On this episode of More Than A Name, we sit down with former England striker Darren Bent for a raw and deeply honest conversation about what it really takes — and costs — to make it at the top, and how life in football evolves after the final whistle.
Darren opens up about his obsession with scoring goals, and how that single-minded mentality fuelled his career while also shaping how he was judged. He reflects on why his England career never quite matched his club form, lifting the lid on selection, perception and timing at international level.
He also speaks candidly about his parents managing his youth career while going through a divorce, and how instability away from football affected him during his most formative years. Darren revisits the intense scrutiny that came with being Tottenham Hotspur’s record signing, explaining how expectation, confidence and pressure collided in North London.
The conversation doesn’t shy away from football’s harsher realities — including dealing with public criticism from fans, being labelled a “flop”, and the long-lasting impact of public narratives. Darren also shares his personal views on racism in football, offering insight shaped by both his playing career and his life beyond it.
Now a leading voice in the media, Darren discusses his transition into punditry with talkSPORT, how his perspective has changed since retirement, and why he approaches modern football debates differently as a former player who’s lived the pressure he now analyses.
Honest, reflective and unfiltered, this is Darren Bent beyond the goals, beyond the noise, and truly more than a name.
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Monty Panesar is more than his statistics.
In this deeply honest and entertaining conversation, the former England spinner reflects on a career that brought 50 Test caps, 167 wickets and a period known as 'Monty Mania' — and the personal battles that ran alongside the success. Monty opens up about his struggles with mental health, the loneliness of touring, and what it meant to grow up and play elite sport as a Sikh in England.
He speaks candidly about losing a close friend to suicide, the moment Andrew Flintoff reached out when he was at his lowest, and the long road back to self-belief. Monty shares his frustration with life after cricket — and why he feels the media opportunities he hoped for are yet to present themselves. Mastermind fans will be glad to hear that Monty also weighs in on his pre-Ashes back-and-forth with Australia's Steve Smith.
Get in touch with Max and Luke: morethananamepod@gmail.com
Follow the show on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morethananamepod/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@morethananamepod
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Becky Adlington is one of Britain’s most successful Olympic swimmers — but this conversation is about the moments away from the podium that shaped her most.
In this deeply honest episode of More Than A Name, Rebecca opens up about the sacrifices required to chase elite sport from a young age (04:30), her love for swimming as a teenager (9:18), and the family trauma that followed her sister’s life-changing battle with encephalitis (14:50).
She reflects on arriving at the Beijing 2008 Olympics with little external expectation (22:20), before becoming a double Olympic champion and breaking a 19-year-old world record (28:00). Rebecca also discusses the pressure of building toward London 2012 and the transition away from competitive swimming (34:10).
Most powerfully, Becky shares her fertility journey in raw and emotional detail (44:40) — including the trauma of multiple miscarriages and the heartbreak of a stillbirth. She speaks about spending precious time with her baby, Harper, after losing her, and how that experience changed her forever. At the time of recording, Becky is eight months pregnant, and she reflects on the fear, hope, and resilience that comes with pregnancy after loss.
This is a moving conversation about grief, strength, motherhood, and identity — and what it truly means to be more than a name.
This episode contains discussion around baby loss, stillbirth, miscarriage, fertility struggles, and grief. These topics may be distressing or triggering for some listeners. Please take care while listening and feel free to pause or step away if needed. Support is available, and you are not alone.
If you are affected by any of the issues discussed and are based in the UK, support is available through:
• SANDS (Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society) – offers support for anyone affected by the death of a baby
• Tommy’s – provides information and support for pregnancy loss and fertility challenges
• The Miscarriage Association – offers support and resources for those affected by miscarriage
You can also contact Petals Charity, who provide free, specialist counselling for all types of loss. You can find them on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/petalscharity
Get in touch with the show: morethananamepod@gmail.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morethananamepod/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@morethananamepod
Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/@MoreThanANamePodcast