Flame Bearers

By Founded by Jamie MittelmanSports

Flame Bearers episodes

August 15, 2023 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 to the nearby hamburger establishment and chow down on free french fries. And while the teams have changed over the years, Lori’s love for the game has only kept growing. Flash forward to 1985, and Lori had "no clue what to expect" when it came to the national team. According to her she was "so happy, surprised and excited to be a part of it." Funnily enough, it wasn’t until after the game started and others started “recognizing us that I was like, wow, this is pretty amazing.”
As the youngest of 8 kids, Lori shares that "family is big for me," so she raised her family with her soccer-loving husband, with a ball at their feet. According to daughter, Megan, “soccer is in our DNA” as Mom and Dad built a soccer field in the backyard and Sundays “we don't go to church, we wake up and watch the EPL.”
When we asked Lori about her hopes for the future of women's soccer, she replied, for girls "to play with no restrictions, financial or social stigmas. If she has it in her heart and she has the inner drive and desire, that she should be able to play wherever and however works for her."
16 min
August 14, 2023 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 sister, Aimee describes Emily's "quiet strength" and "natural leadership" at a young age.
Coach Mike Ryan called Emily a "maverick" because she tucked in her shirt sleeves, and wore her soccer socks down. "Mike was considering not taking us because he considered us mavericks" she shares, speaking of herself and co-host Michelle Akers for the 1985 Cupa Mundialito. In the end, it's a good thing that Coach Ryan did, as Emily scored and assisted the first two goals for the team.
When Emily talks about her career, she says, "we just wanted to play and I was pretty darn focused." Flash forward to today and shares how the winning culture and record has helped the USWNT be able to successfully push for wins off the field: "Winning begets winning."
In this episode, Emily plugs Marshall Harner's (her son) musical talent. Check out his work on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/37x37LhcgsJOagPnHZjhyZ?si=2mPFUjAWTEaX0qkROwSohQ
Contributing experts include Coach Anson Dorrance, Lisa Gmitter-Pittaro (Emily's friend and teammate,), Steve Harner (Emily's Husband), Aimee Gazelle (Emily's sister) and Avery Harner (Emily's daughter)
Media used in this production:
-38 years after making history, first USWNT to be honored at Asheville City regular season finale, Chris Womack, June 29th 2023,
-The Forgotten Early History of Women’s Soccer, Laurent Dubois, January 22, 2016
-ESPN YouTube Channel, 'USWNT win the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage | 2023 ESPYS (📍 @CapitalOne)'
25 min
August 10, 2023 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 All Star team as a 10 year old, and she didn't stop there... She shares about her time at Cal (currently tied with Alex Morgan at #3 for most goals scored), moving abroad to Germany and getting a job at a shoe heeling company, and the realities of pro life: "numbers were spray painted on the hotel doors." But according to Tucka, they "loved it all."
And Tucka's trailblazing didn't stop there. She went on to be employee #81 at Google, becoming one of the first ad salespeople and subsequently a key member of the YouTube and Google Fiber teams.
Contributing expert, Jair Fory, Tucka's coach is interviewed in this episode.
Media used in this production:
-38 years after making history, first USWNT to be honored at Asheville City regular season finale, Chris Womack, June 29th 2023,
-The Forgotten Early History of Women’s Soccer, Laurent Dubois, January 22, 2016
-ESPN YouTube Channel, 'USWNT win the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage | 2023 ESPYS (📍 @CapitalOne)'
19 min
August 09, 2023 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 life. She describes making the first team, being the last name called and not hearing it, but having her teammates jump on her in a pig pile. Even the way Lori introduced herself to us was full of humility, "Lori Henry, defender on the '85 original team and made it to the World Cup in '91. Oh, and the captain." Getting there was quite the run as well.
Hilariously enough, after decades of facing off against each other growing up, when Lori and Michelle Akers both made the first USWNT in 1985, co-host Akers says she was so relieved to finally being on the same team after growing up having to face off against Lori: "I got so tired of you killing us every time. I never won a high school game against her." The feeling was mutual with Lori responding, "My reaction was 'Thank god' as she had been beating the shit out of me on all these other teams. I was so happy when we had games as the USA because I got to watch her beat the shit out of other people besides me."
After soccer, Lori became a coach and then inspired by her own high school P.E. teacher, became a P.E. teacher herself. And so many of her colleagues wanted to talk to us, so we obviously included them all. They describe Lori as a "confidant", "work wife" and the "humblest person I've ever known."
Contributing experts include Lori's school colleagues, Nancy, Bill and Mindy.
Media used in this production:
-38 years after making history, first USWNT to be honored at Asheville City regular season finale, Chris Womack, June 29th 2023,
-The Forgotten Early History of Women’s Soccer, Laurent Dubois, January 22, 2016
-ESPN YouTube Channel, 'USWNT win the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage | 2023 ESPYS (📍 @CapitalOne)'
20 min
August 08, 2023 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, even at an early age, Linda "never took any guff from anyone" and would slide tackle the biggest male forwards.
Flash forward to University of Central Florida (UCF) and Linda was a veteran on the team when Michelle Akers joined -- ironically, the entire time, Michelle thought she was going to get cut. Linda shares that the team had an attitude of "do something or get out of here. Basically, you got to pull your own weight." And that she did, and more...
In this episode Linda shares about her time on the USWNT, and we hear from one of her students, Kayla, as Linda became a Happiness Studies teacher and educator as well as Founder, How Low Can You Go Challenge (initiative empowering youth to reduce their school's carbon footprint through reduced energy, water & food waste).
When asked what she wants to say to her teammates, Linda gushes, "I am so proud of us and of every single team from then on...whether we won or we didn't...it's just that the tradition of the United States Women's National Team is absolutely incredible."
Contributing experts including Linda's brother, Nick, as well as student and mentee Kayla.
Media used in this production:
-38 years after making history, first USWNT to be honored at Asheville City regular season finale, Chris Womack, June 29th 2023,
-The Forgotten Early History of Women’s Soccer, Laurent Dubois, January 22, 2016
-ESPN YouTube Channel, 'USWNT win the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage | 2023 ESPYS (📍 @CapitalOne)'
18 min
August 07, 2023 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 Tar Heel to earn a cap for the USWNT, but Stacey was used to being the first, or the only one doing something. "I had to play with the boys. I couldn't be afraid. When you got knocked down, I had to pick myself back up," she says.
Stacey was the '85er responsible for the recent reunion of the 1985 team, the first reunion since the team played together 38 years ago. As Stacey shares, she wanted to honor her teammates who until this point have largely been unrecognized. No more. As Stacey shares, "the history of US Women's Soccer started with us."
And Stacey's fearless trailblazing didn't stop there even though she admits that after college she "felt a little lost" as "there wasn't really a pathway" to get back onto the national team after graduation. So, she became a coach (an infamous one beloved by all), a real estate agent, and most recently partial owner and coach of Asheville City Soccer Club. According to Stacey, she wants her players to be "treated with equity and fairness...put out a quality product in and give these players a chance to succeed." She concludes, that she wants them "to know what respect looks like" even if she didn't have it herself.
This episode is cohosted with Michelle Akers.
Contributing experts include Stacey's wife, Annie, and son, Gabrielle.
Thank you to Stacey and the Asheville City Soccer Club for all of their incredible support in Asheville and since!
Media used in this production:
-38 years after making history, first USWNT to be honored at Asheville City regular season finale, Chris Womack, June 29th 2023,
-The Forgotten Early History of Women’s Soccer, Laurent Dubois, January 22, 2016
-ESPN YouTube Channel, 'USWNT win the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage | 2023 ESPYS (📍 @CapitalOne)'
18 min
August 04, 2023 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 Steven (who she calls the Harker 'golden boy') who would put peanut butter on her face and hold her down while their dog licked it off. She was a tough cookie who once allowed to play sports, whole heartedly threw herself into them all. She started in goal because she started playing at 14, and "didn't have any foot skills" and the rest is history.
Flash forward to today, and things are a bit different. Ruth talks about retiring from soccer because of the need to get paid, the power of pressure, and her hopes for women's soccer moving forward.
This episode is cohosted with Michelle Akers.
Contributing experts include Ruth's brother, Steven, son, Max, and mentee, Preson.
Media used in this production:
-38 years after making history, first USWNT to be honored at Asheville City regular season finale, Chris Womack, June 29th 2023,
-The Forgotten Early History of Women’s Soccer, Laurent Dubois, January 22, 2016
-ESPN YouTube Channel, 'USWNT win the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage | 2023 ESPYS (📍 @CapitalOne)'
24 min
June 21, 2023 Defying The Downhill: Sofia Goggia (ITA)
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 forecasted her future: she wanted to be a famous ski racer who would win World Cups. Flash forward to today, and she's crowned the 'queen of speed' with 3x World Cup Downhill title wins and 2x Olympic medals including the first for Italy in her discipline (downhill). That said, Sofia wants her episode to focus on her comebacks, and how she's responded to countless injuries including what she describes as the most challenging time of her life: the 23 days between her debilitating crash in Cortina and taking home silver in Beijing 2022. You read that right... She could barely walk, yet she won silver in the Olympic downhill, the fastest event on skis.
When asked about what moment (skiing or not) she's most proud of, she cites two moments: her Olympic gold, and her continuous growth; "The thing that makes me most proud of myself is when I see that I'm becoming a better person." Her goal is to leave a mark on everything she does and everyone with whom she interacts. "I want to make a difference, and it's not only skiing but everything I do. It is good to leave a piece of you in everyone you meet." She cites her incredible support team including her sponsor, Red Bull, as well as friend and mentor, Lindsey Vonn (see quote in podcast graphic) for helping her get to where she is today.
As Sofia looks to the future, she's eager to rewrite history in the Cortina 2026 Games.
Contributing Expert: Pete Sharland (Digital Editor, Eurosport)
Thank you to Dino Cattaneo for making this episode possible.
Media clips from the following sources were used:
-'Happy Sofia Goggia makes successful comeback in downhill practice: "I was not afraid at all"', Alessandro Poggi, February 12, 2022, Olympics.com
-Goggia wins historic Women's Downhill Gold for Italy | Alpine Skiing, Olympics.com
-NBC Sports' YouTube Channel, 'Goggia crashes to end streak, Gut-Behrami takes title in Zauchensee', January 15, 2022.
- @NBCOlympics Tweet, February 17, 2022.
- NBC Sports' YouTube Channel, 'Sofia Goggia completes Lake Louise World Cup sweep with super-G win,' December 5, 2021.
- NBC Sports' YouTube Channel, 'Goggia wins World Cup downhill; Johnson second | NBC Sports, December 20, 2021.
- FIS Alpine's YouTube Channel, '🏆 Sofia GOGGIA | DH World Cup Champion | "This means a lot to me" | FIS Alpine,' March 4, 2023.
- Olympics' YouTube Channel, 'Sofia Goggia's Alpine Skiing Highlights | PyeongChang 2018', March 8, 2018.
- The New York Time's YouTube Channel, 'The Sounds of the Downhill', February 15, 2015.
- NBC Sports' YouTube Channel, 'Goggia crashes to end streak, Gut-Behrami takes title in Zauchensee,' January 15, 2022.
31 min
June 08, 2023 Being Disabled Doesn't Disqualify: Yip Pin Xiu (SGP)
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 five, getting in the with her brothers. Swimming started as a family activity.
Fast forward to 2008, and Pin Xiu became Singapore's first ever Paralympic gold medalist. She now has 5 Paralympic golds and 5 World Championships. She was the first para athlete inducted into Singapore’s Sports Hall of Fame (2015) and a proud inductee of the Women’s Hall of Fame (2014).
And while Pin Xiu changed the face of sport in Singapore, her impact hasn't been limited to the pool. Yes, Pin Xiu has all of the honors and titles one can dream of, but she talks more of her commitment to inclusion for all than the medals around her neck. Having grown up in a time when there wasn't a lot of representation for people with disabilities, Pin Xiu is determined to be a voice people hear and a body people see. According to Pin Xiu, "being disabled does not mean unable. Being disabled does not disqualify me" and she hopes to be a voice not for" just the disabled community, but also the sporting community, women, everyone."
Contributing expert: Theresa Goh (Singaporean Paralympic Swimmer and Pin Xiu's Teammate)
Media Clips from the Following Sources Were Used In Order of Use:
-Paralympic Games' YouTube Page, 'A second Gold Medal for Pin Xiu Yip! 🥇 | Women's 50m Backstroke - S2 Final | Swimming | Tokyo 2020'
-Entertainment - Mediacorp YouTube Page, 'R U OK? S2 EP 7 Yip Pin Xiu Growing Up Disabled, Staring at Gawkers and Embracing her Noisy Self'
-CNA YouTube Page, 'Yip Pin Xiu receives President's Award for Inspiring Achievement'
-CMT Research Foundation, The 2021 CMT Global Research Convention, 'What is Happening to My Body' by Dr. Keith Fargo
23 min
May 24, 2023 Soccer & SNACKS: Sam Mewis & Lynn Williams (USA)
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 "huge family of non-farmers" in Clovis, California. Flash forward and the two are inseparable. According to Sam & Lynn, they're in a "very serious platonic friendship." As former roomies who dominated the field together, gone through injuries and covid together, and yes, even podcasted together, they've seen each other through it all. As huge fans and supporters of their podcast, SNACKS, we thought it would be fun to have the duo onto Flame Bearers together. So this episode is a bit different than our normal ones, but we're going with it!
This week, soccer superstars Sam & Lynn talk about their upbringings, time in and after Tokyo and getting in front of the mic.
Media clips from the following sources were used in this podcast:
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMSR7ZmoQDQ
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6L38gSYbVs
- https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/trailer/id1563105123?i=1000517171294
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJClOqKTrIQ
- CNN Sports, Women’s World Cup: The match that changed women’s football, https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/31/football/usa-1999-womens-world-cup-victory-brandi-chastain-mia-hamm-wwc-spt-intl/index.html
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0olbpl6490
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2L-8-rUM7s
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6NpXLHdwcI
- CBC Sports, American women players settle equal-pay lawsuit vs. U.S. Soccer for $24M, https://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/soccer-american-women-equal-pay-1.6359918
35 min

About Flame Bearers

From the publisher's feed

Flame Bearers is a women's sports storytelling studio. We tell stories via video production, podcasts, and live events and have supported just shy of 400 world-class athletes from 52…