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PODCAST

Flame Bearers: Making It To Milan

Ashley Cain & Dani Aravich

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 countries.In a landscape where 85% of coverage is dedicated to men and the remaining 15% often highlights a narrow segment of women athletes, we broaden the lens to highlight diverse voices. Why? Because we’re here to inspire the next generation of athletes, centering their stories on their terms. Our mission is to

sports personal journals

All Episodes

23:23

Ukrainian Athletes: What the World Needs to Hear

Flame Bearers: Making It To Milan ·

2022/03/23

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 the connection between sports and politics, we speak with three elite Ukrainian athletes: Valentina Molchanets (Professional Triathlete and European Champion, Aquathlon, U23), Vita Oleksiuk (Paralympian, Currently #5 in World Paratriathlon ranking, 10th place Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games), and Olena Kryvystka (3X Olympian, 3x World

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15:31

Mihaela Hogas (Romania): Breaking Barriers Through...

Flame Bearers: Making It To Milan ·

2022/03/09

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 she was curious enough to give it a try herself: "In that moment, I decided my life. Here I am 13 years later, still doing it" despite the fact that Romania doesn't have any rinks for her to train on. Mihaela is now her country's fastest female speed skater. In this episode, Mihaela reveals how the life of a professional athlete

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19:34

Kendall Gretsch (USA): 2 Games in 2 Sports Within 6...

Flame Bearers: Making It To Milan ·

2022/03/02

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 than 6 months ago Kendall won gold in Paratriathlon, and she's now one of the Para Nordic favorites in Beijing. In this episode we talk about how Kendall got into para sports, what the postponement meant for her, and her goals for the future. Contributing experts include Emily Allison (Kendall's Roomate) and Patrick Criteser (CEO &

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20:38

Dr. Natalia Siuba-Jarosz (Poland): Being a Doctor &...

Flame Bearers: Making It To Milan ·

2022/02/16

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 grade school, and the nickname stuck. In this episode we hear how Natalia balances both the world's of elite snowboarding and being a doctor, as well as her thoughts on women in the sport. Hint: we need more women. "Now it's changing, but almost all of the coaches from other teams are men...It's hard to be a disabled woman in

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18:52

Valentina Margaglio (Italy): the Skeleton Lioness

Flame Bearers: Making It To Milan ·

2022/02/09

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 perfect mix" of cultures, crediting each of her parents and their respective origins with various parts of who she is today (her Dad is from Italy and her Mom is from the Ivory Coast). Valentina is the first Italian to ever win a Skeleton medal in the World Championships and she’s now poised to dominate the ice in Beijing. In this

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16:50

Aline Rocha (Brazil): Sport as Freedom & Women in...

Flame Bearers: Making It To Milan ·

2022/02/02

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 accident." According to Aline sport gave her wings, the ability to travel, and to meet people from all over the world. In this episode, we speak with Brazilian Paralympic cross-country skier, Aline Roche about her passion for sport, and what it’s like to be the only female para cross country skier from all of South America competing in

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21:08

Mialitiania Clerc (Madagascar): Being the First...

Flame Bearers: Making It To Milan ·

2022/01/26

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 adoptive parents, a big part of Mia's identity is as a Malagasy, and she wants to be living proof that a black African woman can reach the top in this sport. In this episode, Mia shares what it means to be the first and only Malagasy woman to compete in the Winter Olympics, as well as about her remarkable recovery from her broken tibia

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18:56

Mariama Jamanka (Germany): the Underdog Gold Medal...

Flame Bearers: Making It To Milan ·

2022/01/19

Reigning Olympic gold medalist, Mariama Jamanka never thought the words 'Olympic Champion' would apply to her, as a relative newcomer to bobsledding and as a member of the former 2nd German sled. In PyeongChang, Mariama and brakewoman, Lisa Buckwitz shattered all expectations, shocking the world by winning gold. In this episode, we speak with Mariama about her underdog gold medal and what it’s like being a woman of color bobsledder. Going into the 2018 Games she kept thinking,

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23:56

Bradie Tennell (USA): Figure Skating & Making the...

Flame Bearers: Making It To Milan ·

2022/01/12

US Olympic bronze medalist and 2X National Champion figure skater, Bradie Tennell has already made a career out of breaking records…and unfortunately her feet. As of Dec. 31 2021, (just after this interview was recorded), Bradie made the tough decision to withdraw from figure skating Nationals due to her chronic foot injury. Though Bradie’s path to the Beijing Olympics ends here, her journey is well worth celebrating as a fantastic example of her prioritizing herself and her love

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26:35

Акжана Абдикаримова (ROC): The Invisibility of...

Flame Bearers: Making It To Milan ·

2022/01/05

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 means to represent the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) and sheds light on the invisibility of disability in Russia, how it has evolved, and how it hasn’t over the past 30 years. Akzhana grew up with spina bifida and is constantly looking for ways to inspire local youth with disabilities; that's why she started several Instagram

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33:38

Caster Semenya (South Africa): Who Decides Who's...

Flame Bearers: Making It To Milan ·

2021/11/19

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 medalist and 3x World Champion runner, Caster Semenya was barred from competing in her events because of her higher than 'normal' testosterone levels. Caster was legally blocked by the International Association of Athletics Federations (now World Athletics) from competing unless she changed her natural body via hormone shots, surgery,

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11:34

Kamila Dosmalova (Kazakhstan): Being the Only Woman...

Flame Bearers: Making It To Milan ·

2021/09/01

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's Parataekwondo Paralympic team. In this episode, we speak with Kamila and her coach, Sultan, with the help of her friend and colleague, Meyept, Manager, National Paralympic Committee of Kazakhstan who translated our conversation live from Russian. In this conversation we discuss what it's meant for Kamila to be the only woman

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27:09

Jessica Long (USA): Perfection, Faith & Paraswimming

Flame Bearers: Making It To Milan ·

2021/08/18

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 fifth Paralympics, Jessica shares that while her gold medals are "super cool", for her, it's "really about the journey." In this episode, this naturalized American swimmer from Russia shares what it's like to grow up adopted, without legs, and born on a leap year, and how she strived to find perfection as a means to fill what she

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17:33

Ni Nengah Widiasih (Indonesia): Para Powerlifting &...

Flame Bearers: Making It To Milan ·

2021/08/04

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 powerlifting medalist. Ni Negah is a firm believer that 'You were born to stand out, to be appreciated and loved for who you are.' According to her, her journey to Tokyo is thanks to the unwavering support of her family and friends. Despite her unique set of challenges, Ni Negah is determined to go for the gold while rolling with the

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26:26

Jacqueline Simoneau (Canada): Artistic Swimming,...

Flame Bearers: Making It To Milan ·

2021/07/21

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 Jacqueline and in the pool, she goes by Jackie. We hear how her journey to the Olympic pool has been “synchronized” with hard work, a touch of glamour and the loving support of family and friends. We explore how the sport of artistic swimming evolved from the days of vaudeville as well as how gender plays a role in unexpected

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25:25

Danusia Francis (Jamaica): Gymnastics & Positive...

Flame Bearers: Making It To Milan ·

2021/07/07

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

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28:14

Deja Young (USA): Mental Health & Choosing Life

Flame Bearers: Making It To Milan ·

2021/06/23

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

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22:33

Ray Bassil (Lebanon): Finding Your Courage to Lead

Flame Bearers: Making It To Milan ·

2021/06/09

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

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28:09

Sarah Davies (Great Britain): The Barbell Queen...

Flame Bearers: Making It To Milan ·

2021/05/26

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

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24:04

Carlotta Nwajide (Germany): Rowing & Activism

Flame Bearers: Making It To Milan ·

2021/05/12

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

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160 results

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