Legacy: Sports Stories
Legacy: Sports Stories is a documentary podcast that explores powerful human stories rooted in sports, covering themes of identity, culture, politics, and resilience. The show features multiple seasons, including investigations into the Qatar World Cup, football hooliganism in Britain, and the legacy of a prestigious ballet institution. Each episode aims to reveal the moments that change everything, told through in-depth storytelling.
Episodes
The real downfall of Welsh rugby | Legacy Spotlight
By 2028, Wales will lose one of its most storied rugby union clubs: the Scarlets or the Ospreys. The WRU says there is no credible alternative to preserve the sport's future.But how did it come to this? And why do many believe that this radical step won't even fix the root cause of Welsh rugby's decline?Follow us on YouTube for every story in video and get us on Instagram and TikTok fo
How Lucha Libre became a home for Mexico's migrant women | Legacy Spotlight
Before she became Thunder Rosa, she was Melissa Cervantes. A Mexican woman born in Tijuana, living in the United States. And in the ring, she found her identity.Follow us on YouTube for every story in video and get us on Instagram and TikTok for even more Legacy stories.Got a story you think we need to tell? DM us on Instagram or email legacysportstories@gmail.com.Legacy is the award-winning docum
Where did Peng Shuai go? | Legacy Spotlight
Five years ago, Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai vanished. All because of a post on social media.Ahead of the WTA's return to Beijing for the China Open, we ask what happened, why the tennis world made a stand – and then didn't.Follow us on YouTube for every story in video and get us on Instagram and TikTok for even more Legacy stories.Got a story you think we need to tell? DM us on Instagram or ema
The wildest sporting event you never knew existed | Legacy Spotlight
This week, Kyrgyzstan is hosting the Nomad Games.Built on centuries of tradition, it’s a celebration of nomadic culture in Central Asia. And in our modern sporting world, it's totally unique.Follow us on YouTube for every story in video and get us on Instagram and TikTok for even more Legacy stories.Got a story you think we need to tell? DM us on Instagram or email legacysportstories@gmail.com.Leg
The woman who summited every 8000m mountain on Earth | Legacy Spotlight
There are 14 mountains on Earth that rise above 8000 metres. For mountaineers, climbing all of them is the greatest challenge on Earth.Only a select few have ever completed it. One of them is Edurne Pasabán, who came back from the brink to do them all. This is her incredible story.Follow us on YouTube for every story in video and get us on Instagram and TikTok for even more Legacy stories.Got a st
Meet Pakistan’s first female MMA fighter | Legacy Spotlight
She is known as The Arm Collector. She is a formidable athlete, a symbol of strength to women everywhere. And she is Pakistan's first ever female professional MMA fighter.This is Anita Karim's story.Follow us on YouTube for every story in video and get us on Instagram and TikTok for even more Legacy stories.Got a story you think we need to tell? DM us on Instagram or email legacysportstories@gmail
Why Palestinian children are playing one of Ireland's oldest sports | Legacy Spotlight
In a refugee camp in Ramallah in the West Bank, a group of Palestinian children train to master one of Ireland’s oldest sports – hurling. They play not just for fun but for something deeper: freedom.This is the story of GAA Palestine and what's become both an unlikely vehicle for humanitarian aid and a powerful tool of resistance.Follow us on YouTube for every story in video and get us on Instagra
Fit, Young, and then… Gone: The Mystery of Sudden Death in Sport
What would you do if playing the sport you loved almost killed you? That was the question Christian Eriksen faced after he collapsed on the pitch during the Euros in 2021. He returned to football 8 months later. He collapsed again earlier this year… But what is Sudden Adult Death Syndrome, and more importantly, is it preventable? Follow us on YouTube for every story in video and get us on Ins
The Hidden World of Tennis Match-Fixing
Tennis has a hidden underworld. Beyond the glamour of the Slams and the pristine lawns of Wimbledon, the sport's lower levels are dogged by fears of match-fixing. And the problem isn't going away.This is how criminals are exploiting the sport and why tennis players are so vulnerable.Follow us on YouTube for every story in video and get us on Instagram and TikTok for even more Legacy stories.Got a
The OnlyFans models making the most of the World Cup | Legacy Spotlight
OnlyFans creators are tapping into football to get exposure with a massive male audience, and this summer's World Cup presents a golden opportunity to recruit new subscribers. But how does this strategy work, what does it tell us about modern football fan culture online, and what are some of its far-reaching consequences?Follow us on YouTube for every story in video and get us on Instagram and Tik
Seriously, UFC is coming to The White House | Legacy Spotlight
On June 14th, to mark Flag Day in the US and Donald Trump's 80th birthday, the UFC is coming to The White House. Or more specifically, UFC Freedom 250.Why is it happening, especially when America remains at war with Iran? And why is the lineup so... underwhelming? Today's episode unpacks what we know so far.Follow us on YouTube for every story in video and get us on Instagram and TikTok for even m
How Cape Verde reached the World Cup | Legacy Spotlight
After their first Africa Cup of Nations in 2013, Cape Verde have become a force to be reckoned with in African football, driven by their incredible fanbase and their talent both at home and in the country's wider diaspora.This is how the second smallest nation at the 2026 World Cup finals upset the odds and achieved a massive dream.Follow us on YouTube for every story in video and get us on Instag
Why Spain's far-right loves bullfighting | Legacy Spotlight
For some Spaniards, bullfighting is an iconic symbol of heritage and identity. For others, it’s an abusive practice that belongs in the past. And most recently, it’s become the stage of a major culture war, pulling in debates about nationalism, identity, and even far-right movements.So how did a centuries-old spectacle become the battleground of a new culture war in Europe?Follow us on YouTube for
A Guide to the Enhanced Games | Legacy Spotlight
Next month sees the Enhanced Games hit Las Vegas. Dubbed the 'Steroid Olympics', it's an event where performance-enhancing drugs aren’t banned, but part of the spectacle.From the big-money investment, to the high-profile athletes involved, this is everything you need to know about what might be the most divisive sporting event of all time – and why we should all pay attention.Follow us on YouTube
The million-dollar racing pigeon heist | Legacy Spotlight
Once the "horse racing of the poor," pigeon racing is now a lucrative industry, built on a deep bond between fanciers and their birds. But now, they are under attack.This is the story of how Belgium - the cradle of the sport - has been rocked by a series of million-dollar bird burglaries, and how the community is fighting back.Follow us on YouTube for every story in video and get us on Instagram a
The tragedy that shook USA’s last World Cup | Legacy Spotlight
Andrés Escobar Saldarriaga was one of Colombia’s most loved and iconic footballers. But the 1994 World Cup changed everything. On the world’s biggest stage, Andrés made one mistake. A mistake that would cost him his life.Follow us on YouTube for every story in video and get us on Instagram and TikTok for even more Legacy stories.Got a story you think we need to tell? DM us on Instagram or ema
The toughest marathon you’ve never heard of | Legacy Spotlight
This is the story of The Barkley: one of the most brutal endurance races you’ve probably never heard of. And what it reveals about our relentless hunger for pushing our bodies to the limit.If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share. This is Legacy: Spotlight, where we tell sports stories that matter. New episodes every fortnight.Follow us on YouTube for every story in
How ping pong transformed US-China relations in the 1970s | Legacy Spotlight
How did China and the US mend their relationship in the 1970s through... ping pong? This is the story of how two players changed the course of history.If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share. This is Legacy: Spotlight, where we tell sports stories that matter. New episodes every fortnight.Follow us on YouTube for every story in video and get us on Instagram and TikT
The rugby star chasing an even more brutal sport | Legacy Spotlight
Niccolò Cannone is known to rugby fans as one of Italy’s most physical and dependable forwards. But why does he dream of playing in one of the world's most brutal sports once he's retired?If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share. This is Legacy: Spotlight, where we tell sports stories that matter. New episodes every fortnight.Follow us on YouTube for every story in v
The only Winter Olympic sport women can’t compete in | Legacy Spotlight
Women have been competing in Nordic combined at the World Cup and World Championship level, but the Olympics? Still off-limits.This is the story of Annika Malacinski, one of the world’s top women in Nordic combined and a leading voice fighting for Olympic inclusion.If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share. This is Legacy: Spotlight, where we tell sports stories
Introducing Legacy Spotlight
Welcome to Legacy Spotlight, the new series from Stak, where every two weeks we tell you a sports story in under 15 minutes. Stories that go beyond scores, stats, and trophies. Stories that go to the heart of why we all love sport. Stories that remind us why we care. Sports stories that matter.Subscribe and follow along now, and if you’re new here, be sure to check out our longer-form documentarie
The Future | Defiant - Episode Six
Eric Morante is abruptly pulled from The Golden Gloves - without warning. And no one will tell him why.Thank you for listening to Defiant. Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us.Extraordinary sporting stories that really matter. From
The Golden Gloves | Defiant - Episode Five
Eric Morante prepares for a fight that could change everything: not just for himself, but for amputee boxers everywhere.Thank you for listening to Defiant. Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us.Extraordinary sporting stories th
The Paralympian | Defiant - Episode Four
What was a grassroots movement teaching amputees how to fight is now a nationwide movement. And as a result, Eric Morante has set himself a new mission. Thank you for listening to Defiant. Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us.Extra
The Boxer | Defiant - Episode Three
Eric Morante had lost his leg, his purpose, and entered some of the darkest years of his life. But then, his childhood passion offers a lifeline. Extraordinary sporting stories that really matter. From Stak, this is Defiant. The fourth series of the award-winning Legacy.For more content and exclusive extras from Defiant and previous seasons of Legacy, be sure to follow us on YouTube. You can also
The Amputee | Defiant - Episode Two
Eric Morante was 21 years old, a fiercely loyal squad leader already on his third tour in Iraq, when a sequence of events would turn his whole world upside down…Thank you for listening to Defiant. Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us.Ex
The Marine | Defiant - Episode One
11th of September, 2001. The day of America’s worst terrorist attack. And the moment a young kid makes a decision that will change his life forever.Thank you for listening to Defiant. Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us.Extraordina
Legacy – Season 4: Defiant | Available Monday 10th November
Eric Morante was a boy torn between boxing and the marines when – on September 11th, 2001 – the decision became clear. Defiant traces Eric's journey to the US Marines, moving through deserts, disasters, and one life-changing day where a whole new struggle began. It asks us to consider what can be achieved when sport is seen as therapy, when we strive to push past the limits we place on ourselves,
The Curtain Call | Dancing with Shadows – Episode 7
Nicky tries to track down a current NYCB dancer who will share their story and their experience of the Company.And then, one day in February 2025, one of NYCB’s longest-serving principal dancers steps forward, ten days after her retirement. She’s ready to talk.Thank you for listening to Dancing with Shadows. Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods
The Golden Boy | Dancing with Shadows – Episode 6
In 2018, Alexandra Waterbury filed a lawsuit against Chase Finlay and New York City Ballet that made headlines worldwide. Chase had taken sexually explicit photos and videos of Alexandra without her consent, and shared them with other male dancers in the Company.Ever since then, Chase’s silence has stretched on, heavy and unbroken. Until today.Extraordinary sporting stories that really matter. Fro
The Weight of Grace (Part Two) | Dancing with Shadows – Episode 5
In December 2017, five former dancers came forward and accused Peter Martins of verbal and physical abuse. But not everyone in the ballet world was ready to listen.Nicky sits down with one of the dancers who testified against him – and another who stood firmly in his defence. Two perspectives, one deeply divided Company.Extraordinary sporting stories that really matter. From Stak, this is Dancing
The Weight of Grace (Part One) | Dancing with Shadows – Episode 4
Carrying on a legacy like George Balanchine’s was the impossible job.But when Peter Martins took control of the Company, the consequences for one dancer were particularly devastating. Nicky tracks her down and hears her story…Part Two of The Weight of Grace is out right now.Extraordinary sporting stories that really matter. From Stak, this is Dancing with Shadows – the third series of the award-wi
You are Angels | Dancing with Shadows – Episode 3
Two dancers still see visions of Balanchine. One sees that vision more clearly than ever, while the other questions her memories with entirely new eyes…Episodes 4 and 5 are out on Tuesday 4th March. Subscribe now to make sure you don’t miss it.Extraordinary sporting stories that really matter. From Stak, this is Dancing with Shadows – the third series of the award-winning Legacy.***Please take the
Icon, Father, God | Dancing with Shadows – Episode 2
The Company’s founder, George Balanchine, was more than just a choreographer. To his dancers, he was a father figure, an all-seeing god – and even a husband, blending his professional and personal lives. His relationships with female dancers led to some of the most celebrated works the world has ever seen. But at what cost?To try and understand the genius, Nicky meets two of his most famous protég
The Golden Gates | Dancing with Shadows – Episode 1
Nicky finally fulfils a childhood dream: to watch the New York City Ballet.But it’s hard to enjoy the moment. Not with all she knows now.Episode 2 is available to listen to right now, with new episodes released every Tuesday. Subscribe now to make sure you don’t miss an episode.Extraordinary sporting stories that really matter. From Stak, this is Dancing With Shadows – the third series of the awar
Dancing with Shadows | Trailer
Millions dream of becoming a ballet dancer. And so many dream of reaching the grandest stage of all: the New York City Ballet. Home to some of the greatest works of the modern age, its legacy was shaped by the genius of its founder, the so-called father of American ballet, George Balanchine.But behind the beauty lies a more complicated truth. You see, this isn’t just a story about ballet. It’s abo
This Thing of Ours | The English Disease – Episode 6
In the final episode, Sam returns to east London to confront some home truths and speaks to someone who might hold the key to understanding the English Disease…Extraordinary sporting stories that really matter. From Stak, this is The English Disease – the second series of the award-winning Legacy.***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It
The Price of Brotherhood | The English Disease – Episode 5
Tensions are rising across the country until, one night in July, a single event changes everything…Enjoyed listening to The English Disease? We want to hear from you before the season finale – whether you have first-hand experience of this story or not. Message Sam Diss on X or Instagram.Extraordinary sporting stories that really matter. From Stak, this is The English Disease – the second series o
The Mask Eats the Face | The English Disease – Episode 4
A WhatsApp group for football banter started as an escape from the real world. But it soon became a command centre for Britain’s culture war…Extraordinary sporting stories that really matter. From Stak, this is The English Disease – the second series of the award-winning Legacy.***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal
Us vs Them | The English Disease – Episode 3
A young man in Sheffield attacks a rival supporter with irreversible consequences... But his story isn’t an anomaly. It’s a blueprint.Subscribe now to get the latest episode of The English Disease every Tuesday throughout October.Extraordinary sporting stories that really matter. From Stak, this is The English Disease – the second series of the award-winning Legacy.***Please take the time to rate
The Englishman | The English Disease – Episode 2
Sam travels to Nottingham to meet a hooligan known as ‘The Englishman’ who used football violence to navigate the fractured ideals of working-class masculinity.Subscribe now to get the latest episode of The English Disease every Tuesday throughout October.Extraordinary sporting stories that really matter. From Stak, this is The English Disease – the second series of the award-winning Legacy.***Ple
Kicking Off | The English Disease – Episode 1
Sam goes to breakfast with an ex-hooligan friend to answer a question he’s circled for a decade, and sets off on a journey to reveal what’s really lurking beneath the surface of England’s game.Extraordinary sporting stories that really matter. From Stak, this is The English Disease – the second series of the award-winning Legacy.***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts
The English Disease | Trailer
There was a time when football hooliganism was everywhere. For decades it dominated headlines, merging the two things England loves most: football and fear.Over the course of six episodes, writer Sam Diss digs deeper – beyond the stereotypes and tabloid headlines – to understand what first brought people to this violent, sprawling subculture, and how it has forced its way back into our society tod
Inside the Qatar World Cup – Episode 3
What does the future look like for Qatar, football, and the people we’ve spoken to?Sports broadcaster Kate Mason finds out more about the precarious situation of the LGBTQ+ community in the country and speaks to the only publicly gay Qatari. After officials were in a standoff with Danish broadcasters this week, Kate also explores Qatar's media environment and asks whether this World Cup will – rea
Inside the Qatar World Cup – Episode 2
What does this World Cup mean for Qatar? Sports broadcaster Kate Mason goes inside the Qatar club game and finds signs of a very deliberate footballing project.But are Qatar’s intentions going to survive their first contact with reality? We examine the tournament infrastructure for fans across Doha – from an unfinished fan park, to FIFA's luxury 'tent city' and desolate stadium surroundings – and
Inside the Qatar World Cup – Episode 1
How did we get here? Sports broadcaster Kate Mason travels back to 2010 and finds out how Qatar’s migrant worker crisis unfolded – and continues to endure to this day. She speaks to three workers about their experiences in the country, including one man who helped build some of the World’s Cup most prestigious venues. Their stories paint a stark, bleak picture of the abusive conditions suffer
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