Refreshing Pod - Livvy Breen (Paralympics GB)

It's the first interview of 2026!

Olivia Breen brings joy and positivity to the podcast, as her & Johnny chat all things athletics.

Starting her journey in 2012 (aged 16) competing at the London games, Olivia is a Welsh Paralympian athlete, who competes for Wales and Great Britain mainly in T38 sprint and F38 long jump events. She's going for gold again this summer at the Commonwealth Games in Scotland.

Johnny get's Livvy's take on what it's like to be a full time athlete on a daily basis, what she hopes to still achieve in her two sports, and what she wants to do when she ends her time on the track & in the sandpit. Plus of course, we look at the current Winter Olympics, and look forward to the Winter Paralympic Games beginning on March 6th.

Glasgow hosts the 2026 Commonwealth Games, with 10 sports including Athletics/Para Athletics, Swimming/Para Swimming, Artistic Gymnastics, Track Cycling/Para Track Cycling, Netball, Weightlifting/Para Powerlifting, Boxing, Judo, Bowls/Para Bowls, and 3x3 Basketball/3x3 Wheelchair Basketball.

Follow Olivia's 2026 Journey To Glasgow:

Insta: livvy_breen

WWW: https://paralympics.org.uk/athletes/olivia-breen

Livvy's medal haul ...

2020 Paralympic Games, Tokyo, Japan

T38 long jump: bronze

2012 Paralympic Games, London, United Kingdom

T35-38 4x100m: Bronze

**2023 World Para Athletics World Championships, Paris, France **

T38 Long Jump: Silver

2019 World Para Athletics World Championships, Dubai, UAE

T38 Long Jump: bronze

2017 IPC Athletics World Championships, London, UK

T38 Long Jump: Gold

2015 IPC Athletics World Championships, Doha, Qatar

T38 4x100m: Gold

2018 IPC Athletics European Championships, Berlin, Germany

T38 100m: Bronze

2016 IPC Athletics European Championships, Grosseto, Italy

T35-38 4x100m: Gold

2014 IPC Athletics European Championships, Swansea, Wales

T38 4x100m: Silver

T38 100m: Bronze

2018 Commonwealth Games, Gold Coast, Australia

T38 Long Jump: Gold

T38 100m: Bronze

**2022 Commonwealth Games, Birmingham, England (**Covid Year)

T38 100m: Gold

Refreshing Pod is a magazine style podcast, giving you ideas, interviews, big name guests, and guaranteed laughs along the way, with new content every month, now in it's 9th series.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Refreshing Pod - Hogmanay (The Midnight Moment)

Refresh Christmas, and welcome in 2026 in style!

The big boss behind Hogmanay Al Thompson (Unique Assembly director) guides Johnny through the world famous 'Midnight Moment' ... in essence what happens just before 12am, as one year ends, and another begins in Scotland.

In this quick 5 minute extract, find out about the people behind the fireworks fuse, Al's memories from Hogmanay events over roughly 20 years & some vital travel information for New Years eve.

Edinburgh’s Hogmany is on now, and ends 1st Jan 2026.

Find out more, and get involved this New Year.

Online: https://edwinterfest.com/edinburgh-christmas

Insta: edhogmanay

Refreshing Pod is a magazine style podcast, giving you ideas, interviews, big name guests, and guaranteed laughs along the way, with new content every month, now in it's 9th series. Audio taken from 2022 + 2024.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Refreshing Pod - Edinburgh's Christmas 2025 (BTS)

The Holidays Are Coming ... Johnny continues the festive feels with a behind the scenes look at Edinburgh's Christmas 2025.

Edinburgh’s Christmas is back with festive fun for all the family, open now and running until 4th January 2026.

We've been blessed with having Dani Rae (nicknamed the chief Elf by Johnny) chatting Christmas, and how the wonderful city of Edinburgh celebrates it.

Dani has spoken to Johnny every year since 2022, and as usual she lets you in on a few secrets for 2025.

Edinburgh's Christmas is the ultimate destination for festive family fun this winter. Edinburgh is transformed, the city centre has festive fun for all the family, including traditional Christmas Markets, funfair rides, spectacular live outdoor events, the amazing Santa Stories, delicious food and drink, plus so much more.

If you've been in the past you'll know how good it is, and if not add it onto your bucket list.

Get all the BTS gossip from the big boss (yes Dani is the person who can actually tell Santa what to do) ahead of your visit.

Merry Christmas

Find out more, and get involved this Christmas

Online: https://edwinterfest.com/edinburgh-christmas

Insta: edinburghschristmas

X: @EdXmas

Refreshing Pod is a magazine style podcast, giving you ideas, interviews, big name guests, and guaranteed laughs along the way, with new content every month, now in it's 9th series.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.