More Than A Name

13: Jamie Lawrence: From Camp Hill Prison to the Premier League | “I’ve Never Said This On Camera Before” | EP 13

Jamie Lawrence’s journey is unlike anything you’ve heard before. In this raw and emotional episode, Jamie opens up for the first time ever about discovering a life-changing family secret, his upbringing on a tough London estate, and how his path led him into crime and ultimately prison. He shares first-hand insight into life inside — including his time at Parkhurst — and the unlikely role football played in turning everything around. From playing matches while still incarcerated to making it to the Premier League with Leicester City just 17 months after release, Jamie’s story is one of resilience, transformation, and second chances. Now working with young players and mentoring the next generation, Jamie reflects on the lessons learned, the mistakes made, and the purpose he’s found beyond football. A must-listen episode about truth, growth, and rewriting your story. Get in touch with Max and Luke: morethananamepod@gmail.com Follow the show on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morethananamepod/ [https://www.instagram.com/morethananamepod/] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@morethananamepod [https://www.tiktok.com/@morethananamepod] Follow Jamie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamielawrence7 [https://www.instagram.com/jamielawrence7] Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/@MoreThanANamePodcast [https://youtube.com/@MoreThanANamePodcast]

12: Dominic Thiem: The Hidden Pressures of Pro Tennis, Rafa Nadal Battles & Life After the Tour | EP 12

In this episode of More Than A Name, Max Whittle sits down with former US Open champion Dominic Thiem for a deep and honest conversation about life during and after professional tennis. Dominic reflects on the relentless pressure of competing at the top of the sport, what it really felt like winning the 2020 US Open, and the emotional toll of a wrist injury that ultimately led to his retirement in 2024. The guys also talk about Dominic's new ventures after tennis, including his academy in Austria and his renewable energy project 'Thiem Energy', the mental side of elite sport, social media criticism, and his favourite memories from his epic Roland Garros battles with Rafael Nadal. Dominic also opens up about the moments he felt 'empty' despite success, how he is prioritising mental health in retirement, and his passion for breathwork, longevity and personal growth. At the end of the conversation, Dominic ranks his top five all-time one-handed backhands in tennis history. This is one of the most reflective conversations Dominic has had since stepping away from the sport. ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 Intro 01:23 Life After Tennis — His Academy & Renewable Energy Ventures 03:06 Growing Up in Vienna & Reaching the Elite Level 06:20 His Childhood & Total Dedication to Tennis 11:07 The “Constant Tension” of Being a Professional Player 15:05 Social Media & How Athletes Are Treated Today 17:55 The Worst Comments He Received in the Media 19:24 His Relationship With His Brother Moritz 24:40 His Spiritual Side & Breathwork 27:30 His Interest in Longevity & Health Optimisation 29:35 Why He Struggled to Reflect After Winning the US Open 31:40 Roland Garros Finals vs Rafael Nadal 37:50 Tennis During Covid & His Changing Relationship With the Sport 46:18 Wrist Injuries & Accepting Early Retirement 52:40 Dinner With Nadal, Federer & Murray 57:20 The Rollercoaster of Winning the US Open 58:00 Feeling “Empty” During Certain Moments of His Career 01:05:20 Reflecting Positively on His Career 01:06:35 How Tennis Can Help its Players 01:09:05 Dominic Thiem’s Top 5 One-Handed Backhands Ever Follow MTAN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morethananamepod [https://www.instagram.com/morethananamepod] Follow Max on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maxwhittle [https://www.instagram.com/maxwhittle] Follow MTAN on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@morethananamepod [https://www.tiktok.com/@morethananamepod] If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe and leave a rating!

11: Darren Bent: Obsessed With Goals, Raised Through Divorce & Priced at a Record Fee | EP 11

On this episode of More Than A Name, we sit down with former England striker Darren Bent for a raw and deeply honest conversation about what it really takes — and costs — to make it at the top, and how life in football evolves after the final whistle. Darren opens up about his obsession with scoring goals, and how that single-minded mentality fuelled his career while also shaping how he was judged. He reflects on why his England career never quite matched his club form, lifting the lid on selection, perception and timing at international level. He also speaks candidly about his parents managing his youth career while going through a divorce, and how instability away from football affected him during his most formative years. Darren revisits the intense scrutiny that came with being Tottenham Hotspur’s record signing, explaining how expectation, confidence and pressure collided in North London. The conversation doesn’t shy away from football’s harsher realities — including dealing with public criticism from fans, being labelled a “flop”, and the long-lasting impact of public narratives. Darren also shares his personal views on racism in football, offering insight shaped by both his playing career and his life beyond it. Now a leading voice in the media, Darren discusses his transition into punditry with talkSPORT, how his perspective has changed since retirement, and why he approaches modern football debates differently as a former player who’s lived the pressure he now analyses. Honest, reflective and unfiltered, this is Darren Bent beyond the goals, beyond the noise, and truly more than a name. Get in touch with Max and Luke: morethananamepod@gmail.com Follow the show on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morethananamepod/ [https://www.instagram.com/morethananamepod/] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@morethananamepod [https://www.tiktok.com/@morethananamepod] Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/@MoreThanANamePodcast [https://youtube.com/@MoreThanANamePodcast]

10: Monty Panesar: Faith, Fame, and Mental Health in Cricket | EP 10

Monty Panesar is more than his statistics. In this deeply honest and entertaining conversation, the former England spinner reflects on a career that brought 50 Test caps, 167 wickets and a period known as 'Monty Mania' — and the personal battles that ran alongside the success. Monty opens up about his struggles with mental health, the loneliness of touring, and what it meant to grow up and play elite sport as a Sikh in England. He speaks candidly about losing a close friend to suicide, the moment Andrew Flintoff reached out when he was at his lowest, and the long road back to self-belief. Monty shares his frustration with life after cricket — and why he feels the media opportunities he hoped for are yet to present themselves. Mastermind fans will be glad to hear that Monty also weighs in on his pre-Ashes back-and-forth with Australia's Steve Smith.    Get in touch with Max and Luke: morethananamepod@gmail.com Follow the show on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morethananamepod/ [https://www.instagram.com/morethananamepod/] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@morethananamepod [https://www.tiktok.com/@morethananamepod] Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/@MoreThanANamePodcast [https://youtube.com/@MoreThanANamePodcast]

9: Becky Adlington: Dealing with Miscarriages, Body Image & Becoming an Olympic Champion | EP 9

Becky Adlington is one of Britain’s most successful Olympic swimmers — but this conversation is about the moments away from the podium that shaped her most. In this deeply honest episode of More Than A Name, Rebecca opens up about the sacrifices required to chase elite sport from a young age (04:30), her love for swimming as a teenager (9:18), and the family trauma that followed her sister’s life-changing battle with encephalitis (14:50). She reflects on arriving at the Beijing 2008 Olympics with little external expectation (22:20), before becoming a double Olympic champion and breaking a 19-year-old world record (28:00). Rebecca also discusses the pressure of building toward London 2012 and the transition away from competitive swimming (34:10). Most powerfully, Becky shares her fertility journey in raw and emotional detail (44:40) — including the trauma of multiple miscarriages and the heartbreak of a stillbirth. She speaks about spending precious time with her baby, Harper, after losing her, and how that experience changed her forever. At the time of recording, Becky is eight months pregnant, and she reflects on the fear, hope, and resilience that comes with pregnancy after loss. This is a moving conversation about grief, strength, motherhood, and identity — and what it truly means to be more than a name. This episode contains discussion around baby loss, stillbirth, miscarriage, fertility struggles, and grief. These topics may be distressing or triggering for some listeners. Please take care while listening and feel free to pause or step away if needed. Support is available, and you are not alone. If you are affected by any of the issues discussed and are based in the UK, support is available through:  • SANDS (Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society) – offers support for anyone affected by the death of a baby  • Tommy’s – provides information and support for pregnancy loss and fertility challenges  • The Miscarriage Association – offers support and resources for those affected by miscarriage You can also contact Petals Charity, who provide free, specialist counselling for all types of loss. You can find them on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/petalscharity [https://www.instagram.com/petalscharity] Get in touch with the show: morethananamepod@gmail.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morethananamepod/ [https://www.instagram.com/morethananamepod/] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@morethananamepod [https://www.tiktok.com/@morethananamepod] Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/@MoreThanANamePodcast [https://youtube.com/@MoreThanANamePodcast]