The Outer Sanctum

When times are tough, we often look to the past for comfort. And while the shine tends to come off and the cracks start to appear as most things age, sometimes nostalgia for the good old days blurs our vision and skews our memory.  That’s because nostalgia makes you feel something – it moves you. It makes you feel warm and fuzzy. It makes you spend your money and it demands your attention.&nb...

In February 2016, the eight-team AFLW competition was announced to the media, with 240 players putting on the boots for season one. Today, heading into the eighth year of the competition with 540 players, we’re starting to gain a better understanding of what it is to be an AFLW player.  But, the stories are as diverse as the players – both past and present – and in this episode, Emma, Lucy an...

As expected, the Olympics raised many discussion points around human rights in sport, but it isn’t just global sports where human rights are part of the discourse: footy has been having this very conversation, too. So today, we ask what are the issues that are relevant to this provincial game of Australian Rules Football? And what kind of framework can help us work our way through them. Emma, Lucy...

Can organisations change? In 2019 there was a fracture between the playing group and the organisation that represented them, the AFLPA. Today the relationship is in an entirely different place. So how did they get there? We handed over the mics to two of the key players in that dispute, Paul Marsh and Darcy Vescio, in a Sanctum version of You Can’t Ask That.  With thanks to the AFL Players As...

Olympics fever has hit the world and Paris has us enthralled. But beyond the dazzle of the Eiffel Tower, is a sporting competition that has subconsciously informed the way we understand why sport exists, and why athletes compete. So, are Olympians athletes or professionals? How should they be compensated for committing themselves to their crafts and representing their countries? How does the power...

What does it mean to belong? How do we ensure people feel at home in the AFLW community as the game continues to grow? From Beyonce to global sporting examples, Emma, Lucy and Julia are joined by special guests Dr Kasey Symonds, Rana Hussain, Kirby Bentley and Shaun Harvey to discuss how we foster a sense of belonging, and why it matters. With thanks to the AFL Players Association. You can follow...

While we were MIA from podland, there were some significant sport meets culture moments that were VERY The Sanctum. What is the connection between Taylor and the Tillies? Can art inform our conversations about sport? Here, Emma, Lucy and Julia are joined by special guests Dr Kasey Symons, Georgie Tunny, and Shaun Harvey to look at fandom culture from all angles. With thanks to the AFL Players Asso...

How is your relationship with AFLW footy? What keeps us interested in long term relationships? Emma, Lucy and Julia are joined by special guests Daisy Pearce and Rana Hussain to interrogate where their relationships with the code are currently sitting. Plus, they talk fixtures, distractions as a weapon and the changes to sport globally. With thanks to the AFL Players Association. You can follow Th...

With the AFLW season around the corner, The Outer Sanctum is back. Across eight episodes, we’ll discuss the key topics that have kept us busy in the group chats. You’ll hear from some familiar voices as well as some new ones and we cannot wait to be back in your ears - for a good time, not a long time - from this Thursday! With thanks to the AFL Players Association. You can follow The Outer Sanctu...

We say goodbye to footy for 2022 and celebrate a remarkable premiership win for Daisy and her Demons. You can follow The Outer Sanctum on Twitter , Instagram and Facebook .   Email us at theoutersanctumpodcast@outlook.com   The Outer Sanctum is recorded on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation. We acknowledge the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands on whi...

Emma, Rana, and Nicole celebrate AFLW season seven and look ahead to an exciting Grand Final between the Lions and the Demons. Plus: the team discuss the the quirks of AFLW they never want to see the back of. You can follow The Outer Sanctum on Twitter , Instagram and Facebook .   Email us at theoutersanctumpodcast@outlook.com   The Outer Sanctum is recorded on the lands of the Wurundjer...

The AFLW finals series is offering up some sweet treats. Emma, Rana and Lucy shared their highlights, and discussed their reaction to extra rounds in the AFLM, the ongoing floating fixture for AFLW, and a new betting scandal.  We mentioned a few articles on gambling: This article calling for more to be done to protect young Australians from sports betting A survey of club leaders found that a...

This week Emma and Lucy share their Monday morning - and afternoon - phone calls as they debrief the finals and the questions around AFLW fixturing.  They mention: AFLW: Lessons learned from switched seasons You can follow The Outer Sanctum on Twitter , Instagram and Facebook .   Email us at theoutersanctumpodcast@outlook.com   The Outer Sanctum is recorded on the lands of the Wurun...

This week Tess, Lucy and Nic discuss the increasing number of athletes finding their political voices, and the role of sponsorship in sport. We review - in true Sanctum style - the AFLW teams whose seasons have ended, and turn to Siren co-founder and commentator extraordinaire, Gemma Bastiani, for her tips for the first week of the finals. We mentioned: This article about Roxy Roux and her mum Gai...

The Outer Sanctum went on a footy trip... enjoy! You can follow The Outer Sanctum on Twitter , Instagram and Facebook .   Email us at theoutersanctumpodcast@outlook.com   The Outer Sanctum is recorded on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation. We acknowledge the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands on which we work, live, learn and play, and pay our respect...

For two decades Shane McCurry has worked with the biggest names across high performance sport, business, government and education.  His practice is dedicated to helping individuals, teams and organisations grow and thrive through a values-based approach focussed on purpose, connection and storytelling.  In this extended chat, Rana and Shane talk about what makes culture, the future of sp...

Round 8 of the AFLW delivered on and off the field with fantastic contests, milestone moments and celebrations of Pride around the country. Meanwhile, AFLM continued to deliver pure drama and Emma, Lucy and Tess analysed the surprise sacking of Brett Ratten from St Kilda through the lens of the small screen. Plus: Rana catches up with culture consultant Shane McCurry. Find out about Shane's work h...

As we close off AFLW Round 7, Emma, Lucy, Shelley and Nic talk about Pride Round, and how far we’ve come since the first Hampson-Hardeman Cup. We tackle recent developments at Essendon, including issues around boardroom governance, the insularity of clubland, and the fraught notion of “culture wars”. Plus, Period Watch. We mentioned the latest episode of Chicks Talking Footy - listen to their exce...

From the first ever Showdown to epic battles and brilliant comebacks, the AFLW served up more highlights than you can poke a stick at – not that Steve Price would have noticed. Emma, Nic and Tess talk about unhelpful media commentary, ways and means of speaking out, and what happens when you think you’re bigger than the game. Plus, Lucy speaks to AFLW Cats captain, Meg McDonald and we celebrate Au...

The AFLM grand final returned to the MCG for the first time in three years. Robbie Williams’ fuchsia suit almost stole the show, but it was Joel Selwood and his Cats that got the cream. Plus, we consider the serious allegations made against former officials at the Hawthorn football club, in a seismic week for footy that has once again raised complex questions about football’s relationship with rac...

Sometimes a good old point is all you need. After a big weekend of AFLW, AFLM prelims, and the Brownlow Medal, Emma, Lucy and Tess had lots to talk about. Plus: Rana catches up with North Melbourne President, Dr Sonja Hood. We mentioned Daisy Pearce speaking on SEN, it's well worth listening to the whole piece here . You can follow The Outer Sanctum on Twitter , Instagram and Facebook .   Ema...

It was a momentous week in world history, with the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Coinciding with the AFLW’s Indigenous round, questions arose about how we mourn, memorialise and confront complex histories. This week, Kate, Rana and Shelley explore these issues. In the spirit of Indigenous round, we also celebrate Indigenous language, culture and practices from around the grounds, and offer our tips...

In the aftermath of our live show supported by Swinburne University, for Social Sciences Week, we dissect a massive week of footy, which saw four electrifying AFLM finals and a terrific display of AFLW, marred by injuries. We consider the legacy of Serena Williams, who has announced she’s evolving away from tennis. Is she the GOAT? And by what criteria? You can follow The Outer Sanctum on Twitter...

Footy is back! We reflect on an her-storic weekend of footy where the competition finally became whole, with all 18 clubs now fielding a women’s team. We also discuss trailblazers, and the importance of visibility and recognition of our past, both regarding women in sport and when it comes to confronting Australia’s colonial past. REMINDER: We are hosting a live event next week! It's free & we...

It’s the pointy end of the M and the W is just about to start so Emma, Tess and Lucy got together to share all their big feelings. They were joined by Kelli Underwood, to preview AFLW Season 7, and Akec Makur Chuot, to talk about life as a Hawk. The Outer Sanctum is recorded on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation. We acknowledge the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the...