That's the beauty of the female athletes is they're willing to promote their songs . They've got great personalities and they've got great storytelling , wasn't it ?
After the Paris Olympics , all of the research showed that the most social following was for female athletes , not male athletes , because they they want to tell their stories and people , and females and males alike , want to follow them and listen to them and hear what they've got to say .
Hello and welcome to the Game Changers . I'm Sue Anstis , and this is the podcast where you'll hear from trailblazing women in sport who are challenging the status quo for women and girls everywhere . What can we learn from their stories as we explore equality in sport and beyond ?
I'd like to start with a very big thank you to our partners , sport England , who support the Game Changers podcast through a national lottery award .
This is the 19th series of the Game Changers , and what an incredible range of guests we have Talented , inspiring women who are changing the game in sports , with new episodes launching every Tuesday from March the 4th .
The guests for this series include Dame Tracey Crouch , the former sports minister , who drove huge change in British sport and served as an MP for 14 years before standing down in 2024 and becoming Managing Director of Hanover Sport .
Mel Marshall , the former Olympic swimmer turned highly respected coach , best known for coaching Adam Peaty to multiple world records and Olympic golds . Sarah Massey , managing Director of the Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 , who shares her extensive experience in delivering major international sporting events .
Professor Kirsty Elliott-Sale , a leader in female sports science and exercise physiology , who heads the Centre of Excellence for Women in Sport at Manchester Metropolitan University . Jess Thirlby , head coach of the England netball team .
Jess is a former international player with extensive experience in the sport , known for her strategic acumen and dedication to the netball community .
Halida Popal , former captain of the Afghanistan Women's National Football Team and a pioneering activist who has dedicated her life to empowering women through sport , advocating for gender equality and using football as a tool for social change .
Lucy Ray , the former CEO of Saracens Rugby Club , who is now helping to shape the future of women's sport and is co-owner of London Mavericks netball team . And Jenny Meadows , a world-class middle distance runner , world championship bronze medalist and Olympian who is now an award-winning coach , recently honoured as the BBC Sports Personality Coach of the Year .
I do worry a little bit that when we start talking about female-specific considerations , it's always in a negative way . Oh , girls and women menstruate and that's very challenging and that will limit their ability to train and to compete . Women maybe then seem less than .
How can we change that and say to these girls and women actually that reproductive function , that system that's such a marker of good health and your body's ability , that's brilliant and should be celebrated the game changes is available free wherever you find your podcasts or you can listen directly from our website at fearlesswomencouk .
Please do start following the podcast now so you don't miss out on these brilliant new conversations . We also have a fantastic back catalogue of over 200 free episodes , including interviews with elite athletes , broadcasters , coaches , entrepreneurs , scientists , entrepreneurs scientists , journalists and CEOs all women who are changing the game in sport .
The whole of my book Game On the Unstoppable Rise of Women's Sport is also available on the podcast . You'll find a free audiobook in series 13 . As well as listening to the game changers on the Fear the fearless women website , it's also where you can find out more about the women's sport collective , a free , inclusive community for all women working in sport .
We now have over 10 000 members across the world , so please do come and join us . Thank you once again to sport england . Support the Game Changers and the Women's Sport Collective with a National Lottery Award .
A huge thank you to Sam Walker at what Goes On Media , who does such a wonderful job as our executive producer , and also big thanks to my colleague at Fearless Women , kate Hannan . Do come and say hello on social media , where you'll find me at , sue Anstis .
I really , really hope you enjoy this new series as much as I've enjoyed making it and talking to these extraordinary women who are driving change .
I coached girls . It gave me a real insight into some of the challenges of grassroots football and in particular , the challenges of girls in grassroots football how they would get second dibs on pitch allocation , how the facilities weren't appropriate for girls . You know , it really opened my eyes to a lot of the challenges .