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She Speaks Sport Podcast
The podcast for women who want to geek out over women’s sport, and for those of us who want to know the stories behind the names we know and admire.
Recent Episodes
Nadine Roos - Solitude, Sisterhood and the Soul of Rugby
October 6, 2025
The Rugby World Cup may have wrapped up, but its stories are still unfolding, stories of pride, growth, purpose, hope and the quiet moments that follow the roar of the crowd. Among the shining lights of South Africa’s campaign is Nadine Roos, a player whose versatility knows no bounds, she's our wing, fullback, fly-half, (basically anything in the back line!) as well as our sevens star. So I am grateful to be welcoming Nadine on to the podcast today to go behind and beyond the World Cup. In this episode, she takes us beyond the try line and into the spaces that few see, the stillness after the stadium lights dim, the rhythm of returning home, and the complex dance between a more relaxed schedule and the busyness of the past few weeks. As a natural loner, she reflects on what it means to spend months side by side with her teammates, to share space, spirit, and silence and how interesting the connection and togetherness of a team truly is. We also explore her connection to culture and meaning, what it felt like to stand opposite the Black Ferns, her deep respect for the Haka, and the lessons she learnt from her New Zealand teammates when playing in Japan. Playing against the Black Ferns is a benchmark moment for her, as playing against the top teams in the world is where you want to be. As Nadine Roos reflects; "these are players to measure yourself against." It would be remiss not to ask her about starting a maul from a scrum, and her opportunity to embrace that moment and to be the best she could be, with a lot of preparation and conversation with the forwards. Over the rugby world cup, many were drawn to Nadine’s story and the hard realities she encountered through her life, a reality she contributes to the success she has experienced. She had a dream without resources, and limited opportunity to make that a reality, yet she tenaciously pursued the dream in her heart. She hopes her life story will impact others, and that she can live a life in line with her values, to light someone elses candle. I ask Nadine about her overall purpose, the "why" of life, and her insight into what it means to truly be living.
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Giovanna Barbosa - More Than a Game
September 23, 2025
Giovanna Barbosa has built a global creative career, challenging the waves of beauty and femininity but it all started at a shoot for her football club Coventry City. From playing at U.J to an international scholarship to play for a division 1 college in America to becoming a professional footballer for Coventry City, and winning a championship, Giovanna shines as a light of determination and power. In this episode, she shares how a full-ride Division 1 scholarship to Texas A&M, along with Nike sponsored goods, set her on a path few South Africans have walked—studying neuroscience while playing elite college football in the U.S. Before that, she had just chased the ball. From kicking it around with the boys at Rovers, to making every team she could in South Africa, determination, hard work and grit opened incredible doors and we go in to the depth of her journey and her story from U.J to Texas and then to the U.K. A few paths diverged and converged and a contract with Aston Villa, Birmingham City, as well as Coventry City landed on the table, how did she choose and what did this mean for her journey in football? Giovanna discusses the change in the women’s sport industry from when she started until today, and she digs into her experiences and what she is witnessing within the game. We go into this and truth bomb about the DNA of the women’s game, the heartbeat of engagement, and what she witnessed when they brought the kids on to the field when playing for Coventry. Harder work, missing socks, no shirts, and the new kit next week, it’s all for the fans! But this story takes a turn. A photo shoot at Coventry City FC shifted her entire trajectory. From the pitch to global campaigns. From shin guards to stilettos
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Miane Smit - Capped and Ready for the Cricket World Cup
September 15, 2025
With the Women’s Cricket World Cup just around the corner, today’s guest is someone whose story is still being written but already making an impact. Miane Smit is just 20 years old, but in the last year, she’s earned her international debut, been part of a World Cup squad as a reserve, and shared the field with the very players she refers to as her heroes. When Sune Luus presented Miane with her first T20 international cap for the Proteas earlier this year, it was a moment of joy and humour. If you asked all – rounder Miane Smit if she saw herself in this position just two years ago, she would not have believed you. However, the talented batter and off spinner has played in two ODI’s and three T20I’s for the Proteas, was the travelling reserve for the T20 world cup and for this year’s 50 over Cricket World Cup. In our conversation, we talk about what it really feels like to step into the green and gold, the pressure and pride of wearing the Proteas badge, and what she's hoping to bring to South Africa’s campaign in the subcontinent. Miane talks about the standard the players set and how they continue to motivate her, challenge her in the best way possible, and the advice some of the players have given her for navigating cricket on and off the field. We also get into Miane's ambitions, including a dream century for her country and the power of being surrounded by a team that pushes you to be better, every single day. We talk spin attack and its role in the World Cup, as well as the team that poses the most threat in the group stages. What’s it like to go from watching your heroes on TV… to sharing a locker room with them? It's all in this episode.
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