Who are you and what’s your podcast about?

Lee: I started out as a football translator – a bit like José Mourinho but without the coaching ability – and moved into podcasting after I left the UK for Vienna, Austria, where I’ve lived since 2014. But I still work as an interpreter and translator for football clubs in the German Bundesliga too. The Sweeper is a podcast about football across the world – we talk about all 211 countries in FIFA and sometimes non-FIFA places too, such as Greenland. In fact, it was Greenlandic football that brought Paul and I together in the first place.

Paul: I started off as a journalist for Football Italia but refused to give up on my very unrealistic dream of playing international football, so a mate of mine and I decided to find the world’s lowest ranked national team and naturalise to play for them! That ended up changing to the slightly more realistic goal of coaching and I coached the island of Pohnpei in Micronesia for 18 months. When I came back to the UK I wanted to get back into journalism but focusing on the less travelled places, so I wrote a piece on Greenland’s national championship, which only lasts a week, for Four Four Two, and Lee happened to read that and got in touch. I’d followed his work for some time and we had a shared love for the less obvious places in world football, so we joined forces!

Lee & Paul podcasting in London

Why did you decide to start podcasting in the first place?

Lee: I had already started another podcast called “The Other Bundesliga” all about football in Austria. It was a way to get to know the country I was living in better and I was amazed to see how much interest there was in a country not regarded as a major footballing nation. I thought: If there is this much interest in Austria, imagine how much there could be in a podcast encompassing every nation around the world. And so The Sweeper was born.

Paul: I’d been appearing on other people’s podcasts as a guest for some time and still do get a semi-regular slot on Guardian Football Weekly, which I love, but I wanted somewhere I could go into more depth on the stories that interested me. When Lee and I decided to relaunch The Sweeper podcast, that was the chance to do exactly that.

Lee: Yes, I initially founded The Sweeper in 2021 with one of our now editors Tom Middler but the show wasn’t running anymore and we were only operating as a Twitter page for a while. Paul getting on board in January 2023 was the perfect opportunity to bring it back!

Can you tell us about your collaboration with FIFA+?

Lee: We’ve had podcast sponsorships and collaborations before and we know from experience it always feels much more natural and authentic when you use the product you’re talking about yourself. Paul and I have been using FIFA+, which is FIFA’s free platform showing live football all over the world, to watch matches for some time. We knew our audience would love it too and so when FIFA+ got in contact, it just seemed the perfect fit!

Paul: We’re very picky in that we don’t want to promote things we don’t believe in. So when FIFA+ approached it was a great chance for us because we genuinely do use it to watch many of the remote games we talk about. And our audience loves it too. They are often telling us about the games they’ve been watching – from Bolivia to Bhutan!

Lee at Stadio Druso, Bolzano, Italy

What was the first podcast you ever listened to?

Lee: Oh, that’s a good question. That will have been years ago, I think it must have been Guardian Football Weekly actually. I used to listen to it as a teenager. I never thought back then I’d be speaking on a podcast of my own one day.

Paul: I think it was also Guardian Football Weekly! When I was first asked to be a guest I was really star-struck!

Which podcasts do you take inspiration from?

Lee: Well, Guardian Football Weekly would fall into that category. I think I like it because it is done by journalists rather than ex-players, who tend to dominate the football punditry scene, and gets the balance just right between informative and fun. That’s a balance we try to have with The Sweeper now. I also like The Rest Is… series from the Goalhanger network because their hosts have such good rapport and bounce off each other so well. And finally, I also love Wondery shows such as British Scandal and The Spy Who. They master the art of storytelling so well and the presenters are great.

Paul: I find the Football Ramble pretty inspirational. The fact that pod started out being recorded in a bedroom and is now this huge phenomenon with a whole stable of podcasts attached to it.

Who would be your dream guest for the podcast?

Lee: That’s a tough one. We tell so many different stories on the podcast that we have mentioned every country in the world at least once on our 70-odd episodes to date. So it’s not like we are talking about the same people often. But given our love for the underdog, maybe San Marino coach Roberto Cevoli would be a good one to have. We would love to find out the inside story of how the world’s lowest ranked nation has turned its fortunes around so dramatically.

Paul: I’m a huge fan of James Montague and I’d love to get him on – he’s written some of the best books about football that exist in my opinion and touched on some nations and places that we cover. I’d like to get the Andorran legend Ildefons Lima on someday, after 26 years of playing for a minnow nation like Andorra you must have a few stories! Lee and I don’t tend to have so many guests but journalist Daniel Storey joined us to tell us about his trip to the Faroe Islands and blogger Matthew Eide told about his trip to Bhutan. That was great!

Paul in Pohnpei, Micronesia for the 2023 Futsal Tournament

Which episode would you say is the perfect introduction to your podcast?

Lee: We would like to think new listeners could join at any point and enjoy our shows right away. They are fortnightly round-ups of football all over the world and so it’s not like you need to have listened to the previous episode to understand the latest one. But the one entitled ‘A SAN MARINO PROMOTION, Hispaniola at the Gold Cup & Coupe de France controversy’ is probably a good one. It includes some of our favourite topics: we have been tracking San Marino’s 20-year winless run for some time and the French Cup provides some great away days. The episode also includes a bit of history, geography and geopolitics, as well as a good few laughs too, so it’s quite representative of what we’re about.

Paul: What is nice is that although we are responding to current events with our pods they stay pretty timeless, so if there’s a place in one that piques your interest you can still go back and listen to old episodes. I feel like our recent episode ‘Bhutanese monk ultras, a golden era for micro-states & the Southgate of the Solomons’ was a great example of how global the pod is but also telling stories you just won’t hear anywhere else. Where else would you learn about Bhutanese football fan, culture!

Do you have a favourite episode of the podcast, or one you are proudest of?

Lee: I’d say I am proud of ‘Switalian adventures, Welsh routes into Europe & the Vatican on tour’. I had just gotten home from a trip watching football in Switzerland and Italy, having spent two days on trains, and was so tired. Paul was ill. And the episode ended up being our second most popular ever.

Paul: It sounds like a cop-out but I do feel that the pod keeps improving. We’ve been doing this now for getting on for two years and I think now we know very well how the other works and how we can bounce off that. We’ve also learned better how to pack in lots of great stories but also have the freedom to just enjoy the chat rather than moving on too quickly.

As you look back on your podcasting journey, what challenges have you faced, and how have you overcome them to keep the show growing?

Lee: I would say that to do a research-intensive pod like ours well without earning any money from it at the start is a big challenge. It’s almost like having two full-time jobs and we definitely underestimated the difficulty of that. It’s also hard as an independent podcaster to get the word out there and grow. That has been tough but we’ve tried to appear on as many other shows as possible and we now have a growing community that we’re really proud of.

Paul: I do think people maybe don’t see how much work goes into the pod, but I suppose that maybe goes for all podcasts and you sort of don’t want the audience to just feel like it all comes together naturally and easily! I would say we have been very lucky to find superb editors in Tom Middler and Ralph Foster – they have done incredible work and without them we just wouldn’t have the pod we have.

Lee, Paul, and listeners celebrate San Marino’s first win in 20 years!

Football fans tend to be a devoted and loyal bunch – have you found that to be the case with The Sweeper listeners too? How important is audience interaction to the podcast?

Lee: They are but because we tell a lot of underdog stories and talk a lot about countries and leagues the listeners don’t really know so well, it’s not tribal at all. It’s just a really nice bunch of people who are interested in football across the wider world rather than just their Premier League team. But because we have followed San Marino so closely, most of our listeners have started to support them too. We try to interact with our listeners at every possible opportunity: some have joined us at matches, some talk to us on Discord. And we recently found out we had a nine-year-old listener called Albert and designed a quiz specifically for him. We wouldn’t be doing what we do without our audience so we try to show them how important they are to us whenever we can.

Paul: Our following is amazing and to have found this community of like-minded people is one of the great joys of The Sweeper. Sometimes you take a step back and look at the number of people who listen to your voice each episode and it’s hard to even imagine it.

What are your future plans for the podcast? Do you have any exciting projects or collaborations in the works?

Paul: We’ve been able to partner with some great content producers already, such as Copa 90, Away Days and The Tim Traveller, and we have some more collaborations in the pipeline. We’re also exploring live events we can do, whether that’s online or in person.

Lee: We also want to do more trips. For example, the Vatican has several football competitions but because it’s the world’s smallest sovereign state, there is no room for a pitch and they play in Rome instead. That would be a great story we’d love to tell. Mostly though, we want to grow the podcast to the point where we can dedicate ourselves to it fully without having to divide our time. Then we think we can make the Sweeper even better. And we already have an average rating of 5 stars from 700+ reviews on Apple and Spotify.

Where can the Pod Bible readers find out more about you?

Lee: We’re on basically every social media platform under the same handle: @sweeperpod. We post a lot of world football updates on Twitter and BlueSky but we are also active on Instagram and Facebook with plenty of content from our travels. You can also search for ‘The Sweeper – A World Football Podcast’ on your podcast platform of choice. We’re on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and all the other usual places.

Paul: We release a main podcast every fortnight on a Wednesday and our Patreon subscribers get a bonus pod to fill the off weeks, plus they get a newsletter each week packed with additional exclusive stories, some of which aren’t featured on any of our pods. We also have a Discord chat community, run some great football shirt giveaways, release bonus blogs and give our patrons a sneak preview of our podcast agenda.

Listen to The Sweeper Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other popular podcast apps >>

This article was produced as part of a paid advertising package. To enquire about advertising with Pod Bible email info@podbiblemag.com

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WHY DO YOU LOVE PODCASTS?

There’s a freedom to podcasting, it’s pretty close to stand up in that respect. You can just create something and put it out, you aren’t waiting for a green light from a production company. You have control that you don’t have in other types of media, you can decide what makes the edit and what content you want to focus on. Creatively it’s quite liberating. It’s also a brilliant way to connect with an audience.

WHAT WAS THE FIRST POD YOU EVER LISTENED TO?

I think it was Cariad Lloyds brilliant podcast Griefcast. It’s a really great podcast where people chat about grief, which sounds like it might be really depressing but it’s actually quite uplifting and hopeful.

WHICH PODCASTER MAKES YOU LAUGH THE MOST?

I am very lucky that I get to do two podcasts with two brilliant comedians Tom Allen on Like Minded Friends and Maisie Adam on Big Kick Energy and they both make me laugh a lot but its probably deeply cringe to use your own podcast as an answer. I really enjoy Kathy Burke’s podcast Where There’s a Will, There’s a Wake, she always makes me laugh. I also love French and Saunders Titting About, there’s an episode where they’re chat about things that have gone wrong while touring and I was laughing so hard I was crying while driving on a
motorway. Probably not that safe to be honest.

WHICH PODCAST HAS EDUCATED YOU THE MOST?

I love Elizabeth Day’s How to Fail. She’s such a great interviewer and manages to ask quite direct and exposing questions without feeling like she’s overstepping a line. She always has such brilliant guests, every week whether you’ve heard of them or not, I always come away feeling like I have learnt something and a little bit more comfortable with my own failures.

CAN YOU RECOMMEND A SHOW OUR READERS MAY NOT HAVE HEARD OF YET?

Safe Space is a brilliant podcast hosted by friends Emma and Hester, it is a show about queer history confirming the fact that the queer community has always been around. My favourite episodes include ‘How Roman’s made the Yuletide Gay’, ‘Berlins Queer History’ and a recent episode on the Ballroom scene from its beginnings in the 1870’s. Fascinating stuff!

Listen to Big Kick Energy on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other popular podcast apps >>

Listen to Like Minded Friends on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other popular podcast apps >>

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We spoke to host Natalie Bromley to find out more about the podcast, being a voice for the fans and the benefits of joining the talkSPORT Fan Network…

Why did you decide to start No Nay Never?

No Nay Never was started back in 2009 when the Clarets were first promoted to the Premier League. It was a big deal to a small town, but a concern followed that media content would now be behind paywalls or expensive television subscriptions. We wanted to retain and promote the club’s relationship with the community and provide free access to blogs, match reports and articles for the fans. To this day, No Nay Never remains a community podcast that is free to its listeners. And always will be whilst I am at the helm!

Why did you join the talkSPORT Fan Network?

As important as it is to us to retain a free product for our community, we do also have to pay the bills. Running advertisements alongside the podcast is a fantastic way to generate revenue, whilst keeping the podcast free to listen to. People are now accustomed to having advertisements run on most major platforms in exchange for a free product, and so it didn’t feel too much of a leap to take that next step. When shopping around for a partner, two things struck me about talkSPORT. The first was the wide reach of listeners, with a strong opportunity for us to network with other content creators. The second was talkSPORT’s commitment to highlighting clubs outside of the powerful premier league teams – the network recognised that they needed to get better at providing content for a significant fanbase across the EFL who were being ignored by major broadcasters. That sold it for me. It was an easy yes after that.

What has been the best thing about being part of the Fan Network so far?

There is the obvious kudos with being able to say that you work alongside such a big brand with a national reach, and that has got us some listeners and respect in the industry. But perhaps the most important thing for us has been the opportunity to input on and influence the narrative that is put out about our club. We have been invited to speak on air about results and talking points, and give specific and relevant updates for the talkSPORT listeners. The network recognises that it cannot be an expert on all 92 clubs, and by giving the fans a platform and actually listening to them, we can ensure that the club is represented fairly and accurately. We bring the fan view, the network brings the objective view. It is a good balance in my opinion.

You’ve also written for the BBC Sport Fan Voice blog – how does it feel to be such a prominent voice speaking on Burnley’s game?

I do pinch myself quite a lot at the opportunities that are being offered to fan content creators now. We’ve come a long way since the early days, when not much content could be produced by fans, and their reach was quite small. Seeing the products that are being put out there by fans, and the opportunities creators are being given, is really exciting.

For me, there is the obvious pride in being asked to talk about a club I have been in love with since I was 9 years’ old, and one that has consumed my life so much. But the more important aspect is that broadcasters are recognising the quality input female fans can give and offering them equal chance to have their say. And whilst we should not need to work any harder than our male counterparts, I do feel a responsibility to ensure I get it right and leave the doors open for many more women to come after me. So I would say it is both stressful and rewarding, in equal measures!

Aside from your own podcast, what’s your favourite football podcast to listen to?

Obviously talkSPORT Daily! I love the Guardian’s Football Weekly – the format is so easy to listen to and it comes with a nice balance of analysis and humour. Plus they are great at covering the women’s game too, with a link to their own women’s podcast. And I have recently discovered Wrighty’s House, which offers great coverage of both genres. In terms of fan-led podcasts, both The Anfield Wrap and The Blue Room are excellent.

Listen to the No Nay Never podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or your favourite podcast platform. To find out more search talkSPORT Fan Network. If you are a podcast creator and want to get involved with the Network then please contact James Rowe at talkSPORT.

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This article was produced as part of a paid advertising package. To enquire about advertising with Pod Bible email info@podbiblemag.com

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If you are a loyal supporter of your football club then we’ve got you covered. All of our passionate hosts can provide informed analysis, lively debate and an inside look into your club. With the talkSPORT Fan Network, you’ll be up-to-date with the latest news, match previews, post-match analyses and transfer rumours.

Search talkSPORT Fan Network to find out more. The ultimate destination for true sports fanatics!

LEAGUE ONE

BLACKPOOL – Seasiders Podcast

BOLTON WANDERERS – Trotter Chatter

PETERBOROUGH UNITED – The Yellow Block

BARNSLEY – Reds Report

DERBY COUNTY – Rams Talk

LINCOLN CITY – The Stacey West Podcast

WYCOMBE WANDERERS – Heroes of HP12

CARLISLE UNITED – The Blue Army Podcast

LEAGUE TWO

STOCKPORT COUNTRY – Scarf Bergara Wore

WREXHAM – Rob. Ryan. Red.

MANSFIELD TOWN – Mansfield Matters

SWINDON TOWN – The Loathed Strangers

AFC WIMBLEDON – The Wombles Had A Dream

MK DONS – The MK1 Podcast

WALSALL – Wallsall Fan TV

BRADFORD CITY – The City Vent

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE

ST MIRREN – Misery Hunters

WOMEN’S SUPER LEAGUE

ARSENAL WOMEN – Inside The Red and White

Listen to these podcasts on your favourite podcast platform or to find out more search talkSPORT Fan Network. If you are a podcast creator and want to get involved with the Network then please contact James Rowe at talkSPORT.

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This article was first published in Issue #028 of the Pod Bible Magazine and was produced as part of a paid advertising package. To enquire about advertising with Pod Bible email info@podbiblemag.com

The post Introducing… the talkSPORT Fan Network – all leagues edition! appeared first on POD BIBLE.

Before we worry about any of that however, it’s time to look back and celebrate our favourite podcasts from 2023. As is our tradition, we ended the year with the Pod Bible Listener Polls, a month long open vote where we ask listeners to vote for their favourite podcasts of the year. All of the nominees featured in the Pod Bible Magazine, on the Pod Bible Podcast, on the website or newsletter over the last twelve months – except the final Independent Podcast category, which was open to all.

The polls were open for the whole of December and closed at midnight on the 31st of December. Thank you so much to everyone who voted, we received a record number of submissions, up 30% on our previous best which is huge! Our team have now counted and verified all submissions and we’re very happy to see a good mix of classic podcasts, indy shows and new productions as well as a bunch of brand new winners and an unprecedented tie for third place in one of the categories…

Pod disciples, we present to you your Pod Bible Listener Poll Winners for 2023!

COMEDY

WINNER: WHERE THERE’S A WILL THERE’S A WAKE

2nd – FRENCH AND SAUNDERS: TITTING ABOUT

3rd – OFF MENU

Congratulations to Kathy Burke and the amazing team at Sony Music and Somethin’ Else for creating a runaway hit last year. Where There’s A Will There’s A Wake has taken the most morbid of subjects and turned it into a deeply entertaining and thought provoking listen, with an incredible line up of guests. Everyone knew Kathy would make the perfect podcast host when the time was right and boy has she delivered.

Kathy’s long term British comedy peers French & Saunders come second with perennial winners Off Menu dropping down to third place in what’s been yet another huge year for the dream restaurant based show.

INTERVIEW & CONVERSATION

WINNER: THE ADAM BUXTON PODCAST

2nd – OFF AIR… WITH JANE & FI

3rd – CHANGES WITH ANNIE MACMANUS

What else can be said about The Adam Buxton Podcast and it’s place within the UK podcasting scene since it’s inception in 2015? The quintessential interview podcast for us and the listener votes have yet again backed us up. The fact that Adam can go on lengthy hiatus’s then reappear with no warning with another run of wonderous conversations makes it feel all the more special.

Legendary broadcasters (and fellow former Pod Bible cover stars) Jane Garvey and Fi Glover take second place with DJ Annie Macmanus making the podium in third.

LIFESTYLE & CULTURE

WINNER: TALK ART

2nd – CLOSET CONFESSIONS

3rd – WHERE ARE YOU GOING? / POP OFF

We’re delighted to see Talk Art take the gold in this year’s Lifestyle & Culture category! Robert and Russell have been long term supporters of Pod Bible and it’s been a joy to witness their show going from strength to strength over recent years.

Pod Bible cover stars Closet Confessions take second and for the first time ever we have a tie for third place (quite the feat considering we had thousands of votes in this category!). Where Are You Going? and Pop Off share third place, two very different shows that are equally worth your time.

FILM & TV

WINNER: SHRINK THE BOX

2nd – THE DREAM FACTORY

3rd – STICKY BUN BOYS

Three brand new entries onto the Film & TV podium this year, which is no mean feat in a category with both Kermode & Mayo and Films To Be Buried With! Congratulations to Shrink The Box, the show where Ben Baily Smith and Sasha Bates take their favourite fictional characters and analyse why their behaviour causes them so much drama.

It’s wonderful to see that both second and third places are taken by two independent shows this year. User generated movie creation podcast The Dream Factory takes second with Great British Bake Off re-watch podcast Sticky Bun Boys in third.

MUSIC

WINNER: THAT’S NOT METAL

2nd – BEFORE THEY KNEW BETTER

3rd – ROCKONTEURS

Huge congratulations to That’s Not Metal, a truly independent and fan made podcast that has taken first place in this year’s music category! TNM brings you news, opinions and honest reviews from the world of Metal music every week and finished 2023 with their very own awards show.

DIY Magazine’s Before They Knew Better takes second with last year’s bronze medal winners Rockonteurs returning to third place again!

SPORT & LEISURE

WINNER: REMINDING YOU WHY YOU LOVE FOOTBALL

2nd – THE TENNIS PODCAST

3rd – FOOTBALL RAMBLE

Need a reminder as to why you love football? Look no further than this years winner in Sport & Leisure, Reminding You Why You Love Football! The perfect show for those who are not necesarily looking for up to the minute analysis on the latest round of fixtures. You can check out our chat with Seb and Owen from the show here!

The Tennis Podcast takes second place with stalwarts the Football Ramble in third.

NEWS & INVESTIGATION

WINNER: POD SAVE THE UK

2nd – THE NEWS AGENTS

3rd – A VERY BRITISH CULT

A wonderful debut year for Pod Save The UK is capped off by topping the polls for News & Investigation. Nish Kumar and Coco Khan’s weekly politics show is funny, informative and most importantly, accessible.

Similar in subject matter, The News Agents comes in at second with BBC Radio 4 investigative series A Very British Cult taking third place.

AUDIO DRAMA

WINNER: SHERLOCK & CO.

2nd – THE WITCH FARM

3rd – SPRINGLEAF

Sherlock & Co flew onto the scene in October last year and immediately topped the Audio Fiction charts with it’s superbly written scripts and hilarious performances. Our chat with Sherlock & Watson resulted in one of our favourite interviews of the year so we are delighted to see them pick up first place.

Second place goes to the BBC’s The Witch Farm with James Acaster’s Springleaf, only released in November, taking third.

OH. MY. POD.

INDEPENDENT PODCAST

WINNER: PICTURE THE SCENE

2nd – ECONOMICS IN TEN

3rd – 101 PART TIME JOBS

After finishing second last year, true crime podcast Picture The Scene have come back strong to take first place and let us tell you, they got a LOT of votes.

Ever present Economics in Ten take second place with new entrant 101 Part Time Jobs taking the bronze!

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Congratulations to all our winners, runners up and nominees and thank you to everyone who took the time to vote for their favourite shows. We’re sure 2024 will be another incredible year for podcasting and look forward to celebrating it with another set of Pod Bible Listener Polls at the end of the year!

The post POD BIBLE LISTENER POLLS 2023 – WINNERS ANNOUNCED! appeared first on POD BIBLE.

It might be getting cold outside, but the Championship season is hotting up! And that’s not just because West Brom’s mascot is a man dressed as a boiler. From top to bottom, there is narrative, drama and more narrative!

The Second Tier podcast keeps you in the know all year round. Every Thursday and Sunday, hosts and self-confessed Championship obsessives Ryan Dilks and Justin Peach bring you match reactions and tackle all the topics that fans really care about. It’s all the best storylines, with less of the xG!

So forget the Radio Times’ Christmas TV guide. We’ve got you covered with all the games you need to watch this Christmas from the most entertaining football
league in the world!

IPSWICH TOWN vs NORWICH CITY
12:30 Saturday December 16th

Justin: The East Anglian derby hasn’t been contested in almost four years which means the bitter rivals have plenty to catch up on. That day, Ipswich were beaten 3-0.

But fast forward to 2023 and Ipswich have been cruising this season under Kieran McKenna. Norwich, meanwhile, have struggled for consistency in the midst of lots of changes upstairs, meaning that Ipswich have the upper hand in this fixture for the first time since 2010 – when Norwich were a third-tier side. There will be more than bragging rights on offer in this fixture at Portman Road.

BIRMINGHAM CITY vs LEICESTER CITY
20:00 Monday December 18th

Ryan: Did someone say Wagatha Christie: Part 2?! This fixture sees Birmingham boss Wayne Rooney reunited with Leicester striker Jamie Vardy for another round in the ring –
except this time it probably won’t involve phones ending up in the sea.

Birmingham City wanted “no fear football” when Rooney was appointed – but it’ll be hard to stand up to Leicester’s Maresca-ball, which has seen them take 36 points from their opening 13 games.

The sub-plot to this is just too juicy to ignore and my fingers are firmly crossed that Vardy lets his impulsive thoughts win if he scores in this one.

IPSWICH TOWN vs LEICESTER CITY
19:45 Tuesday 26th December

RD: The best Christmas present of all. These two sides both had the best starts to a season in Championship history, and Boxing Day will be the first time they clash.

The big difference between the two is Leicester have been freshly-relegated from the Premier League with a massive budget, while Ipswich are newly-promoted from League One. It’s a mouth-watering fixture with so much at stake, including getting one over their chief rival to win the whole division.

SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY vs HULL CITY
17:15 Monday 1st January

JP: What better way to kickstart a season than a win on New Year’s Day? Sheffield Wednesday will be looking to grab three points after a disastrous return to the Championship following League One promotion last season.

Expectations are completely different on Humberside though, with the ambitious Club President, Acun Ilicali, funding a promotion challenge for Hull City.

An emphatic Ozan Tufan hat trick was the difference in the reverse fixture in August when optimism was still in the air at Hillsborough. However, three points will be vital if the club are going to steer clear of a drop back into League One. Expect a supercharged atmosphere at Hillsborough.

As the Championship kicks into high gear this festive season, Second Tier is your ticket to the real action. Join hosts Ryan Dilks and Justin Peach every Thursday and Sunday for match reactions and discussions on the hottest Championship topics. From the East Anglian derby’s revival to the intriguing clash between Ipswich Town and Leicester City on Boxing Day, the Championship promises unforgettable moments. Don’t miss out on the real blockbuster stories; tune in to Second Tier: The Championship Podcast, where every match is a story in itself. The football festivities begin here!

You don’t want to miss new episodes of Second Tier which you can find wherever you get your podcasts.

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This column was created with Stak. Stak produces podcasts that entertain and inform, including some of the UK’s biggest and most popular shows – boasting a combined 4 million monthly listen and over 45 years of podcasting experience. Whether recording remotely or in our broadcast-grade London  studio, we special in every stage of the podcasting process. To find out more or get in touch, visit our website at stak.london.

The post A very Championship Christmas with Second Tier! appeared first on POD BIBLE.

On The Continent is the one-stop shop for all the European football knowledge you need. From the makers of Football Ramble, On The Continent dissects the latest football headlines from across Europe and delivers a deep dive into all aspects of the game. The podcast is led by broadcasting legends Andy Brassell (The Guardian, talkSPORT & Sky Sports) and Dotun Adebayo (BBC 5live) who welcome a range of European football experts onto the pod every Thursday.

And, with each new season comes a new show! Every Friday, the team answers your questions on ‘Ask OTC’. So, if you want to know more about the next generation of superstars or if you’re planning a European football adventure and need travel tips, they’ve got you covered!

So to get a taste of all that and to celebrate the end of qualifiers for Euro 2024, in Issue #029 we thought we’d ask Andy Brassell what he thinks about the tournament next summer. Over to you Andy!

HI ANDY! SO WHO HAS IMPRESSED YOU MOST IN QUALIFYING THIS YEAR?

It has to be Scotland. The less a team qualifies the harder it becomes to qualify with the seeding system, so for the Scots to win their first five matches in a group containing Spain and Norway is extraordinary.

WHO IS GOING TO BE THE DARK HORSE?

I’ve had my share of stick from listeners (and fellow hosts too!) by flagging that Turkey had the players to do well in Euro 2020 (they didn’t), so I’m not going down that road again! Hungary have greatly improved in recent years and in Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai, they have a bona fide superstar in their midst.

WHO IS THE ONE PLAYER READERS MIGHT NOT BE AWARE OF WHO COULD LIGHT UP THE TOURNAMENT?

Maybe Benjamin Šeško of Slovenia. He’s a big centre-forward who Manchester United were very interested in before he opted to go to RB Leipzig instead.

WHICH TEAMS SHOULD ENGLAND BE MOST WORRIED ABOUT?

France, obviously. Not only do they have Kylian Mbappé but they have great strength in depth as they showed at the World Cup.

AND LASTLY… WHY SHOULD PEOPLE SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEW OTC FEED TO FOLLOW THE EUROS?!

As well as covering the big names and big games, here at OTC we pride ourselves on really getting under the skin of subjects and taking the chat in interesting and entertaining directions. Dotun Adebayo and I have such a great range of voices with expertise from all over Europe joining us, so you’ll be covered whichever way
the tournament twists and turns. You’ll have a wide palette of original takes to pass off as your own in the pub!

Go and listen to On The Continent now – bigger and better than ever on its brand new feed! Search On The Continent in your podcast app to subscribe and listen now!

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This column was created with Stak. Stak produces podcasts that entertain and inform, including some of the UK’s biggest and most popular shows – boasting a combined 4 million monthly listen and over 45 years of podcasting experience. Whether recording remotely or in our broadcast-grade London  studio, we special in every stage of the podcasting process. To find out more or get in touch, visit our website at stak.london.

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We spoke to host Micky Simpson to find out more about the podcast, and being part of the talkSPORT Fan Network…

Why did you decide to start That Millwall Podcast?

During lock down myself and Omer missed the chats before and after football down the pub or on the way to games etc. So we thought let’s try and make it happen by starting a Live Friday night stream talking about Millwall and getting live comments from other like minded fans. This then grew into what we have today with a large listener base, more live streams and social content and pre-recorded shows and it just keeps growing, with more Millwall fans finding us.

From left to right: Omer, Ben Green, Micky, Stephen Jones, Chris Chapman.

Why did you join the talkSPORT Fan Network?

We were the first to sign up and knew it would be a great place to help us reach a much wider audience with tips and advice they could give us regarding marketing and promoting our show. They are the biggest sports radio company in the world and when they need a Millwall Fan’s opinion, hopefully it’s our phone they call. It’s still early doors, but we are looking forward to the things they have planned, which are really exciting and will help our show grow – but I don’t think we are allowed to mention those just yet!

What has been the best thing about being part of the Fan Network so far?

Meeting other like-minded creators and finding out the ideas that work to help make our listeners and viewers experience even better.

There are some really cracking shows and teams within the Fan Network across the Championship and hopefully a few of us will sample the promised land of becoming a Premier League Podcast one day, ha-ha. Expanding our knowledge and being able to get other club shows on to discuss upcoming games.

You recently hosted your first “That Championship Show” with a panel made up of some of the best Championship podcasters – what do you enjoy most about collaborating with other podcasters?

We got to host the very first one and it’s something we are looking to carry on. It was great to be able to ask a panel of championship, likeminded shows questions regarding all our clubs rather than only being Millwall based questions. Plus it was great to have a wider live audience and the audience members that came on to talk too. Also, we hope it gets us in front of more people and you never know one day in the future it could become a proper show maybe on talksport 2 or even the Talksport app.

Aside from your own podcast, what’s your favourite football podcast to listen to?

Love a listen to The Price of Football and Not The Top 20 plus all the other shows on the talkSPORT fan network too.

Listen to That Millwall Podcast on your favourite podcast app, or to find out more search talkSPORT Fan Network. If you are a podcast creator and want to get involved with the Network then please contact James Rowe at talkSPORT.

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This article was produced as part of a paid advertising package. To enquire about advertising with Pod Bible email info@podbiblemag.com

The post That Millwall Podcast: A Millwall FC podcast on talkSPORT Fan Network appeared first on POD BIBLE.

Adam Richardson caught up with Seb White and Owen Blackhurst to discuss Reminding You Why You Love Football, a show that steps back from the reactionary and analytical side of football podcasting and delves deeper into the many reasons most football fans fell in love with the game in the first place. Old kits, cult heroes, terrific haircuts, non league weirdness, long range screamers, unsavoury red cards and so much more in between. From the team at Mundial magazine and creators of Pod Bible favourite GIANT.

Check out Reminding You Why You Love Football on Spotify 

Check out Mundial magazine

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If you are a loyal supporter of your football club then we’ve got you covered. All of our passionate hosts can provide informed analysis, lively debate and an inside look into your club. With the talkSPORT Fan Network, you’ll be up-to-date with the latest news, match previews, post-match analyses and transfer rumours.

Search talkSPORT Fan Network to find out more. The ultimate destination for true sports fanatics!

COVENTRY CITY – Sky Blues Extra

HUDDERSFIELD TOWN – And He Takes That Chance

HULL CITY – The Hull and Back

IPSWICH TOWN – Blue Monday

LEICESTER CITY – Leicester ’til I Die

LEICESTER CITY – Leicester Fan TV

MILLWALL – The Millwall Podcast

PLYMOUTH ARGYLE – Green & White

QUEENS PARK RANGERS – W12 Podcast

ROTHERHAM UNITED – New York Talk

SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY – The Wednesday Week

SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY – Wednesday ‘Til I Die

SOUTHAMPTON – Total Saints Podcast

STOKE CITY – Every Step Along The Way

SWANSEA CITY – Swans Cast

WATFORD – Do Not Scratch Your Eyes

WEST BROMWICH ALBION – Albion Analysis

Listen to these podcasts on your favourite podcast platform or to find out more search talkSPORT Fan Network. If you are a podcast creator and want to get involved with the Network then please contact James Rowe at talkSPORT.

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This article was first published in Issue #028 of the Pod Bible Magazine and was produced as part of a paid advertising package. To enquire about advertising with Pod Bible email info@podbiblemag.com

The post Introducing… the talkSPORT Fan Network – EFL Championship edition! appeared first on POD BIBLE.

Why did you decide to start the Always Wolves Fan Podcast?

We started the podcast in memory of our friend Bill, who sat next to us at Molineux for many years and featured regularly on my YouTube channel. He died suddenly of Bowel Cancer and one of the things he always said as we said goodbye at the end of a game was Always Wolves so we started and named the podcast in his memory. Since then we also rebranded completely including our YouTube Channel and Website to Always Wolves.

You were a winner at The Football Content Awards – what would say is the secret to football podcast success?

I don’t know if there is a secret but I think the main thing is just to be yourself, be real. We always try to involve fans from all backgrounds genders, ages and views. Also talk about the key issues but have a bit of fun & laughter doing it. I think that resonates with most people.

Why did you join the talkSPORT Fan Network?

They took out all the costs of our hosting and offered a chance to earn revenue from both ads and sponsorship, which has really helped support the podcast, along with the promotional help on the station and marketing opportunities like this interview. But the main thing for us, was being their only Wolves Fan Podcast and being part of the talkSPORT Fan Network would only enhance our brand and listeners.

What has been the best thing about being part of the Fan Network so far?

Being their Wolves Fan Podcast we are very proud of that and that you can always pick up the phone to James Rowe at talkSPORT who runs it. We also look forward to being on talkSPORT as their go to as and when they need a fans view on an important Wolves topic.

Aside from your own podcast, what’s your favourite football podcast to listen to?

Quite like the MOTD Top 10 that’s always interesting and a laugh.

Listen to Always Wolves on your favourite podcast platform or to find out more search talkSPORT Fan Network. If you are a podcast creator and want to get involved with the Network then please contact James Rowe at talkSPORT.

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This article was produced as part of a paid advertising package. To enquire about advertising with Pod Bible email info@podbiblemag.com

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And I wasn’t alone – this summer of sport has witnessed a boost in podcast listeners, and more coverage of the women flourishing within it. My love of history led me to the Quite Unsuitable for Females podcast where the women’s game is delved into, as far back as the 1920s.

There are some impressive stats too; women’s cycling is now the 4th most followed sport and a recent announcement that England’s cricketers will get the same match fees as men.

You’ll find a common thread throughout my six recommendations below of chugging away – mostly at a grassroots level – to get women the recognition they deserve. From stories to deep analysis and commentary, these podcasts work to demystify the realm of female sport.

So if there’s a class of sport you’ve been pondering on – whether it is boxing, golf or something more extreme – dig in and be inspired to take that first step by adding these shows to your sports podcast collection.

The Women Who Fight podcast

Hosts Shanti Gorton and Marina Mavrou explore the lives of female fighters around the world. Guests range from a 76-year old judoka to a retired boxer teaching her craft to girls in Iraq. Some ‘fight’ for the pure joy and some to spread the take-up of combat sports in the unlikeliest of places. Each story is unique, with the hosts chipping away at the why behind the ‘fight’’. To cap off each episode, guests are asked, “What are you fighting for?”. With plenty to choose from and leading with curiosity and boldness, this podcast packs more than a punch. Listen now >>

Spindrift

Bike enthusiast, Aoife Glass, brings female cycling to the fore. Interviews include pro-riders to industry experts, and it is the stories and landscapes that take centre-stage. Aoife’s passion and knowledge shine throughout. Topics range from riding perimenopause to those competing at an elite level. With the triumphant return of the Tour de Femmes in 2022, there is a growing appetite for women’s cycling. Catch the episode with Vendangi Kulkarni, on becoming the youngest woman to cycle the world at age 20. There’s a real desire to demystify cycling and encourage women to give it a go! Listen now >>

The Netball Show

This podcast follows the domestic and international netball calendar. Bite-sized commentary, interviews and analysis unpick players’ abilities along with their selection journey. Recent coverage follows the World Cup in Cape Town, with the Roses conceding to Australia in the finals, as well as exciting talk on the next generation of Roses. With over 800 episodes to choose from, you can pick up where you want, or like me, follow the recent Roses’ climb to the finals. Netball has picked up pace over the last few years, with crowds getting bigger and tickets selling out faster. Listen now >>

Women’s Rugby Pod

Broadcaster Johnnie Hammond and England player Rachael Burford (“Burf”) present the first global women’s rugby podcast. News, interviews, and coverage are delivered as they happen across the world. Johnnie’s interview with Jodie Ounsley – the first deaf woman to represent England – is nothing short of inspiring. With the game evolving, there are discussions on bigger crowds and sponsors – hello TikTok! For those wanting regular commentary on the game and those more interested in the storytelling, this podcast doesn’t disappoint. Johnnie’s empathy combined with his knowledge of the game are exceptional. Listen now >>

Why Golf: Opinion Matters

TV presenter Di Stewart interviews a guest each episode, offering thoughtful discussions and opinions. She effortlessly builds rapport with well-known figures, including Helen Skelton and Jamie Dornan – a highlight of the show. While topics like accessibility and the tradition of having a drink on the course may be unfamiliar to some (myself included), it adds an intriguing layer to the pod. What stands out is the removal of common misconceptions – like needing to be rich to play (more about being time-rich) – and interesting facts like golfers living 5 years longer. There’s one clear message here: golf is good for everyone. Listen now >>

Big Kick Energy

Comedians, Maisie Adam and Suzi Ruffell, pick up on the buzz around the FIFA Women’s World Cup. The combination of one being a football fan and the other a newbie to the sport, brings an element of inclusivity. Their Northern and Southern humour blends beautifully – Maise more self-deprecating and Suzi more inclined to quips. Answering listener questions while building momentum as the Lionesses progressed make this a must listen. Excitingly, they have just announced they’ll be back with commentary on the domestic game. You won’t be short on laughs or chants! (‘Mary, Earps, Earps, Earps’). A gem. Listen now >>

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Zainab relishes anything to do with storytelling, whether in the form of podcasts, articles, or books (“anything to do with people and stories, I’m in”). Although born and raised in London, Manchester has been home for the last six years. With over a decade’s experience in the NGO sector, her passion for social justice still remains strong. She now devotes more time to her great loves: writing, travelling, and trying every food she can. Find out more about Zainab >>

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If you are a loyal supporter of your football club then we’ve got you covered. All of our passionate hosts can provide informed analysis, lively debate and an inside look into your club. With the talkSPORT Fan Network, you’ll be up-to-date with the latest news, match previews, post-match analyses and transfer rumours. Search talkSPORT Fan Network to find out more. The ultimate destination for true sports fanatics!

ARSENAL – The Gooner Talk

ASTON VILLA – My Old Man Said

BRENTFORD – Beesotted Brentford

CRYSTAL PALACE – Back of the Nest

FULHAM – Cottage Talk

BOURNMOUTH – UTCIAD (Up The Cheers In All Departments)

BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION – Seagulls Social

BURNLEY – No Nay Never

LUTON TOWN – Oak Road Hatter

MANCHESTER UNITED – Talking Devils

NEWCASTLE UNITED – Talk of the Toon

NOTTINGHAM FOREST – Red Side of the Tent

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR – Spurs Chat

WEST HAM – The West Ham Way

WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS – Always Wolves

Listen to these podcasts on your favourite podcast platform or to find out more search talkSPORT Fan Network. If you are a podcast creator and want to get involved with the Network then please contact James Rowe at talkSPORT.

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This article was first published in Issue #028 of the Pod Bible Magazine and was produced as part of a paid advertising package. To enquire about advertising with Pod Bible email info@podbiblemag.com

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The football season is back in business and Football Ramble is following hot on its heels, bringing a wholly unserious look at all the headlines on and off the pitch. Now into the show’s seventeenth year, Marcus Speller, Luke Moore, Andy Brassell, Jim Campbell, Pete Donaldson and Vithushan Ehantharajah are back with four episodes every single week, covering everything from the Premier League’s biggest stories to which animal recently invaded a pitch in South America.

We asked Vish, Jim and Pete some questions to find out a bit more about their fellow Ramblers and how they would all deal with life in the Premier League – strap in!

Let’s start in the obvious place. If one of them had to score a penalty to save your life, who would you pick to take it – Vish or Pete?

Jim: Vish, because even with stakes that high I can easily imagine Pete getting distracted, maybe remembering that he’s left his front door open, then skying me into oblivion to the delight of whatever sicko organised this.

Who is most likely to be sent off for dissent?

Vish: Probably Jim, actually. Underrated angry man. Don’t really see it until he’s watching football. So presumably being involved in a football match himself would make his rage volcanic.

Who is most likely to play poorly the whole match an d then score a screamer in the last few minutes of the game?

Pete: Obviously me, but that would be shortly followed by me passing to an opposing player and them rounding the keeper. Because I hate myself and I can’t have nice things. If you were playing centre half for a really tough game, who would you want defending by your side?

J: Andy. He looks a lot like tough – tackling journeyman Shaun Derry, and that would surely count for something in that situation. Also he’s a dad so he’s probably used to dealing with emergencies quickly.

Who would have the best goal celebration?

P: Vish. I’ve seen his haversack – it’s full of fireworks, ciggies and bottles of Prime. Who knows what he’s capable of. If you could replace Gianni Infantino – the Head of FIFA – with one Rambler to reform football, who would you pick?

V: Probably Andy. Not just because he’s got morals but he also likes good football so he’ll do things like ban long balls and bring in extra points for nutmegs and rabonas. Luke wouldn’t do that.

Who is most likely to win the Football Ramble FPL this season?

J: Definitely Marcus.

P: Definitely Spelldog. He keeps strange hours being a new father, and who knows what tactical sorcery he’s attempting at 3am.

V: Marcus, I’m afraid. Just loves the game. Reads it well. Talks about it too much. Hates fun. Marcus.

Listen to brand new episodes of the Football Ramble four days a week, wherever you get your podcasts. Because football doesn’t always have to be so serious.

Listen to Football Ramble now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other popular podcast apps >>

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PB: TELL US ALL ABOUT YOUR SHOW! WHAT’S YOUR PODCAST ELEVATOR PITCH?

IW: Wrighty’s House is a safe place where a group of friends come together and talk about football in a very inclusive and positive way. It’s my yard! It’s the place where the WhatsApp group comes to life.

We have some real family, non-football talk as well. It’s a group of people that have become very close, care about each other a lot and who also have a passion for the game. It’s everything from stories of my playing days to discussing the vibes of our favourite players and managers, harder hitting stuff (when needed to be done) and real life as well.

It’s me and the beautiful family that is Ryan and Musa from Stadio, Carl Anka, Jeanette Kwayke, Flo Lloyd-Hughes and Mayowa Quadri.

WHY PODCASTING? WHAT IS IT ABOUT THE FORMAT THAT APPEALED TO YOU?

I am a radio guy. I grew up listening to the radio when I was younger and many people won’t remember, but it was radio that you could say saved my post-playing career. When I left the BBC, and no TV broadcaster would even consider me, it was Absolute Radio that gave me a platform to fall back in love with football media.

Radio really supported me. Podcasting feels a lot like radio and is accessible too. It allows me to speak directly to the listener in a way I want to. For someone like me, that can be emotional and can be forthright, podcasting – especially on Wrighty’s House – is a really safe space for me to be me. We can own the narrative and build a real community. It’s not scheduled or programmed. It literally feels like an everyday conversation.

The free nature of it all just works for me and how I want to speak about myself and about football. There is no pressure to cover certain topics because they are in the news cycle – something that I still have to do on a lot of platforms.

YOU HAVE A ROTATING CAST OF GUESTS ON WRIGHTY’S HOUSE EACH WEEK, WHAT MADE YOU CHOOSE THAT FORMAT?

The cast is rotating because I just love hearing different thoughts on football from different people. Also, you don’t always have the same people coming to your house right? One week you may have your sister come over, the next week it might be your cousin who you haven’t seen in a few months. Wrighty’s House is the same but football.

You may hear poetry in motion from Musa, alternative theory from Ryan, Championship and WSL breakdown from Flo, Olympic tales from Jeanette, xG explanations from Carl and Twitter breakdowns from Mayowa. Everyone has their certain niche, yet we all gel together and can move through different gears whenever we want.

Having different people just allows for us to touch on so much. I learn so much from them all and I think the audience love that too. I never wanted it to be just about me, I wanted it to be about us. And, one of my favourite things about the House, and having these people involved, is that there is something for everyone. Old or young. Expert or novice.

TOWARDS THE END OF LAST YEAR YOU DID A LIVE SHOW WITH CHELSEA WOMEN’S MANAGER EMMA HAYES. IS THIS SOMETHING YOU’D LIKE TO DO MORE OF?

For sure! Live shows are a real experience. The House is an experience already but bringing it to life is something even further. The great thing about live shows is that you can give listeners access to people and conversation that they love, but in a very different way. It’s not the same as the normal weekly shows, but the core ingredients of them are still there. Kinda like listening to a live album of artists you like.

My connection with every member of Wrighty’s House is real. I know them, their parents, their families, their partners and I feel that automatic bond with our listeners. We have some incredible listeners that are part of our community that engage with us on that same level of family.

Everyone knows Emma is an elite coach and one of best football minds in the world but in that live show, they saw Emma the way I see Emma away from the cameras. A footballing mind who is incredibly funny. The jokes and insights were amazing, it was as though she was a long-time member of the Wrighty’s House family.

I’ve just always felt that in those sorts of environments, you are able to really get to know people. We are more than our jobs. So when you come to the House, you are you. Emma was Emma. Not only Emma Hayes the Chelsea manager.

I can’t wait to do the same with future live show guests. We did our first Wrighty’s House Live with Barclays in November last year and it felt really good being in a room full of people while we had a chat over some drinks.

YOUR OTHER SHOW IAN WRIGHT’S EVERYDAY PEOPLE TOOK YOU AWAY FROM FOOTBALL TO FOCUS ON PEOPLE FROM OTHER WALKS OF LIFE. WHAT WAS THE APPEAL OF WORKING ON THAT PROJECT?

When I did my Desert Island Discs, I received so many comments about my growing up story. People were calling me a hero, saying how much my story moved them and how inspired they were by it. It made me think about all the amazing people doing incredible things every day in society whose stories we never hear so that’s what I wanted to do, amplify those stories. Like I experienced with my teacher Mr Pigden, an ordinary man that changed my life, the series looks at a range of amazing people doing incredible things, from Andy Hider who fostered 150 children throughout her life to Munira Mahmoud who supplied hot meals to survivors of Grenfell. Each episode is emotional but inspiring and completely different to anything I’ve done before.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO ANYONE WHO WANTS TO EMULATE YOUR SUCCESS BEHIND A MICROPHONE?

It is really important to own who you are. I could not do this if I tried to be someone else. I like having fun. I like telling stories. I love talking about football from my point of view. But I also speak how I speak and that is something that took me a long time to truly own, I remember getting criticised by viewers for some of my pronunciation.

I remember when I started, it was similar to when I had football trials back in the day. Back then, I was playing how I thought people wanted me to play, and my career in the media started similarly. However, as I built experience and confidence I was able to start just be me and grew more comfortable doing so.

The media industry can be very selfish, with everyone looking over their shoulder. You have to find friends in the industry that you can trust. People that will help you develop but also not hold you back because it serves them. You have to find those people and it takes time and you will get some of that wrong. But you learn from your experience and use that to hopefully help others on their journey too.

You also have to love what you do. Wrighty’s House does not feel like a show to me, it is literally a conversation between me and my people and one of the best parts of my week. I think that is a really important factor in its success: doing it because you enjoy it. I go through the rest of my week and I’m constantly thinking how we improve the show or I make a note of something I experienced or thought of that I want to mention on the next episode – you live and breath it because you ultimately love it and you hold yourself to a high standard.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER PODCAST HOSTS OR FOOTBALL PUNDITS THAT YOU TAKE INSPIRATION FROM?

Everyone on the House is a massive inspiration for me. They are incredibly talented and experts in their own right, they also talk about football in very pure and accessible way.

Musa and Ryan have made football more inclusive and a safe place for everyone. I learn from them all the time. They have mastered the art of just capturing people’s minds. You sit there listening and you are like “this is awesome’! As far as hosting goes, you won’t find many better. Every word they say becomes a part of your everyday dictionary.

Emma Hayes inspires me and is great to work with. Her understanding of the game and ability to give that back to the audience in a way that is very easy to understand is something I am always working to improve.

Jamie Carragher is also one of my favourite pundits because he brings football analytics together with a deep understanding of fan culture and how fans feel.

I am very fortunate to work with Kelly Cates – every time I am on with Kelly I learn something different. She has improved me as a pundit and host. She’s incredibly calm and witty, she keeps you on your toes but broadcasting with her is a pleasure.

WHAT ARE YOUR CURRENT FAVOURITE PODCASTS?

There are so many podcasts that I really enjoy that have good hosts with a range of styles and there is a new generation that is constantly creating new ways to consume football. I listen and try to support as many of them as I can. Musa and Ryan’s Stadio pod is one never miss along with Arseblog, and I also listen to the boys at Stoppage Time TV, the Goal Diggers girls & Sharky Does Sports. All really authentic football analysis and discussion pods.

I am also still working my way through GIANT which is a football documentary series that just tells some incredible football stories.

Outside of football I’m currently loving Mafia which is a deep look into the American criminal underworld.

Listen to Wrighty’s House on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other popular podcast apps >>

Find more interviews with your favourite podcasters in the Pod Bible Magazine >>

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