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In this award-winning podcast Sue Anstiss MBE talks to trailblazing women in sport. These are the individuals who are knocking down barriers and challenging the status quo for women and girls everywhere. Along with openly sharing their historic careers, what drives them and how they’ve dealt with the toughest challenges, each episode explores key issues for equality in sport and beyond.
We’re incredibly grateful to Sport England who support The Game Changers with a National Lottery award.
You can find out about all the guests at https://www.fearlesswomen.co.uk/thegamechangers
Fearless Women in Sport
242 Episodes
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Why are we still telling female rugby coaches they are ‘not ready’ to coach at the highest levels of the women’s game, when we then say to male players ‘you can go straight into professional coaching when you come off the field’? This is just one of the thought-provoking questions Giselle Mather tackles on today’s episode of The Game Changers podcast. Giselle is one of the most influential and pioneering figures in rugby. A former England international and World Cup winner, Giselle's ex...
Emma Wilson: Flying on Foils, Keeping the Joy “Two bronzes, two completely different emotions. Tokyo was joy. Paris… it broke me inside. It’s taken a long time to process and move forward.” Emma Wilson is transforming the face of British windsurfing. A world champion at every age group, Olympic bronze medallist in Tokyo, and now the youngest Briton ever to claim a senior world title, Emma talks openly about the highs and lows of life on the water. She reflects on growing up in a family of eli...
How does it feel when images of one of the world’s most famous athletes go viral… and she’s wearing your brand? That’s the first thing we asked Mari Thomas-Welland on today’s episode of The Game Changers, after Serena Williams shared gym photos wearing the Maaree sports bra. Mari is a sports engineer turned founder who has reimagined women’s performance wear using science rather than guesswork. It’s a brilliant conversation about innovation, body confidence and the importance of evidence-ba...
“It’s so easy to chase perfection, but it doesn’t exist. The whole world is built on imperfection - and that’s what makes it beautiful.” It was our privilege to talk to World Cup winner and Bristol Bears tighthead Sarah Bern for today's episode of The Game Changers podcast as she relives that history-making day at Twickenham and what's to follow. Sarah candidly traces her journey from a teenager wrestling with body image to a visible role model for strong, muscular women. Authentic on a...
In series 21 we’re shining a light on the trailblazing women who are transforming sport and society. You’ll hear from Baroness Sue Campbell, one of the most respected and influential figures in British sport, as she candidly shares her leadership journey and lessons learnt from time working in Olympic and Paralympic Sport, Women’s football and now as Chair of England Netball. We meet Melanie Barratt, the Paralympic swimmer who made history last year as the first blind woman to swim the Englis...
Lucy Adams has spent her life on a skateboard – but it’s her impact off the ramps that’s transforming the sport forever. From being one of only a handful of women in UK skateboarding in the ’90s to leading the charge for equity and inclusion today, Lucy has carved out a path where others once shut the door. In this raw and inspiring conversation, Lucy shares what it’s really like to break into a male-dominated sport, fight for recognition and push for a future where every girl feels welcome o...
Diane Edwards (Modahl) was one of Britain’s brightest middle-distance stars, a Commonwealth gold medallist and four-time Olympian whose remarkable career was thrown into turmoil when she was wrongly accused of doping in 1994. What followed was a devastating two-year battle to clear her name – a fight that cost her financially, emotionally, and professionally – but could not break her spirit. In this compelling and emotional conversation, Diane shares: Growing up in Manchester as the daughter ...
Our guest on The Game Changers today is Sally Horrox, Chief of Women’s Rugby at World Rugby. Sally has an incredible track record in transforming women’s sports. A former non-executive director of England Netball, advisor the FA, UEFA and other international football federations, Sally played a leading role in the creation of the Netball Super League AND the FA Women’s Super League. An expert in the professional and commercial development of women’s sport, Sally has worked international...
"Women in sport shouldn’t have to choose between motherhood and their career. We need real investment, policies and understanding to make both possible." England netball legend Eboni Usoro-Brown (formerly Beckford-Chambers) wore the red dress 117 times across an extraordinary 15-year career, including that unforgettable Commonwealth Games gold in 2018. A trailblazer on and off the court, Eboni has combined elite sport with a career in law, championed dual careers, and inspired so many throu...
"Missing Olympic selection again broke me, but it reminded me I'm more than a rugby player." Today on The Game Changers podcast it's our absolute joy to talk to Scottish rugby star Rhona Lloyd, who shares her remarkable journey from a young girl defying stereotypes to becoming one of Scotland’s fastest and most dynamic players. With 57 caps and 25 tries for her country, Rhona’s story is one of resilience, self-discovery and redefining what it means to be strong. Having returned from fou...
When a photograph of Sophie Power breastfeeding her three-month-old baby mid-race went viral, it sparked a global conversation about motherhood, sport, and equality. But for Sophie, the moment was never about heroics - it was about the barriers women face just to reach a start line. In this powerful episode of The Game Changers, Sophie – a world record-breaking ultra-runner and founder of SheRACES – shares how she’s challenging a sport designed for men, campaigning for pregnancy deferrals, fa...
From jumpers for goalposts on a council estate to managing at the highest level of women’s football, Carla Ward’s journey is one of courage, resilience and breaking through barriers. Now leading the Republic of Ireland women’s national team with ambitions to reach the 2027 World Cup, Carla has navigated a fast rise from player to coach, defied expectations, and spoken openly about the reality of balancing a demanding football career with motherhood. In this powerful episode of The Game Change...
Sammi Kinghorn’s journey from a life-changing farming accident to the top of the Paralympic podium is nothing short of extraordinary. A double world champion, Commonwealth medallist, Paralympic gold winner and now a popular BBC presenter, Sammi’s story is one of unbreakable resilience. In this powerful conversation, Sammi opens up about: Rebuilding her life as a teenager after a devastating spinal injuryThe mental battles behind the medals – and how anxiety has shaped her racing careerThe fig...
Welcome to The Game Changers – the podcast that celebrates extraordinary women in sport. In Series 20, we’re shining a light on the courageous, pioneering and fiercely passionate women who are re-defining the future of sport. You’ll hear from Diane Edwards, the Commonwealth 800m champion who overcame a devastating injustice and fought a landmark legal battle to clear her name before becoming a powerful advocate for inclusion and opportunity in sport. Pioneering skateboarder, Lucy Adams, share...
"Great athletes aren’t just terrified of losing – they’re traumatised by it. That’s what drives them." In this powerful and inspiring episode, Sue Anstiss is joined by one of the most influential figures in British sport, Mel Marshall. A former Olympian turned world-renowned coach, Mel is best known for guiding Adam Peaty to Olympic gold and multiple world records – but her story is so much more than medals and podiums. From her early days as a fiercely competitive swimmer to her curren...
"I hate mediocrity. As soon as it feels like we’re sitting in the status quo, I feel like I’m failing." In this brilliant episode of The Game Changers, Sue Anstiss is joined by Jess Thirlby, Head Coach of the Vitality Roses and one of the most respected leaders in world netball. From growing up in a deeply sporting family in the South West to representing England at the Commonwealth Games and ultimately leading the national side, Jess shares an extraordinary journey through sport. Jess’s warm...
Lucy Wray: Building Culture, Driving Change and Backing Women’s Sport "Sport is this incredible rollercoaster of winning, losing, learning and bonding — I don’t think anything else creates that kind of magic." This week on The Game Changers, Sue Anstiss is joined by Lucy Wray – an inspiring and influential leader in sport whose journey spans elite performance, business innovation and transformative change. A former Wales lacrosse captain with over 70 international caps, Lucy’s early experienc...
“When the world forgets Afghanistan, we keep speaking. We are the voices of the women who can no longer be heard.” What would you risk for the right to play sport? For Khalida Popal, the answer is everything. This powerful episode of The Game Changers tells the extraordinary story of a woman who defied the Taliban, challenged a corrupt sporting system and used football to fight for the lives and freedoms of women and girls across the world. Khalida Popal was just a child when her family fled ...
"I’ve become the person I needed when I was younger – and that’s the greatest gift I can offer the athletes I coach today." Jenny Meadows is a former world-class middle-distance runner and now one of Britain’s most respected athletics coaches. Recently honoured – alongside her husband – as BBC Sports Personality Coach of the Year, Jenny is a European and World medallist whose success was forged through resilience, grit and a quiet determination to prove she belonged, even when she often felt ...
“Women’s physiology isn’t a problem to be solved - it’s an opportunity to innovate.” In this fascinating episode of The Game Changers podcast, I speak with Professor Kirsty Elliott-Sale, one of the world’s leading researchers in female physiology, about the critical need for women-focused sports science. From her unconventional journey into the field, to leading ground-breaking research, Kirsty challenges outdated approaches and highlights why women’s health must be at the centre of perform...
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