The Game Changers

Shaunagh Brown is a professional rugby player for Harlequins and England who encourages us all to re-think gender stereotypes in sport and across society.

A former Hammer Thrower who competed at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, Shaunagh trained as a British Gas engineer and a commercial diver, before becoming a full-time firefighter with the Kent Fire and Rescue Service.

Now on a 3-year sabbatical from the fire service, Shaunagh is a full time, professional rugby player, currently playing for England in the Women’s Six Nations having won the Grand Slam in 2019, 2020 and 2021 and for Harlequins who won the Premier 15’s Final in 2021.

Shaunagh recently starred in an Amazon Prime documentary  ‘No Woman, No Try’ which explores inequality through the lens of rugby and the women and men championing change across the sporting community.

After winning the Premier 15s final with Harlequins in 2021 she made a passionate  speech that went viral.

A huge thank you to our partners, Sport England who are kindly supporting the next three series of 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

Fantastic news for all fans of women’s sport and equality – the 10th series of The Game Changers podcast is launched today with an incredible line up of guests and backing from Sport England through a National Lottery award.
 
 This award-winning podcast sees Sue Anstiss talking to trailblazing women in sport who are knocking down barriers and challenging the status quo for women and girls across society. Along with openly sharing their historic careers, what drives them and how they’ve dealt with tough challenges, each episode also addresses key issues for equality in sport and beyond.
 
 The new launches on April 12, 2022, with a line-up that includes:

• Shaunagh Brown – this professional rugby player for Harlequins and England encourages us all to re-think gender stereotypes in sport and across society
• Jonathan Licht – the Managing Director of Sky Sports explores what more broadcasters can do to ensure gender parity as he shares his own journey as a male ally for women’s sport
• Pippa Britton – learn about the importance of inclusion across sport with Pippa Britton, a double Paralympian who is now Vice Chair of Sport Wales and UK Anti-Doping
• Tammy Parlour – the co-founder and CEO of The Women’s Sport Trust explores why female athletes make such powerful role models
• Orla Chennaoui – the multi-talented sports broadcaster, podcaster & writer shares the power of being authentic as a woman reporting sport
• Emma Ross – the former Head of Physiology at the English Institute of Sport explains why we need to talk more openly about women’s bodies in sport
• Isa Guha – from World Cup winning England cricketer to acclaimed cricket broadcaster, Isa Guha shares her experience of building a career in a male dominated sport
• Lizzie Deignan – hear how one of the world's most accomplished cyclists is changing the narrative around motherhood and elite sport 

A huge thank you to our partners, Sport England who are kindly supporting the next three series of 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

Today's guest is recognised as one of the world’s greatest ever netballers. Serena Guthrie was part of the England team that secured that incredible gold medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games against Australia on the Gold Coast.  

Serena played in New Zealand and Australia, before returning home to Team Bath in 2019 where she captained the Roses to bronze in a home World Cup. In recognition for all she’s done for netball in 2019 she was awarded an MBE in the New Year Honours list.

Serena been Captain of England Netball and Team Bath, with over 100 caps for her country, she’s played in 3 Netball World Cups and Birmingham 2022 this summer should have been her 3rd Commonwealth Games but things changed this month, when she announced she was having a baby and retiring from netball.

In this fascinating conversation Serena talks openly about the challenges she's faced in her long career and we explore the commercial potential and future strategy for Britain’s most popular female sport.

A huge thank you to our partners, Sport England who are kindly supporting the next three series of 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

What does the future hold for the fans of women's sport? I find out in this conversation with Angela Ruggiero - a four-time Olympian, and Gold Medallist in ice hockey, who was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2015 with the longest career of any man or woman in a USA hockey jersey. 

With an MBA from Harvard Business School, Angela's held leadership positions at the highest levels of global sport including the executive board of the International Olympic Committee and Chief Strategy Officer for LA’s successful 2028 Olympic bid. 

Listed in ‘Forbes 25 most powerful women in sport’, Angela is Co-Founder and CEO of the Sports Innovation Lab, a fan intelligence and market research firm.

She's also an incredible advocate for gender equality.

A huge thank you to our partners, Sport England who are kindly supporting the next three series of 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

Anne Wafula Strike is an extraordinary para-athlete who is also an author, inspirational speaker, disability rights campaigner and powerful advocate for the less fortunate in society.

Born in Kenya, Anne contracted polio at the age of two, resulting in paralysis of her lower body.  Arriving in the UK in April 2000, she was introduced to wheelchair racing in 2002 and in 2004 became the first Kenyan wheelchair racer to represent her country at the Paralympics in Athens. Following a successful application for British citizenship in 2006, Anne became a member of Team GB.

A winner of the BBC's 'My Story' competition, her superb autobiography: ‘In my Dreams I Dance’ was published in 2010. In 2014 Anne was received an MBE for her services to disability sport and charity and in 2020 she was named as a special envoy to the Commonwealth.

In this fascinating episode we hear much of Anne’s incredible life story, and, having overcome so much in her own life, she shares how we can all use our voices to campaign for the rights of others in society. 

A huge thank you to our partners, Sport England who are kindly supporting the next three series of 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

Sue Day was a legend on the rugby pitch – former England captain at 15s and 7s –Sue played in three World Cups, helped win three Grand Slams and was one of England's top try scorers with 61 tries from 59 caps.

She was made President of Wasps in 2013 – the first woman to hold that role in the club’s 146-year history. 

A qualified chartered accountant with over 20 years’ experience in financial roles at KPMG, Sue is now COO and CFO of the RFU and leads the Business Operations team which includes finance, legal and governance, technology, people, strategy and Twickenham Stadium operations.  

Sue’s also a founding trustee of the Women’s Sport Trust and has been an incredible driving force for equality across women’s sport. It was wonderful to see her recognised for this in 2020 when she was awarded an MBE for her services to gender equality in sport. 

In this interview Sue shares her personal journey in rugby and we explore many of the current challenges and opportunities facing women’s sport. Sue also shares what hosting a home Rugby World Cup could mean for future of the women’s game. 

A huge thank you to our partners, Sport England who are kindly supporting the next three series of 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

Kelly Lindsey is a former professional footballer who's also played in the US national team.  Since retiring as a player at just 23 following many injuries, she's thrived as an incredibly successful coach leading teams across the world in the US, Hong Kong, Afghanistan and Morocco. Last year was appointed as Sporting Director at Lewes FC the first gender equal football club in the world. 

Kelly is renowned for her passion and courage in tackling some of the less attractive issues in women's football, whether it's being a voice for the voiceless in support of female players in Afghanistan or calling out those in the highest positions of leadership at national and international federations, Kelly's doing so much to ensure that football can truly be a game for all. 

In this powerful episode we explore many issues including human rights abuses in football and its powerful potential to drive gender equality.  

In the podcast I refer to the launch of Fearless Football and you can watch Kelly’s moving presentation here.  

You can also join me as an owner of Lewes FC via this link: https://lewesfc.com/become-an-owner/  

And find out more about the various organisation supporting those fleeing Afghanistan by following Kelly on twitter here.

A huge thank you to our partners, Sport England who are kindly supporting the next three series of 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

Ugo Monye is former Harlequins, England and British & Irish Lions rugby player, who’s now more familiar to us as a sports broadcaster, podcaster and TV presenter.  

He’s a captain on BBC’s Question of Sport and also took part in last year’s Strictly Come Dancing.  

When not talking about rugby on TV shows and podcasts, Ugo is Chair of the RFU’s Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Group and recently became a Trustee of the Women’s Sport Trust charity.  

A passionate male ally for women’s sport, Ugo confronts whether women’s rugby is truly professional right now, why more investment is needed for quality media coverage and how much more top male players can do to publicly support their female colleagues.  

A huge thank you to our partners, Sport England who are kindly supporting the next three series of 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

Shruti Saujani is Senior Manager for Cities & Volunteers at the England and Wales Cricket Board - the ECB. She's passionate about ensuring cricket is a sport for everyone, and helping women from South Asian backgrounds overcome many of the barriers they face in sport.

Shurti's work has seen her lead a team that has engaged and recruited 2,000 South Asian females into volunteering roles as a part of cricket’s game wide volunteer strategy.

Her dedication for a more equal playing ground in cricket and sports has seen her appear on the BBC, Sky and become a trustee with Miss Kicks Foundation.

Recognised as a 'Sports Industry Next Gen Leader' in 2021, Shruti has grown and developed her leadership skills in diverse commercial roles. Before working in sport, was recognised for bringing culture change in the automotive industry.

In this fascinating conversation Shruti shares her learnings for creating an inclusive sports environment, the path to getting more women from diverse backgrounds onto the elite pathway and how recent revelations about the treatment of Azeem Rafiq impacted her personally and professionally.

A huge thank you to our partners Sport England who are kindly supporting the next three series of 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

Holly Bradshaw is Britain’s most successful pole vaulter, consistently ranked among the world's best having won medals at various European and World Championships across the past decade.  Current British record holder in the event indoors and outdoors, for many athletics fans it was one of the highlights of the Tokyo Olympics to see Holly win a bronze medal.  

In this fascinating episode Holly talks openly about how social media and the attitude of coaches impacted her body confidence as a young athlete. 

We explore the issues around female  sports clothing and how the revealing nature of the choices available today are impacting young female athletes.

Holly also shares more about her research into the 'post Olympic blues' and the depression that can follow that elation of big events for athletes and coaches and we also talk about motherhood and sportswomen.

Holly explains why it matters that she remains a very authentic sports influencer for young women. 

A huge thank you to our partners, Sport England who are kindly supporting the next three series of 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