In this episode of the Women's Football Hub Podcast, host Carolyn Kent is joined by Dr Jessica Beal Stahl and sports pharmacist Emily Shears for a critical conversation about GLP-1 receptor agonists – better known as Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro.

We unpack:

How these drugs work in the body

Why they were developed for diabetes and are now used more broadly (including PCOS, weight loss)

Risks and side effects (appetite suppression, GI distress, nutrient depletion, ‘Ozempic teeth’, hormonal impacts)

Black market concerns and safety issues

Implications for female athletes (RED-S, sarcopenia, performance monitoring)

Ethical and regulatory questions around sport

This episode is essential for athletes, coaches, clinicians and anyone supporting female players.

🛒 Support the Hub by visiting www.womensfootballhub.com

⚠️ Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Please consult a healthcare professional for personal guidance.

#WomensFootballHub #FemaleAthleteHealth #GLP1 #Ozempic #Wegovy #Mounjaro #SportsPharmacy

Sleep Posture: Controlling the Controllables with Louise Rogerson and Team GB Olympian Katy Marchant

In this episode of the Women's Football Hub Podcast, host Carolyn Kent is joined by neurological physiotherapist Louise Rogerson (Chief Clinical Officer at Levitex) and Team GB Olympic track cyclist Katy Marchant to explore a topic that's often overlooked in athlete recovery: sleep posture.

You'll hear:

This episode is full of practical, evidence-informed advice for athletes, physiotherapists, and anyone wanting to get the most out of their sleep.

🛒 Support our not-for-profit mission to grow the women's game by visiting our merch store:

💬 Follow us on social media and join the conversation.

#SleepPosture #WomensFootball #SportsPhysio #AthleteHealth #Recovery #Podcast

Menstrual health isn’t a “nice to have” in football – it’s essential.

In this episode of Women’s Football Hub, we’re joined by sports scientist Julia Donnelly – head of performance at Athlete Focused and soon-to-be Dr Donnelly – who’s just completed a PhD investigating the menstrual cycle in football.

Julia shares her research on:

If you’re a coach, practitioner, or anyone working with female players – this is essential listening to help you support your athletes better.

🎧 Tune in now and join the movement to make menstrual health a normal part of football.

#WomensFootballHub #WomenInSport #FootballPodcast #MenstrualHealth #FemaleAthleteHealth #GrowTheGame

This week on the Women’s Football Hub Podcast, Dr Ian Cookson is joined by sport and exercise psychologist in training Mark Eastup for a brilliant deep dive into Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) — a modern, values-driven approach that’s making waves in performance sport.

Mark shares his journey from clinical mental health settings to working in women’s football, and breaks down:

What ACT is and why it's different from CBT and REBT

How he uses ACT to support coaches and players in football

Real examples of helping coaches align values with on-pitch behaviour

🎙️ If you're a coach, parent, or player looking to understand how sport psychology supports whole-person development, this is the episode for you.

Visit womensfootballhub.com to explore more.

:

🎧 UEFA A Coach Andy Driscoll on Coaching, Confidence & the 3 Rs Framework

💬 Topics covered:

Andy’s path from playing to UEFA A coaching

What it really takes to earn the badge

Why teaching skills are essential for great coaching

How grassroots coaches can apply elite principles

Barriers women face in coaching – and how to break them down

The importance of mentorship and planning

Whether you're coaching U12s or dreaming of the pro game, this episode is packed with insight and support to help you grow.

🛍️ Support the Hub

📱 Follow us for more

🎙️ Subscribe. Review. Share.

🎙 Podcast Title: Safeguarding in Football with Sally O'Donnell

📍 Episode Summary:

💬 Guest: Sally O'Donnell – Safeguarding Consultant & Founder of SO Training and Consulting

📌 Topics Covered:

Why the word safeguarding makes people nervous—and why it shouldn’t

Sally’s journey from criminal justice to football safeguarding

What safeguarding looks like in a football academy and on match day

Red flags to watch out for in coaching behaviour

Key policies every football club should have in place

Creating effective safeguarding cultures: safety, trust & collaboration

How parents and caregivers can support safe environments

🔥 Standout Quotes:

“I’m there to be friendly, but I’m not there to be friends.”

📚 Resources Mentioned:

FA Safeguarding Courses

Sally’s consulting service: So Training and Consulting

📢 Call to Action:

🔗 Connect with Sally: https://safeguarding-so.co.uk/play-it-safe/

🎙️ “ACL Injuries in Female Youth Players” – with Miss Morgan Bailey

In this episode of Women's Football Hub, we’re joined by Miss Morgan Bailey – a consultant trauma and orthopaedic surgeon and chair of the Women’s ACL Orthopaedic Steering Group. Together with co-host and strength coach Lotte Black, we dive deep into one of the most talked-about topics in women’s football: ACL injuries in female youth players.

From surgery to prevention, to practical coaching solutions – this episode is packed with evidence-based insights and powerful perspectives on protecting young athletes.

⚠️ Why ACL injuries in youth players are rising

20x increase in adolescent ACL injuries over the past 20 years

Specialisation, overtraining, and underprepared support systems

🧬 The female factor: Sex-based vs. gender-based injury risks

Hormonal changes, alignment, and menstrual cycle impacts

Gender inequality in kit design, pitches, coaching, and care access

💥 What coaches NEED to know about injury prevention

Neuromuscular warm-ups reduce injuries by up to 70%

Why plyometrics are the most overlooked warm-up component

🛠️ Surgical decision-making in young players

Growth plate concerns and graft choices

When surgery is necessary—and when it's not

Long-term implications for young athletes' knee health and careers

🧠 The psychology behind teenage rehab

Managing expectations for return to play

Supporting autonomy in adolescent decision-making

Importance of physio and peer support

💪 Power Up to Play – www.poweruptoplay.org

Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & all major platforms.

Hosted by Dr Ian Cookson

In this episode, Dr Ian Cookson sits down with Melissa Dhillon to explore the power of intuition in sport.

Melissa draws on her extensive experience, including her work with Birmingham Women’s and Girls Football Club, to unpack the psychological demands of players and how creating a safe, trusting environment can unlock performance. The episode delves into the differences in psychological needs between men and women in sport, the role of intuition in decision-making, and how flow state can elevate performance.

The importance of building safe, trusting spaces for athletes to thrive

Gender differences in communication and emotional support in football

How Melissa uses experience across tennis, golf, and boxing to understand mental demands

What intuition really means in sport – and how to train it

The balance between technical coaching and allowing players to develop instinctive decision-making

Creating flow state and the psychological value of "the zone"

Why children are naturally intuitive – and how we often interrupt that

Encouraging autonomy and responsibility in players

“Intuition is the brain’s ability to process stored information based on experience – it’s not magic, it’s learned, and it’s powerful.”

Perfect for coaches, players, parents and support staff who want to better understand the psychological layers that shape confidence and decision-making in female footballers.

Website: www.athletesinthezone.com

Instagram: @melissadhillonitz

LinkedIn: Melissa Dhillon

Love what we do? Visit the Women’s Football Hub Merch Store to grab your kit and help us champion women’s football – one hoodie at a time.

🎙️ “Rebuilding Stronger: ACL Recovery & Resilience in Young Female Athletes” – with Elliot Greenberg & Dr. Ted Ganley

In this episode of Women's Football Hub, host Carolyn Kent and co-host Lindsey Cornish are joined by two world-class experts from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia: Elliot Greenberg, a clinical specialist in ACL rehab, and Dr. Ted Ganley, an orthopedic surgeon and director of the Sports Medicine and Performance Center.

Together, they unpack the full ACL journey—from surgery and rehab to re-injury prevention and mental health—offering unique insights into supporting young female footballers through one of the most challenging injuries in sport.

🧠 The Emotional Impact of ACL Rehab

“It’s not the pain—it’s the identity loss”

How staying socially connected boosts recovery

⚙️ Why Rehab Isn’t One-Size-Fits-All

Pediatric rehab milestones vs adult protocols

Strength, neuromuscular control & realistic timelines

Language matters: “You’re not ‘cleared’—you’re progressing”

🦵 Re-injury Risks & Return-to-Play

Why 9 months is just a minimum

Why symmetry ≠ readiness

Elliot’s favorite quote: “Being strong is good. Accessing strength quickly is better.”

⚽ Coaches, Parents & Prevention

Injury prevention starts BEFORE elite level

Strength training bias: Are we underloading female athletes?

Reinforce injury prevention after return to play

🩺 Surgical & Long-Term Considerations

How growth plates affect graft choice

What “stronger than ever” really means post-ACL

The uncomfortable reality of early-onset arthritis

“Recovery is not linear—every athlete is on their own journey.” – Elliot Greenberg

“ACL surgery is just the helicopter ride to base camp—rehab is the real mountain climb.” – Dr. Ted Ganley

“The goal of ACL surgery isn’t elite status—it’s preserving knee health for life.”

📚 U.S. injury data & sport-specific risk breakdowns

🧠 Sports psychology integration in rehab

💡 Machine learning in predicting ACL reinjury risk (Greenberg & Ganley, 2024)

Find the full episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & all major platforms.

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Sam McHaffie, performance nutritionist at Manchester City Women and recent PhD graduate from Liverpool John Moores University. We unpack the findings from his four-part PhD exploring nutrition and energy availability in elite female footballers—from carbohydrate fear and body image concerns to under-fuelling and RED-S risk in adolescent players. Sam shares practical insights for coaches, players, and parents on fuelling performance, supporting menstrual health, and creating positive nutrition environments in the women's game.

🎙 Topics include:

Carbohydrate myths and body image issues in women’s football

Skinfold testing and why context matters

How open players really are about their menstrual cycle

The role of parents, coaches, and practitioners in shaping healthy food culture

Doubly labelled water and redefining energy needs in female athletes

If you support a player, work in the game, or just want to understand women’s football better—this one’s for you.

🔗 More at www.womensfootballhub.com