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This Sporting Planet

This Sporting Planet

Written by: LCA Ltd
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 No matter who you are, where you are, or what your sport is, This Sporting Planet gives fans around the world their weekly Sports fix. Renowned broadcasters Natalie Sawyer (Europe/UK), from talkSPORT and ex-Sky Sports, Todd Harris (USA) from NBC, Edward Russell (Singapore) of Class 95 and Fox Sports, and Colette Wong (Singapore), a veteran of CNBC, ESPN and Fox Sports, are joined by Suhail Chandhok (India) from Star Sports, Kate Allman (Australia) of NFL Flag and American Football Australia, and Carol Tshabalala (South Africa) from Supersport and Premier League Productions. Together, this global team explores the stories behind the sports, explaining not just what happened but why it happened, with insights from journalists, guests, and athletes rooted in the regions where the events are taking place. From Europe to America, Asia to Africa, and Australia, this Sporting Planet leaves no stone unturned in its quest to take you behind the scenes of some of the most iconic sporting occasions. Welcome to the tribe! New episodes every week.LCA Ltd Politics & Government
Episodes
  • Caitlin Bassett - The "Shame" of Retirement & Losing Identity

    Caitlin Bassett - The "Shame" of Retirement & Losing Identity
    Jan 20 2026
    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
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    33 mins
  • Steven Caulker on Retirement, Addiction, and the "Backlash" of Speaking Out

    Steven Caulker on Retirement, Addiction, and the "Backlash" of Speaking Out
    Jan 12 2026
    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
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    36 mins
  • Why Sport Has ‘NEVER MATTERED MORE’: Caitlin Clark, LIV Golf & Alcaraz v Sinner

    Why Sport Has ‘NEVER MATTERED MORE’: Caitlin Clark, LIV Golf & Alcaraz v Sinner
    Oct 31 2025
    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
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    23 mins
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