Burn It All Down

In this episode Shireen Ahmed, Brenda Elsey and Jessica Luther talk about the men's World Cup draw. But first they discuss their favorite event hosts and plan Brenda's application to host the Ballon d'Or. Then, they discuss part one of a gazillion in men's World Cup mess with the 2022 draw in Qatar. They dive into the colonial history, confusing governance of FIFA, infamous men's World Cup draw sc...

In this episode, Brenda Elsey interviews Jon Morosi, MLB and NHL Network broadcaster, on how Major League Baseball’s new CBA impacts international players, Spanish language learning in baseball, his hopes for the league grow globally and what he's looking forward to in this upcoming season. This episode was produced by Tressa Versteeg. Shelby Weldon is our social media and website specialist. Burn...

In this episode Brenda Elsey, Shireen Ahmed and Lindsay Gibbs talk aging and retirement in sports. But first, they discuss fun sports moments of the last week, like Justin Bieber's new Maple Leafs Jersey. Then, they unpack the ways that aging is viewed, delayed and exacerbated through sport. From the recent surprise retirement of 25-year-old tennis phenom Ash Barty to the unretirement of Tom Brady...

In this episode, Shireen Ahmed talks with Jenny Nguyen, owner of The Sports Bra, a bar for women's sports in Portland, Oregon opening April 1, 2022. They discuss everything from the menu and decor, to why it is important to have a community space dedicated to women's sports. This episode was produced by Tressa Versteeg. Shelby Weldon is our social media and website specialist. Burn It All Down is...

In this episode, Amira Rose Davis and Shireen Ahmed join forces for a spectacular grab bag episode about all the sports madness of March. But first, Amira quizzes Shireen on memorable March Madness moments that Shireen hasn't seen. Then, they dive into the a myriad of sports news in recent weeks, including what's going on with the Premier Hockey Federation and the Professional Women's Hockey Playe...

In this episode, Brenda Elsey interviews two experts on issues related to climate change and sport. First, she speaks with Associated Press journalist Brittany Peterson about her reporting on a pond hockey tournament in Colorado impacted by a lack of ice. Then, she talks with David Goldblatt, famed football writer, about how global football is both threatened by and contributes to the climate cris...

In this episode, Jessica Luther interviews Em Adler, writer at The Next, a 365 women's basketball newsletter. They discuss Em's predictions for the NCAA women's basketball tournament. 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...

In this episode Jessica Luther, Amira Rose Davis and Lindsay Gibbs discuss March Madness! But first, they talk a little bit about WNBA star Brittney Griner's situation in Russia. Then, they break down everything with the NCAA Women's March Madness basketball tournament: how we can finally say March Madness for the women's bracket, the inequities that have changed and those that remain as well as h...

In this hot take, Amira Rose Davis talks with Coach Yolett "Yo" McPhee-McCuin, head coach of Ole Miss women's basketball team. They discuss her team's incredible turnaround in the last few seasons, coaching in the SEC, how she's preparing for March Madness and her mantra #noceilings. This episode was produced by Tressa Versteeg. Shelby Weldon is our social media and website specialist. Burn It All...

In this episode, Lindsay Gibbs interviews Howard Megdal, founder and editor of The IX and The Next newsletters, about all things women’s basketball. They discuss his explosive feature in Sports Illustrated on the fractured state of WNBA ownership and what drama women’s college basketball is bringing to March.  This episode was produced by Tressa Versteeg. Shelby Weldon is our social media and webs...

**Trigger Warning for suicide and mental health struggles** Burn It All Down offers our condolences to the family and community of Katie Meyer, a goal keeper of Stanford’s women’s soccer team. Katie was part of the Cardinal’s 2019 NCAA title winning team and wowed the country with her tenacity and her spirit. She died one week ago. We hold space and share in the heartbreak with with the Meyers fam...

In this episode Shireen Ahmed talks with Chris Mosier, is a trailblazing hall of fame triathlete, All-American duathlete, 6-time member of Team USA, as well as an important activist on trans inclusion in sport. They discuss the harm caused by of proposed anti-trans legislation in Texas and legislation in other states. and how banning trans athletes, especially kids, from sports is an attempt to er...

In this episode, Brenda Elsey interviews Dr. Robert Edelman, professor of Russian history and the history of sport at the University of California San Diego. They discuss the Russian and Ukrainian sports communities’ responses to the invasion, how athletes and fans might turn the tide of sportwashing and the ways sports can both reveal and and mask geopolitical conflict. This episode was produced...

In this episode Lindsay Gibbs, Jessica Luther, Amira Rose Davis, Shireen Ahmed and Brenda Elsey preview the 2022 Winter Paralympics! First, they take a moment to acknowledge the most recent horrific legislature harming trans youth. Next, they discuss Russia's most recent invasion of Ukraine, including it's impact on Paralympic athletes and the upcoming Beijing Games, and the IOC and IPC's reaction...

In this episode Shireen Ahmed talks with Billy Bridges, Canadian sledge hockey legend who will soon compete at the 2022 Beijing Paralympic Games, which marks his sixth Paralympic appearance. They talk about his serendipitous discovery of para sport, joining the Canadian sledge hockey national team at only 14 and his over two decade career as an ultra para athlete in both sledge hockey and wheelcha...

**CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains discussions of abuse, eating disorders and death by suicide.** In this episode Brenda Elsey, Lindsay Gibbs and Jessica Luther break down the figure skating doping controversy at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. They start the show, however, with Olympic moments that were fuzzy and cute. Then, they decipher what happened in the mess of the women's figure sk...

In this hot take, Shireen Ahmed and Renee Hess, founder of Black Girl Hockey Club, break down the gold medal women's hockey match in the Beijing Olympics and storied rivalry between Canada and the USA. 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 mo...

In this episode, Lindsay Gibbs speaks with Julie Kliegman, Chief Copy Editor at Sports Illustrated, about trans athletes in the NCAA. They discuss University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas and the NCAA's new policies limiting the ability of transgender athletes to compete. This episode was produced by Tressa Versteeg. Shelby Weldon is our social media and website specialist. Burn It All Down i...

In this episode Lindsay Gibbs and Jessica Luther discuss big headlines from week one of the Beijing Winter Olympics. But first, they share their favorite Super Bowl LVI moments. Then, they discuss the some of the hottest topics of the 2022 Winter Games so far, including Eileen Gu, Mikaela Shiffrin and Kamila Valieva, and the ways that the commentary around these athletes is sexist, limiting and of...

In this episode, Amira Rose Davis talks to Shalise Manza Young, Yahoo sports columnist and former Patriots beat reporter. They discuss Brian Flores's lawsuit, Tom Brady’s retirement, the rise of Joe Burrows and how she's seen sports media change over the years.  This episode was produced by Tressa Versteeg. Shelby Weldon is our social media and website specialist. Burn It All Down is part of the B...

In this episode Jessica Luther, Amira Rose Davis and Lindsay Gibbs talk all things NFL. But first, they share their favorite Winter Olympic moments from the weekend. Then they dive into the most recent NFL mess, including Brian Flores' class action lawsuit against the league, sexual harassment in the Washington football team, the playoffs rollercoaster and Super Bowl LVI predictions between the Ci...

In this hot take, Jessica Luther and Amira Rose Davis are joined by 4x Olympian Elana Meyers Taylor and 2022 bobsled favorite, currently in isolation in Beijing after testing positive for COVID-19. They discuss being in isolation from her family, how she's staying ready for competition in hopes she will be cleared to compete, and what is was like to learn she was voted Flag Bearer for Team U.S.A....

In this interview Brenda Elsey and Amira Rose Davis talk with Jules Boykoff, former Olympian and author of Power Games: A Political History of the Olympics. They discuss the many concerns surrounding the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, including human rights abuses China, athletes' health and safety, ecological harm and the prickly politics of mega sporting events. This episode was produced by Tress...

In this episode, Burn It All Down previews the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. Shireen Ahmed, Amira Rose Davis, Brenda Elsey, Lindsay Gibbs and Jessica Luther cover what to know and who to watch for every event: bobsled, skeleton, luge, Nordic combined, biathlon, ski jumping, snowboarding, freestyle skiing, curling, cross country skiing, alpine skiing, short track speed skating, long track speed ska...

In this episode Amira Rose Davis interviews Jess Weiner, host of the new podcast Dominant Stories. They discuss Jess's involvement in Dove’s real beauty campaign, Mattel’s inclusive Barbie line and how we challenge and shift the Dominant Stories we tell about fitness, bodies and beauty. This episode was produced by Tressa Versteeg. Shelby Weldon is our social media and website specialist. Burn It...