The Pledgeball Podcast

Pledgeball
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The Pledgeball podcast is what happens when sport, culture and climate action meet. Hosted by our CEO Katie Cross and football YouTube royalty Laurence McKenna, each episode welcomes a new guest to explore the intersection of sport and sustainability, from football clubs and players to creators, campaigners and voices from beyond the sporting world. Together, they dig into practical, realistic actions fans and communities can take, from travel and food to fast fashion and the systems around the game we love. Courtesy of some very special guests, we'll keep you updated on the goings on in the Pledgeball League along the way too. Don't forget, you can help your team by making a pledge at pledgeball.org.  But for now, sit back, relax and listen to these crucial conversations from those who are going above and beyond to Protect Where We Play. 

  1. 1d ago ·  Bonus

    The England Fan Road Diaries | Ep 4: Inside Miami’s Heatwave, Extra-Time Drama & Squeezing Past Norway

    England are in the semi-finals! After a grueling, extra-time 2-1 victory over Norway, Harvey checks in with Pledgeball's Katie Cross from their new base in Atlanta as the anticipation for a historic clash with Argentina reaches fever pitch. In this episode, Katie catches up with Harvey to dissect a tense, sweaty, and ultimately triumphant night in Miami. Harvey describes what it was like surviving the absolute hottest football match of his life, where fans only survived the humidity thanks to the occasional, highly celebrated breeze, and how the extreme weather clearly took its toll on the players on the pitch. Looking ahead to Wednesday's massive semi-final, Harvey previews the classic rivalry against an aggressive Argentina side, shares his prediction, and explains why he thinks England have the bottle if it goes all the way to penalties. Plus, Harvey doesn't hold back on FIFA’s "scandalous" ticket pricing, calling out the corporate greed that is actively pricing out the game's most loyal, lifelong fans right when they want to support their country the most. 👉 Pledge your support and see your club rise up the Pledgeball League table: https://pledgeball.org/ 👉 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pledge_ball 👉 Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@pledge_ball

    The England Fan Road Diaries | Ep 4: Inside Miami’s Heatwave, Extra-Time Drama & Squeezing Past Norway

  2. 5d ago ·  Bonus

    The England Fan Road Diaries | Ep 3: Beer Showers at the Azteca, Lightning Storms & Silencing Mexico

    What a match, what a win, and what an away day. Harvey checks in from Miami after witnessing one of the most chaotic, historic, and beer-soaked England victories in living memory at the legendary Estadio Azteca. In this episode, Pledgeball’s Katie Cross catches up with a slightly under-the-weather Harvey to digest the fallout of a classic World Cup knockout game. Harvey breaks down the unbelievable atmosphere in Mexico City—ranging from hundreds of Chihuahuas randomly wearing football shirts to the incredible grace of the home fans shaking hands after the final whistle. We also hear about surviving a terrifying pre-match lightning storm, getting absolutely coated in local beer after Mexico scored (forcing some tactical raincoat deployments), and the one moment of pure solidarity when the entire stadium united to boo Gianni Infantino. Finally, looking ahead to Miami, Harvey previews the brutal 40°C humidity facing the squad against Norway, and reveals why a sudden travel bug left the lads abandoning fine dining for a recovery McDonald's. Support Pledgeball Pledgeball is a charity that mobilises the football community to take action on climate change. We show how the collective power of fans can make a massive impact through small, everyday lifestyle changes. 👉 Pledge your support and see your club rise up the Pledgeball League table: https://pledgeball.org/ 👉 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pledge_ball 👉 Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@pledge_ball

    The England Fan Road Diaries | Ep 3: Beer Showers at the Azteca, Lightning Storms & Silencing Mexico

  3. Jul 7

    Ep 8: Can Tennis Survive a Changing Climate? feat. Kyle Edmund, the LTA's Jack Baker and Rafatennisonly

    Live from Day One of the Lexus Nottingham Open! 🎾🌱 In this episode, Katie sits down on-site to explore how tennis is adapting to a changing climate, from elite tournaments to local grassroots courts. We are joined by a fantastic panel: Jack Baker (Head of Public Policy and Sustainability at the LTA), former British Number One Kyle Edmund (now stepping into his new role as Assistant Tournament Director), and grassroots tennis content creator and influencer Raf (@rafatennisonly). Plus, we feature a special guest appearance from BBC presenter Qasa Alom! Jack opens up about the very real threats climate change poses to British tennis, from the increasing financial burden of flooded local courts to the introduction of extreme heat rules for domestic competitions. He shares how the LTA is leading by example—utilising solar energy, switching to 90% lower-emission HVO fuel for temporary power, and rolling out a 100% electric vehicle fleet for tournament transport. Kyle gives us an exclusive look behind the scenes at transitioning from player to organiser, managing chaotic player requests, and reflecting on his own career training in brutal heatwaves. He also highlights the simple operational changes making a massive dent in waste, like banning single-use plastic racket bags at the stringing desks and partnering with Brita to eliminate over half a million plastic water bottles. We also get a special update from Qasa Alom, who check-ins to deliver the latest standings from the LTA Pledgeball League table, celebrating our incredible Round One winners and reminding us how to get involved for Round Two. Finally, Raf shares his inspiring journey as a self-taught player, the power of filming your own matches to level up your game, and how everyday players can drive massive collective climate action from the ground up. We wrap things up with a tense, highly competitive sustainability quiz that puts our guests to the ultimate test! 🏆 Get Involved: Want to help protect where we play? Support your local club and help them climb the national leaderboard by logging a quick nature-friendly pledge at pledgeball.org. Every pledge enters you into a draw to win tickets to the HSBC Championships at The Queen's Club for the 2027 season!

    Ep 8: Can Tennis Survive a Changing Climate? feat. Kyle Edmund, the LTA's Jack Baker and Rafatennisonly

  4. Jul 3 ·  Bonus

    The England Fan Road Diaries | Ep 2: Grasshoppers, High Altitude & Facing Mexico

    From a nerve-shredding late win in Atlanta to eating grasshoppers in Mexico City, Harvey checks in for Episode Two of The England Fan Road Diaries! In this episode, Pledgeball’s Katie Cross catches up with Harvey right after he touches down in Mexico. They break down the incredible away-end atmosphere at the Atlanta stadium, the reality of high-altitude headaches, and the looming tension of facing the host nation at the legendary Aztec Stadium. Harvey also takes us through some unexpected culinary adventures with his dad, and highlights the one stadium on the tour that is finally fighting back against extortionate tournament beer prices.

    The England Fan Road Diaries | Ep 2: Grasshoppers, High Altitude & Facing Mexico

  5. Jun 30 ·  Bonus

    The England Fan Road Diaries Ep 1: High Costs, Massive Stadiums, and Following England Stateside

    Welcome to the first instalment of our brief tournament check-ins: The England Fan Road Diaries. This week, Katie Cross catches up with Harvey from the Football Supporters Association (FSA), who is embedded with the England fan embassies on the ground in the United States. While the mood among supporters remains incredibly high after a thrilling opening victory against Croatia, the actual logistics of navigating a US-based tournament are presenting some massive hurdles for everyday matchday fans. Harvey opens up about the stark contrast between the fan-first experience of Euro 2024 in Germany and the commercial extraction dominating this World Cup. From stadium seats placed so high up you almost need binoculars (if the stadium security even lets you bring them in!) to public transport companies rinsing fans with $90 train tickets, we get an honest look at the true cost of football tourism in 2026. We also hear about Harvey's multi-state road trip, the surprising differences in stadium infrastructure when dealing with extreme heat and heavy rain, and his standout moments of the tournament so far in our quick-fire round. To find your club and make a pledge to help protect where we play, head over to pledgeball.org

    The England Fan Road Diaries Ep 1: High Costs, Massive Stadiums, and Following England Stateside

  6. Jun 23

    Ep 7: Can Comedy and Sport Save the Planet? feat. Stuart Goldsmith and Peter Smith

    In this episode, Katie flies solo to explore how unexpected worlds collide to tackle the climate crisis. Joined by award-winning stand-up comedian Stuart Goldsmith to discuss his Edinburgh Fringe show, Spoilers, looking at how comedy can disarm climate dread and combat inertia where traditional environmentalism sometimes struggles to reach everyday people. Despite Stuart openly hating sport, the team calls in backup from Peter Smith, who drives sustainability at Ashton Gate Stadium. Together, they make the case for why football's passionate, tribal audience makes it the perfect vehicle for massive environmental action, proving that aligning climate goals with club loyalty can reach millions. Peter introduces the city-wide impact of Project Whitebeam and shares how local fans are already engaging with sustainability initiatives across Bristol. The quiz is here in its usual glory as Stuart is grilled on stadium sustainability, uncovering surprising facts about local food miles, matchday travel logistics, and massive water-saving innovations at Ashton Gate, before the panel asks the ultimate question: can football save the world? Find your club and make your pledge to protect where we play at pledgeball.org

    Ep 7: Can Comedy and Sport Save the Planet? feat. Stuart Goldsmith and Peter Smith

  7. Jun 11

    Ep 6: Serving Up Sustainability: Tennis Ball Waste & Life on the ATP Tour with Lloyd Glasspool

    This week, hosts Katie Cross and Laurence McKenna are serving up a brilliant father-son double act to explore how tennis is grappling with its own massive climate footprint. We are joined by Neil Glasspool, the driving force behind Hubba's incredible Circularball scheme, alongside his son, 2025 Wimbledon Doubles Champion Lloyd Glasspool. Together, they bridge the gap between grassroots community solutions and the relentless, international reality of elite sport. We take a deep dive into how Neil looked at a dead tennis ball and saw a circular solution, transforming club waste into UK-manufactured flooring tiles and sound insulation. Meanwhile, Lloyd gives us a rare, courtside look at how the professional circuit is coping with extreme weather, the fatigue of constant global travel, and whether the next generation of players are starting to prioritise the planet over pure performance. In this episode, we cover: The Circularball Solution: How Hubba is helping local clubs divert 100% of their old tennis balls away from landfill and keep them in a circular loop.Life on the Relentless ATP Tour: Lloyd’s firsthand perspective on playing in brutal heat, navigating endless travel, and what players really think about sustainability.The Ultimate Hubba Quiz: Neil tests his knowledge on his own statistics (and the shocking scale of the 325 million tennis balls produced globally each year).We've also got a very special guest appearance from sports broadcaster Jonathan Overend, who drops in with some incredibly exciting details on the launch of the 2026 LTA Pledgeball League! Want to get your local tennis club involved? Head over to the Hubba UK website to learn more about the Circularball scheme, and make sure to follow Lloyd's upcoming schedule. Ready to make a difference and be entered into a draw to win tickets to the 2027 HSBC Championships at The Queen's Club!? Head over to https://pledgeball.org to back your club, make your nature-friendly pledge, and help Protect Where We Play.

    Ep 6: Serving Up Sustainability: Tennis Ball Waste & Life on the ATP Tour with Lloyd Glasspool

  8. May 12 ·  Bonus

    The World Cup Fan Guide Special

    The 2026 World Cup is set to be the largest tournament in football history. But what does that actually mean for the travelling fans on the ground? In this special episode, hosts Katie Cross and Laurence McKenna sit down with Ashley Brown from the Football Supporters' Association (FSA) and Madeleine Orr, Assistant Professor of Sport Ecology at the University of Toronto and author of Warming Up. Together, they cut through the gloss to look at the brutal realities awaiting supporters heading to North America. From the vast distances and the impossibility of a flight-free tournament, to the extreme heat and logistical hurdles that will define the fan experience, this is the essential guide to understanding what it will truly take to follow your team in 2026. The team were also joined by TalkSPORT's very own Shebahn Aherne who has an exciting update to share, as well as informing you how you could win a ticket to the end of season FSA Awards. Make your nature-friendly pledge and back your club today at pledgeball.org.

    The World Cup Fan Guide Special
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About

The Pledgeball podcast is what happens when sport, culture and climate action meet. Hosted by our CEO Katie Cross and football YouTube royalty Laurence McKenna, each episode welcomes a new guest to explore the intersection of sport and sustainability, from football clubs and players to creators, campaigners and voices from beyond the sporting world. Together, they dig into practical, realistic actions fans and communities can take, from travel and food to fast fashion and the systems around the game we love. Courtesy of some very special guests, we'll keep you updated on the goings on in the Pledgeball League along the way too. Don't forget, you can help your team by making a pledge at pledgeball.org.  But for now, sit back, relax and listen to these crucial conversations from those who are going above and beyond to Protect Where We Play. 

Information

  • Creator
    Pledgeball
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    14
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Pledgeball Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Pledgeball Podcast

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