The LGBT Sport Podcast

How would you fancy running out for a team called the Pride-o-saurus Rexes?

That was *almost* the name that Edmund Connolly gave to the world's first inclusive lacrosse team - but ultimately, he decided to go for the Rainbow Rexes instead.

The team had humble beginnings - with players learning the names of team-mates on their way to their first tournament - but has grown significantly, and offer a home to folks in the lacrosse world who fancy playing for a team that really values inclusivity.

He's a great chap - even if he does manage to *nearly* offend non-Welsh rugby fans within the first 10 seconds of the podcast! - and we really loved having someone so eloquent and engaging on the show.

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH OUR GUESTS? Instagram: rainbowrexlax

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? jack.murley@bbc.co.uk @jack_murley

Lindsay Peat is the sort of amazing athlete who hasn't just excelled in one sport - but in a whole bucketload of them.

She represented Ireland as a youngster in football; she did the same in basketball as a full international; then played three All-Ireland Finals as a Gaelic football star.

Then, she decided to take up rugby - debuting against England in only her eighth game, and taking part in a World Cup and three Women's Six Nations since then. She's also an ambassador for this year's Union Cup in Dublin - as Europe's largest inclusive rugby tournament heads to the Emerald Isle.

We're delighted to have such an eloquent, articulate guest on the pod - and her last answer in particular is one of the most poignant we've had since we started. We love her, and we think you will as well.

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUESTS? @lilypeat11

@unioncuprugby/ https://unioncupdublin.ie

#TryWithPride

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE SHOW? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

There's not a lot to cheer about at the moment if you're a Huddersfield Town fan - but maybe the side's inclusive supporters group will put a smile on your face.

It was founded by Ryan Mather - and is all about the philosophy that football is for everybody. So why did Ryan decide to start this LGBTQ+ supporters club - and what difference has it made in his life?

He's been talking to us about that; about his experiences of homophobia in the game; and what Huddersfield Town need to do to bounce back from a season that's been tricky ... to put it mildly!

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUESTS? www.proudterriers.com @ProudTerriers

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE SHOW? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

She's a six-time winner on the European Tour, a three-time Solheim Cup player - and a woman who has fought doggedly for equality in the sport of golf.

And at the end of last year, Britain's Mel Reid decided to open up for the first time about her sexuality when she came out publicly as gay. So, why did she do it - and what has life been like since?

We're delighted that Mel took time out from a well-earned day off to chat to the podcast - as we discuss how she got into golf, why she didn't think her article with Athlete Ally would be such a big deal, why it's important to give back to the game, and the boxset she's binged on recently ... which probably isn't what you'd expect!

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST? @melreidgolf

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE SHOW? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

No messing about here - this episode with Keegan Hirst is one of the most hard-hitting we've done since we started this podcast.

The rugby league star become the first openly gay English player back in 2016 - and in this edition of the show, we talk about how it happened. The lack of role models; the environment he was brought up in; the impact it had on his own two children; the contemplation of taking his own life - it all comes up in this show.

But there are also lighter moments - like how he had no interest in rugby as a kid; how Antony Cotton from Coronation Street fame has helped him with his 'gay education'; and why there's a video floating around of Keegan as The Rock.

So, stop reading this, and go and listen - and we think you'll find Keegan as compelling a guest as we do. What's more, he's a top bloke as well, and we're really grateful he took the time to join us.

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST? @KeeganHirst

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

We'll be honest - some episodes just click, and this is one of them.

We've wanted to have the Northampton Outlaws on for a little while - and we decided the perfect time to do it was now, fresh off their triumph in the IGR Southern League.

So, we got Simon Chapman and Simon Law from the inclusive club into the studio for a really fun conversation about a whole load of things. On the agenda - how they both got involved with the team; plans for the Union Cup; training with the awesome James Haskell; and how much they ACTUALLY remember of the weekend they claimed the league championship.

They're both terrific chaps - and we loved having them on.

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH OUR GUESTS? @OutlawsFC

@SimanChapman

https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/northamptonoutlawsrfc

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE SHOW @jack_murley

jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

What would you do if you wanted to play football - but couldn't find a club.

Most of us would sigh, shrug our shoulders and find another sport to try - but Laura Montgomery isn't most people.

When she decided she wanted to play the game at a higher, more organised level, she decided to co-found Glasgow City - which has gone onto become one of the most successful teams in Scotland.

Started in 1998, it has become a dominant force, winning multiple titles and cups - becoming the first Scottish team to reach the quarter-finals of the Women's Champions League in the process. And as if that wasn't enough to keep Laura busy, she's also the Head of Sales and Sponsorship at Hibernian.

We loved having Laura on - she's a fascinating, eloquent individual with so much drive and determination. A fitting guest for the 40th episode of the podcast!

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST? @LauraMonty4 @GlasgowCityFC @HibsOfficialFC

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE SHOW? jack.murley@bbc.co.uk @jack_murley

She wowed viewers across the UK as she made her way to the final of Masterchef - but before that, Jilly McCord excelled in a very different way.

The Scottish schoolteacher represented her country on the rugby field - playing at the 2006 World Cup and eventually captaining the national side - and combined it with life as a school-teacher. And all of that was BEFORE the whirlwind of Masterchef, which took her right around the world.

So, we had plenty to talk with her about - and we really, really enjoyed having her on, talking about everything from LGBT role models to finding out you're going to skipper your country while in the Tesco carpark. And Jilly, you can make us a pasty anytime!

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST? Twitter: @jillymccordcook

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE SHOW? Twitter: @jack_murley Email: jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

FANCY VOTING FOR US AT THE BRITISH PODCAST AWARDS? https://www.britishpodcastawards.com/vote

What's it like to be the person in charge of a football club - and not just any club, but one with the history of Leeds United?

It's a position very few people have held - but David Haigh is one of them.

During his time as a managing director at Elland Road, he championed initiatives to promote diversity and inclusion - which is something he continues to do in his current role with the FA in Cornwall, and as a key player with the local side in Penzance.

There's also another side to David, who is a prominent lawyer and human rights activist who was imprisoned in a UAE jail for 22 months - and he'll tell his own story of that time in a way that some of you may find uncomfortable to listen to. However, given the current situation in Brunei, it seemed strange not to get into that side of David's life.

Also on the agenda: the so-called 'gay day' at Leeds United; his friendship with Robbie Rogers; and how football fans can help make the game more ethical.

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST? Twitter: @haighdavid Website:http://www.davidhaigh.co.uk/

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? Twitter: @jack_murley Email: jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

He's the former Exeter University student who is also the European Age Group Triathlon Champion.

But Jack Bristow has also made headlines away from the sport - after successfully helping persuade its governing body to reverse a ban it introduced on LGBT athletes flying the Pride flag.

And, still in his mid-20s, Jack is determined to make sure gay sportspeople get the representation they deserve.

He's a terrific guest to have on the podcast - as we discuss being inspired by the Brownlees at the London Olympics; the financial costs of making it in the triathlon world; and exactly WHAT you may find on his Twitter feed.

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST? Twitter: @JackWJB94

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE SHOW? Twitter: @jack_murley Email: jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

He's a columnist, a podcaster - and one of the very few male footballers who came out as gay while still actively playing the game.

In fact, Adam McCabe still runs out for the Georgia Revolution in the National Premier Soccer League in the United States and is one of the most articulate, eloquent guests we've had on yet on what it's like to be closeted in sport - and his own coming out story.

Also on the agenda; how straight, cis-gendered players can be allies to LGBT team-mates; how Robbie Rogers inspired him; his childhood love for Steven Gerrard; and making the switch to asking the questions, rather than answering them!

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUESTS? The Gay Footballer's Podcast: @tgfpod

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE SHOW? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

The Six Nations is coming to an end - so we thought it was worth taking a dip into our archives to revisit some of our top guests from the world of rugby.

So, in this episode, we're going to hear again from ...

- The iconic rugby referee Nigel Owens on how he got into officiating in the first place, and the pressure of social media.

- Verity Smith talks about life as a transgender rugby player - and some of the challenges that have come with playing the game he loves.

- Andy Smith is the co-founder of the Westcountry Wasps - so what makes a cisgendered, heterosexual man want to help start an inclusive club?

They're three fantastic guests we were delighted to have on - and a great demonstration of why rugby can be such an inclusive sport for the LGBTQ+ community.

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUESTS? Nigel Owens:@Nigelrefowens Verity Smith: @VeritySmith19 Westcountry Wasps: @WestWaspsRFC

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE SHOW? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

Coming out to anyone is never easy - so imagine doing it to your Sunday league football team in front of a national television audience!

It's not something your average person goes through - but Richie Anderson isn't your AVERAGE guest.

He's part of the Radio 2 Breakfast Show who, along with Zoe Ball, wakes up the nation on the UK's most-listened to radio programme. He's also the Proud Baggies patron, a football nut - and a genuinely fantastic person.

This is one of our favourite episodes yet - with topics on the agenda including raising tens of thousands of pounds for Sport Relief; BBC Radio 2's '500 Words' contest - and whether it's the Spice Girls or West Brom that can claim to be his true love!

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH OUR GUEST? Twitter: @Richie_anderson

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE SHOW? Twitter: @jack_murley Email: jack.murley@bbc.co.uuk

Sting vs Hollywood Hogan, Starrcade 1997.

That's when professional wrestling first got into the veins of Anthony Bowens - and, ever since, the American athlete has been captivated by this unique form of sports-entertainment. He's also one of a growing number of LGBTQ+ individuals plying their trade inside the squared circle - something that hasn't always been easy to do.

In fact, if it weren't for being a wrestler, Anthony feels he may even have come out sooner.

He's our guest on this brand-new episode of the podcast, talking about his favourite matches; being a role model for the community; the abuse he received after coming out as bisexual, then as gay; and why WWE is the ultimate goal for him.

Anthony battled through traffic to make the interview - and we're delighted he did, as it was fantastic to have him onto the show.

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH OUR GUEST? Twitter: @Bowens_Official.

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE SHOW? Twitter: @jack_murley Email: jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

David Hill's Paralympic career began in the pool at the Games in Athens when he was just fifteen years old. It ended more than a decade later - after twelve years of medals at both a World and European level.

We're really grateful he's taken the time to join us for a brand new episode of the podcast - and spoken so honestly about why hiding his sexuality had such an impact on his performance in the pool, and how he got past that. Also on the agenda - the growth of para-sport; his work as a mentor and coach; and how he relaxes by making furniture!

Even as a proud Cornishman, this is one Devonian we were happy to have on the show - and we think you'll really like him.

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH OUR GUEST? Twitter: @DavidHill_GB Website: https://www.davidhillgb.com/

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE SHOW? Twitter: @jack_murley Website: jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

By day, she works as an engineer in offshore drilling.

But Kristen Fraser is also one of Scotland's leading boxers - the first professional female from the country, and the first to ever win a Commonwealth title. So, not a bad record for someone who first started getting into the sport at a time when it was illegal for women to step into the ring!

She's now targeting a bid for a world championship - and, alongside her wife, is preparing to become a parent - and we're delighted she took some time to join us on the podcast.

On the agenda - her memories of her first fight; being a role model to the LGBTQ+ community; getting a work-life balance right; and why Katie Taylor is such an inspiration.

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST? Twitter: @KristenTFE

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? Twitter: jack_murley Email: jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

Clare Balding.

If you've watched or listened to ANY sport over the past 25 years, you'll know all about her work.

And if you've been living under a rock, the CV tells its own story - Olympic Games, Paralympics, Winter Olympics, Crufts, Trooping the Colour; and all of that in addition to be a best-selling author and campaigner for better coverage of women's sport.

We're absolutely chuffed to welcome Clare to the podcast - as she talks about how she got her start in broadcasting; how she reflects on her 'coming out' story; and whether she'd have done anything differently. Also on the agenda - Bert Le Clos; the event she's proudest of covering; and what's next for her.

This is one of our favourite episodes yet - and we're so grateful Clare could take the time to join us.

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST? Twitter: @clarebalding Website: http://www.clarebalding.co.uk/

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

She was inspired to get into bodybuilding by Arnold Schwarzenegger - and now, Amazin LeThi uses her platform to promote messages of inclusion, both through her own foundation and her work as an ambassador for Athlete Ally.

She's our guest on a brand-new episode of the podcast - as we talk about why bodybuilding was the sport she was drawn to in the first place; some of the discrimination she originally encountered in it; how perceptions of women in sport are changing; and who the role models are that she admires now.

She's a really perceptive, considered guest - and we're grateful she could find some time to chat with us. Not only that, but she's the first power-lifter we've had on the programme!

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUESTS? Twitter: @amazinlethi Website:http://www.amazinlethifoundation.org/

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE SHOW? Twitter: @jack_murley Email: jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

There are plenty of special things about being part of a sport club.

The friendships you make, the competitions you win, the experiences you get - they're all part and parcel of it. But for people from the LGBT community who have experienced homophobic or transphobic abuse in sport, finding a club where you actually fit in is extra special.

It's why the London Royals Hockey Club are all about inclusivity - and Tom Simpson, Beth Bennett and Sarah Nottle all have first-hand experience of the difference the club has made in their lives.

They're three brilliant guests - and on the agenda is everything from the Gay Games to the best way to deal with a honking keeper's kit!

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUESTS? Twitter: @LondonRoyalsHC Website: www.londonroyals.co.uk

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE SHOW? Twitter: @jack_murley Email: jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

She's someone who has travelled the world, reporting on some of the biggest events in sport for the BBC.

From the Tour De France to the Hockey World Cup, Jo Currie is usually on the scene when the big sporting stories are happening - and, if that wasn't enough, she's also one of the nicest people in broadcasting.

She joins us to talk about how she got started in sports journalism; about LGBT representation in the media; who she looks up to in broadcasting; and a cringeworthy encounter at Sports Personality of the Year.

She's absolutely fab - and we hope you love her as much as we do.

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST? Twitter: @JoCurrie

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST/ jack.murley@bbc.co.uk @jack_murley

On this episode, we're swapping coming out for getting out and about!

OutdoorLads runs activities for gay, bi and trans men across the UK - with activities that range from hiking to sailing! Liam Russell from the group joins us to talk more about that; the importance of staying active when it comes to mental health; and pushing himself further than he realised he could.

He's a really engaging chap - and we're grateful he's taken the time to join us!

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUESTS? Internet: www.outdoorlads.com Twitter: :OutdoorLads

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE SHOW? jack.murley@bbc.co.uk @jack_murley

For Hudson Taylor, it all started with a sticker on a headgear.

The decision to wear a Pride symbol on his wrestling uniform drove the straight amateur wrestler from the United States to set up one of the world's largest organisations supporting LGBT individuals in sport - Athlete Ally.

He joins us to talk about the difference that Athlete Ally is making; how straight sportspeople can be allies - and how he manages to relax in his down-time. Hudson is a really interesting, thought-provoking guest - and we're really grateful to have him on the show.

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT ATHLETE ALLY? Twitter: @AthleteAlly Website: www.athleteally.org

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE SHOW, OR GET IN TOUCH? Twitter: @jack_murley Email: jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

If you're a fan of AFC Bournemouth, you've probably seen Sophie Cook's work.

She spent years snapping photos of Eddie Howe's side as the Cherries' official club photographer - but she has also had a story of her own to tell, as the first transgender person to ever work in the Premier League.

We're delighted to have Sophie on the podcast - talking about her love of photography; the bizarre place she had what she calls her 'epiphany about being trans'; and the reaction of the AFC Bournemouth squad to her news.

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST? Twitter: @sophiecooktalks

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? Twitter: @jack_murley Email: jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

Fred Rosser is a professional wrestler who made history when he became the first openly gay active member of the WWE roster. Wrestling is still his passion - but equal to it is his desire to tackle hatred and bigotry in all forms through his #blockthehate movement.

He joins us to talk about when he first started to love wrestling; the reaction of the WWE roster when he came out; the difference of having positive LGBTQ+ role models; his passion for social activism - and some of his favourite matches.

Plus, he tells us why he's keen to come to Britain to get involved with any Pride events happening in the UK.

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST? Twitter: @realfredrosser Email: info@realfredrosser.com

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE SHOW? Twitter: @jack_murley Email: jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

Caroline Matthews loved playing basketball - so when she was told she had to stop for health reasons, you'd think that would be the end of her journey in sport.

Instead, Caroline went on to become one of the biggest names in British wheelchair basketball and a two-time Paralympian - who has also been recognised in the New Year's Honours.

She's a fantastic guest - and says her wife is her rock who helped to make it all possible.

WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST? Caroline Matthew: @cazza_15 Wales Wheelchair Basketball:@Wales_WB

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

We're taking a Christmas break on the podcast - so, to tide us over into 2019, here's a special extended edition with some of the most memorable guests we've had on this year.

It features people from around the world, in all sports and from all walks of life - and don't forget, these are just a few of our edited highlights, with loads more sitting in the archive for you to listen to whenever you'd like.

From us, a MASSIVE thank you to all of you for the support you've given us in 2018 - as we know we wouldn't even exist without it. We couldn't do it without you!

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? jack.murley@bbc.co.uk @jack_murley

She's a world champion and Olympic medallist - who had the honour of carrying the British flag at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Athens in 2004.

It's fair to say not much phases judo star Kate Howey - but last month, she did something she'd never done before by writing publicly about her sexuality for the first time. It's something she says took her thirty years to do - and we're delighted she's agreed to speak with us for her first broadcast interview since then.

Also on the agenda - how she got into the sport; avoiding bad food over Christmas; and how to avoid tripping when you're carrying your country's flag.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST? Kate Howey: @khoweymbe British Judo: @britishjudo OR www.britishjudo.org.uk

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

How does a young man from Scotland go on to become one of the most respected names in European baseball?

That's exactly the journey that Thomas Haywood has been on over the past few years - and it's something that's taken him to all sorts of places as one of the top umpires on the European circuit.

He's our guest on this episode of the podcast - as we look at how he got his start in the game; his experiences of being LGBT in baseball; and the work he does with the charity OutdoorLads.

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUESTS? Baseball Softball UK - baseballsoftballuk.com/ @bsuk OutdoorLads - outdoorlads.com/ @outdoorlads

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

At the end of November, Stonewall FC stepped out at Wembley to play Wilberforce Wanderers as part of this year's #RainbowLaces campaign.

It's something that Stonewall FC founder member Aslie Pitter would have struggled to imagine when he started playing football as a youngster. In this episode, he tells us about some of the racism and homophobia that he received starting out in the sport - and how he managed to overcome it.

Also on the agenda - the emotions he felt attending the match at Wembley, and why he doesn't put 'Pitter MBE' on the back of his shirt!

WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT OUR GUESTS? Aslie Pitter MBE: @bendelmage Stonewall FC:@StonewallFC

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE SHOW? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

Our guest today is an award-winning author, a journalist, an advocate - undoubtedly one of the smartest men we've ever spoken to - and the first trans man to ever box at Madison Square Garden.

Thomas Page McBee stepped into the ring at the most hallowed venue in combat sports for charity - and used his own experiences learning the art of boxing to examine stereotypes and perceptions about gender and masculinity.

His new book Amateur looks at those issues, as Thomas details his own his journey - and we do the same in this podcast.

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THOMAS? Twitter: @ThomasPageMcBee Website: www.thomaspagemcbee.com

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST, OR SUGGEST A STORY? Twitter: @jack_murley Email: jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

Verity Smith has always loved rugby - in fact, he can thank his grandparents for that!

But as a transgender man, he's also had to deal with his share of abuse since coming out - and today, he's telling us about the journey he's been on. It's one of bravery and courage - and one he hopes will inspire other trans individuals to give sport a chance.

We really like him, and we think you will as well.

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUESTS? Verity: @VeritySmith19 Mesmac: @MesmacTotal/ www.mesmac.co.uk

WANT TO SUGGEST A STORY FOR THE PODCAST, OR SIMPLY TO GET IN TOUCH? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

Imagine starting your own LGBT+ supporters group, and then using THAT as a way to help combat isolation in older people.

Pretty incredible, right - but that's exactly what Piero Zizzi has done with Proud Baggies, and why we're so delighted to have him on the podcast.

We talk about why he stayed in the closet around football for a long time; how Robbie Rogers inspired him to come out; and about the Proud Baggies' new 1968 Club.

Plus, as a bonus this week, we'll take a look back into the archives of the show (when it was called 'The Other Side') - and hear from Joanie Evans, as she discusses her role as the Co-President of the Federation of Gay Games and how she got into football.

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUESTS? Proud Baggies: @WBALGBT / www.proudbaggies.com

WANT TO SUGGEST A STORY FOR THE PODCAST, OR SIMPLY GET IN TOUCH? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

'I hope sharing my coming out story may have some resonance, and help even one person that may be battling the same as I did'.

That was the email we got, out of the blue, from Greg McLean - the founder of St Margaret's Old Boys FC and a referee with the Liverpool County FA - and when someone says that to you, you know you just HAVE to get them on the podcast.

We're so glad we did - because we think Greg says things a lot of you will be able to relate to, from the fear of coming out to team-mates, to the isolation that can come with being LGBT in sport at a grass-roots level, to what it meant to be accepted by his team-mates.

And as for his predictions about Liverpool's title chances - well, we'll let you be the judge on that!

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH OUR GUESTS ON TWITTER? Greg: @gregmclean92 St Margaret's Old Boys: StMargaretsOBFC Liverpool County FA: @Liverpool_CFA

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST, OR HAVE A STORY WE SHOULD BE TELLING? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

Clubs and organisations across the UK will wear rainbow-coloured laces this weekend to show their support for combating homophobia and transphobia in sport.

It’s the fifth year that Rainbow Laces has been run - and who better to tell us about it than Kirsty Clarke, the Director of Sport at Stonewall.

She's brilliant at talking about the relevance of the campaign; about some of the issues the initiative is hoping to address; and about some of her sporting heroes, as she discusses her own personal journey.

We're really grateful she could take the time to speak with us - and we hope you like her as much as we do!

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUESTS? Stonewall:@stonewalluk ***OR*** http://www.stonewall.org.uk/ Kirsty Clarke:@kirstyc81

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? Email: jack.murley@bbc.co.uk Twitter: @jack_murley

As guests go, you can't get much better than a coach who has won the World Cup - and picked up the FIFA World Coach of the Year Award in the process.

But that's exactly what Jill Ellis has accomplished as the coach of the US Women's National Team - as part of a career that has also included plenty of success as a coach in the collegiate system.

Not bad for someone who was told football wasn't for her when she was growing up as a youngster in the UK!

We're really grateful that Jill took time out from the US Women's team's tour of Europe to talk with us about everything from that amazing World Cup win to her own personal journey to coming out in the sport - and we think you'll like this as well.

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUESTS? US Women: @ussoccer_wnt

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? Email: jack.murley@bbc.co.uk Twitter: @jack_murley

If you've read a story over the past couple of years about LGBTQ+ individuals or teams in sport, there's a fairly good chance that Jon Holmes has been the one to bring it to you.

The Sky Sports Home Page Editor is one of the most prominent voices in promoting sporting stories from the LGBTQ+ community - and also helped bring the Sports Media LGBT+ group to life.

Basically, he's does what we do - but better, and for a longer time! - so we thought it was about time we got him on the show. He's a fascinating chap t chat with, and talks about how he got his start in the industry, what an 'average' day is like in the Sky Sports newsroom - and how the media does when it comes to representing the LGBTQ+ community in sport.

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUESTS? Jon Holmes:@jonboy79 Sports Media LGBT+: @SportsMediaLGBT

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH, OR SUGGEST A STORY FOR THE PODCAST? Email: jack.murley@bbc.co.uk Twitter: @jack_murley

I think it's fair to say there's a certain image of rugby lads, right? Confident, sure of themselves - and not averse to a little bit of public nudity! But that's not always the case.

Cisgendered and transgendered rugby players from inclusive clubs across the UK have been taking part in something called the Naked Rugby Players project. It's a calendar that draws attention to some of the body image issues that men face - and encourages them to check themselves for signs of cancer at the same time.

Not only that, but it's also raising money for the inclusive teams themselves.

Simon Chapman from the Northampton Outlaws is one of the players taking part, while Monty McKinnen is the man who took the photos. They're both cracking chaps with lots of interesting things to say about sport, inclusivity, and the calendar itself.

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUESTS? Naked Rugby Players: @NakedRugby OR https://www.thenakedrugbyplayers.com/ Northampton Outlaws:@OutlawsRFC

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH, OR SUGGEST A STORY FOR THE PODCAST? Email: jack.murley@bbc.co.uk Twitter: @jack_murley

The clocks are going back - the weather is getting chillier - it really ISN'T cricketing weather, is it?

But if you are missing the sound of leather on willow, this episode of the BBC's LGBT Sport Podcast is for you.

Jonathan Hardisty is from Graces - the world's first (to their knowledge) and only gay cricket club. He's been talking to us about how it started; about why cricket is a more accepting sport than some others; about the courage it takes to come out in sport; and about his favourite players of all-time.

He's a super chap - and a really great guest - so we hope you enjoy this one.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT GRACES: Twitter: @Graces_Cricket Website: www.gracescricket.org.uk

HAVE AN IDEA FOR THE LGBT SPORT PODCAST FROM THE BBC, OR JUST WANT TO GET IN TOUCH? Email: jack.murley@bbc.co.uk Twitter: @jack_murley

It was a film that generated an awful lot of buzz this summer - the story of two young football professionals who fall in love, and the tale of what happens next.

To mark the DVD release of 'Mario', actor Aaron Altaras - who plays Leon in the movie - joins the show to talk about why he took the part; why it's so relevant now - and what on Earth happened to Germany at this year's World Cup?!

Plus, we look back at one of the best bits from 'The Other Side' and keep the football theme going, as we revisit our chat with Jim Hearson from the London Titans.

HAVE AN IDEA FOR THE LGBT SPORT PODCAST FROM THE BBC? Email: jack.murley@bbc.co.uk Twitter: @jack_murley

He's competed the world over - and made history in the process - and now, pro wrestler Mike Parrow joins the BBC LGBT Sport Podcast.

He talks about his experiences of coming out in the world of pro wrestling, the reception he received, and the surprising response he had from some members of the LGBT community.

And - as a disclaimer - Jack Murley loves wrestling ... so there's also talk of in-ring psychology, what makes a great match and more.

FOLLOW PARROW ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Twitter: https://twitter.com/Parrow_

HAVE AN IDEA FOR THE LGBT SPORT PODCAST FROM THE BBC? Email: jack.murley@bbc.co.uk Twitter: @jack_murley

If you've been on social media today, you may have noticed a certain topic is trending.

#ComeOutForTransEquality has been all over posts throughout the day - which makes the guest on this episode particularly appropriate.

Rowena Purdy is a championship-winning rally driver who helped fly Vulcans in the RAF, and has been writing about motorsports for more than a quarter of a century.

She also transitioned later in life and, now in her mid-70s, has got an awful lot to talk about - from developing a love of rallying in Kenya to travelling around the world, to how she decided when the time was right to transition.

She's a great guest - and we really think you'll like her.

HAVE AN IDEA FOR THE LGBT SPORT PODCAST FROM THE BBC? Email: jack.murley@bbc.co.uk Twitter: @jack_murley

This week's LGBT Sport Podcast from the BBC shines a spotlight on a brand-new club - as Andy Smith from the Westcountry Wasps rugby team joins us.

Andy talks about why he helped co-found the club; his experiences of inclusive rugby; and why he, as a straight man, decided to get involved in the first place.

Then, there's a best bit from our old show 'The Other Side' - as we take a trip through the archives with Ben Smith to talk about why he decided to complete 401 marathons in 401 days.

HAVE AN IDEA FOR THE LGBT SPORT PODCAST FROM THE BBC? Email: jack.murley@bbc.co.uk Twitter: @jack_murley

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUESTS: Westcountry Wasps: https://www.facebook.com/westwaspsrfc/

Ben Smith and the 401 Challenge: https://www.the401challenge.co.uk/

We've got not just one, but TWO terrific guests on the LGBT Sport Podcast today.

Up first, Mike Malyon from the London Otters Rowing Club shines a spotlight on the Otters' experience at the Gay Games; how he got involved in rowing; and what it was like to win gold in Paris.

Then, Craig Bratt talks about his role as the media officer with Crawley - including who is the biggest joker in the squad; why it's a dream come true to be at his childhood team; and his take on some of 'those' headlines in the tabloids about gay footballers.

And to round things off, Jack shares one of his 'coming out' stories for #NationalComingOutDay. It's a bit rambly and not as concise as he'd like - but as anyone who comes out will know, that's sometimes the way it goes!

HAVE AN IDEA FOR THE LGBT SPORT PODCAST FROM THE BBC? Email: jack.murley@bbc.co.uk Twitter: @jack_murley

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUESTS: The London Otters: @OttersRowing/ londonotters.org Crawley Town: @crawleytown/ crawleytownfc.com

The LGBT Sport Podcast is the BBC's first dedicated programme looking at LGBTQ+ individuals, groups and organisations in sport. The aim is to tell interesting stories from interesting people, and show that sport is a place where everyone belongs.

This podcast grew out of an old programme Jack Murley used to do, called 'The Other Side'. So, to bring new subscribers up to speed on what THAT show was all about, here's a pod with some of the best bits from that project, featuring ...

- Hockey umpire and player Jamie Hooper - Director of Pride Sports UK Lou Englefield - Olympian and world record holder Tom Bosworth - Rower and adventurer Sarah Outen - Rugby referee Nigel Owens

We also talk about an event called #AuthenticMe, and you can find out more about that here: https://sportsmedialgbt.com/authenticme-join-us-on-october-9

Like what you hear? Why not subscribe and get future episodes of the LGBT Sport Podcast as soon as they're released, and review the show so more people can hear it. Or you could share it on social media, so more people can find out about the programme.

HAVE AN IDEA FOR THE LGBT SPORT PODCAST FROM THE BBC? Email: jack.murley@bbc.co.uk Twitter: @jack_murley

The LGBT Sport Podcast is the BBC's first dedicated programme looking at LGBTQ+ individuals, groups and organisations in sport. The aim is to tell interesting stories from interesting people, and show that sport is a place where everyone belongs.

In this episode, Jack Murley is joined by broadcaster Bob Ballard - a man who has commentated on Olympics, Paralympics, Commonwealth Games, World Championships and pretty much everything in between.

They talk about Bob's love of sport; his approach to tackling commentaries; his experiences of homophobia; and about some of his personal highlights. Plus, there's a trip back into the archives of 'The Other Side' - which is what this show grew out of - to hear from pansexual wrestler Jack Sexsmith.

Like what you hear? Why not subscribe and get future episodes of the LGBT Sport Podcast as soon as they're released, and review the show so more people can hear it. Or you could share it on social media, so more people can find out about the programme.

HAVE AN IDEA FOR THE LGBT SPORT PODCAST FROM THE BBC? Email: jack.murley@bbc.co.uk Twitter: @jack_murley

The LGBT Sport Podcast is the BBC's first programme, looking at LGBTQ+ individuals, groups and organisations in sport. The aim is to tell interesting stories from interesting people, and show that sport is a place where everyone belongs.

It grew out of a show called 'The Other Side', which was presented by Jack Murley. And to get you in the mood for what this podcast is all about, this episode features some of the guests from the old show. So, in this episode, you'll hear from ...

- Lord Hayward, a founder of the Kings Cross Steelers.

- Vicki Carter from Out To Swim.

- Ben Owen, the President of International Gay Rugby, on the origins of the Bingham Cup.

- Ryan Atkin, the UK's first openly gay male football referee.

- Liz Carmouche on being an MMA pioneer.

- Matthew Mitcham on the Beijing Olympics and coming out.

- Racing driver Charlie Martin on Le Mans and her transition.

- Alison Perkins on being the PGA's first transgender golf pro.

Like what you hear? Why not subscribe and get future episodes of the LGBT Sport Podcast as soon as they're released, and review the show so more people can hear it. Or you could share it on social media, so more people can find out about the programme.

HAVE AN IDEA FOR THE LGBT SPORT PODCAST FROM THE BBC? Email: jack.murley@bbc.co.uk Twitter: @jack_murley

When it comes to the ice, Conor McDermott-Mostowy is fast – like, really fast!

A national speed-skating champion and a member of US Speedskating who has won medals across the world, the American knows all about what it takes to compete at the top-level – and how to do it while balancing his sport with a university degree.

Conor came out publicly in 2021 – and now he’s here with us on the podcast to talk more about his sporting career and his journey with his sexuality.

We talk about all sorts of things in this episode – including some of his most memorable moments from the past season, how it feels when everything is just clicking on the ice, representing Team USA, coming out, looking up to Gus Kenworthy and others – and loads, loads more.

Conor may be one of the most laid-back guys we’ve ever had on the podcast - and we love this chat, and think you will as well!

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST? @conor.mm on Instagram

GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST: @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

You may well have seen Nick Ransom reporting on Sky, ITV, BBC and plenty of other outlets – covering everything from the footballing stories of Afghan refugees to LGBTQ+ representation in the media.

He’s also worked as a producer, bringing together content for events like the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, Wimbledon, the Euros and more – basically, this is someone who lives and breathes sport.

It’s no real surprise that Nick ended up on telly – in fact, he basically spent his childhood banging out reports for anyone who would watch, honing the skills that would eventually take him into the industry.

And on a podcast that is all about representation, Nick is here not just to talk about being authentic as a member of the LGBTQ+ community – but also about his experiences as someone who is autistic, and who is passionate about spotlighting neurodivergent individuals on-screen as well.

So, loads to get into in this conversation with Nick – from his love of sport to his autistic experience to bringing all of his authentic self to the screen, to the stories he’s telling and championing as part of Neurodiversity Celebration Week across BBC Sport!

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUESTS? @MrNickRansom

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

Big games deserve the big build – and that’s what John Reavey does when it comes to the Premier League.

The director and creative producer is responsible for some of the video packages that you’ve seen hyping a number of the beautiful game’s massive matches – including the Manchester Derby and the start of the new season.

It’s not just there that you’ll have seen his work either – from a West Ham kit launch to Anita Asante’s retirement to a documentary on out gay footballers, John has spent years combining his love of film with his love of football.

And when he’s not capturing the game on screen, he’s playing as a member of the London Titans side in the GFSN – and he’s an absolutely brilliant guest on the podcast today.

There’s loads in this episode that is absolutely fascinating – the joy of storytelling, the importance of visibility, combing sport and LGBTQ+ identity, plus how a story from John’s past inspired both an incredibly powerful short film and the next thing that he’ll be working on.

This is a cracking listen, and we really think you’re going to love it!

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST? johnreavey.com @johnreavey

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

We feature professional wrestling on the podcast a lot – but this is only the second time that we’re speaking to someone from the world of freestyle wrestling.

And honestly, what better way to do it than with Samantha Stewart?!

The Canadian is a multiple-time medallist and a Pan-American champion who has been involved in the sport for more than twenty years – and has seen it take her right around the world.

There’s a world championship bronze at Oslo in her trophy cabinet from 2021, along with a silver from the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham a year later as well.

And having just come back from the Pan-American Games, we couldn’t have picked a better time to speak to this amazing athlete – who is an absolute gem of a guest, she really is.

Finding your sport, finding your identity, pushing boundaries and making memories – it’s all in this conversation which is an absolute joy with a guest who we wished we’d had on years ago!

But we’re making up for lost time with this episode, and we hope you love hearing it as much as we loved making it.

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST? @sam_stewart53

WANT TO GET INVOLVED WITH THE PODCAST? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

‘It’s my church’ – that’s how Lucy Clark has previously described her love of football, and the meaning that she attaches to her involvement with the beautiful game.

Her appointment at the end of January as the new manager at Sutton United Women was therefore not just a moment of personal achievement, but a landmark for the game as well – with Clark becoming the first transgender woman to manage in the top five divisions of the UK women’s game, just years after she became the football’s first transgender referee.

And honestly, this is an amazing conversation with an individual who lives and breathes the beautiful game – in fact, when we tried to get Lucy to talk about anything other than football, it turns out she absolutely couldn’t do it!

We talk about Lucy’s love of the game growing up, coaching, refereeing, her return to management – and her personal journey as she discovered her authentic self and found a way to bring that to the beautiful game as well.

It’s a conversation that is genuine, uplifting, fun and everything you could want from a guest – and we’re massively grateful that Lucy took the time to join us for this chat.

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST? @lucyclarkref

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

When Robbie Manson announced that he was hanging up his oars ahead of the Tokyo Games, he’d already achieved a bucket-load of amazing sporting achievements.

The New Zealander had competed at back-to-back Olympics in London and Rio, had secured a spot for Tokyo – and, with multiple World Rowing Cups and a World Rowing Championship bronze medal in 2015 under his belt, no-one would have blamed him for wanting to do something new.

But as much as he enjoyed coaching, something about the sport kept pulling him back – and, after returning to full time competition, Robbie has earned himself a spot at the Paris Olympics in just a few months from now.

So, we needed no further excuse to get Robbie on the podcast than that to talk all about his amazing journey and this is a fascinating conversation. It touches on mental health, burnout, stepping away from the sport you love and finding a way back again, being your authentic self, the importance of visibility amongst others and so much more.

It’s considered, it’s powerful, it’s never anything less than real – and we’re really grateful for Robbie for making the time to join us for it.

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST? @robbie_manson

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

If you were watching professional wrestling in the mid-2010s, you’d have seen Gabbi Tuft in action – where she was better known as WWE superstar Tyler Reks.

There were matches at the Royal Rumble, Survivor Series, appearances on many of the WWE’s flagship shows – but it was only when wrestling came to an end that Tuft was able to become her authentic self as a trans woman.

She shared her story publicly in 2021 – and one look at her Instagram now shows Gabbi sharing her love for fitness, and teasing, potentially, a return to wrestling as well.

Hundreds of thousands of people follow Gabbi across all her platforms, and this is a chance to have a conversation with someone that we think you’re going to love.

If you love wrestling, you’ll love the stories about Dusty Rhodes and working with the Undertaker and how the business makes Gabbi feel – along with why she’s got the itch to return.

And if wrestling isn’t your thing, there’s still so much in this conversation for you – as Gabbi talks openly and authentically about the journey she’s been on discovering her true self, and sharing that truth with both herself and the world.

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUESTS? @gabbituft

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

For as long as Chris Paouros can remember, she’s been a proud supporter of Tottenham Hotspur.

But while she’s always loved her football team, she’s not always been sure that football has loved her back – which is why she’s spent years trying to transform the game into somewhere that everyone feels welcome.

Her CV is formidable enough – a vice-chair and trustee at Kick It Out, a Board Member at the Football Supporters’ Association, a Supporters Representative on the FA Council, and the co-chair and co-founder of Proud Lilywhites, to name just a few.

She’s also a brilliant talker and a fantastic guest to have with us on the podcast, as we talk about her love of football and her desire to change it for the better in whatever way she can.

There’s so much in this conversation with Chris – where that love of Spurs comes from, her drive to open the game up to everyone, some of her proudest achievements with Proud Lilywhites, where the game goes next, even some cheeky film recommendations as well – and it’s a cracker with one of our favourites on the pod.

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST? @chrispaouros @SpursLGBT

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

Take a look at the CV of Jason Webber, and you’ll see that a passion for equality and diversity is burned into everything does.

For more than a decade, he was a campaign co-ordinator with Show Racism the Red Card – and since 2020, he’s been a key part of trying to make the beautiful game something for everyone in Wales as the senior EDI Manager at the Football Association of Wales.

That love of the beautiful game runs deep in this man – with stints as an Academy Coach at Cardiff City and Merthyr Town alongside his EDI work.

And now, it’s part of a commitment that runs through him to open up football to people who have traditionally felt the game isn’t for them.

So, that’s what we talk about in this episode – everything from starting Wales’ first LGBTQ+ supporters group for the national team, some of the challenges that still exist in the game, what to say to people who say football shouldn’t be ‘political’ – honestly, it’s a fascinating chat that we think you’ll love.

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST? @WebberTJason @fawales

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

If there’s anyone who knows about what it takes to make football inclusive, it’s James Laley.

As the founder of Rainbow Blades, he’s helped embed diversity in the heart of what Sheffield United does, and it’s not just us saying that either – as James has been recognised not once but twice as this year’s Football v Homophobia Awards.

So, we felt it was the perfect time to get James onto the podcast to talk about his journey in football, and the difference he’s making in the beautiful game.

We chat about how he discovered Sheffield United at university and fell in love with the club; about the incident that led to him starting Rainbow Blades (and how in some ways, the timing couldn’t have been worse); about the way it’s been embraced by the club; about some of the challenges and goals for the future – and being recognised by the Football v Homophobia Awards in two different categories this year.

It’s a cracking conversation with someone who just exudes positivity, and we think you’ll love it!

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST?: @james_laley @rainbow_blades

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST?: @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

In a way, Mikey Connor has his nan to thank for his love of football.

It was her who took him along to Everton games, who encouraged him to give the game a go, and told him that he should give refereeing a go as well.

So really, it’s her who Mikey has to thank for his love of the beautiful game which – by his own admission – is now a sport that he absolutely can’t live without.

As a former semi-pro ‘keeper, he’s done it as a player – and now, he’s making his way up through the pyramid as a referee, with his eyes firmly set on making it at the highest level that he can as a professional.

And as if all of that wasn’t enough, Mikey is also a content creator and a former star of the ground-breaking BBC Three reality TV show ‘I Kissed A Boy’ – so there’s absolutely loads for us to talk about in this episode, which is an absolute corker.

We talk about Mikey’s love of football, how it feels when he’s refereeing, his goals and ambitions in the game – as well as why he still fears receiving homophobia on the pitch, his time as a star of ‘I Kissed A Boy’, his own journey with his health and so much more in an absolute corker of a conversation.

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST? @MikeyConnor94 on Twitter @MikeyConnor22 on Instagram

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST?: @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

There are so many strings that Pollo Del Mar has to their bow that it’s hard to know where to begin!

A performer, journalist, activist, philanthropist and campaigner – but our interest today is in Pollo’s position as one of the most prominent LGBTQ+ wrestling personalities out there today.

First as a wrestling journalist, Pollo began participating in wrestling personally – as the host of EFFY’s Big Gay Brunch and a manager in various promotions across the West Coast and beyond as well, including as a key part of the NWA.

Although Pollo is reluctant to refer to themselves as a pioneer, that’s really what they are – because honestly, how many drag queen wrestling managers have you ever seen?! – and beyond that, they’re an extraordinarily eloquent individual who we think you’ll love.

We talk about so much on this pod – where Pollo’s love of wrestling came from, their most memorable moments in the industry, being recognised by others, driving yourself to succeed, the growth of the LGBTQ+ community in wrestling and so, so much more.

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST? @TheGlamazonPDM on Twitter @pollodelmarfans on Instagram

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

With a mother and a father who amounted to bowls royalty, it’s really no surprise that David Gourlay found his way into the sport.

But David was determined to make his own way in bowls, and has amassed a whopping seven world indoor titles – including the 1996 World Indoor Singles Championship, as well as three World Men’s Indoor Pairs Championships and three World Mixed Indoor Pairs Championships.

And as if success as a player wasn’t enough, David also coached Scotland’s bowls players to four medals at the 2014 Commonwealth Games – and as if that weren’t enough, he was also appointed as an MBE for his services to the sport.

David is now the longest-serving player in the World Bowls Tour Top 16 – and with the World Indoor Bowls Championship in full swing at Hopton on Sea, now seemed like the perfect time to get David on for a chat.

This is a cracking conversation with a brilliant guest in a sport that we’ve never covered before – as we talk about some of David’s top moments, his experiences in the sport, receiving that MBE, his personal journey and loads, loads more.

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST: @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

To say that Ellia Green is an incredible athlete would be a dramatic understatement.

As a kid, it was athletics – and particularly sprinting - that Ellia excelled at, competing at World Junior Championships, all with the encouragement of an amazing mum who was all in on supporting their journey.

Ellia ended up switching to rugby sevens – and in 2016, they were part of the Australian team that took gold at the Olympics in Rio in the first time that the sport had ever taken place at a Games.

It was the fulfilment of a dream that had fired Ellia ever since they were a child, and in 2022, Ellia opened up about their journey away from sport with their gender identity when they spoke publicly for the first time about their journey as a trans man.

We’re delighted to have Ellia on the podcast today to talk about all of that – as we chat about all of that and so much more in a conversation that touches on being true to who you are, becoming a father, achieving your Olympic dreams and so, so much more.

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST? @elliagreen

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

2023 is almost at an end – and in many ways, this has been the biggest year that the BBC’s LGBT Sport Podcast has ever had.

More guests telling more stories in more places and more ways than ever before – so to round out the year, we thought we’d remind ourselves of some of the most memorable moments that we’ve had on the podcast between January and December.

World Cup winners, Olympic gold medallists, rugby and football internationals, wrestling superstars, folks who came out for the first time in 2023, and the ones who paved the way for them to do so.

They’re all in this special episode to round out the year – and we really think you’re going to like it.

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST: @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

John-Edward Heath is someone who lives and breaths sport.

A powerlifter, a snowboarder, a Crossfit competitor and an adaptive athlete with dreams of medalling on the grandest stages of them all – John-Edward is a man with big ambitions and the drive to match.

But he’s also a man who has had to overcome extraordinary obstacles.

As a child, he experienced homelessness; as a gay Marine, he was outed; he had to deal with the trauma of a partner and a best friend taking their own lives; and, after being hit by a drunk-driver and experiencing a significant number of medical difficulties and complications, he made the decision to have his lower leg removed.

With all of that trauma, you might think that John-Edward was consumed by negativity – but actually, the reverse is true, and the American adaptive athlete is focused on competing at the Paralympics and the grandest stages that sport has to offer, and of raising others up along the way.

We talk about all of that in this episode – including how he discovered sport was for him, understanding his own sexuality, the idea of being ‘inspirational’ and loads more besides, in a truly memorable episode.

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUESTS? @CarbonFiberJohn

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

HAVE YOU BEEN AFFECTED BY ANY OF THE ISSUES RAISED IN THIS EPISODE?

BBC ACTION LINE WEBSITE: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/1NGvFrTqWChr03LrYlw2Hkk/information-and-support-mental-health-self-harm

SAMARITANS WEBSITE: https://www.samaritans.org/

It was one year ago, almost exactly to the year, that Adam Bolt made his debut on this podcast.

And since then, it’s fair to say that the British grappler has gone from strength-to-strength in a way that not even he thought would be possible.

The Doncaster native has had millions of views across social media from people eager to hear more about his inspiring story outside of the ring – while inside the squared circle, he’s claimed the UK’s first-ever Pride title after main-eventing the WAW Pride Show in Norwich with former podcast guest Mitchell Starr.

That bout was nominated for the Match of the Year at the QWI Awards, where Adam was up for numerous accolades – and he cracked the QWI200 as well, ranking for the first time amongst the elite LGBTQ+ wrestlers in the world.

So, as we head towards the end of 2023, we thought it was high-time to get Adam back onto the podcast to talk about their year – and what they want 2024 to bring their way as well.

From dream matches to dealing with pressure to representation for people who don’t always feel represented, this is a cracking conversation with one of our favourites that we really hope you’d like.

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST? @adamboltwrestler on Instagram @AdamBolt_ on Twitter

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

When Jamie Ayshford dropped us a message, asking to come on to talk about the joys of spin, we were always going to say ‘yes’ to having him on.

Partly, it’s because we’re always passionate about covering a sport or type of activity that we haven’t done before – and partly, because Jamie is so blinking passionate about it!

He credits it with helping him with his mental health and empowering to accept who he is as an LGBTQ+ individual – and that’s the story that you’re going to hear over the course of what really is a fabulous conversation.

We chat about how sport at school wasn’t really his thing, partly because he wasn’t allowed to do the sport he wanted to do; coming to terms with his sexuality and how indoor cycling helped him do that; the empowerment of working out alongside other members of the LGBTQ+ community; why he is so committed to helping others – and so much more besides.

It’s a great, uplifting conversation that reminds us how important sport at the grassroots level is to your mental and physical wellbeing – and we couldn’t ask for a better advocate for it than Jamie.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST: @jamieayshford

GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST: @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

It’s hard to put into perspective the things that Hedvig Lindahl has been able to accomplish in the beautiful game.

With nearly two-hundred caps for Sweden, she is – by some distance – the most-capped Swedish goalkeeper of all-time.

Her international career has seen her reach the World Cup Final in 2003, along with two Olympic silver medals, two World Cup bronzes and three bronzes from the European Championships – while her domestic career includes two WSL titles with Chelsea, along with the Super Copa in Spain and a double won in Germany as well.

She counts Wolfsburg and Atletico Madrid amongst her former teams – and we are absolutely over the moon to have on a player who dreamed of becoming the best goalkeeper in the world, and absolutely made it happen.

It’s an amazing conversation that touches on everything from playing as a kid between two apple tress in her garden to her burning desire to be the best; along with the fight for equality, in sport and in life, her journey with her own sexuality – and whether or not she is retired!

Honestly, this is a belter – and we’re delighted Hedvig has joined us for it!

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST? @hedvig_lindahl

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

It’s been more than a year since Jake Daniels made history.

Still just a teenager, the Blackpool player came out publicly as gay – and become the first active British male footballer to come out while still playing since Justin Fashanu.

Life has been a whirlwind for Jake since then – and we’re delighted that he’s found the time to join us on the podcast for an episode that we know so many of you have been desperate to hear.

And this isn’t just an episode about Jake’s decision to come out – but about the impact it has had on his mental health, and why Jake has teamed up with the Movember charity to help ensure others are beginning to have conversations about how they are feeling.

We talk about Jake’s journey in football; his decision to come out; the reaction to it; his take on things like the Qatar World Cup and the upcoming World Cup in Saudi Arabia; what needs to be done to make the game more inclusive – and loads, loads more.

This is an episode with someone who has rightly been lauded as a game-changer in British sport – and we can’t wait for you to hear it.

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST? @officialjakedaniels

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

There’s nothing better than getting to take this show on the road!

And that’s what we’re celebrating on the podcast today with a bumper compilation episode, looking at some of the best people and places that we’ve been able to take the show to since 2018.

From the beaches of Cornwall to Wembley Way, to one of the UK’s most iconic cricket clubs to a training centre for the fastest-rising British wrestling talent, this special show highlights some of the amazing ‘out and about’ stories that we’ve been able to tell on the show.

Cricket, wrestling, swimming, football, surging – even bits that we’d forgotten we’d done! – they’re all here in this very special episode.

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

We last had Richard on the podcast for our 50th episode – and at the time, we described him as a modern-day James Bond – a racing driver with a doctorate for Cambridge who also fenced at the international level for England and Great Britain.

Since then, he’s gone from strength-to-strength, competing for Revolution Race Cars in the European Sports Prototype Cup – where just days ago, he clinched the Championship with a double-win at Le Mans.

As the co-founder of Racing Pride, he’s spent years working to make motorsport more inclusive – and as the chair of the Motorsport UK LGBTQ+ Expert Committee, he’s also had a pretty big week himself, as you’ll hear in this episode.

So, there really was no better time to invite Richard back onto the podcast for a chat up about his career, his achievements, Racing Pride, racing alongside Sir Chris Hoy and loads, loads more.

It’s a cracker of a conversation, and we think you’re going to love it.

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST? @richardmorrisracing @racingpridehq

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

If you’ve been watching British wrestling for a while, you’ll probably have seen Jason Joshua in action.

Sovereign Pro Wrestling, WAW, Full Force Wrestling, the self-proclaimed ‘Big Daddy Unicorn’ has been plying his trade across the UK scene – and now, he’s joining us on the podcast to talk about his journey, in and away from the ring.

We get into who inspired him to give wrestling a try; finding a character that suited him; his most memorable matches and moments; his own story when it comes to finding out who he is as a person and loads, loads more.

But it’s also a powerful and moving conversation about mental health, overcoming anxiety – and how the love of a good partner can push you to do things you never dreamed that you’d be able to accomplish.

We always love talking professional wrestling on this podcast – and we hope you’ll enjoy hearing this conversation as much as we enjoyed having it.

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST? @jasonjoshuapro

GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST: @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

The last time that Ben Watkiss was on the podcast, he was working for League One’s Burton Albion as a strength and conditioning coach.

Now, he’s crossed the border to Scotland – where he’s working as the Lead Sport Scientist for Ayr United, who play in the Scottish Championship where they’re currently sitting in a mid-table position.

And the last time Ben was on, back in April of 2021, men’s football looked like a very different place – with no Jakub Jankto, no Jake Daniels, no Josh Cavallo, no Zander Murray, no James Adcock when it came to out, visible gay male role-models in the men’s game.

So, we thought it was high-time to get Ben back on the podcast to have a catch-up, both about his life and how the men’s game has changed over the past couple of years.

We talk adapting to life in Scotland, doing his job during the pandemic, being an out gay man in football, how Ayr United helped him share his story with the club and loads, loads more.

As always, Ben is a brilliant guest to have – open, honest, chatty, upbeat and really good value as a person to chat with – so we think you’re really going to like this conversation.

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST?: @bwatkiss96

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST?: @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

It’s hard to imagine Devin Ibanez living a life without rugby.

He played for Major League Rugby’s New England Free Jacks in the USA in their inaugural season, took gold with Team USA at the World Maccabiah (Maccabee) Games in Israel in 2017 and represented Richmond in the Championship in the UK.

And if all of that wasn’t a tip-off that Devin loves the game, his social media handle – ‘that gay rugger’ – should really be the giveaway.

But coming to a point where Devin could speak about his two truths – his love of rugby, and his love of his boyfriend Fergus – in the same breath was a remarkable journey, in and of itself, and it’s one we’re so delighted to be talking about with Devin on the podcast today.

We talk about where his love of rugby came from, pursuing his dreams to play at the highest level, his decision to come out, the reaction that got and life for Devin now.

We think you’ll love this conversation – and we’re really glad Devin made the time to join us for it.

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST? @thatgayrugger

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

It was in February of this year that Jakub Jankto looked down the lens of a camera and told the world that he was gay.

The 27-year old’s motivation was simple – he no longer wanted to live in fear or in hiding – and while his message was simple, the reaction was overwhelming.

Support came in from some of the biggest names in the beautiful game, as Jankto made history as the most high-profile active male footballer to open up about their sexuality – and for a little while, we’ve been chatting about having him join us here on the podcast.

We’re delighted that today is the day we make that happen as Jakub joins us for his first-ever podcast interview to talk about his love of football, some of his most memorable moments, his decision to come out, the reaction to it and so much more.

It’s an episode we’re so chuffed to bring you, and we hope you like it as much as we do!

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST?: @jakubjanktojr

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST?: @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

October 11th is National Coming Out Day.

It’s a worldwide anniversary that celebrates the bravery of those who have found the strength to live authentically and open up about their sexuality or gender identity, and to recognise the challenges and hurdles that still prevent people from doing just that.

And to mark the occasion, we’ve got a special bumper edition of the podcast celebrating some of the most powerful ‘coming out’ stories that we’ve been able to share on the show over the past five years.

It features Olympic legends and world champions; world record holders and wrestling superstars; top officials, British number 1s, MMA trailblazers and loads, loads more besides.

It’s a compendium of courageous coming out stories – and we really hope you enjoy it.

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST?: @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

You know that you’re going to like someone when they describe their identity as a non-binary bisexual as ‘joyful chaos’ – and that’s exactly how Charlotte Galloway talks about herself.

But it’s just one part of Charlotte’s personality, which is as much tied up in their love of football, which manifests itself in her role as both the chair of Cardiff Dragons and as the co-founder of the Women's Football Collective, which styles itself as a training centre for ‘Her Game Too’ campaign.

So, it’s clear that football is a huge passion in Charlotte’s life, so that’s where we start this conversation – but it rapidly becomes a chat about so much more than just the beautiful game.

From playing with the boys when she was starting out to the role of a chairperson; to realising her bisexuality was enough to starting the WFC, this is a fascinating conversation with one of Wales’ top football advocates, and we’re delighted to have her on the podcast.

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST? @CharlotteG_foot @cardiffdragons @Women’s_FC

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

Maggie Alphonsi is one of the most decorated rugby players in English history.

A World Cup winner who played for the Red Roses in three finals, she helped England claim seven consecutive Six Nations title in a career that saw her win 74 caps for her country.

For achievements on the pitch, she’s been recognised with an MBE and named as the International Rugby Board’s Women’s Player of the Year – and since retiring, she’s broken boundaries as broadcaster with Sky and ITV.

She’s also had a Number 1 single, is a wife and a mother to two beautiful children – and as if all of that didn’t sound like enough, she’s just written her autobiography looking at her extraordinary journey, on and off the pitch.

So it is a massive thrill to have Maggie with us on the podcast today to talk all about it in an episode that I genuinely think is ‘can’t-miss’ – much like the book, which I got through in a day.

We talk about the writing process, about getting into rugby as a youngster, about her England career, about coming out – honestly, it’s a superb chat with a genuine legend, and we think you’ll love it.

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST?: @MaggieAlphonsi

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

On the face of it, Ryan O’Callaghan was living the dream.

The offensive tackle was a stand-out collegiate football player who was drafted to play alongside Tom Brady at the New England Patriots.

He should have had it all – fame, fortune, all the trappings that came with it – but for Ryan, football was never a game he loved, but a way to hide the fact he was gay.

It was something he did throughout his career – and it was only in 2017 that he decided to open up publicly about his sexuality for the first time, as one of the very few NFL players to have ever spoken up about the fact they were gay.

Ryan now uses his platform to help and support others – and we’re delighted to have him on the podcast today.

This isn’t always an easy listen – we talk about Ryan’s mental health and why, at points, he felt like taking his own life – and in the description box of this episode, we’ve put a link to the BBC Action Line and other places you can find support if you or someone you know have been affected by his story.

But I’d urge you to listen to this whole episode, as it really is an extraordinary conversation with a brilliant guest that we think will stick with you for a long time.

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST? https://www.facebook.com/ryanocallaghanfoundation/

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

HAVE YOU BEEN AFFECTED BY ANY OF THE TOPICS RAISED IN THIS PODCAST? https://www.bbc.co.uk/actionline/

A big event deserves a big guest, and we’ve got two of them to join us on the podcast as we look ahead to the first-ever Rainbow Games in New Zealand next year.

Tom Leonard is the event director – and Honey Hireme-Smiler is someone who can only described as a New Zealand sporting legend, as a league, union and sevens international who has played at more World Cups than you can shake a stick at in a sporting career that spans nearly two decades.

We talk about all sorts of different things on this episode – how the Rainbow Games came about, why it matters, the importance of sport to both Tom and Honey, why visibility matters and so, so much more.

It’s a great conversation about a brilliant new event, and we really think you’re going to like it.

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUESTS?: Honey: @hunzbw Tom: @tom_leonard13 Rainbow Games: @rainbowgames2024

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST?: @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

If you’re listening to this episode, you probably love Formula 1 – but not as much as Christian Hewgill does.

Because, if we’re honest, few people in the world do.

He’s the host of ‘The Fast and The Curious’ podcast with Betty Glover and Greg James, the ‘F1 Explains’ podcast – and a regular contributor to BBC Radio 5Live’s F1 coverage.

For years, he was one of the voices of sport on BBC Radio 1’s Newsbeat programme – and it’s not just Formula 1 either, with Leicester City another one of Christian’s passions.

So, with all of that in mind, it’s amazing it’s taken us so long to get Christian onto the podcast – but boy, was the wait worth it, because this is an amazing chat with a fantastic guest.

We talk about Christian’s love of F1 and where that’s taken him; some of the most memorable events that he’s been able to cover; his work with Foxes Pride and Racing Pride; the importance of visibility in sport and so, so much more.

It’s a cracking conversation with Christian – and we think you’re going to love it.

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUESTS? @ChrisHewgill on Twitter @christian_hewgill on Instagram

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

Tia Fernandez loves being out and about in the great outdoors.

She’s a member of Queer Surf Club – who we’ve featured on this show before – but in the not-too-distant future, she’s hoping to go from the beach to the far ends of the Earth in a bid to make history as the first queer person of colour to reach the Northern Pole of Inaccessibility.

And when we heard that Tia was attempting to do something like that, then we knew we had no choice but to get her on for a chat.

And what a conversation this is – and while we appreciate many of you won’t have heard of Tia before, we urge you to stay listening because this is an amazing episode.

We talk about her love of being active and finding her place in surfing and scuba diving; the expedition she’s planning to be a part of; the importance of representation; Tia’s own experiences of racism; and of being a queer person of colour in field where folks like her simply haven’t been before.

It’s an amazing conversation – and one we think you’re going to love.

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST? Facebook: Tia Fernandez Insta: @meliiiodas_

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

Dominic Clarke is one of those people who has lived enough life for about three lifetimes – and he’s barely hitting his stride!

A trampoline gymnast who has competed around the world – including at the Tokyo Olympics, and winning bronze at World Championship level – he’s now a Cirque du Soleil artist for the Michael Jackson ‘ONE’ show in Las Vegas.

Oh – and did we mention that he successfully auditioned for Australia’s version of ‘The Voice’?!

Like we say, we weren’t ever going to be short of things to talk to Dominic about, and we’re delighted he found the time to join us from Las Vegas to talk all about his amazing career – and his journey with his sexuality away from sport as well.

It’s every bit of the conversation that you’d hope to have with someone like Dom – funny, frank, honest and full of amazing tales – and we think you’re absolutely going to love it!

We talk about his love of sport; his decision to come out and some of the stereotypes in gymnastics that made that difficult; the reaction he had; preparation for the Tokyo Olympics in the midst of COVID; The Voice; and so, so much more.

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST? @_domclarke on Instagram

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

Callum Prince is someone who lives and breathes football.

In fact, it’s hard to pick a part of the beautiful game that he’s not involved with!

He’s a member of the GFSN Committee, a player with Nottingham Lions, a consultant with Burton Albion on their Equality, Diversity and Inclusion work – and that’s just scratching the surface.

He’s someone that we’ve wanted to have on for a while, and we’re delighted to have him on the podcast today – especially since he joined us from Malta where the Lions are currently having a summer break.

We talk to Callum about all sorts of things – his experiences in the beautiful game (including the homophobia he has dealt with); the joys of coaching; working with his childhood team to showcase the value of inclusion; the importance of inclusive clubs – and loads, loads more besides.

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST? @callum_prince17

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

She’s a key part of the AEW roster – a gender-fluid, transfeminine performer who uses she/ her and they/them pronouns and wrestles in the men’s division. In fact, Sonny Kiss defies definition in so many ways – and while Sonny entered AEW as the self-proclaimed ‘Concrete Rose’, the wrestler has evolved as both a person and a competitor during her more than three years in the spotlight, including the more villainous persona we see at the moment!

She’s someone we’ve wanted to have on the podcast for a long time – especially as you know we love professional wrestling! – and today, we’re making it happen in a big way with an absolutely superb episode.

We talk about her background in dance and performing art; how she got her break in professional wrestling; some of her most memorable moments in AEW; how she came to terms with her sexuality and then her gender identity; her goals for the future; and how she enjoys switching off – along with so, so much more.

If you love wrestling, you’ll love this conversation – and if wrestling isn’t your thing, you’ll still love this chat with a brilliant individual!

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST? @SonnyKissXO

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

It’s been about two years since Jake Williamson joined us on the podcast for the first time – and since then, his career has gone from strength to strength.

Not only have you seen Jake compete Hyrox events and ultra-marathons, but he’s also using his platform to try and make sport a place where LGBTQ+ people feel welcome.

It’s been too long since we’ve had a proper chat with Jake, so it was high time that we got him back onto the podcast to talk about his journey since then.

We talk about all sorts of things – Jake’s coming out journey; his progress in the world of athletics; using his platform to help others as an advocate; modelling; the future and loads, loads more.

We always love chatting with Jake, and we think you’ll love this episode!

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST? @jake_williamsonpt on Instagram

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

With the Women’s World Cup in full swing in Australia and New Zealand, we thought we’d put together a special episode featuring some of the amazing women from the beautiful game who have joined us on the podcast since 2018.

We’re talking pundits, journalists, pioneers, record-breakers and more – as we remind ourselves of some of the brilliant female football folk who have shared their stories with us.

So, coming up on this episode, you’ll hear from:

- Former USWNT Head Coach Jill Ellis - Former England international Anita Asante - Welsh football legend Jess Fishlock - Welsh football pioneer Laura McAllister - Former Crystal Palace and Spurs goalkeeper Chloe Morgan - BBC Sport Lionesses reporter Jo Currie

It’s a brilliant trip down memory lane with some fantastic guests who you may not have heard first time round – so we think you’re going to love it!

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

It was last month that British weightlifter Ryan Lucas-Lowther decided to open about his sexuality in a conversation for Pride Month.

We saw it – and if you listen to this show, you probably did as well – which is why we’re so delighted to get him onto the podcast to talk about his journey in full.

He’s one of only a handful of weightlifters that we’ve had on the podcast before, so it was a chance for us to really delve into the sport – and Ryan’s journey, both in it and away from it as well.

We talk about whether he was sporty growing up; his journey into fitness and weightlifting; some of his highlights in the sport; understanding his sexuality and being out and open about it – it really is a top conversation with a great guest that we think you’re going to love.

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST? @RyanLowther_ on Twitter @ryanlucaslowther on Instagram and TikTok

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

Ed Slattery has a passion for taking elite athletes to the next level as a hugely experienced strength and conditioning coach who has worked with Irish Rugby for coming up in a decade.

Take a listen to this CV – Athletics Performance Coach for Irish women’s rugby; Athletic Performance Coach for Sevens and Womens Rugby; Athletic Performance Coach for Mens Rugby; and now his current role as Head of Athletic Performance for the Womens Pathways and National team.

What that means, to you and me, is that he’s absolutely brilliant at helping get the absolute best out of players across the Irish national rugby set-up – and that has taken him through Six Nations campaigns, to the Tokyo Olympics and so much more.

He’s also been a long-time listener to the podcast – and when we started chatting about him coming on, he was more than happy to join us – even if he was worried he wouldn’t have anything interesting to say.

Turns out he was wrong about that, as he’s a brilliant guest, and we get into all sorts of things!

We talk about the skills of high-performance coaching and getting into it in the first place; about getting players on-board and seeing results; the Tokyo Olympics and that experience with Ed; his own personal journey and how being his authentic self made him a better coach; and loads, loads more.

This isn’t Ed’s ‘coming out’ story, as more than a few folks know his story – but plenty of others don’t so we hope you enjoy it, as it’s a cracking conversation with a great guy.

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUR OUR GUEST? @edsla_ @irishrugby

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

In many ways, it was inevitable that Georgia Adams was going to get into cricket.

After all, her dad is former Sussex captain Chris Adams – and some of Georgia’s earliest memories are of watching him play, throwing a ball around, and itching to get into the game herself.

That’s exactly what she’s ended up doing – and now plies her trade for Southern Vipers, who she captains.

In fact, she was the Vipers’ stand-out player in their Rachael Heyhoe Flint trophy-winning team of 2020 when she was the competition’s leading run scorer with 500 – and when they retained the trophy in 2021 – and honestly, she’s an absolutely brilliant guest to chat to today.

There’s so much in here – the art of captaincy, the growth of the women’s game, allowing herself to be vulnerable, accepting her own sexuality, and so, so much more!

There are some guests you just click with instantly, and Georgia is one of them – and we really, really think you’re going to love this one.

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST? @GeorgiaAdams01 @VipersKSL

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

It’s no secret that we love professional wrestling on this show – so when we had the chance to record a programme live on location at the House of Pain Wrestling Academy in Nottingham, we absolutely weren’t going to turn it down.

Our main guest was British wrestling star Adam Bolt – who has been on this podcast before, and has inspired many wrestlers to open up about their own journey since he shared his bisexuality publicly a couple of years back.

But we wanted to go beyond that as well – so we’re also joined by Adam’s tag-team partner Jackie T for a great conversation about allyship and supporting Adam as he came out, and by wrestler ZiZi who is ready to share her story publicly for the first time as well.

It’s a cracking episode – lots of laughs, lots of characters, lots of great stories with great people – and we think you’re going to love it.

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUESTS? @zitothepowertwi @Jack_Tayson99 @AdamBolt_ @HOPWrestlingUK

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

For a long time, Veda Scott has been one of the ‘go-to’ names on the professional wrestling circuit.

As a competitor, they’ve stepped into the ring for the likes of Ring of Honor, Impact Wrestling and numerous other independent promotions.

And as a commentator, they’ve lent their voice to the action for AEW, New Japan Pro Wrestling, GCW and others.

After finding their space in the wrestling industry, they found their space in the LGBTQ+ community – as a queer, non-binary person who uses the they/ them and she/ her pronouns.

You know we need very little excuse to talk about professional wrestling on this show – and with Veda, we’ve got an absolutely amazing guest to chat with about life inside and outside the squared circle.

We talk about how their got into the business; their favourite moments as a competitor; transitioning to the announce desk and their goals and dreams there; finding their identity as an LGBTQ+ person; being part of a rapidly-growing LGBTQ+ community in wrestling and so, so much more.

It’s a brilliant episode with a great guest, and we can’t wait for you to check it out.

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUESTS? @itsvedatime WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

We’re heading back to the grassroots on the podcast today, as we talk about everything to do with the beautiful game with three members of the Leicester Wildecats LGBTQ+ football team.

It was chair Steve who tipped us off about the club – and its near-thirty year history! –so it was only right that we got him on to have a chat, alongside manager Mike and current player Walid.

We talk to all three of them about their experiences, both on and off the pitch, in what we think is really valuable and interesting conversation.

Walid discusses what it’s like to grow up un a country where it’s illegal to be gay; Steve talks about how he found the club more than a decade ago, and the challenges of being a chair; Mike talks about management and his role with the GFSN – and they all talk about the impact that inclusive football has had on them.

It’s a frank, funny and important conversation that we think you’ll love – and we’re really grateful to all three men for joining us.

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUESTS? @LeicWildecatsFC

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

They’re two of our favourite people, so it’s great to have former international swimmer Michael Gunning and double Paralympic wheelchair basketball star Robyn Love back to the podcast.

They’ve both been on more than once in our long history – but today is our first chance to chat with them about their new roles with the British Elite Athletes Association.

Michael is the organisation’s new Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Ambassador; and Robyn becomes LGBTQ+ Ambassador – and together, they’ve both got a remit to try and make elite sport a place where everyone feels welcome.

We sat down with them both to hear about the work they’re doing; how they got the roles and what they hope to do with them; how inclusivity has helped each of them in their own careers and so much more.

Plus Robyn talks about life as a mum, Michael talks about what Pride Month means to him – and if you’re old enough to remember Bebo, there’s a little Easter Egg in here for you as well!

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUESTS? @GBEliteAthletes @Robyn_Love13 @MichaelGunning1

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

It’s a special bonus episode today, as we celebrate a little bit of history that’s happening in the world of cricket this Sunday.

It’s the UK’s first-ever LGBTQ+ cricket tournament, and it’s happening at Sutton Coldfield Cricket Club.

It’s an 11 o’clock start and will feature teams from Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, Middlesex and Northamptonshire – and since it’s Warwickshire who have been instrumental in making this happen, it was only right for us to take a trip to Edgbaston to find out more.

We pulled together a great panel – and by ‘we’, I mean Brigg Ford from Warwickshire who has been a huge help to the podcast over the years for a chat about inclusivity, allyship, coming out, cricket, Harry Potter and so much more.

You’re going to from Warwickshire bowler Liam Norwell; Central Sparks, Birmingham Phoenix and Worcester Rapids player Emily Arlott; and Lachlan Smith from Birmingham Unicorns, who has been instrumental in pulling it altogether.

It’s a cracking episode, and we think you’ll love it!

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUESTS? @EmArlott @BhamUnicorns @WarwickshireCCC

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? @jack_murley @jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

An Olympic silver medallist, a multiple time world medallist at events around the globe, an elite freestyle skier, a social media sensation – and with more than a million followers on social media, Gus Kenworthy’s profile is almost unrivalled in the world of sport.

He’s also one of the most high-profile gay sportspeople in the world – and, after his retirement following the Winter Olympics in 2022, is still committed to sharing his story in a way that will help people the most.

We’re delighted to have Gus onto the podcast to talk about his life and his journey – and it’s an absolute cracker of a conversation that you can’t miss.

We talk about how Gus got into skiing; his journey in the sport; his experiences with his own sexuality; his iconic coming out; inspiring others – and so, so much more.

It’s funny, it’s real, it’s genuine – and it’s everything you could hope for with a man like Gus.

And then after that, we’ll hear how I got on at this weekend’s FA Cup Final at Wembley when we lit up the stadium in the Pride colours and caught up with the Rainbow Devils and Canal Street Blues.

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST? @GusKenworthy

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

On September 25th, 2018, we published the very first episode of the BBC's LGBT Sport Podcast.

Five years later, we make a little bit of history with our landmark 300th episode - and are taking a moment to mark the occasion by reminding ourselves of just a handful of the amazing guests who have joined us to make this show what it is.

On this bumper trip down memory lane, we'll hear from Olympians; World Cup winners; national treasures; wrestling champions and many, many more guests who have sat down to share their story with us.

And more importantly, we'll say thank you to YOU - the people who've come on to talk about your journey; who've subscribed; who've listened; and who've helped in any other way, big or small, to make this podcast what it is today.

Honestly, we couldn't have done it without you.

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST?: @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

Flamboyant, fierce and never less than full-on when it comes to competition in the ring, Mitchell Starr – the drag queen alter ego of Lee Mitchell - has been competing on the UK wrestling scene for more than a decade, and shows no signs of slowing down.

The grappler has danced, dropped and strutted his way to victories against big names in big bouts under his Starr persona – and, in the process, has tried to make the UK scene a more inclusive scene for the LGBTQ+ community, including last year when he helped put on WAW’s first-ever Pride show.

We’ve wanted to have Lee on the podcast for a long time – and this is a cracking conversation about his life, inside and outside of the ring.

We talk about what it was that inspired him to get into professional wrestling; training and overcoming his own anxiety to fulfil his dream; developing the ‘Mitchell Starr’ persona, and how that challenged stereotypes on what it ‘meant’ to be a wrestler; his own journey as a member of the LGBTQ+ community and lots, lots more!

We make no bones about loving wrestling on this podcast – and if you do as well, we think you’ll love this episode.

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST? @MitchellStarr93

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? jack.murley@bbc.co.uk @jack_murley

Paul Poirier started skating when he was just a nipper – but while his brothers would chase an ice hockey puck, he would spin and be more creative.

One he discovered figure skating – and particularly ice dance - he’d found his love, and his career in sport has been remarkable.

It includes three Olympic Games, world championship bronze on two separate occasions and, in general, more medals and accolades than you can shake a stick at.

Paul’s also gay and has spoken about his desire to be a role model to LGBTQ+ athletes, which is why we’re so delighted to get him onto the show to talk about his career and his journey, on and off the ice.

This is a cracking conversation with a thoughtful, intelligent and passionate athlete that takes in all sorts of different things – from COVID to competing to coming out, and it’s an absolute gem of an episode that we think you’ll love.

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST? @PaulDPoirier on Twitter / @pauldpoirier on Instagram

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

Gary Ginnaw always loved football.

It was, bizarrely, a nil-nil draw with Plymouth that made him fall in love with Charlton Athletic – and from that point onwards, he’d happily spend his time on the terraces, cheering for the Addicks as they made their way to the Premier League.

But Gary's growing understanding of his sexuality meant he ended up stepping away from the game – and it wasn’t until he discovered an inclusive team on his doorstep that he found his way back.

Since then, he hasn’t looked back – and Charlton Invicta has become Gary’s life, along with the GFSN and opening football up to everyone, which is why we're so delighted to have him onto the podcast to talk about his journey, on and off the pitch.

We talk about how much he loves football – and honestly, there are few people more passionate about it than him! – coming to terms with his sexuality; getting back into the game and encouraging others to do the same; Charlton Invicta and GFSN; getting people into the sport and so, so much more.

It’s an absolute belter of a conversation, and we think you’re going to love it.

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST? @GRGin1983

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

It feels like a different age where Sarah Jones made her debut for Wales – and since then, the hockey player has barely looked back on the international stage.

She’s competed in three separate Commonwealth Games for Wales, winning more than 100 caps – and in 2021, she helped Team GB take bronze at the Tokyo Olympics.

She was appointed to the Team Wales Athletes Commission for the Victoria Commonwealth Games in three years – and despite having all of that going on, she’s still found time to join us for a cracking conversation about her journey in the sport and with her sexuality.

We chat about all sorts today – including just how sporty Sarah was growing up; making her way in Welsh hockey and the way that’s evolved; being called up for GB and that medal-winning campaign in Tokyo; sharing her story with her sexuality; and we even manage to fit in a bit of gardening chat as well!

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST? @sarahjones8888 on Twitter / @sarahjones8 on Instagram

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

Sophie McKinna has her mum to thank for getting her into the shotput.

After all, it was a decision by her to enter Sophie into the throwing event as a child that set Sophie on the road to a remarkable athletics career that has included any number of elite-level events – including world, European and Commonwealth finals, along with an appearance at the Olympics in Tokyo.

Sophie’s currently targeting the Olympics in Paris next year – but before that, she decided she wanted to speak publicly for the first time about her sexuality; and when she messaged, asking if she could do it here on the podcast, we were delighted to have her on.

As we always say, this isn’t a massive ‘coming out’ moment for Sophie – as the people who need to know in her personal and professional life have been aware of the fact she’s gay for a little while now.

But she’s decided she wants to speak out to be a role-model – and we’re delighted she’s chosen our show to do it.

And it’s an absolute cracker of a conversation as well, as we chat about Sophie’s sporting family; her love of Norfolk (and of animals); the highs and lows of life as an athlete; her work as a custody officer; deciding to speak about her sexuality and loads, loads more.

It’s a pleasure to be having this conversation, and we really think you’re going to love hearing it as much as we loved doing it.

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST? @sophiemac10

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? @jack_murley jack.murley@bbc.co.uk