Shows
Why Always She?THE EUROS Episode 9 - Never in doubt...?Charli and Matt look back over the tournament, revisiting their predictions and how things ended up unfolding. And there's of course time for unpicking just how England managed to pull off their second Euros title (back-to-back, in case you hadn't heard).
2025-07-311h 02Why Always She?THE EUROS Episode 8 - World in (Slow) MotionThe team discuss another late comeback from England, as well as a heroic defensive shift from Germany, which could only be undone by the brilliance of Bonmati. Charli learns more valuable lessons about being a football fan, and Matt lays out what would be his grand plan to beat Spain in the final.
2025-07-251h 10Why Always She?THE EUROS Episode 7 - Notorious AKBRecovered from their England malaise, Charli and Matt get into the other two quarter finals. What did we learn about Spain from their eventual unlocking of Switzerland? Just how impressive was Germany's defensive shift against France (one player in particular)? They also get into how Germany may fare against Spain and what, if anything, Italy can do to beat England.
2025-07-2154 minWhy Always She?THE EUROS Episode 6 - An absolute fever dreamCharli and Matt try to unpick England's bizarre victory over Sweden. What is "Proper England"? How brilliant is Lucy Bronze? Can Charli regain her love for this team before the semi-final?
2025-07-191h 06Why Always She?THE EUROS Episode 5 - So about SwedenSlightly dazed from a week of drinking and the St Gallen heat, Charli and Matt rattle through the final group games and quickly preview the remaining games in Group D. It's very much pick your poison time for England who - should they get through - will face the daunting prospect of either Sweden or Germany in the quarter finals. Germany looked the ones to beat going into the tournament, but Sweden have emerged as serious prospect.
2025-07-1336 minWhy Always She?THE EUROS Episode 4 - Remain calmIn their first "report" from Switzerland, Charli and Matt (having calmed down about it now) dissect England's first group game and what they expect to see next from Wiegman's side. They also touch on the experience of watching Spain vs Belgium in a thundery Thun and the excitement happening in the other groups.
2025-07-0850 minWhy Always She?THE EUROS - Episode 3 - Day 4 DebriefCharli and Matt give you a whistle stop tour of the first 3 match days of Euro 2025. What did we learn? Which players stood out? Where does this leave the rest of the group games?
2025-07-0546 minWhy Always She?THE EUROS Episode 2 - In Sarina We TrustDays away from the tournament, Charli and Matt try not to melt in the heat wave and give their suitably hot takes about England. What did we learn about Sarina's team selection in the send-off game against Jamaica? Who should play in the 10? Will England get grouped? And what does the future look like beyond this Euros?
2025-07-011h 01
Why Always She?THE EUROS Episode 1 - Ice or Fire?Charli and Matt kick off their Euros prep with some predictions - outlandish, safe, pessimistic - you decide. Who'll surprise us all? Which group will bring the drama? And who will lift the trophy?
Stay tuned to see how Matt manages to shoehorn Claire Wheeler into an episode about The Euros.
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We're planning loads more content in and around (whey) the Euros, so don't miss a thing - follow us on BlueSky, Instagram, Substack and where you ever you get your podcasts.
2025-06-1944 min
Why Always She?Episode 54 - The state of the nationIn this quick solo pod, Charli gives you a calm and sane temperature check on England and our rivals for the Euros after a slightly tumultuous Nations League window on and off the pitch.
2025-06-0421 minWhy Always She?Episode 53 - You just got Blacksteniused... again!If you're an Arsenal fan and/or don't care about Mary Earps or the Lionesses, skip to 20 mins 27 secs! Charli and Matt try and unpack the shock announcement that Mary Earps has retired from international football, reflect on her career and not just what this means for England, but for Mary Earps the person. They then touch on Arsenal's heroic win against Barcelona to become Champions of Europe, and what this means for them going into next season. Charli may or may not accidentally turn this into a 15 minute monologue about Stina Blackstenius.
2025-05-281h 05Why Always She?Episode 52 - Better late than neverIt's the delayed 50th episode spectacular! Matt, Charli and a very special guest pick their WSL teams of the season. But it wouldn't be Why Always She if it wasn't unnecessarily complicated; there can only be a maximum of 2 players from each team. Stick around until the end for a Mastermind-style quiz with two very specialist subjects.
2025-05-221h 20Why Always She?Bonus Episode: Vive La AmandineCharli and Matt finally indulge themselves in a (even more so than usual) chill and free flowing chat about Leicester and their 24/25 season. Foxes fans; this one's for you especially, but everyone else is more than welcome to listen in and learn more about this season's perennial underdogs. 2025-05-101h 00Why Always She?Episode 51 - Is The Other 8 our thing now?The Why Always She podcast: the only place to get your long, rambling "Other 8" content. This week Charli and Matt do a bumper end-of-season(ish) review of the triumphs, trials and tribulations of the teams outside of the big 4; from soaring Seagulls to *sigh* flagging Foxes.
2025-05-071h 24Why Always She?Episode 50 - Just like every other episode50 up! Thank you to everyone who has listened, followed and supported the podcast so far.
Charli and Matt renege on their promises and rather than the special episode they had planned, just deep dive into the events of the weekend. But there's plenty of excitement to talk about with Arsenal shocking Lyon and Chelsea just being plain shocking in the UWCL. Back in the WSL there's heartbreak for Palace, but is there hope for City?
Do keep an eye out for the postponed 50th episode celebration, coming to ears near you soo...2025-04-291h 09Why Always She?Episode 49 - Capitulation in CataloniaCharli and Matt dissect the two Champions League Semi-finals from the weekend: a good showing from Arsenal against Lyon and a bit of a capitulation from Chelsea against Barcelona. What went wrong, what went right, and can both English teams turn the ties around?
2025-04-231h 06Why Always She?Episode 48 - Are you not convinced?This week, Charli and Matt use the FA Cup semi-finals as a backdrop to discuss: where Manchester United and Chelsea go from here. For United - was giving Skinner a new contract the right decision? What's gone well this season and what do they need to do next season to push on? For Chelsea - are they really "unconvincing", or have they proven they can get it done no matter what?
Don't forget to follow us on BlueSky, Instagram and subscribe on Substack. Just search "Why Always She" and you'll find us.
2025-04-141h 11Why Always She?Episode 47 - A real El Clasico of a weekMatt and Charli pick their winners and losers from a whirlwind week in women's football. Teams, players, leagues, concepts: everyone's getting a shout-out, good and bad. Spoiler alert: Leicester may or may not be one of the winners. What did you expect?
2025-03-251h 17Why Always She?Episode 46 - The Chelsea (Subway) train keeps rollingThis week Charli and Matt recap the Subway Women's League Cup Final and ask what should Chelsea and City change - if anything - heading into their Champions League clash on Wednesday?
They also get into the weekend's events from the WSL and what it means for teams at the top and bottom of the table. Can Man United course-correct after a disappointing performance? Can Arsenal exact revenge on Liverpool? Are Villa in serious trouble now?
2025-03-171h 09Why Always She?Episode 45 - A guide to the NWSL by confused English peopleThis week Matt and Charli kick off with a review of the weekend's FA cup games. They then do their best to preview the upcoming NWSL season - giving WSL fans and fans from across Europe a taste of what to expect from our footballing (soccering?) cousins across the pond, and reasons you should give it a chance instead of arguing on the internet about which league is the best. Players you might have heard of, teams to look out for, key differences to note.
Follow us on Instagram: @whyalwaysshepod
Follow us on BlueSky: @whyalwaysshe.b...2025-03-111h 11Why Always She?Episode 44 - Thanks, I hate itStrap in for a long ramble as Charli and Matt discuss the controversial proposal to scrap relegation from the WSL. What can we hope to achieve by doing this? Will it make the league more competitive? Later on they discuss whether Chelsea can get through their March of Madness to seal their 6th title in a row - or is there a dark horse in our midst?
2025-03-041h 20Why Always She?Episode 43 - She did, in fact, believeCharli and Matt discuss England's important Nation's League win over Spain at Wembley, as well as Japan ending Emma Hayes' unbeaten run at the helm of the USWNT in the SheBelieves Cup. The team then get into Barclay's manager chat - did Matt Beard and Laura Kaminski deserve to get the sack? What does it mean for Liverpool and Palace for the rest of the season?
You can now watch us on YouTube! If you'd like to see our faces, search "Why Always She" and hit subscribe so you never miss a new episode.
2025-03-011h 12Why Always She?Episode 42 - Portugal and perspectiveIn this "quick" episode (things are never quick here on WAS) Charli and Matt get into the Nations League, and offer some perspective on England's performance against Portugal and the wider situation going into Wednesday's game against Spain and the Euros.
2025-02-2543 minWhy Always She?Episode 41 - We forgot to mention MarionaAfter a goal-filled weekend with some stand-out performances up and down the table, Charli and Matt celebrate the heroes of GW14 with the first (and probably last, what's a format?) Why Always She Team of the Week.
2025-02-181h 08Why Always She?Episode 40 - The Mid-season Other 8 SpectacularWith a WSL breather this week to focus on the Cups - Subway and FA - Charli and Matt look at the teams outside of the top 4 in the WSL. They rate their season so far, talk about some of their strengths, weaknesses and where they could go from here.
2025-02-051h 31Why Always She?Episode 39 - Million Dollar CBThe mood is jubilant in the Why Always She camp this week after their beloved Leicester recorded just their second win of the season over Liverpool. Charli and Matt use this as a springboard to talk about some of this weekend's goings on in the league outside of what looks like to be a pretty sewn-up title race following Chelsea's narrow defeat of Arsenal. They then get on to the biggest piece of news in women's football in recent weeks (maybe months, years) - the arrival of US international Naomi Girma at Chelsea for a record-breaking fee. What will...2025-01-291h 04Why Always She?Episode 38 - Tooney and temerityCharli and Matt are back following the return of the WSL, and what better way to celebrate than with a suitably chaotic Manchester Derby? With Arsenal and Chelsea clicking along nicely, they once again turn their attention to City and how their rigidity in system and lack of proper squad building is starting to cause real issues. That's not to take anything away from United, who took the game to them and made hay while City made disarray.
Please note this episode was recorded BK (Before Kerolin) and BG (Before Girma). Stay tuned until the end to h...2025-01-221h 13Why Always She?Episode 37 - The sun comes shining throughThis week Charli and Matt try (and mostly succeed) not to be too insufferable about Leicester's solid performance and shock draw against the formidable Chelsea. They also discuss Everton's scene-stealing result against an injury-depleted City, and go in on Taylor for his failure to adjust his system or plan properly for the loss of key players.
2024-12-171h 10Why Always She?Episode 36 - Winter (break) is comingThis week Charli has a solo session on the January transfer window: who needs to recruit and where? Who's fine? Who just needs to have a bit of R&R and rethink their life choices to insist on playing out from the back?
2024-12-1233 minWhy Always She?Episode 35 - Bert, Blues, Baltimore, (International) BreakThe team tackle a pick and mix of topics this week: Charli starts on well-trodden ground with a rant about Manchester United and Marc Skinner; there's then a quick review of what's going on in the Championship, a discussion of what Chelsea might do with Sandy Baltimore with Niamh Charles coming back, and a quick preview of the injury-stricken Lionesses' friendly against the USA.
2024-11-261h 02Why Always She?Episode 34 - Renée or YayAfter an emphatic win in the North London Derby and ahead of what was pencilled in as her "final" game as interim manager, Charli and Matt discuss the hot topic in the WSL - should Renée Slegers be given the Arsenal job permanently? That's after they give their thoughts on the clash at the top of the table - can Chelsea be stopped? They also get into why they think things might be looking a bit bleak for Robert Vilahamn.
2024-11-201h 09Why Always She?Episode 33 - WSL DeepcutsThis week Charli and Matt give some of the "unsung heroes" of the WSL a spotlight - basically going full football hipster and picking a player (or players - Charli, you cop-out) from each team who may be flying under the radar a little but putting in some solid performances.
2024-11-141h 02Why Always She?Episode 32 - The struggle is realThis week Charli and Matt take a deep-dive detour through the bottom half of the WSL, putting Spurs, Leicester, Crystal Palace, Villa, West Ham and Everton under their part stats, part vibes microscope. How have these teams fared so far, what do the stats tell us, and what's the short to mid-term looking like? There's also a quick overview of this weekend's NWSL playoffs and what to look out for there.
2024-11-071h 14Why Always She?Episode 31 - Always look on the Bright (Greenwood?) side of lifeIn this epic-length episode Charli and Matt attempt to deconstruct the future of the England team as we look ahead towards the Euros after two less than convincing performance this international break. What does Wiegman need to prioritise? What have we learned (if anything) from the two friendlies? Will it actually probably be fine and we all need to chill out a bit?
2024-10-311h 23Why Always She?Episode 30 - Somehow, I manageIn this episode the WAS team take a wider view outside of the weekend's games and get into a bit of manager discourse. What does Eidevall's departure mean for the women's game generally? How do other managers of ambitious teams fit into the conversation? And does it really matter if you don't have a clear system if you're getting the results (and you have a Swedish superstar who can bang in ridiculous volleys)? Matt and Charli also chat about the England squad and why everyone should stop banging on about the goalkeeper debate and worry about things further up...2024-10-211h 06Why Always She?Episode 29 - Bunny Shaw rhymes with Ballon D'orA whistle-stop tour of various goings-on from this week in the top flight of European women's football. From City's commanding performance against Barcelona in the Champions League to a solid defensive display from the WAS team's beloved Leicester, Charli and Matt sum up an eventful week and of course, have to dedicate some time to the continuing woes on the red side of London.
2024-10-141h 02Why Always She?Episode 28 - Jet lagged jabbering about JonasCharli and Matt are back from their travels and better late than never diving into the events so far in the WSL. They touch on a few things they've learned and been surprised by so far, but one thing that certainly isn't new is Arsenal's inability to break down a defensive block. Charli desperately tries to create a narrative thread between Arsenal's disappointing draw against Everton and Leicester's defeat to newly promoted Crystal Palace. For either team - is it time to panic yet?
2024-10-091h 06Why Always She?Episode 27 - Sweet sweet Fantasy babyMatt and Charli are playing Fantasy WSL again this season and this episode they take you through their picks. Bag some bargains, get some hot tips (or not) and enjoy playing along with us, mainly revelling in Charli's stubborn and probably unwise decisions around forward selection.
Join our league with the code: YUGF57N
2024-09-0638 minWhy Always She?Episode 26 - WSL 24/25 Predictions w/ Sam BiccarinoCharli and Matt are joined by WSL stat guru and friend of the pod Sam Biccarino (@stattorino) to share their predictions for the coming season of the WSL - from top 3 to relegated teams, and golden boots to signing of the season. Matt and Sam have some bold wildcard predictions in particular and we discuss our new favourite stat, xT (Expected Trying their Best).
2024-08-301h 09Why Always She?Episode 25 - Rocky La RojaIn this mini episode Charli and Matt reflect on the Olympic semi finals, including what the heck happened to Spain, Hayes' lack of rotation in the US starting XI and whether Brazil have the momentum and psychological advantage to stop them and claim the gold medal.
2024-08-0935 minWhy Always She?Episode 24 - The Olympics: Spain(s), Drones and HayesmobilesCharli and Matt recap the group stages of the Olympics and give their predictions for the quarter finals and beyond - who will make the podium? Can Spain consolidate their status as World Champions? Can anyone get in the way of Emma Hayes when she be Hayesin'?
2024-08-021h 02Why Always She?Episode 23 - Once, twice, three times a big signingThis week the WAS duo chat about three of the most significant moves in the WSL transfer window so far - the confirmed move of Mariona Caldentey to Arsenal and the reportedly imminent Vivianne Miedema to City and - much to everyone's surprise - Lucy Bronze to Chelsea. What will these three moves mean to the respective teams and the players?
2024-07-0449 minWhy Always She?Episode 22 - Manchester United's Magical Mystery PR TourCharli and Matt just had to jump back on the mics to discuss a chaotic week for Manchester United - from the lows of the continuing exceptionally poor treatment of the women's team and key players on the way out, to the (relative) highs of rumoured big signings - it's been a rollercoaster. Hear their thoughts on the situation and the potential outlook for next season.
2024-06-2756 minWhy Always She?Minisode 21.5 - We are so backCharli and Matt round off on the latest international camp with their reflections on a much more positive England performance. They also recap on the goings on from other groups in the qualifiers, and speculate about how could be a threat heading into next year's tournament - with an eye on the very competitive Group A1.
2024-06-0934 minWhy Always She?Episode 21 - Je suis si fatiguéThe podcast team were in attendance at the Lionesses' game against France on Friday in Newcastle, and Charli reaches a new octave in a rant about their performance and the same frustrating patterns we're seeing in every game. There's also a bit of chat about ongoing transfer rumours - it's going to be a busy summer!
2024-06-021h 13Why Always She?Episode 20 - Sophie HowardThis week Matt and Charli had the pleasure of chatting to Leicester legend and Scotland international Sophie Howard about the 23/24 season, her career and her mentality. They get into everything from the "Little Leicester" narrative to the most difficult player Sophie's had to defend against this season, and most importantly - did Matt get a thumbs up from her at the Chelsea game?
2024-05-2753 minWhy Always She?Episode 19 - Emma Hayes' leaving drinksCharli and Matt have a few beers and raise a glass to a thoroughly entertaining season, their first as fans and followers of women's football. They reflect on memorable and favourite moments from the 23/24 campaign, and share some of their predictions for next season, as well as some from Reddit.
2024-05-201h 09Why Always She?Episode 18 - Why Always She FCAs we roll towards the end of the WSL season, Charli and Matt select their heavily caveated best XI of the campaign, with the key restriction being one player per team. That's after they give their brief thoughts on Manchester United's historic FA Cup victory, and why sometimes, you just have to Big Sam it.
2024-05-131h 03Why Always She?Episode 17 - Man United deep dive w/ Sam BiccarinoIn this bumper episode, Matt and Charli are joined by WSL stats guru Sam Biccarino (@stattorino on X and Instagram) to dissect Manchester United's 23/24 season to see if they can get to the root of the "poor season" narrative. Where have they lost and gained compared to last season? Where do they go from here?
2024-05-061h 22Why Always She?Episode 16 - Just a general vibe checkCharli and Matt round up some of the key events of the weekend, from Chelsea's unravelling in the Champions League to City's title chances with Arsenal up next and no Bunny Shaw. They also touch on Crystal Palace's promotion to the WSL and how they can look to build and stay up beyond next season.
2024-04-301h 01Why Always She?Episode 15 - Barcelona? I hardly know herThis week Matt and Charli are talking all things Champions League - starting with Chelsea's tactical masterclass against the seemingly unbeatable Barcelona, and then the breath-taking drama of the clash between Lyon and PSG. They also question how long Barca and Lyon can continue to dominate on the European stage, when they're not being truly tested domestically.
2024-04-2255 minWhy Always She?Episode 14 - The Great Wall of EarpsMatt and Charli get into the events of the FA Cup semi-final weekend, recounting their experience (and heartbreak) watching Leicester take on Spurs in a fantastic advert for women's football outside of the top 4. They then get into Chelsea's shock defeat to Manchester United, the brilliance of Mary Earps and what this could mean for both managers for the rest of the season.
2024-04-161h 10Why Always She?Episode 13 - We need to talk about LucyCharli and Matt recap and dissect the Lionesses' performance in their opening Euro Qualifiers game against Sweden - identifying the (few) positives, and things they might've done differently. They also discuss what it means to select and build an international squad, and how it often comes down to more than just form.
2024-04-081h 11Why Always She?Episode 12 - You just got BlacksteniusedCharli and Matt share their thoughts from their bumper weekend of football where they attended two closely contested games with very different stakes on the line - Villa vs Leicester and the Conti Cup Final. They also speculate briefly on the Lionesses starting XI for the upcoming Euro qualifier against Sweden.
2024-04-031h 10Why Always She?Episode 11 - Fine, we'll talk about the title raceThis week Matt and Charli get into the nitty gritty on the title race. Can City take advantage of the fact that they're only fighting for the WSL? Can Chelsea use their incredible squad depth and winning pedigree to power through? Also there's a goal of the week (probably season) from our very favourite chaotic Swede.
2024-03-2650 minWhy Always She?Episode 10 - The Hayes AwakensA long time ago in a galaxy far, far, away...
(Spoiler alert, there are no actual Star Wars references in the episode).
This week Matt and Charli look ahead and discuss what will happen when one of the most prolific and successful managers in the women's game takes on one of the most prestigious jobs in football. How will Emma Hayes return the US Women's National Team to their former glory? And what will Chelsea look like after her departure?
2024-03-221h 03Why Always She?Episode 9 - A gentle needling of the patriarchyFollowing International Women's Day Charli and Matt discuss how we can strive to push past the hundreds of years of misogyny and sexism surrounding the women's game. They also (of course) find any excuse to talk about Leicester - but quite rightly, as they've just made history by getting through to the semi-finals of the FA Cup for the first time. They also speculate a little bit on the state of Man City, after crashing out of two competitions in four days.
2024-03-1348 minWhy Always She?Episode 8 - Arsenal (Katie's Version)With Arsenal still hanging on in there in the title race, Charli and Matt discuss their challenges breaking down low blocks, how best to use their myriad of attacking talent, and the versatility of Katie McCabe (try her as keeper Jonas, we dare you).
WARNING: SOME STRONG LANGUAGE
2024-03-051h 03Why Always She?Episode 7 - The Other 8, Pt 2In part 2 of this mini-series, Charli and Matt wrap up their vibe check of the WSL "Other 8" by talking about Leicester, Liverpool, Spurs and West Ham. They even manage not to bang on about Leicester too much.
Shout out to u/Redspark17 on Reddit and Sam Biccarino (@stattorino) for their stats.
WARNING: SOME STRONG LANGUAGE
2024-03-0259 minWhy Always She?Episode 6 - The Other 8, Pt 1As the WSL title race appears to (for now) still be a title race, Charli and Matt naturally turn their attention away from the top 4 to talk about the "Other 8". Digging in to key stats, recent history and key players for Villa, Brighton, Bristol and Everton in the first part of this mini "series". Also strap in for Charli's longest and hottest take yet.
WARNING: SOME STRONG LANGUAGE
2024-02-241h 01Why Always She?Episode 5 - You get a title! And you get a title!Does the WSL have a competition problem? Should we be more like the NWSL? We discuss the parity of the leagues in Europe and beyond. Charli explains why Man City probably have an imminent squad issue and we give our GASP of the week from the FA Cup 5th Round.
2024-02-1755 minWhy Always She?Episode 4 - We didn't want to go to the Olympics anywayCharli and Matt speculate about the Lionesses squad ahead of their February friendlies, what this means for the near future and how Sarina can use this "year off" to build as we look towards the Euros. Charli makes an impassioned (some may say delusional) plea to Sarina to join the squad as a maverick star striker.
WARNING: SOME STRONG LANGUAGE
2024-02-111h 02Why Always She?Episode 3 - Waystar NewCoMatt and Charli discuss the commercial side of women's football and the outlook in the near future for the WSL and Championship with the takeover by s**tly named NewCo. They also give a shout out to a player who's scored the most ridiculous goal so far this season, and Matt suggest some interesting new rules for the Conti Cup.
WARNING: SOME STRONG LANGUAGE
2024-02-0357 minWhy Always She?Episode 2 - Lionesses x TraitorsIt's the crossover no one asked for! In this episode, Charli and Matt discuss which of the Lionesses would do well on The Traitors. Spoiler alert for both series of The Traitors UK. They also delve into the problems at Manchester United and attempt to answer the question on everyone's lips - Skinner Out?
WARNING: SOME STRONG LANGUAGE
2024-01-271h 07Why Always She?Episode 1 - Introductions and Swedish AngelsWelcome to Why Always She? - a podcast about becoming obsessed with women's football.
In our very first episode, Charli and Matt chat about why they came to become so invested in the women's game, give us their hot takes on player lists and awards, give a shout out to two players they're loving at the moment and pick their GASP (Goal, Assist, Save or Pass) of the week.
WARNING: SOME STRONG LANGUAGE
2024-01-2049 min
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