Flame Bearers Special Edition: U.S. Women's Soccer Originals
As the world tunes in for the ninth Women’s World Cup, it’s hard to imagine a time when professional women’s soccer didn’t exist. In 1985, 17 of the b…
Feb 28th, 2024 |
1:14:49
Special Edition: U.S. Women's Soccer Originals (Michelle Akers)
This episode is co-hosted by Michelle's son, Cody. As Michelle shares, "If you want to know who I am, Cody has been with me through it all." According…
Feb 22nd, 2024 |
36:47
Special Edition: U.S. Women's Soccer Originals (Tara Buckley O'Sullivan)
It’s been a few months since the World Cup, but we committed to telling the stories of the entire first USWNT, so we tracked down one of the two outst…
Feb 2nd, 2024 |
29:52
Special Edition: U.S. Women's Soccer Originals (Sharon McMurtry)
Yes, it’s been a few months since the World Cup, but we committed to telling the stories of the entire first USWNT, so we tracked down one of the two…
Aug 28th, 2023 |
28:06
Special Edition: U.S. Women's Soccer Originals (Kim Crabbe)
Kim Crabbe was the first African-American to roster on the USWNT. She was on the 1986 team, but given that we've been telling the stories of the origi…
Aug 24th, 2023 |
18:33
Special Edition: U.S. Women's Soccer Originals (Denise Bender)
Denise was a swimmer, diver, gymnast, and track and field athlete before becoming a soccer player at 14. That said, Washington had strong support for…
Aug 23rd, 2023 |
15:12
Special Edition: U.S. Women's Soccer Originals (Pam Baughman-Cornell)
Pam was working in the credit department of JCPenney when she got a call from The Washington Post asking her about making the first U.S. Women's Natio…
Aug 21st, 2023 |
21:15
Special Edition: U.S. Soccer Originals (Cindy Gordon)
*Content Warning: This episode includes stories of sexual abuse. This production contains material of a highly sensitive nature including stories of s…
Aug 18th, 2023 |
17:30
Special Edition: U.S. Women's Soccer Originals (Kathy Ridgewell-Williams)
While Kathy (or Ridgey as she was called) had older sisters, she grew up playing with the boys, and doing so in what SHE wanted to wear. Just as Kathy…
Aug 18th, 2023 |
24:19
Special Edition: U.S. Soccer Originals (Ann Orrison Germain)
Nobody in Ann's family played soccer, so at 12, she went to the town firehouse to sign herself up -- she strategically jotted down "goalie" because sh…
Aug 16th, 2023 |
29:59
Special Edition: U.S. Women's Soccer Originals (Kim Wyant)
Kim Wyant is used to being the first. She recorded the first USWNT goalkeeper win, the first shutout, the first anterior ACL injury (was the first goa…
Aug 15th, 2023 |
15:18
Special Edition: U.S. Women's Soccer Originals (Lori Bylin Sweeney)
When asked to recall her first soccer memory, Lori shares her team’s post-game tradition: whether they won or lost, 6-year old Lori and team would go…
Aug 14th, 2023 |
24:07
Special Edition: U.S. Soccer Originals (Emily Pickering)
Emily grew up as #7 of 8 kids so she always had someone to play with...and she played every sport possible, particularly enjoying team sports. Older s…
Aug 10th, 2023 |
18:43
Special Edition: U.S. Women's Soccer Originals (Tucka Healy)
Margaret (or as she goes by in soccer, Tucka) grew up in Palo Alto, California, where there were three teams for players ages 10-16. Tucka made the Al…
Aug 9th, 2023 |
19:08
Special Edition: U.S. Women's Soccer Originals (Lori Henry)
When Lori Henry talks about her six year run on the USWNT, she talks about the "little moments along the way," the moments she says that changed her l…
Aug 8th, 2023 |
17:19
Special Edition: U.S. Women's Soccer Originals (Linda Gancitano)
Linda Gancitano was the first girl on her high school boy's soccer team, so she got to play alongside her younger brother, Nick. According to Nick, ev…
Aug 7th, 2023 |
17:48
Special Edition: U.S. Women's Soccer Originals (Stacey Enos)
Stacey Enos is one of the three original University of North Carolina (UNC) Tar Heels to blaze the trail to the USWNT. Stacey was actually the FIRST T…
Aug 4th, 2023 |
23:10
Special Edition: U.S. Women's Soccer Originals (Ruth Harker)
"What a gritty bunch, you know?" was Ruth Harker's response when asked about her team, the original USWNT. Ruth grew up with her Mom and older brother…
Jun 21st, 2023 |
30:13
Sofia Goggia (Italy): Defying the Downhill
Sofia grew up wanting to do everything her older brother, Tommaso did, so when he took to the slopes, she begged her Mom to let her join. At 6, she fo…
Jun 8th, 2023 |
22:02
Yip Pin Xiu (Singapore): Swimming & Solidarity
Yip Pin Xiu is a "born and bred city girl', having grown up in Singapore with her close-knit family flying kites, playing in the sand pool, and at fiv…
May 24th, 2023 |
34:45
Sam Mewis & Lynn Williams (USA): Soccer & SNACKS
Sam Mewis grew up flipping over rocks in the woods of Massachusetts hunting for salamanders, while Lynn Williams grew up on a pecan farm with her "hug…
May 10th, 2023 |
37:29
Noelle Lambert (USA): From Tragedy to Triumph on the Track
Noelle Lambert grew up playing in the dirt and on the field with her older brothers, watching the Pats, Bruins, Celtics, and Red Sox. She was always a…
Apr 26th, 2023 |
24:09
Camila Pirelli Cubas (Paraguay): Honoring Her Heritage
Camila goes by Cami, Pirelli, or Pantera Guaraní, the Guaraní Panther; Guarani is the language, and culture of the community of people Camila belongs…
Apr 12th, 2023 |
18:56
Nicky Nieves (USA): Athlete Follow Up
The last time we heard from USA Sitting Volleyball star, Nicky Nieves, she was gearing up for the Tokyo Paralympics, hot after winning gold in Rio. We…
Apr 10th, 2023 |
02:24
Nicky Nieves: Sneak Peek
We met Nicky Nieves, USA Sitting Volleyball in Season 1. Our conversation focused on her identity as a proud Afro Latina and the Black Lives Matter mo…
Mar 29th, 2023 |
30:28
Masomah Alizada (IOC Refugee Team): Cycling for Hope
Masomah is the first female Olympic cyclist from Afghanistan, and getting to the Olympics hasn't just been a battle against her own skills and competi…
Mar 22nd, 2023 |
01:58
Sneak Peek: Masomah Alizada
Masomah is the first woman Olympic cyclist from Afghanistan. Her fight to compete and to the podium hasn't just been against her own records and comp…
Mar 15th, 2023 |
18:42
Victoria Stambaugh (Puerto Rico): Finding Faith & Taekwondo
Victoria considers herself a proud "Puerto Rican American." Having grown up in the Houston, Texas area. she "was considered a Latina," but then when s…
Mar 1st, 2023 |
20:19
Ritah Asiimwe (Uganda): Purpose & Para Badminton
Ritah lost her hand when machete and hammer-wielding thieves broke into her Grandma's house in 2005.
Today, Ritah is the African Para Badminton Ch…
Feb 28th, 2023 |
02:41
Sneak Peek: Ritah Asiimwe
Sneak peek of our upcoming episode with Ugandan Para Badminton Champ, Rita Asiimwe. Ritah was one of 4 Ugandan Paralympians who participated in the T…
Feb 15th, 2023 |
27:29
Kenza Sossé (Qatar): Covid Cancellation & the Arab Women's Movement
23-year old Qatari track star Kenza Sossé, qualified for Tokyo, and then days before her flight to Japan, tested positive for COVID-19. After years t…
Feb 8th, 2023 |
01:48
Sneak Peek: Kenza Sossé
Sneak peek of our upcoming episode with 23 year old Qatari track and field star, Kenza Sossé. Kenza shares about her experience qualifying for the Gam…
Feb 1st, 2023 |
23:05
Athlete Follow Up: Manasi Joshi (India): Looking Ahead to Paris
We met Manasi Joshi in Season 1, when she discussed losing her leg, rehabbing through badminton, and disability policy in India. Today, we follow up w…
Jan 25th, 2023 |
02:32
Sneak Peek: Manasi Joshi
Sneak peek of our upcoming episode with Manasi Joshi, #1 in Parabadminton singles and doubles. This episode is an Athlete Follow Up with Manasi, who w…
Jan 18th, 2023 |
27:11
Liu Jiayu (China): Prioritizing Happiness in the Half-Pipe
Liu Jiayu goes by Birdie because of the height she gets in the half-pipe -- she FLIES. That said, it hasn't always this way. Liu Jiayu started snowboa…
Jan 12th, 2023 |
01:57
Sneek Peak: Liu Jiayu
We heard from quite a few of you that you liked our sneek peaks of upcoming episodes, so given our bi-weekly publishing schedule, we'll drop trailers…
Jan 4th, 2023 |
23:03
Alejandra Aybar (Dominican Republic): Swimming Through Adversity
We met Alejandra when she did a Flame Bearers social media takeover in the lead up to the Tokyo Paralympics, showing us a day in her life. Alejandra n…
Dec 28th, 2022 |
01:37
Holiday Break & Sneak Peek of Alejandra Aybar
We want to honor Alejandra's story to the best of our abilities, so because of the holidays and New Year, we will publish her episode next Wednesday,…
Dec 14th, 2022 |
35:53
Dr. Seun Adigun (Nigeria): Fighting for African Representation
Dr. Seun Adigun is the first African to compete in both the Summer and Winter Olympics. She spearheaded the first female bobsled team from her country…
Nov 30th, 2022 |
30:49
Athlete Follow Up: Deja Young-Craddock (USA): Turning Postpartum into Power
Every 4th episode this season, we’ll circle back with an athlete we’ve previously worked with to update you on her life and what we previously discuss…
Nov 23rd, 2022 |
02:09
Thanksgiving Break & Athlete Follow Up with Deja Young
We want to honor Deja’s story to the best of our abilities, so because this week is Thanksgiving in the United States, we will publish her episode nex…
Nov 9th, 2022 |
25:20
Alexa Moreno (MEX): Vaulting Over the Critics
Alexa is a 2x Olympian (Tokyo and Rio) and the first Mexican woman to win a World Championship Medal. She's one of the 100 most powerful women in Me…
Oct 26th, 2022 |
27:27
Diede de Groot (NED): Conquering the Courts & Finding Her Voice
Diede de Groot has won 31 majors, is the current world No. 1 in both singles and doubles, and achieved a Golden Grand Slam: winning all four major tou…
Oct 13th, 2022 |
33:58
Sue Bird (USA): Bigger Than Basketball
Sue is one of the most iconic athletes in the world: she's been a professional athlete for 20 years, won 5 gold Olympic medals (2004, 2008, 2012, 2016…
Oct 5th, 2022 |
01:11
Season 3 Trailer: Keeping the Fire Burning
Flame Bearers: Keeping the Fire Burning spotlights women Olympians and Paralympians who sought to compete in the Tokyo Summer or Beijing Winter Olympi…
Apr 6th, 2022 |
27:56
Simidele Adeagbo (Nigeria): The Original Sleigh Queen
Simidele (Simi) was the first African and black woman to compete in Skeleton at the Olympics, and more recently, the first African to take home gold a…
Mar 23rd, 2022 |
23:22
Ukrainian Athletes: What the World Needs to Hear
In light of Russian war on Ukraine, this special edition episode is different than our normal episodes. In an effort to elevate Ukranian voices and th…
Mar 9th, 2022 |
15:31
Mihaela Hogas (Romania): Breaking Barriers Through Speed Skating
When Mihaela was 9, she went to a park and saw some kids inline skating. She didn't realize it was actually for the winter sport of speed skating, but…
Mar 2nd, 2022 |
19:34
Kendall Gretsch (USA): 2 Games in 2 Sports Within 6 Months
3x Paralympic Gold Medalist, Kendall Gretsch is one of the only athletes who competed in Tokyo this past summer who is also competing in Beijing. Less…
Feb 16th, 2022 |
20:37
Dr. Natalia Siuba-Jarosz (Poland): Being a Doctor & Elite Parasnowboarder
Dr. Natalia Siuba-Jarosz is an elite Polish Parasnowboarder and Doctor in Radiology. She has gone by Simba ever since her last name was misspelled in…
Feb 9th, 2022 |
18:51
Valentina Margaglio (Italy): the Skeleton Lioness
Valentina or 'The Lioness' grew up in Italy as a 'very competitive child' with her three sisters and one brother. She describes her heritage as "the p…
Feb 2nd, 2022 |
16:50
Aline Rocha (Brazil): Sport as Freedom & Women in Para Sports
When Aline was 15 years old, she was in a car accident that paralyzed her from the waist down. That said, she says "sport changed my life, not the acc…
Jan 26th, 2022 |
21:07
Mialitiania Clerc (Madagascar): Being the First Malagasy & Alpine Skiing
Mialitiana (Mia) is the first woman Winter Olympian from Madagascar and her goal is to "inspire all Africans." While she grew up in France with her ad…
Jan 19th, 2022 |
18:55
Mariama Jamanka (Germany): the Underdog Gold Medal Bobsled Queen
Reigning Olympic gold medalist, Mariama Jamanka never thought the words 'Olympic Champion' would apply to her, as a relative newcomer to bobsledding a…
Jan 12th, 2022 |
23:55
Bradie Tennell (USA): Figure Skating & Making the Tough Calls
US Olympic bronze medalist and 2X National Champion figure skater, Bradie Tennell has already made a career out of breaking records…and unfortunately…
Jan 5th, 2022 |
26:34
Акжана Абдикаримова (ROC): The Invisibility of Disability & Biathlon
To kick off Season 2, we speak with 2x Russian Paralympian (soon to be 3x), biathlete and wheelchair racer, Akzhana Abdikarmova. She shares what it m…
Nov 19th, 2021 |
33:38
Caster Semenya (South Africa): Who Decides Who's Female and Why?
It’s been a while since the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, but we wanted to amplify and celebrate a voice the world missed in Japan. 2x Olympic gold…
Sep 1st, 2021 |
11:34
Kamila Dosmalova (Kazakhstan): Being the Only Woman on the National Team
Kamila started taekwondo when she was 9 years old and was the only girl on the team; years later, she's still the only woman, this time on Kazakhstan'…
Aug 18th, 2021 |
27:09
Jessica Long (USA): Perfection, Faith & Paraswimming
Jessica Long is one of the most successful athletes in Paralympic Games' history, holding 23 medals with 13 of them being gold. As she heads into her…
Aug 4th, 2021 |
17:32
Ni Nengah Widiasih (Indonesia): Para Powerlifting & Her Support System
At the age of four, Ni Negah Widiasih lost use of her legs at age four due to polio. In Rio she made history, becoming Indonesia's first Paralympic po…
Jul 21st, 2021 |
26:26
Jacqueline Simoneau (Canada): Artistic Swimming, Family & Friends
In this episode, we speak with 4X Pan American Games' gold medallist and soon to be 2X Canadian Olympic Jacqueline Simoneau. At home, she's Jacquelin…
Jul 7th, 2021 |
25:25
Danusia Francis (Jamaica): Gymnastics & Positive Manifestation
At age five, Danusia watched Elena Zamolodchikova of Russia compete on TV, and decided then and there that she wanted to be an Olympic gymnast. 22 yea…
Jun 23rd, 2021 |
28:13
Deja Young (USA): Mental Health & Choosing Life
Being a "non traditional athlete" with brachial plexus has never held Deja back. Even though her condition was caused by medical malpractice during he…
Jun 9th, 2021 |
22:32
Ray Bassil (Lebanon): Finding Your Courage to Lead
To date, Ray is the only Lebanese athlete who has qualified for Tokyo, but Ray is used to blazing her own trails: she was the first Arab female Olympi…
May 26th, 2021 |
28:09
Sarah Davies (Great Britain): The Barbell Queen Defying Convention
Sarah Davies is Great Britain's best ever female weightlifter on a pound for pound basis, lifting between 100-125kg (or 220-275 lbs) depending on the…
May 12th, 2021 |
24:04
Carlotta Nwajide (Germany): Rowing & Activism
Carlotta is not only a Vice World and European Champion, but also an outspoken activist who leads by thoughtful example. She believes that inaction is…
Apr 28th, 2021 |
21:35
Eliza Stone (USA): the Stone Sabre Squad & Redefining Success
Eliza showed up to her first fencing class in a dress and little patent leather shoes because she wanted to make a good first impression. In tow, came…
Apr 21st, 2021 |
19:02
(En Español) Tamara Leonelli (Chile): La Espina Bifida y Sus Sueños Para El Futuro
Tamara (Tami) basó los 18 años, más de lo previsto. Ahora tiene 23 años y se está convirtiendo en una de las mejores jugadoras de tenis de mesa del mu…
Apr 14th, 2021 |
15:57
Tamara Leonelli (Chile): Spina Bifida & True Inclusion Through Olympic & Paralympic Melding
Tamara (Tami) was introduced to table tennis in a rehabilitation center: Tami was born with spina bifida and had a life expectancy of 18. She is now 2…
Apr 7th, 2021 |
22:43
Bonus Content: Athlete Panel Discussion
You've already met some of our incredible athletes, but we wanted to provide you with an even more unfiltered snapshot of who they are. As bonus conte…
Mar 24th, 2021 |
26:09
Sophia Herzog (USA): Dwarfism & Inspiring Social Change
2016 Paralympic silver medalist, 2x World Champion, and 5x World medalist, Sophia Herzog is passionate about breaking stereotypes. She grew up in a sm…
Mar 10th, 2021 |
26:28
Haydy Morsy (Egypt): Modern Pentathlon & the Next Generation of Egyptian Athletes
When Haydy won the 2019 Pentathlon African Championship, she became the first athlete worldwide to qualify for Tokyo. She now hopes to become the firs…
Feb 17th, 2021 |
30:55
Naya Tapper (USA): Redefining Beauty & Supporting Black Lives Matter
Naya Tapper is a leading try scorer for Team USA's Rugby Team. She wanted to be the "first girl in the NFL" but when she found rugby, she was hooked.…
Feb 3rd, 2021 |
27:50
Madeleine McAffe & Tanya Beths (Australia): Managing Careers, Health & Beach Handball
Madeleine (Maca) and Tanya are close friends who play for the Australian beach handball team. They both juggle full time jobs: Maca is a lawyer and Ta…
Jan 13th, 2021 |
32:38
Kimberly Alkemade (Netherlands): Loss, Adventure & Blade Running
Kimberly didn’t start running until she was 27 -- she's now 30. In her 2019 debut race, the World Para Athletics Championships in Dubai, she came away…
Dec 30th, 2020 |
17:57
Zahra Nemati (Iran): Archery & Hope
Zahra Nemati is arguably Iran's most popular female athlete. While she grew up competing in taekwondo, after a car accident left her legs paralyzed, s…
Dec 2nd, 2020 |
20:39
Kym Crosby (USA): Sprinting, Marriage & Albinism
Paralympic 100M bronze medalist and World Championship silver medalist, Kym Crosby has 'limited sight, limitless dreams.' Kym is legally blind, but sh…
Nov 12th, 2020 |
27:31
Ida Jacobsen (Denmark): Rowing & Adjusting to the Pandemic
While most know Danish Olympic Rower, Ida Jacobsen for her prowess on the water, she's also a political science junkie and cheese expert (much to the…
Oct 21st, 2020 |
30:49
Katarina Roxon (Canada): Swimming & Body Positivity
Katarina grew up on the island of Newfoundland, so at an early age, her parents, Leonard and Lisa thought that it was important she learn to swim. 20…
Sep 23rd, 2020 |
25:06
Ezinne Kalu-Phelps (Nigeria): Basketball & Entrepreneurship
2019 Women's Afrobasket MVP, Ezinne Kalu plays for the reigning African champions, Nigeria's D'Tigress. While most know Ezinne for her talent on the c…
Sep 9th, 2020 |
25:04
Nicky Nieves (USA): Sitting Volleyball & Black Lives Matter
Nicky is a middle blocker on the USA's Sitting Volleyball team, and a Rio Paralympic gold medalist. She is an Afro Latina and an outspoken advocate fo…
Aug 26th, 2020 |
20:26
Lea Davison (USA): Mountain Biking & Queer Visibility
Lea Davison is a 2X Olympic Mountain Biker and 2016 World Championship silver medalist looking to qualify for her 3rd Olympics. Lea is unabashedly her…
Aug 24th, 2020 |
23:18
Manasi Joshi (India): Badminton & Disability Policy
Manasi Joshi is India's current Para-badminton World Champion and BBC India's Sportswoman of the year. One day on her way to work, a truck ran into M…
Aug 17th, 2020 |
23:18
Sanda Aldass (IOC Refugee Team): Judo & the Refugee Experience
Sanda is a Syrian refugee, living in the Netherlands with her husband (who is also her coach) and their three children. She’s a current International…
Aug 8th, 2020 |
03:56
Trailer: Unlit. Tokyo's Torch
Flame Bearers actively celebrates the current generation of women Olympians and Paralympians seeking to go to Tokyo. We have real conversations about…
Aug 8th, 2020 |
34:01
Becky Sauerbrunn (USA): Soccer & Equal Pay
Becky is on the US Women's National Soccer Team and has been the rock of the back line for the last 8 years. She's an Olympic gold medalist and has pl…