This Sporting Planet

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

In this episode, our hosts Natalie Sawyer (UK), Kate Allman (Australia), and Suhail Chandhok (India) dive into rugby's biggest debates.

Wallaby legend Ben Alexander joins us to preview the British & Irish Lions tour of Australia and discuss the future of the sport as a whole.

Here is a breakdown of the main topics:

Lions Tour Preview: We hear from Wallaby great Ben Alexander about the tour's immense importance for Australian rugby. The team debates whether the Wallabies can overcome the favoured Lions and what a clash of styles means for the series.

The R360 Debate: A discussion on the proposed breakaway rugby league. Is this the innovation the sport needs to survive, or a flawed and delusional concept?

Rugby's Global Growth: Our hosts discuss the development of rugby in emerging markets, with Suhail providing an exclusive look at India's new Rugby Premier League.

Beyond the Rugby: The hosts also find time to celebrate Suhail's surprising table tennis championship win and Natalie’s genuine sadness over Thomas Frank’s departure from Brentford.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction & Weekend Highlights

03:15 - Suhail's Table Tennis Championship

05:51 - The Thomas Frank & Ange Postecoglou Drama

11:31 - British & Irish Lions Tour Preview with Ben Alexander

27:57 - The Growth of Rugby in India

32:00 - The R360 Breakaway League Debate

41:38 - 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), Edward Russell (Singapore), and Todd Harris (USA) dive into the biggest stories from the football season. We celebrate the men's and women's Champions League winners and preview the new, expanded FIFA Club World Cup.

We also mark a significant milestone: joining our community of over 100,000 YouTube subscribers!

We're joined by Champions League winner Lianne Sanderson and The Athletic's Felipe Cardenas for exclusive insights.

Here is a breakdown of the main topics:

Champions League Finals: A recap of PSG's record-breaking win over Inter and Arsenal Women's "shock victory" over Barcelona. We analyse the tactical masterclasses and what they mean for the future of both clubs.

The Club World Cup Preview: A look at the new $1 billion tournament in the USA. We gain a global view of the competition's format and debate whether a new transfer window will lead to "hired guns" and squad manipulation.

Football's Biggest Debates: We cover the ongoing debate about Cristiano Ronaldo's "failure" in Saudi Arabia, Manchester United's "embarrassing" post-season tour, and the dramatic title collapse of Ajax.

Behind the Scenes: Natalie shares a story about a surprise cuddle with Jurgen Klopp, and Edward provides a sneak peek into his chat with F1 driver Alex Albon.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro & Community Milestone

06:19 - Men's Champions League Final: PSG's Victory

18:06 - Women's Champions League Final: Arsenal's Triumph

29:17 - The Ronaldo Debate

30:31 - Manchester United's "Embarrassing" Post-Season Tour

34:59 - Ajax's Eredivisie Collapse

37:44 - FIFA Club World Cup Preview

50:53 - The Club World Cup Transfer Window Debate

57:46 - Club World Cup 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 Natalie Sawyer (UK), Edward Russell (Singapore), Todd Harris (USA), and Suhail Chandhok (India) dive into the biggest stories from the tennis world. We preview the European Grand Slams and get an exclusive take from tennis legend Mark Woodforde.

The team also analyzes the viral quote from Novak Djokovic about Carlos Alcaraz and debates the future of the sport's biggest names.

Here is a breakdown of the main topics:

A Global Sports Round-up: A look at major headlines from outside tennis, including Manny Pacquiao's return to the ring, the NFL schedule release, and the Pro Kabaddi auction in India.

The Djokovic-Alcaraz Debate: We analyze the viral quote from Novak Djokovic about Carlos Alcaraz and debate whether the older generation can compete with the new.

Wimbledon & Roland Garros Preview: The hosts and Mark Woodforde share their predictions for the men's and women's draws, discussing the Alcaraz-Sinner rivalry and the wide-open women's field.

The Player's Perspective: Tennis legend Mark Woodforde, a 12-time Grand Slam doubles champion, shares what it's like to compete at Wimbledon and Roland Garros and offers his unique predictions.

The Future of the Sport: A discussion on the future of Novak Djokovic's career and the impact of the new generation on the world of tennis.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro & What's Coming Up

01:45 - A Global Sports Round-up

09:27 - Attending Wimbledon & Roland Garros

15:00 - A Chat with Tennis Legend Mark Woodforde

24:01 - Roland Garros Predictions

28:12 - Wimbledon Predictions

33:44 - Will Novak Djokovic Ever Win Another Slam?

40:15 - Player's Thoughts on the Grand Slams

44:21 - 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 Colette Wong (Singapore) sits down with sports journalist, cricket commentator, and producer Annesha Ghosh (India) for an in-depth discussion on the state of women's cricket.

They cover the rise of the game in India, the upcoming World Cup, and the role of the Women's Premier League in creating a new generation of players.

Here is a breakdown of the main topics:

World Cup Hopes: Annesha discusses the pressure on India's team to win their first senior World Cup title on home soil and what a victory would mean for the sport.

The WPL's Impact: An insider's take on how the Women's Premier League is fulfilling its promise to create a strong feeder line for the national team, and the debate over its future expansion.

Grassroots Development: A look at how women's cricket is inspiring a new generation of female athletes and the growth of academies across India.

Media's Role: Annesha shares her thoughts on the media's responsibility in promoting the women's game and how the landscape of sports journalism is changing to support it.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro & The Rise of Women's Cricket

01:24 - India's 2017 World Cup Run

04:39 - The Women's Premier League & Its Impact

07:22 - Debate on WPL Expansion

13:28 - Grassroots Cricket & Player Pathways

16:48 - The Media's Role in Women's Sport

19:52 - World Cup Anticipation in India

Find more This Sporting Planet content over on our YouTube channel, where you can also watch this interview!

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

In this women's sport special, our hosts Natalie Sawyer (UK), Kate Allman (Australia), and Colette Wong (Singapore) highlight the most exciting stories from around the world. An all-star lineup of guests joins us to discuss the growth, challenges, and future of female athletes.

Hear exclusive interviews with netball legend Caitlin Bassett, Champions League winner Lianne Sanderson, and golf sensation Shannon Tan.

Here is a breakdown of the main topics:

An Honest Look at Women's Sport: Netball legend Caitlin Bassett discusses her career, her transition to journalism, and the challenge she puts to male sports journalists everywhere.

The State of Women's Football: Lianne Sanderson previews the Arsenal vs. Barcelona Champions League final and shares her candid assessment of the strengths and challenges facing women's football globally. We also discuss the worrying trend of ACL injuries in the women's game.

A Global View of Women's Golf: Singapore's Shannon Tan discusses her trailblazing success and the broader discussion on why Asia and Australia have become the epicentre of women's golf.

Beyond the Highlights: A round-up of other women's sporting news from around the globe, including the NFL, the A-League, and Singapore's hockey team.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro & What's Coming Up!

01:32 - Welcome to Colette Wong!

03:45 - Global Sports Round-up

13:39 - Former Australia Netball Captain Caitlin Bassett joins us!

28:48 - Former Winner Lianne Sanderson Previews the Champions League Final

38:03 - The State of Women's Football Around the Globe

43:40 - Singapore Golf Sensation Shannon Tan joins us!

49:06 - Why is Women's Golf in Asia so Strong

54:18 - AOB

59:01 - 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), Todd Harris (USA), and Kate Allman (Australia) are joined by Super Bowl winner Jason Bell to bring you an exclusive insider's preview of the 2025 NFL Draft.

The team also takes a quick spin around the globe, covering all the major sporting moments from the past month.

Here is a breakdown of the main topics:

The NFL Draft Insider's View: Jason Bell gives us a peek into the intense decision-making in the draft's "war rooms." He explains how the draft works and what other sports can learn from its ability to sell "hope" to fans.

Top Prospects & Predictions: We break down the most talked-about prospects, including Cam Ward, Travis Hunter, and Shedeur Sanders, and debate who will be the biggest steals and surprises.

A Global Sports Round-up: A look at Rory McIlroy's historic Masters win, Liverpool's Premier League title, Melbourne City's undefeated season, and Oscar Piastri's rise to the top of the F1 standings.

The Future of Football: A discussion on the ambitious (and maybe "delusional") proposal of an expanded 64-team FIFA World Cup, and a debate on why more Premier League players don't try their hand at the NFL.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction & Global Sports Round-up

01:00 - Liverpool Closes in on the Premier League Title

03:12 - Rory McIlroy FINALLY wins the Masters

07:54 - Melbourne City Women Complete an Unbeaten Season

09:20 - Oscar Piastri Tops the F1 Standings

13:43 - Americas Sports Round-up & NFL Draft Lottery

17:05 - NFL Draft Preview with Super Bowl Winner Jason Bell!

53:53 - Any Other Business & A Look Ahead

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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), Edward Russell (Singapore), and Todd Harris (USA) bring you the biggest sports stories from their respective regions before diving into the main topics.

After the regional round-ups, they cover:

Football: A European Wrap-up: A look at Liverpool's Premier League title race and the dramatic promotion and relegation battles. We also honour the legacy of Kevin De Bruyne as he departs Manchester City.

Rugby: The Red Roses' Dominance: We hear from World Cup winner Rachel Burford on England's performance in the Women's Six Nations and how their home advantage could lead them to glory.

Golf: The Major Season Begins: Solheim Cup winner Lauren Coughlin joins us to discuss her LPGA success, and the hosts share their excitement about The Masters.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro & Regional Round-ups

11:46 - Football Season Concludes

14:01 - The legacy of Kevin De Bruyne's departure from Man City

29:16 - Women's Six Nations Preview with Rachel Burford

40:36 - Golf Majors Preview with Lauren Coughlin

51:59 - AOB & What's Next!

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

In this episode, our hosts are Todd Harris (USA), Edward Russell (Singapore), and new host, Suhail Chandhok (India). They bring you the biggest sports stories from their respective regions and then, after the regional round-ups, they dive into these main topics:

F1's Red Bull Chaos: Former F1 driver Karun Chandhok tells us what's going on at Red Bull Racing and critiques their "brutal" decision to drop Liam Lawson after just two races.

Cricket: The IPL Behemoth - Suhail and the team dive into the Indian Premier League, debating whether it has become as big as the NFL or NBA, and discuss the teams and players to watch this season.

Football: Indonesia's World Cup Dream - We hear from journalist Tio Otomo about Indonesia's quest to qualify for their first World Cup and the debate surrounding naturalising foreign-born players.

Baseball: MLB Predictions: Former MLB pitcher Jay Jackson gives his insider's take on the new season and if Shohei Ohtani and the LA Dodgers can repeat their championship.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro & What's Coming Up

03:04 - Americas Sport Round-up

09:55 - India Sport Round-up

13:04 - IPL vs. The Big Leagues

23:50 - Southeast Asia & Europe Sport Round-up

25:20 - Red Bull F1 Drama with Karun Chandhok

36:47 - Indonesia's World Cup Dream

48:06 - Jay Jackson's MLB Predictions

57:58 - AOB

61:10 - Coming up next time!

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

For the first time in 2025, it's race week in Formula 1! In this bonus episode, Natalie Sawyer (UK) sits down with BBC F1 presenter and star of Netflix's Drive To Survive, Jennie Gow, to preview the most highly anticipated season in the sport's 75-year history.

They dive into the biggest stories of the year, from Lewis Hamilton's historic move to Ferrari to the close competition at the top.

Here is a breakdown of the main topics:

The Hamilton-Ferrari Story: An in-depth look at the biggest story in the sport. We discuss Lewis Hamilton's decision, how he will work with teammate Charles Leclerc, and whether he can win a record eighth world title.

F1's Rise to Global Popularity: Jennie Gow shares her insights into the sport's massive success under Liberty Media, the impact of Netflix's 'Drive to Survive,' and the F1 75th anniversary launch event.

2025 Season Preview: We examine the intense competition among McLaren, Red Bull, and Ferrari. Jennie also offers her thoughts on the six rookies on the grid and the hopes for Oscar Piastri at his home race in Melbourne.

Bold Predictions: Jenny Gow gives her full Drivers' and Constructors' Championship predictions, including a surprising choice for the title.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro & What's Coming Up

01:11 - The F1 75 Launch & The Impact of Liberty Media

04:28 - How Netflix's 'Drive To Survive' changed the sport

06:01 - The Hamilton-Ferrari Story

11:48 - Hamilton vs. Leclerc: The Team Dynamic

13:28 - Will Max Verstappen be challenged

15:55 - The Six Rookies of the 2025 season

17:24 - Oscar Piastri's home race in Melbourne

19:36 - The 2026 Rule Changes

22:24 - Jenny Gow's Predictions for the 2025 Titles

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

In this bonus episode, host Todd Harris (USA) sits down with sports commentator and "Voice of the Cougars" Greg Wrubell to preview the annual March Madness basketball tournament.

They discuss why it's one of the biggest events on the American sporting calendar, the new era of college sports, and the BYU Cougars' chances of a tournament run.

Here is a breakdown of the main topics:

The March Madness Phenomenon: A discussion on why the tournament is a billion-dollar enterprise, drawing in fans with its "Cinderella stories" and bracket-busting upsets.

The NIL Debate: A deep dive into the "seismic shift" in college sports. We discuss how Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) money and the transfer portal are creating a new form of "free agency" and changing the landscape of college athletics.

Inside a College Program: As a commentator for the BYU Cougars, Greg gives us his take on the team's chances, their NBA-style offence, and why the 8-9 seed line is considered "cursed" in the tournament.

Beyond Basketball: A brief mention of the conversation about Deion Sanders's players and their NFL prospects.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro & Why March Madness is so popular

01:39 - BYU's Strengths & Tournament Chances

05:55 - The NIL Debate & Transfer Portal

08:48 - Why the NCAA tournament is America's best sporting event

11:31 - How Greg Wrubell Preps for Games

13:45 - Final Four Predictions

18:22 - Deion Sanders' Players and the NFL Draft

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