PSA CEO Alex Gough and his team have had their hands full trying to piece together everything that Covid-19 has thrown their way. Well, there may be light at the end of the tunnel, but that doesn't mean things will be back to normal anytime soon. In a very informative and candid conversation, Alex lays out all of the key variables required to get pro squash back up and running, including a potential date and location for long-awaited return. Although nothing is etched in stone, this is good news...
Jul 28, 2020•58 min
World Open finalist and semi-finalist in two of the past three World Opens just goes to show that Marwan El Shorbagy is on the cusp of taking his game to the highest level of all. He's reached #3 in the world, and now he's back to near his best form after going through a very difficult period in his career. Marwan looks back at his 2011/12 years where he parlayed a World Junior Championship into immediate professional success. What's it like to play your brother on the biggest stage in squash's ...
Jul 23, 2020•1 hr 4 min
The Show Court (theshowcourt.com), provides fresh squash every other Friday, and the stories it's produced till now provide us with the type of squash writing that the squash world hasn't seen. The brainchild behind this, Alix Williams. Alix has only been playing squash for a few years, but she's all in now and her love and commitment to the game shine threw via the superb stories she's pieced together on The Show Court. Alix gives us a look into what she loves about the game, her squash journey...
Jul 18, 2020•56 min
James Willstrop has provided the squash world with some of the most sublime performances, breathtaking exchanges and mind-blowing displays of shot making since he turned pro almost 20 years ago. His accomplishments speak for themselves: former world number 1, 3X and reigning British National Champion, winner of dozens of major PSA events. James is a role model for all of us in terms of the way he plays the game and his on court temperament and demeanor. James and I talk at length about his caree...
Jul 10, 2020•55 min
2019/2020 PSA Female Challenger Series Player of the Year and winner of 3 or her last 4 challenger series events, last season generated some very positive momentum for Danielle. We talk about her Challenger series success and the value of the PSA challenger series events. We also discuss what she needs to do to make deeper runs in the PSA's major events. During this down time, Danielle's been enjoying the great outdoors that life in the Alberta Rockies provides, and she gives great insight on ho...
Jul 06, 2020•37 min
Raneem El Weleily shocked the squash world on June 25th by announcing her retirement from the game while sitting atop the PSA world rankings. Jenny Duncalf speaks about Raneem's incredible career looking back to her world jr. champion days, her early years on tour, Jenny's personal head to head with Raneem, the rivalry with Nicol David, and what makes Raneem such a majestic player and person who always gave back off the court.
Jul 03, 2020•37 min
SquashSkills "A Bronx Tale" gave the squash world a fantastic look into what can happen when you truly give back to the game. Bryan Patterson has been doing that for many years and then some. In case you didn't know, dare I say, there's a backstory to all of this though -- his playing career, which is equally as heartwarming and impressive. The anecdotes abound in this incredible chat with Bryan which covers his competitive years, his relationship with Jonah Barrington, the unprecedented Patrick...
Jun 29, 2020•1 hr 27 min
The most dominant player of his generation, current world #1 Mohamed El Shorbagy has done it all, and he's got his sites firmly set on solidifying his hold on the #1 ranking when pro squash resumes. Mohamed describes his early struggles with motivation to train during the Covid-lockdown, losing the #1 spot and then regaining it at the end of the 2020 campaign, his battles with Rami Ashour, playing his brother Marwan in the 2017 World Open final and so much more.
Jun 24, 2020•49 min
"The man behind the scenes" is his moniker. Director of Events for the PSA Tim Garner had a very good pro career and then went the entrepreneurship route which saw him co-found Eventis (behind the Canary Wharf Classic and the English Open) , the British Squash Professional Association and several other ventures. Now, I dare say he's now working behind the scenes on what could be his most challenging task to date -- getting the pro tour back on its feet again.
Jun 21, 2020•54 min
Host of the Around the Court Podcast, the Peter Nicol Squash Academy Director of Squash, Reigning and 8 x Irish National Champion Arthur Gaskin is producing squash at the highest level across the spectrum. Arthur and I look back at his early days, his first Irish National Championship, Irish legends of the game, the podcast game, coaching during this pandemic and much more.
Jun 15, 2020•1 hr 24 min
Always enjoy having friend of the podcast Rob Dinerman on to talk squash. Prolific squash historian, particularly with respect to stateside varsity, pro doubles and hardball squash history, Rob discusses the latest on Brown University's varsity squash situation in the aftermath of being 1 of 11 programs cut by the university. Rob's knowledge of the varsity and hardball games are unparalleled, and it was a pleasure to hear him break down both in terms of last season and what he expects going forw...
Jun 10, 2020•52 min
Reigning World Open Champion Tarek Momen wasn't going to let anything stop him from hoisting the 2019 World Open Championship; not poor form, plantar fasciitis, or a 1-2 2-6 in the fourth deficit in the third round. He summoned what it took and then some, recovering from that deficit to go on to win his first World title while only dropping 1 game from the quarters on. Tarek opens up about the challenges he faced in the years, months and days leading up to that event. He also gives some candid t...
Jun 03, 2020•1 hr 2 min
He's a two time British National finalists, European individual winner, and the world 45plus masters twice over, and did I mention a coaching sensation? Nick Taylor provides food for thought for days on topics ranging from squash under our challenging pandemic circumstances, coaching juniors, the state of the game in North America and much more. The Nick Taylor Squash Academy opened its doors recently, and Nick gives some honest perspective on gently resuming our squash lives on court. I took th...
May 29, 2020•1 hr
Chris has carved out a very well-rounded coaching resume to date, and last week after being name Head Squash Coach for the University of Western Ontario Mustangs, he may have landed the coaching position he's always wanted. Former member of the Mustangs several years back, Chris has since developed into one of the game's most innovative and exciting young squash instructors. He's honed his skills in such places as Moncton, New Brunswick, Saint Michaels University School in Victoria, BC and inter...
May 22, 2020•1 hr 9 min
In February, 1998 Peter Nicol reached world #1 supplanting legend Jansher Khan, and thereafter along with Jonathan Power, gave us one of the most memorable eras in the game's history. He went on to hold the number 1 ranking several times throughout his illustrious career,at one point for 24 successive months b/t January 2002 and December 2003, placing him firmly among the greatest to ever play the game. Peter talks about his career, the JP rivalry, snatching the #1 ranking from Jansher, SquashSk...
May 16, 2020•1 hr 22 min
From Butt to Binnie, Rene Denis has been coach to world class squash players since the early 80s. Protege of Canada's founding father of squash coaching Tony Swift, Rene has been coaching Canadian National Teams and Jamaican National Teams for the past 30 plus years. Needless to say, Rene has been there, done that, and has so many stories to tell about his experiences, squash and life, through all of this.
May 15, 2020•1 hr 16 min
139 episodes in and you'd be hard pressed to find anyone as passionate about his craft than Jesse Englebrecht. With each episode, this being his third, he's always equipped with new and innovative coaching techniques and unique outside-the- box observations about the game And, what's more, he's seemingly on a constant search for ways to enhance player development. This episode speaks to all of the above. As I said, shot out of a cannon, Jesse is a must listen.
May 08, 2020•1 hr 24 min
This Super Squash Saturdays Bonus Episode with Graham Ryding is epic. We took a deep dive into Graham's squash career, his junior days, playing alongside JP for so many years, the Winterpeg squash hotbed, and of course Super Squash Saturdays with a prediction for the rubber between Diego and JP.
May 02, 2020•52 min
An illustrious squash career came to an end last week when 4x Canadian National Champion Sam Cornett announced her retirement. With 14 PSA titles, 8 Pan-Am Games medals and reaching world #23, there are few if any all-Canadian girls with that type of squash pedigree. Sam and I talk about her squash career across the board, and we want to wish all the success again in her life after pro squash.
May 01, 2020•36 min
From married life to a heartfelt testimonial for the recently retired Sam Cornett, Shawn delivers like only he can. 2x Canadian National Champion and runner up last year, Shawn would very much like to collect a 3rd national championship before he calls it a day, and I wouldn't bet against it. He has his sights set on that and hitting the ground running whenever play resumes. He's in a very good place right now, and his outlook on life is infectious, so don't miss this one.
Apr 28, 2020•1 hr 15 min
The Diego Elias V. Jonathan Power Super Squash Saturdays series successfully kicked off last Saturday, and JP is set to defend his hardball crown later today. Dean Brown is no stranger to the squash court and has some impressive pedigree as a hardball player and squash broadcast color commentator as well. Dean and I catch up after 24 years and talk Super Squash Saturdays, and in doing so look a bit at his squash backstory.
Apr 25, 2020•26 min
Reigning and 10X Scottish National Champion Alan Clyne is currently recovering from a rib cage stress fracture, but that didn't stop him from chopping it up on the In Squash Podcast. Alan's had an amazing career representing Scotland on the world stage, 150 caps and a recent 7th place finish at the World Team Championships. We look back at all of this and look at what lies ahead for him and Scottish squash.
Apr 24, 2020•46 min
Matt Easingwood, former NS provincial #1 and current Head Squash Professional at the White Oaks Resort at Niagara-on-the-Lake, is a veritable blast from my past. Matt has been with White Oaks for 20 years, and prior to that had himself a very good competitive stint reaching #1 in NS and playing for the very strong University of Toronto varsity team. Matt and I take a deep dive into our squash past, his influences which include his father David, Willey Hosey, Mike Way and Mark Savie, and how his ...
Apr 18, 2020•1 hr 12 min
Alison Waters has an impressive resume: multiple British caps, 4x British National Champion, former world number 3 and still a threat to any woman playing the game today. An ankle injury forced her to withdraw from the Windy City Open in Feb, so this unfortunate suspension of play on the PSA tour has given her a bit time to rehab and recover. Alison takes a look back at her years at #3 in world during the Nicol David era, and what the future holds with the new up and coming young stars breaking ...
Apr 14, 2020•39 min
The 2019/2020 has seen the maturation of Greg Lobban in my estimation; he's competing at the game's highest level and that's been evident with each passing event. Greg and I talk about his fantastic season to date which includes wins over Mezan Hesham, Paul Coll and Kareem Abdul Gawad, his experience dealing with covid-19 circumstances and its impact on his squash, and what is indubitably the toilet paper challenge championship shot till now, see here: https://twitter.com/LobSquash/status/124711...
Apr 09, 2020•49 min
Squashskills co-founder Jethro Binns makes a triumphant return to the mighty In Squash Podcast. He's back from a bit of R&R in Mexico, and he gives us plenty to ponder as regards how to stay focused on the game. The cardio and physical side of things are a bit easier to manage, and Jethro has some interesting thoughts on how to keep the squash side of things on the forefront.
Apr 06, 2020•52 min
2019 US Varsity Squash individual champion and member of the 2020 Harvard Crimson Potter Cup championship team, Victor is a proud member of the Harvard Crimson and one of the PSA players to watch in next few years. Victor is home in France now resuming his Harvard lectures online and training in isolation with his father/head coach Emmanuel. Victor and I have a great chat about his squash career till now.
Apr 02, 2020•1 hr 15 min
Max made a name for himself on the global squash scene as Miguel Rodriguez's mental coach in the years leading up to his 2018 British Open victory, but he'd been a big time squash player for many years prior to that. Max still spends a great deal of time around the squash courts, but it's his entrepreneurial endeavors that make him tick these days. We talk about the mental game and how important it is under the current Covid-19 circumstances, and he's got some great advice in terms of staying fo...
Mar 28, 2020•56 min
Court closures, gym closures, social distancing and self-isolation are the measures we must take to stem the spread of Covid-19. Gary Nisbet of Squashskills takes us through how we can navigate this with an aim towards eventually hitting the courts running . There's plenty here to chew on, plenty of food for thought from one of the game's best squash physical strength and cardio gurus.
Mar 22, 2020•59 min
Personal favorite of mine, Shahid Zaman hit my radar back in 2002 at the Busan Asian Games where I witnessed his epic 5 set battle against eventual gold medalist Ong Beng Hee. Shahid's passion for the game was contagious then, and it's equally if not more contagious now in his coaching career. From squash royalty (nephew of Qamar Zaman), Shahid had an impressive PSA career which saw him reach the top 15 in the world and collect a number of PSA titles. His squash story is unique and his passion f...
Mar 14, 2020•1 hr 1 min
