What does gender equity really mean in a sport as physically demanding and strategically complex as wheelchair rugby? In this episode, we dive into a groundbreaking research project that’s challenging assumptions and driving change for women in para-sport. Through personal reflections and expert insights, we explore why representation matters, how performance is measured, and what it takes to build inclusive pathways for female athletes.

Joining the conversation are Dr Thomas Rietveld from the Peter Harrison Centre for Disability Sport at Loughborough University, Richard Allcroft, President of World Wheelchair Rugby, Lauren Templeton, Regional General Manager for Europe at World Wheelchair Rugby, and Jason Brisbane, Chief Executive Officer of Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby. Together, they share personal insights, strategic goals, and reflections on the Women’s Cup in Paris — a key testing ground for inclusive rule changes like the 0.5-point classification for female athletes. Whether you're a coach, policymaker, athlete, or simply curious about the future of inclusive sport, this episode offers a compelling look at how data, collaboration, and lived experience are shaping the next phase of wheelchair rugby.

Intros: 0:00

Gender Equity: 4:19

The research: 11:11

The rule change: 15:56

The athlete voice: 21:44

Collaboration: 28:42

Research call to action: 34:33

Takeaways: 36:46

#loughborough #university #education #student #Experts in sport #podcast #sport #research #experts in health #fitness #women #women's health #women in sport #women's hub #world cup #rugby #women's rugby #wheelchair #wheelchair rugby #gender #equity

In this episode of the Women in Sport Summer Series, we explore how governance, marketing, and collaboration are driving transformation in women’s sport—both in the UK and globally.

Featuring Alex Teasdale, Executive Director of Women’s Rugby at the RFU, and Dr Dana Lee Ellis, a leading academic in sport marketing and event governance, we unpack the strategic role of the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025, the power of inclusive networks, and the importance of visionary innovation initiatives.

This conversation is part of the Women in Sport Summit, supported by the Institute for Advanced Studies, Spirit of 2012, and the Women in Sport Research and Innovation Hub at Loughborough University.

Intros 0:00

Leadership and collaboration: 3:50

The eve of the Rugby World Cup: 8:14

Amplification: 11:57

Focus on women's sport: 14:08

Sport beyond the event: 16:23

Global and private examples: 23:51

Inclusive leadership: 32:01

Looking ahead: 38:27

Key takeaway: 45:25

#LoughboroughUniversity #ExpertsInSport #SportsInnovation

#FemaleAthletes #Podcast #Rugby #rugbyworldcup #womensports

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Welcome to a special episode of the Experts in Sport Podcast, brought to you by the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences at Loughborough University.

In this episode, we dive into one of the most overlooked yet essential topics in women’s sport: breast health and the science of sports bras.

Exploring why most sports bras don’t offer enough support, the impact on performance and injury risk, innovations in design, fit, and education, and how research is driving real change for athletes.

Intro 0:00

Health implications 3:31

Research 5:13

Why has it been overlooked? 7:34

Awareness 14:45

Female anthropometry 20:59

What to look for in a bra 28:32

What’s next? 37:36

Listeners of the podcast can subscribe and download the latest episode by visiting iTunes, Spotify, and TuneIn. All subscribers will receive an alert once new episodes are published. 

The Experts in Sport podcast is a regular series that brings together experts from across Loughborough University with external thought leaders to discuss the latest research and hot topics in sport and academia with new episodes launched regularly.

#LoughboroughUniversity #ExpertsInSport #BreastHealth #SportsInnovation

#FemaleAthletes #Podcast #SportsApparel #Rugby #Lionesses #SportsBraEducation

In this episode of Experts in Sport, host Dr Hannah Fox Dugdale is joined by Dr Verity Postlethwaite to explore the groundbreaking launch of Loughborough University’s Women in Sport Research and Innovation Hub. Discover how this initiative is set to transform women’s sport from grassroots to elite, tackling real-world challenges with cutting-edge research.

We also hear from special guest and former England international, Karen Carney OBE, as she shares powerful insights on athlete health, equity in sport, and what this hub means for the future.

A must-listen in the build-up to the 2025 Summer of Women in Sport!

Intro: 0:00

Karen Carney: 8:07

Women in Sport Research and Innovation Hub: 8:47

The research gap: 10:50

Women focused research: 14:39

The media: 20:41

Leadership: 23:26

The hub contribution: 25:23

Women’s sport in action: 27:09

Karen Carney OBE is also an ambassador for the new hub - https://www.lboro.ac.uk/news-events/news/2024/september/karen-carney-sport-health-wellbeing-ambassador/

For more information visit:

https://www.lboro.ac.uk/news-events/news/2025/march/women-in-sport-hub-launch/

https://www.lboro.ac.uk/research/women-in-sport-hub/

https://www.lboro.ac.uk/research/ias/programmes/women-in-sport/

https://www.ncsem-em.org.uk/events/tackling-the-gap/

As the England v India Test Matches get into full swing, Experts in Sport podcast host Martin Foster sits down with Ed Smith, former National Selector for England Cricket and soon-to-be President of the MCC.

In this episode, they explore Leadership in Sport and discuss the growing impact of AI on decision-making and leadership at the highest level. Drawing from Ed’s experience in elite cricket, this conversation offers unique insights into how modern leaders balance data, intuition, and performance in a rapidly evolving sporting world.

Intro: 00:00

Leadership in Sport: 1:55

Student impact: 15:38

President of the MCC: 25:33

AI in sport: 35:46

Embracing AI: 51:34

#LeadershipInSport #EdSmith #EnglandVsIndia #Cricket #AIinSport #ExpertsInSportPodcast #lborograd #lborofamily

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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/school/loughborough-university/

Website: https://www.lboro.ac.uk/

In the latest episode of the Experts in Sport podcast, host Martin Foster is joined by world-leading expert in the science of the human mind, Dr Ian Taylor, to discuss his new book Time Hacks.

Together, they draw on the latest psychological research to explore how we can develop a healthier relationship with time—one that helps us break free from the cycle of boredom and mania, boosts our productivity, and brings greater balance to all areas of our lives.

Don’t miss this insightful conversation packed with practical tips and science-backed strategies to help you take control of your time.

📚 Time Hacks – Available now!

Intro: 00:00

Overview: 2:34

Time warps: 6:55

The idea of time: 11:40

Practical solutions: 15:54

Why do mousetraps work: 18:32

Mind the gap: 23:16

S is for effort: 27:19

Benefits of solitude: 36:03

Bouncebackability: 45:58

Top 5 hacks: 48:08

#ExpertsInSport #TimeHacks #Psychology #Productivity #Wellbeing #MentalHealth #LboroGrad #LboroFamily

Follow Loughborough University:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lborouniversity

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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/school/loughborough-university/

Website: https://www.lboro.ac.uk/

In today’s podcast, host Martin Foster is joined by Dr Daniel Read, Senior Lecturer at the Institute for Sport Business at Loughborough University, to discuss the use of painkillers in sport.

Painkiller use in sport is more widespread than many people realise. In this episode, we uncover some shocking statistics and explore the reasons why athletes turn to pain relief—sometimes at great personal risk. Using real-world examples from across the sporting world, we examine the pressures, motivations, and implications behind this growing issue.

Painkiller use in sport: 2:14

Examples: 6:54

Frequency: 11:54

Classifications: 16:01

Recreational use: 19:14

Why?: 20:44

Capital: 23:41

Problems: 26:58

What needs to change?: 30:25

Youth football: 48:06

Further research: 51:09

Listeners of the podcast can subscribe and download the latest episode by visiting iTunes, Spotify, and TuneIn. All subscribers will receive an alert once new episodes are published. 

The Experts in Sport podcast is a regular series that brings together experts from across Loughborough University with external thought leaders to discuss the latest research and hot topics in sport and academia with new episodes launched regularly.

Follow Loughborough University:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lborouniversity

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lborouniversity/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lborouniversity

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lborouniversity/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/school/loughborough-university/

Website: https://www.lboro.ac.uk/

#LboroGrad #LboroFamily #ExpertsinSport

Today, I’m joined by Professor Josef Fahlén, Professor Paul Downward, and Dr. Mat Dowling to explore how sport functions in different contexts. We often hear about sport and physical activity in Scandinavia—but what can we actually learn from their approach?

In this podcast, we compare the Swedish and UK sport systems, discussing a wide range of topics including government funding, sports clubs, schools, facilities, and cultural influences. We also delve into the challenges of trying to implement ideas from one country into another.

Intros: 00:00

Swedish sport: 3:07 

UK sport: 5:43 

Comparison: 12:41 

Swedish sport again: 15:51 

UK sport again: 22:26 

Cultural differences: 27:04 

What is sport for?: 42:31 

The future: 46:56

Listeners of the podcast can subscribe and download the latest episode by visiting iTunes, Spotify, and TuneIn. All subscribers will receive an alert once new episodes are published.  

The Experts in Sport podcast is a regular series that brings together experts from across Loughborough University with external thought leaders to discuss the latest research and hot topics in sport and academia with new episodes launched regularly.

Follow Loughborough University: 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lborouniversity 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lborouniversity/ 

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lborouniversity 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lborouniversity/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/school/loughborough-university/ 

Website: https://www.lboro.ac.uk/

#LboroGrad #LboroFamily #ExpertsinSport

In the latest episode of Experts in Sport, Dr Luke Roberts, author of Leading Schools and Sustaining Innovation: How to Think Big and Differently in Complex Systems, joins host Martin Foster to discuss systems change.

If you’ve been involved in the sport, physical activity, health, education, business, or any other sector, you’ll likely have heard people talk about systems change. You may have seen attempts to create change, but more often than not, the outcomes don’t match expectations.

In today’s podcast, we explore what systems change really means. We begin by defining the concept and discussing the common challenges people face when trying to bring about meaningful change, using real-world examples. We then shift focus to what is required to create and sustain systems change over time.

We hope this episode inspires anyone looking to make a positive impact and become a systems change leader of the future.

Intros: 0:00

What is Systems Change?: 3:42

Purpose of the system: 10:32

Examples: 15:45

Systems Mapping: 29:32

Getting the system ready for change: 36:00

Maintain and Sustain: 42:23

Changing the icing not the cake: 45:35

What's next?: 52:24

In the latest episode of Experts in Sport, Dr Serhat Yilmaz and Lerina Bright (Mission 89) join host Martin Foster to discuss Human trafficking in the global sports ecosystem.

Loughborough University, in partnership with Mission 89 and the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association UK Branch of the British Parliament, has released the first-ever comprehensive global thematic report on sport trafficking.

Listeners of the podcast can subscribe and download the latest episode by visiting iTunes, Spotify, and TuneIn. All subscribers will receive an alert once new episodes are published.  

The Experts in Sport podcast is a regular series that brings together experts from across Loughborough University with external thought leaders to discuss the latest research and hot topics in sport and academia with new episodes launched regularly.

https://mission89.org/

Intro 00:00

The issue 6:21 

Definitions 11:06

In and through sport 22:42

Around sport 34:47

Recommendations 43:20

Summary 53:18

Outros 1:06:31