The Jack Murley Sports Show

Jack Murley
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Sports
  • Updated Weekly

Olympians, World Cup winners and sportspeople from around the world share their stories on the multi-award-winning show for the LGBTQ+ community in sport. 

  1. 2d ago

    Off The Pitch: Author Curtis Garner on Isaac, Orange, Authenticity in Queer Fiction and More

    What does it take to write queer characters who feels completely, unapologetically human? For Curtis Garner, it's about creating individuals who are more than their sexuality – people with flaws, hopes, contradictions, ambitions and lives that exist far beyond the labels attached to them. This week on Off The Pitch, Curtis joins us to talk about his debut novel Isaac (which was hailed as an "instant queer classic") and whose follow-up, Orange, has been receiving equally brilliant reviews. Drawing on his own experiences growing up in Cornwall before moving to London, Curtis has quickly established himself as one of the exciting new voices in contemporary queer fiction. With fans including acclaimed author Patrick Gale, his work is already making a significant impression on the literary world. In this episode, we discuss: 📚 How Curtis discovered his love of writing ✍️ The inspiration behind Isaac and Orange 🌈 Why queer characters deserve to be multi-dimensional 🏳️‍🌈 Drawing on personal experiences to tell universal stories ⭐ The critical acclaim surrounding his work 💡 Where Curtis gets his ideas from ❤️ Why writing matters to him 🔮 What's next for one of queer fiction's exciting new voices Off The Pitch is our weekly podcast celebrating extraordinary LGBTQ+ people and remarkable human stories. Every episode shines a light on people using creativity, passion and authenticity to tell stories that deserve to be heard. This is a conversation about books, identity, creativity and the importance of seeing queer people represented as complete, complicated and wonderfully human. 🎧 Listen now for a brilliant conversation with one of the UK's exciting new voices in queer fiction. 👉 Follow, subscribe and share to help amplify LGBTQ+ voices and stories that deserve to be heard. Find out more about Curtis: Instagram: @curtis_garner Instagram: @queer_novels Get in touch with the podcast: Instagram: @jack_murley Email: 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 #CurtisGarner #QueerFiction #LGBTQBooks #QueerBooks #LGBTQPodcast #OffThePitch #Isaac #Orange #QueerAuthor #LGBTQAuthors #ContemporaryFiction #QueerLiterature #Cornwall #WritingCommunity #BookRecommendations #QueerStories #LGBTQCommunity #RepresentationMatters #Storytelling #PodcastUK #AwardWinningPodcast #ListenNow

  2. 4d ago

    Ian Roberts: Rugby League Legend on Coming Out, Breaking Barriers and His Enduring Impact

    What does it take to be a pioneer? More than 30 years ago, Ian Roberts took a leap into the unknown when he publicly shared that he was gay. At the time, Ian was one of Australia's leading rugby league players. An international for his country and a star of the game, he was entering territory that few professional athletes had dared to explore before him. And yet, Ian's career didn't disappear. He continued to play rugby league at the highest level, while becoming recognised as a trailblazer for LGBTQ+ visibility and inclusion in sport – challenging stereotypes and helping to break down barriers that had stood for generations. This week on The Jack Murley Sports Show, we're finally joined by someone we've wanted on the podcast since we started in 2018 – and this episode absolutely delivers. In this frank and powerful conversation, Ian reflects on: 🏉 His journey from elite rugby league to becoming an international player 🌈 Coming out publicly as a gay professional athlete more than 30 years ago ❤️ Understanding and accepting his own sexuality 💪 Continuing his career in a very different sporting landscape 🏳️‍🌈 His advocacy for LGBTQ+ inclusion and equality in sport 🙌 Challenging stereotypes and refusing to compromise on who he was Get in touch with the podcast: Instagram: @jack_murley Email: jack@jackmurley.com 🎧 Listen via the link in bio / stories 📱 Follow for weekly LGBTQ+ sports stories ⭐ Rate & review to help more people discover the podcast #IanRoberts #RugbyLeague #LGBTQRugby #LGBTQSport #ComingOut #GayAthlete #RugbyLeagueLegend #SportsPioneer #InclusiveSport #LGBTQCommunity #QueerAthletes #RepresentationMatters #RugbyLeagueHistory #SportsPodcast #TheJackMurleySportsShow #AwardWinningPodcast #LGBTQRepresentation #BreakingBarriers #ListenNow

  3. Sep 4

    Off The Pitch: Kev McGrath on PRIDE Daily, LGBTQ+ News & the Power of Authentic Storytelling

    What does it take to tell the LGBTQ+ community's story every single day? For Kev McGrath, it means keeping up with a constantly changing world, deciding which stories matter most – and finding a way to make them accessible to thousands of people in just a few minutes. This week on Off The Pitch, we're delighted to welcome the creator of PRIDE Daily back to the podcast for a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the world's only daily LGBTQ+ news podcast. Kev brings together the essential stories, headlines and conversations affecting the LGBTQ+ community in a bite-sized daily podcast – while also drawing on his experience as a broadcaster for some of the UK's biggest radio stations. But what does it really take to make PRIDE Daily? How do you decide what makes the cut when there are so many stories competing for attention? And what does it feel like knowing that, for some listeners, your podcast might provide connection and community when they aren't able to be their authentic selves elsewhere? In this episode, we discuss: 📰 How PRIDE Daily is created every day 🌈 Deciding which LGBTQ+ stories deserve attention 🎙️ Kev's career in broadcasting and journalism ⏱️ Condensing a fast-moving news agenda into a bite-sized podcast ❤️ The responsibility of telling stories for the LGBTQ+ community 🙌 The importance of authenticity, representation and connection 📻 Why LGBTQ+ news and storytelling still matters Off The Pitch is our weekly podcast celebrating extraordinary LGBTQ+ people and remarkable human stories. Sometimes that means hearing from the people making the headlines – and sometimes it's about discovering the people behind them. 🎧 Listen now for a fascinating conversation about journalism, broadcasting, authenticity and the stories shaping LGBTQ+ lives every day. 👉 Follow, subscribe and share to help amplify LGBTQ+ voices and stories that deserve to be heard. Find out more about Kev and PRIDE Daily: Instagram: @pridedailypod Get in touch with the podcast: Instagram: @jack_murley Email: 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 #KevMcGrath #PRIDEDaily #LGBTQNews #LGBTQPodcast #LGBTQJournalism #Journalism #Broadcasting #QueerVoices #LGBTQCommunity #NewsPodcast #PodcastUK #Storytelling #Authenticity #RepresentationMatters #Pride #Radio #OffThePitch #AwardWinningPodcast #ListenNow

  4. Sep 2

    Ryan Atkin: History-Making Referee on Coming Out, IGLFA and Making Football For Everyone

    What does it take to be the first? Nearly ten years ago, Ryan Atkin made football history when he became the first British male football official to publicly come out as gay. At the time, only Nigel Owens was another openly gay British male official, and Ryan's decision came before fellow officials including Craig Maxwell-Keys, James Child and James Adcock would later share their own stories. This week on The Jack Murley Sports Show, we're delighted to welcome Ryan back to the podcast to reflect on the journey that began when he publicly shared his sexuality—and the impact that decision has had on football ever since. Since coming out, Ryan has become a passionate advocate for LGBTQ+ inclusion in sport, through interviews, events, ambassadorial roles and his work with the International Gay and Lesbian Football Association (IGLFA). But beneath the advocacy and trailblazing is still the same Ryan Atkin who first picked up a whistle as a 14-year-old in Plymouth and has been officiating ever since. In this episode, we discuss: 🙌 His work championing LGBTQ+ inclusion in football 🌍 His involvement with the International Gay and Lesbian Football Association ❤️ Why visibility and representation matter in football 🔄 How much the game has changed—and how much still needs to change As an award-winning LGBTQ+ sports podcast, The Jack Murley Sports Show brings you inspiring conversations with athletes, officials, campaigners and changemakers who are helping to make sport more inclusive for everyone. 🎧 Listen now to hear from one of the true pioneers of LGBTQ+ inclusion in British football. 👉 Follow, subscribe and share to help amplify LGBTQ+ voices in sport. Find out more about Ryan: Instagram: @ryanatkin Get in touch with the podcast: Instagram: @jack_murley Email: jack@jackmurley.com 🎧 Listen via the link in bio / stories 📱 Follow for weekly LGBTQ+ sports stories ⭐ Rate & review to help more people discover the podcast #RyanAtkin #FootballReferee #LGBTQFootball #LGBTQSport #FootballOfficials #Football #ComingOut #QueerVoices #InclusiveFootball #FootballForAll #RepresentationMatters #LGBTQCommunity #FootballRefereeing #IFLFA #PrideInSport #SportsPodcast #TheJackMurleySportsShow #AwardWinningPodcast #ListenNow

  5. Aug 28

    Off The Pitch: Ethan Spibey on FreedomToDonate, Changing the Law & Saving Lives

    How do you change a law that has stood for generations? For Ethan Spibey, the answer was simple: keep pushing until someone listened. This week on Off The Pitch, we're joined by Ethan Spibey, founder of the FreedomToDonate campaign, whose advocacy helped change UK blood donation rules and remove a long-standing barrier preventing gay men from donating blood. What began with a deeply personal desire to help a family member grew into a national campaign for equality—one that ultimately helped change the law and will have an impact for generations to come. Ethan's work was recognised with an OBE in 2025, but behind the honour is a story of determination, campaigning and refusing to accept that something couldn't be changed. In this episode, we discuss: 🩸 The story behind FreedomToDonate 🏳️‍🌈 Why gay men were historically prevented from donating blood 📣 How Ethan built a campaign for change 💪 The challenges of campaigning and advocacy ❤️ The personal motivation that started it all 🏆 Receiving an OBE for his contribution to equality 🙌 How ordinary people can create extraordinary change Off The Pitch is our weekly podcast celebrating extraordinary LGBTQ+ people and remarkable human stories. Every episode shines a light on the people challenging inequality, changing communities and making the world a better place. This is a conversation about perseverance, equality and what can happen when you refuse to stop fighting for what you believe is right. 🎧 Listen now and hear the story of how one campaign helped change the rules for an entire community. 👉 Follow, subscribe and share to help amplify LGBTQ+ voices and stories that deserve to be heard. Find out more about Ethan: LinkedIn: Ethan Spibey Get in touch with the podcast: Instagram: @jack_murley Email: 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 #EthanSpibey #FreedomToDonate #LGBTQPodcast #LGBTQCommunity #BloodDonation #GiveBlood #LGBTQEquality #QueerVoices #Equality #Activism #Campaigning #LGBTQActivist #HumanStories #SocialChange #RepresentationMatters #Pride #PodcastUK #OffThePitch #AwardWinningPodcast #ListenNow

  6. Aug 26

    Georgina Hall: LGBTQ+ Fitness, Inclusive Gyms & Being Your Best Self

    What if the gym was a place where you could truly be yourself? At a time when gym culture can sometimes feel intimidating, overly competitive or dominated by toxic ideas around masculinity, Georgina Hall is creating something very different. This week on The Jack Murley Sports Show, we're joined by Georgina – owner and coach at The Backyard Gym in Newcastle, a proudly LGBTQ+ inclusive fitness space designed to help people feel comfortable, confident and empowered. With more than 15 years of experience in the fitness industry, Georgina has taught everything from spinning and boxing to boot camps, and has experienced the world of fitness from both sides of the coach's bench. But The Backyard is about much more than exercise. It's about creating an environment where LGBTQ+ people can feel visible, welcome and supported while working towards becoming their best selves. In this episode, we discuss: 🏋️ Building an LGBTQ+ inclusive gym from the ground up 🌈 Why inclusive fitness spaces matter 💪 Challenging toxic and intimidating gym culture 🥊 Georgina's own experience of boxing and fitness ❤️ The importance of authenticity and visibility 🙌 Helping people feel confident in their own bodies and abilities 🐶 And, of course, Georgina's four-legged gym regular, Patch! As an award-winning LGBTQ+ sports podcast, The Jack Murley Sports Show celebrates the people creating more inclusive spaces across the world of sport and fitness. 🎧 Listen now for a brilliant conversation about fitness, community, authenticity and what it really means to be your best self. 👉 Follow, subscribe and share to help amplify LGBTQ+ voices in sport. Find out more about The Backyard Gym: Instagram: @thebackyardncl Instagram: @backyardgeorgina Get in touch with the podcast: Instagram: @jack_murley Email: jack@jackmurley.com 🎧 Listen via the link in bio / stories 📱 Follow for weekly LGBTQ+ sports stories ⭐ Rate & review to help more people discover the podcast #GeorginaHall #TheBackyardGym #LGBTQFitness #InclusiveFitness #LGBTQSport #InclusiveGym #FitnessPodcast #GymCulture #QueerFitness #FitnessCommunity #WomenInFitness #Boxing #Newcastle #LGBTQCommunity #RepresentationMatters #InclusiveSport #SportsPodcast #TheJackMurleySportsShow #AwardWinningPodcast #ListenNow

  7. Aug 21

    Off The Pitch: Rhys the Nightchurch Pianist on Homelessness, Music, Queer Survival & Hope

    Off The Pitch: Rhys the Nightchurch Pianist on Homelessness, Music, Queer Survival & Hope What happens when a viral moment changes your life—but doesn't immediately change your circumstances? This week on Off The Pitch, we're joined by Rhys, better known as Rhys the Nightchurch Pianist, for one of the most powerful and personal conversations we've ever shared. Rhys became an internet sensation after a video of him playing piano inside a Cornish night church while experiencing homelessness went viral. Suddenly, the man who had been living on the streets found himself in the spotlight, receiving national recognition including a Pride of Britain Award and being named one of The Big Issue's inspirational Changemakers. But behind the viral video and the awards is a much more complicated story. Rhys speaks openly about homelessness, the realities of life on the streets, finding fame while still struggling to find somewhere to live, and the role that music played in helping him survive some of the darkest moments of his life. As a gay man, Rhys also discusses the particular challenges faced by LGBTQ+ people experiencing homelessness, and why being part of the queer community can make an already devastating situation even more difficult. In this episode, we explore: 🎹 The story behind the viral Nightchurch piano video 🏠 Rhys' experience of homelessness and life on the streets 🌈 The additional challenges facing LGBTQ+ people experiencing homelessness 🏆 Winning a Pride of Britain Award and becoming a Big Issue Changemaker 🎵 The power of music during the darkest moments ❤️ Finding hope, happiness and a way forward 🙌 Turning extraordinary adversity into a story of resilience This isn't an easy conversation. There are tears, pain and difficult truths—but there is also music, hope, laughter and the possibility of a better tomorrow. Off The Pitch is our weekly podcast celebrating extraordinary LGBTQ+ people and remarkable human stories. Sometimes those stories are joyful. Sometimes they're difficult. And sometimes they're both. 🎧 Listen with an open mind and an open heart to Rhys' extraordinary story. 👉 Follow, subscribe and share to help amplify LGBTQ+ voices and stories that deserve to be heard. Find out more about Rhys: Instagram: @thenightchurchpianist Get in touch with the podcast: Instagram: @jack_murley Email: 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 #RhysTheNightchurchPianist #RhysThePianist #Homelessness #LGBTQHomelessness #LGBTQPodcast #OffThePitch #QueerStories #PrideOfBritain #BigIssueChangemakers #NightChurch #Cornwall #Piano #Pianist #MusicAndMentalHealth #HomelessnessAwareness #LGBTQCommunity #QueerVoices #HumanStories #Resilience #Hope #Storytelling #PodcastUK #AwardWinningPodcast #RepresentationMatters #ListenNow

  8. Aug 19

    Yuta Shirai: Mersey Marauders and Stonewall FC Player on Coming Out, Inclusive Football & Finding His Tribe

    What happens when football gives you the freedom to finally be yourself? This week on The Jack Murley Sports Show, we're joined by Yuta Shirai – footballer with Mersey Marauders and Stonewall FC – for a powerful conversation about identity, belonging and the life-changing impact of inclusive sport. Originally from Japan, Yuta moved to the UK and began a journey that would see him embrace both his sexuality and his love of football, finding a community where he could finally live as his authentic self. Yuta recently shared his story with OutSports, alongside journalist Jon Holmes, explaining how his move to the UK and his involvement in inclusive football helped transform his life. Now, we're delighted to welcome him onto the podcast to hear more about that journey in his own words. In this episode, we discuss: ⚽ Yuta's journey into football and moving from Japan to the UK 🌈 Understanding his sexuality and embracing his authentic self ❤️ The difference inclusive football has made to his life 🏳️‍🌈 Finding community through Mersey Marauders and Stonewall FC 🙌 Why LGBTQ+ inclusive football can be so powerful 🌍 The importance of belonging, representation and being yourself Having first met Yuta when he played for Mersey Marauders at the GFSN Cup Day at St George's Park, it's brilliant to finally have him on the show. As an award-winning LGBTQ+ sports podcast, The Jack Murley Sports Show shares powerful stories from athletes, fans, clubs and changemakers who are making sport more inclusive for everyone. 🎧 Listen now for an inspiring conversation about football, identity, community and finding somewhere you belong. 👉 Follow, subscribe and share to help amplify LGBTQ+ voices in sport.   Find out more about Yuta: Instagram: @yutas_1990 Get in touch with the podcast: Instagram: @jack_murley Email: jack@jackmurley.com   🎧 Listen via the link in bio / stories 📱 Follow for weekly LGBTQ+ sports stories ⭐ Rate & review to help more people discover the podcast   #YutaShirai #MerseyMarauders #StonewallFC #LGBTQSport #InclusiveFootball #LGBTQFootball #FootballForAll #ComingOut #QueerAthletes #InclusiveSport #FootballCommunity #GFSNCup #JapaneseFootball #FootballPodcast #SportsPodcast #RepresentationMatters #QueerVoices #LGBTQCommunity #TheJackMurleySportsShow #AwardWinningPodcast

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Olympians, World Cup winners and sportspeople from around the world share their stories on the multi-award-winning show for the LGBTQ+ community in sport. 

Information

  • Creator
    Jack Murley
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2024 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    The Jack Murley Sports Show

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