SportSpiel

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. Messages Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/SportSpielPod?lang=en Like us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SportSpielPod/ Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sportspielpod/ Get in touch: sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website - sportspielonline.com Subscribe to our email newsletter - https://tinyletter.com/SportSpielPod Find out about our partners The Mintridge Foundation - https://www.mintridgefoundation.org.uk/ 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. Messages Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/SportSpielPod?lang=en Like us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SportSpielPod/ Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sportspielpod/ Get in touch: sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website - sportspielonline.com Subscribe to our email newsletter - https://tinyletter.com/SportSpielPod Find out about our partners The Mintridge Foundation - https://www.mintridgefoundation.org.uk/ Credits 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.   Messages Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/SportSpielPod?lang=en Like us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SportSpielPod/ Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sportspielpod/ Get in touch: sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website - sportspielonline.com Subscribe to our email newsletter - https://tinyletter.com/SportSpielPod Find out about our partners The Mintridge Foundation - https://www.mintridgefoundation.org.uk/ 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. Messages For more information on the Look Good Feel Better netball tournament visit: https://lookgoodfeelbetter.co.uk/charity-netball-tournament/ Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/SportSpielPod?lang=en Like us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SportSpielPod/ Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sportspielpod/ Get in touch: sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website - sportspielonline.com Subscribe to our email newsletter - https://tinyletter.com/SportSpielPod Find out about our partners The Mintridge Foundation - https://www.mintridgefoundation.org.uk/ 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. Messages Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/SportSpielPod?lang=en Like us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SportSpielPod/ Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sportspielpod/ Get in touch: sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website - sportspielonline.com Subscribe to our email newsletter - https://tinyletter.com/SportSpielPod Find out about our partners The Mintridge Foundation - https://www.mintridgefoundation.org.uk/ 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. Messages Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/SportSpielPod?lang=en Like us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SportSpielPod/ Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sportspielpod/ Get in touch: sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website - sportspielonline.com Subscribe to our email newsletter - https://tinyletter.com/SportSpielPod Find out about our partners The Mintridge Foundation - https://www.mintridgefoundation.org.uk/ 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. Messages Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/SportSpielPod?lang=en Like us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SportSpielPod/ Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sportspielpod/ Get in touch: sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website - sportspielonline.com Subscribe to our email newsletter - https://tinyletter.com/SportSpielPod Find out about our partners The Mintridge Foundation - https://www.mintridgefoundation.org.uk/ Credits 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. Messages Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/SportSpielPod?lang=en Like us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SportSpielPod/ Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sportspielpod/ Get in touch: sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website - sportspielonline.com Subscribe to our email newsletter - https://tinyletter.com/SportSpielPod Find out about our partners The Mintridge Foundation - https://www.mintridgefoundation.org.uk/ 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. Messages Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/SportSpielPod?lang=en Like us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SportSpielPod/ Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sportspielpod/ Get in touch: sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website - sportspielonline.com Subscribe to our email newsletter - https://tinyletter.com/SportSpielPod Find out about our partners The Mintridge Foundation - https://www.mintridgefoundation.org.uk/ Credits 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! Messages Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/SportSpielPod?lang=en Like us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SportSpielPod/ Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sportspielpod/ Get in touch: sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website - sportspielonline.com Subscribe to our email newsletter - https://tinyletter.com/SportSpielPod Find out about our partners The Mintridge Foundation - https://www.mintridgefoundation.org.uk/ Credits 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. Messages Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/SportSpielPod?lang=en Like us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SportSpielPod/ Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sportspielpod/ Get in touch: sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website - sportspielonline.com Find out about our partners The Mintridge Foundation - https://www.mintridgefoundation.org.uk/ Donate to Alasdair's fundraising page - https://themintridgefoundation.enthuse.com/pf/alasdair-hooper-4cb76?fbclid=IwAR01bypch5S-G4a3x00jPQHWJvDSjfXRG-XqL1wpsd5WUV4Im4V2klymXAI 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. Messages Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/SportSpielPod?lang=en Like us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SportSpielPod/ Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sportspielpod/ Get in touch: sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website - sportspielonline.com Find out about our partners The Mintridge Foundation - https://www.mintridgefoundation.org.uk/ Credits 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. Messages Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/SportSpielPod?lang=en Like us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SportSpielPod/ Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sportspielpod/ Get in touch: sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website - sportspielonline.com Find out about our partners The Mintridge Foundation - https://www.mintridgefoundation.org.uk/ Credits 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. Messages Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/SportSpielPod?lang=en Like us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SportSpielPod/ Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sportspielpod/ Get in touch: sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website - sportspielonline.com Find out about our partners The Mintridge Foundation - https://www.mintridgefoundation.org.uk/ Credits 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. Messages Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/SportSpielPod?lang=en Like us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SportSpielPod/ Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sportspielpod/ Get in touch: sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website - sportspielonline.com Find out about our partners The Mintridge Foundation - https://www.mintridgefoundation.org.uk/ Credits 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. Messages Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/SportSpielPod?lang=en Like us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SportSpielPod/ Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sportspielpod/ Get in touch: sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website - sportspielonline.com Find out about our partners The Mintridge Foundation - https://www.mintridgefoundation.org.uk/ 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. Messages Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/SportSpielPod?lang=en Like us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SportSpielPod/ Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sportspielpod/ Get in touch: sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website - sportspielonline.com Find out about our partners The Mintridge Foundation - https://www.mintridgefoundation.org.uk/ 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. Messages Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/SportSpielPod?lang=en Like us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SportSpielPod/ Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sportspielpod/ Get in touch: sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website - sportspielonline.com Find out more about The Bear - https://www.thebear.live/ Find out about our partners The Mintridge Foundation - https://www.mintridgefoundation.org.uk/ Find out about the Bobby Copping Foundation - https://www.thebobbycoppingfoundation.com/ 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. Messages Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/SportSpielPod?lang=en Like us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SportSpielPod/ Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sportspielpod/ Get in touch: sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website - sportspielonline.com Find out more about The Bear - https://www.thebear.live/ Find out about our partners The Mintridge Foundation - https://www.mintridgefoundation.org.uk/ 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 MessagesFollow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/SportSpielPod?lang=en Like us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SportSpielPod/ Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sportspielpod/ Get in touch: sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website - sportspielonline.comFind out more about The Bear - https://www.thebear.live/Find out about our partners The Mintridge Foundation - https://www.mintridgefoundation.org.uk/ Credits Image credits: With thanks to Reach Sport and Sonny PikeMusic: 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-weekVisit Moodbeam here - https://moodbeam.co.uk/personal MessagesFollow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/SportSpielPod?lang=en Like us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SportSpielPod/ Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sportspielpod/ Get in touch: sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website - sportspielonline.comFind out more about The Bear - https://www.thebear.live/Find out about our partners The Mintridge Foundation - https://www.mintridgefoundation.org.uk/ Credits Image credits: With thanks to the Mintridge Foundation and Christina Colmer McHughMusic: 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-weekVisit 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 MessagesFollow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/SportSpielPod?lang=en Like us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SportSpielPod/ Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sportspielpod/ Get in touch: sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website - sportspielonline.comFind out more about The Bear - https://www.thebear.live/Find out about our partners The Mintridge Foundation - https://www.mintridgefoundation.org.uk/ Credits Image credits: With thanks to Martin Stark, Karina Murray and Emma SmithMusic: 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-weekVisit Sporting Chance here - https://www.sportingchanceclinic.com/MessagesFollow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/SportSpielPod?lang=en Like us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SportSpielPod/ Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sportspielpod/ Get in touch: sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website - sportspielonline.comFind out more about The Bear - https://www.thebear.live/Find out about our partners The Mintridge Foundation - https://www.mintridgefoundation.org.uk/ 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-weekVisit Newsbreak here - https://takeanewsbreak.com/MessagesFollow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/SportSpielPod?lang=en Like us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SportSpielPod/ Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sportspielpod/ Get in touch: sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website - sportspielonline.comFind out more about The Bear - https://www.thebear.live/Find out about our partners The Mintridge Foundation - https://www.mintridgefoundation.org.uk/ Credits 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.MessagesFollow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/SportSpielPod?lang=en Like us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SportSpielPod/ Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sportspielpod/ Get in touch: sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website - sportspielonline.comFind out more about The Bear - https://www.thebear.live/Find out about our partners The Mintridge Foundation - https://www.mintridgefoundation.org.uk/ Credits Image credits: With thanks to Russell Pearce and Patrick FosterMusic: 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.MessagesFollow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/SportSpielPod?lang=en Like us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SportSpielPod/ Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sportspielpod/ Get in touch: sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website - sportspielonline.comFind out more about Totally Runable - https://www.totallyrunable.com/Find out more about The Bear - https://www.thebear.live/Find out about our partners The Mintridge Foundation - https://www.mintridgefoundation.org.uk/ Credits Image credit: Sam BarnesMusic: Otis McDonald

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. MessagesFollow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/SportSpielPod?lang=en Like us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SportSpielPod/ Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sportspielpod/ Get in touch: sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website: sportspielonline.comFind out more about The Bear - https://www.thebear.live/Find out about our partners The Mintridge Foundation - https://www.mintridgefoundation.org.uk/Watch Jeffrey Herlings' episode on Red Bull's MX World here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sd6rW_9Twi0  Credits Images: Red Bull Content PoolMusic: 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.MessagesFollow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/SportSpielPod?lang=en Like us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SportSpielPod/ Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sportspielpod/ Get in touch: sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website: sportspielonline.comFind out more about The Bear - https://www.thebear.live/Find out about our partners The Mintridge Foundation - https://www.mintridgefoundation.org.uk/ Credits Images: With thanks to The Mintridge Foundation and Zoe HarrisonMusic: 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.MessagesFollow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/SportSpielPod?lang=en Like us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SportSpielPod/ Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sportspielpod/ Get in touch: sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website: sportspielonline.comFind out more about The Bear - https://www.thebear.live/Find out about our partners The Mintridge Foundation - https://www.mintridgefoundation.org.uk/ Credits Music: Otis McDonald

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.MessagesFollow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/SportSpielPod?lang=en Like us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SportSpielPod/ Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sportspielpod/ Get in touch: sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website: sportspielonline.comFind out more about The Bear - https://www.thebear.live/Find out about our partners The Mintridge Foundation - https://www.mintridgefoundation.org.uk/Visit Katie Milner's website - https://www.katiemilner.com/ Credits Image credit: With thanks to McLarenMusic: Otis McDonald

Deaf footballer Fil Kamps has had quite the career. He’s competed for Great Britain at the World Cup, the Deaflympics (https://sportspielonline.com/tag/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 (https://www.mintridgefoundation.org.uk/) 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. Messages Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/SportSpielPod?lang=en Like us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SportSpielPod/ Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sportspielpod/ Get in touch: sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website: sportspielonline.com (http://sportspielonline.com/) Find out more about The Bear - https://www.thebear.live/ Find out about our partners The Mintridge Foundation - https://www.mintridgefoundation.org.uk/ Visit Fil Kamps' website - https://www.filkamps.com/ Sign up to the podcast workshop here - https://schoolofjournalism.co.uk/free-journalism-masterclasses/ Credits 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 (https://sportspielonline.com/2020/02/16/georgina-roberts-cancer-and-transforming-a-neglected-sport/) as well as England and Northampton Saints rugby star George Furbank (https://sportspielonline.com/2021/01/17/george-furbank-covid-england-rugby/) . Brought to you in association with The Mintridge Foundation (https://sportspielonline.com/tag/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. Messages Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/SportSpielPod?lang=en Like us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SportSpielPod/ Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sportspielpod/ Get in touch: sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website: sportspielonline.com (http://sportspielonline.com/) Find out more about The Bear - https://www.thebear.live/ Credits 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 (https://sportspielonline.com/tag/england-rugby/) 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. Messages Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/SportSpielPod?lang=en Like us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SportSpielPod/ Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sportspielpod/ Get in touch: sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website: sportspielonline.com (http://sportspielonline.com/) Find out more about The Bear - https://www.thebear.live/ Credits Image credit: With thanks to The Mintridge Foundation Music: Otis McDonald

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 (https://sportspielonline.com/tag/england-rugby/) performances, to Lewis Hamilton, to football coming back, these are SportSpiel's (https://sportspielonline.com/) highlights of a truly unique year. Messages Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/SportSpielPod?lang=en Like us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SportSpielPod/ Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sportspielpod/ Get in touch: sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website: sportspielonline.com (http://sportspielonline.com/) Find out more about The Bear - https://www.thebear.live/ Credits Music: Otis McDonald

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 (https://sportspielonline.com/tag/great-britain-ice-hockey/) - a competition that would be the pinnacle of their careers. Of course, the global pandemic had other ideas with the Olympic Games (https://sportspielonline.com/tag/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 (https://www.freesolohockey.com/) , and Emily's popular Cuppa N Natter podcast. Messages Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/SportSpielPod?lang=en Like us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SportSpielPod/ Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sportspielpod/ Get in touch: sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website: sportspielonline.com (http://sportspielonline.com/) Credits 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." Messages Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/SportSpielPod?lang=en Like us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SportSpielPod/ Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sportspielpod/ Get in touch: sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website: sportspielonline.com (http://sportspielonline.com/) Credits Images: With thanks to Changing Lives FC Music: Otis McDonald

Will Moulton hosts this episode of SportSpiel with We are Girls in Sport (https://www.wearegirlsinsport.com/) 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. Messages Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/SportSpielPod?lang=en Like us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SportSpielPod/ Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sportspielpod/ Get in touch: sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website: sportspielonline.com (http://sportspielonline.com/) Credits Music: Otis McDonald

Will Moulton hosts this latest episode of The Women's Football Diary with Leicester City midfielder Remi Allen (https://sportspielonline.com/tag/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. Messages Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/SportSpielPod?lang=en Like us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SportSpielPod/ Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sportspielpod/ Join the conversation on social media using #WomensFootballDiary (https://twitter.com/hashtag/WomensFootballDiary?src=hashtag_click) Get in touch: sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website: sportspielonline.com (http://sportspielonline.com/) Credits Image credit: With thanks to Remi Allen Music: Dan Henig (https://www.danhenig.com/)

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. Messages Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/SportSpielPod?lang=en Like us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SportSpielPod/ Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sportspielpod/ Join the conversation on social media using #WomensFootballDiary (https://twitter.com/hashtag/WomensFootballDiary?src=hashtag_click) Get in touch: sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website: sportspielonline.com (http://sportspielonline.com/) Credits Image credit: With thanks to Jules PR Music: Dan Henig (https://www.danhenig.com/)

Alasdair Hooper and Will Moulton host a special discussion episode on body image in women's sport, in association with The Mintridge Foundation (https://sportspielonline.com/tag/mintridge-foundation/) and Limitless (https://www.limitlesskit.com/) . 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. Messages Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/SportSpielPod?lang=en Like us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SportSpielPod/ Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sportspielpod/ Get in touch: sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website: sportspielonline.com (http://sportspielonline.com/) Credits 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. Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/SportSpielPod?lang=en Like us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SportSpielPod/ Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sportspielpod/ Join the conversation on social media using #WomensFootballDiary (https://twitter.com/hashtag/WomensFootballDiary?src=hashtag_click) Get in touch: sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website: sportspielonline.com (http://sportspielonline.com/) Credits Image credit: With thanks to Forte Sports Management (https://www.fortesportsmanagement.com/) Music: Dan Henig (https://www.danhenig.com/)  

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 (https://sportspielonline.com/tag/ella-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. Messages Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/SportSpielPod?lang=en Like us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SportSpielPod/ Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sportspielpod/ Join the conversation on social media using #WomensFootballDiary (https://twitter.com/hashtag/WomensFootballDiary?src=hashtag_click) Get in touch: sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website: sportspielonline.com (http://sportspielonline.com/) Credits Image credit: With thanks to Doyenne Sport (https://www.doyennesport.com/) Music: Dan Henig (https://www.danhenig.com/)

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. Messages Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/SportSpielPod?lang=en Like us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SportSpielPod/ Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sportspielpod/ Join the conversation on social media using #WomensFootballDiary (https://twitter.com/hashtag/WomensFootballDiary?src=hashtag_click) Get in touch: sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website: sportspielonline.com (http://sportspielonline.com/) Credits Image credit: With thanks to Deanna Cooper and Reading Music: Dan Henig (https://www.danhenig.com/)

Alasdair Hooper hosts the first episode of The Women's Football Diary with Wales' record goalscorer Helen Ward (https://sportspielonline.com/2020/09/10/the-womens-football-diary-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. Messages Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/SportSpielPod?lang=en Like us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SportSpielPod/ Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sportspielpod/ Join the conversation on social media using #WomensFootballDiary (https://twitter.com/hashtag/WomensFootballDiary?src=hashtag_click) Get in touch: sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website: sportspielonline.com (http://sportspielonline.com/) Credits Image credit: With thanks to NA Sport (https://www.nasport.co.uk/) Music: Dan Henig (https://www.danhenig.com/) Extended thanks goes to NA Sport (https://www.nasport.co.uk/) for their help in securing this interview

Will Moulton hosts this latest episode of SportSpiel (https://sportspielonline.com/) 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 (http://www.womenwhosport.com/) 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. Messages Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/SportSpielPod?lang=en Like us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SportSpielPod/ Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sportspielpod/ Get in touch: sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website: sportspielonline.com (http://sportspielonline.com/) Credits 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. Messages Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/SportSpielPod?lang=en Like us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SportSpielPod/ Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sportspielpod/ Get in touch: sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website: sportspielonline.com (http://sportspielonline.com/) Credits 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. Messages Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/SportSpielPod?lang=en Like us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SportSpielPod/ Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sportspielpod/ Get in touch: sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website: sportspielonline.com (http://sportspielonline.com/) Credits 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 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXxop7dbciU) organised by our wonderful charity partners The Mintridge Foundation (https://www.mintridgefoundation.org.uk/) as part of their 28NotOut campaign – all about Mental Health and sport. The event was held to raise money for the Max Hunter fund (https://themintridgefoundation.enthuse.com/cf/28-not-out---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 (https://www.gemmasaggers.com/) , Liam Durkin from the Papyrus (https://papyrus-uk.org/) 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. Messages For more information on #28NotOut click here (https://themintridgefoundation.enthuse.com/cf/28-not-out---the-max-hunter-fund) Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/SportSpielPod?lang=en Like us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SportSpielPod/ Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sportspielpod/ Get in touch: sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website: sportspielonline.com (http://sportspielonline.com/)

Alasdair Hooper and Will Moulton host this special episode with former cricketer Patrick Foster as part of The Mintridge Foundation’s #28NotOut (https://themintridgefoundation.enthuse.com/cf/28-not-out---the-max-hunter-fund) – raising money for the Max Hunter Fund (https://themintridgefoundation.enthuse.com/cf/28-not-out---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. Messages For more information on #28NotOut click here (https://themintridgefoundation.enthuse.com/cf/28-not-out---the-max-hunter-fund) Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/SportSpielPod?lang=en Like us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SportSpielPod/ Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sportspielpod/ Get in touch: sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website: sportspielonline.com (http://sportspielonline.com/) Credits 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. Messages 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 Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/SportSpielPod?lang=en Like us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SportSpielPod/ Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sportspielpod/ Get in touch: sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website: sportspielonline.com (http://sportspielonline.com/) 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. Messages For 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 Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/SportSpielPod?lang=en Like us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SportSpielPod/ Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sportspielpod/ Get in touch: sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website: sportspielonline.com (http://sportspielonline.com/) Credits Image credits: With thanks to Greg Funnell and Hazel Gale Music: Otis McDonald