The Players

West Ham captain Gilly Flaherty and New Zealand international Ria Percival join Bex Smith for a look at the art of defending. They look at the unique pressure defenders face, explain the types of players they fear most and discuss the qualities needed to become a top class defender. The pair also talk about playing in major competitions at the age of just 15, and their love of baking!

In the week of the Champions League final, Chelsea manager Emma Hayes joins the podcast, along with current Brazil head coach Pia Sundhage.The pair discuss their respective philosophies and why they got into coaching, including the roles of geese, cooking and international politics. And Emma gives us an insight into how her Chelsea team have come to dominate this season.

Fresh from helping Northern Ireland reach their first major finals, captain Marissa Callaghan and record-appearance holder Julie Nelson join Bex Smith to discuss their achievements. They recall the national team restarting with a budget of £4,000, and meeting Mia Hamm and the USA team at the Algarve Cup in 2004. The pair then recount their dramatic qualification for Euro 2022 and look ahead to next summer's tournament and beyond.

Two of English football's ground-breakers join the podcast this week. Rachel Yankey and Karen Carney have the inside track on being part of Arsenal's quadruple winners, the challenges of punditry and the rise of the Women's Super League. We also hear from Rachel on minibuses, and meeting Thierry Henry in Selfridges.

This week we have two Scottish superstars on the podcast - Manchester City's Caroline Weir and Arsenal's Lisa Evans. We talk everything from, team trips abroad, playing on the boy's team, role models and Scottish humour.

On this week’s episode we hear from Orlando Pride team mates Ali Riley and Toni Pressley. The pair talk about their transition to veganism and the effects it has on their performances on and off the pitch. And listen out for a musical cameo from Toni’s fiancé, (one of the worlds best footballers) Marta!

Bex Smith is joined by Everton and Switzerland’s Alisha Lehmann and AC Milan player, Julia Simic from Germany. On this week's episode we talk about social media and the role it plays within football. We hear everything from speaking Swiss German, living their best lives and the mis conceptions around social media.

On this week's episode we shine a light on the ultimate team players, the ones who don't necessarily seek the spotlight and end up flying under the radar. Manchester City's Demi Stokes and Manchester United's Lucy Staniforth, join the podcast to tell us their stories and we hear everything from being fan girls, getting engaged and why Lucy Bronze's mum is the best.

On this week's podcast we have on two amazing guests, our first non-pro footballer, but none other than the women's Jamaican team ambassador and Bob Marley's eldest daughter, Cedella Marley, and the Reggae Girlz highest goal scorer Khadija Shaw. The Reggae Girlz made history in 2019 when they became the first Caribbean team to qualify for a women's football World Cup thanks to the undying support of Cedella - who's sponsored and supported the team since 2014. We hear everything from the inspiration of Bob Marley and the role of music in Cedella's life, growing up in Jamaica and their hopes for the team's future.

The Players is back!! And what better way to kick off season two than with the best player in the world, Lucy Bronze and England's most- capped international, Fara Williams. So what's it like being at the top, for these two formally "shy" players?We hear about drinking cups of tea outside the dressing room, mums in pods and how life isn't always what we think it is.....And will Lucy ever admit to being the world's best player? Don't forget - you can listen back to season one of the podcast, where you can hear episodes with, Jill Scott, Steph Houghton, Carli Lloyd, Hope Solo, Kelly Smith, Vivianne Miedema, Magda Eriksson, Pernille Harder and so many more!

Arsenal duo - Leah Williamson and Jen Beattie talk about the importance of team mates and how they've become part of their family. We quiz Leah on her love of Country music and find out which Arsenal players are thinking of starting their own band. This is the last episode of the series so far.....BUT we will be back in March with more big name guests....

This week’s episode is all about goalkeeping, with our guests Carly Telford and Siobhan Chamberlain.We hear everything from diving around in the mud, GK Unions and penalty mind games.

Two of the most competitive players on the planet join the podcast this week - US superstars Hope Solo and Carli Lloyd. We hear everything from learning to drop kick the ball, who got to use "the van" and how the "Jersey Swagger" meant "I'm coming for your spot" In a honest and open chat, the players reveal what it was like starting out on the US national team and how the competitive nature shaped them into amazing athletes.

Erin Cuthbert + Rachel Corsie join the podcast to talk about the highs and lows of playing for the Scotland national team. We hear everything from the total euphoria of qualifying for the World Cup to the dramatic crash out at the group stage.

Chelsea superstars and power couple Magda Erikksson and Pernille Harder join the podcast this week. We chat everything from playing with each other vs against, home life, the rumoured record signing and World Cup 2019.

This week we have two goal scoring machines on the podcast – Lionesses legend Kelly Smith and Netherlands striker Vivianne Miedema.So what does it take to be one of the world’s top strikers – we talk everything from pressure to penalties, to insults and celebrations.

Everton team mates Izzy Christiansen and Hayley Raso join this weeks podcast. They chat about their incredible resilience and strong mentality, which has helped them overcome injures and set backs.We also hear how Australian born Hayley is dealing with British slang, Izzy’s time helping on a farm during lockdown and what’s better Vegemite or Marmite?

PSG team mates Nadia Nadim and Christiane Endler join this week’s podcast – between them they speak nine languages and one of them is studying to become a cosmetic surgeon – so what drives these two elite athletes? Christiane re-lives her epic World cup performance for Chile against the USA. And we hear why Nadia has to remind her mum that she can’t cancel matches as a pro footballer for PSG and Denmark.

World Cup winners Rose Lavelle and Sam Mewis join Bex Smith on this week’s podcast as they talk chest bumping Megan Rapinoe, getting to grips with Manchester slang & scoring the winning goal in the World Cup final. The guys also delve into what it really takes to be the best - and how they’re adapting to their new life at one of the world’s biggest clubs, Manchester City.

To kick off this brand new podcast – we knew we had to hear from two of the biggest names in the game. Lioness legends Steph Houghton and Jill Scott chat to our host - former New Zealand captain Bex Smith about what it takes to be a leader. From Buckingham Palace to cowboy hats & penalties to camping on beaches – all is revealed and nothing is off limits.