The Game Changers

We hear so much about female athletes as role models - but what impact do they really have?

Does increased profile of elite sportswomen drive grassroots sports participation and do they help change perceptions about gender equality more broadly in society?

And what of the way female athletes are depicted in sports media? Do we see them excelling in their sport like their male counterparts, or do other aspects take precedence - their appearance, relationships and emotions?

In the week's chapter of 'Game On' I explore all these questions, along with the extraordinary growth in female athlete activism. 

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

Stacey has represented her country at an international level in two sports –  football and boxing. Following a successful football career, where she represented England, played in the FA cup final, and played overseas for six years in the US and Sweden; Stacey then went on to pursue her dreams of a career in boxing. 

During her six-year amateur boxing career, Stacey became European silver medallist and three-time national champion. She then turned professional and 2018 became the first British woman to win the Commonwealth title. 

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

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

I’m often asked if I have a ‘favourite’ amongst the 100+ trailblazers in women’s sport I have had the privilege of interviewing on The Game Changers podcast.

Whilst it’s an impossible question to answer – I’ve learnt so much from all of the incredible women I’ve spoken to - there is one fascinating interview that always comes to mind as especially entertaining and moving. 

Rose Reilly shares her extraordinary story -  a young woman banned from Scottish football who went on to win a World Cup with Italy – in such an engaging way. There’s so much we can all learn today from her attitude and approach to life.

I’m therefore excited to re-release Rose’s episode 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

“Everyone thinks women should be thrilled when we get the crumbs and I want women to have the cake, the icing and the cherry on top too.” Billie Jean King, 2016

How will women’s sport ever thrive without equality in funding and investment? 

It’s totally unrealistic to expect women’s team sport to reach the level of men’s when players have never had access to the same funding, prize money, professional contracts or personal endorsement as the men. 

This chapter looks critically as the state of play for women’s professional sport and how things are finally changing.  

It explores the US National Team’s fight for equal pay and how prize money is impacting sports like cricket and football in the UK with The Hundred and the FA Cup.

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

It’s been a massive week for women’s cricket (and wider women’s sport) with the first player auctions in the inaugural Women’s IPL breaking all records. 

It feels very timely then, to re-release this powerful interview with former England Cricketer and World Cup Winner Ebony Rainford-Brent. 

Having been a trailblazing player, and the first black woman to play cricket for England, Ebony has gone on to lead the way as a sports broadcaster and activist for inclusion in cricket.

Thank you to Sport England who support the Game Changers Podcast via 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

“Sponsors and brands are looking at women’s sport with new eyes. They are looking at what they can get from women’s sport from the story and the purpose. Ultimately it’s about what it says as them as a brand.” Lisa Parfitt, The Space Between

Why are we finally seeing a massive increase in women’s sport sponsorship, and what does women’s sport offer brands that men’s doesn’t? 

How do the experts think broadcasting rights, access and private investment could change things in the future for women’s sport?

Thank you for 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 the past 5 years we’ve seen huge changes in the size of crowds coming to watch women’s sport. 

Records are constantly being broken as fans flock to the biggest stadia, and we’re seeing a very different make up in the audience – a more inclusive, friendly fan base.

But what’s driving this change and how can clubs and sports help accelerate this growth? And who are the fans of women’s sport anyway?

This chapter explores what needs to change to maintain this momentum.

Thank you to Sport England who support The Game Changers 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 this episode we revisit the conversation with legendary broadcaster and best-selling author Clare BaldingCBE.

 Clare has hosted numerous major events including the Olympics and Paralympics, Wimbledon, the Boat Race and The Grand National. 

Clare is a huge sporting trailblazer, and, along with sharing her own career path, in this podcast she also explores how we might drive gender equality in sport.

Thank you to Sport England who support The Game Changers Podcast through the National Lotttery.

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 does women’s sport receive so little media coverage? 

When a sports editor says ‘no one is interested in women’s sport’ does he actually men that ‘he’ is not interested in women’s sport? Is that why are our newspapers are full of men writing about men’s sport for men? 

And what of the quality of coverage? What impact do we see when broadcasters finally invest in high quality production?

Finally, what impact could digital content have for women’s sport

Things are slowly improving, but as this chapter illustrates, there’s much to be done if women’s sport coverage is ever to reach the levels of men’s. 

 Thank you to Sport England who support The Game Changers 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