Lessons Learned

So this is it! The final episode of Series Two of Lessons Learned. I hope you've enjoyed the series! My guest this week is racing driver Jack Aitken, a rising star on the path to the very top of the world of motorsport. With wins in F3, and F2, Jack made his debut in F1 last season as the current reserve driver for Williams. We are about to talk about his struggles in 2018, the tragedy of the 2019 Belgian Grand Prix, making the most of opportunities and much more.

Triathlete Vicky Holland is an Olympic bronze medallist and world champion and in this episode, in her typically chatty and candid manner, we talk about what really went happened on THAT day at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, overcoming her struggles with disordered eating and a fixation on her weight, dealing with imposter syndrome, seeing a sports psychiatrist, and much more. Enjoy!

My guest today is London 2012 Olympic champion and three time world champion cyclist Dani Rowe. Her career began on the track, and she went on to win three world titles and Olympic gold medal in the team pursuit, before turning her attention to the road, picking up podiums at prestigious stage races like the Tour De Yorkshire and The Women’s Tour. She also won Commonwealth bronze in 2018 on the Gold Coast before retiring at the end of that season. She is now a coach, a commentator, a pundit and a mum and we chat being a perfectionist, resilience, being a mum, and much more.

My guest this week is former Scotland rugby captain turned commentator, pundit and professional whisky drinker John Barclay. He won the Calcutta Cup in 2018 too - beating England in a Cup tie for the first time in a decade. John also won the Guinness Pro 14 title with Scarlets in 2017, and played for both Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh Rugby during an illustrious career of almost 300 professional appearances. He also has an alarmingly dry sense of humour, which very much comes to the fore as we talk about school, playing for the Scarlets, injuries and retirement, regrets and becoming a father. Enjoy!

My guest this week is the wonderfully candid and genuine Kelly Sotherton. Kelly is a three times Olympic bronze medallist and Commonwealth champion specialising in heptathlon. Since hanging up her spikes in 2012, she has turned her hand to coaching as well as punditry and commentary, and will be leading the athletics team at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games in her home city. We talk about the importance of being authentic, making mistakes and boozing in pub beer gardens. Enjoy!

An Olympic legend joins me this week to talk about five key life lessons he has learned throughout his career. Sir Chris Hoy is an astonishing six times Olympic gold medallist, 11 times world champion and two times Commonwealth Champion, from a career on the bike spanning almost 20 years. We talk about having a plan B, the importance of failure, having perspective, becoming a father, and we both struggle to pronounce Warren Buffet's name. Enjoy!

I am delighted to welcome Matt Smith as my guest for episode two - Matt is a Championship footballer, who has had a somewhat unusual path to the top ranks of the sport - the striker first played professionally for League One Oldham, and indeed helped them to the FA Cup fifth round in 2013, beating Liverpool on the way. He then had stints at Bristol, Leeds, QPR and Fulham, and is currently playing for Millwall. He is also an old mate from school! We chat divorce, THAT FA Cup run, football culture, coronavirus, retirement and much more. Enjoy.

Welcome back to series two of Lessons Learned. I am Laura Winter, sports broadcaster, podcaster, host and journalist and I am so excited to be bringing you another season of my podcast. We are kicking things off with a visit to the world of motorsport, as I speak to one of the most exciting up-and-coming talents Jamie Chadwick. Jamie is a trailblazing racing driver - she was the first woman and youngest to win the British GT Championships GT4 title. In 2018 - first ever woman to win a British F3 race. In 2019 she became the first female winner of the MRF Challenge Series and of course the winner of the inaugural W Series. She is also a development driver for the F1 team Williams Racing, and harbours a burning ambition to become an F1 driver.

My final guest of this series is Wales and British and Irish Lions legend Sam Warburton. The flanker was first named as captain in 2011, going on to lead his country a record 49 times, amongst 74 international caps, Grand Slam and Six Nations glory, two Rugby World Cups. and two Lions tours as captain. We chat lockdown, family, getting perspective, THAT red card, a surprise pick as the best moment of his career, being a leader, and much more. ENJOY!

I was crying laughing recording this one, a warning to you if listening in public! My guest is the brilliant Katharine Merry, Olympic bronze medallist 400m runner at Sydney 2000. Kath is a natural comedian, a born entertainer, a lightning fast runner and a glass ceiling shattering broadcaster - and we had a lot of fun, talking injuries, retirement, giving up, being selfish, having kids, home-schooling and life as a female broadcaster. Enjoy.

My guest this week is England and Team GB hockey captain Alex Danson. Alex won bronze at London 2012 before going on to make history and become Olympic champion at Rio 2016. But two years ago her life changed beyond recognition when she suffered a head injury. Here we chat about that injury and the perspective it has given her, the soaring highs and crushing lows of elite hockey and all she learned in between. Enjoy! Lessons Learned is sponsored by Airhead, a truly unique pollution mask for people that love getting active and being outside for their physical and mental health. Sign up and join the Airhead Community for the latest news and an exclusive discount for Lessons Learned listeners. Head to www.airhead.cc/lessonslearned Plus you can now pre-order your very own pollution mask with a whopping discount here: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/2604516/x/23698201?secret_perk_token=738c640b

My amazing guest this week is three-times silver world Ironman medallist Lucy Charles, and her gorgeous dog Lola. Together, we explore all she has learned so far, from the threat of injuries and a stress fracture that almost curtailed her career, to grief, competitive swimming, her husband Reece, her dog Lola, the hustle of starting your own business and how she plans to become world champion. Enjoy! Lessons Learned is sponsored by Airhead, a truly unique pollution mask for people that love getting active and being outside for their physical and mental health. Sign up and join the Airhead Community for the latest news and an exclusive discount for Lessons Learned listeners. Head to www.airhead.cc/lessonslearned Plus you can now pre-order your very own pollution mask with a whopping discount here: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/2604516/x/23698201?secret_perk_token=738c640b

My brilliant guest for episode four of Lessons Learned is double Olympic swimming champion Becky Adlington. Becky is a former swimmer and four time Olympic medallist. She won gold in the 400m and 800m freestyle at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, and double bronze in London 2012. She is also a two time Commonwealth Games champion, a world and a European champion, in distance freestyle. Becky retired after London 2012 and went on to star in BBC’s swimming coverage as a pundit, She also has a five year old daughter, Summer. We talk about those shock gold medals in Beijing 2008, "letting everyone down" at London 2012, becoming a mum, going to therapy and the impact of her sister's illness. I adored our conversation and I hope you do too! Lessons Learned is sponsored by Airhead, a truly unique pollution mask for people that love getting active and being outside for their physical and mental health. Sign up and join the Airhead Community for the latest news and an exclusive discount for Lessons Learned listeners. Head to www.airhead.cc/lessonslearned Plus you can now pre-order your very own pollution mask with a whopping discount here: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/2604516/x/23698201?secret_perk_token=738c640b

My brilliant guest in episode three of Lessons Learned, supported by Airhead, is professional cyclist Nicolas Roche. Nico is a two-time Irish champion and an Olympian riding for World Tour outfit team Sunweb. He has won two stages of the Vuelta a Espana, and twice finished in the top 10 in the General Classification and is always a strong contender for stage wins in Grand Tours, as well as being a super domestique. Nico, who has raced for BMC and Team Sky, is the son of infamous cyclist Stephen Roche. In this episode, we talk about the highs and lows Nico has experienced at the Vuelta, the battle to being a GC rider, following his father's footsteps, as well as delving into his personal struggles during a torrid 2018. Lessons Learned is sponsored by Airhead, a truly unique pollution mask for people that love getting active and being outside for their physical and mental health. Sign up and join the Airhead Community for the latest news and an exclusive discount for Lessons Learned listeners. Head to www.airhead.cc/lessonslearned Plus you can now pre-order your very own pollution mask with a whopping discount here: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/2604516/x/23698201?secret_perk_token=738c640b

Episode Two of Lessons Learned, supported by Airhead, is here! In this episode, I chat to former professional rugby player Ugo Monye, who amassed 241 appearances for Harlequins, scoring 89 tries and helping the side lift four trophies including the 2012 Premiership title. Ugo also has 14 caps for England and made two Lions appearances as well. In a brilliantly honest, candid and inspiring conversation, we discuss the five life lessons he has learned - from racism, and becoming a father, to representing England, the British and Irish Lions and winning the Premiership title with boyhood club Harlequins. Enjoy. Lessons Learned is sponsored by Airhead, a truly unique pollution mask for people that love getting active and being outside for their physical and mental health. Sign up and join the Airhead Community for the latest news and an exclusive discount for Lessons Learned listeners. Head to www.airhead.cc/lessonslearned Plus you can now pre-order your very own pollution mask with a whopping discount here: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/2604516/x/23698201?secret_perk_token=738c640b

Welcome to Lessons Learned. I am your host Laura Winter, and my first ever guest in my brand new podcast is four-time Olympic champion, 10-time world champion, rowing legend and Henley Royal Regatta colleague Sir Matthew Pinsent. Matthew discusses five key moments, choices, mistakes and regrets from his extraordinary career, and explains the lessons he has learned from them, and the lessons he is still learning today. Lessons Learned is sponsored by Airhead, a truly unique pollution mask for people that love getting active and being outside for their physical and mental health. Active travel, and wearing a mask, has never been so important, and whether you’re cycling, running or walking, this mask offers the most advanced protection. Sign up and join the Airhead Community for the latest news and an exclusive discount for Lessons Learned listeners. Head to www.airhead.cc/lessonslearned.