Episodes

  • 8: Greg Rusedski: Wimbledon Pressure, Sacrifice & Life at the Top of Tennis | EP 8

    8: Greg Rusedski: Wimbledon Pressure, Sacrifice & Life at the Top of Tennis | EP 8
    Dec 22 2025
    Former world No. 4 Greg Rusedski joins More Than A Name for an open, honest and wide-ranging conversation about life at the very top of professional tennis.
    Greg talks about how he first discovered tennis, the extraordinary financial sacrifices his father made to give him a chance of making it professionally, and the fine margins that nearly led him to quit the sport early in his career while playing in Israel.
    He opens up about working with a sports psychologist from the age of 11, switching from Canadian to British citizenship, and how it really felt playing in the same era as Tim Henman. He then dives deeper into carrying British expectations and dealing with the unique pressures of Wimbledon.
    We also discuss Greg's run to the US Open Final in 1997, winning BBC Sports Personality of the Year in the same season, the moment he broke the world record for the fastest serve, testing positive for nandrolone and the personal impact of that period, his thoughts on Jannik Sinner’s case, Greg's favourite stories about Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer, and what he is most proud of when he looks back on his career.
    An insightful and human conversation about the fine margins of elite sport and what it really takes to reach — and survive — the top.
    Get in touch with us: morethananamepod@gmail.com
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    1 hr and 24 mins
  • 7: Shaun Derry: Drinking Culture in Football, Maximising Talent & His IVF Journey | EP 7

    7: Shaun Derry: Drinking Culture in Football, Maximising Talent & His IVF Journey | EP 7
    Dec 16 2025
    Former Premier League and Championship midfielder Shaun Derry joins More Than A Name for a hilarious, honest and emotional conversation about football and life beyond the badge.
    Shaun explains how he made it to the Premier League by maximising his ability, the outrageous initiation culture at Notts County, and the excessive drinking culture that existed within football — and how meeting his future wife helped save his career.
    In a first public discussion, Shaun also opens up about going through IVF with his partner during his time at Leeds United - the same club where he suffered a career-threatening heel injury - and the mental toll that period took. He shares eye-opening stories about what young players used to have to go through to make it, and laugh-out-loud tales from QPR’s Premier League years. He also explains why players nicknamed him “the crab”, and reflects on parenting children now forging their own paths in football.
    We also discuss his coaching journey, including how he felt when Patrick Vieira moved him on at Crystal Palace.
    This is a conversation about resilience, honesty, family, and identity — with plenty of laughs along the way.
    Get in touch with us: morethananamepod@gmail.com
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    1 hr and 7 mins
  • 6: Stephen Warnock: Depression, Pain & Finding a Way Back | EP 6

    6: Stephen Warnock: Depression, Pain & Finding a Way Back | EP 6
    Dec 9 2025
    This week on More Than A Name, Max Whittle and former Aston Villa defender Luke Young sit down with ex-Premier League star and top pundit Stephen Warnock for one of the most powerful and open conversations we’ve ever recorded.
    Stephen takes us through his incredible journey:
    • Growing up a Liverpool fan and living the dream by playing for the club.
    • Breaking his leg three times before 20 and being told he’d never play again.
    • How he rebuilt himself physically and mentally to reach the Premier League.
    • Why his time under Martin O’Neill at Aston Villa shattered his confidence.
    • The emotional highs and lows he hid throughout his playing career.
    • The overwhelming depression he faced after retiring.
    • The moment he planned to take his own life — and the friend and psychologist who saved him.
    • The heartbreaking conversation he had with his children during his darkest period.
    • How he began to recover, rebuild, and feel like himself again.
    • Practical advice for anyone struggling with their mental health.
    • His passion for his new chapter as a pundit and commentator.
    This conversation with Stephen deals with themes of depression, suicidal thoughts, and mental-health struggles. If anything he shares resonates with you — if you’re feeling overwhelmed, struggling, or simply unsure where to turn — please know you are not alone.
    In the UK, you can call Samaritans on 116 123 (24/7, free).
    If you feel you might act on suicidal thoughts, call 999 or go to your nearest emergency department.
    If speaking with someone feels hard, consider reaching out to a trusted friend, relative or a mental-health professional. Sometimes just sharing what you feel can help.
    There are also many support networks and online resources — you deserve help, care, and the chance to keep fighting. Our DMs are open @morethananamepod.
    Your life matters. Your feelings matter. You are not alone.
    Get in touch with us: morethananamepod@gmail.com
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    Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/@MoreThanANamePodcast
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    1 hr
  • 5: Graham Scott: What It Really Takes to Referee in the Premier League | EP 5

    5: Graham Scott: What It Really Takes to Referee in the Premier League | EP 5
    Dec 2 2025
    This week on More Than A Name, hosts Max Whittle and Luke Young are joined by former Premier League referee Graham Scott, whose career includes almost 1,000 professional match appointments, over 100 Premier League games, and more than 100 VAR duties.
    A former semi-pro goalkeeper and now Telegraph columnist, Graham brings a unique blend of practical refereeing experience and clear, analytical insight into the modern game.
    In this wide-ranging conversation, Graham talks about how he entered the world of officiating, the hidden pressures fans never see, and how refereeing influences everyday life. He explains how long it actually takes to reach the Premier League, the extraordinary amount of performance reviews referees face, and offers a detailed breakdown of how VAR really works — its strengths, weaknesses, and what needs to improve.
    Graham also reflects on players he clashed with, decisions he regrets, the importance of body language, and the mental demands of being constantly judged by players, fans and the media.
    A fascinating, honest and eye-opening episode for anyone who loves football and wants to understand refereeing from the inside.
    Follow MTAN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morethananamepod/
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    Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/@MoreThanANamePodcast
    Get in touch with us: morethananamepod@gmail.com
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    1 hr and 11 mins
  • 4: Charlie Wakefield: Inside Chelsea’s Academy & the Reality of Chasing the Dream | EP 4

    4: Charlie Wakefield: Inside Chelsea’s Academy & the Reality of Chasing the Dream | EP 4
    Nov 25 2025
    This week on More Than a Name, we sit down with former Chelsea academy star Charlie Wakefield for an honest and revealing conversation about the realities of chasing a career in elite football.
    Charlie opens up about how he signed for Chelsea at 12 (2:28), growing up inside the academy “bubble" (4:50), and the pressure of being labelled a top prospect (6:30). He explains how 10 hamstring injuries, stem cell treatment and constant setbacks reshaped his identity, his confidence, and ultimately his career path (23:12).
    We dive into the money, the agents, the expectations, and the misconceptions that follow young players — as well as Chelsea’s strategy of investing heavily in teenage talent and selling for profit (11:50).
    Charlie also shares his mission to promote mental health awareness in football (39:10) and his plans for life after the game, including building his own company, One Percent Supplements (47:12).
    This is a must-listen for families invested in the game and fans who want to be taken behind the curtain.
    Follow More Than A Name on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morethananamepod/
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    Get in touch with us: morethananamepod@gmail.com
    Watch full episodes on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@MoreThanANamePodcast
    Contact Luke's Elevate programme: https://www.instagram.com/elevateplayers
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    55 mins
  • 3: James Haskell: Therapy, Fatherhood, England Rugby Chaos and Life After Loss | EP 3

    3: James Haskell: Therapy, Fatherhood, England Rugby Chaos and Life After Loss | EP 3
    Nov 18 2025
    Former England rugby international James Haskell joins Max Whittle and Luke Young on More Than A Name for one of his most honest and wide-ranging conversations to date.
    Haskell opens up about how therapy has shaped his life (02:30), why he loved playing rugby (9:40), dealing with retirement (11:36), the difference between rugby and football culture (16:12), his struggles with self-confidence (23:10), and how certain coaching styles affected him during the most intense moments of his career (25:22). He discusses the highs and lows of playing for England, the reality of life on British & Irish Lions tours, and his love for music and DJing.
    James also reflects deeply on fatherhood (26:47), succeeding under Eddie Jones (31:10), the shambles of the 2011 World Cup (33:48), how professional sport views therapy (42:15), his view on mental health diagnosis (44:03) and how he’s been coping with the loss of his father this year (50:20).
    A raw, insightful and entertaining conversation about resilience, identity, grief, pressure and finding balance as a modern athlete.
    Follow More Than A Name on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morethananamepod/
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    Get in touch with us: morethananamepod@gmail.com
    Watch full episodes on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@MoreThanANamePodcast
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    1 hr and 7 mins
  • 2: Stiliyan Petrov: From Bulgaria to the Premier League — Pressure, Pride & Perspective | EP 2

    2: Stiliyan Petrov: From Bulgaria to the Premier League — Pressure, Pride & Perspective | EP 2
    Nov 11 2025
    Stiliyan Petrov joins Luke and Max for an incredibly honest and insightful conversation about life in Bulgaria, his time with Celtic and Aston Villa and his journey with cancer, which continues today through The Stiliyan Petrov Foundation.
    Stiliyan talks throughout about the huge demands his dad placed on him as a footballer and why those expectations will never go away (04:04) before discussing his childhood in Montana, Bulgaria (13:30), unknowingly scoring the winner in a fixed match (21:00), playing for CSKA Sofia and living in the capital (23:45), signing with Celtic (27:42), moving to the Premier League (40:40), his time at Villa alongside Luke (42:10), reflecting on a record 105 caps for Bulgaria (48:00), and finally his journey with cancer (50:15).
    If you can, please support the Stiliyan Petrov Foundation: https://www.instagram.com/spfoundation19
    Follow More Than A Name on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morethananamepod/
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    Get in touch with us: morethananamepod@gmail.com
    Watch full episodes on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@MoreThanANamePodcast
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    1 hr and 33 mins
  • 1: Luke Young: 17 Years in the Premier League — The Real Story | EP 1

    1: Luke Young: 17 Years in the Premier League — The Real Story | EP 1
    Nov 4 2025
    The More Than A Name Podcast is here as we begin Series 1!
    Former Premier League defender Luke Young chats to co-host Max Whittle about his 17-year career with Spurs, Charlton, Middlesbrough, Aston Villa, QPR and England. Luke opens up about the drama at his final club QPR (03:43), playing in the infamous match between QPR and Chelsea in 2011 (08:02), the moment his all-Premier League playing record came to an end (11:22), running the London Marathon during a top flight season (12:27), breaking through with Tottenham as a Spurs fan (17:10), his 'welcome to professional football' moment (25:11), the challenges of marking Thierry Henry (28:20), his time at Charlton and making his England debut (31:41), missing the 2006 World Cup because of injury (36:29), publicly retiring from international football (37:38), what it's like to fail a medical (40:04) and his three seasons at Aston Villa (42:33).
    Follow the show on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morethananamepod/
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    Get in touch: morethananamepod@gmail.com
    Watch full episodes on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@MoreThanANamePodcast
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    52 mins