It'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 Sp...
Aug 10, 2024•1 hr 24 min
Hip 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 Athle...
Aug 09, 2024•1 hr 15 min
We'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 a...
Aug 09, 2024•59 min
Another round of sports gets underway at the Paris 2024 Olympics, and Jill and Alison are here for it. Alison spends the day at the pool for diving and artistic swimming. Meanwhile, it’s Jill’s turn to visit la pharmacie before heading to the Stade de France to see TKFLASTANI Katie Moon compete in the women’s pole vault finals. Also, the US figure skaters who won the Team Figure Skating event at Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics finally received their gold medals. Plus, there’s a surprise turn of eve...
Aug 07, 2024•1 hr 7 min
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...
Aug 06, 2024•53 min
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 ...
Aug 06, 2024•43 min
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 Volle...
Aug 05, 2024•53 min
It'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 Arc...
Aug 04, 2024•1 hr 31 min
It'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 Cano...
Aug 02, 2024•1 hr 14 min
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’...
Aug 02, 2024•1 hr 19 min
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 Gymna...
Aug 01, 2024•1 hr 10 min
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 ...
Jul 31, 2024•1 hr 4 min
It'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 ...
Jul 29, 2024•1 hr 2 min
It's Day 2 of the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics, and the athletes do not disappoint! A dynasty continues, the French fans get behind their team, and there's an all-TKFLASTAN fencing final. We've got all of the results for the day as well as more adventures from Paris. The sports on today's program are: Archery Artistic Gymnastics Badminton Basketball Beach Volleyball Boxing Canoe Slalom Equestrian Fencing Football Handball Hockey Judo Mountain Biking Rowing Rugby Sevens Sailing Shooting Skateboardi...
Jul 29, 2024•42 min
The rain put a damper on most of today’s action, but that hasn’t stopped the athletes! We experienced amazing competitions today and have results and news from: Artistic Gymnastics Badminton Basketball Beach Volleyball Boxing Canoe Slalom Diving Equestrian Fencing Football Handball Hockey Judo Road Cycling Rowing Rugby 7s Shooting Surfing Swimming Table Tennis Tennis Volleyball Water Polo Plus we learn about a French theater tradition that’s spilled over into sports, and dish on the celebrities ...
Jul 28, 2024•1 hr 9 min
Let 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 financiall y so that we can continue to keep our flame alive. We have many ways to support us -- and...
Jul 27, 2024•1 hr
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...
Jul 25, 2024•42 min
Even 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 Par...
Jul 24, 2024•47 min
We have made it to Paris, but first it's the last of our Team USA Media Summit! We're talking with: Sport climbers Brooke Rabatou and Jesse Grupper Taekwondo fighter CJ Nickolas Badminton player Beiwan Zhang Weightlifters Jourdan Delacruz and Hampton Morris Archer Casey Kaufhold Shooter Mary Tucker Triathlete Morgan Pearson Modern Pentathlete Jess Davis Savner Then we've got news from Paris: Travel issues What our hotel is like Safety issues with the neighborhood we were assigned to The Paris Me...
Jul 22, 2024•1 hr 40 min•Ep. 357
Jul 18, 2024•1 hr 26 min•Ep. 356
This is our last Paralympics-focused episode before the Paris 2024 Summer Games start! We're excited to bring you our remaining interviews from athletes we met at the Team USA Media Summit (with links to their Instagram accounts): Para triathlete Grace Norma n Para shooter Marco DeLa Rosa Para cyclist Dennis Connors Goalball player Calahan Young Para powerlifter Bobby Body Runner Jaydin Blackwell Sitting volleyball player Kaleho Kanhelo Maclay In Paris 2024 news, we talk about the swimmability o...
Jul 15, 2024•54 min•Ep. 355
We are getting in boats today and going on the water! At the Team USA Media Summit, we talked with Olympic kayaker Evy Leibfarth, canoeist Nevin Harrison and rower Michelle Sachser. All three competed at Tokyo 2020 and have qualified for Paris 2024. Evy competes in canoe slalom (whitewater) and this year will compete in canoe single, kayak single, and kayak cross, which is a new event for Paris 2024. Nevin will be defending her gold medal in the 200m women's canoe sprint. Michelle will compete w...
Jul 11, 2024•43 min•Ep. 354
Para taekwondo was first on the Paralympic program at Tokyo 2020, and it's looking to make a big statement at Paris 2024. On this episode, we talk with American para taekwondo fighter Evan Medell, who competes in the K44 class of the men's 75+ kg weight class. At Tokyo, Evan broke his foot during his semifinal match against Asghar Aziziaghdam and lost that bout. However, he came back that same day and defeated Francisco Alejandro Pedroza Luna for the bronze medal (on a broken foot!). We talked w...
Jul 08, 2024•49 min•Ep. 353
Team USA BMX cyclists join us to talk about what's in store for Paris 2024! We start with BMX freestyle and Olympian Hannah Roberts, who won silver at the sport's Olympic debut in Tokyo. Hannah tells us how BMX freestyle courses are built (keyword: janky) and attempts to explain the sport's judging. Then we move over to BMX racing with Olympic legend Alise Willoughby and first-time Olympian Cam Wood. Alise will be heading to her fourth Olympics in Paris and looking for her second medal (she won ...
Jul 04, 2024•58 min•Ep. 352
In our look at the 100th anniversary of the very first Winter Olympic Games at Chamonix, France, Alison dives into the speed skating competition, which pitted two very different global styles against each other. Add an uncooperative Mother Nature, and you've got a doozy of an event! Special thanks to listener Manu for his contributions to this episode. For a transcript of this episode, please visit http://flamealivepod.com . Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive...
Jul 03, 2024•11 min•Ep. 6
Paralympian Samantha Bosco joins us today to discuss her story as a Paralympic track and road cyclist. Samantha won two bronze medals at the Rio Paralympics, in the C5 3km pursuit on the track and the C5 time trial on the road (C5 riders include those with movement affected at a low level in one arm, moderately affected in one leg, or the absence of all, or part of an arm). Samantha had planned to compete in her second Paralympics at Tokyo 2020, but a month prior to the start of those Games, she...
Jul 01, 2024•49 min•Ep. 351
We'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 Ev...
Jun 28, 2024•53 min•Ep. 350
The U.S. Paralympic Swimming Trials are just around the corner, so we're talking with para swimmer Jamal Hill. Jamal is a freestyler, specializing in sprints. At Tokyo 2020, he competed in the 50m freestyle S9 , where he won the bronze medal, and in the men's 100m freestyle S10 class, placing 6th. He was also part of Team USA's men's 4x100m freestyle 34 points relay and men's 4x100m medley 34 points relay. We talked with Jamal about how he doesn't breathe (much) during his 50m, how he starts, an...
Jun 25, 2024•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 349
Jun 20, 2024•1 hr 48 min•Ep. 348
Team USA Wheelchair Basketball player Brian Bell joins us to talk about the ins and outs of this Paralympic sport. Brian has been part of Team USA for the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, both of which were gold-medal-winning performances. Brian and Team USA will be looking for the three-peat at Paris 2024. Follow Brian on social! He's on Insta and X . Also, Jill is at the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials in Indianapolis, so she has a full report from Lucas Oil Stadium, where 17,000-20,000 peopl...
Jun 17, 2024•1 hr 19 min•Ep. 347
