Here on Not by the Playbook we know "communication is key". Making sure what we say is clear and concise is one of the crucial elements to an enjoyable show. And that's true of most areas of life, the better people communicate the better the outcome, even when the message is hard to hear or difficult to digest. This week, having travelled the world finding the most inspiring stories from the world of sport, we have found all our guest have one thing in common. They are masters of communication!

A good explanation can change the way we perceive the world. If something is communicated well enough it can alter our understanding of the concept of something we had held to be true forever. Take the idea of winning. Pretty straight forward, right?! The person who comes first, who beats all the others. The champion. Well Water polo legend Tony Azevedo certainly fits that description. A five-time Olympian he's considered one of the best to have played the game and yet now, as a coach he has a very different message about what it takes to be a winner. It's a message that is born from a life of overcoming difficulties and being prepared to constantly learn, in all areas of life. Most recently that revolved about what type of coffee is best to start the day with!

Getting important instructions understood is difficult enough when your team mates are human, but what about if in order to succeed you have to be able to communicate perfectly with an animal!? Well that's what distinguishes the athletes who take part in one of the toughest sporting events in the world, Iditarod dog-sled race each year. When you are making your way through 1,000 miles of Arctic wilderness in Alaska communicating with your team of dogs is crucial to not only success, but in staying alive! In the winter of 1985, Libby Riddles become the first woman to win the race.

Steve Wright and his wife Lizzy were briefly guest on our Super Bowl show a couple of weeks ago, by the way you can still enjoy that podcast, and all our other episodes, by searching for Not by the Playbook wherever you get your podcasts. The thing about the Super Bowl show is that we never have enough time! And so we only got to hear a tiny part of Lizzy and Steve's story and several people contact us to ask if they could hear more... And so in the spirit of understanding what was a clearly communicated message, we are going to set that right!

Steve was a very successful and decorated NFL star. He was a Cowboy and a Raider and his job required him to act in, and occupy, a super aggressive state of mind. But flicking a switch to go from the mild mannered man Steve is to a threatening and destructive offensive tackle, and back again wasn't easy. Alongside his wife, author Lizzy Wright, Steve explores the subject in their book "Aggressively Human: Discovering Humanity in the NFL, Reality TV, and Life."

There's little doubt that children benefit from stability. A routine and a place they can call home. Growing up in a family that has to travel the world regularly, living in different places with different cultures and languages can be unsettling, but for England's latest soccer star and multi linguist Erica Parkinson that lifestyle has given her huge advantages. Just 17 year old she has already played for the England under 19's team and is now part of the Under 23 set up! So could her upbringing have played a part in her swift rise up the footballing hierarchy? Speaking from her home in Porto, Portugal and also explained why she, and her brother Dennis, were always destined to make it as footballers. When she’s not on the pitch, Erica works with mindset coach Martin Fairn of Gazing Red2Blue. Erica draws on mindset coaching during high pressure situations on the pitch.

PHOTO: Tony Azevedo of the USA in action during the USA vs Italy Waterpolo group match at Julio de Lamare Aquatics Centre on August 14, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (CREDIT: Adam Pretty/Getty Images)

Linda Ashmore, Ironman competitor and age-group world champion, shows us that qualifying for the world stage can come later in life.

Team GB cyclist and bobsledder Victoria Williamson shares her journey from a devastating crash to redefining herself beyond elite sport, embracing a new path in health and fitness.

Former Premier League footballer Jody Craddock reveals how he is building a second career as a professional artist and discovering creativity beyond the pitch.

Basketball storyteller Leigh Ellis, founder of the Basketball Passport, on playing pickup games around the world and the power of sport to bring people together.

Each story exploring reinvention, identity and the courage it takes to leap into something new.

(Photo: Triathletes compete in the 3.8km swim during the Ironman World Championships on 10 October, 2015, Kailua Kona, Hawaii. Credit: Jason Rappaport/Getty Images)

Wrap up warm, because this week all our stories are about winter sports. We'll go cross-country skiing in Italy, play ice hockey on the equator and have a snowball fight in Finland!

When Canadian cross-country skiers Beckie Scott and Sara Renner lined up for the Women's team sprint at 2006 Winter Olympics, they wouldn’t have anticipated help from a medal rival. But, after disaster struck, it was a Norwegian coach who was there to help. Proving that even the coldest environments can produce the warmest displays of sportsmanship.

An Olympic team of one. Shiva Keshavan was the only member of India’s 1998 Winter Olympics in Japan. A 16-year-old representing a nation of over a billion. Shiva’s sport? Luge, one of the most dangerous winter sport disciplines with athletes facing speeds of up to 145 kilometers an hour.

After winning a silver medal at Beijing 2022, para-snowboard star Lisa DeJong turned her inspiring journey into a children’s book. Drawing on her own experiences, the story shows the importance of representation, resilience and celebrating differences.

With the Winter Olympics taking place, we learn about a sport and a team with Olympic aspirations. Yukigassen, a snowball fight tuned into a sport; and Kenya’s Ice Lions pioneering Ice Hockey in a country with just a single ice rink.

Photo: Beckie Scott and Sara Renner of Canada celebrate winning the Silver Medal for finishing second in the Women's Cross Country Skiing Team Sprint on Day 4 of the 2006 Turin Winter Olympic Games on February 14, 2006 in Pragelato Plan, Italy. (Credit: Bongarts/Getty Images)

When Canadian cross-country skiers Beckie Scott and Sara Renner lined up for the Women's team sprint at 2006 Winter Olympics, they wouldn’t have anticipated help from a medal rival. But, after disaster struck, it was a Norwegian coach who was there to help. Proving that even the coldest environments can produce the warmest displays of sportsmanship.

An Olympic team of one. Shiva Keshavan was the only member of India’s 1998 Winter Olympics in Japan. A 16-year-old representing a nation of over a billion. Shiva’s sport? Luge, one of the most dangerous winter sport disciplines with athletes facing speeds of up to 145 kilometers an hour.

After winning a silver medal at Beijing 2022, para-snowboard star Lisa DeJong turned her inspiring journey into a children’s book. Drawing on her own experiences, the story shows the importance of representation, resilience and celebrating differences.

With the Winter Olympics taking place, we learn about a sport and a team with Olympic aspirations. Yukigassen, a snowball fight tuned into a sport; and Kenya’s Ice Lions pioneering Ice Hockey in a country with just a single ice rink.

Photo: Beckie Scott and Sara Renner of Canada celebrate winning the Silver Medal for finishing second in the Women's Cross Country Skiing Team Sprint on Day 4 of the 2006 Turin Winter Olympic Games on February 14, 2006 in Pragelato Plan, Italy. (Credit: Bongarts/Getty Images)

Sometimes realising your dream can all be a bit much. Leonard Russell was drafter 14th overall when the Patriots signed him. The franchise was on the brink of a historic dynasty and Russell was right there, winning the NFL Rookie of the Year in 1991. But being at the top causes its own challenges. Leonard turned to illegal substances to deal with the pressures., and it didn't take long before it had taken his career, marriage and very nearly his life. Ejected from the NFL and sat in a jail cell Leonard realised he needed a radical change of life. Leonard Russell's story is one of revival and responsibility. His comeback is inspirational and shows what can be achieved no matter how far you fall

How do we as individuals balance the challenges thrown at us in life and not engage in damaging behaviour. For Steve Wright there was an added layer of difficulty. His job as an NFL player required him to act in and occupy an aggressive state of mind. But flicking a switch to go from his natural mild mannered to threatening and destructive and back again was not easy. Alongside his wife Lizzy Wright, we explore living with Jekyll and Hyde.

Jaime Coffee became the first woman to call an NFL game in the stadium when she did so at Levi Stadium (where the Super Bowl is to be played) a couple years back. She had previously broken glass ceilings in basketball by calling NBA games and again when invited by the 49ers to be their stadium announcer for a game back in August 2023

Whichever team wins the Super Bowl will not only receive the Vince Lombardi trophy and have a homecoming parade they also receive a Super Bowl ring! Over the years these have got bigger and more elaborate. Chris Poitras is vice president and chief operating officer of Jostens. They are the jewelers who have made the vast majority of Super Bowl rings over the years.

This episode was updated on 9 February 2026 due to music rights restrictions.

(Photo: Running Back Leonard Russell #32 of the New England Patriots runs the ball against the Phoenix Cardinals at Sun Devil Stadium, 10 October,1993 in Tempe, Arizona. The Patriots won 23-21. (Bernstein Associates/Getty Images)

February, the month of love, the one with the fewest days and the in the northern hemisphere the last month of winter, but what you might not have realised is that February might also be the most exciting month of the year. And we have the guests to prove it! February hosts two massive sporting events, the Winter Olympics in Italy and the Super Bowl in California. So wrap up warm as we head to the ice and snow of Lombardy, and then get your sun lotion as we head to the Bay area and the Super Bowl

Iranian skier Samaneh Beyrami Baher is all set to compete in the grueling cross country skiing event at the Winter Olympics in Italy. This is the second time Samaneh has qualified for the Games. When Iran's flag barer at the 2018 Games she caused a sensation with her emotional entrance at the Opening Ceremony. She tells us about her rigorous training, the challenges she's has had to overcome and why she's so confident in a new set of skis she's just received from Olympic champion Jessica Diggins.

American Football and Politics... One is a brutal, winner takes all, adversarial, adrenaline fueled contest, where everyone has an opinion. The other is American Football! and the idea that sport and politics don't mix has been debated long and hard over recent years. Some believe players should stick to playing, others that they have a responsibility to use their platform to speak about matters that are important to them. Colin Allred has played both games. He made it to the NFL the hard way going undrafted, before being signed up to the Tennessee Titans. After playing he went back to school to study law and in 2018 was elected as a member of the House of Representative from his home state of Texas. His victory, a Democrat beating the incumbent Republican, was something of an upset. Having lost his seat in 2024, he's trying to regain it later this year.

We have managed to find a story that neatly moves neatly from the Winter Olympics to the Super Bowl. Kind of! Think Ice Bowl. Back to New Year's Eve 1967, when the Green Bay Packers played the Dallas Cowboys in one of the most famous games in American Football history. Played in Arctic temperatures, the match elevated the reputation of Packers' coach, Vince Lombardi stature. We hear from former Packers' lineman, Jerry Kramer.

Photo: Iran's Samaneh Beyrami Baher practicing in Italy ahead of the Winter Olympics which start in February 2026 (Credit: Samaneh Beyrami Baher)

A record breaking NFL star, the woman who won bronze in only her third ever marathon and the swimmer who took on the drug cheats and won! This week all our guest have outstanding tales to tell, and they all come from the same US state! The great state of Wisconsin

Even before his NFL career was over Joe Thomas had bought up land in his native Wisconsin ready for what came after football. Joe's return came after a record breaking stint with the Cleveland Browns. Over 10 years he never missed a play, becoming the first, and only player to play ten thousand consecutive snaps! Ten Thousand! In a row! Well since retiring about ten years ago Joe has put that kind of dedication into his new career rearing beef.. And considering his status in the game, it's no surprise his business is called Hall of Fame Beef!

Whilst it was common to see runner Molly Siedel in and around the village of Hartland on the banks of the Bark River in Wisconsin, no one expected to see her on the podium at the Olympics in Tokyo. Not least Molly! But that's exactly what happened in 2021 where seemingly out of nowhere she won a bronze medal. it was the culmination of a long journey for Molly after having to seek help for mental health issues and disordered eating.

Coming up against someone you know is cheating, but can't prove it is intensely frustrating. Well that's what faced swimmer Wendy Boglioli at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal. This was a time when some countries invested in state sponsored cheating. In this case the swimmers and athletes of East Germany. So how do you fight on, and win when the odds are not only stacked against you, but they are deliberately designed to see you lose? Well, somehow Wendy and her US team mates did just that and grabbed gold in a relay that no one thought they had a chance of winning

The amazing story of how a wounded Vietnam war veteran became an NFL Super Bowl champion. born and raised in Wisconsin Rocky Bleier was a with the Pittsburgh Steelers when in 1968 he was drafted into the US Army to serve in the Vietnam war. He was injured in combat and his career appeared over. But Rocky fought his way back to become a member of the legendary Pittsburgh Steelers team that won four Super Bowls in the 1970s. Not by the Playbook's Alex Last spoke to Rocky Bleier about his remarkable comeback.

PHOTO: The uncle of Joe Thomas waits outside before the 2007 NFL Draft on April 28, 2007 at Radio City Music Hall in New York, New York. (CREDIT: Rob Tringali/Sportschrome/Getty Images)

Life is full of challenges. Some are caused by circumstances we have no control over. Sometimes our struggles are rooted in long held social attitudes that can take generations to change... and then there are those problems that come entirely from within ourselves, when our minds or bodies work differently from others. We've searched the globe to find 5 athletes with extraordinary tales of challenges they have overcome in every one of those categories.

Basketballer Daniel Edozie is a former Division One college baller who also represented England on the international stage... but Daniel led a nomadic life as a child. He was born in the UK, and then taken to America by his mother but ended up being abandoned and living on the streets of Skid Row in Los Angles. Daniels ability to navigate such a dangerous place at such a young age is remarkable. So how did he take control of his own destiny and set his sights on sporting greatness?

Runner Lauren Fleshman had a long and successful athletics career, including being twice US 5,000m champion. She retired a decade ago which meant she had more time for writing, something she'd enjoyed doing whilst competing. Her blog "Ask Lauren Fleshman" was a huge success, and when you hear Lauren speak, it's no surprising why people seek out her advice. Drawing on a lifetime of experience, Lauren then published her memoir 'Good for a Girl: A Woman Running in a Man's World' tackling the added societal stresses and strains professional female sport stars have compared to their male counter parts.

When suffer from physical frailty, the source of that difficulty is usually quite obvious, and the treatments well established, but when our brains work differently, the results can be very scary. Even getting the right diagnosis can be a challenge. It took footballer Millie Farrow years of uncertainty and confusion before she was diagnosed with the mental health condition Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. The condition made the chances of her fulfilling her dream of becoming a professional footballer slim. Fast forward to today, and having learned how to live successfully with her OCD she's thrived. She's currently playing in Australia, but has also played for North Carolina Courage and several teams in her home country England

It's a cruel joke that it's often those who seemingly have it all that can struggle the most. Marcus Smith II was a first round pick when he joined the Philadelphia Eagles in 2014. His NFL career continued to rise when he signed a lucrative contract with the Seattle Seahawks. It seemed Marcus was living the dream... but actually he was suffering with crippling anxiety, nothing new to him, it was something he had to deal with since he was just 8 years old.. but eventually it became too much for him to bear. Some of his story is difficult to hear, but after seeking help he was able to take a different path and is now helping others struggling with their mental health.

When our bodies fail us sometimes it's our minds that make the difference. In 1981, jockey Bob Champion won a fairytale victory in Britain's most famous horse race, the Grand National. Two years earlier, Champion had been diagnosed with cancer, he put his survival through invasive treatment down to his focus on his life time dream. Winning the Grand National.

PHOTO: Daniel Edozie #42 of the Iowa State Cyclones celebrates after defeating the North Carolina Tar Heels 85-83 in the third round of the 2014 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament (CREDIT: Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

Sometimes the odds seem so stacked up, and the challenges so large you can lose your sense of self when trying to navigate a path to success. So this week we set aside all doubters, embrace the impossible and hear how those who were told they couldn't do it proved everyone wrong.

Kelsie Whitmore is at the heart of a development in baseball that has been many years in the making. In 1943 a professional women's league started and lasted for 10 years, it was successful, if you've seen the Hollywood movie, A League of Their Own" with Tom Hanks, Geena Davis and Madonna then you'll already know. Well fast forward 70 odd years and women's professional baseball is back! The "WPBL" or Women's Pro Baseball League is set to launch later this year with four initial teams based in Boston, New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. The inaugural draft has just been held where San Francisco chose Kelsie Whitmore as the very first pick. No real surprise because alongside representing the USA. Kelsie was the first woman to appear in the Atlantic League, a successful, independent professional men's league.

Football club Red Star Paris has built a culture that means it's cool to be a fan of the team. How have they achieved this? Well in no small part through the influence of the clubs former creative director David Bellion. His is a name not unknown amongst football fans. David Bellion played the game professionally for almost 20 years, ending at Red Star Paris but with four seasons at Manchester United along the way with Sir David Beckham, Sir Alex Ferguson, Ronaldo and all.

Imagine being told you were too nice to succeed. That to get ahead you have to change your sunny disposition to a grumpy demeanor. That's what happened to double Commonwealth Games sprint champion Harry Aikines-Aryeetey. He tells us about how talked about how that upbeat personality helped him transition from star of the track to star of the small screen. He's currently "Nytro" on the UK TV show Gladiators and even when focused on winning gold at the Commonwealth Games he had one eye on what life beyond the 100m might look like for him.

In 1967, the American motorcycle stuntman Evel Knievel made his name with a spectacular - if unsuccessful - attempt to jump over the fountains of Caesar's Palace Casino in Las Vegas. We discover the man behind the legend.

PHOTO: Kelsie Whitmore pitches in the bullpen before her game against the Charleston Dirty Birds at Richmond County Bank Ballpark on July 08, 2022 in Staten Island, New York. Whitmore was the first woman to appear in the starting lineup in an Atlantic League game. She also became the first woman to pitch in an Atlantic League game. (CREDIT: Al Bello/Getty Images)

We look back on a year full of inspirational stories from around the world and interviews with people defying the odds!

Inspirational stories from around the world. Interviews with people defying the odds