Steve Smith, the star of Episode 105 of The Howie Games, returns for a special Ashes deep dive.

One of the greatest players Australia has ever produced sits down for an honest, thoughtful and fascinating look at the contest that has shaped so much of his career: the Ashes.

Across this special, thanks to Kayo, Smithy opens up on the moments that defined him, the magic of 2019, the battles that pushed him to the edge, the celebrations that live on forever, and the sting of defeat that still lingers.

He shares how he trains for longevity, why New York life helps him disappear into the crowd, and how the weight of expectation sits on the shoulders of a current champion.

A champion of the game, back for another chapter and a rare insight into what the Ashes really mean to him.

Watch Kayo for the best Test Match coverage, and every Big Bash game Live and Exclusive all summer long.

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"If you see something, do something."

In one of the most powerful and heartfelt conversations we’ve ever shared on The Howie Games, AFL great and friend Brad Johnson opens up about his recent battle with cancer, not for sympathy, but in the hope that his story can help others navigate their own tough moments, or support loved ones walking that path.

Johno is one of those rare people who genuinely lifts the room the moment he walks in. His energy, his warmth, his positivity are all infectious. But this year, he was forced into a fight he never saw coming.

For the first time - with the aim of helping others - he speaks openly about the fear, the uncertainty and the lessons learned along the way. And he offers three simple but vital guiding principles that carried him through.

This is a conversation about vulnerability and strength… and about the power of positivity in the face of adversity.

Whether you or someone you love is facing a health battle, or you simply need a reminder of what really matters, this special episode with Brad Johnson is one you won’t forget.

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The very first guest on The Howie Games is back on the show... 3,357 days later!

More than nine years after he helped launch this little podcast, Gilly returns to the crease. From the cricket field to the commentary box… all the way to the agave fields of Mexico. Gilly talks about life after the game, how a simple curiosity turned into a tequila business, and why building something real still matters.

There are reflections on Shane Warne, lessons learned through COVID about connection and community, and the shift from being a player to being the voice behind the mic.

Gilly also goes deep on family, how relationships evolve as your kids grow, the art of staying connected, what a long and successful marriage has taught him, and the joy of watching his children chase their own passions.

It’s classic Gilly, thoughtful, humble, inquisitive.

The first guest ever… back for another chapter!

Get a hold of Gilly’s finest work of El Arquero here

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Follow the Howie Games on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehowiegamespod/

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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The very first guest on The Howie Games is back on the show... 3,357 days later!

More than nine years after he helped launch this little podcast, Gilly returns to the crease. From the cricket field to the commentary box… all the way to the agave fields of Mexico. Gilly talks about life after the game, how a simple curiosity turned into a tequila business, and why building something real still matters.

There are reflections on Shane Warne, lessons learned through COVID about connection and community, and the shift from being a player to being the voice behind the mic.

Gilly also goes deep on family, how relationships evolve as your kids grow, the art of staying connected, what a long and successful marriage has taught him, and the joy of watching his children chase their own passions.

It’s classic Gilly, thoughtful, humble, inquisitive.

The first guest ever… back for another chapter!

Get a hold of Gilly’s finest work of El Arquero here

***

Follow the Howie Games on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehowiegamespod/

Follow the Howie Games on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thehowiegames

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Return guest Adam Gilchrist is back with an update on life and his quest to build a tequila empire.

Yes, Australia’s greatest wicket-keeper-batsman is now the king of tequila!

But before we get to that, here’s something we didn’t have when Gilly first joined us all those years ago as guest #1: his very own Player Profile.

¡Salud!

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After 100 days of build-up, planning, sacrifice and anticipation… it’s finally here. The Ashes.

Mitch Starc and Alex Carey take you straight to Perth and inside Game Day like never before. From the restless night before, to the moment to the first ball, to the quiet recovery after a bruising Day 1, this is the unfiltered mindset and minute-by-minute rhythm of two professionals living one of the biggest days in recent Australian cricket.

And then comes that fast bowling. Mitch Starc unleashes one of the most devastating fast-bowling performances in recent memory. It was a display that will sit proudly in Ashes folklore for years to come. Beside him every step of the way is Alex Carey, providing the calm, sharp, steady presence that helps drive Australia’s perfect start to the series.

It’s raw. It’s revealing. It’s everything we love about sport, pressure, preparation, passion, delivered with unparalleled access.

And to conclude the series, another huge thanks to Kez and Starcy for opening the doors and bringing us along for the ride.

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The Ashes are here… and Mitch and Alex take us into the final countdown, and take you right inside the inner sanctum as the Aussie boys switch fully into game mode.

Starcy fires things up from the boarding lounge in Sydney before taking us all the way across the country to Perth, where the final week of prep unfolds. Both boys walk us through everything that matters in the countdown to the first ball: the meetings, the match intel, the fine-tuning at training and even the go-to room-service orders once they hit hotel life.

There’s insight into how Australia plans to attack England, what they’re seeing in the Perth Stadium wicket, and just how much spice might be hiding in that surface. The lads share what they’ve noticed, how they’ll play it, and what’s going into the tactical blueprint.

There’s team news. There’s tension. And then there’s Howie jumping on a plane to head west to join the Fox Cricket and Triple M call teams, where even the hotel check-in is humming with Ashes energy.

The prep is done. The hype is fever pitch. Now… it’s time for action.

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There’s no better time to hear from one of the greatest run-makers the game has ever seen. How he prepares. How he adapts. How he’s hardened by past Ashes'. And how life under Brendon McCullum has completely rejuvenated him and the England set-up.

Across more than a decade at the top, Root has piled up mountains of Test runs, rewritten English cricket history, and carried the hopes of a nation with a smile and a steely determination. But behind the numbers sits a bloke who is down-to-earth, driven and constantly learning.

England’s batting giant, record-breaker, and modern master joins Howie for a wide-ranging, honest and insightful conversation.

It’s a terrific look into the mindset of one of the greatest English batters of all time, right as the biggest, most anticipated Ashes series in recent memory is about to start.

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Follow the Howie Games on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehowiegamespod/

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