That Lionesses Podcast - James & Kelly: Chill Vibes, CK's Crosses & Staying Grounded | That Lionesses Podcast Connected by EE

Episode Date: July 20, 2025

Two of the chillest players in the game join Harriet in the studio… it’s Lauren James and Chloe Kelly! After a demanding quarter-final, they share what helps them recover mentally. Plus, through the help of a fun game, they let off some steam and debate the biggest things that grind their gears…  Follow @lionesses on Instagram, WhatsApp and X, plus @england on TikTok, Facebook and YouTube so you don’t miss a thing! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

She'd been looking at her bottle for ages and she like smiled at me and I thought, is that a smile like, I know where you're going, so I smiled back like, no you don't. Standing on a plug? Oh it's horrible. Do you do that? Not deliberately, it's not like a thing. Yeah that would irritate me. We don't want to go home, so let's make something happen. And like, we're here, we mean business. Can you handle a fish eyeball smoothie?

I think being around Edmure for so long as well. Yeah, get me out. She'll be just selling myself. Get me out. Hello and welcome to another episode of That Lioness' podcast, connected by EE. I'm Harriet Rose and today we're still reveling in the quarterfinal win against Sweden and getting excited for the semi-final against Italy.

Coming up we'll be talking about the mental recovery required after a quarterfinal like that, being a team player and staying calm under pressure. And talking of that, I am joined by two of the coolest, calmest characters I've ever seen on the pitch. It's Chloe Kelly and Lauren James. Woo! Welcome, welcome. Lauren, last time I called you Lauren,

and I was like not ready to take it to LJ, but do you think it's time I can call you LJ? Sure. She called me out last time, she was like, why'd take it to LJ but do you think it's time I can call you LJ? Sure. She called me out last time she was like why do you keep calling me Lauren? I was like wait is Lauren not your name? But it's because I wasn't I was didn't feel like I knew her so I couldn't call her LJ. Okay second time on the pod. Yeah we're best friends now so it's LJ right?

Perfect guys it's been a few days since the nail-biting quarterfinal. I'm still stressed. You both looked so chill under pressure. Is the heart pounding inside or is it all chill inside and out? Probably pounding, yeah. Yeah. I'm quite chill.

I feel like after you're like, oh my God, that was stressful. Yeah, it was. But in the moment, it's just like, oh my god, that was stressful. Yeah. In the moment, it's just like, right, just get the job done. I did see you, Chloe, talking about your penalty and you said, oh, I never get stressed taking penalties. You're the only person because the whole of the crowd, squeaky bum time, as I keep saying, is there anything that you get nervous and stressed about? Like outside

of football, is there something else that you like randomly get stressed about? Because surely that stress has got to go somewhere. Yeah, when I'm laying in my bed and I'm like, Oh, have I got my passport or something like that? Like, where's my passport? Or like, yeah, something like that. But no, I don't stress on the pitch because, yeah, I just have belief and in the moment if I stressed it probably wouldn't go the way I want it to so yeah I'm chilled. I need to take a leaf out of your guys book because that is not me at all. Talking about being chilled we've got to talk about your goal in the Netherlands

match LJ and you doing the chill guy meme have you seen the chill guy meme. Have you seen the chill guy meme? What inspired your chillness in that moment? Because I feel like you managed to recreate it in a way that was actually almost like you were recreating it. I actually don't know the answer to that. I kind of just did it. You just did it in the moment. Because she's too chill. Honestly, it's truly iconic. Have you guys got any tips for me and any other people who need to become more chill? I think speak to Elge because on and off the pitch, Elge is so chill consistently and yeah. Top one tip for being more chill? Hang around with me a bit more.

You rub off on people. Okay, perfect. When you last came on the pod, we talked about the fact that you wanted to go on Total Wipeout, do you remember? Iconic. I presume obviously you've been quite busy with football stuff, but is that still in the mindset for maybe after the Euros? Only for the bouncing balls. I feel like it would be a really fun, I mean maybe if you guys take it home and win the Euros we could get like a big set up in the lake, just a total wipeout set up for it. Yeah that'd be sick. Do you think you'd do well in that? Hmm up until I fall in I can't swim so. Oh my gosh we're not letting you. Same. And I wouldn't take it too serious. I'd go for the bounce and then bounce off into the water.

Please don't do that. And then ask you to be rescued. Yeah, life jacket. No, we just need to get you both in one of those little inflatable, what are they called? Yeah. Armbands! Armbands, yeah.

We need to get you guys some armbands. That's a note for the next time if I get that set up. Out of interest, Chloe, obviously LJ said to her, wipe out when I asked her what TV show she would love to take part in. If you could take part in any mainstream show, what would it be? Ooh, I'm a celeb or Dancing on Ice. Oh, okay. I'd love to do Dancing on Ice. I was going to say you've got the dancing down.

I just can't ice skate but I can learn. Yeah exactly you can learn anything. But I'm a celeb I'd love to see you both on to be fair. No. No? I couldn't imagine how... I would not last at all. I was gonna say because you're both very fast and nimble but like can you handle a fish eyeball smoothie?

Mm-mm. I think being around everyone for so long as well. Yeah, get me out. She'll be Yeah, I'm gonna get me out. She'll be just chilling myself. Get me out. Day one, thinks she just arrived, it's fly straight out. But Chloe, you'd quite like it, would you? Yeah, I think so.

I mean, Jill did so well. She obviously took home the crown. I don't think I'd do well like Jill. I think Jill's like so bubbly and the challenges just didn't faze her but I think, yeah, I think I'd enjoy doing it, probably more so. I would love to see that. So I'm a celeb producer straight after the Euros.

Let's get Chloe Kelly in there. I would love to see that. Let's chat a bit about the Sweden game because as I mentioned earlier, unlike both of you, I'm not chill about it and my heart is still not recovered. What a battle, LJ, and what a performance from you. It's wild to think that not long ago, there was like a question about whether you'd be able to play.

How proud of you of everything you've done to kind of get yourself back to the level where you could be in the tournament? Very, I think I surprised myself. I think after 60 I actually didn't expect to be on the pitch still. So yeah, to play another 60 and on top of that the penalties shoot out, yeah, probably still a bit surprised now because I think that's kind of unheard of. To like go from an injury to 120 in the space of like not very long. It's mad and to play it so well as well everyone speaks so highly of how incredible it is to play with you.

Lucy and Ella said they trust if they pass you the ball that you're always going to find an opportunity which is it was just so lovely it's so nice to hear the girls you all speak about each other so highly. Does that trust from your teammates mean a lot to you? Yeah for sure I think if you've got trust from the people that's playing with you then it's going to help with your confidence. Do you have a lot of confidence on the pitch? Do you feel that within yourself? Do you have to kind of work on that every time you play? I don't really know, I just... I think with minutes it always comes confidence. You do something like Elj sits someone down and it's like okay that builds confidence not just from her but within

us as well like you want to get her on the ball and give her the ball because you know she's going to make something happen so I think our confidence builds when someone in the team makes something happen and LJ doing that is builds confidence from not just the players on the pitch but us on the side as well. Absolutely. Chloe what is it like to play alongside LJ? Yes great she's chilled like I think you can see on the pitch that she wants to make something happen so giving her the ball and trying to let her do her thing. But also defensively, she was brilliant against Sweden as well. And throughout the whole 120, you know that you can rely on her to make something happen. And you had a fantastic game as well. You both are players that when you're on the pitch,

we know something magical is going to happen. Be honest, are you just allergic to quiet games? Are you just not, you just can't be involved in a chilled game. You're always in there bringing that energy that we need. Yeah, I think when you come onto the pitch you just try and make something happen and full of energy, just wanting to try and get a go or get an assist. When I came onto the pitch I seen there was some tired legs from the full backs of Sweden and playing to my strengths of crossing the ball so that's what I tried to do and you know that Lucy's gonna come through back post. Yeah it was it was just I've never seen anything like it in

real life it felt a big privilege. That's her position though isn't it? You know that Lucy's going to get there. Yeah. But all of you, I mean, honestly, it was, as I've said many times on the podcast, my aura ring nearly exploded with the heart rate. It was unreal. Eljo, when Chloe comes on, what changes for you as a player?

How does her presence affect yours and the team around you, do you think? I think, well, first of all, she brings a a lot of energy I think you're chilled off the pitch but I think you're quite energetic when it comes to football and yeah we know one of her strengths is crossing so and I mean the minute she comes on we kind of know we're also chasing a goal so basically be ready for her crosses. I think that's like playing to your strengths. Like as soon as I came on, I was saying to Miesh and Les like just get in the box when I get the ball.

So I think it's important like playing to each other's strengths. Like you know, LJ is gonna get the ball to the wide players and then the wingers are gonna get the ball in the box and playing to our forward strengths, which Miesh in the air is so strong as well. It felt like you came out of half time like and I know that a couple of girls mentioned it to me that you were like we don't want to go home like and that energy really shone

through I feel. Yeah I think we never fought once about like packing our bags before the game because we had confidence but I think you don't really think about it like that of like we could be going home tonight or tomorrow like and then at half time like all of us are saying like we don't want to go home so let's make something happen and get the result over the line and like make sure that we're together through everything and you could see when we came out for the second half like running out together and getting on the pitch and showing that energy. I think that was, yeah,

definitely a change of mindset when we stepped onto the pitch. And I think when we stepped out like that, the fans in the stadium probably felt like a sense of, okay, like we're here, we mean business. We were with you every step of the way. Like it was baited breath. I don't think anyone breathed the entire last 20 minutes. We've got to talk about your penalty as well. There's so much to unpick, the rolling of the ball,

the running on the spot, the standing in the side. I mean, I was gassed just like watching you. It was like watching ceremonial prep. Obviously, I don't want to hear and know any secrets, but is this just part of the method now? I think it's just your process. Like everyone has different processes, whether you're in training or in a game, high pressure moment. It doesn't really feel like a high pressure moment when you train it so often. And yeah, I just stick to my routine

and have belief in that. And yeah, I'm confident. And I actually just like smiled a little bit as I was stepping up because the goalie made me smile and I was just like right focus now. I've got to say that was one of the most terrifying smiles in the best way that I've ever seen it was like you never want to receive a Chloe Kelly smile in that moment because you know the ball was going in the goal it felt like that I was like oh let's Was that deliberate? You say you just literally smiled in the moment

like it just came out of nowhere. She smiled at me and she'd been looking at a bottle for ages and she like smiled at me and I thought, Oh, she's smiling at you. I know where you're going. So I smiled back like, no you don't. Oh my God, I'm obsessed! But then I like just switched back into it because it was like, do you know when two people just catch eyes and just smile? Like sometimes that happens but never usually on a penalty shoot. Also that's just gameplay isn't it? Like you know you're gonna have those natural reactions and it's kind of the best response in a way. Yeah, for sure. I think it's sticking to the process,

but also like being a human being as well. Yeah. And let's have a little moment of appreciation for Serena as well. She's got a lot of songs. Have you heard them from, can you hear them from the pitch? Yeah, that's Serena. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. England have won all three of their penalty shootouts under her. What does it feel like to know she believes in the team as much as it's very clear that

she does and knows you can turn a game around? Because you really felt that from her, I feel like. I think obviously having the belief and backing from Serena helps us with our confidence and yeah I guess the faith it spreads around the dressing room when you are on the pitch. Yeah I think she has so much belief in us and the penalty shootout like we have our processes we stick to it and it's not really like a chaotic moment for us which is really nice and and then at the end of the game when she was doing that little song in Dutch and no one had a clue what was

going on but yeah it was a nice little touch. Honestly like that feeling when I don't I think a lot of people because it was such a tense moment right there at the end it was took a second for everyone to really realize what had just happened you know when you actually won and they missed the goal, you know, we saved the goal. It was just insane that moment. Yeah, we was like, I haven't probably won. Because in the moment, like, I think, was it Hannah maybe who said it or Hannah said about or you turned around to someone and said like, wait, what does it, because actually

in the moment, you're not quite sure what everyone, because Hannah was saying she had no idea at one point what score they needed, what she needed to save, and who needed to score because it was so relentless. Yeah, I think we was trying to work it out, because obviously we had shot first, so then we was waiting on them. Usually, in the penalty shootouts I've been in, it's like you shoot to win it, but then

to watch them take it, I think that was quite like, all right, what's going on here? What do we need? And then being ready for if they was to score in that moment. So yeah, I think it was just a little bit of a weird moment and everyone was like, do we celebrate? And then you see the Sweden players obviously really disappointed and that's quite sad. So it's been like respectful in that moment but also celebrating our win as well. And that's lovely to hear because obviously it's important to recognise that too. Is there

ever a moment when you're on the pitch where you sort of pinch yourself that you are here doing this right now? Because you know we won the euros last time but this is still a new moment and a new time you know do you ever have those moments on the pitch? I think in tournaments like in the games you're the games are flying by and you're obviously so focused in that but then when you go back to your room you're like we're now into the semi-final of a major tournament like I think it's a pinch me moment and representing your country is obviously a huge honour, but to do it in a major tournament and surrounded by amazing players like we're learning each day from each other, learning from Elge and

in the evenings, chilling together and spending a lot of time together, I think, yeah, it feels like a really relaxed environment, but like one that you're like, wow, this is incredible and taking each moment because it flies by. Absolutely. I mean, you have to mention your, I can't not mention your custom shin pads.

I knew that was coming. Well, no, I'm sorry, but I didn't realize, I didn't deep it and then I suddenly saw them. It's literally the coolest thing I've ever seen. If anyone hasn't seen it, it's got one picture of your husband and you on your wedding day, right? And it's the other one of your dogs. Tell me the inspiration behind that.

I've actually worn them all season. I know, I know, and I just haven't seen them until now. Yeah, I don't think many people have, because when I stepped onto the pitch the other night, when I got back to my phone, I was like, why is Scott getting so many mentions? I scored the best of me. Yeah.

But no, I just, yeah, a company sent me out these shin pads, which is a cute gesture. And it's nice to know that when you step onto the pitch, I've got my boys with me. Yeah. And it's like a bit of a thing you probably always have to wear them now. Cause maybe he'll get really offended if you come on with like just normal shin pads.

Just a picture of me. Picture of you. To be fair, I once brought my girlfriend one of those t-shirts that has a picture of me on it. She threw it away. Yeah, I would. Yeah. You think I'm wearing that? No. That's exactly okay.

I'm not going to wear that. Oh right, because I've bought you both one of me. No I'm joking. That would be awkward. I would make you a... You know like when people go on their Hen and Stag and they've got... No, this is my moment. I'm going on my holiday.

Okay, I'm glad you're taking her side. Livid. It's because I'm a Leo. It's a Leo thing to do. Really? Yeah. I'm a Capric's because I'm a Leo. It's a Leo thing to do. Really? Yeah. I'm a Capricorn. I'm a Libra. Are you? Libra and Capricorn. Interesting. I'll analyse that later. But for now, we're going to play a game. Let's go. Yes. Oh, Chloe's reassigning her position. Right. You're both very cool under pressure, as we know, and generally quite chill people. But there must be something that gets under your skin and I'm gonna try and find out with

little irritations go and tell me why is that funny no it's fine because are the two irritations that we have are could be somebody doing nothing wrong to us they just irritate us like there's no tomorrow. Which I think is fair. Yeah. They could just be there and they're irritating us. But I think actually most people are like that but some people are just louder and some people are quieter about it. Yeah me and LJ just have a little chat. You've got to get out your system somehow. Well you might feel like that about me by the end of this podcast. I'm gonna read out some scenarios that might egg you off, and let's see if they irritate you or not.

Are you ready? A friend telling you they're on their way when they're still getting ready. It won't annoy me, because I'd do that. Because that's you? Yeah. No, that would irritate me. Yeah?

Are you an on-time person? No, but... Oh, but if so... She'll say I'm on time. It's all right for me. It's all right for you. Classic. Did you say you were a Libra? Yeah. Are you an on time person? No, but if so, classic. Did you say you're a Libra? Yeah. Classic. One rule for us. One rule for everyone else. Someone not replacing the last toilet roll. Oh, that annoys me. Do you know what else annoys me? Tell me. Putting it on backwards. I agree. Oh, does my nothing. And if I put it on backwards, I'm infuriated with myself. Like I have to like fully pull it. You know, if you accidentally I put it on backwards I'm infuriated with myself like I have to like fully pull it

You know if you accidentally get it on when you go to a hotel and it's on backwards. I'm like come on people walking slowly in front of you Yeah, it takes yeah that would annoy me infuriating and I I definitely am a person that goes If not one of them, yeah. Oh, do you do that? Yeah. For sure. Don't get me and Elle just stuck behind you. I'm like, can you move out the way now?

Not being able to find the start of sticky tape. Have you ever used... I like the challenge. Oh, okay. I'm like, here, you do it. Yeah, okay, so you just pass the job on. Perfect. Standing on a plug.

Oh, that's horrible. That's horrible. Do you do that? Not deliberately. I don't mean to. Not deliberately. It's not like a thing. Yeah, that would irritate me.

It's one of the single most painful things to ever, I think, happen to a human. And stubbing your toe. I truly think it's worse than a real serious injury sometimes. That pure, I don't know, Chloe. I'm just making it up as I go along. But I feel like it's such an intense, deep pain in that moment.

Yeah, and you just wanna swear. Yes, and throw the plug, and blame the plug for just existing. Okay, socks slipping down into your shoe whilst you're walking. Very irritating. I think especially when only one of them, so the other one is fine, and you're like,

but what's the actual biology of that? We don't like wearing socks though, do we? Right, I've not got socks on now. Yeah, we don't like wearing socks. Probably for that reason. Do you prefer to wear no shoes and no socks or shoes with no socks? Shoes and no socks. Yeah. I don't know how I feel about that. Shoot me in the gut. I mean, I've not really got sweaty feet. No, I don't. Not sure about about that. Shoot me no doubt. I've lost my voice. I've not really got sweaty feet. No I don't.

Not sure about you. Except for in these shoes. Oh are you accusing me of having sweaty feet? Well if you don't like it, maybe you do. I know Georgia Stanway does. Okay, well. She refuses to wear no socks and... It's not that I have a... I think it's like not a bad thing.

I just, I'm like the actual feeling of it. Does it not rub? No, I like feeling my shoe. You like feeling, you're so hardcore that you like feeling your foot against your shoe. We don't need protection. We don't need socks in this place. Yeah, because then nothing's like falling down.

No, do you know what? You would avoid socks slipping down inside your shoe. Yeah. Yeah, okay, fair enough. Have you ever not been with people and you're like wait I need to pull my socks off? Every single day. Every single day. People chewing loudly. Yeah that's annoying. I think I have. I think sometimes I do it. If I'm enjoying something Scott's like. Chewing gum gum and. Yeah, not like. And drinking like. Oh, that annoys me. Yeah. You just look at them like.

Yeah. What you doing? The LJ would call them out. Let go of the drink, like it's done. Yeah. Like move on. Even when they first get it, I'm like, oh, can you not do that?

Also some certain noises out of, like you know how you said somebody can annoy you for no reason. A noise can infuriate me for no reason. Yeah. Like a noise could happen, I'm like you know you how you said somebody can annoy you for no reason a noise can infuriate me for no reason like a noise could happen i'm like like the cutlery and the plate and i just heard it in my ear like yeah it's like a little when we was at the world cup we was at dinner and Millie and Rach we just kept hearing someone like hitting their plate with their fork and Rachel Daney was like

i need to leave because this is doing my head in. We didn't know who it was but we just kept hearing the knife and fork hit the plate and Rachel was like just go up and get more food because I can't deal with that noise. And I also think that does come with the territory of being around people constantly all the time because that's a lot as well isn't it? Yeah. Or at least it is for me I have to sit on my own for three days after people replying to messages oh my god screaming just with the thumbs up emoji I think he's rude I personally am if I do that I'm being rude yeah just so you know I'm annoyed if I'm like great I'd rather not reply yeah isn't it like, I feel like it's a very parent thing to do.

You could text your parent being like, I've just won the Euros and sometimes a parent will reply, okay. My dad does that. It's like, okay, I've just told you, life changing, I've got married. Okay. Okay, nice. Yeah. Sweet. Thumbs up. Good chat.

Yeah, good chat. Well done, you did very well in that game. It turns out we're all infuriated by most things. Yeah. Great to know. Now let's touch on the upcoming semi-final. I spoke to Alessia and Hannah yesterday about physical recovery, but let's talk about mental, about mental recovery as well.

How exactly do you mentally recover from something as big as the court final to get yourself kind of in the headspace and 100% ready to face your opponents in the semis? Sleep As much as you can after a game like that Like I think everyone went to bed really late like just not being able to sleep because adrenaline the emotional rollercoaster of it I think just drains you. But yeah and then obviously you rest and you spend time with your loved ones and then you're ready to go again.

Yeah how about conversations with your teammates and coaches like how does that help with processing the highs and the lows? Analyzing the game straight after so yesterday we'd do that and then today we can have a a little rest and recover and then tomorrow we go straight into the early prep. Game time. A lot of players have talked about their why um like why they play, why they push themselves, is that something that helps you um mentally reset like going back to the why you're here, why you're doing this. I never really think about it. I kind of just do it. Yeah, I think when you have like always going back to it, I think when it's within you and knowing that like your why

is every time you stepping onto the pitch and remembering, like I think that's always just within you, sometimes not like trying to go back to it. I think that's always just within you sometimes not trying to go back to it. I think living that every day is important for me anyway. I think you don't really think about the whys when you're stepping onto a pitch. I think you think about it when, I don't know, times are tough and why you started or... Do you know what I mean? 100%.

You're one match away from another major final, how do you keep belief high without letting the excitement get ahead of you because it's like you've got to kind of keep yin and yang in that sense don't you? I'm pretty sure I never I don't really get too excited. Are you just like that next game approach? Like the chill thing. You're so chill. Don't worry, I was stressed for you. All of us sat on the side were stressed on your behalf. So you don't need to be stressed. I think because the next moment comes up so like soon, like the semi-finals just around the corner, you don't want to get that too high and then you don't want to look too far ahead to what's after the next thing so I think that's how as players we deal with it of just like

right what's next right Italy and how we're gonna be at our best for that and then we can focus on the next. Well we are all really excited Chloe, LJ thank you so much for joining us. Thanks. This has been that Lioness's podcast connected by EE. Good luck for Tuesday. We're all gonna be behind you, cheering every step of the way. And we are back tomorrow to hype you up for the semi-finals with Italy.

Oh my gosh, I can't wait. So make sure you are following and subscribed everywhere you need to be so you can keep up with everything. And we'll see you next time! Bye!