In Squash - The Podcast

Former world number 6 and multi-time French national, Mathieu Castagnet still has plenty left in the tank at the game's highest level. Mathieu has wins over several world #1s including the likes of Ali Farag, Mohamed El Shorbagy and Nick Matthew, and he's got his sites set moving back up the PSA rankings. Mathieu talks about his game, his break through events, the French General, the current state of French squash and the Selby/Castagnet squash Gif that has gone viral.

Pro squash officiating must be right up there with the most challenging officiating gigs in pro sport. John Massarella is without question the game's go to official, and he attributes his rise as the game's top official to a passion for it that he acquired early on. John provides a masterclass breakdown on a number of topics in this great chat including the movement towards a more free-flowing, let-free game which has resulted in recent "changes" in decisions on lets and strokes. He also gets into what it takes to referee under pressure at the highest levels and much more.

United States Olympic Committee National Coach of the Year Alex Stait humbly picked up this impressive piece of hardware at this year's US Open, but as understated as he may sound the honor is very well deserved. Coaching America's unheralded 2018 boys to a bronze medal finish at the World junior teams was nothing less than impressive, and he's had great success with Agnes Irwin high school girls who are currently ranked 2 in the nation. Alex's budding pro career ended far too soon at the age of 25, but he quickly parlayed that into what's obviously turned out to be a hugely successful coaching career. Great chatting with Alex about all of this along with his foray into the popular US pro doubles squash scene.

US squash collegiate and pro game standout Gilly Lane had a prolific playing career, and he's managed to parlay that into a very successful coaching career on the US varsity squash scene with the Penn Quakers. Gilly's squash story is one of passion, hard-work, perseverance and ultimately success; we can all learn a lot from Gilly's story in terms of how to go about reaching our potential as players and thereafter passing on that knowledge to the next generation.

The PSA and Squash TV can only be delighted having Aisling Blake as a mainstay on their squash commentary these days. Former Irish National Champion, European Team Championship runner-up for Ireland and World #21, Aisling adds incredible color and expertise to the already talented Squash TV cast of characters. Aisling's story is brimmed with experiences that we can all learn from as squash players, including a heartfelt look back at her Irish National Championship in 2013 and what it was like to be a part of the Nicol David and Liz Irving team in Amsterdam.

Academic research on the performance of squash's elite players is about as common as finding squash reporting in the mainstream media; limited at best. Neil Gibson's research entitled "Physical Preparation for Elite Level Squash Players", is a sight for sore eyes and breathes new life into how we go about our training, particularly with respect to the high intensity, 80-90% of max heart rate that comes with playing squash at an elite level. Neil does a great job of laying this out for us and giving the competitive player something to chew on in terms tweaking our training in 2020.

The French General is back! Close to 16 months away from the competitive game, and Gregory is chomping at the bit to get back into the swing of things. He knows he's not going to hit the ground sprinting, but he's fired up to get back to the top of the game, which is where he left us in Oct. 2018. Gregory is Washington D.C. for the World Team Championships along with the rest of a very talented and hungry French squad, and then it's off to the TOC in NYC for his long awaited PSA return. Enjoy this bit of catch up with the French General.

Sleep, eat and breathe squash; that's Ehsan's advice to us all. Ep 115 is unlike any other, and say what you want about this guy, there's no questioning his dedication and love for the game of squash. Ehsan has had a squash journey like none other, from his backyard training to his "meteoric" rise up the Pakistani national rankings to his Barringtonesque "Murder on the Squash Court" approach that he hopes will take him to the promised land, Ehsan is a breath of fresh air if you ask me.

Cornell #1 and current world #42 Sivasangari Subramanium is balancing academics and professional squash these days, and she's definitely got her head around it. With wins over several players ranked in the world's top 20, Sivasangari has found that balance b/t her studies, varsity squash and her pro game. It wasn't always the case though as Sivasangari lays out on this episode. It took a while to come to terms with stepping away from the PSA full-time. She's ready to roll now though, and we talk about all of this along with her rivalry with Hania El Hammamy and much more.

The Channel VAS Championship is just around the corner, and event organizer and St. George's Hill Head Squash Professional Danny Lee drops by to set the stage and provide a bit of a backstory. Former top 30 pro player, Danny has ruled the roost at St. George's Hill for the past 30 years, and obviously it's a venue and a squash setting that he holds very dear to his heart. On top of that, he gets to live out just about every boy's childhood dream of being the lead man for a rock band; the Danny Lee Band. Danny and I touch on all of the above on ep. 113.

Not many on the PSA tour have a cv as impressive as Amanda Sobhy's. Currently #8, Amanda has shown that she's more than capable of challenging for the #1 spot in the world, and one look at her record till now would tell you she's trending in that direction. From world jr. champion, 4 time US varsity individual champion and currently a top 10 ranking on the tour, Amanda's always a threat at the major events. And then, she's also got her vocal talents and Twitter game as equally impressive sidelines.

The squash world today knows PJ for his insight and color on SquashTV, but we must not forget that as a player he was top 5 in the world, and a man who had epic battles with greats from several generations. PJ gives his insight and forecast on the 2019/20 season to date, the current state of officiating, whether or not there's a dearth of characters in the game and much more.

England #1 and World #20 look great on paper, but for Declan James he's upped the ante. Declan's had an impressive few years recently, and now he's looking to take things a step further. It's been a busy few months to start the season, and currently he's spending time back home consolidating for the upcoming Men's World Championships and the Men's World Teams thereafter. Always a great chat with the Dark Knight.

Chairman of the PSA since 2008, President of the Saudi Arabia Squash Federation and sponsor to many top pros over the years dating back to Michelle Martin, Ziad Al Turki has dedicated his life to the game of squash. From growing the game in the Middle East to growing the professional game globally, the Sultan of Squash has spearheaded many of the great initiatives globally and nationally. Globally, he's been instrumental in paving the way for PSA Squash TV, gender pay equity on the PSA tour and prize money at its highest level. In Saudi Arabia, he was the man behind the first ever women's professional sports event (A PSA tour event), and he's laying the groundwork a grassroots squash movement in the country which is bearing fruit already.

The 2019/20 campaign has gotten off to a impressive start for Mike McCue; two consecutive finals appearances and a win under his belt. Mike's looking to build on that this season and take his game to the next level. Disappointed at not having made Team Canada's Pan Am Games Team, he's got a chance to earn a spot on Canada's World Team Championships team at the upcoming team trials. Mike and I talk about his career to date, the struggles he's had getting to that next level, and our mutual squash idol, a certain Jonathan Power.

World #21 and 2019 British National Championship runner up Emily Whitlock does not disappoint on Episode 107. Our conversation ran the gamut of her squash playing career to date, including inside how the player/coach relationship manifests itself with her father Philip Whitlock, a former world top 10 himself. We also take a look at her pro career to date, and the stand she took in 2017 by refusing to participate in the PSA's Saudi Arabia women's event. We do get into the lighter side of things as she explains her love for "Love Island" and what she thinks of Declan James' choice of breakfast fuel.

2 time world junior champion Mostafa Asal, aka the raging bull, brings his enormous talents to the podcast and does not disappoint. We cover the whole 9 yards here, but in particular Mostafa looks back at his break out season last year, and his decision to turn pro over going stateside for the US collegiate experience. He also gives an impassioned take on Rami Ashour, and he explains who every Uber driver in Cairo thinks is Egypt's #1 player.

Damien Mudge won every professional doubles title, set every record, and reigned supreme with several different partners on the pro doubles squash circuit; he announced his retirement a few weeks ago after dealing with a series of injury setbacks. Squash journalist and pro doubles aficionado Rob Dinerman provides a look back at Damien's illustrious career and what made him a truly unstoppable force on the doubles court. Rob also gives some interesting insight on the US college scene and Ramy Ashour whom he's spent some time with over the last few years.

2018/19 was a break out season for Millie Tomlinson, reaching a career high of 20, earning her first English cap and defeating legend Nicol David in Hong Kong of all places. Millie sort of flew under the radar until last season, but she's definitely among the best players in the world now. Nantes is her first event of the 2019/20 season, and she's looking to hit the ground running.

Fresh off a 3 medal haul performance at the Pan Am Games in Lima this summer, Hollie Naughton is set to get her 2019/20 season under way at the China Open next week. Hollie talks about the highs and lows of the Pan Am Games and her 2018/19 season. Obviously she's had an eventful summer with the Pan Am Games, but even more she enjoyed a bit of R&R in Colombia with Nicol David and Amanda Sobhy, and shortly afterwards had her wisdom teeth extracted :).