Belicia Tang - Podcast Details

Shows

Athlete VoicesEp. 60: From New Zealand to the World Stage: Sarah Nolan's Dance OdysseyBorn and raised in New Zealand, Sarah Nolan competed on the small but competitive Ballroom and Latin scene throughout New Zealand and Australia. After receiving many national titles throughout all age divisions, she also made appearances on morning children’s shows and the 2nd season of New Zealand’s Got Talent. Sarah then moved to London at age 19 to continue to work with the top dance teachers in the world, and after two years she moved to the United States. She met her professional dance partner, Nikolai Tarasov, at Blackpool Dance Festival, and they now both call Los Ang...2024-11-291h 30

Athlete VoicesEp. 59: Behind the Spins: Opal Kale's career as a pole dancer and instructorOpal Kale is a pole dancer and spin pole enthusiast who draws inspiration from ethereal music and fluid movement. Her pole journey began over a decade ago when she stumbled into a pole studio in Berkeley with zero experience in movement and never looked back. She believes pole dance can be an incredible outlet for creativity, combining flexibility, strength, dance, and artistic expression. In addition to that, she's been crosstraining in contortion and hand balancing for over 5 years, with the goal of becoming a more well-rounded athlete. Opal is also certified by the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM...2024-10-261h 13

Athlete VoicesEp. 55: Israeli dancer Yarden Sharon makes her choreographic debutYarden Sharon is an Israeli dancer and choreographer currently based in New York. Her dance journey began with a strong love of Irish dance, and she spent 8 years working as an ensemble member and as the lead female dancer in a professional Irish Dance company, while simultaneously diving into the worlds of contemporary, popping, hip hop, musical theater, jazz, ballet and more. Yarden has choreographed and self-produced multiple dance film projects, set work for competitions, and showcased several solo performances as part of Untamed Dance Crew. She completed Broadway Dance Center’s Professional Semester in 2023. Since then, Yar...2024-09-1152 min

Athlete VoicesEp. 54: Ann Warque hails from the Bay Area to chase her Broadway dreamsHailing from the SF Bay Area, Ann is an actor, singer, and dancer with a specialty in musical theatre. From the age of 7, she’s trained in a variety of dance styles including (but not limited to): jazz, ballet, contemporary, hip hop, and tap. She’s also trained in musical theatre, classic, and contemporary vocal styles. Select musical theatre credits include: Vanessa in In the Heights, Lori (Larry) in A Chorus Line, and Fritzie in Cabaret. She is a proud graduate of Loyola Marymount University with a B.A. in Dance and minor in Theatre Arts. Ann will pursue her...2024-08-271h 12

Athlete VoicesEp. 53: Megan Posas teaches and performs Mongolian contortion in San Francisco, Hawaii, and abroadMegan Posas has an extensive background in performing arts: from years of gymnastics and cheerleading, to yoga, and dance, she eventually fell into the discipline of Mongolian contortion while living in San Francisco. Since entering the circus scene, she has performed duo contortion as well as solo acts for cabarets, dinner shows, private events, and circus shows around California, the Hawaiian islands, and abroad. Contortion has become an important part of her lifestyle and wellbeing. Megan considers it a great privilege to share this beautiful performance art through teaching and performing. Connect with Megan: @lil_maymay__ 2024-08-2142 min

Athlete VoicesEp. 52: Christian Solares empowers his students to compete on the Pro/Am ballroom dance circuitChristian Solares is a professional ballroom dancer, instructor, coach, and Pro/Am competitor based in the Bay Area. He has been dancing since 2006, competing in amateur and professional fields. Christian teaches all four major ballroom dance styles. By not specializing in any particular style, he has a well-rounded repertoire in ballroom dance. Christian pairs technical and biomechanical principles with nurturing his students' individualism, providing them with education and guidance to unlock their personal expression. Connect with Christian: @christiandsolares --- Stay connected with Athlete Voices! Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@athletevoices⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://athletevoices.net/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...2024-08-071h 29

Athlete VoicesEp. 51: Carolyn Burch pursues BFA in Musical Theater at Syracuse UniversityCarolyn Burch is a 19 year old from the San Francisco Bay Area, currently a rising junior in Syracuse University’s BFA Musical Theater program. She began performing at the early age of 7, participating in various community theater productions, as well as her middle school and high school musicals until she ultimately decided to pursue theater professionally. Most recently, she performed in the cast of a brand new musical “Lighthouse” as part of Syracuse University’s “New Works New Voices” initiative. Connect with Carolyn: @carolynkburch --- Stay connected with Athlete Voices! Instag...2024-07-3052 min

Athlete VoicesEp. 50: Professional hip-hop dancer Risa Ono shares her storyRisa Ono (she/her) is a Tokyo native dancer and represented by Rae Dance Agency. She started dancing Hip Hop, Lock, and Street Jazz when she was 16. Once she started her dance journey, she performed in multiple events and started making choreography for her school performances / her hip hop team in Japan as well as New York. While she was in New York, she also trained Heels from Army of Sass and joined a bachata team led by Daniel and Desirée who is the world’s most famous Bachata dance couple. The dream job she recently did was mak...2024-07-2450 min

Athlete VoicesEp. 49: Zohar the Nootzel bends on big stages and beyondZohar the Nootzel is a passionate multi-disciplinary performer with a deep love for the stage and the magic it brings to audiences. After discovering contortion during her late 20s, she started to train consistently and eventually began to inspire and motivate others to improve their flexibility through her classes and YouTube channel. In 2021, she had an injury that completely changed her life and led her to step into the world of theatre and join musical theatre productions. Through performing arts, and burlesque shows, she found her true self and became Zohar The Nootzel. Connect...2024-07-161h 00

Athlete VoicesSeason 4 TrailerWelcome to Season 4 of the Athlete Voices Podcast! On this podcast, I talk about all things aesthetic sports, including gymnastics, dance, figure skating, artistic swimming, circus arts, musical theater, and more. I interview athletes and performers in these disciplines and share their stories. --- Stay connected with Athlete Voices! Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@athletevoices⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://athletevoices.net/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube: Athlete Voices Support the podcast directly HERE! - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://anchor.fm/athletevoices/support⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠2024-07-1501 min

Athlete VoicesEp. 48: Wen Soon applies principles of couples therapy to partner sportsWen Soon is a marriage and family therapist who began competitive Latin ballroom dancing in 2013. Once he became a therapist, his goal was to work with athletes in partner sports who are looking to resolve conflict and enhance their communication skills. On this podcast, he will talk about his experience doing couples therapy work and how those skills can translate over to partner sports. Connect with Wen: @whensoon --- Stay connected with Athlete Voices! Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@athletevoices⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://athletevoices.net/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support the podcast directly HERE! - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://anchor.fm/athletevoices/support⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠2024-06-271h 05

Athlete VoicesEp. 47: Casey Hersch heals from trauma and illness through Latin ballroom danceCasey Hersch is a licensed clinical social worker, animal advocate, Regent’s Scholar, health journalist, and avid Latin Ballroom dancer. She is the author of the mental health children’s book I Am Pawso: A Cat Teaches Kids Ways to Turn Around Difficult Situations. As a psychotherapist, Casey embraces integrative and holistic healing methods to help people overcome trauma and adverse childhood experiences, and to help people live quality lives with chronic illness. She believes in building resiliency from the inside out which includes movement and somatic resourcing at the core. During a difficult time in Casey’s life...2024-05-231h 06

Athlete VoicesEp. 46: Team USA figure skater Pooja Kalyan continues her skating journey at Brown UniversityPooja Kalyan is a former Team USA figure skater and Junior at Brown University. She is a pre-med student studying neuroscience. She represented Team USA from 2016 - 2021 and is a two-time national medalist at the novice and junior level. She is also the first South Asian and first person from Arkansas to represent Team USA figure skating. Pooja is now co-captain of Brown's figure skating team and serves on the Board of Directors for USA Figure Skating. In her free time, Pooja enjoys yoga, baking and writing. Connect with Pooja: @poojamkalyan ---2024-03-2037 min

Athlete VoicesEp. 45: Olympic artistic swimmer Anita Alvarez talks overcoming hurdles, body image, healthy performance mindset, and moreAnita Alvarez is a 27 year-old American artistic swimmer. She is a two-time Olympian, having competed at the 2016 and 2020 Olympic Games, and is presently a 2024 Olympic hopeful. Anita is also a 6-time World Championship team member, 2-time World Championship medalist, and 4-time USA Artistic Swimming Athlete of the Year. Connect with Anita: ⁠@anitaaalvarez⁠ --- Stay connected with Athlete Voices! Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@athletevoices⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://athletevoices.net/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support the podcast directly HERE! - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://anchor.fm/athletevoices/support⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 2024-01-1657 min

Athlete VoicesEp. 45: Olympic artistic swimmer Anita Alvarez talks overcoming hurdles, body image, healthy performance mindset, and morebio 2024-01-1655 min

Athlete VoicesEp. 44: Tamar Greene shines as George Washington on HamiltonTamar Greene is the current George Washington in the Broadway company of Hamilton. Prior to joining the Broadway company, Tamar played the role of George Washington in the Chicago company of Hamilton for a year and a half through its closing. As a proud first-generation American, born of Jamaican and British parents, Tamar is a versatile artist whose musical passions mirror his eclectic background. As a writer, arranger, classical pianist and an opera singer, he combines much of his inspiration from Classical music, Reggae, Hip-Hop, R&B, Blues, and Jazz. Connect with Tamar: @tamar...2023-12-0545 min

Athlete VoicesEp. 43: Darian Gemora talks all things hip hop and commercial dancingDarian Gemora started his dance journey flash mobbing throughout San Francisco and got scouted by the competitive dance team called Funk Beyond Control that ignited his passion for dance. He later moved to a competition team that got second place in America’s Got Talent and was led by SYTYCD Choreographers Phoenix and Pharside. While competing on these teams they won World of Dance LA twice and World of Dance Bay Area. Darian has been signed to Rae Agency as a Professional dancer for the last 4 years and has been teaching adult classes in Industry Hip-Hop and Jazz Funk fo...2023-11-2839 min

Athlete VoicesEp. 42: World Champion Latin ballroom dancer Oxana Lebedew shares her storyOxana Lebedew is a 2-time World Champion Latin ballroom dancer, 8-time German Professional Latin Champion, and Blackpool Dance Festival finalist. In addition to achieving immense competitive success, Oxana has been a professional on the German version of Dancing With the Stars. Her illustrious ballroom dance career has led her to perform on the world's biggest stages and garner insights unique to artists who reach the highest levels in their craft. This is her story. Connect with Oxana: ⁠@oxana_lebedew⁠ --- Stay connected with Athlete Voices! Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@athletevoices⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://a...2023-11-1558 min

Athlete VoicesEp. 41: Natasha Shevchenko dances Latin ballroom, Lindy Hop, and moreNatasha Shevchenko began her International Latin ballroom dance journey at the age of six in her hometown of Los Angeles, CA. Throughout the almost 20 year journey in Latin she has achieved numerous awards including: USA National Latin Champion, Dutch Open Semi-finalist (Top 10), Blackpool Quarterfinalist and even performed on a few TV shows such as Dancing with the Stars, The Maury Show, and Americas Ballroom Challenge. She later found a passion for swing dance styles such as lindy hop, balboa, and solo jazz and continues to reach for growth and authenticity through new dance branches. Natasha also has a Bachelors...2023-10-3155 min

Athlete VoicesEp. 40: Parker Lynn competes, performs, and DJs ballroom dancingParker Lynn began ballroom dancing at age 15 in his hometown of Idaho. He quickly began competing in ballroom, and after high school, he joined the BYU ballroom dance company for two years. He moved to California afterwards to pursue dance professionally. Along with dancing, he found a passion in ballroom music has since became a Music Director at competitions. He is currently the Music Director for almost all competitions in the Bay Area and is building a career in DJ'ing ballroom competitions nationwide. Connect with Parker: @parkerdlynn --- Stay connected...2023-10-251h 00

Athlete VoicesEp. 39: Gino Francisco discusses Muay Thai, the art of 8 limbsGino Francisco is head coach and owner of 10th Planet Daly City, a martial arts academy located in the San Francisco Bay Area. A lifelong martial artist and former fighter, Coach Gino specializes in Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai, and Mixed Martial Arts. He holds a black belt in Jiu Jitsu and teaches a variety of classes with students ranging from young children to senior citizens, and hobbyists to professional MMA fighters. Connect with Gino: @ginofrancomma --- Stay connected with Athlete Voices! Instagram: ⁠⁠@athletevoices⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠https://athletevoices.net/⁠⁠ Support the podcas...2023-10-1740 min

Athlete VoicesEp. 38: Gino Francisco talks all things Jiu Jitsu and martial artsGino Francisco is head coach and owner of 10th Planet Daly City, a martial arts academy located in the San Francisco Bay Area. A lifelong martial artist and former fighter, Coach Gino specializes in Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai, and Mixed Martial Arts. He holds a black belt in Jiu Jitsu and teaches a variety of classes with students ranging from young children to senior citizens, and hobbyists to professional MMA fighters. Connect with Gino: @ginofrancomma --- Stay connected with Athlete Voices! Instagram: ⁠⁠@athletevoices⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠https://athletevoices.net/⁠⁠ Support the podcas...2023-10-101h 07

Athlete VoicesEp. 37: Elizabeth Balikian talks national team rhythmic gymnastics and memorable competition momentsElizabeth Balikian is a 16 year-old USA rhythmic gymnastics national team member. Her first international competition was Miss Valentine in Estonia, and she received a silver medal in ribbon. She made the Elite National Qualifiers for 4 years and was the 2019 Junior State all-around champion. Elizabeth shares her rhythmic gymnastics journey and recounts some memorable competition moments throughout her 13 year career. Connect with Elizabeth: @babet_rg --- Stay connected with Athlete Voices! Instagram: ⁠⁠@athletevoices⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠https://athletevoices.net/⁠⁠ Support the podcast directly HERE! - ⁠⁠https://anchor.fm/athletevoices/suppor...2023-10-0344 min

Athlete VoicesEp. 36: Competitive Latin ballroom dancer Kennedy Eaton wins the Under 21 Blackpool Dance Festival ChampionshipKennedy Eaton is a ballroom dancer from San Jose, California. She moved to New Jersey in September of 2020 to further pursue her dance career with her partner, Dave Firestein. Recently, she won the Under 21 U.S. Nationals, and is also the current Under 21 Blackpool Champion. Connect with Kennedy: @kennedyeaton --- Stay connected with Athlete Voices! Instagram: ⁠⁠@athletevoices⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠https://athletevoices.net/⁠⁠ Support the podcast directly HERE! - ⁠⁠https://anchor.fm/athletevoices/support⁠⁠ 2023-09-1957 min

Athlete VoicesEp. 35: Naomi Skotnikov talks juggling national team rhythmic gymnastics and universityNaomi Skotnikov is a senior national team rhythmic gymnast. She is a three time rhythmic USA national team member and has been an elite level 10 gymnast since she was 11 years old. She is currently balancing rhythmic gymnastics and attending Baylor University as a Honors health science pre-physical therapy major. Naomi won 4th place all-around at the USA National Championships and has represented Team USA internationally since 2018. Connect with Naomi: @rg_naomchik --- Stay connected with Athlete Voices! Instagram: ⁠⁠@athletevoices⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠https://athletevoices.net/⁠⁠ Su...2023-09-1241 min

Athlete VoicesEp. 34: Qu'in de la Noche seduces and entertains through the art of BurlesqueCecilia Qu'in is an American Afro-Latin multidisciplinary artist specializing in events management, digital media management, and sex-positive performance art. She goes by her stage name, Qu'in de la Noche, and loves to entertain the masses through Burlesque, the art of seduction. Connect with Cecilia: @quindelanoche --- Stay connected with Athlete Voices! Instagram: ⁠@athletevoices⁠ Website: ⁠https://athletevoices.net/⁠ Support the podcast directly HERE! - ⁠https://anchor.fm/athletevoices/support⁠ 2023-09-051h 00

Athlete VoicesSeason 3 TrailerWelcome to the Athlete Voices podcast, where we delve deep into all things aesthetic sports. I am very excited to be starting Season 3 of this podcast. We have a great lineup of some incredible guests, including a 2-time world champion ballroom dancer, an Olympic artistic swimmer, national team level rhythmic gymnast, and more. We have weekly episodes every Tuesday. Follow us on our instagram, @Athlete Voices, and check out our website, athletevoices.net, to stay up to date with our latest content. 2023-09-0100 min

Athlete VoicesEp. 33: Team USA rhythmic gymnast Jazzy Kerber coaches the next generation of gymnastsJasmine Kerber, who often goes by “Jazzy,” competed as a member of the United States rhythmic gymnastics National Team from 2009-2015, during which time she represented the U.S. at the 2013, 2014, and 2015 World Championships. Jazzy graduated from Stanford University in June 2020 with a B.A. in international relations and a minor in Russian language. She received her M.A. in journalism, also from Stanford, in June 2021. Jazzy coaches at Bravo Rhythmic Gymnastics in Santa Clara, California. She is also a certified Brevet judge and represents rhythmic gymnastics on USA Gymnastics’ Programs Council. Moving forward, she hopes to combine her interes...2023-05-2348 min

Athlete VoicesEp. 32: Circus artist Elena Sanders flies and bends to America's Got Talent and beyondElena Sanders is a multidisciplinary circus artist specializing in contortion, hula hoops and straps. She began her circus journey when she was in her twenties, and has been touring with circus companies since 2013. In 2017, she was featured on Season 12 of America's Got Talent, where they developed a one-of-a-kind, dangerous perch act. Connect with Elena: @elenaxsanders --- Stay connected with Athlete Voices! Instagram: @athletevoices Website: https://athletevoices.net/ Support the podcast directly HERE! - https://anchor.fm/athletevoices/support ...2023-05-1733 min

Athlete VoicesEp. 31: Amanda Besyedin popularizes the art of ballroom dancing through YouTube and social mediaAmanda Besyedin is a Professional Latin-American Dancer. She is a Blackpool Dance Festival Vice- Champion and a finalist of numerous prestigious competitions in the USA. Amanda is the face of ‘375 Dance Studio’ which is one of the biggest YouTube Channels for Ballroom Dance tutorials and workouts. Through social media she is trying to educate all dancers any age or level about the physical and mental side of Ballroom Dance. Connect with Amanda: @herrschiekisses 2023-05-021h 11

Athlete VoicesEp. 30: Lukas and Simona Ališauskas talk ballroom, partnership chemistry, tips for dancers, and moreLukas and Simona Ališauskas are professional ballroom dancers in the Open Professional Latin dance category. They were born and raised in Kaunas, Lithuania, and moved to the US in 2015. Lukas began competitive dancing at age 4 and set his sights from early on to pursue a professional dance career. Simona had done a little bit of ballroom in childhood, and eventually quit dancing, only to later find her way back to the art form. The two met at the dance studio in Lithuania and developed an immediate connection with each other. Two-and-a-half years after meeting, they began dancing together, a...2023-04-2651 min

Athlete VoicesEp. 29: Former UCLA gymnast Anna Glenn reflects on her 19-year gymnastics careerAnna Glenn is a former UCLA gymnast and graduated in 2020 with a degree in psychology. She is passionate about mental health, and during her time at UCLA, she worked on addressing mental health challenges in the student-athlete population through various organizations. Anna is excited to begin a three-year occupational therapy doctorate program at USC this fall. Connect with Anna: @anna.f.glenn --- Stay connected with Athlete Voices! Instagram: @athletevoices Website: https://athletevoices.net/ Support the podcast directly HERE! - https://anchor.fm/athletevoices/supp...2023-04-1950 min

Athlete VoicesEp. 28: Professional ballerina Lauren McArdle leaps to soloist role at The Sarasota BalletLauren McArdle is a professional ballerina and Soloist with The Sarasota Ballet in Florida. Prior to joining the Sarasota Ballet in 2018, Lauren danced professionally with The National Ballet of Canada, and spent time training in Seattle, Vancouver, San Francisco, Pennsylvania, and Amsterdam. Lauren holds a double major from California Baptist University. She graduated Summa Cum Laude with a BS in Kinesiology, and a BS in Sport and Performance Psychology. She is also a certified pilates instructor and personal trainer. Connect with Lauren: @lauren.ostrander --- Stay connected with Athlete Voices! 2023-04-1150 min

Athlete VoicesEp. 27: Ph.D student Katie Alexander shares insight on the darker side of sportKatherine “Katie” Alexander is a second year Ph.D student at Utah State University studying Human Development & Family Studies. Her research primarily centers on athlete abuse and maltreatment, with a focus on emotional abuse in the coach-athlete relationship in intercollegiate sport settings. Relying on her own experiences of abuse and maltreatment as a former competitive soccer player, she hopes to better empirically understand this darker side of sport. She has an instagram page, @thedarksideofsport, where she educates others about topics like coaching abuse, eating disorders, hazing in sports settings, and other forms of athlete maltreatment. --- St...2023-03-2842 min

Athlete VoicesEp. 26: Professional ballerina Masha Cherezova perseveres in her battle against leukemiaMasha Cherezova is a 23 year-old professional ballerina, choreographer, and cancer survivor. In 2019, she left the United States at the age of 19 to pursue her professional career as ballet dancer in Russia. From 2019 to 2022, Masha performed in the corps de ballet with the Novosibirsk Theatre, as well as the Astrakhan Theatre. In August of 2022, Masha was unexpectedly diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) which forced her to leave her dancing position in Russia and return home to California to endure chemotherapy treatments. The escalating conflict between Russia and Ukraine in 2022 further solidified Masha’s decision to stay in the United St...2023-03-2158 min

Athlete VoicesEp. 25: Circus artist Polina Volchek graces stages internationally through pole sport and aerial artsPolina Volchek, also known as Pink Puma, has inhabited the brutal environment of sport and show business industries for over 25 years. She was a competitive rhythmic gymnast for 10 years and made the Russian national team. She switched to circus arts at age 17 and specialized in hula hoops and aerial. At 25, she began competing in Pole Sport and became the 4-time World Pole Sport and Artistic Pole Champion. Connect with Polina: @pinkpumainc --- Stay connected with Athlete Voices! Instagram: @athletevoices Website: https://athletevoices.net/ Support the podcast directly HER...2023-03-1440 min

Athlete VoicesEp. 24: Tips for athletes featuring sport psychologist Dr. Carly Anderson, Ph.DDr. Carly Anderson, Ph.D, is a licensed psychologist, certified mental performance consultant, and former UCLA gymnast. Her first-hand experience as a competitive athlete, coupled with years of professional training and expertise in sport psychology, provides her with unique, valuable insight into the mental side of training, coaching, competing, and performing. In this interview, Carly shares her views on hot topics in the field of sport psychology, including effective coaching methodology, how to cope with performance anxiety, and the transition out of sport. This interview is available as a blog post on our website ---2023-03-0816 min

Athlete VoicesEp. 23: Self-introduction from the hostHey guys, it's Belicia! On this week's episode I thought I'd introduce myself formally and tell you guys about my background in aesthetic sports and why I started this podcast. Connect with me on Instagram: @belicia.tang --- Stay connected with Athlete Voices! Instagram: @athletevoices Website: https://athletevoices.net/ Support the podcast directly HERE! - https://anchor.fm/athletevoices/support 2023-02-2816 min

Athlete VoicesEp. 22: Rhythmic gymnastics Olympian Natalie McGiffert works to plan the LA 2028 Olympic GamesNatalie McGiffert is a former USA national team rhythmic gymnast. A Southern California native, she made history as a member of the 2016 rhythmic group gymnastics team that gave Team USA its first ever earned Olympic spot for RG group. She was also a member of the 2015 Pan American Games team that won two silvers and one gold medal. Natalie was a competitive gymnast for nearly 13 years and now works as a full time employee at LA28, which is the Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Organizing Committee for the 2028 Games. Connect with Natalie: https://www.instagram.com/natmcgiffert/2023-02-2136 min

Athlete VoicesEp 21: Ballroom dancer Andrew Escolme debuts new dance partnership in Professional American RhythmAndrew Escolme is a professional ballroom dancer. He began his career dancing in the Latin category, and later pivoted to American Rhythm. He recently debuted a new dance partnership with Asta Sigvaldadottir and hopes to continue bringing authenticity to his dancing while competing at the highest level. Andrew's competitive accolades include: - World Rhythm Finalist - World Salsa Champion - United States Rising Star Rhythm Champion - British National Champion Connect with Andrew: @andrewaescolme --- Stay connected with Athlete Voices! Instagram: @athl...2023-02-1444 min

Athlete VoicesEp. 20: Rhythmic gymnast Julie Zetlin reflects on her 2012 Olympic experienceJulie Zetlin is a retired American rhythmic gymnast. She is the 2010 U.S. Senior National Champion in Rhythmic Gymnastics and represented the United States at the 2012 Olympic Games. In 2015, she was inducted into the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame. In this interview Julie and I talk about her experience competing with a broken foot at the Olympics, the importance of mental performance training as an athlete, her transition out of gymnastics and her current role as a fitness industry specialist. Connect with Julie: https://www.instagram.com/julcool/ --- Stay connected with Athlete...2023-01-311h 00

Athlete VoicesEp. 19: Autumn Steed pirouettes from rhythmic gymnastics to professional balletAutumn Steed is from Downers Grove, IL and began her pre-professional ballet training at the Academy of Dance Arts under the direction of Sherry Moray. She is a 2015 National YoungArts Winner and a graduate of Miami City Ballet School’s Pre-Professional Division. At Miami City Ballet, she performed with the company in George Balanchine’s Walpurgisnacht Ballet and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. In 2017, she joined Alabama Ballet as an Apprentice, where she performed multiple soloist roles. In 2019, she joined Chicago’s A&A Ballet and was a guest artist with Chicago Opera Theater in Aleko at the Harris Theater...2023-01-2453 min

Athlete VoicesEp. 18: Jonas Woolverton Cyr Wheels his way to Cirque du Soleil and beyondJonas Woolverton is a cirque performer and specialist in the Cyr Wheel. He ran away to the circus at age 25 and performed with Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas for 11 years. He now performs independently as a wheel artist, actor and filmmaker. Jonas has performed on 5 continents, in over 5,000 shows, in front of over 500,000 spectators. Connect with Jonas: @zupunkcirque --- Stay connected with Athlete Voices! Instagram: @athletevoices Website: https://athletevoices.net/ Support the podcast directly HERE! - https://anchor.fm/athletevoices/support 2023-01-1754 min

Athlete VoicesEp. 17: 3 Breathing techniques to release anxietyFollow along as I guide you through 3 types of breathing techniques to release performance anxiety. Do not practice these exercises while operating a moving vehicle. Timestamps: 1:2 Ratio Breathing 1:16 - 2:30 Rhythmic Breathing 2:32 - 3:43 Sighing With Exhalation 3:46 - 5:30 References: Williams, J. M., & Krane, V. (2021). Applied Sport Psychology: Personal Growth To Peak Performance. McGraw-Hill Higher Education. --- Stay connected with Athlete Voices! Instagram: @athletevoices Website: https://athletevoices.net/ Support the podcast directly HERE! - https://anchor.fm/athletevoices/support 2023-01-1006 min

Athlete VoicesEp. 16: Rhythmic gymnast coach Pamela Tang imparts positive coaching philosophy to her athletesPamela Tang is a 26 year-old former competitive rhythmic gymnast. After competing in the sport from age 10 to 21 and making Level 10 Elite, she is now the head coach at Tampa Bay Rhythmics. In this interview, Pamela discusses how her positive experiences in the sport have informed her coaching philosophy. She advocates for safe, nurturing, and positive coaching methods to shape not only high-performing athletes, but holistic, well-adjusted human beings. Connect with Pamela: Instagram: @pam_xoxx --- Stay connected with Athlete Voices! Instagram: @athletevoices Website: https://athletevoices...2023-01-0358 min

Athlete VoicesSeason 2: TrailerWelcome to season 2 of the podcast! We have several guests lined up, dancers, gymnasts, Cirque du Soleil artists, and more. This season we will also focus more on sport psychology and feature things like guided meditations, episodes on how to practice imagery, progressive muscle relaxation techniques, and many more strategies to boost your mental performance game. We will interview sport psychologists and mental performance coaches as well to hear their perspectives. Happy New Year, and see you all in 2023! --- Stay connected with Athlete Voices! Instagram: @athletevoices We...2022-12-3102 min

Athlete VoicesEp. 15: Contortionist Tori Kubick squeezes into boxes to find inner peace and liberationTori Kubick, aka, conTORItion, is a professional contortionist, calmness connoisseur, world class performer, TEDx speaker, writer, and world traveler. Growing up as an award winning dancer, she later found her true love, the antiquated art form of Mongolian contortion. She kept pushing the odds, and now she tours the world and performs contortion and acrobatics in various theatres, cruise ships, and the world-renowned Cirque du Soleil. Tori recently published an article in SUP International and is fusing her performance with water. Tori has opened for Miley Cyrus, was featured on The Tonight Show, Ripley's Believe it Or Not, NYFW...2022-12-131h 01

Athlete VoicesEp. 14: Anastasia Muravyeva waltzes from ballroom stardom to business schoolAnastasia Muravyeva is a retired professional ballroom dance champion. In a career that spanned nearly three decades, Anastasia reached the pinnacle of competitive ballroom dancing. Together with her dance partner, Victor Fung, she became the 2017 Blackpool Champion in the Open Professional Ballroom category, the ballroom-dance equivalent of an Olympic gold medal. After retiring from competitive dancing in 2021, Anastasia's second act career came as a surprise to many: business school at the University of Southern California. In 2019, we heard Victor’s story. Now it’s time to hear from Anastasia. Connect with Anastasia: Linkedin: https://www.link...2022-12-071h 03

Athlete VoicesEp. 13: Thoughts on Aly Raisman's autobiography, FierceAmerican artistic gymnast Aly Raisman published her autobiography, Fierce, in November 14, 2017. In the book, she details her gymnastics journey beginning at 18-months old, and culminating in 2 Olympic gold medals at the 2012 and 2016 Games. In today's podcast, I share my thoughts surrounding the book and themes that resonated with me, including those of mental health, perfectionism, and abuse in gymnastics. This podcast episode was originally published as a post on the Athlete Voices' blog in 2018. Much has changed between then and now, and USA Gymnastics has made necessary institutional changes to better their athletes. Still, more needs to b...2022-11-2911 min

Athlete VoicesEp. 12: Ice dancer Masha Alieva strives for the 2026 Winter OlympicsMasha Alieva is a 17 year-old competitive figure skater. At 14, she made the switch from singles skating to ice dance. She competes with her skating partner, Mathieu Couyras, and together they represent France at international competitions. Currently recovering from hip surgery, Masha strives to heal soon and get back to training and competing. She keeps her eye on her ultimate dream: skating on the Olympic ice in 2026. Follow Masha on social media: Instagram: @mashafigureskater TikTok: @mashaicedancer --- Stay connected with Athlete Voices! Instagram: @athletevoices Website: https://at...2022-11-2241 min

Athlete VoicesEp. 11: Everything group rhythmic gymnastics with Jenny RokhmanJenny Rokhman is an American rhythmic gymnast. She competed in both individual and group disciplines of rhythmic gymnastics, and was a member of the US Team at the 2016 Rio Olympics. She has competed internationally at various World Cups, Grand Prix, and World Championships. Jenny has an identical twin sister, Monica, who was also a member of the Rio Olympic team. In this interview, we talk about Jenny's experience switching from individual to group rhythmic, growing up training and competing alongside her twin sister, her Olympic experience and the mental pressures faced leading up to the Games, and her post-gymnastics...2022-11-1535 min

Athlete VoicesEp. 10: Rickie Taylor Dubovyk talks all things competitive ballroom danceRickie Taylor Dubovyk is a 22 year-old American ballroom dancer. She is a force in the world of competitive ballroom dancing, also known as Dancesport. In addition to making appearances on major talent television shows, she is 10-time United States National Champion, multiple time World Finalist, and World Champion. Along with her immeasurable love and passion for competitive ballroom dancing, when she was 20 years old, she started her own hair and makeup styling company for ballroom dancers called Complete Beauty Image. While learning to navigate life as a young adult, she continues to dance, work, and teach full time while...2022-11-081h 49

Athlete VoicesEp. 9 : Dance scholar Kevin Wong explores the intersection of dance and intimacyKevin Wong is a professional dancer and dance scholar with a background in experimental, contemporary, hip hop, modern, pedestrian, and Chinese dance. He has danced with STEAMROLLER, Project M, and the Flying Angels Chinese Dance Company. Kevin holds a Bachelor's degree in Dance with an Education Minor from UC Riverside. After working at Rae Studios in San Francisco for 4 years as a manager and instructor, Kevin returned to UC Riverside this past fall to pursue an MFA in Experimental Choreography. His research question centers on the intersection of dance and intimacy. His goal is to develop an...2022-11-0156 min

Athlete VoicesEp. 8: Rhythmic gymnast Erica Der Mesropian empowers the next generation of athletesErica Der Mesropian is a former Level 10 Elite Rhythmic Gymnast, Certified USAG Judge, and founder of EmpoweredByStretch, LLC. EBS Mindset is an athletic psychology training program empowering athletes to unlock their full potential in sport and life with educational videos and one-on-one mindset training sessions. Through her work with gymnasts, Erica is a force in the growing athlete mental health movement that prioritizes the mental and psychological component of elite sports, in addition to physical training. Erica holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business/Gender Studies and a Master’s Degree in Social Entrepreneurship from USC Marshall. Follo...2022-10-251h 02

Athlete VoicesEp. 7: New Zealand dance sensation Quinn Annemans shares his storyQuinn Annemans is a professional dancer and choreographer. Born and raised in Auckland, New Zealand, he competed at the highest levels in competitive teams and solos in the Modern Competition scene, and has established himself as a respected and versatile dancer, performer and choreographer. Quinn has worked and choreographed across many disciplines of dance. He has been featured in Live Performances, Television, Music Videos and various Musical Theatre productions including Aladdin, Chicago and Chess. Quinn has founded two dance companies, Tiptronic Choreography and Velocity Dance Competition. He enjoys being creative and exploring fresh ways to move with d...2022-10-181h 06

Athlete VoicesEp. 6: Rhythmic gymnast Evita Griskenas talks Tokyo Olympics and balancing training with Columbia UniversityU.S. national team rhythmic gymnast Evita Griskenas talks about her experience competing at the Tokyo Olympics. At Tokyo, Evita placed 12th in the qualification round and was the second reserve for the all-around final. While training for the Olympics, Evita was also a freshman at Columbia University. Now entering her third year at Columbia, Evita has continued training and competing whilst a full-time student. Most recently, she won the U.S. National Championships and advanced to the all-around final at the 2022 World Championships. Remarkably accomplished, Evita shares her experience at Tokyo and how she has managed to juggle...2022-10-1153 min

Athlete VoicesEp. 5: Chatting with Cirque du Soleil artist Shelli EpsteinShelli Epstein is a gymnast, acrobat, Cirque du Soleil artist, personal trainer, and high performance coach. She began her circus career at age 18, landing her first gig in the Macau's famous "House of Dancing Waters" show. She has since toured the world, flipping, diving, and flying in various Cirque du Soleil shows. Shelli recently released her first book, "Flying High: Life lessons from the Big Top", a memoir that details her life as a circus artist and the wisdom she's gained through life in the spotlight. Follow Shelli on social media: Instagram: @shelliepstein We...2022-10-0455 min

Athlete VoicesEp. 4: Team USA rhythmic gymnast Serena Lu makes a comeback at age 24Serena Lu is a Team USA rhythmic gymnast. She was on the U.S. National Team from 2010-2018, competed at the 2014 and 2015 World Championships, and finished third at the U.S. Olympic trials in 2016. Serena was first featured on Athlete Voices in 2019, while a junior at Princeton University. Since then, she graduated college with a degree in psychology and is presently working several jobs in New York City as an investigative analyst, actor, and dancer. In 2021, she decided to make a comeback to rhythmic gymnastics after 5 years out of the sport. She placed 4th at the 2022 U.S. National...2022-09-281h 43

Athlete VoicesEp. 3: Jazzy Kerber on why rhythmic gymnastics is a technical sportFormer USA national team rhythmic gymnast Jazzy Kerber, now a coach, certified Brevet judge, and athlete representative on the programs councils, offers insight into the technical component of rhythmic gymnastics: a sport often described in media as “elegant”, “beautiful”, and “unabashedly girly,” but less noted for its athleticism and technical demands. This episode is also featured as a blog post: https://athletevoices.net/rhythmic-gymnastics-is-a-technical-sport/ Follow Jazzy on social media: @jazinka --- Stay connected with Athlete Voices! Instagram: @athletevoices Website: https://athletevoices.net/ Support the podcast directly HERE! - https://anchor.fm/ath...2022-09-2009 min

Athlete VoicesEp. 2: Why "Athlete Voices"?Hey guys, it's Belicia! On this episode, I'd like to formally introduce myself and why I began Athlete Voices in 2018. I explain the mission statement of Athlete Voices and the reason behind its title. This episode is also available as a blog: https://athletevoices.net/why-the-title-athlete-voices/ --- Stay connected with Athlete Voices! Instagram: @athletevoices Website: https://athletevoices.net/ Support the podcast directly HERE! - https://anchor.fm/athletevoices/support 2022-09-1505 min

Athlete VoicesEp. 1: Grace Stevens breaks down her professional dance career + tips on how to succeed in the dance industryGrace Stevens is a professional dancer/choreographer based in New Zealand. In this interview, Grace breaks down her dance journey, how she started and where she wants to take her dancing, insider's knowledge on the New Zealand dance scene, and advice for aspiring professional dancers. Follow Grace on social media: @gracestevens --- Stay connected with Athlete Voices! Instagram: @athletevoices Website: https://athletevoices.net/ Support the podcast directly HERE! - https://anchor.fm/athletevoices/support 2022-09-0749 min

Athlete VoicesAthlete Voices: TrailerWelcome to the Athlete Voices Podcast! On this podcast, we turn the spotlight on aesthetic sports, featuring exclusive interviews with gymnasts, dancers, figure skaters, artistic swimmers, and more. Our mission is to humanize athletes and de-stigmatize their struggles while offering them a voice to share their stories. Click subscribe to stay up to date for weekly episodes. You can also check out our website, athletevoices.net, where you can find articles written about the guests featured on this podcast as well as blog posts and opinion pieces about all things aesthetic sports. Instagram: @athletevoices 2022-08-3101 min