16 episodes
Blind Landing Ari Saperstein
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- Society & Culture
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4.9 • 156 Ratings
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Blind Landing is an award-winning independent documentary podcast. The series goes behind the scenes in the world of elite sports. Season one, which looked at safety in gymnastics. was named one of The Atlantic’s Best Podcasts of 2021 and was a 2022 Webby Awards honoree. Season two, an anthology about identity and discrimination in figure skating, was a 2022 AIPS Sports Media Awards nominee and won the 2023 Ambie Award for Best Independent Podcast. Blind Landing has been featured in dozens of publications around the world, including The New York Times, Rolling Stone, Vulture and Elle.
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Out On The Ice: Part 1
From the outside, figure skating might look like a queer haven, a space where LGBTQ+ athletes can be out and open… but inside of the sport? That couldn’t be farther from the reality.
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Out On The Ice: Part 2
For decades, skaters have been pushed to play into narrow gender stereotypes on and off the ice, leaving queer athletes feeling like being themselves wasn’t an option –– but not everyone was going to stay silent.
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Out On The Ice: Part 3
“Out On The Ice” concludes with the story of Adam Rippon, the first out skater to represent the US at the Olympics, and a new generation of queer skaters determined to change the culture of their sport.
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Mabel Fairbanks: Beyond The Edge
Mabel Fairbanks changed figure skating forever. As a Black figure skater in the 1940s, Mabel made a name for herself skating in ice shows all over the world — but was barred from entering competitions because of the color of her skin. Mabel made it her life’s mission to get Black skaters into the sport and to reach the highest peaks. Using excerpts of interviews with Mabel never before heard by the public, we’re bringing you not just the story of Mabel Fairbanks, but Mabel herself — her voice, in her own words.
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Ukrainian Gymnast Illia Kovtun & The Story Behind The Photo Seen Around The World
On this special episode of Blind Landing, we're stepping away from figure skating and going back to the world of gymnastics to bring you Ukrainian gymnast Illia Kovtun. Illia tells us about what it's been like to compete during the invasion of Ukraine and the story of how politics found it's way onto the competition floor.
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Kristi Yamaguchi: Asian American Idol
For many Asian Americans, seeing Kristi Yamaguchi win the gold in women’s figure skating at the 1992 Olympics was everything. She was more than a famous athlete — she was one of the few Asian Americans on TV, period. Yet for Kristi, the polished, glamorous image that we all saw was very different from her experience on the inside. From her choice to skate solo to seeking endorsements in an anti-Asian climate, reporter Stefanie Ritoper looks at the moments that almost stopped Kristi from becoming the Kristi Yamaguchi that we all know.
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Customer Reviews
A Must Listen !
I am a former gymnast who has loved the sport, coached, and put my own daughter in.
Between the international gymnastics federation’s greed-And let’s call it what it is – a few handfuls of very wealthy men making a lot of money off of young. girls performing incredible feats of athleticism,The sexual assault scandals at USGF and let’s call them what they are – countless older men assaulting, betraying and taking advantage of young female athletes, what a mess gymnastics is.
Can’t there be some kind of independent governing body that can work with and on behalf of the athletes? A body that has nothing to gain monetarily?
This is such an important piece of reporting. Thank you for bringing these matters to further light. And thank you to the gymnasts who spoke up. Keep it up. Speak up for yourself. You have every right to take up all the space you need to do gymnastics.
Definitely binge worthy
I don’t even know how I found this podcast but it’s fantastic! I love hearing the stories of sports I enjoy watching (specifically at Olympic time). Interesting topics and insights. I crushed the first season during an adhd cleaning fixation day. Perfect!
Great podcast
This was so fun and interesting to listen to, I love learning about gymnastics and it’s history, it’s hard to find good podcasts about the sport and I can definitely appreciate it when someone puts in the time. I loved it definitely recommend 👍🙃
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