After The Lights Go Out

In this episode Steve Harmison and Leon McKenzie are joined by former Millwall, Blackburn, West Brom and Ireland midfielder Steven Reid.Steven opens up about a range of issues, including his battle with anxiety, suffering panic attacks during Premier League games, losing £200,000 in a film financing scheme, his current work with England Under-21s and training to become a counsellor.CONTENT WARNING: This podcast includes strong language and covers topics that some listeners may find upsetting. If you or someone you know is struggling please reach out and find support:https://www.samaritans.org/https://hubofhope.co.uk

In this episode Steve Harmison and Leon McKenzie are joined by Hull City legend Dean Windass for a raw look at life after the final whistle. Moving from the euphoria of his iconic 2008 Wembley play-off winner to the devastating void of retiring at 40, Dean opens up candidly about identity loss, addiction, surviving attempts to take his own life, and the heartbreak of family estrangement. He also addresses his stage 2 dementia diagnosis, campaigning for ex-athletes' brain health, and the daily discipline of finding purpose and peace when the cheering stops.CONTENT WARNING: This podcast includes strong language and covers topics surrounding suicide that some listeners may find upsetting. If you or someone you know is struggling please reach out and find support:https://www.samaritans.org/https://hubofhope.co.uk

Olympic swimming legend Sharron Davies MBE joins Steve Harmison and Liam McKenzie on talkSPORT’s After the Lights Go Out to lay bare the brutal realities of life after elite competition.From making her Olympic debut at 13 and losing 1980 Moscow gold to state-doped East German competitors, to her prime-time reinvention as "Amazon" on Gladiators, Sharron reflects on the highs and costs of sporting stardom. She also addresses the personal and professional fallout from her fight to protect biological sex categories in women’s sport and her latest mission in the House of Lords.If you or someone you know is struggling please reach out and find support:https://www.samaritans.org/https://hubofhope.co.uk(This episode was recorded in Dec 2025)

Join Steve Harmison and Leon McKenzie as they sit down with former Arsenal, Liverpool, and Stoke City winger Jermaine Pennant, for an unfiltered, deeply honest conversation about the turbulent realities behind his high-profile career and his ongoing journey of self-discovery after hanging up his boots.From gracing the pitch in the 2007 Champions League final to battling depression in silence, Jermaine reflects on how trauma, extreme success, and undiagnosed neurodivergence shaped his life both on and off the field.If you or someone you know is struggling please reach out and find support:https://www.samaritans.org/https://hubofhope.co.uk

On this episode of After the Lights Go Out, Steve Harmison and Leon McKenzie sit down with British athletics legend Colin Jackson for a raw, unfiltered dive into life after elite sport. On the track, he was unstoppable, a double World Champion, unbeaten in 44 races, and a world record holder for 13 years. But what happens when the stadium noise fades and you're forced to start from zero?Colin opens up about the terrifying void of retirement, his secret battles with body dysmorphia and panic attacks during his peak years, plus how missing out on 1992 Olympic gold ultimately saved his career. From surviving on 800 calories a day to finding new purpose through stem cell therapy, broadcasting, and charity work.If you or someone you know is struggling please reach out and find support:https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/https://www.samaritans.org/https://hubofhope.co.uk

Join Steve Harmison and Leon McKenzie as they sit down with former Aston Villa midfielder and England international Lee Hendrie.With over 250 Premier League appearances to his name, Lee appeared to have it all. But behind his top-flight career was a silent struggle. Today, as a respected co-commentator and pundit, Lee reflects on the devastating pain of leaving his boyhood club, facing bankruptcy, Divorce, battling epilepsy, and his attempts to take his own life. CONTENT WARNING: This podcast includes strong language and covers topics surrounding suicide that some listeners may find upsetting. If you or someone you know is struggling please reach out and find support:https://www.samaritans.org/https://hubofhope.co.uk

Former professional footballer Michael Chopra opens up to Leon McKenzie and Steve Harrison about his struggles with a chronic gambling addiction, which led to him running up huge debts and coming close to taking his own life.He also discusses his charity work with 'Football For Peace' including a trip to the Maldives as part of a counter terrorism initiative for young children.

Former England and Warwickshire cricketer Dermot Reeve reveals to Steve Harmison and Leon McKenzie how a destructive cocaine addiction resulted in the loss of his media career, the breakdown of three marriages and living life today in supported housing on £6 a day.He also discusses how a strong spirituality has helped him find an inner peace, meeting the Red Hot Chilli Peppers and his future wish to move to New Zealand or Australia.Warning: This episode contains some strong language and adult themes.

Join us as this week we chat to former Arsenal and England women’s striker Lianne Sanderson!We hear what it was like being the first openly gay footballer, reflect on the lack of an openly gay player in the Premier League, her work today as a football pundit, receiving vicious abuse on social media and what she perceives as a lack of respect post-retirement from the Football Association.