The LGBT Sport Podcast

Brock McGillis is a history-maker.

A goaltender who played in his native Canada and the Netherlands, he came out as gay in 2016 – and, since then, has used his platform to try and make ice-hockey a place where everyone feels welcome.

Through speaking out to forming the Alphabet Sports Collective, Brock has a passion for inclusion, which is why we’re so delighted to have him on the podcast to talk about his story, both on and away from the ice.

We talk all about Brock’s journey – from getting into hockey to some of his most memorable moments on the ice; the journey he went on with his sexuality and sharing it with the world; using his platform to support others and his advocacy work; and so, so much more.

It’s not always an easy listen, as Brock talks about his own struggles with his sexuality – but it’s open, honest, powerful and – at points – you can’t stop listening.

Oh, and if you’re a Drag Race fan, there are some Easter Eggs in here for you as well!

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If it feels like we’ve been here before, it’s because we have... sort of.

It was in 2020 that Alistair Burford and David ‘FiFi’ Cumpston first joined us to talk about the Union Cup in Birmingham – which, at the time, was set for the following year.

But COVID and travelling restrictions meant the tournament – which is Europe’s largest inclusive rugby competition – had to be postponed for two whole years.

It was an agonising wait - but this month, it’s finally here, and Alistair and David are back on the podcast to tell us all about it!

We talk about all sorts of things on this episode – including that decision to postpone; the bidding Process; David and Fifi’s own journey in rugby; how Birmingham has got behind the Cup – and loads, loads more!

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It’s fair to say that Jacob Leeks has always had a passion for playing sport, and for writing about it as well.

When he’s not running out for Birmingham Blaze, he’s reporting on football and so much more for the Daily Mirror – and at the end of February, his work was recognised as he picked up the Football Media Award at this year’s Football v Homophobia Awards.

So, it’s high-time that we got Jacob on the podcast for a chat about him, his work and his love of all things sport!

We chat about where Jacob’s love of the beautiful game came from (and why it made his dad so happy!); how he got into journalism, along with the highs and lows that come with being in the industry; the journey he went on when it came to dealing with his own sexuality; winning that prestigious FvH Award; telling LGBTQ+ stories and so, so much more.

It’s a cracking chat with a brilliant young journalist, and we think you’ll love hearing it!

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On October 26th, 2021, only devoted followers of Australian soccer would have known who Josh Cavallo was.

Twenty-four hours later, the Adelaide United footballer was the name on the lips of almost everyone in world football after he became the first top-flight male professional to come out while still playing.

Since then, life has been a bit of a whirlwind for Josh – and we’re delighted we finally have the chance to sit down with him for a cracking episode of the podcast.

We talk about his love of the game and where it came from; deciding to share his story and the support he received from former podcast guest Thomas Beattie; telling his teammates about his sexuality, and then the world; the abuse he still gets and how he deals with it; and the goals for the rest of his career – honestly, this is one you have to hear.

We’re so grateful that Josh took the time to join us for it, and we know you’ll love it as much as we do.

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To have one Olympic medallist on the podcast is a treat.

To have two on at the same time – well, that’s incredibly special, and that’s why we’re so excited to bring you this episode.

Lauren Price and Karriss Artingstall both came away from the Olympics in Tokyo with medals – for Lauren, it was a gold in the middleweight division, and for Karriss, it was featherweight bronze.

Honestly, the couple are absolutely laden with accolades – world and commonwealth and European gold for Lauren, world bronze and European silver for Karriss – and that’s why this is such a cracking episode with two leading lights in British boxing.

We talk about their careers, how they met, their relationship, their goals going forward and so, so much more!

It’s an open, genuine and honest conversation that we absolutely love, and we hope you will as well – and we can’t thank both Lauren and Karriss enough for coming on to chat.

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Gisele Shaw has her family – and especially her grandmother – to thank for her love of professional wrestling.

Together, they’d watch and talk about the likes of Chyna and Lita in the WWF – but it wasn’t until a chance encounter at a professional wrestling show that Gisele even thought about stepping into the ring herself.

Now, she’s one of the best in the business – part of IMPACT Wrestling’s Knockout division alongside some of the stars she grew up idolising, and a challenger for the promotion’s Knockout World Championship.

Last year at Toronto Pride, Gisele chose to open up about the fact she happens to be trans – which is something she admits she’d never, ever thought about doing for a long time – and today, she joins us as a brilliant guest on the podcast.

You know we love wrestling on this podcast, and Gisele is an amazing guest – and we chat about her career; her idols; her training; being a visible member of the LGBTQ+ community and loads more.

We loved chatting with the self-proclaimed ‘Quintessential Diva’, and we think you’ll love this chat as well.

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In a way, this is a story that was made for us!

Richard Pallot and Rachel Williams are from Cornwall FA, and were thinking of ways to make the game in Cornwall more inclusive.

Little did they know that Jess Sharville was also thinking the same thing – so when their paths crossed on social media, they got talking, and Stargazy FC was born.

The club has its first training session at the end of the month – and all three of them are brilliant and passionate advocates for inclusivity in the game, as we talk about the idea behind the club; doing it in a place like Cornwall; why it’s personal for all of them to get involved with; and why they’ll soon be open for business for other teams that may want to have a match this summer!

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It’s a common enough story.

A club, on the brink of extinction, saved by people who had a passion for keeping it alive.

But what makes the history of Keighley Cougars a little bit different is that they were rescued by Ryan O’Neill and his husband Kaue Garcia – who became the first out LGBTQ+ owners of a professional sports club outside of the USA, and put LGBTQ+ rights at the heart of what the Cougars are all about.

So, when they dropped us a message about the podcast, we were only too happy to have them on for a chat, and it’s an absolute cracker.

We chat with them both about their journeys in sport – which for Ryan was baked into his DNA, and was completely new for Kaue; buying the club; the challenge that presented; the first Pride game; the reaction to it; the plans for the future and lots, lots more.

It’s a cracking conversation, and we’re really glad that Kaue and Ryan were able to join us for this podcast, and we think you’ll really like it.

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It’s been less than a month since Campbell Johnstone made a little bit of history.

The former New Zealand international opened up about his sexuality in an interview with TVNZ, becoming the first All Black to come out as gay.

It was a decision that brought worldwide attention to the ex-Canterbury and Crusaders player – and now, he’s joining us on the podcast to tell us more about that decision, and what life has been like since.

We chat about getting into rugby; applying himself to reach the top-level; getting that All Blacks call-up; understanding his sexuality and trusting people in rugby with his story – and loads, loads more.

It’s a brilliant conversation that we were privileged to have, and we think you’ll love it.

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We're changing things up on the podcast today to do something a little bit different.

At the end of January, we got a message from Warwickshire County Cricket Club, asking us if we'd like to head to Edgbaston to be part of a special training session being held at the club's indoor cricket centre.

It'd bring together players and coaches from Warwickshire with members of the Birmingham Unicorns - the LGBTQ+ cricket team that we've featured on the podcast before.

It was an offer we weren't going to turn down, so we took our kit and headed up to Edgbaston - and this is what happened!

It features some familiar voices, along with some new names on the podcast - and is a fantastic celebration of inclusivity, allyship and, more than anything, the joy that cricket can bring you.

We can't thank the folks at Warwickshire and Unicorns enough for having us along - and hopefully, you enjoy hearing this one as much as we loved making it!

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