The Birmingham 2026 Podcast

Episode 10. Morgan Lake. Reaching New Heights.

She believed she would jump two metres every year from the age of sixteen. Over a decade later, in Zurich last August, she did it, becoming the first British woman in history to clear that barrier. In this episode, Lloyd sits down with Morgan Lake. World junior double champion, three-time Olympian, ten-time consecutive British outdoor champion, and British record holder, to explore one of the most compelling long-game stories in British athletics. Morgan opens up about being a multi-event prodigy at seventeen, what it has meant to be coached by her father Eldon at the very beginning, and the psychological tools she has built, drawing on her Psychology degree from Loughborough, to stay the course through injuries, setbacks, and the relentless pressure of competing at the elite level. She reflects on three Olympic Games: the electric debut in Rio at nineteen, the heartbreak of Tokyo, and what she carried into Paris. And she looks ahead to Birmingham 2026, where she will line up in one of the most competitive women's high jump fields in European Championships history, with Yaroslava Mahuchikh and others standing between her and a gold medal on home soil. In this episode, we explore: • The Kid Who Could Do Everything: World junior champion in both the high jump and heptathlon at seventeen, and the moment she knew the high jump was the one. • A Decade of Belief: What it takes to chase a single number for over ten years, and what actually went through her mind when she finally cleared two metres in Zurich. • The Art of the High Jump: What a technically perfect jump feels like from the inside, and how she holds ambition without letting it become pressure. • Three Olympics, One Journey: Rio, Tokyo, and Paris, three completely different experiences, and what each one taught her about herself. • Birmingham 2026: What a European title on home soil would mean after everything it has taken to get here. Whether you are an athlete chasing a long-held goal, a fan of British athletics, or just someone who needs a reminder that patience and belief are never wasted, this episode is for you. Follow the Journey:  Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@Birmingham2026⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/birmingham2026/?hl=en] TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@Birmingham2026⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@birmingham2026] Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@Birmingham2026⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/OfficialBirmingham2026] Tickets: ⁠⁠⁠⁠birmingham2026.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://tickets.birmingham26.com] Don’t forget to hit SUBSCRIBE and leave us a review if you enjoyed the show!

Episode 9. Matthew Hudson-Smith. The Homecoming.

From the streets of Wolverhampton to the Olympic final in Paris. Matthew Hudson-Smith is the greatest 400m runner Europe has ever produced, and one of the most courageous voices in the sport. In this powerful episode, Lloyd sits down with the European record holder and four-time European champion to explore a career defined not just by extraordinary speed, but by an extraordinary will to keep going. Matthew opens up about growing up in Wolverhampton and training at Birchfield Harriers from the age of nine, the years of doubt that saw him weighing up his career path, and the pandemic period in America that brought him to his lowest point. He speaks candidly about the mental health struggles he disclosed publicly in 2022, moments after winning World Championship bronze, and how finding the courage to be honest with himself and the world became the catalyst for the most dominant chapter of his career. In this episode, we explore: * A Birmingham Kid: How growing up in Wolverhampton, joining Birchfield Harriers at nine years old, and training at Alexander Stadium planted the seeds of a champion even when the path forward was far from certain. * The Making of a 400m Runner: Breaking 45 seconds as a teenager, the brutal mental demands of the one-lap event, and what training alongside the world's best in America did for his ambition and belief. * The Darkest Chapter: The 2021 period in America: the pandemic, losing key figures in his career, and the rock-bottom moment he would later share with the world. What was really going on, and what he would say to that version of himself now. * The Comeback and the Climb: World bronze, World silver, Olympic silver, and a European record of 43.44 seconds, the fifth fastest 400m in history. The Paris final where he thought he'd won, fatherhood as a new source of motivation, and how he carries the weight of world number one into Birmingham. * Birmingham 2026 - The Homecoming: What it means to chase a fifth European title on home soil, in the stadium where his career began. The power of a West Midlands crowd. His message to the young kids from Wolverhampton and Birmingham watching him compete this August. Whether you're a fan of track and field, someone who has navigated their own dark chapter, or just looking for proof that the comeback is always possible, this episode is essential listening. Follow the Journey:  Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@Birmingham2026⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/birmingham2026/?hl=en] TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠@Birmingham2026⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@birmingham2026] Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠@Birmingham2026⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/OfficialBirmingham2026] Tickets: ⁠⁠⁠birmingham2026.com⁠⁠⁠ [https://tickets.birmingham26.com] Don’t forget to hit SUBSCRIBE and leave us a review if you enjoyed the show!

Episode 8. Phil Sesemann. The Marathon Doctor.

From the NHS wards to the Olympic start line. Phil Sesemann is the embodiment of clinical consistency and the ultimate proof that the long game always pays off. In this insightful episode, Lloyd sits down with the 2:07 marathoner from his home in Yorkshire to deconstruct a career built on intelligence, longevity, and a refusal to skip the steps. Phil opens up about the years of quiet grind at Leeds City AC, the mental shift required to balance life as a junior doctor with 100-mile training weeks, and the technical focus that led to his stunning marathon breakthrough in London. Whether he’s scoring points in a club race or fighting for position in an Olympic final, Phil’s approach remains the same: show up, do the work, and stay the course. In this episode, we explore: * The Double Life: How the high-stakes environment of the hospital wards provided the perfect psychological prep for the pressure of elite marathoning. * Club Roots & Loyalty: Why Phil remains a fierce advocate for the British club system and how Leeds City AC shaped his journey from junior to Olympian. * The Science of a 2:07: A deep dive into the methods required to build a world-class engine and why Phil believes longevity is an athlete's greatest weapon. * The Marathon Mindset: How he manages deep focus over the 26.2-mile puzzle and his advice for staying healthy while pushing the absolute limit. * Birmingham 2026: Why the home crowds and the city-centre marathon course will be a game-changer for the British distance squad this summer. Whether you’re a club runner looking for your next gear or a fan of the blue-collar pro, this episode is a masterclass in discipline, patience, and the power of the long game. Follow the Journey:  Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@Birmingham2026⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/birmingham2026/?hl=en] TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠@Birmingham2026⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@birmingham2026] Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠@Birmingham2026⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/OfficialBirmingham2026] Tickets: ⁠⁠⁠birmingham2026.com⁠⁠⁠ [https://tickets.birmingham26.com] Don’t forget to hit SUBSCRIBE and leave us a review if you enjoyed the show!

Episode 7. Kelly Sotherton MBE. Tactics, Truth, and the Track.

From the technical chess game of the heptathlon to becoming a leader in the boardroom. Kelly Sotherton is a true Birmingham icon and one of the most respected truth-tellers in British athletics history. In this insightful episode, Lloyd sits down with the triple Olympic medalist and Birchfield Harriers legend to explore a career built on honesty, longevity, and tactical brilliance. Kelly opens up about her deep roots at the Alexander Stadium, the psychological weight of competing across seven gruelling events, and her unique experience of receiving Olympic medals years after the finish line. Now, as CEO of the British Elite Athletes Association, she provides a vital perspective on the system and how she is fighting for the next generation of stars. In this episode, we explore: * The Birchfield Heart: How growing up at the Alexander Stadium shaped her identity and why the club remains the undisputed heartbeat of the sport. * The Heptathlon Chess Game: Managing the immense mental load of the multi-events, from navigating the highs and lows of day one to the technical demands of the field. * Fighting for Justice: A candid look at the Athens breakthrough versus her Beijing medal upgrades, and what it’s really like to seek justice in a 'clean' sport. * From Track to Boardroom: Why she isn’t afraid to speak her mind and how she has transitioned her no-nonsense athlete mindset into her role as CEO of the BEAA. * The Birmingham Vision: What hosting the European Championships means for the city’s identity and her advice for the athletes stepping out in 2026. Whether you're a multi-eventer looking for a tactical edge or simply want to hear from one of the most authentic voices in the game, this episode is a masterclass in integrity and resilience. Follow the Journey:  Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@Birmingham2026⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/birmingham2026/?hl=en] TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠@Birmingham2026⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@birmingham2026] Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠@Birmingham2026⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/OfficialBirmingham2026] Tickets: ⁠⁠⁠birmingham2026.com⁠⁠⁠ [https://tickets.birmingham26.com] Don’t forget to hit SUBSCRIBE and leave us a review if you enjoyed the show!

Episode 6: Dean Macey. The Last Man Standing.

From the brutal grit of the Decathlon to becoming the ultimate 'Last Man Standing' of British sport. Dean Macey is the embodiment of raw resilience and the warrior spirit. In this high-energy episode, Lloyd sits down with the multi-event legend to deconstruct a career defined by incredible breakthroughs and legendary resurrections. Dean opens up about the dark places an athlete must go to over ten gruelling events, the mental steel required to fight back from years of injury to claim Commonwealth Gold in 2006, and why he brought the same Olympic intensity to destroying the Total Wipeout course. In this episode, we explore: * The Decathlon Warrior: A deep dive into the 1999 Seville breakthrough and the psychological toll of being an elite multi-eventer. * The 2006 Resurrection: Reflections on that iconic Commonwealth Gold and the moment of total vindication after a career-long battle with his own body. * The Deanator Mindset: Why he treated an obstacle course TV show like an Olympic final and why that 'all-in' attitude resonates with fans to this day. * Life Beyond the Track: How Dean found a new kind of calm on the riverbank and successfully transitioned from the stadium lights to becoming a leading face in the world of angling. * The Birmingham Roar: What makes a British athletics crowd unique and his vision for the next generation of warriors stepping out at the Alexander Stadium in 2026. Whether you're looking for the motivation to push through your own dark places or want to hear from one of the most honest and high-octane characters in sporting history, this episode is a masterclass in never giving up. Follow the Journey:  Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@Birmingham2026⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/birmingham2026/?hl=en] TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠@Birmingham2026⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@birmingham2026] Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠@Birmingham2026⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/OfficialBirmingham2026] Tickets: ⁠⁠⁠birmingham2026.com⁠⁠⁠ [https://tickets.birmingham26.com] Don’t forget to hit SUBSCRIBE and leave us a review if you enjoyed the show!