The Game Changers

Fantastic news for all fans of women’s sport and equality - The Game Changers podcast returns this month 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 trailblazers in women 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 February 15 2022 with a line-up that includes:

• Holly Bradshaw – Olympic Medallist
  Britain's most successful pole vaulter talks body confidence and sports clothing, along with what it takes to be an authentic sports influencer for young women
• Shruti Saujani – City Programme Manager, ECB
  We hear Shruti’s first-hand experience of bringing more South Asian women into cricket and how we can diversify sport for women of all backgrounds
• Ugo Monye – Former Rugby Professional & Sports Broadcaster
  A Trustee of the Women’s Sport Trust, Ugo shares what it means to be an authentic male ally for women’s sport and how we can encourage other men to lend their voice to drive equality for all
• Kelly Lindsey – Performance Director, Lewes FC
  This former professional US player and Afghanistan Women’s National coach talks passionately about human rights abuses and the powerful potential for gender equality in football  
• Sue Day – Chief Financial & Operations Officer, RFU
  The former rugby player and England captain explores current challenges and opportunities facing women’s sport and what hosting a home Rugby World Cup could mean for future of the women’s game
• Anne Wafula Strike – Former Paralympian & Equal Rights Campaigner
  Having overcome so much in her life, Anne shares how we can all use our voices to campaign for the rights of others in society
• Angela Ruggiero – CEO, Sports Innovation Lab
  This 4-time ice hockey Olympian and Gold Medallist, who held leadership positions at the highest levels of global sport, explores what the future holds for fans of women's sportSerena Guthrie – England Netball Captain
  Renowned as one the world’s greatest ever netballers, Serena explores the commercial potential and future strategy for the Britain’s most popular female sport

The Game Changers is hosted by Sue Anstiss MBE, co-founder of the Women’s Sport Collective and CEO of Fearless Women, a company driving positive change in women’s sport. Game changing guests from the previous series including Gabby Logan, Katherine Grainger, Lucy Bronze, Judy Murray, Sarah Storey, Denise Lewis, Clare Balding, Kate Richardson-Walsh, Tanni Grey-Thompson, Chrissie Wellington and Jess Ennis-Hill.

Commenting on the launch of the ninth series, Sue says: “I am so thrilled to be partnering with Sport England as there’s such synergy with the work they do to tackle the inequalities women face across all areas of sport. From the much celebrated This Girl Can campaign and initiatives that help shape school sport for girls, to schemes that encourage women as volunteers in the workforce, along with coaches, officials and women taking leadership positions on the boards of our sports organisations.”

“Sport England’s backing and collaboration enables us to broaden the reach of the podcasts, ensuring more people, from all backgrounds, have the opportunity to hear these inspiring stories.”

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 special episode of The Game Changers, to celebrate the launch of ‘Game On’, we turn the tables and Sue Anstiss is interviewed by the rather brilliant Hannah Wilkes from Sky Sports.
In another first, the podcast is recorded in front of a live audience at  Leaders Week in London.

Sue shares much about her own relationship with sport, along with the joys & challenges across her career from sports marketing with Gatorade in the 90’s, dealing with redundancy, building a sports PR agency & then launching Fearless Women. 

Sue talks about the history & impact of the Women’s Sport Trust, what’s happening in women’s sport right now and what needs to change in the future. 

From inequality in pay and board diversity through to investment, visibility and fan engagement, it’s a conversation that addresses so much that’s happening in women’s sport today.

Sue was also shortlisted this week as a Changemaker in The Sunday Times Sportswomen of The Year Awards and is author of Game On: The Unstoppable Rise of Women's Sport. In 2020 she Co-founded the Women's Sport Collective a community network for women working in sport its free to join.

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

Best known for her excellence both on the track and in the field as a multi-eventer Katarina Johnson-Thompson (KJT) is no stranger to success. At the tender age of 26, the two-time Olympian has impressive athletics career which includes her saw her crowned World Champion Heptathlete in Doha in 2019. 

In this episode, Katarina talks about tackling anxiety and body issues, transforming her mental approach to the sport, learning to handle the pressure after losing the love of the sport and how she handled the internal conflict when her childhood role model, Jessica Ennis-Hill, became her biggest rival.

Katarina also discusses the complicated preparations for the postponed Tokyo Olympics and being an ambassador of the Game On initiative, launched with Liverpool Football Club and Nike to help youngsters access sport in their local area. 

Thank you to Barclays for sponsoring this series of the podcast.

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

Laura Woods is the 2021 SJA Sports Presenter of the Year and one of the leading female broadcasters in the sports industry. Laura is a regular on Sky Sports and the host of talkSPORT’s Sports Breakfast, one of the most listened to shows in the UK. In this episode, Laura talks about being the class clown at school, working her way up the career ladder, being your own cheerleader and always staying authentic to yourself. 

Laura also discusses the importance of male allies when it comes to levelling the gender playing field, loving the sheer unpredictability of sport, how important it is to give yourself a break now and then and the amazing female role models she has looked up to throughout her career – most importantly, her mum who tunes into talkSPORT every morning at 6am.

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

Dr Pippa Grange is a highly sought-after, influential sports psychologist and a culture coach working across elite sports and business internationally. 

In this episode, Pippa talks about family turmoil growing up, her formative years travelling and working in Australia, her first reaction to the job offer with England Football and the media spotlight she faced in the aftermath of the 2017 World Cup.

Within football, Pippa has worked to change the culture of a sport historically steeped in bravado and hyper-masculinity. She has recently written an incredible book, "Fear Less: How to Win at Life without Losing Yourself" to address fear, understanding the role it plays in your life and how to combat it.

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

Carol Bates has always been a football fan but grew up in the 70’s when girls weren’t allowed to play football. At age 48, Carol set up the Crawley Old Girls to revive football for the ‘missed generation’ of women. 

What started with ten friends, Women’s Recreational Football (as its now known) now has over 100 women, aged from 25 into late 60s playing regularly.

In this episode, Carol talks about creating a safe place for women which promotes the benefits that exercise can have on both physical and mental wellbeing, what it felt like growing up as a girl of the ‘missed generation’ who were never allowed the opportunity to play and the pure joy she has found rediscovering the game later in life.

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

Francesca Brown is founder of the award winning Goals4Girls development programme and a Prince’s Trust Ambassador. She received the 2016 Young Achievers Pride of Britain Award for her success in empowering young women through sports and education. 

In this episode, she discusses the vital role sport played in her formative years, her battle with mental health, heading to London on her 18th birthday with just £10 in her pocket and what inspired her to develop a programme that utilised sport to have a long lasting positive impact.

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

Fleur Robinson is an accomplished commercial leader with a huge passion for putting football at the heart of the community and making a positive difference to people’s lives. 

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

With 71 international caps under her belt, spanning 14 years, Anita Asante is a formidable England defender currently playing top club football for Aston Villa. 

In this episode, she shares her hopes for the inclusivity of the game, playing over seas, using her platform to 'voice up' for the LGBTQ plus community and putting the onus back on the Governing Bodies to govern the politics and policies of the game.

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 Cates is an award-winning broadcaster who has successfully fronted sports reporting for two decades. 

As the eldest child of former Liverpool player and manager, Sir Kenny Dalglish, Kelly shares how she has had fight for acceptance within the industry, the journey of Sky Sports News from infancy to roaring success, her feelings upon hearing the Hillsborough verdict and and the stigma she has faced as a women at the forefront of football.

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