The Game Changers

“It was such a shock for me and it still is. I still don't understand it to this day. I actually didn't sleep that night because I didn't want to wake up and it be something I had to deal with again.”

Mo Hunt discussing her surprise exclusion from the Rugby World Cup squad in 2023

Ahead of this weekend’s start of the Guinness Women’s Six Nations, I’m thrilled to say that my guest today is Mo Hunt, a much-celebrated international rugby player who's represented her country for over 13 years. 

“It’s very difficult to find venues in the UK. Teams in the USA have permanent venues where they train. We're stuck with pokey little sports halls where we're constantly fighting the badminton mafia for space.”

Today’s episode is an adrenaline-fueled journey into the world of roller derby with the formidable Kristen Dusting, a silver medalist in the 2014 Roller Derby World Cup who's seen it all. We explore the incredible history and growth of what many consider to be the most inclusive of sports - revolutionary, loudly LGBTQ plus inclusive, actively anti-racist, and women and non-binary led.

From the sport's humble beginnings in the era of the Great Depression to its punk rock-fueled resurgence and today's dynamic scene, we explore the essence of roller derby's allure. The sport has become a beacon of inclusion, championing women and non-binary individuals in a way few sports have managed.

Today’s guest is Sabrina Pace-Humphreys, an ultra-runner, award-winning businesswoman, social justice activist, personal trainer, running coach and co-founder and trustee of the community and campaigning charity Black Trail Runners. The mother of four and grandmother of three, recently published her memoir, Black Sheep, a story of rural racism, identity and hope. 

It’s fascinating to hear how a short walk/jog in the depths of post-natal depression evolved through marathons and ultra-distance races into Sabrina becoming a torchbearer in the running community.

Sabrina opens up about the trauma she experienced growing up as a black child on the poverty line in a small town in England, the impact of her addiction to alcohol, and what led her to the Marathon de Sables aged 40.

We explore how it’s possible to mentally push yourself through the discomfort and stress of a gruelling race, why women have such success over long-distance events and her running ambitions for the future. 

“The utopia of officiating should be that anybody, regardless of gender, can umpire any game”.

Sue Redfern is a much-celebrated cricket umpire and former England player.  Sue became the youngest ever female to play cricket for England when she started her career at just 16 and went on to represent her country for the next five years, including playing in the 1997 World Cup in India. Having retired from the game and moved away from cricket, Sue came back to work at the ECB and, in 2012, decided to give umpiring a go. 

Her impact over the following decade has been quite remarkable, and she's now a member of the professional umpire team for domestic cricket in England. She's also an international development panel umpire for the International Cricket Council and has umpired various international matches, including five World Cups. 

In 2018, Sue was awarded an MBE for her services to women's cricket, and last year, she became the first female to umpire in a men's first-class cricket match in England. 

I was fascinated to know what it’s like to be centre stage at some of the biggest cricket events in the world and how it’s possible to retain your focus in a sport that can last hours. 

We discuss Sue’s playing career and where we’ve seen the biggest changes in the women’s game over the past two decades as she reflects on what it was like to umpire a Women’s World Cup in 2017, having played in a World Cup 20 years before.

Sue talks candidly about how she deals with nerves before the biggest games and shares her thoughts on the disparity in payment for elite female umpires and what needs to change.

It’s exciting to learn more about the huge growth in women’s cricket for those playing and officiating from a woman who’s been such a trailblazer in the sport.