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  • Book Club Claire on Heroes, Villains & Velodrome's: Chris Hoy and Britain's Track Cycling Revolution

    Book Club Claire on Heroes, Villains & Velodrome's: Chris Hoy and Britain's Track Cycling Revolution
    2026/08/13

    Book Club Claire returns for our first book club episode of 2026, featuring Heroes, Villains & Velodrome's: Chris Hoy and Britain's Track Cycling Revolution by Richard Moore. This book covers Hoy's early cycling career and the development of Great Britain as a cycling powerhouse until around Beijing 2008.

    Claire joins us for a rousing discussion of Chris Hoy's early success, the 1000m race, keirin racing in Japan, and the Wild West days of track cycling. Plus, we make a surprising discovery about this title.

    Also on this episode, we discuss the second ticket drop for the LA28 Olympics. Plus, the tennis schedule seems to be brutal. And we learn about more hospitality houses that plan to be at the Games.

    Get your own copy of Richard Moore's book--and any other books--through our bookshop.org storefront. Commissions we earn from purchases through this link support the show's operating budget.

    Want in on our Summer of Nostalgia? Find out more at our Patreon site.

    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: Obsessed with the Olympics and Paralympics? Just curious about how Olympic and Paralympic sports work? You've found your people! Join your hosts, Olympic aunties Alison Brown and Jill Jaracz for smart, fun, and down-to-earth interviews with athletes coaches, and the unsung heroes behind the Games. Get the stories you don't find anywhere else. Tun in weekly all year-round, and daily during the Olympics and Paralympics. We're your cure for your Olympic Fever! Call us: (208) FLAME-IT.

    ***

    Support the show: http://flamealivepod.com/support

    Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/flamealivepod

    Become a patron and get bonus content: http://www.patreon.com/flamealivepod

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    VM/Text: (208) FLAME-IT / (208) 352-6348
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    42 分
  • Cortina 1956 Winter Olympics: Important Evolutions in Nordic Combined and Ski Jumping

    Cortina 1956 Winter Olympics: Important Evolutions in Nordic Combined and Ski Jumping
    2026/08/06

    In our ongoing series about the Cortina 1956 Winter Olympics, we look at the sports of Nordic combined and ski jumping, both of which underwent their own evolutions at these Games.

    For Nordic combined, a format change and uncoupling from other competitions allowed this event to finally stand on its own. That didn't mean it was easy for anyone outside of the sport to understand how it worked or how some athletes made it to the podium. Plus, there was drama in certain countries about who got to be on the team, and one coach's pushback led to medal success.

    Ski jumping, which was actually called "special jumping" at these Olympics, had its own technique revolution led by Swiss jumper Andreas Däscher. The results were a perfect example of "innovate or die."

    To see some fun footage from the ski jumping competition, check out this clip that shows athletes jumping in very unexpected clothing.

    For a transcript and complete list of sources used in this episode, visit: https://flamealivepod.com.

    Speaking of Olympic history, we're having a Summer of Nostalgia at our Patreon site. where we're sharing never-before-seen photos and videos from our escapades at Beijing 2022, Paris 2024, and Milano Cortina 2026. Relive those memories with us by becoming a patron or purchasing the Summer of Nostalgia collection!

    Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!

    Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons via Picryl.

    ***

    Keep the Flame Alive: Obsessed with the Olympics and Paralympics? Just curious about how Olympic and Paralympic sports work? You've found your people! Join your hosts, Olympic aunties Alison Brown and Jill Jaracz for smart, fun, and down-to-earth interviews with athletes coaches, and the unsung heroes behind the Games. Get the stories you don't find anywhere else. Tun in weekly all year-round, and daily during the Olympics and Paralympics. We're your cure for your Olympic Fever! Call us: (208) FLAME-IT.

    ***

    Support the show: http://flamealivepod.com/support

    Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/flamealivepod

    Become a patron and get bonus content: http://www.patreon.com/flamealivepod

    Buy merch here: https://flamealivepod.dashery.com

    Hang out with us online:

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flamealivepod

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    Facebook Group: hhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/flamealivepod

    Newsletter: Sign up at https://flamealivepod.substack.com/subscribe

    VM/Text: (208) FLAME-IT / (208) 352-6348
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    26 分
  • "The Games in Black & White": George Hirthler on Atlanta's Unlikely Olympics

    "The Games in Black & White": George Hirthler on Atlanta's Unlikely Olympics
    2026/07/30
    Remember when Atlanta won the right to host the 1996 Olympics? The Centennial Olympics, the ones that Athens desperately wanted to host and everyone thought Athens would win because the Olympics were born in Greece? And then Atlanta won, and everyone was surprised? Well, we've got the story of how Atlanta shocked the world. Writer and producer George Hirthler joins us to discuss his documentary "The Games in Black & White." This Emmy award-winning film delves into the unlikely friendship of then-Atlanta mayor Andy Young and conservative lawyer Billy Payne, who joined forces to bring the Olympics to Atlanta and put the city on the world map. The documentary covers the full spectrum of the Olympics, from bid to the Games themselves. However, along with incredible athletic spectacle and some operational issues, the Atlanta 1996 Olympics are also known for the bombing that took place in Centennial Olympic Park. George talks with us about that incident and the toll that it took on members of the organizing committee. We also discuss the unlikely legacies from these Olympics and how they permanently changed the geography of the city. You can watch "The Games in Black & White" on PBS: https://www.pbs.org/show/the-games-in-black-and-white It's also streaming for free on Olympic Channel: https://www.olympics.com/en/films/watch/the-games-in-black-white-documentary Also, Jill went to LA for the LA28 World Press Briefing. She's got some impressions of the city, its accessibility and what to look for when getting tickets and booking hotels. If you're interested in volunteering with the Finnish consulate to help Team Finland during LA 28, check out this link (must be able to speak Finnish): https://www.lyyti.fi/reg/Vapaaehtoishaku_Los_Angelesiin_2028_3711 Plus, we have some feedback on potential cauldron lighters! It's the SUMMER OF NOSTALGIA! All summer long, we're sharing never-before-seen photos and videos from all three Olympics and Paralympics we've covered in person. Become a patron, or buy the collection outright! Join the fun at our Patreon page. 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: Obsessed with the Olympics and Paralympics? Just curious about how Olympic and Paralympic sports work? You've found your people! Join your hosts, Olympic aunties Alison Brown and Jill Jaracz for smart, fun, and down-to-earth interviews with athletes coaches, and the unsung heroes behind the Games. Get the stories you don't find anywhere else. Tun in weekly all year-round, and daily during the Olympics and Paralympics. We're your cure for your Olympic Fever! Call us: (208) FLAME-IT. *** Support the show: http://flamealivepod.com/support Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/flamealivepod Become a patron and get bonus content: http://www.patreon.com/flamealivepod Buy merch here: https://flamealivepod.dashery.com Hang out with us online: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flamealivepod Insta: http://www.instagram.com/flamealivepod Facebook Group: hhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/flamealivepod Newsletter: Sign up at https://flamealivepod.substack.com/subscribe VM/Text: (208) FLAME-IT / (208) 352-6348
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    1 時間 13 分
  • The Moscow 1980 Olympics with Author Tommy Phillips

    The Moscow 1980 Olympics with Author Tommy Phillips
    2026/07/23

    Thanks to a US-led boycott, the first Olympics hosted by a communist country has long been a big black hole in our knowledge of the Olympics -- until now.

    On this episode, we're joined by author Tommy Phillips, who wrote The 1980 Moscow Olympics: A Day-by-Day History. His book captures all of the major happenings at these Olympics, which were dominated by the USSR and East Germany. These countries' athletes dominated with skill and athleticism....and also maybe thanks to doping and some clever help along the way.

    We talk with Tommy about some of the wilder hijinks at play during the Games, as well as which nations benefitted from the US and its boycott allies not being at these Olympics.

    Get your own copy of Tommy's book at our bookshop.org storefront (affiliate link).

    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: Obsessed with the Olympics and Paralympics? Just curious about how Olympic and Paralympic sports work? You've found your people! Join your hosts, Olympic aunties Alison Brown and Jill Jaracz for smart, fun, and down-to-earth interviews with athletes coaches, and the unsung heroes behind the Games. Get the stories you don't find anywhere else. Tun in weekly all year-round, and daily during the Olympics and Paralympics. We're your cure for your Olympic Fever! Call us: (208) FLAME-IT.

    ***

    Support the show: http://flamealivepod.com/support

    Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/flamealivepod

    Become a patron and get bonus content: http://www.patreon.com/flamealivepod

    Buy merch here: https://flamealivepod.dashery.com

    Hang out with us online:

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flamealivepod

    Insta: http://www.instagram.com/flamealivepod

    Facebook Group: hhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/flamealivepod

    Newsletter: Sign up at https://flamealivepod.substack.com/subscribe

    VM/Text: (208) FLAME-IT / (208) 352-6348
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    39 分
  • Two Years to LA28 with Superfan Sarah

    Two Years to LA28 with Superfan Sarah
    2026/07/16

    In two years, the LA 2028 Olympics will get underway, and we're looking ahead to those Games and what they'll have to offer. Superfan Sarah, officially recognized as Team USA's #1 fan, joins us to talk about how to prepare for the Olympics and Paralympics and what sports we're looking forward to seeing. We also discuss the many American comebacks that are happening in light of a home Games, and we start speculating on who could light the cauldron. Who do you think will be involved? Let us know!

    Volunteer applications are open for LA28. They're looking for Games-time volunteers in all of the host cities, but if you're local to the Los Angeles area, there are ongoing opportunities to help out with monthly beautification and restoration projects. Find more info and apply here: https://volunteer.la28.org/en

    In other LA 2028 news:

    • We're closer to seeing Major League Baseball players participate in the Olympics
    • On Location has announced hospitality packages for more sports and competition zones, plus a "follow my team" option for basketball ("climate control" and "shade" are big catchphrases with hospitality options)
    • More hospitality houses are coming, including ones for Africa, Cabo Verde, Germany and Romania.

    SUMMER OF NOSTALGIA

    We're having a Summer of Nostalgia at our Patreon site where we're sharing never-before-seen photos and videos from our escapades at Beijing 2022, Paris 2024, and Milano Cortina 2026. Relive those memories with us by becoming a patron or purchasing the Summer of Nostalgia collection at patreon.com/flamealivepod.

    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: Obsessed with the Olympics and Paralympics? Just curious about how Olympic and Paralympic sports work? You've found your people! Join your hosts, Olympic aunties Alison Brown and Jill Jaracz for smart, fun, and down-to-earth interviews with athletes coaches, and the unsung heroes behind the Games. Get the stories you don't find anywhere else. Tun in weekly all year-round, and daily during the Olympics and Paralympics. We're your cure for your Olympic Fever! Call us: (208) FLAME-IT.

    ***

    Support the show: http://flamealivepod.com/support

    Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/flamealivepod

    Become a patron and get bonus content: http://www.patreon.com/flamealivepod

    Buy merch here: https://flamealivepod.dashery.com

    Hang out with us online:

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flamealivepod

    Insta: http://www.instagram.com/flamealivepod

    Facebook Group: hhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/flamealivepod

    Newsletter: Sign up at https://flamealivepod.substack.com/subscribe

    VM/Text: (208) FLAME-IT / (208) 352-6348
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    52 分
  • Shocks in the Olympic World!

    Shocks in the Olympic World!
    2026/07/09
    We're back from a recording hiatus, and boy, do we have a lot of Olympics news to catch up on! First, Milano Cortina 2026 released its final report, and we go between the lines to suss out its venue delivery expectations, celebrity initiative, and a major issue they should have figured out earlier--as in, during the bid process. LA28 has made a ton of announcements over the last few weeks, so we have the latest on: The Paralympic scheduleTicket drop #2Cycling routesVolunteer applicationsModern pentathlon's new obstacle course licensingHospitality house updatesAnd more! We also say au revoir to French Alpes 2030 and bonjour to Alpes 2030 (which we most certainly will mangle), along with its new logo and venue plan (to each Games its own Tahiti). Alpes 2030 finalized its sport program, and the changes have been shocking. Great new events come onto the Olympic program, and an OG Winter Olympic discipline gets the boot. In Doping News, we're still talking about medal reallocations from London 2012. International Olympic Committee president Kirsty Coventry's Fit for the Future platform is creating big change, including: Olympic Charter changes that affect political neutrality (hello, Russia) and make it easier to change the entire sports program Defining the differences of "sport," "discipline" and "event" when it comes to the Olympic programPaying athletes - a new Olympic grant program makes waves after Coventry's first big press gaffeAnd more! We also have an announcement about our 2026 Book Club selections, which you can get at our bookshop.org storefront (affiliate link) Summer of Nostalgia: We've been cleaning out the files and found a treasure trove of never-before-seen photos and videos! All summer long we're sharing them on our Patreon platform. Relive great moments from the last three Olympics and Paralympics in Keep the Flame Alive style (and you know that means we focus on the weird stuff)! Join as a patron or buy the collection outright - check out patreon.com/flamealivepod today! 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: Obsessed with the Olympics and Paralympics? Just curious about how Olympic and Paralympic sports work? You've found your people! Join your hosts, Olympic aunties Alison Brown and Jill Jaracz for smart, fun, and down-to-earth interviews with athletes coaches, and the unsung heroes behind the Games. Get the stories you don't find anywhere else. Tun in weekly all year-round, and daily during the Olympics and Paralympics. We're your cure for your Olympic Fever! Call us: (208) FLAME-IT. *** Support the show: http://flamealivepod.com/support Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/flamealivepod Become a patron and get bonus content: http://www.patreon.com/flamealivepod Buy merch here: https://flamealivepod.dashery.com Hang out with us online: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flamealivepod Insta: http://www.instagram.com/flamealivepod Facebook Group: hhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/flamealivepod Newsletter: Sign up at https://flamealivepod.substack.com/subscribe VM/Text: (208) FLAME-IT / (208) 352-6348
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    1 時間 24 分
  • Cortina 1956 Winter Olympics: Cross-Country Skiing's New Era

    Cortina 1956 Winter Olympics: Cross-Country Skiing's New Era
    2026/06/25

    In our year-long look back at the Cortina d'Ampezzo 1956 Winter Olympics, we head to the cross-country skiing stadium (built with filming in mind) where we're in the early years of the Hakulinen-Jernberg Era. Finland's Veikko Hakulinen and Sweden's Sixten Jergberg were the dominant forces in cross-country skiing, and their performances at Cortina 1956 were no exception!

    However, the Soviet Union wanted to make a statement during its first appearance at a Winter Olympics, and its athletes found the podium time and time again, ending a Scandinavian hold on the sport in both the men's and women's competitions.

    Find out who won, who lost, what the press said about the female competitors (it's not pretty, unlike their lipstick), and who was blinded by the light. Plus, we have a report from the snack table!

    For a transcript and complete list of sources used in this episode, visit: https://flamealivepod.com.

    Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!

    Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons via Picryl

    Keep the Flame Alive: Games History Moment with hosts Jill Jaracz & Alison Brown is released monthly. In 2026, these episodes explore the 7th Winter Olympic Games at Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy in 1956. Look for our regular episodes every week, with daily editions during the Olympics and Paralympics.

    Support the show: http://flamealivepod.com/support

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    VM/Text: (208) FLAME-IT / (208) 352-6348
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    22 分
  • Javelin with 4x Olympian Kara Winger

    Javelin with 4x Olympian Kara Winger
    2026/06/18

    It's another installment of our People Who Throw Things series! This time we're talking javelin with 4x Olympian Kara Winger. Kara spent 15 years as a professional athlete, and in that time she competed at Beijing 2008, London 2012, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 (where she was also elected for Closing Ceremony flagbearer). She stays involved with the throws community as a coach, official and ambassador for the sport.

    We talk with Kara about how javelin works. Kara breaks down the makeup (and cost) of a javelin, the physics involved with the event, the approach, the throw and follow-through. Plus, we get some insight on her Olympic experiences and what she's up to today!

    Everything you want to know about javelin is right here!

    Follow Kara on social: @karathrowsjav and check out her website for more.

    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: Obsessed with the Olympics and Paralympics? Just curious about how Olympic and Paralympic sports work? You've found your people! Join your hosts, Olympic aunties Alison Brown and Jill Jaracz for smart, fun, and down-to-earth interviews with athletes coaches, and the unsung heroes behind the Games. Get the stories you don't find anywhere else. Tun in weekly all year-round, and daily during the Olympics and Paralympics. We're your cure for your Olympic Fever! Call us: (208) FLAME-IT.

    ***

    Support the show: http://flamealivepod.com/support

    Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/flamealivepod

    Become a patron and get bonus content: http://www.patreon.com/flamealivepod

    Buy merch here: https://flamealivepod.dashery.com

    Hang out with us online:

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flamealivepod

    Insta: http://www.instagram.com/flamealivepod

    Facebook Group: hhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/flamealivepod

    Newsletter: Sign up at https://flamealivepod.substack.com/subscribe

    VM/Text: (208) FLAME-IT / (208) 352-6348
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    1 時間 2 分