Flame Bearers

By Founded by Jamie MittelmanSports

Flame Bearers episodes

March 10, 2021 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 first Egyptian woman to compete in two different Olympic sports: she will be competing in modern pentathlon, and she's additionally hoping to qualify in fencing.
In this episode, Haydy Morsy discusses trailblazing as a young woman athlete and aspiring sports journalist. We’ll begin by exploring how Haydy got into Modern pentathlon, learn about how her family has supported her, and then meet the mentor who helped pave the way for Haydy’s second career as a future sports journalist.
Experts interviewed include Ahmed Morsy (Haydy's brother), Kata Stevens (Journalist and Audio Producer) Inas Mazhar (Deputy Editor-in-Chief and Head of Sports Section, Al Ahram Weelky Newspaper & Professor of Sports Media, American University in Cairo), Moamen Gouda (Associate Professor, Middle East Economics, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies; Associate Lecturer, Hamburg University in the program of Law and Economics in the Middle East), and Salma El-Naqqash (Feminist Researcher & Program Analyst, UN Women's “Safe Cities and Safe Public Spaces for women and girls in Egypt”).
Audio from: UIPM Modern Pentathlon's July 16, 2019 Facebook post, Olympic Channel's "Sport guide: Modern Pentathlon Explained", and TIME's "The Uprising: Reflections on the Egyptian Revolution by Dominic Nahr."
27 min
February 17, 2021 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.
In this episode, Naya Tapper of the USA Women’s Rugby Team discusses finding rugby, self love and speaking out about racial justice. We’ll start by learning how Naya got into rugby, hear how it’s shaped her personal understanding of beauty, and end with why she believes athletes like herself have an opportunity and responsibility to advocate for the Black Lives Matter movement.
Experts interviewed include Noel Tapper (Naya's Sister), Professor Cornell Brooks (Director of the William Monroe Trotter Collaborative for Social Justice, Harvard Kennedy School), and Carlin Isles (Naya's Friend, USA Men's Rugby).
31 min
February 03, 2021 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 Tanya a teacher. Tanya also has ulcerative colitis.
In this episode, Maca and Tanya discuss the pressures of managing professional careers and health on top of being elite athletes.
Experts interviewed include Debbie Beths (Tanya's mother), Dr. Steven D. Pearson (President, Institute for Clinical and Economic Review), Dr. Leonora Risse (Applied Economist, RMIT University), Ebiye Jeremy Udo-Udoma (USA Men's Beach Handball Team), and Janet McAffe (Madeleine's mother).
Audio clips from YouTube's Beach Handball - China vs Australia, ANOC World Beach Games Qatar 2019, Anne-Marie Slaughter: Can we all "have it all"?, and Lean In: Women, Work and the Will to Lead.
28 min
January 13, 2021 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 with a silver and bronze medal in the 200m and 100m. She's seeking to compete on the Danish Para Track and Field Team in Tokyo.
When Kimberly was eight-years old she was in a bus crash that changed her life and how she approaches everything she does. This episode explores the world of running prosthetics, Kimberly's love of adventure, and her experiences of loss and grief.
NOTE: This episode contains themes that some people may find upsetting, including descriptions of depression and suicide.
Thank you to Producer Michelle Poulin for her terrific efforts spearing this episode!
Experts interviewed include Keith Antoine, Ken Endo, and Dr. Katherine Shear.
Audio clip from Women's 100m T64 Final | Dubai 2019 YouTube.
33 min
December 30, 2020 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, she decided to pick up a bow and arrow at the age of 21. Zahra’s physical disability allows her to qualify for the Paralympics, but she also was also the first to beat out many able-bodied athletes to additionally qualify for the Iranian Olympic team.
In this episode, Zahra shares what it’s like to compete in both the Olympics and Paralympics, and discusses what gives her hope.
Experts interviewed include Mr. Behzad Pakzad, Zahra’s coach, Ms. Maryam Shokouhil, Director International Affairs, Iranian Paralympic Committee, Nahid Siamdoust, Assistant Professor in Women's studies and Anthropology of Religion at the Harvard Divinity School, and Mark Gearan, Director, Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics.
18 min
December 02, 2020 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 she hasn't let that stand in the way of anything she sets her mind to, including becoming one of the world's fastest women.
As half-Jamaican, she identifies as bi-racial, but the world has rarely viewed her that way because she has albinism. In this episode we explore Kym's experience as a black woman with limited sight and albinism, and her marriage to fellow US Track & Field Paralympian, Erik Hightower. Serious power couple alert!
Experts interviewed include her Erik Hightower (Husband, Two time Paralympian), and Ero Ikponwosa (Independent Expert on the human rights of people with albinism, United Nations).
Audio clips from 'Challenged Athletes Live Q&A with Bob Babbitt: Episode Sixty Seven | Kym Crosby Hightower and Erik Hightower', The Orion's "Mini Profile | Blind Sprinter Kym Crosby", 7 New's coverage of SpotMyUV
21 min
November 12, 2020 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 chagrin of her boyfriend, Samir). Ida decided she was going to compete in the Olympics shortly after her first time rowing 12 years ago. Therefore, the current postponement of the Tokyo Games really made Ida question her identity and sources of motivation.
This episode explores how Ida has dealt with the postponement of the Olympic Games, and offers tips for all listeners on how we can more effectively adapt in this uncertain time.
Experts interviewed include Nancy Lieberman (1980 USA Basketball Olympic Team Member that did not compete because of USA boycott; Silver Medalist, 1976 Games), Samir (Ida's boyfriend), Mette (Ida's mother), Anne Larsen (Danish National Teammate), Emmy-Lou Nicolaï (Cheese expert), and Dr. Kimberlyn Leary (Lecturer in Public Policy, Harvard Kennedy School; Associate Professor of Psychology, Harvard Medical School; Associate Professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management, Harvard School of Public Health).
Audio clip from 'Olympics - 1980 Moscow - US Athletes In Crisis - Carter Boycotts imasportsphile.com'
28 min
October 21, 2020 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 years later, Roxon brought home her first medal, a gold in the 100-m breaststroke in Canadian record time during the 2016 Paralympics.
This episode dives into Katarina's family dynamic including her relationship with her father (who is also her coach), her decision to compete for Team Canada instead of Team India, and her commitment to living a balanced and healthy lifestyle.
Experts interviewed include Katarina's father and coach, Leonard Roxon, mother, Lisa Roxon, sister, Miranda Roxon, Canadian Paralympic Committee CEO, Karen O'Neill, and yoga instructor and activist, Seane Corn.
Audio clips from: 'How to Get the PERFECT BODY' YouTube video, Allure's 'Girls Ages 6-18 Talk About Body Image YouTube video, How Seane Corne Leads with Love YouTube video, and Yoga Journal's 'Behind the Scenes with Seane Corn'.
31 min
September 23, 2020 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 court, she's also jumped headfirst into the world of entrepreneurship; she's launched her own cosmetics company, Kalu Kosmetics, and an organization empowering young girls who want to play basketball, the Kalu Team Heat.
This episode explores Ezinne's entrepreneurial drive and commitment to uplift the Black community, as well as the connection between bias and entrepreneurship.
Experts interviewed include Ezinne's father, Mr. Kalu, teammate and coach, Ndidi Madu, Founder and CEO, wovoyage, Rashmi Chadha, and Harvard Business School Assistant Professor, Dr. Laura Huang.
Audio clip from Fiba's 'Kalu saves Nigeria in the last seconds! - 2016 FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament'
26 min
September 09, 2020 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 for the Black Lives Matter movement, spearheading conversations about race on her team and via social media.
This episode explores Nicky's experience playing volleyball without a hand, but focuses on her conscious decision to advocate for racial justice, providing listeners with suggestions for how they can help.
Experts interviewed include former teammate Kari (Miller) Ortiz, Amherst College Professor, Dr. Solsiree del Moral, and Black Voters Matter, Co-Founder, LaTosha Brown.
Audio clips from:
-https://time.com/5847967/george-floyd-protests-trump/
-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ue6CovRPa48
-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxhPcUzgeDw
26 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…