YouTube with a fantastic guest line up:
-Alice Dearing, marathon swimmer
-Tim Hollingsworth, CEO of Sport England
-Jade Jones-Hall, wheelchair racer and two-time Paralympian
-Joanna Coates, CEO of UK Athletics
Tune in to the launch of our new insight on menopause and midlife, unveiling of groundbreaking image curation with Getty Images and a panel discussion with:
Lorraine Candy, author and journalist
Stephanie Hilborne OBE, Chief Executive, Women in Sport
Dame Louise Makin, Chair, Halma
Annamarie Phelps CBE, Chair of British Horseracing Authority, Vice Chair of the British Olympic Association
Nina Kuypers, participant in Women in Sport x Getty Images collection
This live podcast looked at the impact the increased numbers of women on sports boards is having, its impact on athletes and those at the grassroots. With an expert panel including:
Tammy Beaumont, England cricketer; Halima Khan, Independent Non-Executive Director, Diversity & Inclusion at Triathlon England; Rob Young MBE, CEO of Switch The Play Foundation; Stacey Knight, Commercial Director, CSM Live, we discussed whether the experiences of men and women working in the sector are changing as a result of more women on boards and what that change looks like.
We chat to Becca and Britney from Goals4Girls and university student Ellen about what their lives were like during lockdown, the challenges they faced, how they got active and what they're looking forward to when life gets back to "normal".
We chat to Georgie Bruinvels, co-creator of the Fitr Woman app, Mia Slevin, freestyle swimmer and Fitr Woman Ambassador, and Maddy Cope from Lattice Training, about menstruation and exercise. We discuss the benefits of tracking your cycle and how to break down the barriers around periods and exercise.
We chat to Olympian and retired GB hockey player Alex Danson, Trustee and ultramarathon runner Sophie Power, and Emma Brockwell, a specialist women's health physiotherapist, about getting active during pregnancy and how to get back to exercise after giving birth.
Useful links:
Active Pregnancy Foundation Government guidelines for physical activity during pregnancy Returning to running postnatal guidelines
Emma Brockwell - 'Why Did No One Tell me'
We sit down with Naomi Marston from Life Care Counselling, Tina Chantrey, Fitness Editor at Women's Running, Bethan Taylor- Swaine, blogger and PhD student, and Stuart Haw, PhD student and athlete advisor, to talk about seasonal affective disorder, how it impacts us and how we can manage in the winter.
We chat to Kate Grey, Patron of Disability Sports Coach and former Paralympian, Emma O'Connor from Down's Syndrome Association and GB wheelchair basketball athlete Siobhan Fitzpatrick about inclusive activity. How can we create more inclusive spaces for disabled people and what needs to change?
You can follow our guests on Twitter: @kategrey25 @DSC_13 @MissEmmaOConnor @DSAInfo @Shivvy_98
Donate to Women in Sport.
We chat to daughters and mums about the ways they've found activity together and how it's changed their lives as part of our #TimeTogether campaign.
TimeTogether is about allowing mum and daughter to set aside time to develop their relationship with each other, and with exercise.
Get involved with #TimeTogether on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Find out more about the campaign on our website.
We chat to Nikki Giant, Interim Head of Girls' Rights Youth Team at Plan UK, Vanessa Greene, Impact and Evaluation Manager at Chance to Shine and programme participant Mia, and Amie Cripps from Goals4Girls about the new school year, the challenges girls will be facing and how they can be supported to get active.
Find out more about Plan UK, Chance to Shine and Goals4Girls
Support Women in Sport and donate via our website.
In a special live podcast, we discuss the impact of lockdown on women across the UK and how organisations in and outside of sport can ensure that women lead active lifestyles in the 'new normal'.
Our live podcast panel includes Jodie Cunningham, England and St Helens rugby league player and ambassador for the Rugby League World Cup 2021, Ama Agbeze MBE, former captain of the England netball team and Commonwealth gold medallist, Steph Harland, Chief Executive of Age UK and Kate Nicholson, Head of Insight and Innovation at Women in Sport.
One year on from last year's amazing summer of football, netball, athletics and more, women's sport is faced with an invisible few months. We sat down with sport climber and Tokyo hopeful Molly Thompson-Smith, Anita Jones, from BBC London's Women's Sport Show, and Alexandra Kryke-Smith, from sports agency Goodform, to chat about the potential long-term impact of this summer and what's next for the visibility of elite women's sport.
In a bumper episode, we chat to Amy Lane, author and Digital Editor of Women's Health, Leeanne Adu from Backpackers, Mel Bound, Founder of This Mum Runs, and Kim Scott, founder of These Girls Can Run, about how they found a passion for running and why their communities are so important.
You can support Women in Sport's work by donating online.
We chatted to Becky Adlington OBE, four-time Olympic medallist and Patron of Women in Sport, and Emily Matheson from the Centre for Appearance Research about body image, how it effects us and its impact on sport and exercise.
If you would like to support Women in Sport please donate via our website.
In a special episode, we hear from the Women in Sport team about their sporting role models.
Get in touch on social media and tell us about your sporting role model.
If you're looking for at-home resources and activities then check out our special catalogue page.
There's also plenty of free insight and reports on our Research and Advice Service.
In a special live International Women's Day episode Florence Lloyd-Hughes and Stacey Knight, Commercial and Marketing Director at CSM Live, chat to Anita Asante, Chelsea Women player, England International and Ambassador for Amnesty International, Atlanta St John, Head of Women's Rugby at Harlequins, and Carmen To, Women's Programme at The Running Charity.
We put your questions to Kate Nicholson, Head of Insight and Innovation, and Heather Smith, Associate Head of Innovation.
If you would like to support Women in Sport's work and the podcast, please donate to us via our website.
We chat to Suzanne Robinson, Managing Director UK of Happen, and Ceylon Andi Hickman, Head of Impact and Girls at Football Beyond Borders, about Generation Z. We also hear from our Project 51 Young Influencers who were in conversation with Anna Kessel at the Empower Conference in October 2018.
Check out the video on the impact of Project 51.
If you would like to support Women in Sport's work and the podcast, please donate to us via our website.
We chat to Amna Akhtar co-founder of Girl Dreamer, the empowerment platform for women of colour, and Suhaiymah Manzoor-Khan from Maslaha, creators of the Muslim Girls Fence project with British Fencing, about the barriers that Muslim girls face, how the sports sector can change and support them to get active. Follow their work:
www.girldreamer.co.uk maslaha.org
Instagram: @heygirldreamer | @boarderswithoutborders_
Twitter: @heygirldreamer_ | @boarderswb @maslaha
Facebook: @heygirldreamer
If you would like to support Women in Sport's work and the podcast, please donate to us via our website.
We chat to Ruth Martin from House of Sport and Jess from Girls Who Dare about the challenge events they're taking on and how they developed a passion for pushing themselves to the limit.
If you would like to support Women in Sport's work and the podcast, please donate to us via our website.
We chat about menopause and exercise with Dr Heather Currie, gynaecologist and founder of Menopause Matters magazine, Jane Dowling from Meno and Me, and Clare Taylor, Insight Officer at Women in Sport.
If you would like to support Women in Sport's work and the podcast, please donate to us via our website.
Women in Sport chat to Ben Ryan and Heather Fisher from Rugby X, the new indoor rugby competition which is paying its men's and women's players the same salaries. Maggie Murphy from Lewes FC talks about the Sussex club's approach to equal pay.
If you would like to support Women in Sport's work and the podcast, please donate to us via our website.
Women in Sport chat to Louise Gear, Head of Women's Football Participation at the FA, about the FA and Barclay's pledge to make football accessible to every girl in England. Project 51 Young Influencer Sophie also chats about the proactive way she's trying to get football on the agenda at her school.
If you would like to support Women in Sport's work and the podcast, please donate to us via our website.