The LGBT Sport Podcast

We’re kicking off 2021 in style on the podcast with two top guests who just happen to be Britain’s strongest couple.

Sam Taylor and Sue-Taylor Franklin made a bit of history in 2020 when they placed first and second respectively at the Brits Women Masters powerlifting contest.

It was an amazing feat – and almost more impressive is the journey they’ve both been on to reach this stage.

Both have very personal reasons for getting into fitness, strongwomen and powerlifting – and you’ll hear all about it in this conversation.

We also talk body-image and being comfortable with how you look; how sport can help you take control of your life; the pain that social media trolling can cause; what it’s like to compete against your partner; and what 2021 has in store for them both.

Honestly, we could have spent all day talking to Sam and Sue – and it’s a gem of a conversation to kick off a new year on the show.

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2020 is almost at an end - and we're bringing the podcast to a close for the year with the second of two special 'Best Bit' podcasts, looking at some of our most memorable moments.

Part 2 takes us from July-December, and includes:

- Paeton McGuire on completing the 'Tour De Trans'.

There's loads in this episode - from embracing your true self to the perfect way for your Nan to react when you come out - and we really think you'll like it.

It's the perfect way to round out 2020, and get ready for a busy 2021 on the podcast - and we can't thank you enough for all the support you've given us in a year like no other!

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We’re heading towards the end of a year like no other – and to see out 2020, we’re spending the next two weeks on the BBC’s LGBT Sport Podcast looking back at some of the most memorable guests we’ve had on this year.

Part 1 takes us from January-June, and includes:

- Top swimming coaches Emma Collings-Barnes and Greg King-Limb.

It was great to have a listen back to some of these best bits, featuring everything from surprise proposals to why rewatching ‘Queer as Folk’ is never a bad thing!

We think you’ll like this trip down memory lane, and don’t forget to check back in with us next week where our final episode of 2020 will have some of our top moments from the second half of the year.

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They often say that the most important changes in life are driven from the ground up, and the three guests we have for the podcast this week are certainly doing their bit to try and make a difference.

Ed Kandel, Gurdas Singh and Katrina Kelly are all part of LGBTQ+ In Sport – a social enterprise looking to tackle discrimination, build diversity and create a sense of community in sport.

And unlike lots of the organisations and groups we have on this podcast, which tend to be well established, this one is fairly new – so it’s a chance to get in at the ground level with three people who are really passionate about what they do.

There’s lots in this chat - Ed and Gurdas’ experiences of being LGBTQ+ in sport, as well as Katrina’s of being an ally; how it all came about, their goals for the future; how they’ve all dealt with the pandemic … and we think you’re really going to like it.

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It’s time for another of our special episodes, looking at the importance of being an ally in sport – and with the Rainbow Laces campaign in full swing, we couldn’t have picked two better guests.

Lewis Ward plays for Exeter City, who are currently fifth in League 2 and preparing for their Rainbow Laces match with Tranmere Rovers on Saturday. Lewis is straight – and joined us alongside Alan Quick from the Proud Grecians for another terrific conversation on the topic of allyship in sport.

It’s so rare that you get to speak in-depth with a professional footballer about their take on some of the things we talk about regularly on the podcast –players coming out, what the Rainbow Laces campaign means to Lewis personally, the importance of education, and how everyone has a part to play in making sport for all.

We also hear from Alan about what it means to see allies like Lewis stepping up to be involved, his friendship with Justin Fashanu, the evolution of things like the Rainbow Laces campaign, and what it’s been like to be a fan in the pandemic.

This is an honest and frank conversation between two great guests, and we really think you’ll enjoy it.

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PHOTO CREDITS: Exeter City Football Club

Golf is one of those sports that manages to get under your skin - where the joy of one perfect shot tempers the frustration of a hundred bad ones that disappear into the trees, never to be seen again.

Two people who know all about it are Caron Morton from the Girls in Golf Society and Peter Heather from the Irons Golf Society – two top inclusive clubs here in the UK.

They’ve both joined us for a terrific episode, looking at all sorts of different things – from how it was to go without golf in lockdown, to the importance of feeling comfortable and welcomed within the sport. We also look at how each group would like to expand their membership, why role-models are important, and what it is that keeps them coming back to the course, week in and week out.

And as if that weren’t enough to tempt you to listen, we also hear about the remarkable number of holes-in-one that one of our guests has had … and there’s also a special appearance by some dogs as well!

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You may not know their names - but between them, Lou Englefield and Piara Powar have spent years fighting to make football a place where everyone is welcome.

Lou is the Campaign Director for Football v Homophobia, Director of Pride Sports, co-chair of Pride House International – in fact, there aren’t many hats she doesn’t wear! – while Piara is the Executive Director of the Fare network, which campaigns against discrimination and to promote social inclusion via football in more than forty countries.

And as a pair, they’re two terrific guests for the latest in our special set of episodes, looking at what it means to be an ally in sport.

We touch on lots of themes in this podcast – the concept of being an ally; the importance of feeling safe asking questions; how allyship can work both ways; and what can cause people to want to step up as an ally.

We couldn’t have hoped for a better pairing to continue this mini-series of episodes looking at allyship, and we’re really grateful that Lou and Piara both took the time to join us for it.

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When we talk about sport, we tend to focus on the players and coaches who grab the headlines each week.

But behind-the-scenes, there are lots of dedicated people who often don't end up in the limelight – and today on the podcast, we’re shining the spotlight on two of them.

Andrea Murray works for the Rugby Football League to promote the sport in schools across the UK, and her wife Gemma Hunter is part of the set-up with England Golf, where she's Head of Handicapping and Course Rating.

They’re married, and are a pair of terrific guests to join us on the podcast with some brilliant stories to tell - from their love of sport to their respective jobs to their own coming out stories. We also talk about adapting to work in the pandemic, times when they’ve had to conceal their sexuality, the RFL’s ‘Tackle It’ campaign and lots, lots more!

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For more than two years, we've been shining a spotlight on the stories of people in sport who just so happen to be LGBTQ+.

But for the next few weeks, we’re going to be changing up our format with some special additional episodes, looking at what it means to be an ally and how everyone can play a role in making sport inclusive for all.

The idea is simple – we’ll take two people from the world of sport, one who is LGBTQ+ and one who is a straight ally, and simply have a chat with them both about their experiences.

We’ll hear how our straight guest offers support to the LGBTQ+ community and, in some cases, challenged their own perceptions along the way, and discuss what sort of difference their role as an ally made to our LGBTQ+ guest as well.

And, as always, the conversations will (hopefully!) offer some fascinating sporting stories too.

And honestly, we couldn’t wish for two better people to kick this special set of episodes off, as there’s loads on the agenda for this chat – how the pair got to know each other; this year’s Rainbow Laces campaign and what it means to each man; what being an ally means to Christophe; how Christophe supported Craig after his appearance on this podcast; refereeing in empty stadiums and, in Craig’s case, taking charge of the Premiership final just a few weeks ago; and how each man has passed the time in lockdown.

We think it’s a fascinating conversation - open, honest and genuine – and we’re really grateful both men took the time to join us for it.

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Jenny Duncalf is one of the biggest names in squash, and someone who spent more than fifteen years at the very top of the sport.

A former World Number 2 with more than 100 England caps, she competed at four separate Commonwealth Games where she picked up three silver medals to add to her multiple European championships.

She’s also an all-round lovely individual, and someone we’ve wanted to have on for a while – and we’re delighted we’ve finally managed to make it happen by linking up with Jenny in Australia.

There’s lots of great stuff in this conversation – how Jenny got her start in the sport; her memories of her first England call-up; some of her favourite moments, including her experiences of multiple Commonwealth Games; finding love on the tour and her coming out story; and what life is like now after retiring from the sport.

We’re really grateful Jenny took the time to chat with us for this episode, and we think you’ll like her as much as we do. It's a cracker!

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