The rise of the podcast meets the unstoppable ascent of the women’s game. Both are soaring — and neither is coming back down.
Podcasts have been on the rise since the early 2000s and have proven to be a popular platform for hosts to connect to audiences. Kendall Breitman, a Social Media and Community Expert said:
“[podcasts] offer something other [platforms] simply lack: an intimate and personalised nature.”
So why does this medium appear to appeal to the women’s game; it’s player’s, pundits, personalities and most of all, everyday people?
The Women’s Euro Final win in 2022; in England, at Wembley, propelled the women’s game in the host country into orbit and it hasn’t stopped spinning. It has generated a wealth of new opportunities for the development of the game, for players and spectators alike and podcasts seem to be right at the front and centre of it all.
Particularly in England, several podcasts and their hosts have emerged since the euphoric 2022 Euros win. From Comedians Maisie Adam and Suzi Ruffell to BBC presenter Vick Hope, to popular male pundit Ian Wright and ex-England captain Steph Houghton and even fan favourite friendship, Ella Toone and Alessia Russo, everyone is getting on board. Toone and Russo are not even the only best friend duo to host a podcast. Millie Bright and Rachel Daly, as well as Jill Scott and Karen Carney have also jumped on the hype.
So, what is it about podcasts that everyone seems to love? Well, as Brazilian legend Pelé famously said, ‘football is the beautiful game‘ — and he was right. The skill, the passion, the heartbreak, the highs and lows — it’s all part of what makes the sport so captivating to millions around the world. And now, women’s football is stepping into that same spotlight, delivering just as much drama, excitement, and emotion as the men’s game ever has.
However, what women’s football offers that arguably sets it apart in a different way from the men’s game, is that the players themselves have transcended beyond football and are opening doors to progressive conversations within equality and mental health, as well as breaking down stereotypes within fashion, physical appearances, and sexual and gender orientation. In an interview with GQ Magazine, England Captain Leah Williamson said:
“[a] little girl doesn’t have to want to be a footballer, she just has to grow up knowing that she can do what she wants.”
This is the power of the Lionesses. They don’t just inspire girls and women to play football — they empower them to chase success in every aspect of life. That spirit translates perfectly into the world of women’s football podcasts. These shows give fans a glimpse beyond the pitch, revealing the people behind the players. Listeners connect not just with the game, but with the stories, struggles, and dreams that mirror their own — different paths, same drive to achieve.
As mentioned above, there are several podcasts hosted by some of the most famous football friendship duos within the game. These are The Tooney and Russo Show on BBC Sounds, co-hosted with BBC Radio Presenter Vick Hope, The Rest is Football: Daly Brightness co-hosted by Rachel Daly and Millie Bright, and Long Short Story Short co-hosted by Jill Scott and Karen Carney (launched just this month). Whilst these podcasts share the fact that all the hosts are best friends, their career levels are all different. Toone and Russo are current club and international players. Daly is a club but retired international player whilst Bright is a current club and international player (albeit stepping down from the Euro’s 2025 squad). And then Scott and Carney are both fully retired players. Fans get to hear firsthand stories — from players living the game right now, and from those who’ve lived it in the past. What truly stands out, though, is a shared truth: every one of these stories reflects hard work, resilience, and dedication. No matter the era, that commitment shines through.
Maisie Adam and Suzi Ruffell are another friendship duo hosting a women’s football podcast, Big Kick Energy. Whilst they are not professional players, they are both big fans of the game and they encourage their listeners to go watch football with their mates. Furthermore, whilst it is great to hear all the behind-the-scenes stories and get an insight into the lives of professional footballers, what shows like Big Kick Energy, Crossways and Boots, Balls & Bras (hosted by retired footballer Fara Williams and weekly guests), provide is tactical analysis, player updates, transfer news, injuries and they cast a more critical eye on the game. This type of content is what will also support the longevity of the game.
As Aayush Yadav writes in his article about Crossways,
“Podcasts like Crossways represent a new era for women’s football, where media coverage and fan engagement are no longer afterthoughts but essential elements of the sport’s growth.”
And whilst these podcasts are platforms to discuss what’s happening in the WSL (Women’s Super League), international tournaments and even international leagues, what these podcasts and their hosts also discuss is grassroots football and stories from local communities and leagues across the country and world. Whilst topflight football is experiencing, for the most part, tremendous success, grassroots football still needs support. Even after the transformational Euro’s 2022 win, women’s teams across the country are still being unsupported. Sharing and discussing these stories on podcasts hosted by people with influence in the game, means that these issues are being recognised as important. Our very own Beyond the Pitch weekly podcast aims to shed light on stories that don’t always make the headlines but are just as deserving to be heard. It also aims to give players, managers and fans who might not always get an opportunity on other platforms to speak, the chance to share their successes, struggles and ambitions. Just like grassroots football, smaller podcasts are just as important.
Fundamentally then, what podcasts offer that perhaps is lacking in other platforms like radio shows, TV programmes, and panel discussions, is that fans enjoy being part of a community. This is something that Adam and Ruffell have picked up on regarding Big Kick Energy as Max Miller writes,
“Adam and Ruffell both believe that community is a big part of the podcast’s success.”
With 13.8k followers on Instagram, the stats alone prove its success. However, as Miller states and as Adam and Ruffell believe, it is the connected shared space in which the show fosters that appears to be the root of its popularity. This is applicable to all the podcasts mentioned above. Fans can listen to their favourite players, pundits, even comedians, discuss the sport they love, and they can have their own input too, as each podcast encourages listeners to actively engage with them on social media platforms. For the players, podcasts allow them the opportunity to step away from the pitch and show that they are not just players, they are people too with everyday highs and lows.
Podcasts are for everyone, and so too is the women’s game.
Make sure to check out the podcasts mentioned in this article. Many of them will also be covering the 2025 Euro’s tournament in Switzerland this summer:
- Beyond the Pitch Podcast – Hosted by Daisy Goodhand, Finley Chung and the Beyond the Pitch Team
- Big Kick Energy – Hosted by Maisie Adam and Suzi Ruffell
- Boots, Balls & Bras – Hosted by Fara Wiliams and weekly guests
- Crossways – Hosted by Ian Wright and Steph Houghton
- Long Story Short – Hosted by Jill Scott and Karen Carney
- The Rest is Football: Daly Brightness – Hosted by Millie Bright and Rachel Daly
- The Tooney and Russo Show – Hosted by Ella Toone, Alessia Russo and Vick Hope
https://riverside.fm/blog/podcasts
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