Utilizing the popular and well established Experts in Sport podcast series, we are running a mini-series this summer to coincide with what has been coined the ‘Summer of Women’s Sport’ in the UK.

As each episode is released I will upload and update the thread below, enjoy!

E93 – Beyond the Baseline: Why Women’s Sport Needs More Research & Innovation

In this episode of Experts in Sport, host Dr Hannah Fox Dugdale is joined by Dr Verity Postlethwaite to explore the groundbreaking launch of Loughborough University’s Women in Sport Research and Innovation Hub. Discover how this initiative is set to transform women’s sport from grassroots to elite, tackling real-world challenges with cutting-edge research.

We also hear from special guest and former England international, Karen Carney OBE, as she shares powerful insights on athlete health, equity in sport, and what this hub means for the future. A must-listen in the build-up to the 2025 Summer of Women in Sport!

E94 – Supporting Performance: The Critical Role of Sports Bras in Women’s Sport

In this episode, we dive into one of the most overlooked yet essential topics in women’s sport: breast health and the science of sports bras. Exploring why most sports bras don’t offer enough support, the impact on performance and injury risk, innovations in design, fit, and education, and how research is driving real change for athletes.

Want to contribute: come to a session by the speakers Professor Deidre McGhee and Dr Rebecca Grant on 2nd September, 2025, it is hybrid and the recording will be available afterwards – Designed to Adapt: Breast Health, Innovation, and Return to Movement for Women

Experts in Sport: E95 – Networks of Change: Women’s Sport Governance in Action

In this episode of the Women in Sport Summer Series, we explore how governance, marketing, and collaboration are driving transformation in women’s sport, both in the UK and globally. Featuring Alex Teasdale, Executive Director of Women’s Rugby at the RFU, and Dr Dana Lee Ellis, a leading academic in sport marketing and event governance, we unpack the strategic role of the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025, the power of inclusive networks, and the importance of visionary innovation initiatives.

Experts in Sport: E96 – Strength in Numbers: Researching Gender Equity in Wheelchair Rugby

In this episode, we dive into a groundbreaking research project that’s challenging assumptions and driving change for women in para-sport. Through personal reflections and expert insights, we explore why representation matters, how performance is measured, and what it takes to build inclusive pathways for female athletes.

Joining the conversation are Dr Thomas Rietveld from the Peter Harrison Centre for Disability Sport at Loughborough University, Richard Allcroft, President of World Wheelchair Rugby, Lauren Templeton, Regional General Manager for Europe at World Wheelchair Rugby, and Jason Brisbane, Chief Executive Officer of Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby. Together, they share personal insights, strategic goals, and reflections on the Women’s Cup in Paris — a key testing ground for inclusive rule changes like the 0.5-point classification for female athletes. Whether you’re a coach, policymaker, athlete, or simply curious about the future of inclusive sport, this episode offers a compelling look at how data, collaboration, and lived experience are shaping the next phase of wheelchair rugby.

Experts in Sport: E97 – Are we setting women up to fail in fitness?

For millions of women, the journey to fitness can be a frustrating one, filled with confusing advice that doesn’t seem to fit their bodies. But what if the problem isn’t with them, but with the industry itself?

In this episode of Loughborough University’s Experts in Sport podcast, we explore that very question as part of our Women in Sport series. In this episode we are joined by Baz Moffat, a former Team GB athlete and CEO of The Well HQ. She argues that a critical lack of female-specific education is failing both trainers and their clients. We discuss the current landscape of personal training qualifications and how, through better educating people working in the fitness industry, we can improve health and fitness outcomes for women around the world.

Experts in Sport: E98 – Home Advantage: How the Women’s Rugby World Cup Impacts Local Communities

The 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup in England has broken records both on and off the pitch — from advancing gender equity to achieving unprecedented broadcasting figures and ticket sales. But what do these successes mean for host councils and local communities once the tournament ends? In this episode, we speak with Cllr James Petter, Deputy Leader of West Northamptonshire Council, whose portfolio spans the local economy, culture, and leisure, and Dr Becca Leopkey from the University of Georgia, a world-leading expert on the visible and invisible impacts of hosting major events. Our vibrant conversation centres on Northampton, an official host town that staged tournament games across three weekends and delivered a range of community activations. These engaged local residents, sports clubs, businesses, and universities throughout the Rugby World Cup.

Experts in Sport: E99 – Smarter Sport – Using Athlete Data to Drive Innovation in Women’s Sport

Every athlete faces performance challenges, but could the answers lie in their data? In this episode, we explore how data-driven innovation is uncovering hidden performance patterns and offering deeper insights into what happens beyond training hours. We also discuss where technology still has room to grow, as we continue unlocking new ways to help athletes get the very best out of themselves, featuring Dr Samantha Rowland, Liv Murphy and Dr Kelsie Johnson.

These conversations and podcasts are part of the Women in Sport Spotlight – https://www.lboro.ac.uk/research/ias/programmes/women-in-sport/ – supported by the Institute for Advanced Studies, Spirit of 2012, and the Women in Sport Research and Innovation Hub at Loughborough University.

Want to know more, either click through via links or give me an email!

VPos