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By anyone’s reckoning, Joyce Cook has an extraordinary story to tell.

She grew up loving football, kicking a ball around with the neighbours when she was just a child.

She began a career in nursing that took her around the world, and it was only when she unexpectedly became disabled that she became an active advocate for making the beautiful game accessible to everyone.

She became heavily involved with Women in Football, the FARE Network and others – and now, she champions equality as FIFA’s Chief Education and Social Responsibility Officer.

So, a great guest - and plenty to get into in an absolutely fascinating conversation.

We talk about Joyce’s personal story; her coming out in the workplace and the battles she had to fight there; the work she’s doing at FIFA when it comes to equality; holding the World Cup in Russia and Qatar and whether that sits well alongside FIFA’s diversity commitments; whether the rainbow is a political symbol and much, much more.

It’s all in this conversation, which we think you’re really going to enjoy – and we’re grateful that Joyce took the time to join us for it. It's a cracking episode, this one.

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUESTS?
@JoyceCook01
@FIFAcom

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE PODCAST?
@jack_murley
jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

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