The Game Changers

It’s little wonder that broadcaster Laura Woods is so admired by men and women alike - her warmth, humour and humility are all on full display in this delightful interview for The Game Changers podcast. 

We’re re-releasing it today to ensure that Laura’s wise words and authenticity reach an even bigger audience. 

Twice voted the SJA Sports Presenter of the Year, Laura openly shares her journey to the high profile roles she holds today as host of talkSPORT’S flagship Sports Breakfast Show and presenter for ITV Football, DAZN Boxing and NFL UK.

Thank you to Sport England who support The Game Changers Podcast through a National Lottery grant.

Thank you to Sport England who support The Game Changers Podcast with a National Lottery award.

Find out more about The Game Changers podcast here: https://www.fearlesswomen.co.uk/thegamechangers

Hosted by Sue Anstiss
Produced by Sam Walker, What Goes On Media

A Fearless Women production

’Spare us the unaesthetic spectacle of women trying to look and act like men’ - IOC member, 1950

For too long sportswomen have faced the almost impossible task of competing as athletes whilst also maintaining what society deems as typically ‘feminine’ appearance in order to appeal to broadcasters, promoters and sponsors.

And so we see women still playing elite sport in dresses, hiding their muscular bodies and being asked about their outfits rather than their performances in post match interviews, while sports brands chose models over athletes to promote their products and sports federations put women and girls in skimpy outfits in order to increase their sex appeal. 

This 'female athlete paradox’ also prevents thousands of young women from enjoying sport, concerned their femininity will be questioned if they participate in ‘mannish’ sports.

This chapter explores all those issues and highlights how things are finally changing for sportswomen.

Thank you to Sport England who support The Game Changers Podcast through a National Lottery award.

Thank you to Sport England who support The Game Changers Podcast with a National Lottery award.

Find out more about The Game Changers podcast here: https://www.fearlesswomen.co.uk/thegamechangers

Hosted by Sue Anstiss
Produced by Sam Walker, What Goes On Media

A Fearless Women production

Whilst I’m not sure any one chapter of ‘Game On’ is more important than the rest, if I had to pick one for all men to listen to it might be chapter 13 - ‘In The Red Corner’. 

It’s ironic that historically it was men talking about ‘women’s bodies’ that led to the banning of them from sport, but now we have men in sport who don’t want to talk about women’s bodies, and that too has a negative impact.

This chapter explores the lack of sports science devoted to women’s bodies and how that then impacts everyone from elite sportswomen to girls getting started in sport. 

Why do we see so many female ACL injuries and how does the impact of concussion vary by gender? 

Hear about what’s changing now that we’re finally having open conversations, who’s leading the way and what still needs to change.

Thanks to Sport England who support the Game Changers Podcast through the National Lottery.

Thank you to Sport England who support The Game Changers Podcast with a National Lottery award.

Find out more about The Game Changers podcast here: https://www.fearlesswomen.co.uk/thegamechangers

Hosted by Sue Anstiss
Produced by Sam Walker, What Goes On Media

A Fearless Women production

In celebration of the fact that Denise Lewis received a Damehood in the New Years Honours, we’re delighted to re-release her interview on The Game Changers podcast this week. 

Olympic gold medallist in the heptathlon and much loved by the British public, Denise is now President of Commonwealth Games England. 

Along with her busy life supporting charities whilst raising her family, Denise regularly graces our TV screens, whether that’s commentating on BBC sports coverage or appearing on shows such as Strictly Come Dancing and Comic Relief. 

Denise is an incredibly warm person who openly shares so much about her life. 

It was a privilege to talk to her, exploring the challenges she faced in her extraordinary sporting career, what it felt like that night in Sydney when she finally won Olympic Gold and hearing her thoughts on some of the most pressing issues for equality in sport today.

Thank you to Sport England who support The Game Changers Podcast with a National Lottery award.

Find out more about The Game Changers podcast here: https://www.fearlesswomen.co.uk/thegamechangers

Hosted by Sue Anstiss
Produced by Sam Walker, What Goes On Media

A Fearless Women production

Why are just 10% of coaches at Olympics and Paralympics female? What stops women reaching the highest levels of elite sport as coaches? 

It turns out it’s not the experience and skill of the women, but a system that disadvantages them at every stage. 

From the perceptions of what make a ‘good coach’ through to way coaching courses are delivered, there’s so much that can be improved. 

And then there are the male professional players (with no coaching experience) parachuted into the highest profile coaching roles in women’s sport in place of female coaches with decades of experience. And this is not just happening in the WNBA, but closer to home when you consider Phil Neville’s appointment as England Manager for the Lionesses.

These issues and what needs to change are explored in Chapter 12 of ‘Game On – The Unstoppable Rise of Women’s Sport’.

Thank you to Sport England who support The Game Changers Podcast with a National Lottery award.

Find out more about The Game Changers podcast here: https://www.fearlesswomen.co.uk/thegamechangers

Hosted by Sue Anstiss
Produced by Sam Walker, What Goes On Media

A Fearless Women production

Think of the phrase male ally as a verb rather than a noun. How can you help drive gender equality in sport? 

Game On charts the unstoppable rise of women’s sport, with many trailblazing, game-changing women leading the charge, but ultimately having men onside will be essential if true equality in sport is ever to be achieved.

This week’s audio chapter of the book ‘Game On’ explores the topic of male allies, celebrating the men that are already on board and providing practical guidance for those that want to do more. 

Along with the high profile male allies like Andy Murray, David Coulthard, Ugo Monye and Justin Rose, I also applaud those doing so much in running sports organisations, investing in sponsorship and generating more media coverage.

Thank you to Sport England who support The Game Changers Podcast with a National Lottery award.

Find out more about The Game Changers podcast here: https://www.fearlesswomen.co.uk/thegamechangers

Hosted by Sue Anstiss
Produced by Sam Walker, What Goes On Media

A Fearless Women production

Ian Wright has long been a male ally for women’s sport, but it was his outspoken remarks about equality in girls’ football, made on the BBC during last summer’s women’s Euros, that may have had the biggest impact. 

To coincide with this week’s Game On audio chapter, which explores the role of male allies in sport, we’ve re-released a one of the most downloaded episodes of The Game Changers with Ian Wright.

Ian is incredibly candid about his own attitude to women’s football, how embarrassed he feels about the social media abuse female pundits face and what the future holds for the WSL and the national team.

Thank you to Sport England who support The Game Changers Podcast with a National Lottery award.

Find out more about The Game Changers podcast here: https://www.fearlesswomen.co.uk/thegamechangers

Hosted by Sue Anstiss
Produced by Sam Walker, What Goes On Media

A Fearless Women production

Following an incredible year for women’s football and the Lionesses, this week we’re re-releasing an episode with Baroness Sue Campbell – Director of Women’s Football at the FA. 

Having led the National Coaching Foundation, established the Youth Sport Trust and Chaired UK Sport, Sue’s role at the FA has been transformational.

It’s a fascinating and insightful conversation with one of the most respected people in British sport.

Find out more about The Game Changers here.

Thank you to Sport England who support The Game Changers Podcast with a National Lottery award.

Find out more about The Game Changers podcast here: https://www.fearlesswomen.co.uk/thegamechangers

Hosted by Sue Anstiss
Produced by Sam Walker, What Goes On Media

A Fearless Women production

‘The leadership and management of football, one of the most diverse games on the planet, is still controlled, fundamentally, by white men’. Dame Heather Rabbatts, 2020

 It’s generally accepted that organisations led by diverse boards are more successful, have better governance and make better decisions. Yet for many sports not much has changed from the 1800s when organised sport was first developed – organised for men, by men.

This chapter explores what’s happening in the running of global sport. After years of governance scandals at major sports organisations including FIFA, the FA, the IOC, the IAAF and the ICC are we finally seeing improved gender balance at the very top, or is the shift taking too long?

Thank you to Sport England who support The Game Changers podcast through a National Lottery grant.

Thank you to Sport England who support The Game Changers Podcast with a National Lottery award.

Find out more about The Game Changers podcast here: https://www.fearlesswomen.co.uk/thegamechangers

Hosted by Sue Anstiss
Produced by Sam Walker, What Goes On Media

A Fearless Women production

This week we’re re-releasing an interview with an extraordinary sporting trailblazer - Maggie Murphy. 

Maggie is now CEO at Lewes FC, the only professional club in the world to equally invest in its men’s and women’s teams. 

Maggie sheds light on the huge disparity in pay in women’s sport - especially for the FA Cup. 

This month Lewes FC women made history in qualifying for the FA Cup quarter final. If they win their game at home against Man Utd on March 19 they will win 25k. 

If the men’s team won in the same round they would win. . .  450k. (Plus another 200k broadcast fee as the host venue). 

It’s a shocking example of the lack of investment in women’s sport. 

Lewes is 100% fan owned. Find out how you could become an owner and help drive change in sport here:  https://www.lewesfc.com/owners  

Thank you to Sport England who support The Game Changers Podcast with a National Lottery award.

Find out more about The Game Changers podcast here: https://www.fearlesswomen.co.uk/thegamechangers

Hosted by Sue Anstiss
Produced by Sam Walker, What Goes On Media

A Fearless Women production