This Sporting Planet

Caitlin Bassett - The "Shame" of Retirement & Losing Identity

Kate Allman is joined by Australian Netball legend Caitlin Bassett for a candid discussion about the mental toll of leaving elite sport. Unlike the fairytale endings we often see, Caitlin describes her retirement as being "made redundant." She opens up about the shame of not being offered a contract, the difficulty of finding an identity outside of netball, and the "toxic" habits she had to unlearn to function in the real world. Caitlin also sets the record straight on her time at the Giants, reveals how animal therapy aided her recovery, and discusses her new role in player welfare at the Western Force. 00:00 - Introduction 02:49 - Caitlin on her "Shocking" Retirement 05:26 - Breaking Toxic Athlete Habits 07:30 - The Giants Era: Being Silenced by the Club 10:17 - Playing in New Zealand & Injury Hell 11:15 - Life After Sport: Cricket & Journalism 16:25 - The Loss of Identity & Mental Struggles 20:07 - How Dogs Saved Her Mental Health 23:59 - Do Sports Have a Duty of Care? 27:57 - Advice for Alyssa Healy & The Future Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

Steven Caulker on Retirement, Addiction, and the "Backlash" of Speaking Out

Natalie Sawyer (UK) is joined by former Tottenham, Liverpool, and Sierra Leone defender Steven Caulker for a raw and revealing conversation about life after the final whistle. Steven discusses his recent retirement, the mental toll of a 17-year career, and his previous battles with gambling and alcohol addiction. He opens up about the "backlash" he faced from the footballing world when he first went public with his struggles and how playing abroad in Turkey helped him reset. They also discuss the current managerial landscape, including Liam Rosenior’s appointment at Chelsea and the pressure on Thomas Frank at Spurs. Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions of depression, addiction, and suicidal thoughts. 00:00 - Intro 01:32 - What the initial period after retirement has been like 04:03 - The freedom of retirement (Food & Running) 05:53 - Skiing & things footballers aren't allowed to do 07:32 - Planning for life after football 10:49 - Why do athletes struggle post-retirement? 14:08 - Steven’s battle with gambling & alcohol 16:58 - Is football doing enough for mental health? 19:43 - The "Backlash": Being rejected by clubs for speaking out 23:16 - The Brentford Model & asking for help 25:55 - Letting go of results & playing in Turkey 29:37 - Liam Rosenior at Chelsea & Thomas Frank at Spurs 31:52 - Steven’s future in management (2026?) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

Why Sport Has ‘NEVER MATTERED MORE’: Caitlin Clark, LIV Golf & Alcaraz v Sinner

Welcome to This Sporting Planet, the world's view of sport! 🌍 The world of sport is evolving at an unprecedented, accelerating pace due to the massive technological effect of smartphones, AI, and the ascent of streaming 🤯 Former ESPN digital and media executive John Kosner joins the podcast for a discussion with Todd around the "State of Sport," analysing the forces reshaping the game for athletes, leagues, and fans 👀 In this episode, you'll hear John Kosner discuss: - Why sport is more popular and important than ever, serving as the only truly unifying, live content in a fragmented media landscape 🤝 - The dramatic growth of player empowerment, where athletes' social media followings often surpass those of their teams and leagues 💪 - The revolution in women's sport, including the "galvanizing" breakthrough of stars like Caitlin Clark 🏀 - The challenge for new tournaments and leagues like LIV Golf and the Six Kings Slam to replicate the context and meaning of traditional major events for fans 🏌️🎾 - The crucial role of broadcasters to protect the integrity of the game and serve as a reliable source of information in the age of media fragmentation 🎙️ 00:00 - Introduction: The Unprecedented Pace of Change in Sport 01:33 - The State of Sport: Why It's Never Mattered More 02:04 - Player Power: Athletes vs. Leagues on Social Media 03:40 - Is Sport Really Recession Proof? 05:04 - The Positives and Negatives of Athlete Power 07:05 - Are New Leagues Like LIV Golf and The Six Kings Slam Prepared? 07:47 - The Importance of Context and the Big Events 09:21 - Broadcaster's Responsibility in a Fragmented Media World 11:40 - The Growth of Women's Sports 12:37 - Caitlin Clark's Unprecedented Draw 14:34 - Shrinking Attention Spans vs. Rising TV Ratings 16:37 - The Future of Broadcast: Multiple Feeds and Influencer Channels 18:23 - Career Bedrocks: John Kosner's Lessons for the Next Generation 19:48 - The #1 Rule for Success: Investing in Relationships Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

The BILLIONAIRE Athlete, Player Power & Social Media – Is it BAD for sport?

Welcome to This Sporting Planet, the world's view of sport!   Join your hosts Todd Harris (USA), Natalie Sawyer (UK), and Edward Russell (Singapore) as they discuss the growth of player power around the globe and ask a crucial question – is it good or bad for the future of sport?   Billionaire athletes: Cristiano Ronaldo has become the first active footballer to achieve a net worth of $1 billion. How did we get here, and will there be more?   Player empowerment: From players forcing moves away from football clubs to NIL rights, the team explore how athletes in all sports have been taking more control over their own futures. Social media transformation: The team discuss how these platforms have emboldened athletes, giving them a direct platform to air grievances and build their personal brands, bypassing traditional media channels. Plus, have women’s sports embraced social media more effectively than men’s sports to create authentic content that really connects with fans?  Plus, as 2025 draws to a close, Natalie, Todd and Edward reveal their athletes of the year, and their ones to watch in 2026! 00:00 - Introduction 01:26 - The player empowerment phenomenon 03:51 - How women's sport utilises social media to create authentic content 04:25 - The Billionaire Athlete: Are stars like Cristiano Ronaldo too rich? 11:06 - Will there be more Super Leagues? 13:32 - How have shows like 'Drive to Survive' changed sport? 18:02 - Are athletes in danger of burn out? 21:05 - Interview with the Former ESPN Executive John Kosner 27:32 - Athlete of the year! 31:17 - Who is 2025's Rising Star? 35:34 - What will have the biggest legacy from 2025? 37:56 - See you next time! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

Red Roses' Glory & The Women's Sport Phenomenon

Welcome to This Sporting Planet, your definitive source for 'The World's View of Sport'. 🌍🎙️ In this episode, our hosts Natalie Sawyer (UK), Edward Russell (Singapore), and Todd Harris (USA) celebrate England's Rugby World Cup victory and dive into the growing global phenomenon of women's sport. We are joined by exclusive guest and World Cup winner Abbie Ward to go inside the victorious Red Roses' camp and discuss the key to their team culture. * Rugby World Cup Champions: We celebrate the Red Roses' victory over Canada at a sold-out Twickenham. World Cup winner Abbie Ward shares the secret to the team's close bond and why supporting mothers in sport is vital. * The Growth of Women's Sport: A discussion on the acceleration of women's sport globally, particularly the success seen in Europe (England's Euro and Rugby World Cup wins) and the USA (WNBA, new leagues). * Legacy Building: We explore the challenges of sustaining growth in domestic leagues and highlight the positive impact female athletes are having as role models for the next generation. * Behind the Scenes: Abbie Ward discusses the non-traditional support within the England rugby squad, such as teammates watching her daughter during training, and the importance of maternity and working parent policies. 00:00 - Intro & Global Sporting Highlights  01:24 - Todd reflects on the Ryder Cup and MLB Playoffs  02:42 - Edward reviews the F1 Singapore Grand Prix  03:44 - Natalie celebrates England's World Cup qualification and Hull FC's treble  06:05 - The Women's Sport Phenomenon: A Unique Period of Growth  09:18 - Abby Ward on winning the Rugby World Cup  14:24 - Juggling motherhood and professional rugby  21:15 - Being a role model and legacy building 25:31 - Reflections on the World Cup Win  27:18 - Canada's Crowdfunding Story  28:51 - Investment and Growth in US Women's Sport  31:51 - Women in Sport in Asia  32:46 - Coming up next time! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]