Welcome to This Sporting Planet, the world's view of sport!   Join your hosts Todd Harris (USA), Natalie Sawyer (UK), and Edward Russell (Singapore) as they discuss the growth of player power around the globe and ask a crucial question – is it good or bad for the future of sport?   Billionaire athletes: Cristiano Ronaldo has become the first active footballer to achieve a net worth of $1 billion. How did we get here, and will there be more?   Player empowerment: From players forcing moves away from football clubs to NIL rights, the team explore how athletes in all sports have been taking more control over their own futures. Social media transformation: The team discuss how these platforms have emboldened athletes, giving them a direct platform to air grievances and build their personal brands, bypassing traditional media channels. Plus, have women’s sports embraced social media more effectively than men’s sports to create authentic content that really connects with fans?  Plus, as 2025 draws to a close, Natalie, Todd and Edward reveal their athletes of the year, and their ones to watch in 2026! 00:00 - Introduction 01:26 - The player empowerment phenomenon 03:51 - How women's sport utilises social media to create authentic content 04:25 - The Billionaire Athlete: Are stars like Cristiano Ronaldo too rich? 11:06 - Will there be more Super Leagues? 13:32 - How have shows like 'Drive to Survive' changed sport? 18:02 - Are athletes in danger of burn out? 21:05 - Interview with the Former ESPN Executive John Kosner 27:32 - Athlete of the year! 31:17 - Who is 2025's Rising Star? 35:34 - What will have the biggest legacy from 2025? 37:56 - See you next time! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices