Sustaining Sport

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When it comes to books about sport, Radical Football is perhaps in a category all of its own. One-part biography, one-part documentary and one-part call to action.

It is a pleasure to have the author Steve Fleming on the podcast to discuss the life of Jürgen Griesbeck and the story of Football for Good. We delve into the complicities of managing a relationship with both resource- and controversy-rich FIFA, what led Steve to set up the inspiring Kick4Life in Lesotho, and where Sport for Development can go from here.

The book finishes with a hopeful vision for football's future, one that puts purpose firmly ahead of profit as the main value to be leveraged. It’s a vision that, if successfully materialised, would redistribute more of the value of the beautiful game back to those who play it and provide a powerful vehicle for social development. It’s a vision worth working towards!

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Many pundits have become such long-standing features on certain networks’ sports coverage, that they are in effect the face of the program and are widely marketed to garner interest. But although their famous faces may attract fans that know them to the broadcast, do they give the best possible analysis?

My guest today ruffled a few feathers in late March this year when he penned an article criticising the analytical performance of the pundits on BBC and ITV’s coverage of the Six Nations. In doing so, he raised some important questions about what we might be missing by not giving those key minutes of airtime to people who may not be famous or even former players, but whose profession and core skill set is game analysis.

In this episode, Ben Nurse and I discuss how some seemingly impervious pundits have become complacent, relying on anecdotes of past glory, and failing to stay up to date with the trends and strategies of the modern game. Ben also argues in favour of incorporating more data-savvy analysts, describes how punditry would benefit from being more inclusive, and showcases the miraculous rise of my go-to source of rugby evaluation, Squidge Rugby’s Robbie Owen.

Here is more of Ben's work: thematchreport.co.uk

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In today’s episode, journalist Haley Shapley guides us through the often-misrepresented history of female strength and athleticism. Haley is the author of the book Strong Like Her. Her book presents revelations from cultural history and biographical tales of women who have had to overcome social barriers before having the chance to begin pushing their physical boundaries. These stories have been and continue to be an inspiration to generations of athletes. Haley challenges us to rethink how we can better encourage and celebrate the physical power of women.

We start our conversation with Haley’s own journey to success in strength training, and she then provides astute insight and evidence-based answers to my endless list of questions on this fascinating and vital topic. I hope you enjoy today’s episodes and do not hesitate to reach out if you have any follow-up questions for Haley or myself.

You can find Haley at haleyshapley.com

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Nathan McGovern (22) along with other members of the group Just Stop Oil, took to the field of four Premier League games in late March 2022 and attempted to tie themselves to the goalposts. Many fans assumed these young people were merely streakers so jeered as they were effectively removed by security. However, there is more to these actions than mere silliness.

Just Stop Oil have been engaging in civil disobedience, a form of resistance whereby protestors refuse to obey the commands of an incumbent power but do not resort to any form of violence.

In today’s episode, Nathan tells us why they are so motivated to protest the current unsustainable status quo. He explains why they chose football fields to raise extra awareness about the lack of action from the British government in transitioning the UK away from fossil fuels.

One can absolutely question the effectiveness of such drastic tactics and Just Stop Oil are accepting the legal consequences of their actions. But what is unquestionable is the bravery shown by these people; putting their bodies on the line to make the world a better place in the long term.

In podcast news, we FINALLY have a Patreon! We shall, of course, continue to make these episodes (even if at personal expense) and they will always be free to listen to. But if you do like the content and the kind of guests we have on the show, please consider contributing even the smallest of amounts, either as a one-off or regular payment. It would be hugely appreciated. www.patreon.com/sustainingsport

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Katie Cross believes we as sports fans have a huge role to play and that is why she founded Pledgeball. Pledgeball is a way to activate fans to reduce their emissions. In this episode, we discuss how football is so powerful in changing mindsets and making sustainability fun! We also highlight the importance of community engagement and how doing the small things can help to not get overwhelmed in the daunting face of climate change.

Action to tackle climate change is desperately needed right now and we as individuals have more power than we realise. So why not start the conversation down at your local sports club?

You can get in touch with Katie and Pledgeball at www.pledgeball.org

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Holly Morgan has recently reached the end of her career as a professional footballer. In her 17 years in the game, she struggled against racial abuse and fought hard to keep playing despite the lack of support that woman’s football has received. These experiences have given her meaningful insights into where the problems are and how things can improve.

In this episode, we discuss where the real power for change in football lies, why well-meaning attempts to rectify racism (e.g., quotas) are so ineffective and why the women’s game must fight to be financially independent and sustainable. We also talk about what we the fans can do, by organising and mobilising, to demand more from those who own our clubs and leagues.

Although the challenges ahead are immense, Holly still believes in the game of football and wants to help make it the best version of itself. I hope you enjoy today’s episode!

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This is an exceptionally complex question to try and answer. It is imperative that such a question is given the respect that it deserves. Therefore, I chose to not rush into this discussion but rather seek out the best possible person to share their insights. And I think I found that person.

Lara Rebecca is the host of 'The Keep Smiling Podcast'. She actively shares mental health/eating disorder awareness content and promotes prioritising psychological wellbeing. She is well placed to dive into the topic of sport and eating disorders. On the one hand, she is a qualified personal trainer and is doing a degree in Sports and Exercise Science. On the other hand, she has recovered from a severe eating disorder as a teenager.

In today’s episode, we discuss, among others, the importance of mindset and control, the trouble with BMI, how recovery is about building back your life and not just your weight, and how sport can both be a hindrance or help. We also critique how image-obsessed the fitness community has become and even try to redefine what ‘winning’ means to better achieve a happy and healthy lifestyle.

If any of you are struggling with some of the problems discussed in today’s episode, I strongly recommend you seek help from institutions such as the following who have a proven track record of best understanding and helping so many people with such problems.
www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk
www.nationaleatingdisorders.org
www.butterfly.org.au
www.edsa.co.za

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It might seem unlikely to have a strong bond between autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and sport. Yet, this episode shows that there can be a mutually beneficial relationship between the two. Today I am in conversation with Adam Millichip, sports teacher at Tettenhall Wood School in Wolverhampton in the UK. 

We discuss how important both watching sport and playing sport, where possible, is to a lot of students with ASD. As evidence of this, Adam helped some of his students, including Abtar and Tom (pictured above), set up a podcast where they interview famous sportspeople! While providing wonderful and unique content for avid sports fans and podcast listeners such as myself, Adam explains how this project has helped his students improve their confidence, communication, and social skills.

You can find their podcast at podpage.com/tws-sports-podcast. This is a wonderful project by some special people, and I hope you enjoy the episode.

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An Olympic athlete with a passion for sustainability. It would be difficult to find a better guest for the Sustaining Sport podcast and that’s exactly who I spoke to today.

Rhydian Cowley is a 2-time Olympic race walker who is dedicating a lot of his time to raising the alarm about climate change.

In this episode, we discuss his athletic career followed by his tips and insights into how to live more sustainably while still performing at the highest levels, covering travel, diet, and even maintaining good mental health in the face of climate change.

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This episode examines how gambling and sports betting companies keep us betting, despite the odds being against us. One of their primary weapons is that they have a better scientific understanding of our brains and senses than we do. They barrage our senses with sights, sounds, and smells, all of which almost imperceptibly encourage us to stay. Of course, the longer we stay, the more we bet.

This has been true for decades, from the casino to the racetrack. However, with the advent of modern technology, these tricks have progressed from the slot machines onto our smartphones. The best user experience designers turn our screens into a labyrinth of eye-catching and alluring activities, but still with real money at stake.

Home alone, staring at such well-designed interfaces without distraction, is dangerous. But simply being aware of this goes a long way in avoiding any trickery. So, this episode is very much worth your time!

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