The Pledgeball Podcast

Pledgeball

The Pledgeball podcast is what happens when sport, culture and climate action meet.

Hosted by our CEO Katie Cross and football YouTube royalty Laurence McKenna, each episode welcomes a new guest to explore the intersection of sport and sustainability, from football clubs and players to creators, campaigners and voices from beyond the sporting world. Together, they dig into practical, realistic actions fans and communities can take, from travel and food to fast fashion and the systems around the game we love.

Courtesy of some very special guests, we'll keep you updated on the goings on in the Pledgeball League along the way too. Don't forget, you can help your team by making a pledge at pledgeball.org.

But for now, sit back, relax and listen to these crucial conversations from those who are going above and beyond to Protect Where We Play.

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15 episodes
Updated July 23

Episodes15

Newest first

July 23 · 28 min
The England Fan Road Diaries | Ep 5: Gordon’s Goal, Azteca Memories & Why FIFA is Broken (The Final Check-In)
The journey comes to an end. Harvey is back home in England, settled in, and no longer living out of a suitcase as Katie Cross catches up with him for the final check-in of The England Fan Road Diaries. In this series finale, Harvey reflects on the emotional rollercoaster of England’s semi-final clash against Argentina—from the unforgettable euphoria of Anthony Gordon’s opener to the dejection of defeat. Harvey and Katie dig deep into what this tournament has revealed about the state of modern football: from travelling across 13 states and contending with extreme heat to the absurd reality of $3,000 final tickets pricing out lifelong, loyal supporters. Plus, they tackle the environmental toll of expanded mega-tournaments, the looming issue of player burnout, and finish with a tournament-wide Quick-Fire round featuring Tony's pasta in New York, the magic of the Azteca, and a final verdict on FIFA.
July 14 · 13 min
The England Fan Road Diaries | Ep 4: Inside Miami’s Heatwave, Extra-Time Drama & Squeezing Past Norway
England are in the semi-finals! After a grueling, extra-time 2-1 victory over Norway, Harvey checks in with Pledgeball's Katie Cross from their new base in Atlanta as the anticipation for a historic clash with Argentina reaches fever pitch. In this episode, Katie catches up with Harvey to dissect a tense, sweaty, and ultimately triumphant night in Miami. Harvey describes what it was like surviving the absolute hottest football match of his life, where fans only survived the humidity thanks to the occasional, highly celebrated breeze, and how the extreme weather clearly took its toll on the players on the pitch. Looking ahead to Wednesday's massive semi-final, Harvey previews the classic rivalry against an aggressive Argentina side, shares his prediction, and explains why he thinks England have the bottle if it goes all the way to penalties. Plus, Harvey doesn't hold back on FIFA’s "scandalous" ticket pricing, calling out the corporate greed that is actively pricing out the game's most loyal, lifelong fans right when they want to support their country the most. 👉 Pledge your support and see your club rise up the Pledgeball League table: https://pledgeball.org/ 👉 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pledge_ball 👉 Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@pledge_ball
July 10 · 15 min
The England Fan Road Diaries | Ep 3: Beer Showers at the Azteca, Lightning Storms & Silencing Mexico
What a match, what a win, and what an away day. Harvey checks in from Miami after witnessing one of the most chaotic, historic, and beer-soaked England victories in living memory at the legendary Estadio Azteca. In this episode, Pledgeball’s Katie Cross catches up with a slightly under-the-weather Harvey to digest the fallout of a classic World Cup knockout game. Harvey breaks down the unbelievable atmosphere in Mexico City—ranging from hundreds of Chihuahuas randomly wearing football shirts to the incredible grace of the home fans shaking hands after the final whistle. We also hear about surviving a terrifying pre-match lightning storm, getting absolutely coated in local beer after Mexico scored (forcing some tactical raincoat deployments), and the one moment of pure solidarity when the entire stadium united to boo Gianni Infantino. Finally, looking ahead to Miami, Harvey previews the brutal 40°C humidity facing the squad against Norway, and reveals why a sudden travel bug left the lads abandoning fine dining for a recovery McDonald's. Support Pledgeball Pledgeball is a charity that mobilises the football community to take action on climate change. We show how the collective power of fans can make a massive impact through small, everyday lifestyle changes. 👉 Pledge your support and see your club rise up the Pledgeball League table: https://pledgeball.org/ 👉 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pledge_ball 👉 Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@pledge_ball
July 7 · 45 min
Ep 8: Can Tennis Survive a Changing Climate? feat. Kyle Edmund, the LTA's Jack Baker and Rafatennisonly
Live from Day One of the Lexus Nottingham Open! 🎾🌱 In this episode, Katie sits down on-site to explore how tennis is adapting to a changing climate, from elite tournaments to local grassroots courts. We are joined by a fantastic panel: Jack Baker (Head of Public Policy and Sustainability at the LTA), former British Number One Kyle Edmund (now stepping into his new role as Assistant Tournament Director), and grassroots tennis content creator and influencer Raf (@rafatennisonly). Plus, we feature a special guest appearance from BBC presenter Qasa Alom! Jack opens up about the very real threats climate change poses to British tennis, from the increasing financial burden of flooded local courts to the introduction of extreme heat rules for domestic competitions. He shares how the LTA is leading by example—utilising solar energy, switching to 90% lower-emission HVO fuel for temporary power, and rolling out a 100% electric vehicle fleet for tournament transport. Kyle gives us an exclusive look behind the scenes at transitioning from player to organiser, managing chaotic player requests, and reflecting on his own career training in brutal heatwaves. He also highlights the simple operational changes making a massive dent in waste, like banning single-use plastic racket bags at the stringing desks and partnering with Brita to eliminate over half a million plastic water bottles. We also get a special update from Qasa Alom, who check-ins to deliver the latest standings from the LTA Pledgeball League table, celebrating our incredible Round One winners and reminding us how to get involved for Round Two. Finally, Raf shares his inspiring journey as a self-taught player, the power of filming your own matches to level up your game, and how everyday players can drive massive collective climate action from the ground up. We wrap things up with a tense, highly competitive sustainability quiz that puts our guests to the ultimate test! 🏆 Get Involved: Want to help protect where we play? Support your local club and help them climb the national leaderboard by logging a quick nature-friendly pledge at pledgeball.org. Every pledge enters you into a draw to win tickets to the HSBC Championships at The Queen's Club for the 2027 season!
July 3 · 14 min
The England Fan Road Diaries | Ep 2: Grasshoppers, High Altitude & Facing Mexico
From a nerve-shredding late win in Atlanta to eating grasshoppers in Mexico City, Harvey checks in for Episode Two of The England Fan Road Diaries! In this episode, Pledgeball’s Katie Cross catches up with Harvey right after he touches down in Mexico. They break down the incredible away-end atmosphere at the Atlanta stadium, the reality of high-altitude headaches, and the looming tension of facing the host nation at the legendary Aztec Stadium. Harvey also takes us through some unexpected culinary adventures with his dad, and highlights the one stadium on the tour that is finally fighting back against extortionate tournament beer prices.
June 30 · 13 min
The England Fan Road Diaries Ep 1: High Costs, Massive Stadiums, and Following England Stateside
Welcome to the first instalment of our brief tournament check-ins: The England Fan Road Diaries. This week, Katie Cross catches up with Harvey from the Football Supporters Association (FSA), who is embedded with the England fan embassies on the ground in the United States. While the mood among supporters remains incredibly high after a thrilling opening victory against Croatia, the actual logistics of navigating a US-based tournament are presenting some massive hurdles for everyday matchday fans. Harvey opens up about the stark contrast between the fan-first experience of Euro 2024 in Germany and the commercial extraction dominating this World Cup. From stadium seats placed so high up you almost need binoculars (if the stadium security even lets you bring them in!) to public transport companies rinsing fans with $90 train tickets, we get an honest look at the true cost of football tourism in 2026. We also hear about Harvey's multi-state road trip, the surprising differences in stadium infrastructure when dealing with extreme heat and heavy rain, and his standout moments of the tournament so far in our quick-fire round. To find your club and make a pledge to help protect where we play, head over to pledgeball.org
June 23 · 52 min
Ep 7: Can Comedy and Sport Save the Planet? feat. Stuart Goldsmith and Peter Smith
In this episode, Katie flies solo to explore how unexpected worlds collide to tackle the climate crisis. Joined by award-winning stand-up comedian Stuart Goldsmith to discuss his Edinburgh Fringe show, Spoilers, looking at how comedy can disarm climate dread and combat inertia where traditional environmentalism sometimes struggles to reach everyday people. Despite Stuart openly hating sport, the team calls in backup from Peter Smith, who drives sustainability at Ashton Gate Stadium. Together, they make the case for why football's passionate, tribal audience makes it the perfect vehicle for massive environmental action, proving that aligning climate goals with club loyalty can reach millions. Peter introduces the city-wide impact of Project Whitebeam and shares how local fans are already engaging with sustainability initiatives across Bristol. The quiz is here in its usual glory as Stuart is grilled on stadium sustainability, uncovering surprising facts about local food miles, matchday travel logistics, and massive water-saving innovations at Ashton Gate, before the panel asks the ultimate question: can football save the world? Find your club and make your pledge to protect where we play at pledgeball.org
June 11 · 37 min
Ep 6: Serving Up Sustainability: Tennis Ball Waste & Life on the ATP Tour with Lloyd Glasspool
This week, hosts Katie Cross and Laurence McKenna are serving up a brilliant father-son double act to explore how tennis is grappling with its own massive climate footprint. We are joined by Neil Glasspool, the driving force behind Hubba's incredible Circularball scheme, alongside his son, 2025 Wimbledon Doubles Champion Lloyd Glasspool. Together, they bridge the gap between grassroots community solutions and the relentless, international reality of elite sport. We take a deep dive into how Neil looked at a dead tennis ball and saw a circular solution, transforming club waste into UK-manufactured flooring tiles and sound insulation. Meanwhile, Lloyd gives us a rare, courtside look at how the professional circuit is coping with extreme weather, the fatigue of constant global travel, and whether the next generation of players are starting to prioritise the planet over pure performance. In this episode, we cover: The Circularball Solution: How Hubba is helping local clubs divert 100% of their old tennis balls away from landfill and keep them in a circular loop. Life on the Relentless ATP Tour: Lloyd’s firsthand perspective on playing in brutal heat, navigating endless travel, and what players really think about sustainability. The Ultimate Hubba Quiz: Neil tests his knowledge on his own statistics (and the shocking scale of the 325 million tennis balls produced globally each year). We've also got a very special guest appearance from sports broadcaster Jonathan Overend, who drops in with some incredibly exciting details on the launch of the 2026 LTA Pledgeball League! Want to get your local tennis club involved? Head over to the Hubba UK website to learn more about the Circularball scheme, and make sure to follow Lloyd's upcoming schedule. Ready to make a difference and be entered into a draw to win tickets to the 2027 HSBC Championships at The Queen's Club!? Head over to https://pledgeball.org to back your club, make your nature-friendly pledge, and help Protect Where We Play.
May 12 · 1 hr 1 min
The World Cup Fan Guide Special
The 2026 World Cup is set to be the largest tournament in football history. But what does that actually mean for the travelling fans on the ground? In this special episode, hosts Katie Cross and Laurence McKenna sit down with Ashley Brown from the Football Supporters' Association (FSA) and Madeleine Orr, Assistant Professor of Sport Ecology at the University of Toronto and author of Warming Up. Together, they cut through the gloss to look at the brutal realities awaiting supporters heading to North America. From the vast distances and the impossibility of a flight-free tournament, to the extreme heat and logistical hurdles that will define the fan experience, this is the essential guide to understanding what it will truly take to follow your team in 2026. The team were also joined by TalkSPORT's very own Shebahn Aherne who has an exciting update to share, as well as informing you how you could win a ticket to the end of season FSA Awards. Make your nature-friendly pledge and back your club today at pledgeball.org.
February 23 · 34 min
Ep 5: The season finale, lessons learned & looking back with Laurence McKenna
This week, we are shaking things up for the season finale. Host Katie Cross turns the microphone on her usual co-host, Laurence McKenna, to explore the man behind the mic. Why does sustainability matter to him? What initially drove him to join the Pledgeball project? Laurence opens up about his personal connection to the cause and what he has taken away from his time in the studio. Together, Katie and Laurence also take a trip down memory lane, looking back at the incredible roster of guests they have spoken to this season. From the realities of fast fashion to elite-level club strategy, they break down their biggest learnings and the key takeaways from every single conversation. Plus: Broadcaster Ben Haines drops into the studio to deliver the final, highly anticipated Pledgeball League table update of the season. The battle at the summit has been fierce. Tune in to find out exactly how your club is getting on. Make a pledge for your club: https://pledgeball.org
February 16 · 28 min
Ep 4: Sustainability at the elite level & The Red Way with Rishi Jain
This week, hosts Katie Cross and Laurence McKenna explore what sustainability looks like at the very top of the footballing pyramid. How does a global institution like Liverpool FC translate climate action into a strategy that reaches millions of fans worldwide? We are joined by Rishi Jain, Director of Impact at Liverpool, to discuss the responsibilities and opportunities that come with elite-level sport. We take a deep dive into The Red Way, the club’s comprehensive framework for people, planet, and communities and how they are integrating sustainability into the heart of their operations. Of course, no discussion with Liverpool around sustainability would be complete without a discussion about their famous the Office inspired 'Let's Save the Planet! Team Meeting' viral sketch. In this episode, we cover: The Power of the Global Game: How a Premier League club leverages its platform to inspire fan action across the world. Inside The Red Way: The practicalities of managing environmental impact at an elite club, from stadium operations to global travel. Leading by Example: Why authenticity is key when a club of Liverpool's scale speaks out on the climate crisis and how 'that' famous Team Meeting became a viral sensation. Plus: Legendary commentator Conor McNamara joins us for an update on the Pledgeball League table. There has been a seismic shift at the summit this week... tune in to hear if your club is part of the shake-up and how you can help them climb the standings.
February 9 · 36 min
Ep 3: The un-dying shirt, fast fashion & inclusivity with Joana Czutkowna and Julia Cove-Smith
This week, hosts Katie Cross and Laurence McKenna unpick the fabric of the modern game. Literally. We all love copping our club's latest shirt, but have you ever stopped to consider what your kit is actually made of? We are joined by two pioneers in sustainable sportswear: Joana Czutkowna, CEO of 5THREAD, and Julia Cove-Smith, founder of Eleven as One. Together, they discuss the intersection of circular fashion, waste, and inclusivity in sport. We dive into Joana’s fascinating research on textile waste (including the "buried shirt" experiment) and Julia’s mission to rethink football apparel for women, focusing on fit, access, and creating a genuine sense of belonging in the game. In this episode, we cover: Why circularity should be the future for sports brands. How ill-fitting kit excludes women from the sport and drives a "throwaway" culture. Why polyester shirts are essentially wearable plastic bottles that never decompose. Plus: Broadcasting heavyweight Lynsey Hooper drops into the studio to give us the latest update on the Pledgeball League table. It is tight at the top, so tune in to hear which fanbase is currently leading the charge and who needs to step up. Make a nature-friendly pledge for your club at https://pledgeball.org
February 2 · 32 min
Ep 2: Taking on Fossil Fuels from the Dressing Room with David Wheeler
We are continuing the series with a player who refused to just "stick to sports." Join hosts Katie Cross and Laurence McKenna as they sit down with former Exeter City, QPR and Wycombe Wanderers star David Wheeler to discuss what it’s like to fight for the climate from inside the professional game. From uncomfortable conversations in the dressing room to challenging the industry's sponsorship choices, David opens up about his career spent advocating for a greener future. We chat about where his passion stems from, the challenges of being a vocal advocate in a high-pressure environment, and what he wants to see change in the beautiful game going forward. Also in this episode: Henry Winter drops in to deliver the latest update on the Pledgeball League table - find out if the title race has shifted. Why football needs to break its ties with fossil fuels to truly protect where we play. Listen until the end to find out how you can win a ticket to the prestigious FSA Awards at the end of the season. Ready to make a difference? Make a pledge for your club today at Pledgeball.org and help Protect Where We Play.
January 26 · 26 min
Ep 1: Giving Food Waste the Red Card with Lagom Chef
We are kicking off The Pledgeball Podcast with a guest who is on a mission to fix the way we eat. Join hosts Katie Cross and Laurence McKenna as they sit down with Martyn Odell (aka Lagom Chef) to discuss why the kitchen is one of the biggest battlegrounds for the climate. From rethinking your half-time burger to turning leftovers into a result, Martyn breaks down why sustainable food doesn't have to be boring, or expensive. We chat about the impact of food waste on the planet, the challenges of cooking at scale for a matchday crowd, and why "just enough" is the perfect recipe for success. Also in this episode: Sam Matterface drops in to deliver the latest update on the Pledgeball League table - find out who is currently leading the pack. Why throwing away food is an own goal for you wallet, and the planet. Simple hacks to reduce your waste at home. Ready to make a difference? Make a pledge for your club today at Pledgeball.org and help Protect Where We Play.
January 22 · 46 sec
The Pledgeball Podcast - TRAILER
COMING SOON: The Pledgeball Podcast A new podcast exploring the intersection of sport and sustainability. Hosted by Pledgeball CEO Katie Cross alongside Laurence McKenna, the show brings together voices from across football and beyond to talk food, fashion, fan power and the practical changes already happening in the game. First up: Martin Odell, aka Lagom Chef. Subscribe now and join us each week as we talk to those who Protect Where We Play.