Few people have done more to change the landscape for women in sport than Sue Anstiss MBE — a recognition that reflects a career built not on titles but on relentless, practical action to open doors, shift perceptions, and get more people active. From grassroots initiatives to national conversations, her work has moved the needle in ways that matter.

In this conversation with Matthew Januszek, Sue brings the perspective of someone who has spent decades at the intersection of sport, PR, media, and advocacy — and who still finds new ways to drive equality forward. It is a lesson in dedication, and in what a lifetime of purpose-driven work actually produces.

About Sue Anstiss MBE

Sue Anstiss holds an MBE for services to grassroots and women's sport — an honor that reflects work carried out across multiple platforms and roles simultaneously. As CEO of Promote PR, she has used the power of communications to amplify the voices and stories that the sports industry too often overlooks.

Her commitment extends beyond her own business: she serves as a trustee for the Women's Sport Trust charity, sits on the Women in Fitness Association UK council, and hosts The Game Changers podcast — a platform dedicated to the individuals driving progress for women in sport at every level.

What makes Sue's contribution distinctive is its breadth. She works at the grassroots level and at the national level, in boardrooms and on podcast microphones, in sport and in fitness — always with the same goal of creating a world where engagement with sport and wellbeing is genuinely accessible to everyone.

What Sue Anstiss MBE and Matthew Januszek Talked About

• An MBE for services to grassroots and women's sport reflects the kind of career-long dedication that produces systemic change — not a single campaign or viral moment, but sustained, compounding effort over decades.
• The Game Changers podcast gives Sue a platform to spotlight the individuals most responsible for progress in women's sport — a model of media used directly in service of a mission.
• Serving simultaneously as a CEO, charity trustee, council member, and podcast host demonstrates how committed advocates build ecosystems of influence rather than relying on any single channel.
• Equality in sport and fitness is not just a social good — it is a business opportunity, and organizations that get ahead of it will be better positioned as participation demographics continue to shift.
• Grassroots engagement is where lasting cultural change in sport actually happens; Sue's focus on that level of the ecosystem reflects an understanding of where foundations get built.
• The Women's Sport Trust model — charitable advocacy working alongside commercial sport — shows how different organizational structures can collaborate toward shared goals more effectively than either could alone.
• Getting a nation engaged in sport and wellbeing requires telling better stories: Sue's career in PR and podcasting reflects the understanding that narrative shapes behavior as much as infrastructure does.

Why This Conversation Matters

Matthew Januszek's vision for Escape Fitness USA is built on a belief that fitness should be for everyone — and that the equipment, programming, and community around it should reflect the full diversity of who actually shows up to move. Sue Anstiss MBE's life's work is the proof of concept for that belief, applied to the specific challenge of women in sport.

For the Escape Your Limits and LIFTS Podcast communities, Sue's conversation is a reminder that the most impactful leaders in fitness often work at the intersection of business, media, and advocacy — the same intersection where Matthew and Mohammed Iqbal of SweatWorks operate every day. This episode is essential for anyone serious about building an industry that serves more people better.

▶  Watch the full episode on YouTube

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