Podcasts by Backstraight Boys (
Join Jody, Bayo, and Guests each fortnight (Or so) as they discuss athletics' hot topics, cover live events, and host stars of the sport in longer interview specials. Hit 'subscribe', give us a rating, and join in the conversation on Twitter: @BackstraightB and IG: @BackstraightBoysPodcast .Podcast imagery: Mark Shearman @athleticsimages
Further podcasts by Claire Thomas
Podcast on the topic Läufer
All episodes
Starting Out, Breaking Through, and Seeking Gold: Denise Lewis Interview Special (Part I) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
From Wolverhampton to the top of the podium in Sydney - via a handful of Commonwealth titles and records, a pair of World silvers, a couple of take-off leg changes, and the opportunity to compete a...
Listen
Triple Jump, Quarter Miles, and Much More Say for Athletes: Christian Taylor on his Career and The Athletics Association from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
We say this with love - enormous amounts of it - but Christian Taylor is a serious over-achiever. Double and reigning Olympic Champion, four-time and reigning World Champion, seven-time and reignin...
Listen
Footie, Fourths, and Fabulous Four-by-Ones: Adam Gemili Interview Special from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
Adam Gemili likes to break records. When he produced a dazzling 9.97 in 2015, he became the first British athlete to dip below the two hallowed barriers of men's sprinting. When he scorched past se...
Listen
Olympics Postponed, Dry Punished, and Britney (Bitch): Hot Takes for your Locked-Down Ears from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
Does Caster Semenya have the raw speed to challenge the world's best over 200 metres? Does Britney Spears..? As the Olympic Games are postponed for the first time in their history, and Mark Dry rec...
Listen
Fiendish Trials, Canny Tactics, and Upholding a Legacy: Our British Men's Middle Distance Special from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
We'll level with you: this might be a middle distance special, but it's the length of a marathon. It's an hour and forty-eight minutes of athletics chat, including four substantial interviews with ...
Listen
Jemma's Flying, Mondo's Soaring, and GB's Spoilt for 400m Talent: the Glasgow Grand Prix and a few more besides from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
Mondo Duplantis is making history at whim, Jemma Reekie has stepped out of Laura Muir's shadow and is eating national records for breakfast, and Jessie Knight is laughing in the face of her own pre...
Listen
Jeanette, Jon, and Pre-Season Joviality: Backstraight's 2020 Preview from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
It's an Olympic year. Mondo has already broken a World Record. Jemma Reekie has broken three British ones. Jeanette Kwakye and Jon Mulkeen are on the pod. Goodness gracious, 2020 really is off to a...
Listen
Barshim's Back (so's Radzi), Kat's Beaming, and Athletics is Better (or is it?): Our 2019 Season Review from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
Jody, Bayo, Claire, and Radzi look back on 2019: the highs, the lows, and everything in between
Listen
King Kipchoge, Awards Analysis, and Federation Formations: Records are Falling, but Athletes are Rising from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
The trio discuss recent road running achievements, the World Athletics awards nominees, and how athletes are striving to benefit from unprecedented influence within the sport.
Listen
Mary Cain (brave), Diamond League (diminished), and some British favourites (journalised): two mega rants and three mega interviews from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
The trio discuss Mary Cain's Oregon Project experience and the latest Diamond League reforms, plus share interviews with Tom Bosworth, Sophie McKinna, and Adam Gemili
Listen
Shot Putters in the Stratosphere, Kat and Dina in the History Books, and Elephants in the Room: Our Big Doha Review Pod from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
Jody, Bayo, and Claire attempt to cover ten days of terrific athletics (feat. plenty of eyebrow-raising moments) in just the one episode...
Listen
Falling Records, Sizzling Match-Ups, and Cooling Stadiums (hopefully): An Epic Doha Preview with Our New BFF, Radzi from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
Claire, Jody, and Bayo are joined by the BBC's Radzi to preview (at length...) the 2019 World Championships
Listen
Karsten's King, Abi's Back, and Amelia's Just Getting Started: Diamond League Finals Wrap & Those Picked To #Represent from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
A look back at the two Diamond League finals, and a discussion of the British Athletics squad chosen to #Represent in Doha
Listen
Bounding Ben, Dashing Dina, and Heights-Hitting Holly : The Race to Represent at British Champs from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
Jody and Bayo were in Birmingham for the 2019 British Championships, as athletes vied for those coveted tickets to Doha...
Listen
Best of British, Birmingham-Bound, and Doha Dust-Ups: Our British Champs Preview Pod from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
Jody and Bayo look ahead to this weekend's British Athletics Championships. If they're anything like the 2018 edition, we're in for a doozy...
Listen
Youcef Zatat, Rabah Yousif, and Plenty More Besides: Recent Results and Clangers from the World of Track and Field from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
European U20s and U23s, USATF Champs, and European Team Champs - feat. history-making Jemma Reekie and man-of-the-moment, Youcef Zatat
Listen
Jakob's baby fat, Karsten's heart, and Shelly-Ann's GOAT status: Backstraight's Half-Century at the London Diamond League from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
Jody and Bayo headed to the London Diamond League to catch up with some of weekend's star performers
Listen
Plenty of Laps, Oodles of Fun, and Lots to Discuss: Journalising (G&Ts in-hand) at the Highgate Harriers Night of the 10k PBs from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
The team head to Highgate Harriers for the sixth Night of the 10k PBs: 'the Glastonbury of athletics'
Listen
Handling nerves, seizing opportunities, and PBing for fun: Niamh Emerson Interview Special from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
Our latest interview special features World Junior Heptathlon Champion and rising multi-eventing star, Niamh Emerson
Listen
#47 - Fantasies, Nightmares, and Errors (So Many Errors...): If Bulls did Athletics Round Ups in China Shops from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
This week: terrible Fantasy Diamond League choices, the slightly bathetic IAAF rebranding, and a general comedy of errors
Listen
#46 - Caster’s Class, Doha’s Diamonds, and Eliud’s Enduring Excellence: Backstraight’s Take on the Last Few Weeks from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
The Semenya case, Diamond Leagues - Doha, Shanghai, and fantasy - Eliud Kipchoge, World Relays, and more. Welcome along!
Listen
#45 - Making Names, Crossing Ponds, and Realising Potential: Our Young Guns Special from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
Inspired by our lovely encounter with some of Team GB's best and brightest in Glasgow, we discuss the phenomenon of the prodigious athletic talent
Listen
#44 - Fewer Events, Higher Standards, and (supposedly) Greater Entertainment: The IAAF's Big Announcement from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
It's all change at the Diamond League, and for Tokyo 2020 qualification. Confused? Us too. Nevertheless, pull up a seat at Backstraight HQ, and let's talk it all through together.
Listen
#42 - Twice the Events, Half the Beards, and Double their Ages: Gallivanting in Glasgow (Part I) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
Jody and Claire head to Glasgow for some European Indoor Championships journalising. As per, we get half the big names competing to appear on the pod, whilst forgetting the names of the other half.
Listen
#43 - Big Vaults, Tough Falls, and Raised Roofs: Gallivanting in Glasgow (Part II) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
The second installment of our European Indoor Championships offering, feat. Bradshaw, Learmonth, Duckworth, Oskan-Clarke, and more...
Listen
#41 - Grand Prix, Glasgow, and Girl Power: The Indoor Season So Far from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
The team are back together for the first time in 2019 - examining the indoor season so far, and looking ahead to next month's European Championships
Listen
#40 - Unfathomable Hustle, Uncharted Territory, and Untouchable Records: Paula Radcliffe Interview Special from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
Jody speaks to the one and only Paula Radcliffe: world record holder, three-time London Marathon winner, and pundit extraordinaire
Listen
#39 – Late Finishes, Even Later Medal Ceremonies, and – Lately – Legal Life: Christine Ohoruogo Interview Special (Part Two) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
Part two of our epic (both in terms of duration and quality) chat with two-time World Champion and Olympic gold medallist, Christine Ohoruogo
Listen
#38 - Switching Codes, Missing Tests, and Striking Gold: Christine Ohoruogo Interview Special (Part One) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
Bayo sits down with two-time World Champion and Olympic gold medallist Christine Ohoruogo for our latest interview special
Listen
#37 - Championships, Challenges, and Champers: A Mimosa-Fuelled Romp Through The Rather Brilliant 2018 from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
A look back (with guest host, Tom Bosworth!) at 2018: a truly fabulous year of athletics.
Listen
#36 - Freaky Fridays, Sprinting Prodigies, and Imaginary Libraries: A Day at Fudge Project London from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
Claire pays a visit to Lee Valley, to meet the athletes and coaches of Fudge Project London, one of Britain's most exciting sprinting groups
Listen
#35 - Freezing Temperatures, Warm Hearts, and Hot Takes: Backstraight Does Parkrun from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
Jody, Bayo, and Claire head to Southwark, to experience the global phenomenon that is parkrun...
Listen
#34 - Diamond Duels, Continental Contests, and Historic Hustles: The Final Month of an Epic, Herculean Season from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
Enthralled by the Diamond League, baffled by the Continental Cup, and in awe of Mayer and Kipchoge
Listen
#33 - Sumos, Steeples, and Seizing Silver: Eilish McColgan Interview Special from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
Our latest interview special. International travels and international medals: oh, to be Eilish McColgan.
Listen
#32 - Super Families, Scintillating Showdowns, Shoddy Scheduling : A (Pretty Rushed) Wrap of Berlin, 'The Best Champs Ever' from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
Jody and Bayo reckon Berlin was the best championships they've ever attended; here's our attempt to discuss it all.
Listen
#31 - Jeanette Stepping Up, Kyle Stepping Back, and Berlin Looking Thrilling: Our Big European Preview Episode from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
Like Ingebrigstens, the major championships just keep on coming this year, and so we turn our attention to Berlin 2018...
Listen
#30 - Monaco, Muller, and Millicent: Journalising at the London Anniversary Games from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
London and Monaco Diamond Leagues, recorded - with plenty of big names - at the Olympic Stadium
Listen
#29 - Champs (British), Cup (Global), and Pie (Humble): Brilliant in both Birmingham and London from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
It's a short one this week, but one teeming with positivity: this season's been a proper corker already.
Listen
#28 - Ice Creams, Henry VIII, and War Paint: A Little Bit of Everything with National Record Holder Dina Asher-Smith from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
In our latest interview special, we catch up with history-making, history-loving sprinter, Dina Asher-Smith
Listen
#27 - Speedspiration, Hype Tracks, and the 23-second barrier: Our UK Sprint Queen Special from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
Sprint Queens past and present join us ahead of what promises to be a blistering British Championships
Listen
#26 – Shaunae’s Shorts, Bell’s Brilliance, and Highgate Hilarity: Our Latest Offering, Feat. Seb Coe from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
Hello there, beloved listener, and welcome to our twenty-sixth episode.
Listen
#25 – Rain-Drenched in Boston, WL-Spoilt in Doha, and Beer-Soaked in Highgate: A Romp through Recent Meets from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
Boston was bonkers, but so was Mary Keitany’s race plan in London. The first Diamond League of the year (which was grossly under-publicised, obv) produced some phenomenal performances, inc...
Listen
#24 – Aussie Thrills, English Spills, and Langford Lovin’: Gold Coast 2018 Done and Dusted from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
Jody, Bayo, and Claire are in the same country – as Anna in ‘Frozen’ sings whilst cavorting around Arendelle Castle – for the first time in forever. Backstraight is well ...
Listen
#23 – What a Legend! What a Champion! … What a Relief: Cathy Freeman Interview Special from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
We’ve not seen any of the Australian coverage of the Commonwealths, but – if the Gold Coast production team is anything like the BBC – they love showing historic montages of Aussie a...
Listen
#22 – Mixed Zone, Potential Medallists, and Moustaches: Trackside Snippets from the Gold Coast from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
The Commonwealths have been stressful in a number of ways: four separate teams to follow for the usual Team GB stalwarts; deciding which will yield more Twitter traction – #GC2018 (lost am...
Listen
#21 – Indoor Golds, Commonwealth Golds, and a Golden Coast: Welcoming in GC2018 from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
Claire’s back in England, but Jody and Bayo have jetted off to the Gold Coast, where they’re representing the hallowed establishment of Track and Field News as Commonwealth Correspon...
Listen
#20 – Pioneering, podiums, and philanthropy: ‘Gold Medal’ Mary Peters Interview Special from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
Queen Mary The Great. When we contrived to bump into Mary Peters at the BAWA awards luncheon back in November, Jody told her he’d rather interview her than Usain Bolt, and – on this week&#...
Listen
#19 – Bowerman Babes, Fruit Loop Luck, and Avocado Anthems: Courtney Frerichs Interview Special from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
11th August 2017. London. Courtney Frerichs eats a bowl of fruit loops for breakfast. She lines up for the women’s steeplechase final, the word ‘Fearless’ inked temporarily upo...
Listen
#18 – Big British Stars, Brilliant Bosworth, and Backstraighting in Birmingham: The 2018 British Indoor Championships from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
As fun as these descriptions are to write, the way to sell you on this episode is a list: a star-studded who’s-who of the athletes Jody spoke to at the 2018 British Indoor Champ...
Listen
#17 – Singing, Sledding, and Soaring: Jaz Sawyers Interview Special from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
Need a lawyer? An outstanding tongue-in-cheek cover of a Sheeran track? A Summer and/or Winter Olympic role model? Or just an absolutely cracking new Instagram follow? Look no further than Jazmi...
Listen
#16 – Country Crossing, Pimple Popping, and SPOTY Speculating: A New Year of Athletics and Resolutions from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
Much to Claire’s delight, this week is the first episode with complete gender parity (Jody’s off sunning himself in Goa). In his absence, Bayo and the Backstraight Girl discuss Decem...
Listen
#15 – Brickbats, Bouquets, and a general Athletic Bonanza from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
Part two of our latest recording session. We talk about the things we love in athletics, and those we really don’t. Expect cameos by Whitney, Flo-Jo, Fort Minor, and a whole host of other ...
Listen
#14 – Swimming, Skating, and Smorgasbords: all the big stories, feat. Bobby Clay and Perri Shakes-Drayton from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
As recording sessions go, this one was an epic. We sat down mid-afternoon, before gradually cancelling our evening plans and discussing athletics’ news well into the wintry night. Colin Mc...
Listen
#13 – Fast Times, Tough Times, and Strange Things: Jess Judd Interview Special from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
A slight misnomer here, as we’ve ended up editing out the Stranger Things chat (in case you were wondering: Jess also thinks Season Two, Episode Seven was abysmal), but it’s left eve...
Listen
#12 – Commonwealths, Rankings, and Rants: Farah hits the roads, Mellor hits the headlines, and Griffiths hits the heights from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
Following on from Aly Dixon’s chat with Claire last week, we’ve a pretty marathon-heavy pod. Mo Farah is hopping on a plane to get good at running them; Jonny Mellor won’t be g...
Listen
#11 – Run, Run, and then Run some more: Aly Dixon Interview Special from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What do flamingoes, Paula Radcliffe, and screaming Londoners have in common? Well, not very much at all, if we’re honest – but they’re all discussed in this week’s episod...
Listen
#10 – Better late than never..? On medal reallocation from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
Doping dominates discourse on athletics. Fact. We don’t want to discuss cheats on our podcast. Also true. Fantastic athletes who were robbed of their moment upon the podium at a major cham...
Listen
#9 – Run, Jump, Blog: Tianna Bartoletta Interview Special from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
World and Olympic Champion, Tianna Bartoletta, has carved quite the niche. She can jump over seven metres, has a world record to her name, has studied medicine, and crafts powerful, eloquent blo...
Listen
#8 – Worlds collide: Pooley, Turner, ‘the Hedgehog’, and Butterfield from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
In perhaps the most eclectic episode to date, Claire and Jody discuss their European athletes of the year, the future (or lack thereof) of the Commonwealth Games, who might break the men’s...
Listen
#7 – Mysterious Girls, rough cut diamonds, and thoughts from a Wetherspoon’s from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
It’s a patchwork quilt of an episode today, as the gang tackle your questions on the season, and contemplate the Diamond League as a concept. Bayo calls in from an airport bar, Jody conduc...
Listen
#6 – Normality is restored: a look back at London 2017 from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
Ten days glued to our televisions or seats in the Olympic Stadium wasn’t enough athletics for a fortnight, so we met up to discuss our highs, lows, and takeaways. Listen out for the latest...
Listen
#5 – Hashtags, hedgehogs, and hunks – World Champs Day Seven from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
We stole fifteen minutes before our BBC 5 Live debut to record an emergency pod, pooling some of our thoughts on the World Championships so far. Spoiler alert: expect rants about coverage, and r...
Listen
#4 – World Champs preview, with a sprinkling of nostalgia from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
Although they’ve hardly snuck up on us (we’ve talked about nothing else for months), the World Championships are finally here: London 2017 is days away! With that in mind, the entire...
Listen
#3 – Team Trials, empty seats, and REPRESENTing: a look back on Birmingham from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
Matt’s back, and putting in some Oscar-worthy performances to boot in this, our third podcast. We couldn’t wait an entire fortnight to discuss this weekend’s British Championsh...
Listen
#2 European and US Championships – The Hyltons, Louise Hazel, Kelly Sotherton from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
It’s come around as quickly as the top bend did for Allyson Felix in that 2015 400m final; episode two is here! Jody and Bayo dissect European and US Championships, and – in honour o...
Listen
All Hail Harry, Peerless Pratt, and the Bright British Future: the Delightful Surprise Package of the 2020 British Championships from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
One left with a national record, one left not a dry eye across the land, but both Harrys were stars of the show at last weekend's British Championships. Alongside the now world-leading Aimee Pratt,...
Listen
Cheptegei's Heroics, Karsten's Commitment, and World-Class Brits: Jody and Bayo's take on a diamond-standard Monaco from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
Safe to say we all had *big* Friday nights... from our sofas... drowning in world record attempts, huge performances, and that ubiquitous green-and-blue Nike race kit.That's right: athletics - prop...
Listen
Car Parks, Fist Fights, and More Champagne than Sense : Our 'Fast Girls' Special with Dina Asher-Smith and Amy Hunt from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
'One Dream, One Team, One Chance', reads the tagline of Regan Hall's 2012 masterpiece, 'Fast Girls'.Those of us at Backstraight HQ suggest the following might be more accurate: 'a plethora of inacc...
Listen
Inspiration Games, Backstraight Film Club, and Athletics Baby Royalty: July's Lockdown Ramblings from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
Athletics is creeping back - from the Showdown in Otown to the Inspiration Games. In the former, Noah Lyles beat Justin Gatlin over 100 metres. In the latter, Noah Lyles beat no one over 185 metres...
Listen
Christmas Shopping, Sourdough Starting, and Adapting as Athletes: Our Lockdown Chin-wag with Morgan Lake and Jazmin Sawyers from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
Sprint queens, step aside (for one week only, please; we still adore you): the jump queens are in town, and it's been a total hoot.When we say 'in town', we mean on a Zoom call with us, for a lockd...
Listen
Listening, Learning, and Changing: Black Lives Matter from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
It would be remiss to talk about anything else right now, so - here it is - a Backstraight episode with neither bells nor whistles: just a discussion of this essential global movement away from rac...
Listen
On Top of the Podium, Next to Dolly, and in Front of Camera: Denise Lewis Interview Special (Part II) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
WHAT a cliff-hanger that was. Aren't we wicked?But - great news - Bayo is back, and so is Denise, and we're ready to pick up where we left off: approaching the 2000 Olympic Games.Just in case you d...
Listen
#1: Backstraight’s Back – Alright! The Season Opener from 2017-06-15T00:00
Backstraight Boys are relaunching, in a new fortnightly podcast featuring interviews, debates, previews, and all things athletics. This time, in a short pilot episode, we’re looking ahead to the Lo...
Listen
#1: Backstraight’s Back – Alright! The Season Opener from 2017-06-15T00:00
Backstraight Boys are relaunching, in a new fortnightly podcast featuring interviews, debates, previews, and all things athletics. This time, in a short pilot episode, we’re looking ahead to the Lo...
Listen