The LGBT Sport Podcast

She’s one of the country’s leading wheelchair racers – with dreams of making it to the Paralympics before her career is over.

But Lizzie Williams’ sporting career has been far from straightforward, with difficulties on and off the track that would have caused many other athletes to quit entirely. From fighting to get the funding she needs to continue competing to coming to terms with her own sexuality, it’s been quite a journey for the athlete.

We loved chatting with Lizzie about her story - including introducing us to the phrase 'queer info-sponge' - and hearing about the role model she's become to other LGBTQ+ people in the world of sport.

Plus, we drop some Chicago lyrics - so that's got to be worth a listen!

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST?

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST?

Craig Maxwell-Keys had barely stopped playing due to injury when he took charge of his first game of rugby.

That was at a youth festival – and since then, his career has been on an upward trajectory. He’s refereed Premiership, Challenge Cup and international games – and was the man in the middle when 80-thousand people packed out Twickenham to watch the Army take on the Navy.

Of course, if you’re a rugby fan, you probably know all of this – but what you may not know is that Maxwell-Keys is gay.

He’s never spoken about his sexuality before – but for this year’s Rainbow Laces campaign, sat down with us for his first-ever podcast appearance.

We're really grateful he took the time to join us - and allowed us to share his story. On the agenda - getting into officiating, his career highlights, the importance of being his authentic self in sport ... and a cheeky Nandos with Nigel Owens!

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE SHOW?

We'll put this out there straight away - we love Michael Gunning.

The Jamaican international swimmer is one of the loveliest people we've had on the podcast - and we've got absolutely loads to chat about with him on this second 'Rainbow Laces' episode.

On the show today - how Michael got into swimming; the importance of BAME representation; coming out on reality television; aiming for the Olympics; and how an elite star actually manages to switch off.

Like I say, there's loads going on in this episode - which will make you laugh, cry, think and, hopefully, end up liking Michael as much as we do!

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST?

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST?

It's fair to say that Conor Shaw lives and breathes football.

As the Digital Content Manager at Wycombe Wanderers, he's one of the people responsible for engaging more and more fans with the successes that the League One club is having - and with the club flying high at the moment, it's a pretty good gig to have.

He's also fairly private about his personal life - which is why we're particularly grateful that he took the time to talk so openly and honestly for this episode of the podcast about what it's like to be a gay man in the beautiful game.

On the agenda today - the importance of #RainbowLaces, how football has always been part of his life - and how a person in his job manages to stop themselves from constantly checking their social media!

We loved having Conor on - and we think you'll love him as well.

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST?

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST?

They're often the people who come in for the most abuse in football - mocked when they get decisions wrong and hardly recognised when they get the tough calls right.

In fact, most referees would probably do anything to have a quiet life - so why, two years ago, did Ryan Atkin make the decision to become one of the few people in the men's game to open up about being gay?

He's been speaking frankly and honestly on this brand-new episode of the podcast about why more gay men don't come out in football; about whether he'd referee in places with poor LGBTQ+ rights records; about his new work with Stonewall and the importance of representation ... and who he thinks will win the Premier League.

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH OUR GUEST?

It’s the biggest amateur rugby competition in the world – and in the next couple of years, it could be coming to the UK.

But that’s only part of the story of the Bingham Cup - an event held in the memory of a rugby-loving man who gave his life trying to save other during the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Luke Fenton is the chairman of the Caledonian Thebans – the inclusive team looking to bring the tournament to Scotland in 2022 - and joins us for a brand-new episode of the podcast. It's a cracking listen this week, if we say so ourselves, as Luke talks about why inclusive rugby is so important, the pride he feels in being associated with the Bingham Cup - and how he fits everything in.

Also, he's definitely the first person from Orkney we've ever had on the podcast!

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUESTS?

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE SHOW?

He's one of the strongest men on the island of Ireland - but Chris McNaghten says he's not always had the inner-strength to match his outer muscle.

The reason was simple.

In a part of the UK that has lagged behind the rest of the nation in terms of LGBTQ rights, Chris knew he was gay - and was absolutely terrified about what that could mean.

So why is he so open about his sexuality now - and what does it mean to him to become a role model in his own right?

This is an absolutely fascinating listen - on the life of a strongman; on what it takes to make it to the top of the game; on why Chris is now comfortable with himself - and who introduced him to the 'different' meaning of the word 'bear'!

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH OUR GUEST?

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE SHOW?

Her career spans more than fifteen years - and has taken her to some of the grandest stages in football.

A highly-respected England international, Anita Asante was also an ever-present for the Team GB side at the London Olympics in 2012.

Domestically, Anita has won the FA Cup, the UEFA Cup, the National Premier League, the League Cup, the Swedish Super Cup ... in fact, in a career that's taken her everywhere from the United States to Sweden, there's not a lot that Anita hasn't done.

We've wanted to speak with Anita for ages on the podcast - and we're so glad we've managed to get her on for this episode. On the agenda; the importance of education; finding role models; keeping your Olympic selection quiet ... and who Anita would want to share a podcast with.

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST?

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE SHOW?

As a child, Sammy Walker loved playing football - and was blinking good at it as well.

Scouted by Wycombe Wanderers and part of the academy at Watford FC as a teenager, the game was Sammy's life - but then, there were eight years in the wilderness, where getting back onto the pitch as a player was almost unimaginable to her.

Why?

Well, Sammy is transgender - and didn't think there'd be a place for her in football after she began coming to terms with her identity. But now, she's back playing regularly again - so what drew her back?

This episode is so powerful, as Sammy explains exactly what it's like to be a trans person in football - from the fear of what others will think, to the importance of inclusive sides. And if that sounds a bit heavy, we also talk about FIFA vs Pro Evo -- and why the number 7 is so important to her!

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST?

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST?

It's no exaggeration to say Jess Fishlock is a footballing legend.

She's Wales' most-capped ever player; she's played around the world, winning the Champions League twice; and in 2018, she was made an MBE for her services to football and the LGBTQ+ community.

Jess is rehabbing in the United States at the moment, after suffering an injury to her ACL while playing with her club Reign FC - and it's from her base in Washington that she joins us for this episode of the podcast.

On the agenda - her footballing highlights; LGBTQ+ rights at the moment; whether she'd get into management in the future; and how she switches off!

We loved having her on the podcast (and have wanted to for a long time!) - and we're really grateful she took the time to make it happen.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST?

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE SHOW?