Shruti Saujani is Senior Manager for Cities & Volunteers at the England and Wales Cricket Board - the ECB. She's passionate about ensuring cricket is a sport for everyone, and helping women from South Asian backgrounds overcome many of the barriers they face in sport. Shurti's work has seen her lead a team that has engaged and recruited 2,000 South Asian females into volunteering roles as a part of cricket’s game wide volunteer strategy. Her dedication for a more equal playing ground in cric...
Feb 22, 2022•32 min•Season 9Ep. 2
Holly Bradshaw is Britain’s most successful pole vaulter, consistently ranked among the world's best having won medals at various European and World Championships across the past decade. Current British record holder in the event indoors and outdoors, for many athletics fans it was one of the highlights of the Tokyo Olympics to see Holly win a bronze medal. In this fascinating episode Holly talks openly about how social media and the attitude of coaches impacted her body confidence as a young at...
Feb 15, 2022•40 min•Season 9Ep. 1
Fantastic news for all fans of women’s sport and equality - The Game Changers podcast returns this month with an incredible line up of guests and backing from Sport England through a National Lottery award. This award-winning podcast sees Sue Anstiss talking to trailblazers in women sport who are knocking down barriers and challenging the status quo for women and girls across society. Along with openly sharing their historic careers, what drives them and how they’ve dealt with tough challenges, ...
Feb 08, 2022•4 min
In this special episode of The Game Changers, to celebrate the launch of ‘Game On’, we turn the tables and Sue Anstiss is interviewed by the rather brilliant Hannah Wilkes from Sky Sports. In another first, the podcast is recorded in front of a live audience at Leaders Week in London. Sue shares much about her own relationship with sport, along with the joys & challenges across her career from sports marketing with Gatorade in the 90’s, dealing with redundancy, building a sports PR agency &a...
Oct 22, 2021•49 min
Best known for her excellence both on the track and in the field as a multi-eventer Katarina Johnson-Thompson (KJT) is no stranger to success. At the tender age of 26, the two-time Olympian has impressive athletics career which includes her saw her crowned World Champion Heptathlete in Doha in 2019. In this episode, Katarina talks about tackling anxiety and body issues, transforming her mental approach to the sport, learning to handle the pressure after losing the love of the sport and how she h...
Jul 06, 2021•27 min
Laura Woods is the 2021 SJA Sports Presenter of the Year and one of the leading female broadcasters in the sports industry. Laura is a regular on Sky Sports and the host of talkSPORT’s Sports Breakfast, one of the most listened to shows in the UK. In this episode, Laura talks about being the class clown at school, working her way up the career ladder, being your own cheerleader and always staying authentic to yourself. Laura also discusses the importance of male allies when it comes to levelling...
Jun 22, 2021•56 min•Season 8Ep. 8
Dr Pippa Grange is a highly sought-after, influential sports psychologist and a culture coach working across elite sports and business internationally. In this episode, Pippa talks about family turmoil growing up, her formative years travelling and working in Australia, her first reaction to the job offer with England Football and the media spotlight she faced in the aftermath of the 2017 World Cup. Within football, Pippa has worked to change the culture of a sport historically steeped in bravad...
Jun 15, 2021•48 min•Season 8Ep. 7
Carol Bates has always been a football fan but grew up in the 70’s when girls weren’t allowed to play football. At age 48, Carol set up the Crawley Old Girls to revive football for the ‘missed generation’ of women. What started with ten friends, Women’s Recreational Football (as its now known) now has over 100 women, aged from 25 into late 60s playing regularly. In this episode, Carol talks about creating a safe place for women which promotes the benefits that exercise can have on both physical ...
Jun 08, 2021•42 min•Season 8Ep. 6
Francesca Brown is founder of the award winning Goals4Girls development programme and a Prince’s Trust Ambassador. She received the 2016 Young Achievers Pride of Britain Award for her success in empowering young women through sports and education. In this episode, she discusses the vital role sport played in her formative years, her battle with mental health, heading to London on her 18th birthday with just £10 in her pocket and what inspired her to develop a programme that utilised sport to hav...
Jun 01, 2021•42 min•Season 8Ep. 5
Fleur Robinson is an accomplished commercial leader with a huge passion for putting football at the heart of the community and making a positive difference to people’s lives. Thank you to Sport England who support The Game Changers Podcast with a National Lottery award. Find out more about The Game Changers podcast here: https://www.fearlesswomen.co.uk/thegamechangers Hosted by Sue Anstiss Produced by Sam Walker, What Goes On Media A Fearless Women production...
May 25, 2021•29 min•Season 8Ep. 4
With 71 international caps under her belt, spanning 14 years, Anita Asante is a formidable England defender currently playing top club football for Aston Villa. In this episode, she shares her hopes for the inclusivity of the game, playing over seas, using her platform to 'voice up' for the LGBTQ plus community and putting the onus back on the Governing Bodies to govern the politics and policies of the game. Thank you to Sport England who support The Game Changers Podcast with a National Lottery...
May 18, 2021•46 min•Season 8Ep. 3
Kelly Cates is an award-winning broadcaster who has successfully fronted sports reporting for two decades. As the eldest child of former Liverpool player and manager, Sir Kenny Dalglish, Kelly shares how she has had fight for acceptance within the industry, the journey of Sky Sports News from infancy to roaring success, her feelings upon hearing the Hillsborough verdict and and the stigma she has faced as a women at the forefront of football. Thank you to Sport England who support The Game Chang...
May 11, 2021•47 min•Season 8Ep. 2
With 172 appearances for her country, Fara Williams is the most capped player in the history of English football. Fara shares her experience of being homeless as a young player, and how she went on to have an extraordinary 20-year career. Fara talks about her plans for the future and her hopes for the future of the women's game, having recently announced her retirement from professional football. Thank you to Sport England who support The Game Changers Podcast with a National Lottery award. Find...
May 04, 2021•48 min•Season 8Ep. 1
One of the world's leading female professional players, Lucy Bronze was UEFA Women’s Player of the Year in 2019 and in 2020 was named The Best FIFA Women's Player. Having played in the US at at several British clubs including Man City, Lucy went on to spend three years in France at Olympique Lyonnais, Europe's most successful team. Lucy is now back playing for Manchester City and is Vice Captain of the Lionesses. Thank you to Sport England who support The Game Changers Podcast with a National Lo...
Apr 20, 2021•37 min•Season 7Ep. 8
Chief Women's Football Officer at FIFPRO, the global football players' union, Amanda is a soccer player, coach and data-driven marketer. Her previous roles include Vice President of Fan Engagement at Major League Soccer (MLS) and President of United Soccer. Thank you to Sport England who support The Game Changers Podcast with a National Lottery award. Find out more about The Game Changers podcast here: https://www.fearlesswomen.co.uk/thegamechangers Hosted by Sue Anstiss Produced by Sam Walker, ...
Apr 13, 2021•56 min•Season 7Ep. 7
Maria is Executive Director of Women Win , an organisation that leverages the power of sport to equip adolescent girls and young women to exercise their rights. A former Global Director of Community Investments at Nike, Maria championed sports and play as a powerful tool for social change. Thank you to Sport England who support The Game Changers Podcast with a National Lottery award. Find out more about The Game Changers podcast here: https://www.fearlesswomen.co.uk/thegamechangers Hosted by Sue...
Apr 06, 2021•49 min•Season 7Ep. 6
Professional footballer Jess Fishlock has played in nine countries winning numerous accolades include a UEFA Women’s Champions League winners medal. Wales’ most capped footballer. Jess is the first player, male or female, to reach 100 caps for her country. Off the field Jess is a role model for the LGBTQ+ community. Thank you to Sport England who support The Game Changers Podcast with a National Lottery award. Find out more about The Game Changers podcast here: https://www.fearlesswomen.co.uk/th...
Mar 30, 2021•50 min•Season 7Ep. 5
Fleet Street's first female football writer, Julie Welch blazed a trail for women in sports media. An award-winning sportswriter for the Observer, Julie was the 'girl in the press box' for 15 years. Julie openly shares her observations around what makes a great sports journalist, sexism in sports reporting and how much more she's gone on to achieve in her 50's and 60's. Thank you to Sport England who support The Game Changers Podcast with a National Lottery award. Find out more about The Game Ch...
Mar 23, 2021•39 min•Season 7Ep. 4
The first South Asian woman to coach in men's professional football, it was her twin brother's mental health breakdown and her role as a young carer, that motivated Manisha Tailor to work in grassroots football. She progressed through the game and was appointed as an academy coach at QPR. In 2017 Manisha received an MBE for services to football and diversity in sport. Thank you to Sport England who support The Game Changers Podcast with a National Lottery award. Find out more about The Game Chan...
Mar 16, 2021•36 min•Season 7Ep. 3
Dawn Scott shares her unconventional path to be becoming a sports scientist, her role in helping the US National Team win two World Cups and Olympic Gold and her hopes for the Lionesses at the next Euros and World Cup. Thank you to Sport England who support The Game Changers Podcast with a National Lottery award. Find out more about The Game Changers podcast here: https://www.fearlesswomen.co.uk/thegamechangers Hosted by Sue Anstiss Produced by Sam Walker, What Goes On Media A Fearless Women pro...
Mar 09, 2021•44 min•Season 7Ep. 2
An award-winning broadcaster and journalist, Jessica has worked in the sports industry for over a decade, for organisations including the BBC, BT Sport and TalkSPORT. Jessica now presents Sky Sports News and hosts the Women's Football Show on Sky. As a former football player, Jessica is committed to levelling the playing field and ensuring sport is accessible to marginalised communities. Her chat show B is for: Black gave unique insight into the lives and experiences of black and mixed race wome...
Mar 02, 2021•45 min•Season 7Ep. 1
The new series, which is sponsored by Barclays, launches on Tuesday March 2, 2021 and will feature: Jessica Creighton – Award winning journalist and broadcaster working for Sky Sports Dawn Scott – Senior Physical Performance Manager for the Lionesses, having previously helped the US Women’s National Team win two World Cups and Olympic Gold Manisha Tailor – the first South Asian woman to coach in the professional men’s game and a champion for diversity in football Julie Welch – the first female f...
Feb 23, 2021•5 min
A footballing legend, TV and radio personality, Ian Wright is a huge supporter of the women's game. In this 50th episode of the podcast the Barclays Football Ambassador openly talks about the challenges facing female pundits, sponsorship and broadcast deals and the potential impact of a home Euros in 2022. Thank you to Barclays for sponsoring this series of the podcast. Thank you to Sport England who support The Game Changers Podcast with a National Lottery award. Find out more about The Game Ch...
Feb 16, 2021•26 min
This football legend has 149 caps for England and plays for Man City. She’s played in four World Cups and was part of Team GB at the London 2012 Olympics. Jill Scott left her hometown club of Sunderland to play for Everton in 2006 and went on to help them win the FA Women's Premier League Cup in 2008 and FA Women's Cup in 2010. In 2008 she was voted the FA Players' Player of the Year and 2011 the FA International Player of the Year. The FIFA technical report after the 2011 Women's World Cup desc...
Dec 22, 2020•42 min•Season 6Ep. 8
Jane Purdon leads Women in Football as its CEO. A qualified lawyer, Jane has worked at the highest level of football and sport. As Head of Governance and Leadership at UK Sport Jane oversaw the creation of the Code for Sports Governance. Before this she worked at the Premier League as Director of Governance and began her career in football as Club Secretary at Sunderland FC. Thank you to Barclays for sponsoring this series of the podcast Thank you to Sport England who support The Game Changers P...
Dec 15, 2020•47 min•Season 6Ep. 7
Sian Massey-Ellis is one of England’s highest profile female match officials, working the in the Premier League and EFL. Sian has been a real trailblazer for female officials, appointed to matches in the Football League Trophy, UEFA Women's Champions League, the FIFA Women's World Cup and the UEFA Europa League. Sian turned professional in 2010 and in August 2011 was appointed to the ‘Select Group’ of match officials, a panel of English professional football referees and assistant referees, appo...
Dec 08, 2020•47 min•Season 6Ep. 6
Mary Harvey was a goalkeeper for the US Women's National Soccer team, winning both the World Cup and Olympic Gold. A former Director of Development at FIFA, Mary did much to drive gender reforms, and the work she did still has huge global impact for the women’s game. Mary also served on the board of US Soccer for 12 years and was CEO for the US Women’s Professional Soccer league. Mary is now Chief Executive of the Centre for Sport and Human Rights. Thank you to Barclays for sponsoring this serie...
Dec 01, 2020•50 min•Season 6Ep. 5
As manager of the Scotland women's team, Shelley Kerr led them to qualify for the World Cup for the first time in 2019. A former Scottish international, Shelley captained Scotland as well as clubs including Kilmarnock and Hibernian. During her playing career she won every domestic honour in Scotland and played in the UEFA Women's Cup. She won 59 caps for Scotland between 1989 and 2008. As a manager, Shelley gained experience at Kilmarnock, Hibernian and Spartans before taking charge of the Scotl...
Nov 24, 2020•45 min•Season 6Ep. 4
Gail Newsham has spent almost three decades telling the story of the Dick, Kerr Ladies - arguably the most important team in the history of women's football. Gail is the author of ‘In A League of The Own!’ the authoritative book about the famous team and the history of women’s football. Growing up near the factory in Preston where the team was originally formed, Gail was aware of their existence, but knew nothing much about them until she organised their first ever reunion in 1992. Her comprehen...
Nov 17, 2020•38 min•Season 6Ep. 3
Arsenal legend Rachel Yankey was the first professional female player registered in England, and went on to became one of the country’s most successful and well known footballers. She became England’s most capped playing in 2013, beating Peter Shilton’s record with 129 caps. Having played in the UK for Arsenal, Fulham and Birmingham City Rachel Yankey’s honours include five Premier League Championships, two Women’s Super League Championships, 11 FA Women’s Cups, 7 Women’s Premier League Cups, 1 ...
Nov 10, 2020•1 hr 1 min•Season 6Ep. 2
