Keep the Flame Alive

On this episode we take to the ice with Paralympian Steve Emt, who will be going to his second Paralympics when he heads to Beijing 2022 this March. Steve tells us about how the sport works, how he was stalked into trying it, and about his cameo on "The Last Dance." Steve is also a motivational speaker and author of the book You D.E.C.I.D.E. . You can learn more about him and his book at his websi...

What can we look forward to from the ski slopes at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics? No one really knows, but Tom Kelly has a good guess. Tom, who's an Olympics communicator and has been involved with skiing and snowboarding events for decades, walks us through each of the disciplines on the Alpine Skiing program at this year's Olympics. Who should we look for, and how many times do we say, "Hot D...

We're sliding closer to Beijing 2022! On this episode Olympian Jayson Terdiman tells us how the sport of doubles luge works, from top to bottom. Plus, news from TKFLASTAN: Checking in with our citizens of TKFLASTAN, more athletes are working toward Beijing. We also have news from: Erin Jackson, Clare Egan and Nate Bartholomay, who are competing this weekend. Brianna Decker, who is heading to Beiji...

What Olympic and Paralympic thoughts were on your mind as we closed out 2021? We take listener calls and have a ton of fun chatting with you about: historical Olympians we'd have loved to interview what we're looking forward to at the upcoming Winter Olympics how to console the Olympic widow or widower in your life how our plans and packing lists for Beijing 2022 are coming along what happened to...

It's the end of the year, which means it's the end of our year-long look back at the Atlanta 1996 Olympics and Paralympics. Jill and Alison discuss their favorite Atlanta stories, and they've got lightning rounds from some TKFLASTANIS with Atlanta connections:   City planners Michael Dobbins and Randal Roark Laura Berg, member of the 1996 US women's softball team   Plus we have an update on the Ch...

US biathlete and Olympian Clare Egan tells us what she knows about the biathlon course at Beijing 2022, which could make for an interesting tournament. Plus, we have a BIG ANNOUNCEMENT about our last episode of the year - listen for how you can take part! We also look back at the Olympic indoor volleyball tournaments in our Atlanta 1996 history moment, catch up with TFKASTAN, find out who's joined...

This week we're strapping on our figure skates and chatting with Rocker Skating's Jackie Wong to suss out who will be on the podium for all events in the figure skating competition at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. Follow Jackie on Twitter !   In our Atlanta 1996 history moment, Alison uncovers the origins of a broadcasting style we've come to loathe.   Our winter TKFLASTANI athletes are in hig...

We love a good telenovela-esque Olympic situation, and this week's episode is chock full of them. Bribery! Guilty verdicts! Stifling voices! Boring kits! Transgender guidelines! And someone makes Alison mad - who could it be this week? Plus, our Atlanta 1996 history moment featuring the most famous shoes from these Olympics, and how Paris 2024 might have flying taxis as a transportation option. In...

We hear from TKFLASTANI archery judge Hannah Brown and TKFLASTANI artistic swimmer Jacqueline Simoneau on their experiences at Tokyo 2020. Plus, a big week for Team Keep the Flame Alive (TKFLASTAN) and news on the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. Also, if you want to hear a fantastic interview with TKFLASTANI speed skater Erin Jackson, check out our friend Elizabeth Emery's podcast Hear Her Sports --...

It's time for our last Movie Club of 2021! Film Buff Fran is back to discuss the 2017 movie "I, Tonya," which is on the scandal surrounding the attack on figure skater Nancy Kerrigan ahead of the Lillehammer 1994 Olympics, which was found to be tied to her rival Tonya Harding. Will we feel sympathy for Tonya Harding after watching a film based on her side of the story? In our history moment, Aliso...

Book Club Claire joins Jill and Alison to discuss 1996 Olympic gold medalist Dominique Moceanu's book "Off Balance: A Memoir." Plus, we have news from the Olympic world and an Atlanta 1996 Olympic history moment with Celine Dion. For a transcript of this episode, please visit http://flamealivepod.com . Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!     *** Keep the Flame...

We always love it when TKFLASTANIS come back on the show, so we're thrilled that modern pentathlete Samantha Schultz had some time to chat with us about her experiences in Tokyo. We talk with Samantha about competing in the heat, life in the Olympic Village (how were those beds?), and how the post-Olympic lows have been, as well as what's on tap for her future. Modern pentathlon's not known for ma...

This week we're joined by Wayne Lamarre, who will be traveling to Beijing 2022 as an athlete trainer on the US women's ice hockey team's support staff. Wayne is the is a Clinical Professor and the Director, Athletic Training Program at the University of New England. He is a Board Certified Athletic Trainer and has served on the medical staff for the U.S. Women's National Ice Hockey Team since 2015...

All of our TKFLASTANIS are very dear to us, but Citizen #1 will have a special place in our hearts. Bobsledder Josh Williamson, winner of the first season of Team USA's "The Next Olympic Hopeful" was our first interviewee, and now he returns, on the cusp of fulfilling his "Next Olympic Hopeful" goals and making it to the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. We catch up with Josh and learn how he's approa...

We're getting into winter mode, so it's time to explore some of the winter sports ahead of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics. On this episode, Paralympic hopeful Michael Murphy joins us to talk about his sport of para Alpine skiing, and more specifically, how his class of sit-skiing works. Find out more about Michael at his website and get information about his book When I Fell: How...

We welcome back TKFLASTANI author Harry Blutstein to talk about his latest book Games of Discontent: Protests, Boycotts, and Politics at the 196 Mexico Olympics. We discuss a few of the protests during these Games - the infamous Tommie Smith/John Carlos podium protest, of course, but also protests by Czechoslovakian gymnast Věra Čáslavská. And yes, there's Avery Brundage talk! Learn more about Har...

Get to the screening room – Movie Club is in session! Film Buff Fran is back to discuss the 2005 documentary "Murderball," which follows the USA Wheelchair Rugby team from the 2002 World Championships to the 2004 Paralympics in Athens. Along the way, we meet the rowdy and loveable cast of characters who surprise us with their foul mouths and win us over with their love of the game. Thanks so much...

Book Club Claire is back to discuss our latest selection: Sevens Heaven by Ben Ryan. As you may remember from Episode 193, Ben coached the Fijian men's rugby sevens team to (spoiler alert) win Fiji's first-ever Olympic gold medal. His book is the story of all of the work that went into achieving that victory. Haven't read it but now want to? Get your copy (and support the show) at our Bookshop.org...

Surprise! The world did not stop while the Olympics and Paralympics were going on, so there is a ton of news to catch up on! We've got the latest International Olympic Committee dealings with AIBA, the international boxing association (still a testy relationship), as well as the International Paralympic Committee's latest step toward an updated classification system. Plus Games news from: Rio 2016...

The Tokyo 2020 Paralympics are over, but boy, did they have an impact on us!  Contributors Superfan Sarah and Book Club Claire join us to talk about our Top 5 Tokyo Paralympic moments, what we can do to further support para sports and our Paralympics montage. Thanks to everyone who supported our Kickstarter project. We're fully funded, which means we will have an on the ground presence at the Beij...

Sigh. The Tokyo 2020 Paralympic cauldron has been extinguished - but not before some last thrilling competitions take place! Today's program includes the final medals being awarded in: Athletics - marathon Badminton Shooting Sitting Volleyball Wheelchair Basketball Plus, the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee put together a fun Closing Ceremony. Paris 2024 stepped up to receive the International Para...

It's the penultimate day of our Tokyo 2020 coverage, and the Paralympics are going out with some incredible competitions and match-ups, particularly in Athletics, Football Five-a-Side, Wheelchair Basketball, Wheelchair Tennis, Badminton, Canoe....well, pretty much the entire day was fantastic to watch! Plus, we've got our "Feed Beef" segment - or is it Feed Praise today? And "What Officiating/Volu...

More competitions at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics are coming to a close, but surprisingly, our Feed Beefs segment is stronger than ever.  What will it take to get good Paralympics coverage? We've got suggestions. Plus results from: Archery Athletics Badminton Boccia Canoe Sprint Cycling-Road Goalball Shooting Sitting Volleyball Swimming Table Tennis - with TKFLASTANI Millie Tapper Taekowndo Wheelcha...

CORRECTION: In the women's wheelchair basketball competition, we said the US defeated China 41-36, when in fact, China won this game. China will face Netherlands for the gold medal. The US will play Germany for the bronze. We regret this error.     It's Day 10 of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, which means the team events are starting to wind down. But, the competition's heating up! We've got all the...

The action at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics keeps getting better....or maybe we're just seeing the same races over and over, thanks to the joys of NBC's coverage. We're starting to see some new sports come up on the feeds, and Alison has found a replacement for the rugby wheelchair-sized hole in her heart! Today's sports program includes: Archery Athletics Badminton Boccia Cycling - Road Goalball Sho...