After The Lights Go Out

In this episode Steve Harmison and Leon McKenzie are joined by Hull City legend Dean Windass for a raw look at life after the final whistle.

Moving from the euphoria of his iconic 2008 Wembley play-off winner to the devastating void of retiring at 40, Dean opens up candidly about identity loss, addiction, surviving attempts to take his own life, and the heartbreak of family estrangement.

He also addresses his stage 2 dementia diagnosis, campaigning for ex-athletes' brain health, and the daily discipline of finding purpose and peace when the cheering stops.

CONTENT WARNING: This podcast includes strong language and covers topics surrounding suicide that some listeners may find upsetting.

If you or someone you know is struggling please reach out and find support:

https://www.samaritans.org/

https://hubofhope.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Olympic swimming legend Sharron Davies MBE joins Steve Harmison and Liam McKenzie on talkSPORT’s After the Lights Go Out to lay bare the brutal realities of life after elite competition.

From making her Olympic debut at 13 and losing 1980 Moscow gold to state-doped East German competitors, to her prime-time reinvention as "Amazon" on Gladiators, Sharron reflects on the highs and costs of sporting stardom. She also addresses the personal and professional fallout from her fight to protect biological sex categories in women’s sport and her latest mission in the House of Lords.

If you or someone you know is struggling please reach out and find support:

https://www.samaritans.org/

https://hubofhope.co.uk

(This episode was recorded in Dec 2025)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join Steve Harmison and Leon McKenzie as they sit down with former Arsenal, Liverpool, and Stoke City winger Jermaine Pennant, for an unfiltered, deeply honest conversation about the turbulent realities behind his high-profile career and his ongoing journey of self-discovery after hanging up his boots.

From gracing the pitch in the 2007 Champions League final to battling depression in silence, Jermaine reflects on how trauma, extreme success, and undiagnosed neurodivergence shaped his life both on and off the field.

If you or someone you know is struggling please reach out and find support:

https://www.samaritans.org/

https://hubofhope.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of After the Lights Go Out, Steve Harmison and Leon McKenzie sit down with British athletics legend Colin Jackson for a raw, unfiltered dive into life after elite sport.

On the track, he was unstoppable, a double World Champion, unbeaten in 44 races, and a world record holder for 13 years. But what happens when the stadium noise fades and you're forced to start from zero?

Colin opens up about the terrifying void of retirement, his secret battles with body dysmorphia and panic attacks during his peak years, plus how missing out on 1992 Olympic gold ultimately saved his career. From surviving on 800 calories a day to finding new purpose through stem cell therapy, broadcasting, and charity work.

If you or someone you know is struggling please reach out and find support:

https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/

https://www.samaritans.org/

https://hubofhope.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join Steve Harmison and Leon McKenzie as they sit down with former Aston Villa midfielder and England international Lee Hendrie.

With over 250 Premier League appearances to his name, Lee appeared to have it all. But behind his top-flight career was a silent struggle. Today, as a respected co-commentator and pundit, Lee reflects on the devastating pain of leaving his boyhood club, facing bankruptcy, Divorce, battling epilepsy, and his attempts to take his own life.

CONTENT WARNING: This podcast includes strong language and covers topics surrounding suicide that some listeners may find upsetting.

If you or someone you know is struggling please reach out and find support:

https://www.samaritans.org/

https://hubofhope.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Former professional footballer Michael Chopra opens up to Leon McKenzie and Steve Harrison about his struggles with a chronic gambling addiction, which led to him running up huge debts and coming close to taking his own life.

He also discusses his charity work with 'Football For Peace' including a trip to the Maldives as part of a counter terrorism initiative for young children.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Former England and Warwickshire cricketer Dermot Reeve reveals to Steve Harmison and Leon McKenzie how a destructive cocaine addiction resulted in the loss of his media career, the breakdown of three marriages and living life today in supported housing on £6 a day.

He also discusses how a strong spirituality has helped him find an inner peace, meeting the Red Hot Chilli Peppers and his future wish to move to New Zealand or Australia.

Warning: This episode contains some strong language and adult themes.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join us as this week we chat to former Arsenal and England women’s striker Lianne Sanderson!

We hear what it was like being the first openly gay footballer, reflect on the lack of an openly gay player in the Premier League, her work today as a football pundit, receiving vicious abuse on social media and what she perceives as a lack of respect post-retirement from the Football Association.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Leon McKenzie and Steve Harrison are joined by England Rugby Union great James Haskell who discusses living with ADHD, overcoming a lack of self-belief and moving on from his time as a national hero to become a DJ. 

He also reflects on becoming a father and the break-up of his marriage following retirement from professional sport.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Leon McKenzie and Steve Harmison are joined by former Premier League footballer Marcus Stewart who offers a positive assessment of living life with Motor Neurone Disease.

Marcus explains how he was diagnosed with the disease and how it has affected him both physically and mentally. He also discusses his charity work to raise awareness of MND and his hopes for a cure.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.