The LGBT Sport Podcast

We’re heading back to the grassroots on the podcast today, as we talk about everything to do with the beautiful game with three members of the Leicester Wildecats LGBTQ+ football team.

It was chair Steve who tipped us off about the club – and its near-thirty year history! –so it was only right that we got him on to have a chat, alongside manager Mike and current player Walid.

We talk to all three of them about their experiences, both on and off the pitch, in what we think is really valuable and interesting conversation.

Walid discusses what it’s like to grow up un a country where it’s illegal to be gay; Steve talks about how he found the club more than a decade ago, and the challenges of being a chair; Mike talks about management and his role with the GFSN – and they all talk about the impact that inclusive football has had on them.

It’s a frank, funny and important conversation that we think you’ll love – and we’re really grateful to all three men for joining us.

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They’re two of our favourite people, so it’s great to have former international swimmer Michael Gunning and double Paralympic wheelchair basketball star Robyn Love back to the podcast.

They’ve both been on more than once in our long history – but today is our first chance to chat with them about their new roles with the British Elite Athletes Association.

Michael is the organisation’s new Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Ambassador; and Robyn becomes LGBTQ+ Ambassador – and together, they’ve both got a remit to try and make elite sport a place where everyone feels welcome.

We sat down with them both to hear about the work they’re doing; how they got the roles and what they hope to do with them; how inclusivity has helped each of them in their own careers and so much more.

Plus Robyn talks about life as a mum, Michael talks about what Pride Month means to him – and if you’re old enough to remember Bebo, there’s a little Easter Egg in here for you as well!

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It’s a special bonus episode today, as we celebrate a little bit of history that’s happening in the world of cricket this Sunday.

It’s the UK’s first-ever LGBTQ+ cricket tournament, and it’s happening at Sutton Coldfield Cricket Club.

It’s an 11 o’clock start and will feature teams from Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, Middlesex and Northamptonshire – and since it’s Warwickshire who have been instrumental in making this happen, it was only right for us to take a trip to Edgbaston to find out more.

We pulled together a great panel – and by ‘we’, I mean Brigg Ford from Warwickshire who has been a huge help to the podcast over the years for a chat about inclusivity, allyship, coming out, cricket, Harry Potter and so much more.

You’re going to from Warwickshire bowler Liam Norwell; Central Sparks, Birmingham Phoenix and Worcester Rapids player Emily Arlott; and Lachlan Smith from Birmingham Unicorns, who has been instrumental in pulling it altogether.

It’s a cracking episode, and we think you’ll love it!

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An Olympic silver medallist, a multiple time world medallist at events around the globe, an elite freestyle skier, a social media sensation – and with more than a million followers on social media, Gus Kenworthy’s profile is almost unrivalled in the world of sport.

He’s also one of the most high-profile gay sportspeople in the world – and, after his retirement following the Winter Olympics in 2022, is still committed to sharing his story in a way that will help people the most.

We’re delighted to have Gus onto the podcast to talk about his life and his journey – and it’s an absolute cracker of a conversation that you can’t miss.

We talk about how Gus got into skiing; his journey in the sport; his experiences with his own sexuality; his iconic coming out; inspiring others – and so, so much more.

It’s funny, it’s real, it’s genuine – and it’s everything you could hope for with a man like Gus.

And then after that, we’ll hear how I got on at this weekend’s FA Cup Final at Wembley when we lit up the stadium in the Pride colours and caught up with the Rainbow Devils and Canal Street Blues.

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On September 25th, 2018, we published the very first episode of the BBC's LGBT Sport Podcast.

Five years later, we make a little bit of history with our landmark 300th episode - and are taking a moment to mark the occasion by reminding ourselves of just a handful of the amazing guests who have joined us to make this show what it is.

On this bumper trip down memory lane, we'll hear from Olympians; World Cup winners; national treasures; wrestling champions and many, many more guests who have sat down to share their story with us.

And more importantly, we'll say thank you to YOU - the people who've come on to talk about your journey; who've subscribed; who've listened; and who've helped in any other way, big or small, to make this podcast what it is today.

Honestly, we couldn't have done it without you.

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Flamboyant, fierce and never less than full-on when it comes to competition in the ring, Mitchell Starr – the drag queen alter ego of Lee Mitchell - has been competing on the UK wrestling scene for more than a decade, and shows no signs of slowing down.

The grappler has danced, dropped and strutted his way to victories against big names in big bouts under his Starr persona – and, in the process, has tried to make the UK scene a more inclusive scene for the LGBTQ+ community, including last year when he helped put on WAW’s first-ever Pride show.

We’ve wanted to have Lee on the podcast for a long time – and this is a cracking conversation about his life, inside and outside of the ring.

We talk about what it was that inspired him to get into professional wrestling; training and overcoming his own anxiety to fulfil his dream; developing the ‘Mitchell Starr’ persona, and how that challenged stereotypes on what it ‘meant’ to be a wrestler; his own journey as a member of the LGBTQ+ community and lots, lots more!

We make no bones about loving wrestling on this podcast – and if you do as well, we think you’ll love this episode.

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Paul Poirier started skating when he was just a nipper – but while his brothers would chase an ice hockey puck, he would spin and be more creative.

One he discovered figure skating – and particularly ice dance - he’d found his love, and his career in sport has been remarkable.

It includes three Olympic Games, world championship bronze on two separate occasions and, in general, more medals and accolades than you can shake a stick at.

Paul’s also gay and has spoken about his desire to be a role model to LGBTQ+ athletes, which is why we’re so delighted to get him onto the show to talk about his career and his journey, on and off the ice.

This is a cracking conversation with a thoughtful, intelligent and passionate athlete that takes in all sorts of different things – from COVID to competing to coming out, and it’s an absolute gem of an episode that we think you’ll love.

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Gary Ginnaw always loved football.

It was, bizarrely, a nil-nil draw with Plymouth that made him fall in love with Charlton Athletic – and from that point onwards, he’d happily spend his time on the terraces, cheering for the Addicks as they made their way to the Premier League.

But Gary's growing understanding of his sexuality meant he ended up stepping away from the game – and it wasn’t until he discovered an inclusive team on his doorstep that he found his way back.

Since then, he hasn’t looked back – and Charlton Invicta has become Gary’s life, along with the GFSN and opening football up to everyone, which is why we're so delighted to have him onto the podcast to talk about his journey, on and off the pitch.

We talk about how much he loves football – and honestly, there are few people more passionate about it than him! – coming to terms with his sexuality; getting back into the game and encouraging others to do the same; Charlton Invicta and GFSN; getting people into the sport and so, so much more.

It’s an absolute belter of a conversation, and we think you’re going to love it.

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It feels like a different age where Sarah Jones made her debut for Wales – and since then, the hockey player has barely looked back on the international stage.

She’s competed in three separate Commonwealth Games for Wales, winning more than 100 caps – and in 2021, she helped Team GB take bronze at the Tokyo Olympics.

She was appointed to the Team Wales Athletes Commission for the Victoria Commonwealth Games in three years – and despite having all of that going on, she’s still found time to join us for a cracking conversation about her journey in the sport and with her sexuality.

We chat about all sorts today – including just how sporty Sarah was growing up; making her way in Welsh hockey and the way that’s evolved; being called up for GB and that medal-winning campaign in Tokyo; sharing her story with her sexuality; and we even manage to fit in a bit of gardening chat as well!

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Sophie McKinna has her mum to thank for getting her into the shotput.

After all, it was a decision by her to enter Sophie into the throwing event as a child that set Sophie on the road to a remarkable athletics career that has included any number of elite-level events – including world, European and Commonwealth finals, along with an appearance at the Olympics in Tokyo.

Sophie’s currently targeting the Olympics in Paris next year – but before that, she decided she wanted to speak publicly for the first time about her sexuality; and when she messaged, asking if she could do it here on the podcast, we were delighted to have her on.

As we always say, this isn’t a massive ‘coming out’ moment for Sophie – as the people who need to know in her personal and professional life have been aware of the fact she’s gay for a little while now.

But she’s decided she wants to speak out to be a role-model – and we’re delighted she’s chosen our show to do it.

And it’s an absolute cracker of a conversation as well, as we chat about Sophie’s sporting family; her love of Norfolk (and of animals); the highs and lows of life as an athlete; her work as a custody officer; deciding to speak about her sexuality and loads, loads more.

It’s a pleasure to be having this conversation, and we really think you’re going to love hearing it as much as we loved doing it.

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