Shows
Keep the Flame AliveSydney 2000: Set Sail with the MascotsWe sail back in time to Sydney 2000! Alison explores the origins of the official Olympic mascots, Syd, Millie, and Olly, and the Paralympic mascot Lizzie. But Sydney doesn't stop with the mascot fun--the hosts of the Sydney 2000 recap show The Dream brought us Fatso, who stole the athletes' and fans' hearts....and caused some controversy along the way. See one of Fatso's best moments here: https://youtu.be/dJZS6DdS9xI?si=BjalIj50J6EA4-WB Then Jill heads across Sydney Harbor to the sailing competition to revisit the men's sailing competition, specifically th...2025-04-1041 min
Keep the Flame AliveAlison Levine's Paris 2024 ParalympicsSometimes all of the training and preparation in the world doesn't get you to the Paralympic podium. Boccia player Alison Levine experienced that firsthand during the Paris 2024 Paralympics, when tournament bracket design forced her to face the other top player early on in the elimination rounds. Play didn't go her way, and she didn't get the results she wanted. It didn't get better in the mixed doubles tournament, when she and teammate Iulian Ciobanu lost to Thailand in the bronze medal match. Even with the disappointment, Alison's Paris experience was, on the whole, a good...2025-03-0640 min
Keep the Flame AliveSydney 2000: Glory and Disgrace on the TrackRunners Cathy Freeman and Marion Jones, two of the stars from the Sydney 2000 Olympics, could not have had more different outcomes to their experiences at these Games. In this look back at the Sydney 2000 Olympics, Alison has the amazing story of Cathy Freeman, who brought Olympic glory to Australia and the Aboriginal people. Meanwhile, Jill unravels the complicated story of Marion Jones, who was the first women to ever win five medals in a single Games in athletics. Until she gave them back--before the International Olympic Committee decided to strip them from her fo...2025-02-1332 min
Keep the Flame AliveSydney 2000: The Bid and Opening CeremoniesWelcome to our look back at the Sydney 2000 Olympics and Paralympics! We asked which historical Games should get a deep dive, and your response was to take another look at arguably one of the best Olympics of all time. On this episode, Jill delves into how Sydney won the right to host the Games against a crowded field that included Beijing, Berlin, Manchester (UK) and Istanbul. Would Sydney win on merit, or was there something fishy going on with their bid? Then Alison looks at the Opening Ceremonies for the Olympics an...2025-01-1638 minKeep the Flame AliveRekindled: Para Archer Matt StutzmanWe're closing out our year of podcasting with a new feature: Rekindled. This is where we bring back some favorite interviews we’ve had over the years. For newer listeners, it’s a great way to hear how we met some of our TKFLASTANIs. If you have heard it before, it’s fun to go back and listen to the interview now that we’re post-Paris 2024 and see how our original conversation played out. Alison chose to rekindle our 2023 interview with para archer Matt Stutzman. Matt has been a trailblazer in the sport as its first arm...2024-12-1238 minKeep the Flame AliveThe Legacy of Salt Lake City 2002This past weekend, Jill and Producer Ben found herself in Salt Lake City for a few days, which gave her the opportunity to visit some of the Salt Lake City 2002 venues to see how the legacy of those Games continues on. In this episode, hear what it's like at Utah Olympic Park, home of the 2002 ski jumping, Nordic combined and sliding competitions. Currently, the park is a training and competition site, with a learn to ski program for kids. It also has a number of additional activities, including summer and winter bobsled rides, guided tours, zip lines...2024-10-1146 min
Keep the Flame AliveParis 2024 Paralympics: Day 11 - Closing CeremoniesIt's the last day of the Paris 2024 Paralympics, but there's still plenty of competition before the Closing Ceremonies. Jill heads to para powerlifting to see TKFLASTANI Bobby Body lift, while Alison sees a major showdown at Bercy Arena for the end of the women's wheelchair basketball tournament. Unfortunately, scheduling issues prevented our heroes from getting the required stickers to see the Closing Ceremonies (which, given their reaction to the other three ceremonies, may not have been a bad thing), but they celebrated the end of the Games at the Paris Media Centre for one last time. Sports...2024-09-0948 min
Keep the Flame AliveParis 2024 Paralympics: Day 10 It's the penultimate day of the Paris 2024 Paralympics! Jill heads to the Grand Palais one final time to see TKFLASTANI Ellen Geddes compete in the women's team epee competition and lose a little more of her hearing thanks to the French fans. Plus, there's one more game of monster blocking in sitting volleyball, and it's a doozy. Meanwhile, Alison gets in another para athletics session, sees TKFLASTANI Louise Sugden in Para Powerlifting, and heads to Bercy Arena for the men's wheelchair basketball gold medal match. Sports on today's program: Blind Football Para Athletics Para Canoe Para C...2024-09-081h 25
Keep the Flame AliveParis 2024 Paralympics: Day 9More great competition from the Paris 2024 Paralympics today, as Jill had an adventure (and some sore obliques) learning how to play sitting volleyball. She made the trip out to Versailles to catch some of the para equestrian team competition, then headed to para swimming and miraculously didn't get lost in the venue. Meanwhile, Alison went to the Stade de France for para athletics and then got waylaid at Team USA House getting Team TKFLASTAN interviews (and cookies). Sports on today's program: Para Athletics Para Canoe Para Cycling Road Para Equestrian Para Judo Para Powerlifting Para Swimming...2024-09-071h 18
Keep the Flame AliveParis 2024 Paralympics: Day 8It’s been a rainy Day 8 at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, but that did not dampen our spirits, even if it soaked our socks. Jill spent the day at the Eiffel Tower/Champs de Mars stadium complex, in part to see TKFLASTANI Liana Mutia compete in para judo, but also to catch some more blind football. Meanwhile, Alison had a team sports day with wheelchair basketball and sitting volleyball. Sports on today’s program: Blind Football Boccia Goalball Para Archery Para Athletics Para Cycling Road Para Judo Para Powerlifting Para Swimming Para Table Tennis Shooting Para Sport Sitt...2024-09-061h 09
Keep the Flame AliveParis 2024 Paralympics: Day 7Day 7 of the Paris 2024 Paralympics was pretty magical for your two favorite Paralympics podcasters. Alison spent the day at the hallowed ground of Roland Garros for wheelchair tennis and got clay in more places than she thought was possible. Jill saw a TKFLASTANI destroy a world record at the Stade de France, then ended her day with medal rounds of wheelchair fencing foil, with the Paralympic legend Bebe Vio. Sports on today's program: Boccia Goalball Para Archery Para Athletics Para Cycling Road Para Powerlifting Para Swimming Para Table Tennis Shooting Para Sport Sitting Volleyball Wheelchair Basketball...2024-09-051h 31
Keep the Flame AliveParis 2024 Paralympics: Day 6 Can you spend an entire day in Paris Arena Sud at the Paris 2024 Paralympics? Alison lives to tell the tale of one location, three sports: boccia, goalball and para table tennis. Jill gets a taste of blind football before dashing over to the Team USA House to interview TKFLASTANIs and then head to watch Brian Bell and the US Men’s wheelchair basketball team try to advance to the bracket stage. Sports on today’s program: Blind Football Boccia Goalball Para Archery Para Athletics Para Equestrian Para Swimming Para Table Tennis Shooting Para Sport Sitting Volleyball Whee...2024-09-041h 27
Keep the Flame AliveParis 2024 Paralympics: Day 5 Day 5 at the Paris 2024 Paralympics brings some highs and lows–and Alison got stuck on the low end of the spectrum. We also learned about Nike’s efforts to develop more inclusive clothing and footwear, and Jill had a splash and dash to and from the splash and dash. Nike has an initiative to develop athletes’ careers post-competitive career, as well as hire more people with disabilities. To that end, they have an initiative called Game On, which is a 12-month program for employment seekers that will help Nike make more improvements in their products for disabled people...2024-09-031h 31
Keep the Flame AliveParis 2024 Paralympics: Day 4Team Keep the Flame Alive collects more gold today, as Matt Stutzman competes in Para Archery. Alison's got all of the details of his amazingly close matches, plus an encounter that made her day better than wheelchair rugby can. Plus, she has a sensory experience that was like any other. Meanwhile, Jill saw most of TKFLASTANI Brian Bell and Team USA's men's wheelchair basketball team. Then she headed to Team USA's High Performance Center for a Wheelchair Fencing lesson with Paralympian Byron Branch before ending the day at Roland Garros with Wheelchair Tennis. Sports on...2024-09-021h 26
Keep the Flame AliveParis 2024 Paralympics: Day 3 Another day in Paris, another load of World and Paralympic Records going down! Jill went to Wheelchair Rugby…and let’s just say there may be a podcast fight over who covers the final. Meanwhile, Alison braved the chill of the Grand Palais to see TKFLASTAN bring home a medal in Para Taekwondo. Plus, an email from a TKFLASTANI upended evening plans for all the right reasons. Sports on today’s program are: Boccia Goalball Para Archery Para Athletics Para Badminton Para Cycling – Track Para Rowing Para Swimming Para Table Tennis Para Taekwondo Shooting Para Sport Sitting...2024-09-011h 43
Keep the Flame AliveParis 2024 Paralympics: Day 2 The fantastic sporting action at the Paris 2024 Paralympics continues on, but the lovely weather doesn’t. Jill managed a lot of venue issues, including rain at Invalides during the para archery competition. Alison got to the velodrome for a toasty day of para cycling track. Sports on today’s agenda: Boccia Goalball Para Archery Para Athletics Para Badminton Para Cycling Track Para Rowing Para Swimming Para Table Tennis Para Taekwondo Shooting Para Sport Sitting Volleyball Wheelchair Basketball Wheelchair Rugby Wheelchair Tennis Plus, we have mixed zone interviews with para track cyclist Samantha Bosco, para archer Matt...2024-08-311h 57
Keep the Flame AliveParis 2024 Paralympics: Day 1 It’s the first full day of competition from Paris 2024, as the Paralympics get off to a great start. Jill went to para track cycling to see TKFLASTANI Samantha Bosco, and Alison had the best day of her life at wheelchair rugby. In the evening, Alison headed over to para swimming for Olivia Chambers’ first final, while Jill wandered around Paris Arena Sud and eventually watched TKFLASTANI Melissa Tapper play para table tennis and Alison Levine play boccia. The sports on today’s program are: Boccia Goalball Para Archery Para Badminton Para Cycling Track Para Swimming Para T...2024-08-301h 12
Keep the Flame AliveParis 2024 Paralympics: Opening CeremoniesThe Paris 2024 Paralympics are officially open! We attended the Opening Ceremonies...and we have opinions on the show, which in a first-ever moment for the Paralympics, took the Opening Ceremonies out of the stadium and put it in the heart of the city (in a temporary stadium, but let's not get too in the weeds with that detail). The ceremony covered a lot of ground over a long span of time, and the athletes marched down the Champs-Élysées into the stadium to great fanfare, which was a lot of fun to see. The tor...2024-08-291h 07
Keep the Flame AliveParis 2024 Olympics: Day 16 - Closing Ceremonies The flame is out and we say au revoir to the Paris 2024 Olympics. First, there were still some competitions to wrap up: Jill made the journey out to Versailles to see the women’s modern pentathlon finals, and Alison saw TKFLASTANI Ben Hallock and Team USA go for the bronze at water polo. Plus, the Marathon Pour Tous looked like a great time for some, but perhaps not for others. And we look at the unusually unjoyful Closing Ceremonies that Paris 2024 gave us. Sports on today’s program: Athletics Basketball Handball Modern Pentathlon Track Cycling Volleyball Wate...2024-08-121h 10
Keep the Flame AliveParis 2024 Olympics: Day 15It's the penultimate day of the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics, but we're still going strong with incredible competitions. Jill went to weightlifting and discovered way more than you see on TV. Then she headed to the final night of artistic swimming to cheer on TKFLASTAN in their duet competitions. Alison made it to the men's breaking competition--what does she think of Paris 2024's new sport? Sports on today's program: Artistic Swimming Athletics Basketball Beach Volleyball Boxing Breaking Canoe Sprint Diving Football Golf Handball Modern Pentathlon Rhythmic Gymnastics Sport Climbing Table Tennis Taekwondo Track Cycling Volleyball Water Polo...2024-08-111h 23
Keep the Flame AliveParis 2024 Olympics: Day 14Hip hop meets the Olympic stage today, as breaking gets underway, and B-girl Talash from the Refugee Team makes a big splash in the opening battle with a field of play protest. Our TKFLASTANI Sunny pulls a tough draw in the round robin competition. Jill's there to see how she does. Plus, Alison nerves get tested by "Moulin Rouge" during the Rhythmic Gymnastics competition, and she wonders why ball and ribbon were paired for the team competition. Sports on today's program: Artistic Swimming Athletics Basketball Beach Volleyball Boxing Breaking Canoe Sprint Diving Football Golf Handball Hockey...2024-08-101h 15
Keep the Flame AliveParis 2024 Olympics: Day 13We're heading into the home stretch of the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics, but some sports are just getting underway. Alison ventures back into the icebox that is the Grand Palais for taekwondo, while Jill watches the crystals fly at rhythmic gymnastics and discovers that the velodrome is really a sauna (on purpose). There's some controversy on the track, and a number of medalists in multiple sports successfully defended their medals, including a TKFLASTANI! Plus, a puzzling interpretation of good and bad toilet use, spotted at the velodrome. Sports on today's program: Athletics Basketball Beach Volleyball B...2024-08-0959 min
Keep the Flame AliveParis 2024 Olympics: Day 11 The Paris 2024 Olympics continue to make history, and today was no exception, as we’ve got the first 5-peat champion in Olympic history. Plus, Jill ventures out to the skate park and Alison heads to sport climbing. Will these newer Olympic sports capture our hearts? Sports on today’s program include: Artistic Swimming Athletics Basketball Beach Volleyball Boxing Canoe Sprint Diving Equestrian Football Handball Hockey Sailing Skateboard Sport Climbing Surfing Table Tennis Track Cycling Volleyball Water Polo Wrestling Don’t forget – the only way that we’re able to bring you this unique look at the Games...2024-08-0752 min
Keep the Flame AliveParis 2024 Olympics: Day 10 It’s Day 10 of the Paris 2024 Olympics, and we’re both struggling with colds. Alison checks out the wrestling competition and comes to a realization about fighting sports. Jill and Contributor Ben saw the city’s archeological archives in the morning, then Jill saw the tail end of the 3×3 competition–and had a moment with an IOC member. The day’s competition includes: Artistic Gymnastics Artistic Swimming Athletics Badminton Basketball 3×3 Beach Volleyball Canoe Slalom Diving Equestrian Football Hockey Sailing Shooting Sport Climbing Table Tennis Track Cycling Triathlon Volleyball Water Polo Don’t forget – the only way that we’re a...2024-08-0642 min
Keep the Flame AliveParis 2024 Olympics: Day 9 We’ve hit the last day of swimming, which always means a turning point in the Summer Olympics. For us, that meant Alison had a tough transportation day, and Jill explored the canoe slalom venue, which of course means new toilets to report on. Then she headed to Ireland House to check out some of the hospitality house scene. Was it worth it? Plus, TKFLASTAN gets a world record! The sports on today’s program are: 3×3 Basketball Archery Artistic Gymnastics Athletics Badminton Basketball Beach Volleyball Boxing Canoe Slalom Equestrian Fencing Golf Handball Hockey Road Cycling Sailing Shoot...2024-08-0552 min
Keep the Flame AliveParis 2024 Olympics: Day 8It's Super Saturday here at Paris 2024, with so many swimming and athletics finals (and some rain). Jill ventured out to Colombes to check out the hockey competition, which is in the original 1924 Olympic stadium, then went to the Stade de France for a big night in athletics. Meanwhile, Alison got to see some heart-stopping artistic gymnastics apparatus finals, thrilling swimming races, and more importantly, worked on getting rid of her cold. The sports on today's program are: 3x3 Basketball Archery Artistic Gymnastics Athletics Badminton Basketball Beach Volleyball Boxing Canoe Slalom Cycling - Road Equestrian Fencing Football G...2024-08-041h 31
Keep the Flame AliveParis 2024 Olympics: Day 7It's Day 7 of the Paris 2024 Olympics, and Olympic fatigue is starting to settle in. Alison battles a sore throat, but finds another pharmacie and rallies to go to trampoline and 3X3 basketball. Meanwhile, Jill gets into the pin trading game and sees a France podium sweep in BMX. It's her first visit to the velodrome/BMX racing park, which, of course, means a new toilet to visit! The Sports on today's program are: 3x3 Basketball Archery Athletics Badminton Basketball Beach Volleyball Boxing Canoe Slalom Cycling BMX Racing Diving Equestrian Fencing Football Golf Handball Hockey Judo Rowing Sa...2024-08-031h 13
Keep the Flame AliveParis 2024 Olympics: Day 6 The heat is still on here in Paris–and it’s brutal. We’re sticking to indoor sports for the time being, but that doesn’t mean we can avoid the oppressive heat while we wander around venues. Alison went on the hunt for a pharmacie to find a sore throat remedy and lingered in the coolness of the badminton venue. Meanwhile, Jill scored some Paris Media Center condoms and had a real lunch before discovering the toilet situation at Arena Sud and fearing for her life at the volleyball venue. Plus, it’s the magical hour of vacuuming somewhere...2024-08-021h 18
Keep the Flame AliveParis 2024 Olympics: Day 5 It was a scorcher of a day both weather-wise and on the playing field….and some TKFLASTANIs got burned. Both Jill and Alison had issues with the extremely hot weather here–Jill wandered around the Urban Park concept at Place de la Concorde trying to find the media center, and Alison burned her backside at Beach Volleyball. Other than that, it was a great day of competition, with France’s hero of the Games, swimmer Leon Marchand bringing home more hardware. Plus, action in: Archery Artistic Gymnastics Badminton Basketball Basketball 3×3 Beach Volleyball BMX Freestyle Boxing Canoe Slalom...2024-08-011h 09
Keep the Flame AliveParis 2024 Olympics: Day 4 It’s Day 4 of the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics, and the heat is on–literally! Broiling temps outside meant it was an indoors day for us–but did we still sweat through our clothes? Of course! Jill was at badminton for group play, then squeezed into the top of the press tribune for the women’s team artistic gymnastics final, where she had to perform some of her own gymnastics just to watch the competition. Meanwhile, Alison went to table tennis and volleyball, where she had a TBach sighting. We run down the day’s competition, which incl...2024-07-311h 03
Keep the Flame AliveParis 2024 Olympics: Day 3It's Day 3 of the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics, and the excitement is everywhere--except on the tram that Alison was stuck on. We talk transportation, venue commutes, as well as more about daily life here in France. Plus, Jill got a tour of Champions Park and has the lowdown on this new addition to the Games. The sports on today's program are: Archery Artistic Gymnastics Badminton Basketball Beach Volleyball Boxing Canoe Slalom Diving Equestrian Fencing Handball Hockey Judo Mountain Biking Rowing Rugby Sevens Sailing Shooting Surfing Swimming Table Tennis Tennis Volleyball Water Polo Don't forget - the...2024-07-301h 02
Keep the Flame AliveParis 2024 Olympics: Opening CeremoniesLet the Games begin! We've just experienced the most unique Opening Ceremonies in Olympic history. We break it down from two perspectives--Jill was on the Seine for the show (in the rain), and Alison was at a watch party. Who had the better time? Don't forget - the only way that we're able to bring you this unique look at the Games is thanks to donations from listeners like you. Please support us financially so that we can continue to keep our flame alive. We have many ways to support us -- and if you sign up...2024-07-271h 00
Keep the Flame AliveParis 2024 Olympics: Day -1 It’s Day -1 of the Paris 2024 Olympics, and one tournament is nearly over! More sports join in on the action, and we’ve got results from: Archery Football Handball Rugby Sevens Alison went to a ton of press conferences today and has reports from: USA Basketball World Aquatics Word Anti-Doping Agency International Testing Agency Plus, Jill covered a party for the K-9 cops and dogs here from around the world. And we get started on toilet talk! Some of these toilettes are really small (that red bit on the left is Ji...2024-07-2641 min
Keep the Flame AliveParis 2024 Olympics: Day -2Even though the cauldron isn't lit, the Paris 2024 Olympic Games have begun! We've got pre-Opening Ceremonies action in: Football Rugby Sevens Find out how TKFLASTANI Perry Baker and Team USA fare in their first two games of the group stage. Plus, we can tell you what goes on in the stadium that you can't see at home! If you're still planning on coming to Paris, we'll tell you what to look out for! We also have an update on our personal safety in the neighborhood around our hotel. What's the Paris 2024 Organizing Committee's response? 2024-07-2447 minKeep the Flame AliveOlympic Gymnastics and Épée Fencing with Team USAWe're in the thick of Olympic and Paralympic Trials for Team USA! On this episode, we're featuring some of the gymnasts who will be vying for slots on the Team USA's artistic gymnastics team this weekend. Yul Moldauer and Brody Malone talked with us at Team USA's Media Summit in April, and they'll be competing to get onto their second Olympic team. Learn more on how to watch the gymnastics trials here. Follow Yul on Insta and X, and Brody on Insta and X. Also joining us is rhythmic gymnast Evita Griskenas. Evita has already...2024-06-2853 minKeep the Flame AliveOlympian Kenny Bednarek on the 200mOlympic sprinter Kenny Bednarek joins Jill and Alison for a discussion about sprint starts, running the curve on a track, and the principles Kung Fu Kenny lives by. Follow Kenny on Insta, X, YouTube, Facebook and TikTok! The latest news from Paris 2024 has a transport focus, including shuttles to remote venues and updates on Uber policies during the Games. Plus, more tickets will drop every Thursday at 10am Paris time until the Games start. Also, Casa Columbia joins the mix of hospitality houses. Still on the fence abou...2024-05-3037 minKeep the Flame AliveYouth Olympic Games Gangwon 2024 Week 1The Olympics always has test events to make sure the venues are in working order and everything is ready to go for the Games. We've got one too--and that's the Winter Youth Olympic Games (YOG) that are taking place in Gangwon, South Korea (and using many venues from PyeongChang 2018!). Alison has wholeheartedly jumped back into double screening, and her maternal vibe is really coming out for these kids. Jill? Well, she has thoughts about the YOG and is still working through them. On this episode, we cover Days 1-4, including: What officiating/volunteer job...2024-01-251h 04
Keep the Flame AliveChamonix 1924: The Story Behind the Winter OlympicsHow did the Winter Olympics begin? We've got the story for you in our new Games History Moment (GHM) show, which for 2024 will focus on the first Winter Olympics that took place in Chamonix, France, in 1924. The origin story has drama, competition, backtracking, and throwing people under the bus--which goes to show that the International Olympic Committee has had telenovela-esque situations since its early days. Alison explores how winter sports were an element in some of the very early Summer Olympics and how World War I impacted the introduction of even more winter sports. The...2024-01-2413 minKeep the Flame AliveThe Future of Olympic Branding with Terrence BurnsSports marketing and sponsorship expert Terrence Burns is back to discuss how sports marketers don’t get the Olympic brand. Terrence is the Owner, Chairman & CEO of T. Burns Sports Group, LLC, which does sports marketing, sponsorship sales/negotiation/strategy, bidding advisory services, and brand & communications development. Terrence has a wealth of knowledge about the world of the Olympics -- check out his blog for some good behind-the-scenes stories of Olympic bids past. He's also a good follow on X and LinkedIn. In Paris 2024 news (timely, given our show topic), the International Olympic Committee--and Team USA...2024-01-1952 minKeep the Flame AliveThe State of Gymnastics with Blythe LawrenceWe're excited to share with you the second part of our interview with freelance sports journalist and commentator Blythe Lawrence (if you missed part 1, go back to episode 300). Last time we focused on rhythmic gymnastics, and now we're checking out what's up in the world of artistic gymnastics. Follow Blythe on X/Twitter and Insta. She's also been commentating the Invictus Games with fellow TKFLASTANI Olly Hogben! Jill's recent visit to the York Barbell Company's Weightlifting Hall of Fame inspired this episode's Seoul 1988 History Moment, in which she looks at the first gold m...2023-09-1453 minKeep the Flame AliveLong Run to Glory with Author Stephen LaneAuthor Stephen Lane talks with us about his new book Long Run to Glory: The Story of the Greatest Marathon in Olympic History and the Women Who Made it Happen. It’s about the development of women’s marathon as a sport, how it became included in the Olympics, and the very first Olympic marathon at LA 1984. Stephen's book is a great read, so be sure to check it out. We have it listed on our Bookshop.org storefront (affiliate link) In our Seoul 1988 history moment, Alison goes into "what happened next" for the women's marat...2023-09-071h 11Keep the Flame AliveWhen Women's Sitting Volleyball Was New with Lo NigroshWe love hearing what the Games used to be like for pioneers of sport, so we're excited to have on Paralympian Lo Nigrosh, who was on the first U.S. women's sitting volleyball team. They competed at Athens 2004 and to many people's surprise, brought home the bronze. Lo tells us what the early days of the team were like and about her time in Athens. Today Lo is a lactation consultant, childbirth educator and birth doula at Quabbin Birth Services, and she's host of the podcast The Milk Making Minutes (look for Alison to be a guest...2023-08-251h 05Keep the Flame AliveRhythmic Gymnastics with Blythe LawrenceOn this episode, we look at the world of rhythmic gymnastics with freelance sports journalist and commentator Blythe Lawrence (whose voice you might recognize from many a gymnastics feed). Blythe explains how the sport works and what we can look forward to at Paris 2024. Be sure to follow Blythe on Twitter and Insta! In our Seoul history moment, Alison looks at the men's 100m butterfly race, which has a surprising winner. In our visit to TKFLASTAN, we have news from: Swimmer Felicity Passon Speed skater Erin Jackson - catch her this fall...2023-08-1845 minKeep the Flame AliveWheelchair Fencing with Paralympian Ellen GeddesThis week we are moving to the fencing piste to learn how wheelchair fencing works. Contributor Ben talks with Paralympian Ellen Geddes about the ins and outs of the sport and how she got into it. Follow Ellen on Insta! For our Seoul 1988 history moment, our intern Annalee Deabel tells of yet another controversy in the boxing ring, this time about South Korean boxer Byeon Jeong-il, whose headbutts rankled the referee, leading to pure chaos--and then sadness--in the ring. In news from TKFLASTAN, we have updates from: Montreal 1976 Author Andrew Maraniss...2023-08-0454 minKeep the Flame AliveOne Year to Paris 2024 with Ken HanscomWe are officially at the one year to go mark before the Paris 2024 Olympics starts! That means it's time for a visit from our TKFLASTANI travel expert Ken Hanscom, who's got all of the details on what tickets might still be available, the hotel situation, flights, getting around Paris, and the hospitality houses. Follow Ken on Twitter (X) and Insta, and if you're on Facebook, join the Paris 2024 Olympics Planning & Preparation group for more advice! In our Seoul 1988 history moment, Alison gets into the details of Seoul's mascot Hodori. In our weekly journey...2023-07-271h 01Keep the Flame AlivePaul Kamphuis on Hockey TurfAre you ready for surface talk?! This week we're joined by Paul Kamphuis, general manager at Polytan Asia Pacific, to talk about hockey turf. Paul tells us how the surface is made, why it's watered, and he's got a job Jill would like to do come Games time. Coincidentally this week was also Hockey Turf Day, so we hoped you celebrated appropriately. If you haven't, watch "The Surface," a really interesting documentary about the evolution of hockey turf. The "Smurf Turf," as it was nicknamed, debuted at the London 2012 Olympics. Paul's got the details on how the...2023-07-2057 minKeep the Flame AliveSo Many Olympic Updates!So much has been happening in the world of the Olympics that this week we're catching up on all of the news. We start with the continued saga of boxing and the International Boxing Association (IBA) vs. the International Olympic Committee (IOC). We then take a look at the IOC's eSports Week, which was held in Singapore on June 22-25. Will eSports be a bigger part of the IOC's plan to reach youth? We also have an update in the Kamila Valieva situation, including a ballsy exhibit at the US Olympic and Paralympic Museum marking 500 da...2023-06-2945 minKeep the Flame AliveCraig Spence on the International Paralympic Committee, Part 2We're excited to have Craig Spence, chief brand and communication officer of the International Paralympic Committee, back on the show with us. In part 2 of his interview, we learn the latest on the situation with Russia and Belarus, and we also learn what keeps Craig up at night (sadly, it might be us at the moment). Craig's a great follow on social! Find him on Twitter, Insta and LinkedIn. WARNING: This episode's Seoul History Moment will likely have you going down the rabbit hole of rhythmic gymnastics. Alison's got the details on the competition, which...2023-06-1538 minKeep the Flame Alive3x Paralympian Chuck Aoki on Wheelchair Rugbyt's always great when we can take someone off our never-ending list of people we'd love to talk to. It's even better when we manage to do the interview without completely fangirling. This week we talk with wheelchair rugby legend Chuck Aoki. Chuck has been to three Paralympics--London 2012, Rio 2016, and Tokyo 2020. He's racked up hardware at all three, with a bronze and two silvers respectively. Chuck is currently on the Team USA 2023 training squad in preparation for international competition later this year. We talked with Chuck about the finer points of the sport, its specialized wheelchairs, and...2023-05-1253 minKeep the Flame AliveOlympic Commentator Olly Hogben Returns!e're thrilled to have Olly Hogben, Olympic Broadcasting Service commentator, back on the show this week! We talk about his experiences commentating at Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020 and Beijing 2022, and what makes the Olympics so special. Olly’s a great follow on social media! Check him out on Twitter and Insta, and you can learn more about him at his website. Since we're talking broadcasting, Alison took a look at NBC's coverage of Seoul 1998 for our history moment. It's pretty horrifying--and Mary Carillo stories aren't even a thing yet. In our visit to TKFLASTAN, we hav...2023-04-2851 minKeep the Flame AliveOlympic Gold Medalist Katie Nageotte Moon on Pole VaultPole vault is an athletics discipline that we have really had questions about, so we're thrilled that Tokyo 2020 Olympic gold medalist Katie Nageotte--now Katie Moon--could join us to talk about her sport. We talked with Katie about poles (ever wonder how much a pole vault pole costs? Try seven of them), spikes, and what it feels like if a pole snaps while you're mid-vault. Follow Katie on TikTok, Insta and Twitter! We stick with our pole vault theme for our history moment, when Jill looks at the pole vault competition from Seoul 1988. That's...2023-04-211h 18Keep the Flame Alive"Transcending" with Paralympian Ness Murby and Eva FejesWe love it when a TKFLASTANI comes back to visit--and it's even better when they bring someone along! We're excited to have Paralympian Ness Murby back on the the show. You may remember Ness' first visit, soon after he came out as transmasculine. Two-plus years later, he's fulfilled his dream of being a husband and father--and now he's trying to become the first openly out transgender Paralympian. Ness and his wife Eva join us to talk about their docuseries called "Transcending," which follows their lives as they navigate Ness' transition in their everyday lives and on the...2023-04-1352 minKeep the Flame AliveOlly Hogben on Sports CommentaryDuring Tokyo 2020 coverage, Olly Hogben became one of our favorite OBS commentators, so we're thrilled to have him on this week. Olly talks with us about how he switched careers from teaching to commentating, how to work with a co-commentator, and what being at an event in person does to enhance the viewer experience. Plus, we have big announcement about Paris 2024! Olly's a great follow on social media! Check him out on Twitter and Insta, and you can learn more about him at his website. In our Seoul 1988 history moment, Alison starts looking into the...2023-03-3147 minKeep the Flame AliveParalympian Alison Levine on Boccia We’re headed to the boccia court this week to learn more about the sport from 2x Paralympian Alison Levine. Alison competes for Team Canada in the BC4 category in both individual and pairs competitions. We talk about how the sport works, plus, a healthy dose of ball talk! Follow Alison on Twitter and Insta, and check out her website. In our history moment this week, Jill looks at the goalball tournaments from Seoul 1988, which includes one team getting expelled from the Games. In our visit to TKFLA...2023-03-231h 00Keep the Flame AliveParalympian Matt Stutzman on Para ArcheryWe are thrilled to talk para archery with three-time Paralympian Matt Stutzman. Matt, who is also known as the Armless Archer, won a silver at London 2012, was 4th at Rio and placed 9th at Tokyo. He has also competed and medaled at multiple world championships. We talked with him about how the sport works, what strategies competitors use and the advice Olympian Michael Johnson gave him. Follow Matt on Twitter, Insta and Facebook. And check out his cherry-on-top BOOM in Team USA's 2021 Paralympic commercial. In our Seoul 1988 history moment, Alison looks back at the women's...2023-03-1649 minKeep the Flame AliveBook Club Claire on Inaugural BallersIt's Women's History Month, so it's only appropriate that our first book club selection of 2023 celebrates female athletes. Book Club Claire is back to discuss Inaugural Ballers: The True Story of the First US Women’s Olympic Basketball Team by Andrew Maraniss. We're having a free virtual Q&A with Andrew on Monday, March 27 at 9pm US Eastern Time. If you'd like to join us, please email flamealivepod@gmail.com to RSVP. In our history moment, Jill looks at a women's first at Seoul 1988: Track Cycling. This story also contains an Olympic first--and only--statistic. ...2023-03-101h 03Keep the Flame AliveGeoff Wightman on the 1500m and Announcing AthleticsIt's two interviews for the price of one! On this episode, middle-distance running coach and in-stadium announcer Geoff Wightman joins us to talk about how to run a 1500m, as well as what it's like to keep a crowd entertained during an athletics competition. You can follow him on Insta and Twitter. Geoff also has a series of e-books on Amazon that tell about his life and stories in sport. In our Seoul 1988 history moment, Alison keeps the "all in the family" theme going, with a look at the Olympians whose parents and/or children...2023-03-021h 03Keep the Flame AliveAndy Spalding on Anti-Corruption at the OlympicsWe joke about people peddling steaks and watches as influence, but megasporting events do have some very public issues with corruption. Could the International Olympic Committee create reform when it comes to anti-corruption and human rights? Law professor Andy Spalding, head of the independent group Olympics Compliance Task Force joins us to talk about the work his group is doing to develop a new approach to these issues for the Olympics and the World Cup. You might be shocked to hear what Qatar did in these areas - time will tell on whether its efforts will be a part...2023-02-101h 08Keep the Flame AliveDick Pound on DopingThis week we've got part two of our conversation with Dick Pound, the longest-serving member of the International Olympic Committee. Dick worked on the formation of the World Anti-Doping Agency, so we start today's conversation with one of our favorite topics, doping. Then we get into Dick's work with broadcast rights negotiation, as well as the Winter 2030 bid and legacy. In our Seoul history moment, Alison takes a look at the official song "Hand in Hand." Watch the song being performed at the Opening Ceremonies here: https://youtube.com/watch?v=OlxqzcOWMvk&si=EnSIkaIECMiOmarE TKFLASTAN...2023-01-2646 minKeep the Flame AliveMichael Payne on the Early Days of Olympic MarketingThe International Olympic Committee is a juggernaut that in 2021 brought in $4.2 billion in revenue. But the organization wasn't always that wealthy, and it took a lot of work to create the programs that brought the IOC from the brink of destruction to the global powerhouse it is today. Michael Payne was one of the people who helped the IOC right its course. As the organization's first marketing director, he helped develop the TOP sponsorship program and also managed broadcast rights. After working at the IOC for 16 years, he left in 2004 to start Payne Sports Media...2023-01-121h 01Keep the Flame AliveIzzy Cerullo on LA 2028LA 2028 will be here before you know it, so we wanted to learn a bit more about what's going on behind the scenes at the Organizing Committee. Izzy Cerullo, two-time Olympian in rugby sevens and current commercial and consumer insights associate at LA 2028, tells how she landed a gig on the other side of the Olympics and what insights she's looking at. Plus, Jill might have sighed more than Alison during this episode. What's up with that? Follow Izzy on Twitter and Insta! In our Albertville 1992 history moment, Alison takes a look at the amazing...2022-12-091h 13Keep the Flame AliveVisiting the Atlanta 1996 ArchivesIf you love Izzy, this episode is for you! In November Jill had the opportunity to go to Atlanta and was able to get a behind-the-scenes look at the Atlanta 1996 archives at the Atlanta History Center. Collections Manager Erica Hague showed Jill a few of the thousands of things they have in storage and walked her through TKFLASTANI Sarah Dylla’s exhibit on the Atlanta 1996 Games. To see photos and videos from this visit, check out our website and/or YouTube Channel. In our Albertville 1992 history moment, Jill looks at the women's biathlon relay, which is...2022-12-011h 07Keep the Flame AliveBook Club Claire on "Snowball's Chance"Book Club Claire is back for our last Book Club meeting for 2022, and we're discussing Snowball's Chance: The Story of the 1960 Olympic Winter Games Squaw Valley & Lake Tahoe by David C. Antonucci. Know nothing about the 1960 Winter Olympics? Neither did we until we read this book, and it's got all sorts of fun details that are surprisingly relevant to other parts of this episode. Plus, Walt Disney was involved with the ceremonial aspect of these Games, which definitely peaked our interests. In other big news, Paris 2024 announced its mascots: The Phyrges! We've got the story behind these...2022-11-181h 00Keep the Flame AliveRyan Shane on Short Track Speed SkatingWe're getting on the track -- the short track -- with Ryan Shane, US Olympic hopeful in short track speed skating. Ryan's got the details of the sport and answers some of our burning questions left over from Beijing 2022! And we've got some ice talk! You know how we love ice talk! Ryan recently made the Team USA roster for the Fall Short Track World Cup Circuit, so be on the lookout for his competitions! The easiest way to do that is to follow him on Insta and his website. In our Albertville 1992 history moment...2022-11-0359 minKeep the Flame AliveGymnastics Choreography with Nicole LangevinEver wonder what goes into creating an Olympic gymnastics floor routine? Choreographer and gymnastics judge Nicole Langevin joins us to explain some of the required elements and how gymnasts pack them into a minute-and-a-half. Among Nicole's routines include TKFLASTANI Chellsie Memmel's comeback routine and TKFLASATNI Houry Gebeshian's Rio 2016 routine (which has a really cool story behind it). Follow Nicole and learn more about her services: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nicolelangevinconsultant Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/NicoleLangevinConsultant Podcast: What Makes You Think - http://www.youtube.com/whatmakesyouthinkpodcast and whereever you get your podcasts...2022-10-281h 00Keep the Flame AliveTerrence Burns on the Development of Olympic SponsorshipWhat's it like to be an Olympic sponsor, and how has sponsorship and marketing of the Olympics evolved? Terrence Burns of T. Burns Sports Group is here to give some insight into this history. Follow Terrence on Twitter and read about his adventures consulting on Olympic bids at this blog. In our Albertvile history moment, Alison looks the legendary Italian skier Alberto Tomba--better known as Tomba la Bomba--and his achievements at Albertville 1992. In our visit to TKFLASTAN where we catch up with Team Keep the Flame Alive, we...2022-10-131h 14Keep the Flame AliveBook Club Claire on Abdi's WorldBook Club Claire is back for a not-so-marathon discussion about TKFLASTANI marathoner Abdi Abdirahman's book Abdi's World: The Black Cactus on Life, Running, and Fun. And plants. We also talk plants. Our next book will be Snowball's Chance: The Story of the 1960 Olympic Winter Games Squaw Valley & Lake Tahoe by David C. Antonucci. Get your copy through our Bookshop.org storefront (affiliate link) and support the show -- we get a commission from purchases made through that link. Also on the show, Alison looks back on short track speed skater Cathy Turner's feats at Albertville 1992.2022-09-0847 minKeep the Flame Alive"The Magnificent Seven" Creators Gordon Leary & Julia MeinwaldTheater collaborators Gordon Leary and Julia Meinwald have brought the Olympics to the stage in the new musical "The Magnificent Seven," which tells the story of the women's team artistic gymnastics competition during the Atlanta 1996 Olympics. How did they bring this show to the stage, and just what is "sports blue"? We talked with Gordon and Julia during a limited run of the show Off Broadway that took place this past July. You can learn more about them at their website and on Insta. Find out more about the musical--and listen to the soundtrack--at the...2022-08-251h 07Keep the Flame AliveFilm Buff Fran on "One Light, One World"It’s time for movie club! Film Buff Fran is back with the official film of the 1992 Albertville Winter Olympics “One Light One World, ” directed by Joe Jay Jalbert and R. Douglas Copsey. In our Albertville 1992 moment, Alison has part 2 of her deep dive on the women's figure skating competition. In news from TKFLASTAN we have updates from: Connor Fields' and his retirement from BMX racing Michelle Carter - Check out her new jewelry collection Retired bobsledder Lauren Gibbs Figure skater Nate Bartholomay Beach volleyball player Kelly Cheng Author David Maraniss Karate-ka Tom Scott and fo...2022-08-1857 minKeep the Flame AliveAuthor David Maraniss on Jim ThorpeWe are so excited to have David Maraniss on today’s show to talk about his new book Path Lit by Lightning: The Life of Jim Thorpe. Path Lit by Lightning came out this week, and we talked with him about the book and Thorpe, who won the pentathlon and decathlon at Stockholm 1912, but had his medals stripped because it was later discovered that he had been a professional athlete. Follow David on Facebook, Twitter and Insta! David will be on tour promoting the book from now through October. Check out his website for...2022-08-1157 minKeep the Flame AliveShannon Galea on Starting a Governing BodyWe talk a lot about more nations getting involved with sports, or smaller nations having more presence at an Olympics or Paralympics. For a nation to be at the Games, they need to have a national governing body in the sport – but what does it take to start one? On this episode we’re talking with skeleton athlete Shannon Galea, who has dual citizenship with Canada and Malta, and who founded the Maltese Bobsled and Skeleton Federation with hopes of qualifying for the Olympics. Follow Shannon on Insta, and you'll be able to find her federation's website thro...2022-07-011h 11Keep the Flame AliveWomen's Nordic Combined with Annika MalacinskiNordic Combined is the only sport on the current Olympic program that is only open to men. Many athletes are working to change that, including Team USA’s Annika Malacinski. We talk with Annika about how the sport works, which surprisingly involves a lot of body measurements (see: ski jumping suit scandal at Beijing), and we learn about one of the best winner's prizes ever. Annika gets pretty frank with us about how tough it is to not have her discipline in the Olympics. It tried to get into 2022, but was denied. Its attempt to get into 2026 ne...2022-06-171h 15Keep the Flame AliveParalympian and Broadcaster Rob SnoekToday we welcome Paralympian-turned-broadcaster Rob Snoek. Rob competed in athletics at the 1992, 1996 and 2000 Paralympics before transitioning to a career in sports broadcasting. Today Rob calls all sorts of sports and has worked with the CBC on their Olympics and Paralympics coverage since 2002. At Beijing 2022, Rob was the CBC's snowboard play-by-play announcer for the Olympics, commentating from Toronto. Then he traveled to Beijing to work as a sled hockey (or sledge hockey, as Rob says) commentator for the Olympic Broadcasting Service. Rob talks with us about his experiences at the Paralympics, as well what it takes t...2022-05-201h 04Keep the Flame AliveJohn Coates, Modern Pentathlon and Age Limits - Oh, My!John Coates has stepped down as president of the Australian Olympic Committee. UIPM, the modern pentathlon federation, has selected a sport to test to replace the horse showjumping discipline. The International Skating Union is set to vote on raising the minimum age limits for senior-level athletes. So much going on in the world of the Olympics this week! In our history moment, Alison explains the Unified Team from Albertville 1992. We also have news from TKFLASTANIs Teri Hedgpeth, Stephanie Roble, Maggie Shea, Joe Maloy, Tom Scott and Chloe Kim. Plus, Team USA went to the White House! 2022-05-0650 minKeep the Flame AliveMark Edward Harris on Olympics and Paralympics PhotographyPhotographer Mark Edward Harris was one of the friends we made in the Closed Loop at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. We talked with him about his craft--and his several frostbitten fingers. Learn more about Mark at his website and follow him on Insta. Plus, Alison's got a funky costume story from the Albertville 1992 Opening Ceremonies. We raved over the outfits worn by the country escorts during the Opening Ceremonies of Beijing. Alison's got the details on those from 30 years ago. We also have news from TKFLASTAN and our Team Keep the Flame Alive:2022-04-2254 minKeep the Flame AliveBeijing 2022 Paralympics PreviewAlison has made it to Beijing just in time for big breaking news from the International Paralympic Committee about the participation of Russian Paralympic Committee (RPC) and Belarus in the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympics. Plus, Jill covers the torch relay and Alison shares how Beijing is different than other big cities. Red Envelope campaign! this show does cost money to produce, and while our listeners have been extremely generous in supporting us through the Kickstarter campaign that got us to Beijing and also through Patreon patronage, we’re coming up on 2 ½ years until another Olympics, so to...2022-03-0442 minKeep the Flame AliveAtlanta 1996: History Wrap-UpIt's the end of the year, which means it's the end of our year-long look back at the Atlanta 1996 Olympics and Paralympics. Jill and Alison discuss their favorite Atlanta stories, and they've got lightning rounds from some TKFLASTANIS with Atlanta connections: City planners Michael Dobbins and Randal Roark Laura Berg, member of the 1996 US women's softball team Plus we have an update on the Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai and news from the International Paralympic Committee (including our least favorite topic: doping). Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, ke...2021-12-2328 minKeep the Flame AliveBeijing 2022 Figure Skating Preview with Analyst Jackie WongThis week we’re strapping on our figure skates and chatting with Rocker Skating’s Jackie Wong to suss out who will be on the podium for all events in the figure skating competition at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. Follow Jackie on Twitter! In our Atlanta 1996 history moment, Alison uncovers the origins of a broadcasting style we’ve come to loathe. Our winter TKFLASTANI athletes are in high gear, and we’ve got results from biathlete Clare Egan, bobsledder Josh Williamson, speedskater Erin Jackson and moguls skier Bradley Wilson. Plus there...2021-12-101h 20Keep the Flame AliveThe Latest on the Olympic NovelasWe love a good telenovela-esque Olympic situation, and this week's episode is chock full of them. Bribery! Guilty verdicts! Stifling voices! Boring kits! Transgender guidelines! And someone makes Alison mad - who could it be this week? Plus, our Atlanta 1996 history moment featuring the most famous shoes from these Olympics, and how Paris 2024 might have flying taxis as a transportation option. In our news from TKFLASTAN, we have updates from Biathlete Clare Egan Ice dancer Charlie White Modern pentathlete Samantha Schultz BMX cyclist Connor Fields Thanks so much for listening, and until next...2021-12-0344 minKeep the Flame AliveFilm Buff Fran on "I, Tonya"It’s time for our last Movie Club of 2021! Film Buff Fran is back to discuss the 2017 movie “I, Tonya,” which is on the scandal surrounding the attack on figure skater Nancy Kerrigan ahead of the Lillehammer 1994 Olympics, which was found to be tied to her rival Tonya Harding. Will we feel sympathy for Tonya Harding after watching a film based on her side of the story? In our history moment, Alison looks back at the Atlanta 1996 men's artistic gymnastics competition, and Jill shares why Chinese gold medalist Li Xiaoshuang made a lasting impact on her. We a...2021-11-1950 minKeep the Flame AliveBook Club Claire on Dominique Moceanu's "Off Balance"Book Club Claire joins Jill and Alison to discuss 1996 Olympic gold medalist Dominique Moceanu's book "Off Balance: A Memoir." Plus, we have news from the Olympic world and an Atlanta 1996 Olympic history moment with Celine Dion. For a transcript of this episode, please visit http://flamealivepod.com. Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive! *** Keep the Flame Alive: The Olympics and Paralympics Fan Podcast with hosts Jill Jaracz & Alison Brown. New episodes released every week and daily during the Ol...2021-11-121h 05Keep the Flame AliveModern Pentathlete Samantha Schultz's Tokyo 2020 ExperienceWe always love it when TKFLASTANIS come back on the show, so we're thrilled that modern pentathlete Samantha Schultz had some time to chat with us about her experiences in Tokyo. We talk with Samantha about competing in the heat, life in the Olympic Village (how were those beds?), and how the post-Olympic lows have been, as well as what's on tap for her future. Modern pentathlon's not known for making headlines during the Olympics, but Tokyo's women's competition did -- and sadly, not for a great reason. Annika Schleu, who was leading the competition...2021-11-051h 23Keep the Flame Alive“Next Olympic Hopeful” Bobsledder Josh Williamson ReturnsAll of our TKFLASTANIS are very dear to us, but Citizen #1 will have a special place in our hearts. Bobsledder Josh Williamson, winner of the first season of Team USA's "The Next Olympic Hopeful" was our first interviewee, and now he returns, on the cusp of fulfilling his "Next Olympic Hopeful" goals and making it to the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. We catch up with Josh and learn how he's approaching this season, what it's like to become a veteran in the sport, and what the bobsled track at Beijing is like (POV video here). Follow Josh on...2021-10-2254 minKeep the Flame AliveHarry Blutstein on Mexico City 1968We welcome back TKFLASTANI author Harry Blutstein to talk about his latest book Games of Discontent: Protests, Boycotts, and Politics at the 196 Mexico Olympics. We discuss a few of the protests during these Games - the infamous Tommie Smith/John Carlos podium protest, of course, but also protests by Czechoslovakian gymnast Věra Čáslavská. And yes, there's Avery Brundage talk! Learn more about Harry at his website, and follow him on Twitter and Facebook. Get a copy of the book (it's a great read) from our Bookshop.org storefront. Purchases made through this link will help...2021-10-081h 12
Keep the Flame AliveTokyo 2020 Paralympics: Day 9The action at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics keeps getting better....or maybe we're just seeing the same races over and over, thanks to the joys of NBC's coverage. We're starting to see some new sports come up on the feeds, and Alison has found a replacement for the rugby wheelchair-sized hole in her heart! Today's sports program includes: Archery Athletics Badminton Boccia Cycling - Road Goalball Shooting Sitting Volleyball Swimming Table Tennis Wheelchair Basketball Wheelchair Tennis Plus, our mainstay segments: Feed Beefs What Officiating/Volunteer Job Would We Do? TKFLASTAN Watch Our...2021-09-021h 00
Keep the Flame AliveTokyo 2020 Paralympics: Day 6The Tokyo 2020 wheelchair rugby tournament is over, which makes Alison very sad (she may have watched both medal bouts twice); however, a new team sport has started that looks to also be incredibly fun to watch! Today's action includes: Archery Athletics Boccia Equestrian Football 5-a-side Goalball Judo Powerlifting Rowing Sitting Volleyball Swimming Table Tennis Triathlon Wheelchair Basketball Wheelchair Fencing Wheelchair Rugby Wheelchair Tennis Time's running out! We need your help! For the upcoming Winter Olympics and Paralympics in 2022, we'll have an on-the-ground presence. This will allow us to bring you an Olympics audio experience like...2021-08-301h 03
Keep the Flame AliveTokyo 2020 Paralympics: Day 5Alison is back, and things are heating up in Tokyo -- literally. Some sports have heat delays! The heat's a bigger issue with Paralympians, and we'll explain why. Also, 17 sports on today's event program: Archery Athletics Boccia Cycling Track Equestrian Goalball Judo Powerlifting Rowing Sitting Volleyball Swimming Table Tennis - with TKFLASTANI Melissa Tapper Triathlon Wheelchair Basketball Wheelchair Fencing Wheelchair Rugby Wheelchair Tennis We need your help! For the upcoming Winter Olympics and Paralympics in 2022, we'll have an on-the-ground presence. This will allow us to bring you an Olympics audio experience like no other. But...2021-08-2958 min
Keep the Flame AliveTokyo 2020 Olympics: Day 15It was a banner day for TKFLASTAN as we had many Team Keep the Flame Alive athletes competing.....all at the same time. This made for a hectic, but fun day of viewing. And, Alison's shopping for feed bags! Today's coverage includes: Artistic Swimming - with TKFLASTANI Jacqueline Simoneau Athletics - with TKFLASTANI Evan Dunfee Basketball Beach Volleyball Boxing Canoe Sprint Cycling - Track Diving Equestrian Football Golf Handball Hockey Karate - with TKFLASTANI Tom Scott Modern Pentathlon - with TKFLASTANI Samantha Schultz Rhythmic Gymnastics Sport Climbing Table Tennis Volleyball Water Polo Wrestling Plus, our p...2021-08-0652 min
Keep the Flame AliveTokyo 2020 Olympics: Day 12Day 12 of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics turned out to be the day where Jill and Alison lost it. So much Olympic action, so much lost sleep, so many names to try to pronounce! That said, Day 12 also features the race of the Games: 400m hurdles. Do yourself a favor and watch it (maybe again) before the show. We've also got action in: Artistic Gymnastics - Last day of competition, and Simone Biles is back! Athletics - TKFLASTANI DeAnna Price competed! Baseball - We realize we don't understand the tournament structure. Basketball Beach Volleyball - A major upset! Boxing Canoe...2021-08-0359 min
Keep the Flame AliveTokyo 2020 Olympics: Day 7With Simone Biles out of the artistic gymnastics competition, all eyes were on the women's Olympic All-Around. What happened? What does Alison think of today's leotards? Listen to find out! Along with artistic gymnastics, we also have competition updates on: Badminton Baseball Basketball Beach Volleyball - TKFLASTANI Kelly Claes competed! Boxing - TKFLASTANI Ginny Fuchs competed! Canoe Slalom - TKFLASTANI Luuka Jones competed! Cycling - BMX Racing - TKFLASTANI Connor Fields competed! Fencing Golf Handball Hockey Judo Rowing Rugby Sailing Shooting Swimming Table Tennis Volleyball Water Polo We also have a sobering Tokyo COVID-19 update...2021-07-2941 min
Keep the Flame AliveTokyo 2020 Olympics: Day 5SO much action, and SO many unexpected things happened today at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Buckle up because we've got 30 sports on today's program. In this episode we talk: 3x3 Basketball Artistic Gymnastics - both the men's and women's team competition Softball Boxing Canoe Slalom and our TKFLASTANI Luuka Jones Cycling - Mountain Bike Diving - 10m Synchro Platform, men and women Equestrian - Dressage Fencing Handball Judo Rugby Sailing and our TKFLASTANIS Stephanie Roble and Maggie Shea Shooting Surfing Swimming - Can Jill intimidate Alison? Table Tennis Taekwondo Tennis Triathlon Weightlifting Plus, our "Where's Marnie...2021-07-2755 min
Keep the Flame AliveTokyo 2020 Olympics: Day 3Day 3 of competition at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics brings the debut of skateboarding and surfing as official Olympic sports. What did we think? What did the target audience think? Do we even know what was going on, thanks to less-than-stellar announcing? Also on today's show: Results of the day's swimming competition are exactly why we love the Olympics. Women's artistic gymnastics - what happened to the US and also to our favorite gymnast Chuso? Why softball needs to stay on the Olympic program. Some jawdropping shots at the archery venue. TKFLASTANI Ginny Fuchs' first Olympic boxing match. TKFLASTANI Luuka Jo...2021-07-2538 minKeep the Flame AliveTim Sherry on 3 Position Rifle ShootingWe're on the shooting range with SPC Tim Sherry of Team USA and the US Army Marksmanship Unit. Tim walks us through the sport of 3 Position Rifle, including how to shoot in wind and rain, dealing with your feet falling asleep during competition, how puberty affects your shooting, the cost of a rifle, and why the new Olympic mixed rifle event will be exciting to watch. Follow Tim on Facebook, Insta and Twitter. Plus, our TKFLASTANIs are arriving in Tokyo, and we have more team news from: Jordan Gray, featured in the New York...2021-07-131h 06Keep the Flame AliveOlympic Gold Medalist Ginny Thrasher on Rifle ShootingWe're on the shooting range this week with Rio 2016 Olympic gold medalist Ginny Thrasher. Ginny won gold in the 10m air rifle, and she also competes in three-position 50m small-bore rifle. Ginny talks with us about the physical and mental demands of shooting, the funky shooting jacket and shoes, and how she travels with her rifles. Follow Ginny on Facebook, Insta, Twitter and TikTok and check out her website. What are our TKFLASTANIs up to this week? We've got news from: Figure skater Meagan Duhamel Gymnast Chellsie Memmel Swimmer Mallory Co...2021-05-211h 10Keep the Flame AliveGinny Fuchs on Boxing and OCDAmerican flyweight boxer Ginny Fuchs joins us to tell us more about how boxing works. Ginny is also coping with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), and as May is Mental Health Awareness Month, she tells us how OCD manifests for her and what sort of treatments she goes through to better manage it. Follow Ginny on Facebook, Insta and Twitter, and check out her website, Ginnyfuchs.com. Book Club Claire also joins us for a preview of our next Book Club Book, Sevens Heaven: The Beautiful Chaos of Fiji's Olympic Dream (affiliate link). She chats with...2021-05-061h 01Keep the Flame AliveOlympic Gold Medalist Connor Fields on BMX RacingConnor Fields, reigning Olympic gold medalist in BMX racing, joins us to explain just how BMX is more organized chaos and less demolition derby. And he shares some interesting details about the BMX course we'll be watching at Tokyo 2020. Follow Connor on Twitter, Insta and Facebook, and check out his website. What are our TKFLASTANIs up to this week? We've got news from: Modern pentathlete Samantha Schultz Figure skater Meagan Duhamel Paralympic swimmer and long jumper John Register -- check out his foreword contribution to Bespoke Bodies: The Design and Craft of Prosthetics, by...2021-04-2354 minKeep the Flame AliveEvan Dunfee on Race Walking - Part 1When Olympic race walker Evan Dunfee joined us to talk about his sport, little did we know we were in for some maranovela talk! In part 1 of our interview with Evan, we talk about the marathon and race walks' move to Sapporo and his opinions about the switch. Plus, the controversy over his race place at Rio 2016 and how Canadians embraced their best race walker. Follow Evan on Twitter and Insta, and check out his website! What are our TKFLASTANIs up to this week? We've got news from: Film producer John MacLeod Modern pentathlete...2021-04-0854 minKeep the Flame AliveTeam USA's Dominique Jones on 3x3 Basketball3x3 basketball is one of the new sports on the Olympic program, and NY Harlem/Team USA player Dominique Jones joins us to tell us how it works. Mark your calendars now to watch this during Tokyo 2020. We predict it'll be one of the most exciting additions to the Olympics. Jill also reports back from her Tokyo test event - i.e., the International Olympic Committee's recent marathon Session meeting. What's in store for the new Agenda 2020+5 plan, and did TBach get reelected? Follow Dominique on Insta and Facebook (Dominique Jones). What are...2021-03-181h 32Keep the Flame AliveFilm Buff Fran on "Gold"Film Buff Fran is back for the first non-English-language movie we're featuring in Movie Club: "Gold: The Dream that United Our Nation," on the 1948 Indian field hockey team that competed as an independent nation for the first time at the London 1948 Olympics. Will it move us? Will we break out into a Bollywood song and dance number? Will Alison show us her abs? You'll have to listen to find out! Our next movie will be "The Other Side of the Mountain," about skier Jill Kinmont who learns how to live after a devastating skiing accident. ...2020-11-201h 07Keep the Flame AliveLeslie Klein on Elite Athlete Transition from SportIf 2020 was a normal year, we would've just said good-bye to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics--and many athletes would be making big decisions about their futures. Since many athletes retire after an Olympics, we wanted to look at how elite athletes transition out of competitive life. To help us understand this topic, we talked with Leslie Klein, an Olympian who most recently was the Director of Athlete Career and Education (ACE) at the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee until the COVID-19 pandemic eliminated her position. She told us about the efforts of Team USA and other National Olympic Committees to help...2020-08-1355 min