This Sporting Planet

Welcome to This Sporting Planet, your definitive source for 'The World's View on Sport'. 🌍🎙️

In this second and final part of our "Best Bits" series, our hosts Edward Russell (Singapore), Natalie Sawyer (UK), and Todd Harris (USA) look back on some of the most memorable conversations from the last few months.

This episode features highlights on:

Mental Health in Elite Sport: A powerful look into the mental health struggles of professional athletes, with clips from our chats with golfer Chris Wood and tennis star Madison Keys on the importance of therapy.

World Cup Previews: We revisit our conversations on the upcoming Cricket and Rugby World Cups. This segment features insights from Indian cricket journalist Annesha Ghosh and former England rugby star Rachel Burford on the home nations' title chances.

The Transfer Window Uncovered: An exclusive look behind the scenes of a football transfer window, featuring expert Kevin Hatchard. We reveal the drama, negotiations, and even the infamous story of a multi-million pound deal scuppered by a fax machine.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction

01:16 - Golfer Chris Wood discusses his mental health battles

08:07 - Madison Keys says therapy helped her win the Australian Open

09:54 - Indian journalist Annesha Ghosh previews the Cricket World Cup

17:03 - World Cup winner Rachael Burford previews the Rugby World Cup

20:26 - Transfer window secrets with football expert Kevin Hatchard

28:39 - Coming up next time!

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Welcome to This Sporting Planet, your definitive source for 'The World's View of Sport'. 🌍🎙️

Join your hosts Natalie Sawyer (UK), Edward Russell (Singapore), and Todd Harris (USA) as they look back at some of the best conversations from the last few months in this first of a two-part "Best Bits" series.

They revisit some of the biggest stories in the world, including:

Tennis's New Era: With the US Open on the horizon, we look back on a chat about the "modern classic" rivalry between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. We hear from Novak Djokovic, who called Alcaraz "not normal", and discuss how these two players are defining a new era of tennis.

Football Glory: We analyse Arsenal's first European trophy win in 18 years, a "defensive masterclass" against Barcelona. This segment features an exclusive clip from our chat with Lianne Sanderson, a member of the 2007 winning team.

F1 Driver Chaos: We revisit the "driver chaos" at Red Bull Racing with former F1 driver Karun Chandhok, who critiques the team's "brutal" mid-season changes that saw a driver lose his seat after just two races. We also feature a clip from our exclusive chat with Williams driver Alex Albon about his team's future.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction

01:15 - Novak Djokovic says Carlos Alcaraz is 'not normal'

03:16 - Just how good is the Alcaraz vs. Sinner rivalry?

09:33 - Lianne Sanderson on Arsenal's brilliant Champions League win!

15:58 - Karun Chandhok on the Red Bull driver drama

23:33 - Exclusive interview with Williams driver Alex Albon

29:59 - Coming up next time!

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This Sporting Planet brings you 'The World's View on Sport'.

In this episode, our hosts Natalie Sawyer (Europe), Edward Russell (Asia), and Todd Harris (USA) preview the US Open. From the next great men's rivalry, the wide-open women's field, to a controversial new Mixed Doubles format, plus why mental health is so important in professional tennis.

Lots to discuss and plenty of opinions from across the globe. Here is a breakdown of the main topics.

The epic rivalry between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner and the chances of a dramatic third chapter.

Whether Novak Djokovic can finally secure his record-breaking 25th Grand Slam.

The surprising reasons behind our hosts' opinion on Aryna Sabalenka's season.

Journalist Ben Rothenberg joins us to analyse the new Mixed Doubles format that is dividing the tennis world.

We hear from former US Open quarter-finalist Patricia Hy on why players like Madison Keys and Ons Jabeur opening up about their mental health is so important.

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Welcome to This Sporting Planet, your definitive source for 'The World's View of Sport'. 🌍🎙️

In this episode, our hosts Natalie Sawyer (UK), Todd Harris (USA), and Edward Russell (Asia) kick things off by celebrating England's historic Euro 2025 victory. Then, we're joined by Premier League legend Shaka Hislop for the ultimate season preview of the men's game.

Here is a breakdown of the main topics:

The Lionesses' Historic Win: A look at England's Euro 2025 victory, its inspiring national impact, and the growth of women's football across the globe.

Premier League Predictions: Shaka Hislop gives his expert take on Liverpool's massive spending, the title race, and his top four predictions.

Arsenal & Man United: We dive into the transfer drama at Arsenal and the "toxic" situation at Manchester United.

Player Welfare: We discuss the importance of player welfare in modern football, using Cole Palmer's form as an example.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro & Euro 2025 Recap

13:28 - Premier League Preview with Shaka Hislop

14:07 - Liverpool's Spending

19:34 - Arsenal's Transfer Drama

41:52 - Top 4 & Relegation Predictions

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Welcome to This Sporting Planet, your definitive source for 'The World's View of Sport'. 🌍🎙️

In this episode, our hosts Kate Allman (Australia), Natalie Sawyer (UK), and Todd Harris (USA) tee up the AIG Women's Open at Royal Porthcawl! We also get an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at the tournament from LPGA caddie Harry Ewing.

The team celebrates Australia's recent major success, debates outdated amateur money rules, and makes their bold predictions for the year's final major.

Here is a breakdown of the main topics:

The Amateur Money Debate: We delve into the contentious debate over whether professional-level amateur players, such as Lottie Woad, should be eligible to earn prize money at major tournaments.

Asian Dominance: Our hosts discuss the incredible rise and dominance of women's golf, celebrating the surge of talent from Asia and Australia, including Grace Kim's recent win.

LPGA Insider: LPGA caddie Harry Ewing provides an exclusive look into what it's like on the ground at a major, sharing what makes the Women's Open tick from a caddie's perspective.

Predictions: The hosts and Harry Ewing share their bold predictions for who will conquer the links and lift the trophy in Wales.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro & Grace Kim's Evian Championship Win

07:22 - The Lottie Woad Amateur Prize Money Debate

16:23 - Why Asian & Australian Talent Dominates

18:17 - LPGA Caddie Harry Ewing on The Open's Elevation

21:38 - Predictions for The AIG Women's Open 2025

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Welcome to This Sporting Planet, your definitive source for 'The World's View of Sport'. 🌍🎙️

In this episode, our hosts Natalie Sawyer (UK), Todd Harris (USA), and Kate Allman (Australia) wrap up the Club World Cup and Wimbledon before shifting the spotlight to the highly anticipated Women's Rugby World Cup. We're also thrilled to be joined by Australian rugby star Piper Duck to get an exclusive perspective from inside her team's camp.

Here is a breakdown of the main topics:

Wimbledon & Club World Cup: We dive into the dramatic men's and women's finals at Wimbledon and debate the controversy around robotic line judges. We also wrap up Chelsea's comprehensive victory over PSG in the Club World Cup final.

Women's Rugby World Cup: The team previews the tournament in England, discussing the Red Roses as favorites and the immense global growth of the women's game.

Exclusive Interview with Piper Duck: Australian rugby sensation Piper Duck shares her insights on the Wallaroos' preparations and the challenges of being a non-professional team competing against fully professional sides.

Influence in Sport: We look at the massive impact of US rugby star Ilona Maher on and off the field and how she's challenging perceptions with her positive messaging.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction & Weekend Sports Highlights

02:19 - FIFA Club World Cup Final

07:08 - Wimbledon Wrap-up

19:12 - Women’s Rugby World Cup Preview

26:51 - Interview with Piper Duck

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Welcome to This Sporting Planet, your definitive source for 'The World's View of Sport'. 🌍🎙️

In this episode, our hosts Natalie Sawyer (UK), Todd Harris (USA), and Edward Russell (Singapore) preview Men's golf's oldest major, The Open at Royal Portrush!

We also sit down for a profoundly honest interview with golfer Chris Wood about his battles with mental health and the unique pressures of elite-level golf.

Here is a breakdown of the main topics:

The Open Preview: Our hosts make their predictions for who will win the Claret Jug at Royal Portrush. They discuss favourites like Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler and whether a home player can win at golf's oldest major.

Mental Health in Golf: Chris Wood, a former Ryder Cup star and a tie-for-third finisher at The Open, opens up about his burnout, losing passion for the game, and his journey to finding a better place.

Individual vs. Team Sport: We explore the differences between individual and team sports, and how the pressure and isolation of being an elite individual athlete can affect mental health.

Course Insights: We get a first-hand account from Chris about what makes Royal Portrush such a challenging and special course.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction

02:06 - The Open 2025 at Royal Portrush

06:08 - Interview with Chris Wood

13:44 - Demystifying Mental Health Struggles

19:31 - Chris Wood's Two-Club Story

22:03 - The Importance of The Open in America

24:09 - Coming up next time!

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Welcome to This Sporting Planet, your definitive source for 'The World's View of Sport'. 🌍🎙️

In this electrifying episode, our hosts Natalie Sawyer (UK), Todd Harris (USA), and Edward Russell (Singapore) crisscross the globe to cover the biggest stories. We celebrate the OKC Thunder's first-ever championship, discuss the future of the WNBA, and preview the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore!

We're also joined by sports reporter Hannah Hoover and NBA expert Dave DuFour for exclusive insights and analysis.

Here is a breakdown of the main topics:

NBA Champions: We celebrate the Oklahoma City Thunder's historic first title and analyze Finals MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's sensational season. Our hosts debate whether this marks the beginning of an OKC dynasty.

The Future of Basketball: A look at the breaking news of the WNBA expansion to 18 teams and the global growth of women's sports. We also discuss the "Achilles injury epidemic" sweeping the NBA.

World Aquatics Championships: Our hosts preview the championships coming to Singapore, highlighting the excitement for the host country and global stars like Katie Ledecky and Leon Marchand.

NBA Draft & Free Agency: An expert's take on the NBA Draft, including the strategy of "stockpiling picks," and what to watch for in the busy free agency period.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro & OKC's Championship Win

02:49 - OKC's Championship Celebrations

05:12 - SGA's MVP Season

11:46 - Tyrese Haliburton's Injury & The NBA's Injury Epidemic

19:36 - Interview with NBA Expert Dave DuFour

31:00 - WNBA Expansion News

33:01 - World Aquatics Championships Preview

37:10 - Coming up next time!

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Welcome to This Sporting Planet, your definitive source for 'The World's View of Sport'. 🌍🎙️

In this episode, our hosts Natalie Sawyer (UK), Suhail Chandhok (India), and Kate Allman (Australia) preview the Wimbledon Championships! We celebrate the new era of men's tennis, discuss the unpredictable women's draw, and are joined by wheelchair tennis champion Diede de Groot.

The team dives deep into the major headlines and stories you need to know from the All England Club.

Here is a breakdown of the main topics:

The New Rivalry: We analyse the epic Roland Garros final between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner and what their rivalry could mean for the future of men's tennis.

Wimbledon Predictions: Our hosts make their bold predictions for the men's and women's singles titles, with a look at the chances for home favourites and a returning Novak Djokovic.

Sabalenka's Mental Game: A debate on Aryna Sabalenka's surprising performance at the French Open and whether her mental strength is a chink in her armour.

Wheelchair Tennis: We hear from 42-time major champion Diede de Groot about the physical demands of playing at Wimbledon and the growth of wheelchair tennis in the Netherlands.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro & The Alcaraz-Sinner Rivalry

07:29 - Novak Djokovic on Carlos Alcaraz

12:33 - Coco Gauff's French Open Win

14:27 - Is Aryna Sabalenka Lacking Mental Strength?

18:22 - Wimbledon Singles Predictions

29:36 - Interview with Diede de Groot

37:11 - The Open Women's Draw

41:43 - Coming up next time!

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Welcome to This Sporting Planet, your definitive source for 'The World's View of Sport'. 🌍🎙️

In this special bonus episode, host Suhail Chandhok (India) sits down with cricketing royalty Sir Andrew Strauss (UK) for a wide-ranging discussion on the game. They preview the highly anticipated India vs. England Test series and discuss the future of the sport as a whole.

Here is a breakdown of the main topics:

India vs. England Preview: Strauss gives his thoughts and predictions for the upcoming Test series, analysing India's formidable pace attack and how it will challenge England's batters.

The "Bazball" Approach: The former England captain weighs in on the aggressive "Bazball" strategy and whether it can succeed against a world-class Indian side, especially now that England is No. 1 in the world.

Franchise Cricket's Impact: A discussion on the rise of leagues like the IPL and The Hundred, and the challenge for administrators to balance international and franchise cricket without "flogging the players."

Strauss's New Venture: Sir Andrew Strauss talks about his passion for the rapidly growing sport of padel, his new investment venture, and his thoughts on how to better serve sports fans.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction & Welcome

02:01 - India vs. England Series Preview

07:16 - The "Bazball" Strategy

09:39 - Planning for the Future after Key Retirements

12:10 - The Rise of Franchise Cricket

16:10 - Sir Andrew Strauss's Padel Venture

22:33 - Rapid Fire with Sir Andrew Strauss

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