Flame Bearers

By Founded by Jamie MittelmanSports

Flame Bearers episodes

July 07, 2021 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 years later, Danusia's dream is coming true: she'll be Jamaica's second-ever Olympic gymnast.
In this episode, we begin by talking about how Danusia got into gymnastics, talk about what it means to represent Jamaica, and transition to discuss the power of positive manifestation. Danusia has missed the last two Olympics by literally one spot each, so she knows a thing or two about resilience, and she wants to pass it on.
Contributing experts include: Wanda Tebby (Danusia's Mother), Ms. Val (Danusia's Gymnastics Coach, UCLA), and Devon Harris (Founding Member, Jamaican Bobsled Team).
26 min
June 23, 2021 I Choose Life: Deja Young (USA)
Being a "non traditional athlete" with brachial plexus has never held Deja back. Even though her condition was caused by medical malpractice during her birth, this 2x Paralympic gold medalist (100m & 200m) says she wouldn't change a thing if she could: she's where she is today because of what she's been through.
In this episode, we talk about what it was like growing up with brachial plexus (also called shoulder dystocia), explore how she got into running, and turn to Deja’s ongoing battles with mental health, including her attempted suicide. We end with Deja’s choice to be an outspoken advocate for mental health issues and her offer to be there for others so they never feel alone.
Thank you to Deja for her incredible honesty and leadership in mental health and suicide prevention.
NOTE: This episode contains themes that some people may find upsetting, including descriptions of depression and suicide.
Contributing experts include Delora Young (Deja's Mom) and Professor Rosemary Purcell (Head of Elite Sports and Mental Health, University of Melbourne).
Audio from YouTube, 'Athletics | Women's 100m - T47 Final | Rio 2016 Paralympic Games'; PBS's 'The Americans with Disabilities Act at 30 years: What comes next?'
SUPPORT RESOURCES:
In Deja's episode we promised to share support resources. Please note this list is not comprehensive, and nor does sharing links equate to endorsements; rather this is our attempt to amplify the important work being done and to help provide listeners with resources so they know they are not alone.
-Find your local helpline across international lines: https://findahelpline.com/i/iasp
-Learn about Athletes for Hope and how athletes everywhere experience mental illness. Also watch Victoria Garrick of USC share her personal story in this TEDxUSC talk called Athletes and Mental Health: The Hidden Opponent: https://bit.ly/AthletesForHope
-Learn about National Institute for Mental Health's helplines and finding the right provider for you: https://bit.ly/NIMHDeja
-Call 800-273-8255 24/7 to speak with someone via the National Suicide Prevention Hotline. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/NSPLDeja
-Text "NAMI" to 741741 for 24/7, confidential, free crisis counseling via the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/NAMIDeja
29 min
June 09, 2021 Find Your Courage to Lead: Ray Bassil (LBN)
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 Olympic Trapshooter, a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador, Ammunition Line entrepreneur, Academy founder, and servant leader for her country of Lebanon. She's definitely someone to keep in your crosshairs!
In this episode, we speak with 6x World Champion medalist in trap shooting, Ray Bassil, who has broken nearly every possible barrier in her home country of Lebanon. We discuss the challenges she faces living in Lebanon during a global pandemic and the recent explosion in Beirut. Lastly, we explore Ray’s leadership for her country and the United Nations Development Program for youth and gender equality.
Contributing experts include Gracia Makhlouf (Ray's Mental Coach); Professor Ella Bell (Professor, Tuck School of Business); and Professor Carmen Geha (Activist and Associate Professor, Public Administration, American University of Beirut).
Audio clips from Trap Women Final - 2016 ISSF World Cup in all events in Rio de Janeiro (BRA); Alarabiya News' 'Lebanese women trapshooting champion speaks about her achievements'; and Baschieri & Pellagri: interview with Ray Bassil.
23 min
May 26, 2021 The Barbell Queen: Sarah Davies (GB)
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 event, snatch or clean and jerk. She's also an international beauty pageant queen. Sarah’s journey is about defying convention, whether it’s in beauty pageantry or weightlifting: she goes for what she wants, and takes action for what she believes is right, even when she has to go against the grain. Across the worlds of sport and pageantry, Sarah is breaking unspoken rules of convention.
In this episode, we talk about what it’s like being a female olympic weightlifter AND beauty pageant queen while taking on corrupt leadership inside the international Weightlifting Federation, the governing body for international weightlifting. We start with how she got into weightlifting, discuss how her love for weightlifting and pageantry connect, and then dive into her efforts to clean up the IWF as chair of the athlete’s commission.
Contributing experts include Stephanie Best (Sarah's best friend), Holly Pirrie (Sarah's Former Pageant Director, Pageant Girl), Phil Andrews (CEO, USA Weightlifting), Dick Pound (Senior Active Member, International Olympic Committee), and Spencer Harris (Associate Professor of Sport Management, College of Business, University of Colorado in Colorado Springs).
29 min
May 12, 2021 Inaction Is Action: Carlotta Nwajide (DEU)
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 action in and of itself, whether it comes to racism or environmentalism.
Carlotta grew up competing as the only black rower in her community and knows what it's like to be known for her skin color before people see her character. She fell in love with our planet during the many hours she's rowed outdoors and has taken it upon herself to minimize the environmental impact of the entire Germany Rowing Team. Now at age 25 and on her way to Tokyo, she's using her platform to create positive social change for antiracism and environmentalism.
In this episode, German Olympic Rower Carlotta discusses the implications of race and what it means to be a black female rower in a predominantly white sport. She also talks about how rowing in the outdoors birthed a passion for environmentalism and how the German national rowing team is combating the climate crisis.
Experts interviewed include Sabine Grages-Nwajide (Carlotta's Mother); Kim Brennan (16X National Champion, 3x Olympic Medalist); and Arshay Cooper (Rower & Award-Winning Author, A Most Beautiful Thing).
Media clips from YouTube's 'Olympic rowing, explained', and Jamie Margolin's TEDxYouth@Columbia 'Patriarchy, racism, and colonialism caused the climate crisis'
25 min
April 28, 2021 Stone Sabre Squad: Eliza Stone (USA)
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 siblings Robert Junior and Gracie. Flash forward to today, she's currently ranked as the #6 fencer in the world.
In this episode, US sabre fencer, Eliza Stone, discusses how a small pizza shop changed the trajectory of her family’s life, and how her siblings fueled her to become one of the world's best fencers. Eliza also discusses why it’s so important for her to view fencing as something to be celebrated regardless of the outcomes and share what it’s like when things don’t go to plan.
Experts interviewed include Grace Stone (sister), Robert Stone (Father), and Dr. Robin Taylor (Senior Lecturer, Coaching and Performance, University of Central Lancashire)
Audio from: Budapest Worlds SWS 2019 - L16 - Stone USA v Zagunis USA (Commentary) YouTube Video and Cincinnati SWS 2018 - L8 - Eliza Stone v Tori Johnson YouTube Video
22 min
April 21, 2021 (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 mundo. Ella nació con la espina bifida. Tami fue la primera jugadora de tenis de mesa Chilena en ganar oro en los Juegos Parapanamericanos, y es la primera jugadora de tenis de mesa chilena en clasificar para los Juegos Paralímpicos de Tokio. En este episodio, Tamara habla sobre su experiencia de tener la espina bífida y sus sueños para el futuro.
Expertos incluidos: Paola Leonelli (la madre de Tami), Judy Thibadeau (Directora de Investigación y Servicios de la Asociación de Espina Bífida, y Ricardo Elizalde (el Presidente, Comité Paralímpico de Chile)
La traducción de Judy es de Julisa Salas. Gracias a Gonzalo Jara para su ayuda tambien.
Audio de: Team USA's Opening Ceremony, 2019 Parapan American Games YouTube page.
20 min
April 14, 2021 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 23 years old, the first Chilean table tennis player to win gold at the Parapan American Games, and on her way to Tokyo. Tamara's ability to reach and connect with a wide range of people is almost as impressive as her constantly changing colored hair (most recently red, and purple before), and she's leveraged those skills to become an outspoken advocate for members of the disabled community.
In this episode, Tamara discusses player discusses her experience with spina bifida and her dreams for the future.
Featured contributing experts in order of appearance include Paola Leonelli (mother), Judy Thibadeau (Director of Research and Services, Spina Bifida Association), and Ricardo Elizalde (President of the Chilean Paralympic Committee). English voice overs: Michele Mittelman, Melissa Mittelman and Kyle Harrold.
Audio clips from Team USA's Opening Ceremony, 2019 Parapan American Games YouTube page.
16 min
April 07, 2021 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 content, we sat down with an intimate group to discuss their resiliency during the Games' postponement and their wishes moving forward. Brought to you in partnership with the student-led Harvard Kennedy School’s Women in Power Conference, this discussion is kicked off by Flame Bearers producer, Sara Asad, and moderated by world-renowned sports journalist, Jane McManus. The conversation is with Haydy Morsy (Egypt, Modern Pentathlon), Katarina Roxon (Canada, Para-Swimming) Nicky Nieves (USA, Sitting Volleyball), and Sarah Davies (Great Britain, Weightlifting).
23 min
March 24, 2021 Dwarfism & Inspiring Social Change: Sophia Herzog (USA)
2016 Paralympic silver medalist, 2x World Champion, and 5x World medalist, Sophia Herzog is passionate about breaking stereotypes. She grew up in a small town of 450 people and was the first person with a disability to go to through her town's high school, so she's used to being the first.
In this episode, Sophia opens up about her experience underwater and under most people’s eyeline as well as using her platform as a professional athlete to inspire social change.
This episode was made possible by the Women's Sports Foundation.
Contributing experts include Nick Gibb (Sophia's partner) Alana Nichols (Former President, Women's Sports Foundation), and Mark Povinelli (President, Little People of America).
27 min

About Flame Bearers

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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…