Sportish

From the red dirt of Western Australia to icy Canberra mornings, Matilda's legend Lydia Williams has always turned to sport to find her place in the world. 

As a kid, she was a natural - her Dad said she could be anything she wanted to be. Then one day, he was gone. Sport became the thing that held her together. 

A Matilda's stalwart for two decades, Lydia went on to represent Australia at 5 World Cups and 2 Olympic Games, watching the team transform around her. But even that huge evolution doesn't compare to what sport gave her personally. 

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Sportish is powered by the Australian Sports Commission and produced by Deadset Studios.   

We’re spotlighting Australia’s sport participation strategy Play Well. You can find plenty more resources and information at ausport.gov.au/playwell. 

Lydia Williams is a proud Noongar woman, author of 2 kids books (Goal!!! And Saved!!!), SBS commentator, and Matilda's legend.  

Thanks to @bythewhiteline for some of the images used throughout this episode. 

This episode was hosted by Libby Trickett and Georgie Trickett, produced by Luci McAfee and Liam Riordan, with sound design by Melissa May. The Executive Producers are Kellie Riordan and Sarah Dabro. Ann Chesterman is the Production Manager.  

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which this podcast was made. We pay our respects to Elders past and present. We also recognise the outstanding contribution that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples make to sport and celebrate the power of sport to tell stories and promote reconciliation.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cricket commentators aren't usually defined by the colour and pattern in their outfits, their long flowing hair, or their personality. They're talked about in terms of their knowledge of the game and their ability to take an audience on a five-day sporting odyssey. When it comes to Bharat Sundaresan, it's all of that, and more. 

There is nothing boring about cricket when Bharat is in the picture. He knows the impact of the game goes far beyond wins and losses; it helped him survive an abusive brother, beat addiction, and find community in Australia. 

"Cricket literally kept me alive through my childhood, and ended up being the rock I could cling onto when I was sinking and I was going very close to completely drowning in my own mistakes." 

A student of the game, Bharat has an ability to connect with even the most hardened cricket naysayers (just ask Libby Trickett) and bring cricket to life. Respected by players and colleagues and loved by audiences, his take on cricket is bigger than the game itself. 

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Sportish is powered by the Australian Sports Commission and produced by Deadset Studios.   

We’re spotlighting Australia’s sport participation strategy Play Well. You can find plenty more resources and information at ausport.gov.au/playwell. 

Bharat Sundaresan is an award-winning cricket commentator, writer, and author. 

This episode was hosted by Libby Trickett and Georgie Trickett, produced by Luci McAfee and Liam Riordan, with sound design by Melissa May. The Executive Producers are Kellie Riordan and Sarah Dabro. Ann Chesterman is the Production Manager.  

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which this podcast was made. We pay our respects to Elders past and present. We also recognise the outstanding contribution that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples make to sport and celebrate the power of sport to tell stories and promote reconciliation. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Federal Minister Anika Wells runs what we believe is the best of all portfolios: sport.  

From her days of playing and umpiring as a kid to setting up a parkrun on Brisbane’s northside that’s still operating today, Anika Wells understands that sports participation is crucial to community connection in an increasing digital world.  

Do we discuss Brisbane 2032? OF COURSE WE DO! But as exciting to us in the opportunity that sport has following the ban on social media.  

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Sportish is powered by the Australian Sports Commission and produced by Deadset Studios.   

We’re spotlighting Australia’s sport participation strategy Play Well. You can find plenty more resources and information at ausport.gov.au/playwell. 

Anika Wells is the Federal Minister for Sport and Communications. 

This episode was hosted by Libby Trickett and Georgie Trickett, produced by Liam Riodan and Luci McAfee, with sound design by Melissa May. The Executive Producer is Kellie Riordan and Sarah Dabro. Ann Chesterman is the Production Manager.  

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which this podcast was made. We pay our respects to Elders past and present. We also recognise the outstanding contribution that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples make to sport and celebrate the power of sport to tell stories and promote reconciliation.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Known for her near-death experience running the Australian outback, Turia Pitt has become a much-loved household name. What you might not know is that building off her own rehabilitation experience, she absolutely understands how to get women running, so much so that 4,000 women (and counting!) have changed their relationship with sport as a result.

With an appreciation of needing to re-evaluate our relationship with sport, Turia’s now on a mission to make women feel safer while moving, all while raising two boys with her partner Michael.

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Sportish is powered by the Australian Sports Commission and produced by Deadset Studios.   

We’re spotlighting Australia’s sport participation strategy Play Well. You can find plenty more resources and information at ausport.gov.au/playwell. 

Turia Pitt is a best-selling author, coach, motivational speaker and women’s health advocate.

This episode was hosted by Libby Trickett and Georgie Trickett, produced by Luci McAfee and Liam Riordan, with sound design by Melissa May. The Executive Producer is Kellie Riordan and Sarah Dabro. Ann Chesterman is the Production Manager.  

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which this podcast was made. We pay our respects to Elders past and present. We also recognise the outstanding contribution that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples make to sport and celebrate the power of sport to tell stories and promote reconciliation. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You might know Jimmy Rees from his work on ABC’s Giggle and Hoot, or more recently, for his pandemic level comedy.  So it should be no surprise that in his other roles; dad of 3 boys, sideline parent and u8 basketball coach, Jimmy knows what the biggest priority should be when it comes to sport: fun!

Navigating a family that supported two rival AFL clubs and becoming an ‘old man basketball’ player in his 30s, Jimmy understands that sport gives communities the opportunity to come together and cheer for something bigger than themselves.  

From observing parents on the sidelines with blistering accuracy to reflecting on what’s best to say in the car after a game, Jimmy has an ability to remind us to not take this sporting life too seriously.  

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Sportish is powered by the Australian Sports Commission and produced by Deadset Studios.   

We’re spotlighting Australia’s sport participation strategy Play Well. You can find plenty more resources and information at ausport.gov.au/playwell. 

Jimmy Rees is a comedian, author and children’s TV presenter.  

This episode was hosted by Libby Trickett and Georgie Trickett, produced by Luci McAfee and Liam Riordan, with sound design by Melissa May. The Executive Producer is Kellie Riordan and Sarah Dabro. Ann Chesterman is the Production Manager.  

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which this podcast was made. We pay our respects to Elders past and present. We also recognise the outstanding contribution that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples make to sport and celebrate the power of sport to tell stories and promote reconciliation. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Katie Walker is absolutely the coach we would run through a brick wall for.  

A former Queensland Firebirds netball player and assistant coach, Katie understands the importance of just getting started, moving your body and why you have to suck at something before you can be any good. She’s a mum of 4 sporty kids who's molding the current crop of junior netballers and at the same time, getting women who thought sport was long in their past to find community (and strength!) through exercise.  

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Sportish is powered by the Australian Sports Commission and produced by Deadset Studios.   

We’re spotlighting Australia’s sport participation strategy Play Well. You can find plenty more resources and information at ausport.gov.au/playwell. 

Katie Walker is a former Queensland Firebird and coaches elite and community level athletes. 

This episode was hosted by Libby Trickett and Georgie Trickett, produced by Luci McAfee and Liam Riordan, with sound design by Melissa May. The Executive Producer is Kellie Riordan and Sarah Dabro. Ann Chesterman is the Production Manager.  

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which this podcast was made. We pay our respects to Elders past and present. We also recognise the outstanding contribution that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples make to sport and celebrate the power of sport to tell stories and promote reconciliation. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a world dominated by hustle culture, optimisation and internet noise, author Brad Stulberg is sure of one thing – that we're going to crave things that make us feel alive. Like sport.  

Odds are, you’re already feeling it....  

Brad Stulberg is a performance coach and bestselling author. His books on excellence have become essential reading for world-record holders and championship coaches alike. But Brad isn’t here to sell you “hustle culture”.  

His messages are simple, fundamental, and available to all of us. 

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Brad Stulberg is a best-selling author, speaker, and performance coach and his new book is called The Way of Excellence. 

Sportish is powered by the Australian Sports Commission and produced by Deadset Studios.   

We’re spotlighting Australia’s sport participation strategy Play Well. You can find plenty more resources and information at ausport.gov.au/playwell. 

This episode was hosted by Libby Trickett and Georgie Trickett, produced by Luci McAfee and Liam Riordan, with sound design by Melissa May. The Executive Producer is Kellie Riordan and Sarah Dabro. Ann Chesterman is the Production Manager.  

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which this podcast was made. We pay our respects to Elders past and present. We also recognise the outstanding contribution that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples make to sport and celebrate the power of sport to tell stories and promote reconciliation. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Maggie Dent is the person you want on speed dial when your household hits chaos o'clock. Turns out her secret weapon isn't a parenting hack, it's sport. 

Universally known and loved for the warm, practical advice she shares with Australian parents, Maggie also has a sporty side. A basketball fanatic from way back, she appreciated early on that sport was as much about connection as it was about the scores, and used it actively to manage a household of 4 boys and classrooms full of kids.  

As families struggle with an increasingly digital world (it's not just us, right?), Maggie believes it's never been more important for us to use sport to connect with communities in real life and find some "peak moments of joy". And she absolutely has some thoughts on what parents can do RIGHT NOW to get big and little kids off devices and outdoors playing.   

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Sportish is powered by the Australian Sports Commission and produced by Deadset Studios.   

We’re spotlighting Australia’s sport participation strategy Play Well. You can find plenty more resources and information at ausport.gov.au/playwell. 

Maggie Dent is one of Australia’s favourite parenting authors, educators and podcasters, and her new book with Kirra Pendergast is called Digital Freedom. 

This episode was hosted by Libby Trickett and Georgie Trickett, produced by Luci McAfee and Liam Riordan, with sound design by Melissa May. The Executive Producer is Kellie Riordan and Sarah Dabro. Ann Chesterman is the Production Manager.  

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which this podcast was made. We pay our respects to Elders past and present. We also recognise the outstanding contribution that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples make to sport and celebrate the power of sport to tell stories and promote reconciliation. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You know Adam Hills as the legendary host of Spicks and Specks and The Last Leg, but his off-screen sporting life is an absolute ride.  

A lightbulb moment at the Beijing 2008 Paralympics, mixed with inherited tennis genes and a diehard devotion to the Rabbitohs, sent Adam’s athletic career in an unexpected direction. 

Imagine regularly enduring a four-hour return commute for a 90-minute session of local footy...and literally RSVPing "no" to King Charles’ 70th birthday party because it clashed with your weekly training. 

From breaking down barriers on global TV, to conquering the world in para-standing tennis, Adam treats sport exactly as it should be treated -  as a place where you belong. 

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Adam Hills is the host of The Last Leg, comedian, author and disability sports advocate. 

Sportish is powered by the Australian Sports Commission and produced by Deadset Studios.   

We’re spotlighting Australia’s sport participation strategy Play Well. You can find plenty more resources and information at ausport.gov.au/playwell. 

This episode was hosted by Libby Trickett and Georgie Trickett, produced by Luci McAfee and Liam Riordan, with sound design by Melissa May. The Executive Producer is Kellie Riordan and Sarah Dabro. Ann Chesterman is the Production Manager.  

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which this podcast was made. We pay our respects to Elders past and present. We also recognise the outstanding contribution that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples make to sport and celebrate the power of sport to tell stories and promote reconciliation. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Want to get some behind the scenes on who we've spoken to, and why, and how two guests set off every heart monitoring watch the Libby wears? 

Come join us for a sneak preview of what (and WHO!) to excpect in this series...

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This season of Sportish is powered by the Australian Sports Commission and produced by Deadset Studios.  

We’re spotlighting Australia’s sport participation strategy Play Well. You can find more resources at ausport.gov.au.  

This episode was hosted by Libby Trickett and Georgie Trickett, produced by Luci McAfee with sound design by Melissa May. The Executive Producers are Kellie Riordan and Sarah Dabro. Ann Chesterman is the Production Manager. 

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which this podcast was made. We pay our respects to Elders past and present.  

We also recognise the outstanding contribution that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples make to sport and celebrate the power of sport to tell stories and promote reconciliation. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.