Today is the first of two special episodes of the podcast, as we round out 2024 with a double helping of some of the most memorable guests who have joined us over the past twelve months.

On this episode, we're talking to England football legends, double Olympians, history-makers in the beautiful game, and a return visit from an ice hockey star who is one of our absolute favourites. 

It's a wander down memory lane with some extraordinary athletes, talking about everything from the Paris Olympics to representing your country on the international stage; being an LGBTQ+ role model, coming out and loads, loads more.

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We’ve done something a bit different on the podcast today by throwing open the doors and making it an open forum to you, wherever you’re listening in the world!

Any group or individual, anywhere across the planet – so long as they were LGBTQ+ or an ally in sport, they’d be the guests today!

We were overwhelmed with the response – and trust us, we’ll be getting round to everyone who got in touch as we roll into 2025.

But fastest finger first was Luke Caddel - a member of the brilliant Queer Surf Club group, and the co-founder of the Shake Out Run Club.

And honestly, it wasn’t the fact that he happens to be Cornish that influenced us in getting him on at all!

The lovely thing about this chat is it was a complete unknown for us, and a chance to sit down with someone and just have a natter about the difference that sport has made to them, along with the difference that they themselves are making in sport.

We chat about visibility and Cornwall; marathon running and testing your limits; the values of inclusivity; surfing and starting clubs and finding your tribe – and whether it’s every really appropriate to train on Christmas Day!

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MITCHELL STARR FUNDRAISER:

In terms of sporting triumphs, it doesn’t get much better than becoming world champions – and that’s exactly what Stonewall FC did in Argentina last month as they became the ten-time IGLFA World Champions with a victory over West Hollywood.

They didn’t do it the easy way either, losing two centre-backs to injury and coming from behind to secure El Decimo – but champions find a way to win, and that’s exactly what Stonewall FC managed to do.

Manager Eric Najib, and players Fernando Martins and Shane McCullough, played a key role in Stonewall's triumph - and they're all with us on the podcast today to talk about how it happened.

Plus, in the midst of Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces campaign in the UK, we talk about the importance of inclusivity in the beautiful game; what draws straight allies to a club like Stonewall; making football a place where everyone can feel welcome and loads, loads more.

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Verity Smith has loved rugby for a long, long time.

Whether it was union with Rotherham Phoenix or league with Dewsbury Moor, he is obsessed with the game – including playing at the moment with the Leeds Rhinos wheelchair side.

Verity is also a massive advocate for LGBTQ+ inclusion in sport, particularly given his own journey as a trans man – and it’s great to have Verity back on the show today for the first time in a very, very long time.

We chat about all sorts of things – from that love of sport to his advocacy work, to switching off and getting engaged… it’s all in this conversation with someone we think is great.

Plus chat about a new way to get LGBTQ+ sports clubs linked up with folks who want to play, and the most casual name drop for a photo-shoot you’re ever going to hear!

PS. We know we said ‘Grand Slam’ instead of ‘Grand Final’. In our defence – which isn’t really one, we were very tired … but we apologise to Verity!

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HELP TO SUPPORT PRIDE IDENTITY:

Today is a special episode that is really special to me, as we’re talking about grassroots football at the time that Stonewall is running its Rainbow Laces campaign – and doing so with the help of my club Stargazy FC.

Yes, today, we’re spotlighting some of the characters and people who are not only making grassroots football inclusive and accessible in one of the most rural parts of the UK – but they also happen to be my team-mates as well.

These are the folks who I train with, step out onto the pitch with, share changing rooms with – and who have, each in their own way, reinforced my love of the beautiful game, and chat a bit about Rainbow Laces as well.

I love these folks who you’re going to hear from today – so we really hope you love this episode as well!

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Adam Bolt has made 2024 his year.

The Doncaster native currently has five belts around his chiselled waist – including the UK’s two Pride wrestling belts – and continues to go from strength-to-strength.

As one of the standouts on this year’s Big Gay Brunch, he’s got big plans for 2025 – and we’ll be honest, Adam’s become a good friend over the past few years.

So, he’s back on the podcast today – talking about what spurred him to make 2024 the best year of his wrestling career so far; whether there were every any alternatives to being a wrestler; representing in the ring as a queer competitor; being recognised by his peers; his goals for the future and loads more.

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It’s been nearly two years since Campbell Johnstone shared the story of his sexuality with the world and – in the process – made a little bit of history.

As a New Zealand rugby star who’d been capped by the national team, Campbell’s decision to speak publicly about the fact he’s gay made him the first out All Black – and when we spoke with him at the time of his decision, life was a bit of a whirlwind for him.

So it’s great to get Campbell back on for a catch-up – and a look at how life has been since then.

We talk about Campbell’s own journey with his sexual orientation; his relationship with the idea of ‘masculinity’; opening up publicly about his sexuality and that decision; the impact his story had; the state of the current All Blacks squad; and yes, planning a wedding!

It’s always cracking to have a chat with Campbell, and it was brilliant to catch up with one of the nicest men in sport – so we hope you love this episode!

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As the man behind GAYNS and a serial fitness entrepreneur, it’s fair to say that Connor Minney is a person who lives and breathes the industry.

But Connor’s own journey in fitness – one that had its origins in the unique world of the performing arts – has been quite a ride itself, which is why we’re so delighted to get him on the podcast for a chat today.

And honestly, this is a conversation that’s full of a bit of everything – the reality of life in the fitness industry, the joys and challenges of being an entrepreneur, helping others to achieve their goals and exceeding your own expectations – yes, this chat has it all.

We also touch on the challenge still facing LGBTQ+ athletes and coaches when it comes to things like sponsorship and endorsements; providing a pathway into fitness for the queer community and loads, loads more.

Connor is a great guest and someone who we think you’ll love listening to, and this is a cracker of an episode – and we’re really grateful he’s taken the time to join us for it today.

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There’s no doubt that Joseph Parsons is a sports super-fan.

He’s someone we love speaking to on this podcast – about Bristol City, about his previous special about being an LGBTQ+ sports fan, his thoughts on the Euros… he’s just a great guy who is making waves on the UK comedy scene.

So when he dropped us a message asking if he could talk about his first-ever tour, we were only ever going to say ‘yes’ – and that makes this a strange, hybrid sort of episode that links both sport, fitness and comedy in a fantastic conversation.

We talk about gym culture, inclusive football teams, body image – but also about putting a stand-up routine together, finding humour in the mundane, how putting a stand-up set together has a lot in common with a pre-season tour, and loads, loads more.

We think Joseph is terrific, and we think you will as well – and we’ve really enjoyed putting this one together.

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From WWE Clash at the Castle to AEW All In, it’s been a massive year from the British professional wrestling scene – and particularly for inclusive wrestling in the UK.

Prince Pelé has been at the centre of it, with appearances at TGW’s Pride Show in the summer, and EFFY’s Big Gay Weekend just a month ago in Liverpool.

We never need an excuse to talk about wrestling on this podcast, and it’s awesome to have him with us on the show today.

There’s so much in this podcast that we think you’ll love – from how Pelé discovered wrestling; overcoming anxiety to get into the ring; the emotional promo that led him to find himself as a character; representation in the industry; goals for the future…

It’s all here, in an absolute stonker of an episode that we think you’ll love!

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