Laura Massaro is one of England’s greatest ever squash players — a World Champion, 2x British Open winner, World No.1 and a competitor defined by relentless standards and mental toughness.

In this episode of the Squash Player Podcast, Laura reflects on the unseen side of elite success: the pressure of expectation, the emotional cost of chasing perfection, developing her persona, competing against two of the greatest ever (Nicol David and Nour El Sherbini) and how her relationship with squash has evolved since retiring from the professional tour.

We talk about the difference between winning and fulfilment, how injuries and burnout reshaped her mindset and why walking away from the tour wasn’t the end of her connection to the sport — but the start of a healthier one.

Laura also opens up about identity after sport, learning to let go of control, and what she wishes she had understood earlier in her career.

Hania El Hammamy is the new Women’s World No.1 — but reaching the top wasn’t the fairytale moment many imagine.

In the latest episode of the Squash Player Podcast, Hania opens up about pressure, psychology, rivalry, maturity and identity, explaining why becoming World No.1 mid-season was emotionally unsettling rather than euphoric.

She reflects on her fierce rivalry with Nouran Gohar, the hunger that rivalry created, and why part of her felt lost when Gohar stepped away from the tour. Hania explains how desperation once drove her — and how letting go of that desperation ultimately unlocked her best squash.

We go beyond results and rankings. Hania speaks candidly about:

• Learning to manage expectation and external “noise”

• The psychological toll of World Championship defeats

• Why mental health and sports psychology transformed her game

• Working with Laura Massaro and Danny Massaro for emotional balance

• Identity beyond squash and stepping back from the sport

• Why rivalry is essential for greatness

If you want to understand what elite performance really costs, and what it takes to evolve from prodigy to champion, this is one of the most honest interviews you’ll hear.

Peter Marshall was once the future of English squash — World No.2 at just 23 years old, the only man pushing Jansher Khan during his era of dominance and the most recognisable player on tour with his double-handed technique. Then, almost overnight, his career collapsed.In this deeply personal and revealing conversation, Peter shares the full untold story: rising through the junior ranks under Jonah Barrington, battling chronic fatigue syndrome at the peak of his career, refusing a £250,000 insurance payout that would have ended his playing days forever and mounting two incredible comebacks against all odds.We discuss identity, ambition, illness, psychology, overtraining and what it truly takes to return when the world has moved on. Peter reflects on playing Jansher and Jahangir, the brutal training methods of the 90s, the rise of Egyptian squash and how he eventually rediscovered his love for the game.------The Squash Player Podcast brings you long-form, in-depth conversations with the biggest names in the sport — exploring mindset, performance, adversity, culture, training and the stories behind the world’s best players.Previous guests include Ali Farag, Gina Kennedy, Mohamed ElShorbagy, Joey Barrington, Joel Makin, George Parker and more.

He’s been called a troublemaker, a talent, and a ticking time bomb. George Parker joins the Squash Player Podcast to set the record straight — on the bans, the battles, and the peace he’s finally finding.

What happens when the success comes too quickly—and then stops?

From Commonwealth glory to the brutal realities of life with ulcerative colitis, Gina Kennedy opens up about her meteoric rise, unexpected setbacks, and her quest to rediscover joy in the game.

This is a story about elite sport, pressure, and the strength to start over.

“You have to kill your emotions. If you want to win, you can’t let them get in the way.”

Mohamed ElShorbagy has never been like the rest. One of the most driven players squash has ever seen, he’s battled through two decades of reinvention, sacrifice, and scrutiny — a player defined by relentless ambition, emotional control, and a burning desire to win.

In this episode of the Squash Player Podcast, ElShorbagy opens up about the sacrifices that shaped him, the selfishness required to become a champion, and the mindset needed to stay there.

From leaving Egypt as a teenager to becoming an adopted Briton, mentoring the next generation, and still believing in his ability to win major titles at 35 — this is one of the game’s greats in full voice.

Listen now to uncover the psychology of a serial winner and dive deep into legacy, leadership and the lonely road of a champion.

Joey Barrington grew up in the shadow of a legend — his father, Jonah Barrington. In this episode of the Squash Player Podcast, Joey opens up about carving his own path, the struggles that almost derailed him, and how he became the voice that defines the modern game.

From rejecting junior squash to rebuilding his life at university, to shaping the identity of Squash TV, Joey’s story is one of reinvention, resilience, and passion for the sport.

Watch the full conversation now.

In this episode of the Squash Player Podcast, Welsh No.1 Joel Makin sits down for an uncompromising deep dive into the mindset, sacrifices and raw intensity that have defined his career.From building his game around supreme fitness to challenging the norms of coaching and media in squash, Makin opens up like never before. He discusses the moment he knew he had to change everything, the realities of being the player others are gunning for, and why developing a clear identity on court has been central to his rise.

In this emotionally honest episode of the Squash Player Podcast, 2024 World Champion Nouran Gohar opens up about burnout, vulnerability and rediscovering love for the game.

We talk about the year she nearly walked away from squash, what it took to rebuild and how marriage, friendship, and a little perspective brought her back stronger.

In this raw and revealing conversation, Nouran opens up about:

• The mental burnout that almost made her quit

• Why she asked for help for the first time in her life

• Navigating marriage with another elite athlete

• Moving to the US—and finding happiness again

• Rediscovering joy in squash

Welcome to the very first episode of the Squash Player Podcast. Our first guest is four-time World Champion Ali Farag—a player who has not only shaped the modern game, but defined what it means to win with humility, faith, and integrity.

This is a different kind of conversation. It’s not about squash tactics. It’s about what happens when you chase greatness, catch it… and realise it isn’t enough. Ali Farag opens up about identity, faith, family, and what really matters — on court and off.

In this conversation, Ali opens up about:

• The pressure of legacy and chasing history
• Balancing faith and performance during Ramadan
• Why Harvard changed his life forever
• How family, faith, and self-doubt shaped his journey
• And how fatherhood reshaped his squash

This is an intimate, revealing conversation with one of the sport’s most admired champions.