Amira Rose Davis, Shireen Ahmed and Lindsay Gibbs start the show with customized "twisted" triathlons. Then they dive into a discussion about the immense pressure Olympic athletes carry into these games and what happens when they they don't meet the expectations placed on them. This episode revisits, contextualizes and reclaims three historical so-called disappointments: the 2000 Sydney Olympics vault controversy and Russian gymnast Svetlana Khorkina, world renowned Brazilian gymnast Daiane dos ...
Aug 03, 2021•55 min
In this Hot Take, Shireen Ahmed, Amira Rose Davis and Lindsay Gibbs talk all about Canada's 1-0 victory over the U.S. in the women's soccer Olympic semi final. This episode was produced by Tressa Versteeg. Shelby Weldon is our social media and website specialist. Burn It All Down is part of the Blue Wire podcast network. For show notes, transcripts, and more info about BIAD, check out our website: www.burnitalldownpod.com To help support the Burn It All Down podcast, please consider becoming a p...
Aug 02, 2021•22 min
In this episode Jessica Luther interviews journalist Mirin Fader about her new book, Giannis: The Improbable Rise of an NBA MVP, which comes out August 10. They talk about Mirin’s basketball skills, how she got into writing about sports, and, of course, about NBA champion and two-time MVP, Giannis Antetokounmpo. This episode was produced by Tressa Versteeg. Shelby Weldon is our social media and website specialist. Burn It All Down is part of the Blue Wire podcast network. For show notes, transcr...
Jul 29, 2021•27 min
In this episode Shireen Ahmed, Amira Rose Davis and Jessica Luther start the show with a discussion of the Cleveland Guardians. Then, sparked by Game 4 of the NBA playoffs between the Bucks and the Suns, they discuss all things refereeing: Is it getting worse? Do we ever notice good refereeing? Why is yelling at refs so fun? How is tech impacting reffing? Are there any alternative models to traditional refereeing? A continued discussion on various leagues' attempted solutions to inconsistent and...
Jul 27, 2021•54 min
The Tokyo 2020/21 Olympics are the Pandemic Games. Even so, over two episodes (210 Part I and II) Burn It All Down will preview EVERY sport with excitement, cynicism, awe and critical thinking. In Part II, Brenda Elsey, Amira Rose Davis and Lindsay Gibbs cover who to watch and what to know about the following events: swimming, track, modern pentathlon, beach volleyball, surfing, wrestling, shooting, fencing, boxing, gymnastics, diving, sport climbing, equestrian, skateboarding, basketball, handb...
Jul 22, 2021•1 hr 7 min
The Tokyo 2020/21 Olympics are the Pandemic Games. Even so, over two episodes (210 Part I and II) Burn It All Down will preview EVERY sport with excitement, cynicism, awe and critical thinking. In Part I, Brenda Elsey, Shireen Ahmed and Jessica Luther cover who to watch and what to know about the following events: artistic swimming, rowing, table tennis, sailing, water polo, canoeing, golf, tennis, football/soccer, softball, baseball, field athletics, badminton, archery, judo, weightlifting, tae...
Jul 20, 2021•59 min
In this episode, Amira Rose Davis talks with Dr. Courtney Cox, Assistant Professor of Race and Sport in the Indigenous, Race, and Ethnic Studies Department at the University of Oregon, about the exhaustion of the last week -- and more -- for Black women in sports, in both the media and the academy. They discuss the interconnection between Olympic qualifying snubs of Black athletes across sports, the tenure rejection of journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones, disparaging comments made about Maria Taylor ...
Jul 15, 2021•47 min
In this episode, Jessica Luther, Amira Rose Davis and Brenda Elsey break-down what is happening in the wake of college athletes finally being able to use their own name, image and likeness (NIL). They discuss what the new NIL rules have meant on the ground, what guidance (or lack thereof) academic institutions and the NCAA have provided and how racism, sexism and capitalism are already impacting who gets what. They also share their favorite NIL partnerships and who Burn It All Down would like to...
Jul 13, 2021•54 min
In this episode Lindsay Gibbs interviews Anne Orchier of NOlympics LA about opposition to the Toyko 2020 Olympics from on-the-ground organizers in Japan, which is largely led by unhoused people and those who will be displaced by the games. The discuss the privatization of public spaces and the aggressive policing of poor communities that happens regardless of where the Olympics are held, and how COVID-19 is heightening these trends. They also talk about the latest updates on pushback to LA's 202...
Jul 08, 2021•35 min
Lindsay Gibbs, Shireen Ahmed and Jessica Luther bring Burn It All Down back after a short break. Like it or not (it's both!) the Tokyo 2020 Olympics are coming and this week BIAD covers the the incredible, the heartbreaking and the huh?!. They discuss COVID updates in Japan, US track and field sensations and amazing athletes from around the world breaking barriers. Then, Lindsay shares a pre-view of her interview with Anne Orchier of NOlympics L.A and the team sets aflame a much needed Burn Pile...
Jul 06, 2021•55 min
*Content Warning: Indigenous genocide and intergenerational trauma* In this episode, Shireen Ahmed interviews Averie Allard, a Métis woman from Treaty 1 Territory and volleyball setter of the University of Saskatchewan. They talk about how Averie has used sport for healing and to advocate for justice for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Girls and Two-Spirit People (MMIWG2S) in Canada and the US. Most recently, Averie began walking 1 km for each child found in unmarked mass graves on the gro...
Jul 04, 2021•35 min
Brenda Elsey brings you a special Burn It All Down episode. Horseracing is undergoing exceptional drama this year sparked by Kentucky Derby star and scandal Medina Spirit and his trainer Bob Baffert. Brenda interviews three experts in the horse racing world: Joe Drape, New York Times reporter, Dr. Megan Kerford, racetrack veterinarian, and Dr. Katherine Mooney, associate professor at Florida state and author of "Race Horse Men" to understand the history, the breaking news and the future of the s...
Jun 29, 2021•26 min
The Montreal Canadiens are headed to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time in 28 years. What is it like for their fans? Shireen chats with one partticular die-ard Habs fan: Her Maman. Dr. Tahira Ahmed joins Burn It All Down for this Hot Take on the ups and downs of being a Habs fan for almost 50 years. This episode was produced by Shireen Ahmed and Tressa Versteeg. Shelby Weldon is our social media and website specialist. Burn It All Down is part of the Blue Wire podcast network. For show no...
Jun 28, 2021•51 min
This week Jessica Luther interviews media scholar Dr. Jenn McClearen about her book "Fighting Visibility: Sports Media and Female Athletes in the UFC." They discuss the conflict of the representation of women in the UFC with the exploitation that those same women face in the sport. They also talk about the complicated effort to unionize UFC fighters and how to love women's sport and the UFC by illuminating the ways they needs to change. This episode was produced by Tressa Versteeg. Shelby Weldon...
Jun 22, 2021•46 min
Shireen Ahmed interviews Anastasia Bucsis, 2-time speedskating Olympian for Team Canada and CBC Sports Analyst and host of Player's Own Voice Podcast. They discuss Anastasia's transition from professional athlete to journalist and the challenges of the 2020/21 Olympic games. Anastasia also shares her experience competing as the only out North American athlete at the 2014 Sochi Olympics and publicly opposing Russia's anti-LGBTQ laws. They talk about the progress made and the progress needed to er...
Jun 15, 2021•37 min
Amira Rose Davis interviews Tianna Bartoletta, track and field Olympian, gold medalist and author of the memoir "Survive & Advance." They talk about Tianna's writing process, the experiences that have impacted her life and career, this year's Olympic trials and how she's wrestling with the 2020/21 Tokyo Olympics. This episode was produced by Tressa Versteeg. Shelby Weldon is our social media and website specialist. Burn It All Down is part of the Blue Wire podcast network. For show notes, tr...
Jun 08, 2021•34 min
Lindsay Gibbs interviews Jordan Ligons and Haley O'Shaughnessy about their basketball and culture podcast, Spinsters. They talk about Jordan and Haley's connections to basketball, Spinsters' origin story and who to look out for in the NBA playoffs. This episode was produced by Tressa Versteeg. Shelby Weldon is our social media and website specialist. Burn It All Down is part of the Blue Wire podcast network. For show notes, transcripts, and more info about BIAD, check out our website: www.burnit...
Jun 01, 2021•50 min
Lindsay Gibbs interviews Ashley Hart, the CEO and co-founder of She Plays, the first US fantasy sports site dedicated exclusively to women's sports. They discuss how fantasy leagues can help expand the fanbase for women's sports as well as the hurdles to developing a fantasy sports app, including sourcing stats for women's sports. This episode was produced by Tressa Versteeg. Shelby Weldon is our social media and website specialist. Burn It All Down is part of the Blue Wire podcast network. For ...
May 27, 2021•31 min
Shireen Ahmed, Lindsay Gibbs and Brenda Elsey start this gastronomic episode with their favorite kids' books about sports. Then they dig into the main course of the conversation: food, sports, food and sports. They discuss food based competitions, the impact of stadium food prices on vendors, classic cuisine-event associations (we see you, tennis), the popcorn obsessed Steph Curry and more. Next, you'll hear a teaser from Lindsay's interview this week with Ashley Hart, the CEO and co-founder of ...
May 25, 2021•56 min
In this Hot Take, Shireen Ahmed interviews Dr. Sophia Azeb, assistant professor of Black studies in the Department of English Language and Literature at the University of Chicago and regular contributor to The Funambulist magazine. They discuss the recent trauma in Palestine, how athletes have addressed the violence, Black and Palestinian transnational solidarity, and how sports are wielded politically. This episode was produced by Tressa Versteeg. Shelby Weldon is our social media and website s...
May 21, 2021•44 min
In this episode Amira Rose Davis interviews Bianca Tylek, Founder and Executive Director of Worth Rises, a non-profit advocacy organization dismantling the prison industrial complex. They discuss Worth Rises' recent prison phone justice action on Mother's Day at a Detroit Pistons game to call out (again) Pistons' owner Tom Gores and his telecom company that profits from overpriced prison phone calls. They talk about the sacrifices families make to pay for these phone calls that are the only life...
May 20, 2021•33 min
Amira Rose Davis, Shireen Ahmed and Jessica Luther start the show with the most random thing they've seen at a sporting event. Then they cover the latest on the Tokyo 2020/2021 Olympics. Will they happen?! If so, How?! They talk about Japan's low vaccination rate and overburdened medical system, the IOC offering the vaccine to competitors and how impossible it feels to determine fairness. Following the main segment, Amira teases her interview with Bianca Tylek, Founder and Executive Director of ...
May 18, 2021•1 hr 15 min
Lindsay Gibbs talks with Howard Megdal, Founder and Editor of The Next and The IX Newsletter about all things WNBA. In anticipation of the 2021 WBNA season tipping off Friday May 14, they discuss in-depth each of the 12 WNBA teams' prospective rosters and who they think will be this season's gamechangers. This episode was produced by Tressa Versteeg. Shelby Weldon is our social media and website specialist. Burn It All Down is part of the Blue Wire podcast network. For show notes, transcripts, a...
May 13, 2021•1 hr 35 min
In this interview Brenda Elsey is joined by Melissa Ortiz, Olympian, analyst, former professional footballer and member of the Colombian Women's National Team. They discuss the importance of athletes speaking out against recent police violence against protesters in Colombia and the reality of the women's professional league in Colombia, contrary to a viral advertisement. Melissa also talks about her new role as an analyst for Fubo TV and coffee company called Kick Off Coffee Co. This episode was...
May 12, 2021•40 min
Brenda Elsey, Amira Rose Davis and Lindsay Gibbs start the show by revealing who they would like to boo. Then, they talk about fan activism, including the recent Manchester United protests at Old Trafford, fan-led petitions pushing the NWSL and who gets included and excluded from fandom. Next, they share a sneak peak of this week's interview -- an in-depth discussion between Lindsay and Howard Megdal (of The Next) about what to expect from the 2021 WNBA season. Then, they set aflame the worst th...
May 11, 2021•1 hr 7 min
Amira Rose Davis talks with cultural critic Scarlett Harris about her new book "A Diva Was a Female Version of a Wrestler: An Abbreviated Herstory of World Wrestling Entertainment." The delve into the current state of women in the WWE, including issues of power, race, gender binaries and fandom. This episode was produced by Tressa Versteeg. Shelby Weldon is our social media and website specialist. Burn It All Down is part of the Blue Wire podcast network.For show notes, transcripts, and more inf...
May 06, 2021•44 min
Jessica, Amira and Lindsay start the show with musings on the NFL draft. Then they dive head first into new technologies in sport: from WTF are NFTs to wearable stat trackers from DarkHorse (maybe) closing recruitment gaps to Metrica Sports' making cutting edge analytics more accessible to women's sport. They wade through the tech gobbledygook to discuss the good, bad and confusing of these new technologies. Next, they burn the awful things in sport of the week. Then they celebrate the Torchbear...
May 04, 2021•1 hr 13 min
In this episode, Amira Rose Davis chats with Andrea Williams about her new book "Baseball's Leading Lady: Effa Manley and the Rise and Fall of the Negro Leagues." They discuss Effa's powerful role as co-owner of the Newark Eagles, her foresight of the costs of desegregating baseball, her importance in contemporary conversations about Black institutions and why Andrea wrote this story for young adults. This episode was produced by Tressa Versteeg. Shelby Weldon is our social media and website spe...
Apr 29, 2021•40 min
In this episode Lindsay, Jessica and Brenda talk about feminism and climate activism in sport, thanks to a suggestion from flamethrower Dr. Maddy Orr. They discuss the ways mega events impact the planet, how climate change disproportionally effects marginalized communities in sport and what individual athletes and teams are doing to promote more sustainable leagues and events. They also burn the things that need to be burned in sport and highlight Torchbearers forging their own way, including th...
Apr 27, 2021•56 min
This episode is all about the latest mayhem in European football. First, Shireen and Brenda discuss the everchanging hot scoop on the proposed Super League "debauc-ery" (that's debauchery + debacle). This update is followed by Shireen's interview with Fadumo Olow, women's sport journalist for the Telegraph Fadumo Olow. They go in-depth on Super League mess and the ways the women's clubs could be impacted. This episode was produced by Tressa Versteeg. Shelby Weldon is our social media and website...
Apr 22, 2021•45 min
