The Jack Murley Sports Show

Paul Poirier: Olympic Ice Dancer on Pride, Representation & Championing LGBTQ+ Voices in Sport

From Olympic ice to inspiring change — Paul Poirier returns to The Jack Murley Sports Show for an honest, joyful, and deeply inspiring conversation about life on and off the rink. ❄️🏅
A multiple-time Olympian and two-time world silver medallist medallist, Paul is one of Canada’s most celebrated ice dancers — but his impact extends far beyond the sport. As a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community, he’s become a global role model, using his platform to champion representation, inclusion, and queer voices in sport. 🌈
In this episode, Paul opens up about:
His journey from local rinks to the Olympic stage
Balancing artistry, athleticism, and personal authenticity
The importance of visibility for LGBTQ+ athletes
His recent engagement and what it means to celebrate love openly 💍
Whether you’re a sports fan, a member of the LGBTQ+ community, or simply someone who loves powerful human stories, this episode will leave you inspired.
🎧 Listen now to our award-winning podcast, heard in more than 40 countries worldwide.📲 Follow and subscribe to never miss an episode.
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#PaulPoirier #Olympics #IceDancing #LGBTQInSport #QueerAthletes #SportsPodcast #FigureSkating #InclusionInSport #PrideInSport #JackMurleySportsShow #RepresentationMatters #Olympian #LoveIsLove #LGBTQPodcast #LGBTNews
 

Thomas Beattie: One of Football’s First Openly Gay Male Players on Coming Out, Inspiring Others and His Legacy In The Game

In a way, Thomas Beattie’s story feels like it’s from another era.
Just five short years ago, the former Hull City academy player opened up to the world about the fact that he happens to be gay – and, in doing so, became an inspiration for many other LGBTQ+ footballers who weren’t yet out in the beautiful game.
Josh Cavallo, Jake Daniels, Zander Murray – they’ve all cited Thomas as someone they’ve looked up to when it came to their decision to share their sexuality with the world, so it’s high-time that the man himself came back to the podcast to join us for a chat.
And this is an astonishing chat with a genuine trailblazer in the game – about why he never fit the archetype of life as a traditional footballer, about finding his truth and sharing it, about his desire to help others, and why he’s proud of the difference he’s made.
It’s a cracking chat with a man who has made an astonishing difference in the beautiful game, and we’re so glad you’re with us for it today.
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#ThomasBeattie #LGBTQInFootball #GayFootballer #RepresentationMatters #PrideInSport #Trailblazer #ComingOutStory #QueerInSport #InclusionInFootball #BeautifulGame #FootballForAll #HullCity #LGBTQHistory #AuthenticAthlete #LGBTQNews

Katie-George Dunlevy: Paralympic Glory from Rio to Paris, Finding Pride, and Living Authentically

It’s hard to find the words to sum up just how successful an athlete Katie-George Dunlevy is.
The numbers, in many ways, tell one part of the cyclist’s journey – four Paralympic gold medals for Ireland across three separate Games (having gone to four in total!) with a clutch more Paralympic silver medals, multiple world championships and so much more besides to go with it.
It’s no exaggeration to say that Katie-George is one of Ireland’s greatest-ever athletes – and it’s not just on the bike that she’s determined to represent either.
Just a few weeks ago, Katie-George was announced as the first-ever LGBTQ+ champion for the town of Crawley in the UK – something she says she was ‘honoured’ to accept! – and it’s amazing to have her on the podcast today.
This is a cracking conversation where we chat about all sorts of different elements of her sporting career and personal journey – from becoming comfortable with her own sexuality to achieving her sporting dreams, to winning back-to-back-to-back golds on the grandest stage in sport.
We love this chat, and we think you will as well!
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Kirsty Gilmour: three Olympics (and counting!), bringing Pride to badminton, empowering others in the game and more

To call Kirsty Gilmour a legend of badminton would be an understatement of gross proportions!
A three-time Olympian for Team GB, a medallist at multiple Commonwealth Games and European tournaments, the proud Scot is now adding another string to her bow – or should that be racquet?! – as one of the founding members of the Women’s Badminton Collective.
The group is bringing together female players from across the world to increase visibility for women in the sport – and increasing visibility is something Kirsty is all about, especially as a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community. We talk about all sorts of things on this cracking episode of the podcast, including the differences in her Olympics experiences, the importance of being her authentic self, creating opportunities for those who follow her, making a legacy in the game, and not giving in to the trolls or the haters!
It's a superb episode, and we think you’re going to love it – as we always do when it comes to our chats with Kirsty.
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Davis Atkin: Australia’s first out gay male hockey international on showing up for the queer community, representing on the world stage, and redefining masculinity

Davis Atkin is a history-maker – and someone who defies definition in the traditional sense of what it means to be an elite-level man in international sport.
The first out man to every represent Australia on the global stage in hockey, Davis is also a beauty blogger and make-up expert – and, since sharing his story a couple of years back, has become an inspiration for queer people across the world.
He’s just been playing for the Kookaburras in the FIH Pro League in Belgium – but before he came to Europe, we arranged time to get Davis on the show for the first time.
And honestly, it’s a superb episode – and we’re so glad you’re here with us for it.
We talk about allyship, understanding your identity, challenging perceptions of what it means to be an elite level male athlete, representing your country and so much more in a cracking conversation that we think you’ll love!
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Kevin Maxen: Coming Out in the NFL, Coaching, Courage and Changing the Game

Kevin Maxen has always wanted to be ‘just Kev’, and to march unapologetically to the beat of his own drum. A lover of baseball who rose to the elite level of American football as a strength and conditioning coach with the Jacksonville Jaguars; and a lover of literature who helped some of the top athletes in the USA to excel in the NFL, Kevin has defied stereotypes throughout his life – and nowhere was that more true than in this month two years ago, when the then-Jags NFL coach opened up about the fact he happens to be gay.
Kev’s decision to share his story was the first time that a male coach in a major US sports league had spoken publicly about their sexuality – and it caused a huge reaction around the world, as you probably remember.
So, it’s a delight to have Kev on the podcast today, two years on from that momentous decision, to talk about his life and his journey, inside and outside of sport.
It’s a cracking conversation about all sorts of topics – from helping athletes fulfil their potential, to some of the NFL’s most glamorous moments, to why speaking his truth about his sexuality was such a watershed moment for both American and international sport.
This conversation with Kev is a real treat – thought-provoking, considered and humble from a man who, simply by being himself, has helped countless people across the world!
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#KevinMaxen #NFLCoach #LGBTQInSport #GayCoach #RepresentationMatters #PrideInSport #ComingOutStory #InclusiveSport #QueerInSports #StrengthAndConditioning #JacksonvilleJaguars #SportsHistory #LiveYourTruth #Pride2025 #NFL

Wes Rennison: Serving Pride and Building Inclusive Tennis with the Dundee Deuces

With the French Open in the rear-view mirror and Wimbledon underway in London, it’s no wonder that tennis is high up the sporting agenda right now.
But for Wesley Rennison – the founder of the Dundee Deuces inclusive tennis and pickleball team – it’s the Serve It Summer Cup that took centre-stage at the weekend, as four of Scotland’s top inclusive tennis clubs came together for a day of serves, allyship and friendship.
With EuroGames Lyon on the horizon, it’s a busy time for the club – and the perfect chance to get Wesley onto the podcast to talk about how it all came about.
We talk to Wes about his love of tennis, establishing an inclusive club, the joy of getting others into the sport, representing Team Scotland on the international stage – and why baking is such a key part of what makes the Deuces special!
It’s a fabulous trip to the grassroots with a really special club, and we hope you enjoy listening!
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WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST?@jack_murleyjack@jackmurley.com#DundeeDeuces #InclusiveSport #LGBTQIA #QueerInSport #ServeItSummerCup #PickleballLove #TeamScotland #EuroGames2025 #TennisForAll #LGBTQInTennis #PrideInSport #CommunitySport #ScottishSport

Michael Gunning: breaking barriers, smashing swimming stereotypes and bringing authenticity to the pool

Michael Gunning has done so much in his life after retirement that it’s almost easy to forget what an incredible athlete he was during his competitive swimming career.
A Team GB athlete who switched to represent Jamaica, Michael went on to become one of the country’s greatest-ever swimmers – and made history as the Caribbean’s first out gay male athlete.
Since then, Michael has made it his mission to help other people in sport feel comfortable as their authentic self, inspiring the likes of Daniel Jervis to open up about their sexuality and working with former Blackpool striker Jake Daniels to tell his ‘coming out’ story.
Combine that with Michael’s hosting work at events like Cardiff Pride and the British LGBT Awards, and you can see how committed Michael is to living his mantra of leaving every room brighter than it was when he entered it.
Not bad, when you think about it, for a man who was told that ‘black people can’t swim’ when he was growing up.
Michael is a brilliant guest to have with us today – as we chat about life after swimming, being a role model to folks in the queer and Black community, transitioning to life after swimming, the pressure that comes with using his platform and so much more!
And as always, a chat with Michael is an utterly authentic experience – funny, real, and nothing other than genuine – and we think you’re going to love it.
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#MichaelGunning #QueerInSport #BlackExcellence #LGBTQIA #GayAthlete #RepresentationMatters #PrideInSport #TeamJamaica #TeamGB #AuthenticityWins #InclusionMatters #SwimmingChampion #Swimming
 
 
 

Jordan Burrow: 'I Kissed A Boy', queer representation in football, Jake Daniels, life as a PT and more

When Jordan Burrow donned the kit of former Blackpool striker Jake Daniels on this year’s series of I Kissed A Boy, he was looking to prove a point.
As a kid growing up in rural Cumbria surrounded by football fans, he knew that seeing queer representation in the game would have made his life easier – and by going on the hit BBC reality show, he’s blazing a trail himself.
So what role did sport play in Jordan’s life growing up, and as a PT now, what does it mean to him now – and how did he end up on the iconic BBC Three show in the first place?
Jordan is a great guest on the podcast today, talking about everything from body image to using this moment and his platform to amplify the position of the queer community in sport.
Plus we get the gossip on his reality TV stint – and celebrate his dad being just an awesome, awesome ally.
It’s a cracking episode with a brilliant lad, and we think you’re going to love it – and we’re massively grateful that Jordan joined us today!
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GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST:@jack_murleyjack@jackmurley.com#JordanBurrow #IKissedABoy #QueerInSport #LGBTQIA #GayRepresentation #BBCThree #QueerAthlete #BodyPositivity #InclusionMatters #FootballForAll #LGBTQFitness #PrideInSport #LGBTNews

Caz Simone: the Huddersfield Town player on coming out as non-binary, living authentically and the power of visibility

For Caz Simone, football has always been part of their life.
The Huddersfield Town Women player uses their platform not only to talk about the beautiful game but their journey as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community – including as a proud gender non-conforming person and advocate.
It’s not bad for someone who was afraid of even joining a team at all when they were twelve years old – and in the years since then, Caz has gone on to do loads in the game, winning the LGBTQIA+ Award from the Football Black List and testing themselves against some of the biggest names in the sport.
So, what does football mean for Caz – and how are they using their position right now?
They join us for a cracking conversation that ranges from everything from discovering their identity to their finest moments in the game – to a little bit of breaking news on the podcast as well.
It’s a conversation that is honest, that’s raw, that’s often very funny, as Caz talks about using their platform to inspire others and open football up to everyone!
It’s a fantastic chat, and we can’t thank Caz enough for it!
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#LGBTQIA #GenderNonConforming #FootballForAll #QueerVoices #LGBTQInSport #CazSimone #PrideInSport #InclusionMatters #LoveIsLove #QueerAthlete #HuddersfieldTownWomen