The Jack Murley Sports Show

What does it take to tell stories that matter?
For almost twenty years, Ryan Butcher has been doing exactly that.
This week on Off The Pitch, we're joined by Ryan Butcher – one of the UK's leading LGBTQ+ journalists, whose work has appeared in The Independent, Gay Times and The Big Issue, where he helped grow the publication's digital audience by up to 200% as News and Digital Editor.
As a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community, Ryan has built a career dedicated to amplifying underrepresented voices, championing meaningful journalism and ensuring queer stories are told with authenticity, compassion and impact.
But how did he get started? What does it take to build a successful career in journalism? And why is authentic LGBTQ+ representation in the media more important than ever?
In this episode of Off The Pitch – our weekly podcast celebrating extraordinary LGBTQ+ people and remarkable human stories – we discuss:📰 Ryan's journey into journalism🌈 Championing LGBTQ+ voices in the media✍️ Bringing authenticity into the newsroom❤️ How journalism can change lives📱 The evolution of digital media and news🙌 What it takes to succeed in modern journalism
Whether you're interested in journalism, media, LGBTQ+ representation or simply love hearing inspiring human stories, this is a conversation packed with insight, honesty and optimism.
🎧 Listen now and discover why Off The Pitch is becoming one of the UK's leading LGBTQ+ podcasts, sharing powerful conversations with the people making a difference in their communities.
👉 Follow, subscribe and share to help amplify LGBTQ+ voices and stories that deserve to be heard.
Find out more about Ryan:Instagram: @ryanjohnbutcher
Get in touch with the podcast:Instagram: @jack_murleyEmail: jack@jackmurley.com
🎧 Listen via the link in bio / stories📱 Follow for a brand-new LGBTQ+ conversation every week⭐ Rate & review to help more people discover the podcast
#RyanButcher #OffThePitch #LGBTQPodcast #QueerVoices #LGBTQCommunity #Journalism #Journalist #Media #DigitalMedia #Storytelling #TheBigIssue #GayTimes #TheIndependent #LGBTQRepresentation #QueerStories #AuthenticVoices #PodcastUK #HumanInterest #RepresentationMatters #InclusiveMedia #AwardWinningPodcast #ListenNow #LGBTQCreators #News #Writing #Editorial #PodcastRecommendations

What does it feel like to make sporting history?
When Leigh Ryswyk decided to publicly share that he is gay, he became the first male AFL player – past or present – to come out publicly, making history in one of Australia's biggest sports.
This week on The Jack Murley Sports Show, we're joined by Leigh Ryswyk – former Brisbane Lions player, Queensland Football Hall of Famer and LGBTQ+ trailblazer – for an honest conversation about football, identity and the power of living authentically.
To those closest to him, Leigh's sexuality was never a secret. But sharing that part of himself with the wider world was a decision that made headlines across Australia and around the globe, inspiring countless people in the process.
In this episode, we discuss:🏉 Life at the highest level of Australian Rules Football🏆 His proudest moments with the Brisbane Lions and beyond🌈 Becoming the first male AFL player to publicly come out as gay❤️ Understanding his sexuality and embracing his authentic self🙌 Why he hopes his story encourages others to live openly and proudly
As an award-winning LGBTQ+ sports podcast, The Jack Murley Sports Show shares the stories of athletes and changemakers who are helping to build a more inclusive future for sport.
🎧 Listen now to hear one of the most important conversations about LGBTQ+ visibility in Australian sport.
👉 Follow, subscribe and share to help amplify LGBTQ+ voices in sport.
Find out more about Leigh:Instagram: @ryswyk32
Get in touch with the podcast:Instagram: @jack_murleyEmail: jack@jackmurley.com
📱 Follow for weekly LGBTQ+ sports stories⭐ Rate & review to help more people discover the podcast
#LeighRyswyk #AFL #LGBTQSport #BrisbaneLions #AustralianRulesFootball #ComingOut #RepresentationMatters #InclusiveSport #QueerVoices #SportsPodcast #Australia #LGBTQCommunity #JackMurley #AwardWinningPodcast #ListenNow

What does it take to build something that changes people's lives?
To ignore society's expectations. To challenge perceptions. And to create a place where everyone knows they're welcome.
This week on Off The Pitch, we're joined by Ashley Sweet – better known as Ginger – drag performer, entrepreneur and the founder of Ginger's Diner, Cornwall's much-loved LGBTQ+ inclusive venue.
Ashley has never been afraid to do things differently. From creating the larger-than-life character of Ginger to opening an inclusive drag diner in the heart of Cornwall, he's built far more than a successful business—he's created a genuine community where LGBTQ+ people and allies can feel safe, celebrated and at home.
Through passion, resilience and an unwavering belief in inclusion, Ashley's work has earned national recognition, including a nomination for a National Diversity Award.
In this episode, we explore:
✨ Growing up in a traditional rural mining community🌈 Creating a safe and welcoming space for LGBTQ+ people in Cornwall👠 The journey from drag performer to successful entrepreneur🏳️‍🌈 Why visibility and representation matter more than ever🏆 Being recognised for advocacy with a National Diversity Award nomination❤️ Following your own path—even when it means going against the grain
Off The Pitch is our weekly show celebrating extraordinary people with extraordinary stories. Every episode shines a light on the voices making a difference in their communities, proving that authenticity can change lives.
🎧 Listen now and discover how one person's vision helped create a home for Cornwall's LGBTQ+ community.
👉 Follow, subscribe and share to help amplify LGBTQ+ voices and human stories that deserve to be heard.
 
Find out more about Ashley:Instagram: @gingerdragqueenInstagram: @gingersdineruk
Get in touch with the podcast:Instagram: @jack_murleyEmail: jack@jackmurley.com
#AshleySweet #GingerDragQueen #Cornwall #GingersDiner #DragQueen #LGBTQPodcast #Cornwall #QueerCornwall #DragCommunity #LGBTQBusiness #SmallBusinessUK #Entrepreneur #SafeSpaces #RepresentationMatters #NationalDiversityAwards #QueerVoices #HumanStories #OffThePitch #AwardWinningPodcast #ListenNow

What does it take to make football a place where everyone belongs?
This week on The Jack Murley Sports Show, we're joined by Brandon Gregory – football coach, campaigner, LGBTQ+ advocate and one of the driving forces behind the growth of Cardiff Dragons, one of the UK's leading inclusive football clubs.
Football has always been at the heart of Brandon's life. As a player, coach and lifelong fan, he's dedicated himself to opening up the beautiful game for LGBTQ+ people and anyone who has ever felt excluded from the sport they love.
Now, as he prepares to compete at the Gay Games in Valencia before beginning the next chapter of his football journey, Brandon reflects on the impact of grassroots football, the importance of representation, and why creating welcoming spaces in sport has never mattered more.
A winner at the Football v Homophobia Awards, Brandon is one of the unsung heroes helping to change football for the better—and we're delighted to share his story.
In this episode, we discuss:⚽ Brandon's journey into coaching and football leadership🌈 Helping Cardiff Dragons become one of the UK's leading inclusive football clubs🏆 Competing at the Gay Games in Valencia❤️ Why representation and visibility matter in football🙌 Creating a game where everyone knows they belong
🌈 As an award-winning LGBTQ+ sports podcast, The Jack Murley Sports Show shares inspiring stories from the people changing sport for the better—from grassroots volunteers to elite athletes and everyone in between.
🎧 Listen now and discover why football really is at its best when everyone has the chance to play.
👉 Follow, subscribe and share to help champion LGBTQ+ voices in sport.
 
Find out more about Brandon:Instagram: @brandonmg_
Get in touch with the podcast:Instagram: @jack_murleyEmail: jack@jackmurley.com

Lisa Power MBE has lived a life at the very heart of LGBTQ+ activism in the UK — and in this powerful episode of Off The Pitch, we hear her story in full.
Often described as a “matriarch of LGBTQ+ activism”, Lisa’s impact is impossible to overstate. From volunteering at Lesbian and Gay Switchboard, helping launch The Pink Paper, and co-founding Stonewall, to becoming the first openly LGBTQ+ person to speak at the United Nations, her legacy has helped shape modern LGBTQ+ rights.
Awarded an MBE in 2011 for services to the LGBTQ+ community, Lisa continues to campaign, challenge, and champion change today.
In this episode, we explore:• Her journey as an “accidental activist”• The evolution of LGBTQ+ rights in the UK• Mental health, resilience, and sustaining activism• The many forms activism can take• What continues to drive her to fight for change
This is an inspiring, honest, and deeply important conversation about identity, visibility, and the ongoing fight for equality.
🎧 Listen now and discover the stories behind the movement.
—
📲 FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUESTInstagram: @thatlisapower--#stonewall #lgbt #pride #activism #lgbtq+ #queervoices

What is the reality of life as an Olympic athlete — and what happens when success doesn’t feel the way you imagined?
In this powerful episode of The Jack Murley Sports Show, we’re joined by Olympic swimmer Daniel Kowalski — a multiple medallist at the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games and gold medallist at the Sydney 2000 Olympics.
On paper, Daniel lived the Olympic dream. But behind the medals lies a far more complex story.
From winning bronze in the 200m freestyle — a moment he considers the greatest achievement of his career — to taking silver in the 1500m and feeling like he’d failed, Daniel opens up about the emotional reality of elite sport. And when he finally achieved Olympic gold on home soil in Sydney? Instead of fulfilment, he was left feeling empty and lost.
This honest and inspiring conversation explores the pressures of high-performance sport, the gap between success and happiness, and the importance of identity beyond results.
Now Head of Olympian Services at the Australian Olympic Committee, Daniel uses his experiences to support current and former athletes navigating life during and after sport. He also reflects on coming out publicly in 2010 and what it means to live authentically as part of the LGBTQ+ community.
In this episode, we discuss:
The reality of competing at the Olympic GamesWhy winning doesn’t always bring happiness
Mental health in elite sport
Life after professional competition
Coming out in sport and embracing identity
Supporting the next generation of Olympians
This is a must-listen for anyone interested in the Olympics, athlete mental health, LGBTQ+ stories in sport, and the truth behind elite performance.
WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST?@danielkowalski775
WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST?@jack_murleyjack@jackmurley.com
 
#Olympics #OlympicPodcast #DanielKowalski #EliteSport #AthleteMentalHealth #SportsPodcast #LGBTQPodcast #LGBTQInSport #ComingOutStories #Authenticity #HighPerformance #LifeAfterSport #MentalHealthAwareness #PodcastUK #SportStories #Inspiration #IdentityMatters

What does it take to become a trailblazer in professional wrestling?
And what does it mean to step into the ring — and proudly be yourself?
Today on The Jack Murley Sports Show, we’re joined by Cassius The Neon Explosion — one of the UK’s most exciting LGBTQ+ wrestlers — ahead of a historic moment at Heaven nightclub in London.
Pride Month. A legendary venue. A main event spotlight.
Cassius isn’t just part of it… he’s shaping it.
From his journey in pro wrestling to going viral, breaking barriers, and inspiring others just by being unapologetically himself — this is a conversation about visibility, progress, and what it really means to belong.
✨ The rise to main event level✨ Wrestling at iconic venues like Heaven✨ LGBTQ+ representation in wrestling✨ Going viral & building a platform✨ Inspiring the next generation
 
WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST?@neoncassius
WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST?@jack_murleyjack@jackmurley.com
#LGBTQPodcast #ProWrestling #CassiusTheNeonExplosion #WrestlingUK #HustleWrestling #HeavenNightclub #PrideMonth #LGBTQInSport #QueerRepresentation #SportsPodcast #UKPodcasts #WrestlingLife #BeYourself #RepresentationMatters #InclusionInSport

What does it mean to challenge toxic masculinity? To inspire others through a love of reading? And to finally share your truth with the world?
This week on Off The Pitch, we’re joined by James Goodwin — girl-dad, book lover, ADHD advocate, and a powerful voice redefining modern masculinity online.
Through his platform, James (@decafdada) champions brilliant books, promotes positive representations of masculinity, and isn’t afraid to take on the toxicity of the manosphere. But this conversation goes even deeper.
In this episode, James speaks publicly about his sexuality for the very first time — sharing what it means to be bi, to live authentically, and to embrace every part of who you are.
Recorded for Off The Pitch, this episode explores:✨ Challenging the manosphere and redefining masculinity✨ The power of reading and sharing stories that matter✨ Living with ADHD and embracing individuality✨ Speaking publicly about sexuality for the first time✨ The joy (and etiquette!) of a great book
🌈 As an award-winning LGBTQ+ podcast, Off The Pitch brings you honest, powerful conversations that celebrate identity, community, and human stories that resonate.
🎧 Listen now and discover why this is one of our most important and personal episodes yet.
👉 Follow, subscribe, and share to help amplify LGBTQ+ voices and stories.
Find out more about James:Instagram: @decafdada
Get in touch with the podcast:Instagram: @jack_murleyEmail: jack@jackmurley.com
#JamesGoodwin #Masculinity #ToxicMasculinity #LGBTQPodcast #Bisexual #BiVisibility #ADHD #BookLovers #ReadingCommunity #Bookstagram #MensMentalHealth #PositiveMasculinity #QueerVoices #RepresentationMatters #OffThePitch #PodcastUK #HumanStories #ListenNow
 

What does it take to reinvent one of the world’s biggest sporting events?
This week on The Jack Murley Sports Show, we’re joined by Phil Batty, Chief Executive of the 2026 Commonwealth Games — a Games set to be unlike anything we’ve seen before.
With a shorter lead-in time, a more sustainable approach, and a streamlined format, Glasgow 2026 is redefining what the Commonwealth Games can be. But at its core, the values of competition, inclusivity, and togetherness remain — including the return of Pride House, creating a vital space for LGBTQ+ athletes, fans, and communities.
Recorded ahead of the Games, this conversation dives into:✨ How Glasgow 2026 is reshaping the Commonwealth Games✨ The challenges of delivering a global event at pace✨ Why sustainability is at the heart of this year’s Games✨ The importance of Pride House and LGBTQ+ inclusion in sport✨ Phil’s personal perspective as an LGBTQ+ leader in sport
🌈 As an award-winning LGBTQ+ sports podcast, we bring you the stories that matter — from elite competition to the people driving change behind the scenes.
🎧 Listen now to go inside Glasgow 2026 and discover why this Commonwealth Games could change the future of global sport.
👉 Follow, subscribe, and share to support LGBTQ+ voices in sport.
Find out more:Instagram: @glasgow_2026
Get in touch with the podcast:Instagram: @jack_murleyEmail: jack@jackmurley.com
🎧 Listen via the link in bio / stories📱 Follow for weekly LGBTQ+ sports stories⭐ Rate & review to support the show
Proudly supported by @cornwallpride Empowerment Fund, helping us share vital stories and champion LGBTQ+ communities everywhere 🌈
#CommonwealthGames #Glasgow2026 #PhilBatty #LGBTQSport #PrideHouse #InclusiveSport #SportsPodcast #UKPodcast #SustainabilityInSport #MajorEvents #QueerVoices #RepresentationMatters #LGBTQPlus #SportForAll #PodcastRecommendations #JackMurley #NewEpisode #ListenNow

What does it feel like to push beyond what you thought you were capable of? To become a role model? To win one of the UK’s most-loved TV shows — and not be able to tell anyone?
In this episode of Off The Pitch, we’re joined by Fynn Allen, winner of The Great Pottery Throw Down, watched by more than two million viewers across the UK.
Fynn’s journey is anything but typical. Having only taken up pottery a few years ago — inspired by the very show he would go on to win — his story is one of passion, risk, and self-belief. But beyond the clay, this is a story about identity, authenticity, and living your truth.
Recorded on location at Fynn’s studio in Cornwall, this episode dives into:✨ What it was like to secretly win a major TV show✨ The reality of competing on The Great Pottery Throw Down✨ How life has changed since winning✨ Becoming a role model and representing others✨ Living authentically and embracing identity
🌈 As an award-winning LGBTQ+ podcast, Off The Pitch brings you powerful human stories that resonate far beyond sport, art, or television.
🎧 Listen now and discover why this is one of the most talked-about LGBTQ+ podcast episodes of the year.
👉 Don’t forget to follow, rate, and share to help amplify LGBTQ+ voices.
Find out more about Fynn:Instagram: @fynnmadethis
Get in touch with the podcast:Instagram: @jack_murleyEmail: jack@jackmurley.com
#FynnAllen #GreatPotteryThrowDown #PotteryThrowDown #LGBTQPodcast #QueerStories #LGBTQVoices #Channel4 #PodcastUK #HumanInterest #ComingOut #AuthenticSelf #RepresentationMatters #LGBTQPlus #CreativeJourney #Pottery #Ceramics #UKPodcast #AwardWinningPodcast #OffThePitch #ListenNow