No Distinction - with Rebecca Smith

01/15/21 • 60 min

#010 - Rebecca Smith is a California born ex-international footballer with 74 caps for the team she captained, the New Zealand national team.
She’s represented New Zealand at multiple World cups and Olympic games, and has played professional football in 4 different countries, notably winning a Treble with Vfl Wolfsburg.
These international experiences have clearly served her well, as since retiring, she’s put her degrees (Economics, Spanish, an MBA and Masters in Psychology) to good use through managing FIFA's Women's World Cups and managing Strategic Planning in Women's Football, as well as working as a freelance sport consultant.
Rebecca has been foraying into the world of media, co-founding JAMAA Sports Productions, an award-winning production company that aims to highlight the entire journey of the athlete, not just the game, as well as becoming Global Executive Director of Women's Game for the successful football storytelling authority that is COPA90.
She isn’t new to the podcasting world either, she hosts her own podcast ‘The Players Podcast’ which is available on BBC. Very much a woman of “many hats” as she puts it. Don’t miss this episode with a true progressive of the 2021 sporting world. If you'd like to get the links and show notes for this episode, head to:
http://bennichols.co.uk/no-distinction-with-rebecca-smith

Previous Episode

The Fifth Beatle - with Todd Martin

#009 - As the former World Number 4, Todd Martin was a proud member of the golden club of American ATP stars in his nation’s tennis heyday: the 1990s. The self-described “Fifth Beatle” was in good company during that glorious era for the sport, as he sparred against compatriots Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, Jim Courier and Michael Chang for what became that elusive Grand Slam title.

To many, he was the ‘nearly man’, but to himself, the eight ATP tournament titles, the near misses and the two Grand Slam Final losses made him the person he is today. Michigan-born Martin is today CEO of the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Rhode Island, where he also serves as Tournament Director of the post-Wimbledon Dell Technologies Hall of Fame Open.

With this, and his own eponymous Youth Leadership Trust helping underprivileged kids through tennis, Martin has, in his own words, led “a charmed life”.

With all this already achieved in life, this 50-year-old and true gentleman of the sport has much more to accomplish in the years ahead.

If you'd like to get the links and show notes for this episode, head to:

http://bennichols.co.uk/the-fifth-beatle-with-todd-martin

Next Episode

Scars Along The Way - with Andrew Castle

#11 - It’s not often that a successful athlete is better known for their work after their athletic career, especially when that career involved achievements such as being the UK number 1 ranked men’s singles tennis player, reaching world number 80, winning three ATP titles in men’s doubles, and representing Britain at two Olympic Games (Seoul and Barcelona) and the Davis Cup.

However, this is exactly the case for former face of breakfast television show GMTV Andrew Castle. After retiring from professional tennis, Andrew has become one of the most recognisable faces in televised British sport, presenting Basketball, Motor Racing, Golf, and much more alongside his beloved Tennis.

Andrew has hosted multiple game shows, and even had a strong run as a contestant in the sixth series of one of Britain’s favourite prime time shows, Strictly Come Dancing.

He has subsequently transitioned into current affairs, hosting LBC radio’s weekend breakfast show.

With the rapid rise of his impressive broadcast career, it’s no wonder that Andrew is a huge advocate of taking risks, chasing opportunities and having a go. After all, what’s life without that dare-devil spirit?