The LGBT Sport Podcast

Dame Kelly Holmes shares her extraordinary story, from serving in the British Army under a ban on being gay, to becoming a double Olympic champion. Speaking candidly with Nicola Adams, Dame Kelly talks about the fear of being outed, the trauma of hiding her identity and the toll it took on her mental health.She shares her pride about the moment she finally came out publicly.Presenter: Nicola Adams. Producer: Jennifer Nelson. Sounds Producer: Tom Ryan. Executive Producer: Emma Clements.

Taking a look at LGBTQ+ issues in sport.Double Olympic gold medal winner Nicola Adams is joined by inspirational people from different sporting backgrounds to chat about their careers and their experiences of being in the LGBTQ plus community.Presenter: Nicola Adams. Producer: Jennifer Nelson. Sounds Producer: Tom Ryan. Online Producer: Rachael Smith. Executive Producer: Emma Clements. Commissioning Editor: Alistair Miskin.

When it comes to the ice, Conor McDermott-Mostowy is fast – like, really fast!A national speed-skating champion and a member of US Speedskating who has won medals across the world, the American knows all about what it takes to compete at the top-level – and how to do it while balancing his sport with a university degree.Conor came out publicly in 2021 – and now he's here with us on the podcast to talk more about his sporting career and his journey with his sexuality.We talk about all sorts of things in this episode – including some of his most memorable moments from the past season, how it feels when everything is just clicking on the ice, representing Team USA, coming out, looking up to Gus Kenworthy and others – and loads, loads more. Conor may be one of the most laid-back guys we've ever had on the podcast - and we love this chat, and think you will as well!WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST? @conor.mm on InstagramGET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST: @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

You may well have seen Nick Ransom reporting on Sky, ITV, BBC and plenty of other outlets – covering everything from the footballing stories of Afghan refugees to LGBTQ+ representation in the media. He's also worked as a producer, bringing together content for events like the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, Wimbledon, the Euros and more – basically, this is someone who lives and breathes sport. It's no real surprise that Nick ended up on telly – in fact, he basically spent his childhood banging out reports for anyone who would watch, honing the skills that would eventually take him into the industry. And on a podcast that is all about representation, Nick is here not just to talk about being authentic as a member of the LGBTQ+ community – but also about his experiences as someone who is autistic, and who is passionate about spotlighting neurodivergent individuals on-screen as well.So, loads to get into in this conversation with Nick – from his love of sport to his autistic experience to bringing all of his authentic self to the screen, to the stories he's telling and championing as part of Neurodiversity Celebration Week across BBC Sport! WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUESTS? @MrNickRansom WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

Big games deserve the big build – and that's what John Reavey does when it comes to the Premier League. The director and creative producer is responsible for some of the video packages that you've seen hyping a number of the beautiful game's massive matches – including the Manchester Derby and the start of the new season.It's not just there that you'll have seen his work either – from a West Ham kit launch to Anita Asante's retirement to a documentary on out gay footballers, John has spent years combining his love of film with his love of football.And when he's not capturing the game on screen, he's playing as a member of the London Titans side in the GFSN – and he's an absolutely brilliant guest on the podcast today.There's loads in this episode that is absolutely fascinating – the joy of storytelling, the importance of visibility, combing sport and LGBTQ+ identity, plus how a story from John's past inspired both an incredibly powerful short film and the next thing that he'll be working on.This is a cracking listen, and we really think you're going to love it! WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST? johnreavey.com @johnreaveyWANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

We feature professional wrestling on the podcast a lot – but this is only the second time that we're speaking to someone from the world of freestyle wrestling.And honestly, what better way to do it than with Samantha Stewart?!The Canadian is a multiple-time medallist and a Pan-American champion who has been involved in the sport for more than twenty years – and has seen it take her right around the world.There's a world championship bronze at Oslo in her trophy cabinet from 2021, along with a silver from the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham a year later as well. And having just come back from the Pan-American Games, we couldn't have picked a better time to speak to this amazing athlete – who is an absolute gem of a guest, she really is.Finding your sport, finding your identity, pushing boundaries and making memories – it's all in this conversation which is an absolute joy with a guest who we wished we'd had on years ago!But we're making up for lost time with this episode, and we hope you love hearing it as much as we loved making it. WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST? @sam_stewart53 WANT TO GET INVOLVED WITH THE PODCAST? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

‘It's my church' – that's how Lucy Clark has previously described her love of football, and the meaning that she attaches to her involvement with the beautiful game. Her appointment at the end of January as the new manager at Sutton United Women was therefore not just a moment of personal achievement, but a landmark for the game as well – with Clark becoming the first transgender woman to manage in the top five divisions of the UK women's game, just years after she became the football's first transgender referee. And honestly, this is an amazing conversation with an individual who lives and breathes the beautiful game – in fact, when we tried to get Lucy to talk about anything other than football, it turns out she absolutely couldn't do it! We talk about Lucy's love of the game growing up, coaching, refereeing, her return to management – and her personal journey as she discovered her authentic self and found a way to bring that to the beautiful game as well.It's a conversation that is genuine, uplifting, fun and everything you could want from a guest – and we're massively grateful that Lucy took the time to join us for this chat. WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST? @lucyclarkrefWANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

When Robbie Manson announced that he was hanging up his oars ahead of the Tokyo Games, he'd already achieved a bucket-load of amazing sporting achievements.The New Zealander had competed at back-to-back Olympics in London and Rio, had secured a spot for Tokyo – and, with multiple World Rowing Cups and a World Rowing Championship bronze medal in 2015 under his belt, no-one would have blamed him for wanting to do something new. But as much as he enjoyed coaching, something about the sport kept pulling him back – and, after returning to full time competition, Robbie has earned himself a spot at the Paris Olympics in just a few months from now.So, we needed no further excuse to get Robbie on the podcast than that to talk all about his amazing journey and this is a fascinating conversation. It touches on mental health, burnout, stepping away from the sport you love and finding a way back again, being your authentic self, the importance of visibility amongst others and so much more. It's considered, it's powerful, it's never anything less than real – and we're really grateful for Robbie for making the time to join us for it. WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST? @robbie_mansonWANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

If you were watching professional wrestling in the mid-2010s, you'd have seen Gabbi Tuft in action – where she was better known as WWE superstar Tyler Reks. There were matches at the Royal Rumble, Survivor Series, appearances on many of the WWE's flagship shows – but it was only when wrestling came to an end that Tuft was able to become her authentic self as a trans woman. She shared her story publicly in 2021 – and one look at her Instagram now shows Gabbi sharing her love for fitness, and teasing, potentially, a return to wrestling as well.Hundreds of thousands of people follow Gabbi across all her platforms, and this is a chance to have a conversation with someone that we think you're going to love.If you love wrestling, you'll love the stories about Dusty Rhodes and working with the Undertaker and how the business makes Gabbi feel – along with why she's got the itch to return.And if wrestling isn't your thing, there's still so much in this conversation for you – as Gabbi talks openly and authentically about the journey she's been on discovering her true self, and sharing that truth with both herself and the world. WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUESTS? @gabbituftWANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

For as long as Chris Paouros can remember, she's been a proud supporter of Tottenham Hotspur. But while she's always loved her football team, she's not always been sure that football has loved her back – which is why she's spent years trying to transform the game into somewhere that everyone feels welcome.Her CV is formidable enough – a vice-chair and trustee at Kick It Out, a Board Member at the Football Supporters' Association, a Supporters Representative on the FA Council, and the co-chair and co-founder of Proud Lilywhites, to name just a few.She's also a brilliant talker and a fantastic guest to have with us on the podcast, as we talk about her love of football and her desire to change it for the better in whatever way she can. There's so much in this conversation with Chris – where that love of Spurs comes from, her drive to open the game up to everyone, some of her proudest achievements with Proud Lilywhites, where the game goes next, even some cheeky film recommendations as well – and it's a cracker with one of our favourites on the pod. WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST? @chrispaouros @SpursLGBTWANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

Take a look at the CV of Jason Webber, and you'll see that a passion for equality and diversity is burned into everything does. For more than a decade, he was a campaign co-ordinator with Show Racism the Red Card – and since 2020, he's been a key part of trying to make the beautiful game something for everyone in Wales as the senior EDI Manager at the Football Association of Wales.That love of the beautiful game runs deep in this man – with stints as an Academy Coach at Cardiff City and Merthyr Town alongside his EDI work. And now, it's part of a commitment that runs through him to open up football to people who have traditionally felt the game isn't for them. So, that's what we talk about in this episode – everything from starting Wales' first LGBTQ+ supporters group for the national team, some of the challenges that still exist in the game, what to say to people who say football shouldn't be ‘political' – honestly, it's a fascinating chat that we think you'll love. WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST? @WebberTJason @fawalesWANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

If there's anyone who knows about what it takes to make football inclusive, it's James Laley. As the founder of Rainbow Blades, he's helped embed diversity in the heart of what Sheffield United does, and it's not just us saying that either – as James has been recognised not once but twice as this year's Football v Homophobia Awards. So, we felt it was the perfect time to get James onto the podcast to talk about his journey in football, and the difference he's making in the beautiful game. We chat about how he discovered Sheffield United at university and fell in love with the club; about the incident that led to him starting Rainbow Blades (and how in some ways, the timing couldn't have been worse); about the way it's been embraced by the club; about some of the challenges and goals for the future – and being recognised by the Football v Homophobia Awards in two different categories this year.It's a cracking conversation with someone who just exudes positivity, and we think you'll love it! WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST?: @james_laley @rainbow_bladesWANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST?: @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

In a way, Mikey Connor has his nan to thank for his love of football.It was her who took him along to Everton games, who encouraged him to give the game a go, and told him that he should give refereeing a go as well.So really, it's her who Mikey has to thank for his love of the beautiful game which – by his own admission – is now a sport that he absolutely can't live without. As a former semi-pro ‘keeper, he's done it as a player – and now, he's making his way up through the pyramid as a referee, with his eyes firmly set on making it at the highest level that he can as a professional. And as if all of that wasn't enough, Mikey is also a content creator and a former star of the ground-breaking BBC Three reality TV show ‘I Kissed A Boy' – so there's absolutely loads for us to talk about in this episode, which is an absolute corker. We talk about Mikey's love of football, how it feels when he's refereeing, his goals and ambitions in the game – as well as why he still fears receiving homophobia on the pitch, his time as a star of ‘I Kissed A Boy', his own journey with his health and so much more in an absolute corker of a conversation. WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST? @MikeyConnor94 on Twitter @MikeyConnor22 on Instagram WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST?: @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

There are so many strings that Pollo Del Mar has to their bow that it's hard to know where to begin!A performer, journalist, activist, philanthropist and campaigner – but our interest today is in Pollo's position as one of the most prominent LGBTQ+ wrestling personalities out there today. First as a wrestling journalist, Pollo began participating in wrestling personally – as the host of EFFY's Big Gay Brunch and a manager in various promotions across the West Coast and beyond as well, including as a key part of the NWA. Although Pollo is reluctant to refer to themselves as a pioneer, that's really what they are – because honestly, how many drag queen wrestling managers have you ever seen?! – and beyond that, they're an extraordinarily eloquent individual who we think you'll love. We talk about so much on this pod – where Pollo's love of wrestling came from, their most memorable moments in the industry, being recognised by others, driving yourself to succeed, the growth of the LGBTQ+ community in wrestling and so, so much more. WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST? @TheGlamazonPDM on Twitter @pollodelmarfans on Instagram WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

With a mother and a father who amounted to bowls royalty, it's really no surprise that David Gourlay found his way into the sport. But David was determined to make his own way in bowls, and has amassed a whopping seven world indoor titles – including the 1996 World Indoor Singles Championship, as well as three World Men's Indoor Pairs Championships and three World Mixed Indoor Pairs Championships. And as if success as a player wasn't enough, David also coached Scotland's bowls players to four medals at the 2014 Commonwealth Games – and as if that weren't enough, he was also appointed as an MBE for his services to the sport. David is now the longest-serving player in the World Bowls Tour Top 16 – and with the World Indoor Bowls Championship in full swing at Hopton on Sea, now seemed like the perfect time to get David on for a chat. This is a cracking conversation with a brilliant guest in a sport that we've never covered before – as we talk about some of David's top moments, his experiences in the sport, receiving that MBE, his personal journey and loads, loads more. WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST: @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

To say that Ellia Green is an incredible athlete would be a dramatic understatement. As a kid, it was athletics – and particularly sprinting - that Ellia excelled at, competing at World Junior Championships, all with the encouragement of an amazing mum who was all in on supporting their journey.Ellia ended up switching to rugby sevens – and in 2016, they were part of the Australian team that took gold at the Olympics in Rio in the first time that the sport had ever taken place at a Games.It was the fulfilment of a dream that had fired Ellia ever since they were a child, and in 2022, Ellia opened up about their journey away from sport with their gender identity when they spoke publicly for the first time about their journey as a trans man. We're delighted to have Ellia on the podcast today to talk about all of that – as we chat about all of that and so much more in a conversation that touches on being true to who you are, becoming a father, achieving your Olympic dreams and so, so much more. WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST? @elliagreenWANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

2023 is almost at an end – and in many ways, this has been the biggest year that the BBC's LGBT Sport Podcast has ever had. More guests telling more stories in more places and more ways than ever before – so to round out the year, we thought we'd remind ourselves of some of the most memorable moments that we've had on the podcast between January and December.World Cup winners, Olympic gold medallists, rugby and football internationals, wrestling superstars, folks who came out for the first time in 2023, and the ones who paved the way for them to do so.They're all in this special episode to round out the year – and we really think you're going to like it.WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST: @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

John-Edward Heath is someone who lives and breaths sport. A powerlifter, a snowboarder, a Crossfit competitor and an adaptive athlete with dreams of medalling on the grandest stages of them all – John-Edward is a man with big ambitions and the drive to match.But he's also a man who has had to overcome extraordinary obstacles. As a child, he experienced homelessness; as a gay Marine, he was outed; he had to deal with the trauma of a partner and a best friend taking their own lives; and, after being hit by a drunk-driver and experiencing a significant number of medical difficulties and complications, he made the decision to have his lower leg removed.With all of that trauma, you might think that John-Edward was consumed by negativity – but actually, the reverse is true, and the American adaptive athlete is focused on competing at the Paralympics and the grandest stages that sport has to offer, and of raising others up along the way.We talk about all of that in this episode – including how he discovered sport was for him, understanding his own sexuality, the idea of being ‘inspirational' and loads more besides, in a truly memorable episode. WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUESTS? @CarbonFiberJohn WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk HAVE YOU BEEN AFFECTED BY ANY OF THE ISSUES RAISED IN THIS EPISODE?BBC ACTION LINE WEBSITE: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/1NGvFrTqWChr03LrYlw2Hkk/information-and-support-mental-health-self-harmSAMARITANS WEBSITE: https://www.samaritans.org/

It was one year ago, almost exactly to the year, that Adam Bolt made his debut on this podcast. And since then, it's fair to say that the British grappler has gone from strength-to-strength in a way that not even he thought would be possible. The Doncaster native has had millions of views across social media from people eager to hear more about his inspiring story outside of the ring – while inside the squared circle, he's claimed the UK's first-ever Pride title after main-eventing the WAW Pride Show in Norwich with former podcast guest Mitchell Starr. That bout was nominated for the Match of the Year at the QWI Awards, where Adam was up for numerous accolades – and he cracked the QWI200 as well, ranking for the first time amongst the elite LGBTQ+ wrestlers in the world. So, as we head towards the end of 2023, we thought it was high-time to get Adam back onto the podcast to talk about their year – and what they want 2024 to bring their way as well. From dream matches to dealing with pressure to representation for people who don't always feel represented, this is a cracking conversation with one of our favourites that we really hope you'd like. WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST? @adamboltwrestler on Instagram @AdamBolt_ on TwitterWANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

When Jamie Ayshford dropped us a message, asking to come on to talk about the joys of spin, we were always going to say ‘yes' to having him on. Partly, it's because we're always passionate about covering a sport or type of activity that we haven't done before – and partly, because Jamie is so blinking passionate about it!He credits it with helping him with his mental health and empowering to accept who he is as an LGBTQ+ individual – and that's the story that you're going to hear over the course of what really is a fabulous conversation.We chat about how sport at school wasn't really his thing, partly because he wasn't allowed to do the sport he wanted to do; coming to terms with his sexuality and how indoor cycling helped him do that; the empowerment of working out alongside other members of the LGBTQ+ community; why he is so committed to helping others – and so much more besides.It's a great, uplifting conversation that reminds us how important sport at the grassroots level is to your mental and physical wellbeing – and we couldn't ask for a better advocate for it than Jamie. FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST: @jamieayshfordGET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST: @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

It's hard to put into perspective the things that Hedvig Lindahl has been able to accomplish in the beautiful game. With nearly two-hundred caps for Sweden, she is – by some distance – the most-capped Swedish goalkeeper of all-time. Her international career has seen her reach the World Cup Final in 2003, along with two Olympic silver medals, two World Cup bronzes and three bronzes from the European Championships – while her domestic career includes two WSL titles with Chelsea, along with the Super Copa in Spain and a double won in Germany as well.She counts Wolfsburg and Atletico Madrid amongst her former teams – and we are absolutely over the moon to have on a player who dreamed of becoming the best goalkeeper in the world, and absolutely made it happen. It's an amazing conversation that touches on everything from playing as a kid between two apple tress in her garden to her burning desire to be the best; along with the fight for equality, in sport and in life, her journey with her own sexuality – and whether or not she is retired!Honestly, this is a belter – and we're delighted Hedvig has joined us for it! WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST? @hedvig_lindahlWANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

It's been more than a year since Jake Daniels made history. Still just a teenager, the Blackpool player came out publicly as gay – and become the first active British male footballer to come out while still playing since Justin Fashanu. Life has been a whirlwind for Jake since then – and we're delighted that he's found the time to join us on the podcast for an episode that we know so many of you have been desperate to hear. And this isn't just an episode about Jake's decision to come out – but about the impact it has had on his mental health, and why Jake has teamed up with the Movember charity to help ensure others are beginning to have conversations about how they are feeling. We talk about Jake's journey in football; his decision to come out; the reaction to it; his take on things like the Qatar World Cup and the upcoming World Cup in Saudi Arabia; what needs to be done to make the game more inclusive – and loads, loads more. This is an episode with someone who has rightly been lauded as a game-changer in British sport – and we can't wait for you to hear it. WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST? @officialjakedaniels WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

There's nothing better than getting to take this show on the road! And that's what we're celebrating on the podcast today with a bumper compilation episode, looking at some of the best people and places that we've been able to take the show to since 2018. From the beaches of Cornwall to Wembley Way, to one of the UK's most iconic cricket clubs to a training centre for the fastest-rising British wrestling talent, this special show highlights some of the amazing ‘out and about' stories that we've been able to tell on the show. Cricket, wrestling, swimming, football, surging – even bits that we'd forgotten we'd done! – they're all here in this very special episode. WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

We last had Richard on the podcast for our 50th episode – and at the time, we described him as a modern-day James Bond – a racing driver with a doctorate for Cambridge who also fenced at the international level for England and Great Britain. Since then, he's gone from strength-to-strength, competing for Revolution Race Cars in the European Sports Prototype Cup – where just days ago, he clinched the Championship with a double-win at Le Mans. As the co-founder of Racing Pride, he's spent years working to make motorsport more inclusive – and as the chair of the Motorsport UK LGBTQ+ Expert Committee, he's also had a pretty big week himself, as you'll hear in this episode. So, there really was no better time to invite Richard back onto the podcast for a chat up about his career, his achievements, Racing Pride, racing alongside Sir Chris Hoy and loads, loads more. It's a cracker of a conversation, and we think you're going to love it. WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST? @richardmorrisracing @racingpridehq WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

If you've been watching British wrestling for a while, you'll probably have seen Jason Joshua in action. Sovereign Pro Wrestling, WAW, Full Force Wrestling, the self-proclaimed ‘Big Daddy Unicorn' has been plying his trade across the UK scene – and now, he's joining us on the podcast to talk about his journey, in and away from the ring. We get into who inspired him to give wrestling a try; finding a character that suited him; his most memorable matches and moments; his own story when it comes to finding out who he is as a person and loads, loads more. But it's also a powerful and moving conversation about mental health, overcoming anxiety – and how the love of a good partner can push you to do things you never dreamed that you'd be able to accomplish. We always love talking professional wrestling on this podcast – and we hope you'll enjoy hearing this conversation as much as we enjoyed having it. WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST? @jasonjoshuapro GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST: @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

The last time that Ben Watkiss was on the podcast, he was working for League One's Burton Albion as a strength and conditioning coach. Now, he's crossed the border to Scotland – where he's working as the Lead Sport Scientist for Ayr United, who play in the Scottish Championship where they're currently sitting in a mid-table position. And the last time Ben was on, back in April of 2021, men's football looked like a very different place – with no Jakub Jankto, no Jake Daniels, no Josh Cavallo, no Zander Murray, no James Adcock when it came to out, visible gay male role-models in the men's game. So, we thought it was high-time to get Ben back on the podcast to have a catch-up, both about his life and how the men's game has changed over the past couple of years. We talk adapting to life in Scotland, doing his job during the pandemic, being an out gay man in football, how Ayr United helped him share his story with the club and loads, loads more. As always, Ben is a brilliant guest to have – open, honest, chatty, upbeat and really good value as a person to chat with – so we think you're really going to like this conversation. WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST?: @bwatkiss96 WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST?: @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

It's hard to imagine Devin Ibanez living a life without rugby. He played for Major League Rugby's New England Free Jacks in the USA in their inaugural season, took gold with Team USA at the World Maccabiah (Maccabee) Games in Israel in 2017 and represented Richmond in the Championship in the UK. And if all of that wasn't a tip-off that Devin loves the game, his social media handle – ‘that gay rugger' – should really be the giveaway. But coming to a point where Devin could speak about his two truths – his love of rugby, and his love of his boyfriend Fergus – in the same breath was a remarkable journey, in and of itself, and it's one we're so delighted to be talking about with Devin on the podcast today. We talk about where his love of rugby came from, pursuing his dreams to play at the highest level, his decision to come out, the reaction that got and life for Devin now. We think you'll love this conversation – and we're really glad Devin made the time to join us for it. WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST? @thatgayrugger WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

It was in February of this year that Jakub Jankto looked down the lens of a camera and told the world that he was gay. The 27-year old's motivation was simple – he no longer wanted to live in fear or in hiding – and while his message was simple, the reaction was overwhelming. Support came in from some of the biggest names in the beautiful game, as Jankto made history as the most high-profile active male footballer to open up about their sexuality – and for a little while, we've been chatting about having him join us here on the podcast. We're delighted that today is the day we make that happen as Jakub joins us for his first-ever podcast interview to talk about his love of football, some of his most memorable moments, his decision to come out, the reaction to it and so much more. It's an episode we're so chuffed to bring you, and we hope you like it as much as we do! WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST?: @jakubjanktojr WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST?: @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

October 11th is National Coming Out Day. It's a worldwide anniversary that celebrates the bravery of those who have found the strength to live authentically and open up about their sexuality or gender identity, and to recognise the challenges and hurdles that still prevent people from doing just that. And to mark the occasion, we've got a special bumper edition of the podcast celebrating some of the most powerful ‘coming out' stories that we've been able to share on the show over the past five years. It features Olympic legends and world champions; world record holders and wrestling superstars; top officials, British number 1s, MMA trailblazers and loads, loads more besides. It's a compendium of courageous coming out stories – and we really hope you enjoy it. WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST?: @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

You know that you're going to like someone when they describe their identity as a non-binary bisexual as ‘joyful chaos' – and that's exactly how Charlotte Galloway talks about herself. But it's just one part of Charlotte's personality, which is as much tied up in their love of football, which manifests itself in her role as both the chair of Cardiff Dragons and as the co-founder of the Women's Football Collective, which styles itself as a training centre for ‘Her Game Too' campaign. So, it's clear that football is a huge passion in Charlotte's life, so that's where we start this conversation – but it rapidly becomes a chat about so much more than just the beautiful game. From playing with the boys when she was starting out to the role of a chairperson; to realising her bisexuality was enough to starting the WFC, this is a fascinating conversation with one of Wales' top football advocates, and we're delighted to have her on the podcast. WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST? @CharlotteG_foot @cardiffdragons @Women's_FC WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

Maggie Alphonsi is one of the most decorated rugby players in English history. A World Cup winner who played for the Red Roses in three finals, she helped England claim seven consecutive Six Nations title in a career that saw her win 74 caps for her country. For achievements on the pitch, she's been recognised with an MBE and named as the International Rugby Board's Women's Player of the Year – and since retiring, she's broken boundaries as broadcaster with Sky and ITV. She's also had a Number 1 single, is a wife and a mother to two beautiful children – and as if all of that didn't sound like enough, she's just written her autobiography looking at her extraordinary journey, on and off the pitch. So it is a massive thrill to have Maggie with us on the podcast today to talk all about it in an episode that I genuinely think is ‘can't-miss' – much like the book, which I got through in a day. We talk about the writing process, about getting into rugby as a youngster, about her England career, about coming out – honestly, it's a superb chat with a genuine legend, and we think you'll love it. WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST?: @MaggieAlphonsi WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

On the face of it, Ryan O'Callaghan was living the dream. The offensive tackle was a stand-out collegiate football player who was drafted to play alongside Tom Brady at the New England Patriots. He should have had it all – fame, fortune, all the trappings that came with it – but for Ryan, football was never a game he loved, but a way to hide the fact he was gay. It was something he did throughout his career – and it was only in 2017 that he decided to open up publicly about his sexuality for the first time, as one of the very few NFL players to have ever spoken up about the fact they were gay. Ryan now uses his platform to help and support others – and we're delighted to have him on the podcast today. This isn't always an easy listen – we talk about Ryan's mental health and why, at points, he felt like taking his own life – and in the description box of this episode, we've put a link to the BBC Action Line and other places you can find support if you or someone you know have been affected by his story. But I'd urge you to listen to this whole episode, as it really is an extraordinary conversation with a brilliant guest that we think will stick with you for a long time. WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST? https://www.facebook.com/ryanocallaghanfoundation/ WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk HAVE YOU BEEN AFFECTED BY ANY OF THE TOPICS RAISED IN THIS PODCAST? https://www.bbc.co.uk/actionline/

A big event deserves a big guest, and we've got two of them to join us on the podcast as we look ahead to the first-ever Rainbow Games in New Zealand next year. Tom Leonard is the event director – and Honey Hireme-Smiler is someone who can only described as a New Zealand sporting legend, as a league, union and sevens international who has played at more World Cups than you can shake a stick at in a sporting career that spans nearly two decades. We talk about all sorts of different things on this episode – how the Rainbow Games came about, why it matters, the importance of sport to both Tom and Honey, why visibility matters and so, so much more. It's a great conversation about a brilliant new event, and we really think you're going to like it. WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUESTS?: Honey: @hunzbw Tom: @tom_leonard13 Rainbow Games: @rainbowgames2024 WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST?: @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

If you're listening to this episode, you probably love Formula 1 – but not as much as Christian Hewgill does. Because, if we're honest, few people in the world do. He's the host of ‘The Fast and The Curious' podcast with Betty Glover and Greg James, the ‘F1 Explains' podcast – and a regular contributor to BBC Radio 5Live's F1 coverage. For years, he was one of the voices of sport on BBC Radio 1's Newsbeat programme – and it's not just Formula 1 either, with Leicester City another one of Christian's passions. So, with all of that in mind, it's amazing it's taken us so long to get Christian onto the podcast – but boy, was the wait worth it, because this is an amazing chat with a fantastic guest. We talk about Christian's love of F1 and where that's taken him; some of the most memorable events that he's been able to cover; his work with Foxes Pride and Racing Pride; the importance of visibility in sport and so, so much more. It's a cracking conversation with Christian – and we think you're going to love it. WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUESTS? @ChrisHewgill on Twitter @christian_hewgill on Instagram WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

Tia Fernandez loves being out and about in the great outdoors. She's a member of Queer Surf Club – who we've featured on this show before – but in the not-too-distant future, she's hoping to go from the beach to the far ends of the Earth in a bid to make history as the first queer person of colour to reach the Northern Pole of Inaccessibility. And when we heard that Tia was attempting to do something like that, then we knew we had no choice but to get her on for a chat. And what a conversation this is – and while we appreciate many of you won't have heard of Tia before, we urge you to stay listening because this is an amazing episode. We talk about her love of being active and finding her place in surfing and scuba diving; the expedition she's planning to be a part of; the importance of representation; Tia's own experiences of racism; and of being a queer person of colour in field where folks like her simply haven't been before. It's an amazing conversation – and one we think you're going to love. WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST? Facebook: Tia Fernandez Insta: @meliiiodas_ WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

Dominic Clarke is one of those people who has lived enough life for about three lifetimes – and he's barely hitting his stride! A trampoline gymnast who has competed around the world – including at the Tokyo Olympics, and winning bronze at World Championship level – he's now a Cirque du Soleil artist for the Michael Jackson ‘ONE' show in Las Vegas. Oh – and did we mention that he successfully auditioned for Australia's version of ‘The Voice'?! Like we say, we weren't ever going to be short of things to talk to Dominic about, and we're delighted he found the time to join us from Las Vegas to talk all about his amazing career – and his journey with his sexuality away from sport as well. It's every bit of the conversation that you'd hope to have with someone like Dom – funny, frank, honest and full of amazing tales – and we think you're absolutely going to love it! We talk about his love of sport; his decision to come out and some of the stereotypes in gymnastics that made that difficult; the reaction he had; preparation for the Tokyo Olympics in the midst of COVID; The Voice; and so, so much more. WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST? @_domclarke on Instagram WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

Callum Prince is someone who lives and breathes football. In fact, it's hard to pick a part of the beautiful game that he's not involved with! He's a member of the GFSN Committee, a player with Nottingham Lions, a consultant with Burton Albion on their Equality, Diversity and Inclusion work – and that's just scratching the surface. He's someone that we've wanted to have on for a while, and we're delighted to have him on the podcast today – especially since he joined us from Malta where the Lions are currently having a summer break. We talk to Callum about all sorts of things – his experiences in the beautiful game (including the homophobia he has dealt with); the joys of coaching; working with his childhood team to showcase the value of inclusion; the importance of inclusive clubs – and loads, loads more besides. WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST? @callum_prince17 WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

She's a key part of the AEW roster – a gender-fluid, transfeminine performer who uses she/ her and they/them pronouns and wrestles in the men's division. In fact, Sonny Kiss defies definition in so many ways – and while Sonny entered AEW as the self-proclaimed ‘Concrete Rose', the wrestler has evolved as both a person and a competitor during her more than three years in the spotlight, including the more villainous persona we see at the moment! She's someone we've wanted to have on the podcast for a long time – especially as you know we love professional wrestling! – and today, we're making it happen in a big way with an absolutely superb episode. We talk about her background in dance and performing art; how she got her break in professional wrestling; some of her most memorable moments in AEW; how she came to terms with her sexuality and then her gender identity; her goals for the future; and how she enjoys switching off – along with so, so much more. If you love wrestling, you'll love this conversation – and if wrestling isn't your thing, you'll still love this chat with a brilliant individual! WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST? @SonnyKissXO WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

It's been about two years since Jake Williamson joined us on the podcast for the first time – and since then, his career has gone from strength to strength. Not only have you seen Jake compete Hyrox events and ultra-marathons, but he's also using his platform to try and make sport a place where LGBTQ+ people feel welcome. It's been too long since we've had a proper chat with Jake, so it was high time that we got him back onto the podcast to talk about his journey since then. We talk about all sorts of things – Jake's coming out journey; his progress in the world of athletics; using his platform to help others as an advocate; modelling; the future and loads, loads more. We always love chatting with Jake, and we think you'll love this episode! WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST? @jake_williamsonpt on Instagram WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

With the Women's World Cup in full swing in Australia and New Zealand, we thought we'd put together a special episode featuring some of the amazing women from the beautiful game who have joined us on the podcast since 2018. We're talking pundits, journalists, pioneers, record-breakers and more – as we remind ourselves of some of the brilliant female football folk who have shared their stories with us. So, coming up on this episode, you'll hear from: - Former USWNT Head Coach Jill Ellis - Former England international Anita Asante - Welsh football legend Jess Fishlock - Welsh football pioneer Laura McAllister - Former Crystal Palace and Spurs goalkeeper Chloe Morgan - BBC Sport Lionesses reporter Jo Currie It's a brilliant trip down memory lane with some fantastic guests who you may not have heard first time round – so we think you're going to love it! WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

It was last month that British weightlifter Ryan Lucas-Lowther decided to open about his sexuality in a conversation for Pride Month. We saw it – and if you listen to this show, you probably did as well – which is why we're so delighted to get him onto the podcast to talk about his journey in full. He's one of only a handful of weightlifters that we've had on the podcast before, so it was a chance for us to really delve into the sport – and Ryan's journey, both in it and away from it as well. We talk about whether he was sporty growing up; his journey into fitness and weightlifting; some of his highlights in the sport; understanding his sexuality and being out and open about it – it really is a top conversation with a great guest that we think you're going to love. WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST? @RyanLowther_ on Twitter @ryanlucaslowther on Instagram and TikTok WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

Ed Slattery has a passion for taking elite athletes to the next level as a hugely experienced strength and conditioning coach who has worked with Irish Rugby for coming up in a decade. Take a listen to this CV – Athletics Performance Coach for Irish women's rugby; Athletic Performance Coach for Sevens and Womens Rugby; Athletic Performance Coach for Mens Rugby; and now his current role as Head of Athletic Performance for the Womens Pathways and National team. What that means, to you and me, is that he's absolutely brilliant at helping get the absolute best out of players across the Irish national rugby set-up – and that has taken him through Six Nations campaigns, to the Tokyo Olympics and so much more. He's also been a long-time listener to the podcast – and when we started chatting about him coming on, he was more than happy to join us – even if he was worried he wouldn't have anything interesting to say. Turns out he was wrong about that, as he's a brilliant guest, and we get into all sorts of things! We talk about the skills of high-performance coaching and getting into it in the first place; about getting players on-board and seeing results; the Tokyo Olympics and that experience with Ed; his own personal journey and how being his authentic self made him a better coach; and loads, loads more. This isn't Ed's ‘coming out' story, as more than a few folks know his story – but plenty of others don't so we hope you enjoy it, as it's a cracking conversation with a great guy. WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUR OUR GUEST? @edsla_ @irishrugby WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk