The Rest Is Football: Daly Brightness - Alisha Lehmann Exclusive Interview

Episode Date: February 5, 2026

Swiss star Alisha Lehmann is BACK in the WSL so Millie and Rach just had to get her on the pod! With nearly 16 million Instagram followers they ask her how she has built such a successful personal brand, if she feels misunderstood as a public figure and how she deals with the hate on social media. Delving deeper into Alisha’s life… Can you guess how many languages Alisha speaks? What did she think of living in Birmingham, when she played at Villa? And what are her top meals from the countries she’s played in? British Gas is proud partner of the Barclays Women’s Super League and The Rest Is Football Daly Brightness. Learn more about the BWSL Football Tariff here: https://wsl.theenergyshop.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Visit medcan.com slash moments to get started. Hello everyone, welcome to Daily Brightness. We have a very special guest again, scenes though you all love Ellie. We thought we would bring on the one and only Alicia Lehman. Woo! Bestie round of applause. Snaps for Alicia. Oh, what's everyone in a minute?

This little one, they do this on Love Island, don't they? Do you know what? Baby Snap. Let's talk about Love Island. Charge it. Charge it. Stop saying it. That should have been my block and delete

It's giving Go fuck away I'm sick of it I can't stand that I'm with Leash that charge it Charge it to what The bill I don't know what it means

Yeah I don't understand it But Whitney keeps saying it And she's like Charge it And I'm like charge what Who you charging And don't shut up Through the makes sense

They say charge it to the game And then it's like What's the game? Yeah but also When it's in another context I'm like, what game? Anyway. Anyway, that's my actual, that's my block and delete chart.

Stop saying that. It's annoying. Oh, it's giving. It's giving annoying. That's what it's giving. Anyway, Alicia, welcome to our podcast. Are you excited? Really excited, actually.

I was thinking, we spoke last week, and I was really excited to come on. I think it's nice to have you here in person because we've been away from you for so long. So maybe we could start there and talk about your time in Italy. How different is life in Italy compared to, well, you've been in London, you've been in Birmingham, now you're in Leicester. The girl has travelled. She's a well-traveled girl. So yeah, do you want to talk a little bit about how different your time in Italy was? Yeah, so obviously the life is completely different because you have good food.

Well, yeah. Everybody says this, I'm starting to think there's something wrong with England. No, I also like English food, so don't worry. But yeah, it's good food. Like, the life is amazing because most days it's sunny. you know. It's not really cold, only in winter sometimes. But yeah, but the football is also really different. I prefer it here because, yeah, it's just more intense, more physical and stuff.

So, yeah, you need to get used to it when you change teams and change country, I think. I think one thing that everyone would, well, I would like to know anyway, is in terms of like you traveling with your football, like what makes your decision on, like, where you go? And is it just that you want to explore, want to play in different countries, like different leagues? Like what is your thought process when it comes to that? Yeah, I think when I left England, it was like I was thinking because I lived here like six years that I want to see something new, you know? And obviously Turin was like three hours drive from my home in Switzerland. So it was literally like I'm closer to home.

You see like a different culture. You learn. You meet new people. And I think that's why I wanted. But then when I was there, I kind of missed England so much because obviously I made a lot of friends in the six years. Yeah. I always travel like I know the whole country here

and I kind of like when I was here when I was 19 and then I yeah just missed it I missed the football I missed playing in big stadiums like with all the fans the humor exactly because when I made folks in Italy in English no one got it and then I was like no

yeah you're like the Joe's gone now charge it charge it yeah like charge it exactly so now I'm really happy to be back like so happy actually. Oh, that's not. And you're settling in your new place?

It was. We both just spoke at the same time. It's not of England far too long because she can't hear two Yorkshire accents at the same time. Yeah, I need to learn the accents again. Yeah, so obviously move to Lester, back with Besty. She's sat listening to the... She's literally sat opposite us.

Is she like... Oh, Besty, Besty, come on, get your head in shot. It's like a little family reunion. I know, seriously, yeah. How are you finding it at Lester? No, I love it. I think it's so... nice first follow, like I said before, to be back in England.

And then I think we spoke in December, me and Sarah, and we both knew, kind of that we would go to Leicester. And I don't know, it was so surprising that we both, we played together again. And I think every day, yeah, I love that she stayed there because then I know one person really well. We had a really great time in Villa as well. So, yeah, I'm really happy.

For those of you that don't know, Sarah and Alicia, are like, when I moved to Villa, I was like, these two are inseparable. Like you didn't see leash without Sarah, he didn't see Sarah without leash. Two peas in the pod. Yeah, literally like touch-tight besties, bit like me and you.

So, yeah. Like for a year, we probably stayed every day together. Like, she always stayed in my house or I stay in her house and we did everything together. Oh,

it's nice that you're back together then. That's really nice. It's nice for me, I think, as well, like knowing that Sarah can go there and like, obviously, she's not the most sociable person at first, is she bless her, but to have someone

that she loved so much there. on a very basis. But yeah, it's not about me or Sarah. It's about Alicia. So let's just carry on talking about you. Yeah, but it's also like with Sarah, for example, with Sarah, it's also that we play again together.

Because you had also great moments on the pitch when you play that villa. So to play together again and have this kind of connection still is like, it's amazing. Yeah, it is special. What would you say your biggest learnings are before we get to like off pitch stuff?

What would you say your biggest learnings are in football like that you've experienced or like your biggest challenges or? I think obviously every time you move team, you meet new people. I mean, you need to get used to the structures of the club. Like, every club is so different. So it's like to get used to it, new start. You mean new people, you can't be really shy.

You need to, you know? Yeah. So I learned a lot also like in Italy because everyone is so different than, for example, here. And I only knew you kind of from here and Switzerland, but in Switzerland I was really young. So it's kind of, yeah, it was different. And I remember when I joined Juve, the coach was like the first months he speaks English and after he's only Italian. So for the next three months, I didn't understand the word. And yeah, so it was so different, you know.

Yeah. But you get used to it after a time and I kind of like it because you always learn from people when you play with an amazing player. Like in Yuba, we had Christiana and Chile. And she's a really great player. Yeah. But the person, she's 10 times better. like she's an amazing person. She helped me so much

and it just makes it easier when you meet people like that. I think that's important and I think that moves us on quite nicely to you off the pitch. I think you are one of the best people I've ever met. I've got on with you from the minute I met you at West Ham.

But I think for me, you're largely misunderstood by a lot of people and I'm here to put this right because literally you are... Do you feel that, Alicia? Do you feel that yourself? Like, obviously I think, I think we can sit there and say it because we know you and we've seen you like behind the scenes.

But do you feel that as an individual that you're like misunderstood? Do you feel that you have to keep proving yourself or are you just like, I'm over it now? No, I feel it so much. Like I think everything I do, I need to work 10 times harder because every time I meet people or I go into your group, they always think like I'm so different, you know? And for me, it's like I'm a like person, people person, you know? Yeah. And I love everyone. Like I never had the problem with anybody I played with or in the life, you know.

I always get on with everyone. And I think people always charge out of social media and sometimes it's like hard because, yeah, I think I also think they're different, you know. And yeah. But I think that also comes with like a massive credit to you because you have built arguably if, well, I think so, the most successful brand in women's football away from the pitch. And, you know, it's one thing being an incredible footballer like you are. but I think to have the business mindset that you've got and to make your platform, your brand, whatever, it's amazing.

Like, what followers, how many followers do you have known on social media? Like, Instagram? Like, 50 something, million? Insane. And that's, like, you've built that. And to not be afraid to do it as well. Exactly. And to be judged as well.

And to have all those negative comments or whatever to you. Like, I think that is the most remarkable thing to be able to do that. And it's all on your own. you're like self-made. Yeah. That's something that maybe people are jealous of because... Of course. I think people that always come with negative is always from a jealousy perspective

because at the end of the day, if you can be successful and build yourself up, why the hell would you not? We should do a little... Just really sure. Yeah. But you know what the funniest thing is? Like, I think now people are so much nicer to me than how they were when I just built there. Because when I was posing before,

I was like 20, 21, 22. Everyone was touching me. Everyone was like, you know, a football player. You only post on social media and stuff. And everyone's touching me so much. Oh yeah. God forbid you do anything else as a footballer. Like you're not allowed to have a life.

You're not allowed to do anything. Exactly. And now these people that judge me then, now ask me about how to build a company, how you do that, you know, how you're going. And then I'm just like, because now everyone does the same. I just kind of like did it when I was younger because every normal person is the same. But because obviously I was a football player, it was wrong. they think.

But at the end, like now, every player, women, men do the same, you know? So for me, it's kind of funny

when now people come to me and ask me about this stuff and then I'm like, yeah, but maybe five years ago you sent me text

that you was wrong or I don't look like a football player. That's always the case. It's always the trolls that still want, they want the signatures, they still want your shirt.

But I do think that is, I think people need to like open their eyes a little bit, like especially in the women's game now. Like, it is becoming a business and people are, building their own brands and there's nothing wrong with that.

As long as you're still dedicated every single day to your training and to your team, what does it matter what you do in your off days? What does it matter what you do in your own time? Like, what does it matter if you want to be successful away from football? Football is a short-term career. It's not going to last forever. Like... What, Millie, how nice would that feel to be really successful away from the pitch?

That's something we talk about a lot. Exactly. I don't think you should ever be, like, judged for it or targeted. Like, I think it's so bad, like it's so wrong. But I also think that that comes with, like, intelligence. Like, Lee, she's one of the smart, most smart people on her. Like, and people might not know that, but she is so highly intelligent. And I've seen sometimes, and I'm just, see people talking trying to think, like, you're so intelligent.

Thank you. That's your new celebration now. Every time you got to go. Charge it. Yeah, it will be like your biggest hype women. I'll sing your name from the rooftops, honestly. But I think that also, again, it's like how many languages can you speak? So obviously I grew up with Swiss, then German, French, Portuguese alone, obviously.

Italian now, I understand the most, but speak sometimes, you know, half-hour and English. Like, insane. Yeah. And me and race just being full-on, Yorkshire, that's what we speak. we can barely speak English. But after you know, like two or three languages is like easier because everything is a bit more. Yeah, really easy.

Yeah, yeah. That's why I still only speak one, Lange. I've learned French once, since you sat in the room on duolingo going, uncha. Un-shah. I'm like, forget it. Just forget it.

You've got no chance. Bonjour. Ray's like, you can't speak, you can't do it in a York track seminar. We don't have to learn, really, but that's also very ignorant. But maybe with the accent you have to. I need to learn English.

We need to learn to put the accent on because my due language are not picking up my words at all. You can't have to get this dog because it's just scratching at the door. This is Alicia's first time meeting Louis. First time. Oh! Well, we've got to get this on the pod so

it's all part of it. Louis! So cute! Look at him. No, he's so sweet. You can stay with me coming. Yeah, you can stay there. Bless him.

So where, out of everywhere, now we're back, sorry, out of everywhere that you've lived, where's been your favourite place to live? Like, not a football, just live. No, to live is probably, yeah, London. Not less, though. I haven't been there long, but. Yeah, but how much you love, but in here?

No, I love Birmingham. You know, everyone's always like, how can he like Birmingham so much? But maybe it's also because I had my best friends here, you know? Yeah. I do think that makes a difference. Literally, I think when you were doing, yeah. Because the most beautiful place I lived is 100% Como.

It's so beautiful. But for young people, it's also kind of boring, you know? Yeah. Because there's nothing to do. Like in the summer, obviously, you can go on the boat, you can go swimming, you can do a lot of things. But now in winter... We need to get some pictures on the podcast

of your views from your house in Como. Because, wow. Yeah. Wow. Unbelievable. I have a question. In, like, building your brand, what would you say has been the hardest part of doing it alongside football?

I mean, you know, people always think I put so much time in it and stuff, but I actually did it. Like, on every, you know, that I'm probably the person that's the most. Like, every day and I'm so jealous of this girl. Yeah, I must admit, we were very concerned on the wedding day when we were like, is Alicia up? Is she awake? When we were doing the hair and makeup, I was like, Sarah, like, I'm just texting her again.

Oh, she just said she's awake, thank God. You can sleep, honestly. hours. And everywhere, it doesn't matter if it's light, if it's loud, I just fall asleep. Literally, when we were getting a bus on a way trip, right? Instant. As soon as you get on, headphones in, out the whole journey.

You have to be like, Lee, we're here. Wherever we were going, the whole way, passed out. I love them. What a dream. That's mad. That's mad. But yeah, just in terms of like feeling that, like, judgment and feeling people, like,

getting the wrong kind of perception of you, like, what, is there anything that you've found really hard to like stay on track and to just keep doing what you're doing into like trusting yourself that you'll you'll get to where you want to get to. Yeah, of course I had times like where I felt really bad or, you know, the thing is like it didn't really hurt myself. It heard more when like people were sending messages to my mom or newspapers were writing lights and my mom saw, you know, like this kind of hurt me.

But to myself, I was always quite a strong person and I really don't care what people think of me or whatever. She's got some thick skin. No, literally because I always think, look, I have a great life. I build my staff. I build my business. And for me, you know, like I just did something that maybe people want to do as well. And now they hate you on because they can't. And I want that everyone do what I think is the best for them. Because I didn't do it at the start because I wanted to be famous or anything. I never dreamed of that. It was never a thing I was like, you know, praying every day for. It just happened.

And after, obviously, when I got more followers and followers, I got also more hate. And then I had a time that was really sad. I probably didn't go outside anymore. I just slept all day and didn't do anything. And it really hurt me a bit as well. But I'm someone that doesn't really show emotions. So no one knew, you know? I like to keep it to myself when I don't feel well.

So, yeah. But now I'm also a bit older, you know, I learned a lot. And now I can, yeah, like balance it. When someone writes bad about me, I always think, like, well, what are you doing with your life? Yeah. You know? They probably want to be here.

Yeah, exactly. How did your mum find it? Alicia's mom is one of the funniest people. On Instagram all the time. Like, you know the videos where I just be like, you watch it? You're thinking, oh, what's going to happen? And then someone who comes up at the end of your time. Yeah, honestly.

So shout out. Shout out to you mom. And you always ask me about rage, always. when I was like, how was right? How are she doing? We spog again on Instagram. She loves you so much. That's so cute.

She's so lovely. You have a great family. But yeah, like how did she find that initially, like when you became famous and like, I guess like really in the public eye and you said she received some like shitty messages. Like how did she find it knowing that? Because I think moms find it harder when they see like bad messages about her kids. No, 100%. And my mom is also protective.

But, you know, the thing is also like she doesn't, she doesn't understand really well English, first of all. So it's more when the Swiss newspaper wrote something or... Yeah. Yeah, like that, you know? And obviously, you made her so mad. Like, sometimes on Facebook or Instagram, she puts like these comments on, like, people. And I was like, Mom, you can't do that.

I feel like parents do that, though, don't they? They're like, don't you dare speak to my daughter like that? And she's like, you don't know her. Why are you speak about her like that and stuff? And people sending me the screenshot, then I was like, shit. Are your family happy that you're back in England? I feel like they love coming out of that. No, they're so, like, they're so happy because they were like, you know,

finally you will be like really happy again, be with your friends. And also like to watch, you know, it's so much nice. Yeah. To watch a game in a big stadium with a lot of fans. In Italy, like the pitches we played on, it was crazy, really. Like the structure and stuff was really bad. Yeah. Guys, we are going to head for a little break.

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means you not only satisfy your travel bug, but your taste buds too. That's the powerful backing of Amex. Conditions apply. When McDonald's partnered with Frank's Redhot, they said they could put that shit on everything. So that's exactly what McDonald's did. They put it on your McChrispy. They put it in your hot honey McNuggets dip.

They even put it in the creamy garlic sauce on your McMuff. The McDonald's Frank's Red Hot menu. They put that shit on everything. Breakfast available until 11 a.m. at participating Canadian restaurants for a limited time. Franks Red Hot is a registered trademark of the French's food company LLC. Welcome back to the second part of interrogate Alicia Lehman. I'm excited for this half of the show.

Right. Favorite dish from each country that you've played in. So go English dish first. English first. Yeah. I would say a Sunday roast. Yes. She's Yorkshire, that's why.

She's part of Yorkshire. She's got a little. Yorkshire girl. No, I think it's great. You can always eat out. Italy. My favourite food is like Carbonara. Did you do the way she said that?

In there? Cabanara. I love carbonara. Carbonara. I love carbonate. It's right creamy. Yeah, I love that. That's a great. I want to, I've never been to Italy.

No way. I swear. Yeah. We have to go. I know. I'm come and visit you at Como in a Como house. We'll charge it. We'll charge it.

All right. Tell us one thing about Switzerland that nobody knows, like, or your favourite thing from home. Nobody knows. Oh, ah. I'm in sync. I know. I know. A leash's hometown.

Yeah. He's where Toebarone's made. Sure. Or. Is it made? Burn. Yeah. Like my city, yeah.

No, but what were you going to say? No, no, we can speak about this first. Yeah, it's because, you know, on Tollbrons, like these mountains and it's like in a state, you know. I did not know that. That is crazy. Neither. And least you saw it's bring me Toborones back from Switzerland, not had any in a while. Because like in the mountain.

Yeah, we love to there. Yeah, we remember in a body the big one? She bought me one once, right? I thought she was taking the piss. I came into the change room. She got this thing. I'm not joking. It was like, length of my whole body and the chunk of my whole body and the chunk.

were like that by like that it was I couldn't get through it I had to get a knife to it and one piece was about 15 bars of Doberra. Bloody Al amazing what were you gonna say about you know 20 25 I think so I'm not 100% sure but I'm just saying you know the Swiss passport was voted for the most valuable one really yeah maybe that's because of bank accounts Swiss crazy we love it crazy yeah and Switzerland is actually amazing You've got great cheese, great chocolate. I really want to go in like the log cabins over there.

Yeah, you get all the seasons. Yeah, exactly. Really nice winters in the snow. And the summer is amazing. It's like 35 degrees and it's hot. Oh my god, tell Millie about your mom, like your family home in Switzerland. Yeah, so we have like a farm, you know, with like horses. She loves Millie lives on a farm at home.

Yeah, we have a lot of animals. My mom is like, is fine? Yeah. Then we have like horses. Then my mom, font is life. bird on the floor and he was hurt so she like you know made him well again and now like

seven months later she has 60 birds what the hell what bird is it? Outside this like cage for all the birds they have heat, they have cameras in the voting cage so you can watch them I don't know we need to get a picture we need a picture of these on the podcast does she have the horses that pull the dogs

or the dogs that pull the horses or so yeah the pony so she has like this carriage you know? Yeah. And then the pony like takes, like, you know, you can go for a... That's sick.

And then she's going to have to take a trip out. No, you have to. You will love it there. Millie had horses, but she grew up on a farm. Oh, I love it. Horses that grew up.

We have to. That's like my freedom. It's the one place on earth that nothing can touch me. Literally. It's so calm, relax. Yeah, just freedom.

Because they're always happy to see you. Always. Always. They don't chat back. They don't judge. They don't, like, they're not, they're very loyal.

They love you no matter what. I'm animals over people. I'm an animal lover. They knew we loved Alicia. I love it. Yeah. It's an instant fix. All right, Leach, before we get on to our two little things that me and Rachel love to do, what's one thing that nobody knows about you? Hmm. We can come back to it.

Yeah. Have a thing and we'll come back to it. Rae, do you want to explain our little thing that we do? Sarah just went. She went to Sarah. I can't say that. She went to Sarah. Do you know anything about me?

I mean, I know some secrets. Right. We like secrets on the pod. We do. Basically, Leach, we, at the end of every podcast, me and Millie do this thing. So we both have a favourite thing. Millie's got this thing called block and delete. So I'll give you an example, right?

So mine this week was I like to block and delete people who have their dogs on the lead when they should be off the lead. Yeah. So something that annoys you, basically. Do you have anything right now that you can think? Like really annoys me. Yeah. Or even something that's happened this week.

No, you know what really annoys me? When I order something and they bring the parcel at 7 a.m. and wake me up. Block and delete early deliveries. Yeah. Early that. I can't do it. Never thought of that, actually. It's really annoying.

And then you have a day off and I'm just like, no, this can't be happening. You're like, leave it at the front door. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, you need to get your parcel box. Yeah. That's a really good point. good one that block and delete early deliveries we rate that get that in the bin and then the second thing we do is which is my favorite is gratitude so we basically say one thing that we're grateful for

this week so have you got anything that you're grateful for this week so this week i'm grateful for to be back with my besties yeah yeah i'm just to be back in england again you know eat the roast and um yeah just just spend some time also on birmingham i missed i missed it so much oh we like that we I like that a lot. That's a good one. We love our gratitude. And also, I'm really grateful for the English grass. Yeah.

You know? It's different. People don't understand, but if you're playing in a different country, you don't have this grass everywhere. It's beautiful. No. We always say that when we go on tour. Whenever you go on tour in preseason.

Oh, yeah, and the pitches are like spongy. Spongy, ankles are going all over at Gaff. Yeah, long grass as well. Yeah, yeah. One, grateful for nice pitches, yes. Yeah, we've not actually thought that way. either. We've been a bit. We've been looking past that. So, Leish, just going back to that question, what is one thing that you don't think the public know about you? Or you would like them to know

that they maybe don't know. So I think that people always think, obviously, I'm an open book and I share everything. But I'm actually quite private. I also stay, like, at home the most times. I don't really go outside or whatever. I love to cook. So, yeah, I... I share what I want to share, but I also have a lot of things that I want to keep private. Nice. I like that. And you have every right to keep some things private. Yeah. We love that. Yeah, we do. I rate that. Right, Leish, thank you so much. That was really nice. And I hopefully that gives our listeners and fans, you know, a bit of an insight on you as a person, more so than a footballer, because that is number one. But we really appreciate you coming on the pod. We love having you.

Yeah, we hope you've enjoyed it. And just a gentle reminder to everyone out there. People have their own lives alongside being professional athletes and that is okay. Let's be supported. Be kind. Be a fountain.

Don't be a drain. Charge it. Charge that one to the game. Charge it to the game. All right. Thank you everyone for listening. I hope you enjoyed hearing about Alicia's amazing story and we'll see you next week.

See you next week. Bye. Bye. And thank you for having me.