The Hidden Racism in Aussie Sport – Rana Hussain Speaks Out I Out of Interest #65

Rana Hussain is one of the most influential voices in Australian sport and media, but her story isn’t about trying to be seen. In fact, she used to run from it.

As a proud Muslim woman, Rana never set out to lead. But over time, her presence became a message in itself and she realised if she didn’t take up space, someone else would do it for her.

In this episode, we go deep on what it means to represent your community while still figuring out your place in the world. Rana opens up about the silent pressure, the inner conflict, and why she’s learnt to sit in the grey between her faith, her values, and the realities of the industries she works in.

We talk about the racism still baked into Australian sport, and how moments like Adam Goodes’ treatment became a turning point for her. She shares her view on the Peter Lalor situation at SEN, where a respected journalist lost his job after supporting Palestine and why the contrast with how Cricket Australia handled Usman Khawaja’s quiet protest says so much about who gets to speak, and when.

This is a conversation about courage, compromise, and calling things what they are. From AFL boardrooms to uncomfortable DMs from the community, Rana takes us inside her world — where progress is messy, but necessary.

Other highlights from this episode:
• Why diversity in sport often stops at marketing campaigns
• Navigating identity when you don’t fit neatly into one box
• The quiet ways media and institutions silence difficult conversations
• What Australia can learn from the UK’s approach to anti-Islamophobia
• The real reason AFL promotes players like Bachar Houli
• Why family-friendly sport could be the key to genuine inclusion

This episode is for anyone who's ever felt caught between who they are and what the world expects — and for everyone who cares about creating spaces where people can truly belong.

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