Running up £20,000 debt, an eight-year wait for an Olympic medal, jumping from the UK to Ireland (on ITV's This Morning weather map), best mates with Greg Rutherford, running the Premier League's COVID testing programme and becoming a successful tech entrepreneur towards floatation on the Nasdaq. This is a wide-ranging and fascinating interview with former British 400m runner Andrew Steele. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1996 and 2004 Olympian Kathy Butler takes us through a career that saw her win medals at World and European Cross Country Championships, win European Cup gold, Goodwill Games bronze and - she tells us - miss out on a third Olympics with some dubious selection shenanigans. Now as US national coach, she also discusses her role off track and the advancement of shoe technology. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Host Chris Broadbent downloads his dictaphone of delights featuring interviews with some of the biggest current stars of athletics. Includes Karsten Warholm, Mondo Duplantis, Jazmin Sawyers, Krisjan Ceh, Jakub Vadlejch, Elina Tzengko, Auriel Dongmo, Sasha Zhoya and Silja Kosonen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On a visit to Stockholm's BAUHAUS-galan meeting, we took the chance to interview one of the athletes from the Sweden's golden era in the early 2000s, Olympic high jump champion Stefan Holm. He talks us through his rise through the ranks onwards to four Word indoor titles and his place as the man who has jumped the furthest above his own height ever. We also discuss his love for LEGO and an unlikely new career as a romantic novelist. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

One of the most genuine athletes in a generation, Dean Macey was the no-frills decathlete from Essex who captivated British athletics fans at multiple major championships from 1999 to 2006. Frequently battling with injuries and niggles, he grittily fought his way to two World Championship medals and Commonwealth Games gold and just missed out on Olympic medals, finishing fourth in both Sydney and Athens. Macey was just as well known for his straight-talking manner which both the media and fans of the sport lapped up. He is still just as honest and open and takes us behind the scenes with some previously unheard stories behind the successes and near-misses. It wouldn’t be Dean Macey without a liberal sprinkling of industrial language, so this is not a podcast for the faint-hearted. It is – however - pure unadulterated Dean Macey. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the late 90s and early 2000s, Jared Deacon was a dependable cog in a highly effective British men's 4x400m medal-winning machine. He was rewarded with medals at World, European and Commonwealth level and an appearance at the Sydney Olympics. Coming from a family of eight where his father was a former sprinter and his mother a talented swimmer, sport was deep in the family DNA. His siblings all took part in sport, including one occasion where he teamed up with his three brothers for a unique relay. He married another international runner, Scotland's Susan Deacon nee Burnside and their children now compete stretching the Deacon family involvement to another generation. His life has been touched with tragedy, but also with some quirky highs, such as his unusual world record. Jared has a really great story to tell of a life in athletics on and off track. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From being bullied at school to becoming one of the most iconic figures of the UK running scene. Steve Edwards cuts a distinctive figure at every marathon he takes part in...and it's now nearly 1000 of them. Since running his first marathon in 1981 he has gone on to accrue record after record as he logs marathon after marathon. Now he is closing in on 1000 marathons in an average finish time under 3:30. A remarkable man with a remarkable story. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Still no5 in the UK all-time men's marathon rankings and the last British athlete to have won and Olympic marathon medal, Charlie Spedding remains one of the great names in the UK over the classic distance. His name in the record books seemed unlikely growing up in a mining community in North East England where he would struggle academically and even in PE. He did find he had ability in endurance running, but it took him a decade to emerge from a pack of distance running talent in the region to become one of the world's leading marathon runners, going on to win in London, take bronze in LA 1984 and go on to place 6th at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Five-times European medallist and Commonwealth medallist-turned Member of the Scottish Parliament, Brian Whittle enjoyed a sustained period on the international athletics circuit. He is still probably best known for losing a shoe whilst helping GB & NI to 4x400m gold at the 1986 European Championships. His career spanned some of the biggest moments in the mid 80s to eary 90s in the sport. He has anecodotes galore with behind the scenes stories including Kris Akabusi, Seb Coe, Ben Johnson, Tom McKean and more. Plus stories of iconic events from Seoul to Bislett to Auckland and Edinburgh to life in the coridoors of power in his native Scotland. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A former winner of the British Sports Book Awards, Rick Broadbent is a highly accomplished long-time sports writer for The Times. He has authored books on Jessica Ennis-Hill and Emil Zatopek, reported on four Olympic Games and seven World Athletics Championships. In this wide ranging interview and with an obvious passion for the sport, he provides a great overview on athletics' status in the current climate. He also provides some great anecdotes of life behind the scenes with some of the world's leading sports stars in athletics and beyond. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

David Gillick became the first Irish sprinter to win gold at a major championships for 76 years, when he won the 2005 European Indoor 400m title in Madrid. It was a title he defended two years later in Birmingham. He brought a refreshing flash of green to the sprinting lanes of major championships from a country whose athletics heritage was dominated by the middle and long distance disciplines. His Olympic career was not what he hoped where illness and injury hampered him. And the premature end of his career caused him to slip towards depression, but he rebuilt his wellbeing through rediscovering running through Parkrun and a lower-key comeback to the track. He also found time to win Ireland’s Celebrity Masterchef. He gives a brilliantly honest overview of a fascinating life in and out of the sport, the demons he has faced up to and overcome.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Adopted at six months old and growing up in rural Wales, a route to the top of elite athletics was an improbable one. But Jamie Baulch made it to the top, becoming World Indoor Champion over 400m. Competing in the toughest eras of UK one lap running, he cut a diminutive and distinctive figure, competing at top level for a decade against the likes of Roger Black, Iwan Thomas and being guided by Colin Jackson among others. In this wide-ranging interview, he discusses the shameful episode of the re-awarding of 4x400m gold medals, what was the final straw that led him to retire, the importance of sport psychology, being a household name, his post athletics career and his journey to meet his biological parents.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As befits her event of the 400m hurdles, London's Tasha Danvers has had a career that has been a huge challenge, with many barriers on the way. She became a mother at the peak of her career, suffered depression and even made a suicide attempt. But today she can look back happily and healthily on a career that brought her Olympic and Commonwealth medals from her life in Los Angeles, where she is a mentor and coach, inspiring people to find the best version of themselves. Colourful, funny, moving, Tasha is must-listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In a career that spanned the African revolution in distance running, Essex's own Rob Denmark faced some of the greatest athletes in the sport. He met the challenge and - at times - succeeded. A determined and hard-working athlete, he won Commonwealth gold, European silver and World Indoor bronze. He raced some of the sport's greats including Paul Tergat, Haile Gebrselassie and the UK's legendary trio Seb Coe, Steve Ovett and Steve Cram at the latter end of their careers, Now a renowned coach, he has worked with Jess Judd, Melissa Courtney-Bryant and Amy-Eloise Markovc among others. He gives a fascinating account of a life in long distance running. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In a storied career Jo Pavey represented Team GB at five Olympic Games, more than any other track athlete. But it was in 2014 when she really captured the public's imagination when she won her first major title aged 40 - and as a mum of two - when she won 10,000m gold at the European Championships. One of the most down-to-earth and genuine runners of her generation, the Devon born and bred runner tells a facinating - and often funny - story of her journey to top level athletics. We talk backpacking, hot chocolate in the Olympic village with Kelly Holmes, being slightly tipsy in front of the Queen, family life, frustrations of competing against drug cheats and ultimately, gold medal glory. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After years of dogged determination, hard work and near misses, the versatile Helen Clitheroe won her first major international aged 37 when taking 3000m gold at the 2011 European Indoor Championships. It was a just reward for the gritty competitor in her 14th year on the international scene. A double Olympian, Commonwealth bronze medallist she was a mainstay of the British team for 17 years across track, road and cross country. Now a coach, she oversees a great stable of athletes that includes European and Commonwealth medallist Ciara Mageean. Articulate, energetic and good humoured, Helen tells a great story of her varied life in the sport.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kate Dennison was the standard bearer for women’s pole vaulting in the UK. She set multiple national records in 2009 and 2010, taking over from Janine Whitlock as the foremost British athlete in the fledgling event and handing on the mantle to Holly Bradshaw. A world and European finalist, she is also a Commonwealth Games medallist. She competed in the same era as all-time great Yelena Isinbeyeva and represented Team GB at two Olympic Games. She has since gone on to be a successful coach and is of course, married to decorated 400m runner Martyn Rooney. She gives a fascinating interview of her time in the sport, including some of the intricacies of competing in one of athletics most nuanced and unique events.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A talented junior athlete who earned an England vest at cross country, Ben Pochee was a high-quality club senior athlete, though not quite quick enough for the very elite end of the sport. But it is as an innovative event organiser where he has made a real impact on the international stage. The Night of the 10,000m PBs at Parliament Hill has become one of the absolute gems of the British sporting year. A quirky mix of endurance running, beer tents, live music, pyrotechnics and family fun, it has completely revolutionised an event that was previously lucky to attract one man and his dog. This year is the 10th anniversary of the event and in this episode we look back on some of the moments that have taken the event to European Cup status and become the official trial event for Olympics and World Championships. We also explore the potential of other disciplines and how they could help transform athletics’ broader appeal.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A world record holder, Commonwealth medallist and the first openly gay British track and field athlete, Tom Bosworth has a fascinating roller coaster story. In this tell-all episode we cover his international career, including two contrasting Olympic Games, world records, disappointment at London 2017. There is also plenty on his life off track, including coming out publicly and his mental health struggles including suicide attempts. He has an inspiring and captivating story of resilience and hope.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With his long blond locks flailing in the wind and - sometimes - ungainly style, Chris Tomlinson cut a distinctive figure on the long jump runways for a decade and more. And although he didn’t come from one of the sport’s hotbeds, the Middlesbrough born jumper competed at three Olympic Games, including a best placed fifth in Athens. He also won World Indoor silver and European bronze in a long career on the international circuit. In this wide ranging interview, we cover his international career, his rivalry with Greg Rutherford, stepping away from the track, the ice cream business and why athletics needs to professionalise at grass roots. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices