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 Games and then testing positive for COVID-19 the week of her departure for Tokyo...In Kenza's full episode, she discusses her bounce back after missing the Olympics, and her commitment to the Arab Women's Movement. Tune in next week for her full story.

Kenza's full episode launches 2/15.

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 with Manasi since our last conversation in the fall of 2020. We discuss her rise to world #1 in both parabadminton singles and mixed doubles and her hopes for the Paris 2024 Paralympics. She also discusses receiving India's Arjuna Award from the President of India (one of the highest sporting honors in India celebrating 'outstanding performance in sports and games'.) That said, when asked what she's most proud of, Manasi' said it's her approach and mentality: "I think to be able to navigate the situations that I've been through, post injury, post picking up a sport. And I'm proud of speaking up for my own rights and the rights of people who are just like me... Right now I'm proud of taking a huge leap of faith without thinking what I'll get in return. I left my job when my sport was not even in the Paralympics. I just wanted to play and push myself."

Contributing experts include Kunjan Joshi (Manasi's brother), and Rajendra Kumar (Manasi's Coach).

Media clips from the following sources were used:

-Pavel Dobynin's YouTube Channel, '07 05 WS SL3 Group B Manasi Girishchandra Joshi VS Oksana Kozyna 2'

-Ability Foundation's YouTube Channel, 'Manasi Joshi - Recipient of CKAA 2022'

-Republic World's YouTube Channel, 'Manasi Joshi & Pullela Gopichand Speak After Her BWF Para Badminton World Championship Gold'

-Para Sport's YouTube Channel, '#MondayMotivation with Manasi Joshi'

-limp_noddle YouTube Channel, 'Badminton practice background noise'

-Sound Effects YouTube Channel, 'Ambulance Siren Sound'

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 we spotlighted in Season 1. If you would like to hear Manasi's backstory, go back and give her original episode a listen.

Manasi's full episode launches 2/2.

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 snowboarding at age 11 when the sport didn't really exist in China, so she didn't have people on the mountain she could copy or learn from...she spent her first day falling down the mountain: "It was the kind of day I'll never forget" she says.

Flash forward to today, and this 6x World Cup Champion and Olympic silver medalist, is the face of snowboarding in China. She's an Olympic veteran, having competed in four separate Games (2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022), and was the first woman to win an Olympic medal in snowboarding in the history of China (Silver, PyeongChang, 2018). That said, what's most important to Birdie, is having fun and using the sport to grow.

In today's episode, Birdie shares about her greatest role model, her grandma, and her prioritization of happiness. "Love yourself. No one else is you, so you have to be the one to have the confidence to be happy with who you are."

Production Team's Favorite Quote: "Everybody is the same. Nobody is higher or lower. You just do you." This was our team's favorite quote because it encapsulates Liu's deep humility, which can sometimes evaporate with success. Not for her.

Contributing Guest: Susan Brownell (Professor, Anthropology, University of Missouri-St. Louis, China specialist).

Media clips from the following sources:

- FIS Snowboarding YouTube Page 'Liu Jiayu | "I'm happy to win in China" | Women's Halfpipe | Secret Garden | FIS Snowboard'

- Sportsnetwork YouTube Page 'Snowboarder Liu Jiayu wraps up from Universal Sports'

- CGTV's "Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics: Chinese Olympian Liu Jiayu shares thoughts on snowboard training and upcoming Winter Games," 11.28.21, https://news.cgtn.com/news/2021-11-28/VHJhbnNjcmlwdDYwNzEw/index.html

- "China's 'Birdie' Liu Jiayu: Facing her fears and ready to rock," Ken Browne, 1.26.22, https://olympics.com/en/news/liu-jiayu-snowboard-china-olympics

- Cyrus Janssen's YouTube Page 'How Will China Perform at Winter Olympics? Liu Jiayu Could Win Snowboarding Gold'

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 for who is next in the off weeks.

Next week we spotlight Chinese snowboarding phenom, Liu Jiayu. Here's just a bit of what you can expect.

Tune in next Wednesday, January 18th for her full story!

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 now shares her more including how she went from not knowing how to swim to Paralympian in 7 years. "In 2015 when I started swimming, there was no national para team...so I was responsible for 100% of the resources to compete and train. I had to work 9 hours per day, and after that go and train." She also opens up for first the first time about her traumatic experiences with her former coach, and what she's been doing since Tokyo.

We hear from two of Alejandra's best friends, one who was in Alejandra's swimming rehabilitation program 7 years ago (Bethania Diaz) and one who befriended Alejandra after reading her inspiring story in a book (Josephina Dieguez). They share who Alejandra is when the cameras aren't there, and a bit about what her journey means to them and other Dominicans.

Contributing Experts include Bethania Diaz (Alejandra's Friend) and Josephina Dieguez (Alejandra's Friend). Thank you to teammates Marissa Potter and Elizabeth Michael for their help with this episode.

Media clips from:

-Esta Noche Mariasela's YouTube, 'Alejandra Aybar, ingeniera y nadadora paralímpica: nos habla de su condición y sus logros en la vida'

-Telemicro's YouTube, 'Alejandra Aybar, Futura medalla de Oro Juegos Paralímpicos 2021 - Zona 5'

Photo credit to Ricardo Piantini Hazoury

APPLY TO THE FLAME BEARERS FELLOWSHIP below by midnight ET on 1/16.

Application here: https://bit.ly/FlameBearersFellowship

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, 1/4. That said, here’s a bit of what you can expect.

Tune in next week for her full story!

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, and track and field runner but that’s not all, she’s also a biomechanist, chiropractor and founder. According to Dr. Adigun, "You have to pave the way so that others can follow." She's deeply dedicated to making sure that while she was the first, she's not the last. In today's episode, we discuss her commitment to diversity and equity within the Olympic movement.

Contributing guests (in order of appearance) include Dr. Ketra Armstrong (Professor of Sport Management, Director of the Center for Race and Ethnicity and Sport, School of Kinesiology, University of Michigan), Carlos Mader (Ghanian Olympic Skier), and Chichi Nwaorie (Dr. Seun's friend and colleague).

Media clips from the following sources:

-Accelerate TV's YouTube, 'Accelerate News - Meet Seun Adigun, The Founder Of The Nigerian Bobsled Team'

-TODAY'S YouTube, 'Nigerian Bobsled Team To Make Olympic History In Pyeongchang | Sunday TODAY'

VOTE TO SUPPORT FLAME BEARERS:

As mentioned in the episode, we are finalists in the Signal Awards in two separate categories: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for our spotlight on Deja Young, and Public Service and Activism for our spotlight on Ukranian athletes. Please cast your vote to support both of our episodes here (you can vote once in each category): https://bit.ly/FlameBearersSignal

APPLY TO THE FLAME BEARERS FELLOWSHIP

Application here: bit.ly/FlameBearersFellowship

This Fellowship will arm the next generation of women leaders with digital storytelling skills. Fellows will learn how to tell compelling stories via various digital mediums, become ambassadors for the Flame Bearers brand, and network with others passionate about elevating women's voices.

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 discussed. In Season 1, Deja focused on her ongoing battles with mental health and her attempted suicide. In this new episode, we discuss Deja’s life two years later. She opens up about the huge relief she felt after the Tokyo Paralympics, the birth of her baby girl, Saia Rae, and postpartum depression.

Deja is a 3x Paralympic medalist and an outspoken advocate for mental health. She's committed to sharing her experiences so other know they're not alone and can seek help. In this episode we hear from Aja Clarke (Doula & Associate, National Birth Equity Collaborative), Dr. Mickey Sperlich (Trauma Researcher & Assistant Professor, University at Buffalo), Dr. Katayune Kaeni (Psychologist specializing in Perinatal Mental Health & Current Board Chair, Postpartum Support International), and Saia Rae (Deja's daughter).

Production Team's Favorite Quote: Deja always keeps it extremely real, whether she's posting on social media or deeply engaged in conversation. When sharing her fear of having a c-section, Deja mentions her fear of mortality at the hands of racism. "The mortality rate for black women in pregnancy in the United States is really high. It's extremely high. So when I heard about c-sections and did my reading on like giving birth, I was terrified because I know a lot of providers don't listen to black women...I ended up having a C-section..It was one of the scariest moments." This was our favorite quote because it was a reality check.

RESOURCES FOR POSTPARTUM SUPPORT

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Dr. Kat Kaeni kindly recommended the following resources:

- Postpartum Support International (www.postpartum.net) with countless resources including helplines, experts and mentorship opportunities, and educational materials)

- Mom & Mind Podcast (www.momandmind.com)

Media clips from the following sources were used in this episode (in order of appearance):

- Team USA's YouTube Page: 'Deja Young | Women's 200m T47 Heat 2 | 2016 Paralympic Games'

- GoShocker's YouTube Page: 'Deja Young Returns to Wichita State with Two Gold Medals'

- Good Morning America's YouTube Page: 'Serena Williams opens up about medical scare after giving birth to baby girl'

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 next Wednesday, 11/30. That said, here’s a bit of what you can expect.

Tune in next week for her full story!