The Sports Diary

In this episode, we follow our guest’s journey from dancing at age five in his parents’ studio to his first major break on  The X Factor  at 18, an opportunity that turned one week of work into seven and launched his professional career. He opens up about the turning point of shifting from performer to choreographer, the pressure to stay relevant, and the mental challenges that come with quiet sea...

Today we’re joined by performance psychologist  Dr. Paul Mansell , whose passion for understanding the mental side of sport began at just 11 years old—during his own district football trials, where the pressure of performance first sparked his curiosity in sports psychology. In this episode, we dive into Dr. Mansell’s  research, publications, and upcoming projects , exploring how mindset, resilien...

Today we're joined by dual-sport standout Josh Faulds, whose athletic journey began on the rugby pitch before he found his stride in track and field. From County Rugby and the Leicester Tigers Academy to national 400m hurdles finals, Josh balanced both sports at a high level—until one took the lead. Since making his England debut in 2017, he’s become a mainstay in the UK hurdles scene, climbing st...

In this inspiring episode, we sit down with footballer and content creator Beatrice Rogers — one of the youngest athletes we've had on the podcast. Beatrice shares her incredible journey from playing football with the boys at school to making history as the first girl selected for her school's team. Now sponsored by Under Armour and with a growing platform online, Beatrice opens up about her path...

Chanice began her powerlifting journey in 2021 and has quickly become a force in the sport. After overcoming a back injury in 2022 that took her out for 8 weeks, she returned stronger than ever—hitting massive personal bests and showing incredible resilience. For Chanice, powerlifting has been more than just physical—it’s been a path of mental growth and healing. In 2025, she proudly made her debu...

Welcome back to Season 2 of  The Sports Diary Podcast ! We’re kicking things off with an incredible guest —  Liam O’Neill , whose 35-year journey in football spans playing, coaching, and mentoring the next generation. From a career-threatening injury the day after facing Manchester United, to coaching some of today’s top talent like Lionesses stars  Ella Toone  and  Millie Turner , Liam shares the...

In the final episode of season 1, we are joined by the talented Kelis Barton from Rugby Borough Women's FC. Kelis born and raised in Seattle, Washington, talks to us about her footballing journey in the states and making that move across to the UK. How she coped mentally and physically with not only 1 but 2 ACL injuries, her work she currently does with the NWSL and how important mental health is...

Episode 7 welcomes the inspirational Martine Barons who discovered her sporting talent in powerlifting at the incredible age of 63, and within only 8 months she had qualified for the British, European and World Championships where she went on to win all 3! Martine talks to us about how she discovered her talent in powerlifting, how important it is to see representation for women of all ages in spo...

We take a closer look at what it really looks like to be a competitive cheerleader. Laura talks about the physical and mental demands of the sport, how cheerleading isn't just about pom-poms and cheering for a team but a high-intensity, competitive sport that requires strength, precision, and hours of hard work. From gravity-defying stunts to perfectly synchronised routines, cheerleaders push the...

We are joined by professional footballer Angelina Nixon who currently plays for Rugby Borough Women's. From Cambridge United to England U14 camp, Ange talks about those pressures and taking a break from football to now being more passionate than ever with her sights set on the Women's Championship. We hear about how faith and God play a significant role in Ange's life, her comeback from injury and...

Fitness influencer, model and body builder Hattie James joins us in episode 4 where she lets us in on how she uses her unique physique to her advantage but also how she has been subject to negative comments during teenage years and now online. Hattie tells all from growing up when she hated sports, the world of body building, going viral on social media and making the shift from the Police to Only...

Episode 3 welcomes Pro Bodybuilder Tim Hunt. Tim shares his knowledge, experience and passion for the sport talking to us about the mental game on and off stage, using steroids and the effects on mental health and how social media plays huge role at present.

Professional footballer Callum Powell joins us in episode 2 to let us into his footballing world. Callum talks about his scholarship move to Canada, dealing with injury, setback and beating the odds. He gives us an insight into his coaching academy, helping to develop the women's game and how psychology and mindset play a vital role.

In the very first episode we welcome Dancer and Business women Jade, where she opens up about attending theatre school and her head teachers opinion on body image and 'making it in the industry'. Jade tells us about the dance school and community she has and is developing around body confidence and empowerment.

Brand New sports podcast coming to you. Getting an insight into athletes world from the good, the bad and everything in-between. New episodes released every other Monday. First episode being released on Monday 22nd July.