Five things you may have missed from That Lionesses Podcast episode eight

The final episode of That Lionesses Podcast connected by EE before the England women’s senior team board the plane to Switzerland is now out, with Beth Mead and Leah Williamson joining host Harriet Rose.

If you haven’t yet had chance to tune in here, here are five talking points you may have missed.

Suitcase essentials

First things first, Harriet quizzes the Arsenal and England pair on what they will be packing in their suitcases to take out to Switzerland, with Mead insisting hair straighteners are a must-have for her, while Williamson was all about home comforts.

“I think a pillow when I go for a tournament because it’s such a long period of time,” explained the defender. “If you go away for ten days, I can deal with a bad pillow.

“I only had three pillows on my bed for a year after the EUROs last time because I left it after the party. Every single day, I’d get into bed and think, ‘just buy a new pillow’. When I eventually did, they changed the model so I now have one pillow that’s not the same as the others. It’s also not a bad memory.”

Fighting together

Having been sidelined with ACL injuries last time out when the Lionesses reached the final of the 2023 FIFA World Cup in Australia, the England duo are back fighting fit and the disappointment of missing out on the last major tournament is only heightening the excitement for this summer.

“We were fighting against the world together when they were at the World Cup,” said Mead. “We obviously were rehabbing and watching the games. It was tough.”

“We kept saying to each other, ‘I want them to win so badly but I just feel very numb’,” added Williamson. “It was very dissociating from the situation. We still felt like a part of the team, it was just very weird not being there.”

The armband

Three years ago, Williamson became the first woman to lift a major trophy with England after taking on the Lionesses captaincy on a permanent basis for EURO 2022 and she will lead the team into battle once again this time around.

However, not a lot has changed, according to the 28 year old, who will approach this tournament with the same mentality.

“Back then, I just really saw it as somebody has to do that role,” said Williamson. “If anything, I’m just more well-behaved now – just slightly! I’m just older now. We’re all older. I do notice that my position in the team has changed. I went from being probably the most inexperienced – well, one of them – to then now, that’s changed a little bit.”

Hungry for more

Both Mead and Williamson hold special memories of EURO 2022 when the Lionesses were crowned European champions on home soil, not least because the duo were both named in the team of the tournament while Mead was awarded the golden boot and won the player of the tournament accolade. But they aren’t finished there.

“When you win things, you’re more hungry to do it again,” noted Mead. “I would wish more than anything for myself and for the team to be able to play like I did the last EUROs. I’ll do my very best to be able to get that level again.”

“I’m very, very excited knowing what we know now and having lived through that,” continued Williamson. “Selfishly for us in a way, a home tournament is the best thing in the world but going away for a tournament and travelling somewhere even from family perspective and everybody travelling, I’m very excited.”

Guest appearance

And at the end of the episode, a third member of the squad joined the Lionesses duo on the sofa as Beth Mead’s dog, Myle, got involved. However, their fury companion, who was in residence at St. George’s Park, won’t be heading out to Switzerland and instead, will be following England’s progress from home soil.

The giggle 🤭@bmeado9 and @leahcwilliamson (and Myle 🐾) take to the sofa for the next episode of #ThatLionessesPodcast connected by @EE! ❤️

— Lionesses (@Lionesses) June 27, 2025

“I’m glad she’s not coming because, Keira, every time she walks past the door, bangs on the door,” revealed Williamson.

“Yeah, she bangs on my door to try and make Myley bark just to annoy me!” added Mead.