Flame Bearers

????Exciting news! Flame Bearers won 3 awards at the 19th Annual w3 Awards, which celebrate excellence in digital experiences, creativity, and content across various categories???? Our podcast “Pathways to Paris” won gold in General Series-Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and a silver in General Series-Sports???? Then our specific episode featuring @Caster Semenya Semenya won gold In the category of Individual Episodes & Specials-Diversity, Equity & Inclusion?? These awards recognize outstanding achievements in Social Media Marketing & Content, Websites, Online Marketing & Advertising, Mobile Sites & Apps, Online Video, Podcasts, and Emerging Technology. Winners come from all corners of the industry, from small firms to Fortune 500 companies, showcasing a broad spectrum of creativity. The entries were judged by the Academy of Interactive & Visual Arts and a panel of experts from leading media and marketing organizations like Disney, Netflix, and Deloitte Digital. This is only the start for Flame Bearers, we look forward to continuing to support amazing women in sport giving them a place to share their stories?? #W3Awards #FlameBearers #Podcast #WomenInSport

Motherhood and elite sports CAN go hand in hand?????? ??New Podcast Episode Out Now!?? Meet Ritah Asiimwe—Ugandan Paralympian, African Para-Badminton Champion, and unstoppable single mom. "Every female athlete should know: It’s okay to show up pregnant, to play, to run, to keep going."?? Ritah competed at the World Championships while two months pregnant and kept training at six. In our latest episode, she shares her journey of mental toughness, self-love, and rewriting the rules for women in sports. Don’t miss this powerful conversation—listen or watch now! Link in bio???? #FlameBearers #RitahAsiimwe #PodcastGuest #Paralympian #Paralympics #ParaBadminton #Inspiration #Uganda #Badminton #BadmintonPlayer

"I was CUT from accapella…and my classmates were the judges. After I didn’t make it, I avoided those classmates because was so embarrassed that I'd ‘failed.’" ??21 years later, I see it differently—it wasn’t failure. I had the guts to try. And sure, I struck out (I’m definitely strictly a shower singer), but at least I stepped up to bat. This week I spoke at my high school as the sophomore class’s #WomensHistoryMonth guest. Looking out at 170 sophomores, I realized I’d been out of high school longer than they’d been alive (yikes!!) My sophomore year Facebook launched, the Red Sox won the World Series after an 86-year draught, and Martha Stewart went to prison. It's been a second. That said, I remember when old, fancy alums would come back and talk about technical, awesome-sounding things they’d done; I’d listen for 5 minutes and tune out because I didn’t want to work with nanotubes, be a mathematician, or attempt to cure cancer. That’s why, this week I spent my 40-minutes on what I’ve learned as an entrepreneur + what I wish I knew when I was in their shoes. ?? Here are my biggest takeaways—drop yours in the comments. Would love to hear! 3 Lessons I’ve Learned As An Entrepreneur ??Everyone has an opinion and thinks you care to hear it. Only listen to the opinions of those you respect. Then, truly listen. Ignore the others. Shoutout Sue Bird for this lesson ?? ??Always ask who your work is serving + center them to make sure they feel seen and fairly represented. If I’m doing a story on an athlete and she doesn’t recognize the person featured, I’m off. Talk with and about the person on her terms. ? ?? Build your Board of Advisors, making sure they have skills you don’t. Don’t surround yourself with more you’s, rather build a team where everyone has a different superpower. 5 Things I Wish I Knew in High School ??You’re NOT your highest highs or your lowest lows. You are going to have successes and you’re going to mess up. They are things you do, not who you are. It’s not the highs/lows that matter but rather the sum of your averages and what you do with these highs/lows that matter. ?? Boxes help simplify the world. Don’t reduce yourself to fit in them if they don't work for you. ?? Your next step will be just that. One step, so put it in context and remember that your "end zone" will keep moving. There’s always another next step, so keep the big picture in mind. ???? Be kind to yourself. Have a self-care menu ready for bad days because they will come. (Mine = ice cream, piano, bubble baths, exercise, and calling friends.) ? Invest in your friendships. The people around you can be your lifelong crew—IF you show up and invest in them. Big thank you to Lindsay Villone for making this possible, students Charlotte Mon and Anh Tran-Nguyen, for their leadership with SAGE and rockstar Lauren Cuddy ?? Thank you for the honor Milton Academy.

?? Exciting news! ?? Next week, in our new podcast episode we will be featuring Uganda's lovely, Ritah Asiimwe! ????? She’s a trailblazing para-badminton athlete, the first from her country to compete in the Summer Paralympics, and a multiple-time African champion. ???? Ritah’s story is one you won’t wanna miss. Stay tuned to learn more about her incredible journey! ??? #FlameBearers #RitahAsiimwe #PodcastGuest #Paralympian #Paralympics #ParaBadminton #Inspiration

??♀? "I'm not here to inspire you. I'm here to win." ?? Fran Brown is redefining what it means to be an elite athlete. A Paralympic cyclist, 9X Para-Cycling World Champ, and Para Climbing World Champ, Fran is relentless in her pursuit of excellence. But she’s also calling out the way Paralympians are covered in the media—and she’s not holding back. ?? “Everyone is looking for a sob story. But being an athlete is hard work, and that’s what should be recognized.” In this UNEDITED episode of Flame Bearers, Fran shares her journey from a spinal cord injury to the global stage, her battle against stereotypes, and why she refuses to let others define her. ?? Tune in now: https://lnk.to/LBEf4g #Paralympics #Cycling #AthleteMindset #FlameBearers #FranBrown #Inclusion #WomenInSports

?? First official DISTRIBUTION PARTNER locked in: Flame Bearers has joined SHEQONOMI, the world’s first women-led podcast app, built to serve 2 BILLION women globally, in particular, women who are usually overlooked + don't have athletic role models who look/sound like them ?? This matters because: ?? Massive Reach: This embeds Flame Bearers content on mobile phones for 350,000+ women across 175 countries ?? Breaking Barriers: app is accessible on 450 million Jio devices (including JioNext and JioPhones) in India and KaiOS devices across Africa, LatAM, Caribbean, and the South Pacific ensuring that women in emerging markets can access transformative content. Available on JioStore, KaiStore, App Store, and Google PlayStore. ?? Right Team: When I met Founder, Anu B. I immediately knew we were going to be real friends for the long haul. Can't wait for all that we will do together! Excited to stand alongside Reliance Jio, the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Women in Cloud, and The State of Women in this important work. ?? #womeninsports #flamebearers

A new podcast with Shelley Looney, a trailblazer in the world of women’s ice hockey, is out now! ?? ?? to ??: https://lnkd.in/gYmiWTvM ?? to ??: https://lnk.to/DS6GXe 3 facts you may not have known about her... 1. In the 1998 Winter Olympics, Shelley scored the iconic game-winning goal, clinching Team USA’s first-ever gold medal in women’s ice hockey. This moment forever changed the landscape of women’s sports?? 2. She was a proud member of the inaugural Team USA Women’s Ice Hockey team, helping lay the foundation for the growth and recognition of women’s hockey on the international stage. Her commitment to the sport has inspired generations of young athletes. 3. After retiring as a player, Shelley’s passion for the game didn’t stop. She’s coached at every level, from local youth teams to coaching Team USA’s women’s ice hockey program. Her leadership has empowered players to reach their full potential and elevated women’s hockey worldwide. Listen now where she shares more about her journey and the impact of women’s hockey??? #FlameBearers #Podcast #WomenInSport #IceHockey #TeamUSA

Aryna Sabalenka tennis journey started at age 6?? and has risen to the top of the tennis world, currently ranking #1 in singles ?????? She has won 18 single titles, 3 grand slams, and won 2 times at the Australian Open ?? She known for her aggressiveness on the court and is nicknamed “The Tiger” after her tiger tattoo on her arm ?? With so much success she said, “The biggest lesson I learnt last year is just not focusing on defending title or having the opportunity to put your name in history…I think the key is just to keep focusing on yourself and trying you best and see what happens after the tournament” ???? Tune in to watch her compete at the 2025 Australian Open ?? — #flamebearers #pathwaytoparis #womensupportingwomen #olympics #femaleathletes #womeninsport #women #womenownedbusiness #womenempowerment #femaleathlete #femaleathletes #olympic #olympicspirit #equality #athletics #trending #sportsnews #paralympics #paralympian #tennis #australianopen #ausopen #arynasabalenka

Meet Caitlin Clark The Associated Press Female Athlete of the year?? Her achievements on and off the court earned her the prestigious title, an honor that celebrates her extraordinary impact on the game and her role as a trailblazer for women athletes everywhere?? Winning this award is about more than personal accomplishments—it symbolizes the growing recognition of women’s sports and the athletes who are driving its momentum. Caitlin's influence has extended beyond basketball, uniting fans, breaking viewership records, and inspiring future generations??? Clark’s achievement came in a fiercely competitive year for women’s sports, with Olympic gymnast Simone Biles ??♀? and boxer Imane Khelif ?? as the award’s runners-up. This year’s AP Female Athlete of the Year race highlights the breadth of talent, perseverance, and impact women athletes are bringing to the global stage. Caitlin’s honor stands as a testament to her remarkable year, but the accomplishments of all nominees speak to a pivotal moment in women’s sports history?? ?? Source: Associated Press (AP) #FlameBearers #APFemaleAthleteOfTheYear #CaitlinClark #WNBA #WomensSports #Trailblazers #BreakingBarriers #SportsHistory

??The wait is over!?? Our unedited podcast featuring Saman Soltani Oly is out now! ??? Hear her incredible journey of resilience, courage, and the fight for her Olympic dream. From escaping danger to finding hope on the water, Saman’s story is nothing short of inspiring??? One of our favorite quotes she lives by: “Let your hunger for success be stronger than your fear of failure.” ?? Listen now via this link: https://lnkd.in/eU_GyAZf #FlameBearers #UneditedPodcast #SamanSoltani #RefugeeAthlete #Paris2024 #Inspiration