Laura Massaro: Pressure, Persona & Perfectionism | Squash Player Podcast Ep.10

Roots, Resilience and the Red-Zone: Declan James

Is squash the most physically demanding sport on earth? Declan James breaks down the frightening data of elite match play and explains why he’s not finished yet. From revealing his Jamaican Olympic ambitions to discussing the "accumulation of marginal gains" with coach Nick Matthew, Declan provides a raw look at the discipline required to stay at the top. A deep dive into the "Dark Knight’s" tactical evolution and his path to LA28

Simple, Self-Assured and South American: Diego Elias

Diego Elias joins the podcast to discuss his journey from Lima to the top of the world rankings. He opens up about his on-court efficiency, his responses to TV commentators, and the turning point that forced him to swap beers for professional discipline. Discover the mindset of South America’s greatest-ever squash player.

Laura Massaro: Pressure, Persona & Perfectionism | Squash Player Podcast Ep.10

Laura Massaro is one of England’s greatest ever squash players — a World Champion, 2x British Open winner, World No.1 and a competitor defined by relentless standards and mental toughness. In this episode of the Squash Player Podcast, Laura reflects on the unseen side of elite success: the pressure of expectation, the emotional cost of chasing perfection, developing her persona, competing against two of the greatest ever (Nicol David and Nour El Sherbini) and how her relationship with squash has evolved since retiring from the professional tour. We talk about the difference between winning and fulfilment, how injuries and burnout reshaped her mindset and why walking away from the tour wasn’t the end of her connection to the sport — but the start of a healthier one. Laura also opens up about identity after sport, learning to let go of control, and what she wishes she had understood earlier in her career.

Hania El Hammamy: Rivalries, Resilience & Rewriting the Mindset | Squash Player Podcast Ep.9

Hania El Hammamy is the new Women’s World No.1 — but reaching the top wasn’t the fairytale moment many imagine. In the latest episode of the Squash Player Podcast, Hania opens up about pressure, psychology, rivalry, maturity and identity, explaining why becoming World No.1 mid-season was emotionally unsettling rather than euphoric. She reflects on her fierce rivalry with Nouran Gohar, the hunger that rivalry created, and why part of her felt lost when Gohar stepped away from the tour. Hania explains how desperation once drove her — and how letting go of that desperation ultimately unlocked her best squash. We go beyond results and rankings. Hania speaks candidly about: • Learning to manage expectation and external “noise” • The psychological toll of World Championship defeats • Why mental health and sports psychology transformed her game • Working with Laura Massaro and Danny Massaro for emotional balance • Identity beyond squash and stepping back from the sport • Why rivalry is essential for greatness If you want to understand what elite performance really costs, and what it takes to evolve from prodigy to champion, this is one of the most honest interviews you’ll hear.

Peter Marshall: Two Hands, Two Layoffs & the Will to Return Again | Squash Player Podcast Ep.8

Peter Marshall was once the future of English squash — World No.2 at just 23 years old, the only man pushing Jansher Khan during his era of dominance and the most recognisable player on tour with his double-handed technique. Then, almost overnight, his career collapsed.In this deeply personal and revealing conversation, Peter shares the full untold story: rising through the junior ranks under Jonah Barrington, battling chronic fatigue syndrome at the peak of his career, refusing a £250,000 insurance payout that would have ended his playing days forever and mounting two incredible comebacks against all odds.We discuss identity, ambition, illness, psychology, overtraining and what it truly takes to return when the world has moved on. Peter reflects on playing Jansher and Jahangir, the brutal training methods of the 90s, the rise of Egyptian squash and how he eventually rediscovered his love for the game.------The Squash Player Podcast brings you long-form, in-depth conversations with the biggest names in the sport — exploring mindset, performance, adversity, culture, training and the stories behind the world’s best players.Previous guests include Ali Farag, Gina Kennedy, Mohamed ElShorbagy, Joey Barrington, Joel Makin, George Parker and more.