The LGBT Sport Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Dame Kelly Holmes shares her extraordinary story, from serving in the British Army under a ban on being gay, to becoming a double Olympic champion.

Speaking candidly with Nicola Adams, Dame Kelly talks about the fear of being outed, the trauma of hiding her identity and the toll it took on her mental health.

She shares her pride about the moment she finally came out publicly.

Presenter: Nicola Adams. Producer: Jennifer Nelson. Sounds Producer: Tom Ryan. Executive Producer: Emma Clements.

Taking a look at LGBTQ+ issues in sport.

Double Olympic gold medal winner Nicola Adams is joined by inspirational people from different sporting backgrounds to chat about their careers and their experiences of being in the LGBTQ plus community.

Presenter: Nicola Adams. Producer: Jennifer Nelson. Sounds Producer: Tom Ryan. Online Producer: Rachael Smith. Executive Producer: Emma Clements. Commissioning Editor: Alistair Miskin.

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 [email protected]

He’s a comedian, actor, writer and presenter – and at the start of May, Stephen Fry added another accolade to his CV when he was named as the next President of Marylebone Cricket Club.

He described himself as ‘humbled’ and ‘honoured’ by the appointment – and to be honest, we're feeling the same emotions about having Stephen on the podcast today!

But as you'd suspect, this episode doesn't disappoint.

We chat about where his love of cricket came from; his most memorable moments as a fan; the honour of being named MCC president and his goals for his tenure in the post; being a gay man in cricket; opening the game up to everyone; and so, so much more.

It’s a cracking conversation that we think you’ll love - because honestly, how could it be anything else?! - and we’re massively grateful to Stephen for making the time to join us for it.

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST?: @stephenfry @homeofcricket

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST?: @jack_murley [email protected]

It’s a big day for the world of cricket – and one that requires a special podcast to go with it.

Later tonight, Surrey take on Kent at The Oval in a T20 Blast match that’s been specifically designated as a game in support of the club’s official LGBTQ+ supporters group Proud Surrey.

And over at Lords, Middlesex face Somerset in their T20 game, where LGBTQ+ team Graces will be applauding the teams out in a guard of honour, with Pride and inclusivity messaging on screens around the ground as well.

And really, that was all the excuse we needed to put together a special podcast, all about being LGBTQ+ in cricket and the significance of inclusion in the sport.

So, up first, we’re taking you on a trip to Taunton – where I went earlier this week during England’s Test Match with South Africa to speak with World Cup winner and England international Georgia Elwiss, Hen Cowen from the ECB, and Somerset CEO Gordon Hollins from Somerset County Cricket Club about the importance of inclusivity in the game.

And then, we’re catching up on Zoom with Sam Schofield from Proud Surrey to talk about the significance of their game with Kent.

So, a whopper of an episode with a whole load of great guests – talking all about cricket!

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUESTS: @Gelwiss @HMLCowen @SomersetCCC @Graces_Cricket @SurreyCCCLGBT

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? @jack_murley [email protected]

In the small Welsh village of Resolven where Dan Jervis grew up, it was rugby that ruled the roost.

But from the moment that Dan’s grandparents took him to the local pool, it was clear that swimming was the sport for him.

Dan dreamed of being an Olympian – and last year, he made that happen at the Games in Tokyo, when he finished 5th in the 1500 metres freestyle final in his debut Olympics.

Throw in a pair of Commonwealth medals in Glasgow and the Gold Coast respectively, and you can see why Dan is feeling so upbeat heading into next month’s Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

But before then, Dan wanted to open up publicly for the first time about the fact he’s gay – so when he dropped us a message, asking to come on the pod for a chat, we were delighted to have him on.

As always, this isn’t Dan’s ‘coming out’ story – as his friends and his family have known for a little while now.

But it is the first time Dan has shared his story with the wider world – and in doing so, he hopes to be the role-model that he perhaps didn’t see growing up.

And so, that’s what this conversation is all about – Dan’s journey in the pool, training in a pandemic, that first Olympics experience, understanding his own sexuality, his faith, and why now is the right time to share his story.

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? @jack_murley [email protected]

If you know anything about women’s rugby, you’ll know who Ali Donnelly is.

A player, a coach, a journalist, a campaigner and the founder of the legendary Scrum Queens website, she’s dedicated more hours than most of us have in the day to promoting the women’s game.

And with a book coming out shortly, now was the perfect time to get Ali onto the podcast to talk about her remarkable sporting story.

We talk about everything, from how she got into the game to the efforts she’s gone to in order to get the sport the platform it deserves – as well as the process of writing a book, finding her wife through the game, and screaming herself hoarse at the Premiership Final.

It’s a cracking chat with a great guest, and we think you’ll really like it.

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST? @AliDonnelly @ScrumQueens

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? @jack_murley [email protected]

It’s been more than three years since we last had Anthony Bowens on the podcast.

And it’s fair to say that a lot has changed in the time since then.

The professional wrestler signed with All Elite Wrestling, where he’s been competing against some of his idols on national television and, alongside partner Max Caster, has become part of one of the most popular tag-teams in the company as one half of The Acclaimed.

So, it was high time to get Anthony back onto the show for a chat about the whirlwind that his life has been in the time since we last sat down together.

We talk performing in a pandemic to no crowds, finding a dynamic that works as a tag-team, stepping into the ring with the person who inspired Anthony to get into wrestling, his prominence as an LGBTQ+ performer in wrestling, his goals when he returns from injury and lots, lots more.

If you love wrestling, it’s a cracking episode that we think you’ll love – and we’re massively grateful for Anthony making the time.

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUESTS? @Bowens_Official @AEW

We’re taking a stroll down memory lane on the podcast today – and, more specifically, a trip across the pond to remind ourselves of some of the brilliant American guests who have joined us on the pod since 2018.

It’s a celebration of sporting talent from sea to shining sea, as we go from state to state and coast to coast to revisit some brilliant conversations with some amazing sportspeople from the USA.

Everything from golf to athletics to collegiate wrestling is on the table, as we take you back to conversations that we’ve had with everyone from Olympians to allies.

It’s a special celebration of our American guests from the archives, and we hope you like it.

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? @jack_murley [email protected]

Ollie Burness always dreamed of making it as a professional wrestler, but probably never imagined that he’d do it as a spandex-wearing, lip-syncing, butt-kicking drag queen.

But after getting frustrated with traditional definitions of masculinity and sexuality in the industry, he came up with Priscilla – a self-proclaimed Queen of the Ring and exotic diva.

And now, Priscilla is one of the driving forces behind PCW’s Pride of the Ring event in Blackpool this month, which’ll bring together a whole load of LGBTQ+ talent from the British wrestling scene for what is a UK first.

So, it seemed the perfect time to get Ollie aka Priscilla onto the show to talk about his journey, inside and outside the ring.

From breaking into the business to the changing portrayal of the LGBTQ+ community in the industry to this landmark event, it’s a cracking episode that we think you’ll really enjoy, even if you’re not a wrestling fan!

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUESTS? @PriscillaQOTR

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST? @jack_murley [email protected]