Best Richard Vowles Podcasts (2025)

1
ASHES SPECIAL | Barmy Army Head Down Under: Behind the Scenes with Sport’s Greatest Community | Chris Millard (Ep94) 56:14

Play Pause

10h ago56:14

56:14

IT’S ASHES WEEK. One of the biggest occasions of the sporting year is here, and with it we have a special show unlike any other we’ve done before. The Barmy Army is so influential it has made it into the Oxford Dictionary: to quote…it is a term for a group of passionate, noisy, and dedicated fans who support the English national cricket team, espec…

1
Dan Biggar: The Fight For the Future of Rugby, Wales’s Golden Generation, & The Power of Henry Pollock (Ep.95) 1:14:28

1d ago1:14:28

1:14:28

Rugby is facing a massive few years. A battle to demonstrate financial sustainability, the need for players to build brands that can compete with sport’s biggest stars, a threat to established systems from challenger leagues; it’s sink or swim time, if that’s not being too dramatic. Dan Biggar is one of the game’s great fly-halves (though he’d neve…

1
Tim Bezbatchenko: How Bournemouth Became A Destination For The Best Young Talent (Ep94) 1:29:38

9d ago1:29:38

1:29:38

Multi-club ownership groups have had a tough year in the eyes of many, with high profile cases around Crystal Palace & Lyon as well as Forest & Olympiacos showing the competitive risk of one owner or group having too much control over multiple entities. But, and it is a big but, this model can be a hugely valuable business and performance structure…

1
Tom Gorringe, Swansea City CEO: ‘Why Did Snoop Dogg & Luka Modric Invest in Swansea?’ (Ep93) 59:37

16d ago59:37

59:37

The celebrity investor coming into football as part of an ownership group is nothing new these days, but there were more than a few eyebrows raised when it was announced that Snoop Dogg, alongside footballing legend Luka Modric, had become a minority investor in Swansea. There must be something in the Welsh water. Swansea is storied club with a hug…

1
Bex Smith: ‘Women’s Football Should Be BIGGER Than Men’s…And This Is Why’ (Ep92) 1:19:19

21d ago1:19:19

1:19:19

What does women’s football need to do to match men’s? Could it be even bigger? What is currently holding it back? Every so often, we have a chat on this show which pushes beyond the surface of sport. The potential, growth and popularity of women’s football has become a feature of macro conversation for years, but finding someone with the credibilit…

1
James Dunkley, Majesticks GC Team Principal: ‘The Business Behind LIV Golf; What It Really Takes To Run A Franchise’ (Ep.91) 1:12:19

30d ago1:12:19

1:12:19

What is the world of LIV Golf really like? Cutting through all the noise and the image portrayed of a league propped up by PIF money incapable of supporting itself, is there another side? That’s what we take a look at with this week’s guest James Dunkley, Team Principal of Majesticks Golf Club, one of the 13 teams that compete on the tour. There is…

1
Pablo Longoria, Marseille President: ‘Rebuilding a European Football Giant’ (Ep.90) 1:15:23

24d ago1:15:23

1:15:23

Today, we’re delighted to welcome Pablo Longoria to the show. Pablo is President of french football giant Marseille, marking a welcome venture for us into European football! Make no mistake, this is a huge club steeped in history, the most passionate fans, and a global brand. Managing all of this from a business perspective is a serious job. Then o…

1
Richard Coleman, Tech3 Team Principal: ‘The $4.9bn Bet: Can Liberty Replicate F1 Success with MotoGP?’ (Ep.89) 1:09:05

1M ago1:09:05

1:09:05

1
Graeme Le Saux, Fmr Chelsea & Blackburn Player: ‘Big Money Transfers Can Break Players’ (Ep.88) 1:15:50

1M ago1:15:50

1:15:50

This week we’re delighted to welcome Graeme Le Saux to the show. A Chelsea, Blackburn and England icon, Graeme played over 500 club games, 327 of them in the Premier League, as well as 36 caps for England. There was more than enough in here to just enjoy some unparalleled sporting nostalgia, from Blackburn’s insane Premier League title to playing i…

1
James Vowles, Williams Team Principal: ‘The Plan to make Williams F1 World Champions…Again’ (Ep87) 54:50

2M ago54:50

54:50

When we recorded this show the day before James flew out to Baku, we did not expect Williams to be up on the podium delivering in real life what James was theoretically describing to us on the show. Podiums are of course part of the development plan, but not yet. When James came to see us at Business of Sport HQ last week, we talked through both wh…

1
Patrick Mouratoglou: From Serena to Djokovic, What Makes the Best Players in the World? (Ep86) 1:18:28

2M ago1:18:28

1:18:28

This week we’re delighted to welcome Patrick Mouratoglou to the show. Patrick is one of tennis' most successful coaches, working with Serena Williams, Naomi Osaka, Holger Rune, Grigor Dimitrov, Simona Halep to name a few. Perhaps most famous for his collaboration with Serena Williams where they won 10 Grand Slams together, it’s regarded as one of t…

1
Mark Hammond, CEO Bromley: ‘ You Don't Need to Play in the Premier League to Have a Premier League Mindset’ (Ep85) 52:44

2M ago52:44

52:44

This week we’re delighted to welcome Mark Hammond to the show. Mark is the CEO of Bromley, one of the EFL’s emerging success stories. Having only played one full season in the football league and finishing a hugely respectable 11th last year, you’d be forgiven for thinking that the the early stages of this club’s acclimatisation to top level footba…

1
Dominic Thiem: ‘The Making of a Grand Slam Champion’ (Ep84) 1:13:18

3M ago1:13:18

1:13:18

This week we’re delighted to welcome Dominic Thiem to the show. We’ve waited nearly 100 shows but finally tennis has arrived, right in the middle of the US Open, which Dominic won in a 5 set epic in 2020. One of the few non-Federer, Nadal, Djokovic players to win a slam while those three were at their peak, Dominic’s career saw him win 17 ATP title…

1
Simon Massie-Taylor, CEO Prem Rugby: 'From Red Bull’s Newcastle Investment to Building the Best League in Rugby' (Ep83) 1:03:16

3M ago1:03:16

1:03:16

This week we’re delighted to welcome Simon Massie-Taylor to the show. Simon is the CEO of The newly branded Prem Rugby. The competition has faced well publicised challenges in recent years, with clubs going bust and broader questions around the viability of the sport as an attractive investment. But with attendances on the rise, commercial income f…

1
Michael Beale, Fmr Rangers, QPR, Sunderland Manager: 'Does English Culture Suppress Maverick Talent?' (Ep82) 1:12:24

3M ago1:12:24

1:12:24

Michael Beale is part of a top crop of young English managers. At 44, he has already managed QPR, Rangers, and Sunderland, while also forming a successful partnership as Steven Gerrard’s assistant at Rangers, Aston Villa and Al-Ettifaq. As virtually every manager quickly comes to realise, there’ll be some roles that work out, and some that don’t, b…

1
Andrew Thompson, SailGP Managing Director: ‘Welcome to F1 on Water’ (Ep81) 1:04:35

3M ago1:04:35

1:04:35

It’s a different take this week; welcome to Formula 1 on water! SailGP has become one of the fastest growing sports leagues, bringing sailing to the forefront of modern entertainment. The national teams that race identical F50 Catamarans go to some of the world’s most enticing coastal locations in a Grand Prix style format with millions in prize mo…

1
Mark Devlin, Leyton Orient CEO: ‘Striking the Balance Between Ambition and Financial Sustainability: The Leyton Orient Story' (Ep80) 1:11:03

4M ago1:11:03

1:11:03

Mark Devlin is the CEO of Leyton Orient, a team that’s been riding the rollercoaster of English football right on the edge in recent years. From nearly going out of business and dropping into non-league football to bouncing back into League One playoff finals, the fans have been on a ride the few would choose. However, new ownership and big plans t…

1
Peter McCormack, Real Bedford Owner: Can Billionaire Investment Take You From Non-League To The Premier League? (Ep79) 47:53

4M ago47:53

47:53

Peter McCormack is the Owner and Chairman of Real Bedford, who play in the 8th tier of English Football. But this is unique for a number of reasons. We always look for the stories that represent a different approach to running sports assets, and building your Premier League ambition around Bitcoin is certainly one of those. Peter is the host of one…

1
Ryan Bertrand, Fmr Chelsea, Southampton & England: ‘It Didn’t Feel Like the Chelsea I was Brought Up In; The Foundations of Champions League Success' (Ep78) 1:15:15

4M ago1:15:15

1:15:15

This week, we’re delighted to welcome Ryan Bertrand to the show, the only man to make his Champions League debut in the final…and of course win it in historic style with Chelsea in 2012. The regulars of you will know a conversation like this is exciting for us both as big Chelsea fans, and the shirts we wore throughout gave the game away anyway. Bu…

1
Guenther Steiner: ‘A Life in F1: Moving On From Haas, Christian Horner’s Sacking, & The Genius of Verstappen' (Ep77) 1:07:43

4M ago1:07:43

1:07:43

This week, we’re delighted to welcome the legendary Guenther Steiner to the show. One of the most iconic Team Principal’s to grace the paddock, the personality and energy he brings to the room is not just a show put on for the Drive to Survive cameras. What you have seen on TV is a true account of the man, taking the mickey out of us from the off w…

1
Thomas Hal Robson-Kanu: ‘How to Run a Business & Play in the Premier League' (Ep76) 1:13:08

4M ago1:13:08

1:13:08

This week, we’re delighted to welcome Thomas Robson-Kanu to the show, known to many of you I’m sure as Hal. The different names he has gone by is the perfect demonstration as to why this is such a unique story. A footballer with over nearly 500 competitive games under his belt and a businessman with revenues in the tens of millions, Thomas is the e…

1
Jeff Shi, Wolves Chairman: ‘How to Succeed in the Premier League & Be Financially Sustainable’ 1:27:31

5M ago1:27:31

1:27:31

This week, we’re delighted to welcome Wolves Chairman Jeff Shi to the show. Having been at the club since 2016, he has been a key part of the club’s rise from Championship survival to top half Premier League finishes and European quarter finals. Currently enjoying their longest run of Premier League football, there is a lot to be proud of. Jeff has…

1
Mark Fairbrother, Millwall Managing Director: ‘Is This The Most Misunderstood Club in Football?’ (Ep75) 1:11:59

5M ago1:11:59

1:11:59

This week, we’re delighted to welcome Millwall’s Managing Director Mark Fairbrother to the show. This is a football club that many people both in and out of football have a preconceived idea about, built around historical associations with hooliganism and social unrest. These perceptions are rooted in media portrayal, cultural symbolism and sociopo…

1
Carl Frampton, Fmr Boxing World Champion: ‘How to Win in the Brutal Business of Boxing' (Ep74) 1:04:32

5M ago1:04:32

1:04:32

This week we’re delighted to welcome Carl Frampton to the show. Second dive into boxing is long overdue and so much has happened since we last visited the sport. A boxing legend and Ring Magazine ‘Fighter of the Year’ in 2016, he was the first Northern Irishman to hold world titles in two weight classes, Carl is recognised as one of the best fighte…

1
Rufus Hack, Sony Sports CEO: ‘From The Makers of VAR; Is Tech Making Sport Better? (Ep73) 1:16:28

5M ago1:16:28

1:16:28

This week we’re delighted to welcome Sony Sports CEO Rufus Hack to the show. Strap in, this is a reveal on how technology is changing sport, from the man that brings us Goal Line Technology, VAR, TMO, DRS and much more. Sony have been elevating their proposition, developing on the established Music, Entertainment and Playstation divisions to influe…

1
Ryan Sparks, Bradford City CEO: ‘We’re a Big Club But We Haven’t had Enough Big Success’ (Ep72) 1:08:40

6M ago1:08:40

1:08:40

Today we’re delighted to welcome Bradford City CEO Ryan Sparks to the show. Promotions don’t come much more dramatic than Bradford City’s 96th minute winner on the final day of the season to seal promotion to league one. We know how important it is to move through the leagues for both the business and performance side of clubs. Bradford is a team w…

1
Patrice Evra & Tommy Fish: ‘From Elite Player to Businessman; The Value of the Athlete Investor’ (Ep71) 1:24:37

6M ago1:24:37

1:24:37

I love this game! To anyone who has an interest in sport and finds themselves regularly on social media, this catchphrase is likely to mean something to you, as is the person who coined it. Patrice Evra is one of the most decorated and stand out footballers of the last 20 years. Premier Leagues, Champions Leagues, his success on the pitch most famo…

1
Guy Kinnings, DP World Tour & Ryder Cup Europe CEO, ‘Why This is Golf’s Moment’ (Ep70) 1:22:38

6M ago1:22:38

1:22:38

Today we’re delighted to welcome Guy Kinnings to the show. Guy is the CEO of European (DP World) Tour and Ryder Cup Europe. Our first venture into golf and it couldn’t be better timed. An Incredible Rory McIlroy Masters win to kick off the season followed by a summer of elite culminating in the Ryder Cup in New York in September. The business or po…

1
Spencer Owen, Hashtag United Owner: ‘From YouTube To Building The Most Unique Club In Football’ (Ep69) 1:18:16

6M ago1:18:16

1:18:16

Today we’re delighted to welcome Spencer Owen, Founder & Owner of the iconic Hashtag United, to the show. This is one of the most unique organisations in football. Why? Well it was founded on the internet before becoming a successful men’s and women’s team competing in English football. Spencer, or Spencer FC as many of his fans know him, built one…

1
Ben Calveley, The British & Irish Lions CEO: “We Need Some Wins; This Is A High Performance Team!” (Ep68) 1:12:00

7M ago1:12:00

1:12:00

Today we’re delighted to welcome the British and Irish Lions CEO Ben Calveley to the show. The Lions are one of the most iconic institutions in sport. Made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales, this team which tours once every four years is the pinnacle of many a rugby player's career. In just a few weeks, the team will begin it…

1
Charlotte O’Neill, Manchester City Women Managing Director, ‘Why Is Women’s Football Expected To Be Profitable When Men’s Football Isn’t!?’ 58:07

7M ago58:07

58:07

Today we’re delighted to welcome Manchester City Women’s Director Charlotte O’Neill to the show. This is a part of the game we talk about a lot. The growth of women’s football has been in turbo over the last decade, both in the UK and beyond. Man City have been one of the clubs leading that charge, compiling a squad of world class talent with the f…

1
Steven Elworthy, Surrey County Cricket CEO: ‘Is County Cricket Sustainable?' (Ep66) 1:03:03

7M ago1:03:03

1:03:03

Today we’re delighted to welcome Surrey County Cricket CEO Steve Elworthy to the show, our first venture into one of the toughest businesses in sport. Surrey is a historic institution in a historic sport, part of a club set up integral to the development of all cricket, including the much loved short form franchise tournaments that dominate today. …

1
Joe Gorman, Exeter City CEO: ‘The Club with 4700 Owners!’ (Ep65) 1:05:28

7M ago1:05:28

1:05:28

Today we welcome Exeter City CEO Joe Gorman. This show is long in the making. One of the most requested guests we have had. Why? Well Exeter are one of football’s biggest rarities; a fan owned club. This means they cannot rely on the wealth and exuberance enjoyed by many to succeed on and off the pitch. They actually have to try and make the busine…

1
Nicolas Julia, Sorare Founder: ‘Building a $4bn Fantasy Sports Empire’ (Ep64) 1:00:48

8M ago1:00:48

1:00:48

Today we welcome Nicolas Julia, founder of Sorare, the record breaking platform that blends fantasy sport with digital collectibles. This is a step beyond the fantasy football/F1/rugby you may already be a part of. It’s an open market, providing the chance to show your skills and talent identification to buy, select and trade tangible assets in the…

1
Jimmie Johnson, 7x NASCAR Champion: 'Has the Rise of F1 Been Good For NASCAR?' (Ep63) 1:15:54

8M ago1:15:54

1:15:54

Today we welcome 7-time NASCAR Champion Jimmie Johnson, a racing legend. Motorsport has never been bigger. The Liberty Media world of F1 has exploded, MotoGP has sold for over $4bn, but what about NASCAR? The US's second most watched sport is an entertainment and commercial giant, yet outside of America, it’s fair to say exposure is limited. Jimmie…

1
Andrew Parkinson, Plymouth Argyle CEO: ‘Hiring Rooney, Beating Liverpool, and Fighting for Championship Survival’ (Ep62) 1:02:29

8M ago1:02:29

1:02:29

This week, we take a look inside one of the most talked about clubs this season. From hiring Wayne Rooney as manager to knocking Liverpool out of the FA Cup, it’s been a crazy season for Plymouth and CEO Andrew Parkinson. Even more so when the club finds itself bottom of the championship fighting for survival. But this is a club that continually ou…

1
Bill Sweeney, RFU CEO: Behind the Curtain of Rugby's Most Scrutinised Organisation (Ep61) 1:07:22

8M ago1:07:22

1:07:22

This week, we’re delighted to welcome the CEO of the RFU, Bill Sweeney, to the show. There’s no hiding from the fact it’s been a hard few months for the organisation and Bill personally. Significant losses reported last year alongside the now infamous LTIP scheme generated an unrelenting flow of negative press and questions of the leadership. This …

1
Simon Leslie: Eastbourne Borough Owner, ‘Non-League Clubs Deserve Better’ (Ep60) 1:01:05

8M ago1:01:05

1:01:05

Welcome to the business of Non-League football. Beneath the top four tiers of the revered English football pyramid sits a whole other football world; hundreds of teams, players, coaches, owners playing week in week out to climb the ladder. Jamie Vardy, Ollie Watkins, Jarrod Bowen, Tyrone Mings have all played non-league football. ‘Welcome to Wrexha…

1
Liam Dooley: Shrewsbury Town CEO, ‘How to Work With the Smallest Budget in League One’ (Ep59) 1:09:10

9M ago1:09:10

1:09:10

Another first class Football League CEO in the studio this week. Liam Dooley has been in charge of Shrewsbury town, League one’s longest serving club, since 2023. Operating on the smallest budget in the division, balancing good business with competitive performance is not easy. Shrewsbury have had 10 consecutive years at this level, but are current…

1
Peter Kenyon: Fmr Manchester United & Chelsea CEO, ‘Mourinho was the Best Money Chelsea Spent' (Ep58) 1:23:22

9M ago1:23:22

1:23:22

Today we welcome one of football’s most iconic CEOs. When Peter Kenyon moved from Manchester United to Chelsea in 2003 after Roman Abramovich bought the club, it was the first time a move in the boardroom was treated like a player transfer. Sir Alex Ferguson was said to be ‘intensely disappointed’, not least because he recognised the role Peter pla…

1
Lee Johnson: Fmr Sunderland & Bristol City Manager, 'Decision Making Needs to be Driven by Sport' (Ep57) 1:13:08

9M ago1:13:08

1:13:08

This week, we’re delighted to welcome Lee Johnson to the show. Lee has had a stellar career as both a player and manager, playing over 400 games before becoming the youngest manager in the Football League at 31 when he took over at Oldham in 2013. Since that first job he has managed some historic clubs including Sunderland, Bristol City, and Hibern…

1
James Barclay: Jaguar Racing Team Principal, 'Formula E and Electric are the Future' (Ep56) 1:10:30

9M ago1:10:30

1:10:30

This week, we are delighted to welcome James Barclay to the show. James is Team Principal at Jaguar Racing, the current Formula E constructors World Champion. We have done some amazing shows on Formula 1, but this is a new area to venture into. Formula E is the fastest growing motorsport in the world. It has been a rapid rise for electric racing si…

1
Benjamin Kayser: Fmr France International, 'Has England Neglected Club Rugby?' (Ep55) 1:08:37

10M ago1:08:37

1:08:37

With the Six Nations underway, it’s time to talk rugby. Benjamin Kayser won 47 caps for France, playing club rugby in both The Premiership and Top 14 for the likes of Leicester Tigers and Clermont. Since hanging up his boots, he has become a regular on our screens as a commentator and pundit with ITV. Not afraid to say it how it is, and with an und…

1
Alistair Brownlee: Double Olympic Gold Triathlete, ‘It's About Medals Not Money’ (Ep54) 1:02:45

10M ago1:02:45

1:02:45

Today, we welcome a British sporting legend. That term can get thrown around a lot, but as a multiple Olympic, World and European Champion, Alistair Brownlee is one of the greatest triathletes of all time. As you hopefully now know with this show, the sporting success is only one side of our guests. It’s what they are doing alongside their elite pe…

1
Moritz Fürste: HYROX Co-Founder, ‘How we Built a Global Sporting Phenomenon' (Ep53) 1:09:19

10M ago1:09:19

1:09:19

Today, we bring you the man who founded the global phenomenon HYROX. Mo is a double Olympic Gold Medallist in hockey, having won with Germany in Beijing and London. Described to me by someone who knows far more about the sport as ‘The Cristiano Ronaldo’ of field hockey, we were pretty excited to get both a sporting icon and high flying entrepreneur…

1
Rick Parry: EFL Chair, ‘We Need Sporting Jeopardy Without Financial Catastrophe’ (Ep52) 1:04:51

10M ago1:04:51

1:04:51

This week we’re delighted to welcome EFL Chair Rick Parry to the show. Rick has seen it all in football; The first CEO of the Premier League, CEO of Liverpool (1998-2009), and now Chair of English Football League. It can easily be argued that overseeing the interests of 72 clubs ranging from Leeds to Morecambe, is the hardest job in football. But R…

1
Laurie Dalrymple: Harlequins CEO, ‘Building the Premiership’s Most Valuable Rugby Club’ (Ep51) 1:14:38

11M ago1:14:38

1:14:38

We’re back with a bang as we welcome Harlequins CEO Laurie Dalrymple to the show. This is one of English sport’s most historic organisations. Laurie has been in charge of the Premiership Rugby team for over 5 years, establishing them as one of the leading commercial entities in the game while delivering huge success including league titles and Euro…

1
Édouard Mendy: Chelsea, Al-Ahli & Senegal Keeper, ‘Why I left Chelsea and my Saudi move' (Ep50) 57:11

11M ago57:11

57:11

Today is the milestone 50th episode and we have a guest to match it. Édourard Mendy is a Champions League and AFCON winner. He won FIFA's ‘The Best’ and UEFA Goalkeeper of the year award in 2021. He holds the record for the joint most clean sheets in a single Champions League season. He went from nearly giving up the football dream in a French job …

1
Matt Hancock, Port Vale CEO: ‘Success is about more than 3pts on a Saturday’ (Ep49) 1:04:57

11M ago1:04:57

1:04:57

After amazing shows with a number of CEO’s across the football industry, we’re today venturing into the lowest of the English Football League’s with current League Two promotion chasers Port Vale. Matt Hancock has been CEO of this historic club since January. Having been relegated from League One in his first few months in charge, it’s fair to say …

1
Mark Bowen, Fmr Premier League Player & Manager: ‘Man City accidentally bid £35m for Messi’ (Ep48) 58:01

12M ago58:01

58:01

Today we speak to a man who has been in and around football for over 40 years. Mark Bowen played over 400 games at the top of English football for the likes of Tottenham, Norwich and West Ham, before transitioning into management as both a head coach and assistant. For much of his management career he has partnered with Mark Hughes, acting as his a…