109. Celebrating the Stories of Women Athletes with Flame Bearers Founder Jamie Mittelman
Joining Laura on the podcast this week is Jamie Mittelman, the visionary founder of Flame Bearers, a groundbreaking platform dedicated to amplifying the voices of women Olympians and Paralympians worldwide. Through immersive podcasts, compelling videos, and dynamic live events, Jamie breathes life into champion stories, illuminating their triumphs, tribulations, and the societal issues that shape their paths. Today, our guest shares profound insights into her mission, underscoring the transformative power of narratives and the indomitable spirit of athletes.
As you will hear, Jamie's unwavering commitment to storytelling and championing women athletes has propelled her to spotlight their remarkable odysseys, from renowned icons to unsung heroines across the globe. Together, she and Laura embark on a deep dive into the realms of women's sports, entrepreneurship, and the transcendent influence of storytelling, unraveling the essence of Flame Bearers' mission and the compelling narratives driving positive change in the athletic sphere. Jamie's journey from athlete to entrepreneur uncovers the vital steps to success, from crafting robust business strategies to fostering resilient communities, all while championing authenticity, resilience, and empowerment in the pursuit of athletic excellence. Join Laura and Jamie here today for this inspiring and instructive examination into the intricate tapestry of women's sports, and the boundless potential of storytelling.
Episode Highlights:
The story of Flame Bearers
Representation in sports media
The power of storytelling
Authenticity in branding
Resilience and adversity
Community and support systems
Challenges in media representation
Future of Flame Bearers
Building a successful business
Quotes:
"Historically, 95% of sports coverage has gone to male athletes, but we're making progress. There's a quantity and a quality issue when it comes to women's sports coverage."
"The best way to get people to care is to build an emotional connection, and I think the best way to do that is with stories."
"Share who you actually are, not just the highlight reel. Sponsors gravitate towards people who are being vulnerable because fans can relate to them."
"Flame Bearers' vision is to become the go-to storytelling platform for elite women athletes, centering their stories through podcasts, videos, and live events."
"No one person can do it all... Surround yourself with people who could have your back and who can fill those holes."
"I want to make sure that we don't forget how we got there... Acknowledging those first trailblazers and making sure they feel validated and seen."
"Literally every piece that I do, it's kind of like a love letter to that athlete... I want to tell their story how they want it told."
"You can have the best story in the world, but if nobody hears it, does it make a difference?... Jamie is giving them the opportunity to connect, and that's huge."
Links:
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85. Sobriety, World Records & Fighting for Women's Sports with Powerlifter April Hutchinson
This week, Laura is joined by the remarkable April Hutchinson, reigning North American Deadlift record holder in the domain of powerlifting, who shares her inspiring tale of resilience that has led to her ascending to the global stage in a remarkably short time span. Utilizing powerlifting as a catalyst to conquer addiction and mental health challenges, April has also emerged as a vocal advocate for women's rights in sports. Today, she candidly addresses the complexities of competing against male athletes, the significance of providing a platform for women's voices, and the need to preserve the integrity of women's sports.
With Laura, April explores the controversies arising from the inclusion of transgender athletes in women's sports, and highlights the importance of standing up for women's rights and equitable competition, even in the face of opposition. Their discussion also delves into the impact of transgender athletes on women's sports, the differentiation between competition categories, and the empowerment of athletes to advocate for change. April goes on to recount her own experiences competing against male athletes, and her aspirations for gold in future competitions. With April's journey as the backdrop, today’s episode fosters a compelling dialogue about the healing power of sports, gender equity, and the unwavering spirit of athletes dedicated to preserving the integrity of women's athletics.
In more great news, Laura is reintroducing her transformative program, Confident Competitor, which is designed to empower athletes to enhance their mental game, improve performance, and rise to challenges. Be sure to check out this comprehensive online program which offers 19 lessons on mindset, mental game, and performance skills, alongside practical activities, bonuses, and group coaching to equip athletes with the tools for success.
Episode Highlights:
April's journey from addiction to triumph and sobriety
Powerlifting as a catalyst for personal growth and empowerment
Competing against male athletes and advocating for women's rights
The story of the biological male going by the name Anne Andres
Powerlifting's synergy with mental health and physical empowerment
April's training routine and aspirations for future competitions
Navigating transgender athletes' impact on women's sports
Advocacy for equity and women's rights amidst challenges and opposition
Quotes:
"A lot of women are silenced and feel silenced... April is leading the charge, hoping to inspire courage in others to speak up as well."
"COVID was so horrible for probably 90% of people, but for me, it was actually my blessing because I got sober a couple of months prior."
"I want to work on my squat and I want to work on my bench... I want to just keep getting better and better and better."
"In 2026, the Commonwealth Games will be in Australia, so I want to go there and sweep up all the records in the Commonwealth Games."
"The first step we need to do is obviously just educate people, right? I mean, when I first started this, people would call me a bigot or transphobic, right?”
"We need to fight for girls in sports, our future generations."
"If you stick up for fairness and truth, you can have a great sleep at night."
Links:
Laura’s Social Media:
Connect with April:
74. Fighting for Female Athletes & Women's Sports with NCAA Swimmer Riley Gaines
In the latest episode of Pursuit of Gold, Riley Gaines, a recent graduate from the University of Kentucky and a twelve-time NCAA All American swimmer, joins Laura for an important discussion regarding the controversial inclusion of biological males in women's sports. Riley shares her experience competing against transgender swimmer Lia Thomas at the Women's NCAA Championships in March 2022, and exposes the negative consequences of allowing transgender athletes to compete in women's sports. Their discussion highlights the importance of recognizing the injustice and the need to ensure fairness and opportunities for female athletes.
The episode explores the emotional toll that silencing female athletes who speak out against allowing transgender athletes to compete in women's sports has on these athletes, and the lack of fairness in competition. The discussion also touches on the need for better policies to address the issue, given the significant impact it has on the integrity of women's sports, and the disturbing silencing of those who wish to speak out about it. Laura and Riley go on to analyze the recent ruling by FINA that addresses the issue of trans athletes competing in female events, which, while a step in the right direction, still has flaws that need to be addressed. Together, they emphasize the need for fairness in sports and Riley recounts her involvement with Independent Women's Forum, highlighting the work they are doing to protect women's sports and uphold Title IX policies. Their message here today is clear: the inclusion of biological males in women's sports has significant negative consequences that affect the integrity of sport, and it is essential to continue to have open and honest discussions to address this issue in order to ultimately create policies that ensure fairness for female athletes. As is clearly noted, "This episode is not to say whether someone's chosen lifestyle is acceptable, it's to expose how biological males are taking opportunities away from biological females in sport."
Episode Highlights:
Women's sports and the inclusion of biological males
Riley’s experience competing against Lia Thomas
Negative consequences and impact of allowing biological males to participate in women's sports
Unfairness in competition for biological females
The importance of addressing this issue openly
The role of NCAA in dealing with the issue
Protecting and providing fair opportunities for biological females in sports
Physical advantages that biological men have over women in sports
The need for more nuanced rules governing transgender athletes in sports
The importance of having conversations about these issues in order to find solutions
The silencing of female athletes who speak out against transgender athletes competing in women's sports
Title IX policies
FINA’s recent ruling
The idea of transitioning before the age of twelve
Rulings from other sports organizations
Trans athletes competing in contact sports
Staying up to date on this issue
Supporting the organizations fighting for women's rights in sports
Following updates on Riley’s Twitter and Instagram accounts
Quotes:
"Many coaches and athletes don't want to discuss this publicly because they fear losing their jobs, scholarships, or their spot on the team."
"The whole point of creating women's sports was to have fair competition."
"I'm bringing this topic to light because it is absolutely destroying women's sports and the ability for girls and women to train, compete, and live their lives both fairly and safely."
"Women are, of course, strong and have done phenomenal things. There's phenoms in so many sports across swimming, but of course, that's in relation to your physical capabilities that your body has."
"I think the rules need to be more nuanced, and I think there needs to be more conversation around it... I don't think the current rules are sufficient."
"I'm fortunate, my coach never tried to silence me, my athletic department never tried to silence me. But talking with these other girls, the amount of silencing and the amount of emotional blackmail and just threatening and intimidation that these schools and these administrations put on these girls is mind blowing."
"This is a massive level of abuse, in my opinion."
"It just felt like a massive disregard for the work that we put in and the hours that we spent in the pool and the sacrifices that we made."
"I think it's really important to stay up to date on this topic because if not, you'll kind of fall into this believing this lie, that this is a non-issue, this is something the Republicans just want to be hateful about. But that's not true."
"I'm not going to sit and complain about something and do nothing about it. And so Independent Women's Forum has just been fantastic in allowing me to do that."
"I actually think that's what makes this issue so special is it’s something that no parent, regardless of where you align politically, wants their daughter to be exposed to."
Links:
Laura’s Social Media:
Riley’s Links: