Race to the Bottom Podcast
by Joe Harman
Brought to you by Joe Harman, Race to the Bottom is the football podcast that discusses the crucial, wider issues affecting football, bridging the gap between the game we love and the world we live in. Each month the podcast will focus on topics of race, politics, governance, finance, gender, arts and ethics, in the hope of raising awareness of the social responsibilities of the game.
Episodes
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Disinformation in football: A talk with Marc Owen Jones on; social media, astro-turfing and sock puppets.
This weeks interview features Marc Owen Jones, Assistant Professor for Middle Eastern Studies at the Hamad Bin Khalifa University in Qatar. Mark's specialises in the field of social media disinformation He spoke with @ginolasleftfoot about its growing presence in football's ever complex…
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Miguel Delaney talks Saudi Arabia, Newcastle and end-games.
The take over of Newcastle Utd by the state wealth fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia is imminent. It casts a tremendous shadow over the morality of football. Many human rights organisations have spoken out against the proposed purchased of the historical North Eastern football club. Amnesty…
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Facial Recognition Tech. An interview with Amanda Jacks of Football Supporters’ Trust on privacy and policing.
This week I spoke with Amanda Jacks of @FSA_Faircop . We discuss the recent report that facial recognition technology was used in conjunction with traditional policing methods during the recent Swansea vs Cardiff match. The topic proves a difficult one to currently assess as little legislation or...
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An interview with WSJ’s Senior Sports Writer, Rachel Bachman.
In this week's episode, I talk with Rachel Bachman, Senior Sports Writer for the Wall Street Journal, about her recent findings concerning the profit and cost status of the Womens World Cup '19. Rachel discusses the implications of an error in the FIFA financial report, and its wider reaching...
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Politics in the MLS – An interview with Jules Boykoff.
A stand off has arisen in the MLS over a ruling that Portland Timbers fans, mainly those of the Timbers Army, along with all who attend MLS matches, cannot fly the Iron Front Symbol, due to its political connotations and links with the Antifa movement. Race to the Bottom spoke with Professor…
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Bury FC in Exile…an interview with football writer Peter Taylor.
Friday, August the 23rd will for most of us be regular day. If you support Bury FC, it will not be a regular day. It will be the day when perhaps one of the oldest clubs in the world, ceases to exist. When generations of loyal, loving Shakers fans will see their club removed from the Football...
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An interview with football artist, Dan Leydon.
Dan Leydon is a man who's work you will have seen. If you love football that is. Nike, ESPN, BTSport, Liverpool to name a few. Dan's unique style of art has exploded through Twitter and Instagram. And his iconic images have become symbolic with football's interwoven relationship with social…
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Man City, Mansour and sportswashing. An interview with Nic McGeehan.
This week's episode focusses on the work of Human Rights researcher and reporter, Nic McGeehan. His wealth of knowledge on the Man City take-over in September 2008 hones in on the issues of governance and morality. Nic's work with Human Rights Watch and Open Democracy highlights the paradox of...
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The USWNT, Rapinoe and Solo are leading the challenge in addressing football’s pay-gap.
The pay-gap between men's and women's football has risen to the top of the sport's agenda. Players from the USWNT are demanding equal pay for their sporting achievements spurred on by the most commercially successful Women's World Cup . Their fight for equal pay has been a long worn journey, but...
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Afghan Women’s Football Team seek justice in light of sexual abuse case.
As the growth of the women’s game continues, I look at the sexual abuse case affecting the Afghanistan Women’s National Team. Brought to the media’s attention by ex player Khalida Popal, several squad players sought Popal out to confide in her regarding them being sexually abused by head of...
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An interview with #OystonOut Campaign group, Tangerine Knights.
This week, Race to the Bottom talks with @EveorEvie from the Tangerine Knights. We discuss theire #OystonOut Campaign alongside the #Notapennymore movement. Fan activism is proving to be a powerful and positive model for change. The Tangerine Knights and other protest groups united in the...
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An interview with Lewes F.C director, Charlie Dobres.
Lewes F.C stand unique among the vast number of football clubs for it's stance on gender equality . It is clear that those behind the scenes are pioneers of a different kind of football club. I was fortunate enough to speak with Charlie Dobres, one of the club's directors. We discuss how Lewes…
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#HakeemSaved but what now?
This week, finally saw the safe return of exiled Bahraini footballer, Hakeem Al Araibi, to his adopted country of Austrailia. I review Bahrain's history of human rights abuses towards it's activist athletes, asking whether the governing bodies of FIFA and the IOC, can do more in the future to...
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John Barnes calls out unconscious racism.
In episode 5, I look at John Barnes’ 7 minute talk on unconscious racism, and highlight the imprisonment of British-Sudanese football fan Ali Issa Ahmad, in the UAE, due to him wearing a Qatar shirt at the Asian Cup. Note how Barnes' voice is muted towards the end of his interview....
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A campaign for equal rights. Introducing Lewes F.C- Britain’s most progressive club.
Episode 4, in which I say the words ‘Lewes FC’ a lot. I delve into the history of women’s football and amateur football club Lewes F.C’s stance on equal rights for their players, also highlighting their open letter to the F.A board which looks to address the gender pay gap in the F.A Cup. Check…
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Racism in the F.A Cup and Robbie Savage impersonators.
I talk in my car, in the rain about how I feel the rise of racism in football is something that must be confronted, and briefly discuss a weird advert.
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Iranian women’s fight for equal rights. An interview with OpenStadiums
In this month's episode, the World Cup brings women's rights into focus. I interview Iranian activist Sarah of @openstadiums. We discuss her campaign to allow women access to stadiums for sporting events in her home country of Iran.
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Wembley’s proposed sale reviewed, and a tale of two Sterlings.
The construction of Wembley stadium was both over budget and late in its completion. I look at the possible long-term implications of a governing body without a national stadium as the F.A's proposed sale to Fulham F.C owner Shahid Kahn, appears to be gathering steam,. Later in the show, I review...
About this show
Brought to you by Joe Harman, Race to the Bottom is the football podcast that discusses the crucial, wider issues affecting football, bridging the gap between the game we love and the world we live in. Each month the podcast will focus on topics of race, politics, governance, finance, gender, arts and ethics, in the hope of raising awareness of the social responsibilities of the game.
Hosted by
Joe Harman
Categories