Shaka Hislop Opens Up Like Never Before
The Corie Sheppard Podcast
15,893 views
Shaka Hislop joins us for one of the most powerful conversations we’ve ever had.
From representing Trinidad & Tobago at the 2006 FIFA World Cup to building a career at the highest levels of English football and broadcasting, Shaka reflects on legacy, pressure, and purpose.
But this episode goes deeper.
Shaka opens up about his prostate cancer diagnosis, the reality of having no symptoms, and how a routine test may have saved his life. He shares the emotional challenge of telling his children, the mindset he adopted to fight, and why more Caribbean men need to take their health seriously.
We also get into:
His response to the Trinidad & Tobago FA President’s comments on Dwight Yorke
The realities behind World Cup qualification
Life in the Premier League and the pressure of elite football
Parenting, identity, and representing Trinidad & Tobago on the world stage
This is a conversation about football — but more importantly, it’s about life.
00:00 Preview
01:15 Introduction
02:27 Watching His Daughter Represent Trinidad & Tobago
05:26 Being a Goalkeeper’s Father
08:23 Shaka’s Cancer Diagnosis
13:34 Living Publicly While Protecting Private Life
14:50 Why He Chose to Speak Publicly
16:25 Black Men, Health & Asking for Help
19:24 Telling His Children About the Diagnosis
25:23 “I Had No Symptoms”
27:47 Why Men Need to Get Tested
29:01 Going Public and Turning Off His Phone
31:29 The On-Air Collapse and Health Wake-Up Call
32:41 Trinidad & Tobago’s World Cup Hopes
36:36 Shaka on the TTFA President’s Dwight Yorke Comments
40:43 The 2006 World Cup Pay Dispute
44:45 Criticism, Fans & Supporting Our Athletes
51:19 English Football, Pressure & Racism
52:47 The Goalkeepers’ Union
54:08 Born in England, Raised in Trinidad
56:21 Early Football Days
57:35 Becoming a Goalkeeper
59:15 Studying Engineering at Howard
01:01:11 Working at NASA
01:03:59 Choosing Football Over Engineering
01:07:28 Struggling in His First Season at Reading
01:12:15 Moving to Newcastle
01:14:31 Premier League Career: Newcastle, West Ham & Portsmouth
01:16:35 Returning to Play for Trinidad & Tobago
01:19:26 Choosing Trinidad Over England
01:21:00 Low Point Against Guatemala
01:25:01 Bahrain and Qualifying for the World Cup
01:26:17 Starting Against Sweden at the World Cup
01:30:02 Moving Into Broadcasting
01:33:07 Representing Trinidad in Global Football Media
01:35:10 Life on ESPN FC
01:37:38 Michael Holding, Racism & Show Racism the Red Card
01:41:04 Dwight Yorke, Race & Recognition
01:42:41 Broadcasting, Legacy & Final Reflections
20 Comments
Corrie, I appreciate you taking the time to connect with voices like this. These are the kinds of interviews that don’t expire. And years from now, people will still be coming back to them.
I will always remember that 2006 match of Trinidad vs England bcuz it was ah significant thing. My grandmother was visiting me in Ireland at the time + we had a big football party organized w' a local irish radio station at a pub + some other west indians came out. We were all rooting for Trinbago 🇹🇹 to beat England. We had support from the irish for this game bcuz you their history/beef they have w' England 😊. Was a good time, despite the outcome.
My journey is in its 16th year and life continues. Continue to use your platform and forums to bring awareness to our fellow citizens.
My most difficult time was telling the children on the night of the biopsy. The struggle is real, but our family's support is vital.
Shaka Hislop Opens Up Like Never Before
The Corie Sheppard Podcast
15,893 views
Shaka Hislop joins us for one of the most powerful conversations we’ve ever had.
From representing Trinidad & Tobago at the 2006 FIFA World Cup to building a career at the highest levels of English football and broadcasting, Shaka reflects on legacy, pressure, and purpose.
But this episode goes deeper.
Shaka opens up about his prostate cancer diagnosis, the reality of having no symptoms, and how a routine test may have saved his life. He shares the emotional challenge of telling his children, the mindset he adopted to fight, and why more Caribbean men need to take their health seriously.
We also get into:
His response to the Trinidad & Tobago FA President’s comments on Dwight Yorke
The realities behind World Cup qualification
Life in the Premier League and the pressure of elite football
Parenting, identity, and representing Trinidad & Tobago on the world stage
This is a conversation about football — but more importantly, it’s about life.
00:00 Preview
01:15 Introduction
02:27 Watching His Daughter Represent Trinidad & Tobago
05:26 Being a Goalkeeper’s Father
08:23 Shaka’s Cancer Diagnosis
13:34 Living Publicly While Protecting Private Life
14:50 Why He Chose to Speak Publicly
16:25 Black Men, Health & Asking for Help
19:24 Telling His Children About the Diagnosis
25:23 “I Had No Symptoms”
27:47 Why Men Need to Get Tested
29:01 Going Public and Turning Off His Phone
31:29 The On-Air Collapse and Health Wake-Up Call
32:41 Trinidad & Tobago’s World Cup Hopes
36:36 Shaka on the TTFA President’s Dwight Yorke Comments
40:43 The 2006 World Cup Pay Dispute
44:45 Criticism, Fans & Supporting Our Athletes
51:19 English Football, Pressure & Racism
52:47 The Goalkeepers’ Union
54:08 Born in England, Raised in Trinidad
56:21 Early Football Days
57:35 Becoming a Goalkeeper
59:15 Studying Engineering at Howard
01:01:11 Working at NASA
01:03:59 Choosing Football Over Engineering
01:07:28 Struggling in His First Season at Reading
01:12:15 Moving to Newcastle
01:14:31 Premier League Career: Newcastle, West Ham & Portsmouth
01:16:35 Returning to Play for Trinidad & Tobago
01:19:26 Choosing Trinidad Over England
01:21:00 Low Point Against Guatemala
01:25:01 Bahrain and Qualifying for the World Cup
01:26:17 Starting Against Sweden at the World Cup
01:30:02 Moving Into Broadcasting
01:33:07 Representing Trinidad in Global Football Media
01:35:10 Life on ESPN FC
01:37:38 Michael Holding, Racism & Show Racism the Red Card
01:41:04 Dwight Yorke, Race & Recognition
01:42:41 Broadcasting, Legacy & Final Reflections