Welcome to The Game Changers. It’s hard to believe this is series 16 of the podcast, which celebrates the trailblazers in women’s sport exploring critical issues around equality in sport and beyond.
We are so pleased that again this season of The Game Changers is supported by Sport England through a National Lottery Award. We’re incredibly grateful for their ongoing support, which enables us to share the stories of these inspiring women working across the sporting landscape.
My wonderful guest list for this series includes:
Jess Carter, an incredible professional footballer who was part of the Lionesses team that won the Euros in 2022 AND silver in the World Cup in 2023. Jess also plays for Chelsea in the WSL.
Claire Taggart - ranked number one in the world at Boccia, Claire represented Paralympics GB in Rio and Tokyo and looks all set to medal at Paris 2024.
Sue Redfern, a former England Cricketer who is now a blazing a trail as a much respected cricket umpire in the men's and women’s games.
Sabrina Pace-Humphreys – an ultrarunner, author, social justice activist AND co-founder of the community and campaigning charity Black Trail Runners.
Lisa O’Keefe – former Scottish International Rugby Player and director at Sport England who is now Secretary General for the International Working Group for Women in Sport
Kristen Dusting – a silver medallist for England in the 2014 Roller Derby World Cup and multi-medal winning skater for London Roller Derby.
Steph Harries - Managing Director at Women’s Sports Group, who was formerly Controller of Production for BBC Sport
And
Mo Hunt – a legendary England rugby player who’s won a World Cup, numerous Six Nations Championships and represented Team GB at the Rio Olympics. Mo’s now captain of Gloucester Hartpury, leading her team to victory in the 2023 Premiership.
This new series of The Game Changers will be released on Tuesday February 6 so please subscribe now and don’t miss out on these fascinating, inspiring conversations.
The Game Changers is available for free across all podcast platforms, or you can listen directly from our website at fearlesswomen.co.uk.
This is also where you’ll find details of all the trailblazing guests featured in previous series – there are over 170 of them. You can also listen to my book ‘Game On: The Unstoppable Rise of Women’s Sport’ for free on the podcast. You’ll find the entire audio of the best-selling book in series 13.
The Fearless Women website is also where you can find out more about the Women’s Sport Collective, a free, inclusive community for all women working in sport. Membership includes access to networking events, regional groups, webinars, mentoring schemes, our LinkedIn Group, monthly newsletters, free places
Thank you to Sport England who support The Game Changers Podcast with a National Lottery award.
Hosted by Sue Anstiss Produced by Sam Walker, What Goes On Media
A Fearless Women production
Jess Carter:
There is an extra expectation, I think that female footballers have to give and do more. We have an expectation to be more models. We have an expectation to leave the game in a better place or to drive standards here or push for more, etc. Whereas men just get it. They don't have an expectation to have to inspire everyone else.
Sue Anstiss:
Hello and welcome to the Game Changes. It's hard to believe, this is series 16 of the podcast, which celebrates trailblazers in women's sport, exploring critical issues around equality in sport and beyond. My name's Sue Anstiss and I am so pleased to say that, once again, this season of the Game Changes is supported by Sport England through a National Lottery Award. We're incredibly grateful for their ongoing support, which enables us to share the stories of these inspiring women working across the sporting landscape. My wonderful guest list for this series includes Jess Carter, an incredible professional footballer who was part of a Lioness' team that won the Euros in 2022 and won silver in the World Cup in 2023. Jess also plays for Chelsea in the WSL.
Sue Anstiss:
Claire Taggart, ranked number one in the world at Boccia. Claire represented Paralympics GB in Rio and Tokyo and looks all set to medal at Paris 2024. Sue Redfern, a former England cricketer who's now blazing a trail as a much-respected cricket umpire in the men's and women's game. Sabrina Pace-Humphreys, an ultra-runner, author, social justice activist and co-founder of the community and campaigning charity Black Trail Runners. Lisa O'Keefe, a former Scottish international rugby player and director at Sport England, who is now general secretary for the International Working Group for Women in Sport. Kristin Dusting, a silver medalist for England in the 2014 Roller Derby World Cup and multi-medal winning skater for London Roller Derby. Steph Harris, managing director at Women's Sport Group, who was formerly controller of production for BBC Sport. And Mo Hunt, a legendary England rugby player, who's won a world cup, numerous six nations championships and represented Team GB at the Rio Olympics. Mo's now, captain of Gloucester Heartbury, leading her team to victory in the 2023 Premiership.
Sue Refern:
The utopia of officiating should be that anybody, regardless of gender, can umpire any game. That's the end goal and I think that's really important that you know. We look at that and it becomes normal that men umpire women, women umpire men. If you're good enough, then you should just do whichever game.
Sabrina Pace-Humphreys:
I'm in such physical pain, but I realised that for 45 or so minutes that I haven't had any thoughts about my own life, about the value of me being on the earth, because that's where these depressive thoughts were taking me that I was no use to anyone, I couldn't do anything right, I didn't have connection, that headspace, that release and freedom that moving my body forward gave me. I wanted more of that.
Sue Anstiss:
The new series of the gamechangers will be released on Tuesday, February the 6th, so please subscribe now and you won't miss out on these fascinating, inspiring conversations. The Game Changers is available for free across all podcast platforms or you can listen directly from our website at www. fearlesswomen. co. uk. This is also where you can find details of all of the trailblazing guests featured in previous episodes. There are over 170 of them. You can also listen to my book.
Sue Anstiss:
'Game On: The Unstoppable Rise of Women's Sport' is free on the podcast, and you'll find the entire audio of the best-selling book in series 13. The Fearless Women website is also where you can find out more about the Women's Sport Collective, a free, inclusive community for all women working in sport. Membership includes access to networking events, regional groups, webinars, mentoring schemes, our LinkedIn group, monthly newsletters, free places at industry conferences and much, much more. And, just to reiterate, everything is completely free, thanks to the support of Sport England. Finally, why not come and say hello on social media, where you'll find me on LinkedIn, instagram and Twitter at Sue Anstiss I really, really hope you enjoyed this series as much as I've enjoyed making it and speaking to these truly extraordinary women.
Claire Taggart:
Since I've started to win things and be a little bit more successful. It's frustrating me that myself and my teammates were doing these amazing things. We're achieving the same accolades as Olympic sport and other Paralympic sports, but we're not getting any recognition or notice.