We'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...
Jun 15, 2023•39 min•Ep. 291
Book Club Claire is back to discuss a memoir we've been excited to read: The Hard Parts: A Memoir of Courage and Triumph (affiliate link) by Oksana Masters, a 6x Paralympian who is one of the major faces of Team USA. Will this book live up to our expectations? Don't forget to follow Claire on Twitter ! She's a great follow! In our Seoul 1988 History Moment, Jill has part 2 of her sailing stories. This time we're looking at the Finn class, and the sportsmanship of Canadian Lawrence Lemieux. In ou...
Jun 09, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 290
Craig Spence, Chief Brand and Communications Officer at International Paralympic Committee, joins us to discuss the IPC's new strategic plan--or at least some of it. Plus, we get into how the IPC is different from the International Olympic Committee, what goes into revamping the classification system and the making of the We the 15 campaign. Follow Craig on Twitter , LinkedIn and Instagram . In our TKFLASTAN Update, we've got news from: Nordic combined athlete Annika Malacinski Wheelchair rugby ...
Jun 01, 2023•54 min•Ep. 289
We're getting ready for summer movie season! Film Buff Fran joins us to talk about "Zero to Hero," the 2021 Hong Kong biopic of So Wa Wai , Hong Kong's first Paralympian to win the gold medal. Our next movie will be “A Promise Kept: The Oksana Baiul Story,” which you can watch for free on Crackle and Plex . Will this be a made-for-TV movie that's so bad, it's good? For a transcript of this episode, please visit: https://wp.me/pbRtIx-2eg Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the...
May 25, 2023•29 min•Ep. 288
On the whole, women's sports have been downplayed throughout history, and even in ancient times, some societies didn't want women to compete. Was it just because of the "falling uterus" theory? We talk with author Alexandra Allred about her book When Women Stood: The Untold History of Females Who Changed Sports and the World and the audacious women who dared to compete. In our history moment, we look at a women's first. At Seoul 1988, it was the first time that women had their own sailing (or ya...
May 18, 2023•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 287
t'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 ...
May 12, 2023•54 min•Ep. 286
On this episode of the show we get to take someone off the list! We're so excited to have the opportunity to talk sitting volleyball with five-time Paralympian Lora Webster. With Team USA, she has won a bronze, 2 silvers, and gold in Rio and Tokyo. She is also a mom of 4 and became a big story in Tokyo because she was competing while 5 months pregnant. We talked with Lora about how sitting volleyball works, her long career, her plans for Paris and how the kids help her train. Lora will be compet...
May 05, 2023•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 285
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 Ca...
Apr 28, 2023•52 min•Ep. 284
Pole 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 t...
Apr 20, 2023•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 283
We 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 ...
Apr 13, 2023•52 min•Ep. 282
We've got spring fever this week, which means it's a great time for a Lightning Round episode! This time we're gymnastics-forward, so put your hair in a scrunchie and get ready for some Olympic-level insight from The Magnificent Seven creators Gordon Leary and Julia Meinwald, gymnastics choreographer Nicole Langevin, and athletic trainer Wayne Lamarre. If you ever wondered what KT tape is good for, this episode is for you! Find out more about Gordon and Julia: Website Instagram Follow Nicole and...
Apr 06, 2023•26 min•Ep. 281
During 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 ou...
Mar 31, 2023•47 min•Ep. 280
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 ...
Mar 23, 2023•1 hr•Ep. 279
We 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 Paralymp...
Mar 16, 2023•50 min•Ep. 278
It'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 ...
Mar 10, 2023•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 277
It'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 Olym...
Mar 02, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 276
We love learning about the people behind the scenes who help expand the visibility of the Paralympics. On this episode we're talking with Alexis Schaefer, the former Commercial and Marketing Director of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). Alexis talks with us about marketing the Paralympics, attracting major sponsors, and broadcasting the Games. More importantly, we've got feed beefs explained! You can follow Alexis on LinkedIn and Twitter . In our history moment, Jill looks at the Par...
Feb 24, 2023•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 275
It's always fun talking with people about the Olympics and Paralympics. In this episode, we bring one of those conversations to you! We sit down with Ben Waterworth and Colin Hilding, two of the three hosts of Off the Podium, an Olympics podcast from an Australian and Canadian perspective. Learn about the moments that sucked us into the excitement of the Olympics and find out about some key Olympians and sports from Australia and Canada. You'll also find out which Olympian doesn't really make fo...
Feb 16, 2023•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 274
We 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 Qata...
Feb 09, 2023•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 273
Film Buff Fran is back to discuss "Jappeloup" -- how do the French do with sports biopics? In our Seoul 1988 history moment, we stay in the world of equestrian. Jill looks at the dressage competition and the emergence of Nicole Uphoff and her horse Rembrandt. We travel to TKFLASTAN to get some news from: Shooter Tim Sherry Wheelchair curler Steve Emt Short track speed skater Ryan Shane Beach volleyball player Kelly Cheng Our listeners! Paris 2024's Paralympic schedule is now live. The Paralympic...
Feb 02, 2023•45 min•Ep. 272
This 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 ...
Jan 26, 2023•47 min•Ep. 271
We are so excited to have Dick Pound on today's episode. Dick is one of the most influential people in the Olympic Movement. This is the first part of our interview with Dick, in which we talk about his Olympic experiences and some details about his involvement with the Olympic Movement. We also have an announcement about a SPECIAL EVENT that's coming up in March! In our look at Seoul, Jill delves into life at the Olympic Village. What was the salad bar called? What did you get if your birthday ...
Jan 19, 2023•57 min•Ep. 270
The 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 wor...
Jan 12, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 269
As is our tradition, we're dedicating our first episode of the year to the Games that will be the focus of our history moments in 2023. You have selected Seoul 1988, so we are really excited to dig into these Games. To kick things off, we've got Olympic historian Bill Mallon to share some of the background, big moments, and legacies of these Games. In our check in with Team Keep the Flame Alive , we have updates from TKFLASTANIs: Nordic combined athlete Annika Malacinski Short track speed skater...
Jan 06, 2023•55 min•Ep. 268
We're closing out the year by giving you a little taste of the bonus audio that our silver medal level and up patrons receive every month. This includes deleted scenes from interviews, post-interview debriefs and--new for 2023--rule changes that will affect how you'll understand the sports on the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic programs. In this episode we explore the rule changes you'll notice in Artistic Gymnastics. Also, TKFLASTANI Shannon Galea tells us all about Maltese food . Want more? ...
Dec 29, 2022•33 min
We've got company over for the holidays! We're celebrating the end of 2022 with John Cushing and Michael Weadock, the lads from Anything But Footy, an Olympics and Paralympics podcast focused on Team GB and the Games. How was London 2012 in the eyes of Americans? Was Atlanta 1996 the worst Games ever? And what does legacy really mean? All this and more as we cross the pond to chat with our fellow Games podcasters. Follow Anything But Footy on Twitter , Insta , YouTube , and Facebook ! For a tran...
Dec 22, 2022•56 min•Ep. 267
Film Buff Fran is back with one of her all-time favorite movies, "The Cutting Edge" starring Moira Kelly and D.B. Sweeney. Can the icy figure skater and the rough-and-tumble former hockey player get past their differences in order to become an Olympic-caliber pairs team? Also on this episode, we have our last Albertville 1992 history moment, in which Jill looks at CBS' highlights videotape. In our visit to TKFLASTAN, we have news from: Short track speed skater Ryan Shane Nordic combined racer An...
Dec 15, 2022•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 266
LA 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 199...
Dec 09, 2022•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 265
If 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 his...
Dec 01, 2022•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 264
It's Thanksgiving in the U.S., so we've got an all-Paralympic lightning round heading your way. First up is para shooter McKenna Geer. McKenna won bronze at Rio 2016 and also competed at Tokyo 2020 in air rifle. Next we have para dressage rider Sydney Collier. Sydney finished seventh at Rio 2016 and was an alternate for the U.S.' Tokyo 2020 team. Finally, we're joined by Rob Snoek, who competed for Canada in athletics, and has gone on to become a sports commentator. Follow our TKFLASTANIs on soc...
Nov 24, 2022•27 min
