In this powerful episode, host Carolyn Kent speaks with attorney Steven DeBonis of Cordisco & Saile about the growing legal landscape surrounding traumatic brain injury (TBI) in football. With rulings such as the UK’s Gordon McQueen inquest and decades of concussion litigation in the United States, the conversation around brain injury in sport has never been more urgent.

Steven breaks down the intersection between law and medicine explaining how TBIs are defined, how causation is established, why cumulative impacts matter, and what governing bodies and youth organisations need to understand about duty of care. They also explore informed consent, legal precedents, and what the next 10 years might look like as research and litigation continue to evolve.

Whether you're a player, coach, administrator, medical professional, or simply a fan who cares about the future of the sport, this episode offers an essential and accessible deep dive into one of football’s most pressing issues.

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In this episode, host Carolyn Kent speaks with pelvic health expert Sarah Thorne about one of the most overlooked areas in women’s and girls’ sport: female health at grassroots level. With tens of thousands of young girls entering the game, understanding how puberty, menstrual cycles, pelvic health, growth, nutrition and confidence affect performance is more essential than ever.

Sarah shares insights from her extensive work in London grassroots clubs, where she supports coaches, parents, and players to build healthier, safer training environments. From the importance of sports bras and cycle awareness to managing growth-related pain and reducing injury risk, this conversation offers practical, immediately useful advice for every club.

Whether you're coaching under-10s, parenting a teenage footballer, or working within a club structure, this episode will help you understand how to better support young female players in the most crucial years of their development.

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In this in‑depth conversation, Carolyn speaks with Jim Gooley, a central figure in the evolution of several major women’s football franchises in the United States. From the early days of the New Jersey Wildcats to the rise of Gotham FC, Jim has witnessed and helped shape the landscape of the women’s game over more than five decades.

They discuss how healthcare sponsorships can make or break a franchise, why player protection must come before performance, and how genuine community relationships are far more powerful than traditional advertising. Jim also shares lesser‑known stories about working with elite players and coaches, and reflects on the increasing commercialisation of the women’s game including the challenges posed by rising transfer fees, ticket pricing, and global tournaments.

This episode offers a unique blend of personal story, business insight, and reflections on culture, identity, and what makes women’s football distinct.

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In this episode of the Women’s Football Hub podcast, host Carolyn Kent is joined by internationally recognised physiotherapist, researcher, and CTO of TopSpin Technologies, Dr. Theo Versteegh, to explore why the neck may be one of the most underestimated areas in athlete preparation particularly in women’s football.

Together they discuss:

This is an essential conversation for coaches, clinicians, S&C professionals, and anyone supporting female athletes. If you’ve ever wondered why neck training matters—or how it can transform injury risk and on‑pitch performance—this episode provides clarity and practical takeaways.

Contact Theo:

#WomensFootball #ConcussionPrevention #NeckTraining #SportsMedicine #TopSpin360 #FemaleAthleteHealth #FootballPerformance #InjuryPrevention

Hypothalamic Amenorrhea in Female Football: What Every Athlete and Coach Needs to Know

In this episode of Women’s Football Hub, host Carolyn Kent speaks with Greta Jarvis, nutrition and public health expert and founder of the Center for Active Women. Together they unpack Hypothalamic Amenorrhea (HA) a missing or irregular menstrual cycle caused by factors such as low energy availability, psychological stress, and high training loads.

Greta explains why HA is a diagnosis of exclusion, why it’s common in team sports, and why so many athletes never realise the risks until injuries or underperformance appear. The conversation covers bone health, stress fractures, RED-S, cultural taboos, and the importance of menstrual cycle tracking and creating safe environments for athletes to speak up.

We also discuss recovery timelines, treatment principles, and what coaches and clinicians can do to support players holistically and safely.

A must-listen episode for physiotherapists, coaches, medical teams, athletes, and anyone wanting deeper insight into female athlete health.

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Identity & Belonging with Dr Ian Cookson

In this episode of the Women’s Football Hub Podcast, host Carolyn Kent sits down with Dr Ian Cookson, sport psychologist and host of our psychology series, for a deep and honest conversation about identity, belonging, and the evolving culture of football.

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This episode is packed with practical advice for practitioners, coaches, parents, and anyone supporting athletes through the highs and lows of the game.

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In this episode of Women’s Football Hub, host Carolyn Kent is joined by women’s health physiotherapist and Pilates instructor Chloe Evans to discuss the often‑ignored but hugely important topic of pelvic floor relaxation.

Many women - especially athletes - experience pelvic floor symptoms despite doing regular strengthening exercises. Chloe explains why this happens, why relaxation is essential before any contraction work, and how stress, daily habits, and breathing patterns all influence pelvic floor function.

Together, Carolyn and Chloe explore:

This is an open, supportive conversation suitable for any woman wanting to understand her body better, whether you’re an athlete, clinician, or simply curious about pelvic health.

Content note: Includes mature but non‑graphic discussion of intimacy and pelvic health, for educational purposes.

#PelvicHealth #WomensFootballHub #PelvicFloorRelaxation #WomenInSport #Physiotherapy #BreathingTechniques #PilatesForAthletes #PerformanceAndHealth

Sleep isn’t just rest it’s a performance enhancer. In this episode of Women's Football Hub, Carolyn Kent talks to Dr. Kirstie Anderson, a leading sleep specialist and neurologist, about the science behind sleep and its impact on football. We dive into why sleep matters for memory, mood, and recovery, how it affects injury risk, and what female athletes need to know about hormonal changes and aging. Plus, we bust myths about magnesium, discuss the truth about wearables, and share practical strategies for managing jet lag and optimizing circadian rhythm.

Whether you’re an elite player, a coach, or a walking footballer, this episode offers actionable advice to help you prioritise sleep for peak performance.

Listen now and subscribe for more evidence-based insights!

#SleepForAthletes #WomenInFootball #SportsScience #AthleteHealth #FootballPodcast #PerformanceRecovery #SleepMatters #CircadianRhythm #JetLagTips

When footballers get injured, the first instinct is often to cut calories but is that the right move? In this episode, Carolyn Kent talks with sports nutritionist Phil Woodbridge about why nutrition matters during recovery and how athletes can avoid common mistakes.

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Phil also shares insights from his PhD research on amateur footballers and injury recovery. If you’re a player, coach, or parent, this episode is your go-to guide for smarter nutrition during injury.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice.

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In this episode of Women's Football Hub, host Carolyn Kent is joined by Christos Pippas, a physiotherapist and PhD researcher specialising in longstanding groin pain. Together, they unpack the complexities of groin injuries in football, including adductor, iliopsoas, pubic, and inguinal-related pain.

Christos shares insights from his research and clinical experience, offering practical advice on assessment, rehabilitation, and the importance of tailoring treatment to each athlete. The episode also highlights the lack of research in women’s football and the need for more inclusive studies.

Perfect for physiotherapists, coaches, and players, this episode bridges the gap between evidence and practice.

#GroinPain #FootballInjuries #SportsMedicine #Physiotherapy #CopenhagenExercise #InjuryPrevention #WomensFootball #ClinicalPractice #CarolynKent #ChristosPippas