The Big Jim Show

Lee McKenzie is one of the best presenters and reporters in the business across a number of sports. We discuss the future of rugby and how it isn't all doom and gloom, what the likes of Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer are really like behind the scenes, what it was like visiting Michael Schumacher's ranch, the challenges of life working in the travelling circus, tales from inside F1, her book on exactly that and much more... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ryan Caldwell is a former Ulster, Bath, Exeter & Ireland second row with a hell of a story from life after rugby. We discuss the use of pain killers in rugby, transitioning into another life, his battles with addiction, troubles with the law, finding salvation in the Colombian jungle and his desire to help others turn their lives around too... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Adam Linforth is Chief Smuggler and owner of swimwear company Budgy Smuggler. We discuss living in Australia, the UK and now France, building a brand gradually, overcoming financial adversity, mental health struggles, the badge of honour that is being voted the most hated swimwear item, how even the royal family now wear smugglers and much more... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michael Jamieson is an Olympic and Commonwealth Games silver medal winning swimmer. We discuss the fine margins in swimming at elite level, the loneliness of such a solo sport, pushing yourself to the limits and beyond, mental health concerns in sport, life in the Olympic Village, how he never gets in an indoor pool any more and much more... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mack Hansen is a Six Nations Grand Slam winning Ireland winger. We discuss his journey from Canberra to Galway, Connacht not getting the respect they deserve, his rapid rise to international rugby, being on the end of the Andy Farrell hairdryer treatment, where he's going to get a tattoo of his head coach's face, how the breakdown is refereed, the controversy with Johnny Sexton and Jaco Peyper at the Champions Cup final, Ireland's prospects of winning the World Cup, the pub crawl he'd go on if they did lift the trophy and much more... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

James Smith is a personal trainer, author, comedian and social media sensation. We discuss his journey from playing rugby in National 2, the drug-related incident that inspired him to move to Australia, people's relationship with food in the modern world, the need to have a desperation to succeed, the pandemic, his rise to notoriety, the evolution into live shows and comedy, social media algorithms and much more... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Martin Anayi is the CEO of the United Rugby Championship. We discuss the many iterations of the URC, the impact of the South African sides and their involvement in the Champions Cup, how to appeal to a broader and younger audience, whether a global calendar is achievable, if it's possible for a single broadcaster or platform to be the home of all rugby and much more... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Frank Murphy is a former Leicester, Munster & Connacht scrum half and now international rugby referee. We discuss his journey into refereeing, literally learning to blow the whistle, being fast-tracked, what a week looks like for a referee, the assessment process, what laws need to change, his disappointment at missing out on refereeing at the 2023 World Cup and much more... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Craig Doyle is a broadcaster extraordinaire, host of BT Sport's rugby coverage and window salesman! We discuss his route from Ireland to the BBC, the emotional highs and lows of presenting Grandstand and working on an Olympics, the difficult position rugby currently finds itself in, what it was like to be in Ireland camp discussing the Shoulder To Shoulder documentary, how significant it would be for Ireland to win a World Cup and much more... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jasper Wiese is a Leicester and South Africa number eight and one of the hardest to be playing the game at the moment. We discuss his father's hatred of rugby, steroids in the sport, the number of South Africans playing in the Premiership, travel for the SA franchises in European rugby, fulfilling a dream of playing for the Boks, Rassie Erasmus' special gift, how a night out cost him dear with Franco Smith, why he loves the physical confrontation and much more... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices