Burn It All Down

This episode is a recording of Burn It All Down's live show on January 22, 2022 at the Independent Supporters Council Conference in Portland, Oregon. Lindsay Gibbs, Amira Rose Davis and Brenda Elsey talk about the rollercoaster that is the NWSL, discussing the state of governance and ownership. They end the show with the Burn Pile, some breaking news [!] and Torchbearers of the week. This episode...

In this episode Jessica Luther interviews Angel Flores, powerlifter and recent star on Netflix's Queer Eye. They talk about about Angel's life-long connection to sport, how she got into powerlifting, as well as competing in the new MX division in powerlifting and her conflicted feelings about it. They also discuss her experience on Queer Eye, what she wants to say to trans youth in this moment and...

In this episode Amira Rose Davis, Brenda Elsey and Jessica Luther are back with the latest on Covid-19 chaos. But first they share the video clips that have made them happy. Then, they discuss the many ways sports are navigating Covid surges, including: tennis player Novak Djokovic's scheme to play in the Australian open, the ridiculous events of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament in foo...

In this episode, Jessica Luther and Amira Rose Davis preview their upcoming miniseries about Black gymnasts on the next season of American Prodigy from Blue Wire. This episode was produced by Tressa Versteeg. Shelby Weldon is our social media and website wizard. 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:...

In this episode Amira Rose Davis shares her favorite episode (From Star to Scandal: The Story of Medina Spirit) and interview (Jessica Luther with Dr. Cheryl Cooky on the study of women's sports media coverage) from 2021. This episode was produced by Tressa Versteeg. Shelby Weldon is our social media and website specialist. Music in this episode is by Ketsa. Burn It All Down is part of the Blue Wi...

In this episode Shireen Ahmed shares her favorite discussion (Episode 203: Climate Activism in Sport) and interview (NBA Vaccine Roundtable with Dr. Amira Rose Davis, Dr. Candis Smith, Dr. Courtney Cox and Dr. Brooklyne Gipson ) from 2021. 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 networ...

In this episode Brenda Elsey shares her favorite discussion (Episode 198: The NCAA Is Still Laughably Sexist) and interview (Shireen Ahmed with Dr. Sophia Azeb on Palestinian Liberation and Sports) from 2021. This episode was produced by Tressa Versteeg and Ali Lemer. Shelby Weldon is our social media and website specialist. Burn It All Down is part of the Blue Wire podcast network. For show notes...

On this episode, Shireen Ahmed talks to Michelle Moore, an award-winning leadership coach, author, speaker and educator about her work in racial equity in sports. They discuss athlete activism, redefining success and Michelle's recently published book Real Wins: Understanding the power of difference to make meaningful gains. This episode was produced by Tressa Versteeg. Shelby Weldon is our social...

In this episode Jessica Luther, Shireen Ahmed and Lindsay Gibbs talk about important sports stories from 2021 that went widely unrecognized. You'll hear about women's sports media, the implosion of the Syracuse women's basketball team, the start of a Saudi Arabia domestic women's football league, the IOC's gendered and racist persecution of runner Caster Semenya, the cancellation of the Women’s Ba...

In this episode Jessica Luther talks to Summer-Solstice Thomas about Thomas’s advocacy to get the NCAA to care about gendered violence, specifically in terms of harmful coaches who sexually abuse their athletes. They talk about Thomas’s time as a college athlete, how she came to care about this issue and what she hopes changes in the future. This episode was produced by Tressa Versteeg. Shelby Wel...

In this episode, Lindsay Gibbs, Shireen Ahmed and Brenda Elsey discuss the latest in DEI initiatives in sports. But first, they talk about what is getting them through the end of 2021. Then they discuss FIFpro's latest equality report, MLS's new diversity policy, the ways DEI data in sport is flawed and what leagues are doing well and not so well. They also dive into the glaring lack of racial div...

In this episode, Dr. Amira Rose Davis is joined by Dr. Nefertiti Walker, Associate Professor of Sports Management, Vice Chancellor of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer at UMass Amherst, and Dr. Scott Brooks, Associate Professor of Sociology and Associate Director of the Global Sports Institute at Arizona State University, for a discussion on Black women coaches in women's...

In this episode Brenda Elsey, Shireen Ahmed and Jessica Luther talk about solidarity in sports regarding transnational issues. But first, they share their reactions to the Ballon d'Or. Then, they discuss the fraught, powerful and complicated ways that solidarity with political and human rights issues is manifested in sport. They dive into Enes Kanter Freedom's appearance on Fox News to criticize a...

In this episode, Shireen Ahmed interviews Asher Hill, former Canadian ice dancer and figure skating World and National Team member and current coach, choreographer and co-host of That Figure Skating Show on CBC. They discuss Asher's illustrious journey on the ice, the racism, sexism and homophobia in ice dancing and figure skating and his work with the Figure Skating Diversity and Inclusion Allian...

In this episode, Shireen Ahmed, Lindsay Gibbs and Brenda Elsey discuss sports played on holidays. But first they start with a question of superpowers. Then, they dive into the topic of sports on holidays, tackling questions such as: What is the labor history of sports on holidays? Is it fair to athletes and their families? Should we just cancel sports on holidays? Following the main discussion, yo...

In this episode, Lindsay Gibbs and Amira Rose Davis preview NCAA DI women's college basketball. But first, they share their favorite women's soccer moments of the week. Then, it's all about college hoops! They share a recap of last season and coaching changes, preview the Big Ten, SEC, ACC and Pac-12 conferences and highlight the players they are excited to watch. There is no new interview this we...

In this episode Shireen Ahmed interviews Ashley Lawrence, a member of the gold-medal winning Canadian national soccer team. She currently plays for PSG in France and a finalist for both the BBC Women's Footballer of the Year 2021 and the prestigious Ballon d'Or award. This episode was produced by Tressa Versteeg. Shelby Weldon is our social media and website specialist. Burn It All Down is part of...

In this episode Jessica Luther, Brenda Elsey and Lindsay Gibbs talk about so-called "cancel culture" in sport. But first, they talk about about the meaning of footballers Cam Newton and Dani Alves returning to their home teams. Then, sparked by Aaron Rodgers's recent "I'm immunized" drama, the team discusses the myriad of ways that "cancel culture" in sport has been wielded to avoid accountability...

Note: this interview was recorded in 2021 before Frankie de la Cretaz changed their name, however the text and transcriptions for this episode have been amended. In this episode Amira Rose Davis talks with Frankie de la Cretaz and Lyndsey D'Arcangelo, authors of Hail Mary: The Rise and Fall of the National Women's Football League. They discuss what it took to write this book and find former player...

In this episode Amira Rose Davis, Shireen Ahmed and Jessica Luther dive into sports superstitions. But first, they start the show with some recent headlines that had them ROFL. Then they discuss some of the most infamous sports superstitions and rituals of athletes in hockey, tennis and global football as well as their own sports superstitions. They also discuss the how fans' superstitions form, t...

*Content Warning: This episode discusses sexual abuse* In this episode, Shireen Ahmed interviews TSN journalist Rick Westhead about his reporting on allegations of sexual abuse by former Chicago NHL team coach Brad Aldrich. They discuss the challenges of investigative reporting, his powerful interview with survivor Kyle Beach and how his reporting has impacted the hockey world. Following this disc...

In this episode, Lindsay Gibbs, Amira Rose Davis and Jessica Luther dive into recent reports published about gender inequity in the NCAA. But first, they start the show with dad jokes. In the main segment, the team dissects an external review of gender equity issues in the NCAA and specifically the DI basketball championships. They dive into what the report says about the lack of investment, accou...

In this episode, Brenda Elsey interviews Jennifer Doyle, professor at UC Riverside and author of Campus Sex, Campus Security. They discuss the gendered structures within society that support a culture of sexual assault in sport, and how to better understand it's pervasive and pernicious effects. This episode was produced by Tressa Versteeg. Shelby Weldon is our social media and website specialist....

In this episode, Brenda Elsey, Shireen Ahmed and Lindsay Gibbs analyze various playoff and postseason structures. But first, they share their 2021 Halloween costumes. Then, they dive into the various meanings of "postseason," breaking down the overlapping and crossover tournaments of European leagues, how different postseason styles impact men's and women's leagues, as well as predictions for 2021...

In this episode, Jessica Luther interviews Sabré Cook, a race car driver. They talk about how Sabré got into motor sports, barriers to entry for women in the sport and what she finds most challenging about racing. They also discuss competing in this year's W Series, an all-female racing championship. The series takes place across Europe and the U.S., wrapping up this weekend October 22-24, 2021 in...