Sky Sports series spurs candid conversations on athlete’s lives
March 22, 2024
On March 19, Sky Sports debuted their latest initiative to foster candid conversations on overlooked aspects of athlete health and wellness. Aptly titled “Real Talk,” the podcast and video series brings together prominent English athletes and industry experts to cover often stigmatized topics including loss, women’s health, athlete-specific parenting challenges, OCD, retirement and personal safety.
Structured into six episodes, each installment will feature personal stories, expert opinions and practical advice to dismantle stigmas and give listeners a closer look inside complicated topics in a relatable manner. The series aims to address issues typically ignored by the media with honesty, empathy and sincerity.
“At Sky Sports, we recognize the importance of bringing topics that can often be misunderstood or shrouded in stigma to the forefront of our channels. We are proud to be able to bring audiences open and informed discussions through the Real Talk series, where elite athletes and experts unpack each topic in an accessible and engaging way,” said Jamie Hunt, Head of Digital and Social. “By shedding light on these topics, we hope the series creates a dialogue on the issues faced by our amazing guests and hosts and contributes to a better understanding of the realities faced across sport.”
In the first episode of the series, "Grief," Sky Sports reporter Miriam Walker-Khan talks to 2010 Commonwealth Games champion boxer Callum Johnson, former Manchester City player Nedum Onuoha and Claudia Macdonald, England and Exeter Chiefs scrum-half, about the impact grief has had on their sports careers. Jane Murray, Bereavement Services Manager at the Marie Curie Hospice also joins the conversation, sharing her experience with athletes who are struggling with the death of loved ones and offering advice to listeners on how to navigate grief themselves.
Emma Hayes, Victoria Pendleton, Henry Slade, and Natasha Jonas are among the other athletes featured in the series, which ultimately aims to encourage public discourse about the complexities of living and competing as an athlete. Aside from destigmatizing sensitive themes, the hope is that such understanding may drive progress and help others navigate the difficult situations athletes face every day.
Episode one is available now on the Sky Sports News YouTube Channel, across Sky’s social media channels and various podcast platforms. New episodes will be broadcast every Tuesday.
Episode one: Grief
Video Guests: Callum Johnson, Claudia Macdonald, Nedum Onuoha
Podcast Guest: Jane Murray (Marie Curie)
Episode Two: OCD
Video Guests: Nathaniel Wood, Freya Anderson, Henry Slade
Podcast Guest: Lynne M Drummond (Honorary Consultant Psychiatrist at the National Service for OCD and BDD based at South West London and St George's NHS Trust).
Episode Three: Pelvic Floor
Video Guests: Eboni Usuro Brown, Laura Gallagher Cox, Emma Hayes
Podcast Guest: Emma Brockwell (Specialist Women’s Health Physiotherapist)
Episode Four: Retirement
Video Guests: Danielle Brown, Joe Thompson, Victoria Pendleton
Podcast Guest: Dawn Airton
Episode Five: Exercise Safety
Video Guests: Jennifer Stoute, Sarah McDonald, Hayley Madigan
Podcast Guest: Women In Sport
Episode Six: Athlete Mum
Video Guests: Sarah Storey, Natasha Jonas, Bismah Maroof
Podcast Guest: Dr Kate Hutchings, the clinical lead for UKSI’s Female Athlete Health and Performance service