The LGBT Sport Podcast

It’s a bonus weekend episode of the podcast – where we’re shining a spotlight on another grassroots group making a real difference in the world of sport. Karina Murray is from Sporting Pride – a volunteer-run community organisation working towards the goal of making Ireland’s sporting community the most inclusive in the world. And honestly, she’s a fantastic advocate for the work that the group is...

It’s time for a special bonus episode of the podcast – think of this as a director’s cut! Basically, we published our special episode looking at the history of the Bingham Cup, featuring the thoughts of loads of brilliant guests from right around the world. One of the guests was Tom Crotty from the Sydney Convicts (the reigning Bingham Cup champions) – and his story was so fascinating that we want...

It’s the largest amateur rugby tournament in the world, and it’s named after a hero of 9/11. And for this episode of the BBC’s LGBT Sport Podcast, we’re looking at the remarkable story of the Bingham Cup. It’s another documentary-style show, as we look at the lives of Mark Bingham and Alice Hoagland; the growth of the tournament itself; and how the rise of the Cup is inextricably linked with the g...

It’s been exactly one year since Harlequins played London Irish at the Stoop in the Premiership in professional rugby union’s first-ever Pride Game. The event also included a panel featuring LGBTQ+ people in rugby, and was a real celebration of inclusivity and diversity in the sport. So, one year on, we thought we’d speak to the driving force behind the whole day about how it all came about. James...

It’s the 150th episode of the BBC’s LGBT Sport Podcast – and to mark the occasion, we’re switching things up a bit! Instead of asking the questions, Jack is the one answering them – as he jumps into the hot-seat for the first time to talk in-depth about his experiences of being an LGBTQ+ person in sport. The man asking the questions is award-winning sports broadcaster Ross Ellis, and there’s no to...

It’s LGBT+ History Month – and that means some of our podcasts are going to take on a slightly different flavour in February. Instead of having just a single guest, we’re going to be putting out episodes that look at major sporting milestones, moments and themes for the LGBTQ+ community in sport. And today, we’re focusing on the remarkable story of the Gay Games – and how one doctor’s dream of an...

Today, we’re hearing from someone who has been to more tournaments than you can shake a stick at - perhaps literally, in this case! Lacrosse player Erin Walters-Williams (she/ her) is originally from Long Island, New York, but now lives in the UK. A double European silver-medallist who has represented Wales at two World Cups, she’s also heavily involved with the administration, growth and diversit...

We’ve got a cracking episode of the podcast today where our main focus is on boxing – and a man who is determined to make his mark in more ways than one. Martin Stark is the brains and driving force behind the first-ever World Gay Boxing Championships, which are set to be held in Sydney, Australia in 2023. Some fight nights and test events are coming up in the not-too-distant future – and on the s...

If you are a professional wrestling fan, you will know Dave Bradshaw’s work. He’s one of Britain’s top play-by-play commentators and has called some of the UK's biggest independent wrestling events over the past few years – as well as matches with the likes of Kenny Omega, Sami Zayn, Kurt Angle, Cody Rhodes and more. For this month’s Wrestletalk magazine, Dave has written an article looking at pro...

This August, Copenhagen and Malmo will host one of the year’s most significant LGBTQ+ events in the form of Copenhagen 2021. It’s a celebration of arts, culture, LGBTQ+ history and sport – with both World Pride and EuroGames a key part of the event. And to mark the countdown to the extravaganza, we’re joined by two of the people who are helping to make it happen. Katja Moesgaard is the chair of Co...

We’re kicking off 2021 in style on the podcast with two top guests who just happen to be Britain’s strongest couple. Sam Taylor and Sue-Taylor Franklin made a bit of history in 2020 when they placed first and second respectively at the Brits Women Masters powerlifting contest. It was an amazing feat – and almost more impressive is the journey they’ve both been on to reach this stage. Both have ver...

2020 is almost at an end - and we're bringing the podcast to a close for the year with the second of two special 'Best Bit' podcasts, looking at some of our most memorable moments. Part 2 takes us from July-December, and includes: - Paeton McGuire on completing the 'Tour De Trans'. - Professional wrestler Cassius. - English MMA trailblazer Molly McCann. - British gymnast Luke Strong. - Top amateur...

We’re heading towards the end of a year like no other – and to see out 2020, we’re spending the next two weeks on the BBC’s LGBT Sport Podcast looking back at some of the most memorable guests we’ve had on this year. Part 1 takes us from January-June, and includes: - Top swimming coaches Emma Collings-Barnes and Greg King-Limb. - American golfer Tadd Fujikawa. - Paralympic wheelchair basketball st...

They often say that the most important changes in life are driven from the ground up, and the three guests we have for the podcast this week are certainly doing their bit to try and make a difference. Ed Kandel, Gurdas Singh and Katrina Kelly are all part of LGBTQ+ In Sport – a social enterprise looking to tackle discrimination, build diversity and create a sense of community in sport. And unlike...

It’s time for another of our special episodes, looking at the importance of being an ally in sport – and with the Rainbow Laces campaign in full swing, we couldn’t have picked two better guests. Lewis Ward plays for Exeter City, who are currently fifth in League 2 and preparing for their Rainbow Laces match with Tranmere Rovers on Saturday. Lewis is straight – and joined us alongside Alan Quick fr...

Golf is one of those sports that manages to get under your skin - where the joy of one perfect shot tempers the frustration of a hundred bad ones that disappear into the trees, never to be seen again. Two people who know all about it are Caron Morton from the Girls in Golf Society and Peter Heather from the Irons Golf Society – two top inclusive clubs here in the UK. They’ve both joined us for a t...

You may not know their names - but between them, Lou Englefield and Piara Powar have spent years fighting to make football a place where everyone is welcome. Lou is the Campaign Director for Football v Homophobia, Director of Pride Sports, co-chair of Pride House International – in fact, there aren’t many hats she doesn’t wear! – while Piara is the Executive Director of the Fare network, which cam...

When we talk about sport, we tend to focus on the players and coaches who grab the headlines each week. But behind-the-scenes, there are lots of dedicated people who often don't end up in the limelight – and today on the podcast, we’re shining the spotlight on two of them. Andrea Murray works for the Rugby Football League to promote the sport in schools across the UK, and her wife Gemma Hunter is...

For more than two years, we've been shining a spotlight on the stories of people in sport who just so happen to be LGBTQ+. But for the next few weeks, we’re going to be changing up our format with some special additional episodes, looking at what it means to be an ally and how everyone can play a role in making sport inclusive for all. The idea is simple – we’ll take two people from the world of s...

Jenny Duncalf is one of the biggest names in squash, and someone who spent more than fifteen years at the very top of the sport. A former World Number 2 with more than 100 England caps, she competed at four separate Commonwealth Games where she picked up three silver medals to add to her multiple European championships. She’s also an all-round lovely individual, and someone we’ve wanted to have on...

When it comes to MMA, Molly McCann is something of a trail-blazer. She won the Cage Warriors World Flyweight Championship back in February, 2018, before signing for the UFC and becoming the first Englishwoman to ever win inside the Octagon. She, like all elite athletes, is having to adapt to the new normal, and is currently preparing for her next fight for the UFC in February of next year. So we’r...

From the Olympics to Euro 2020, coronavirus has disrupted major sporting events around the world. And if we're honest, no-one knows whether things will end up being much different next year. So it's no exaggeration to say the Gay Games in Hong Kong in 2022 could end up being one of the first multi-sport, multi-national events when things are 'back to normal'. The two-year countdown to the Games st...

Philip Collins has dedicated his life to swimming - and it's not gone unnoticed. He was recognised in the Queen's Honours List with an MBE last month, and when you hear him talk, you can almost *feel* the passion Philip has for the sport. This is a great conversation with someone who is a bit of a grassroots hero when it comes to sport, which ends up becoming as much about social history as it is...

Sam Schofield is someone who lives and breathes cricket. He plays for his local team; he’s head of cricket at Trinity School in Croydon; and he’s part of the coaching set up for the England Physical Disability side as well. He’s also a cracking guest, and we’re delighted to have him joining us for this week’s episode of the BBC’s LGBT Sport Podcast. There’s loads to get into in this one; where Sam...

Whether you’re a football fanatic or a rugby nut, you’re going to know the work – and the voice! – of Ian ‘Downsy’ Downs. Ian is the matchday announcer for Bristol City Football Club in the Championship, and hosts all sorts of matchday content across Bristol Bears’ social media channels in the RFU Premiership as well. He’s also someone we’ve wanted to have on the podcast for a long time, and we’re...