Archives: Episode

Mariske Strauss – Conquering the Trails of Life

Mariske Strauss is one of South Africa’s most decorated mountain bikers, having represented the national team over 12 times. She has also been the African champion; the national champion and she represented South Africa at two Commonwealth Games. With numerous wins under her belt, Mariske is skilled at performing in high stress situations whether in a team set up, or self-directed.

On the podcast, Mariske and I take a look at her journey with mountain biking, and how she fell in love with a sport she has competed in for over two decades. Her journey in mountain biking has been about dreaming, believing and acceptance, all truths she unpacks on the show. We also speak about faith and her spiritual life, which has played the most significant role in helping her navigate the hard times. Speaking about hard times, Mariske shares about the diagnosis that shook her world just 18 months ago when she went from being a top athlete to a diagnosis of myocarditis, pericarditis and cystitis. We speak about sponsorships and how her sponsors stayed by her side during her recovery journey and her recent pregnancy and she shares her future dreams, her health update and the joy of being a new mom.

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Lucie Ehrmann – A Winning Hockey Mindset

Lucie Ehrmann is a field hockey goalkeeper for the French senior team since 2017. She played at the Dutch club Den Bosch for the past 3 years as second goalie where her team won the Dutch league in 2022 and in 2024. They also won the EHL in 2023. Lucie is an aspiring high performance and mindset coach, with the purpose of teaching people how to think a differently, in order to unlock their potentials and reach their goals. She is currently living out her childhood dream by playing for the French team in the Olympics as first goalie. 

On the podcast, Lucie and I jump into truths about living a life of identity, and how she discovered her true identity in her values, and self-worthiness. By living a life of value and worthiness as a person who embraces every part of themselves, and understanding that there is beauty in the bad moments, Lucie has a strong foundation to tackle good and bad days as an athlete. We talk about Lucie’s start in hockey, how she had to work her way to the top, which led her to feel like the underdog, but the superpower of being an underdog, is something she considers powerful. Lucie also talks about the hard work of living an Olympic dream, and the relief of what this means for her as a first goalie for her country, especially as this French women’s hockey team are the first to qualify for the Olympics. “Does she ever get nervous before games?” “Why does she watch Netflix before her games?” “And what role does rap music, black war paint and Italian music have to do with hockey?” Lucie answers these and more, and she also writes a letter to her younger self, as well as all of us. Lucie radiates kindness and motivation, not only is this episode about sport, but it’s filled with jewels for the pathways of life.

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Caitlin Rooskrantz – A Gymnast making History

As we stand on the edge of the Olympic opening ceremony, I am honoured to have Caitlin Rooskrantz, the trailblazing gymnast who shattered ceilings and defied odds at the highest stage of athletics, joining me on the podcast.

Caitlin shares her astonishment and pride at being selected as a flag bearer for Team South Africa alongside her inspiration, Akani Simbine. This unprecedented moment marks a significant milestone, as never before has a gymnast carried the South African flag at the Games. It’s a testament to the growth of gymnastics within the Rainbow Nation, and how the future of the sport is breaking new ground and inspiring future generations.

Growing up as a young woman of colour, Caitlin faced a landscape devoid of role models who mirrored her journey. She shares about how she questioned where the glass ceiling was, and her journey to push through that for herself and for young gymnasts rising up.
Reflecting on her experience as a 17-year-old competitor at the Tokyo Games and her poised approach to Paris, Caitlin has chosen to embody the essence of preparedness and living in the moment. She speaks passionately about the unwavering support that she feels from strangers and loved ones back home.

In a poignant tribute, Caitlin emphasizes the power of dreaming big and trusting the timing, even through adversity. Her story resonates deeply, reminding us all that perseverance and belief can transform hardships and moments of sadness, into purposeful growth. Dare to dream, and dare to break through—because Caitlin proves that greatness knows no limits.

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Paige Badenhorst – Rowing Journey to the Olympics

Paige Badenhorst has always set the bar high when it comes to pursuing her dreams. She moved to the U.S to study at Michigan University, until a move to Cambridge University saw her participate in the annual River Thames boat race, where her crew set a course record. Now she is flying the flag really high for female rowers, as she is proudly representing South Africa as the only female rower at the Olympic Games in Paris 2024.

On the pod, Paige and I talk about her feelings around the games, and her childhood dream of Olympic participation, now a reality and how she is processing living her dream. Her pride in representing our country, and wearing the national colours is so evident. Paige also breaks down what rowing really is, the different boat classes and how rowing backwards is how you move forward. We discuss her partnership with Katherine Williams and the heartbreak in missing out for the women’s doubles in the Olympic qualifiers and how the head-to-head in the trials was hard. Paige came out as the winner, securing her spot in the single scull competition. We also talk about the respect and connection between the female rowers and Paige shares with us who to look out for in the rowing competition. Inspiring, uplifting and exciting, tune in for this Olympic special.

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Rumandi Potgieter on Taylor, Tackles, and Triumphs in Rugby

Having started her athletic career as a netball player, Rumandi Potgieter was part of the first ever team to lift the Varsity Cup trophy with Tuks. Leaving Netball to start rugby with the Tuks’ women’s 7’s was part of her journey as she toured Dubai and France, winning the first and only Varsity Cup 7’s. Currently, she makes her home with the Bulls Daisies, and she made her debut for the Springbok 15’s in 2021, proudly representing South Africa the following year in the Women’s Rugby World Cup.

On the pod, Rumandi and I chat about her recent Taylor Swift concert and how much of Taylor’s message and voice resonate with Rumandi as an athlete in a male dominated space. Uncovering the questions female athletes get asked (like does it hurt when you get tackled), we oppose the inequalities in how interviewers approach athlete interviews. Reflecting on the current Bulls Daisies season and the loss to DHL Western Province, Rumandi observes how the pressure and team dynamics has shifted and evolved positively. With the WXV2 tournament taking place, we get hyped about last year’s tournament and how the crowds responded to the team. We also issue a personal invitation to the sport minister, and to you, our listener, an invitation you won’t want to miss.

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Lili Stephenson – Cricket in North America

Lili Stephenson is a passionate cricket lover, and the founder of Bat for America. She is a mixed race, cultural American, multilingual educator, who is a mom of six. Her passion lies in teaching individuals about the power of their personal voice and boundaries, along with the desire to see cricket accessible to all cultures through the Empowered Cricket Program.

On the show, we unpack the meaning of cultural American and how this impacts access to cricket. Discussing the men’s T20 world cup, Lili provides keen insight into how the world cup was received, the marketing behind the tournament and the perception of cricket within the U.S. Lili also shares her family’s experiences around cricket coaching, and her hopes as an educator, that cricket will grow at grassroots level in the U.S. This episode is incredibly insightful and answers global questions around the experience of cricket in North America.

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Scotland Women’s Cricket Makes History: Megan McColl

Scotland women wrote cricket history in May this year with a spectacular win over Ireland, to secure their place in their maiden T20 cricket World Cup. It was a day filled with emotion, and opening batter Megan McColl was at the centre of proceedings with her magnificent half a century by the 15th over.

Joining me on the podcast, Megan relives the innings by sharing with us what was in her head during her batting spell. How her batting partner Saskia helped her bounce ideas around out in the middle. We also explore the broader landscape of women’s cricket in Scotland, discussing the challenges the sport faces and whether the historic World Cup qualification has sparked changes at higher levels. Megan opens up about her performances and, her aspirations to be in the starting eleven for the World Cup later this year.

Additionally, we’ll delve into the self-belief that united the Scottish team during the qualifiers and the mental barriers that cricketers must overcome to forge successful careers. Megan gives us insight into the rest of the season and how the players manage the delicate balance of working and representing their country on the cricket field. Join us as we reflect on the inspiring journey through one of the most momentous achievements in women’s cricket in Scotland.

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Laura Wolvaardt – Leading from the Front

In this episode, I have the immense pleasure of welcoming Laura Wolvaardt, the captain of the South African women’s national cricket team, to the show. She’s not only the Proteas top-order batter but also showcases her talent in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) for the Gujarat Giants, the Women’s Big Bash League with the Adelaide Strikers, and The Hundred for the Manchester Originals.

In 2017, she was named Women’s Newcomer of the Year at the Cricket South Africa (CSA) awards and still holds the record for being the youngest South African to score an international cricket century. With the India tour kicking off this June, Laura shares her thoughts and feelings ahead of the much-anticipated games. We dive into the atmosphere within the team as they gear up to face the Women in Blue at some of India’s most iconic cricket venues. Laura opens up about her personal journey with T20 cricket, detailing how she overcame criticism through self-belief and hard work.

We also discuss her back-to-back centuries in the ODIs against Sri Lanka, exploring how she handles the pressure and challenges of captaining a diverse team. As an introvert with fans around the world, Laura gives us a glimpse into how she manages her public persona, deals with the fear of failure, and what her game day superstitions are. Plus, find out who is the bowler she least likes to face in the women’s game, and why she wears number 14. 

Join us for an in-depth conversation with one of South Africa’s most beloved athletes, Laura Wolvaardt, and get to know the person behind the cricket legend.

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Kate Allman-Calling the Play

Kate Allman is an award-winning freelance journalist, sports broadcaster and TV presenter. She is one of few female commentators leading the call on top-flight football around the world, as a play-by-play announcer on Australia’s Women’s A-League. She also commentates on field hockey, American gridiron, flag football, and is a sideline reporter and presenter on golf and motorcross events. As a sports writer, her byline appears regularly in the national Australian newspapers, the Guardian, ABC Sport, Women’s Golf Magazine, Tracks, Chillfactor, Forbes Australia and more. 

In this episode, Kate and I dive deep into her groundbreaking campaign, Equal Pay for Equal Play, which advocates for equal pay and prize money for women in sports. Kate shares how she ventured into sports commentary and opens up about her unique experiences as a woman in this space. We discuss the assumptions and surprises she faces, the support and allyship she’s received, and the milestones she’s achieved, including being part of the all-female commentary team that made history this February. 

Join our conversation as Kate unpacks her journey and offers valuable advice to young women aspiring to break into the world of sports commentary (take note, social media trolls come with the territory). You won’t want to miss this insightful and empowering conversation with an inspiring voice in the world of sport.

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Faye Tunnicliffe’s Cricketing Journey

In this episode, I sit down with Western Province women’s top-order batter, doughnut lover, and sport nutritionist, Faye Tunnicliffe. Faye has big goals matched by unwavering determination. As a gym owner, fitness enthusiast, and 2024 CSA national academy intake, Faye is working to become a solid fixture in the Proteas starting eleven.

We dive deep into Faye’s story, exploring her cricketing adventure in the U.K. and her return to Cape Town. She candidly shares her time sleeping on her sister’s couch for a month before a call with the coach saw her join the Western Province women’s cricket team. This season, Faye has taken on the crucial role of opening batter in both the 50 overs and T20 matches, she reveals what it feels like to step into this position, once held by Andrie Steyn.

Faye discusses how she stays motivated daily. How she starts her day with the “hard things,” what strategies she has found to maintain good mental health, and we talk about doughnuts, her excitement about joining the CSA Academy over the winter, and her natural ability to be an encourager. Tune in to hear Faye’s story of resilience, passion, and the relentless pursuit of excellence, high standards, the Africa Games silver and the starting eleven.

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