Keep the Flame Alive Jill Jaracz & Alison Brown

Note: This episode does contain discussion of abuse.
While having great athletic skills is key to being an Olympian, mindset also plays a major part in being able to compete with the best of the best. In this episode, we talk with Olympian Erin Aldrich-Shean about the journey she's taken from elite athlete to becoming a coach and consultant to help others attain an Olympic mindset.
We talked with Erin about her athletic career--part of which involves an abusive relationship with a coach--her time at the Olympics, and how she now helps people achieve their goals.
If you'd like to learn more about Erin, check out her website, and follow her on Insta, Facebook, and TikTok.
In our Seoul 1988 history moment, Alison looks at the men's volleyball competition, with some upsets on the podium.
In our weekly visit to TKFLASTAN, we hear from:
Paddler Luuka Jones Para archer (and drag racer) Matt Stutzman Race walker Evan Dunfee Artistic swimmer Jacqueline Simoneau Ski historian Tom Kelly Speed skater Erin Jackson Commentator Olly Hogben Luger Shiva Keshavan In Paris 2024 news, more hospitality packages are up for grabs, and there's a slew of not-so-great headlines to discuss.
Plus, we have some venue legacy news from Athens 2004 that's actually good for a change!
For a transcript of this episode, please visit http://flamealivepod.com.
 
Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!
 
 Photo courtesy of Erin Aldrich-Shean.
***
 Keep the Flame Alive: The Podcast for Fans of the Olympics and Paralympics with hosts Jill Jaracz & Alison Brown
 
Support the show: http://flamealivepod.com/support
Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/flamealivepod
 
Hang out with us online:
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VM/Text: (208) FLAME-IT / (208) 352-6348
 
 
 
 
 
 

Cue our History Moment music and our Book Club music because Book Club Claire is on hand for a discussion about Richard Moore's The Dirtiest Race in History: Ben Johnson, Carl Lewis and the 1988 Olympic 100m Final (affiliate link). The title pretty much says it all--this was a doping scandal for the ages, and the book uncovers the history of the competitors in this race and all of the complexities about steroids and doping at the time.
If you've read the book, we'd love to hear your thoughts about it!
Don't forget to follow Claire on Insta and X (fka Twitter)!
In our visit to TKFLASTAN, we have news from:
Pole vaulter Katie Moon Race walker Evan Dunfee Paddler Luuka Jones Short track speed skater Ryan Shane Curler John Shuster In our Paris 2024 update, Old El Paso's getting around and Team GB jewelry is a thing. Paris 2024 has released details of Paralympic Day, which will be held on October 8, 2024, as well as details about tickets for the Paralympics, which go on sale October 9. Plus, there's a new sustainability initiative that's very interesting.
We also have news from the World Games. Chengdu 2025 has released most of the disciplines that will be contested at the Games. We've got the details!
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 Alive: The Podcast for Fans of the Olympics and Paralympics with hosts Jill Jaracz & Alison Brown
 
Support the show: http://flamealivepod.com/support
Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/flamealivepod
 
Hang out with us online:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flamealivepod
Insta: http://www.instagram.com/flamealivepod
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/flamealivepod
Facebook Group: hhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/flamealivepod
Newsletter: Sign up at http://flamealivepod.com
VM/Text: (208) FLAME-IT / (208) 352-6348
 
 
 

We're excited to share with you the second part of our interview with freelance sports journalist and commentator Blythe Lawrence (if you missed part 1, go back to episode 300). Last time we focused on rhythmic gymnastics, and now we're checking out what's up in the world of artistic gymnastics.
Follow Blythe on X/Twitter and Insta. She's also been commentating the Invictus Games with fellow TKFLASTANI Olly Hogben!
 
Jill's recent visit to the York Barbell Company's Weightlifting Hall of Fame inspired this episode's Seoul 1988 History Moment, in which she looks at the first gold medal victory for Olympic legend Naim Süleymanoğlu, aka the Pocket Hercules.
 
In our visit to TKFLASTAN, we have news from:
Boccia player Alison Levine Speed skater Erin Jackson Sports historian Dr. Victoria Jackson Former biathlete Clare Egan The dulcet tones of Jason Bryant Book Club Claire  - check out her tour of Tokyo's National Stadium!  
In news from Paris 2024, there are concerns about flying taxis, the French diocese has opened a sports chapel, air traffic control is in control for the Games, and we have an update on the corruption investigaion.
 
In news from Milan-Cortina 2026, the mayor of Innsbruck has a proposal, and the short track speed skating minimum age is going up!
 
For a transcript of this episode, please visit http://flamealivepod.com.
Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!
 
Photo courtesy of Blythe Lawrence.
 
***
 Keep the Flame Alive: The Podcast for Fans of the Olympics and Paralympics with hosts Jill Jaracz & Alison Brown
Intern: Annalee Deabel
 
Support the show: http://flamealivepod.com/support
Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/flamealivepod
 
Hang out with us online:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flamealivepod
Insta: http://www.instagram.com/flamealivepod
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/flamealivepod
Facebook Group: hhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/flamealivepod
Newsletter: Sign up at http://flamealivepod.com
VM/Text: (208) FLAME-IT / (208) 352-6348
 
 

Author Stephen Lane talks with us about his new book Long Run to Glory: The Story of the Greatest Marathon in Olympic History and the Women Who Made it Happen. It’s about the development of women’s marathon as a sport, how it became included in the Olympics, and the very first Olympic marathon at LA 1984. 
Stephen's book is a great read, so be sure to check it out. We have it listed on our Bookshop.org storefront (affiliate link)
In our Seoul 1988 history moment, Alison goes into "what happened next" for the women's marathon in its second foray as an Olympic event.
In our weekly visit to TKFLASTAN, we have news from:
Shooter Tim Sherry Boccia player Alison Levine Nordic combined competitor Annika Malacinski Wheelchair fencer Ellen Geddes Beach volleyball player Kelly Cheng Author David Davis In news from Paris 2024, the Paralympics countdown clock is on, and Australian fans can look forward to a local partnership with Old El Paso.
Plus, the International Paralympic Committee has released its 2022 annual report, and we have a hot take!
For a transcript of this episode, please visit http://flamealivepod.com.
Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!
 
Photo courtesy of Stephen Lane.

 
***
 Keep the Flame Alive: The Podcast for Fans of the Olympics and Paralympics with hosts Jill Jaracz & Alison Brown
Support the show: http://flamealivepod.com/support
Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/flamealivepod
 
Hang out with us online:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flamealivepod
Insta: http://www.instagram.com/flamealivepod
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/flamealivepod
Facebook Group: hhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/flamealivepod
Newsletter: Sign up at http://flamealivepod.com
VM/Text: (208) FLAME-IT / (208) 352-6348
 
 
 
 
 
 

We're going back to 1994 this week with our latest Movie Club pick: A Promise Kept: The Oksana Baiul Story. This SOBIG made-for-TV biopic had the blessing of Lillehammer 1994 gold medalist of Oksana Baiul and tells the story of her life through her surprise victory amidst the Nancy Kerrigan/Tonya Harding scandal (though if you didn't know that scandal happened, you wouldn't learn anything about it from this movie). 
Plus, video journalist Sean Colahan stops by post-Paris vacation to tell us about the atmosphere in the city--and what tourist attractions you can skip.
News from TKFLASTAN, includes updates from:
Hammer thrower DeAnna Price Pole vaulter Katie Moon Race walker Evan Dunfee Para powerlifter Louise Sugden And we have a little bit of news about the Kamila Valieva doping case--with word on when the final hearing will take place. We also have updates from Paris 2024 now that it's official one year to go until the Paralympics.
For a transcript of this episode, please visit flamealivepod.com.
Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!
***
 Keep the Flame Alive: The Podcast for Fans of the Olympics and Paralympics with hosts Jill Jaracz & Alison Brown
 
 
Support the show: http://flamealivepod.com/support
Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/flamealivepod
 
Hang out with us online:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flamealivepod
Insta: http://www.instagram.com/flamealivepod
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/flamealivepod
Facebook Group: hhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/flamealivepod
Newsletter: Sign up at http://flamealivepod.com
VM/Text: (208) FLAME-IT / (208) 352-6348
 
 

We love hearing what the Games used to be like for pioneers of sport, so we're excited to have on Paralympian Lo Nigrosh, who was on the first U.S. women's sitting volleyball team. They competed at Athens 2004 and to many people's surprise, brought home the bronze. Lo tells us what the early days of the team were like and about her time in Athens.
Today Lo is a lactation consultant, childbirth educator and birth doula at Quabbin Birth Services, and she's host of the podcast The Milk Making Minutes (look for Alison to be a guest there in the coming weeks). You can follow Lo on Insta, Facebook, and TikTok.
In our Seoul history moment, Jill looks at the sitting and standing volleyball competitions at those Paralympics. Here's an interesting video recap of Iran's experience. If you want to learn more about the history of para standing volleyball and how it faded from competition, check out this site.
In news from TKFLASTAN, we have updates from:
Sailors Stephanie Roble and Maggie Shea Race walker Evan Dunfee Pole vaulter Katie Moon Heptathlete and decathlete Jordan Gray Beach volleyball player Kelly Cheng Para powerlifter Louise Sugden - catch her competition here Announcer Geoff Wightman Commentator Olly Hogben Bobsledder Josh Williamson NGB leader Phil Andrews Paralympian John Register Author Warren Perrin In Paris 2024 news, there have been a number of test events, with swimming in the Seine still being a dubious proposition. We also have an update on organizing the surfing competition in Tahiti (and how much more investment is needed).
For a transcript of this episode, please visit http://flamealivepod.com.
Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!
Photo courtesy of Lo Nigrosh
***
 Keep the Flame Alive: The Podcast for Fans of the Olympics and Paralympics with hosts Jill Jaracz & Alison Brown
Intern: Annalee Deabel
 
Support the show: http://flamealivepod.com/support
Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/flamealivepod
 
Hang out with us online:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flamealivepod
Insta: http://www.instagram.com/flamealivepod
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/flamealivepod
Facebook Group: hhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/flamealivepod
Newsletter: Sign up at http://flamealivepod.com
VM/Text: (208) FLAME-IT / (208) 352-6348