Sportspiel

Alasdair Hooper hosts the fifth of our six Mental Health Awareness Week specials.  On this episode we are joined by Harrogate Town footballer Chloe Bellerby who recently walked from Leeds to London in aid of the mental health charity Mind.  Now 18 years of age Chloe has plenty to look forward to with a fast-approaching football scholarship in the USA coming up. But relatively recently her depression and self-worth was so low she tried to take her own life by overdosing.  Now she has turned her hand at speaking out on mental health for young people and - by walking the 195 miles from Leeds to London - she has raised over £10,000 for charity.  In this episode Chloe tells us all about her own story, and the struggles she faces, but also her road to recovery - including a vital role played by a very special PE teacher. Follow sportspielpod on social media or email us feedback at sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website at: sportspielonline.com

Will Moulton hosts the fourth of our six Mental Health Awareness Week specials. On this episode we are joined by Great Britain and England hockey star Shona McCallin. As part of the the Rio 2016 gold medal winning team Shona's profile has risen but with that comes plenty of struggles.  Social media in particular plays an important part and, thanks to its prominence in every day society, it can easily take over all of our lives.  In this episode Shona tells us about her relationship with social media, which she has blogged about heavily, and the impact it can have when you live your life in the virtual world.  Follow sportspielpod on social media or email us feedback at sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website at: sportspielonline.com

Alasdair Hooper hosts the third of our six Mental Health Awareness Week specials. On this episode we are joined by the founder of Tough Girl Challenges and the host of the Tough Girl podcast Sarah Williams.  Tough Girl Challenges has gone from strength to strength since it was set up by Sarah in 2014 but it has been far from easy.  The podcast may now be nominated for the Women's Sports Trust Be a Game Changer awards but the journey it has taken to get there has required mental resilience.  Additionally the physical challenges Sarah has put herself through, as well as the countless inspirational women she has interviewed, makes her a perfect person to give us an insight into mental health.  From the fear of failure - to what it takes to be successful - Sarah openly discusses her own struggles. She also explains what she has learnt from that first day she decided to pack up a regular job in finance and tell the stories of inspirational women instead.  Follow sportspielpod on social media or email us fee

Alasdair Hooper hosts the second of our six Mental Health Awareness Week specials. On this episode we hear from Essex-based powerlifter Sophia Ellis who has battled back from crippling eating disorders.  While Sophia may now be the embodiment of a fit and healthy person, from the age of 16 she has had to cope with anorexia and bulimia.  In this episode she tells us just what that is like to deal with but also relays just how violent the disorder can be.  She also tells us about the help that was on offer but also how she has bounced back to become a social media motivator for vegans and others who may be coping with similar mental battles.  Follow sportspielpod on social media or email us feedback at sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website at: sportspielonline.com

Alasdair Hooper hosts the first of our six Mental Health Awareness Week specials. On this opening episode we hear from footballer Ruth Fox who has very recently become an inspirational spokesperson after suffering from severe depression. The 19-year-old Cambridge United player released an e-book at the start of the year The Unseen Battle: One young footballer's struggle off the pitch. The book details every inch of her battle with her own brain and has proved to be the catalyst for her recent propulsion into the media spotlight.  She is open about the help she received - or lack of it in some cases - and also about self-harming and her suicidal thoughts.  In this special episode Ruth takes us through her life in open and honest detail. Follow sportspielpod on social media or email us feedback at sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website at: sportspielonline.com

Introducing the SportSpiel Mental Health Awareness Week specials. From May 14 we will be bringing you 6 episodes in 6 days talking all things mental health with a variety of special and inspiring people. May 14: Ruth Fox May 15: Sophia Ellis May 16: Sarah Williams May 17: Shona McCallin May 18: Chloe Bellerby May 19: Alasdair Hooper & Will Moulton Follow sportspielpod on social media or email us feedback at sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website at: sportspielonline.com

Alasdair Hooper hosts a judo special with 2014 Commonwealth Champion and World bronze medalist Nekoda Smythe-Davis. The 25-year-old tells the podcast about how she got into the sport and how she has risen from not believing she could qualify for an Olympics to becoming a world bronze medalist.  She also tells about her upbringing on a London estate and her role in inspiring the next generation.  With the European Championships coming up Nekoda also previews the tournament and takes us through her 2014 Commonwealth win. Follow sportspielpod on social media or email us feedback at sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website at: sportspielonline.com

Alasdair Hooper hosts a judo special with 2014 Commonwealth Champion Natalie Powell. In her one-on-one interview on the podcast Natalie takes us through her journey in judo as well as becoming the first British female to be ranked world number one.  Ahead of the European Championships she gives us an insight into her training and preparation. She also takes us through the biggest challenges she has faced including managing severe migraines. Follow sportspielpod on social media or email us feedback at sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website at: sportspielonline.com

Alasdair Hooper and Will Moulton host a special episode of the podcast to celebrate SportSpiel's first birthday. One year ago today (April 20) the very first episode featuring James-Andrew Davis was released.  On this special episode Alasdair and Will look back at the first year of SportSpiel by revisiting that very first day as well as the talented, amazing guests that have been on.  There's also a nod to some of the highlights of the past year as well as some clangers and bloopers. Follow sportspielpod on social media or email us feedback at sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website at: sportspielonline.com

Alasdair Hooper and Will Moulton bring you episode 21 of SportSpiel. In our first segment we discuss: - Our highlights and talking points from the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games (2:52) Our feature interview segment in this episode is with Olympic bronze medalist Sally Conway (34:05). The British judo star joined the show to tell use all about her career in sport as well as the aftermath of winning a medal at Rio 2016. She also discusses having to choose between hockey and judo when she was younger and she looks ahead to the upcoming European championships. Follow sportspielpod on social media or email us feedback at sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website at: sportspielonline.com

Alasdair Hooper hosts a Commonwealth Games Special with Team England boxer Cheavon Clarke. Gold Coast 2018 will be Cheavon's second Commonwealth Games after he represented Jamaica at Glasgow 2014. However, there is far more to the man than simply what happens in the ring.  Cheavon has experienced two near-death experiences and that has given him a completely different outlook on life.  In this one-on-one interview he tells us what life was like growing up in Jamaica and in Kent, how he found his way into boxing, driving an HGV for two years and playing Call of Duty with Usain Bolt. Follow sportspielpod on social media or email us feedback at sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website at: sportspielonline.com

Alasdair Hooper and Will Moulton bring you episode 21 of SportSpiel. In our first segment we discuss: - England's dismal display against New Zealand in their first test (2:24) - Manchester United's decision to finally launch a women's team (8:45) - Gareth Southgate's comments on racist abuse suffered by England national sides on social media (15:30) - Our outstanding display award (20:05) - Our feel good story award (21:34) Our feature interview segment in this episode is with Olympic gold medalist and England hockey star Giselle Ansley (23:47). With the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games rapidly approaching Giselle takes us through England's preparation and what they hope to achieve in Australia, including settling a score from the 2014 Games.  She also tells us about her decision between becoming a professional hockey player or a cricket player, how an application to the Great British Bake Off didn't quite come off and how the sport of hockey - and women's sport - has grown since Britain won gold at Ri

Alasdair Hooper and Will Moulton bring you episode 20 of SportSpiel. In our first segment we discuss: - The new UK Athlete Classification Code (4:47) - What have we learnt from the Formula 1 testing? (11:33) - Our outstanding display of the week award (18:36) - Our feel good story of the week award (21:52) Our feature interview segment in this episode is with Keith Antoine, one of the most highly regarded coaches in athletics (23:22). After working with the likes of Denise Lewis, Darren Campbell and Stef Reid - and now coach to British Paralympic star Richard Whitehead - Keith joins the show to explain his thoughts on the much talked about para sport classification system. He gives us his take on the culture of blame and finger pointing, the select committee hearings and what the International Paralympic Committee need to do now. Keith also explains what truly makes an athlete successful in the world of para sport. Follow sportspielpod on social media or email us feedback at sportspielpod@gmail.com Vis

Will Moulton hosts a Winter Paralympics Special with British skier and medal hope Millie Knight. PyeongChang will be Millie's second Paralympic Games after she initially represented Britain in Sochi as a 15-year-old and the team's flag bearer.  In this episode the now 19-year-old takes us through what it was like to lose her sight and why skiing was always going to be the sport for her.  Combined with her scout, Brett Wild, the pair are in serious medal contention in South Korea and she is on a mission to deliver and inspire. Follow sportspielpod on social media or email us feedback at sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website at: sportspielonline.com

Alasdair Hooper and Will Moulton are joined by freelance journalist Alys Bowen to bring you episode 19 of SportSpiel. In our first segment we discuss: - The British highlights at the Winter Olympics (3:45) - The PyeongChang 2018 moments that made us say 'wow' (23:33) - Our favourite moments from the Games (29:55) - The OAR and drugs after two athletes test positive (34:55) Our feature interview segment in this episode is with British para skier Chris Lloyd (37:04). Chris will be competing at his first Winter Paralympics, which begin on March 9, and he tells us about how he has come back from a life-changing rally car crash in 2011. Through perseverance he has managed to fight his way back into sport and will hope to make an impact on skis once his Paralympic campaign gets underway. Follow sportspielpod on social media or email us feedback at sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website at: sportspielonline.com

Alasdair Hooper hosts the eighth SportSpiel Winter Olympics special as we tick down to PyeongChang 2018 in style. In this episode we are joined by British figure skating stars Penny Coomes and Nick Buckland who have qualified for their third games against all the odds. In the summer of 2016 Penny suffered a fall in training and broke her kneecap into eight different pieces.  She was told the injury could put an end to her skating career and she soon had to go through a gruelling rehabilitation process.  For Nick, he felt powerless on the side but did all he could to support his partner through the journey that lay ahead.  Through hard work and perseverance the pair managed to get back to competing and amazingly qualified for their third games with medal success now the target. Follow sportspielpod on social media or email us feedback at sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website at: sportspielonline.com

Will Moulton hosts the seventh SportSpiel Winter Olympics special as we tick down to PyeongChang 2018 in style. On this episode we are joined by skeleton racer Laura Deas as she takes us through her journey to this year's games. After the disappointment of not making it to Sochi 2014 the racer explains just how she bounced back this time around.  Laura also details how she found her way into skeleton, why her equestrian background continues to help her and she also tells us what it is like to take part in one of the most exhilarating sports around. Follow sportspielpod on social media or email us feedback at sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website at: sportspielonline.com

Alasdair Hooper hosts the sixth SportSpiel Winter Olympics special as we tick down to PyeongChang 2018 in style. On this episode Alasdair is joined by the Associate Senior Writer of The Hockey News Matt Larkin to delve into the National Hockey League's decision to refuse to allow players to participate in this year's Winter Olympics. NHL players had been allowed to represent their countries for the last five games but, back in April 2017, the league took the decision not to allow them to compete this time around.  From the players' perspective the decision was not well received and the full extent of the fallout is yet to be seen. In this episode Alasdair and Matt go through the motives behind the NHL no-show and they also look at the potential problems that could arise for league executives and star players - could lockout be on the cards? Matt also gives us the lowdown on what we can expect in this year's ice hockey tournament and who we should be keeping an eye on. Follow sportspielpod on social medi

Alasdair Hooper hosts the fifth SportSpiel Winter Olympics special as we tick down to PyeongChang 2018 in style. On this episode alpine skier Charlie Guest chats about her journey to get to her first Olympics after suffering a career-threatening injury in 2014. The Scot broke her back in a training crash just over three years ago but amazingly returned to the snow after just six weeks.  The after-effects of that injury have stayed with her but it has all been pushed to the back of her mind as Olympic qualification become the main goal.  As she makes her Winter Olympics debut in PyeongChang she gives a valuable insight into her journey and explains how the determination to become the best in her sport will keep driving her no matter what - or who - stands in her way. Follow sportspielpod on social media or email us feedback at sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website at: sportspielonline.com

Alasdair Hooper hosts the fourth SportSpiel Winter Olympics special as we tick down to PyeongChang 2018 in style. On this episode short track speed skater Charlotte Gilmartin returns to the podcast to tell us about her qualifying journey. Since Charlotte spoke to us back in July a combination of painful injuries proved to be a major hurdle as she tried to qualify for her second Olympics. However, she persisted throughout and eventually ended up making it to South Korea.  This time around, with the experience of Sochi 2014 to turn to, the aim is to make an impact on the track and the 27-year-old tells us just how much effort goes into performing at your best. From training, all the way down to checking messages from your loved ones and from people on social media, everything matters. Follow sportspielpod on social media or email us feedback at sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website at: sportspielonline.com