One of my friends recently asked for some podcast recommendations in the group chat, and I didn’t want to gatekeep the outcome so here you go.
North American focus
Attacking Third is a CBS podcast going over all the latest happenings in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and the US Women’s National Team (USWNT). They go deep with tactical analysis, as well as keeping it light with a rotating cast of people on the show who all bring their own expertise. I love the tactical analysis, something I think we’re still starved for in the women’s game. They go very in-depth without sounding contrived, it’s very relaxed. The Americans are naturals when it comes to talking tactics!
She Scores Bangers - Mariam is great at covering a bit of everything, she qualifies here because she does have a Canadian focus that is unmatched. Mariam is such a fresh voice, covers a lot of underreported-on issues and her tactical analysis is brilliant.
Full Time with Meg Linehan and co host Tamerra Griffin focuses on the USWNT, the NWSL, as well as taking in tidbits from the wider international football community. They bring knowledge and passion to issues on and off the pitch.
European focus
Counter Pressed is a podcast mainly focusing on the WSL but also takes in a bit of everything football Europe related. Led by Flo Lloyd-Hughes, with main characters Becky Taylor-Gill and Jessy Parker Humphreys (I think you have to have a double last name to qualify as a part of the show.) Upfront, with former professional goalkeeper Chloe Morgan and Rachel O’Sullivan from Girls on the Ball, comment a lot on the WSL and England as well. They both have lots of exciting guests on too. I like these because they’re very chatty and relaxed and incredibly knowledgable.
Behind the Goals is a podcast by Scotland internationalists Rachel Corsie and Leanne Crichton. The pair mainly cover Scottish women’s football on club and international level, as well as covering what’s happening in the wider football world and chatting to guests. How’s Your Touch is another podcast with their feet firmly planted in the Scottish women’s football community, reporting on the Scots at home and abroad. A fresh and desperately needed addition to the rotation of football intake - stories from the Scottish game.
Full Time Europe with Sophie Penney and a rotating cast of The Athletic reporters answer questions around what is going on in the WSL and Spain’s Liga F, as well as the Champions League. I like that they bring the kind of takes that the women’s game hungers for - tactical reflections, analysis of individual players and not just the usual three suspects.
Quiero Ser Como (‘I want to be like’) is a Youtube podcast from the Relevo team where they bring on different players for a chat. The setting is very relaxed and the conversations go all kind of ways.
South American focus
My New Favourite … is a podcast that changes name as it changes focus - at the moment focusing on the Olympics but they have an archive of good podcast episodes. See: Call me Estefanía Bandini, not the ‘female Messi’, Panama’s Marta Cox picks up the pieces after losing her mother, and Team USA’s Sofia Huerta and Ashley Sanchez: Am I Mexican enough?
El Hilo (the thread) is a podcast that focus on different themes of contemporary issues for each episode, and last year they did one called Conquistar la cancha: fútbol, feminismo y la Copa América about the women’s Copa América.
futvox Femenil is a podcast about the Liga MX Femenil as well as wider international football, featuring a lot of discussions around what happens both on and off the pitch. It’s a good way to keep up with what is happening in the Mexican game (predicted by Alexia Putellas to become one of the best leagues in the world!) although the podcast has not been updated in a year. However worth listening back to a few episodes and see if it returns.
Oceania focus
The Far Post is an ESPN podcast focusing on football in Australia and New Zeeland, the W-league and the Matildas. Podcast hosts Anna Harrington, Angela Christian-Wilkes, Sam Lewis and Marissa Lordanic all work within the game, are very knowledgeable and have great chemistry, making this a great listen.
+ Longform podcasts
A French Football Scandal, from BBC’s Sports Strangest Crimes, is a narrative podcast about the attack on Kheira Hamraoui, allegedly planned by her now-former PSG teammate Aminata Diallo.
Longshot: Payback is a podcast series about American footballer Jessica McDonald and her journey. From growing up in a troublesome household to making it as a professional footballer, making it to the USWNT, dealing with injuries, the fight for equal pay, and becoming a mom. It’s such a full story, made all the more special by McDonald herself contributing to it, and I find myself becoming completely absorbed in the compelling storytelling.
+ Honorary mentions
Asia focus: The Asian Game covers women's and men’s football across the continent. Following the structure from FIFA, they also include Australia in their coverage (as AFC is the confederation that Australia belongs to and competes in.)
Swedish podcasts: Femme Plus with Anna Rydén and Saga Fredriksson is quick-witted, incredibly knowledgable and insightful. Emma och Märta går på match (hehe shameless plug) sees us go to games and talk around it.
Player-led podcasts: Sam Mewis, who recently retired from football due to her battle with injury, runs The Women’s Game (she previously ran a podcast called Snacks with Lynn Williams on Just Women’s Sports.) Christen Press and Tobin Heath have finally!! resumed their podcast The Recap Show, where they go personal and interview some great players (and player-adjecent lol.)
Both Ruesha Littlejohn and Ella Toone have gone on Saving Grace’s podcast, and they’ve both delivered some hilarious and unhinged commentary. They show this overlap in identities where footballers are allowed to lean into their other sides, at the same time as the “girlies” get to lean into the football world. Ruesha also has a podcast, called the Ruesha and Shebahn Show, together with her twin sister Shebahn who is a sports journalist. Studio time with the duo is mixed with Shebahn’s vlogs (Ruesha also has a separate channel for her vlogging.)
Stadio — covers a lot of things and is not a streamlined women’s football podcast, but Musa and Ryan are good at including coverage and chat from the women’s football world too and their chemistry and chat is really nice.
Am I missing any good ones? Let’s get a discussion going in the comment section.
Excellent list! The only other ones I have I think are
the Guardian Women’s Football pod, which is WSL / Lioness heavy but they get access to some stories earlier / more in-depth than some others
Big Kick Energy for comedy / football newbie mashup
Player-led ones:
Life’s A Pitch with (again) Ruesha and her Irish teammate Lucy Quinn
Three Players and a Podcast
The Bold Tackle
Thank you!! Excellent contributions. Need to give Big Kick Energy a proper listen, I have heard some great stuff about it 🤩