This Sporting Planet

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This Sporting Planet episodes

January 20 Caitlin Bassett - The "Shame" of Retirement & Losing Identity
Kate Allman is joined by Australian Netball legend Caitlin Bassett for a candid discussion about the mental toll of leaving elite sport.
Unlike the fairytale endings we often see, Caitlin describes her retirement as being "made redundant." She opens up about the shame of not being offered a contract, the difficulty of finding an identity outside of netball, and the "toxic" habits she had to unlearn to function in the real world.
Caitlin also sets the record straight on her time at the Giants, reveals how animal therapy aided her recovery, and discusses her new role in player welfare at the Western Force.

00:00 - Introduction
02:49 - Caitlin on her "Shocking" Retirement
05:26 - Breaking Toxic Athlete Habits
07:30 - The Giants Era: Being Silenced by the Club
10:17 - Playing in New Zealand & Injury Hell
11:15 - Life After Sport: Cricket & Journalism
16:25 - The Loss of Identity & Mental Struggles
20:07 - How Dogs Saved Her Mental Health
23:59 - Do Sports Have a Duty of Care?
27:57 - Advice for Alyssa Healy & The Future

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33 min
January 12 Steven Caulker on Retirement, Addiction, and the "Backlash" of Speaking Out
Natalie Sawyer (UK) is joined by former Tottenham, Liverpool, and Sierra Leone defender Steven Caulker for a raw and revealing conversation about life after the final whistle.
Steven discusses his recent retirement, the mental toll of a 17-year career, and his previous battles with gambling and alcohol addiction. He opens up about the "backlash" he faced from the footballing world when he first went public with his struggles and how playing abroad in Turkey helped him reset.
They also discuss the current managerial landscape, including Liam Rosenior’s appointment at Chelsea and the pressure on Thomas Frank at Spurs.
Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions of depression, addiction, and suicidal thoughts.

00:00 - Intro
01:32 - What the initial period after retirement has been like
04:03 - The freedom of retirement (Food & Running)
05:53 - Skiing & things footballers aren't allowed to do
07:32 - Planning for life after football
10:49 - Why do athletes struggle post-retirement?
14:08 - Steven’s battle with gambling & alcohol
16:58 - Is football doing enough for mental health?
19:43 - The "Backlash": Being rejected by clubs for speaking out
23:16 - The Brentford Model & asking for help
25:55 - Letting go of results & playing in Turkey
29:37 - Liam Rosenior at Chelsea & Thomas Frank at Spurs
31:52 - Steven’s future in management (2026?)

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37 min
October 31, 2025 Why Sport Has ‘NEVER MATTERED MORE’: Caitlin Clark, LIV Golf & Alcaraz v Sinner
Welcome to This Sporting Planet, the world's view of sport! 🌍
The world of sport is evolving at an unprecedented, accelerating pace due to the massive technological effect of smartphones, AI, and the ascent of streaming 🤯
Former ESPN digital and media executive John Kosner joins the podcast for a discussion with Todd around the "State of Sport," analysing the forces reshaping the game for athletes, leagues, and fans 👀
In this episode, you'll hear John Kosner discuss:
- Why sport is more popular and important than ever, serving as the only truly unifying, live content in a fragmented media landscape 🤝
- The dramatic growth of player empowerment, where athletes' social media followings often surpass those of their teams and leagues 💪
- The revolution in women's sport, including the "galvanizing" breakthrough of stars like Caitlin Clark 🏀
- The challenge for new tournaments and leagues like LIV Golf and the Six Kings Slam to replicate the context and meaning of traditional major events for fans 🏌️🎾
- The crucial role of broadcasters to protect the integrity of the game and serve as a reliable source of information in the age of media fragmentation 🎙️

00:00 - Introduction: The Unprecedented Pace of Change in Sport
01:33 - The State of Sport: Why It's Never Mattered More
02:04 - Player Power: Athletes vs. Leagues on Social Media
03:40 - Is Sport Really Recession Proof?
05:04 - The Positives and Negatives of Athlete Power
07:05 - Are New Leagues Like LIV Golf and The Six Kings Slam Prepared?
07:47 - The Importance of Context and the Big Events
09:21 - Broadcaster's Responsibility in a Fragmented Media World
11:40 - The Growth of Women's Sports
12:37 - Caitlin Clark's Unprecedented Draw
14:34 - Shrinking Attention Spans vs. Rising TV Ratings
16:37 - The Future of Broadcast: Multiple Feeds and Influencer Channels
18:23 - Career Bedrocks: John Kosner's Lessons for the Next Generation
19:48 - The #1 Rule for Success: Investing in Relationships

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24 min
October 29, 2025 The BILLIONAIRE Athlete, Player Power & Social Media – Is it BAD for sport?
Welcome to This Sporting Planet, the world's view of sport!

Join your hosts Todd Harris (USA), Natalie Sawyer (UK), and Edward Russell (Singapore) as they discuss the growth of player power around the globe and ask a crucial question – is it good or bad for the future of sport?

Billionaire athletes: Cristiano Ronaldo has become the first active footballer to achieve a net worth of $1 billion. How did we get here, and will there be more?

Player empowerment: From players forcing moves away from football clubs to NIL rights, the team explore how athletes in all sports have been taking more control over their own futures.

Social media transformation: The team discuss how these platforms have emboldened athletes, giving them a direct platform to air grievances and build their personal brands, bypassing traditional media channels. Plus, have women’s sports embraced social media more effectively than men’s sports to create authentic content that really connects with fans?

Plus, as 2025 draws to a close, Natalie, Todd and Edward reveal their athletes of the year, and their ones to watch in 2026!

00:00 - Introduction
01:26 - The player empowerment phenomenon
03:51 - How women's sport utilises social media to create authentic content
04:25 - The Billionaire Athlete: Are stars like Cristiano Ronaldo too rich?
11:06 - Will there be more Super Leagues?
13:32 - How have shows like 'Drive to Survive' changed sport?
18:02 - Are athletes in danger of burn out?
21:05 - Interview with the Former ESPN Executive John Kosner
27:32 - Athlete of the year!
31:17 - Who is 2025's Rising Star?
35:34 - What will have the biggest legacy from 2025?
37:56 - See you next time!

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42 min
October 22, 2025Red Roses' Glory & The Women's Sport Phenomenon
Welcome to This Sporting Planet, your definitive source for 'The World's View of Sport'. 🌍🎙️
In this episode, our hosts Natalie Sawyer (UK), Edward Russell (Singapore), and Todd Harris (USA) celebrate England's Rugby World Cup victory and dive into the growing global phenomenon of women's sport.
We are joined by exclusive guest and World Cup winner Abbie Ward to go inside the victorious Red Roses' camp and discuss the key to their team culture.
Rugby World Cup Champions: We celebrate the Red Roses' victory over Canada at a sold-out Twickenham. World Cup winner Abbie Ward shares the secret to the team's close bond and why supporting mothers in sport is vital.

The Growth of Women's Sport: A discussion on the acceleration of women's sport globally, particularly the success seen in Europe (England's Euro and Rugby World Cup wins) and the USA (WNBA, new leagues).

Legacy Building: We explore the challenges of sustaining growth in domestic leagues and highlight the positive impact female athletes are having as role models for the next generation.

Behind the Scenes: Abbie Ward discusses the non-traditional support within the England rugby squad, such as teammates watching her daughter during training, and the importance of maternity and working parent policies.
00:00 - Intro & Global Sporting Highlights
01:24 - Todd reflects on the Ryder Cup and MLB Playoffs
02:42 - Edward reviews the F1 Singapore Grand Prix
03:44 - Natalie celebrates England's World Cup qualification and Hull FC's treble
06:05 - The Women's Sport Phenomenon: A Unique Period of Growth
09:18 - Abby Ward on winning the Rugby World Cup
14:24 - Juggling motherhood and professional rugby
21:15 - Being a role model and legacy building
25:31 - Reflections on the World Cup Win
27:18 - Canada's Crowdfunding Story
28:51 - Investment and Growth in US Women's Sport
31:51 - Women in Sport in Asia
32:46 - Coming up next time!

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37 min
October 17, 2025 World Cup win, motherhood & Red Roses legacy with Abbie Ward!
Natalie Sawyer is joined by Red Roses star Abbie Ward to reflect on the team's phenomenal World Cup victory and the absolute whirlwind of the past few weeks.
Abbie shares an inside look at the championship celebrations and the deep bond that defines this history-making squad, and how she juggles being a professional rugby player and a mother!
🏆 The World Cup Final Experience: Abbie describes the final day as "spectacular," from stepping off the bus to an electric atmosphere at Twickenham to the game itself, which she "loved every minute of".
❤️ Team Bond and Culture: She details how the Red Roses deliberately fostered a close-knit group by focusing on "little moments," sharing personal stories, and celebrating individuals, a strategy she believes was a "point of difference".
🧠 Handling Pressure and Past Defeats: She discusses how the team is accustomed to pressure and how losing the last two World Cup finals spurred on the players with "extra hunger". She notes a change in perspective, allowing her to now look back on those losses with pride and appreciation for the growth of the women's game.
👧 Motherhood and Sport: Abbie speaks openly about the balancing act of being a professional player and a mother, highlighting the team's incredible support, including team-mates Amy Cokayne and Alex Matthews who looked after Hallie during the Samoa match!
🎉 The Legacy of the Win: Abbie stresses the team’s goal was not just to win, but to "create a legacy" by maintaining the momentum, growing the game, and paving the way for the next generation.
🏉 Growth of the Women’s Game: She advocates for more investment and teams to go professional, citing Canada's journey to the final as an "unbelievable story" for a non-fully professional side.
💪 The PWR's Role: Abbie praises the Premiership Women's Rugby (PWR) as an "amazing showcase" of competitive, local rugby featuring the best international players and encourages fans to attend their local games.
00:00 - Interview Start & World Cup Win Reflection
01:52 - The Post-World Cup Celebrations (Including Ibiza!)
03:00 - How the Red Roses Team Bond is Built
03:56 - John Mitchell’s Pivotal Role in Team Culture
04:53 - Dealing with Pressure as Tournament Favourites
06:40 - Using Past World Cup Final Losses as Motivation
08:30 - The Challenges of Being a Mother and a Rugby Player
09:40 - "Hallie is part of the team" – The Ultimate Squad Support from Abbie's daughter
12:18 - Trusting Individuals and the Importance of Mental Health
13:55 - Going behind early in the final: What Was Said on the Pitch
15:07 - Canada’s Inspiring journey and the need for investment
17:07 - Being a Role Model and Growing Women's Rugby
19:49 - The Goal: Winning the World Cup & Creating a Legacy
21:10 - Encouraging Fans to Support Premiership Women's Rugby (PWR)
23:06 - Thoughts on the proposed R360 League
25:46 - How Inspired Young Girls Can Get Into Rugby

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30 min
September 25, 2025 Ryder Cup: Nicolas Colsaerts on The Miracle of Medinah
Welcome to This Sporting Planet, the world's view of sport!
In this episode, Natalie Sawyer (UK) chats with former Ryder Cup winner as both a player and vice-captain Nicolas Colsaerts (Belgium) about his career and his role in the legendary Miracle of Medinah in 2012! They also chat about the upcoming Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black.
They discuss:
The honour of playing in the Ryder Cup: Colsaerts describes it as the biggest honour a golfer can have, a feeling nurtured by watching legends like Seve Ballesteros, Nick Faldo, and Ian Woosnam. His first experience with the event was the "war on the shore" at Kiawah in 1991, which was an "electrifying" introduction.
Getting the call-up: Colsaerts talks about the moment he was selected as a captain's pick by Jose Maria Olazabal. He had a good feeling about it after playing well and winning the Volvo World Match Play in 2012. He describes the meeting with Olazabal as a scene "like the Godfather".
The rookie experience: As the first Belgian to play in the Ryder Cup, Colsaerts felt welcomed by the team. He credits his ease of blending in to his amateur days where he spent time with golfers from the British Isles.
Team vs. Individual Sport: Colsaerts explains that he was comfortable in a team environment because he played a lot of team sports like field hockey when he was young. He likes that it is not just about the individual, but about putting others in the best position to serve the purpose.
The Miracle of Medinah: Colsaerts reflects on the 2012 Ryder Cup where Team Europe came back from a 10-6 deficit going into the final day. He describes the mood in the team camp on Saturday night as changing from anger to a glimmer of hope after key matches went their way.
His performance with Lee Westwood: Colsaerts discusses his four-ball match with Lee Westwood, where Westwood said it was "basically the Nicholas Colsaerts show". Colsaerts is proud that he was able to make such an impact as a rookie and contribute a point for his idol.
Predictions for 2025: Colsaerts is confident Team Europe can emulate his winning side of 2012 and win on away soil!
00:00 - Intro: Welcome to Sporting Planet
01:15 - Why the Ryder Cup is so special
06:30 - A Call from Olazabal: Getting the Pick
09:12 - A Rookie in the Team Room
11:47 - Team vs. Individual: The Mindset of a Golfer
13:30 - The Miracle of Medinah: Saturday Night
17:48 - The Westwood Four-Ball
24:50 - The Ryder Cup's Unique Rhythm
27:50 - On Longevity in Golf

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32 min
September 18, 2025Golf: Ryder Cup Preview, The Miracle of Medinah & Bethpage Black with Nicolas Colsaerts
Welcome to This Sporting Planet, your definitive source for 'The World's View of Sport'. 🌍🎙️
In this episode, our hosts Todd Harris (USA) and Natalie Sawyer (UK) preview one of the biggest and most unique rivalries in sport: the Ryder Cup!
We're joined by two exclusive guests: Nicolas Colsaerts, a member of the 2012 "Miracle of Medinah" team, and US-based golf broadcaster Carl Paulson, to get a complete view from both sides of the Atlantic.
Here is a breakdown of the main topics:
The Ryder Cup Preview: A discussion on the highly anticipated match-up between Team USA and Team Europe, the notoriously difficult course at Bethpage Black, and the unique, often hostile, atmosphere of the New York crowd.

Team Europe's Perspective: Nicolas Colsaerts shares his memories of the "Miracle of Medinah," the intense pressure of the tournament, and his thoughts on how the continuity of the European team could lead to victory.

Team USA's Perspective: Carl Paulson provides an insider's view on the American team's strengths, the captain's strategy, and how the dominance of US golfers in the majors could translate to team success.

Behind the Ryder Cup: The hosts and guests discuss the mental transition from individual to team play, the role of technology like virtual reality headsets, and the data used to create winning pairings.
00:00 - Intro & What's Coming Up
01:58 - Global Sports Round-up
03:59 - Medinah Memories with Nicolas Colsaerts
13:46 - What Team USA can expect at Bethpage Black with Carl Paulson
29:00 - Team USA's Strengths & Weaknesses
34:36 - How Ryder Cup Pairings are Chosen
37:17 - Final Predictions & A Look Ahead

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42 min
September 11, 2025NFL: Predictions after THRILLING opening week! Plus, why is there no Canadian NFL team?
Welcome to This Sporting Planet, your definitive source for 'The World's View of Sport'. 🌍🎙️
In this episode, our hosts Todd Harris (USA) and Kate Allman (Australia) are joined by NFL broadcaster and author Anthony Wootton to dive into the start of the new NFL season.
They review Week 1's thrilling action, debate Canada's NFL conundrum, and reflect on the latest chapter of the Alcaraz-Sinner rivalry.
Here is a breakdown of the main topics:
NFL Season Preview: An in-depth look at Week 1 action, highlighting impressive teams (Chargers, Bills) and player performances (Josh Allen, Aaron Rodgers).

Canada's NFL Conundrum: A discussion on why Canada, a sports-mad nation, has no NFL team. Our hosts debate whether the competition from the CFL and NHL is a factor and if the NFL's international expansion will change this.

College Football & The NIL Debate: A point on the debate about how money from Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals is changing college football and player loyalty.

US Open Review: A quick recap of the last Grand Slam of the year, celebrating Carlos Alcaraz's victory over Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka's triumph.
Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro & What's Coming Up
01:32 - US Open Reflection as Alcaraz & Sinner Play Epic AGAIN
07:03 - Josh Allen Heroics & Aaron Rodgers' Class: NFL Week 1 Review
19:53 - The NFL's International Expansion Strategy
25:13 - Why Does Canada Have No NFL Team
31:25 - The NIL Debate in College Football
40:00 - Predictions for the Season!
49:05 - What is Coming Up Next

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54 min
September 04, 2025Football: The Summer Transfer Window Review & Isak's Record Move
Welcome to This Sporting Planet, your definitive source for 'The World's View of Sport'. 🌍🎙️
The football summer transfer window has slammed shut after a record-breaking period of spending.
In this episode, our hosts Natalie Sawyer (UK), Edward Russell (Singapore), and our newest addition, Carol Tshabalala (South Africa), get an expert take from European football analyst Kevin Hatchard.
They dive into the biggest transfers, the new Champions League format, and whether a shift in player power is changing the game.
Here is a breakdown of the main topics:
Record-Breaking Transfers: A discussion on the Premier League's record-shattering £3 billion spend. We hear from Alexander Isak on his British-record move to Liverpool and analyse the knock-on effects for other clubs.

Player Power: A debate on the shift in power towards players in the transfer market, the role of social media, and what the future holds for player contracts.

Champions League Draw: We break down the new, complicated Champions League draw and analyse the prospects for teams from across Europe, including PSG, Arsenal, and Tottenham.

Transfer Gems & Predictions: The hosts and Kevin Hatchard name their "hidden gems" of the transfer window and give their predictions for who will be crowned Champions League winners.
Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro & What's Coming Up
01:46 - Welcome to a new host: Carol Tshabalala!
04:12 - Reviewing the £3 Billion Transfer Window
09:45 - The Bundesliga's Strategy of Developing and Selling Players
13:15 - The Widening Gap Between the Premier League and Other European Leagues
20:22 - The Alexander Isak Saga & Player Power
30:08 - Manchester United's Goalkeeper Situation
36:06 - Arsenal and Chelsea's Transfer Strategy
42:54 - The Best Hidden Gem Signings
45:19 - Champions League Draw Analysis
51:59 - Champions League Predictions

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58 min

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